Influence of maternal excess weight before pregnancy on breast-feeding and weaning: pooled analyses of four population-based cohorts born between 1982 and 2015.

To investigate the associations of maternal excess weight before pregnancy with (1) weaning at 3 months of age, (2) duration of exclusive breast-feeding at 6 months of age, (3) duration of any breast-feeding at 12 months of age and (4) to compare the magnitude of these associations over four decades. Data were from participants in the Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohorts born in 1982 (n 5334), 1993 (n 1442), 2004 (n 4092) and 2015 (n 4102). Maternal pre-pregnancy weight was collected after the delivery and breast-feeding status was assessed when children were 3 and 12 months old. Only in the most recent cohort (2015), women with excess weight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) before pregnancy had higher risk of discontinuing exclusive breast-feeding within the first 6 months postpartum than women with normal weight (hazard ratio = 1·22 (95 % CI 1·15, 1·30)). Duration of any type of breast-feeding until 12 months of age was not affected by pre-pregnancy weight. Excess weight before pregnancy is associated with exclusive breast-feeding only in the most recent birth cohort coinciding with increases in excess weight and breast-feeding over time.

Maternal and child-health outcomes in pregnancies following Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing the outcome of spontaneous versus assisted reproductive technologies (ART) pregnancies report heterogeneous results. Despite the success of ART to overcome infertility, concern is growing regarding both its safety and its effect on maternal and child health. The objective of this study was to compare maternal and child-health outcomes after ART relative to natural conception. METHODS: A population-based birth cohort study was carried out among pregnant women expected to deliver in 2015 in Pelotas, southern Brazil. Maternal outcomes included pregnancy complications and gestational weight gain. Gestational age, weight, intrauterine growth restriction, length and head circumference, and 1-min and 5-min Apgar, as well as health problems at birth and breastfeeding were defined as offspring outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using linear and logistic regression. G-formula was used to perform mediation analysis. RESULTS: The study included 4252 babies born by spontaneously pregnancies and 23 babies born after ART. Adjusted analyses showed that children conceived from ART presented lower means of gestational age (p = 0.001), birth weight (p = 0.002), length (p < 0.001), and head circumference at birth (p = 0.02). However, more than 90% of the effect of ART over these outcomes was mediated by multiple pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the possible negative effect on the child-health outcomes is due mainly to the higher incidence of multiple pregnancies and not because of ART. The reasons for the increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with ART singleton pregnancies are still uncertain and warrants further research. Further large-population studies are needed to confirm these results.

Validation and reliability of visual assessment with a shade guide for tooth-color classification.

This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the visual assessment of tooth color using a commercial shade guide. Ninety-two individuals were randomly selected from subjects enrolled in a randomized controlled trial comparing two formulations of carbamide peroxide. Initially, each individual had the color of his or her six maxillary anterior teeth (n=552) determined by one examiner using a digital spectrophotometer (Vita Easyshade). Then, a visual assessment was made by two calibrated examiners using a shade guide (Vitapan Classical). Reliability was evaluated either by kappa coefficient when all the colors were grouped into two categories (dark and light) or by weighted kappa when all 16 colors of the shade guide were considered. The digital spectrophotometer (Vita Easyshade) was used as the gold standard to calculate sensitivity and specificity of the visual assessment. The reliability of the visual assessment using two color categories was "substantial" (k=0.69). When all colors of the shade guide were considered, the reliability was "mild" (kw=0.33). Sensitivity and specificity of the visual assessment with respect to the gold standard was 86.9% and 81.9%, respectively. Despite its subjectivity, visual assessment of tooth color using the Vitapan Classical shade guide is a valid method, with good reliability for differentiating between dark and light colors.

Efficacy and safety of 10% and 16% carbamide peroxide tooth-whitening gels: a randomized clinical trial.

This double-blind randomized clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of two carbamide peroxide concentrations used in at-home vital bleaching. Ninety-two volunteers with a shade mean of C1 or darker for the six maxillary anterior teeth were randomized into two balanced groups (n=46) according to bleaching agent concentration: 10% (CP10) or 16% (CP16) carbamide peroxide. The patients were instructed to use the whitening agent in a tray for two hours once a day for three weeks. Shade evaluations were done with a value-oriented shade guide and a spectrophotometer at baseline and one week post-bleaching (four-week evaluation). Tooth sensitivity was measured daily using a scale ranging from 0 (no sensitivity) to 4 (severe sensitivity). At the end of the study, the volunteers filled out a questionnaire with seven questions aimed to give their opinion about the adopted treatment regimen. Both carbamide peroxide concentrations resulted in significantly lighter teeth at the four-week evaluation compared to the baseline for all color parameters (p < 0.0001) and shade median (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of shade change difference with either the spectrophotometer (p = 0.1) or the shade guide (p = 0.7). Also, no statistically significant difference was found in relation to deltaL* (p = 0.7), delta a* and deltaE* (p = 0.5). A significant reduction in yellowness (delta b*) was observed for CP16 compared to CP10 (p = 0.05) in crude analysis, which disappeared after controlling for b* parameter at baseline. The group treated with CP16 experienced more tooth sensitivity during the first (p = 0.02) and third (p = 0.01) weeks of treatment compared to the CP10 group. However, no major difference was observed (p = 0.09) when the degree of tooth sensitivity between groups was compared. Both 10% and 16% carbamide peroxide concentrations were equally effective and safe for a three-week at-home tooth-bleaching treatment.

[Gastroesophageal reflux disease: prevalence and associated factors]. / Prevalência e fatores associados à doença do refluxo gastroesofágico.

