Impact of Caries Severity/Activity and Psychological Aspects of Caregivers on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among 5-Year-Old Children

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the severity/activity of dental caries as well as sense of coherence (SOC) and locus of control (LOC) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among 5-year-old children. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 769 children at schools in a city in northeast Brazil. Parents/caregivers answered validated questionnaires addressing SOC and LOC. The children and parents/caregivers answered their respective modules of the Brazilian version of the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old children (SOHO-5). Data were also collected on sociodemographic characteristics, visits to the dentist, and the occurrence of toothache. Clinical examinations were performed by 2 trained examiners. A directed acyclic graph was used to select covariates for statistical adjustment, and logistic regression for complex samples was used to test associations between the dependent and independent variables (α = 5%). For parents/caregivers, the variables associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL were the occurrence of toothache (odds ratio, OR: 10.53; 95% confidence interval, CI: 6.34-17.51; p < 0.001) and a low SOC (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.37-3.43; p = 0.001). According to the children's perceptions, the following variables were associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL: toothache (OR: 3.58; 95% CI: 2.30-5.55; p < 0.001), caries activity (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.07-3.62; p = 0.028), and traumatic dental injury (OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.15-2.53; p = 0.007). Among parents/caregivers, a low SOC led to poorer OHRQoL. For the children, however, neither psychological aspect affected OHRQoL. In the perception of both the parents/caregivers and children, toothache was the oral condition that exerted a negative impact on OHRQoL.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Gingival Crevicular Fluid as a Diagnostic Marker for Periodontal Diseases: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate human gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as a potential biomarker for diagnosis of periodontal disease (International prospective register of systematic reviews [PROSPERO] number: CRD42015020199).

METHODS

An electronic search for TNF-α in human GCF was conducted until May 17, 2018. Data from systemically healthy patients with healthy periodontium or periodontal disease were incorporated. Risk bias was assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for case-control studies and Jadad scale for clinical trials.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies were included (12 case-control studies, 7 clinical trials, and 7 randomized controlled trials). Most case-control studies showed increased TNF-α concentration in GCF of patients with periodontal disease. The clinical trials and randomized controlled trials demonstrated no consistent modification of TNF-α level after periodontal intervention.

CONCLUSION

The present data support the use of TNF-α in GCF as a potential biomarker for diagnosis of periodontal disease but not to monitor the healing after therapy.

Association between malocclusion and dental caries in adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To evaluate the scientific evidence regarding the association between malocclusion and dental caries in adolescents.

METHODS

Searches were conducted of six electronic databases, complemented by manual searching of the reference lists of the selected articles and grey literature. Two independent reviewers performed the selection of the articles, data extraction and the evaluation of the risks of bias through an assessment of methodological quality. Meta-analysis was performed considering the mean decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index for caries and the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) for malocclusion. Heterogeneity was tested using the I² statistic and a random effect model was employed. Summary effect measures were calculated as differences in means.

RESULTS

The initial search retrieved 2644 studies, only 15 of which were selected for full-text analysis. Four cross-sectional studies were included in the qualitative systematic review. Only one of these studies found no association between malocclusion and dental caries. The meta-analysis of three studies demonstrated that a lower DAI value was significantly associated with a lower mean DMFT index, except for the comparison of DAI 26-30 vs. 31-35.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the studies analysed, the scientific evidence indicates an association between malocclusion and dental caries.

Association of oral health literacy with oral health behaviors, perception, knowledge, and dental treatment related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the association of oral health literacy (OHL) with oral health behaviors, perception, knowledge, and dental treatment related outcomes.

METHODS

Eight electronic databases were searched up until June 2017. Studies regarding the aforementioned outcomes measuring OHL through a validated instrument and in which OHL was an explanatory variable were included. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and analyzed the risk of bias of the studies. Meta-analysis using random effect modeling was undertaken. Pooled estimates were calculated with 95 percent confidence interval (CI) and odds ratios (OR).

