Comparative Analgesia Between Acupuncture and Dipyrone in Odontalgia.

The aim of this study was to assess whether the effectiveness of acupuncture is similar to the use of analgesics in the management of toothache. The research included 56 volunteers who were divided into 4 groups: Real Acupuncture group, Placebo Acupuncture group, Real Dipyrone group, and Placebo Dipyrone group. The interventions of the study were performed before the dental care. Inclusion criteria were toothache of pulpal origin with pain scale (Visual Analogue Scale) above 4, absence of medication for the pain, and aged over 18 years. The Real Acupuncture volunteers received a session of acupuncture using piercing needles, while volunteers from the Placebo Acupuncture group received an acupuncture session using non-piercing sham needles. Volunteers from the Real Dipyrone group received a dipyrone tablet and the Placebo Acupuncture group received a tablet with no active ingredient. Before any therapeutic intervention, we collected samples from the volunteers' saliva to analyze the salivary cortisol, the volunteers rated the intensity of their pain using VAS, and we measured their energy level by the Ryodoraku method. After 20 minutes of treatment, all the volunteers' analysis parameters were collected again. The Real Acupuncture group presented a greater reduction of VAS than the reduction obtained by the Real Dipyrone group (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for the salivary cortisol and energy level variables. It can be concluded that acupuncture was more effective in reducing odontalgia than the dipyrone and that it can be an alternative for odontalgia management.

Patterns of Energy Imbalance of the Meridians in Patients with Temporomandibular Dysfunction.

Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is a set of changes that affects the muscles of mastication, temporomandibular joint, teeth, and associated periodontal and orofacial structures. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the imbalance of energy (Qi) circulating in the acupuncture meridians is always the primary etiologic cause of any physical manifestation. The aim of this study was to describe the patterns of Qi imbalance in patients with TMD by means of an objective measurement. The clinical study was conducted at the Piracicaba Dental School (FOP/Unicamp), in Piracicaba-SP, Brazil. We evaluated 40 adult volunteers with TMD. The Qi measurement was carried out by the researcher using the Ryodoraku method using 24 points representing the 12 acupuncture meridians: LU9 (Taiyuan), PC7 (Daling), HT7 (Shemen), SI5 (Yanggu), TE4 (Yangchi), LI5 (Yangxi), SP3 (Taibai), LR3 (Taichong), KI3 (Taixi), BL64 (Jinggu), GB40 (Qiuxu), and ST42 (Chongyang). The average total Qi of 40 volunteers (21.7 µA ± 1.5), was below the normal range (40-60 µA) and was classified as deficiency of Qi (empty). The coupled meridians that showed the highest Qi imbalance were the kidney (29.4 µA ± 2.8) and bladder (13.8 µA ± 1). The Qi planes with greatest imbalance were the Shao Yang and Shao Yin. In conclusion, volunteers with TMD presented a pattern of Qi deficiency, and the most prevalent imbalance patterns identified were in the kidney and bladder coupled meridians and in the energetic planes Shao Yin (heart/kidney) and Shao Yang (triple energizer/gall bladder).

Advantage of Guaraná (Paullinia cupana Mart.) supplementation on cadmium-induced damages in testis of adult Wistar rats.

Paullinia cupana is an Amazonian bush whose seeds have long been used in folk medicine. However, most of the therapeutic properties attributed to this plant are broad and nonspecific, although an antioxidant activity has been reported.  On the other hand, cadmium is a heavy metal known for increasing free radicals, hence resulting in cellular oxidative damages. This study was designed to evaluate whether Paullinia cupana is able to reduce cadmium-induced morphological impairment in Wistar rat testis. Adult male Wistar rats 110 days old were ip injected with cadmium (1.15 mg/kg BW [body weight]) and subsequently treated with P. cupana during 56 days.  Furthermore, groups receiving either P. cupana extract or cadmium are mentioned. After the treatment period, testis samples were subjected to histological and stereological analyses. Moderate to severe testicular impairments were shown by the animals exposed to cadmium. However, the animals supplemented with P. cupana after cadmium exposure showed a significant decrease in the proportion of damaged seminiferous tubules. Also, P. cupana supplementation was effective in maintaining the number of Leydig cells per testis in the animals exposed to cadmium. In conclusion, P. cupana supplementation was partially efficient in preventing cadmium from damaging the testis of adult Wistar rats.

