Associations between socio-economic circumstances at two stages of life and adolescents' oral health status

There is a consistent association between unfavourable socio-economic circumstances and oral health. Although the effects of poor social circumstances in childhood are known to have lasting influences on general health, there is little information on their effects regarding chronic oral diseases. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between oral health status and socio-economic circumstances at two different periods of adolescents' life. METHODS: A two-phase cross sectional study was carried out in Brazil. In Phase I, 652 13-year-olds were clinically examined and interviewed. In the second phase, 311 families were randomly selected for in-depth interviews. Information was collected on several indicators of socio-economic circumstances, family related variables, school grade level, and oral health behaviour, at two different life stages, at birth and at 13 years of age. The outcome variable was oral health status at the age of 13. It was constructed by counting the worst scores of DMFT, gingival bleeding, calculus and dental plaque. The data analysis used stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: The response rates for phases I and II were 85% and 94%. Boys, those at a lower grade level at school for their age, and those who experienced high levels of material deprivation at birth and at the age of 13 were more likely to have high levels of oral diseases; the odds ratios were 4.12 (1.86-9.16), 2.41 (1.01-5.76) and 4.61 (1.30-16.3), respectively. CONCLUSION: Brazilian adolescents experiencing adverse socio-economic circumstances at birth and at the age of 13 had high levels of oral diseases.     

A survey of participants in two internet support groups for people with hair-pulling

Background

Coeliac disease in adolescents has been associated with an increased prevalence of depressive and disruptive behavioural disorders, particularly in the phase before diet treatment. We studied the possible effects of a gluten-free diet on psychiatric symptoms, on hormonal status (prolactin, thyroidal function) and on large neutral amino acid serum concentrations in adolescents with coeliac disease commencing a gluten-free diet.

Methods

Nine adolescents with celiac disease, aged 12 to 16 years, were assessed using the semi-structured K-SADS-Present and Lifetime Diagnostic interview and several symptom scales. Seven of them were followed at 1 to 2, 3, and 6 months on a gluten-free diet.

Results

Adolescent coeliac disease patients with depression had significantly lower pre-diet tryptophan/ competing amino-acid (CAA) ratios and free tryptophan concentrations, and significantly higher biopsy morning prolactin levels compared to those without depression. A significant decrease in psychiatric symptoms was found at 3 months on a gluten-free diet compared to patients' baseline condition, coinciding with significantly decreased coeliac disease activity and prolactin levels and with a significant increase in serum concentrations of CAAs.

Conclusion

Although our results of the amino acid analysis and prolactin levels in adolescents are only preliminary, they give support to previous findings on patients with coeliac disease, suggesting that serotonergic dysfunction due to impaired availability of tryptophan may play a role in vulnerability to depressive and behavioural disorders also among adolescents with untreated coeliac disease.     

First-pass contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in humans using ferumoxytol, a novel ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-based blood pool agent

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of first-pass contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using ferumoxytol in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First-pass and equilibrium phase MRA were performed using ferumoxytol in one healthy volunteer and 11 patients with a fast three-dimensional spoiled gradient recalled (SPGR) pulse sequence. The examined vessels included carotid arteries, thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and peripheral arteries. A dose of either 71.6 micromol Fe/kg (n = 9), or 35.8 micromol Fe/kg (n = 3) was used. Based on a phantom study, the agent with initial concentration of 537.2 micromol Fe/mL was diluted by either four-fold (134.3 micromol Fe/mL) or eight-fold (67.1 micromol Fe/mL) for first-pass MRA. RESULTS: All subjects completed their studies without adverse events. First-pass MRA showed selective arterial enhancement, with both arterial and venous enhancement on delayed acquisitions. Selective venous enhancement could be obtained by subtraction of arterial phase images from equilibrium phase images. The findings in ferumoxytol MRA were consistent with the results of original vascular tests. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary experience supports the feasibility of first-pass MRA with ferumoxytol. Satisfactory arterial enhancement during first-pass imaging is obtained with injection of diluted contrast agent. With ferumoxytol, arteries and veins can be selectively depicted in a single exam.     

Overexpression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 in adipose tissue causes local but not systemic insulin resistance

In adipocytes, suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)3 deficiency increases insulin-stimulated insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and -2 phosphorylation, IRS-associated phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase activity, and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Moreover, SOCS3 is required for tumor necrosis factor-alpha full inhibition of insulin-stimulated IRS-1 and -2 phosphorylation, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase activity, and glucose uptake. Whether SOCS3 also inhibits adipocyte insulin signaling in vivo and whether this action further affects systemic insulin sensitivity is not clear. We therefore generated a transgenic mouse (aP2-SOCS3 mouse) overexpressing SOCS3 in adipose tissue. Overexpression of SOCS3 in adipocytes decreases IRS1 protein levels and subsequent insulin-stimulated IRS-1 and -2 phosphorylation, decreases p85 binding to IRS-1, and leads to decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes. This impaired insulin signaling in adipose tissue of aP2-SOCS3 mice causes decreased lipogenesis and blocks insulin's antilipolytic action. However, because of decreased energy partitioning in adipose tissue, aP2-SOCS3 mice are resistant to diet-induced obesity and are protected against systemic insulin resistance caused by a high-fat diet. Therefore, overexpression of SOCS3 in adipocytes causes local adipocyte insulin resistance, but it is not sufficient to cause systemic insulin resistance.     

Physician's guide to the new 2005 dietary guidelines: how best to counsel patients

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 encourage most Americans to eat fewer calories, be more active, and make wiser food choices. Health care providers can influence patients' food and activity choices by providing specific counseling and presenting straightforward information.