Analysis of the access of pregnant women to the first programmatic dental appointment: an ecological study

Abstract To plan and evaluate public health policies, it is important to understand the influence of social factors on the quality and access to dental care. This study aimed to verify the potential association between the indicators of pregnant women receiving dental care and the social and health care indicators of cities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. A cross-sectional ecological study was performed with secondary data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and the Health Care Department of the Ministry of Health regarding the cities of Minas Gerais. The study analyzed three health care indicators (such as more than six prenatal, the proportion of syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus tests, and oral health coverage) and four social indicators (average monthly wage, illiteracy rate, proportion of employed population, and rate of adequate sanitary sewerage). Bivariate analysis (Mann-Whitney test) and logistic regression were performed using Jamovi software. All of the indicators analyzed were associated with the access of pregnant women to dental care. However, in the regression models, only health care indicators remained statistically significant. Thus, although social indicators are associated with the access of pregnant women to dental appointments, access to primary health care and the teamwork of primary health care teams may overcome social inequality in the access of pregnant women to dental care.

Knowledge and attitudes of rural healthcare providers regarding domestic violence against women: a systematic review

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Specific types of violence such as intimate partner sexual violence and intimate partner homicide occur more frequently in rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the knowledge and attitudes of rural healthcare providers regarding cases of domestic violence against women. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review developed at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. METHODS: We conducted an electronic search of six databases, which only included observational studies, regardless of the year, language, or country of publication, except for studies that used secondary data and were exclusively qualitative. Two reviewers performed the selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using a specific Joanna Briggs Institute tool. RESULTS: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. All the studies had a low risk of bias. Approximately 38% of these professionals identified injuries caused by violence in patients. When asked about knowing the correct attitude to take in cases of confirmed violence, between 12% and 64% of rural healthcare providers answered positively; most of them would refer to specialized institutions and promote victim empowerment and counseling. The number of professionals with an educational background in the field ranged from 16% to 98%. CONCLUSIONS: The evident disparity across studies shows that some professionals have suboptimal knowledge and require training to adopt the correct attitude when identifying female victims of domestic violence in clinical practice. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This systematic review was registered in the Open Science Framework Database under the registration http://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/B7Q6S.

Perception of malocclusion and school performance in adolescents: a systematic review

Abstract This study aimed to assess the potential association between perception malocclusion and school performance in children and adolescents. An electronic search was performed in ten databases. Based on the PECO acronym (Population, Exposition, Comparator, and Outcome), the eligibility criteria included observational studies that compared the school performance of children and adolescents with and without the perception of malocclusion. There were no restrictions on the language or year of publication. Two reviewers selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias by using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for cross-sectional studies. School performance was measured by analyzing student grades; levels of absenteeism; and child or adolescent self-perception and/or the perception of parents, guardians, close friends, and teachers regarding the impact of malocclusion on school performance. The data were described narratively/descriptively. The search resulted in 3,581 registers, of which eight were included in the qualitative synthesis. These studies were published between 2007 and 2021. Two studies concluded that there was no significant association between school performance and perception of malocclusion, five studies found that only some of the children with malocclusion had their school performance affected, and one study concluded that there was a significant association between perception of malocclusion and low school performance. Considering all variables and the very low certainty of evidence, the perception of malocclusion seems to negatively impact school performance when associated with external and subjective factors. Further studies using additional measurement standards are required.

Efficacy, safety, and potential industry bias in using deoxycholic acid for submental fat reduction - A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Abstract Lipolytic substance injections to reduce localized fat have been extensively used because it is a low-invasive method. This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of deoxycholic acid in submental fat reduction compared to a placebo and investigate the potential industry sponsorship bias in the results of randomized clinical trials on this topic. Ten electronic databases were extensively searched for randomized clinical trials without restriction on language and year of publication. Two reviewers extracted the data and assessed the individual risk of bias in the studies with the RoB 2.0 tool. The industry sponsorship bias was evaluated according to citations in the articles regarding industry funding/sponsorship throughout the texts. Fixed and random effects meta-analyses were performed, and the results were reported in Risk Ratio (RR) at a 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI). The initial search provided 5756 results, of which only five were included. Only two studies had a low risk of bias. All studies showed a potential industry bias. The meta-analysis showed that patients treated with deoxycholic acid had significant positive results for all efficacy outcomes and a higher risk of fibrosis, pain, erythema, numbness, swelling, edema, pruritus, nodules, headache, and paresthesia. The low to moderate certainty of evidence found allows concluding that deoxycholic acid is effective in submental fat reduction, causing well-tolerated adverse effects. However, all eligible studies showed a potential industry bias.

