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Objective: To observe simultaneous differentiation and analyse possible interactions between co‐cultured human oral mucosal stem cells (hOMSC) and mouse neural stem cells (mNSC). Materials and Methods: hOMSC and mNSC were co‐cultured in mouse and in human medium, and their immunocytochemical characterization to detect survival rate and differentiation pattern was performed. Co‐cultures in different media were compared to hOMSC in human medium and mNSC in mouse medium as controls. Results: Co‐culture of hOMSC and mNSC in medium for human cells led to normal differentiation pattern of human cells, while mNSC were directed towards astrocytes. When the same cells were cultivated in the mouse medium, both cell types succeeded to form neurons, although mNSC showed a tendency to overgrow hOMSC. hOMSC alone in the human‐specific medium differentiated towards ectodermal (Oct4, Map2) and mesodermal (Osterix) cell populations. mNSC in the mouse‐specific medium differentiated towards Map2‐, β3‐tubulin‐ and NeuN‐positive neurons. Conclusions: hOMSC and mNSC can form co‐cultures. Different media considerably affected the differentiation pattern of co‐cultures, whereas one cell population itself modestly influenced differentiation of the other cell type. The in vitro differentiation pattern of hOMSC in the mouse neural tissue environment suggested that hOMSC could be beneficial in the brain tissue affected by ischaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine whether the muscle activity at various mandibular positions is affected by age and dental status. Thirty edentulous subjects (E), 20 young dentate individuals (G1) and 20 older dentate individuals (G2) participated in this study. Surface electromyographic (EMG) recordings were obtained from the anterior temporal (T), masseter (M) and depressor muscles (D). Muscle activity was recorded during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), maximal opening (Omax) and in six different mandibular positions. One wayanova and the Bonferroni tests were used to determine the differences between groups. Significant differences between the three tested groups were found at MVC and Omax for all examined muscles ( P < 0·001). The differences in muscle activity in dentate subjects of different age were found in protrusion for depressor muscles ( P < 0·05) and in lateral excursive positions for the working side temporal ( P < 0·05) and non-working side masseter and depressor muscle ( P < 0·05). There was a significant effect regarding the presence of natural teeth or complete dentures in protrusion and maximal protrusion for all muscles ( P < 0·05) and in lateral excursive positions for non-working side temporal ( P < 0·05) and working side masseter muscle ( P < 0·05). Muscle activity at various mandibular positions depends greatly on the presence of the prosthetic appliance, as edentulous subjects had to use higher muscle activity levels (percentages of maximal EMG value) than age matched dentate subjects in order to perform same mandibular movement. Different elevator muscles were preferentially activated in the edentulous subjects when compared with dentate group in lateral excursive positions of the mandible. The pattern of relative muscle activity was not changed because of ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives In spite of extensive research, no effective treatment of primary burning mouth syndrome ( BMS) still exists. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of informative intervention/reassurance on pain perception and quality of life in patients with primary BMS. Materials and Methods Informative intervention/reassurance was undertaken in 28 patients diagnosed with primary BMS. Patients received information about all aspects of BMS verbally and in an informative leaflet. Numerical scale (0-10), Pain Catastrophizing Scale and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 ( OHIP-14) were used to assess pain intensity, pain perception, and quality of life before the intervention and 6 months after. No other treatment was given to the patients. Results Significant reduction in symptom intensity, pain catastrophizing along with positive increase in the quality of life compared with baseline, was observed on a follow-up examination 6 months after the informative intervention ( P < 0.001). Conclusions The results of this study confirm that objective informing/reassurance of patients with primary BMS can result in decreased catastrophizing and improvement in the quality of life. By eliminating/changing negative patterns of behavior, a reduction in symptoms comparable with pharmacological treatment can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of this study was to assess if the consumption of 3 g of a commercially available L-arginine dietary supplement causes a postabsorptive rise in urea concentration or pH of unstimulated saliva in a group of physically active individuals. Methods Salivary urea and pH were determined for 117 participants in a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study. Samples were collected by 'spitting' method in fasting conditions. One hour prior to their second visit, participants consumed three tablets of L-arginine or placebo. Results Urea concentration was significantly lower at second measurement for both the study and control group. The magnitude of the change was not significant between the groups. pH was higher for both groups at second measurement, but only significant for the study group. The magnitude of the change was significant between the groups. Participants who intermittently ingested protein dietary supplements and those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher than 25 had significantly higher basal urea concentration. Conclusions The results of this study did not confirm the hypothesis. