The investigation of antibacterial activity of hyperlight fluid fusion subcellular essential complex.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the possibility of applying the hyperlight fluid fusion essential complex in dental plaque control, and to evaluate the effectiveness of new and modern agents used for the prevention and early treatment of gingivitis. METHODOLOGY: The study included 60 subjects randomly divided into two groups. The control group was assigned to 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) mouth rinse, whereas the test group used a solution based on hyper-harmonized hydroxylated fullerene water complex (3HFWC), twice daily for 2 weeks. The plaque, gingivitis and bleeding scores were evaluated and recorded. Collected plaque samples were seeded on blood agar and incubated aerobically at a temperature of 37 °C for 24-48 hours. In order to isolate anaerobic bacteria, samples were seeded on Schaedler Agar and incubated anaerobically at 37 °C for seven days. Serial dilutions in saline from 101 - 106 were made, and grown colonies were counted and identified using the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) system. RESULTS: The reduction in the number of bacteria was significant in both control and test groups. The reduction was greater in the control group compared to the experimental group, but without statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: 3HFWC treatment causes significant reduction in the number of dental plaque microorganisms. Since 3HFWC solution exhibited a bacteriostatic effect similar to chlorhexidine it could be an adequate addition to solution of a growing problem in prevention and early treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis.

Esthetic preferences of orthodontists, dentists, and plastic surgeons for balanced facial profiles.

PURPOSE: The aim of this investigation was to determine whether the facial esthetics of subjects rated as "attractive" can be related to specific cephalometric soft tissue parameters. METHODS: The profile silhouettes of 100 subjects (45 males and 55 females) were rated by 60 esthetics specialists (20 orthodontists, 20 dentists, and 20 plastic surgeons) using a Likert scale, and 30 of the subjects were selected as being "attractive". The cephalometric measurements of the attractive group were then compared with norms for the general Caucasian population. RESULTS: The effects of specific measured parameters on profile beauty grades were assessed using the median test, and the following variables were found to show significant correlations between the Caucasian norms and the attractive profile group: the ratio of the upper to lower face height (P = 0.011), the ratio of the subnasale - labrale inferius (Sn-Li) and labrale inferius - menton (Li-Me`) lines (P = 0.011), the distance between the chin and the subnasale perpendicular (P = 0.002), upper lip thickness (P = 0.021), soft tissue chin thickness (P = 0.021), vertical height ratio (P = 0.021), and nasolabial angle (P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: A straight profile with a fuller and more protruded upper lip, a higher nasal tip, and a smaller lower facial third are considered to be the most attractive facial features, and may be useful for improvement of facial esthetics.

Acute hepatitis in a paediatric patient: immune-mediated drug-induced liver injury or albendazole-induced autoimmune hepatitis?

INTRODUCTION: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of the most common causes of liver damage. A large number of drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal medications can cause hepatotoxicity. In some situations, it is difficult to distinguish between DILI and autoimmune hepatitis, especially when the mechanism is immune-mediated. Albendazole is a drug that has been used for decades for the treatment of parasitic infections in humans. One of the side effects is liver enzyme elevation, but rarely requires the discontinuation of therapy. Previous experience has shown that hypersensitivity is the most common mechanism of albendazole hepatotoxicity. CASE REPORT: Here we presented a paediatric patient in whom albendazole induced severe liver injury. In laboratory analyses, in addition to markedly elevated transaminases and parameters of cholestasis, there was also a significant increase in IgG, so autoimmune hepatitis was considered. Even though the liver histology indicated toxic liver disease, prednisolone was started. Corticosteroid therapy resulted in the complete normalization of liver function, as well as IgG. With the cessation of corticosteroid therapy, transaminases, bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) remained within normal levels, but an increase in anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) was noted in immunological analyses after one year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Immune-mediated hepatotoxicity from albendazole is one possible mechanism of liver injury. The use of albendazole in the treatment of parasitic infections, especially in children, requires close monitoring. The question remains as to whether albendazole is a drug that can induce autoimmune hepatitis in the paediatric population.

Probable Bruxism and Psychological Issues among Dental Students in Serbia during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the routine way of life, having consequences in many segments of life, including dental practice and education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of probable bruxism in a sample of dental students in Serbia and to estimate the potential association between psychological factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the presence of bruxism. A cross-sectional study included 178 dental students in Serbia, who were interviewed using a specially-designed self-administered online questionnaire, which consisted of three sections, and after that, a clinical examination for the presence of bruxism symptoms in the oral cavity. Psychological status was evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Saliva samples were taken to analyze salivary cortisol levels. The prevalence of probable bruxism was 34.8%. Respondents with probable bruxism had significantly higher DASS-21 and FCV-19S scores and mean values of salivary cortisol compared to non-bruxers. A history of COVID-19 infection, high stress, and fear of COVID-19 scores were associated with the presence of probable bruxism. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a great psychological impact and impact on the presence and worsening of bruxism symptoms in a sample of dental students in Serbia.