Dental caries experience in 12-year-old schoolchildren in southeastern Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of caries-free children using DMFT and significant caries (SiC) indexes in different caries prevalence groups in cities of the region of Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. The methodology proposed by the World Health Organization (1997) was used for caries diagnosis in 2,378 individuals. According to the DMFT index obtained in each evaluated city, 3 prevalence groups with representative samples were formed, being classified as low, moderate and high. SiC index was used to classify the one third of the population with the highest caries prevalence. In the low prevalence group, 32.4% of the children were caries free (DMFT=0), with mean DMFT of 2.29 and SiC index of 4.93. In the moderate prevalence group, 21.8% of the children were caries free, with mean DMFT of 3.36 and SiC of 6.74. Only 6.9% of the children in the high prevalence group were caries free and the mean DMFT was 5.54 (SiC=9.62). There was a great heterogeneity in dental caries distribution within the studied population, as well as a high caries prevalence considering the 3 classifications. Other indexes besides DMFT could be used to improve oral health assessment during establishment of the treatment plan and intervention.

Dental caries experience in 12-year-old schoolchildren in southeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of caries-free children using DMFT and significant caries (SiC) indexes in different caries prevalence groups in cities of the region of Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. The methodology proposed by the World Health Organization (1997) was used for caries diagnosis in 2,378 individuals. According to the DMFT index obtained in each evaluated city, 3 prevalence groups with representative samples were formed, being classified as low, moderate and high. SiC index was used to classify the one third of the population with the highest caries prevalence. In the low prevalence group, 32.4 percent of the children were caries free (DMFT=0), with mean DMFT of 2.29 and SiC index of 4.93. In the moderate prevalence group, 21.8 percent of the children were caries free, with mean DMFT of 3.36 and SiC of 6.74. Only 6.9 percent of the children in the high prevalence group were caries free and the mean DMFT was 5.54 (SiC=9.62). There was a great heterogeneity in dental caries distribution within the studied population, as well as a high caries prevalence considering the 3 classifications. Other indexes besides DMFT could be used to improve oral health assessment during establishment of the treatment plan and intervention.

Auto-aplicação de gel fluoretado por pré-escolares de Piracicaba, SP / Fluoride gel self-application by preschoolers in Piracicaba, SP

Introdução - Muitos programas utilizaram, na década de 80, o flúor fosfato acidulado (FFA) em gel através da escovação, entretanto não se sabe se esse método seria recomendado atualmente em locais com água fluoretada. Buscou-se avaliar um programa utilizando FFA em pré-escolares de 5 anos de idade em Piracicaba, por 18 meses, no período de 1999-2000. Os exames clínicos foram realizados de acordo com os critérios da OMS. Métodos û Para verificar a experiência de cárie foi utilizado o índice ceod. A amostra final foi de 265 crianças de pré-escolas municipais,divididas em dois grupos: o grupo-controle G1 (n=109) que apenas realizava escovações diárias com dentifrício fluoretado e o grupo-teste G2 (n=156) que, além das escovações rotineiras com dentifrício fluoretado, também realizou, a cada dois meses, seis sessões quinzenais de escovação supervisionada com 19 de FFA. Utilizaram-se os testes t pareado, Mann- Whitney e de proporção com nível de significância de 5 por cento. REsultados - As médias ceod, após 18 meses de uso do gel fluoretado, não diferiram nos G 1 e G2 (p=0,55). Ao [mal do programa não se encontrou diferença no percentual de crianças livres de cárie entre os G 1 e G2 (p=0,72), o que também não foi verificado em relação ao ceod para o grupo de risco (ceod > 3) entre os G 1 e G2 (p=0,21). Os dados sugerem que, após 18 meses de auto-aplicação do gel fluoretado por pré-escolares, não se verificaram diferenças na saúde bucal dessas crianças, não demonstrando, assim, efeito preventivo. Conclusão - Recomenda-se, entretanto, que mais trabalhos sejam realizados utilizando outras medidas de avaliação e por um período mais prolongado para se verificar o possível efeito preventivo desse método, em especial no grupo de alto risco. Apoio Fapesp. 98/16102-5.

