El tabaco y las periodontopatías.

The purpose of this research, which is part of a study on periodontal disease and its risk factors among workers in Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil, was to determine the association between smoking and its frequency, on the one hand, and the presence of periodontal cavities on the other. A sample of 528 sugar and alcohol refinery employees from Araraquara between the ages of 18 and 64 was examined in March and April of 1992 by a trained examiner who applied the Index of Periodontal Treatment Needs in the Community. Questionnaires were used to record the individuals' age, smoking habits, and the number of cigarettes smoked daily. An oral examination was also performed to assess the presence of dental plaque and to determine the bacterial colony index. Data analysis revealed a positive association between the presence of periodontal cavities and smoking. After adjusting the data for age, presence of dental plaque, and bacterial colony index, the odds ratio for having periodontal cavities increased directly with the number of cigarettes smoked. These results suggest that smoking and its frequency should be taken into account when planning programs for the primary prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.

CPITN: time and cost estimates for periodontal prevention and treatment procedures.

The aim of this study was to estimate the necessary time and cost for periodontal prevention and treatment in a working population from sugar and alcohol refineries in Araraquara, SP, Brazil. A stratified sample of 528 employees aged 18-64 from administrative, industrial and agricultural staffs was examined by one examiner, previously trained, according to the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). The time required for procedures and the cost was extrapolated to the total worker population. The results showed that the estimated time required for periodontal prevention/treatment was 4527 hours. Of this time, 1783 hours were required for oral hygiene instruction, 2531 for scaling, 151 for surgery and 62 for maintenance. The cost would be US $17,655 for hiring a dentist for 8 hours/day to provide oral hygiene instruction, scaling, surgery and maintenance. However, the cost would be US $9,028 for hiring a dentist for 4 hours/day to provide surgery and maintenance and a dental hygienist for 8 hours/day to provide scaling and oral hygiene instruction. Taking into account epidemiologic, technical and economic aspects, the decision relating to manpower should be this second option.

Fermentacao de 26-deoxilaidlomicina por Streptomyces sp. Ar386

In a previous work a strain of microorganism was isolated in Araraquara region, SP, Brazil, and characterized as being Streptomyces sp. Ar386, producer of 26-deoxylaidlomycin and of more three polietheric antibiotics. In this paper there are presented studies about fermentation characteristics of the antibiotic performed in incubator agitator utilizing various cultivation technics and media. A medium containing part of energy source as free sugar and part as amilaceous material presented the best result. As the Streptomyces sp. Ar386 produced few spores, it was necessary special care to provide sufficient quantity of microorganisms in inoculation. The biosynthesis of antibiotics intensified between the forth and seventh day. The yields varied from 8 to 443 mg of antibiotic complex per litre of medium. As a polyether antibiotic it may be used as anticoccidal agent in poultry and as growth promoters in cattle and swine.

Antibiotic 26-deoxylaidlomycin isolated from Streptomyces sp. Ar386 from Brazilian soil

An actinomycete strain (Ar386) was isolated from the soil of the Araraquara regio, SP, Brazil. The strain, named Streptomyces jacareensis, formed irregular rayed, rugose, grayish-white mycelium with sinuous, branched hyphae carrying rare isolated spores; assimilated glucose, galactose, inositol, ribose, maltose, sucrose, melibiose and starch but not mannitol, rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, lactose and raffinose; and contained LL- diaminopimelic acid in its cell wall. An antibiotic active against Gram- positive bacteria, which was characterized as being 26-deoxylaidlomycin and which may have application against poultry coccidiosis, was isolated from cultures of the strain. This was the first isolation of this antibiotic from a microorganism of the genus Streptomyces and also the first isolation of this antibiotic in Brazil.

Avaliacao das condicoes de saude bucal dos idosos em um municipio brasileiro

This study assessed the oral health of individuals 60 years or older in the city of Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1998. Of the 194 people who participated in the study, 91 of them were institutionalized and had an average age of 73.6 years, and 103 were not institutionalized and had an average age of 69.3 years. The study participants were examined by a previously trained oral surgeon who determined the prevalence of the most common oral health problems. The results revealed a large number of edentulous individuals (72% of those institutionalized and 60% of the noninstitutionalized participants) and many persons with extracted teeth (93% and 90%, respectively), as well as a high frequency of periodontal pockets (57% and 75%, respectively) and of inadequate dentures (80% and 61%, respectively). Our results show reduced quality of life for a large proportion of these older individuals, and also indicate that public health services should pay greater attention to this population group.

