Can 'What Is Known' about Social Isolation and Loneliness Interventions Sufficiently Inform the Clinical Practice of Health Care and Social Service Professionals Who Work with Older Adults? Exploring Knowledge-to-Practice Gaps.

Establishing intervention effectiveness is an important component of a broader knowledge translation (KT) process. However, mobilizing the implementation of these interventions into practice is perhaps the most important aspect of the KT cycle. The purpose of the current study was to conduct an umbrella review to (a) identify promising interventions for SI&L in older adults, (b) interpret (translate) the findings to inform clinical knowledge and practice interventions in different settings and contexts, and (c) highlight research gaps that may hinder the uptake of these interventions in practice. The broader purpose of this study was to inform evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on SI&L for HCSSPs. In line with other reviews, our study noted variations in methods and intervention designs that prohibit definitive statements about intervention effectiveness. Perhaps, the most significant contribution of the current review was in identifying knowledge-to-practice gaps that inhibit the implementation of interventions into practice-based realities.

Evaluating the impact of a national geriatric mental health ECHO educational program on healthcare providers' practice.

Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) enables healthcare providers to share knowledge and best practices via telementoring. The ECHO model builds provider capacity and improves care for patients with a variety of health conditions. This study describes a Canada-wide National ECHO pilot project in the area of geriatric mental health and reports on the program's impact on providers' care practices. A mixed-methods approach was used to analyze surveys completed by participating healthcare providers. Program evaluation measured satisfaction, achievement of learning objectives, awareness of issues related to geriatric mental health, and comfort and self-efficacy working with older adults. The program led to a statistically significant increase in participants' awareness of issues related to support for older adults with mental illness and comfort and self-efficacy in managing these patients in their own practice. The National ECHO pilot project was successful in building healthcare providers' capacity to care for older adults with mental health issues and positively impacting their practice. These findings support using the ECHO model to provide ongoing geriatric mental health education for clinicians from across Canada and beyond.

Timely Yet Long Overdue: Canadian Standards for Long-Term Care Homes.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted systemic problems in Canadian long-term care (LTC). While high mortality rates in LTC received significant attention, the pandemic also took an enormous toll on mental health of LTC residents, where mental health conditions, including cognitive disorders, are already much higher than in other community settings. The pandemic resulted in a renewed interest in improving quality of care in LTC and led to the recent development of several National Standards of Canada. The newly available Standards set ambitious targets, but many of the standards are practical and essential to moving beyond a focus on safety and physical needs in LTC and towards one that supports residents as whole persons. While the standards support good mental health indirectly, there is a need to recognize mental health in these settings as a fundamental human right and essential to quality of life, and for this to be reflected in ongoing and future standards development. Ensuring existing and forthcoming National Standards are meaningfully implemented, in whole or in part, will require extensive efforts at multiple levels. The guidance provided by Canadian Standards will shape this transformative process, necessitating aligned federal and provincial investments and policies, and stakeholder engagement to bring about the envisioned high-quality care.

Impacts of medical and non-medical cannabis on the health of older adults: Findings from a scoping review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis legalization has enabled increased consumption in older adults. Age-related mental, physical, and physiological changes may lead to differences in effects of cannabis in older adults compared to younger individuals. OBJECTIVE: To perform a scoping review to map the evidence regarding the health effects of cannabis use for medical and non-medical purposes in older adults. METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library) were searched for systematic reviews (SRs), randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized/observational studies (NRSs) assessing the health effects and associations of cannabis use (medical or non-medical) in adults ≥ 50 years of age. Included studies met age-related inclusion criteria or involved a priori identified health conditions common among older adults. Records were screened using a liberal accelerated approach and data charting was performed independently by two reviewers. Descriptive summaries, structured tables, effect direction plots and bubble plots were used to synthesize study findings. FINDINGS: From 31,393 citations, 133 publications describing 134 unique studies (26 SRs, 36 RCTs, 72 NRSs) were included. Medical cannabis had inconsistent therapeutic effects in specific patient conditions (e.g., end-stage cancer, dementia), with a number of studies suggesting possible benefits while others found no benefit. For medical cannabis, harmful associations outnumbered beneficial, and RCTs reported more negative effects than NRSs. Cannabis use was associated with greater frequencies of depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, substance use and problematic substance use, accidents/injuries, and acute healthcare use. Studies often were small, did not consistently assess harms, and did not adjust for confounding. DISCUSSION: The effects of medical cannabis are inconsistent within specific patient conditions. For older adults, generally, the available evidence suggests cannabis use may be associated with greater frequencies of mental health issues, substance use, and acute healthcare use, and the benefit-to-risk ratio is unclear. Studies with a balanced assessment of benefits and harms may guide appropriate public health messaging to balance the marketing pressures of cannabis to older adults.

