Trefoil family factor (TFF) proteins contribute to antimicrobial defense and the maintenance of sinonasal epithelial barrier integrity. Dysregulation of TFF expression may be involved in the development of chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling characteristically found in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Expressions of TFF1 and TFF3 were determined in specimens of middle nasal turbinate (MNT-0), bulla ethmoidalis (BE), and nasal polyps (NP) from CRSwNP patients (n = 29) and inferior nasal turbinate from a group of control patients (underwent nasal septoplasty, n = 25). An additional MNT sample was collected 6 months after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS, MNT-6). TFF1 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in all specimens by approximately three- to five-fold, while TFF3 was increased in MNT-0, as compared with controls. Six months after surgery their levels were reversed to control values. CRSwNP patients with S. epidermidis isolated from sinus swabs showed upregulation of TFF3 in MNT and NP as compared with patients with sterile swabs. Target gene regulation was not affected by the presence of type 2 inflammation in patients with confirmed allergy. Results of this study imply participation of TFFs genes in the development of CRSwNP.

This study examined tobacco use as a risk factor in the development of periodontal disease as dental emergency and dental readiness among soldiers. A total of 884 soldiers were followed: 650 recruits and 234 professional active veterans. They were categorized into dental readiness classes, and questionnaires were completed about tobacco use. Overall, 62.7% of soldiers reported current smoking, with a higher prevalence of smokers among recruits. The results showed a significant difference in smokers vs. non-smokers in dental readiness, supragingival/subgingival calculus, gingivitis, and Class 3 dental fitness. More recruits (63.8%) smoked than veterans (59.4%), but greater prevalence of daily cigarette smoking and duration of smoking habits was found among veterans. In both groups, soldiers who smoked were characterized by a higher percentage of periodontal health problems and decreased combat readiness compared to soldiers who did not smoke. This indicates a need for oral health prevention program, and cigarette smoking and cessation programs.

Over the past decade, intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents have been widely used and intensively developed as a treatment option for many ophthalmological indications. Due to its availability and low cost, the most frequently used anti-VEGF agent is bevacizumab. This type of therapy is often indicated in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). If, in addition to these two conditions, patients have a diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), they also present with optic nerve head (ONH) retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. The aim of this prospective study was to establish whether administering bevacizumab to patients with POAG leads to additional reduction of RNFL thickness. The study included 60 patients divided into two groups. First group comprised the eyes of patients with exudative ARMD and POAG, whereas second group comprised the eyes of patients with DME and POAG, all treated with bevacizumab. Control group comprised the fellow eye of each involved patient, which was not treated with bevacizumab. In a period of one year, all patients underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of ONH RNFL thickness. The results of all patients were compared between the two study groups and then with control group results. Study results showed a decrease of RNFL in both groups of patients. Comparison of these two groups of patients after one year revealed a statistically more significant decrease in RNFL thickness in the second group (DME + POAG).

The aim of the study was to compare radiomorphometric indices measured on panoramic radiographs: mandibular cortical width (MCW), panoramic mandibular index (PMI) and mandibular cortical index (MCI) with the densitometric values of skeletons in postmenopausal women, as well as and to determine the possibilities of their use in screening for early detection of osteoporosis in risky populations. Radiomorphometric indices were measured on panoramic radiographs of 146 postmenopausal patients, mean age 66.3 (±9.7) years, mean menopausal age 16.3 (±10.6) years. By dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) method were measured bone mineral density of the femur and the lumbar vertebrae (L1–L4). The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the changed densitometric finding, and to distinguish osteopenia and osteoporosis. The examinees with lower densitometric values had significantly lower MCW (3.60 mm) and PMI (0.36 mm) than those with regular densitometric values (p<0.001). The most frequent finding in patients with osteopenia was C2 stage of erosion (69.50%; p<0.001), while the C3 stage of erosion (57.40%; p<0.001) was in osteoporosis patients. When differing the normal from the changed finding of densitometry the results were: MCW – area under the curve (AUC) 0.862, sensitivity 92.04%, specificity 75.76%, resolution point ≤4.39 (p<0.001); for PMI-AUC 0.874, sensitivity 76.11%, specificity 84.85%, resolution point ≤ 0.41 (p<0.001) and for MCI-AUC 0.826, sensitivity 87.6%, specificity 69.7%, resolution point> 1 (p<0.001). For early detection of osteopenia and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in everyday clinical practice, panoramic radiograph as a screening method can be of help.

-Periodontal disease is a chronic multifactorial disease the worldwide incidence of which is higher than the incidence of caries and represents one of the leading problems in dental medicine. It is manifested by the loss of the attachment apparatus of the tooth and leads to the loss of teeth. Numerous studies have shown the association of periodontal disease and various chronic systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. It is believed that low-grade level of chronic inflammation and release of bacterial toxins and inflammatory mediators in the bloodstream aggravate a chronic systemic disease. The purpose of our research was to investigate the possible association of periodontal disease and chronic kidney disease via the inflammatory cytokines path. In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed a total of 80 subjects divided into two groups. First group included subjects with chronic renal disease stages III and IV, and the second group included patients with chronic renal disease stage V that were on hemodialysis. We compared periodontal status, as well as serum levels of different cytokines, interleukin 6, interleukin 17A and tumor necrosis factor α between the two groups. The results showed no significant between-group differences in periodontal status, but interleukin 6 levels were significantly higher in the hemodialysis group of patients and were also associated with a poorer periodontal status.