Resistance to Antibiotics in Thermophilic Campylobacters.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is one of the most frequent causes of bacterial enterocolitis globally. The disease in human is usually self-limiting, but when complications arise antibiotic therapy is required at a time when resistance to antibiotics is increasing worldwide. Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria are diverse depending on antibiotic type and usage and include: enzymatic destruction or drug inactivation; alteration of the target enzyme; alteration of cell membrane permeability; alteration of ribosome structure and alteration of the metabolic pathway(s). Resistance of Campylobacter spp. to antibiotics, especially fluoroquinolones is now a major public health problem in developed and developing countries. In this review the mechanisms of resistance to fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracycline, aminoglycoside and the role of integrons in resistance of Campylobacter (especially at the molecular level) are discussed, as well as the mechanisms of resistance to ß-lactam antibiotics, sulphonamides and trimethoprim. Multiple drug resistance is an increasing problem for treatment of campylobacter infections and emergence of resistant strains and resistance are important One Health issues.

Analysis of the Impact of Oral Health on Adolescent Quality of Life Using Standard Statistical Methods and Artificial Intelligence Algorithms.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of oral health on adolescent quality of life and to compare the results obtained using standard statistical methods and artificial intelligence algorithms. In order to measure the impact of oral health on adolescent quality of life, a validated Serbian version of the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) scale was used. The total sample comprised 374 respondents. The obtained results were processed using standard statistical methods and machine learning, i.e., artificial intelligence algorithms-singular value decomposition. OIDP score was dichotomized into two categories depending on whether the respondents had or did not have oral or teeth problems affecting their life quality. Human intuition and machine algorithms came to the same conclusion on how the respondents should be divided. As such, method quality and the need to perform analyses of this type in dentistry studies were demonstrated. Using artificial intelligence algorithms, the respondents can be clustered into characteristic groups that allow the discovery of details not possible with the intuitive division of respondents by gender.

The Outcomes of an Interventional Oral Health Program on Dental Students' Oral Hygiene.

Dental students are an interesting population because they are expected to have a higher level of knowledge of and to exhibit better oral hygiene habits, and thus have a greater impact on the environment, families, and society as a whole. The aim of this research was to determine the state of oral hygiene in dental students before and after the interventional health education program. The research sample consisted of 119 students of dentistry in their first and fourth years of study. The first research stage was conducted before health education intervention (for the evaluation of selected oral health parameters, the Decayed, Missing and Filled index, Greene-Vermillion index, Silness-Löe plaque index, Silness-Löe gingival index, and the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs index were used). The second stage was conducted as a clinical measurement of oral health changes. The conducted health education intervention, to an extent, led to changes in the state of oral hygiene among the students, and thus healthier habits. There was a statistically significant difference in the examined population between the beginning of the study and after the health education intervention program. Although a significant improvement in oral hygiene and oral health was noticed after the health education intervention program, the state of oral hygiene was still not at a satisfactory level among the dental students, contrary to our expectations.

Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter spp.: A review of the literature.

Campylobacter spp. are commensal organisms in the intestinal tract of food producing and companion animals. There is an increasing trend of human campylobacteriosis worldwide, including complicated cases that request treatment by antibiotics. Prevalence of resistance continually increases, especially to fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines. There are many reports on multiresistant strains of Campylobacter spp.In this work we present the available information about the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. worldwide, as well as studies from Serbia published in last two decades. Campylobacter strains isolated from animal samples in Serbia showed increased prevalence of antimicrobial resistance to all clinically relevant antibiotics. Preliminary data (2014-2019) from Reference laboratory for Campylobacter and Helicobacter at the Institute of Public Health of Nis, Serbia show high resistance rates to ciprofloxacin (90%) and to tetracycline (50%) but low resistance to erythromycin (<5%) in human Campylobacter isolates.

Campylobacter concisus.

Campylobacter concisus has been described as the etiological agent of periodontal disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, and enterocolitis. It is also detected in healthy individuals. There are differences between strains in healthy individuals and affected ones by production of two exototoxins. In this mini review authors discuss major facts about cultivation, isolation, virulence and immune response to C. concisus.

Inhibitory effects of propolis and essential oils on oral bacteria.

