-
Journal of Medical Internet Research Dec 2023Sore throat is a common problem and a common reason for the overuse of antibiotics. A web-based tool that helps people assess their sore throat, through the use of...
BACKGROUND
Sore throat is a common problem and a common reason for the overuse of antibiotics. A web-based tool that helps people assess their sore throat, through the use of clinical prediction rules, taking throat swabs or saliva samples, and taking throat photographs, has the potential to improve self-management and help identify those who are the most and least likely to benefit from antibiotics.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to develop a web-based tool to help patients and parents or carers self-assess sore throat symptoms and take throat photographs, swabs, and saliva samples for diagnostic testing. We then explored the acceptability and feasibility of using the tool in adults and children with sore throats.
METHODS
We used the Person-Based Approach to develop a web-based tool and then recruited adults and children with sore throats who participated in this study by attending general practices or through social media advertising. Participants self-assessed the presence of FeverPAIN and Centor score criteria and attempted to photograph their throat and take throat swabs and saliva tests. Study processes were observed via video call, and participants were interviewed about their views on using the web-based tool. Self-assessed throat inflammation and pus were compared to clinician evaluation of patients' throat photographs.
RESULTS
A total of 45 participants (33 adults and 12 children) were recruited. Of these, 35 (78%) and 32 (71%) participants completed all scoring elements for FeverPAIN and Centor scores, respectively, and most (30/45, 67%) of them reported finding self-assessment relatively easy. No valid response was provided for swollen lymph nodes, throat inflammation, and pus on the throat by 11 (24%), 9 (20%), and 13 (29%) participants respectively. A total of 18 (40%) participants provided a throat photograph of adequate quality for clinical assessment. Patient assessment of inflammation had a sensitivity of 100% (3/3) and specificity of 47% (7/15) compared with the clinician-assessed photographs. For pus on the throat, the sensitivity was 100% (3/3) and the specificity was 71% (10/14). A total of 89% (40/45), 93% (42/45), 89% (40/45), and 80% (30/45) of participants provided analyzable bacterial swabs, viral swabs, saliva sponges, and saliva drool samples, respectively. Participants were generally happy and confident in providing samples, with saliva samples rated as slightly more acceptable than swab samples.
CONCLUSIONS
Most adult and parent participants were able to use a web-based intervention to assess the clinical features of throat infections and generate scores using clinical prediction rules. However, some had difficulties assessing clinical signs, such as lymph nodes, throat pus, and inflammation, and scores were assessed as sensitive but not specific. Many participants had problems taking photographs of adequate quality, but most were able to take throat swabs and saliva samples.
Topics: Child; Adult; Humans; Feasibility Studies; Self-Assessment; Pharyngitis; Inflammation; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Social Media; Suppuration
PubMed: 38064265
DOI: 10.2196/39791 -
Molecular Syndromology Dec 2023Synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1), the predominant SYT isoform in the central nervous system, likely acts by promoting vesicle docking, deforming the plasma membrane via...
INTRODUCTION
Synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1), the predominant SYT isoform in the central nervous system, likely acts by promoting vesicle docking, deforming the plasma membrane via Ca-dependent membrane penetration.
CASE PRESENTATION
Here, we describe a 21-year-old woman harboring a novel variant in the gene, who presents with a complex phenotype, featuring severe intellectual disability, absent speech, behavioral abnormalities, motor stereotypies, dystonic posturing of her hands, a hyperkinetic movement disorder in her childhood, infantile hypotonia, sialorrhea, mild dysmorphic features, epilepsy, peculiar EEG findings, and severe scoliosis.
DISCUSSION
Based on our case and literature review on the 22 previously described patients, we can confirm a complex neurodevelopmental disorder in which, unlike other synaptopathies, epilepsy is present in a subset of cases (including our patient: 5/23, 22%), although characteristic EEG changes are far more common (10/23, 43.5%). Our patient's age allows us to provide long-term follow-up data and thus better delineate the -related clinical phenotype.
PubMed: 38058756
DOI: 10.1159/000530586 -
Cureus Nov 2023Foreign body ingestion (FBI) among the pediatric age group is considered a major clinical problem that can cause life-threatening complications, as it can obstruct the...
