Folia medica Cracoviensia最新文献

This article characterizes the etiology of temporomandibular disorder with particular emphasis on emotional factors that have a major impact on the development of these dysfunctions and the most common their symptoms. They mainly affect people in the third and fourth decade of life and women predominate among this group of patients. The article analyzes the current literature (Pub Med Database, Scopus and EMBASE) in relation to the conditions in the work environment, which often constitute important causes of emotional tensions, constant state of mental tension and susceptibility to the effects of stressors, which have an impact on the state of functioning of the musculoskeletal system of the masticatory system. Despite the high frequency of temporomandibular disorders, unfortunately only a few studies describe the influence of harmful factors related to the work environment, and own experience (information from the patient's interview) and data from the literature indicate a significant share of these factors in the development of temporomandibular disorder. The relationships and anatomical connections affecting the influence of stressors on the functioning of masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints are also discussed. In conclusion, it should be stated that the work environment and the emotional tensions generated in it constitute a serious sociological problem and increase the risk of developing and intensify the symptoms of TMD.

TMD is a group of pathological changes including increased tension in the masticatory muscles, pain in the muscles and/or the temporomandibular joints, abnormal range of the mandibular movement or the presence of acoustic symptoms in the joints in the form of clicking or poping. The aim of the project was to compare the effectiveness of two methods of physiotherapeutic rehabilitation, used in adolescent patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Material and methods: The material consisted of 68 patients, aged 14 to 17, of both sexes, generally healthy, who came to the Dental Prosthetics Department for treatment due to pain in the masticatory muscles. Dental examination and diagnostics revealed Ia in all cases in accordance with RDC/TMD protocol. Manual therapy was performed in group I (34 people) and kinesitherapy with massage was performed in group II (34 people). Patients were allocated randomly to both groups. Contraindications were considered for both methods.

Results: Within the first study, mean values of pain intensity between group I and group II were not significantly different (6.12 and 6.24 respectively). Within the second study significantly lower VAS scores in both groups have been revealed (0.92 and 0.74 respectively). Results of the first and second study differed significantly in both groups. Similar results were obtained for the maximum abduction of the mandible.

Conclusions: The results of the conducted studies indicate a beneficial effect of the assessed physiotherapeutic procedures in terms of functional rehabilitation of adolescent patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Background: Autonomic dysfunction, impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), and deranged circulatory homeostasis have been observed in chronic hyperglycemia and found to be associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the acute effects of hyperglycemia in healthy subjects have been rarely studied. The present study explores the effect of acute hyperglycemia on conventional and unconventional parameters of BRS in healthy young adults.

Methods: For the estimation of BRS beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) and electrocardiogram were recorded in forty-two young, healthy subjects during fasting and at 1hr of the oral glucose load. Analysis of BRS was carried out by sequence and spectral method. Number of UP-, DOWN- and ALL-sequences between ramps of BP and RR-interval were calculated as an unconventional measure of BRS along with the other conventional parameters.

Results: We observed significant alteration of unconventional parameters of autonomic functions [the number of sequences of UP- (p = 0.0039) and ALL-sequences (p = 0.0233) of systolic BP and RR interval; and, UP- (p = 0.0380), DOWN- (p = 0.0417) and ALL-sequences (p = 0.0313) of mean BP and RR- interval] during acute hyperglycemia as compared to the fasting state. However, no significant changes were observed in any of the conventional parameters of BRS during acute hyperglycemia as compared to the fasting state.

Conclusions: Present study concludes that the unconventional parameters of BRS - the number of sequences between the ramp of BP and RR-interval - change significantly during acute hyperglycemia. However, the conventional parameters do not show significant changes during acute hyperglycemia. We may hypothesize that the relatively constant BRS is maintained at the expense of increased oscillations in the ramp of BP and RR-interval.

The main target during management of a male pediatric patient with clinical signs of acute scrotum is the timely diagnosis, in order not to jeopardize the viability of the affected testicle. Thorough evaluation of the patient's medical history, symptomatology, clinical and ultrasonographic findings, constitutes the basis of the diagnostic procedure. After comprehensive research of the relevant literature, we highlight the remaining difficulties in the evaluation of the clinical and ultrasonographic findings for the accurate diagnosis of the acute scrotum. In conclusion, it is worth emphasizing on the following: a. the most common diseases that come under the diagnosis of the acute scrotum may present with similar symptoms, b. in neglected cases the diagnostic approach becomes more difficult, constituting the evaluation of the pathognomonic clinical signs challenging, and c. inability to exclude the diagnosis of spermatic cord torsion should be an indication for the surgical exploration of the affected hemiscrotum.

The interstitial cells known as telocytes have been described in various organs. Their role in the normal physiology and pathogenesis of numerous diseases is well known. They have been described in the context of various diseases (gallstone disease, endometriosis, uterine myoma, hydronephrosis, myocardial infraction, psoriasis, etc.), while their impact on inflammation, involvement in angiogenesis, and repair highlights their part in local homeostasis. What is known about their relationship with the immune system? Their secretomes, genome, immune profiles, contacts with surrounding cells, and specific localization allow us to give a possible explanation for their involvement in pathological pathways. This review aims to present the roles and features of telocytes in the context of intestinal immunity (the largest in our body), in the spleen, their interactions with immunocytes, and their place in stem cell niches.

Introduction: The musculus flexor carpi radialis (FCR) is a muscle with an important function for the mechanics and physiology of the hand. Its isolation during intrauterine development occurs relatively late, which may result in the presence of high variability during the fetal period. The aim of this study is to determine the detailed typology of FCR in the fetal period based on the available material.