Associação de fatores sociais e orçamentários ao acesso ao cuidado em saúde bucal de grandes municípios brasileiros: um estudo ecológico / Association of social and budgetary factors with access to oral health care in large Brazilian municipalities: an ecological study

Objetivo: Analisar a associação do acesso a ações preventivas em saúde bucal e do tratamento mutilador, ofertado pelos serviços públicos de grandes municípios brasileiros, com as suas características sociais e a composição orçamentária. Metodologia: Realizou-se um estudo ecológico com dados secundários de 323 municípios brasileiros com mais de 100 mil habitantes. As variáveis selecionadas para estudo foram os indicadores sociais (desigualdade social, renda, trabalho, escolaridade, infraestrutura sanitária), indicadores orçamentários (capacidade arrecadatória, dependência de recursos federais) e indicadores de saúde bucal (cobertura de equipes básicas de saúde bucal, acesso a ações preventivas e acesso a tratamento mutilador). Os dados dos indicadores de saúde bucal foram dicotomizados entre municípios com maior e menor acesso às ações preventivas ou ao tratamento mutilador. A associação das variáveis dependentes foi testada por meio de testes bivariados e regressão logística. Resultados: Um maior acesso às ações preventivas foi observado nos municípios com melhores condições sociais e orçamentárias. Por outro lado, um maior acesso ao tratamento mutilador foi observado em municípios com condições sociais orçamentárias inferiores. Conclusão: Apenas a infraestrutura sanitária e cobertura de equipes básicas de saúde bucal se mantiveram associados ao acesso às ações preventivas, enquanto o indicador de desigualdade social manteve-se associado ao tratamento mutilador. Descritores: indicadores sociais; disparidades nos níveis de saúde; mensuração das desigualdades em saúde; financiamento governamental.Associação de fatores sociais e orçamentários ao acesso ao cuidado em saúde bucal de grandes municípios brasileiros: um estudo ecológico

Aim: To analyze the correlation of access to preventive oral health measures and mutilating treatment, offered by the public health system of large Brazilian municipalities, considering social conditions and budgetary compositions. Methods:An ecological study was carried out with secondary data from 323 Brazilian municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The variables selected for the study were social indicators (social inequality, income, work, education, sanitary infrastructure); budget indicators (collection capacity, dependence on federal resources); and oral health indicators (coverage of basic oral health teams, access to preventive actions, and access to mutilating treatment). Oral health indicators were dichotomized between municipalities with higher and lower access to preventive oral health measures and mutilating treatment. The association of dependent variables was tested using bivariate tests and logistic regression. Results: Higher access to preventive measures was observed in municipalities with better social and budgetary conditions. By contrast, higher access to mutilating treatment was observed in municipalities with lower social budgetary conditions. Conclusion: Only health infrastructure and coverage of basic oral health teams remained associated with access to preventive actions, while the indicator of social inequality remained associated with mutilating treatment.

Association of salivary alpha-2-macroglobulin with glycemia and glycated hemoglobin in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis study

Abstract BACKGROUND: Chronically elevated alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2MG) in the blood has been correlated with diabetes and the HbA1c profile; however, no systematic review has been conducted to evaluate the association of A2MG salivary levels and glycemia or HbA1c levels in diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether A2MG salivary levels are related to the glycemia or HbA1c levels in DM2 patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review developed at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Brazil. METHODS: Eight databases were used as research sources. The eligibility criteria included studies that reported data regarding mean salivary A2MG and the correlation between glycemia and/or HbA1c levels of DM2 subjects (uncontrolled and well-controlled) and non-diabetic subjects. The risk of bias of the studies selected was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools for use in JBI systematic reviews. Pooled correlation coefficients were estimated using the Hunter-Schmidt method. Study estimates were weighted according to their sample size, and heterogeneity was calculated using the chi-square statistic. RESULTS: Four studies on DM2 patients were included in this systematic review after careful analysis of 1482 studies. Three studies compared A2MG with HbA1c and glycemia. Overall, the correlation between A2MG and HbA1c was strong (r = 0.838). In contrast, the correlation between A2MG and glycemia was low (r = 0.354). CONCLUSION: The strong association between HbA1C and salivary A2MG suggests that this salivary protein has the potential to be a surrogate for HbA1C, if corroboratory further evidence is obtained through large-scale studies.

