Dental caries: Genetic and protein interactions.

OBJECTIVE: To present a genetic and protein interaction analysis associated with dental caries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The first step was to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) through an electronic database search. Case-controls that reported associations between genes and dental caries were the main type of study design used as inclusion criteria, retrieved from the PubMed and the Virtual Health Library databases, comprising the chronological range from 1982 to 2017. The SLR was guided by PRISMA protocol and the methodological quality of the studies was established through Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). In the second step, the String Protein Interaction (SPI) approach was used to analyze protein interaction (by esyN software) and also the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to check biological pathways associated with dental caries genes. RESULTS: A total of 51 articles were included to perform this SLR, describing a number of 27 genes associated with dental caries development. At the genetic level, 23 genes have at least one other gene with which they interact. The genes TUFT1, VDR, TFIP11, LTF, HLA-DRB1, MMP2, MMP3 and MUC5B were shown to be connected in interactive networks by at least 10 other genes. CONCLUSION: It is essential to apprehend the multifactorial pattern of inheritance in human disease. This study presents pathways which may be directly correlated with several dental caries phenotype and this contributes to a better understanding of this disease, opening up a wider range of biotechnology options for its effective control in the future.

KLK4 Gene and Dental Decay: Replication in a South Brazilian Population.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to identify and replicate the participation of KLK4 gene polymorphisms in the susceptibility to dental decay. METHODS: A total of 200 patients were recruited using ICDAS criteria - 100 of them with dental caries and 100 with no history of the disease. Buccal cells were collected and the DNA was extracted and amplified using PCR. RESULTS: During the descriptive analysis, the variables ethnicity, biofilm, and gingivitis and the markers rs2242670 and rs2978642 were statistically significant. In the multivariate analysis, the marker rs2242670 and the variable biofilm maintained statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Genetic variations in the KLK4 gene may contribute to dental decay.

Chronic conditions policies: oral health, a felt absence.

The global health scenario shows an epidemic of non-communicable diseases that lead to long-term chronic conditions, some of which are incurable. Many infectious diseases, owing to their development and length, also generate chronic conditions. Similarly, non-morbid states, such as pregnancy, and some life cycles such as adolescence and ageing, follow the same logic. Among all these chronic conditions there is a significant interrelationship with oral health, both in parallel events and common risk factors. This article presents cross-sectional qualitative research into World Health Organisation recommended health policies to address chronic conditions. Several documents published by the organisation were analysed to verify the presence of references to oral health in relation to chronic conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes as these most frequently have oral manifestations. The analysis showed no significant references to oral health or its indicators within the published texts. The study recognises the value of the work developed by the World Health Organisation, as well as its worldwide leadership role in the development of health policies for chronic conditions. This article proposes a coalition of dentistry organisations that could, in a more forceful and collective way, advocate for a greater presence of oral health in drafting policies addressing chronic conditions.

Sustainable development and child health in the Curitiba metropolitan mesoregion, State of Paraná, Brazil.

The purpose of this study was to analyze social determinants of health through the relationship between Sustainable Development and child health outcomes. The population studied lives in 37 municipalities of the Curitiba mesoregion, in the State of Paraná, Brazil. It is a cross-cutting ecological study. In the 1st phase of the study, 16 contextual indicators were obtained from the 2010 demographic census performed by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Principal Components Factor Analysis was undertaken to demonstrate possible correlations between social determinants of health, resulting in Sustainable Development indices for the places where the children live. In the 2nd phase the mortality rate in children aged under 5 was obtained from the Ministry of Health database. Pearson's correlation demonstrated statistically significant, moderate and negative association between the mortality rate in children aged under 5 (2001-2010) and the Sustainable Development Index (r = -0.62, p<0.01); with the Equity component (r = -0.70, p<0.01); and with the clusters (r = -0.68, p<0.01). Contextual indicators of Sustainable Development for the places where the children live showed themselves to be associated with the child health outcome. As such, equitable and sustainable social policies, based on inclusive health promotion strategies, need to be integrated into the children's life context.

Health promoting schools and their impact on the oral health of mentally disabled people in Brazil.

Health promotion aims to ensure that the population has improved living and health conditions, and schools are appropriate environments in which to do this. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of health promotion in terms of oral health in special schools for mentally disable pupils in Brazil. The study was cross-sectional and adopted a qualitative and quantitative approach, using triangulation methods to observe the reality. An epidemiological survey was performed in order to analyse the oral health status; a semi-structured questionnaire and participative observation were used for the qualitative analysis of the health promotion activities undertaken in the schools; case studies were carried out to evaluate the profile of oral health status in the context of the schools. The sample was comprised of 383 school-children aged 2-19, stratified among 7 schools, Curitiba/Paraná/Brazil. The analysis was performed by means of frequency distribution and associations between variables, using the SPSS 16.0 program. The oral health status prevalences in the population studied were dental caries, 49.3%; bleeding gums, 23.8%; dental trauma, 11% and toothache in the last 3 months, 17,8%. Dental caries and bleeding gums experience was associated with the level of the mother's education (p<0.00) and age group (p<0.00). Dental trauma and toothache in the last 3 months were associated with the level of the mother's education (p<0.00 and p<0.00, respectively). Analysis of the dimensions of health promotion demonstrated that health is being promoted in all the schools studied. However, the analysis of oral health indicators per school revealed a possible interference of socio-demographic aspects in the results. It was concluded that the analysed special schools for the mentally disabled promote health. However, the socio-demographic profile of this population appears to have greater influence on vulnerability than the school context in relation to oral health status.