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF EGG ENVELOPES AND EARLY EMBRYOS OF ROHDELLA AMAZONICA (TREMATODA: ASPIDOGASTREA) PARASITIC IN BANDED PUFFER FISH, COLOMESUS PSITTACUS.

Egg structure and early embryonic development of the aspidogastrean, Rohdella amazonica, a basal trematode, were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to gain insight into functional, developmental, and phylogenetic characteristics. Gravid worms were removed from the intestine of naturally infected banded puffer fish Colomesus psittacus, collected from the Bay of Marajó, Paracauari River (Pará, Brazil) and processed by standard TEM methods. By the time of pronuclear fusion, the fertilized zygote was already enclosed in a thick, electron-dense pre-operculate eggshell and an underlying layer of vitellocytes that fused into a vitelline syncytium as they were still secreting their shell granules. When cleavage commenced, a small number of macromeres moved to the area just underneath the eggshell, where they fused to form a single syncytial embryonic envelope. Simultaneously, the smaller blastomeres continued to divide as they maintained contact with each other, but remained separate from the vitelline syncytium. Concurrent with these cellular changes, a thickened knob expanded at one pole of the eggshell and began to form an opercular suture. By the time the operculum was fully formed, the vitelline syncytium had mostly degenerated, while the smaller blastomeres had become cohesive as a single mass that preceded the differentiation and morphogenesis of the cotylocidium larva. The general pattern of cleavage and eggshell formation resembles that of other trematodes and polylecithal cestodes, but the single embryonic envelope has been reported only in a few basal taxa. The only other aspidogastrean studied in detail to date is very similar, indicating close phylogenetic affinity and conservatism within this basal neodermatan and neoophoran group.

Tannic Acid-Modified Silver Nanoparticles in Conjunction with Contact Lens Solutions Are Useful for Progress against the Adhesion of Acanthamoeba spp. to Contact Lenses.

Acanthamoeba spp. are amphizoic amoebae that are widely distributed in the environment and capable of entering the human body. They can cause pathogenic effects in different tissues and organs, including Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), which may result in a loss of visual acuity and blindness. The diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of AK are still challenging. More than 90% of AK cases are related to the irresponsible wearing of contact lenses. However, even proper lens care does not sufficiently protect against this eye disease, as amoebae have been also found in contact lens solutions and contact lens storage containers. The adhesion of the amoebae to the contact lens surface is the first step in developing this eye infection. To limit the incidence of AK, it is important to enhance the anti-adhesive activity of the most popular contact lens solutions. Currently, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used as modern antimicrobial agents. Their effectiveness against Acanthamoeba spp., especially with the addition of plant metabolites, such as tannic acid, has been confirmed. Here, we present the results of our further studies on the anti-adhesion potential of tannic acid-modified silver nanoparticles (AgTANPs) in combination with selected contact lens solutions against Acanthamoeba spp. on four groups of contact lenses. The obtained results showed an increased anti-adhesion activity of contact lens solutions in conjunction with AgTANPs with a limited cytotoxicity effect compared to contact lens solutions acting alone. This may provide a benefit in improving the prevention of amoebae eye infections. However, there is still a need for further studies on different pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba in order to assess the adhesion of the cysts to the contact lens surface and to reveal a more comprehensive picture of the activity of AgTANPs and contact lens solutions.

ULTRASTRUCTURE AND CYTOCHEMISTRY OF LATE EMBRYOS AND COTYLOCIDIUM LARVAE OF ROHDELLA AMAZONICA (TREMATODA: ASPIDOGASTREA), FROM THE TROPICAL ESTUARINE FISH, COLOMESUS PSITTACUS.

