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The study was performed on new and used (from in vitro and in vivo experiments) orthodontic bands by using SEM-EDX technique. The bands were retrieved from earlier experiments: in vitro tests, in which the bands were incubated in a continuous flow system with various media: artificial saliva, lysozyme, orange juice and Coca Cola®. The bands were also retrieved from previously conducted in vivo tests on animals (pigs) and humans (patients). The micrographs of bands were presented as well as their chemical composition, reported in terms of atomic density. The bands that were used showed a significant contribution of oxygen as compared to brand new ones, and the contribution of Fe and Ni decreased, whereas the Cr contribution remained unchanged. The elements were inter-correlated. An antagonistic, statistically significant dependence was found between Fe and O, as well as between Fe and Cr. This could signify that that protective passivation layer of Cr2O3 was formed, which did not fully protect Ni and Fe from dissolution.

Objective The effect of orange juice and Coca Cola ® on the release of metal ions from fixed orthodontic appliances. Materials and methods A continuous flow system designed for in vitro testing of orthodontic appliances was used. Orange juice/Coca Cola ® was flowing through the system alternately with artificial saliva for 5.5 and 18.5 h, respectively. The collected samples underwent a multielemental ICP-OES analysis in order to determine the metal ions release pattern in time. Results The total mass of ions released from the appliance into orange juice and Coca Cola ® (respectively) during the experiment was calculated (μg): Ni (15.33; 37.75), Cr (3.604; 1.052), Fe (48.42; ≥156.1), Cu (57.87, 32.91), Mn (9.164; 41.16), Mo (9.999; 30.12), and Cd (0.5967; 2.173). Conclusions It was found that orange juice did not intensify the release of metal ions from orthodontic appliances, whereas Coca Cola ® caused increased release of Ni ions.

The objective was to evaluate metal ion accumulation in hair of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances in time. The patients (N = 47) participated in a questionnaire survey. Hair sampling was performed at the beginning and in the 4th, 8th, and 12th month of the treatment. The content of metals (Cr, Ni, Fe) in hair was analyzed by ICP-OES equipped with USN nebulizer. The peak release of Cr and Fe occurred after 4 months of the treatment, and the peak release of Ni gradually increased throughout the whole year of the therapy. During 1 year treatment, an average accumulation of metals in hair tissue was 7.42 ± 14.19 μg of Ni, 8.94 ± 13.1 μg of Cr, and 131 ± 279 μg of Fe. The mean content of Cr was higher than the 90th percentile value for this element. The upper limit of literature reference ranges for Cr, Ni, and Fe in hair was not exceeded. The value of exposure (kinetics and dose) of orthodontic patients to metal ions released from orthodontic appliances can be assessed by hair mineral analysis. The content of Cr was statistically significantly higher during the treatment than before the beginning of therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the release of metal ions from an orthodontic appliance in tests on animals (pigs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An animal test was conducted on 24 pigs divided equally into an experimental and a control group. In total, 12 sets of experimental orthodontic plates were surgically inserted into pig snouts in the experimental group for 6 months. Noninvasive matrices (hair [0, 3, and 6 months]) and invasive matrices (kidneys, liver, lungs, aorta, and oral mucosa) were collected for multi-elemental analysis (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry) from the experimental and control groups. RESULTS: The greatest differences in the content of toxic metals were found in the aorta (Ni level was 4.8 times higher in experimental than in the control group), in the cheek (Ni 3.5 times higher), and in the hair sampled after 3 months (Cr 3.4 times higher). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained data indicate that the products of corrosion have passed into selected tissues of pigs; however, the doses of toxic metal ions released from the appliance did not reach toxic levels.

BACKGROUND During orthodontic treatment, the various elements that constitute the fixed appliance undergo different processes. As a result of a change of the surface, elution/coverage of metals on the surface can be observed in the process of corrosion/passivation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray analytical system (SEM-EDX) was used to analyze the composition of stainless steel elements of orthodontic fixed appliances (before and after orthodontic treatment), to obtain the composition of the surface of the elements. The analyzed elements were: brackets (Victory Series APC PLUS 022, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA); wires (0.017×0.025, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA); and bands (37+, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA). RESULTS The results showed a decrease of chromium and iron contribution to the surface, with increase of oxygen content in used vs. new elements of the appliance. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm the formation of oxides (passivation layer) on the surface of stainless steel as a result of the presence of the orthodontic appliance in patients' oral cavities.