INTRODUCTION: Propolis is a natural composite balsam. In the past decade, propolis has been extensively investigated as an adjuvant for the treatment of periodontitis. This study aimed to investigate antimicrobial activities of propolis solutions and plant essential oils against some oral cariogenic (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, Lactobacillus acidophilus) and periodontopathic bacteria (Actinomyces odontolyticus, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum). METHODOLOGY: Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): The antimicrobial activity of propolis and essential oils was investigated by the agar dilution method. Serial dilutions of essential oils were prepared in plates, and the assay plates were estimated to contain 100, 50, 25 and 12.5 µg/mL of active essential oils. Dilutions for propolis were 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.3 µg/mL of active propolis solutions. RESULTS: Propolis solutions dissolved in benzene, diethyl ether and methyl chloride, demonstrated equal effectiveness against all investigated oral bacteria (MIC=12.5 µg/mL). Propolis solution dissolved in acetone displayed MIC of 6.3 µg/mL only for Lactobacillus acidophilus. At the MIC of 12.5 µg/mL, essential oils of Salvia officinalis and Satureja kitaibelii were effective against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, respectively. For the latter, the MIC value of Salvia officinalis was twice higher. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that propolis and plant essential oils appear to be a promising source of antimicrobial agents that may prevent dental caries and other oral infectious diseases.

Correction to: Antifungal activity of Myrtus communis against Malassezia sp. isolated from the skin of patients with pityriasis versicolor.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained two mistakes in authors' names.

Antifungal activity of Myrtus communis against Malassezia sp. isolated from the skin of patients with pityriasis versicolor.

The increasing incidence of fungal infections and antifungal resistance has prompted the search for novel antifungal drugs and alternative agents. We explored the antifungal activity of Myrtus communis essential oil (EO) against Malassezia sp. isolated from the skin of patients with pityriasis versicolor. These broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities of M. communis EO and its potent inhibiting activity on Malassezia growth deserve further research with aim to considerate this EO as candidate for topical use in treatment of skin diseases.

Changes in cardiac Na+/K+-ATPase expression and activity in female rats fed a high-fat diet.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of endogenous estradiol alters the effects of a high-fat (HF) diet on activity/expression of the cardiac Na+/K+-ATPase, via PI3K/IRS and RhoA/ROCK signalling cascades in female rats. For this study, female Wistar rats (8 weeks old, 150-200 g) were fed a standard diet or a HF diet (balanced diet for laboratory rats enriched with 42% fat) for 10 weeks. The results show that rats fed a HF diet exhibited a decrease in phosphorylation of the α1 subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase by 30% (p < 0.05), expression of total α1 subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase by 31% (p < 0.05), and association of IRS1 with p85 subunit of PI3K by 42% (p < 0.05), while the levels of cardiac RhoA and ROCK2 were significantly increased by 84% (p < 0.01) and 62% (p < 0.05), respectively. Our results suggest that a HF diet alters cardiac Na+/K+-ATPase expression via molecular mechanisms involving RhoA/ROCK and IRS-1/PI3K signalling in female rats.

Reliability and validity of the Serbian version of Children's Dental Fear Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Dental anxiety leads to avoidance of dental treatment and could lead to impaired oral health. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of the Serbian version of Children's Fear Survey Schedule Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) and the relations between dental anxiety and oral health status in a sample of Serbian schoolchildren. METHODS: The CFSS-DS scale was translated into Serbian and administered to 231 (12-year old) patients of the Pediatric Dental Department, Public Health Center Cukarica, Belgrade. The number of healthy, decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT score) in children was determined by a clinical exam. RESULTS: The average CFSS-DS score was 26.47 ± 10.33. The girls reported higher anxiety than the boys (p < 0.05). Most common fears were drilling, choking, going to the hospital and anesthesia. Lower CFSS-DS scores were recorded in children with all healthy teeth (p < 0.05). Children with higher CFSS-DS scores mostly visit the dentist due to pain or parental insistence, and those with lower anxiety scores more often visited dentist due to regular check-ups or non-invasive treatments (p < 0.01). A high value of the Cronbach's coefficient of internal consistency (α = 0.88) was found in the entire scale. CONCLUSION: The Serbian version of CFSS-DS questionnaire is reliable and valid psychometric instrument for evaluation of dental fear in Serbian children. Dental anxiety negatively affects dental attendance and oral health of the examined schoolchildren.

[Oral health related knowledge and health behavior of parents and school children].

INTRODUCTION: The family provides the background for developing behaviors, attitudes and knowledge related to oral health of children. The aim of this study was to compare oral health behavior of parents and their children and to asses the impact of parental behavior on children's oral health. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 99 parent--child pairs (12 to 15 years old). Data on oral health behavior, knowledge and attitudes regarding oral hygiene, fluorides and nutrition of parents and their children were collected by questionnaires. The parental dental health was assessed according to self-reported data on tooth loss and prosthodontic rehabilitation, while the dental status of children was determined by clinical examination. RESULTS: The parents reported the use of dental floss (p < 0.001) and mouth rinses (p < 0.05) more often than their children and they had better knowledge on fluorides. Approximately one third of parents thought they should not control sugar consumption of their child. There was a statistically significant correlation between parental oral hygiene and their habit to control the child in brushing with the child's oral health status. CONCLUSION: Oral health education activities directed towards the prevention of risk factors for developing caries should involve both parents and their children, because parental behavior is a significant predictor of children's oral health.