Periodontal Health and Its Relationship with Psychological Stress: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Studies suggest that chronic psychological stress can lead to oral health deterioration, alter the immune response, and possibly contribute to increased inflammation, which can impact the physiological healing of periodontal tissues. This cross-sectional study seeks to assess and improve clinical understanding regarding the relationship between perceived stress, mindfulness, and periodontal health. Methods: A total of 203 people were analyzed from December 2022 to June 2023. The Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) score and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), and Plaque Control Record (PCR) of every patient were registered. Subsequently, participants completed the Sheldon Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Mindfulness Awareness Attention Scale (MAAS) questionnaires. The collected data underwent statistical analysis, encompassing the evaluation of correlations and dependencies. Applying Welch's t-test to assess the relationship between MAAS and the variable indicating the presence or absence of periodontitis, a noteworthy p-value of 0.004265 was obtained. Results: This underscores a significant distinction in MAAS scores between patients affected by periodontitis and those unaffected by the condition. Additionally, Pearson correlations were computed for GBI and perceived stress, PCR and perceived stress, PCR and MAAS. The resulting p-values of 2.2-16, 3.925-8, and 2.468-8, respectively, indicate a statistically significant correlation in each instance. Conclusions: These findings contribute valuable insights into the interconnectedness of these variables, emphasizing the significance of their associations in the study context. Despite the limitations, the findings of this study suggest a significant relationship between psychological stress, mindfulness, and periodontal tissue health. Clinical trials are necessary to incorporate the assessment of a patient's psychological status as a new valuable tool in the management of periodontal health.

Theories of consciousness and psychiatric disorders - A comparative analysis.

Disorders of consciousness represent an efficient way to test theories of consciousness' (ToCs) predictions. So far, ToCs have mostly focused on disorders of quantitative awareness such as coma, vegetative state, spatial neglect and hemianopia. Psychiatric disorders, by contrast, have received little attention, leaving their contribution to consciousness research almost unexplored. Therefore, this paper aims to assess the relation between ToCs and psychiatric disorders - that is, the extent to which current ToCs can account for psychiatric symptomatology. First, I review direct and indirect evidence linking each ToC to psychiatry disorders. Next, I differentiate ToCs based on their theoretical and methodological ground, highlighting how they distinctively address neural, cognitive, and phenomenological aspects of conscious experience and, in turn, psychiatric symptoms. Finally, I refer to one specific symptom to directly compare ToCs' explanatory power. Overall, Temporospatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC) appears to provide a more comprehensive account of psychiatric disorders, suggesting that a novel dimension of consciousness (i.e., form of consciousness) may be needed to address more qualitative alterations in conscious experience.

Interpreting the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain impacting Italian and Peruvian dentists likewise: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is a frequent condition among dental practitioners due to working in prolonged static isometric/eccentric contraction. The study aimed to describe musculoskeletal pain prevalence and the interplay between environmental conditions, lifestyle, and drugs consumed among Italian and Peruvian dentists. Methods: A 18 multiple choice questionnaire was administered to Peruvian and Italian dental care practitioners. A total of 187 questionnaires were submitted. One hundred sixty-seven questionnaires were selected for the analysis, including 86 questionnaires from Italy, and 81 from Perú. The study examined musculoskeletal pain presence in dental practitioners. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain presence was analyzed considering different parameters: gender, age, type of dental practitioners, specialization in dentistry, hours of work per day, years of work, physical activity, localization of musculoskeletal pain and the influence of musculoskeletal pain on the performance on work. Results: The selected questionnaires for analysis were 167 (67 from Italy and 81 from Perú). Male and female participants were numerically equal. Most of the dental practitioners were dentists. The percentage of dentists who present musculoskeletal pain is 87.2% in Italy and 91.4% in Perú (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Musculoskeletal pain represents a very diffused condition in dental practitioners. The results about the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain show how the two populations (Italian and Peruvian) are very similar despite the geographical distance. Nevertheless, the high percentages of musculoskeletal pain in dental practitioners translate into the need to use solutions to reduce its onsets, such as improving ergonomics and physical activity.

Morphometrical and Morphological Alterations of Human Leukocytes Exposed to 1.8 GHz Electromagnetic Radiations: In Vitro Protective Effects Induced by Polyphenols.

BACKGROUND: Our recent findings have demonstrated that electromagnetic radiations (EMR) (1.8 GHz radiofrequency) are able to in vitro induce morphometrical and morphological modifications of human leukocytes from normal donors. METHODS: In view of the evidence that polyphenols exert many beneficial effects on plants, animals and humans, leukocytes from human peripheral blood were pre-treated for 1 h with two polyphenol preparations from red grape before EMR exposure (1.8 GHz). RESULTS: Our data will show that polyphenol pre-treatment reverts to normality the morphology of irradiated leukocytes in comparison to irradiated cells only. Conversely, leukocyte morphometry seems to be not affected by this treatment. CONCLUSION: Here, we demonstrate that polyphenols are also able to normalize leukocyte morphology per se altered before as well as after irradiation. Finally, a working hypothesis aimed at clarifying the protective mechanisms exerted by polyphenols on irradiated leukocytes will be illustrated.