Factors influencing fluoride ingestion from dentifrice by children

Kobayashi CAN, Belini MR, Italiani FM, Pauleto ARC, Julianelli de Araújo J, Tessarolli V, Grizzo LT, Pessan JP, Machado MAAM, Buzalaf MAR. Factors influencing fluoride ingestion from dentifrice by children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011; 39: 426–432. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Objective: This study assessed the percentage of the amount of dentifrice loaded onto the toothbrush that is ingested by children, taking into account age, the amount of dentifrice used during toothbrushing, and the dentifrice flavor. Methods: The sample consisted of 155 children of both genders attending public kindergartens and schools in Bauru, Brazil, divided into 5 groups (n = 30–32) of children aged 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years old. The dentifrices used were Sorriso? (1219 ppm F, peppermint‐flavored) and Tandy? (959 ppm F, tutti‐frutti‐flavored). The assessment of fluoride intake from dentifrices was carried out six times for each child, using 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 g of each dentifrice, following a random, crossover distribution. Brushing was performed by the children or their parents/caregivers according to the home habits and under the observation of the examiner. Fluoride present in the expectorant and on toothbrush was analyzed with an ion‐specific electrode after HMDS‐facilitated diffusion. Fluoride ingestion was indirectly derived. Results were analyzed by 3‐way repeated‐measures anova and Tukey’s tests (P < 0.05) using the percent dentifrice ingested as response variable. Results: Age and percent dentifrice ingested for both dentifrices, and the three amounts used were inversely related (P < 0.0001). Percent dentifrice ingested was significantly higher after the use of Tandy? under all conditions of the study when compared with Sorriso? (P < 0.0001). Significant differences were observed when brushing with 0.3 g when compared with 1.2 g, for both dentifrices tested (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate that all variables tested must be considered in preventive measures aiming to reduce the amount of fluoride ingested by young children.     

Identification of periodontal pathogens and severity of periodontitis in patients with and without chronic kidney disease

Objective

In this study of patients with chronic periodontitis (CP), the severity of the disease and the main periodontal pathogens identified in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were compared with those detected in individuals without systemic disease.

Design

Nineteen patients with CP without evidence of systemic disease (control group), 25 patients with CP and CKD who were in the pre-dialysis stages (pre-dialysis group), and 22 patients with CP and CKD who were on renal replacement therapy (RRT group) were examined. The severity of CP was based on the investigation of probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The definition and stage of CKD were based on the criteria proposed by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative of the National Kidney Foundation. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the equation of Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and the identification of microorganisms in subgingival plaque was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

Candida albicans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola were more common in patients who were on RRT and pre-dialysis than in control subjects. CP was more severe in patients with CKD. A strong association was observed between the frequency of C. albicans (P = 0.056), P.gingivalis (P = 0.008), T. denticola (P = 0.013) and CAL, when CKD patients were compared with the control group.

Conclusion

CP is more severe and is associated with increased frequency of C. albicans, P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and T. denticola in patients with CKD.     

Practices for caring in nursing: Brazilian research groups

ERDMANN A.L., DE ANDRADE S.R., FERREIRA DE MELLO A.L., KLOCK P., DO NASCIMENTO K.C., SANTOS KOERICH M. & STEIN BACKES D. (2011) Practices for caring in nursing: Brazilian research groups. International Nursing Review 58 , 379–385 Background: The present study considers the production of knowledge and the interactions in the environment of research and their relationships in the system of caring in nursing and health. Aim: To elaborate a theoretical model of the organization of the practices used for caring, based on the experiences made by the research groups of administration and management in nursing, in Brazil. Methods: The study is based on grounded theory. Twelve leaders of research groups, working as professors in public universities in the south and the south‐east of Brazil, distributed in sample groups, were interviewed. Findings: The core phenomenon ‘research groups of administration and management in nursing: arrangements and interactions in the system of caring in nursing’ was derived from the categories: conceptual bases and contexts of the research groups; experiencing interactions in the research groups; functionality of the research groups; and outputs of the research groups. The research groups are integrated in the system of caring in nursing. Conclusions: The activities of the Brazilian administration and management in nursing research groups are process oriented and in a process of constant renovation, socially relevant, operate in a complex scenario and contribute to the advancement of the organizations of the system of caring in nursing through strengthening the connection among academia, service and community.     

Tonsil volume,tonsil grade and obstructive sleep apnea: is there any meaningful correlation?

OBJECTIVES:

The aims of this study were to evaluate the correlation between oropharyngeal examination and objective palatine tonsil volume in snoring adults and verify the influence of the oropharyngeal anatomy, body mass index, age, and severity of obstructive sleep apnea on actual tonsil volume. In addition, we aimed to assess the influence of tonsil size on obstructive sleep apnea in adults.

INTRODUCTION:

Pharyngeal wall geometry is often altered in adults who have obstructive sleep apnea, and this might influence the findings of the oropharyngeal examination that, in turn, are the key factors when considering surgical management for this condition. Furthermore, the correlation between the actual tonsil volume and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea in adults is currently unknown.

METHODS:

We prospectively studied 130 patients with obstructive sleep apnea or primary snoring who underwent pharyngeal surgery with intraoperative measurement of tonsil volume. We compared tonsil volume with preoperative polysomnography, oropharyngeal examination, and anthropometric data.

