Cheiloscopic Study among Monozygotic Twins, Non-Twin Brothers and Non-Relative Individuals

This study aimed to investigate cheiloscopic patterns among monozygotic twins (MT), non-twin siblings (NTS) and unrelated individuals (UI). The sample consisted of 20 pairs of monozygotic twins (G1), 20 pairs of non-twin siblings (G2) and 20 pairs of unrelated individuals (G3). Lip thickness, commissures and grooves were evaluated and the latter were classified as: I - clear-cut vertical grooves; I' - incomplete vertical grooves; II - branched grooves; III - intersecting; IV - reticular grooves and V - undetermined, in 8 labial regions (sub-quadrants). The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with a 5% significance level. Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) and Kappa coefficient, with a 95% confidence interval, were employed to check for agreement rates between G1, G2 and G3 pairs. There was a weak correlation for lip thickness (<0.90) in the total group, with higher values in G1 (CCC from 0.25 to 0.83 and from 0.34 to 0.86, upper and lower lips, respectively), followed by G2 (CCC from -0.03 to 0.70 and from -0.21 to 0.62, upper and lower lips, respectively) and G3 (CCC from -0.25 to 0.56 and from -0.38 to 0.34, upper and lower lips, respectively). With regard to labial commissures, Kappa statistic values were found to be 1.00 for G1, 0.45 for G2 and -0.24 for G3. As for the main groove pattern by sub-quadrant, Kappa values ranged from 0.48 to 0.87 for G1, from 0.17 to 0.59 for G2, and from -0.18 to 0.19 for G3. Monozygotic twins presented a relevant percentage of cheiloscopic agreements. Similarities were also found among NTS, while UI showed greater differences compared to their pairs, highlighting the influence of hereditary relationships on inherited cheiloscopic features.

Accessibility to Specialized Public Oral Health Services from the Perspective of Brazilian Users

The Specialized Dental Clinics (SDCs) represent the first government initiative in Latin America aimed at providing specialized oral health services. This study sought to evaluate the organizational accessibility to specialized oral health care services in Brazil and to understand the factors that may be associated with accessibility from the user’s perspective. This epidemiological, cross-sectional and quantitative study was conducted by means of interviews with individuals who sought specialized public oral health services in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, and consisted of a sample of 590 individuals. Users expressed a favorable view of the classification and resolutive nature of specialized services offered by Brazilian public health. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed weak points highlighting the difficulty involved in obtaining such treatments leading to unfavorable evaluations. In the resolutive nature item, difficulty in accessing the location, queues and lack of materials and equipment were highlighted as statistically significant unfavorable aspects. While many of the users considered the service to be resolutive, weaknesses were mentioned that need to be detected to promote improvements and to prevent other health models adopted worldwide from reproducing the same flaws.

Odontometric analysis of molars for sex determination

Aim: To investigate the existence of sexual dimorphism between the first and second permanent molars. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, blind study using comparative and statistical descriptive procedures. The sample included 50 pairs of plaster casts from undergraduate dental students (25 men/25 women) from the Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa/PB, Brazil, aged 20-26 years. Odontometric measurements of first and second maxillary/mandibular, right/left permanent molars were performed. Mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual/palatal (BL/BP) widths and the distance between the lingual cusps of corresponding molars in opposite quadrants, were measured. The data were analyzed by Student’s t test and ANOVA with Bonferroni (p≤0.05). Results: The crowns of all first molars were statistically larger in men than in women (p<0.05). Maxillary and mandibular left second molars (#27 and #37) did not differ in their MD widths (p=0.66, p=0.75), whereas mandibular left and right second molars (#37 and #47) showed statistically different BL widths (p=0.007 and p=0.008). As to the distance between the lingual cusps, only the first left-to-right mandibular molars (#36-46) showed no sex dimorphism (p=0.107). Conclusions: Molars are larger in males than in females. Individually, first molars demonstrated higher evidence of sex distinction than second molars.

