Microbiota of dentinal caries as assessed by reverse-capture checkerboard analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to identify the microbiota of different layers of dentinal caries by using a culture-independent molecular biology approach. METHODS: DNA was extracted from samples taken from 3 distinct layers (superficial, middle and deep) of advanced occlusal caries and analyzed for the presence and relative levels of 28 oral bacterial species/phylotypes using a reverse-capture checkerboard hybridization assay. RESULTS: The mean number of target taxa per layer was 7.7 (± 3.96) in the superficial, 7 (± 3.4) in the middle, and 6.3 (± 3.04) in the deep layer. No statistical significance was observed for these differences (p = 0.36). Overall, the most prevalent taxa in the 3 layers were Atopobium genomospecies C1 (72.5%), Fusobacterium nucleatum (69%), Lactobacillus casei (68%), Veillonella species (55%) and Lactobacillus fermentum (52%). No differences were found in the prevalence rates of the most frequent target species in the 3 layers. The most prevalent taxa found at levels above 10(5) in the advanced front line of deep-dentin caries were Atopobium genomospecies C1, F. nucleatum, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus species and Veillonella species. CONCLUSION: The present results revealed that the prevalences of several established or candidate caries pathogens do not differ significantly in the different zones of dentinal caries lesions. The finding that some as-yet-uncharacterized species and novel species were found in high frequencies join other molecular studies to include them in the set of candidate caries pathogens.

Relationship between stature, overweight and central obesity in the adult population in São Paulo, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To test association between overweight, central obesity and stature. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study carried-out between 1990-1991. SUBJECTS: 951 adults (387 male and 564 female) aged 20-64 y, resident in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometry, blood lipid concentrations (total, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs) and blood glucose. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference were used to identify overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2), abdominal obesity (WHR tertile 3 and waist circumference tertile 3), respectively. The subjects were categorised as those of short stature (women < 150 cm, men < 162cm) and those of normal stature (women > or = 150 cm, men > or = 162 cm). RESULTS: Prevalence of short stature was 19.6% and 15.4% in men and women, respectively. Short stature women had higher serum concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TGs and glucose than those of normal stature. Among men, this difference was not observed, except for glucose concentrations. Short stature women had high BMI and WHR means in some age categories, compared with those of normal stature. Both overweight and high WHR frequencies were greater in short stature women than in those of normal ones. In multivariate analysis, adjusted by age, income, marital status, education, physical activity and tobacco use, only women group with short stature compared with normal stature had significantly risk of overweight an high WHR. In the same group there was no association with waist circumference. Among the men there was significant opposite association with waist circumference. CONCLUSION: Short stature in women can potentially be an independent risk factor for overweight and high WHR.

[Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, lipemic disorders, hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus in the population of a metropolitan area of southeastern Brazil. III--Hypertension]. / Doenças cardiovasculares ateroscleróticas, dislipidemias, hipertensão, obesidade e diabetes melito em população da área metropolitana da região sudeste do Brasil. III--Hipertensão.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalencies of hypertension are analysed by sex and age group, in social groupings established in accord with social criteria. With a view better to understanding the social dimension of the disease, prevalencies were characterised by type of occupation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 1,041 people and corresponds to the sum of the samples representing the "study areas" established by the use of socio-economic and geographical criteria. Four social strata were defined in obedience to a socioeconomic gradient. Hypertension was defined by the Joint National Committee (JNC), 140/90 mmHg, and of the World Health Organization (WHO), 160/95 mmHg, standard references. RESULTS: According to the JNC and WHO standard references the prevalencies of hypertension, age adjusted, were of approximately the following: stratum (I + II) 60 and 37%; stratum III 50 and 39%; stratum IV 55 e 46%. Among women the prevalencies were 40 and 38% (stratum I + II); 56 and 47% (stratum III) and 55 and 46% (stratum IV). For the men belonging to the economically active population, classified by occupation, it was showed that the freelance professionals, consisting of businessmen of small firms, small traders and liberal professionals, presented a prevalence of about 60 and 37%; the skilled workers, employed in factories of 35 and 14%; the daily freelance workers, unskilled laborers and unemployed, of 59 and 40%. The women were divided by occupation as belonging or not to the economically active population (EAP) and presented the following prevalencies: 39 and 47%, respectively, according to the JNC standard, and 27 and 45%, respectively, according to the WHO standard. Thus it may be seen that these results run counter to the hypothesis that women integrated into the labour market are more exposed to the risk factors for non-transmissible diseases. CONCLUSION: Thus it may be concluded that the categories most affected by the present economic were those most affected by hypertension. On the other hand the possibility of there being and a intense social determination in the etiology of hypertension in this population is demonstrated.

