use of ozone in the prevention of osteoradionecrosis of the jaw

Radiation therapy of the head and neck area has resulted in numerous and undesired effects on the oral cavity tissue. The most frequent and most dangerous complications of radiotherapy of the head and neck area is osteoradionecrosis [ORN]. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the possibility of using ozone in the prevention of ORN of the jaw, and show the recent therapeutic protocols for treatment in patients receiving radiation therapy for the head and neck. We used an ElektroMagneTron device during the therapy. The patient underwent postoperative follow-up examination when bio-oxygenation therapy and clinical evaluation of wound healing were performed. Wound healing evaluation showed no complications. Ozone therapy is given as an option in the therapeutic protocol for the prevention and treatment of ORN

Assessing health-related quality of life with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy [APDT] and low level laser therapy [LLLT] after third molar removal

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy [APDT] and low level laser therapy [LLLT] on wound healing, pain intensity, swelling problems, halitosis and the postoperative usage of analgesics after surgical removal of lower third molars. One hundred and fifty patients, randomly divided into three groups were selected [50 per each group]. The P1 group received the APDT after a third molar surgery, the P2 group received the LLLT and the C group [control group] was without any additional therapy after surgery. A photoactive substance was applied in the APDT study group before suturing. After 60 seconds the photosensitive substance was thoroughly washed with saline water and the laser light was applied in two intervals [30 seconds each]. The irradiation power was 50 mW while the wavelength was 660 nm. The laser therapy in P2 group was performed before suturing and the laser light was applied also in two intervals [90 seconds each], the irradiation power was 90 mW while the wavelength was the same as in the first group - 660 nm. Postoperative follow-ups were scheduled on the third and the seventh day in patients who received laser therapy. The results of the postoperative evaluation showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the postoperative wound healing, pain intensity, swelling problems, halitosis and analgesics intake between patients in all three groups [p<0.001]. The patients that were subjected to APDT [P1] had the least postoperative problems. After the laser therapy [P1 and P2] wound healing was without any complications, opposite from the patients from the C group [p<0.001]. Postoperative application of a laser therapy significantly reduced patient's use of analgesics over the observed period of time [p<0.001]. Both modalities of laser therapy significantly reduced postoperative problems after surgical removal of third lower molars with the best results in both laser groups

impact of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 status of invasive breast tumors on thermography findings

To analyze the impact of prognostic human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 [HER-2] in invasive breast cancers on the findings of thermography tests. This study was carried out at the Department of Surgical Oncology and the Department of Pathology, University Clinical Hospital Center, "Sisters of Mercy", Zagreb, Croatia, in collaboration with licensed infrared [IR] thermography experts. The study involved 75 female patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from May to July 2011. Thermography findings were compared between different immune-histochemical [IHC] findings [HER-2 status: positive or negative]. Significantly higher temperatures were recorded in invasive cancer breasts than in healthy breasts. The cancer sites and the entire cancer breasts were significantly warmer [p<0.001] than the healthy breasts and opposite tumors mirror sites. Considering the HER-2 status, HER-2 positive invasive cancers were significantly warmer in comparison with the HER-2 negative cancers [p=0.035]. The trend of increased temperature in HER-2+ tumors was noted. The findings clearly indicate that HER-2+ status has a higher impact on the increased thermographic temperature findings