RESULTS

Twenty-five studies were included in the systematic review and three in the meta-analysis. Most studies were cross-sectional (n = 21) and had a high risk of bias (n = 17). The meta-analysis showed no association between OHL and frequency of visit to the dentist for adults, either through bivariate analysis (OR = 1.25; 95 percent CI: 0.95-1.63) or multivariate analysis (OR = 1.90; 95 percent CI: 0.77-4.84). Dental anxiety and night bottle-feeding were associated with low OHL (P < 0.05). Most studies regarding tooth brushing frequency found no association with OHL. Most studies regarding oral health knowledge related outcomes reported an association with higher OHL. The literature was inconclusive regarding the association between OHL and dental treatment outcomes, oral health behaviors, and oral health perception.

CONCLUSIONS

The current scientific evidence suggests that no association exists between OHL and any of the outcomes investigated. Further prospective studies with a higher methodological quality are necessary to confirm the evidence.

Perception of parents and self-reports of children regarding the impact of traumatic dental injury on quality of life

BACKGROUND/AIM

Traumatic dental injuries occur frequently among young children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of traumatic dental injuries on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children using the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old children (SOHO-5).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study involved 769 five-year-old children enrolled at public and private preschools. Two examiners underwent a training process which involved the determination of interexaminer and intra-examiner agreement (Kappa statistic) for all clinical conditions (K > 0.82). Descriptive statistics were performed, followed by Poisson regression analysis (α = 5%).

RESULTS

The prevalence of the impact of oral problems on OHRQoL was 32.9% and 42.2% according to the parents/caregivers and children, respectively. Based on the children's self-reports, the occurrence of two or more injured teeth (PR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.04-1.64), toothache (PR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.35-2.09), and a low level of parent's schooling (PR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.24-1.91) exerted impacts on OHRQoL. For the reports of parents/caregivers, the occurrence of non-complicated TDI (PR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.44-0.98), toothache (PR = 8.03; 95% CI: 5.92-10.88), and a low level of parent's schooling (PR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.17-2.17) remained associated with the final model.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of oral problems on the OHRQoL of the preschool children was high. A greater number of injured teeth, the presence of toothache, and socioeconomic factors were associated with poorer OHRQoL, based on the reports of both the parents/caregivers and the children. The occurrence of non-complicated TDI was a protective factor for OHRQoL.

Use of antidepressants in dentistry: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Previous research has suggested that antidepressants can be used in oral health care. The aim of this systematic review was to search for scientific evidence of the efficacy of the use of antidepressants in dentistry.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical question was as follows (PICO question): dentistry patients (Patients); antidepressants (Intervention); no use or placebo or other drug (Comparison); and efficacy in oral health problems (Outcome). An electronic search was conducted in seven databases, as well as a manual search without restriction regarding language and date of publication. Two independent reviewers selected studies based on eligibility criteria, extracted data and assessed methodological quality based on the PEDro scale. The PROSPERO record is number CRD42016037442.

RESULTS

A total of 15 randomized controlled trials were associated with the use of antidepressants to control chronic or acute pain in dentistry, among other conditions such as bruxism and burning mouth syndrome. The most commonly used drug in clinical trials was amitriptyline (more than 50% of studies).

CONCLUSIONS

Antidepressants may be effective in dentistry for acute and chronic pain, but there is a large amount of methodological heterogeneity among the evaluated studies. In summary, there is rationality for the indication of this class of medicine in dentistry in specific clinical situations.

[The potential financial impact of oral health problems in the families of preschool children]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the perception of parents/caregivers regarding the financial impact of oral health problems on the families of preschool children. A preschool-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with 834 preschool children in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/caregivers answered the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale. "Financial impact" was the dependent variable. Questionnaires addressing socio-demographic variables, history of toothache and health perceptions were administered. Clinical exams were performed by three dentists previously calibrated (Kappa: 0.85-0.90). Descriptive statistics were performed, followed by logistic regression for complex samples (α = 5%). The frequency of financial impact due to oral health problems in preschool children was 7.7%. The following variables were significantly associated with financial impact: parental perception of child's oral health as poor, the interaction between history of toothache and absence of dental caries and the interaction between history of toothache and presence of dental caries. It is concluded that often parents/caregivers reported experiencing a financial impact due to seeking treatment late, mainly by the presence of toothache and complications of the clinical condition.

Oral health-related quality of life and sense of coherence regarding the use of dental services by preschool children

BACKGROUND

There is a need for studies on the biopsychosocial factors that influence the use of dental services by preschoolers.

