Association of free amino acids with caries experience and mutans streptococci levels in whole saliva of children with early childhood caries

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the free amino acid content in whole saliva of children with (CE) and without early childhood caries (CF) (ECC), correlating these findings with caries experience and mutans streptococci (MS) levels in saliva.Design: Seventy-eight healthy children, both genders, 6-71 months age, were selected to participate in the study. Following examination for dmft scores calculation, unstimulated whole saliva was collected from all 78 participants, stored at -80 degrees C, and used for amino acid analysis, on a Biochem 20 plus amino acid analyzer. Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 52 children, transported, diluted and plated on MSB agar medium for detection of MS in cfu/mL.Results: Forty different free amino acids were identified in whole saliva, with great variation in their concentration. A statistically significant relation was found between caries experience and the presence of free proline and glycine. While proline (p = 0.0182) was more frequently absent in the CF group, the absence of glycine (p = 0.0397) was more often observed in the CE group. In the presence of higher levels of MS, free glycine reduced the risk of experiencing dental caries (p = 0.0419). Conversely, the presence of proline was found to increase the risk of experiencing the disease (p = 0.0492).Conclusions: The presence of free proline and absence of free glycine in children with ECC, highly contaminated with MS, increased the chances of experiencing dental caries in the present population. Further studies are needed to better understand this phenomenon. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Brazilian version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ)

We report the cross-cultural adaptation and validation into Brazilian-Portuguese of the parent's version of two health related quality of life instruments. The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) is a disease specific health instrument that measures functional ability in daily living activities in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) is a generic health instrument designed to capture the physical and psychosocial well-being of children regardless the underlying disease. The Brazilian CHAQ was revalidated, while the CHQ has been derived from the Portuguese version. A total of 471 subjects were enrolled: 157 patients with JIA (27% systemic onset, 38% polyarticular onset, 9% extended oligoarticular subtype, and 26% persistent oligoarticular subtype) and 314 healthy children. The CHAQ discriminated clinically healthy subjects from JIA patients, with the systemic, polyarticular and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a higher degree of disability, pain, and lower overall well-being scores when compared to their healthy peers. Also the CHQ discriminated clinically healthy subjects from JIA patients, with the systemic onset, polyarticular onset and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a lower physical and psychosocial well-being score when compared to their healthy peers. In conclusion the Brazilian versions of the CHAQ-CHQ are reliable and valid tools for the combined physical and psychosocial assessment of children with JIA. © Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2001.

Presence of Candida spp. in infants oral cavity and its association with early childhood caries

Candida spp., mainly C. albicans, colonizes oral cavity of infants. Transmission by mother to childbirth, pacifier use, feeding habits and caries are factors related to Candida oral colonization. Some researches related that early childhood caries favor the oral colonization of C. albicans. The present literature review described the presence of Candida spp. in oral cavity of infants and its association with early childhood caries (ECC). The literature was searched for original papers relating Candida, pacifier and baby bottle usage and ECC.The articles, were selected using Bireme and Medline databases. Manual tracing of references cited in key papers was also elicited It can be concluded that Candida spp. colonization in the infants'oral cavity especially C. albicans, can be related to the pacifier usage, feeding habits caries lesion. The early childhood caries favor the C. albicans colonization, although it's role in the carious process need further studies to be elucidate scientifically.

Prevention of dental trauma during childhood: An overview

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevention of dental trauma in children aged 0 to 3 years, as it is studied in the literature. Since these traumatic injuries can cause damage and complications to the deciduous teeth, and even to the permanent teeth, the development of actions to reduce their occurrence is necessary because these injuries represent a considerable problem in dentistry. Although prevention is difficult in this age group, efforts should be directed at education, especially the development of educational programs involving qualified professional directly engaged in the routine of traumatic dental injuries. The actions to be adopted should be based on the understanding of etiological factors, on the different patterns of the mechanism of injury, and on the characteristics of each community. © 2009 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

The Ped-APS registry: The antiphospholipid syndrome in childhood

In recent years, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has been increasingly recognised in various paediatric autoimmune and nonautoimmune diseases, but the relatively low prevalence and heterogeneity of APS in childhood made it very difficult to study in a systematic way. The project of an international registry of paediatric patients with APS (the Ped-APS Registry) was initiated in 2004 to foster and conduct multicentre, controlled studies with large number of paediatric APS patients. The Ped-APS Registry is organised as a collaborative project of the European Forum on Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Working Group of the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society. Currently, it documents a standardised clinical, laboratory and therapeutic data of 133 children with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL)-related thrombosis from 14 countries. The priority projects for future research of the Ped-APS Registry include prospective enrolment of new patients with aPL-related thrombosis, assessment of differences between the paediatric and adult APS, evaluation of proinflammatory genotype as a risk factor for APS manifestations in childhood and evaluation of patients with isolated nonthrombotic aPL-related manifestations. © The Author(s), 2009.

Regional odontodysplasia in early childhood: A clinical and histological study

Regional odontodysplasia (RO) is a rare disorder of dental development. The affected teeth are clinically hypoplastic and hypocalcified, presenting a ghost-like appearance radiographically. The aim of this work was to report a clinical case of a child with both primary and permanent dentition affected by RO. The conducted therapy was based on a conservative approach, which consisted of follow-up clinical evaluations of the anomalous teeth. However, the endodontic treatment of the primary incisors failed. Then, the chosen option for patient rehabilitation became extraction followed by removable of prosthesis confection. The extracted teeth were processed for histological analysis. In spite of the uncertain prognosis, but taking into account the psychological aspects of the patient, a conservative approach in an attempt to maintain those viable teeth in the oral cavity should be established.

Dealing with 'the global governance' and 'the dual constituency' syndromes in emerging countries

Includes bibliography

Childhood trauma in substance use disorder and depression: An analysis by gender among a Brazilian clinical sample

Objective: In this study, we compared the frequency and intensity of childhood traumas in alcohol- or other drug-dependent patients, in patients with depression, and in a control group without psychiatric diagnoses. Methods: The study had a retrospective design of a clinical sample of men and women from the groups listed above. They were evaluated by the same standardized instrument: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.. Results: A higher frequency and intensity of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse were found in alcohol- and other drug-dependent patients than in patients with depression, who, in turn, presented significantly higher proportions than the control group. In all of the cases, the frequency was higher among women than men. Conclusion: Because of the high frequency and intensity of childhood traumas among alcohol- or other drug-dependent patients and depressed patients, the assessment of problems due to childhood traumas among these patients is essential to a better understanding of the etiology of those disorders and to their treatment. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chile: Interaction between the State and civil society in policies on childhood

Includes bibliography