ABSTRACT Objectives This study aimed to evaluate and compare the masticatory efficiency of removable partial dentures (RPDs) retained with clasps versus those retained with attachments. Material and Methods A total of 107 patients fitted with 138 RPDs participated in the study; 87 RPDs (63.0%) were clasp‐retained, and 51 RPDs (37.0%) were attachment‐retained. Subjects chewed 5.0 g of peanuts for 30 s, and masticatory efficiency was measured using a spectrophotometer at an absorption rate of 590 µm. Measurements were taken before insertion, immediately after, and 1 and 3 months post‐insertion of RPDs. Results The analysis revealed progressive masticatory efficiency improvements for both clasp‐retained and attachment‐retained RPDs over time, with significant enhancements observed at the 3‐month post‐insertion mark. Initially, clasp‐retained RPDs showed slightly higher efficiency than attachment‐retained RPDs; however, attachment‐retained RPDs demonstrated superior efficiency after 3 months (p = 0.001). Consistent improvements were noted across different denture support types, with Triangular and Quadrangular supports showing the most notable gains by 3 months (p ≤ 0.006). GLMM analysis underscored the significant impact of time on masticatory efficiency (F(3, 511) = 4.926, p = 0.002), with no significant effects attributed to RPD type or support type alone, nor any significant interaction effects, indicating a universal improvement in masticatory function over time regardless of RPD design. Conclusions RPD insertion significantly improves masticatory efficiency, particularly evident 3 months post‐insertion, with attachment‐retained RPDs outperforming clasp‐retained types. Improvements in masticatory function over time are consistent across all RPD designs, unaffected by denture type or support structure. This emphasizes the role of denture design in both immediate adaptation and long‐term treatment success, suggesting that time significantly contributes to enhanced masticatory efficiency regardless of RPD design, highlighting the importance of tailored prosthetic rehabilitation.

INTRODUCTION:The aim of this study was to investigate the bacterial strains that most commonly cause abscesses after failed endodontic treatment. METHODOLOGY:102 pus samples from dentoalveolar abscesses were examined for bacterial growth. Additionally, 102 samples of healthy gingiva from the same patients were swabbed for comparison of etiology. The swabs were inoculated on blood, chocolate, and Schaedler agar plates; and incubated aerobically and anaerobically. Isolated pathogenic bacteria were compared to healthy oral flora from 50 healthy individuals. Bacterial strains were identified using the matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) method and susceptibility was tested using VITEK 2. RESULTS:The same microorganism was identified from the healthy and abscess side of the oral cavity in 50.0% of the cases. The most commonly identified healthy aerobic flora were coagulase-negative staphylococci, alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Klebsiella spp. The most identified anaerobes were Actinomyces, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides spp. Identification of 6 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, 3 amoxiclav resistant Actinomyces spp., 1 extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) E. coli, and 2 ESBL Klebsiella spp. were confirmed. A significant correlation was found between prescription of amoxiclav before surgery and isolation of amoxiclav-resistant Actinomyces spp. (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS:Common oral flora caused dental abscesses. Not much antimicrobial resistance was detected among the bacterial isolates. However, the dentists used antibiotics irresponsibly because a few cases were identified where the bacteria were resistant to antibiotics used prior to removal of dentoalveolar abscesses.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation, primarily targeting joints. When it affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), it can significantly diminish the quality of life for individuals. Despite the increasing recognition of disorders involving TMJ and the importance of the stomatognathic system, there is a limited number of studies on masticatory muscle activity of TMJ in patients with RA and the changes in the function of these keychewing muscles. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review of existing evidence concerning the functioning of major chewing muscles in patients with RA, specifically focusing on parameters such as chewing force. Findings from existing research indicate that RA patients exhibit higher prevalence of bone changes in the TMJ, including erosion, flattening, sclerosis, and osteophytes. These alterations are typically diagnosed through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Results demonstrate that individuals with RA are more likely to experience bone changes in TMJ structures compared to those without RA. By synthesizing available data, this review aims to provide insights that can inform clinical management strategies and potentially improve outcomes for patients grappling with RA-related TMJ involvement. This article aims to review TMJ disorder in RA patients.