Developmental ultrastructure of late embryos and cotylocidium larval morphogenesis of Rohdella amazonica, an aspidogastrean parasite of fish, were studied to reveal the functional aspects of larvigenesis within the egg as well as phylogenetically relevant characteristics of the embryos and larvae in this basal trematode group. Gravid worms were removed from the intestine of naturally infected banded puffer fish Colomesus psittacus, collected from the Bay of Marajó, Paracauari River (Pará, Brazil) and processed by standard methods of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cytochemistry. During late cleavage and rearrangement of the blastomeres, the vitelline syncytium that plays a role in eggshell formation and nutrient provision to the embryo completes its apoptotic degeneration as the embryonic mass grows substantially. Early larval morphogenesis involves cellular positioning that defines the anteroposterior polarity of the differentiating larva. Progressing through larvigenesis, the anterior end forms a muscular oral sucker surrounding the mouth, which leads inward into the pharynx and expanding digestive cavity. At the posterior end, a large disc forms as a precursor to the eventual ventral disc. The fully formed cotylocidium, still within the eggshell, is flexed ventrally, bringing the 2 poles into near juxtaposition. The neodermatan tegument with outwardly projecting small microvilli becomes fully formed, as myocytons, a protonephridial system, and 2 glandular regions occupy the body's interior. The ultrastructural features described here are very similar to those reported for Aspidogaster limacoides from fish and somewhat similar to those reported for Cotylogaster occidentalis from molluscs, but differ from the more diverse larvae of neodermatan taxa that have been studied more extensively.

Primary Progressive Aphasia Presenting With Neuropsychiatric Symptoms.

We describe a case of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) with an underlying neurodegenerative motor disorder (possible ALS or PSP), presenting with symptoms of irritability and frustration, that were misdiagnosed and treated as a primary psychiatric disorder, i.e. depression. PPA is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by insidious onset and gradual progression of speech and language impairment. We emphasize that PPA can initially masquerade as or be accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms potentially leading to misdiagnosis. Most prevalent neuropsychiatric symptoms reported in the PPA literature are agitation, depression, anxiety, apathy, irritability, abnormal appetite and disinhibition. To ensure early diagnosis of PPA, if a patient presents with new psychiatric symptoms accompanied by new onset speech and/or language impairment, referral to a specialist (i.e., neurologist and/or speech-language pathologist) is recommended.

Position Statement for Mental Health Care in Long-Term Care During COVID-19.

COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted older adults in long-term care (LTC) facilities in Canada. There are opportunities to learn from this crisis and to improve systems of care in order to ensure that older adults in LTC enjoy their right to the highest attainable standard of health. Measures are needed to ensure the mental health of older adults in LTC during COVID-19. The Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry (CAGP) and Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health (CCSMH) have developed the following position statements to address the mental health needs of older adults in LTC facilities, their family members, and LTC staff. We outlined eight key considerations related to mental health care in LTC during COVID-19 to optimize the mental health of this vulnerable population during the pandemic.

Infection of Mammary Glands of Small Mammals in Eastern North America by Helminths.

To determine whether small mammals living in natural settings harbor helminth infections in their mammary glands, we conducted a survey of helminths infecting rodents and soricimorphs in three widespread locations in the eastern United States: states of New York, Tennessee, and Georgia. We examined all the primary organs in all hosts, and identified all helminths. We also excised the complete mammary glands within their subcutaneous fat pads, then stained and mounted each whole mammary gland set for microscopical examination. A total of 53 individual hosts were examined, including 32 Peromyscus spp., 11 Mus musculus, 5 Sigmodon hispidus, 4 Clethrionomys gapperi, and 1 Blarina carolinensis. Helminths collected included Heligmosomoides sp., Hymenolepisdiminuta, Hymenolepis nana, Pterygodermatites peromysci, Schistosomatium douthitti, Syphacia obvelata, Syphacia sigmodontis, and Trichostrongylus sigmodontis. Four S. hispidus were infected by T. sigmodontis in the small intestine; in all four, we also found nematode larvae in lactiferous duct lumen and lactogenic tissue of the mammary glands. We were unable to identify the species of nematode larvae, but the co-occurrence with T. sigmodontis in all cases may suggest an association. Future studies should seek to identify such larvae using molecular and other methods, and to determine the role of these mammary nematode larvae in the life cycle of the identified species. No other host species harbored helminths in the mammary glands. Overall, our results suggest that mammary infections in wild small mammals are not common, but warrant inclusion in future surveys.

