Teledentistry and oral health in older adults - aspects for implementation of the "Patient centric solution for smart and sustainable healthcare (ACESO)" project.

P u r p o s e: Oral health and diseases are significant components of general health. However, oral health-care remains at the lowest of older patients' priorities. The inability to obtain dental care can result in progression of dental disease, leading to a diminished quality of life and overall health.

SARC-F as a case-finding tool for sarcopenia according to the EWGSOP2. National validation and comparison with other diagnostic standards.

Background: Sarcopenia is a potentially reversible condition, which requires proper screening and diagnosis.

Aims: To validate a Polish version of sarcopenia screening questionnaire (SARC-F), and assess its clinical performance.

Methods: Cross-sectional validation study in community-dwelling subjects ≥ 65 years of age.

Endothelial dysfunction is independent of inflammation and altered CCR7 T cell expression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: The accumulation of CCR7 (chemokine receptor 7) positive cells in the vessel wall may be involved in endothelial dysfunction and subsequent accelerated atherogenesis. CCR7 plays a crucial role in T cell and monocyte migration/homing and in priming of naive T lymphocytes in non-lymphoid tissues in chronic inflammatory diseases. Our objective was to investigate the endothelial function and inflammation-driven expression of CCR7 on T lymphocytes in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Alterations in skin microvascular function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between systemic inflammation and skin microcirculation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: We assessed skin microcirculation flux (laser Doppler flowmetry), classical cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory markers and disease activity (Disease Activity Score 28, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) in 75 patients with arthritis with a median disease duration of 4 years, and in 26 healthy subjects.

Results: In patients with arthritis inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, fibrinogen) were increased, peak flux velocity after the occlusion at the temperature of 36.

Arterial stiffness is not increased in patients with short duration rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of CV events. The aim of the study was to assess arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers in patients with short duration chronic arthritis.