Poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) is a biocompatible, biodegradable, and highly mechanically resilient FDA-approved material (for specific biomedical applications, e.g. as drug delivery devices, in sutures, or as an adhesion barrier), rendering it a promising candidate to serve bone tissue engineering. However, in vivo monitoring of PCL-based implants, as well as biodegradable implants in general, and their degradation profiles pose a significant challenge, hindering further development in the tissue engineering field and subsequent clinical adoption. To address this, photo-cross-linkable mechanically resilient PCL networks are developed and functionalized with a radiopaque monomer, 5-acrylamido-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalic acid (AATIPA), to enable non-destructive in vivo monitoring of PCL-based implants. The covalent incorporation of AATIPA into the crosslinked PCL networks does not significantly affect their crosslinking kinetics, mechanical properties, or thermal properties, but it increases their hydrolysis rate and radiopacity. Complex and porous 3D designs of radiopaque PCL networks can be effectively monitored in vivo. This work paves the way toward non-invasive monitoring of in vivo degradation profiles and early detection of potential implant malfunctions.

• MeSH
• Biocompatible Materials chemistry   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Polyesters * chemistry   MeSH
• Porosity MeSH
• Materials Testing MeSH
• Tissue Engineering methods   MeSH
• Tissue Scaffolds * chemistry   MeSH
• Absorbable Implants MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Zachování funkčního hrtanu a dosažení dlouhodobé remise je základním postulátem léčby pacientů s maligními nádory hrtanu, a to i pokročilých stadií. Rozvíjeny jsou proto nechirurgické protokoly léčby a hrtan zachovávající chirurgické postupy. Totální laryngektomie je historicky základní výkon laryngeální chirurgie, jehož význam s rozvojem výše uvedených postupů klesá. Přesto jsou stále skupiny nemocných, kteří mohou profitovat z jejího provedení. Rozhodující jsou lokální i celkové charakteristiky tumoru a pacienta. Velikost tumoru, destrukce a nefunkčnost struktur hrtanu, infiltrace štítné chrupavky včetně zevního perichondria případně extralaryngeální propagace jsou faktory, kdy je předpokládaný efekt nechirurgické léčby nedostatečný nebo by vedl k zachování nefunkčního hrtanu. K výkonu také indikujeme pacienty, u nichž pro kontraindikace nemůžeme využít orgán šetřicí protokoly nebo je vysoké riziko komplikací této léčby. Totální laryngektomie má stále své místo v rámci záchranné chirurgie a u specifických malignit, u nichž není efektivní nechirurgická léčba (nejčastěji sarkomy). V této práci je představen náš pohled na indikaci totální laryngektomie v současnosti, který vychází z doporučených postupů a zkušeností s multidisciplinárním klinickým rozhodováním.

Preserving a functional larynx and achieving long-term control is the basic postulate of treating patients with malignant tumors of the larynx, even in advanced stages. Therefore, non-surgical treatment protocols and larynx-preserving surgical procedures are preferred. Total laryngectomy is historically the basic procedure of laryngeal surgery still with the best survival outcomes in advanced laryngeal cancer, but with significantly lower quality of life following surgery. Nevertheless, there are still groups of patients who can benefit from this implementation. Local and overall characteristics are important for the recommendation of treatment. Tumor size, destruction and dysfunction of laryngeal structures, infiltration of the thyroid cartilage including the external perichondrium, or extralaryngeal extent are local factors when the expected effect of non-surgical treatment is insufficient or would only lead to the preservation of a non-functional larynx. We also recommend patients in whom organ-saving protocols are not suitable due to contraindications or there is a high risk of complications. Total laryngectomy still has its place as part of salvage surgery in failure of non-surgical treatment and for specific malignancies for which a non-surgical approach is not effective (most often sarcomas). We present our current view on the indications of total laryngectomy, which is based on international recommendations and our experience with multidisciplinary clinical decision-making.