ECHO Care of the Elderly: Innovative Learning to Build Capacity in Long-term Care.

BACKGROUND: Older adults are entering long-term care (LTC) homes with more complex care needs than in previous decades, resulting in demands on point-of-care staff to provide additional and specialty services. This study evaluated whether Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Care of the Elderly Long-Term Care (COE-LTC)-a case-based online education program-is an effective capacity-building program among interprofessional health-care teams caring for LTC residents. METHODS: A mixed-method, pre-and-post study comprised of satisfaction, knowledge, and self-efficacy surveys and exploration of experience via semi-structured interviews. Participants were interprofessional health-care providers from LTC homes across Ontario. RESULTS: From January-March 2019, 69 providers, nurses/nurse practitioners (42.0%), administrators (26.1%), physicians (24.6%), and allied health professionals (7.3%) participated in 10 weekly, 60-minute online sessions. Overall, weekly session and post-ECHO satisfaction were high across all domains. Both knowledge scores and self-efficacy ratings increased post-ECHO, 3.9% (p = .02) and 9.7 points (p < .001), respectively. Interview findings highlighted participants' appreciation of access to specialists, recognition of educational needs specific to LTC, and reduction of professional isolation. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that ECHO COE-LTC can be a successful capacity-building educational model for interprofessional health-care providers in LTC, and may alleviate pressures on the health system in delivering care for residents.

Toward a learning-to-performance program for interprofessional long-term care teams: Team Essentials to foster engagement, reciprocity, and meaningful, sustained practice change.

This paper presents the design, delivery, and preliminary evaluation of a gerontological learning-to-performance program. An interprofessional educational team sought to integrate leading clinical and educational practices into Team Essentials to engage long-term care teams in learning to improve performance. Although the association between skilled, trained staff and quality of care is well-established in research, how best to engage learners from an increasingly diverse workforce is less well understood. This paper outlines the context, framework, methods, and preliminary evaluation of the program. Data from participant surveys, interviews, and field notes suggest that program content and delivery positively impacted participants. Four major themes emerged: Enabling engagement through experiential learning; Valuing reciprocity in long-term care training; Creating meaningful change through significant learning; and, Fostering sustained practice change through leadership involvement. The paper concludes with implications for LTC workforce training.

Comparing a clinician-assisted and app-supported behavioral activation intervention to promote brain health and well-being in frontline care.

BACKGROUND: Positive psychiatry offers an unique approach to promote brain health and well-being in aging populations. Minimal interventions through behavioral activation to promote wellness are increasingly available using self-guided apps, yet little is known about the effectiveness of app technology or the difference between clinician-supported behavioral activation versus self-guided app methodologies. OBJECTIVES: Investigate the difference in users and outcomes between two methods of the Fountain of Health (FoH) positive psychiatry intervention for behavioral activation to promote brain health and well-being: (1) clinician-assisted and (2) independent app use for behavioral self-management. DESIGN AND SETTING: As part of a larger knowledge translation intervention in positive psychiatry, two specific methods of a behavioral activation intervention were retrospectively compared. PARTICIPANTS: Two subsets of patients were compared; 254 clinician-assisted patients; 333 independent app users. INTERVENTION: A minimal positive psychiatry intervention in frontline care using the FoH health and behavior change clinical tools. MEASUREMENTS: Main outcomes were changes in psychological (health and resilience, well-being scores) and behavioral indices (goal attainment, items of goal SMART-ness). User profiles (age, sex and completion rates) were also compared. RESULTS: Clinician-assisted patients were more likely to be male, older, and have lower health and resilience scores at baseline. Clinician-assisted patients had notably higher completion rates (99.2% vs. 10.8%). Psychological outcomes (improved health and resilience, and well-being) were similar regardless of intervention method for those who completed the intervention. Behavioral outcomes revealed clinician-assisted patients set goals that better adhered to key goal-setting items. CONCLUSIONS: Clinician-patient relationships appear to be an important factor for intervention completion and behavioral outcomes, while further exploration of best practices for intervention completion using health apps in clinical practice is needed. A preliminary goal-setting methodology for effective behavioral activation, to promote brain health and wellness, is given.

