Objective: The aim of the study was an updated analysis of the frequency of leukoplakia in reference to tobacco smoking among the northern Polish population. Material and Methods: Medical records of 5720 patients who suffer from abnormalities and oral mucosa diseases between January 2015–December 2018 were analyzed. Among them, 416 medical charts of patients with leukoplakia were selected. The study group consisted of 196 women and 220 men aged between 21–86 years (average 45.6 years). The analysis was conducted in terms of age, gender, and smoking tobacco. The basic criterion for inclusion in the study was the presence of oral leukoplakia confirmed by histopathological examination, recorded in the chart. Information about the patient’s active smoking was obtained from documented medical interviews. An active smoker was defined as a patient who smoked 10 or more cigarettes a day for at least the previous six months. The study used parametric and non-parametric statistical methods. Results: The highest incidence of leukoplakia was found in the age group 41–60 (46.6%), where the vast majority were active smokers (85.1%), and mostly men (86.2%). However, among patients with leukoplakia, the highest prevalence of smoking was found in the age group 21–40 years (86.8%) in women, where out of 38 patients with leukoplakia, 33 were active smokers. More patients with leukoplakia were observed in groups of smokers and it was statistically significant. Homogeneous form was the most commonly diagnosed form of leukoplakia in our study; it was found in almost 95% of cases. Leukoplakia was mainly observed on the cheeks. Changes on the gums, the alveolar process or the bottom of the tongue and mouth were rarely found. Conclusion: Our studies revealed that there is a statistically significant correlation between tobacco smoking and the presence of oral leukoplakia among the northern Polish population. It should be noted that dentists, in particular, are capable of early diagnosis and implementation of appropriate treatment of leukoplakia and, most often, crucial elimination of the main risk factor, which is smoking, and the implementation of effective tobacco control interventions.

The aim of this study was to estimate differences in selected physicochemical properties of saliva between menopausal and premenopausal women. Methods: The study population consisted of 9 menopausal women and 15 women of the control group. Laboratory tests included the determination of pH saliva, salivary flow rate, and concentrations of lactoferrin, lysozyme, immunoglobulin A, and ionized calcium. Results: Among menopausal women, statistically significant differences were observed in values of salivary flow rate and lysozyme and ionized calcium concentrations; however, no statistically significant differences for pH and concentrations of lactoferrin and immunoglobulin A were found. The salivary flow rate in the study group was significantly lower compared to that in premenopausal women. In relation to lysozyme, statistically significant differences were found between control group and menopausal women to the disadvantage of the latter. However, the concentration of ionized calcium in the saliva of menopausal women was distinctly higher than in the saliva of the control group. Conclusion: The saliva of menopausal women appeared significantly different from that of the control group. Differences in physicochemical parameters such as salivary flow rate and lysozyme and ionized calcium concentrations were observed. These differences in saliva properties observed in menopause can potentially affect the oral environment of women in this particular period, possibly increasing the risk of some pathological changes in the oral cavity and consequently indicating the need to take special care of this group of female patients in order to help them maintain proper oral health. Dentists and gynecologists should be aware of the problems associated with menopause and need to provide these women complete health care, including dental care as an integral part.

Wprowadzenie. Kandydoza jest jedną z najczęstszych schorzeń błony śluzowej jamy ustnej. Dotyczy wszystkich grup wiekowych, w szczególności populacji ludzi starszych. Różne gatunki grzybów drożdżopodobnych stanowią składową naturalnej mikroflory jamy ustnej. Drogę klinicznie jawnemu zakażeniu toruje szereg czynników ryzyka zarówno miejscowych, jak i ogólnoustrojowych, naruszających równowagę biologiczną środowiska jamy ustnej. Cel pracy. Celem pracy była retrospektywna ocena częstości występowania potencjalnych czynników ryzyka infekcji grzybiczej wśród pacjentów ze zdiagnozowaną kandydozą błony śluzowej jamy ustnej. Materiał i metody. Grupę badaną stanowiło 228 osób (152 kobiety i 76 mężczyzn), średnia wieku 60.9 ± 13.5 lat, u których zdiagnozowano kandydozę błony śluzowej jamy ustnej. Przeprowadzono retrospektywną analizę dokumentacji medycznej, biorąc pod uwagę dane z wywiadu medycznego i badania przedmiotowego dotyczące potencjalnych czynników ryzyka infekcji grzybiczych. Częstość występowania czynników ryzyka kandydozy błony śluzowej jamy ustnej-analiza retrospektywna Occurrence of risk factors for oral mucosa candidiasis and their frequency-retrospective analysis

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