• MeSH
• Laryngectomy * history   methods   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Larynx, Artificial MeSH
• Larynx surgery   pathology   MeSH
• Organ Sparing Treatments methods   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Laryngeal Neoplasms surgery   diagnosis   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Review MeSH

Primární biliární cholangitida (PBC) je chronické, imunologicky podmíněné jaterní onemocnění, které ve svém dlouhodobém průběhu vede k destrukci malých žlučovodů, cholestáze, fibróze a cirhóze jater s jaterním selháním. PBC postihuje ve více než 90 % ženy středního věku, většina pacientů je nyní diagnostikována v asymptomatickém stadiu. Diagnóza onemocnění je obvykle stanovena na základě kombinace laboratorních vyšetření, elevace sérové ALP nad 1,5násobek normy trvající déle než 6 měsíců a přítomnosti AMA protilátek v titru 1: 40 nebo vyšším. Typický histologický nález potvrzuje diagnózu, stadium jaterního onemocnění je však nyní možné určit i pomocí neinvazivních metod. Kyselina ursodeoxycholová je v současné době léčbou první volby, v případě intolerance nebo nedostatečné odpovědi na léčbu je možné zahájit léčbu elafibranorem, duálním agonistou PPAR a/d. Transplantace jater je indikována u pacientů s PBC, kteří dospěli do stadia jaterního selhání i přes podávanou medikamentózní léčbu.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic, autoimmune disorder of the liver. In its long-term course, it leads to small bile ducts destruction, cholestasis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure. PBC is much common in women, especially of middle age. Most patients are diagnosed in an asymptomatic stage. The diagnosis is based on the combination of laboratory assessments, alkaline phosphatase elevation of more than 1,5 ULN for more than 6 months, and AMA antibodies in a titre 1: 40 or higher. The typical histological finding confirms the diagnosis, but the stage of liver disease may be determined based on the non-invasive liver stiffness measurement. Ursodeoxycholic acid represents nowadays standard-of-care in PBC patients, followed by elafibranor in intolerant patients or in non-responders. Liver transplantation is indicated in those with liver failure in whom conservative therapy failed.

• Keywords
• Elafibranor,
• MeSH
• Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary * diagnosis   etiology   drug therapy   MeSH
• Chalcones pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Ursodeoxycholic Acid pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• PPAR alpha pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• PPAR delta pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Propionates pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Liver Transplantation MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Review MeSH

Hypertrofická obstrukční kardiomyopatie (HokmP) je charakterizována ztluštěním stěn a zvětšením masy myokardu nedilatované levé komory srdeční bez vysvětlujících hemodynamických příčin a přítomností gradientu ve výtokovém traktu levé komory (lVoTG). u pacientů s maximální farmakologickou terapií HokmP je indikována invazivní metoda terapie. V minulosti metodou volby k redukci septální hypertrofie byla chirurgická myektomie, kterou vystřídala alkoholová septální ablace (aSa), nyní jde o všeobecně užívanou metodu v redukci septální hypertrofie. V posledních letech se objevila nová nefarmakologická metoda, a to radiofrekvenční ablace mezikomorového septa – v literatuře uváděná jako endocardial radiofrequency ablation of septal hypertrophy (eRaSH). cílem naší kazuistiky je popsat první zkušenosti s touto metodou. Jedná se o třiačtyřicetiletého pacienta s diagnostikovanou HokmP, významným lVoTG a maximální farmakologickou terapií, který podstoupil v roce 2019 alkoholovou septální ablaci pouze s přechodným efektem na regresi lVoTG, a zároveň s nově vzniklou blokádou pravého Tawarova raménka (RBBB). V roce 2021 u pacienta při kontrolní echokradiografii perzistuje vysoká lVoTo až 127 mm Hg a progredující symptomatologie. Proto byla pacientovi navržena eRaSH, se kterou souhlasil. Během výkonu byl mapován a označen převodní systém a hranice ztluštění septa s maximem v blízkosti předního cípu mitrální chlopně s patrným dopředným pohybem předního cípu mitrální chlopně v systole (Sam). Převodní systém byl označen v anatomické mapě body, aby se předešlo jeho poškození. Radiofrekvenční ablace byla zahájena ve střední části ztluštění septa v dostatečné vzdálenosti od převodního systému. Během ablace ale došlo k intermitentní atrioventrikulární blokádě III. stupně, následně ke střídaní bifascikulární blokády charakteru preexistujícího RBBB a levého předního a zadního hemibloku, s následnou restitucí do atrioventrikulární (aV) blokády Wenckebach 3 : 2, ablace byla pro riziko poškození převodního systému ukončena. Po výkonu bylo provedeno kontrolní měření lVoTG, který dosahoval 3,1 mm Hg, po komorové extrasystole 84,4 mm Hg. Během následujících hodin došlo k restituci aV vedení, 12 hodin po výkonu byl na povrchovém ekG patrný sinusový rytmus s aV blokádou I. stupně a RBBB bez převodní poruchy vyššího stupně, na dalších kontrolách po současnost je pacient bez převodních poruch rytmu a s trvajícím nízkým gradientem v lVoT. Pacienti s RBBB po předchozí aSa se jeví jako suboptimální kandidáti eRaSH vzhledem k vysokému riziku vzniku blokády levého Tawarova raménka během výkonu eRaSH a následné kompletní aV blokády. Při eRaSH v terénu předchozí aSa mohou vznikat bizarní poruchy aV převodu jako v níže popsané kazuistice.

