Salivary sCD14 as a potential biomarker of dental caries activity in adults.

CD14 is a co-receptor involved in the recognition of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, the latter known to cause dental caries. The aim of this study was to determine whether soluble CD14 (sCD14) in saliva was associated with caries activity and the collection method from the saliva. The study included 55 participants aged 20 to 40 years, 30 with dental caries and 25 caries-free controls.

Caries prevalence in heroin addicts.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of caries in patients who are heroin addicts and the effects of salivary flow and saliva pH on its prevalence. The study included 200 subjects (100 subjects diagnosed with heroin addiction as the test group and 100 subjects taking no addictive substances as the control group). In both groups, saliva status was established by determining flow rates and pH of stimulated and unstimulated saliva.

Combined surgical approach to carotid and coronary artery disease.

The aim of this study was to compare two different surgical approaches to patients with coexistent significant carotid and coronary artery obstruction. Patients were treated with combined operation of carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting (CEA/CABG). The first group of patients underwent the CABG procedure with the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on arrested heart and the second group without the CPB on a beating heart--off pump.

[Aortico-left ventricular tunnel].

The boy was first admitted to the Department of Pediatric Cardiology at the age of 4 1/2 because of cardiac murmur diagnosed on the third day of life. A diastolic murmur of a grade 4/6, left ventricular hypertrophy as well as left aortal and ventricular dilatation were discovered. The findings showed a tendency of increase with time, but the patient had no symptoms.