RESULTS:

We found a significant correlation between actual tonsil volume and subjective tonsil grade. We also found a significant correlation between tonsil volume and the apnea-hypopnea index. Using a multivariate linear regression model, tonsil volume was found to be significantly correlated with age, body mass index, and oropharyngeal examination, but not with polysomnography. Clinically, only the rare tonsil grade IV was indicative of more severe obstructive sleep apnea.

CONCLUSIONS:

There is a strong correlation between clinical tonsil grade and objective tonsil volume in snoring adults, and this correlation exists regardless of the presence or severity of obstructive sleep apnea. Pharyngeal tissue volume likely reflects the body mass index rather than obstructive sleep apnea severity.     

IL-2, IL-5, TNF-α and IFN-γ mRNA expression in epidermal keratinocytes of systemic lupus erythematosus skin lesions

OBJECTIVE:

To analyze cytokine gene expression in keratinocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

INTRODUCTION:

Keratinocytes represent 95% of epidermal cells and can secrete several cytokines.

METHODS:

Keratinocytes were obtained by laser microdissection from 21 patients with SLE (10 discoid and 11 acute lesions) at involved and uninvolved sites. All patients were receiving a low/moderate prednisone dose and 18 were receiving chloroquine diphosphate. IL-2, IL-5, TNF-α and IFN-γ gene expression was evaluated by real-time PCR and expressed as the ratio (R) to a pool of skin samples from 12 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS:

Heterogeneity in cytokine gene expression was found among patients with SLE. Eighteen of 38 valid SLE samples (47%) presented overexpression (R>1) of at least one cytokine. Lesional skin samples tended to show higher cytokine expression than samples from uninvolved skin (p = 0.06). IL-5 and IFN-γ were the most commonly overexpressed cytokines. Samples with cytokine overexpression corresponded to more extensive and severe lesions. Prednisone dose did not differ between samples without cytokine overexpression (15.71±3.45 mg/day) and those with overexpressed cytokines (12.68±5.41 mg/day) (p = 0.216). Samples from all patients not receiving diphosphate chloroquine had at least one overexpressed cytokine.

CONCLUSIONS:

The heterogeneous keratinocyte cytokine gene expression reflects the complex immunological and inflammatory background in SLE. Patients with severe/extensive skin lesions showed a higher frequency of cytokine gene overexpression. Increased IFN-γ and IL-5 expression suggests that Th1 and Th2 cells are involved in SLE skin inflammation. The possibility that prednisone and antimalarial drugs may have contributed to low cytokine gene expression in some samples cannot be ruled out.     

In vivo treatment with diphenyl ditelluride induces neurodegeneration in striatum of young rats: Implications of MAPK and Akt pathways

In the present report 15 day-old Wistar rats were injected with 0.3 μmol of diphenyl ditelluride (PhTe)₂/kg body weight and parameters of neurodegeneration were analyzed in slices from striatum 6 days afterwards. We found hyperphosphorylation of intermediate filament (IF) proteins from astrocyte (glial fibrillary acidic protein—GFAP and vimentin) and from neuron (low-, medium- and high molecular weight neurofilament subunits: NF-L, NF-M and NF-H, respectively) and increased MAPK (Erk, JNK and p38MAPK) as well as PKA activities. The treatment induced reactive astrogliosis in the striatum, evidenced by increased GFAP and vimentin immunocontent as well as their mRNA overexpression. Also, (PhTe)₂ significantly increased the propidium iodide (PI) positive cells in NeuN positive population without altering PI incorporation into GFAP positive cells, indicating that in vivo exposure to (PhTe)₂ provoked neuronal damage. Immunohistochemistry showed a dramatic increase of GFAP staining characteristic of reactive astrogliosis. Moreover, increased caspase 3 in (PhTe)₂ treated striatal slices suggested apoptotic cell death. (PhTe)₂ exposure decreased Akt immunoreactivity, however phospho-GSK-3-β (Ser9) was unaltered, suggesting that this kinase is not directly implicated in the neurotoxicity of this compound. Therefore, the present results shed light into the mechanisms of (PhTe)₂-induced neurodegeneration in rat striatum, evidencing a critical role for the MAPK and Akt signaling pathways and disruption of cytoskeletal homeostasis, which could be related with apoptotic neuronal death and astrogliosis.     

Amniotic fluid interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6, but not interleukin-8 correlate with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity in preterm labor

Citation
Marconi C, Ramos BRA,
Peraçoli JC, Donders GGG, Silva MG. Amniotic fluid interleukin‐1 betaand interleukin‐6, but not interleukin‐8 correlate with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity in preterm labor. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 65: 549–556 Problem We compared the frequency of intra‐amniotic infection in preterm labor (PL) with women not in labor, and correlated infection with amniotic fluid (AF) cytokines. Detailed identification of species, especially mycoplasmata, was tried to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of PL. Method of study AF from 20 women with PL and 20 controls were evaluated. Infection was detected by PCR for Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and 16S rRNA bacterial gene, which was cloned and sequenced for bacterial identification. Interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α levels were measured by ELISA. Results Frequency of intra‐amniotic infection is higher in PL (40.0%). Sequencing‐based method identified Bacteroides fragilis, Prevotella bivia and Leptotrichia amnionii, in addition to Mycoplasma species detected by PCR. AF infection correlated with increased IL‐1β and IL‐6 levels. Conclusion The frequency of intra‐amniotic infection, especially M. hominis, in PL women who delivered with 7 days, is high and correlates with high IL‐1β and IL‐6 levels, but not IL‐8.