Eun-Sung Kang

The aim of this prospective study is to investigate implant stability and the reliability of different measuring devices according to implant placement site and duration in patients aged over 65 years. The study evaluated 60 implants (diameter: 3.5/4.0/4.5/5.0 mm and length: 8.5/10.0/11.5 mm) in 60 patients aged ≥ 65 years. The implant placement sites were divided into six evenly distributed sections (n = 10), i.e., maxillary right-posterior, A; maxillary anterior, B; maxillary left-posterior, C; mandibular right-posterior, D; mandibular anterior, E; mandibular left-posterior, F. Participants visited the hospital six times: implant surgery, 1V; stitch removal, 2V; 1-month follow-up, 3V; 2-month follow-up, 4V; before final restoration delivery, 5V; and after final restoration delivery, 6V. The implant stability was evaluated with the Osstell Mentor (ISQ), Periotest M (PTV), and Anycheck (IST). The mean values of ISQ, PTV, and IST were analyzed (α = 0.05). ISQ, PTV, and IST results of 4V and 5V were significantly higher than those of 1V (p < 0.05). The lowest ISQ results occurred in the E location at 4V and 5V (p < 0.05). In all mandibular locations, IST results of 6V were significantly higher than those of 1V, 2V, 3V, and 4V (p < 0.05). ISQ results were negatively correlated with PTV and positively correlated with IST, and PTV was negatively correlated with IST. By considering various factors affecting the stability of the implant, it is necessary to determine the appropriate implant load application time. This could help increase the implant success rate in elderly patients. And as a diagnostic device for implant stability and the evaluation of osseointegration in elderly patients, Anycheck was also able to prove its relative reliability compared to Osstell ISQ Mentor and Periotest M.

We report the case of a 59-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the right mandibular gingiva, who presented with bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy (CLA) after mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. The patient was diagnosed. Imaging studies performed prior to surgery revealed bilateral CLA and axillary lymphadenopathy (LA) ipsilateral to the vaccination site. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the left CLA revealed reactive lymph nodes. The patient underwent surgical intervention for the malignant tumor, and the specimen was sent for histopathologic evaluation. The biopsy-proven cancer stage was pT3N0Mx. Positron emission tomography (PET-CT), performed six months after surgery, showed persistent bilateral CLA. However, FNA of the left axillary LA once again showed no evidence of metastasis or recurrence. Since the treatment plan may change based on the type of LA, it is important to figure out whether an mRNA vaccine has been administered to patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: Most head and neck infections originate from odontogenic causes; therefore, it is important to determine the severity of odontogenic infections. Since severe infection can cause sepsis, a systemic examination should be performed when evaluating a patient with odontogenic infection. C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), procalcitonin (PCT), and presepsin (PSEP) can be used to evaluate the severity of inflammatory status and sepsis in patients in the early stages of visiting the emergency room. Moreover, sepsis can be diagnosed based on the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) classification. In relation to PSEP, significant study results on sepsis have been reported in other organ infections. However, there has been no progress in odontogenic infection; therefore, this study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of sepsis derived from odontogenic infection.Methods: This study was conducted from March 2021 to October 2021 on 43 patients admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dankook University Hospital, in the emergency room for odontogenic infection. All patients underwent vital sign assessment and diagnostic tests (CRP, WBC, PCT, PSEP) in the emergency room. Sepsis was classified according to the SIRS criteria, and CRP, WBC, PCT, and PSEP levels were measured. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for statistical analyses.Results: The results of this study showed a moderately positive correlation between CRP and PCT, CRP and PSEP, and CT and PSEP levels. In addition, PCT and PSEP levels showed a positive correlation with sepsis. The odds ratios of sepsis and PCT and sepsis and PSEP were statistically significant. The optimal cut-off values obtained through the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.24 and 671.5 for PCT and PSEP, respectively. Finally, there were positive correlations between CRP level and length of stay, WBC and Flynn scores, PCT level and Flynn scores, PCT level and length of stay, and PSEP level and length of stay.Conclusion: WBC and CRP and PCT levels have been used in the past to determine the severity of infection and sepsis in patients with odontogenic infection, but PSEP was also found to have diagnostic value in this study. According to this study, a PSEP level of 671.5 pg/ml or higher for odontogenic infection can be considered an abnormal level.