Unfounded-conspiracy and health-beliefs about COVID-19 have accompanied the pandemic worldwide. Here, we examined cross-nationally the structure and correlates of these beliefs with an 8-item scale, using a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. We obtained a two-factor model of unfounded (conspiracy and health) beliefs with good internal structure (average CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.05, SRMR = 0.04), but a high correlation between the two factors (average latent factor correlation = 0.57). This model was replicable across 50 countries (total N = 13,579), as evidenced by metric invariance between countries (CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMS = 0.07) as well as scalar invariance across genders (CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.04, SRMS = 0.03) and educational levels (CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.04, SRMS = 0.03). Also, lower levels of education, more fear of COVID-19, and more cynicism were weakly associated with stronger conspiracy and health beliefs. The study contributes to knowledge about the structure of unfounded beliefs, and reveals the potential relevance of affective (i.e., fear of COVID-19) and cognitive (i.e., cynicism) factors along with demographics, in endorsing such beliefs. In summary, we obtained cross-cultural evidence for the distinctiveness of unfounded conspiracy and health beliefs about COVID-19 in terms of their structure and correlates.

In a multinational study (61 countries; N = 15,039), we examined how collective narcissists, both agentic (ACN) and communal (CCN), reacted cognitively (through endorsement of unfounded conspiracy and health beliefs) and behaviorally (via prevention, hoarding, and prosociality) to the pandemic. Higher ACN and CCN predicted greater endorsement of COVID-19 unfounded beliefs and higher likelihood of having recently engaged in pandemic-related prevention, hoarding, and prosociality. The predictive effects of ACN and CCN were independent, suggesting construct separability. Fear positively predicted endorsement of unfounded beliefs and behaviors, but the slope of that relation was flattened when ACN and CCN were particularly high. Finally, the relation between ACN or CCN and outcomes changed across countries varying in collective fear.

A theoretical perspective on grandiose narcissism suggests four forms of it (sanctity, admiration, heroism, rivalry) and states that these forms conduce to different ways of thinking and acting. Guided by this perspective, we examined in a multinational and multicultural study (61 countries; N = 15,039) how narcissism forms are linked to cognitions and behaviors prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As expected, differences in cognitions and behaviors across narcissism forms emerged. For example, higher narcissistic rivalry predicted lower likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors, but higher narcissistic sanctity predicted higher likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Further, whereas the heroism, admiration, and rivalry narcissism forms acted in a typically antisocial manner, with high narcissism predicting greater endorsement of unfounded health beliefs, the sanctity form acted in a prosocial manner, with higher narcissism being linked to lower endorsement of unfounded COVID-19 health beliefs. Thus, the findings (a) support the idea of four narcissism forms acting differently, and (b) show that these differences reflect a double-edged sword, sometimes linking to an anti-social orientation, and sometimes linking to a pro-social orientation.

BACKGROUND Monitoring of trough levels and anti-drug antibodies is important when patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are treated with anti-TNF biologics due to guided therapeutic decisions. The comparability of 3 ELISA tests for detection of the lowest serum concentration of infliximab (IFX) or antibodies to IFX (ATIs) was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two commercial assays for measuring IFX levels were compared with the in-house (UHL) test. ATIs were measured with 1 commercial test and compared to the in-house test. According to the guidelines, IFX levels were within the range of 3 to 7 µg/mL. RESULTS The decision to continue therapy would be the same for 11 out of 16 patients when comparing the apDia Infliximab ELISA and UHL test, and for 12 out of 18 patients when comparing the Lisa-Tracker and in-house UHL test. Linear correlations between the tests were R=0.92 (UHL and apDia), R=0.91 (apDia and Lisa-Tracker), and R=0.89 (UHL and Lisa-Tracker) with P<0.001, respectively. CONCLUSIONS As the IFX levels are important for decisions on further therapy, detectable IFX levels realistically reflect the presence of the drug in the patients' blood and thus control inflammatory activity. The tests were found as comparable and performed well in this aspect and might be used in everyday clinical practice.

Introduction:Mandible is the first or the second most fractured bone of facial skeleton. Fractures of the angle account for 23-43% of all mandibular fractures. Soft and hard tissue are affected in a traumatized mandible. Bite forces are an essential factor in masticatory muscles activity. An improved function is a result of improvement in the bite force.Aim:The objective of this research was to conduct a systematic review of all available literature regarding the masticatory muscles' activity and bite forces in patients with mandibular angle fractures.Methods:PubMed, and Google Scholar databases have been searched with the following keywords: "mandibular angle fractures" AND "bite forces "OR "masticatory muscles activity".Results:This research methodology provided 402 articles. Of which 33 were selected for analysis if they were pertinent to the topic. Then only 10 results have been identified and included in this review.Conclusions:We can conclude that bite force decreased significantly after trauma, specifically during the first month after injury, and then increases gradually over time. More randomized clinical trial studies and the incorporation of more methods such as electromyography (EMG) for measuring the electrical activity of muscles and bite force recorder could be considered in the future.

