Search Results (17)

Endometrial cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the female reproductive system. It develops in the mucous membrane lining the inside of the uterine body—the endometrium, through the abnormal and continuous growth of cancer cells originating from the uterine mucosa. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases in European countries. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an innovative and dynamically developing medical procedure, useful in the treatment of cancer and non-cancer tissue conditions. The PDT reaction involves the activation of a photosensitizing substance with visible light, which in turn leads to the formation of free oxygen radicals, which contribute to the destruction of the cell. PDT is minimally invasive, has few side effects, and preserves organ anatomy and function. Both diagnostics and photodynamic therapy as modern methods of treatment are becoming more and more popular in many research units around the world. They are most often practiced and tested in in vitro experimental conditions. In clinical practice, the use of PDT is rare. Comprehensive cooperation between scientists contributes to taking steps towards obtaining new, synthetic photosensitizers, directing their physicochemical properties, and showing the impact on a given organism. This review examines the evidence for the potential and usefulness of PDT in the treatment of endometrial cancer. This review highlights that PDT is gaining popularity and is becoming a promising field of medical research. Full article

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) remains the diagnostic modality of choice. The involvement of the cortical bone and adjacent teeth can be easily established via CBCT. Magnetic resonance can be helpful in the estimation of any other soft-tissue tumour spread within this anatomical area. The soft, hard-tissue, or mixed aetiology of tumours requires a differential diagnosis and accurate evaluation. If such pathologies arise, an adequate biopsy or incisional biopsy is essential to evaluate the type of tumour histopathologically. The occurrence of some neural tumours in the oral cavity is rare. Schwannomas (SCs), like some neuromas and other types of neural tumours, are rare and atypical. During clinical examination, a smooth, sponge-like, elastic mass could indicate other small salivary gland tumours rather than an oral neural tumour. Such pathologies of neural origins are quite rare and are uncommon findings in the oral cavity; therefore, their appearance may be conflated with other more typical benign or malignant tumours in the oral cavity. Establishing the status of bone via CBCT, the tooth involvement and the composition of the cortical bone may be helpful for establishing the best treatment of choice. The presented case report describes a rare schwannoma localised at the mandibular retromolar trigone. Full article

Introduction. Facial asymmetry might have many etiological factors. Most known and recognized factors are related to hemimandibular hyperplasia, elongation, condyle-related pathologies hemifacial microsomia, laterogenia, and others. In some cases, however, facial asymmetry has a different origin within the maxillary sinus (MS) bones. This rare entity as a silent sinus syndrome (SSS) causes secondary midfacial and maxillary asymmetry because of the retraction of the sinus walls. The authors present their own proposal for SSS/CMA (chronic maxillary atelectasia) classification and possible maxillary sinus disease alterations related to the scope of changes in the maxillary sinus walls, asymmetry, opacification, and related features. Material and Methods. The study consisted of 131 CBCT images which were evaluated. The authors focus on fourteen retrospective cone beam-computed tomography studies (CBCT) performed to establish and evaluate sources of facial asymmetry. Results. Neither presented maxillary and facial asymmetry cases correspond to the typical SSS/CMA findings. Asymptomatic maxillary sinusitis co-existing in maxillary asymmetry cases in patients suffering from skeletal malocclusion remains atypical for SSS pure and in-pure cases. The osteomeatal complex (OMC) patency is more common for pure forms. Conclusions. Computed tomography quite easily can identify the source of the problems in the maxillary sinus and identify SSS. Coexistent chronic rhinosinusitis might correspond with another MS pathology, CMA—chronic maxillary atelectasia. The scope and the degree of MS cause midfacial asymmetry; however, the scope of sinus opacification, osteomeatal complex drainage, and occurrence of other symptoms might be more or less present. The OMC patency is more common for pure forms. Full article

Introduction: The war in Ukraine has had adverse impacts on all areas of life, including health-related issues. Limited access to medical care increases the need to look for alternative sources of medical information. Aim: To analyze trends of Internet users’ interest in sexual and reproductive health in Ukraine based on Google Trends. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study was based on the analysis of terms related to sexual and reproductive health searched by Ukrainian Internet users. The tool used was Google Trends. The period from 1 January 2021 to 1 January 2023 was analyzed. The time variability in search growths and peaks was assessed from the perspective of two time intervals (before the war and during the war) using the chi-square test. Results: Significant changes have been demonstrated in the interests of Internet users from Ukraine regarding selected issues of sexual and reproductive health during the ongoing war. Compared to the pre-war period, a marked increase was observed in active searches for terms such as “condoms” (p = 0.0081), “rape” (p = 0.0008), “syphilis” (p = 0.0136), “ovulation” (p = 0.0002) and “pregnancy test” (p = 0.0008). Conclusions: The conducted analysis clearly indicates an increased need for information regarding sexual and reproductive health among Ukrainian citizens during the ongoing armed conflict. The analysis of trends among Internet users interests can be a valuable source of knowledge for decision makers, including human rights organizations, regarding the scope and coordination of activities aimed at protecting the sexual and reproductive health of the inhabitants of Ukraine. Full article

