Introduction
Research of COVID-19-Pandemic mental health impact focus on three groups: the general population, (2) so called vulnerable groups (e.g. individuals with mental disorders) and (3) ...individuals suffering COVID-19 including Long-COVID syndromes.
Objectives
We investigate whether individuals with a history of depression in the past, react to the COVID-19 pandemic with increased depressive symptoms.
Methods
Longitudinal Data stem from the NAKO-Baseline-Assessment (2014-2019, 18 study centers in Germany, representative sampled individuals from 20 to 74 years) and the subsequent NAKO-COVID-Assessment (5-11/2020). The sample for analysis comprises 115.519 individuals. History of psychiatric disorder was operationalized as lifetime self-report for physician-diagnosed depression. Depressive symptoms were measured with the PHQ 9.
Results
Mean age of the sample at baseline was 49.95 (SD 12.53). It comprised 51.70 women; 14 % of the individuals had a history of
physician-diagnosed depression. Considering a PHQ-Score with cut-off 10 as a clinical relevant depression, 3.65 % of the individuals without history of depression and 24.19 % of those with a history of depression were depressed at baseline. The NAKO-COVID-Assessment revealed 6.53 % depressed individuals without any history of depression and a similar rate of 23.29 % in those with history of depression.
Conclusions
In contrast to that what we expected, individuals with a history of a physician-diagnosed depression, did not react with increasing depressiveness during the first phase of the pandemic in Germany. Several reasons could be discussed. Whether there medium and long-term impact remains open.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Mass stranding events (MSEs) of beaked whales (BWs) were extremely rare prior to the 1960s but increased markedly after the development of naval mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS). The temporal and ...spatial associations between atypical BW MSEs and naval exercises were first observed in the Canary Islands, Spain, in the mid-1980s. Further research on BWs stranded in association with naval exercises demonstrated pathological findings consistent with decompression sickness (DCS). A 2004 ban on MFASs around the Canary Islands successfully prevented additional BW MSEs in the region, but atypical MSEs have continued in other places of the world, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, with examined individuals showing DCS. A workshop held in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, in September 2017 reviewed current knowledge on BW atypical MSEs associated with MFAS. Our review suggests that the effects of MFAS on BWs vary among individuals or populations, and predisposing factors may contribute to individual outcomes. Spatial management specific to BW habitat, such as the MFAS ban in the Canary Islands, has proven to be an effective mitigation tool and mitigation measures should be established in other areas taking into consideration known population-level information.
Radial forearm free flaps (RFFF) are the “workhorse” of reconstructive head and neck surgery, but have considerable morbidity at the donor site. The aim of this study was to review current ...publications about the incidence and type of morbidity and the different techniques used for closure of the site. We screened the MEDLINE database to find relevant papers using the terms “RFFF head and neck” and “RFFF donor site”. Abstracts were filtered, and the full texts studied carefully. We found 1056 publications during the period 1982–2017 of which 389 were studied in full, and 39 studies were finally included in the review. We found four main methods of closure of the donor site: full-thickness skin grafts (FTSG); split-thickness skin grafts (STSG); modified techniques for raising the flap and closure of the wound by local flaps; and others (such as allografts, expanders, and vacuum bandages). For STSG and FTSG the preparation of the donor site seems to be a relevant factor. Special attention should be paid to the coverage of the flexor tendons. FTSG give better aesthetic results than STSG. Closure by local flaps may achieve primary closure of the donor site without a third surgical site, but the techniques are limited by the amount of tissue required at the site of the defect. The most common side effects are disorders of wound healing such as exposed tendons. To avoid exposure of the tendons, flexor tendons should be covered with muscle bellies when STSG are used. It is still not clear whether many other reported side effects (such as impairment of sensitivity) are induced by raising the flap or closing the donor site. There is an argument for closure of individual donor sites independently, but there is no one method of closure for all donor sites, because each has its specific disadvantages and complications.
Oral Diseases (2011) 17, 194–199
Objectives: Bisphosphonate‐associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BP‐ONJ) is a side effect in patients being treated with bisphosphonates. The bisphosphonates most ...often associated with BP‐ONJ are the highly potent nitrogen‐containing bisphosphonates, e.g. pamidronate or zoledronate. In terms of BP‐ONJ aetiology, several theories are being discussed: inhibition of bone remodelling, effect on soft tissues, and antiangiogenic effect of bisphosphonates. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of different potent bisphosphonates on osteoblasts, fibroblasts and human umbilicord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).
Materials and methods: Three nitrogen‐containing bisphosphonates (ibandronate, pamidronate and zoledronate) and one non‐nitrogen‐containing bisphosphonate (clodronate) were compared concerning their potency on apoptosis induction (tunel), cell viability (calcein assay) and migration potency (boyden chamber) on osteoblasts, fibroblasts and HUVEC.
Results: The nitrogen‐containing bisphosphonates, particularly pamidronate and zoledronate, affect cell viability, cell migration and the induction of apoptosis of osteoblasts, fibroblasts and HUVEC.
Conclusions: These results support the theory that BP‐ONJ is a multifactorially caused disease because several cell lines of the oral cavity which are responsible for integrity and wound healing are negatively affected by nitrogen‐containing bisphosphonates. Perioperative interruption of bisphosphonate application during dental surgical procedures – if possible – might be feasible to promote better wound healing.
