Associations between the red blood cell distribution width and primary angle-closure glaucoma: a potential for disease prediction
AbstractThe red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a simple and inexpensive laboratory parameter that can be linked to oxidative stress, inflammation and microvascular flow resistance. For this research, we performed a large-sample case-control study to describe the relationships between the RDW and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). A total of 1191 PACG patients (422 males and 769 females), who were divided into mild, moderate and severe PACG groups, and 982 healthy controls (344 males and 638 females) were recruited between January 2008 and June 2018. Detailed eye and physical examinations were performed for each...
Source: EPMA Journal - April 4, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Comparisons between protocols and publications of case-control studies: analysis of potential causes of non-reproducibility and recommendations for enhancing the quality of personalization in healthcare
ConclusionThe study protocols should be publicly available prior to the completion of case-control studies so that the potential bias can be assessed by the readers. Our findings highlight the need for investigators, peer reviewers, and readers to exercise increased awareness and scrutiny due to the undesirable practice of selective reporting of results in medical sciences causing the loss of potentially important information, thus impacting quality of personalized attitude in healthcare in the context of the predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine. (Source: EPMA Journal)
Source: EPMA Journal - March 18, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Vaginal dryness: individualised patient profiles, risks and mitigating measures
AbstractVaginal dryness (VD) affects both pre- and postmenopausal women at any age. Since the hormonal regulation changes during the climacteric period are considered as being the main course of the VD, affected women prefer not to talk about the problem. However, the problem does exist, and unfortunately if any, relatively minor group in the population possesses the health literacy at sufficient level to understand that VD is a suboptimal health con dition which carries a multi-factorial character. Thereby, some of the contributing factors are clearly preventable and, therefore, if treated properly, have a potential to ...
Source: EPMA Journal - March 1, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Innate immunity and oral microbiome: a personalized, predictive, and preventive approach to the management of oral diseases
Conclusions and expert recommendations (Source: EPMA Journal)
Source: EPMA Journal - February 25, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Risks associated with the stroke predisposition at young age: facts and hypotheses in light of individualized predictive and preventive approach
AbstractStroke is one of the most devastating pathologies of the early twenty-first century demonstrating 1-month case-fatality rates ranging from 13 to 35% worldwide. Though the majority of cases do occur in individuals at an advanced age, a persistently increasing portion of the patient cohorts is affected early in life. Current studies provide alarming statistics for the incidence of “young” strokes including adolescents. Young stroke is a multifactorial disease involving genetic predisposition but also a number of modifiable factors, the synergic combination of which potentiates the risks. The article analyzes the ...
Source: EPMA Journal - February 20, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
The circadian expression of osteogenic factors in periodontal tissue loading mechanical force: new concepts of the personalized orthodontic care
ConclusionsThis study indicates the existence of a circadian rhythm of the osteogenic factors within the orthodontic sensitive tissues, which highlights the importance of precise timing of force loading in further orthodontic treatment. Thus, a periodicity pattern of orthodontic traction at night may prove a more efficient tooth movement while minimizing the treatment window and discomfort complains. (Source: EPMA Journal)
Source: EPMA Journal - February 18, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Suboptimal health status as an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus in a community-based cohort: the China suboptimal health cohort study
ConclusionsThe present study suggests that a higher SHS score is associated with a higher incidence of T2DM. SHS is a new independent risk factor for T2DM and has the capability to act as a predictive tool for T2DM onset. The evaluation of SHS combined with the analysis of modifiable risk factors for SHS allows the risk stratification of T2DM, which may consequently contribute to the prevention of T2DM development. These findings might require further validation in a longer-term follow-up study. (Source: EPMA Journal)
Source: EPMA Journal - January 24, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Value of pre-operative CTX serum levels in the prediction of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ): a retrospective clinical study
ConclusionsSerum levels of CTX by itself are not reliable as a predictive or preventive measure for such complications. Our data also suggested that a drug holiday of 5 months was not helpful in preventing osteonecrosis-related complications in patients on intravenous bisphosphonates. Further studies are urgently needed to develop adequate predictive and preventive strategies of MRONJ. (Source: EPMA Journal)
Source: EPMA Journal - January 24, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Oral burning: local and systemic connection for a patient-centric approach
AbstractBurning symptoms in the oral cavity are caused by a range of systemic and local factors, in addition to the neuropathic pain disorder burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Patients may state oral burning as a standalone symptom or may report as a secondary symptom in association with other factors, most commonly with oral dryness, oral mucosal lesions, or certain systemic conditions. There is a level of uncertainty in the presentation of this condition which creates a diagnostic challenge from both the patient ’s perspective and the practitioner evaluating these individuals. The diagnoses are complicated due to the lack ...