BACKGROUND
Foreign body ingestion (FBI) among the pediatric age group is considered a major clinical problem that can cause life-threatening complications, as it can obstruct the airway due to poor/immature airway protection reflexes.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we aimed to retrospectively describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of FBI among the pediatric age group in Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of pediatric patients (0-14 years) presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from January 2019 to October 2022. The study reviewed records of patients with FBI in the emergency department. Data collection included age, gender, comorbidities, foreign body (FB) type, anatomical location, presenting symptoms, time to emergency room (ER) presentation, need for endoscopy, and complications. We performed a statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 25 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY), where p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
We identified 244 FBI cases, with most cases being male (62.7%). The most common site of FB impaction was the stomach (38.9%), followed by the upper esophagus (29.1%). Clinical presentation was variable, with 20.5% of cases experiencing vomiting, 13.5% experiencing drooling, and 9.4% experiencing dysphagia. Out of 244 cases, 132 (54.1%) were referred to gastroenterology for urgent FB removal by endoscopy. A total of 186 cases (76.2%) did not have complications, whereas 3.6% had serious sequela. The association between age and FBI was statistically significant (p=0.00), whereas there was no association between gender and FBI.
CONCLUSION
Our results showed that FB ingestion was prevalent among children at our tertiary care hospital, with urgent endoscopy being the most common removal procedure. Early detection and immediate presentation to the emergency room are crucial for preventing complications. Common FBI included coins and batteries, with most incidents in 1-3-year-old males. Parents should be aware of the dangers of FBI and implement preventive measures to reduce its incidence.
PubMed: 38046744
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48113 -
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Nov 2023Various healthcare professionals, including dentists, provide botulinum toxin (Botox) for cosmetic and therapeutic treatment. In dentistry, it has multiple uses, such as...
BACKGROUND
Various healthcare professionals, including dentists, provide botulinum toxin (Botox) for cosmetic and therapeutic treatment. In dentistry, it has multiple uses, such as gummy smile, bruxism, sialorrhea, muscle spasm, and orofacial pain, yet unwanted side effects may arise.
AIMS
This study aimed to investigate the participants' perspective regarding the scope of Botox in dentistry and its associated risk, provider involvement, and factors affecting the choice of which healthcare professions administer Botox injections in Saudi Arabia.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
A cross-sectional study using an online self-administered survey distributed through social media accounts among adults living in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. Four hundred male and female adults were invited to participate. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were used in the study.
RESULTS
A total of 256 responses were collected from 204 females and 51 males with a mean age of 33.86 (SD = 10.5) years. Collected data demonstrated knowledge of various Botox indications, which include wrinkle reduction (216 (84.4%)), treatment of muscle spasms (186 (72.7%)), and management of gummy smile (178 (69.5%)). Regarding the side effects, participants chose infections (182 (71.1%)), bruising (180 (70.3%)), and drooping in the eye (176 (68.7%)). Participants selected family and friends as the primary source of their information on Botox treatment. The majority preferred a plastic surgeon, followed by an oral maxillofacial surgeon, to provide the Botox treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
The usage of Botox therapy in the field of dentistry has increased significantly. Participants had an acceptable level of knowledge regarding the use of Botox in esthetic practices but lacked knowledge of the therapeutic scope of Botox therapy. The majority of participants had no doubt about the medical professionals administering Botox. It is advised to educate the public about the extent of Botox treatment and offer a trustworthy source of information required.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Male; Female; Botulinum Toxins, Type A; Cross-Sectional Studies; Esthetics, Dental; Saudi Arabia; Smiling; Gingiva
PubMed: 38044765
DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_217_23 -
Clinical Chemistry Apr 2024SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to circulate globally, even within highly vaccinated populations. The first-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines elicit neutralizing immunoglobin... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to circulate globally, even within highly vaccinated populations. The first-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines elicit neutralizing immunoglobin G (IgG) antibodies that prevent severe COVID-19 but induce only weak antibody responses in mucosal tissues. There is increasing recognition that secretory immunoglobin A (SIgA) antibodies in the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity are critical in interrupting virus shedding, transmission, and progression of disease. To fully understand the immune-related factors that influence SARS-CoV-2 dynamics at the population level, it will be necessary to monitor virus-specific IgG and SIgA in systemic and mucosal compartments.
CONTENT
Oral fluids and saliva, with appropriate standardized collection methods, constitute a readily accessible biospecimen type from which both systemic and mucosal antibodies can be measured. Serum-derived IgG and immunoglobin A (IgA) are found in gingival crevicular fluids and saliva as the result of transudation, while SIgA, which is produced in response to mucosal infection and vaccination, is actively transported across salivary gland epithelia and present in saliva and passive drool. In this mini-review, we summarize the need for the implementation of standards, highly qualified reagents, and best practices to ensure that clinical science is both rigorous and comparable across laboratories and institutions. We discuss the need for a better understanding of sample stability, collection methods, and other factors that affect measurement outcomes and interlaboratory variability.