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of different doses of L-arginine supplements on the biochemical composition of saliva and the influence of their long-term consumption on the risk of developing dental diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between bruxism, and sociodemographic parameters, symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), personality and war experience among Croatian navy employees. The sample included 1092 subjects, aged 20-60 years (mean age 37·06 ± 7·85). An individual's bruxism status was based on clinical oral examination and participants' report of bruxism. Subjects with bruxism index values ≥ 90th percentile were included in severe bruxism group ( n = 111), and those with scores below 90th percentile were labelled as negligible bruxism group ( n = 981). No differences were found in gender distribution between the two groups. The proportion of military personnel presenting with bruxism is double the proportion of administrative employees with bruxism. A total of 23·34% subjects in negligible bruxism group and 48·65% in severe bruxism group participated in the war. Subjects in severe bruxism group presented more TMD-related signs and symptoms than those in negligible bruxism group. Higher prevalence of neuroticism and psychoticism was found in severe bruxism group. According to logistic regression, the probability of severe bruxism was significantly associated with marital status [Odds ratio (OR) 6·859, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3·869-12·158 P < 0·001], neuroticism (OR 2·842, 95% CI 1·434-5·632 P = 0·003), psychoticism (OR 2·618, 95% CI 1·193-5·746 P = 0·016), military duty (OR 1·828, 95% CI 1·013-3·298 P = 0·045) and masticatory muscles tenderness (OR 9·372, 95% CI 4·923-17·841 P < 0·001). Smokers had a 2·72-fold (95% CI 1·706-4·335 P < 0·001) higher risk of bruxism than non-smokers. Subjects who participated in war were more represented in severe bruxism group. Further studies, including other potential risk factors, are required to clarify these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drugs may be defined as substances used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication or alternatively as chemical substances, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, affecting the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addiction. Orofacial drug-related adverse reactions may present initially to the dental surgeon or doctor and require specialist opinion. Due to the complexity of clinical presentation including symptoms (pain, dysgeusia, xerostomia and dysaesthesia) and signs (mucosal and bone pathology) diagnostic problems are common and a detailed prescribed and non-prescribed medication history invalid. New therapeutic interventions are continually introduced across Europe and health care practitioners should be vigilant for unreported oro-facial adverse reactions and be able to access the local reporting mechanism. The benefits of the drug prescribed weighed against the risk from the oro-facial adverse reaction will determine if drug cessation is appropriate. This paper aims to update practitioners on the spectrum of drug-related oro-facial disease, review factors to be elicited from the drug history, focus on newly introduced drugs and their, in some cases devastating, oro-facial adverse effects and discuss management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of an intraoral electrostimulation device, consisting of stimulating electrodes, an electronic circuit, and a power source, in treating xerostomia. The device delivers electrostimulation through the oral mucosa to the lingual nerve in order to enhance the salivary reflex., Methods: The device was tested on a sample of patients with xerostomia due to Sjögren's syndrome and other sicca conditions in a 2-stage prospective, randomized, multicenter trial. Stage I was a double-blind, crossover stage designed to compare the effects of the electrically active device with the sham device, each used for 1 month, and stage II was a 3-month open-label stage designed to assess the long-term effects of the active device. Improvement in xerostomia severity from baseline was the primary outcome measure., Results: A total of 114 patients were randomized. In stage I, the active device performed better than the sham device for patient-reported xerostomia severity (P<0.002), xerostomia frequency (P<0.05), quality of life impairment (P<0.01), and swallowing difficulty (P<0.02). At the end of stage II, statistically significant improvements were verified for patient-reported xerostomia severity (P<0.0001), xerostomia frequency (P<0.0001), oral discomfort (P<0.001), speech difficulty (P<0.02), sleeping difficulty (P<0.001), and resting salivary flow rate (P<0.01)., Conclusion: Our findings indicate that daily use of the device alleviated oral dryness, discomfort, and some complications of xerostomia, such as speech and sleeping difficulties, and increased salivary output. The results show a cumulative positive effect of the device over the period of the study, from baseline to the end of the trial.