The hyper-IgE syndromes are rare, complex primary immunodeficiencies characterized by clinical manifestation diversity, by particular susceptibility to staphylococcal and mycotic infections as well as by a heterogeneous genetic origin. Two distinct entities - the classical hyper-IgE syndrome which is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and the autosomal recessive hyper-IgE syndrome have been recognized. The autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome is associated with a cluster of facial, dental, skeletal, and connective tissue abnormalities which are not observable in the recessive type. In the majority of affected patients with autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome a mutation in the signal transducer and the activator of the transcription 3 gene has been identified, leading to an impaired Th17 cells differentiation and to a downregulation of an antimicrobial response. A mutation in the dedicator of the cytokinesis 8 gene has been identified as the cause of many cases with autosomal recessive hyper-IgE syndrome and, in one patient, a mutation in tyrosine kinase 2 gene has been demonstrated. In this paper, the authors provide a review of the clinical manifestations in the hyper-IgE syndromes with particular emphasis on the diversity of their phenotypic expression and present current diagnostic guidelines for these diseases.

This is the first study to assess, comprehensively, the oral health status; salivary glands’ function and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense; and oxidative damage to proteins and lipids in the non-stimulated (NWS) and stimulated (SWS) whole saliva of stroke patients. The study included 30 patients in the subacute phase of the stroke and an age and gender-matched control group. We showed that the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and salivary peroxidase) was significantly higher in both NWS and SWS of stroke patients, similarly to uric acid concentration. However, in the study group, the reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in SWS decreased. The contents of protein glycooxidation products (advanced glycation end products (AGE) and protein oxidation products (AOPP)) and lipid hydroperoxides were significantly higher in NWS and SWS of stroke patients. In the study group there was also a decrease in stimulated saliva secretion and total protein content. Interestingly, products of protein and lipid oxidation correlate negatively with SWS flow. The ROC analysis showed that salivary GSH with 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity differentiates the analyzed groups (AUC = 1.0). To sum up, in subacute stroke patients there are redox imbalances and oxidative damage to proteins and lipids in non-stimulated and stimulated saliva. Stroke patients also suffer from salivary gland dysfunction.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, are disorders, which cause irreversible and progressive deterioration of the central nervous system. The pathophysiology of NDDs is still not fully explained; nevertheless, oxidative stress is considered as a critical mediator of cerebral degeneration, brain inflammation, as well as neuronal apoptosis. Therefore, it is not surprising that redox biomarkers are increasingly used in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. As saliva is a very easy to obtain bioliquid, it seems promising to use this biomaterial in the diagnosis of NDDs. Saliva collection is easy, cheap, stress-free, and non-infectious, and it does not require the help of a specialised medical personnel. Additionally, the concentrations of many salivary redox biomarkers correlate with their content in blood serum as well as the degree of disease progression, which makes them non-invasive indicators of NDDs. This paper reviews the latest knowledge concerning the use of salivary redox biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of selected neurodegenerative diseases.

The authors thank the children who participated in the study for agreement and cooperation, their parents for the informed consent and the staff of the day nurseries for help in carrying out the patients' examination. AbstractBackground. It is increasingly emphasized that the influence of a host's factors in the etiology of dental caries are of most interest, particularly those concerned with genetic aspect.

The research revealed that there is a need to improve the access of children with disability to dental care. Hence, it seems to be beneficial to set up specialist dental surgeries in special-care schools which would improve the access of children with disability to prophylaxis as well as dental treatment.

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to prove the association between dental caries and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ENAM gene.Material and methodsThe research was carried out in 96 children (48 with caries and 48 counterparts free of this disease), aged 20–42 months, with 11–20 erupted teeth. All children were from four day nurseries located in Poznan. The study included the dental examination to select individuals to the research and oral swab collection for molecular evaluation. Seven selected SNPs markers of the ENAM gene were genotyped, five using TaqMan probe assay (rs2609428, rs7671281, rs36064169, rs3796704, and rs12640848) and two by Sanger sequencing (rs144929717 and rs139228330).ResultsStatistically significant higher prevalence of the alternative G allele and the alternative GG homozygote in the control group in comparison with the caries group in SNP rs12640848 was observed, respectively, p = 0.0062 and 0.0010. Although the prevalence of the AG heterozygote was higher for the caries subjects in comparison with controls (OR = 2.9), and the result was statistically significant (p = 0.0010), the overall prevalence of the G allele for this SNP was significantly higher in control group (OR = 2.3; p = 0.0062).ConclusionsThe study revealed the strong association between rs12640848 marker of ENAM gene and caries susceptibility in primary teeth in children from Poznan.Clinical relevanceThe presence of SNPs in the ENAM gene may be important as suspected predictive factor of dental caries occurrence in children.

Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze anxiety in female and male dental students related to their first procedure performed on a pediatric patient as part of their study curriculum. Materials and Methods. The study was carried out in eighty-four 3rd year dental students (75.00% females and 25.00% males), aged 22–28 years. The participation in the research was anonymous and voluntary. The study was performed during clinical classes in pediatric dentistry where the students were supposed to perform simple prophylactic or therapeutic procedures on pediatric patients. To assess anxiety, a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used prepared by Spielberger et al. based on the American STAI questionnaire of 1970 that is composed of two-parts scales: the X-1 scale to assess anxiety as a state and the X-2 scale to assess anxiety as a trait. For statistical analysis, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Pearson’s chi-squared test, and Mann–Whitney test as well as Statistica 10 programme were used. Results. The results obtained from the first and second part of the questionnaire concerning anxiety as a state and as a trait showed high level of anxiety as a state in 51.19% of the students and as a trait in 32.14% and low level in 19.05% and 41.67%, respectively. The obtained results showed minimal and maximal values to be 24 and 71, respectively, for the STAI-1 scale (mean = 40.55), and 24 and 57, respectively, for the STAI-2 scale (mean = 41.75). Conclusions. The results show that the anxiety level during clinical classes is relatively high in the studied population of students. Preparing the students to cope with stress resulting from treating the patients seems to be of importance. Such programmes should be implemented before the start of practical clinical classes. The acquired knowledge will be useful in further professional career.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the occurrence of the consequences of dental caries and factors affecting dental service utilization in a population of 7-year-old children. The research included oral examination of 7-year-old schoolchildren and socio-medical study of their parents/legal caregivers. It was carried out in five primary schools of two provinces, i.e., Greater Poland and Lubusz. Dental examination was performed in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. The socio-medical study consisted of questionnaires with close-ended questions concerning socioeconomic characteristics of the family, reasons and time of the last visit at the dental office, consequences of child’s oral health problems, parents’ attitude towards dental visits, and parental opinion about their child’s teeth. Factors affecting utilization of dental services were statistically analyzed using univariate logistic regression assuming p < 0.05. The pufa index of examined children ranged from 0 to 7 (mean 0.80 ± 1.49), while the dmf index ranged from 0 to 14 (3.86 ± 3.32). Low financial burden of oral health expenditures and university education of at least one of the parents significantly increased the chance of visiting a dentist despite lack of pain (OR = 3.0 and 2.5, respectively). In spite of the availability of free dental care for children, socioeconomic factors still determine the utilization of dental services in Poland. Poor oral health status of examined population and negligence of regular dental check-ups emphasize a need to strengthen oral health literacy of parents and children, promoting proper attitudes towards dental care.