Influence of a genetic variant of CHAT gene over the profile of plasma soluble ChAT in Alzheimer disease.

The choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) are fundamental to neurophysiological functions of the central cholinergic system. We confirmed and quantified the presence of extracellular ChAT protein in human plasma and also characterized ChAT and VAChT polymorphisms, protein and activity levels in plasma of Alzheimer's disease patients (AD; N = 112) and in cognitively healthy controls (EC; N = 118). We found no significant differences in plasma levels of ChAT activity and protein between AD and EC groups. Although no differences were observed in plasma ChAT activity and protein concentration among ChEI-treated and untreated AD patients, ChAT activity and protein levels variance in plasma were higher among the rivastigmine-treated group (ChAT protein: p = 0.005; ChAT activity: p = 0.0002). Moreover, AD patients homozygous for SNP rs1880676 A allele exhibited higher levels of ChAT activity. Considering this is the first study to report the influence of genetic variability of CHAT locus over ChAT activity in AD patients plasma, it opens a new set of important questions on peripheral cholinergic signaling in AD.

Prevalência de más oclusões em crianças de 9 a 12 anos de idade da cidade de Nova Friburgo (Rio de Janeiro) / Prevalence of malocclusion in children aged 9 to 12 years old in the city of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

INTRODUÇÃO: o conhecimento da situação epidemiológica da população é importante para o planejamento e execução dos serviços odontológicos. OBJETIVOS: avaliar a prevalência de más oclusões em escolares de 9 a 12 anos de idade da rede municipal de ensino da cidade de Nova Friburgo (Rio de Janeiro). MÉTODOS: a amostra, selecionada aleatoriamente, foi composta por 407 crianças (53,1 por cento do gênero feminino), que foram avaliadas por um profissional treinado, após autorização de seus responsáveis. RESULTADOS: as más oclusões mais prevalentes foram apinhamento (45,5 por cento), sobressaliência exagerada (29,7 por cento), mordida cruzada posterior (19,2 por cento), diastemas anteriores (16,2 por cento), dente parcialmente irrompido (12,0 por cento) e sobremordida exagerada (10,8 por cento). A relação molar mais presente foi a de Classe I (76,7 por cento). A presença de diastemas foi maior no gênero feminino e a sobremordida exagerada foi mais prevalente no gênero masculino, ambas na dentição mista. Sobressaliência negativa e presença de dente parcialmente irrompido tiveram maior prevalência na dentição permanente. CONCLUSÃO: observou-se que a simples avaliação da prevalência das más oclusões não revela a gravidade nem a hierarquia da necessidade de tratamento, fatores importantes no planejamento em Saúde Pública.

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of a population's epidemiological situation is important in the planning and provision of dental services. OBJECTIVES: Assess the prevalence of malocclusion in children aged 9 to 12 years old from public schools in the city of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. METHODS: A randomly selected sample consisting of 407 children (53.1 percent female) who were evaluated by a trained professional, after parental consent. RESULTS: The most prevalent malocclusions were crowding (45.5 percent), excessive overjet (29.7 percent), posterior crossbite (19.2 percent), anterior diastema (16.2 percent), partially erupted teeth (12.0 percent) and excessive overbite (10.8 percent). Class I molar relationship prevailed (76.7 percent). The presence of diastemas was higher in females and excessive overbite was more prevalent in males, both in mixed dentition. Negative overjet and the presence of partially erupted teeth had a higher prevalence in permanent dentition. CONCLUSION: It was observed that the mere evaluation of malocclusion prevalence does not reveal case severity or treatment need, both of which are important factors in public health planning.

Orthodontic treatment need in a group of 9-12-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren.

The present study aimed to evaluate the need for orthodontic treatment in Brazilian schoolchildren presenting both late mixed dentition and early permanent dentition as well as to determine the possible factors associated with this necessity. Our randomly selected sample consisted of 407 schoolchildren aged between 9 and 12 years from Nova Friburgo (State of Rio de Janeiro), Brazil. All the children were evaluated according to the two components of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), namely, the Dental Health Component (DHC) and the Aesthetic Component (AC). Data analysis involved multiple logistic regression. Definite need for orthodontic treatment was found in 34.2% and 11.3% of the children according to, respectively, DHC and AC. The most prevalent malocclusions included the following: contact point displacement (crowding), crossbite, and increased overjet. Male gender, permanent dentition and aesthetic reasons were factors associated with a great need for orthodontic treatment. It was concluded that about one-third of the children evaluated had a definite need for orthodontic treatment. This necessity was greater in the permanent dentition, thus emphasizing the importance of an early identification of malocclusions and a timely referral of patients for treatment. The correlation between AC and DHC was considered important since they involve distinctive characteristics.

Uncommon localization of a sialolith in a child's frenum.

Sialoliths or salivary calculi appear as hard nodules of unknown etiology and are usually located in the anterior portion of Wharton's duct (submandibular gland ducts), affecting mainly adult men. The purpose of this report was to describe an uncommon case of submandibular sialolith located in a child's lingual frenum and address the semiologic and semiotechnical aspects related to the case's diagnosis.

