MicroRNAs and exosomes: key players in HIV pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES: HIV infection is well known to cause impairment of the human immune system, and until recently was a leading cause of death. It has been shown that T lymphocytes are the main targets of HIV. The virus inactivates T lymphocytes by interfering with a wide range of cellular and molecular targets, leading to suppression of the immune system. The objective of this review is to investigate to what extent microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in HIV pathogenesis. METHODS: The scientific literature (Pubmed and Google scholar) for the period 1988-2019 was searched. RESULTS: Mounting evidence has revealed that miRNAs are involved in viral replication and immune response, whether by direct targeting of viral transcripts or through indirect modulation of virus-related host pathways. In addition, exosomes have been found to act as nanoscale carriers involved in HIV pathogenesis. These nanovehicles target their cargos (i.e. DNA, RNA, viral proteins and miRNAs) leading to alteration of the behaviour of recipient cells. CONCLUSIONS: miRNAs and exosomes are important players in HIV pathogenesis. Additionally, there are potential diagnostic applications of miRNAs as biomarkers in HIV infection.

Association of PDCD1 gene markers with susceptibility to thyroid cancer.

PURPOSE: PD-1 receptor is a co-signaling molecule with an important role in regulation of T-lymphocyte activity. Correlation between PD-1 gene (PDCD1) polymorphisms and some immune-related diseases has been reported before. In current study, we aimed to investigate the association of PD-1 polymorphisms at positions +7146 G/A (PD-1.3) and +7785 C/T (PD-1.5), as well as the emerged haplotypes with susceptibility to thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: One hundred five patients with confirmed thyroid cancer and 160 healthy individuals as control group were enrolled. Genotypes were identified using PCR-RFLP and nested PCR-RFLP methods. Results were analyzed by Arlequin and SPSS software packages. RESULTS: Analysis revealed a significant increase in the frequency of PD-1.5 mutant T allele and heterozygous CT genotype in patients with thyroid cancer in comparison with controls [79 (37.7%) vs. 71 (22.2%), and 51 (48.6%) vs. 51 (31.9%), p = 0.0001 and p = 0.009, receptively]. CC genotype at this position observed to be significantly higher among controls than the patients [99 (61.9%) vs. 40 (38.1%), p = 0.0002]. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles at locus PD-1.3 between patients and control group. Despite this, GT haplotype emerged from both positions (PD-1.3 G and PD-1.5 T) has also been observed with significant increased frequency between patients and controls [70 (36.8%) vs. 71 (22.2%), p = 0.0005]. CONCLUSION: As the first study to investigate two mentioned polymorphisms in thyroid cancer, current study confirmed the association of PD-1.5 C/T polymorphism and a haplotype resulted from both loci, PD-1.3 and PD-1.5, with susceptibility of Iranians to thyroid cancer.

Increased B Regulatory Phenotype in Non-Metastatic Lymph Nodes of Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients.

Tumour-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are centre in orchestrating the immune responses against cancer. The cellularity and lymphocyte subpopulations change in the process of cancer progression and lymph node involvement. B lymphocyte subsets and their function in breast cancer-draining lymph nodes have not been well elucidated. Here, we studied the influence of tumour metastasis on the frequencies of different B cell subsets including naïve and memory B cells as well as those which are known to be enriched in the regulatory pool in TDLNs of 30 patients with breast cancer. Lymphocytes were obtained from a fresh piece of each lymph node and stained for CD19 and other B cell-associated markers and subjected to flow cytometry. Our investigation revealed that metastatic TDLN showed a significant decrease in active, memory and class-switched B cells while the frequencies of B cells with regulatory phenotypes were not changed. However, CD27(hi) CD25(+) and CD1d(hi) CD5(+) B regulatory subsets significantly increased in non-metastatic lymph nodes (nMLNs) of node-positive patients compared with node-negative patients. Our data provided evidence that in breast cancer, metastasis of tumour to axillary lymph nodes altered B cell populations in favour of resting, inactive and unswitched phenotypes. We assume that the lymphatic involvement may cause an increase in a subset of regulatory B cells in non-metastatic lymph nodes.