SUMMARY
The establishment of best practices and clinical laboratory standards for the assessment of SARS-CoV-2 serum and mucosal antibodies in oral fluids is integral to understanding immune-related factors that influence COVID-19 transmission and persistence within populations.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19 Vaccines; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Antibodies, Viral; Vaccination; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin A; Antibodies, Neutralizing
PubMed: 38039096
DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvad169 -
Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine 2023Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is considered the gold standard in assessing the severity of injury to the gastrointestinal tract following corrosive ingestion. Zargar's...
OBJECTIVES
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is considered the gold standard in assessing the severity of injury to the gastrointestinal tract following corrosive ingestion. Zargar's endoscopic grading of injury helps in prognostication as well as guiding management. Since the major burden of cases lies in resource-limited settings, the availability of endoscopic evaluation is a limiting factor. Hence, it is prudent to develop bedside tools that can be used as screening tools to identify patients at high risk of mortality and complications so that timely referrals and judicious utilization of resources can be made. Literature in this regard is limited and published studies have shown that clinical features fail to predict the severity of injury. We aimed our study to find the role of Drooling, Reluctance, Oropharynx, Others, and Leukocytosis (DROOL) score as a predictor of mortality and complications following acute corrosive ingestion.
METHODS
This was a diagnostic accuracy study conducted in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital in North India. We screened all cases of acute corrosive ingestion presented to our ED. We collected the data on demographic profile, clinical features, investigations, endoscopy findings, treatment, and DROOL score. We followed patients for up to 12 weeks for outcomes including mortality and complications.
RESULTS
We studied 79 patients of acute corrosive ingestion. The median age was 26 years with a female predominance. Nausea, vomiting, and pain abdomen were the common symptoms. The median DROOL score was 4. The majority of our patients had normal to Zargar grade 1 injury to the stomach and esophagus. Out of 79 patients, 27 patients developed some complications. The overall mortality up to 12 weeks was 10%. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed, and the area under the ROC (AUROC) curve of Zargar classification in predicting overall complications was 0.909 (96% confidence interval [CI]: 0.842-0.975) and it was 0.775 (95% CI: 0.553-1.000) in predicting mortality. The AUROC of DROOL score in predicting overall complications was 0.932 (95% CI: 0.877-0.987) and the AUROC of DROOL score in predicting mortality was 0.864 (95% CI: 0.758-0.970). The ROC analysis showed that a DROOL score ≤4 has a sensitivity of 96.2% and a specificity of 77.8% in predicting overall complications. Similarly, DROOL score ≤5 has a sensitivity of 81.7% and a specificity of 62.5% in predicting the development of mortality. Delong test showed that there was no statistically significant difference in Zargar versus DROOL score in terms of prediction of mortality and overall complications ( > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
DROOL score is comparable to Zargar score in identifying patients at high risk of mortality and complications. Hence, DROOL score can be used for risk stratification of patients presenting with corrosive ingestion.
PubMed: 38024188
DOI: 10.4103/tjem.tjem_128_23 -
Clinical Parkinsonism & Related... 2023Sialorrhea, or drooling, is defined as excessive saliva accumulation and unwanted loss of saliva from the mouth or over the tongue and into the pharynx. It constitutes... (Review)
Review
Sialorrhea, or drooling, is defined as excessive saliva accumulation and unwanted loss of saliva from the mouth or over the tongue and into the pharynx. It constitutes one of the most frequent and bothersome complaints of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), affecting up to 84% of them. Sialorrhea is a distressing and challenging condition that may result in social isolation, embarrassment, depression, skin infections, poor oral health, and aspiration pneumonia. To better understand the burden of sialorrhea on patients with PD, Parkinson's Europe carried out a worldwide patient survey which showed that sialorrhea remains an underrecognized and undertreated issue in patients with PD. This is especially problematic because effective therapeutic options are available. This article presents the results of the Parkinson's Europe Sialorrhea Survey, which were considered by a multidisciplinary panel of experts to provide recommendations for improving the awareness, diagnosis, management, and treatment of sialorrhea in patients with PD. A shift in the treatment paradigm for sialorrhea in patients with PD is emerging. It is essential to better educate patients, family members, caregivers, and healthcare professionals about sialorrhea; to engage all those involved to actively discuss sialorrhea and measure its impact on quality of life; and to recognize the role of botulinum toxin and speech and language therapy as first-line therapies.