AIM

To evaluate the influence of the perceptions of parents/caretakers and children regarding oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) as well as the sense of coherence (SOC) of parents/caretakers on the use of dental services among Brazilian preschoolers.

DESIGN

A school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with 768 preschoolers. Parents/caretakers answered a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic characteristics. The OHRQoL of the children was measured using the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for Five-Year-Old Children. SOC among the parents/caretakers was evaluated using the Sense of Coherence scale. Clinical examinations were performed by examiners who had previously undergone a training exercise. Descriptive analysis was conducted, followed by Poisson's regression analysis (α = 5%).

RESULTS

A total of 56.5% of the preschoolers had never used dental services. The following variables exerted a significant influence on the use of services: higher monthly household income (PR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07-1.51), toothache (PR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.34-1.89), the absence of traumatic dental injury (TDI; PR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.01-1.40), and a strong SOC (PR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.01-1.42).

CONCLUSIONS

A higher monthly household income, history of toothache, the absence of TDI, and strong SOC of the parents/caretakers influence the use of dental services by preschoolers.

Oral health literacy and associated oral conditions: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The authors systematically reviewed the scientific evidence regarding an association between oral health literacy (OHL) and oral conditions.

TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED

The authors performed an electronic search of 8 databases up through October 2016, as well as a manual search. The authors included studies in which the investigators evaluated oral conditions and measured OHL through a validated tool and studies in which OHL was an explanatory variable. The authors assessed risk of bias by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

The authors included 10 cross-sectional studies. Risk of bias was high in most studies (n = 6). Dental caries and periodontal status were the most common oral conditions reported (each outcome was reported in 5 studies). Investigators in 4 studies found a statistically significant association between dental caries and lower levels of OHL (P < .05), with investigators in 3 of the studies finding this in primary teeth. A reduced number of teeth and loss of attachment were associated with lower levels of OHL (P < .05). Findings for deep periodontal pockets, bleeding on probing, severity of periodontal disease, history of extractions, dental treatment need, and dental plaque were inconclusive. Investigators barely reported other clinical conditions such as temporomandibular joint problems, oral mucosal lesions, enamel opacities, dental fluorosis, and use of and need for dental prostheses.

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

There seems to be a weak association between lower levels of OHL and dental caries in primary teeth. Similar findings for adults and between OHL and other oral conditions remain unsubstantiated because the results are controversial, with considerable clinical and statistical heterogeneity between studies.

Canonical correlations between agronomic traits and seed physiological quality in segregating soybean populations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between agronomic traits and physiological traits of seeds in segregating soybean populations by canonical correlation analysis. Seven populations and two commercial cultivars in three generations were used: F3 plants and F4 seeds; F4 plants and F5 seeds, and F4 seeds and plants. The following agronomic traits (group I) were evaluated: number of days to maturity, plant height at maturity, insertion height of first pod, number of pods, grain yield, and oil content. The physiological quality of seeds (group II) was evaluated using germination, accelerated aging, emergence, and emergence rate index tests. The results showed that agronomic traits and physiological traits of seeds are not independent. Intergroup associations were established by the first canonical pair for the generation of F3 plants and F4 seeds, especially between more productive plants with a larger pod number and high oil content and seeds with a high germination percentage and emergence rate. For the generation of F4 plants and F5 seeds, the first canonical pair indicated an association between reduced maturity cycle, seeds with a high emergence percentage and a high percentage of normal seedlings after accelerated aging. According to the second canonical pair, more productive and taller plants were associated with seed vigor. For the generation of F4 seeds and plants, the associations established by the first canonical pair occurred between seed vigor and more productive plants with high oil content and reduced maturity cycle, and those established by the second canonical pair between seeds of high physiological quality and tall plants.

Influence of third molars in mandibular fractures. Part 2: mandibular condyle-a meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the influence of the presence and position of mandibular third molars in mandibular condyle fractures. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and VHL, through January 2016. The eligibility criteria included observational studies. The search strategy resulted in 704 articles. Following the selection process, 13 studies were included in the systematic review and 11 in the meta-analysis. In terms of the risk of bias analysis, six studies presented ≤6 stars in the Newcastle-Ottawa scale assessment. The presence of a mandibular third molar decreased the probability of condylar fracture (cross-sectional and case-control studies: odds ratio (OR) 0.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17-0.40, I²=87.8%; case-control studies: OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16-0.58, I²=91.6%). The third molar positions most favourable to condylar fracture according to the Pell and Gregory classification are class A (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.09-1.61, I²=0%) and class I (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.05-1.77, I²=32.8%). Class B (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.97, I²=56.0%) and class II (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.87, I²=0%) act as protective factors for condylar fracture. The results suggest that the presence of a mandibular third molar decreases the chance of condylar fracture and that the positions of the third molar most favourable for condylar fracture are classes A and I, with classes B and II acting as protective factors.

