Obesity has become a widespread health problem influencing people’s health, general well-being, and healthcare costs. It also represents an important risk factor for multiple comorbidities and malignancies. Objectives: the primary objective of this study was to provide notable insights to healthcare professionals regarding the management of patients with obesity, to highlight the effectiveness of bariatric surgical methods in losing excess weight, and to establish the relationship between weight loss and changes in quality of life (QoL). Material and methods: our study evaluated the QoL of 76 patients following bariatric surgery at different postoperative stages using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and The World Health Organization Quality of Life—BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires. Results: regarding the type of bariatric procedure performed, out of the 76 respondents, 39.47% underwent gastric bypass surgery (RYGB), 56.57% underwent sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and only 3.94% underwent single anastomosis duodeno-ileal switch (SADI-S). Pertaining to the SF-36 questionnaire, the lowest average scores were found in the energy/fatigue subscales and in the limitations due to mental health, which remained consistent across surgery types with a significant decrease in the SADI-S group. Concerning the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, the lowest mean scores were found in the environment (15.03 ± 2.37) and social relations (16.08 ± 2.22) subscales, whilst the highest average scores were in physical health (16.30 ± 2.03) and mental health (16.57 ± 2.16). Conclusions: the findings revealed that whilst bariatric surgery significantly improved physical health, it resulted in a decrease in mental health scores. Consequently, the study emphasizes the importance of adopting a holistic approach to managing obesity that considers improving both physical and mental health outcomes.

Alarming statistics show that the number of people affected by excessive weight has surpassed 2 billion, representing approximately 30% of the world’s population. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of one of the most serious public health problems, considering that obesity requires an integrative approach that takes into account its complex etiology, including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Only an understanding of the connections between the many contributors to obesity and the synergy between treatment interventions can ensure satisfactory outcomes in reducing obesity. Mechanisms such as oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and dysbiosis play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of obesity and its associated complications. Compounding factors such as the deleterious effects of stress, the novel challenge posed by the obesogenic digital (food) environment, and the stigma associated with obesity should not be overlooked. Preclinical research in animal models has been instrumental in elucidating these mechanisms, and translation into clinical practice has provided promising therapeutic options, including epigenetic approaches, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery. However, more studies are necessary to discover new compounds that target key metabolic pathways, innovative ways to deliver the drugs, the optimal combinations of lifestyle interventions with allopathic treatments, and, last but not least, emerging biological markers for effective monitoring. With each passing day, the obesity crisis tightens its grip, threatening not only individual lives but also burdening healthcare systems and societies at large. It is high time we took action as we confront the urgent imperative to address this escalating global health challenge head-on.

Introduction: Orofacial pain is a common occurrence in daily dental practice; it is frequently attributed to temporomandibular dysfunction, one of its major causes, followed by pathology of the salivary glands, without avoiding interference at the level of the pain pathways caused by complications of periodontal pathology. The main objective of this study is to identify an important cause of pain in the oral–maxillofacial territory by quantifying the changes at the salivary glandular level using stereological methods. The secondary objective of the present research is to identify the implications of periodontal changes as a consequence of salivary quantitative and qualitative changes, quantified using periodontal indices, on the balance of the temporomandibular joint, dysfunction of it being an important cause of facial pain and having a profound impact on the complex oral rehabilitation algorithm of each clinical case, a condition evaluated with the analysis of the results of the Souleroy questionnaire. Material and methods: In a retrospective study, we evaluated the clinical results obtained after applying complex rehabilitation treatment to 35 subjects, 20 women and 15 men with salivary and TMJ dysfunctions, selected between 2020 and 2021 from the Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery, Iasi. Results and discussion: The most common symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) that were identified through the Souleroy questionnaire were pain and different types of damage to the masticatory muscles. The most significant changes in elders are reported in the case of serous cells, which reduced their percentage volume from 46.7% to 37.4%. Conclusion: As regards stereological analysis in conjunction with histological images, there were significant changes in diameters, perimeters, and longitudinal axes in the adult patients as opposed to the elderly patients, which were also influenced by the type of pathology at this level. The scores recorded on the diagnostic Souleroy scale indicated a large number of patients with low efficiency and maximum stress levels: 20.0% in level 1, 25.7% in level 2, and 25.7% in level 3.

Dental composites, through their structural diversity, represent the biomaterials frequently used in dental reconstructive therapy. The aim of our study was to observe the influence of different beverage environment conditions on seven types of obturation dental materials with different compositions. Our research focused on the surface modification analysis of the materials after the immersion in the different beverages; in this regard, we used the EDAX technique correlated with the energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The pH of the drinks and that of the simulated saliva solution were determined by the titrimetric method, a sodium hydroxide solution 0.1 mol/dm³ was prepared and used for the titration. An amount of 5 mL of each analyzed solution was added to 15 mL of distilled water to obtain a dilution, to which 3 drops of phenolphthalein (as a color indicator—Phenolphthalein, 3,3-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone, C₂₀H₁₄O₄ Mw: 318.32, purchased from Merck) were added for each analysis. For each solution, the experiment was repeated three times in order to obtain accurate results. The results of our study materialized into a real plea for modifying the patients’ behavior in terms of diet and preferences for acidic drinks, so that their quality-of-life valence can be improved by keeping the composite materials in a long-term unalterable state on the one hand; on the other hand, systemic damage can be prevented as well.

Periodontal diseases generally correspond to a disturbance in the balance between the host’s defense and the micro-organisms colonizing the periodontal environment. The exact mechanisms underlying the destruction of the periodontium remain to be fully elucidated. Our study aims to quantify the main bacteria pool involved in periodontal pathology and associate it with other factors involved in the onset of periodontal disease so that an accurate diagnosis with profound implications for the therapeutic algorithm can be developed. Micro-Ident tests, based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, were used for the study group, chosen for their high specificity in identifying periodontopathogenic bacteria and determining their relative numbers. The results of our study indicate an increased concentration of 4.50 (number of strains) for Capnocytophaga, followed by Tannerella forsythia, in a concentration of 3.50; the next highest concentration percentages are for Treponemei denticola, and Prevotela intermedia, low concentrations were found for Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas. The concentration of each type of bacteria is reflected in the clinical picture and constitutes the starting point for a targeted antibiotic therapy. Following the effects of antibiotic-targeted therapy obtained from the evaluation of the micro-IDent B test results on the periodontium of the supporting teeth, we observed that the values of the periodontal indices change slightly at 3-month intervals with a predominance of plaque, bleeding, and gingival indices, and less in the indices concerning the depth of the probing pocket and the loss of attachment on the buccal and oral surfaces. In conclusion, our study emphasizes a direct relationship between the subgingival tartar presence and the patients age, gingival recession, presence of periodontal pockets, dental mobility, as well as the periodontal indexes: plaque index, bleeding index, and gingival index. The correlation of negative values of periodontal indices with the nature of the involved bacteria materializes in relevant starting points in the elaboration of the periodontal diagnosis of the therapeutic plan and predictability of the prognosis of oral rehabilitation.