Fractal features and surface micromorphology of diamond nanocrystals.

This paper analyses the three-dimensional (3-D) surface texture of growing diamond nanocrystals on Au thin films as catalyst on p-type Si substrate using hot filament chemical vapour deposition (HFCVD). Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were applied also to characterize the 3-D surface texture data in connection with the statistical, and fractal analyses. This type of 3-D morphology allows a deeper understanding of structure/property relationships and surface defects in prepared samples. Our results indicate a promising way for preparing high-quality diamond nanocrystals on Au thin films as catalyst on p-type Si substrate via HFCVD method.

Helper and cytotoxic T-cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Tc1, and Tc2) in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of T helper type 1 (Th1; CD4(+) IFN-γ (+) ) and Th2 (CD4(+) IL-4(+) ) cells, as well as cytotoxic T cell type 1 (Tc1; CD8(+) IFN-γ(+) ) and Tc2 cells (CD8(+) IL-4(+) ) in peripheral blood of the patients with salivary gland tumors (SGTs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty new patients with SGTs and 15 healthy controls were recruited. After intracellular cytokine staining, data acquisition and analysis were performed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The mean percentages of Th1 and Tc1 cells, as well as the ratios of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2, were observed to be significantly lower in patients with malignant SGTs in comparison with controls. Furthermore, the geometric mean fluorescent intensity (geometric MFI, representing the cytokine expression intensity) for IL-4 production by Th2 and Tc2 lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients with malignant tumors than controls. Positive correlations were observed between the mean percentage of Tc2 cells with Th2 cells, and with the tumor size in patients with benign and malignant tumors, respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 ratios, as well as the increase in the expression of IL-4 by Th2 and Tc2 lymphocytes, may contribute to the pathogenesis of SGTs, especially in malignant cases.

Higher circulating levels of chemokine CCL22 in patients with breast cancer: evaluation of the influences of tumor stage and chemokine gene polymorphism.

The receptor for CCL22 is named CCR4 that preferentially is expressed on the regulatory T cells (Treg), and accordingly, CCL22 acts as a chemoattractant for the intratumoral Treg migration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum CCL22 levels and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in chemokine gene, [2030 G/C (rs223818)], in patients with breast cancer. Blood samples were collected from 100 women with breast cancer before receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy and 100 age-matched healthy women as a control group. The serum CCL22 levels were measured by ELISA. The DNA extracted and the SNP rs223818 determined by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) technique. The mean serum CCL22 levels in patients with breast cancer (2398.5 ± 123 Pg/mL) was significantly higher in comparison to healthy control group (974.2 ± 39.9 Pg/mL; P < 0.001). According to the tumor stages, the mean serum levels of CCL22 were 999.8 ± 85.0 Pg/mL in stage I, 1718.8 ± 82.3 Pg/mL in stage II, 2846.8 ± 118.0 Pg/mL in stage III, and 3954.5 ± 245.2 Pg/mL in stage IV. There was significant difference between tumor stages regarding the serum CCL22 levels (P < 0.001). In patients with breast cancer, the frequencies of CC genotype (63%) and C allele (79%) at rs223818 were significantly higher as compared to healthy controls (31 and 52%, respectively; P < 0.001). In both patients and control groups, the mean serum levels of CCL22 in subjects with CC genotype or C allele at rs223818 were also significantly higher as compared to subjects with GG genotype or G allele (P < 0.001). Higher serum CCL22 levels were observed in patients with breast cancer that is increased with advanced stages. These findings represent that the CCL22 may contribute in tumor development. The CC genotype and C allele at rs223818 were more frequent in breast cancer patients. The serum CCL22 levels were affected by genetic variations at SNP rs223818. Accordingly, SNP rs223818 may play a role in the susceptibility to breast cancer.

Infrequent attention to dietary and physical activity behaviours in conversations in Swedish child health services.