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCMP) is characterized by abnormal thickening or enlargement of the left ventricular myocardium mass of non-dilated left ventricle not explained solely by loading conditions and presence of obstruction in outflow tract of left ventricle. Surgical septal myectomy was the first choice method of invasive treatment of septal hypertrophy in the past which was replaced by alcohol septal ablation in the nineties of the 20th century and nowadays it is still worldwide used, safe, and effective method in reduction of septal hypertrophy. Nowadays there is a new method of non-pharmacological treatment of septal hypertrophy which is endocardial radiofrequency ablation of septal hypertrophy (ERASH). Main goal of our case report is to describe first experiences with ERASH method in our department. A forty- -three-year-old patient with diagnosed HOCMP and severe left ventricle outflow tract gradient (LVOTG) despite maximal pharmacological treatment who underwent alcohol septal ablation (ASA) in 2019, only with transient effect on LVOTG, and the new onset of right bundle branch block (RBBB). In 2021, there was still high LVOTG present on echocardiography - 127 mmHg and progressive symptomatology. The patient agreed to undergo ERASH. Hypertrophic part of septum and conduction system have been mapped and marked to avoid destruction. Radiofrequency ablation was started in the middle part of septal hypertrophy in safe distance from conduction system, however, during ablation there was a sudden onset of atrioventri- cular block of third degree, forwarded with alternating bifascicular block RBBB and left anterior or posterior hemiblock, with restitution to AV block of the second degree 3 : 2. Ablation was terminated at this point because of risk of harming conduction system. Immediate measurements straight after procedure were LVOTG 3.1 mmHg at rest and 84.4 mmHg after ventricle extrasystole. In next hours there was a restitution of conduction system to AVB of the first degree with preexisting RBBB. Nowadays the patient is without any conduction disorders of higher degree and low LVOTG still lasts. The patients after alcohol septal ablation with preexisting RBBB seem to be inappropriate candidates for ERASH procedure due to high risk of conduction disorders of higher degree as was seen in our case report.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Echocardiography MeSH
• Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic * surgery   pathology   MeSH
• Catheter Ablation * methods   instrumentation   adverse effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Ventricular Outflow Obstruction, Left surgery   etiology   pathology   MeSH
• Arrhythmias, Cardiac etiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Case Reports MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Gingivitis and periodontitis are common periodontal diseases that can significantly harm overall oral health, affecting the teeth and their supporting tissues, along with the surrounding anatomical structures, and if left untreated, leading to the total destruction of the alveolar bone and the connective tissues, tooth loss, and other more serious systemic health issues. Numerous studies have shown that propolis can help reduce gum inflammation, inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, and promote tissue regeneration, but with varying degrees of success reported. For this reason, this comprehensive systematic review aims at finding out the truth concerning the efficacy of propolis mouthwashes in treating gingivitis and periodontitis, as its main objective. DATA SOURCES: Research findings from 6 different databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed®, Europe PMC, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), BioMed Central, and Google Scholar, were retrieved and examined in addition to a manual search in the references lists. STUDY SELECTION AND