Use of platelet-rich fibrin for bone repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies

Abstract This systematic review evaluated the potential utility of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in bone repair in animals. The question is: can the use of PRF in bone defects in healthy rats induce bone repair compared to clot? This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (Prisma). The protocol was registered with Prospero (CRD [42020162319]). The literature search involved nine databases, including grey literature. All studies evaluated the bone defects created in rats filled with PRF and clots (control). Biomaterial evaluation was also performed in this study. The risk of bias was assessed using the Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (Syrcle) tool for animal studies. A meta-analysis of quantitative data was performed to estimate the effect of PRF on bone repair in rats. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the I2 statistic. The literature search retrieved 685 studies, 10 of which fulfilled the eligibility criteria, and 4 were included in the quantitative assessment. Analysis of the risk of bias revealed that most studies had a high risk of bias in performance and detection. Meta-analysis yielded divergent results and the absence of a statistically significant effect: PRF with control (standardized mean difference 2.54, 95% confidence interval -0.80-5.89; p = 0.14). In general, study heterogeneity was high (I2 ≥ 75.0%). The quality of the studies that influenced the conclusion of the review was based on the PICO, the sources and form of the search, the study selection criteria, the form of evaluation of publication bias, the evaluation of the quality of the studies, and data extraction by two researchers. PRF did not provide significant benefits for bone repair, resulting in unpredictable effects.

Analysis of salivary parameters of mucopolysaccharidosis individuals

Abstract Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) is a heterogeneous group of rare, chronic, progressive and systemic inherited disorders resulting from deficiency or lack of lysosomal enzymes responsible for the degradation of glycosaminoglycans. Products of nitrosative stress have been previously detected in blood and urine samples of patients with MPS. However, it is unclear whether they are present in the saliva of MPS patients and also if they correlate with salivary parameters such as flow and pH. This study compared the salivary levels of NOX (NO2- + NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), protein (albumin), erythrocyte and leukocyte numbers, as well as the salivary flow rate and pH values of samples obtained from 10 MPS patients and 10 healthy subjects. MPS patients exhibited higher salivary levels of NOX and NO2- when compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Albumin was only detected in six saliva samples of MPS patients and, erythrocytes and leukocytes were detected in 60% and 40% of the MPS patients, respectively. In addition, salivary flow rate and pH averages were statistically lower in this group when compared to healthy samples (p < 0.05). Overall, the data indicates that the salivary levels of NO products can be used in combination with other heath indicators to monitor MPS disorders.

Ozone disinfection for viruses with applications in healthcare environments: a scoping review

Abstract The aim of this scoping review was to provide sufficient information about the effectiveness of ozone gas in virus inactivation of surfaces and objects under different environmental conditions. The review was performed according to the list of PRISMA SrC recommendations and the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis for Scoping Reviews. The review was registered in Open Science Framework (OSF). EMBASE (Ovid), Lilacs, LIVIVO, MEDLINE (PubMed), SciELO, Scopus and Web of Science were primary sources, and "gray literature" was searched in OpenGray and OpenThesis. A study was included if it reported primary data on the effect of ozone gas application for vehicle-borne and airborne virus inactivation. No language or publication date restriction was applied. The search was conduct on July 1, 2020. A total of 16,120 studies were screened, and after exclusion of noneligible studies, fifteen studies fulfilled all selection criteria. Application of ozone gas varied in terms of concentration, ozone exposure period and the devices used to generate ozone gas. Twelve studies showed positive results for inactivation of different virus types, including bacteriophages, SARS-CoV-2 surrogates and other vehicle-borne viruses. Most of the studies were classified as unclear regarding sponsorship status. Although most of the population has not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, disinfection of environments, surfaces, and objects is an essential prevention strategy to control the spread of this disease. The results of this Scoping Review demonstrate that ozone gas is promising for viral disinfection of surfaces.