Sexuality is a complex process, a natural biological human need that is present throughout life. Closely related to sexuality is the sex drive (libido), which is the basis of human sexual activity. An important aspect of sexuality in both sexes is also the experience of orgasm. Feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and despair contribute to the development of a disorder in the orgasmic experience. The aim of this paper is to present the factors that influence the frequency of orgasmic experiences in women and to determine their sexual satisfaction. We used the online original questionnaire. The target population were adult women. The survey was conducted from June to July 2021. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software. A total of 1409 questionnaires were completed. Most participants were between 21 and 30 years old and had a high school education, more than half experienced orgasm most often during masturbation, and most experienced it every time during masturbation. More than half experienced clitoral orgasm most often. The factors that bother the respondents most in their sex life were too little foreplay, too little passion, and too short sex. Sexual satisfaction is experienced by people very individually and depends on many factors, such as the quality, frequency, and pleasure attributed to sexual activities, but also on general health and well-being.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been a source of fear around the world. We asked whether the measurement of this fear is trustworthy and comparable across countries. In particular, we explored the measurement invariance and cross-cultural replicability of the widely used Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), testing community samples from 48 countries (N = 14,558). The findings indicate that the FCV-19S has a somewhat problematic structure, yet the one-factor solution is replicable across cultural contexts and could be used in studies that compare people who vary on gender and educational level. The validity of the scale is supported by a consistent pattern of positive correlations with perceived stress and general anxiety. However, given the unclear structure of the FCV-19S, we recommend using latent factor scores, instead of raw scores, especially in cross-cultural comparisons. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The aim of this cross-cultural study was to examine predictors of sexual satisfaction. For the present analysis, we used a large-scale sample database that included 8821 individuals from 4 countries. All participants completed the same questionnaires, which were designed to capture numerous important variables that have been shown to correlate with sexual satisfaction. According to our results, predictors of sexual satisfaction were classified into four general categories (demographic factors, psychological factors, sociocultural factors, and pathophysiological factors). Our international study found statistically significantly higher satisfaction among homosexual participants, participants aged 18 to 23 years, those with a higher level of education, in a relationship, with a current sexual partner, in a current partnered (unmarried) relationship, and without a diagnosed sexual or mental disorder. At the same time, we found that the correlation between sexual satisfaction and the different predictors varieed considerably across countries, which calls for further research.

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea,also known as painful periods, is a common gynaecological diagnosis faced bymost women of fertile age. Dysmenorrhea is still a misunderstood condition andmost women accept it as a normal part of their menstrual cycle. The pain has astrong impact on well being and can severely affect quality of life. Methods: Anonline questionnaire was administered to female subjects between May and July 2020.Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used, non-para-medicalstatistical analyses using Spearman correlation coefficient. Statisticalsignificance was set at p 0.05. Results: Thesample consisted of 774 women. It can be seen that the respondents who have alreadygiven birth have statisticallysignificantly less menstrual pain (MR = 270.36; VR = 67859.50) than the respondents whohave not given birth (MR = 402.06;VR = 184545.50). Onaverage, respondents who experienceorgasm less than1x/week (MR = 346.93) have theleast menstrual pain,and respondents who experienceorgasm daily or 4-6x/week have the most menstrual pain(MR = 427.18). Respondents who go to bed at 1am or later have the highestmean pain response score (MR =433.65) and thelowest among those who go to bedbefore 10pm (MR= 346.30). The highest meanmenstrual pain responsescore is among respondents who havenegative attitudetowards menstruation (MR = 557.54)and the lowestis among respondents who haveneutral attitude(MR = 268.82). Conclusions:The results confirm statisticallysignificant relationships between sleep, sexuality, stress, menstrualperception and menstrual pain.