Leiomyomas, also referred to as fibroids, belong to the most common type of benign tumors developing in the myometrium of the uterus. Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) tends to be regarded as a rare type of uterine leiomyoma. IVL tumors are characterized by muscle cell masses developing within the uterine and extrauterine venous system. The underlying mechanism responsible for the proliferation of these lesions is still unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of the two epigenetic factors, oncomiRs miR-182-5p and miR-103a-3p, in intravenous leiomyomatosis. This study was divided into two stages: initially, miR-182-5p and miR-103a-3p expression was assessed in samples coming from intravenous leiomyomatosis localized in myometrium (group I, n = 6), intravenous leiomyomatosis beyond the uterus (group II; n = 5), and the control group, i.e., intramural leiomyomas (group III; n = 9). The expression level of miR-182-5p was significantly higher in samples coming from intravenous leiomyomatosis (group I and group II) as compared to the control group (p = 0.029 and p = 0.024, respectively). In the second part of the study, the expression levels of the studied oncomiRs were compared between seven samples delivered from one woman during a four-year observation. The long-term follow-up of one patient demonstrated significantly elevated levels of both studied oncomiRs in intravenous leiomyomatosis in comparison to intramural leiomyoma samples. Full article

The occurrence and manifestation of each ameloblastic fibro-odontoma (AFO) is quite rare and uncommon. Mentioned odontogenic tumor classification had changed over the years; however, the treatment possibilities for this lesion remain the same. In most cases surgical enucleation is sufficient enough; however, bigger lesions might require bone curettage with sometimes performed bony ostectomy, which is a quite sufficient and effective method of treatment. In the presented case report, a panoramic radiological evaluation indicated an impacted molar tooth surrounded with mixed radiolucent/radiopaque areas. The 10-year-old Caucasian girl was scheduled for an incisional biopsy. The bone cavity in the mandible after tumor removal might be left for spontaneous healing or grafting techniques, depending on the shape and size of the defect. In the presented case report, the usage of PRF/iPRF in the mandibular bone cavity, and healing improved the overall final result. Full article

The treatment of neoplastic disease of the brain is still a challenge for modern medicine. Therefore, advanced methodologies are needed that can rationally and successfully contribute to the early diagnosis of primary and metastatic tumors growing within the brain. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) seems to be a valuable method of treatment for precancerous and cancerous lesions including brain tumors. The main advantage of PDT is its high efficiency, minimal invasiveness and no serious side effects, compared with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This review was conducted through a comprehensive search of articles, scientific information databases and the websites of organizations dealing with cancer treatment. Key points from clinical trials conducted by other researchers are also discussed. The common databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Scopus, and Elsevier were used. Articles in the English language of reliable credibility were mainly analyzed. The type of publications considered included clinical and preclinical studies, systematic reviews, and case reports. Based on these collected materials, we see that scientists have already demonstrated the potential of PDT application in the field of brain tumors. Therefore, in this review, the treatment of neoplasm of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the most common tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), have been explored. In addition, an overview of the general principles of PDT, as well as the mechanism of action of the therapy as a therapeutic platform for brain tumors, is described. The research was carried out in June 2022. Full article

Nowadays, maxillo-facial surgery procedures are greatly dependent on good general anesthesia and adequate maintenance care of the airways. Nasotracheal intubation (NTI) is one of the most common ones, especially in orthognathic surgery, temporomandibular joint-related surgeries, or others. Nasotracheal intubation itself is not a problem; however, maintaining its stable and safe position, regardless of the excess of surgical maneuvers in the facial skeleton, is important. There are a lot of techniques, personal modifications, and materials used to support tube placement. It is quite common that either plaster or a bandage roll can be useful with a combination of various forms of sponges or wipes in different shapes, sizes, and elasticity to support the tube’s adequate position, especially when maintaining a good shape and position of the nose and symmetry line and avoiding unnecessary tube flexion. In the following paper, one of the tube support alternatives with an anti-bedsore heel disc will be presented. Full article

