Xerostomia and salivary levels of glucose and urea in patients with diabetes.

Examination of the composition of saliva in patients with diabetes may be useful for understanding why oral manifestations occur and how they should be treated. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of severity of xerostomia, salivary concentrations of glucose and urea in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, and to determine the correlation between xerostomia and salivary glucose levels. For the realization of this goal, the study included 60 patients of both sexes aged 30-70 years. The sample was divided into two groups. The first, experimental, group consisted of 30 patients who had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The control group consisted of 30 subjects who were not suffering from diabetes. To determine the degree of severity of xerostomia among all respondents a questionnaire recommended by Carda was used. From all patients in both the control and experimental group, total saliva was collected for 10 minutes for biochemical analysis in accordance with the recommendations of Navazesh. Salivary glucose was determined by using the enzymatic method with a hexokinase (mmol/l), and salivary urea by using the kinetic method with urease and glutamate dehydrogenase (mmol/l). Varying degrees of xerostomia were noticed in 80% of the experimental group and only 10% of the control group. In diabetics, we found significantly higher levels of urea (2.36 mmol/l) and glucose (0.022 mmol/l) in the saliva compared with the values of these parameters (1.48 mmol/l, 0017 mmol/l) in the control group. Based on these results, we concluded that diabetes is a disease that causes xerostomia and there is a significant correlation between the degree of xerostomia and the salivary level of glucose.

Achievements in CKD-MBD guidelines targets: is there a progress in the implementation practice?

BACKGROUND: Guidelines should help the practicing nephrologists to reduce the variability in diagnostic and treatment strategies, and achieve the best possible patients' outcomes. The aim of our study was to look at the treatment strategies and the shortcomings in the implementation of the chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) KDOQI guidelines in dialysis units across the Republic of Macedonia in 2009, and to analyze trends with regard to our previous analysis from 2005. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent in 2009 to all dialysis units in our country for data concerning CKD-MBD in dialysis patients. This study included 742 patients, comparable with the reply we got on the same our 2005 survey, with a total of 588 patients. We collected the last 6 months mean values of biochemical parameters [calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH)], as well as treatment data including dialysate Ca concentration, phosphate binding agents, and vitamin D doses. RESULTS: The majority of patients in both surveys had values within the target ranges for all parameters, except for iPTH, which was <150 pg/ml in most patients, in both reports. Compared to the 2005 study, in 2009 we found a significantly improved control of all four biochemical parameters, but a greater proportion of patients within guidelines targets was found only for serum Ca (79 vs. 67.4%, P<0.05). Treatment with low Ca dialysate concentration of 1.25 mmol/L continued to be an underused option (3.7 vs. 6.1%), while the 1.75 mmol/L was still the standard dialysate in the majority of patients (57.7 vs. 64.2%). The dose of calcium carbonate was significantly reduced (2.77±1.71 vs. 3.06±1.54, P<0.01) in 2009 compared to 2005. The mean of the achieved targets increased significantly in 2009 (2.33±1.05 vs. 2.13±1.03, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: There was an improved control of all bone and mineral parameters in our dialysis units, following the publication of the CKD-MBD KDOQI guidelines. In order to improve the iPTH values, a more frequent use of low Ca dialysate (1.25 mmol/L) and of non-calcium-based phosphate binders in this small subset of patients should be implemented, as recommended by the guidelines. Individualization of the CKD-MBD management may be successful, even when newer treatment options are not available. Finally, the guidelines implementation process should be a continuous and self-monitored process, with the help of periodic surveys.

Presence of caries with different levels of oral hygiene.

The objective of this abstract is to examine the presence of caries in the adult population with different levels of oral hygiene; to examine the concentration of Streptococcus Mutans in saliva of patients with different levels of oral hygiene; to examine the correlation among Streptococcus Mutans, caries and level of oral hygiene. This examination was made on 50 (fifty) patients, both male and female, at the age of 20 to 65. The examinees were split into 5 groups. The examinations and sampling were done randomly at the Department of Cariology and Endodontics at the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Skopje. The microbiological researches were made at the Institute of Microbiology and parasitology at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje. The examination of all patients was made according to a unique methodology. The results obtained indicate that the Plaque index level and the number of Streptococcus Mutans in saliva (CFU) are correlated to the number of carious teeth in all age groups except for Group V (61-65) where the Plaque index level and the level of Streptococcus Mutans in saliva were much higher compared to the number of carious teeth (51-99 and >100 CFU), particularly for examinees with prosthesis. Initial enamel caries was dominant in patients up to the age of 50, and for those older than 50 surface root caries was dominant. Initial caries was present in 28.62% of Group I and was 5.66% in Group V, unlike the root surface caries in Group 1, with 1.14%, and Group 5 with 28.30%.

Diabetics on dialysis in the Republic of Macedonia: A nationwide epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: Incidence increase of diabetes mellitus (DM) has taken epidemic proportions in the world. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a most serious complication, taking a leading place as a factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dialysis treatment of these patients is complex, expensive, and exerts an excessive burden on the health budgets of the affected countries. METHODS: We performed a nationwide precise observational study with the aim of analysing diabetics on dialysis in dialysis centres throughout the Republic of Macedonia (RM) in 2002 and in 2006; to compare the results from patients records; and to gather data on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and complications of diabetes type 1 (DM1) and diabetes type 2 (DM2). RESULTS: The prevalence of HD patients in RM was 1114 vs 1074 in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Of these, 109 (9.78%) vs. 115 (10.71%) had DM in 2002 and 2006, respectively. The percentage of diabetics on dialysis between different centers varied between 3% to 21% vs. 2.4% to 22.07% in 2002 and 2006, respectively. The mean age of the patients was 58+/-10.29 vs. 56.5+/-10.71 in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Patients with DM1 were 19 (17.43%) vs. 15 (13.04%) and with DM2 were 90 (82.57%) vs. 100 (86.96%) in 2002 and 2006, respectively. 28 (25.68%) vs. 31 (26.96%) patients were on oral anti-diabetic drugs and 62 (57.21%) vs. 69 (60%) patients were on insulin in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Mean age of DM1 patients was 47+/-11.6 y. vs. 45+/-7.32 y. respectively and of DM2 was 60.37+/-8.33 y. vs. 61.14+/-10.23 y., in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Mean time of insulin treatment was 9.5+/-6.63 y. vs. 10.85+/-9.29 y. in 2002 and 2006. Mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 26.4 vs. 23.49+/-4.74 kg/m2 in DM1 and 25.5 vs. 24.77+/-3.70 kg/m2 in DM2 patients in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Thrombosis of first arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) occurred in 41% vs. 25.22% in 2002 and 2006, respecttitvely. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was confirmed in 57% vs. 44% of DM patients in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Most common co-morbidity in patients was hypertension, 91% vs. 80.87% in 2002 and 2006, respectively. CONCLUSION: The number of diabetics on dialysis in the Republic of Macedonia did not increase in the period from 2002 to 2006. In DM2 diabetics on dialysis the frequency of complications is higher and time on dialysis is shorter than in DM1 patients. Early detection of diabetic nephropathy by primary care physicians as well as collaborative treatment by diabetologists, nephrologists, cardiologists and ophthalmologists before and during dialysis are important for improvement of treatment and survival of diabetic patients on dialysis.