Anna Surdacka

Background: Adipose tissue is a crucial endocrine organ, and obesity, due to its associated chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, disrupts adipokine secretion. These adipokines can be detected not only in blood but also in saliva. Dietary changes are a crucial part of managing obesity, encompassing a balanced diet, increased physical activity, and lifestyle modifications. Moreover, adding functional foods like amaranth and canola oils, recognized for their health benefits, may further improve metabolic and inflammatory health. These products have anti-inflammatory effects and may help reduce the pro-inflammatory activity of adipose tissue, thereby improving systemic and oral health. The study aimed to assess the impact of a 3-week calorie-restricted diet, supplemented with canola or amaranth oil on salivary adipokines, i.e., serpin A12, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNF-R1), pH, and salivary flow in obese patients. Methods: A total of 115 adults with obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m²) were enrolled and placed on a 3-week calorie-restricted diet. The study group (n = 44) received additional supplementation: 21 participants received 20 mL of canola oil daily, and 23 received 20 mL of amaranth oil. The control group (n = 71) followed the same calorie-restricted diet without oil supplementation. Non-stimulated saliva was collected twice, for 20 min each time, before and after the intervention, to evaluate flow rate, pH, and concentrations of serpin A12, PAI-1, and TNF-R1. Concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: An increase in saliva flow rate was observed in patients supplemented with amaranth oil (p = 0.0367). Both the amaranth oil and canola oil groups showed a significant rise in salivary pH (p = 0.0425). Across all participants, the 3-week calorie-restricted diet resulted in a reduction in salivary PAI-1 (p = 0.0339), serpin A12 (p = 0.0001), and TNF-R1 (p = 0.0058). Conclusions: The 3-week calorie-restricted diet contributed to a decrease in the concentration of adipokines in saliva. The low-calorie diet, combined with supplementation of amaranth and canola oils, increased salivary flow and resulted in higher pH values, indicating greater alkalinity.

Background/Objectives: Persistent and distressing tinnitus and TMDs may significantly impair the quality of patients’ lives. Problems are particularly severe for those who experience both. Although the exact causes of this association are not fully understood, several hypotheses connect TMD conditions with otological symptoms. Methods: The systematic review presented involved records published between 1 January 2004 and 27 November 2024, in the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, according to the PRISMA guidelines. The search queries included “temporomandibular disorder” and “tinnitus”. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were predefined according to PECOS. A risk of bias assessment and meta-analyses were performed. The study’s protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024533293). Results: Eleven studies included in this review fulfilled all the predefined criteria. In a sample of 114,071 tinnitus patients, 50.99% (95% CI: 33.31–68.54) also had coexisting TMDs. Furthermore, tinnitus patients had more than 2.2 times higher odds of having TMDs compared to the control group (p = 0.002 for random effects). The absence of data regarding randomisation, blinding, and sample size justification was the most frequent risk of bias. Conclusions: Tinnitus frequently co-occurs in patients who suffer from TMDs. It is essential to expand the diagnostic evaluation of patients to confirm its presence and assess its impact on their quality of life. Additionally, dental consultation should be considered to evaluate patients about TMD signs and symptoms when suffering from tinnitus.

The efficiency of photopolymerisation significantly impacts achieving a high degree of conversion and, consequently, determines the success and strength of resin-based composite (RBC) restorations. The study aimed to measure the light irradiance of selected LED curing lamps, taking into account various exposure modes and the increased distance of the light source from the radiometer surface. The study material consisted of 21 LED polymerisation lamps of a single type (Woodpecker Medical Instrument Co., Guilin, China) with three exposure modes: standard, soft start, and pulse. During the measurement, the distance was increased from 0 mm to 8 mm, every 2 mm. Light irradiance measurements were made with a Bluephase Meter II photometer (Ivoclar Vivadent, Opfikon, Switzerland). Increasing the distance affected the soft mode the most, causing a significant drop in light irradiance on the photometer. Standard mode coped best with distance. Even at a distance of 0 mm, the soft start mode does not reach the power of the standard and pulse modes. The standard mode seems to be the most clinically effective, especially if it is planned to polymerise a material in a deep cavity. The soft start mode, as the least resistant to increasing distance, is recommended for use in front teeth or the cervical area.