[Lead level, enamel defects and dental caries in deciduous teeth]. / Concentração de chumbo, defeitos de esmalte e cárie em dentes decíduos.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the relationship between lead concentration in the enamel of deciduous teeth and the presence of enamel defects and, consequently, with dental caries among preschool children. METHODS: The sample consisted of 329 preschool children in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo: 132 attending municipal kindergartens close to industrial plants and 197 attending kindergartens in non-industrial areas. This sample belonged to an initial study made between 2000 and 2001, in which the lead concentration was obtained by means of enamel biopsy. Oral clinical examination of the children from both regions was performed to verify the prevalence of enamel defects, using the Developmental Defects of Enamel (DDE) Index of the World Dental Federation (FDI), and of dental caries, using the decayed, missing and filled surfaces (dmfs) index of the World Health Organization. The chi-squared test and relative risk calculation were utilized in relation to a significance level of 5%, considering each region separately. RESULTS: Among the children from the non-industrial area, there was a higher proportion with dental caries among those with higher lead concentrations in deciduous teeth (p=0.02). This was not, however, observed among the children from the industrial area (p=0.89). There was an increased relative risk (RR) of caries among the children from the non-industrial area, but this was not seen among the children from the industrial area. No relationship was observed between the presence of lead and enamel defects. CONCLUSIONS: No data was found that would give evidence of a relationship between lead concentration and enamel defects in either of the areas studied. No relationship was found between lead and dental caries in the industrial area, thus emphasizing that more studies of such relationships are needed.

Concentração de chumbo, defeitos de esmalte e cárie em dentes decíduos / Lead level, enamel defects and dental caries in deciduous teeth

OBJETIVO: Verificar a relação da concentração de chumbo no esmalte de dentes decíduos com a presença de defeitos de esmalte e sua relação com cárie dental em pré-escolares. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi de 329 crianças de pré-escolas municipais de uma área próxima de indústrias (N=132) e outra não industrial (N=197) da cidade de Piracicaba, Estado de São Paulo. Essa amostra pertencente a um estudo inicial realizado entre 2000 e 2001 no qual o chumbo foi analisado por meio de biópsia de esmalte. Foram realizados exames clínicos bucais para verificação da prevalência de defeitos de esmalte (Developmental Defects of Enamel Index - DDE, da Federação Dentária Internacional - FDI) e cárie (índice ceos, Organização Mundial da Saúde), em ambas regiões. Foram utilizados teste de qui-quadrado e cálculo do risco relativo ao nível de significância de 5 por cento, considerando cada região separadamente. RESULTADOS: Houve maior proporção de crianças com cárie entre aquelas com maiores concentrações de chumbo nos decíduos na região não industrial (p=0,02), o que não se observou na região industrial (p=0,89). Houve risco relativo (RR) aumentado de cárie nas crianças da região não industrial o que não foi verificado nas crianças da região industrial. Não se observou relação entre a presença de chumbo e os defeitos de esmalte. CONCLUSÕES: Não foram encontados dados que evidenciassem a relação entre concentração de chumbo e defeitos no esmalte em nenhuma das regiões pesquisadas. Não foi encontrada relação entre chumbo e cárie na região industrial, ressaltando a necessidade de mais estudos dessas relações.

Differentiation pattern of Vero cells cultured on poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) blends.

This study evaluates the effect of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(hydroxybutyrate-cohydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) bioabsorbable polymers and their blends on the induction of alteration of cell growth pattern in vitro. Vero cells were cultured on PLLA, PHBV, and different blends (100/0, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, and 0/100). The cell adhesion assay showed that the best results were obtained with the (60/40, 50/50) blends. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the cells on (100/0) and (60/40) samples grew with a round morphology preferentially in the porous areas. The (50/50) blends had cells in the porous and smooth areas in a similar way. The (40/60) blends showed spreading cells on the smooth areas. The (0/100) sample, which had no pores, had spreading cells interconnected by filaments. Histological sections showed a confluent cell monolayer and the immunocytochemistry showed that the cells produced collagen IV and fibronectin on all substrates. Thus, we conclude that PLLA/PHBV blends were efficient in maintaining cell growth and producing an extracellular matrix on them.

[Dental caries experience in children at public and private schools from a city with fluoridated water]. / Experiência de cárie dentária em crianças de escolas públicas e privadas de um município com água fluoretada.

The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between type of school as a measure of socioeconomic conditions and caries prevalence among preschoolers and schoolchildren in Rio Claro, São Paulo State, Brazil, a city with fluoridated water supply. The data were secondary, from a sample of 888 children 5 to 12 years old enrolled in private and public schools. Caries was measured by the dmft and DMFT indices as well as the Care index. Qui-square and Mann-Whitney tests were utilized with 5% significance. In 5-year-old children, mean dmft was 2.50, and 42.20% were caries-free. At age 12, mean DMFT was 2.70 and 28.90% were caries-free. Caries prevalence rates in public schoolchildren as compared to private were 74.50% and 61.20%, respectively (p < 0.0001), and the dmft and DMFT scores were the highest in public schoolchildren (p < 0.05). The Care Index was higher in private schoolchildren (71.20%) as compared to public (52.80%). Highest caries rates were found among public schoolchildren, so the variable type of school proved sensitive for discriminating different oral health conditions; however limitations need to be recognized, suggesting that other variables should be assessed.