Source: EPMA Journal - January 14, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues
AbstractMedicinal plant products have been used in health care since time immemorial. During the past three decades, the use of herbal supplements has been on the rise in the USA. A number of these products have been shown to possess the potential to interfere with blood clotting. This paper is a review of blood-thinning herbal supplements commonly used in the USA, accompanied by discussion of the dental implications of their use along with suggestions for prediction and prevention of the risk of bleeding. Twenty herbal supplements belonging to four pharmacological groups are identified and reviewed. While the majority (45...
Source: EPMA Journal - January 8, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Stem cells and tooth regeneration: prospects for personalized dentistry
AbstractOver the last several decades, a wealth of information has become available regarding various sources of stem cells and their potential use for regenerative purposes. Given the intense debate regarding embryonic stem cells, much of the focus has centered around application of adult stem cells for regenerative engineering along with other relevant aspects including use of growth factors and scaffolding materials. The more recent discovery of tooth-derived stem cells has sparked much interest in their application to regenerative dentistry to treat and alleviate the most prevalent oral diseases —i.e., dental caries ...
Source: EPMA Journal - January 7, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Biobanks in Horizon 2020: sustainability and attractive perspectives
This article reviews the main Horizon 2020 biobanking projects, financing schemes and the future perspectiv es. (Source: EPMA Journal)
Source: EPMA Journal - November 23, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Characteristics of dental patients determining their compliance level in dentistry: relevance for predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine
This article centers on the relationship between psychological specifics of dental patients and their adherence to treatment. It describes clinical and personality specifics of periodontal patients and presents personality characteristics of patients with positive and negative dynamics of the therapy, as well as patients without periodontal diseases. The study findings highlight the importance of building confidential relationships with the patient and the need for a client-oriented approach to developing treatment plans and strategies for different types of dental patients. In the future, based on the study results, we fi...
Source: EPMA Journal - November 13, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Plant natural modulators in breast cancer prevention: status quo and future perspectives reinforced by predictive, preventive, and personalized medical approach
AbstractIn contrast to the genetic component in mammary carcinogenesis, epigenetic alterations are particularly important for the development of sporadic breast cancer (BC) comprising over 90% of all BC cases worldwide. Most of the DNA methylation processes are physiological and essential for human cellular and tissue homeostasis, playing an important role in a number of key mechanisms. However, if dysregulated, DNA methylation contributes to pathological processes such as cancer development and progression. A global hypomethylation of oncogenes and hypermethylation of tumor-suppressor genes are characteristic of most canc...
Source: EPMA Journal - November 12, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
In glaucoma patients, low blood pressure is accompanied by vascular dysregulation
ConclusionsIn glaucoma patients, vascular dysregulation (as defined by response in the nailfold capillaroscopy to a cold provocation) and low BP are statistically related. This is in line with the observation that Flammer syndrome subjects have both primary vascular dysregulation and low BP and that Flammer syndrome is a risk factor for glaucomatous optic neuropathy, at least in normal tension glaucoma patients. The detection of vascular factors in glaucoma patients may lead to a more efficient treatment, better tailored to the individual patient. (Source: EPMA Journal)
Source: EPMA Journal - November 12, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
