Number of teeth is independently associated with ischemic stroke: A case-control study.

Poor oral health has been suggested as a potential risk factor for the occurrence of cardiovascular events. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that the number of permanent natural teeth (NT) is independently associated with the occurrence of ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in a southern Brazilian population. This case-control study enrolled 458 subjects, 229 hospital patients diagnosed with IS or TIA (cases) and 229 patients with no history of cardiovascular disease (controls). NT was assessed through a head and neck multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) and panoramic radiographs. The participants were matched by age and sex. Sociodemographic and medical confounding variables were obtained from the hospital charts and through a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis were carried out to estimate the association between NT and the occurrence of IS or TIA. The mean age was 58.37 ± 10.75 years, with 46.7% males. Adjusted analyses showed an independent association between IS or TIA and hypertension (OR = 6.34, 95%CI = 3.93-10.24), smoking (OR = 4.70, 95%CI = 2.76-7.99) and NT (lower quartile: ≤7 teeth) (OR = 5.59, 95%CI = 2.88-10.86). The number of permanent natural teeth was inversely and independently associated with the occurrence of IS or TIA in this population. Present findings suggest a gradient effect on the association between oral health and IS.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES): Is DWI a prognosis factor?

INTRODUCTION: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a clinicoradiologic entity with typical MR imaging showing a white matter vasogenic edema predominantly affecting the occipital and parietal lobes of the brain. The aim of this article is evaluated the importance of DWI as a prognosis factor in patients with PRES. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed data from 70 patients with PRES (35 with restricted DWI and 35 with no DWI abnormalities), that were admitted to Hospital São Lucas-PUCRS. These two groups were evaluated in age, sex, previous diseases and past medical history, use of medications, the neurologic manifestations, the highest blood pressure during the neurologic presentation and the highest creatinine during the period of observation. RESULTS: Evaluating 70 patients with PRES with a mean age of 25.4 years old (range from 2 to 74 years old; 55 female and 15 male) we identified 35 cases were brain MRI presents with restricted DWI. Restricted DWI was associated with higher mortality in 90 days (14.2% vs 0.0%; p: 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Few articles present new data that will help clinicians in therapeutic decisions or that modify the knowledge of this syndrome. We suggested that restricted DWI is associated with a worst prognosis in PRES.

Associação entre saúde bucal e acidente vascular encefálico isquêmico (AVEI) - uma revisão da literatura / Association between oral health and ischemic stroke (IS) - a literature review

A associação entre saúde bucal e desfechos de saúde geral vem sendo estudada de modo crescente nas últimas décadas, com ênfase na relação entre doenças inflamatórias crônicas bucais e doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) de origem aterosclerótica. OBJETIVO: revisar a literatura, atualizando os conhecimentos sobre a associação entre parâmetros de saúde bucal (doença periodontal (DP), periodontite apical (PA) e perda dentária) e a ocorrência de acidente vascular encefálico isquêmico (AVEI). METODOLOGIA: foram pesquisadas as seguintes bases eletrônicas, sem restrições de idiomas ou data: PubMed/ MEDLINE, LILACS, Scielo e ISI Web of Science e Schoolar Google, além de buscas manuais. Estudos realizados em animais ou in vitro, relatos e séries de casos foram excluídos. RESULTADOS: a presente revisão identificou e incluiu 11 estudos clínicos observacionais avaliando a associação entre diferentes indicadores de saúde bucal e AVEI, além de uma meta-analise sobre o assunto. Nenhum estudo de intervenção foi identificado. CONCLUSÃO: a evidência disponível, oriunda de estudos observacionias, sugere que as principais doenças inflamatórias crônicas bucais (DP e PA) estão associadas de modo independente com DCV de origem aterosclerótica. A relação entre DP e AVEI parece consistente, porém há carência de estudos analisando a associação entre AVEI e outros parâmetros de saúde bucal, especialmente cárie e PA. Até o momento, uma relação de causalidade entre DP, PA e AVEI não pode ser confirmada ou rejeitada, em face à ausência de estudos de intervenção. Futuros estudos deverão contribuir para o esclarecimento dos mecanismos biológicos que embasam a associação entre as doenças crônicas bucais e o AVEI.

The association between oral health and general health has been under study for decades, with emphasis on the relationship between chronic oral inflammatory diseases and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ACVD). OBJECTIVE: to review the literature, updating the knowledge about the association between oral health (periodontal disease (PD), apical periodontitis (AP) and tooth loss) and the occurrence of ischemic stroke (IS). METHODOLOGY: the following electronic databases were searched, without language or date restrictions: PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Scielo, ISI Web of Science and Schoolar Google, as well as manual searches. Studies in animals or in vitro, reports and series of cases were excluded. RESULTS: the present review identified and included 11 clinical observational studies evaluating the association between different indicators of oral health and IS, and one meta-analysis on the field. No interventional studies were identified. CONCLUSION: the available evidence from observational studies suggests that the main chronic oral inflammatory diseases (PD and PA) are independently associated with ACVD. In addition, the relationship between PD and IS seems consistent, but there is a lack of studies analyzing the association between IS and other oral health parameters, such as caries and AP. To now, a causal relationship between DP, PA and IS cannot be confirmed or rejected, considering the lack of interventional studies on the area. Future studies should contribute to the comprehension of the biological mechanisms underlying the association between the main chronic oral diseases and IS.

Correlation between the corpus callosum index and brain atrophy, lesion load, and cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The corpus callosum index (CCI) can be easily and reliably obtained from conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and has been proposed as a possible marker of brain atrophy in MS. However, further validation of its correlation with volumetric measurements is still warranted. OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation of the CCI with the corpus callosum volume (CCV), brain and lesion volumes, and level of disability in MS. METHODS: Cross-sectional, exploratory study including patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Clinical assessment comprised of physical and cognitive disability scales. MRI parameters included conventional volumetric measurements, the CCI (manual), and the CCV (automated). RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were included. There was a strong correlation between the CCI and CCV. The CCI correlated strongly with the white matter and lesion volumes, and moderately with the whole brain volume and scores on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test and MS Functional Composite. There were no correlations between the CCI and either gray matter volume or scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale, the 9-Hole Peg Test, or the Timed 25-Foot Walk test. CONCLUSION: The findings support the validity of the CCI as an easy-to-obtain marker of brain atrophy, lesion load, and cognitive dysfunction in patients with MS.