An umbrella review on the association between factors of oral health and cognitive dysfunction.

An increasing number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been published on the association between oral health and cognitive dysfunction, also known as oral-cognitive links. However, there is great diversity in the oral and cognitive factors included in these studies, with different opinions for clinical practice drawn from the evidence. To understand which oral and cognitive factors are involved in those associations, we conducted an umbrella review of 28 systematic reviews, including 12 meta-analyses, on oral-cognitive links. We found that (a) periodontal diseases, oral microbiome, and dementia were frequently studied, while other factors, such as mastication and mild cognitive impairment, were less commonly investigated, and (b) severe deterioration of oral health, such as severe periodontitis or extensive tooth loss, rather than the presence of oral diseases alone, was strongly associated with cognitive dysfunction. In conclusion, the diversity of oral and cognitive factors included in the review studies reflects the complexity of oral-cognitive links. Clarifying the factors helps to form evidence-based clinical advice for healthcare.

A Trichinella britovi outbreak in the Northern Alps of France: investigation by a local survey network.

We describe a small family outbreak of trichinellosis caused by the consumption of raw ham from a wild boar (Sus scrofa) hunted in the northern Alps of France in February 2022. Out of the six people, aged 3-69 years, who consumed the meat, three were confirmed cases, and three were suspected cases. Eosinophilia detected in four people was the hallmark that drove the diagnosis. Three patients presented with myalgia, two with intense and prolonged chest pain, and one with elevated troponin. One patient presented with dermographism during treatment. Anti-Trichinella IgG were detected in three symptomatic individuals after about ten weeks. One patient had negative serology and no symptoms, but was on long-term corticosteroid therapy. Trichinella britovi larvae (8.3 larvae/g) were detected in the wild boar meat remnants. Trichinellosis is rare in France, but this family outbreak is reminiscent of the circulation of this pathogen in wild animals, highlighting the need to inform hunters about the risk of infection linked to the consumption of raw meat of game animals, and about the need for veterinary inspection of game meat. The consumption of raw meat outside controlled circuits is a practice not devoid of risks, which justifies raising the awareness of hunters, doctors, and medical biologists.

Title: Un foyer de Trichinella britovi dans les Alpes du Nord françaises : investigation par un réseau local de prospection. Abstract: Nous décrivons une épidémie familiale de trichinellose causée par la consommation de jambon cru d'un sanglier (Sus scrofa) chassé dans le nord des Alpes françaises en février 2022. Sur les six personnes âgées de 3 à 69 ans qui ont consommé la viande, trois étaient des cas confirmés, et trois étaient des cas suspects. L'éosinophilie détectée chez quatre personnes a permis d'évoquer le diagnostic. Trois patients présentaient des myalgies, et deux des douleurs thoraciques intenses et prolongées dont un avec une troponine élevée. Un patient a présenté un dermographisme pendant le traitement. Des IgG anti-Trichinella ont été détectées chez trois individus symptomatiques après environ dix semaines. Un des patients avait une sérologie négative et aucun symptôme mais était sous corticothérapie au long cours. Des larves de Trichinella britovi (8,3 larves/g) ont été détectées dans les restes du jambon de sanglier incriminé. La trichinellose est rare en France, mais cette épidémie familiale rappelle la circulation de cet agent pathogène chez les animaux sauvages, qui nécessite d'informer les chasseurs sur les risques d'infections liés à la consommation de viande crue de gibier, et de préconiser un contrôle vétérinaire des viandes de gibier. La consommation de viande crue en dehors des circuits contrôlés est une pratique non dénuée de risques, qui justifie une sensibilisation des chasseurs, médecins et biologistes médicaux.

Parkinson's disease, temporomandibular disorder pain and bruxism and its clinical consequences: a protocol of a single-centre observational outpatient study.

INTRODUCTION: A recent questionnaire-based study suggested that bruxism and painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD pain) may be more prevalent in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) compared with controls. The presence of both bruxism and TMD pain may negatively influence patients' quality of life. The present study is designed to clinically and more objectively investigate the presence of bruxism and TMD pain in patients with PD. The secondary aim of the study is to identify factors associated with bruxism and TMD pain in patients with PD, such as disease severity and dopaminergic medication usage. Furthermore, the presence of tooth wear in patients with PD will be studied as this can be a major consequence of bruxism. Finally, deviations in saliva composition that may contribute to tooth wear will be studied. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a single-centre observational outpatient study at the Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc. All patients with a clinical diagnosis of PD will be eligible for inclusion. Participants will fill in a set of questionnaires. Subsequently, patients will be examined clinically for, among others, TMD pain, presence and severity of tooth wear, and deviations in saliva composition. Sleep-time registrations will take place for 5 nights with the GrindCare GC4 (ie, a portable, single-channel electromyographic recorder) to assess sleep bruxism and simultaneously by the use of the BruxApp for 5 days to assess awake bruxism. We will partly use data collected during standard clinical care to minimise patient burden. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The scientific and ethical aspects of this study protocol have been approved by the Medical Ethics Review Committee of the Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc; NL. 2019.143. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, if relevant presented at conferences, and published as part of a PhD thesis. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NL8307.

A study of within-subject reliability of the brain's default-mode network.

OBJECTIVE: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is promising for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to examine short-term reliability of the default-mode network (DMN), one of the main haemodynamic patterns of the brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a 1.5 T Philips Achieva scanner, two consecutive resting-state fMRI runs were acquired on 69 healthy adults, 62 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD, and 28 patients with AD dementia. The anterior and posterior DMN and, as control, the visual-processing network (VPN) were computed using two different methodologies: connectivity of predetermined seeds (theory-driven) and dual regression (data-driven). Divergence and convergence in network strength and topography were calculated with paired t tests, global correlation coefficients, voxel-based correlation maps, and indices of reliability. RESULTS: No topographical differences were found in any of the networks. High correlations and reliability were found in the posterior DMN of healthy adults and MCI patients. Lower reliability was found in the anterior DMN and in the VPN, and in the posterior DMN of dementia patients. DISCUSSION: Strength and topography of the posterior DMN appear relatively stable and reliable over a short-term period of acquisition but with some degree of variability across clinical samples.

Effect of malaria in pregnancy on foetal cortical brain development: a longitudinal observational study.

BACKGROUND: Malaria in pregnancy has a negative impact on foetal growth, but it is not known whether this also affects the foetal nervous system. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of malaria on foetal cortex development by three-dimensional ultrasound. METHODS: Brain images were acquired using a portable ultrasound machine and a 3D ultrasound transducer. All recordings were analysed, blinded to clinical data, using the 4D view software package. The foetal supra-tentorial brain volume was determined and cortical development was qualitatively followed by scoring the appearance and development of six sulci. Multilevel analysis was used to study brain volume and cortical development in individual foetuses. RESULTS: Cortical grading was possible in 161 out of 223 (72%) serial foetal brain images in pregnant women living in a malaria endemic area. There was no difference between foetal cortical development or brain volumes at any time in pregnancy between women with immediately treated malaria infections and non-infected pregnancies. CONCLUSION: The percentage of images that could be graded was similar to other neuro-sonographic studies. Maternal malaria does not have a gross effect on foetal brain development, at least in this population, which had access to early detection and effective treatment of malaria.