The aim of the paper is to analyze the association between heart function among obese patients and Type D personality to predict the potential risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Overall, 30 obese patients were evaluated for the DS14 score. Body mass with body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured before and after a 3-month period. Half of the subjects had been instructed to exercise 4-times weakly (walking 5 km/h) for an hour, the other half did not exercise. Additionally, STAX-1, SWLS, and QOLLTI-P questionnaires had been used. All participants had a normal CRP and sedimentation rate at the enrolment and after 3-month follow up. None of the psychological tests (STAX-1, SWLS and QLLTI-P) showed statistical difference in results between June and October. Participants who exercised showed lower HR compared to participants who did not exercise. Obese patients with high DS14 score showed reduced HRV as an additional risk factor for the future cardiovascular and other stress-related diseases. Type D personality was associated with an increased risk of CHD proved by the HRV measures when the individual was not exercising. Thus, individual personality in fact correlates to autonomic regulation of the heart.

Introduction: Sexual satisfaction is the pleasure an individual feels both physically and psychologically, and is the result of erotic experiences, thoughts, dreams, and autoeroticism. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to present the determinants of sexual satisfaction among Bosnian and Herzegovinian women. Methods: The survey was conducted on 387 Bosnian and Herzegovinian women via online questionnaire that consisted of demographic data and 17 statements. The validated questionnaire was used with some adaptations and contained a 5-point Likert scale for each statement, ranging from “not at all satisfied” to “extremely satisfied.” The inclusion criteria were: (a) Age 18–60 years; and (b) completion of the questionnaire as personal consent. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Results: Data collection was conducted from July 2020 to September 2020. The realization rate of the sample was 24.19%. Most of the participants have a high school diploma, most are between 18 and 24 years old and most are currently married. Thirty-five percent of women sometimes experience pain during intercourse (less than half the time). The lower half of the vagina (from the vaginal entrance to the half of the vagina) and the lower part of the abdomen are usually most affected. A relationship was found between the number of children and sexual satisfaction. Women without children were the most satisfied with their sexual life, followed by women who had only one or two children. Conclusions: Every woman has the right to feel sexual satisfaction. The complexity of sexual satisfaction is reflected in many determinants and factors that can influence it positively and negatively.

The aim of the study was to investigate the sexuality of individuals undergoing in vitro fertilization as one of the methods of infertility treatment. The focus was on sexual dysfunction, sexual satisfaction and associated risk factors. Data were collected based on a validated, standardized procedure. The sample consisted of 119 individuals who had undergone in vitro fertilization, 61 (51.3%) women and 58 (48.7%) men, average age 35 years. Most of the 119 survey participants were in the 31-35 age group (37%), married (79.8%), with high school diploma (51.3%), Catholic denomination (89.9%), childless (78.2%), with a one sexual partner in their lifetime (51.3%), and in current sexual relationship for a period of 7 to 8 years (18.5%). The survey found statistically significantly higher satisfaction among male participants, participants in the 26-30 age group, those with a higher level of education, nonreligious, without children in marriage, with four sexual partners in life, over a period of 1 to 2 years in current partner (sexual) relationship, and without a diagnosed sexual disorder. There was a correlation between infertility, associated treatment, and sexuality. Infertility and involvement in treatment procedures increased the risk of sexual dysfunction. The risk factors identified in our study could help facilitate detection and timely treatment of sexual dysfunction, which would help maintain healthy sexuality in couples participating in in vitro fertilization procedures.

Health management is considered a specific discipline that requires successful operation in health systems. Healthcare facilities differ from most other companies in their effectiveness. They can measure their success in treatment, prevention in terms of staff workload per hospital bed, the number of patients treated, and mortality. This study aimed to investigate and evaluate the optimal way of managing the introduction of changes in the health care organization and employee satisfaction with the changes achieved. The effectiveness of introducing changes in the healthcare organization in transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership between managers and employees was examined. The research was conducted by surveying health professionals and managers, with the Ethics Committee's approval, in the clinical Hospital Center Rijeka's health institution from 1.11.2020. to 31.12.2020.Moreover, it included 114 health professionals and 26 managers in health departments. The values of the obtained data of health professionals were compared with managers. SPSS V 26.0 was used for statistical data processing, where the reliability of the questionnaire was checked by calculating the Crombach coefficient (a). The following statistical methods were used to test the hypotheses: Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, F-test. The significance of the introduced changes is statistically positively correlated with transformational leadership (p<0.05), while negatively with laissez-faire leadership (p < 0.05). There are also differences in the correlation between employees and managers (p < 0.05). Managers believe that they more often provide adequate support concerning employees' attitudes and opinions on the same topic. However, within assessing the management style's effectiveness and satisfaction with the changes introduced, both employees and managers demonstrated a vital link in transformational leadership. The results of this research can serve as guidelines in optimizing the way management in health care institutions.

