Functional fitness and bone mineral density in the elderly.

UNLABELLED: Bone quality has been associated with genetic factors and several environmental influences. This study suggests that although functional fitness should be considered in clinical assessments of bone health, body composition appears to have a higher relevance in the explanation of bone health/strength in older people. PURPOSE: This study aims to describe the association between functional fitness (FF), other constitutive factors, and bone health/strength in a large community-dwelling sample of elderly active Portuguese. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 401 males and 401 females aged 60-79 years old. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the total body, lumbar spine (LS), and hip region was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In addition, femur strength index (FSI) was determined. FF was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test. Demographic information and a health history were obtained by telephone interview through questionnaire. RESULTS: Aerobic endurance and body strength were positively related with hip BMD region in males (0.10 < r < 0.16; p < 0.01-0.05) and females (0.13 < r < 0.28; p < 0.01). No significant correlation was found between any FF test and LS BMD, except for upper-body strength in females. After controlling for other constitutive predictors (sex, age, height, body mass (BM), total fat mass (TFM), and total lean tissue mass (TLTM)), FF had a minor contribution only in prediction of BMD at multisites and FSI. The total explained variance for all determinants was moderate (R² = 0.35 for femoral neck (FN) BMD, R² = 0.27 for LS BMD, R² = 0.49 total body BMD, and R² = 0.22 for FSI). CONCLUSIONS: Sex, age, height, BM, TLTM, and TFM entered as the most significant contributors for BMD and FSI. Although FF parameters are typically considered in clinical assessments of bone health/strength in older people, body composition appears to have a higher relevance in the explanation of BMD and strength.

Influence of cavity preparation with Er:YAG Laser on enamel adjacent to restorations submitted to cariogenic challenge in situ: a polarized light microscopic analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Er:YAG laser has been used for caries removal and cavity preparation, using ablative parameters. Its effect on the margins of restorations submitted to cariogenic challenge has not yet been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the enamel adjacent to restored Er:YAG laser-prepared cavities submitted to cariogenic challenge in situ, under polarized light microscopy. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-one enamel slabs were randomly assigned to seven groups (n = 13): I, II, III-Er:YAG laser with 250 mJ, 62.5 J/cm2, combined with 2, 3, and 4 Hz, respectively; IV, V, VI-Er:YAG laser with 350 mJ, 87.5 J/cm(2), combined with 2, 3, and 4 Hz, respectively; VII-High-speed handpiece (control). Cavities were restored and the restorations were polished. The slabs were fixed to intra-oral appliances, worn by 13 volunteers for 14 days. Sucrose solution was applied to each slab six times per day. Samples were removed, cleaned, sectioned and ground to polarized light microscopic analysis. Demineralized area and inhibition zone width were quantitatively assessed. Presence or absence of cracks was also analyzed. Scores for demineralization and inhibition zone were determined. RESULTS: No difference was found among the groups with regard to demineralized area, inhibition zone width, presence or absence of cracks, and demineralization score. Inhibition zone score showed difference among the groups. There was a correlation between the quantitative measures and the scores. CONCLUSION: Er:YAG laser was similar to high-speed handpiece, with regard to alterations in enamel adjacent to restorations submitted to cariogenic challenge in situ. The inhibition zone score might suggest less demineralization at the restoration margin of the irradiated substrates. Correlation between the quantitative measures and scores indicates that score was, in this case, a suitable complementary method for assessment of caries lesion around restorations, under polarized light microscopy.

[Spatial distribution of M. tuberculosis-HIV coinfection in São Paulo State, Brazil, 1991-2001]. / Distribuição espacial da co-infecção M. tuberculosis/HIV no Estado de São Paulo, 1991-2001.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the spatial pattern of tuberculosis incidence in relation to the AIDS epidemic, with the aim of investigating the geographical influence on causality. METHODS: All AIDS cases from State of São Paulo, notified to the Brazilian Ministry of Health between 1991 and 2001, were included. The cases were stratified by municipality, by administrative health regions, AIDS transmission categories, gender and years since diagnosis. A Gaussian geostatistical model was used to construct a thematic risk map, utilizing the tuberculosis incidence among AIDS cases as the response variable. RESULTS: Exploratory analysis showed two patterns of AIDS incidence: one for the state capital, and another, with increasing risk, for the other municipalities. The more populous regions presented higher risk of tuberculosis transmission, with a pattern that matched the land occupation pattern, from east to west. The health regions with the highest AIDS incidence coefficients (per 10,000 inhabitants) were Santos (53.5), São José do Rio Preto (43.1), Ribeirão Preto (42.4) and São Paulo (40.3). The health regions with greatest tuberculosis incidence among AIDS cases were Santos (44.9%), Franco da Rocha (39.9%), Osasco (39.6%) and São Paulo (38.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The results allow the conclusion that geographical coordinates presented an association with tuberculosis risk, but not with AIDS risk.