Persistence of long-term insulin independence after islet transplantation and two subsequent pregnancies.

Pregnancy increases metabolic demand for insulin and may lead to the exhaustion of intraportally transplanted islets and post-gestational hyperglycemia. To prevent these complications, we implemented preemptive insulin supplementation during two subsequent pregnancies in an insulin-independent islet transplant recipient. This strategy resulted in optimal blood glucose control during the pregnancies, the preservation of the optimal islet graft function and the postpartum maintenance of long-term insulin independence.

Factors Affecting Dental Caries Experience in 12-Year-Olds, Based on Data from Two Polish Provinces.

(1) Background: Dental caries is a chronic disease that affects a child's dentition from the first stages of life. Several factors contribute to the development of the disease, including an improper diet. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify risk factors of dental caries in 12-year-old adolescents from Greater Poland and Lubusz Provinces (Poland). (2) Material and methods: The research was conducted in adolescents from five primary schools. A questionnaire consisted of close-ended questions on socioeconomic characteristics on family, diet, and oral hygiene habits. An assessment of the dentition was carried out in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. In addition to cavitated carious lesions, incipient caries lesions were noted according to the International Caries Detection and Assessment System, adapted for epidemiological studies (ICDASepiDMFt). (3) Results: The mean number of teeth with untreated caries; removed due to caries; and restored because of caries (DMFt) was 1.52 ± 1.90, while the ICDASepiDMFt index amounted to 2.64 ± 2.55, respectively. Children who did not brush every day had significantly higher odds of having ICDASepiDMFt > 0 than children brushing at least once daily (OR = 10.32, 95% CI = 1.36−78.32, p = 0.0240). Adolescents who drank sweet carbonated drinks every day had significantly higher ICDASepiDMTt than children who drank sweet carbonated drinks less frequently (p = 0.0477). (4) Conclusions: The research revealed that dental caries indices of 12-year-old adolescents from Greater Poland and Lubusz Provinces depend mainly on oral hygiene behaviors. The only significant nutritional factor that differentiated the caries intensity was the daily consumption of sweet carbonated drinks.

Clinical Consequences of Dental Caries, Parents' Perception of Child's Oral Health and Attitudes towards Dental Visits in a Population of 7-Year-Old Children.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the occurrence of the consequences of dental caries and factors affecting dental service utilization in a population of 7-year-old children. The research included oral examination of 7-year-old schoolchildren and socio-medical study of their parents/legal caregivers. It was carried out in five primary schools of two provinces, i.e., Greater Poland and Lubusz. Dental examination was performed in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. The socio-medical study consisted of questionnaires with close-ended questions concerning socioeconomic characteristics of the family, reasons and time of the last visit at the dental office, consequences of child's oral health problems, parents' attitude towards dental visits, and parental opinion about their child's teeth. Factors affecting utilization of dental services were statistically analyzed using univariate logistic regression assuming p < 0.05. The pufa index of examined children ranged from 0 to 7 (mean 0.80 ± 1.49), while the dmf index ranged from 0 to 14 (3.86 ± 3.32). Low financial burden of oral health expenditures and university education of at least one of the parents significantly increased the chance of visiting a dentist despite lack of pain (OR = 3.0 and 2.5, respectively). In spite of the availability of free dental care for children, socioeconomic factors still determine the utilization of dental services in Poland. Poor oral health status of examined population and negligence of regular dental check-ups emphasize a need to strengthen oral health literacy of parents and children, promoting proper attitudes towards dental care.

Biofortification of hens' eggs with microelements by innovative bio-based dietary supplement.

New bio-based dietary supplement with micronutrients for livestock was elaborated. The new preparation was tested on laying hens to determine the influence of new biological feed additives on the level of trace elements in egg content. The diet of laying hens (Hy-Line Brown, 30 weeks of age) was supplemented with soya bean meal enriched with Cu(II), Zn(II), Fe(II) and Cr(III) by biosorption. A total of 150 laying hens were divided into five groups: one control and four experimental. In the control group, microelements were supplemented in the inorganic form, whereas in experimental groups, Cu, Zn, Fe and Cr were replaced with soya bean meal enriched with a given microelement ion. The feeding experiment was conducted for 12 weeks and was divided into three series. The results showed that adding the new feed additives to the diet of laying hens had an impact on microelement transfer to eggs, in particular with increased dosing. Eggs were biofortified with iron, zinc and copper and to a lesser extent with chromium. The microelements were accumulated primarily in the albumen because soy protein was the carrier of micronutrient ions in hens' diet. Transfer of trace elements to eggs was not linearly dependent on the dosage of biologically bound microelements in the diet.

Biofortification of milk and cheese with microelements by dietary feed bio-preparations.

The present work reports studies on biofortification of milk and cheese with microelements. The diet of goats was supplemented with soya-based preparations with Cu(II), Fe(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II), produced by biosorption, instead of mineral salts. In innovative preparations, soya was the biological carrier of microelements. The utilitarian properties of the new preparations were tested in two groups (8 goats in each): experimental and control. The concentration of supplemented microelements was monitored in milk during the experiment. The collected milk was then used to produce cheese by enzymatic and acidic coagulation method. The effect of milk and cheese biofortification in microelements was confirmed. In milk, the level of the following microelements was higher than in the control: Cu(II) - 8.2 %, Mn(II) - 29.2 %, Zn(II) - 14.6 %. In cheese the content of Zn(II) obtained in enzymatic (19.8 %) and in acidic (120 %) coagulation was higher when compared to the control group. By using bio-preparations with microelements it was possible to produce new generation of functional food biofortified with microelements, by agronomic, and thus sustainable and ethically acceptable way. Biofortified milk and cheese can be used as designer milk to prevent from micronutrient deficiencies. Graphical Abstractᅟ.