Crypt fenestration enamel defects and early life stress: Contextual explorations of growth and mortality in Colonial Peru.

OBJECTIVES: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of crypt fenestration enamel defects (CFEDs) from the Eten and Mórrope communities, Colonial period (A.D. 1,530-1,750), Lambayeque Valley, Peru. The goal is to help clarify the role of these lesions as reflections of early life environments as well as relationships growth and survival at future ages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CFED absence/presence was recorded in the mandibular canines of 105 individuals and 202 teeth. Defect prevalence was compared between the Eten and Mórrope sites using a proportions test. Femoral growth residuals were compared between CFED present and absent samples. Mortality risk was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: CFED frequencies at Eten and Mórrope were similar to previous studies. Greater frequencies of CFEDs were found at Eten compared to Mórrope. There was no association between skeletal growth and CFEDs. No differences in mortality were found between CFED present and absent individuals within each site. General survivorship at Eten was significantly greater than Mórrope. However, individuals without CFEDs at Eten had greater survivorship than those with and without CFEDs at Mórrope. Individuals with CFEDs at Eten had greater survivorship than those with CFEDs at Mórrope. These differences begin around 1.7 years. CONCLUSIONS: CFEDs may be associated with stress experience, but associations with growth and survivorship at later ages is context dependent. CFED prevalence is an ambiguous indicator of stress when used in the absence of mortality data, and even under those circumstances, appears limited by differences in local demography.

[Non-communicable disease and their significance for dental medicine]. / Nicht übertragbare Krankheiten und ihre Bedeutung für die Zahnmedizin.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, cancers, and diabetes mellitus, are responsible for most deaths worldwide. In view of the rising prevalence and the long-term consequences of NCDs, their prevention is a public health priority. Dentistry plays an important role in this endeavor. Since oral and general diseases share common risk factors (e.g., poor oral hygiene, unhealthy diet, alcohol abuse, tobacco consumption, distress), preventive measures may target both oral diseases (e.g., dental caries, periodontal diseases, oral tumors) and medical NCDs. Consequently, dental medicine assumes an important medical and social role, which has been recognized by the World Health Organization and the General Assembly of the United Nations. To fulfill its mission successfully, consideration of the principles of evidence-based dentistry is a prerequisite. At the same time, the new development provides dentistry with the opportunity to critically reflect on its current and future orientation.

Prevalencia y mortalidad de las infecciones cervicofaciales odontógenas que requieren internación / Prevalence and mortality in cervicofacial odontogenic infections requiring hospitalization

En las unidades de media y alta complejidad se requiere de un equipo multidisciplinario dispuesto al abordaje de pacientes con infección odontógena complicada, que deberá seguir un protocolo de atención y tratamiento.

Post mortem survey of dental disorders in 349 donkeys from an aged population (2005-2006). Part 2: epidemiological studies.

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Dental disorders have recently been recognised as having major clinical and welfare implications in donkeys. However, no investigation appears to have examined the association of dental disorders with managemental factors and any intercurrent illness. OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of dental disorders observed in a post mortem study with age group, body condition score, time since last dental treatment, feeding and the illness that necessitated euthanasia or caused death. METHODS: A prospective study documented the type and prevalence of dental disorders in 349 mainly aged donkeys (median estimated age of 31 years) that were subjected to euthanasia over an 18 month period in 2005'Aì2006. The estimated age, body condition score, supplemental feed status, time since last dental treatment and nature of the intercurrent disease that necessitated euthanasia or caused death were also recorded. Multivariable analysis was performed to examine associations of these factors with specific dental disorders and between specific dental disorders. RESULTS: There was a high prevalence (93.4%) of significant dental disease. Age group was significantly associated with the presence of dental disorders and an older age range was a high risk factor for the presence of cheek teeth (CT) diastemata. There was a significant association between the presence of CT diastemata and the concurrent presence of displaced, missing and worn CT. There was also a significant association between the presence of diastemata and colic. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Aged donkeys have a high prevalence of dental disorders especially of CT diastemata. Dental disorders and, in particular, the presence of CT diastemata were significantly associated with colic. Routine, prophylactic dental treatments should be performed, especially in aged donkeys.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: trends in a developing country.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is believed to be a rare and serious complication of odontogenic and oropharyngeal infections. It is associated with a high (up to 40%) mortality rate, which can be attributed to delays in diagnosis and inadequate surgical drainage. Between May 1999 and September 2002, we treated 7 cases at our institution in New Delhi, indicating that such fulminating infections are not so rare in developing countries. In our 7 cases, a high index of suspicion and early computed tomography helped us make a rapid diagnosis and initiate prompt treatment, which resulted in a favorable outcome in 6 cases (mortality rate: 14.3%).

Diseases and outcomes in rabbits with high BUN levels.

One hundred and ninety cases of rabbits, seen at animal hospitals in Saitama and Tokyo, Japan from 1998 to 2001, with BUN values greater than 27 mg/dl were analyzed regarding their underlying and/or complicating diseases and outcomes. Gastrointestinal disorder (54 cases) was the most common disease, followed by overgrowth of molar teeth and then liver disturbance. The total mortality was 48.9% within three months, and cases showing complications such as liver disturbance or bacterial infection showed highest mortality. Cases with higher BUN values showed even higher mortality, although mortality varied depending on the complications. Therefore, the prognosis of rabbit cases with high BUN values should be evaluated based on findings from blood chemistry, together with the seriousness of the underlying and/or complicating disease.

Deaths associated with dentistry and dental disease 1980-1989.

A study of deaths associated with dentistry and dental disease in England and Wales between 1980 and 1989 has been undertaken. There were fewer deaths associated with dentistry than in the previous decade. Whilst most of the deaths are still associated with general anaesthesia, the total number has decreased, as has the percentage of deaths in which general anaesthesia was thought to play a significant part. There were only four deaths involving an operator/anaesthetist compared with 13 in the previous decade and all four took place between 1980 and 1983. However, there were two deaths associated with sedation techniques, both of which occurred after 1984, whereas there had been none in the previous decade. On the information available, it is still not possible to establish the rôle of the patient's posture in these deaths.