The incremental direct costs associated with behavioral symptoms in AD

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incremental costs associated with behavioral symptoms in patients with AD.

METHODS

A total of 128 patients with probable AD were enrolled into this study. Cognitive function and extrapyramidal features were assessed in patients with AD. Caregivers were interviewed to determine use of health care services, receipt of unpaid care, severity of behavioral symptoms (Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI]), and comorbid medical conditions in patients with AD. Healthcare utilization data were multiplied by unit costs to estimate direct formal costs. Unpaid caregiving hours were multiplied by an hourly wage to estimate direct informal costs. The annual incremental direct costs of additional behavioral symptoms were estimated with multiple regression equations.

RESULTS

Annual, direct costs were significantly higher in patients with AD at or above the median score on the NPI (high NPI group), after adjusting for group differences in severity of cognitive impairment and comorbid conditions. Patients in the high NPI group had formal costs between US$3,162 and US$5,919 higher than the low NPI group and total direct costs between US$10,670 and US$16,141 higher, depending on the severity of cognitive impairments. Models for the entire sample estimated that a one-point increase in the NPI score would result in an annual increase of between US$247 and US$409 in total direct costs, depending on the value of unpaid caregiving.

CONCLUSIONS

Behavioral symptoms in patients with AD significantly increase direct costs of care.

Myxoma of the gingiva: a case report and literature review

Soft tissue myxomas of the oral and para-oral tissue are extremely rare. Only two cases of myxoma of gingiva have been reported in the literature. The histogenesis of these lesions remains obscure. We report a case of gingival myxoma in a 37-year-old man. A firm ovoid soft tissue mass measuring 1.5 x 1.2 x 1 cm in size was noted at the mesio-lingual gingiva of a partially impacted right mandibular third molar. Radiographic examination revealed an impacted mandibular third molar with normal radiographic bony consistency of the mandible. Excisional biopsy was performed with no evidence of recurrence after 8 months. Histological examination showed stromal mass composed of myxoid-like fluid in fibrovascular stroma and scanty inflammatory cell infiltration, suggesting myxomas of the oral soft tissues and jaws. Immunohistochemical stains with S-100 protein, desmin and smooth muscle specific actin yielded negative results, and those with alcian blue, periodic-acid-Schiff, mucicarmine, vimentin and reticulin were positive. Tumor cells of mesenchymal origin without neurogenic or muscular derivations and myxoid matrix composed of acid mucopolysaccharides in this lesion further confirmed the diagnosis of myxoma. Periodontal ligament origin cannot be completely excluded due to tumor location and its association with an impacted molar. However, further study is necessary to clarify the origin and histogenesis of these lesions.

Double-coping technique in prosthesis fabrication for osseointegrated teeth implantation: case report

Reconstruction of segmental mandibular defects resulting from trauma, infection, or tumor resection still remains difficult. Although cosmetic improvement was seen in patients who had immediate reconstruction of the mandibular continuity, normal mastication and deglutition could not be achieved by conventional removable dentures. Since 1988, the treatment protocol has been modified to use endosseous root-form implants to support dental prostheses instead of the conventional removable prostheses in these patients. There are 2 types of prostheses that can be constructed over dental implants: (1) a removable implant overdenture and (2) a fixed detachable prosthesis. Although the latter better meets in patients' psychological needs, it may present problems such as phonetic discrepancies, food impaction, difficult home care, and poor esthetics if the patient has a high lip line. In addition, it is not easy to fabricate accurately in the laboratory. To overcome these problems, a case is presented to illustrate the use of another fixed-type prosthesis, a double-coping technique, for fabricating dentures so that any discrepancy between the inner and outer copings can be filled by cement. The technique not only improves the shortcomings of fixed detachable prostheses but also satisfactorily meets patients' desire for normal mastication and deglutition. Follow-up after 4 years showed no significant changes around the implants by clinical and radiographic examinations.

Florid osseous dysplasia: case report

Florid osseous dysplasia (FOD) is a benign, non-neoplastic lesion characterized by multiple sclerosing masses only within the jawbones. It is most prevalent in middle-aged black women but uncommon in Orientals. Most cases are asymptomatic and should be left untreated. However, the jawbone involved in FOD is very susceptible to infection, including osteomyelitis developed from periodontitis, pulpopathosis, bone biopsy, wearing removable partial dentures, root canal therapy, tooth extraction, inappropriate dental treatment, etc. If secondary osteomyelitis develops, antibiotic and conservative dental therapy treatment is recommended for removing the sources of the odontogenic infection. Surgical removal of inflamed masses is indicated if the inflammatory signs and symptoms are persistent after antibiotic and conservative dental therapy. Here we report a rare FOD case in which an osteomyelitis resulting from generalized periodontitis and bone biopsy was triggered. The patient was accepted for surgery and follow-up in our department. The current literature of this disease is reviewed as well, focusing especially on the clinical manifestations, radiographic features, differential diagnosis, and treatment.