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The aim of this study was to evaluate whether combined administration of olive leaf extract (OLE) with standard antifungal therapy—nystatin (NYS) or miconazole (MIC) could be a more efficient alternative in reducing the number of Candida colonies, the presence of oral signs and symptoms and changes in salivary IL-17A level compared to standard therapy alone. The study included 59 subjects with a positive microbiological Candida colony number greater than 600 CFU/mL and at least one oral sign or symptom present. Subjects were randomly divided into four groups depending on applied therapy: OLE + NYS group (n = 15), OLE + MIC group (n = 15), NYS group (n = 14), MIC group (n = 15). Therapy duration and clinical monitoring were standardized across all groups. There was no significant difference between the tested groups in Candida spp. colony number or salivary IL-17A levels. In the OLE + NYS group, a significant increase in salivation rate was observed, while a significant decrease in tongue burning was reported in the OLE + MIC group. A significant reduction in burning of the oral mucosa and tongue was observed in the MIC group. No significant differences were found in other clinical signs or symptoms among treatment groups. OLE, as an adjunct to standard antifungal therapy, did not significantly reduce Candida spp. colony number or salivary IL-17A levels. However, in combination with NYS it increased salivation rate, while in combination with miconazole, it significantly decreased tongue burning. Both symptoms are common clinical findings in oral Candida-related disease and suggest that OLE may have supportive potential in the clinical management of these conditions. Further research is needed to explore its potential therapeutic benefits on oral health.

Purpose: P2Y2 receptors (P2Y2Rs) are among the various receptors that play an important role in nociception. The goal of this research was to investigate possible P2Y2R expression changes in the trigeminal ganglion (TRG) in bilateral masseter muscle (MM) hypersensitivity following unilateral MM inflammation. The impact of unilateral intramasseteric administration of P2Y2R antagonist on bilateral MM hypersensitivity was also explored. Materials and Methods: Bilateral MM hypersensitivity was provoked by unilateral intramasseteric injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). The head withdrawal threshold (HWT) was assessed bilaterally 4 days later. Bilateral TRG and MM isolation were followed, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and histopathological analysis were carried out on these tissues, respectively. The involvement of P2Y2Rs in nocifensive behavior was evaluated by administering two doses of P2Y2R antagonist AR-C118925 (0.2 or 1 mg/100 μL) in inflamed MM 4 days post-CFA administration. Bilateral HWT was assessed at different time points following antagonist injection. Results: qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated P2Y2R up-regulation in TRG ipsilateral to the site of CFA administration. Compared to the controls, both doses of AR-C118925 injected ipsilateral to the TRG increased the bilateral HWT at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after antagonist administration. Conclusion: The findings suggest that P2Y2Rs may affect MM inflammatory hypersensitivity owing to its up-regulation in the TRG in MM inflammatory pain states.

For the first time the effects of different sampling periods and their interaction with five major autochthonous Croatian Istrian olive cultivars and the Italian cultivar ‘Leccino’ on the quantity and composition of olive leaf phenolic compounds and mineral nutrients were investigated. For that purpose, olive leaves were sampled in two collecting periods, in October and March, coinciding with the harvesting and pruning periods, respectively. All selected cultivars had a higher oleuropein leaf content in the pruning collecting period, with the highest levels noted for the ‘Leccino’ and ‘Buža’ cultivars. Cultivar significantly affected almost all the investigated phenols, with higher concentrations of these valuable compounds in the pruning than in the harvesting period. Differences observed in leaf mineral composition were closely related to the differences in phenolic profiles and were significantly affected by genotype. Some of the studied mineral nutrients, such as P, Cu and B, were found to be significantly correlated with the most abundant olive leaf phenolic compounds, oleuropein and verbascoside.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the antifungal activity of olive leaf extract (OLE) and the synergistic effect of standard antifungal therapy and OLE against clinical oral Candida species’ isolates. Materials and Method: The susceptibility of 60 clinical isolates of the Candida species (36 C. albicans, 16 C. krusei, 5 C. glabrata and 3 C. tropicalis) was tested with four concentrations of OLE (60 µg/µL, 120 µg/µL, 240 µg/µL and 333 µg/µL) and the synergistic effect of standard antifungal therapy and OLE (miconazole (MIC) + 333 µg/µL OLE and nystatin (NYS) + 333 µg/µL OLE). The antimicrobial activity was tested using the disk diffusion method. Results: All concentrations (60 µg/µL, 120 µg/µL, 240 µg/µL and 333 µg/µL) of OLE showed a statistically significant effect on all Candida species compared to the control (DMSO) except for the lowest concentration (60 µg/µL) tested on C. glabrata. There was a dose-dependent effect of OLE on tested samples. Concentrations of 240 µg/µL and 333 µg/µL showed statistically significant higher antifungal activity compared to the lowest concentration of 60 µg/µL. No statistically significant synergistic effect of OLE and standard antifungal therapy was found compared with standard therapy alone. Conclusions: The results of this study present the significant antimicrobial effect of OLE against all tested Candida species except for the lowest concentration on C. glabrata. Increasing the concentration of OLE also increases its effect on Candida species. This indicates the possible potential effect of OLE in the treatment of Candida-related oral diseases.

