abstract

The present study aimed to assess the knowledge of diabetic patients regarding diabetes-related systemic and oral

complications and to evaluate their attitudes toward maintaining good oral health and their oral hygiene practices,

including regular dental visits. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Gharyan Educational Hospital, Gharyan,

Libya, between November 2025 and January 2026. A total of 134 diabetic patients attending scheduled outpatient

clinics were enrolled. The study found that 60.5% of participants were aware that diabetes increases the risk of

oral disease, with a high awareness of xerostomia (91%). However, knowledge of specific complications was lower;

only 46.2% identified dental caries and 42.6% identified oral fungal infections as related risks. Regarding systemic

health, patients showed higher awareness of diabetic foot and eye complications than of nerve or kidney

complications. While 73.9% of participants reported brushing their teeth, only 41.8% did so twice daily.

Furthermore, 44.8% visited the dentist less than once a year, and 41% could not remember their last visit. The

primary sources of information were diabetologists (52.9%) and various media (50%), with 98.5% of participants

expressing a desire for more education on this topic. Diabetic patients in Gharyan demonstrated a moderate level

of knowledge regarding diabetes-related oral health. While attitudes toward oral hygiene are generally positive,

there are significant gaps in knowledge regarding specific oral complications. The findings suggest an urgent need

to integrate oral health education into routine diabetic care and to strengthen collaboration between physicians and

dentists to improve overall patient outcomes.

Keywords. Diabetes mellitus, Oral Health, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Libya.

While most pregnant women in Gharyan city demonstrated adequate oral health knowledge, gaps persist in

preventive practices, particularly regarding fluoride use and dental visits. Education level and dental visits

during pregnancy were significant determinants of knowledge. These findings highlight the need for targeted

oral health education programs and increased access to dental services for pregnant women to improve oral

health outcomes for both mothers and their infants.

ABSTRACT

Background and aims. Paracetamol (AAP) is the most common drug used as an analgesic and antipyretic. It can induce oxidative stress which can cause cell death. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of paracetamol on the submandibular salivary gland (SMG)of Albino rats. Methods. Twelve adult male albino rats were used, divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received orally 350mg/kg (paracetamol) once daily for 4 weeks and control groups received 2ml physiologic saline, and methyl cellos once orally daily during whole experimental period. Results. Histological examination of the experimental group showed that acinar cells demonstrated pyknotic and deeply stained nuclei with many cytoplasmic vacuolations. The ducts showed some signs of degeneration with loss of their normal cellular outlines. However, showed degenerative changes. Apoptotic changes expressed by anti-active caspase 3 were more obvious in acinar cells than in ductal cells. Statistical results showed a significant (P<0.05) statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusion. Long use of paracetamol leads to a degenerative and apoptotic change in acinar and ductal cells (SMG).