Impact of periodontal disease on quality of life: a systematic review

The diagnosis of periodontal disease is commonly based on objective evaluations of the patient's medical/dental history as well as clinical and radiographic examinations. However, periodontal disease should also be evaluated subjectively through measures that quantify its impact on oral health-related quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of periodontal disease on quality of life among adolescents, adults and older adults. A systematic search of the literature was performed for scientific articles published up to July 2015 using electronic databases and a manual search. Two independent reviewers performed the selection of the studies, extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality. Thirty-four cross-sectional studies involving any age group, except children, and the use of questionnaires for the assessment of the impact of periodontal disease on quality of life were included. Twenty-five studies demonstrated that periodontal disease was associated with a negative impact on quality of life, with severe periodontitis exerting the most significant impact by compromising aspects related to function and esthetics. Unlike periodontitis, gingivitis was associated with pain as well as difficulties performing oral hygiene and wearing dentures. Gingivitis was also negatively correlated with comfort. The results indicate that periodontal disease may exert an impact on quality of life of individuals, with greater severity of the disease related to greater impact. Longitudinal studies with representative samples are needed to ensure validity of the findings.

Influence of periodontal treatment on rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of periodontal treatment on rheumatoid arthritis activity.

METHODS

MEDLINE/PUBMED, The Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials, SciELO and LILACS were searched for studies published until December 2014. Included articles were: prospective studies; including patients older than 18 years, diagnosed with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis submitted to non-surgical periodontal treatment; with a control group receiving no periodontal treatment; with outcomes including at least one marker of rheumatoid arthritis activity. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed using PEDro scale. Quantitative data were pooled in statistical meta-analysis using Review Manager 5.

RESULTS

Four articles were included. Non-surgical periodontal treatment was associated with a significant reduction of DAS28 (OR: -1.18; 95% CI: -1.43, -0.93; p<0.00001). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, patient's assessment of rheumatoid activity using visual analogical scale, tender and swollen joint counts showed a trend toward reduction (not statistically significant).

CONCLUSIONS

The reduction of DAS 28 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after periodontal treatment suggests that the improvement of periodontal condition is beneficial to these patients. Further randomized controlled clinical trials are necessary to confirm this finding.

Case-control study examining the impact of oral health problems on the quality of life of the families of preschoolers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of dental caries, traumatic dental injuries (TDI), toothaches, and malocclusion on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of the families of Brazilian preschool children. A population-based, matched case-control study involving 415 pre-schoolers aged 3-5 years was conducted. The case (impact on OHRQoL) and control groups (no impact on OHRQoL) were matched for age, gender, and family income at an 1:4 ratio. Impact on the OHRQoL of a family was assessed using the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). Dental caries, TDI, and malocclusion were diagnosed by three calibrated dentists (Kappa: 0.85-0.90). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and conditional logistic regression analysis (p ≤ 0.05; 95%CI). There were no differences between the cases and controls regarding age, gender, and family income (p > 0.05). The most frequent responses on the B-ECOHIS among cases were "felt guilty" (68.6%) and "been upset" (48.2%). The following variables were significantly associated with negative impacts on family OHRQoL (cases): caries severity (OR = 6.680; 95%CI = 2.731-16.349), a history of toothache (OR = 2.666; 95%CI = 1.492-4.765), parental rating of the child's oral health as poor (OR: 1.973; 95%CI = 1.072-3.634), and parent's/caregiver's age (OR = 2.936; 95%CI = 1.077-3.478). Anterior open bite was positively associated with OHRQoL (OR = 4.050; 95%CI = 1.333-12.314). Caries severity, a history of toothache, parental rating of the child's oral health as poor, and younger parents/caregivers were associated with impact on the OHRQoL of the families of preschoolers.