AIM: To investigate conversations between nurses and parents in Swedish child health services and to assess to what extent attention is directed towards dietary and physical activity behaviours in children. METHODS: Twenty-three nurses audio-recorded one session each. Recordings were assessed and topics were classified according to predetermined categories. RESULTS: The three most frequent topics of conversation concerned physical examinations of the child (30% of session time), talking to the child to establish or maintain contact and interest (15%), and development of language skills (12%). Dietary habits came on fourth place (10%), and physical activity ranked 14 (4%). CONCLUSION: Attention to dietary and physical activity behaviours in children is infrequent in Swedish child health services. Concern is raised about the efficacy of prevention efforts against childhood obesity.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group Intervention for Parents of Children with Disabilities (Navigator ACT): An Open Feasibility Trial.

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities report high levels of distress, but systematically evaluated interventions are few. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a novel, manualized Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group intervention (Navigator ACT) in a sample of 94 parents of children with disabilities. Feasibility was measured by treatment completion, credibility, and satisfaction, and preliminary outcomes by using self-rating scales administered at the baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The results imply the intervention is feasible in the context of Swedish outpatient habilitation services. A preliminary analysis of the outcome measures suggests that parents experienced significant improvements in well-being. The results indicate that the treatment is feasible and should be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.

Discordant patterns of mtDNA and ethno-linguistic variation in 14 Iranian Ethnic groups.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Present-day Iran has long represented a natural hub for the expansion of human genes and cultures. That being so, the overlapping of prehistoric and more recent demographic events interacting at different time scales with geographical and cultural barriers has yielded a tangled patchwork of anthropological types within this narrow area. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate this ethnic mosaic by depicting a fine-grained picture of the Iranian mitochondrial landscape. METHODS: mtDNA variability at both HVS-I and coding regions was surveyed in 718 unrelated individuals belonging to 14 Iranian ethnic groups characterized by different languages, religions and patterns of subsistence. RESULTS: A discordant pattern of high ethno-linguistic and low mtDNA heterogeneity was observed for the whole examined Iranian sample. Geographical factors and cultural/linguistic differences actually represented barriers to matrilineal gene flow only for the Baloch, Lur from Yasouj, Zoroastrian and Jewish groups, for which unusual reduced levels of mtDNA variability and high inter-population distances were found. CONCLUSION: Deep rooting genealogies and endogamy in a few of the examined ethnic groups might have preserved ancestral lineages that can be representative of Proto-Indo-Iranian or prehistoric mitochondrial profiles which survived relatively recent external contributions to the Iranian gene pool.

Binge eating in surgical weight-loss treatments. Long-term associations with weight loss, health related quality of life (HRQL), and psychopathology.

BACKGROUND: Studies that have investigated the relationship between binge eating and the long-term outcome of bariatric surgery have shown mixed results. Does binge eating affect long-term BMI, health-related quality of life (HRQL), or psychopathology after surgery? METHODS: We assessed 173 bariatric patients before and three years after weight loss surgery with regard to weight, binge eating, HRQL, and psychopathology. RESULTS: Binge eating before and after weight loss surgery was unrelated to long-term BMI outcome. Binge eating after weight loss surgery was associated with more psychopathology and lower HRQL. CONCLUSIONS: Binge eating before or after weight loss surgery does not predict long-term BMI outcome. Therefore, exclusions from surgery for this reason alone are difficult to motivate. However, results show that binge eating after weight loss surgery is common and is associated with more psychopathology and lower HRQL, which might increase the vulnerability for future weight regain and complications beyond the follow-up period of the present study. The high rate of binge eating after surgery and its negative association with HRQL and psychopathology suggest that we need to be observant of the occurrence and potential effects of binge eating in the context of bariatric surgery.

Risk and protective factors for disturbed eating: a 7-year longitudinal study of eating attitudes and psychological factors in adolescent girls and their parents.