Abstract In addition to tobacco and alcohol consumption, the two main risk factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), recent studies have revealed infections with human papilloma virus (HPV) as ...an additional risk factor for OSCC development. In the field of head and neck malignancies, the prevalence of HPV infections in oropharyngeal cancer (OC) ranges in different studies up to 84%. While HPV infection is discussed as an independent risk factor in this region, its distinguished role in carcinogenesis of tumours localized to the oral cavity remains still uncertain. In this study, we analysed the HPV status in 88 consecutive patients with OSCCs localized anterior of the palatoglossal arch who were treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Medical Center Mainz. The HPV status analysis was performed using DNA-PCR and immunostaining of p16 protein. The prevalence of HPV-positive OSCCs was about 6% (5 patients). In 3 patients the HPV subtypes 16/18 were found. No significant differences between the HPV positive and negative patients regarding age, gender, smoking and alcohol consumption, localization and TNM level could be detected. Contrary to other studies focussing on cancers of the lingual and palatine tonsil, the prevalence of HPV infections was much lower in the oral cavity. Therefore HPV infection might play a less important role in oral carcinogenesis.
Online interventions can effectively improve depressive symptoms. They often include behavioral activation (BA) techniques, but research on the effects on behavioral activation is scarce. This study ...aims to examine short- and long-term effects of online interventions on behavioral activation in routine care.
This study is a secondary analysis of a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial (@ktiv) with a sample of N = 647 GP patients with mild to moderate depression. The intervention group (IG) received treatment-as-usual (TAU) and adjunct access to an online intervention; the control group (CG) received TAU. BA was assessed in terms of the frequency and enjoyment of pleasant activities at baseline, after six weeks and after six months. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed via multilevel mixed linear regression.
The frequency of pleasant activities was significantly higher in the IG than in the CG six months after baseline (t(1406) = 2.25, p = .024). The enjoyment of pleasant activities was significantly higher in the IG than in the CG both six weeks (t(1405) = 2.11, p = .035) and six months after baseline (t(1405) = 3.44, p = .001). Initial depressive symptoms significantly moderated the treatment effect on the enjoyment but not the frequency of pleasant activities.
BA measures have not been validated in a clinical context.
GP patients with mild to moderate depressive symptoms profited from access to an online adjunct intervention in terms of improved behavioral activation. The findings emphasize the usefulness of online interventions as supportive options in mental health care.
•Online interventions for depression can support GP care.•Self-managed online interventions can help improve behavioral activation.•Frequency and enjoyment of activities vary over time.•Long-term effects of online interventions on behavioral activation can be observed.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the changes in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPdLFs) and osteoblasts (HOBs) after the application of compressive force (CF) ...at two different strengths in vitro.
Materials and methods
HPdLF and HOB were exposed to CF with various strengths (5 and 10 %) using a Flexercell Compression Unit for 12 h in vitro. Viability was detected via 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2.5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and apoptosis rate by transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The gene expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) was analyzed using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Osteopontin (OPN), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), and tissue inhibition of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were quantified by an ELISA.
Results
Ten percent CF decreased viability, particularly in HOBs, but did not induce increased apoptosis. ALP gene expression increased the most after 5 % CF in HPdLFs and after 10 % CF in HOB. OCN was not affected by CF in either cell line. The highest RANKL/OPG ratio was measured after 5 % CF in both cell lines. OPN was upregulated in HOB by 5 %. HPdLFs showed an upregulation of MMP-8-synthesis and an increased MMP-8/TIMP-1 ratio.
Conclusions
HOBs have a greater effect on bone remodeling through the upregulation of OPN, whereas HPdLFs facilitate orthodontic tooth movement by influencing the extracellular matrix via the MMP-8/TIMP-1 ratio.
Clinical relevance
High CF in orthodontics should be avoided to prevent tissue damage, whereas moderate CF enables active tissue remodeling and tooth movement.
Background and Objective
Recently, porcine acellular dermal matrix (PADM) has been proposed as a possible alternative to autogenous grafts in periodontal plastic surgery. The aim of the present study ...was to investigate the in vitro responses of four different oral cell lines cultured on a novel PADM. Furthermore, tissue reaction to PADM was evaluated histologically after subcutaneous implantation in mice.
Material and Methods
Human gingival fibroblasts (HGF), human osteoblast‐like cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human oral keratinocytes (HOK) were cultured and transferred on to the PADM. A tissue culture polystyrene surface served as the control. The viability of all tested cell lines on PADM was measured by using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide colorimetric assay and PrestoBlue® reagent. The ToxiLight® assay was performed to analyze the effect of PADM on adenylate kinase release. PADM was implanted into nude mice subcutaneously and subjected to histological analysis after 21 d.
Results
Using 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide colorimetric assays, all tested cell lines cultured on PADM demonstrated a significant increase of viability compared to the control group (each p < 0.001) with the exception of HGF and HOK after 3 d (each p > 0.05). According to the PrestoBlue® analysis, all cell lines demonstrated a significant increase of viability compared to the control group at the particular points of measurement after 18 h (HGF p < 0.01; human osteoblast‐like cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, HOK each p < 0.001). No significant cytotoxic effects of PADM on the tested cell lines could be observed, as assessed by changes in adenylate kinase release. Subcutaneous implantation of PADM into nude mice demonstrated good integration with surrounding tissues and significant revascularization of its collagen structure.
Conclusion
Overall, the results suggest that PADM is a promising substitute for autogenous soft tissue grafts in periodontal surgery.
PDF