Influence of periodontal treatment on rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of periodontal treatment on rheumatoid arthritis activity.

METHODS

MEDLINE/PUBMED, The Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials, SciELO and LILACS were searched for studies published until December 2014. Included articles were: prospective studies; including patients older than 18 years, diagnosed with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis submitted to non-surgical periodontal treatment; with a control group receiving no periodontal treatment; with outcomes including at least one marker of rheumatoid arthritis activity. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed using PEDro scale. Quantitative data were pooled in statistical meta-analysis using Review Manager 5.

RESULTS

Four articles were included. Non-surgical periodontal treatment was associated with a significant reduction of DAS28 (OR: -1.18; 95% CI: -1.43, -0.93; p <0.00001). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, patient's assessment of rheumatoid activity using visual analogical scale, tender and swollen joint counts showed a trend towards reduction (not statistically significant).

CONCLUSIONS

The reduction of DAS 28 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after periodontal treatment suggests that the improvement of periodontal condition is beneficial to these patients. Further randomized controlled clinical trials are necessary to confirm this finding.

Impact of molar-incisor hypomineralization on oral health-related quality of life in schoolchildren

This study evaluated the impact of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) according to the perceptions of schoolchildren and their parents/caregivers. This cross-sectional study consisted of a sample of 594 schoolchildren between 11 and 14 years of age and their parents/caregivers who answered the questionnaires CPQ11-14ISF:16 and P-CPQ, respectively. The main independent variable of this study was MIH of the schoolchildren. Experience of dental caries, malocclusion, and socioeconomic status were treated as confounding variables. Statistical analysis used descriptive analysis and Poisson regression with robust variance. The prevalence of MIH was 18.9%. The overall P-CPQ score ranged from 0 to 35 (average = 7.26 ± 6.84), and the overall CPQ11-14ISF:16 score ranged from 0 to 47 (average = 11.92 ± 7.98). Severe MIH was associated with a greater negative impact of the "functional limitation" domain (RR = 1.41; 95%CI = 1.01-1.97), according to parents'/caregivers' perceptions. Severe MIH was associated with a greater negative impact of the "oral symptom" domain (RR = 1.30; 95%CI = 1.06-1.60) and functional limitation domain (RR = 1.42; 95%CI = 1.08-1.86), according to the schoolchildren's perceptions. Schoolchildren with severe MIH had a greater negative impact on the oral symptom and functional limitation domains than those without MIH. According to parents'/caregivers' perceptions, schoolchildren with severe MIH had a greater negative impact on the functional limitation domain than those without MIH.

Exercise Training positively modulates the Ectonucleotidase Enzymes in Lymphocytes of Metabolic Syndrome Patients

In this study, we investigated the cardiovascular risk factors as well as ectonucleotidase activities in lymphocytes of metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients before and after an exercise intervention. 20 MetS patients, who performed regular concurrent exercise training for 30 weeks, 3 times/week, were studied. Anthropometric, biochemical, inflammatory and hepatic parameters and hydrolysis of adenine nucleotides and nucleoside in lymphocytes were collected from patients before and after 15 and 30 weeks of the exercise intervention as well as from participants of the control group. An increase in the hydrolysis of ATP and ADP, and a decrease in adenosine deamination in lymphocytes of MetS patients before the exercise intervention were observed (P<0.001). However, these alterations were reversed by exercise training after 30 weeks of intervention. Additionally, exercise training reduced the inflammatory and hepatic markers to baseline levels after 30 weeks of exercise. Our results clearly indicated alteration in ectonucleotidase enzymes in lymphocytes in the MetS, whereas regular exercise training had a protective effect on the enzymatic alterations and on inflammatory and hepatic parameters, especially if it is performed regularly and for a long period.

Impact of oral health problems on the quality of life of preschool children: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

There is a need for investigations into the impact of oral problems on OHRQoL with study designs that offer greater strength of evidence.

AIM

To evaluate the impact of dental caries and traumatic dental injury (TDI) on the OHRQoL of Brazilian preschool children.

DESIGN

A population-based, matched, case-control study was conducted involving 415 children aged 3-5 years enrolled at public and private preschools. The case group (impact on OHRQoL) and control group (no impact on OHRQoL) were matched for age, sex, and monthly household income at a 1 : 4 ratio (83 cases and 332 controls). Impact on OHRQoL was assessed using the B-ECOHIS. Dental caries and TDI were determined through clinical oral examinations. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and conditional logistic regression analysis (P ≤ 0.05; 95% CI).