The aims of this seven-year longitudinal study of 228 girls (9- and 13-yr olds) were to examine 1) the predictive value of eating attitudes, a wish to be thinner, dieting, perfectionism, self-esteem and Body Mass Index; 2) the girls' parents' eating attitudes and perfectionism in relation to the development of disturbed eating attitudes, seven years later; and 3) whether normal body weight, healthy eating attitudes and low perfectionism together with high self-esteem might operate as protective factors for the later development of disturbed eating attitudes. The pre-adolescent girls (9-yr olds) "wish to be thinner" and fathers' EAT scores contributed most to the prediction of disturbed eating attitudes seven years later. Corresponding analysis for the adolescent girls (13-yr olds) showed that a "wish to be thinner" and mothers' rating on perfectionism contributed most to the prediction of disturbed eating attitudes seven years later. Protective factors were low BMI and more healthy eating attitudes - especially moderated by high selfesteem, and a low-to-medium degree of perfectionism. High self-esteem appeared to be a protective factor when the girls had a high degree of perfectionism. These results suggest that it is important to focus on healthy eating attitudes at home to prevent overweight in early childhood, enhance self-esteem and to take a critical stand toward the thinness ideal in our society.

Determination of thallium in urine, blood, and hair in illicit opioid users in Iran.

CONTEXT: Heavy metals, including thallium and lead, are introduced to illicit drug users' body as a result of using drugs such as cocaine and heroin. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine urine, blood, and hair thallium (Tl) concentrations in illicit opioid users along with the relevant clinical signs and symptoms consistent with thallotoxicosis and to compare them with the corresponding variables in the control non-opioid user group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 50 illicit opioid users who had abused opioids continuously for more than a year, referred to Amirie Drug Abuse Treatment Clinic in Kashan, Iran. The control group included 50 non-opioid users. Thallium concentrations in urine, blood, and hair were assessed in both groups (n = 100) using electrothermal (graphite furnace) atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS, GF AAS). RESULTS: In the studied group, the median (interquartile range) concentrations of thallium in urine, blood, and hair were 54.8 ± 79.9 µg/L, 14.5 ± 11.1 µg/L, and 5.4 ± 3.7 µg/g, respectively; these values were 4.8 ± 5.2 µg/L, 2.5 ± 2.4 µg/L, and 1.4 ± 1.1 µg/g, respectively, in the control group. There were significant differences in urine, blood, and hair thallium concentrations between the study group and the control group (p < 0.001). There were significant correlations between duration of illicit opioid use and urine thallium concentrations (r = 0.394, p = 0.005) and hair thallium concentrations (r = 0.293, p = 0.039), but not with blood thallium concentrations (r = 0.246, p = 0.085). Urine and blood thallium concentrations of illicit opioid users with clinical signs and symptoms consistent with thallotoxicosis of weakness (p = 0.01), depression (p = 0.03), and headache (p = 0.03) were higher than users without these problems. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that thallium concentrations in urine, blood, and hair in illicit opioid users were significantly higher than the comparable concentrations in the control group. This can be due to the use of illicit opioids adulterated with thallium. Also, this study showed long-term illicit opioid use may lead to thallium exposure. In addition, cigarette smoking was associated with increased thallium exposure.

A novel duplex SSP-PCR typing method for KIR gene profiling.

Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) control the function of natural killer cells. The number and type of KIR genes are substantially variable among individuals. Sequence-specific primer-directed polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) based genotyping is the most commonly used method to assess the KIR gene content. However, it requires a minimum of 16 gene-specific amplifications and often yields false-negative results. Herein, we describe the development of a simple and efficient duplex SSP-PCR assay to identify the presence and absence of 16 KIR genes. This system further distinguishes subsets of KIR2DS4 and KIR3DP1 alleles. The assay was subjected to a blind validation using a panel of 78 reference DNA standards from the UCLA KIR Exchange Program, which showed 100% specificity and accuracy. Compared with the conventional SSP typing methods, the present method is an accurate, simple, cost-effective and labor-saving KIR genotyping method for high volume testing.

