Biting myself so I don't bite the dust: prevalence and predictors of deliberate self-harm and suicide ideation in Azorean youths

Objective: To characterize non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors, methods, and functions as well as suicide ideation in the adolescent population of a Portuguese community in São Miguel Island, Azores. Increasing rates of NSSI behaviors among adolescents have been observed globally, while suicidal behavior has been pointed as a major cause of death during adolescence. Methods: A sample of 1,763 adolescents, aged 14 to 22, was randomly drawn from public and private schools and administered a set of self-report questionnaires. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to look for specific relationships and predictors of NSSI and suicide ideation in this isolated community. Results: Approximately 30% of youths reported at least one NSSI behavior, a rate that is twice as high as most studies carried out in mainland Portugal and in other European countries. Biting oneself was the most frequent form of NSSI, and NSSI behaviors served predominantly automatic reinforcement purposes (i.e., regulation of disruptive emotional states). NSSI and suicide ideation encompassed different distal and proximal risk factors. Conclusions: Exploring and characterizing these phenomena is necessary to provide a better understanding, enhance current conceptualizations, and guide the development of more effective prevention and intervention strategies in youths.

Mucocele - A study of 36 cases.

Background: Mucocele is one of the most common benign soft tissue tumor present in the oral cavity. They are of two types - one is extravasation and second one is retention type but the majority are extravasation type. Aims: The objective is to determine various factors related to mucocele such as role of trauma due to nearby teeth, recurrence, duration, and to find out whether there is any role of psychological stress which initiates trauma like lip or cheek biting. Materials and Methods: 36 cases of mucocele diagnosed at the Department of the Oral Pathology, Govt. Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, between 2004 and 2008 were reviewed. The clinical data were recorded and histopathologic diagnosis was made. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis tool, Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Results: A diagnosis of mucocele was established in 36 cases with male-to-female ratio of 1.77:1. Most common type was extravasation in 30 (83.33%) cases. The peak age of occurrence was between 1st and 3rd decade. Lateral side of the lower labial mucosa was the most affected site in 34 (94.44%) cases. The history of trauma appeared the major etiological factor seen in 28 (77.77%) cases. Conclusion: We conclude that there was male predominance and they were more affected in 2nd and 3rd decade. The lateral side of lower labial mucosa was the commonest site and the trauma due to teeth or lip biting was the major etiological factor for the occurrence of the mucocele. The article highlights role of psychological stress in occurrence of mucocele. The reader should understand the importance of histopathology examination and should try to control the psychological stress in such mucocele patients.

Agressão humana e marcas de mordidas: a vulnerabilidade de mulheres e crianças / Aggression and human bite marks: the vulnerability of women and children

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de urn estudo sobre 0 comportamento agressivo humano, enfatizando as diversas implicações das marcas de mordidas produzidas por agressores e vitimas, notadamente quando se trata de estupro ou violência sexual, violencia domestica e abuso sexual. Essas ocorrencias costumam acontecer em espaços domesticos/privados, pressupondo, portanto, um contato direto, fisico, entre agressores e vitimas, que se situam em posições assimetricas, pois os primeiros, em geral homens adultos, ameaçam e brutalizam mulheres e crianças, frequentemente mais fracas e vulneniveis, fisica e socialmente. A violencia produz impactos incomensuniveis no sistema publico de saude e na sociedade em geral, mas primordialmente em suas incontaveis vitimas. Entretanto, os crimes tidos como mais serios e ameaçadores São aqueles cometidos mediante 0 uso de armas de fogo ou armas brancas, entre pessoas simetricas (homens adultos) e mais comuns em ambientes publicos. As ocorrencias que tem lugar no cenario domestico, quando as vitimas São mulheres e crianças, nao São levadas tao a serio (e, por isso, mais toleradas e negligenciadas), o que acarreta a subnotificaçao desses crimes e um subcomparecimento das vítimas aos orgaos jurídicos e policiais, entre os quais se encontram os IMLs, que se ocupam dos exames de corpo de delito. Os dados avaliados neste estudo procedem de multiplas fontes: literatura academica especializada, materias jomalísticas, notícias compiladas no Arquivo Digital da Folha de S. Paulo, informações registradas em Relatorios elaborados pelo IML/Sede do municipio de Sao Paulo e imagens disponíveis no Google imagens.

Lesiones faciales por mordeduras de humanos y de animales / Facial injuries by human and animal bites

Se presenta una revisión de la literatura así como de la experiencia en el Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto en el tratamiento de las mordeduras por humanos y por animales. El tratamiento temprano a base de la revisión quirúrgica y cierre primario, así como la antiobioticoterapia adecuada, dan el éxito buscado