Effect of Phosphorylated Chitosan on Dentin Erosion: An in vitro Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antierosive effect of phosphorylated chitosan in dentin. Bovine dentin specimens were randomly distributed into the following groups: (1) no treatment (NoTx/negative control), (2) phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS), (3) AmF/NaF/SnCl2 (positive control), (4) 0.5% chitosan solution (Chi), (5) 0.5% neutral phosphorylated (NP)-Chi, and (6) 0.5% alkaline phosphorylated (AP)-Chi. The specimens were submitted to de-remineralization treatment cycles for 5 days: 0.5% citric acid (2 min), remineralizing solution (30 min), and surface treatment according to assigned groups (2 min, 6×/day). The loss of dentin surface was measured by profilometry. Hardness and modulus of elasticity were measured using a nanoindenter equipped with a Berkovich diamond tip. The dentin surface was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The largest loss of dentin was observed in the No Tx and PBS groups (approx. 25 µm). The group treated with AmF/NaF/SnCl2 showed less loss of dentin (67% reduction vs. NoTx and PBS), followed by the groups treated with NP-Chi and AP-Chi (33% reduction), and Chi (18% reduction). Nanohardness and modulus of elasticity were similar in the NoTx and PBS groups, with a small increase in stiffness in all other groups. SEM revealed that the experimental solution of AP-Chi had a favorable effect on maintaining the integrity of collagen fibrils. AmF/NaF/SnCl2 showed a preserved mineralized collagen surface. Further studies are warranted to explore this nontoxic phosphorylated chitosan polymer as an effective agent in the prevention and treatment of dental erosion.

Severe childhood caries associated with iron deficiency anemia: a case report.

This case showed an association between caries and anemia in a 3-year-old boy, whose crowns were destroyed by caries. Tests showed a low hematocrit as well as low levels of hemoglobin, ferritin, and serum iron. Impaired growth and delayed neuropsychomotor development were observed. The child was hospitalized for antibiotic administration, blood transfusion, multiple dental extractions, and iron supplementation. He was discharged after 20 days, when anemia and oral infection were resolved.

HIV-associated salivary gland disease--clinical or imaging diagnosis?

OBJECTIVES: This work aimed at studying the salivary gland disease (SGD) as it relates to associated factors, such as persistent generalised lymphadenopathy (PGL), lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP), clinical and immunological features of AIDS, and salivary flow rate and pH, as well as at exploring the relationship between the clinical diagnosis and the imaging diagnosis by ultrasound (US) examination of the parotid glands. METHODS: Information regarding the observation of parotid gland enlargement, PGL, LIP, and clinical and immunological features of AIDS was gathered from medical records, and a saliva sample for unstimulated salivary flow rate and pH measurement was collected from 142 children aged 3 through 10 years treated at the Department of Infectious Diseases of Joana de Gusmão Children's Hospital, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. High-resolution ultrasonography was performed in 58 children. Pearson's chi-square test and t-test were used to evaluate the association between the variables. RESULTS: A significant association was found between SGD and LIP. Ultrasound revealed a 50% higher incidence of SGD that was not reported in the patients' records. CONCLUSION: US examination proved to be essential for the correct diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of HIV/SGD.

[Study of the oral manifestations in diabetic children and their correlation variables]. / Estudo das manifestações bucais em crianças com diabetes e suas variáveis de correlação.

Because children with type 1 diabetes (DM) are prone to diseases of the buccal cavity, in this transversal study we investigate the prevalence of dental caries, gingivitis and buccal alterations in 26 patients (16F/10M; average age: 10.3 years) from the Diabetic Children's Group at the Federal University Hospital of Santa Catarina, to verify possible correlations among the following variables: index of decayed, missing or filled permanent or deciduous teeth [DMFT or dmft], index of visible plaque [IVP], index of gum bleeding [IGB], dental calculi, gum recession, tongue abnormalities, xerostomia, burning sensation of the mucosa, age at DM diagnosis, administration of insulin; occurrence of DM-related complications; glycemia and glycosilated hemoglobin [GH]. The most frequent alterations were dental calculi (42.3%), xerostomia (38.5%), burning sensation (11.5%), and gum recession (7.7%). The median indices for DMFT/dmft, IVP and IGB were 2.0, 27.21% and 10.91%, respectively. Only age and the level of GH were significantly correlated to IVP (r2 = 0.61), whereas the IVP and hypoglycemia correlated to IGB (r2 = 0.63). We conclude that the older the patient and the higher the GH level, the higher the IVP; whereas the higher the IVP and the less frequent the crisis of mild hypoglycemia, the higher the IGB.

Estudo das manifestações bucais em crianças com diabetes e suas variáveis de correlação / Study of the oral manifestations in diabetic children and their correlation variables

Como crianças com diabete melito tipo 1 são mais suscetíveis às doenças da cavidade bucal, neste estudo transversal foi feito um levantamento da prevalência de cárie dentária, gengivite e alterações bucais nos 26 pacientes do Grupo de Crianças Diabéticas do Hospital da UFSC (16F/10M; idade media: 10,3anos), para verificar possíveis correlações entre: índice de dentes permanentes ou decíduos cariados, perdidos e obturados [CPO-D ou ceo-d], índice de placa visível [IPV], índice de sangramento gengival [ISG], cálculo dental, recessão gengival, anormalidades na língua, xerostomia, sensação de queimação na mucosa, idade de estabelecimento da doença, administração de insulina, ocorrência de complicações relacionadas ao diabetes, valores de glicemia e de hemoglobina glicada (HG). As alterações bucais mais observadas foram cálculo dental (42,3 por cento), xerostomia (38,5 por cento), sensação de queimação (11,5 por cento) e recessão gengival (7,7 por cento). O CPO-D ou ceo-d mediano foi de 2,0 e os IPV e ISG foram de 27,21 e 10,91 por cento, respectivamente. Somente a idade e o nível de HG se mostraram significantemente correlacionados com o IPV (r² = 0,61). Quanto ao ISG, as variáveis IPV e hipoglicemia foram relevantes em termos de correlação (r² = 0,63). Conclui-se que, quanto maior a idade e o percentual de HG, maior o IPV; e que quanto maior o IPV e menos freqüentes as crises de hipoglicemia leve, maior o ISG.