Interleukin-10 and Interleukin-1β Cytokines Expression in Leukocytes of Patients with Chronic Peri-Mucositis.

BACKGROUND The purpose of the present research is to analyze the effect of polyphenols and flavonoids substrat (PFS) from plants Calendula officinalis, Salvia fruticosa, Achillea millefolium, and propolis as immunomodulatory in the production of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-10 in peripheral blood leukocytes medium (PBLM) in patients who were diagnosed with mucositis of peri-implant tissue compared to patients with healthy implant tissue. It was hypothesized that IL-1ß and IL-10 contribute to the inflammation processes noticed in the diseases of peri-implant tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty non-smoking patients were included in this study: patients with healthy implants (HP group) and patients with peri-implant mucositis (MP group).

Exploring the feasibility of the combination of acoustic voice quality index and glottal function index for voice pathology screening.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic value of the combination of Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) and Glottal Function Index (GFI) as a screening tool for voice disorders, and to compare the AVQI measurements obtained using oral and smartphone (SP) microphones.

Methods: A study group consisted of 183 adult individuals including 86 subjects with normal voice and 97 patients with pathological voice. Voice recordings were performed simultaneously with an oral AKG Perception 220 and SP iPhone 6s microphones.

Oral Behaviors and Parafunctions: Comparison of Temporomandibular Dysfunction Patients and Controls.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of oral behaviors in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and a control group without TMD.In this baseline case-control study, 260 controls and 260 subjects with TMD completed the oral behaviors checklist defined as a "self-report scale for identifying and quantifying the frequency of jaw overuse behavior" and underwent clinical examinations using the DC/TMJ international examination form (version May 12, 2013). Relationships of oral parafunctions' frequencies between groups were examined.

Autonomic disturbances including impaired hand thermoregulation in multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease.

Autonomic dysfunction in multiple system atrophy (MSA) comprises cardinal symptoms of orthostatic hypotension (OH) and urinary incontinence. Additionally, cardiovagal and sudomotor abnormalities can be present. Previous studies compared hand skin temperature and its response to cooling in subjects with probable MSA and Parkinson's disease (PD).

Reliability and validity of the Lithuanian Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Lithuanian version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), a self-report measure of perceived tinnitus handicap.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional psychometric validation study was performed in the University Hospital. A total of 248 subjects reporting chronic tinnitus as their primary complaint or secondary to hearing loss were encluded in the study and filled in the Lithuanian version of THI.

Effect of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tissue Implantation on the Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane: Morphometric Measurements and Vascularity.

Background: The aim of this study was to develop chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and to evaluate the morphological and morphometric characteristics and angiogenic features of it.

Methods: Fresh LSCC tissue samples obtained from 6 patients were implanted onto 15 chick embryo CAMs. Morphological, morphometric, and angiogenic changes in the CAM and chorionic epithelium were evaluated up to 4 days after the tumor implantation.

Exploring the feasibility of smart phone microphone for measurement of acoustic voice parameters and voice pathology screening.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the reliability of acoustic voice parameters obtained using smart phone (SP) microphones and investigate the utility of use of SP voice recordings for voice screening. Voice samples of sustained vowel/a/obtained from 118 subjects (34 normal and 84 pathological voices) were recorded simultaneously through two microphones: oral AKG Perception 220 microphone and SP Samsung Galaxy Note3 microphone. Acoustic voice signal data were measured for fundamental frequency, jitter and shimmer, normalized noise energy (NNE), signal to noise ratio and harmonic to noise ratio using Dr.

Combined Use of Standard and Throat Microphones for Measurement of Acoustic Voice Parameters and Voice Categorization.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of the measurements of acoustic voice parameters obtained simultaneously using oral and contact (throat) microphones and to investigate utility of combined use of these microphones for voice categorization.

Materials And Methods: Voice samples of sustained vowel /a/ obtained from 157 subjects (105 healthy and 52 pathological voices) were recorded in a soundproof booth simultaneously through two microphones: oral AKG Perception 220 microphone (AKG Acoustics, Vienna, Austria) and contact (throat) Triumph PC microphone (Clearer Communications, Inc, Burnaby, Canada) placed on the lamina of thyroid cartilage. Acoustic voice signal data were measured for fundamental frequency, percent of jitter and shimmer, normalized noise energy, signal-to-noise ratio, and harmonic-to-noise ratio using Dr.