Smoking, consumption of alcohol and sedentary life style in population grouping and their relationships with lipemic disorders.

The study, part of the project "Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, lipemic disorders, hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus in a population of the metropolitan area of the southeastern region of Brazil", had the following objectives: a) the characterization and distribution among typical human socio-economic groupings, of the prevalence of some particular habits which constitute aspects of life-style-the use of tobacco, the use of alcohol and sedentary activity; b) the establishment of the interrelation between the above-mentioned habits and some lipemic disorders. The prevalence of the habits cited behaved in the following manner: the use of tobacco predominated among men, distributed uniformly throughout the social strata; among the women the average percentage of smokers was 18.9%, a significant difference occurring among the highest socio-economic class, where the average was of 40.2%. The sedentary style of life presented high prevalence, among both men and women with exception of the women of the highest socio-economic level and of the skilled working class. The use of alcohol, as one would expect, is a habit basically practised by the men, without any statistically significant differences between classes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus in a population of the metropolitan area of southeastern Brazil. I--Research methodology]. / Doenças cardiovasculares ateroscleróticas, dislipidemias, hipertensão, obesidade e diabetes melito em população da área metropolitana da região sudeste do Brasil. I--Metodologia da pesquisa.

An epidemiological study was carried out into the risk factors for the following atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: lipemic disorders, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus as related to some factors which characterize life-style (sedentary, drinking, smoking and eating habits). The population studied belongs to the metropolitan area of S. Paulo. The research project had the following objectives: a) the development of an epidemiological baseline for the study of the risk factors for the atherosclerotics cardiovascular diseases represented by the lipimic disorders, obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus and their relationship with personal, family and social characteristics; b) the for clinical-educative treatment of patients or people at risk. In view of the objectives above it was decided that the project should in an integrated way with the local health centers and community associations in the field work phase. For this purpose, the methodology adopted was that of establishing small geographical areas, denominated "study areas", in accordance with socioeconomic criterion. Clinico-biochemical and eating surveys were carried out and interviews held with a view to obtaining data on socioeconomic and demographic and life-style characteristics. The clinical survey collected data on anthropometric measurements, arterial pressure, electrocardiogram and symptoms of heart disease. The biochemical survey consisted of the measurement of the following constituents of the blood: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, magnesium, glucose, sodium, potassium and phosphorous. The eating survey covered data of historic food consumption. By means of indicators such as income, schooling, occupation, position held in the occupation, ownership of property and respective size of property and employment of labour, the social classes were established. The clinico-educative intervention was carried out in the following way: a) the team made contact with the community associations and the health centers, that begin to participate in the project, permitting the use of their physical space for the carrying out of surveys and clinical exams and taking part in the work of publishing and explaining the project; b) those individuals with positive diagnosis or who are found at risk were referred to the health centers which then include assistance for the diseases in question in their permanent activities. After the end the project the team gave to the community a report on the prevalence of the morbidities researched in their population.

[Dyslipidemia and some risk factors in the population outside of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, SP-Brazil. A pilot study]. / Dislipidemias e alguns fatores de risco associados em uma população periférica da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, SP-Brasil. Um estudo piloto.

A survey of the prevalence of lipemic disorders and some risk factors associated with them (obesity, hypertension and alcoholism), in a representative sample of the population of 20 years of age and over in a locality typical of the peripheral zone of the Greater S. Paulo Region, Brazil, both in terms of the poverty of the population and with regard to the lack of public sources such as sewage, transport and housing, is undertaken. The following results were obtained: a) the prevalence of one risk factor was about 55%, and of two or more associated risk factors was of approximately 9% in the age group from 20 to 39. There was found to be a prevalence of about 51% and 57%, respectively of two or more associated risk factors for the age groups from 40 to 59 and 60 years of age and over; b) the prevalence of lipemic disorders proper was of about 49%, 58% and 57% respectively, for the age groups of 20 to 39, 40 to 59 and 60 years of age and over. In these cases the most prevalent risk factors among men were alcoholism and hypertension, either isolatedly or associated with obesity, and among women the most prevalent was obesity, alone or associated with hypertension; c) the most prevalent lipemic disorder was due to HDL-cholesterol, mainly among the younger people. The prevalence lower-than-normal HDL-cholesterol, was of about 28% and of "other lipemic disorders" was of 22% in the age group between 20 and 39 years of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)