The effect of treatment with fentanyl patches on pain relief and improvement in overall daily functioning in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.

Postherpetic neuralgia often causes persistent pain, which can compromise patients' quality of life. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of pain reduction after the application of transdermal fentanyl on the quality of life of patients with postherpetic neuralgia. The study lasted 12 weeks. The study population included adult patients experiencing spontaneous pain, expressed by 4 points on the pain numeric rating scale (NRS). To assess quality of life questionnaire SF-36, the Zung depression scale and NRS were used. Pharmacotherapy included amitryptyline (Amitriptylinum VP) 10 mg orally once daily, gabapentine (Gabapentin TEVA 100 mg) 200-900 mg/24 hour orally twice daily and fentanyl skin patches (Durogesic) 12.5-100 microg/hour. Thirty four patients were qualified for the study. Comparison of pain intensity before the treatment and after 12 weeks showed that all the patients experienced relief. The treatment evidently reduced limitations in the physical and social domains. There was little improvement in the general physical capacity and mental condition. Analysis of correlation between changes in quality of life in the emotional, physical and social domains revealed that they were strongly interlinked. Increase in physical activity was accompanied by positive changes in the mental condition, better general wellbeing was correlated with increased social activity, and increased social activity was accompanied by improved physical condition. The more effective the treatment was, the more evident was improvement in the patients' quality of life in the physical, social and mental domains.

Efficacy of healing process of bone defects after apicectomy: results after 6 and 12 months.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of selected surgical treatment techniques of bone defects after apectomy. A total of 106 postresection bone defects, located in maxilla and mandible were included in the study: the defects were treated with resorbable collagen membrane (BG I- 26 defects), xenogenic bovine material (BOC II- 30 defects) and xenogenic bovine material with platelet rich plasma (BOC/PRP III- 20 defects). In the control group the defects were left to heal spontaneously. Clinical and radiological assessment was performed at 6 and 12 months after the procedures. The analysis among groups revealed higher efficiency of the method of treatment that uses guide bone regeneration in comparison to the group in both post-operative control periods. After 6 months, the differences were statistically significant for each group using the regeneration methods, but after 12 months only for the BOC/PRP group. Treatment using selected guided bone regeneration techniques proved superior to the control group in both observation periods, but after 6 as well 12 months the best results in the BOC/PRP group were observed.

A new specific and useful tool in differential diagnosis of periodontitis.

These studies were performed to confirm the diagnostic value of objective factors routinely assessed during clinical examination in an aim to distinguish between patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Moreover, these factors were verified with subjective description of symptoms reported by patients. To obtain the appointed targets multinominal logistic regression analysis was used. Sixty three patients, aged from 21 to 56 years, treated in the Department of Periodontology of Wroclaw Medical University, were examined as to their oral hygiene and periodontal status. We determined Approximal Plaque Index (API), Papilla Bleeding Index (PBI), probing pocket depths of less than 4 millimetres, furcation involvement, patient's age and the time of appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. The measured data of each parameter was divided into two groups with the use of standard deviation and the multinominal logistic regression analysis. The obtained statistical results proved high clinical value of the studied parameters and gave evidence that the established protocol consisting of five objective factors and one subjective factor used in our clinical practice allowed for good diversification of patients into the two mentioned types of disease.

Long term evaluation of biomaterial application in surgical treatment of periodontosis.

Regenerative treatment of periodontally damaged teeth is a demanding task. Advantages which comes with use of biomaterials are mainly connected with fact that traditional, surgical treatment protocols often do not lead to bone regeneration. The aim of this research was to evaluate clinical and radiological effectiveness of surgical periodontal treatment (with application of HA-Biocer, Biogramu, Bio-Oss) after eight years prior to surgical protocol. Clinical evaluation consisted of measuring pocket depths with perio probe, than evaluation of API (approximal plaque-index) hygiene index (-). Calculation of modified sulcus bleeding index - SBI (%) by Muhlemann and Son was done. Engelberger, Marthaler and Rateitschak index on xrays was calculated. Routine check up eight years after surgical treatment of periodontitis with use of biomaterials was conducted on 32 patients (20 woman, 12 men). The group of patients was divided into: 28 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP), and 4 patients with general aggressive periodontitis (GAP). Eight years after surgical treatment increase of bleeding areas were observed - in all applied biomaterials. For Bio-Oss average percent of SBI 45.2% (+/-24.3), for Biogran 62% (+/- 36.2) and respectively for HA-Biocer 51% (+/-33.2) API index (%) on teeth proximal surfaces was estimated for Biogran 47%, BioOss - 46.5% and for HABiocer 45.6%. Mean pocket depth (mm) has decreased - in case of all applied biomaterials. Radiological index was also calculated. Decrease of index value was stated. Outcomes of 8 years study indicate, decrease of oral hygiene, increase bleeding, decrease of Engelberger, Marthaler, Rateitchak index. It is necessary to perform routine check up of and control on oral hygiene. It seems to be important to mobilize patients to preserve high oral hygiene.

Evaluation of shape and size changes of bone and remodelled bone substitute after different fixation methods.

Suitable tissue fixation is indispensable to histological analysis. This investigation, therefore, sought to evaluate changes of shape and size of bone specimens and remodelled bone substitute material following different fixation methods. Mandibular bones of 9 pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) served as specimens. Two mandibular premolars were extracted respectively and the extraction alveoli were filled with synthetic bone substitute material. The samples were collected after 70 days. Fixation of 6 specimens respectively was done for 7 days in 4% formalin (formaldehyde), 70% ethanol and glycerol at 18 degrees C room temperature. The samples were radiographically examined before and after fixation using a reference specimen and subsequently underwent histological analysis. After fixation in formalin, the samples showed no size changes. After fixation in glycerol, morphological analysis revealed minor shape changes. Fixation in ethanol causes shrinking of the tissue specimens. Histological inspection of the tissues shows no morphological changes except slight shrinking. In conclusion there is no universal fixative that could met all requirements and permited proper examination without affecting tissues or bone specimens.