Predictive value of early near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring of patients with traumatic brain injury.

Background And Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in young adults. Study aimed to define the predictive value of early near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring of TBI patients in a Lithuanian clinical setting.

Materials And Methods: Data of 61 patients was analyzed.

Relationship of clinical and microbiological variables in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and periodontitis.

Background: The aim of the study was to analyze how metabolic control of type 1 diabetes is related to clinical and microbiological periodontal parameters.

Material And Methods: The study involved 56 subjects aged from 19 to 50 years divided into 2 groups: healthy subjects (the H group), and diabetic (type 1 diabetes) patients with chronic untreated generalized periodontitis (the DM group). The glycosylated hemoglobin value (HbA1c) was determined using the UniCel DxC 800 SYNCHRON System (Beckman Coulter, USA), and the concentration in blood was measured by the turbidimetric immunoinhibition method.

The most important throat-related symptoms suggestive of chronic tonsillitis as the main indication for adult tonsillectomy.

Background And Objective: The literature lacks data about the evaluation of throat-related symptoms proving chronic tonsillitis as the most common indication for adult tonsillectomy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the most important throat-related symptoms suggestive of chronic tonsillitis in adults.

Material And Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out.

Correlation between the basic video laryngostroboscopic parameters and multidimensional voice measurements.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlations among the basic video laryngostroboscopic (VLS) parameters and vocal function assessed using a multidimensional set of perceptive, acoustic, aerodynamic, and subjective measurements.

Methods: Digital VLS recordings and multidimensional voice assessment were performed for 108 individuals, namely 26 healthy and 82 patients with mass lesions of vocal folds and paralysis. The VLS variables (glottal closure, regularity, mucosal wave on the affected/healthy side, symmetry of vibration, and symmetry of image) were rated and quantified on a visual analog scale.

Quantitative evaluation of video laryngostroboscopy: reliability of the basic parameters.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate quantitatively the basic parameters of the video laryngostroboscopy (VLS) and determine the sensitivity and specificity of these parameters discriminating healthy and pathological voice classes.

Methods: Digital VLS recordings were performed for 159 individuals: 26 healthy and 133 patients. VLS variables (glottal closure, regularity, mucosal wave on the affected/healthy side, symmetry of vibration, and symmetry of image) were rated two times with the time interval of 1 year by three laryngologists.

MGMT, GATA6, CD81, DR4, and CASP8 gene promoter methylation in glioblastoma.

Background: Methylation of promoter region is the major mechanism affecting gene expression in tumors. Recent methylome studies of brain tumors revealed a list of new epigenetically modified genes. Our aim was to study promoter methylation of newly identified epigenetically silenced genes together with already known epigenetic markers and evaluate its separate and concomitant role in glioblastoma genesis and patient outcome.

Association of language dysfunction and age of onset of benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes in children.

Background: Language dysfunction in children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) has been well recognized but data regarding its risk factors are heterogenous.

Aims: To assess language function in children with BECTS and its association with the age of epilepsy onset.

Methods: We assessed language function in 61 children with BECTS and 35 age and sex-matched controls.

Activity of neutrophil β-glucuronidase in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with chronic generalized periodontitis and healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE. The aim of the study was to establish the dynamics of β-glucuronidase activity in subjects suffering from type 1 diabetes and chronic untreated generalized periodontitis, subjects suffering from chronic untreated generalized periodontitis only, and control subjects not suffering from generic diseases with healthy periodontal tissue. MATERIAL AND METHODS.

Neonatal outcomes of very preterm infants admitted to a tertiary center in Lithuania between the years 2003 and 2005.

The objectives of the study are to investigate gestational age-specific mortality and neonatal outcomes in preterm infants admitted to a tertiary center in Lithuania, and to make comparison with tertiary centers in western countries. Three hundred thirty-eight newborns born at ≤ 32 weeks of gestation and with birth weight ≤ 1,500 g between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2005, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Kaunas Medical University Hospital, were prospectively investigated. Mortality and associations between maternal, perinatal, and neonatal variables and short-term outcomes were examined for two gestational age (GA) groups (group I, extremely preterm, 22-27 weeks GA; group II, very preterm, 28-32 weeks GA).

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in recurrent respiratory papillomas and laryngeal carcinoma: clinical and morphological parallels.

