Nanoplastics Cause Neurobehavioral Impairments, Reproductive and Oxidative Damages, and Biomarker Responses in Zebrafish: Throwing up Alarms of Wide Spread Health Risk of Exposure.

Plastic pollution is a growing global emergency and it could serve as a geological indicator of the Anthropocene era. Microplastics are potentially more hazardous than macroplastics, as the former can permeate biological membranes. The toxicity of microplastic exposure on humans and aquatic organisms has been documented, but the toxicity and behavioral changes of nanoplastics (NPs) in mammals are scarce. In spite of their small size, nanoplastics have an enormous surface area, which bears the potential to bind even bigger amounts of toxic compounds in comparison to microplastics. Here, we used polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) (diameter size at ~70 nm) to investigate the neurobehavioral alterations, tissue distribution, accumulation, and specific health risk of nanoplastics in adult zebrafish. The results demonstrated that PS-NPs accumulated in gonads, intestine, liver, and brain with a tissue distribution pattern that was greatly dependent on the size and shape of the NPs particle. Importantly, an analysis of multiple behavior endpoints and different biochemical biomarkers evidenced that PS-NPs exposure induced disturbance of lipid and energy metabolism as well as oxidative stress and tissue accumulation. Pronounced behavior alterations in their locomotion activity, aggressiveness, shoal formation, and predator avoidance behavior were exhibited by the high concentration of the PS-NPs group, along with the dysregulated circadian rhythm locomotion activity after its chronic exposure. Moreover, several important neurotransmitter biomarkers for neurotoxicity investigation were significantly altered after one week of PS-NPs exposure and these significant changes may indicate the potential toxicity from PS-NPs exposure. In addition, after ~1-month incubation, the fluorescence spectroscopy results revealed the accumulation and distribution of PS-NPs across zebrafish tissues, especially in gonads, which would possibly further affect fish reproductive function. Overall, our results provided new evidence for the adverse consequences of PS-NPs-induced behavioral dysregulation and changes at the molecular level that eventually reduce the survival fitness of zebrafish in the ecosystem.

Validity of the Brazilian version of the Venham's behavior rating scale.

BACKGROUND: Venham's Behavior Rating Scale (VBRS) is a measure of uncooperative behavior developed to assess children's responses to dental stress. AIM: To evaluate the validity of the Brazilian version of the VBRS. DESIGN: Children aged 7-13 years were invited to participate in this study. Child behavior was concurrently assessed with both the VBRS and the Frankl Scale. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted to determine the cut-off points of the Brazilian version of the VBRS. Criterion validity was determined using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Discriminant validity was tested before and after scale dichotomization. RESULTS: A total of 265 children participated in this study. According to the ROC curve, the ≥1 cut-off point was best for this population (SENS 97.4%; SPEC 94.7%). The Brazilian version of the VBRS was significantly correlated with the Frankl Scale (r -0.69; <0.001, r -0.72; <0.001). Child behavior assessed was related to complexity of treatment, type of procedure, use of local anesthesia, and dental fear. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide strong evidence for the validity of Brazilian version of the VBRS in behavior assessment of children aged 7-13 years during dental care.

Behaviour Evaluation Scales For Pediatric Dental Patients - Review And Clinical Experience.

The present article makes a review of the relevant literature on the scales used in the assessment of behaviour of pediatric dental patients as well as presents the results we have had of using a modified Kurosu Behaviour Evaluation Scale to assess a study sample. The review makes a critical analysis of current evaluation methods and the design of assessment scales. The assessment tools most commonly used in pediatric dentistry are presented in a chronological order from the past to the present. The clinical study we conducted used a modified Behaviour Evaluation Scale developed by Kurosu for the assessment of the behaviour of children. The study showed that during dental treatment of children in the age range of 6 to 12 years the prevailing objective behaviour characteristics in accordance with Kurosu's behaviour evaluation scale are related to the eyes and the facial expression. The findings from the literature review and the results of our study warrant further studies to develop easy-to-use assessment tools that would enhance the objective assessment of behaviour.

Oral health literacy and socio-demographics as determinants of oral health status and preventive behavior measures in participants of a pre-marriage counseling program.

This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to assess the correlation of oral health literacy (OHL) and oral health status and behavior in participants of a pre-marriage counseling program. Also, it aimed to determine the target population's OHL needs to design necessary interventions. A total of 828 couples with a mean age of 24.22 years participating in a pre-marriage counseling program were evaluated. Data were collected using the oral health literacy-adult questionnaire (OHL-AQ). Clinical oral examinations were performed to measure the gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and DMFT. The mean OHL score of the couples was 7.86±3.83 out of 17; while, the mean DMFT score was 6.30±5.73. After controlling for the confounders, OHL had a significant correlation with the frequency of dental visits, and smoking status, and inverse correlation with the number of decayed teeth and missing teeth, and PI, and GI (p<0.05). The current results highlight the necessity of OHL interventions to fill the existing gaps. This is an unmet need of the couples, and such interventions are required to promote their own oral health as well as the oral health of their future children.