A lateral periodontal cyst (LPC) is a rare finding. Patients diagnosed with LPC younger than 40 years of age are not that common. Mostly asymptomatic LPCs can be discovered on routine radiographs as an oval radiolucency between two mandibular premolar teeth roots and can vary in shape and size. Most cases are treated with enucleation, bone curettage, or a combination of both, greatly depending on the surgeon’s preference. Because most LPCs are quite small, lesions do not require any regenerative procedures. In the presented case, because of cortical expansion of the lesion and loss of vital bone bridge surrounding two adjacent maxillary teeth, a guided bone regenerative procedure (GBR) with xenograft bone substitute was used. Despite that small lesions can heal on their own, nowadays the approach of full-mouth therapy (FMT), including direct soft or hard tissue reconstruction in the oral cavity, seems to be a wise treatment. The presented paper presents and describes an unusual LPC case with cortical bone expansion in a very rare maxillary canine–premolar region. Full article

Hemimandibular hyperplasia (HH) and elongation (HE) are the most common pathologies present in the mandible. Presented condylar hyperplasias have their own radiological and clinical features. In most cases, patients suffer from various forms of malocclusion. From a total of 150 asymmetrical jaw radiographs evaluated, 46 were evaluated and included in this study. A retrospective study on the data of 46 selected patients treated, diagnosed, and consulted from various forms of mandibular and skeletal asymmetry based on routine diagnostic panoramic radiographs evaluated typical and atypical radiological and anatomical symptoms of condylar hyperplasia. The presented evaluation focused on mandibular, maxillary, and other bones, in order to distinguish condylar hyperplasia from other forms of mandibular asymmetry. The degree of maxillary downward growth followed by the occurrence of an open bite on the affected side estimate the degree/presence or cessation of growth in the affected condyle. Mandibular asymmetry with incisor teeth inclination remains the most typical characteristic of condylar hyperplasia. Increased height of mandibular ramus differentiates between condylar hyperplasia and elongation, which also influences the position of the inferior alveolar nerve. Mentioned symptoms, described as the acronym “Go Moira!”, are useful in a quick and simple “glimpse of an eye” differential diagnostic approach. It is possible to quickly and accurately establish the first diagnosis simply by a careful evaluation of patients’ panoramic radiographs. Full article

Background and objectives: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and its mortality is increasing. Therefore, research to improve treatment is of paramount importance. One method of treatment is photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy selectively stimulates apoptosis in photosensitizer-treated neoplastic breast cells as a result of cytotoxic singlet oxygen generation via collisions between triplet excited state photosensitizer and triplet ground state oxygen upon tissue irradiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of photodynamic action on cancerous breast tissue samples as a model of photodynamic therapy. Materials and Methods: Breast cancer tissue samples were obtained from post-operative material and the patterns of histopathological changes in breast cancer tissue before and after photodynamic action on post-chemotherapy tissue were evaluated. Excised tissue samples were obtained from 48 female breast cancer patients who had previously undergone chemotherapy. Breast cancer tissues for this study were taken from macroscopically visible tumors larger than 10 mm. Histopathological analysis was performed to evaluate any morphological changes prior to and after photodynamic action on the post-chemotherapy tissue samples. Eighteen breast cancer tissue samples were analyzed before chemotherapy, fifteen after chemotherapy, and fifteen samples were analyzed after chemotherapy and application of photodynamic action. The photosensitizer Rose Bengal was applied to the samples subjected to photodynamic action. Results: Photodynamic action on post-chemotherapy neoplastic tissue showed histological changes under a light microscope. The results showed that morphological changes in breast cancer tissues after chemotherapy and photodynamic action were dependent on the concentration of Rose Bengal. In all cases, follow-up imaging showed tumor shrinkage of an average of 35% from baseline size. Conclusions: Histopathological examination revealed photosensitizer-concentration-dependent changes after photodynamic action in excised post-chemotherapy tissue. The effects of photodynamic action observed in this study suggest that the application of photodynamic therapy after chemotherapy can aid in breast cancer cell eradication. Full article

Introduction and purpose of the study: SARS-CoV-2 virus does not only affect the respiratory system. It may cause damage to many organ systems with long-term effects. The latest scientific reports inform that this virus leaves a long-term trace in the nervous, circulatory, respiratory, urinary and reproductive systems. It manifests itself in disturbances in the functioning of the organs of these systems, causing serious health problems. The aim of the study was to review the latest research into the long-term effects of COVID-19 and determine how common these symptoms are and who is most at risk. Based on a literature review using the electronic scientific databases of PubMed and Web of Science on the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 88 studies were included in the analysis. The information contained in the analyzed literature shows that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause multi-organ damage, causing a number of long-term negative health complications. Conclusions: There is evidence that the virus can cause long-term complications lasting more than six months. They mainly concern disturbances in the functioning of the nervous, circulatory and respiratory systems. However, these studies are small or short-lasting, and many are speculative. Full article