SYNTHESIS: The PICOS framework was used to select and exclude studies. The focus was on clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effectiveness of propolis-containing mouthwashes in comparison with propolis-free ones for the treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis, employing related periodontal indices. Animal studies, microbiological studies, in-vitro studies, retrospective studies, case-control studies, cohorts, case reports, case series, reviews, letters, editorials, meta-analyses, and non-clinical randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs), all were excluded. A meta-analysis was not performed and data were only studied qualitatively due to the obvious heterogeneity amongst the studies. Data from the selected studies were extracted, and then the revised Cochrane's risk of bias tool (RoB 2.0) was utilised by two of the authors, independently, to evaluate the risk of bias in each study. RESULTS: At first, 151 results were reached, but then after removing duplicates, 99 records remained, and were later screened, assessed, and studied in full details based on the set PICOS criteria. Out of these 99 articles, ten studies were included in this systematic review, encompassing a total of 453 patients with an age range of (13-70) years old. Propolis mouthwashes with different protocols of application were the intervention whereas placebo or the rest of the tested mouthwashes such as, chlorhexidine, sodium fluoride with cetylpyridinium chloride, sterile distilled water, hydrogen peroxide, were the ones to which propolis mouthwashes were compared. Treatment duration extended from 14 days to 3 months and the follow-up period differed from 14 days to 3 months. In general, propolis mouthwashes decreased plaque accumulations and gingival inflammation in gingivitis patients based on the employed indices. On the other hand, the aforementioned tested mouthwashes other than propolis were deemed equally effective or even superior to propolis in some studies. As an overall assessment for the risk of bias, four studies were assigned as having a low risk of bias. Two studies were deemed to have some concerns, while four studies were identified as having a high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that propolis has shown positive effects in terms of controlling gingival and periodontal inflammation especially when used with mechanical methods, studies lack certainty and their power of evidence is low with no agreed gold standards. These conclusions come, for sure, within the limitations of this review, like having substantial variability amongst the included studies and the presence of studies with a high risk of bias. The findings demonstrate that propolis-based mouthwashes showed promising clinical outcomes in reducing plaque and gingival inflammation. However, it is highly recommended to conduct more rigorous trials with patient-reported outcome measures, extended follow-up periods, larger samples sizes, better-designed methodologies, typified propolis use, and with the implementation of similar indices in order to obtain more reliable, conclusive, and generalisable results. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024524523.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Emočně nestabilní adolescenti představují rozsáhlou skupinu pacientů, kterými se v současnosti zabývají pedopsychiatrická pracoviště, jak ambulantního, tak lůžkového charakteru. Převážnou většinu tvoří adolescentní dívky, které přicházejí zejména pro úzkostně depresivní symptomatiku, sebepoškozování a suicidální chování. Emoční nestabilita v adolescenci představuje spektrum závažnosti, počínaje emoční labilitou obvyklou v dospívání, až po poruchy ve vývoji osobnosti, které mohou v nejzávažnějším případě vyústit do emočně nestabilní - hraniční poruchy osobnosti. Terapie vyžaduje integrovaný přístup, s důrazem na psychoterapii a rodinnou terapii, a také indikovanou farmakoterapii.

