RESUMO
Objectives To evaluate the relationship between TGFBR3 rs284875 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) state and silent cerebral infarction (SCI) in asymptomatic patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 children with SCD above 2 y of age followed up at the hematology outpatient clinic of Alexandria University Children's Hospital in Egypt. Twenty-four healthy children were included as a control group. All patients included in the study were subjected to complete history and clinical examination. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed on patients and controls for identifcation of SNP rs284875 of the TGFBR3 gene. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain were performed only on patients for detection of SCI. Results Fifty SCD patients were enrolled (26 males and 24 females), with a median age of 10.9 y (2.3–17.8 y), and 24 children as healthy control for the studied SNP. Thirty-fve (70%) patients had homozygous SCD, while 30% had sickle ?-thalassemia. The brain MRI was normal in all the patients except for 2 patients who had features of SCI. The TGFBR3 rs284875 SNP was detected in 15 (30%) patients in the homozygous state (GG) versus only 1 (4.2%) child from the control group (p=0.003). The prevalence of SCI was low in the study population and there was no statistically signifcant relationship between the TGFBR3 rs284875 SNP status and the presence of SCI in the brain MRI (p=0.621). Conclusions This study confrmed a low prevalence of SCI in the SCD patient included in the study. The TGFBR3 rs284875 SNP did not signifcantly increase SCI among those patients.
RESUMO
The objective of this research was to assess oral health status and habits and to explore potential risk factors for dentalcaries among 6-13 years old children with limited access to dental care. A cross-sectional design was used to screen asample of 563 intermediate school children with limited access to oral health care in the Al-Khomrah district, south Jeddah,Saudi Arabia. A stratified random sample was selected and data was collected using an interview questionnaire withextraoral and intraoral examination. The examination aimed at detection of oral health conditions regarding oral hygienestatus, habits, decayed, missing and filled teeth and treatment needs. Treatment of simple and emergency cases wasperformed in the mobile clinic and severe cases were referred to King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Dentistry (KAUFD).The study included 262 males (46.5%) and 301 females (53.3%) with a mean age of 10.99 + 2.07 years. The prevalence ofdecayed, missing or filled primary teeth was 59.1%, 2.5%, and 3.4%, respectively. The corresponding values for permanentteeth were 65.9%, 4.3% and 7.6%, respectively. Males had significantly higher prevalence of caries than females. Theyounger age groups, in case of primary teeth and the older age groups, in case of permanent teeth had significantly higherprevalence of dental caries. The median dmft (95% CI) was 2 (1-2) and the median DMFT (95% CI) was 2 (2-3).Multinomial multiple logistic regression indicated that intensity of primary teeth caries decreased with increasing age andbrushing teeth at least once a day and increased with male gender, living in rented house or having poor oral hygiene. Asregards permanent teeth, the likelihood of having more severe caries increased by child’s age, below secondary schooleducated fathers and/or mothers, being a male, and with poor oral hygiene. Dental caries prevalence and intensity weremoderate among the examined group. Males had significantly higher caries prevalence and intensity than females.