Background: Tooth extraction, changing dentition and malocclusion can decrease area of occlusal contact and negatively affect masticatory efficiency. Aim of this study was to evaluate difference in masticatory efficiency in association with previously named factors. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study masticatory efficiency parameters (number of particles, mean diameter and mean surface of particles) determined with optical scanning method were compared between children with healthy dentition (12 girls, 12 boys, age 3 to 14) and children with lost antagonistic contacts due to tooth extraction, changing dentition and malocclusions (12 girls, 12 boys, age 3 to 14). Results: Number of chewed particles is significantly higher in a group of children with healthy dentition (p < 0.001), and chewed particles’ mean diameter and surface are significantly higher in the Group 2 (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). Number of lost occlusal contacts is not in correlation with masticatory efficiency parameters (p= 0.464; p= 0.483; p= 0.489). Conclusions: Children with lost antagonistic contacts have an impaired masticatory efficiency in comparison to children with complete dentition, but there is no difference regarding the aetiology of contact loss.

Oral infections caused by Candida species are becoming more common, which may be related to an increase in the number of immunologically compromised patients as well as favorable conditions in the oral cavity that often include removable prosthetic appliances. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of a particular Candida species in patients with PMMA and Cr-Co prosthetic appliances, as well as the salivary flow rate, and oral signs and symptoms. This investigation included a total of 120 subjects with different kinds of removable dentures. A sample of concentrated oral rinse was collected from all subjects in order to detect Candida colonization and identify the Candida species, a quantum of salivation was measured, and subjects were examined clinically. Candida spp. was predominant among the subjects who were denture wearers (p < 0.0001). In all subjects, the most frequently detected species was C.albicans. A statistically significant difference was found between the prevalence of C.albicans (p < 0.001) and C.krusei (p < 0.001) in denture wearers. Subjects with PMMA-based removable prosthetic appliances mostly demonstrated a significant decrease in salivation (p < 0.001), an increase in burning sensations (p < 0.001), and dry mouth (p < 0.001) compared to the subjects who wore partial dentures with Co–Cr metallic frameworks. Red oral lesions were more frequently found among the subjects with partial dentures with Co–Cr metallic frameworks (p < 0.001). Regardless of the material used for the denture, patients must be regularly checked by their dentists in order to prevent the development of oral lesions.

Pain in masticatory muscles is among the most prominent symptoms of temperomandibular disorders (TMDs) that have diverse and complex etiology. A common complaint of TMD is that unilateral pain of craniofacial muscle can cause a widespread of bilateral pain sensation, although the underlying mechanism remains unknown. To investigate whether unilateral inflammation of masseter muscle can cause a bilateral allodynia, we generated masseter muscle inflammation induced by unilateral injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in rats, and measured the bilateral head withdrawal threshold at different time points using a von Frey anesthesiometer. After behavioral assessment, both right and left trigeminal ganglia (TRG) were dissected and examined for histopathology and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) mRNA expression using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. A significant increase in TRPV1 mRNA expression occurred in TRG ipsilateral to CFA injected masseter muscle, whereas no significant alteration in TRPV1 occurred in the contralateral TRG. Interestingly, central injection of TRPV1 antagonist 5-iodoresiniferatoxin into the hippocampus significantly attenuated the head withdrawal response of both CFA injected and non-CFA injected contralateral masseter muscle. Our findings show that unilateral inflammation of masseter muscle is capable of inducing bilateral allodynia in rats. Upregulation of TRPV1 at the TRG level is due to nociception caused by inflammation, whereas contralateral nocifensive behavior in masticatory muscle nociception is likely mediated by central TRPV1, pointing to the involvement of altered information processing in higher centers.

Purpose: [P.sub.2][Y.sub.2] receptors ([P.sub.2][Y.sub.2]Rs) are among the various receptors that play an important role in nociception. The goal of this research was to investigate possible [P.sub.2][Y.sub.2]R expression changes in the trigeminal ganglion (TRG) in bilateral masseter muscle (MM) hypersensitivity following unilateral MM inflammation. The impact of unilateral intramasseteric administration of [P.sub.2][Y.sub.2]R antagonist on bilateral MM hypersensitivity was also explored. Materials and Methods: Bilateral MM hypersensitivity was provoked by unilateral intramasseteric injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The head withdrawal threshold (HWT) was assessed bilaterally 4 days later. Bilateral TRG and MM isolation were followed, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and histopathological analysis were carried out on these tissues, respectively. The involvement of [P.sub.2][Y.sub.2]Rs in nocifensive behavior was evaluated by administering two doses of [P.sub.2][Y.sub.2]R antagonist AR-C118925 (0.2 or 1 mg/100 [micro]L) in inflamed MM 4 days post-CFA administration. Bilateral HWT was assessed at different time points following antagonist injection. Results: qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated [P.sub.2][Y.sub.2]R up-regulation in TRG ipsilateral to the site of CFA administration. Compared to the controls, both doses of AR-C118925 injected ipsilateral to the TRG increased the bilateral HWT at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after antagonist administration. Conclusion: The findings suggest that [P.sub.2][Y.sub.2]Rs may affect MM inflammatory hypersensitivity owing to its up-regulation in the TRG in MM inflammatory pain states. Keywords: facial pain, masticatory muscles, temporomandibular disorders, trigeminal ganglion