Building Long-Term Care Staff Capacity During COVID-19 Through Just-in-Time Learning: Evaluation of a Modified ECHO Model.

OBJECTIVES: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly challenged the capacity of long-term care (LTC) homes in Canada, resulting in new, pressing priorities for leaders and health care providers (HCPs) in the care and safety of LTC residents. This study aimed to determine whether Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Care of the Elderly Long-Term Care (COE-LTC): COVID-19, a virtual education program, was effective at delivering just-in-time learning and best practices to support LTC teams and residents during the pandemic. DESIGN: Mixed methods evaluation. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Interprofessional HCPs working in LTC homes or deployed to work in LTC homes primarily in Ontario, Canada, who participated in 12 weekly, 60-minute sessions. METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative surveys assessing reach, satisfaction, self-efficacy, practice change, impact on resident care, and knowledge sharing. RESULTS: Of the 252 registrants for ECHO COE-LTC: COVID-19, 160 (63.4%) attended at least 1 weekly session. Nurses and nurse practitioners represented the largest proportion of HCPs (43.8%). Overall, both confidence and comfort level working with residents who were at risk, confirmed, or suspected of having COVID-19 increased after participating in the ECHO sessions (effect sizes ≥ 0.7, Wilcoxon signed rank P < .001). Participants also reported impact on intent to change behavior, resident care, and knowledge sharing. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The results demonstrate that ECHO COE-LTC: COVID 19 effectively delivered time-sensitive information and best practices to support LTC teams and residents. It may be a critical platform during this pandemic and in future crises to deliver just-in-time learning during periods of constantly changing information.

Canadian Guidelines on Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonist Use Disorder Among Older Adults Title.

BACKGROUND: Benzodiazepine receptor agonist (BZRA) use disorder among older adults is a relatively common and challenging clinical condition. METHOD: The Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health, with financial support from Health Canada, has produced evidence-based guidelines on the prevention, identification, assessment, and management of this form of substance use disorder. RESULTS: Inappropriate use of BZRAs should be avoided by considering non-pharmacological approaches to the management of late life insomnia, anxiety, and other common indications for the use of BZRA. Older persons should only be prescribed BZRAs after they are fully informed of alternatives, benefits, and risks associated with their use. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for the presence of BZRA use disorders. The full version of these guidelines can be accessed at www.ccsmh.ca. CONCLUSIONS: A person-centred, stepped care approach utilizing gradual dose reductions should be used in the management of BZRA use disorder.

Effects of medical and non-medical cannabis use in older adults: protocol for a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: With its legalisation and regulation in Canada in 2018, the proportion of Canadians reporting cannabis use in 2019 increased substantially over the previous year, with half of new users being aged 45+ years. While use in older adults has been low historically, as those born in the 1950s and 1960s continue to age, this demographic will progressively have more liberal attitudes, prior cannabis exposure and higher use rates. However, older adults experience slower metabolism, increased likelihood of polypharmacy, cognitive decline and chronic physical/mental health problems. There is a need to enhance knowledge of the effects of cannabis use in older adults. The following question will be addressed using a scoping review approach: what evidence exists regarding beneficial and harmful effects of medical and non-medical cannabis use in adults >50 years of age? Given that beneficial and harmful effects of cannabis may be mediated by patient-level (eg, age, sex and race) and cannabis-related factors (eg, natural vs synthetic, consumption method), subgroup effects related to these and additional factors will be explored. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Methods for scoping reviews outlined by Arksey & O'Malley and the Joanna Briggs Institute will be used. A librarian designed a systematic search of the literature from database inception to June 2019. Using the OVID platform, Ovid MEDLINE will be searched, including Epub Ahead of Print and In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Embase Classic+Embase, and PsycINFO for reviews, randomised trials, non-randomised trials and observational studies of cannabis use. The Cochrane Library on Wiley will also be searched. Eligibility criteria will be older adult participants, currently using cannabis (medical or non-medical), with studies required to report a cannabis-related health outcome to be eligible. Two reviewers will screen citations and full texts, with support from artificial intelligence. Two reviewers will chart data. Tables/graphics will be used to map evidence and identify evidence gaps. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This research will enhance awareness of existing evidence addressing the health effects of medical and non-medical cannabis use in older adults. Findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication, conference presentations and a stakeholder meeting. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/5JTAQ.