Use of alcohol vinegar in the inhibition of Candida spp. and its effect on the physical properties of acrylic resins

Background

Given the high prevalence of oral candidiasis and the restricted number of antifungal agents available to control infection, this study investigated the in vitro antifungal activity of alcohol vinegar on Candida spp. and its effect on the physical properties of acrylic resins.

Methods

Tests to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of vinegar alcohol (0.04 g/ml of acetic acid) and nystatin (control) were performed. The antifungal activity of alcohol vinegar was assessed through microbial growth kinetic assays and inhibition of Candida albicans adhesion to acrylic resin at different intervals of time. Surface roughness and color of the acrylic resin were analyzed using a roughness meter and color analyzer device.

Results

Alcohol vinegar showed MIC_75% and MFC_62.5% of 2.5 mg/ml, with fungicidal effect from 120 min, differing from nystatin (p < 0.0001), which showed fungistatic effect. Alcohol vinegar caused greater inhibition of C. albicans adhesion to the acrylic resin (p ≤ 0.001) compared to nystatin and did not change the roughness and color parameters of the material.

Conclusion

Alcohol vinegar showed antifungal properties against Candida strains and caused no physical changes to the acrylic resin.

Safety and Tolerability of Essential Oil from Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume Leaves with Action on Oral Candidosis and Its Effect on the Physical Properties of the Acrylic Resin

The anti-Candida activity of essential oil from Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, as well as its effect on the roughness and hardness of the acrylic resin used in dental prostheses, was assessed. The safety and tolerability of the test product were assessed through a phase I clinical trial involving users of removable dentures. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) were determined against twelve Candida strains. Acrylic resin specimens were exposed to artificial saliva (GI), C. zeylanicum (GII), and nystatin (GIII) for 15 days. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey posttest (α = 5%). For the phase I clinical trial, 15 healthy patients used solution of C. zeylanicum at MIC (15 days, 3 times a day) and were submitted to clinical and mycological examinations. C. zeylanicum showed anti-Candida activity, with MIC = 625.0 µg/mL being equivalent to MFC. Nystatin caused greater increase in roughness and decreased the hardness of the material (P < 0.0001), with no significant differences between GI and GII. As regards the clinical trial, no adverse clinical signs were observed after intervention. The substance tested had a satisfactory level of safety and tolerability, supporting new advances involving the clinical use of essential oil from C. zeylanicum.

Antifungal Activity of Apple Cider Vinegar on Candida Species Involved in Denture Stomatitis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of apple cider vinegar on Candida spp. involved in denture stomatitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The microdilution technique was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of apple cider vinegar containing 4% maleic acid, and nystatin (control). Further tests of microbial kinetics and inhibition of adherence to acrylic resin were performed testing different concentrations (MIC, MICx2, MICx4) of the products at time intervals of 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. A roughness meter was used to measure the changes in surface roughness; color change of the acrylic resin specimens exposed to the test products in different concentrations and time intervals were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Apple cider vinegar (4%) showed MIC of 2500 μg/ml and MFC of 2500, 5000, and 10,000 μg/ml depending on the strain tested. Nystatin showed MIC of 3.125 μg/ml and strain-dependent MFC values ranging from 3.125 to 12.5 μg/ml. The microbial kinetic assay showed a statistical difference between apple cider vinegar and nystatin (p < 0.0001). After 30 minutes of exposure, apple cider vinegar showed fungicidal effect at MICx4, whereas nystatin maintained its fungistatic effect. Apple cider vinegar showed greater inhibition of adherence (p < 0.001) compared to control. Apple cider vinegar did not significantly alter the surface roughness of the acrylic resin specimens compared to nystatin (p > 0.05), and both had no influence on their color.

CONCLUSION

Apple cider vinegar showed antifungal properties against Candida spp., thus representing a possible therapeutic alternative for patients with denture stomatitis.