BACKGROUND: O gastroesophageal reflux is a high prevalent disease with prevalence rates ranging from 21 to 56% in different countries. OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiology and the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease among adult population (20 years and old) at the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. METHODOLOGY: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Household interviews were done between October 1999 and January 2000. Association between gastroesophageal reflux disease and age, sex, skin color, years of formal education, income per capita, marital status, psychological variables (insomnia, stressful psychosocial events in the last year, psychological distress), body mass index, smoking and weekly consumption of alcoholic beverages was assessed through logistic regression. RESULTS: Three thousands and nine-hundred thirty four (3,934) individuals were interviewed. A prevalence of 31,3% (CI 95% 29.9%-32.8%). After allowing for confounding gastroesophageal reflux disease was significantly associated with female sex, living without partner, low level of formal education, insomnia, psychological distress, reported stressful psychosocial events in the last year, obesity and overweight. CONCLUSION: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a high prevalent disease and its main associated factors are sex, anthropometric variables and psychological characteristics.

Oral mucosal lesions' impact on oral health-related quality of life in preschool children.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions and their impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children aged 5 years. METHODS: A sample of 1118 children from Pelotas' birth cohort, born in 2004 (response rate of 85.8%), were selected to participate in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire applied to mothers and from the oral examinations of the children. OML were identified by type, site, and size. Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was used to assess caregivers' perception on children's OHRQoL. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate Poisson regression analyses were carried out, considering the impact on OHRQoL (total ECOHIS score) as the outcome. RESULTS: The prevalence of the OML was 30.1% (95% CI 27.5-32.9). Ulcers were the more prevalent type of lesion (29.4%), and the most affected site was the gums (31.0%). In bivariate analysis, there was a positive association between the presence of OML and OHRQoL impact measured by the following: mean overall score of ECOHIS (P < 0.001); extent (P < 0.001); prevalence (P = 0.030); and intensity (P = 0.010). After adjustments for sociodemographic and oral health variables, children with OML presented higher impact on OHRQoL [rate ratio (RR) 1.38 95% CI 1.11; 1.72] comparing with their counterparts. Analyzing specific domains, children with OML also presented higher impact on children symptoms (RR 1.46 95% CI 1.20; 1.66) and family functional (RR 3.14 95% CI 1.59; 6.22) domains. CONCLUSION: Almost one-third of children presented with oral mucosal lesions, and these lesions impaired children's oral health-related quality of life.

Knowledge and beliefs concerning early childhood caries from mothers of children ages zero to 12 months.

PURPOSE: This study's purpose was to assess mothers' knowledge and beliefs about early childhood caries (ECC) etiology and prevention. METHODS: This cross-sectional study targeted mothers (N=277) of zero- to 12-month-olds visiting 12 public health care centers in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Information on causes of and recommendations to prevent ECC, as well as socioeconomic and demographic variables, was collected. Chi-square, univariate, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed (P<.05). RESULTS: Sugar intake and lack of oral hygiene were the most frequently mentioned causes of caries. Ninety percent of the mothers were aware of the need to begin tooth-brushing during their children's first year. Mothers who had more children and were in lower socioeconomic positions were more likely to not know the correct age for the first dental visit. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that mothers do not know all the factors that can influence caries in their children. None reported the role of micro-organisms and lack of fluoride in the caries etiology. These findings highlight the importance of providing preventive orientation to the mothers regarding early childhood caries. Information on age of first dental visit should be emphasized, especially among mothers with more than one child and low-income families.

Knowledge and Beliefs Concerning Early Childhood Caries From Mothers of Children Ages Zero to 12 Months.

PURPOSE: This study's purpose was to assess mothers' knowledge and beliefs about early childhood caries (ECC) etiology and prevention. METHODS: This cross-sectional study targeted mothers (N=277) of zero- to 12-month-olds visiting 12 public health care centers in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Information on causes of and recommendations to prevent ECC, as well as socioeconomic and demographic variables, was collected. Chi-square, univariate, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed (P<.05). RESULTS: Sugar intake and lack of oral hygiene were the most frequently mentioned causes of caries. Ninety percent of the mothers were aware of the need to begin tooth-brushing during their children's first year. Mothers who had more children and were in lower socioeconomic positions were more likely to not know the correct age for the first dental visit. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that mothers do not know all the factors that can influence caries in their children. None reported the role of micro-organisms and lack of fluoride in the caries etiology. These findings highlight the importance of providing preventive orientation to the mothers regarding early childhood caries. Information on age of first dental visit should be emphasized, especially among mothers with more than one child and low-income families.

A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial of 10 percent versus 16 percent carbamide peroxide tooth-bleaching agents: one-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The use of high-concentration tooth-bleaching agents has been associated with increased longevity of the whitening effect. The authors conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the longevity of the whitening effect at one year of two at-home tooth-bleaching agents. METHODS: The authors randomly assigned 92 participants with a mean shade of C1 or darker for six maxillary anterior teeth into two equal-sized groups according to carbamide peroxide concentration: 10 percent (CP10) or 16 percent (CP16). Treatment involved the use of a whitening agent in a tray for two hours daily for three weeks. The authors evaluated tooth shade with a shade guide and a spectrophotometer at baseline and one week, six months and one year after bleaching. Participants in both groups answered questions about their dietary and oral hygiene behaviors. RESULTS: At the one-year recall appointment, the teeth in both groups remained significantly lighter than at baseline. At this time, participants from the CP10 and CP16 groups consumed staining beverages and foods at a level as high as at the six-month recall appointment, and this consumption level was not statistically significant between groups (P > .5). CONCLUSIONS: One year after bleaching, both treatment groups had the same median tooth shade, which remained lighter than at baseline. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Higher carbamide peroxide concentration does not increase the longevity of the whitening effect of at-home tooth-bleaching agents.