Emotionaly unstable adolescents represent a large group of patients currently dealt with pedopsychiatric facilities, both outpatient and inpatient. The vast majority are adolescent girl who come mainly for anxiety - depressive symptoms, self harm and suicidal behavior. Emotional instability in adolescence represents a spektrum of severity, starting with emotional lability common in adolescence, up to disturbances in personality development, which in the most serious case can reset in emotionally unstable - bordeline personality disorder. Therapy requires an integrated approach, with an emphasis on psychotherapy and family therapy, as well as indicated pharmacotherapy.

• Keywords
• emoční labilita,
• MeSH
• Adolescent Behavior psychology   MeSH
• Self-Injurious Behavior diagnosis   etiology   pathology   therapy   MeSH
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy methods   MeSH
• Emotions MeSH
• Borderline Personality Disorder * diagnosis   etiology   pathology   therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Psychotherapy classification   methods   MeSH
• Family Relations psychology   MeSH
• Self Mutilation diagnosis   etiology   pathology   therapy   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

Sedmačtyřicetiletá pacientka byla hospitalizována pro svoji 5. depresivní epizodu v rámci periodické depresivní poruchy, současnou těžkou fázi se suicidálními ideacemi. Opakované pokusy antidepresivní léčby byly neúspěšné a pacientka plánovala eutanazii v zahraničí. Celkové skóre 8položkové verze Sheehanovy škály suicidality (S-STS 10.0) bylo 28. Mimo depresivní poruchy sužovaly pacientku četné somatické komorbidity. Pro závažné suicidální ideace jsme zahájili akutní léčbu ketaminem 2× týdně, nejdříve intranasálně a později subkutánně. Po 4 aplikacích ketaminu byla pacientka propuštěna do ambulantní udržovací léčby. Tam se po 9. aplikaci ustálil interval subkutánní aplikace ketaminu na frekvenci 1× týdně. Od 14. aplikace přešla pacientka na i. m. aplikaci ketaminu, kterou hodnotila jako efektivnější. V době publikace kazuistiky trvá udržovací léčba ketaminem 12 měsíců. Poslední hodnota celkového skóre suicidality S-STS 10.0 byla 6. Jedná se o redukci celkového skóre suicidality o více než 70 %. Dlouhodobá léčba ketaminem byla efektivnější v léčbě rezistentní deprese se suicidálními ideacemi než kombinace antidepresiv.

A 47-year-old female patient was hospitalized for her 5th depressive episode within periodic depressive disorder, the current phase severe with suicidal ideation. Despite repeated treatment with antidepressants, she considered euthanasia abroad. She had reached a total score of 28 on the 8-item version of the Sheehan Suicidality Scale (S-STS 10.0). In addition to depressive disorders, the patient suffered from numerous somatic comorbidities. We started acute treatment with ketamine twice a week, first intranasally and later subcutaneously. After four applications of ketamine, the patient was discharged to outpatient maintenance treatment. Considering the duration of ketamine ́s effect, the interval of once per week was established after nine applications and the patient switched to i. m. applications, which she rated as more effective compared do s.c. Ketamine maintenance treatment lasts 12 months at the time of publication. The last value of the total suicidality score of the S-STS 10.0 was 6. This is a reduction of the total score by more than 70%. Long-term treatment with ketamine was more effective in treating treatment resistant depression with suicidal ideation than a combination of antidepressants.

• MeSH
• Antidepressive Agents administration & dosage   adverse effects   MeSH
• Pain drug therapy   complications   MeSH
• Self-Injurious Behavior etiology   drug therapy   MeSH
• Depressive Disorder * etiology   drug therapy   complications   pathology   MeSH
• Ketamine * administration & dosage   MeSH
• Clinical Studies as Topic MeSH
• Comorbidity MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Migraine Disorders drug therapy   complications   therapy   MeSH
• Suicidal Ideation MeSH
• Tryptamines adverse effects   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Case Reports MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Ročně v České republice diagnostikujeme kolem 6 000 nových případů karcinomu plic. Mutace receptoru 2 pro lidský epidermální růstový faktor (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, HER2) patří mezi vzácné mutace, které se vyskytují cca u 1-4 % nemocných s NSCLC. V případě prokázané mutace HER2 je možné používat léčebně přípravek trastuzumab deruxtekan. Trastuzumab deruxtekan je konjugát protilátky a léku, který kombinuje humanizovanou monoklonální protilátku trastuzumab s inhibitorem topoizomerázy I deruxtekanem. Tento lék se váže na HER2 na nádorových buňkách. Cytostatikum deruxtekan je společně s HER2 internalizován do nádorové buňky, kde způsobí její destrukci. Kazuistika pacientky léčené trastuzumab deruxtekanem dokládá význam plošného použití sekvenování příští generace v indikovaných případech, zejména u nekuřáků s neskvamózní histologií. Dále ukazuje na nutnost správného čtení výsledků genetického testování a zaznamenávaní výsledků do dokumentace nemocného, aby se informace o přítomné řídicí mutaci v průběhu léčby neztratila.