Introduction. Mobile apps are considered intelligent tools useful in various areas of public health. The social dimension of breast cancer and the current epidemic situation require tools that may increase knowledge and improve the skills in the field of breast self-examination. The study aims to assess the use of personalized education based on algorithms with conditions in the mobile medical app for breast self-examination. Materials and methods. In total, 500 women from the Podkarpackie Province were enrolled in the study, which was a representative group for the inhabitants of this province. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups (group I: the study group including 250 people; group II: the controls of 250 people). The study group was subjected to intervention, which was personalized education on breast cancer. The method was a proprietary mobile medical app based on algorithms with conditions. The study was carried out from March 2018 to February 2019. Results. The majority of women, 77.8% (N = 389), were under 30 years of age. Only a small amount of the breast area was marked in the tactile test in both groups. In the study group, the average number of selected points was 14.86 (7.43% of the area to be examined), while in the control group it amounted to 9.14 (4.57%). The area most commonly examined in Test I in both groups was the central area of the mammary gland with the nipple. After the intervention in Test II, women from the study group marked a significantly greater area in the tactile test than women from the control group (χ² = 99.733; df = 6; p < 0.0001). The mean result in the study group was 22.10, while in the control group it amounted to 9.10. It was found that the breast area marked in both tests depended solely on the women’s knowledge about breast cancer (p < 0.001). It was also found that the higher the risk of developing breast cancer, the more points in Test I were indicated by the women in the tactile test (p = 0.0122). Conclusions. Educational mobile medical apps for breast cancer prevention may help to deal with breast cancer, which is an important public health issue. It is also important to broaden the possibilities of medical apps for breast self-examination with elements verifying the skills of the three-stage compression of the examined breast. Full article

The perinatal period is associated with an increased risk of emotional disorders. Exposure to stress impacts the functioning of the maternal brain, also shaping the developmental processes of the child’s brain. To assess the emotional wellbeing of women participating and not participating in antenatal classes. The study involved a group of 200 women divided into two groups: the study group, participants of the antenatal classes (N = 100), and the control group, not participating in the antenatal classes (N = 100). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Mini-COPE inventory were used. EPDS was administered at two time points: on the 2nd day of puerperium and 6 weeks after the delivery, while Mini-COPE inventory was applied once during pregnancy. Severe symptoms of depression on the 2nd day after childbirth concerned 16.0% of the women (N = 15) participating in the antenatal classes and 11.0% of the controls (N = 11). Intensification of depressive symptoms 6 weeks after the delivery occurred in 19.5% of the females attending antenatal classes (N = 17) and 18.8% of the controls (N = 18). Severe symptoms of depression 6 weeks after the delivery in the group of women participating in antenatal classes were significantly related to adopting helplessness to cope with stress and a sense of being accepted by the husband/partner, family, and society. In the case of women not participating in antenatal classes, the severity of symptoms of depression 6 weeks after the delivery was slightly related to the sense of acceptance by the husband/partner, family, and society. Apart from identifying risk factors for emotional disorders in pregnancy, it is worth taking into account whether a woman participated in antenatal classes when planning the care in the perinatal period. This factor can be a potential protective factor in preventing emotional problems after childbirth. Full article

There are many arguments for the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy. The aim of this study is to describe the level of vaccination acceptance, to find the factors that most influence the decision to vaccinate, and to describe the scale of changes in vaccination acceptance influenced by medical information on the safety, efficacy, and benefits of vaccination among pregnant women. A total of 300 patients completed the questionnaire, including 150 in Poland and 150 in the Ukraine. The level of vaccination acceptance was assessed before and after medical consultation. There were 53 (35.3%) patients with the intention to get vaccinated in Poland and 25 (16.7%) in the Ukraine. After consultation with a physician, this increased to 109 (72.6%) in Poland and 69 (46%) in the Ukraine. The main factors influencing the acceptance of vaccinations were the fear of harming the foetus (OR-0.119, CI-0.039–0.324 p < 0.001), complications in pregnancy (OR-0.073 CI-0.023–0.197 p < 0.001), and limitations in the vaccination programme (OR-0.026 CI-0.001–0.207 p < 0.001). Medical information about the safety, effectiveness and benefits of vaccinations among pregnant women, provided during a medical visit, may increase the acceptance of vaccinations by 105.6%, as among Polish patients, and by 176%, as among pregnant women from the Ukraine. Full article