Introduction: Statistics show that heart failure is a major public health problem, and in the population that continues to remain, the disease will only increase.Self-care includes activities performed by the patient to maintain life, healthy functioning, and well-being.Self-care in heart failure can be defined as a decision-making process that influences measures that maintain physiological stability, facilitate the perception of symptoms and the response to them.Coping with heart failure is often complicated, because it involves a complex treatment regimen.Methods: A descriptive method of working with a review of Slovenian and foreign literature using the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PubMed and MedNar.The Google Scholar web browser was also used to search the literature.We were looking for literature that was published from 2010 to 2020, the focus was on more recent literature.Results: Preventive activities in self-care measures reduce direct and indirect health care expenditure, so hospitalization is increased due to the health-related quality of life of patients.With different coping strategies (selective denial, goal setting) patients with heart failure achieved a better clinical outcome.In the future, we can expect a big increase in the need for appropriate therapeutic tools and approaches, in connection with heart failure.Above all, the need for education, self-care control and therapy titration.Solutions that will allow patients with heart failure to be treated appropriately are needed.Discussion and conclusions: Heart failure is a medical condition with frequent hospitalizations, high mortality, and high treatment costs.It is extremely important to involve patients in health education programs that encourage them to take active care of their health, to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills, and to form a positive attitude and behavioural patterns for a healthy lifestyle.Only through the joint action of all stakeholders in the field of health, the Self-care promotion program for people with heart failure

Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture to protect crops from pests. In addition to protection during cultivation, they are also used after harvesting to extend the shelf life of products. Postharvest control stands out, especially when it comes to products imported from distant countries, resulting in increased concentration of pesticides and risk to human health consuming such products. In this study, analyses of pesticide residues were performed on 200 samples of fruits and vegetables. Pesticide residues were identified and quantified in 30 out of 200 samples. Study results revealed imazalil to be the most frequently detected pesticide. Risk assessment was performed on the obtained results, and it was carried out separately for adults and for children under 6 years of age. Imazalil showed the highest ARfD percentage for adults (max% ARfD 251%), and these values were especially high on risk assessment for children, where they amounted up to max% ARfD 1087%. The study of imazalil impact was performed on 16 Swiss albino mice divided into two groups and 4 subgroups. Experimental group animals were treated with the corresponding NOAEL dose of imazalil (10 mg/kg) for 28 days. Body weight was measured before each pesticide application on a digital electronic Sartorius scale. Peripheral blood analysis was performed after 28-day animal exposure to pesticides. Animals were anesthetized, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture, and red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and white blood cell (WBC) count were determined by standard hematological methods. The organs for determination of imazalil concentration were extracted immediately upon animal sacrifice and stored in a freezer at -80°C until analysis. Results show difference in gain weight, and an increase in WBC count was recorded in the experimental group as compared with a control group of animals. The highest imazalil levels were recorded in adipose tissue (45.2‰) which proves tendency to accumulate.

Aim: Orthodontic brackets during their wear cause demineralization of enamel, which is the initial step in caries development. The prevention of such spots is crucial to ensure healthy teeth, but patients’ compliance is not the most optimal way. The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial properties of fluoride-containing orthodontic materials to the materials without additional fluoride. Materials and Methods: Antibacterial effectiveness of orthodontic materials with fluoride – Transbond Plus SEP Bonding agent, Transpond Plus Adhesive agent, Fuji I Band cement, Fuji Ortho LC Adhesive agent, Ortho Solo Bonding agent, and without antimicrobial substances – Transpond XT Bonding agent, Transbond XT Primer were tested with the inhibition on most common causes L. achidophilus (ATCC 4356) and S. mutans (ATCC 10449) and compared to negative control. Antimicrobial effectiveness of each material was measured with the agar diffusion method and expressed with the diameters of inhibition zones around the disk. Results: Materials containing fluoride showed more antimicrobial effectiveness compared to materials without fluoride or negative control (p<0.001), respectively. Materials from the group with no antibacterial substances were not statistically different compared to the negative control (P>0.05). Conclusion: Materials containing fluoride showed more significant antimicrobial effectiveness when compared to the materials without antimicrobial substance and thus might have the potential of antimicrobial properties in vivo.