CTLA4 exon 1 and promoter polymorphisms in patients with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: The polymorphisms of exon 1 (+49 A/G) and promoter regions (-1722 T/C, -1661 A/G and -318 C/T)of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and also haplotypes constructed from mentioned loci were investigated amongst 153 Iranian patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 190 healthy controls. METHODS: The polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms and PCR-amplification refractory mutation system. The 4-locus haplotypes were estimated by Arlequin software (University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland). RESULTS: Preliminary results showed significant increase of +49 G allele and -1661 AG genotype, as well as TGCA haplotype among patients than controls (P < 0.036, P = 0.009 and P < 0.010, respectively). The distribution of -1722 T/C, -1661 A/G, -318 C/T and +49 A/G (TACA) haplotype, from the contrary, was observed to be significantly increased among controls (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: After Bonferroni correction, the results provide preliminary evidence that CTLA4 genetic variation at -1661 locus may render Iranian individuals to be more susceptible to MS, whereas harboring TACA haplotype might be protective.

Cell cycle analysis and cytotoxic potential of Ruta graveolens against human tumor cell lines.

There are reports on the presence of various compounds exerting different biological activities in Ruta graveolens, a plant of Rutaceae family. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro cytotoxicity of the total extract of R. graveolens against tumor cell lines of different origin. Aerial parts of the plant was extracted with 70% ethanol by sonication method and cytotoxic activity was examined on RAJI, RAMOS, RPMI8866, U937, Jurkat, MDA-MB-453, MCF-7, LNCap-FGC-10, 5637, HeLa, SK-OV-3, A549, Mehr-80 and also peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by the use of WST-1 assay. Results were expressed as IC(50) values. R. graveolens extract showed high cytotoxic activity against RAJI and RAMOS, two Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines, with an IC(50) equal to 24.3 microg/ml and 35.2 microg/ml respectively and LNCap-FGC-10, a prostate adenocarcinoma cell line with an IC(50) equal to 27.6 microg/ml as well as Mehr-80, a newly established Large Cell Lung Carcinoma (IC(50)=46.2 microg/ml). No significant anti-proliferative activity was observed on other cell lines including MCF-7, MDA-MB-453, SK-OV-3, HeLa, 5637, JURKAT and RPMI8866. Adverse cytotoxic effect of R. graveolens was investigated against PBMCs and a significantly lower effect of this extract (IC(50)=104 microg/ml) was seen on normal cells compared with RAJI and RAMOS, two haematopoietic cell lines.

Association of interleukin-18 gene promoter polymorphisms with breast cancer.

Interleukin-18 [IL-18] gene promoter polymorphism is reported to be a genetic risk factor for several types of cancer. The aims of this investigation were to evaluate and compare the frequencies of IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms at positions -137 [G/C] and -607 [C/A] in breast cancer patients and healthy controls as well as to study the contribution of these data with clinicopathological parameters at diagnosis. The studied populations comprised 250 cases with breast carcinoma and 206 healthy subjects. IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms at positions -137 and -607 were amplified in patient and control groups using allele specific polymerase chain reaction [AS-PCR]. The frequencies of GG, GC and CC genotypes of -137 SNP were 141 [56.4%], 96 [38.4%] and 13 [5.2%] in patients vs. 110 [53.4%], 72 [34.9%] and 24 [11.7%] in controls, respectively. A significant decrease of the CC genotype was observed in patients [p = 0.04]. The frequency of the CC genotype at position -137 was also significantly higher in patients with metastasis than non-metastatic patients [21.4% vs. 4.3%] [p = 0.02]. There was no significant association between genotype frequencies at position -607 with breast cancer or its clinicopathological parameters at diagnosis. Moreover, allelic frequencies at these positions did not contribute to breast cancer incidence. The distribution of IL-18 gene haplotypes and genotype combinations were not significantly different between patients and normal control individuals. This is the first report investigating the contribution of IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms to breast cancer. These results suggest contrast effects of IL-18 gene in cancer induction and progression. Key words: Breast cancer, IL-18, polymorphism.

Promoter polymorphism of transforming growth factor-beta1 gene and ulcerative colitis.