Systematic Review of Disparities and Differences in the Access and Use of Allied Health Services Amongst Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often benefit from allied health services such as occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, and applied behavioral analysis. While there is consistent evidence of disparities in access and use of medical services (e.g. dentistry), no such systematic review has examined disparities and differences in allied health use amongst children with ASD. In this systematic review, we examine disparities and differences in service access and use for children with ASD. Our findings suggest that children who are older, have less severe ASD symptoms, are from minority groups, and those from particular geographic regions are less likely to receive allied health services. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Efeitos da estimulação gustativa na prontidão oral e estados comportamentais de recém-nascidos / Effects of gustatory stimulation on oral readiness and behavioral states of newborns

RESUMO Objetivo investigar e comparar comportamentos específicos de prontidão oral e estados comportamentais de recém-nascidos a termo (RNT) e pré-termo (RNPT), a partir da estimulação gustativa (água e sacarose). Métodos estudo experimental, analítico, duplo-cego, caso controle. Participaram 152 recém-nascidos de uma maternidade pública, sendo 68 a termo e 84 pré-termo, subdivididos conforme estímulo gustativo (água ou sacarose). O teste durou 15 minutos, dividido em três períodos de cinco minutos. Foram analisados estados comportamentais e comportamentos específicos. Resultados foram observadas diferenças significativas, comparando os estímulos, com maior tempo nos comportamentos mão-boca direita (p=0,042) e esquerda (p=0,037), e diminuição no tempo de sono (p=0,019) nos RNT estimulados com sacarose. Nos RNPT houve maior tempo de sucção de mão direita (p=0,043) e esquerda (p=0,001) e de sucção (p<0,001), com aumento no tempo de alerta (p=0,025), quando estimulados com sacarose. Houve diminuição de tempo de agitação (p=0,018) em RNPT estimulados com água. RNT apresentaram maior tempo em sono do que os RNPT (p=0,032). A estimulação da sacarose no estado alerta foi mais evidente em RNPT (p=0,047). Conclusão A sacarose eliciou respostas motoras referentes à prontidão para alimentação e estado comportamental favorável para alimentação, independentemente da idade gestacional. Os achados são importantes para a clínica fonoaudiológica, possibilitando ampliar condutas de estimulação da alimentação.

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate and compare specific oral readiness behavior and behavioral states of term newborns (TNB) and preterm newborns (PTNB) based on taste stimulation (water and sucrose). Methods Experimental, analytical, double-blind, case-control study: 152 newborns from a public maternity hospital participated, 68 of them were term newborns and 84,preterm , divided according to taste stimulus (water or sucrose). The test lasted 15 minutes, divided into three periods of 5 minutes. We evaluated behavioral states and specific behaviors. Results We observed significant difference by comparing stimulations and longer periods of right (p=0.042) and left (p=0.037) hand suction for mouth behavior, shorter sleeping periods (p=0.019) in TNB stimulated with sucrose. In PTNB, we observed longer periods of right hand (p=0.043) and left hand (p=0.001) suction, suction (p<0.001) and alert state (p=0.025) when stimulated with sucrose. We found a decrease in agitation (p=0.018) in PTNB stimulated with water. The TNB were asleep for longer periods of time than PTBN (p=0.032). Sucrose stimulation in alert state is more evident in PTNB (p=0.047). Conclusion Sucrose elicited motor responses related to food readiness and favorable behavioral status for food regardless of gestational age. The findings are important for the speech therapy clinic, enabling broader feeding stimulation approaches.

Escala de triagem odontológica para pacientes com necessidades especiais / Dental screening scale for patients with special needs

Objetivo: elaborar e testar uma Escala de Triagem Odontológica para Pacientes com Necessidades Especiais (PNEs). Métodos: a escala foi elaborada a partir da experiência clínica de um centro de referência para aten-dimento odontológico a PNEs e de evidências científicas. Foi construída utilizando cinco critérios principais: comportamento, necessidade e possibilidade de estabilização protetora, urgência odontológica (dor), núme-ro e complexidade de procedimentos odontológicos e local do atendimento (acessibilidade). O instrumento foi testado em 14 PNEs, que participaram de uma triagem no Centro de Especialidades Odontológicas (CEO) Jequitibá, na Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel). Estudantes de gradua-ção a partir do oitavo semestre fizeram a aplicação, e o resultado da escala foi comparado ao parecer clínico realizado pelos pesquisadores experientes no atendimento a esses pacientes. Resultados: foi observada uma concordância em 85% dos casos. Conclusão: o instrumento apresentou desempenho comparável à avalia-ção de profissionais com expertise, e a escala pode ser um instrumento útil para ser empregado em serviços odontológicos que oferecem atendimento aos PNEs. A sua utilização em meio acadêmico também pode pro-porcionar o empoderamento dos critérios de avaliação pelos estudantes, proporcionando maior segurança em acolher, atender ou encaminhar esse público no seu futuro profissional. (AU)