The task of the present study was to investigate the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in recurrent respiratory papillomas (RRP) and accomplish a comparative analysis with those in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). The immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was investigated in specimens taken from RRP (n = 38) and LSCC (n = 39) patient groups, and the normal tissue of vocal fold (n = 12, control group). The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, both in epithelium and stroma cells, was graded on a semiquantitative scale, ranging from 0 (no expression) to 18 points (high expression).

Tumor grade-related NDRG2 gene expression in primary and recurrent intracranial meningiomas.

Approximately 30% of all primary CNS tumors are meningiomas. Depending on histological type, meningiomas can recur as follows: benign--with five-year recurrence of 5%, atypical--recurrence approximately 40%, and anaplastic with recurrence of 50-80%. In an attempt to understand the molecular mechanism of meningioma recurrence we investigated the N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2), which has recently been described as important in suppressing cellular carcinogenesis in different types of cancer.

Categorizing normal and pathological voices: automated and perceptual categorization.

Objectives: The aims of the present study were to evaluate the accuracy of an elaborated automated voice categorization system that classified voice signal samples into healthy and pathological classes and to compare it with classification accuracy that was attained by human experts.

Material And Methods: We investigated the effectiveness of 10 different feature sets in the classification of voice recordings of the sustained phonation of the vowel sound /a/ into the healthy and two pathological voice classes, and proposed a new approach to building a sequential committee of support vector machines (SVMs) for the classification. By applying "genetic search" (a search technique used to find solutions to optimization problems), we determined the optimal values of hyper-parameters of the committee and the feature sets that provided the best performance.

Lysozyme and microbiota in relation to gingivitis and periodontitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between the immune component of the oral cavity, lysozyme, in gingival crevicular fluid and unstimulated saliva, and colonization dynamics of periodontopathogenic bacteria from supra- and subgingival plaque samples in patients with gingivitis or periodontitis.

Material/methods: Lysozyme in crevicular fluid and unstimulated saliva, and bacteria in supra- and subgingival plaque samples were assessed in 84 samples from 28 patients with gingivitis, 96 samples from 32 patients with periodontitis, and 72 samples from 24 donors with intact periodontium and free of internal disease. Lysozyme activity was determined spectrophotometrically.

Transition zone index and bothersomeness of voiding symptoms as predictors of early unfavorable outcomes after transurethral resection of prostate.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to establish the influence of preoperative parameters on unfavorable outcomes after transurethral resection of the prostate.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective study, 90 patients underwent transurethral resection of the prostate. The standardized protocol was used to investigate parameters, preoperatively and after 6 months.

Quantitative microlaryngoscopic measurements of vocal fold polyps, glottal gap and their relation to vocal function.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to quantify the size of vocal fold polyps and to investigate the relationship between the glottal gap and parameters of acoustic voice analysis and phonetography.

Material And Methods: Eighty-one microlaryngoscopic images and digital recordings of voices (acoustic analysis and phonetogram) acquired from the patients with vocal fold polyps (VFPs) were employed in this study. Vocal fold (VF) images were collected during routine direct microlaryngoscopy using Moller-Wedel Universa 300 surgical microscope, 3-CCD Elmo 768 x 576-pixel color video camera and a 300 W Xenon light source.

[Microbiological and biochemical characteristics of inflammatory tissues in the periodontium].

Objective: To investigate bacterial populations in subgingival and supragingival plaque samples of patients with inflammatory periodontal diseases and activities of the lysosomal enzymes--lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, and beta-glucuronidase--in peripheral venous blood, in gingival crevicular fluid, and mixed nonstimulated saliva.

Methods And Materials: The study included 60 patients with inflammatory periodontal diseases without any internal pathology and 24 periodontally healthy subjects. Molecular genetic assay (Micro-IDent plus, Germany) for complex identification of additional six periodontopathic bacteria was applied.

Predictive value of scoring system in severe pediatric head injury.

Objectives: To determine the threshold values of Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 (PIM 2) score, Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score for mortality in children after severe head injury and to evaluate changes in outcomes of children after severe head injury on discharge and after 6 months.

Material And Methods: All children with severe head injury admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, Lithuania, from January 2004 to June 2006 were prospectively included in the study. The severity of head injury was categorized according to the GCS score < or =8.