Analysis of financial resources for public health in Brazilian capitals: a time trend ecological study / Análise de recursos financeiros para saúde pública nas capitais brasileiras: um estudo ecológico de tendências temporais / Análisis de recursos financieros para la salud pública en capitales brasileñas: un estudio ecológico de tendencia temporal

This study aimed to analyze part of the financial resources used to fund public health actions in the 26-Brazilian capitals, from 2008 to 2018. This is a time-trend ecological study involving revenue and expenditure indicators provided by the Information System on Public Budget for Health (SIOPS). The values were deflated based on the Extended National Consumer Price Index of 2018 in Brazil to allow the comparison over the years. The mean annual variation of health investments, in Brazilian Reais (BRL) was assessed using linear regressions. Pearson's correlation coefficients were estimated between federal revenues and expenditures with the capitals' resources. All capitals presented statistically significant positive correlations for the origin of the budget resource invested in health. The lowest coefficient was found in the capital city of Macapá (Amapá State) (r = 0.860) and the highest, in Fortaleza (Ceará State) (r = 0.997). Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais State) was the capital with the highest annual increase in federal transfers (about BRL 67.91 per year) and Teresina (Piauí State) presented the highest annual increase in health expenditures among the capitals (about BRL 55.42 per year). We found a increase in the transfers of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) and municipal resources in almost all capitals, but there are still inequalities in the distribution of financial resources among Brazilian capitals from different regions. Health funding is affected by the municipalization of SUS and it is not the single factor affecting the access and quality of health services.

O estudo teve como objetivo analisar parte dos recursos utilizados para financiar ações de saúde pública nas 26 capitais brasileiras entre 2008 e 2018. O estudo ecológico de tendências temporais envolveu indicadores de receitas e gastos fornecidos pelo Sistema de Informação sobre Orçamento Público em Saúde (SIOPS). Os valores foram deflacionados com base no Índice de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo de 2018 no Brasil para permitir a comparação ao longo dos anos. A variação anual média dos investimentos em saúde, em Reais (BRL), foi avaliada com o uso de regressões lineares. Os coeficientes de correlação de Pearson foram estimados entre as receitas e gastos federais com os recursos das capitais. Todas as capitais apresentaram correlações estatisticamente positivas com a origem do recurso orçamentário investido em saúde. O menor coeficiente foi encontrado na cidade de Macapá (Amapá) (r = 0,860), e o mais alto em Fortaleza (Ceará) (r = 0.997). Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais) foi a capital com o maior aumento anual em transferências federais (cerca de BRL 67,91 por ano) e Teresina (Piauí) apresentou o maior aumento anual nos gastos em saúde (cerca de BRL 55,42 por ano). Houve um aumento real nas transferências no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e nos recursos municipais em quase todas as capitais, mas ainda persistem desigualdades na distribuição dos recursos financeiros entre as capitais brasileiras das cinco regiões. O financiamento da saúde é afetado pela municipalização do SUS, e não é o único fator que afeta o acesso e a qualidade dos serviços de saúde.

El objetivo fue analizar la parte de recursos financieros utilizados para financiar acciones de salud públicas en 26 capitales brasileñas, entre 2008 y 2018. Se trata de un estudio ecológico de tendencia temporal, implicando indicadores de ingresos y gastos proporcionados por el Sistema de Información sobre el Presupuesto Público para Salud (SIOPS). Se deflactaron los valores basados en el Índice de Precios al Consumidor, ampliado de 2018 en Brasil, para permitir la comparación a lo largo de los años. La variación anual media de inversiones en salud, en Reales brasileños (BRL), fue evaluada usando regresiones lineales. Se estimaron los coeficientes de correlación de Pearson entre los ingresos y gastos federales, respecto a los recursos de las capitales. Todas las capitales presentaron estadísticamente correlaciones positivas significativas respecto a la fuente presupuestaria originaria invertida en salud. El coeficiente más bajo se encontró en la capital de Macapá (Amapá) (r = 0.860) y el más alto en Fortaleza (Ceará) (r = 0.997). Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais) fue la capital con el incremento anual más alto en transferencias federales (cerca de BRL 67.91 por año) y Teresina (Piauí) presentó el incremento anual más alto en gastos de salud entre todas las capitales (sobre BRL 55.42 por año). Hubo un incremento real de transferencias en el Sistema Único de Salud brasileño (SUS), así como recursos municipales en casi todas las capitales, pero existen todavía inequidades en la distribución de recursos financieros entre las capitales brasileñas de diferentes regiones. La financiación de la salud está afectada por la municipalización del SUS, y no es el único factor que afecta al acceso y calidad de los servicios de salud.

