Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the values of the antegonial index (AI), mental index (MI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI) and mandibular cortical index (MCI) in the panoramic radiographs of normal males and male patients with osteoporosis. Methods: In panoramic radiographs obtained from 40 male individuals (20 normal and 20 with osteoporosis), the mean was calculated for MI, AI, PMI and MCI index values measured in the right and left mandibles. The MI, AI and PMI index values were evaluated using the paired t-test, and MCI values were analysed using the x 2 test. Results: MI (P , 0.001), AI (P , 0.01) and PMI (P , 0.05) values were significantly smaller in the group with osteoporosis; however, MCI (P . 0.05) was not significantly different. Conclusion: MI, PMI and AI values, as radiomorphometric indices, were found to be smaller among male patients with osteoporosis, compared with normal patients in this study. It is suggested that these indices, used as an ancillary method in the diagnosis of osteoporosis in women, could also be useful for male patients. Further studies, of larger groups are needed on this subject, including of the MCI, which in this study showed no significant difference.

Denture-induced stomatitis usually occurs in persons who wear a complete or a partial denture. Among the many aetiological and predisposing factors, Candida spp. are believed to play an important role in the initiation and progression of the infection. Seventy cases who attended the clinics of the Dental Faculty, University of Atatürk, Turkey were investigated from the viewpoint of denture-induced stomatitis. After questioning the patients for their personal information, they were examined clinically and smears were obtained from lesions of the palatal mucosa and the contiguous denture surface by calcium aliginate swabs, and inoculated onto Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with 1% chloramphenicol, and CHROMagar Candida. Individual yeast species were identified by a germ tube test, development of blastospores, chlamydospores and pseudohyphae and assimilation tests employing the commercial kit API 20C AUX system. According to the results obtained, 70% of the cases had denture-induced stomatitis, and in 68% of them mycological culture results were positive. Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated fungus (68.75%). On the other hand, fungal growth was much more pronounced in the cultures made from the inner surface of the dentures. In conclusion, this study showed that candidal infections are not the predisposing factor in the occurrence of denture-induced stomatitis, but they play a major role, as also some other factors, especially those related with dentures.

No abstract

Objective: Oral candidiasis, in the form of Candida-associated denture stomatitis, represents a common disease in a large percentage of denture wearers, and Candida albicans remains the most commonly isolated species. In this study, we aimed to evaluate biofi lm production, coagulase and hemolytic activity of Candida species isolated from denture stomatitis patients. Materials and Methods:This study included 70 patients (31 female, 39 male). Forty-eight of the patients were found to have a positive culture. A total of 48 Candida isolates representing fi ve species, C. albicans (n=17), C. glabrata (n=10), C. krusei (n=9), C. kefyr (n=7) and C. parapsilosis (n=5), were tested. Their coagulase activities were evaluated by a classical tube coagulase test with rabbit plasma. A blood plate assay on 3% enriched sheep blood Sabouraud-dextrose agar (SDA) was used to determine their in vitro hemolytic activities. Biofi lm production was determined by a visual tube method.Results: Twenty-one Candida isolates exhibited coagulase activity, and the coagulase activities of the C. albicans (64.7%) isolates were higher than other species. C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. kefyr and C. krusei species demonstrated beta hemolysis. C. parapsilosis strains failed to demonstrate any hemolytic activities. Fifteen (88.0%) of the C. albicans strains were biofi lm positive. Six (35.2%) of these strains were strongly positive, 8 (47.0%) C. albicans strains were moderately positive and 1 (5.8%) C. albicans strain was weakly positive. Sixteen (51.6%) of the non-albicans Candida strains were biofi lm positive while 15 (48.3%) did not produce biofi lms. Conclusion:The results of this present study indicate coagulase, hemolytic activity and biofi lm production by Candida spp. isolated from patients with denture stomatitis. Investigations of these virulence factors might be helpful in gaining information about the possible virulence of oral Candida species related to denture stomatitis.

It is concluded that no significant correlations were found between the mandibular and non-mandibular measures in women with osteoporosis.