Risk Factors Associated with Probable Sleep Bruxism of Children and Teenagers with Cerebral Palsy.

AIM: To assess the association between probable sleep bruxism (PSB) and other occlusal characteristics in children and teenagers with Cerebral Palsy (CP). STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 148 participants (74 with CP and 74 without special needs) aged between 2 and 14 years old. Participants underwent an oral clinical examination to evaluate the occlusal characteristics. Parents/caregivers filled out a questionnaire with information related to the typical sounds of PSB, sociodemographic factors and the presence of harmful oral habits in the study participants. Data analysis was carried out, using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test and Odds Ratio (p<0.05). RESULTS: PSB and malocclusion (68.9% and 95.9%, respectively) were more prevalent in participants with CP than in participants without CP. The association between PSB and the presence of a wear facet was statistically significant (p < 0.001) in participants with CP. In this group, 64.8% of participants with PSB presented tooth wear. CONCLUSION: Presence of dental wear facets was significantly associated with PSB in individuals with cerebral palsy.

Evaluation of genetic similarity between accessions of Pityrocarpa moniliformis (angico-de-bezerro) using RAPD markers.

Pityrocarpa moniliformis (Benth.) Luckow and Jobson, commonly known as angico-de-bezerro, is a forage legume that occurs naturally in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. This fast growing, vigorous, melliferous tree is well adapted to arid terrains and its branches and leaves possess high nutritional value. However, the scarcity of information regarding genetic variability within the species limits its possible exploitation as an animal forage. The aim of the study was to evaluate the genetic similarities of ten accessions of P. moniliformis available in the active germplasm collection of Embrapa Meio-Norte, using the RAPD markers to select those most suitable for cultivation and/or plant breeding. Polymerase chain reaction using ten selected RAPD primers generated 110 amplified loci, 106 (96.4%) of which were polymorphic. Primers A10 and M06 produced the largest number of polymorphic loci (18 and 13 bands, respectively), while primers B18 and K15 generated the smallest number (7 bands each). The dendrogram, constructed using the Jaccard coefficients and considering a cut-off point of 0.41 allowed the separation of the ten accessions into four genotypic groups. The highest genetic similarity coefficient (0.56) was observed between group I accessions BGFAB6 and BGFAB9 and BGFAB 7 and BGFAB 8, while the lowest coefficient (0.11) was observed between accessions BGFAB3 (group IV) and BGFAB10 (group III). The results revealed that genetic variability is present in the accessions of P. moniliformis.

RAPD analysis of the genetic diversity among accessions of Fabaceous forages (Poincianella spp) from the Caatinga.

Among members of the Fabaceae family, native to the Brazilian Caatinga, the species Poincianella pyramidalis and P. bracteosa exhibit particular potential as forage for cattle, sheep and goats. With the aim of establishing genetic relationships within Poincianella, random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis was performed on eight accessions of P. pyramidalis and two accessions of P. bracteosa, originating from the semiarid zone of the state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil, and present in the germplasm bank of Embrapa Meio Norte (Teresina, Piauí, Brazil). Amplification reactions using 11 selected arbitrary sequence primers generated 167 fragments with an overall polymorphism of 70.38%. Five monomorphic loci were generated exclusively in P. pyramidalis accessions, while three unique monomorphic loci were associated with P. bracteosa, and these represented potential species-specific markers. The similarity coefficients between Poincianella accessions were low (mean value 0.59) but with a wide variation (range 0.443 to 0.748). The similarity matrix and the dendrogram constructed using the unweighted pair group method allowed the separation of Poincianella accessions into two major clusters represented by the two distinct species, while the accessions of P. pyramidalis could be separated further into three subgroups. The high level of genetic diversity detected in the genus Poincianella could be used in future breeding programs to produce enhanced cultivars, although the variability could be better exploited if more specimens were collected from other locations within the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil.