Quality of life of Family Health Strategy professionals: a systematic review

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Individuals' quality of working life and motivation are directly related to their satisfaction and wellbeing. Although studies on the quality of life of family health workers have been conducted, there are none correlating these professionals' wellbeing with this work model. OBJECTIVE: To review the scientific literature in order to identify the levels of quality of life, in their dimensions, of Family Health Strategy workers. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review of observational studies developed through a partnership between two postgraduate schools (Piracicaba and Uberlândia). METHODS: The review followed the PRISMA recommendations and was registered in the PROSPERO database. Ten databases were used, including the "grey literature". Two evaluators selected the eligible studies, collected the data and assessed the risk of biases, independently. The JBI tool was used to assess the risk of bias. A complementary statistical analysis was conducted on the means and standard deviations of the results from the WHOQOL-100 and WHOQOL-bref questionnaires. RESULTS: The initial search presented 1,744 results, from which eight were included in the qualitative analysis. The studies were published between 2007 and 2018. The total sample included 1,358 answered questionnaires. All the studies presented low risk of bias. The complementary analysis showed that the environmental factor (mean score 56.12 ± 2.33) had the most influence on the quality of life of community health workers, while physical health (mean score 14.29 ± 0.21) had the most influence on graduate professionals. CONCLUSION: Professionals working within the Family Health Strategy had dimensions of quality of life that varied according to their professional category.

Rank, rankl, and opg in dentigerous cyst, odontogenic keratocyst, and ameloblastoma: a meta-analysis

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess and compare RANK, RANKL, and OPG immunoexpression in dentigerous cyst, odontogenic keratocyst, and ameloblastoma. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018105543). Seven databases (Embase, Lilacs, LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and Web of Science) were the primary search sources and two databases (Open Grey and Open Thesis) partially captured the "grey literature". Only cross sectional studies were included. The JBI Checklist assessed the risk of bias. A meta-analysis with random effects model estimated the values from the OPG and RANKL ratio reported by the individual studies and respective 95% confidence intervals. The heterogeneity among studies was assessed with I2 statistics. Only nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were considered in the analyses. The studies were published from 2008 to 2018. Two studies presented low risk of bias, while seven studies presented moderate risk. The meta-analysis showed the highest OPG>RANKL ratio for dentigerous cyst (ES=43.3%; 95% CI=14.3-74.8) and odontogenic keratocyst (ES=36.8%; 95% CI=18.8-56.7). In contrast, the highest OPG<RANKL ratio was found for ameloblastoma (ES=73.4%; 95% CI=55.4-88.4) and it was higher in the stromal region compared to the odontogenic epithelial region. The results may explain the aggressive potential of ameloblastoma from the higher OPG<RANKL ratio in this tumor, while it was lower for dentigerous cyst and odontogenic keratocyst.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar a imunoexpressão de RANK, RANKL e OPG em cisto dentígero, ceratocisto odontogênico e ameloblastoma. O protocolo foi registrado no PROSPERO (CRD [Oculto]). Sete bancos de dados (Embase, Lilacs, LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus, SciELO e Web of Science) foram as principais fontes de pesquisa e duas bases de dados (Open Grey e Open Thesis) capturaram parcialmente a "literatura cinza". Apenas estudos transversais foram incluídos. A ferramenta JBI avaliou o risco de viés. Uma metanálise com modelo de efeitos aleatórios estimou os valores da razão OPG e RANKL relatados pelos estudos individuais e seus respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95%. A heterogeneidade entre os estudos foi avaliada por meio do teste I2. Apenas nove estudos preencheram os critérios de inclusão e foram considerados nas análises. Os estudos foram publicados entre 2008 e 2018. Dois estudos apresentaram baixo risco de viés, enquanto sete estudos apresentaram risco moderado. A meta-análise mostrou a maior razão OPG> RANKL para cisto dentígero (ES=43,3%; IC95%=14,3-74,8) e ceratocisto odontogênico (ES=36,8%; IC95%=18,8-56,7). Por outro lado, a maior razão OPG <RANKL foi encontrada para ameloblastoma (ES=73,4%; IC95%=55,4-88,4) e foi maior na região estromal em comparação com a região epitelial odontogênica. Os resultados podem explicar o potencial agressivo do ameloblastoma devido a uma maior proporção OPG <RANKL nesse tumor, enquanto tal proporção foi menor no cisto dentígero e no ceratocisto odontogênico.

