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Background:The term temporomandibular disorders(TMDs) is used for clinical signs and symptoms affecting the masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and associated structures or both. TMDs may present clinically with facial pain in the region of the TMJs and/or muscles of mastication, limitation in mouth opening, and TMJ clicking during mastication. Treatment of TMDs includes occlusal splints, drug therapy, physiotherapy, auriculotherapy and low-level laser therapy (LLLT).Methods:Ten patients with TMD were recruited from the Oral Medicine clinics at Prince Sultan Military Medical City. The participants were randomly allocated into two equal groups. All participants attended a total of eight laser treatment sessions using a 940 nm diode laser. The deep-tissue laser hand-piece was applied perpendicular to the Temporalis muscle, Masseter muscle and TMJ region bilaterally. Patients in the second group attended physiotherapy sessions in addition to the laser sessions. Participants were evaluated for range of mandibular movement, pain, and tenderness to palpation before treatment, one-week post-treatment, and thirty days after treatment completion.Results:This study, being a pilot study, was conducted in a comparatively small number of patients.It allowed for the assessment of research feasibility, methodology, limitations, and preliminary outcomes. Moreover, variations in the response to treatment were observed between the two groups, with results of this study supporting previous findings that LLLT is an effective treatment for TMD symptoms, tenderness to palpation, as well as improvingjaw functional behavior. Conclusions: Therefore, LLLT therapy may be a promising tool for the management of TMD, especially when combined with physiotherapy.Keywords: Temporomandibular disorders, Low-level laser therapy, Muscle exercise, Temporomandibular joint
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Objectives: The incidence of fungal infections is increasing due to increasing episodes of risk factors such as immune competence; broader used of antibiotics and longer hospital stays. This study aimed to analyze fungal isolates from patients admitted to Aseer Central Hospital between 2011 and 2015 and to shed light on practical recommendations based on scientific evidence for improving laboratory diagnosis. Methods: Retrospectively, for a period of 4 years (2011-2015), we analyzed 340 specimens submitted to the Microbiology Laboratory, at Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia. The study involved the isolation and identification of fungi using standard methods. Cultures were done on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) plates and Brain Heart Infusion Agar + 5% Sheep Blood (BHIA) according to the type of the clinical specimens. Suspected mold and yeast cultures were identified on the basis of colony morphology appeared on SDA and on microscopic features as per standard criteria. Resulted were analyzed using SPSS investigating prevalence among specimens types, sex, age groups and hospital wards. Results: Of the 340 specimens, positive fungal cultures were obtained in 105 (30.88%), no growth was seen in 218 plates (64.12%) and 17 plates (5%) had been contaminated or overgrown by bacteria. Out of the 105 positive fungal cultures, yeast represented 47 cases (44.76%) of which 23 samples (21.9%) belonged to the genus Candida. Dermatophytes were 18 isolates (17.14%) of which Trichophyton tonsurans was the dominant species 9 patients (8.57%). Aspergillus species were 13 cases (12.38%); Zygomycetes 9 (8.57%); Penicillium species, only 1 case (0.95%) and unidentified molds were 17 (16.19%). Gender showed significant differences (p=0.034) but no differences among ages groups (p = 0.187). Specimens derived from skin represented the highest percentage of fungal infections followed by the lower respiratory tract and subcutaneous tissue. Significance differences were recorded among hospital wards (p = 0.001) nonetheless male and female medical and surgical words revealed relatively higher rates of fungal infections. Conclusion: These fungi represent a considerable hazard to patient health. What is needed in the region is to increase detection rate, by improving sample quality and expanding laboratory capacity in order to enhance patient's health.