Oral cancer is a prevalent global health issue, with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Despite available preventive measures, it remains one of the most common cancers, emphasising the need for improved diagnostic and prognostic tools. This review focuses on oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), precursors to oral cancer, specifically emphasising oral epithelial dysplasia (OED). The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides a three-tier grading system for OED, and recent updates have expanded the criteria to enhance diagnostic precision. In the prognostic evaluation of OED, histological grading is presently regarded as the gold standard; however, its subjectivity and unreliability in anticipating malignant transformation or recurrence pose notable limitations. The primary objective is to investigate whether specific immunohistochemical biomarkers can enhance OED grading assessment according to the WHO classification. Biomarkers exhibit significant potential for comprehensive cancer risk evaluation, early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment optimisation. Technological advancements, including sequencing and nanotechnology, have expanded detection capabilities. Some analysed biomarkers are most frequently chosen, such as p53, Ki-67, cadherins/catenins, and other proteins used to differentiate OED grades. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and discover new potential biomarkers for precise dysplasia grading and minimally invasive assessment of the risk of malignant transformation.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease which manifests with motor features, such as bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, and postural instability. Using the non-invasive technique of saliva collection, we designed a systematic review to answer the question “Are salivary biomarkers reliable for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease?”. Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 studies were included in this systematic review (according to the PRISMA statement guidelines). Mostly proteins were reported as potential biomarkers in saliva. Based on meta-analysis, in PD patients, salivary levels of total alpha-synuclein were significantly decreased, and those of oligomeric alpha-synuclein were significantly increased. Also, according to pooled AUC, heme oxygenase-1 demonstrated significant predictive value for saliva-based PD diagnosis. In conclusion, some potential biomarkers, especially alpha-synuclein, can be altered in the saliva of PD patients, which could be reliably useful for early diagnosis of this neurodegenerative disease differentiating other synucleopathies.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease which manifests with progressive cognitive impairment, leading to dementia. Considering the noninvasive collection of saliva, we designed the systematic review to answer the question “Are salivary biomarkers reliable for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease?” Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 studies were included in this systematic review (according to the PRISMA statement guidelines). Potential biomarkers include mainly proteins, metabolites and even miRNAs. Based on meta-analysis, in AD patients, salivary levels of beta-amyloid42 and p-tau levels were significantly increased, and t-tau and lactoferrin were decreased at borderline statistical significance. However, according to pooled AUC, lactoferrin and beta-amyloid42 showed a significant predictive value for salivary-based AD diagnosis. In conclusion, potential markers such as beta-amyloid42, tau and lactoferrin can be detected in the saliva of AD patients, which could reliably support the early diagnosis of this neurodegenerative disease.

Background: The interaction between oxidative status markers and biological rhythms is considered particularly important in the pathogenesis of many diseases and more effective therapies. We aimed to determine if the salivary secretion of myeloperoxidase exhibits diurnal variations, and if the potential daily variability differs seasonally. Methods: The study was performed in Poznan, Poland (52,25°N, 16,58°E) in 10 healthy male volunteers (age median 23.5 years). Whole mixed unstimulated saliva was collected in summer (August) and winter (December) during 36 h at 2-h intervals starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday and ending at 6 p.m. on Sunday, in the domestic setting. The samples were analysed for myeloperoxidase (MPO) and cortisol by immunoassays. The presence of the circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion in saliva confirmed the rhythmicity of the volunteers. Results: For salivary MPO, significantly higher concentrations compared to midnight and noon were observed for 4 a.m. in both summer and winter. Using the cosinor analysis, the variations in salivary MPO levels showed a moderate fit for the 12-h period rhythm (acrophases: in summer 05:37/17:37, in winter 06:16/18:16), without significant differences in the rhythm parameters in summer and winter. However, higher self-reported Global Seasonal Score (which may predispose to seasonal affective disorder) was associated with significantly stronger relative amplitude (RS = 0.811) in winter season only. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest the possible ultradian rhythm for MPO in saliva, with two peaks during the day, regardless of the season.

Background: Hemophilia is associated with an increased risk of developing osteoporosis and osteopenia. The aim of the study was to interpret the usefulness of fractal analysis of the trabecular bone of the mandible (FD) and selected radiomorphic indices (the antegonial index (AI) and Klemetti index (KI)) to assess the risk of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with hemophilia A/B. Methods: The study group consisted of 50 patients with type A/B hemophilia. The control group consisted of 25 males without congenital bleeding disorders. The patients had a panoramic radiograph taken with the same X-ray machine (Vistapano S, Durr Dental, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany). The AudaXCeph software (Audax d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia) was used to evaluate the AI index, and the ImageJ, software with a specially prepared script, was used to evaluate the FD. The mandibular cortex was assessed distal to the mental foramen using the Klemetti index. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the AI, KI and FD values between the study group and the control group. Conclusions: This study indicated the lack of usefulness of AI, KI and fractal analysis in identifying patients with hemophilia at risk of reduced bone mass.