Oral health self-perception for transgender people: a controlled cross-sectional study

This article aims to verify the use of dental services, oral health self-perception, and the impacts of oral health on the daily lives of transgender people. A controlled cross-sectional study was conducted in which transvestites, transsexuals, and transgender people were compared to cisgender people. For data collection, the oral health self-perception questionnaire was applied to 90 people, from which 45 were cisgender and 45 were transgender. There were no differences regarding access to dental services. The data analysis revealed that transgender people perceive their teeth to cause nervousness (p=0.002) and shame (p=0.033), respectively 3.8 and 5.0 times higher than that observed for cisgender people. Although differences in access were not observed, there was a difference in the perception of the need for treatment and the impacts of oral health. Therefore, it is important to consider that comprehensive care for the transgender population should go beyond the treatment of oral diseases and include aesthetic expectations as well.

Influence of dental erosion on shear bond strength of ceramic brackets bonded with two different adhesive systems: an in vitro study

This study aimed to analyze the shear bond strength (SBS) of ceramic orthodontic brackets bonded with two different adhesive systems to intact and eroded teeth. Ceramic brackets were bonded to 72 bovine central incisors divided into four groups, defined by two study factors: enamel condition (control group, kept in artificial saliva; and experimental group, eroded by using immersion cycles in Coke™ for 90 seconds, every six hours for five days), and adhesive system type (Transbond™ XT or Transbond™ Plus Color Change). Polycrystalline ceramic brackets were adhesively fixed on all specimens using the same light curing protocol. SBS was tested using 0.5 mm/min and the failure mode was classified. SBS data was analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test. The adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's post-hoc pairwise comparison (α=0.05). Percentages of ARI scores between the groups were compared by Fisher's exact test. Spearman's correlation coefficient was applied to investigate the correlation between ARI scores and SBS values. Only the adhesive system factor had significant effect on SBS (p=0.014), Transbond™ Plus Color Change showing higher values. No significance was found for enamel condition (p=0.665) or the interaction between adhesive system and enamel condition (p=0.055). ARI scores frequencies differed between groups (p<0.001). The median ARI scores were statistically different for most comparisons among the groups. However, no significant correlation was found between ARI scores and SBS. In conclusion, the type of adhesive system affected the SBS of ceramic brackets to dental enamel, but the enamel condition, intact or eroded, had no significant effect. There was no correlation between ARI scores and SBS values, although eroded enamel tended to retain more adhesive after bracket removal.

Accuracy of the dental pulp sensibility test using cold spray for the diagnosis of pulp diseases: an observational clinical study

The dental pulp sensibility test is one of the main auxiliary resources for the diagnosis of pulp pathologies, and its accuracy is still debatable. This cross-sectional observational study evaluated the accuracy of the pulp sensibility test (PST) using cold spray (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) for the diagnosis of pulp diseases and determined the effect of individual and clinical variables on the reliability of this test. The paper was designed following the STROBE statement. Sixty patients with indications for primary endodontic treatment were selected and examined from August 2017 to July 2018. Data collection was performed through interviews, clinical/radiographic examinations and the PST. The results of the cold test, along with data on sex, age, the tooth type regarding the root number, and the presence of restorations and caries, as well as the recent consumption of analgesics, were recorded. The presence of bleeding within the pulp chamber was used as the gold standard to compare with the clinical diagnosis and to identify the true-positive, false-positive, true-negative, and false-negative responses. The accuracy of PST achieved in subgroups of individual and clinical variables was compared using the chi-square test with a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). The PST with the use of cold spray showed a sensitivity of 0.88, a specificity of 1.00, a positive predictive value of 1.00, a negative predictive value of 0.86, and an accuracy of 0.93. The accuracy of the cold spray was not affected by individual or clinical variables. The PST with the use of cold spray is an accurate and reliable method for determining the diagnosis of pulp diseases, especially in cases of pulp vitality or irreversible pulpitis.

Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment restorations in the elderly patients: a systematic review

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the survival of glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorations performed using the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) in elderly patients. The systematic review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. The records were searched until August 2020 in eight electronic bibliographic databases, and included randomized and non-randomized clinical trials and observational studies, with no restrictions on the language or year of publication. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. Data were extracted, summarized, collected for qualitative analysis, and evaluated for individual risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Tool. The literature search retrieved 5,186 records; however, only seven studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included. The studies were published between 2002 and 2019. A total of 1,239 restorations were investigated at intervals of 6, 12, 24, and 60 months of follow-up. Some studies had a low risk of bias, while others had moderate and high risk of bias. In general, GIC restorations placed using ART were considered satisfactory. The 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month survival rates ranged from 81.3% to 97.2%, 72.2% to 94%, and 63% to 87%, respectively; additionally, the survival rate for the longest follow-up period (60 months) was 85%. Given the best evidence-based information regarding caries removal, we highlight the need to provide a conservative and effective technique for use in elderly patients. ART is a promising and viable alternative that guarantees the survival of restorations in elderly patients.

Saliva as a tool for monitoring hemodialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract This study aimed to assess whether the reductions in serum urea and creatinine levels are different from the reductions in salivary urea and creatinine levels that occur after hemodialysis in chronic renal patients. The systematic review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. Eight databases were searched to identify pretest-posttest studies of chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis, with no language or year restrictions. The JBI Critical Appraisal Tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analyses using random-effect models were conducted to compare salivary and serum correlations and to pooled mean and proportion differences from pre- to posthemodialysis urea and creatinine levels by subgroup analysis. The I2 test was used to assess heterogeneity, and a meta-regression was performed to statistically assess correlations and differences in the pooled effects pre- and postdialysis. The Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the certainty of evidence. The search resulted in 1404 records, and only six studies (n = 252 participants) fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included. The studies were published between 2013 and 2018. All studies showed a significant reduction in both salivary and serum urea/creatinine levels. All eligible studies presented a low risk of bias. The meta-analysis shows a moderate to high correlation between salivary and blood levels of urea (r: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.56-1.00) and creatinine (r: 0.64; 95%CI: 0.16-1.00), with a very low level of certainty. The reductions in salivary urea and creatinine levels are similar to and correlated with the reductions in blood urea and creatine levels after hemodialysis among chronic kidney disease patients.

Preemptive use of intravenous ibuprofen to reduce postoperative pain after lower third molar surgery: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

This study aimed to systematically review the literature to assess the effect of preemptive intravenous ibuprofen on pain reduction after lower third molar surgery. Nine databases (PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, SciELO, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, Open Gray, and Open Thesis) were used as sources of research, including "grey literature." The protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Only randomized clinical trials evaluating the effects of preemptive intravenous ibuprofen on pain during and immediately after the extraction of lower third molars were included, without restrictions of year and language. Two reviewers independently performed the study selection, data extraction, and assessment of the risk of bias. The "Joanna Briggs Institute for Randomized Controlled Trials" tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Each study was categorized according to the percentage of positive responses to the questions corresponding to the assessment instrument. The results were measured narratively/descriptively. The initial search resulted in 3,257 records, of which only three studies (n=150 participants) met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis. All studies were published in 2019. The risk of bias ranged from low to moderate. Two studies found significant pain reduction within 48 h after the procedure. In conclusion, the use of preemptive intravenous ibuprofen for extracting third molars reduces pain and analgesic consumption after the surgical procedure.