[Comparative evaluation of biomaterials use in surgical treatment of periodontitis]. / Ocena porównawcza zastosowania biomaterialów w chirurgicznym leczeniu zapalen przyzebia.

Clinical and radiological evaluation of three biomaterials--HA-Biocer, Bio-Gran and Bio-Oss was carried out two years after their grafting in parodontium. The tests were carried out for 91 patients with parodontis. Comparative clinical results (remission of the inflammatory state of parodontium tissues, essential reduction of gingival pockets and rebuilding of alveolar process bone on aimed X-ray pictures) were noted. The carried out observations show that biomaterials application for filling vertical alveoral process bone defects for patients with parodontis gives satisfactory clinical results.

[Use of the BIOGRAN preparation in surgical treatment of periodontal disease]. / Zastosowanie preparatu BIOGRAN w leczeniu chirurgicznym schorzen przyzebia.

Biogran is bioglass which thanks to its osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties has found application in rebuilding of bone defects caused by a periodontal illness. In the work the properties of the material and the possibilities of clinical application in periodontology are described. Our own experiences resulting from its application in treatment of 83 bone pockets are also presented.

[The phagocytosis of polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes in progressive periodontitis]. / Phagozytose der polymorphkernigen neutrophilen Granulozyten bei der progressiven Parodontitis.

The aim of this paper was the evaluation of the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in blood and in gingival pocket fluid in patients suffering from rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP) and postjuvenile periodontitis (PJP). Prior to periodontal treatment the authors evaluated the capacity to phagocytose latex particles of peripheral blood neutrophils from 21 patients with RPP, 51 with PJP and 59 healthy subjects (control group) as well as the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in pocket fluid from 21 patients with RPP, 14 with PJP and from 20 healthy subjects. This phagocytic activity was significantly lower in all examined groups in comparison with the control group. A similar evaluation executed 3 months after treatment revealed normal phagocytosis of blood neutrophils from patients with RPP. In patients receiving complementary pharmacotherapy (spiramycine combined with metronidazol), a better improvement of phagocytosis was noted, than that observed in patients treated only surgically.

[Alloplastic hydroxyapatite implants in treatment of periodontitis]. / Alloplastyczne wszczepy hydroksyapatytowe w leczeniu zapalen przyzebia.

The authors estimated the porous hydroxyapatite alloplasts in the treatment of periodontitis in a clinical and radiological way. The material has been used in 30 patients who had bone pockets deeper than 6 mm. Together, 46 bone pockets were filled. We obtained reduction of the depths of the pockets of 3.02 mm, decrease of the degree of the teeth mobility and the improvement of Engelberger, Marthaler and Raitetschak's radiological indicator by 13%. The results were compared with other works describing the usage of this material in stomatology. Basing on the literature the authors also presented the histological changes in periodontium tissues after the usage of tricalcium phosphate and compact and porous alloplastic hydroxyapatite ceramics.

[Long term results of using splints for uniting loose teeth from composite materials]. / Odlegle wyniki stosowania zespalajacych zeby szyn z materialów kompozytowych.

61 splints made with the method AET strengthened with steel ligature used in uniting of loosened teeth in periodentopathies have been clinically evaluated. Splints from chemo-hardening materials were applied in 32 patients the observation period was from 5 to 10 years. Applying chemo-hardening materials 29 people had their teeth sutured and they were observed from 1 to 5 years. Mobility of splinted teeth, damage of the splint material, change of its colour and pain ailments connected with eventual splint damages and diseases of the pulp of the splinted teeth underwent evaluation. The long period of splints maintenance was the merit of the technology of making them and of the applied materials. In the observation period a little less mobility of teeth splinted in the case of application of light-hardening composites was observed. A greater number of mechanical damages and change of colour was noticed in splints from chemo-hardening materials. It was noticed that the applied materials are very helpful and safe in making splints uniting teeth with the damaged alveolodental ligament.

[Phagocytosis estimation in patients with post juvenile periodontitis by using isotope method]. / Bestimmung der Phagozytose bei Patienten mit Periodontitis postjuveniles unter Anwendung der Isotopenmethode.

The report presents the phagocytosis estimation in patients with post-juvenile periodontitis applying the staphylococcus aureus bacteria marked with C14 isotope. The examination was carried out in 20 patients and 10 controls. Statistically significant decrease of phagocytosis was found in diseased patients. No difference was noticed in phagocytosis at various concentrations of serum.

[Laboratory moulding of Metaplex for stomatologic use]. / Laboratoryjne formowanie Metapleksu dla celów stomatologicznych.

The features of plasticization of Metapleks were used in order to make plates for dentures. Metaplex was subjected to various methods of moulding. After laboratory studies it was found that the method of vacuum moulding is not suitable. Metaplex may be moulded on plaster models by external pressure, or mechanically by use of stamp.

[Comparative studies of the physical properties of Metaplex and Duracryl]. / Porównawcze badania wlasciwosci fizycznych Metapleksu i Duracrylu.

Physical feature of Metaplex (Polish thermoplastic which could be used in stomatology) were studied, and were compared with a commonly used acrylic plastic Duracryl. The following studies were made: impact strength, bending resistance, bending resistance of adhesive-bonded joint of Metaplex with Duracryl, thermal resistance, and water absorptivity. Judging by the results Metaplex can be used in the oral cavity.