Background Hair analysis is used for estimation of the nutritional status of individuals. In the present work, a systematic review on the relation between the mineral composition of hair and the physical or mental disorders is discussed. Detailed information of examined populations, methods of sample preparations and analytical techniques are presented. Methods A systematic literature search in four electronic databases Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Medline (from 1997 to 2012/01/31) for English language articles was performed. In addition, a reference list and manual search was undertaken. Results The following number of studies was included: 66. Most of the authors reported that there exists a correlation between deficiency or excess of some elements in hair and occurrence of some diseases, such as: autism, cancer, hypertension, myocardial infarction, kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. However, not all results were consistent. Conclusions Most of the authors concluded that the profile of hair mineral imbalance might be useful as a diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis of many diseases. However, it seems that there is a need to standardize sample preparation procedures, in particular washing and mineralization methods.

Objective: To evaluate the release of metal ions from fixed orthodontic appliances. Materials and Methods: A new system for in vitro testing of dental materials was constructed and consisted of a thermostatic glass reactor that enabled immersion of the studied material. Experimental conditions reflected the human oral cavity, with a temperature of 37°C and a saliva flow rate of 0.5mL/min. The simulated fixed orthodontic appliance made of stainless steel was evaluated. Sampling was performed at several time points during the 28-day study, and the metal ion concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Results: The total mass of released metal ions from the appliance during 4 weeks of the experiment was as follows nickel 18.7 μg, chromium 5.47 μg, copper 31.3 μg. Conclusions: The estimated doses of nickel, chromium, and copper determined by extrapolation of experimental data released during the treatment period were far below the toxic dose to humans. This shows that orthodontic treatment might not be a significant source of exposure to these metal ions.

The objective was to investigate the effect of dietary habits on the release of Cr and Ni ions from orthodontic appliances by hair mineral analysis. Patients (N = 47) underwent electronic questionnaire survey to investigate the effect of dietary habits on Cr and Ni levels in hair. The research was carried out on hair sampled at the beginning and in the 4th, 8th, and 12th months of the treatment. The content of Cr and Ni in the collected samples was determined by ICP-OES. The study showed that consumption of acidic dietary products may have the effect on increasing the release of Cr and Ni ions from orthodontic appliances. The release of Cr from orthodontic appliances in patients who consumed fruit juice, coffee, yoghurt, and vinegar was higher. The coefficients enabling comparison of metal ions release pattern at a given sampling points were defined. The comparison of the coefficients yielded the information on the possible magnification of metal ions released as the result of the additional factor consumption of acidic food or drink that intensifies metal ions release. The following magnification pattern was found for chromium: coffee (7.57 times) > yoghurt (2.53) > juice (1.86) > vinegar (1.08), and for nickel: vinegar (2.2) > coffee (1.22) > juice (1.05). Yoghurt did not intensify the release of nickel. Concluding, orthodontic patients should avoid drinking/eating coffee, yoghurt, fruit juices, and vinegar.

The aim of this research was to evaluate posture types in children aged 7-12 from rural environment.This study was conducted among 562 children from Podkarpackie and Swietokrzyskie region. Evaluation of posture was studied by photogrammetry method with the use of projection moire phenomenon.The most common type of posture was lordosis (44.84%), then kyfosis (37.19%) and balanced type (17.97%):Early diagnosis of posture defects allows their correction and undertaking early prophylactic actions.

The influence of whole body cryotherapy on human body.The study was conducted on a group of 50 patients of the Rehabilitation Ward in Wojewodzki Szpital Zespolony in Kielce suffering from chronic pain as a sequel of degenerative-deformative changes and residing. Physiotherapy consisted of treatments in cryo-chamber and physical exercises.The average heart rate in the study group before the treatment amounted to 66.5 beats/min +/- 5.7 after the courses of treatments it constituted to 63.1 beats/min. +/- 3.6 at the significance level p0.001. The average value of systolic blood pressure in the study group before treatments accounted for 118.7 mmHg +/- 10.8 after the course of treatments amounted to 119.9 mmHg +/- 11.6 at the significance level p0.001.The single treatment of the whole body cryotherapy and 10 courses of those combined with physical exercises caused statistically significant reduction in the heart rate and pressure parameters. The downward trend was observed in all courses of treatments conducted in this study.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the exposure to lead from various sources by investigation of mineral composition of human scalp hair. The research was carried out on hair sampled from 267 young adults living in Wrocław (southwest Poland). The effect of the place of residence, diet, and lifestyle on lead content in hair was examined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Lead was determined at the wavelength 220.353 nm. These outcomes were reached by linking the results of lead level in hair with the results of questionnaire survey. The mean lead level in hair of the whole examined population was 2.01 ± 2.10 mg kg(-1). Lead can enter the human body mainly by inhalation and gastrointestinal absorption. It was found that consuming cheese, fish, and lettuce caused increased level of lead in hair. On the other hand, drinking of milk, tea, coffee, or lemon resulted in decreased content of lead in hair. Additional source of exposure to lead could be cigarette smoking, distance to the traffic road, painting the walls, amalgam filling. Based on the results, it can be concluded that exposure to lead can occur mainly from eating habits and environmental exposure.