Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: An update.

Antiresorptive medications, such as bisphosphonates and denosumab, are an important class of medication used to treat a wide range of diseases from osteoporosis to multiple myeloma. Unfortunately, they are also associated with a rare but devastating side effect - medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). First reported in 2003, much research has been done into the area; however, the exact pathophysiology continues to elude clinicians and researchers. What has been ascertained is that intravenous treatment, duration of treatment, and tooth extraction are major risk factors. Staging and treatment guidelines have been proposed; however, there has been no universal acceptance, and clinicians rely on various position papers. Over the next 30 years, the aging population is set to double, and with it, the prescription of antiresorptive medication and incidence of MRONJ will undoubtedly increase. In 2013, Gupta et al. published a paper on bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw; however, there have many changes since then. This paper aims to provide a succinct update on those changes.

A rare case of internal jugular vein dissection following central venous catheterization.

Background: Central venous catheterization (CVC) is an important and common procedure performed for the purpose of drug administration, hemodynamic monitoring, emergency venous access, and extracorporeal intervention. We report a rare case of CVC prior to cardiac surgery, complicated by internal jugular venous dissection. Case presentation: A 66-year-old female was undergoing central venous catheterization prior to cardiac surgery. During the procedure the guidewire could not be proceeded at which point an ultrasound was used to visualize the internal jugular vein, where a venous dissection was noted. Cannulation was, therefore, undertaken on the contralateral side, which was done uneventfully. Conclusion: Venous dissection is a rare complication of CVC, however the incidence is likely higher than the frequency of reporting suggests. Given the low pressures in the venous system the dissection will likely be self-limiting and can be monitored for complication. However, should continue expansion occur, surgery would be necessary.

Open Access Publishing: A Study of Current Practice in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Research.

INTRODUCTION: Open access (OA) publication has become an increasingly common route for dissemination of scientific research findings. However, it remains a contentious issue with continued debate as to its impact on the peer-review process and a potential change in the quality of subsequent evidence published. There is little research that looks into OA in oral and maxillofacial surgery. METHODS: We investigated the OA policy in the 30 relevant journals listed in the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Knowledge journal citation report, comparing bibliometric data and quality of evidence produced in journals offering OA and those with subscription-only policies. RESULTS: 3474 articles were graded for evidence level and the results correlated to journal OA status. 76.7 % of journals offered authors OA services. There was no difference between impact factor, self-citation rate, total citations or quality of evidence between OA and subscription journals. DISCUSSION: These findings should send clear messages to both clinicians and researchers and should re- assure readers that scientific findings that are disseminated in open access form do not differ in quality to those in subscription-only format. It should reinforce that open access formats are a credible way to display research findings in oral and maxillofacial surgery.