Oral health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: paired cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of oral health conditions on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and compare with children and adolescents without CP. METHODS: This was a paired cross-sectional study, consisting of 121 children and adolescents with CP and 121 without CP, aged 6 to 14 years. Caregivers filled a socioeconomic-demographic and the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ). Physical examination of the oral cavity assessed the dental caries experience, need for treatment, consequences of untreated dental caries, presence of dental trauma, bruxism and malocclusion. A descriptive analysis and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p < 0.05) were performed. Variables with p values ≤ 0.20 in the bivariate analysis were included in the adjusted model analysis. Variables with a p value < 0.05 remained in the final Poisson Regression model. RESULTS: Caries experience had a negative impact on the quality of life of both groups, with and without CP. Presence of gastroesophageal reflux and difficulty to opening the mouth also had a negative impact on the OHRQoL of the group with CP. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with CP suffered a greater negative impact on OHRQoL than individuals without CP. Difficulty in opening the mouth and the presence of GER had a negative effect on the quality of life of individuals with CP, while dental caries had a negative impact on the OHRQoL of children and adolescents of both groups.

Physiologic and behavioural signs during a dental appointment in children and teenagers with Cerebral Palsy: a comparative cross-sectional study.

AIM: To evaluate the heart rate (HR) and behaviour of children and teenagers with Cerebral Palsy (CP) when having a dental appointment. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out with 60 participants with CP, between 2 and 14 years old (study group-SG), and 60 normotypical individuals (CG). The sample was paired according to age, gender and socioeconomic status. Behaviour was evaluated during dental prophylaxis using the Frankl Scale, and HR was measured at five moments: before the appointment, when sitting in the dental chair, during the clinical examination, during prophylaxis and immediately after prophylaxis. Mann-Whitney, Friedman and Chi-square tests were applied at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: SG presented significantly higher HR (p < 0.001) and more participants with uncooperative behaviour (p < 0.001) than CG in all observational periods. Furthermore, SG participants with uncooperative behaviour presented higher HR values than those in SG who were cooperative in all observational periods (p ≤ 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with CP have a higher HR before and during the clinical session, and are frequently more uncooperative with the procedure than normotypical individuals.

Exploring the association of predisposing factors of Cerebral Palsy and developmental defects of enamel: a case-control study.

AIM: To evaluate the occurrence of developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and to analyze the effect of common factors in the etiology of CP on the occurrence of DDE. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out using the modified DDE index to classify enamel defects. The study group (SG) consisted of 45 participants with CP aged between three and 14 years. The control group (CG) consisted of 88 normotypical schoolchildren, paired by gender and age group. Caregivers answered a questionnaire on their socioeconomic status and medical history. The Chi-square tests, bivariate and multivariate analysis were performed (level significance < 0.05). RESULTS: The occurrence of DDE in SG and CG was 60% and 64.8%, respectively (p value = 0.726). The most frequent defect observed in SG was diffuse opacity (44.4%), followed by demarcated opacity (26.7%) and enamel hypoplasia (2.2%). No difference was observed in the defect's distribution among both groups (p value = 0.083). For SG, the bivariate analysis revealed a statically significant association between the presence of DDE and age group 7-14 years old and maternal schooling below 11 years. After adjusting for confounding variables, age, family income and maternal schooling were not associated with DDE. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the occurrence of DDE was high and similar in both groups. The pre, peri or post-natal factors associated with CP were not significant for the presence of DDE.

Oral health-related quality of life in caregivers of individuals with Cerebral Palsy: a case-control study.