AIM: To elucidate the possible difference in two promoter polymorphisms of the transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) gene (-800G > A, -509C > T) between ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and normal subjects. METHODS: A total of 155 patients with established ulcerative colitis and 139 normal subjects were selected as controls. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms within the promoter region of TGF-beta1 gene (-509C > T and -800G > A) were genotyped using PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in genotype and allele frequency distributions between UC patients and controls for the -800G > A polymorphism of the TGF-beta1 gene (P < 0.05). The frequency of the TGF-beta1 gene polymorphism at position -800 showed that the AA genotype and the allele A frequencies significantly differed between the patients and healthy controls (P < 0.05). At position -509, there was no statically significant difference in genotype and allele frequency between the patients and control subjects. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that there is a significant difference in both allele and genotype frequency at position -800G > A of TGF-beta1 gene promoter between Iranian patients with UC and normal subjects.

The frequency of transforming growth factor-beta1 gene polymorphisms in a normal southern Iranian population.

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the transforming growth factor-beta1 gene (TGFB1) have been reported. Determination of TGFB1 SNPs allele frequencies in different ethnic groups is useful for both population genetic analyses and association studies with immunological diseases. In this study, five SNPs of TGFB1 were determined in 325 individuals from a normal southern Iranian population using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. This population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for these SNPs. Of the 12 constructed haplotypes, GTCGC and GCTGC were the most frequent in the normal southern Iranian population. Comparison of genotype and allele frequencies of TGFB SNPs between Iranian and other populations (meta-analysis) showed significant differences, and in this case the southern Iranian population seems genetically similar to Caucasoid populations. However, neighbour-joining tree using Nei's genetic distances based on TGF-beta1 allele frequencies showed that southern Iranians are genetically far from people from the USA, Germany, UK, Denmark and the Czech Republic. In conclusion, this is the first report of the distribution of TGFB1 SNPs in an Iranian population and the results of this investigation may provide useful information for both population genetic and disease studies.

A 2-year longitudinal study of eating attitudes, BMI, perfectionism, asceticism and family climate in adolescent girls and their parents.

The aim of this longitudinal study of 383 Swedish adolescent girls (11 and 13 years old at year 1) and their parents was to examine changes in eating attitudes over a two-year period, and to investigate the predictive value of eating attitudes, perfectionism, asceticism, family climate and body mass index (BMI) for the development of disturbed eating attitudes. The following self-report questionnaires were used: Children's Eating Attitudes test, Eating Attitudes Test, Eating Disorder Inventory for Children, Eating Disorder Inventory 2, I Think I Am and The Family Climate. The frequency of disturbed eating attitudes increased with increased age in the girls. Children's eating attitudes, higher BMI than peers, the girls rating of a less healthy relation to family and their fathers' eating attitudes at year 1 contributed most to the prediction of disturbed eating attitudes for the girls 2 years later. The results suggest that early signs of disturbed eating attitudes and higher BMI than peers may be important predictors for the development of more serious eating disturbances among adolescent girls.

Oral health and oral health risk behaviour in children with and without externalising behaviour problems.

AIM: This was to study children with early detected externalising behaviour problems compared to matched controls regarding oral health, oral health risk behaviour and the parental evaluation of the child's oral health and dental care. METHODS: Children aged 10-13 years and with externalising behaviour problems, were compared to matched controls. Behavioural characteristics were based on the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. The children and their parents completed questionnaires regarding dental fear, tooth brushing, dietary habits and evaluation of oral health and dental care. Data on dental caries risk assessments, caries, behaviour management problems and dental trauma were obtained from dental files. RESULTS: There were no differences in caries prevalence in children with early detected externalising behaviour problems, compared to controls. However, the former group consumed more sweet drinks when thirsty and brushed their teeth fewer than twice daily; they also had more dental trauma in both dentitions and a higher risk range for dental fear, compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: This study points out potential oral health risk factors in children with early-detected externalising behaviour problems. Although no difference in caries prevalence was observed, externalising behaviour may affect oral health. Therefore, dental professionals should support the families and the children to preserve dental health by offering increased prophylactic measures. There were no differences between children with externalising behaviour problems, compared with controls, regarding the parent evaluation of their child's dental health. However, more parents in the study group evaluated the dental care as poor or not functioning.