RESULTS

The most frequent responses on the B-ECOHIS were 'felt pain' (79.7%) and 'difficulty in eating' (35.0%). The following variables were significantly associated with impact on OHRQoL: caries severity (OR = 12.58; 95% CI: 5.31-29.79) and TDI (OR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.23-3.62).

CONCLUSIONS

Caries severity and TDI impacted the OHRQoL of preschool children.

Effect of plant extracts and a disinfectant on biological parameters and pathogenicity of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae)

The fungus Beauveria bassiana is naturally found in poultry houses and causes high rates of mortality in Alphitobius diaperinus. Laboratory and field experiments have shown the potential of this fungus as an insect control agent. However, in poultry houses, bacteria as Salmonella, can be found and have been studied alternative control methods for this pathogen. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of plant extracts and a disinfectant on the fungus Beauveria bassiana (strain Unioeste 4). Conidial viability, colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, vegetative growth, conidia production, insecticidal activity of the fungus and compatibility were used as parameters in the evaluation of the effect of these products on the fungus. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of jabuticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.), guava (Psidium guajava (L.)), and jambolan (Syzygium cumini (L.), at concentrations of 10% as well as the commercial disinfectant, Peroxitane® 1512 AL, were evaluated at the recommended concentrations (RC), 1:200 (RC), 0.5 RC and 2 RC. There was a negative influence of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of jabuticaba, guava and three dilutions of Peroxitane on the viability of conidia. The CFUs and vegetative growth of the fungus were affected only by the Peroxitane (all dilutions). For conidial production, the aqueous extract of guava had a positive effect, increasing production, while the Peroxitane at the R and RC concentrations resulted in a negative influence. The mortality of A. diaperinus, caused by the fungus after exposure to these products, was 60% for the peracetic acid at 0.5 RC, and above 80% for the extracts. Thus, the results showed that all the extracts and Peroxitane at RC 0.5 are compatible with the fungus B. bassiana Unioeste 4, however only the extracts had a low impact on inoculum potential.

Complex spatial and temporal variation of subtropical benthic macrofauna under sewage impact

To better understand variation in sewage-impacted benthic macrofauna from subtropical tidal flats over time and space, we applied a five-factor linear model at a hierarchy of spatial (Condition - Contaminated or Non-Contaminated, Tidal Flat and Plot) and temporal scales (Season and Fortnight). The Contaminated site showed high levels of coprostanol and the presence of Paranais cf frici as markers or indicators of organic enrichment. Differences between Seasons were more pronounced for the faunal variation patterns than for the other parameters, with lower species richness and abundance in summer. There were significant interactions between Fortnight and Tidal Flat for most variables, reflecting marked heterogeneity within Tidal Flats. Benthic community has significantly changed over short periods of time. These rapid changes may lead to erroneous interpretations and mask the true sources of variation. Our results clearly demonstrate the need to better understand benthic temporal variability even at small scales.

Determinant Factors of Untreated Dental Caries and Lesion Activity in Preschool Children Using ICDAS

The aim of the present study was to investigate determinant factors associated with the presence of dental caries and lesion activity in preschool children. A population-based, cross-sectional study was carried out with 843 children of aged three to five years enrolled at public and private preschools in the city of Campina Grande, Brazil. A questionnaire addressing socio-demographic data and oral health care was self-administered by parents/caregivers. Three dentists previously calibrated examined the children for the diagnosis of dental caries and lesion activity using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). Nutritional status was evaluated based on the body mass index. Logistic regression analysis for complex samples was performed (α = 5%). The prevalence of dental caries was 66.3%. Among the children with caries, 88.0% had active lesions. Dental caries was more prevalent in girls (OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.05–2.23), in children from families with a monthly household income ≤US$312.50 (OR = 2.38, 95%CI: 1.65–3.43) and those whose mothers had up to eight years of schooling (OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.07–2.23). Lesion activity was significantly associated with mother’s schooling ≤ 8 years (OR = 2.15, 95%CI: 1.15–4.00). The prevalence rates of dental caries and lesion activity were high and mainly associated with a lower socioeconomic status and mother’s schooling.