INTRODUCTION Previous research has suggested that deterioration in oral health can occur following hospitalisation. The impact of such deterioration could increase the risk of oral disease, reduce quality of life and increase the potential for healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) such as healthcare-associated pneumonia (HAP). However, the strength of the evidence is limited by, amongst other...

PURPOSE To examine the efficacy and safety of Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy in the treatment of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. METHODS Twenty-one eyes of 21 patients diagnosed with symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma who underwent Ruthenium-106 plaque radiotherapy were included in the study. Clinical response, ancillary tests finding improvement, and major side effects wer...

PURPOSE To report the effective treatment of radiation macular edema following ruthenium-106 plaque brachytherapy for a choroidal melanoma with a dexamethasone 0.7-mg (Ozurdex(®)) intravitreal implant. METHODS An interventional case report with optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. RESULTS A 65-year-old Caucasian woman was suffering from radiation macular edema following ruthenium-106 p...

AIM To evaluate the results of combined plaque radiotherapy and transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in 50 consecutive patients 5 years after treatment. METHODS 50 adult patients with choroidal melanoma were treated with ruthenium-106 ((106)Ru) plaque radiotherapy combined with TTT. A flat scar was the preferred end point of treatment. The mean tumour thickness was 3.9 mm (range 1.5-8.0 mm), th...

PURPOSE To evaluate the diagnostic performance of left coronary bifurcation angles and plaque characteristics for prediction of coronary stenosis by dual-source CT. METHODS 106 patients suspected of coronary artery disease undergoing both coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and invasive coronary angiography (CAG) within three months were included. Left coronary bifurcation angles ...

The BANG (MGS Research Inc., Guilford, CT) polymer gel has been used as a dosimeter to determine the three-dimensional (3D) dose distribution of a ruthenium-106 (Ru-106) ophthalmologic applicator. An eye phantom made of the BANG gel was irradiated with the Ru-106 source for up to 1 h. The phantom and a set of calibration vials were scanned simultaneously in a GE 1.5 T MR imager using the Hahn s...

PURPOSE To present a new technique to ensure the correct positioning of ruthenium plaques in episcleral brachytherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS An acrylic dummy plaque is made opaque by sanding both sides with sandpaper, and its edge is covered by a black marking tape. This modified plaque is temporarily sutured to the sclera overlying the choroidal tumour site. The tip of an endoillumination pr...

The periodontal status of 106 type 2 diabetic patients was assessed and compared with that of 106 age-matched nondiabetics. Patients older than 20 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited from the outpatient internal medicine clinics at the 2 main hospitals in Irbid governorate, Jordan. Periodontal disease was more severe in type 2 diabetic patients than in nondiabetics, as indicated ...

This study suggests degradation of salivary acidic proline-rich proteins (PRPs) into potential innate-immunity-like peptides by oral Streptococcus and Actinomyces species. PRP degradation paralleled cleavage of Pro-containing substrates. PRP degradation by S. gordonii strain SK12 instantly released a Pyr(1)-Pro(104)Pro(105) and a Gly(111)-Pro(149)Gln(150) peptide together with a presumed Arg(10...

This study aimed to investigate the effects of some snack foods on plaque pH in children with different levels of mutans streptococci (MS). Six children, aged 9-12 years, with low (<10(4)) and 6 children, aged 10-12 years, with high (>106) numbers of MS/ml saliva participated in the study. Dental plaque pH changes, after the consumption of milk chocolate, sweet biscuit, instant noodle, sticky r...