Periodontitis-Related Knowledge and Its Relationship with Oral Health Behavior among Adult Patients Seeking Professional Periodontal Care.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that not only damages the stomatognathic system, but may also adversely influence other systems and organs. Patients with low oral health literacy levels are more prone to gingivitis/periodontitis and have a more severe disease course. METHODS: A written questionnaire was carried out to assess the knowledge of patients of the Outpatient Clinic of Department of Periodontal and Oral Mucosa Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. The questions concerned knowledge regarding the causes of periodontal disease, its risk factors, and the connection between periodontal disease and general health status. To analyze the population, patients were divided according to gender, age and if they were first-time or regular outpatients. RESULTS: Written questionnaires were completed by a total of 302 patients. In the studied population, we noted knowledge deficits, particularly related to weaker periodontal disease risk factors (stress, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity) and the genetic factor, which is the determinant of periodontitis. The patients' awareness of the role of plaque bacteria and the effect of smoking on the periodontium was at a relatively high level. The respondents were also aware of the impact of periodontal disease on general health as well as the role of oral hygiene in preventing the disease. At the same time, few of them (26%) used interdental brushes or an irrigator (8%). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that patients have an insufficient level of knowledge related to risk factors as well as the prevention of periodontal disease. Awareness of the extent of oral health literacy among patients will help to identify key issues connected with health education interventions.

Vitreous humour as an alternative material for the determination of alcohol concentration in human corpses.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to assess the suitability of vitreous humour (VH) for determining alcoholaemia in deceased bodies. The study presents a correlation between the content of ethyl alcohol in vitreous humour and the concentration of ethyl alcohol in venous blood (femoral blood - FB). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study material consisted of blood and vitreous humour samples taken from 62 individuals who died in the period 2012-2016 and whose post-mortem examinations were carried out at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok. The content of alcohol was determined using the method of gas chromatography (GC). The findings of the study were analyzed statistically with MF Excel and Statistica 12.5, and then presented in a descriptive form, including figures and charts. RESULTS: Statistical analysis did not reveal significant differences between the concentration of ethanol in VH and FB. Spearman's correlation between the concentration of ethanol in the materials under study was r = 0.96, p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the concentration of alcohol in VH and in FB. Consequently, vitreous humour can be used as a reliable alternative material in cases where there is no possibility of collecting venous blood for toxicological tests.

Analysis of suicide cases in post-mortem examination files of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Bialystok (2003 to 2015).

Aim of the study: The study presents the analysis of suicides based on the material consisting of the results of medico-legal autopsies and case files of the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Medical University of Bialystok. Material and methods: The material consisted of 6752 protocols of medico-legal autopsies carried out in the years 2003-2015 and case files, which enabled to classify cases as suicidal. The analysis included the dynamics of suicides over the years, basic demographic characteristics of victims, the ways, the time and place of suicide, the state of sobriety, the frequency of injuries in different regions of the body. The data were analyzed statistically using tests such as: Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann-Whitney U test, nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test by programme Statistica 10.0 by StatSoft. Results: The research showed that suicides represented 11.09% of all post-mortem examinations. A statistically significant association was found between the age of the person committing suicide and the place chosen for suicide (p = 0.038). Post hoc analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences (p = 0.046) between suicide committed outdoors and in the supervised area. There was a statistically significant association between the sex and the preferable place of committing suicide (p = 0.0001). A high percentage of suicides were committed in the place of residence. There was a statistically significant difference in blood alcohol levels in women and in men at the time of suicide (p = 0.0029). Conclusions: The study revealed the increase of the percentage of suicides in relation to previous years. Hanging is still the most popular method of suicide.