AIM: The object of this study is to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of caregivers of individuals with Cerebral Palsy (CP). METHODS: Ninety-eight caregivers of individuals with CP (SG) and 196 caregivers of individuals without special needs (CG) completed the reduced version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). In addition, a questionnaire with demographic and socioeconomic questions was used. Groups were matched according to gender, schooling and family income. Fisher's exact tests, Chi square and Mann-Whitney, and bi/multivariate logistic regression were used (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The impact on OHRQoL was similar for SG and CG (OHIP-14 total score). For SG, the high negative impact was in the following OHIP domains: "Functional limitation", "Physical disability", "Psychological incapacity" and "Disadvantages". For SG, a higher number of caregivers was single, unemployed, received government financial aid. There was a statistically significant association between the number of children a caregiver has and a negative impact on OHRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Being a caregiver of children with or without CP had a negative impact of similar magnitude on ORHQoL. The negative impact on OHRQoL of caregivers of children with CP was associated with having a high number of children; the higher the number of children, the greater the negative impact on their OHRQoL.

Atividades antioxidante, antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória das folhas de Mucuna pruriens (L. ) DC / Antioxidant, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of Mucuna pruriens (L. ) DC. leaves

A espécie Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) é popularmente conhecida no Brasil como "café berão" e "pó de mico". Suas sementes são bastante estudadas sendo empregadas na medicina popular para o tratamento de desordens nervosas e do aparelho reprodutor, porém poucas informações sobre a composição química e atividade farmacológica das folhas dessa espécie são descritas na literatura. Assim, os objetivos desse estudo foram: a determinação do perfil fitoquímico, a avaliação da atividade antioxidante in vitro, e a avaliação das atividades anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva in vivo do extrato metanólico das folhas de M. pruriens nas concentrações de 100 e 300 mg/kg. O estudo fitoquímico foi realizado por meio da pesquisa qualitativa dos constituintes químicos e determinação quantitativa do teor de fenóis totais e flavonoides. O potencial antioxidante foi avaliado pelos métodos do DPPH e poder de redução. As atividades anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva foram a ante foi promissor, com CI50 de 13,2∝g/mL pelo método do DPPH, e CE50 de 47,9∝g/mL pelo método que avalia o poder de redução. Em relação à atividade anti-inflamatória, o extrato foi capaz de inibir o edema de orelha em 63% (100mg/kg) e 28% (300mg/kg). Quanto à atividade antinociceptiva, houve redução do número de contorções abdominais de 64% (100 mg/kg) e 69% (300 mg/kg). Estes resultados indicam que M. pruriens apresenta um potencial farmacológico promissor e reforçam o conceito de que a pesquisa de plantas com usos etnofarmacológicos pode revelar um número substancial de respostas em ensaios in vitro e in vivo.

The species Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) is popularly known in Brazil as "café berão" and "pó de mico". Its seeds have been widely studied and used in folk medicine for the treatment of nervous and reproductive system disorders; however, few studies are related to the chemical composition and pharmacological activity of its leaves. Therefore, the aims of this study were: investigation of the phytochemical profile, in vitro assessment of the antioxidant activity, and in vivo evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of methanol extract of M. pruriens leaves at the concentrations of 100 and 300mg/kg. The phytochemical study was performed by means of qualitative identification of chemical constituents and quantitative determination of total phenols and flavonoids. The antioxidant potential was assayed by DPPH and reducing power methods. Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities were evaluated by croton oil-induced ear edema and acetic acid-induced writhing tests, respectively. Alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, triterpenes and saponins were identified in the extract. Total phenol and flavonoid levels were 112 and 18.3mg/g extract, respectively. The antioxidant potential was promising, with IC50 of 13.2∝g/mL by DPPH assay and EC50 of 47.9∝g/mL by the method that evaluates the reducing power. Regarding the anti-inflammatory activity, the extract was capable of inhibiting by 63% (100mg/kg) and 28% (300mg / kg) the ear edema. As to the antinociceptive activity, there was a reduction in the number of writhings by 64% (100mg/kg) and 69% (300mg/kg). Results indicate that M. pruriens presents a promising pharmacological potential and reinforce the concept that the investigation of ethnopharmacologically used plants may reveal a substantial number of positive responses in in vitro and in vivo assays.