Experiência de cárie dentária em crianças de escolas públicas e privadas de um município com água fluoretada / Dental caries experience in children at public and private schools from a city with fluoridated water

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a relação entre tipo de escola, como medida de condição sócio-econômica e a prevalência de cárie em pré-escolares e escolares de Rio Claro, São Paulo, com água fluoretada. Os dados obtidos são secundários e a amostra foi de 888 escolares de 5 a 12 anos dos ensinos público e particular. A experiência de cárie foi medida por meio dos índices ceod e CPOD , além do índice de Cuidados. Empregou-se os testes qui-quadrado e Mann-Whitney com significância de 5 por cento. Aos cinco anos, o ceod foi de 2,50 e 42,20 por cento não apresentaram experiência de cárie. Aos 12 anos, o CPOD foi de 2,70 e 28,90 por cento estavam livres de cárie. A prevalência de cárie nas crianças de escolas públicas foi maior do que nas particulares, sendo respectivamente de 74,50 e 61,20 por cento (p < 0,0001), assim como os índices ceod e CPOD (p < 0,05). O índice de Cuidados foi maior nas crianças do ensino particular (71,20 por cento) do que nas do ensino público (52,80 por cento). Encontrou-se uma maior experiência de cárie nos escolares do ensino público e assim a variável tipo de escola foi sensível para discriminar diferentes condições de saúde bucal, sugerindo-se que outras variáveis também sejam avaliadas.

[Oral health among preschool children in Brazil, 1999]. / Saúde bucal dos pré-escolares, Piracicaba, Brasil, 1999.

OBJECTIVE: To assess dental decay, gum diseases and fluorosis prevalence and evaluate treatment needs of public preschool children. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey on oral health was conducted in 2,805 public preschool children aged 5 and 6 years in Piracicaba, Brazil. Children were examined by a team of ten trained dentists. It was applied a consensus technique and intra and inter agreement among examiners was assessed using the percentage of agreement. RESULTS: Of the total, 44.3% children were free of dental decay at the age of 5 and 38.5% at the age of 6. The deciduous decay teeth index (dmf-t) was 2.64 at the age of 5 and 3.07 at the age of 6, and 31.9% and 37.9%, respectively, presented dmf-t greater than 3. The largest percent of treatment need (45.3%) was surface restoration. Regarding gum health, 68.6% and 72.6% of children aged 5 and 6 years presented gum bleeding. The prevalence of fluorosis was 2.6% at the age of 5 and 6.1% at the age of 6. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop appropriate actions and strategies for higher risk groups.

Saúde bucal dos pré-escolares, Piracicaba, Brasil, 1999 / Oral health among preschool children in Brazil, 1999

OBJETIVO: Verificar a prevalência de cárie, doença gengival e fluorose e dimensionar as necessidades de tratamento dos pré-escolares. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado a partir de um levantamento epidemiológico de saúde bucal em 2.805 crianças de 5 e 6 anos, matriculadas em pré-escolas municipais de Piracicaba, SP. As crianças foram examinadas por uma equipe de dez dentistas, treinados e calibrados. Foi empregada a técnica de consenso, aferindo-se o erro intra e inter examinadores pelo cálculo de percentagem de concordância. RESULTADOS: Obteve-se 44,3 por cento de crianças livres de cárie aos 5 anos e 38,5 por cento aos 6 anos de idade. O índice de cárie para a dentiçäo decídua (ceo-d) foi 2,64 aos cinco anos e 3,07 aos seis anos, sendo que 31,9 por cento e 37,9 por cento, respectivamente, apresentaram ceo-d maior que 3. O maior percentual de necessidade de tratamento (45,3 por cento) foi a indicaçäo de restauraçäo de uma superfície dentária. Quanto à saúde gengival, 68,6 por cento e 72,6 por cento das crianças aos 5 e 6 anos apresentaram sangramento gengival. A prevalência de fluorose observada foi de 2,6 por cento aos 5 e 6,1 por cento aos 6 anos. CONCLUSOES: Há necessidade da implementaçäo de açöes e estratégias adequadas aos grupos de maior risco