Salivary pH and flow rate in menopausal women

OBJECTIVE: This study aims at determining pH and Flow Rate (FR) of Unstimulated Whole Saliva (UWS) in a sample of 120 (60 menopausal women and 60 healthy fertile women with similar mean age); detecting the DMFT index (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth index) and evaluating any correlations between pH, FR, age and DMFT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Concerning the day before sample collection, patients were advised to keep a relaxed attitude and not to practice sports. They were also told to not eat or drink during the hour preceding sampling procedures. Saliva was collected via "spitting" method. Each sampling session started at 11:00 a.m., lasted for 5 minutes and used a pre-weighed, dry, deionized and sterile test tube. The procedure took place under controlled environmental temperature and humidity conditions (means 23.27°C; 60.08%). FR was evaluated via weighing technique and pH was measured with a portable pH-meter.

RESULTS: There was a minimal but significant pH difference (0.11; p<0.05) between menopausal women (6.75 ± 0.34) and fertile women (6.86 ± 0.24); and a FR difference (0.19; p<0.0001) between menopausal women (0.29 ± 0.17 mL/min) and fertile women (0.48 ± 0.19 mL/min). Correlation (R2) between pH and age was 0.0135 for fertile women and 0.0055 for menopausal women; while the correlation between FR and age was 0.0673 for fertile women and 0.139 for menopausal women. Mean DMFT was 11.93 ± 7.14 in menopausal women and 12.23 ± 6.37 in fertile women.

CONCLUSIONS: We observed a minimal decrease in pH and a decrease in FR in menopausal women. Further studies will be needed to investigate the possible role of other environmental and individual variables in the determination of such values.

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Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual Complication.

Related Articles

Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual Complication.

Case Rep Endocrinol. 2019;2019:4825357

Authors: Mad Naser MN, Aziz NA, Karim NKA

Abstract
Macroprolactinoma has the potential to cause base of skull erosion and often extends into the sphenoid sinus. Rapid shrinkage of this invasive tumor following dopamine agonist therapy has been postulated to cause unplugging of the eroded area, leading to cerebrospinal fluid leakage. To the best of our knowledge, the occurrence of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak in treatment-naive prolactinomas is very rare, the majority of which involve undiagnosed macroprolactinomas. We describe here a lady presented late with giant macroprolactinoma, complicated by cerebrospinal fluid leakage. This case raised the dilemma in the management pertaining to the role of either pharmacotherapy or surgical intervention, or combination of both. As she strictly refused surgery, she was treated with bromocriptine which was later changed to cabergoline. On follow-up, there was cessation of cerebrospinal fluid leak, marked reduction of serum prolactin level, and imaging evidence of tumor shrinkage. The majority of patients with medically induced cerebrospinal fluid leakage will require surgical procedures to overcome this complication; however, there are isolated cases of leakage resolution on continuing dopamine agonist therapy while awaiting surgery. The use of dopamine agonist does not necessarily cause worsening of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and instead may produce spontaneous resolution as in this case.

PMID: 30766735 [PubMed]

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Neuroendocrine Neoplasms Associated with Germline Pathogenic Variants in the Homologous Recombination Pathway

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Fragmented Fat: A New Method for Harvesting and Processing of Lipograft

Fat transfer has been recognized as an attractive tool for gluteal and breast augmentation, but harvesting limitations still represent a drawback, especially for post bariatric patients, as massive adipose deflation makes traditional liposuction less effective. On the other hand, circumferential apronectomies usually discard considerable amounts of viable fat tissue1.

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Update in the classification and the role of intra‐arterial stenting in the management of carotid body paragangliomas

Abstract

Background

To review the Shamblin classification of carotid body paragangliomas (CBPs) and the role of intra‐arterial stenting in their surgical management.

Methods

Retrospective case series of 20 patients with 28 CBPs that were surgically resected at our center. Intra‐arterial stenting was performed in Shamblin II and II classes.

Results

The mean follow‐up was 47.8 months. Five (17.9%) tumors were Shamblin class I, 15 (53.6%) were class II, and 8 (28.6%) were class III. Thirteen (68.4%) CBPs were associated with other paragangliomas. The internal carotid artery (ICA) was stented preoperatively in eight (28.6%) cases and occluded in four (14.3%) cases. The tumor extended to the jugular foramen in six cases (21.4%). Intraoperatively, there was an ICA injury in one case of Shamblin II CBP in the present era.

Conclusions

The proposed classification enables the clinician to plan the management of the ICA and the right approach. Stenting of the ICA gives a chance for complete tumor removal with arterial preservation.

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Academic achievement of adolescents with asthma or atopic disease

Abstract

Background

Over a fifth of children and adolescents suffer with asthma or atopic disease. It is unclear whether asthma impacts academic performance in children and adolescents, and little is known about the association of eczema, food allergy or hay fever and academic performance.

Objective

To examine whether asthma, eczema, food allergy or hay fever impacts on adolescent academic performance and to assess the role of unmeasured confounding.

Methods

This study used the Childhood and Adolescent Twin Study of Sweden cohort born 1992‐1998. At age 9‐12 years, parents reported on their child's ever or current asthma, eczema, food allergy and hay fever status (n= 10963). At age 15, linked national patient and medication register information was used to create current and ever asthma definitions including severe and uncontrolled asthma for the same children. Academic outcomes in Grade 9 (age 15‐16 years) included: eligibility for high‐school (Grades 10‐12), and total mark of the best 16 subject units, retrieved from the Grade 9 academic register. Whole cohort analyses adjusted for known covariates were performed, and co‐twin control analyses to assess unmeasured confounders.

Results

There were no associations found for asthma or food allergy at 9‐12 years and academic outcomes in adolescence. In addition, at age 15, there were no statistically significant associations with current, ever, severe or uncontrolled asthma and academic outcomes. Eczema and hay fever at age 9‐12 years were found to be positively associated with academic outcomes, however, co‐twin control analyses did not support these findings, suggesting the main analyses may be subject to unmeasured confounding.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

Having asthma or an atopic disease during childhood or adolescence does not negatively impact on academic performance. This information can be used by clinicians when talking with children and parents about the implications of living with asthma or atopic disease.

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