Estimation of physical activity by different questionnaires in overweight subjects and patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: relationship with anthropometric and metabolic variables.

AIM: This study assessed the level of physical activity in overweight and obese subjects, and overweight and obese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It also compared their physical activity level with that of the general population and investigated benefits of physical activity on anthropometric and metabolic parameters and blood pressure in the studied groups of patients using Baecke's questionnaire and the Lipid Research Clinics Physical Activity (LRC PA) questionnaire. The two questionnaires were also compared in the evaluation of benefits. METHODS: Physical activity level and other parameters (body weight, body height, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipoprotein and creatinine concentrations in the blood, concentration of fasting glucose and HbA1c in the blood, albuminuria-to-creatinuria ratio) of 136 subjects and their relationships were investigated during their out-patient visits. RESULTS: No difference in physical activity level was found among the four groups of investigated patients. The comparison between the level of physical activity in the investigated patients and the general population obtained by Baecke's questionnaire revealed a lower sports index in all groups of investigated men and obese women with diabetes mellitus. Our results confirm the benefit of physical activity on a high number of investigated parameters in the studied patients. The Baecke's questionnaire was found to estimate the effects of physical activity on metabolic and anthropometric parameters, as well as blood pressure, better than the LRC PA questionnaire, especially the two-point scoring system. CONCLUSIONS: LRC PA and especially Baecke's questionnaires are valuable aids in the estimation of physical activity level and its benefits in overweight and obese patients and patients with T2DM.

Evaluation of sporadic cases of odontogenic keratocysts in multicentric study.

The aim of this retrospective study was to report frequency of sporadic odontogenic keratocysts (sOKC) according to the age and gender, as well as location (mandible, maxilla, soft tissues, and maxillary sinus). Four hundred and twenty nine sOKC confirmed pathohistologically in a period from 1965-1998 were included in this study. The average age of patients with sOKC was 43.11 (age range 10-91), in males 42.06 and in females 44.72 years. More frequently sOKC were found in males (60.61%) in comparison to the females (39.39%). Therefore, ratio between males and females was 1.5:1. Diagnosis of sOKC is usually established in patients aged 21-30 (18.88%), in males usually aged between 21-30 (23.46%), and in females aged between 11-20 (18.93%). sOKC are more frequent in males according to the age groups, except between age 61-70 where sOKC were more frequent in females. Most frequently, sOKC occurred in the mandible 70.16%, 12.35% of sOKC were found in the maxilla, 12.82% in soft tissues and 4.66% in the maxillary sinuses.

Implant failure: regional versus cumulative evaluation.

In this paper the success rate of implant therapy in various bone regions is discussed. The objective is to determine whether differences existed in success rates of cylinder implants placed in different areas in the both maxilla and mandible. Forty four patients have been treated and reviewed five years after the placement of the fixed prosthetic restoration. The patients were provided with a total of 92 implants. Results from this study show very low survival rate for implants placed in anterior region of maxilla (55.6%) after five years. It is concluded that simple cumulative follow up studies do not entirely correspond to actual situations, positioning the implants has an important role in the planning of the implant therapy and that important factor for force compensation is not only the surrounding bone density, but also the region of the jaw where the implants are placed.

Scanning electron microscopic study of dentin lased with argon, CO2, and Nd:YAG laser.

The purpose of this study was to compare morphological changes on the dentin surface induced by laser light delivered perpendicular or parallel to the dentin surface. The surface of the dentin slices and the root canal walls were lased with argon, CO2, and Nd:YAG lasers. When the laser beam was parallel to the dentin, the effects of the laser energy ranged from no effect to eroding and melting of the smear layer and dentin in the samples. When the laser beam was perpendicular to the surface, all three lasers produced well-shaped craters. From this, it was concluded that the angle of the laser beam in relation to the target surface can be a deciding factor of how much energy will be absorbed by the dentin and consequently of the morphological changes induced by the laser.

Computer assisted densitometric image analysis (CADIA) of bone density in periradicular bone defects healing.

CADIA can only be performed on geometrically standardized images converted in Al equivalents. The aim of this study was to develop the ability of the new CADIA software to quantify bone density on dental radiographs without previous standardization. A total of 36 examines with periradicular lesions were treated surgically, the defects were filled with Hydroxylapatite and followed up for 1, 6, and 12 months. Before and after surgery the operated areas were clinically evaluated using intraoral radiographs, tooth mobility index and relapses. Clinical results revealed satisfactory bone healing in 27 cases and relapses in 9 cases. The radiographs were then digitized with a high resolution CCD camera. Densitometric analysis was done in 10 points at the edge of the bone defect. Correction of geometric and brightness distortions was done with mathematical manipulation from three referral points positioned at the same place on each radiograph. Density values observed no bone loss in 23 cases and loss of bone in 13 cases. The differences between clinical evaluation and CADIA were not statistically significant.

Effect of hypolipidemic drugs on cholinesterase activity in the rat.

1. The effect of four hypolipidemic agents with different mechanisms of action (fenofibrate, probucol, colestipol and nicotinic acid) on plasma and liver cholinesterase has been studied. 2. Liver weight and liver weight/body weight ratio increased only after treatment with fenofibrate. 3. Plasma and liver cholinesterase activity increased markedly after fenofibrate, a strong peroxisome proliferator, and slightly after nicotinic acid, a weak peroxisome proliferator. 4. The data obtained suggest that increased cholinesterase activity is due to increased rate of fatty acid oxidation caused by peroxisome proliferators.