Around 6,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed annually in the Czech Republic. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutations are rare mutations that occur in approximately 1-4% of patients with NSCLC. In the case of a proven HER2 mutation, it is possible to use the drug trastuzumab deruxtecan in the treatment. Trastuzumab deruxtecan is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines the humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab with the topoisomerase I inhibitor deruxtecan. This drug binds to HER2 receptors on tumor cells. The cytostatic drug deruxtecan, together with the HER2 receptor, is internalized into the tumor cell, where it causes its destruction. The case report of a patient treated with trastuzumab deruxtecan demonstrates the importance of widespread use of next generation sequencing in indicated cases, especially in non-smokers with non-squamous histology. It also points to the necessity of correct reading of the genetic testing results and recording the results in the patient's documentation so that information about the present control mutation is not lost during the treatment.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune cholestatic disease characterized by the destruction of the small intrahepatic bile ducts, which can progress to liver cirrhosis. The gold standard in the treatment of PBC is ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which is indicated in all patients with PBC because it improves not only biochemical parameters but also patients' survival. An important milestone in the identification of patients at risk is the assessment of biochemical response to UDCA. Patients who respond to treatment have a lower incidence of hepatic events and better prognosis than patients who do not. Several scoring systems can be used to assess the response and identify non-responders who will benefit from second-line treatment. Obeticholic acid (OCA) is currently the only approved second-line treatment for PBC, which is effective for non-responders to UDCA therapy or patients, who have not tolerated UDCA therapy. However, OCA is contraindicated in advanced liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Moreover, pruritus may be a limiting factor for the administration of OCA. Fibrates have shown promising data supporting their use in non-responders to UDCA because they improve the biochemical parameters and elastographic findings and have possible antipruritic effects. Therefore, the idea of a triple treatment seems interesting. Clinical research is focusing on several other groups of drugs: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) δ- and α/δ agonists, non-steroidal farnesoid X receptor agonists, fibroblast growth factor 19 modulators, and inhibitors of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 1 and 4.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are repeatedly affected by oral diseases or problems, including dental caries and periodontal diseases (PDs). Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis are chronic inflammatory destructive diseases that share many similarities. The objective of this study was to assess oral health status including examination of hard dental tissues and periodontium in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and compare the results with healthy controls. We hypothesize some interlink between oral diseases and RA. METHODS: The epidemiological case-control study involved a total of 64 subjects divided into an experimental group (14 rheumatoid arthritis cases) and a control group (50 healthy individuals). Disease activity in the subjects with RA was assessed by the Disease Activity Score (DAS28). The number of Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Need (CPITN) as a basic epidemiological oral health indexes were recorded. Finally, the data were analysed statistically. RESULTS: The RA patients (19.21, SD = 6.95) showed a higher caries index level measured by DMFT than the control group (17.72, SD = 6.19); the difference was not statistically significant (U = 387.5, p = 0.547). In terms of a mean number of teeth decayed (p = 0.078), teeth filled due to caries (p = 0.397), and missing teeth (p = 0.126), the two groups were not significantly different. In terms of periodontal health, a significant difference was observed between the two groups concerning the CPI maximum score (p = 0.003). The RA patients showed higher prevalence of periodontitis than the controls. CONCLUSIONS: A complete basic oral examination, along with an oral health instruction including adequate oral and dental hygiene, is crucial to prevent dental caries and periodontal diseases and associated complications in RA patients, since they appear to be more vulnerable than the non-RA population.

• MeSH
• DMF Index MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Periodontal Diseases epidemiology   MeSH
• Oral Health * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid * epidemiology   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Case-Control Studies MeSH
• Dental Caries * epidemiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH