A comparison of bite size and BMI in a cafeteria setting.

Our study investigated the relationship between BMI and bite size in a cafeteria setting. Two hundred and seventy one participants consumed one meal each. Participants were free to select any food provided by the cafeteria and could return for additional food as desired. Bite weights were measured with a table embedded scale. Data were analyzed with ANOVAs, regressions, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, and a repeated measures general linear model for quartile analysis. Obese participants were found to take larger bites than both normal (p=0.002) and overweight participants (p=0.017). Average bite size increased by 0.20g per point increase in BMI. Food bites and drink bites were analyzed individually, showing 0.11g/BMI and 0.23g/BMI slopes, respectively. Quartiles of bites were also analyzed, and a significant interaction was found between normal and obese participants (p=0.034) such that the lower two quartiles were similar, but the upper two quartiles showed an increase in bite size for obese participants. The source of these effects could be the result of a combination of several uncontrolled factors.

Biting myself so I don't bite the dust: prevalence and predictors of deliberate self-harm and suicide ideation in Azorean youths

Objective: To characterize non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors, methods, and functions as well as suicide ideation in the adolescent population of a Portuguese community in São Miguel Island, Azores. Increasing rates of NSSI behaviors among adolescents have been observed globally, while suicidal behavior has been pointed as a major cause of death during adolescence. Methods: A sample of 1,763 adolescents, aged 14 to 22, was randomly drawn from public and private schools and administered a set of self-report questionnaires. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to look for specific relationships and predictors of NSSI and suicide ideation in this isolated community. Results: Approximately 30% of youths reported at least one NSSI behavior, a rate that is twice as high as most studies carried out in mainland Portugal and in other European countries. Biting oneself was the most frequent form of NSSI, and NSSI behaviors served predominantly automatic reinforcement purposes (i.e., regulation of disruptive emotional states). NSSI and suicide ideation encompassed different distal and proximal risk factors. Conclusions: Exploring and characterizing these phenomena is necessary to provide a better understanding, enhance current conceptualizations, and guide the development of more effective prevention and intervention strategies in youths.

Biting myself so I don't bite the dust: prevalence and predictors of deliberate self-harm and suicide ideation in Azorean youths.

OBJECTIVE:: To characterize non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors, methods, and functions as well as suicide ideation in the adolescent population of a Portuguese community in São Miguel Island, Azores. Increasing rates of NSSI behaviors among adolescents have been observed globally, while suicidal behavior has been pointed as a major cause of death during adolescence. METHODS:: A sample of 1,763 adolescents, aged 14 to 22, was randomly drawn from public and private schools and administered a set of self-report questionnaires. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to look for specific relationships and predictors of NSSI and suicide ideation in this isolated community. RESULTS:: Approximately 30% of youths reported at least one NSSI behavior, a rate that is twice as high as most studies carried out in mainland Portugal and in other European countries. Biting oneself was the most frequent form of NSSI, and NSSI behaviors served predominantly automatic reinforcement purposes (i.e., regulation of disruptive emotional states). NSSI and suicide ideation encompassed different distal and proximal risk factors. CONCLUSIONS:: Exploring and characterizing these phenomena is necessary to provide a better understanding, enhance current conceptualizations, and guide the development of more effective prevention and intervention strategies in youths.

Human Bite of a Staff Nurse on a Psychiatric Unit.

Occupational violence among health care professionals is a cause for concern, although often neglected especially in developing countries like India. Violence undermines the healing mission of the health care organization and interferes with the ability of the health care team to optimally contribute to positive patient outcomes. The authors discuss a case of a human bite of a staff nurse on a psychiatric unit in a tertiary care Indian hospital. The reported violence against this staff nurse lead to her admission for emergency care followed by emotional stress. Issues related to prevention of occupational violence are also discussed.

Associations between psychological factors and the presence of deleterious oral habits in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between psychological factors and the presence of deleterious oral habits in children and adolescents. STUDY DESIGN: 147 students aged 8 to 14-years-old were divided in two groups concerning the presence and absence of DOH Habit group (HG) and Habit free group (HFG). Participants were asked about the presence of DOH using the domain III (Oral Habits) of the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S). Symptoms of anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Brazilian Portuguese versions of the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), respectively. Saliva was collected 30 min after waking and at night to determine the diurnal decline in salivary cortisol (DDSC). Data were analyzed using the Chi-squared, Mann-Whitney, Spearman's correlation and logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of DOH was higher in females than males (65.1 vs 34.9; p < 0.05). The most frequent DOH was nail biting (58.7%). HG presented more depressive symptoms than HFG (p < 0.05). There was positive correlation between salivary cortisol levels and age (p < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis found association between symptoms of anxiety and the presence of DOH (OR = 2.35; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, children and adolescents with DOH presented more symptoms of depression than their counterparts. Moreover, they were more likely to report symptoms of anxiety.

Self inflicted human teeth bites: a case report.

Human infighting has been a part of our civilization since times immemorial. These incidences may go unnoticed or may attract attention of law enforcing agencies depending upon the severity of the offence. Though weapons are generally employed to inflict injuries, rare cases have been reported in literature where human teeth have been used to serve this purpose. Human bites may be self inflicted or self suffered in connivance with others to level an allegation against an adversary. We are presenting here such a case where such injuries were produced to bring a false charge against a neighbor.

Bacteria and vampirism in cinema.

A vampire is a non-dead and non-alive chimerical creature, which, according to various folklores and popular superstitions, feeds on blood of the living to draw vital force. Vampires do not reproduce by copulation, but by bite. Vampirism is thus similar to a contagious disease contracted by intravascular inoculation with a suspected microbial origin. In several vampire films, two real bacteria were staged, better integrated than others in popular imagination: Yersinia pestis and Treponema pallidum. Bacillus vampiris was created for science-fiction. These films are attempts to better define humans through one of their greatest fears: infectious disease.

Coincidence and awareness of oral parafunctions in college students.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and awareness of particular types of oral parafunctions in young healthy students and any association with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed in a randomly selected group of 303 healthy students (mean age 18.8 years) from the vocational technical school in Wroclaw, Poland, who underwent a routine clinical examination and functional analysis of the mouth. On taking the history all subjects were asked about their awareness of various forms of parafunctional activity in their mouth. RESULTS: Almost all subjects revealed various oral parafunctions such as: bruxism, nail and pen biting, chewing gum, and biting the mucosa of lip or cheek. These habits were present singly or as double, triple or even fourfold coincidences in a single person. The most frequent oral parafunctions were habitual gum chewing and bruxism. Subjects were very seldom aware of the last parafunction. TMDs were more prevalent in the presence of bruxism than in other oral parafunctions. CONCLUSIONS: The studied students revealed various types of oral parafunctions, however most of them were not aware of clenching and grinding their teeth.

Biting for attention: a case of dental discomfort manifesting in behavioural problems.

There is a dearth of literature describing behaviour that expresses discomfort caused by poor dentition in patients with dementia. In this paper, we report on a patient whose behaviour only abstrusely pointed to his teeth as the source of discomfort. Although changes to his medication over a 2-year period had little effect, eventual extraction of his caries brought about an almost immediate resolution of all antisocial behaviour. Clinicians must be mindful that poor dental care is easily meliorated but remains endemic in patients suffering from dementia.

Oral mucosa in children with Prader-Willi syndrome.

UNLABELLED: Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic disorder. Abnormal saliva secretion, emotional and behaviour problems, may affect the health status of the oral mucousa. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of self-destructive behaviour and abnormal saliva secretion on the oral mucosa in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen PWS's children (mean age 9.8 ± 4.4 years) and 15 healthy children (mean age 11.5 ± 3.5 years) were assessed for self-destructive behaviours, such as picking at the skin, physical and chemical saliva characteristics, mycology, and the clinical status of the oral mucosa. RESULTS: Picking at the skin was only in children with PWS (n = 12). In contrast to the control group, the moistening rate of the lower lip mucosa was slower, and the mean pH of the resting saliva was reduced in the affected subjects. Sticky frothy or frothy saliva, decreased secretion rate of the stimulated saliva, and a reduced buffer capacity were more frequently in PWS's children; Candida spp. and oral candidiasis were also more common. Injurious lesions in the oral mucosa were found in one control child, and in eight PWS's subjects. In affected children, the lesions were concurrent with picking at the skin. A statistical correlation was noted between the presence of Candida spp. and oral candidiasis, and unfavourable saliva properties, and between injurious lesions and a slow moistening rate of the lower lip mucosa, and oral candidiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal saliva secretion and self-destructive behaviours in children with Prader-Willi syndrome predispose them to injurious lesions in the oral mucosa, and possibly, to oral candidiosis.

Changes in the oral cavity might reflect psychological disorders in some patients.

AIM: The treatment of oral dysesthesias, such as burning mouth syndrome, can be challenging. Patient acceptance of the role of psychological etiological factors might be improved if there are clinical signs that patients could confirm themselves, which could be used as reinforcement of clinical discussions. Published associations between psychological disorder and various oral signs and symptoms are not suited to this purpose, as they are ambiguous in origin and implication. Others, used clinically in this situation, are not supported by published literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if a demonstrable relationship could be established between psychological profile and the appearance and function of the oral cavity. METHODS: Seventy-nine participants underwent an oral examination and completed a Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 questionnaire. Correlations were calculated between clinical variables and the raw Depression Anxiety Stress Scale scores. Univariate analyses determined variables with significant differences between a high-risk and normal group, and multiple logistic regression models were calculated for these. RESULTS: Various oral signs and symptoms were found to correlate with depression, anxiety, and/or stress, with some predictive of psychological disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: These signs and symptoms might be used to reinforce the psychological aspects of an oral dysesthesia.

Biting behavior, aggression, and seizures.

PURPOSE: To describe the semiologic features of aggressive behaviors observed in human epileptic seizures with particular reference to the act of biting a conspecific. METHODS: We analyzed the biting behavior (BB) and other aggressive gestures occurring in a group of 11 patients retrospectively selected from >1,000 patients subjected to video-EEG/SEEG monitoring for presurgical evaluation of drug-resistant seizures. RESULTS: Patients displaying BB showed (a) a male sex predominance, (b) heterogeneous etiologies and lesion locations, and (c) seizures involving the frontotemporal regions of both hemispheres. The act of biting was a rapid motor action, lasting approximately 600 ms, occurring in the context of strong emotional arousal, fear, and anger, with various bodily gestures with aggressive connotation. BB was mainly a "reflexive" behavior, in that biting acts were evoked (both during and after seizures) by actions of people in close contact with the patient. The sole intrusion of the examiner's hand in the space near the patient's face was effective in triggering BB. Rarely, self-directed or object-directed biting acts were not triggered by external stimuli. Intracranial data (SEEG) obtained in one subject showed that the amygdala/hippocampal region plus the orbitomedial prefrontal cortex had to be involved by ictal activity to observe BB. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomic and electrophysiologic data in our patients suggest that a model of dual--temporal and frontal--dysfunction could account for the occurrence of ictal/postictal BB. Behavioral data suggest also that BB and related aggressive gestures can be considered as the emergence of instinctive behaviors with an adaptative significance of defense of the peripersonal space.

Forensic implications of biting behavior: a conceptually underdeveloped area of investigation.

Within the context of a criminal investigation the human bitemark traditionally provides the forensic dentist with both physical and biological evidence. In recent years, however, examples exist where in addition to discussing physical and biological evidence, expert witnesses have also testified in court regarding the behavioral aspects of biting behavior. Interested in this additional source of evidence, the authors reviewed the research literature from which biting behavior could be explained. The review found a hiatus of empirical knowledge in this respect, with only two papers seemingly related to the topic. With this dearth of knowledge in mind, the authors present a framework for further analysis and tentatively suggest reasons for biting behaviors, using a range of psychological models. The article ends with a cautionary note that vague and often misleading behavioral assumptions must not be applied to bitemark testimony until further data are available.