Material and methods: A total of 114 human fetuses (53 female, 61 male) aged between 117.0 and 197.0 days of fetal life were included in the study. The research material was derived from the collections of the Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Wrocław. Fetuses were stored in typical conservation solvents. The study incorporated the following methods: anthropological, preparational, and image acquisition, which was obtained using an innovative digital microscope. Statistical analysis was performed using R software.

Results: The typology of FCR was determined based on the characteristics of the distal attachment of the investigated muscle. The statistical analysis revealed a predominance of type I in the examined fetal material - the attachment located on metacarpal bone II (about 82% of cases). Type IV (attachment to the 4th metacarpal bone) occurs with a frequency of less than 10% and the remaining types II and III occur with a frequency of 4-6%. The statistical analysis did not reveal bilateral or dimorphic differences in the prevalence of each FCR type. In respect of the collected anthropometric parameters, no statistically significant dimorphic differences were revealed. For a more complete description, the FCR proportionality index was introduced. The mean value of this index was 0.6 and was independent of the side or sex of the analyzed fetus.

Conclusions: FCR in the fetal period is characterized by a stable course in both the proximal and distal attachments.

Objectives: Designing and printing out a 3D model of a mandible, including the teeth with replicated carious lesions, to be fitted into the Dental Patient Simulator. Students assessed the 3D teeth models against the extracted teeth and the standard models, identifying specific restorative dentistry procedures where they might be applied as the teaching aids.

Methods: A 3D tooth model was printed out against a patient's Cone Beam Computed Tomography scan. The study was attended by 22, 5th-year students, who, having prior removed the caries, filled in the cavities of different classes and trepanned the pulp chamber in the 3D models, subsequently rating them against a questionnaire.

Results: Over 95% of students recommended introducing the 3D models into teaching conservative dentistry with endodontics at the pre-clinical stage to enhance manual skills in cavity preparation and filling. The replication of tissue hardness and anatomical characteristics in the 3D models was rated significantly higher, as compared to the standard ones (p <0.05). Over 90% of students also asserted that working on the 3D models would enhance their pulp chamber trepanation skills, and rated overall replication of the anatomical characteristics significantly higher, in comparison with the standard teeth models (p <0.05).

Conclusions: In pre-clinical education, the 3D teeth models offer a viable alternative, as there is an appreciable potential for different types of teeth to be printed out, in full consideration of their anatomical diversity. Further design refinements in the 3D teeth models are required, though, particularly the ones regarding true-to-life replication of the soft tissues.

Authors, mostly specialists on rehabilitation and orthopedic surgery prove that arthrofibrosis is a commonly overlooked phenomenon, which may lead to serious limitation in the range of movement, leading to limitation in patients quality of functioning. The main goal of this article is to emphasize the importance of understanding a such complex condition. Non typical patomechanism, lack of biomarkers dedicated to this dysfunction and general lack of understanding in this pathology causes that risk factors and the most effective strategies remain vastly unknown. Pathophysiology of the arthrofibrosis in the joints is definitely multifactorial, but intense production of collagen seems to be the main factor. Most modern pharmacological methods concentrate on the regulation of collagen fiber production and reducing the inflammation. Inflammation from joint contractures stimulates the proliferation of activated cells that results in the production of extracellular matrix macromolecules to form fibrotic tissue that is deposited into the capsule, thereby resulting in fibrosis. Lack of unified classification scale is caused by relatively high variation of the functions fulfilled by particular joints and each treatment plan should be constructed individually. Quality of surgical treatment and physical therapy play a major role in both prevention and treatment of such complex condition as arthrofibrosis. Both iatrogenic mistakes and overly aggressive manual therapy are some of main factors increasing the risk of this pathological condition. Introducing properly conducted physical therapy treatment in the early stage is crucial to main the range of movement and preventing this significant problem.

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a group of chronic inflammatory disorders characterized by dysbiosis and altered short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) level. The association between individual SCFA levels and cytokine levels is unknown.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the fecal SCFA levels in patients with IBD in relation to disease severity and the serum levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Patients and methods: The study included 61 patients with IBD (inactive, 22; active, 39) and 16 controls. Fecal levels of organic acids (acetic, lactic, propionic, butyric, isovaleric, isobutyric, and valeric), serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-17, and IL-22, complete blood count and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured.

Results: Patients with active IBD had reduced butyric, acetic, valeric, and isovaleric acid levels and elevated lactic acid levels in stool. Hemoglobin levels were positively correlated with the levels of acetic and butyric acids (R = 0.266 and R = 0.346, respectively; P <0.05). In addition, CRP levels were inversely correlated with butyric acid levels (R = -0.573; P <0.05). Higher serum TNF-α levels were observed in patients with active IBD compared with controls (6.64 pg/ml vs 2.05 pg/ml, P <0.05). No relationship was noted between the SCFA profile and cytokine levels.

Conclusions: The study showed that determination of SCFA levels can be used to evaluate the activity of IBD. The relationship between individual SCFA and cytokine levels seems to be complex and requires further studies.

Each piece of information is distributed in the form of a message. Its character takes various forms, it can be expressed by words or in images. It is the visual form which is the most effective tool of influence. Graphic signs are often used to convey or exchange thoughts. The signs have an informative function but they are also meant to force a specific behavior. Such a change in expectations and beliefs of a specific regulator is called the social impact. The intensity of interpersonal relationships is deliberately stimulated through an appropriate form of communication. The more expressive and emotional is its character, the greater the benefits for the quality of communication in the process of promoting healthy behaviors.