Combination of toothbrushing and chlorhexidine compared with exclusive use of chlorhexidine to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia: A systematic review with meta-analysis

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine alone and 0.12% chlorhexidine in combination with toothbrushing to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated patients. The Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature, PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Scopus, LIVIVO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, OpenThesis, and Open Access Thesis and Dissertations databases were used. Only randomized controlled trials without restrictions on the year or language of publication were included. Two reviewers assessed the risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model estimated the combined relative risk (RR). The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations approach was used to assess the certainty of the evidence. Initially, 2,337 studies were identified, of which 4 were considered in the systematic review and 3 in the meta-analysis (total sample: 796 patients). The studies were published between 2009 and 2017. All eligible studies had a low risk of bias. The meta-analysis revealed that the risk of VAP was 24% lower in patients receiving chlorhexidine combined with toothbrushing than in those receiving chlorhexidine alone (RR: 0.76; 95% confidence interval: 0.55-1.06), with moderate certainty of evidence and without statistical significance. In conclusion, considering the limitations of this study, a standard protocol for the prevention of VAP is not yet recommended. More studies with larger sample sizes are needed to draw strong conclusions. However, considering that toothbrushing is a simple intervention, it should be a common practice in mechanically ventilated patients, especially among patients with coronavirus disease.

Assessment of carvacrol paste as endodontic medication associated with laser photobiomodulation in tissue repair: an experimental study in rats / Avaliação da pasta de carvacrol como medicação endodôntica associada à fotobiomodulação a laser no reparo: um estudo experimental em ratos

This study aimed to analyze the tissue reaction caused by carvacrol paste associated or not with laser photobiomodulation (LPBM) at λ660 nm in the subcutaneous tissue of rats. Sixty Wistar rats were divided into four groups and they received the following interventions: subcutaneous implantation of empty polyethylene tubes (CTR), implantation of tubes containing carvacrol paste (CVC), implantation of empty tubes and LPBM (LLLT), and implantation of tubes containing carvacrol paste and LPBM (CVCLT). The animals were euthanized at three, eight, and 15 days after surgery. The inflammatory reaction and fibroplasia were analyzed histomorphometrically. Significant differences among the groups were determined by ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). In the 3-day period, the CVCLT group had low inflammatory infiltration (p<0.01). In the 8- and 15-day periods, the LLLT and CVCLT groups presented a low amount of lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate (p<0.01 and p<0.05). Regarding the formation of fibrous tissue, the CVC group had the highest formation of type III collagen in the 8-day period (p<0.001). In the 15-day period, the CVCLT group had a lower formation of type I collagen than the CTR and LLLT groups (p<0.05). The use of the carvacrol paste associated with photobiomodulation optimizes the inflammatory period and tissue repair.

Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a reação tecidual causada pela pasta de carvacrol associada ou não à fotobiomodulação a laser (LPBM) a λ660 nm no tecido subcutâneo de ratos. Sessenta ratos Wistar foram divididos em quatro grupos e receberam as seguintes intervenções: implantação subcutânea de tubos de polietileno vazios (CTR); implantação de tubos contendo pasta de carvacrol (CVC); implantação de tubos vazios e LPBM (LLLT); implantação de tubos contendo pasta de carvacrol e LPBM (CVCLT). Os animais foram eutanasiados aos 03, 08 e 15 dias após a cirurgia. A reação inflamatória e a fibroplasia foram analisadas histologicamente. Diferenças significativas entre os grupos foram determinadas pelo teste ANOVA e teste de Tukey (p<0,05). No período de três dias, o grupo CVCLT apresentou menor infiltração inflamatória (p<0,01). No período de 8 e 15 dias, os grupos LLLT e CVCLT apresentaram menor quantidade de infiltrado inflamatório linfocitário (p<0,01 e p<0,05). Em relação à formação de tecido fibroso, o grupo CVC apresentou maior formação de colágeno tipo III no período de 8 dias (p<0,001). No período de 15 dias, o grupo CVCLT apresentou menor formação de colágeno tipo I em relação aos grupos CTR e LLLT (p<0,05). O uso da pasta de carvacrol associado à fotobiomodulação a laser otimiza o período inflamatório e o reparo tecidual.