Objective: to develop and test a dental screening scale to be used of patients with special needs (PSN). Method: the scale was developed based on the clinical experience of a reference center for dental care for PSN and scientific evidence. It was built using 5 main criteria: behavior, need and possibility of protective stabilization (PE), dental urgency (pain), number and complexity of dental procedures and place of care (accessibility). The instrument was tested on 14 PSN who participated in a screening at the Center for Dental Specialties (CEO) Jequitibá, Faculty of Dentistry, UFPEL. Undergraduate students from the eighth semester onwards applied and the result of the scale was compared to the clinical opinion carried out by experienced researchers in the care of these patients. Results: agreement was observed in 85% of cases. Conclusion: the instrument presented performance comparable to the evaluation of professionals with expertise and the scale can be a useful instrument to be used in dental services that offer care to PSN. Its use in academia can also provide the empowerment of assessment criteria by students, providing greater security in welcoming, serving or referring this audience in their professional future.

Are Behavior Rating Scales Able to Identify Behavioral Changes in Preschool Children Undergoing a Dental Intervention? A Systematic Review

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the scientific evidence concerning the behavior rating scales efficiency to identify behavioral changes in preschool children undergoing dental treatment, through a systematic review. Material and Methods: MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, BVS databases and grey literature were searched. Also, a hand search of the included studies reference lists was conducted. Studies that evaluated healthy preschoolers' behavior before and after invasive dental treatments to observe behavioral changes were included. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data and analyzed the risk of bias with a tool for before-and-after studies. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated with the GRADE approach. Results: Three studies were included. The Frankl Scale and North Carolina Behavior Scale were used in these studies. Both scales were able to identify behavioral changes in preschool children undergoing a dental intervention, although two of these included studies were considered fair with a high risk of bias, and one considered good with a low risk of bias. Conclusion: Although Frankl and North Carolina behavior scales were able to identify changes in the children`s behavior during dental treatment, these findings are not supported by strong evidence. Thus, further well-designed studies are needed to confirm this evidence.

Avaliação do comportamento odontológico infantil durante procedimentos de profilaxia e exodontia / Evaluation of children's dental behavior during prophylaxis and extraction procedures

Objetivo: Avaliar o comportamento infantil durante os tratamentos odontológicos de profilaxia e de exodontia. Métodos: Este estudo transversal contou com 58 crianças, entre 6 e 9 anos de idade. Dentre essas, 29 crianças foram submetidas ao procedimento de exodontia e 29 ao procedimento de profilaxia. O comportamento infantil frente ao tratamento odontológico proposto foi avaliado por um cirurgião-dentista treinado através da versão brasileira e validada da Escala Comportamental de Venham (Venham's Behavior Rating Scale (BvVBRS). Avaliou-se também a ansiedade infantil prévia ao tratamento odontológico através da Venham Picture Test modificada (VPTm). A condição bucal foi avaliada pelo índice CPO-D e ceo-d, por pesquisador previamente calibrado (Kappa > 0,7). Os pais/responsáveis responderam a um questionário socioeconômico e questões relacionadas a experiência odontológica prévia das crianças. Realizou-se análise descritiva e teste Qui-quadrado com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Em relação ao comportamento o grupo submetido à profilaxia apresentou 100% das crianças com um comportamento positivo, enquanto no grupo submetido à exodontia houve 75,9% das crianças com comportamento positivo (p = 0,010). Idade, gênero e presença de ansiedade prévia aos procedimentos não tiveram relação estatisticamente significante com o comportamento infantil. A presença de cárie na dentição decídua esteve associada ao comportamento negativo durante os procedimentos odontológicos (p = 0,013). Conclusão: Foi observado que durante o procedimento de profilaxia os pacientes demonstraram um comportamento mais colaborador quando comparado ao procedimento de exodontia.

Aim:To investigate the behavior of children during dental treatments of prophylaxis and dental extraction. Methods: Fifty-eight children, 6 to 9 years of age, and their caregivers participated of this cross-sectional study. Of these, 29 children underwent prophylaxis and 29 dental extraction. Child behavior was assessed through the Brazilian version of the Venham's Behavior Rating Scale (BvVBRS), and dental anxiety was measured by the Venham Picture Test modified (VPTm). Clinical examination was performed by a calibrated examiner (Kappa > 0.7), using the decay, missing, filled index for primary and permanent dentition dmft/DMFT index. The caregivers answered a socioeconomic questionnaire and questions related to the previous dental experience of the children. Descriptive data analysis and Chi-square test were performed, with a significance level of 5%. Results:Regarding behavior, the prophylaxis group presented 100% of children with a positive behavior, while the extraction group contained 75.9% of children with positive behavior, and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.010). Age, gender, and presence of anxiety prior to the procedures had no statistically significant relationship to the presented child behavior. The presence of caries in the deciduous dentition was associated with child behavior during dental procedures (p = 0.013). Conclusion: It was observed that the type of procedure interfered directly in the negative behavior of the children, with a difference in cooperation with invasive (dental extraction) and non-invasive (prophylaxis) procedures.