Orthodontic treatment need in a group of 9-12-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren

The present study aimed to evaluate the need for orthodontic treatment in Brazilian schoolchildren presenting both late mixed dentition and early permanent dentition as well as to determine the possible factors associated with this necessity. Our randomly selected sample consisted of 407 schoolchildren aged between 9 and 12 years from Nova Friburgo (State of Rio de Janeiro), Brazil. All the children were evaluated according to the two components of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), namely, the Dental Health Component (DHC) and the Aesthetic Component (AC). Data analysis involved multiple logistic regression. Definite need for orthodontic treatment was found in 34.2 percent and 11.3 percent of the children according to, respectively, DHC and AC. The most prevalent malocclusions included the following: contact point displacement (crowding), crossbite, and increased overjet. Male gender, permanent dentition and aesthetic reasons were factors associated with a great need for orthodontic treatment. It was concluded that about one-third of the children evaluated had a definite need for orthodontic treatment. This necessity was greater in the permanent dentition, thus emphasizing the importance of an early identification of malocclusions and a timely referral of patients for treatment. The correlation between AC and DHC was considered important since they involve distinctive characteristics.

Split mouth randomized controlled clinical trial of beveled cavity preparations in primary molars: an 18-Month follow up.

OBJECTIVES: This split-mouth, double-blind, randomized controlled study evaluated the clinical performance of composite restorations in Class I beveled margin cavity preparations in primary molars. METHODS: A total of 94 Class I cavity preparations were performed in the carious primary molars of 32 children aged 4-10 years. Two cavity designs were used: conventional conservative preparation (G1) and modified preparation with cavosurface bevel (G2). All teeth were restored using TPH Spectrumtrade mark. The restorations were evaluated by two calibrated investigators at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months using slight modified USPH criteria. The visible plaque index and fiber optic transilumination (FOTI) were also used. The data were statistically evaluated using Wilcoxon and Friedman tests (p<0.05). The rank correlations between secondary caries, visible plaque index and FOTI were obtained using Pearson correlation (p<0.01). RESULTS: Of the 94 restorations performed and evaluated at baseline, 76 restorations were available after 18 months. Seventy-three restorations were considered as clinical success, 10 were censored for drop out reasons and 5 were lost by natural exfoliation. Four restorations failed by secondary caries and two failed by marginal adaptation discrepancies. For all evaluation there was difference between the baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months (p<0.05) but there were no statistically significant difference in G1 and G2 for any criteria evaluated (p>0.05) at any period of the study. The visible plaque index was correlated to secondary caries. CONCLUSION: Bevel cavity design preparations did not improve the success of composite restorations in primary molars over 18 months.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis: impact on the permanent dentition after an 8-year follow-up.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder which mainly affects children. Oral changes, such as gingival ulceration, halitosis, osseous lesions associated with tooth mobility, and early loss of primary teeth, comprise the disease's first manifestations for most patients. In the long term, dental changes may occur as a result of dental and systemic treatment. Therefore, this study's purpose is to report Langerhans cell histiocytosis' effects on the permanent dentition 8 years after diagnosis, which had been established by performing a biopsy of gingival tissue on a 3-year-old patient.

O índice de necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico como um método de avaliação em saúde pública / The index of orthodontic treatment need as an assessment method in public health

As má oclusões são consideradas problemas de saúde pública e, como tal, necessitam de um método de avaliação uniforme que priorize o atendimento dos indivíduos com maior necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico. Dentre os vários índices oclusais desenvolvidos com esta finalidade, o Índice de Necessidade de Tratamento Ortodôntico tem sido muito utilizado em diversos países. Como no Brasil a demanda por este tipo de tratamento nos serviços públicos excede a oferta, observa-se a necessidade da implementação de um meio adequado de seleção de pacientes. Assim, objetiva-se elucidar a forma de aplicação deste índice e os seus benefícios, pois o mesmo pode ser bastante útil em encaminhamentos e triagens ao tratamento ortodôntico.

Malocclusions are considered public health problems, needing a uniform method of assessment that prioritizes the attendance of individuals with greater orthodontic treatment need. Among the several oclusal indices developed with this purpose, the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need has been used in many countries. As the demand for this treatment in public services in Brazil exceeds the offers, there is a need to implement an adequate method of patient's selection. Thus, the aim of this article is to elucidate this index methodology and its benefits, because it can be very useful in orthodontic treatment referrals and triages.

Congenital epulis: an unusual case of spontaneous regression.

Congenital epulis is a rare benign neoplasm of the soft tissues. Typically, this condition manifests as a firm, smooth, pink mass that appears exclusively on the alveolar ridges in newborn infants. Surgical excision usually is recommended; however, smaller lesions may disappear spontaneously over time. This article reports an unusual case of a girl whose dentist diagnosed congenital epulis when she was 16 months old; the epulis disappeared completely three months later. Diagnostic and prognostic issues and treatment options are discussed.