Ultrastructure and cytochemistry of intrauterine embryonic and larval stages of Ityogonimus lorum (Digenea: Brachylaimidae) involving transitory development of ciliated miracidia.

Results of the present study provide ultrastructural evidence that miracidial morphogenesis is fully completed within the intrauterine eggs while in the most posterior uterine regions of Ityogonimus lorum, a digenean parasite of an Iberian mole, Talpa occidentalis (Eulipotyphla, Talpidae). Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the ultrastructural characteristics of diverse cell types and their organelles of these developing embryos and fully formed miracidia within the eggshell were examined. The eggshell and embryonic envelopes are similar to those described previously by many authors for other digeneans. However, the developing miracidia are unique among previously described digeneans in possessing transitory cilia during larvigenesis, but completely lacking cilia in fully formed miracidium larvae. The evidence for completion of miracidial maturation in intrauterine eggs is based on the presence of the following structures: (1) transitional stage of ciliated differentiating miracidial epithelium; (2) apical and lateral glands, characteristic for digenean miracidia; and (3) fully developed germinative cells grouped together in the germinative sac localized in the posterior region of the miracidium. The protonephridial system with its characteristic flame cells and the nervous system with diverse types of neurons and nerve centers, which are characteristic for other digenean species reported until now, are absent from all these developmental stages of I. lorum. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that the life cycle of I. lorum is entirely terrestrial, involving passive transmission by ingestion of eggs containing unciliated miracidia to the first intermediate host.

Meaning-Centered Men's Groups: Initial Findings of an Intervention to Enhance Resiliency and Reduce Suicide Risk in Men Facing Retirement.

Objectives: To assess the preliminary effectiveness of Meaning-Centered Men's Groups (MCMG), a 12-session existentially-oriented, community-based, psychological group intervention designed to enhance psychological resiliency and prevent the onset or exacerbation of suicide ideation among men who are concerned about or struggling with the transition to retirement.Methods: We recruited 30 men (n= 10 per group), 55 years and older (M= 63.7, SD= 4.1) from community settings to participate in a course of MCMG to be delivered in a community center. Participants completed eligibility, pre-, mid-, and post-group assessments of suicide ideation and psychological risk and resiliency factors.Results: Participants experienced significant increases in attitudinal sources of meaning in life, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, retirement satisfaction, and general health, and decreases in depression, hopelessness, loneliness, and suicide ideation.Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that MCMG is a novel men's mental health intervention that may help to enhance psychological well-being and potentially reduce the severity or prevent the onset of symptoms of depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation.Clinical Implications: Upstream psychological interventions may serve an important role in mental health promotion and suicide prevention with potentially vulnerable individuals facing challenging life transitions.

Examination of oral biofilm microbiota in patients using fixed orthodontic appliances in order to prevent risk factors for health complications.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: In recent decades the use of orthodontic appliances in Poland has increased; however, data on their influence on changes of components of the microbiome connected with oral biofilm are scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate oral microbiota in terms of their role as risk factors for health complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 100 patients treated with removable or fixed appliances. Oral hygiene and gingival health were determined, and periodontal swabs taken from each patient for parasitological, bacteriological and mycological microscopic and in vitro examinations. RESULTS: Oral protists and various pathogenic and opportunistic bacterial and fungal strains were identified in the superficial layer of biofilm. A higher prevalence of bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and various strains of yeast-like fungi from the Candida albicans group, occurred in patients treated with the fixed appliance than in those using a removable appliance or not treated orthodontically. In some periodontal samples from patients treated with fixed appliances, cysts of the Acanthamoeba spp. were found. CONCLUSIONS: The use of orthodontic appliances alters the status of the oral cavity; it has impact on the colonization of oral biofilm by opportunistic/pathogenic strains, and increases the risk of their dissemination to various human tissues and organs. Pretreatment examination of oral microbiome, its monitoring particularly during treatment with fixed appliances, and preventive elimination of the potentially pathogenic strains to avoid health complications, are highly recommended, especially in patients with impaired immunity.