Caries and its association with infant feeding and oral health-related behaviours in 3-4-year-old Brazilian children

Objectives: To investigate the relationships between socio-demographic factors, infant feeding habits, oral hygiene and the prevalence and patterns of caries in Brazilian 3-4-year-olds. Methods: Systematic random sampling was used to select children enrolled in municipal nurseries in Araraquara, Brazil, in 1998. Clinical examinations were carried out by one examiner using dmft and dmfs indices and WHO criteria. Questionnaires for information related to the socio-demographic background, oral hygiene and dietary history of the children were completed by their mothers. Results: Caries was seen in 46% of the children; 17% of them had the more extensive pattern involving molars and incisors. Social class, mother's education, and age at which breast-feeding terminated showed statistically significant associations with caries. Feeding bottles with added sugars were still being given to 80% of the children. When the significant variables were taken into account only age at which breast-feeding terminated showed a significant relationship to the pattern of disease. Children who were never breast-fed or were breast-fed beyond the age of 24 months had a higher prevalence of the more extensive pattern of caries. Conclusions: The association between the length of time a mother breast-feeds and extensive caries should be a consideration in any local infant feeding policies or health promotion strategies. The duration for appropriate breast- or bottle-feeding should be emphasised.

Effects of cervical headgear and edgewise appliances on growing patients

Maxillary basal bone, dentoalveolar, and dental changes in Class II Division 1 patients treated to normal occlusion by using cervical headgear and edgewise appliances were retrospectively evaluated. A sample of 45 treated patients was compared with a group of 30 untreated patients. Subjects were drawn from the Department of Orthodontics, Araraquara School of Dentistry, Brazil, and ranged in age from 7.5 to 13.5 years. The groups were matched based on age, gender, and malocclusion. Roughly 87% of the treated group had a mesocephalic or brachicephalic pattern, and 13% had a dolicocephalic pattern. Cervical headgear was used until a Class I dental relationship was achieved. Our results demonstrated that the malocclusions were probably corrected by maintaining the maxillary first molars in position during maxillary growth. Maxillary basal bone changes (excluding dentoalveolar changes) did not differ significantly between the treated and the untreated groups. Molar extrusion after the use of cervical headgear was not supported by our data, and this must be considered in the treatment plan of patients who present similar facial types. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2001;119:531-9).

Microbiological quality of ice used to refrigerate foods

Ice used for human consumption or to refrigerate foods can be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms and may become a vehicle for human infection. To evaluate the microbiological content of commercial ice and ice used to refrigerate fish and seafood, 60 ice samples collected at six different retail points in the city of Araraquara, SP, Brazil, were studied. The following parameters were determined: total plate counts (37° C and 4° C), most probable number (MPN) for total coliforms, fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli, presence of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Yersinia spp., E. coli, Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas spp.. Results suggested poor hygienic conditions of ice production due to the presence of indicator micro-organisms. Fifty strains of E. coli of different serotypes, as well as one Y. enterocolitica biotype 1, serogroup 0:5, 27 and phage type Xz (Ye 1/05,27/Xz) and one Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 1 (PT1) were isolated. Aeromonas spp., Shigella spp. and V. cholerae were not detected. The presence of high numbers of coliforms, heterotrophic indicator micro-organisms and pathogenic strains suggested that commercial ice and ice used to refrigerate fish and seafood may rep resent a potential hazard to the consumer in our community. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of motivation methods used to obtain appropriate oral hygiene levels in schoolchildren.

The aim of the present study is to assess the behaviour of different motivation methods on levels of oral hygiene among schoolchildren aged from 7 to 9 years in Araraquara, SP, Brazil. The methods tested were: indirect instruction using 'The Smiling Robot' (group I), indirect instruction through class presentation (group II) and direct instruction with macromodels (group III). A control group was also constituted, which received no kind of motivation (group IV). The O'Leary Plaque Index was used as the evaluation method, applied before the instruction and 30 days after application of the different methods. It was noted that the plaque index had not decreased in group IV only. In conclusion, all the motivation methods promoted significant decrease of plaque index and among these methods, the 'The Smiling Robot' was the one that provided the best results.