PubMed: 38021341
DOI: 10.1016/j.prdoa.2023.100223 -
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia... Jan 2024Patients with schizophrenia constitute a particularly vulnerable group for oral diseases. Among the different factors involved, we aimed to examine the evidence of how...
BACKGROUND
Patients with schizophrenia constitute a particularly vulnerable group for oral diseases. Among the different factors involved, we aimed to examine the evidence of how drugs could contribute to the poorer oral health of this population.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
An overview of the potential impact of medication on dental/oral health among people with schizophrenia was proposed focusing on selected literature.
RESULTS
Studies show a higher dental caries and degree of periodontal diseases in this population and point to drug-induced xerostomia as an important risk factor for oral health deterioration. The risk of dry mouth depends on not only antipsychotics, but also drugs with anticholinergic activity. We hypothesize that antipsychotic induced glycaemic alterations might contribute to reduced oral health, and that the antimicrobial activity of certain antipsychotics could have an impact on oral microbiota affecting oral condition. Pharmacovigilance data show that involuntary movements are caused by typical and some atypical antipsychotics. Dry mouth is most frequently reported for quetiapine and olanzapine, while clozapine is more frequently associated with sialorrhea.
CONCLUSIONS
Literature clearly shows higher caries and periodontal disease in schizophrenic patients. However, overall, there is scarce literature about the potential influence of drugs in these disorders. Health professionals should be aware of this issue in order to implement adequate preventive measures in this vulnerable population.
Topics: Humans; Schizophrenia; Risperidone; Dental Caries; Oral Health; Benzodiazepines; Antipsychotic Agents; Xerostomia
PubMed: 37992139
DOI: 10.4317/medoral.26061 -
Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy Jan 2024Saliva can be used for screening and diagnostic purposes. Although multiple saliva collection methods are available, their use in children can be limited due to lack of... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Saliva can be used for screening and diagnostic purposes. Although multiple saliva collection methods are available, their use in children can be limited due to lack of cooperation, developmental stage, and age. The aim of this scoping review was to comprehensively appraise the different methods of saliva collection among both children and adolescents by assessing the available scientific literature.
METHODS
A literature search was performed using the databases PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Eligible studies on saliva collection methods among children and adolescents were included for this review.
RESULTS
The literature search identified 249 eligible articles, of which 205 had a cross-sectional study design. Four distinct saliva collection methods have surfaced: the drooling method, the absorption method, the spitting method, and the suction method. Among infants or children under the age of 6 years, the suction and absorption methods were most preferred. The drooling and spitting methods were only applicable among children above the age of 3 years. When children were not willing to cooperate, the absorption method was most feasible. In adolescents and older children, no specific method was found to be preferred over another method.
CONCLUSION
Overall, saliva collection is well tolerated by children and adolescents, with the absorption and suction methods being preferred with young and uncooperative children.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Cross-Sectional Studies; Saliva; Sialorrhea
PubMed: 37950136
DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00684-9 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2023A 6 year-old spayed female Poodle presented with a mandibular mass. Radiographic examination revealed osteolysis from the right mandibular canine to the fourth...
A 6 year-old spayed female Poodle presented with a mandibular mass. Radiographic examination revealed osteolysis from the right mandibular canine to the fourth premolar, along with horizontal bone loss and dorsal displacement of the right mandibular first and second premolars. Skull cone beam computed tomography revealed osteolysis at the level of the right mandibular canine and fourth premolar. A destructive bone lesion was observed in the apical area of the right mandibular canine, with mass invasion of the interradicular bone of the right mandibular first molar near the mandibular canal. Consequently, unilateral total mandibulectomy and skin flap surgery were performed. Histopathological examination revealed poorly demarcated and infiltrative neoplastic epithelial cells that formed small islands and trabeculae. Neoplastic cells exhibited the malignant features of cytological atypia and high mitotic activity. Furthermore, the neoplastic epithelial cells frequently showed ghost cell changes and were diagnosed as ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC). The dog was followed up for 1 year, during which no severe complications or local recurrence was observed, except for slight mandibular drift, tongue protrusion, and drooling. This case report describes the clinical features, diagnostic imaging, and histologic features of an unreported GCOC in a dog and the favorable outcome following surgical resection.
PubMed: 37929281
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1267222