Isolamento de fungos produtores de enzimas pectinolíticas

Soil samples collected in the campus, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, were employed to isolate and characterize fungi strains with potential pectinolytic enzymes. These enzymes have arisen great interest due to its increasing application in the food industry. Two hundred forty six strains were isolated based on the appearance of colony on PDA medium, morphology (septate mycelia, nonseptate conidiophore, black conidia, and clublike spore-bearing head), after 48 h of growth at 30°C. Strains were selected in solid medium containing pectin citrus as sole carbon source and 0.5% rutenium red. The characterization of pectinolytic production was performed in solid culture and batch fermentation medium containing pectin citrus. The enzyme pectinolytic production was evaluated at 30°C, without agitation in 100 mL of medium containing 2% pectin citrus, 0.2% ammonium sulphate, 0.2% magnesium sulphate, and 0.05% potassium phosphate. The maximum pectinolytic activity (15U/mL) was observed in the medium after Aspergillus sp CFCF-0492 growth, while Aspergillus sp CFCF-CC1 showed the higher level of the final biomass. The pectinolytic activity is more preserved when the fungi-spores were maintained in agar-Czapeck medium.

Avaliação da atividade mutagênica do resíduo sólido de uma fábrica de confecções de meias e lingerie em ensaios com Salmonella typhimurium

Cancer is one of the most hazardous effects to human health caused by the exposition to chemical agents. The search for new technological solutions in the industrial field led to a rapid increase in the productive sector, causing the workers to be exposed to millions of potentially toxic agents, substances potentially harmful to health. This study presents the mutagenic activity of sweepings from a sock and lingerie factory in Araraquara-Brazil, assayed with Salmonella typhimurium. All the extracts from the factory had mutagenic on activity the YG1024 strain, which is extremely sensitive to detect the mutagenic activity of the arilhydroxilamines, nitroarenes and aromatic amines. The extracts were non-mutagenics for the strains TA100 and TA98. The analysis of the mutagenicity of industrial residues is highly important because employees that participate in the production are directly exposed to those agents, as well as to the environment where the garbage is deposited.

Dispersão de bioaerossóis por aeradores em uma estação de tratamento de esgoto sanitário

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação da eficiência dos métodos Direto, COPROTEST e Rugai no diagnóstico da estrongiloidíase

Strongyloidiasis, a relatively common parasitism in tropical and sub-tropical areas, is the result of the infection by the smaller nematode, the Strongyloides stercoralis. Humans can be infected by this parasite, which has in its vital cycle free-life forms of male and female individuals able to live in the ground, and with another step necessary parasitism in the intestinal wall. The diagnostic of the infection is routinely done by the microscopic observation of the larva in stool samples and the high sensibility of urn method over another one allows an trustable and efficient diagnostic. The efficiency of three methods (Direct, COPROTEST and Rugai) used in the Parasitology Sector of the NAC-LACAL in Araraquara (SP) to diagnosis the strongiloidiasis were evaluated. A number of 2346 samples of stool of patients from NAC-LACAL and Nestor Goulart Reis Hospital were analyzed in the period between August and December of 2002. The Rugai Method with an positivity index of 65 % was elected as the most efficient of thee ones.

Dimensión vertical de la región anterior de la mandíbula

We made some measurements from the region of the symphysis menti in 308 dried mandibles; 247 belong to the collection of the cranial museum of the discipline of Anatomy of the UNIFESP- Escola Paulista de Medicina- EPM and 61 belong to the didactic laboratory of the discipline of Anatomy from the Faculdade de Odontologia de Araraquara- UNESP, Brasil. On the dentate mandibles, the highest value founded was of 43,46 mm and the lowest of 22,67 mm. On the edentate mandibles, the highest value founded was of 37,24 mm and the lowest of 6,22mm. We hope that with the following discoveries we could contribute to a better knowledge of the symphysis menti region, not only to the professionals in Surgery and Implantology areas, but the industrials of related areas, to the confection of instruments used in these practices. © 2007 Sociedad Chilena de Anatom•br>.

Estudo da bula de medicamentos: Uma análise da situação

This study was carried out in the city of Araraquara (SP, Brazil), where 1829 people selected randomly from 42 districts were interviewed with regard to their use of medicines, in particular whether and how they read the insert information sheet and the most frequently read items and problems encountered in the text. Surveys were performed in two stages, the first when package inserts were regulated in Brazil by Portaria SVS 110/1997 (Ministry of Health directive) and the second after the new regulation (RDC 140/2003) came into force. Out of 1829 people interviewed, 1597 reported using some medicine. The markedly similar results in both stages of the research pointed to the difficulties encounteved in reading the package inserts, due to the small letters, the obscure language and the massive amount of information. This paper shows that package inserts of medicines need to be simpler, so the patients have an idea of the importance of the medicine and are able to realize soon any problem that might appear due to the use of the medicine and what action they should take. Furthermore, it will be helpful to the evaluation of the package inserts of medicines, elaborated in conformity with RDC 140, if they work effectively as a source of information and guidance for the patient are not simply given a new layout, while maintaining items that impede their understanding and use.