New insights on the phylogeography of Hepatozoon canis in Brazil.

This study aimed to molecularly characterize the Hepatozoon spp. infecting domestic and wild dogs in Brazil. A total of 22 whole blood samples tested positive for Hepatozoon spp., and five samples were sequenced for the 18S rDNA gene from H. canis after PCR amplification with four primer sets. Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference showed that the three H. canis isolates from domestic dogs were not monophyletic; however, they were more closely related to each other than to other H. canis sequences. The isolate from the hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus) was phylogenetically more distant. Two haplotype networks were constructed, identifying 10 haplotypes of H. canis in Brazil, with H10 constituting the largest group. It contains nine isolates, including three from domestic dogs. The H5 haplotype grouped the sequence of L. vetulus with two additional sequences from hosts Tapirus terrestris and L. vetulus, representing the sole haplotype with wild hosts. Bayesian analysis suggested the possible existence of two genetic groups of H. canis in Brazil, indicating gene flow of this agent within the country. These findings contribute valuable insights for a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in Brazil and may help in the development of effective control measures.

Association between nutritional status and children and adolescents' dental caries experiences: an overview of systematic reviews.

An increasing number of systematic reviews (SR) has investigated the association between dental caries and nutritional status in children and adolescents, thus requiring an overview to compile the information in a single piece of evidence. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and summarize evidence from published SR on the association between dental caries and nutritional status in children and adolescents. A wide search was conducted on May 29, 2023, in six databases (Medline via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Embase, and the Virtual Health Library - VHL). An additional search was performed in the gray literature (Open grey and Google Scholar), SR registration databases, and the list of references of the included SR. Our inclusion criteria were based on acronym PECOS. Overall, two reviewers independently extracted the data, evaluated the risk of bias (ROBIS), and assessed the quality of the chosen studies (AMSTAR-2). Data from the included meta-analysis were summarized and certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach was performed. After removing duplicates and applying our eligibility criteria, 19 SR from 2006-2022 were included. We found that 17 SR showed high risk of bias and critically low methodological quality. We observed an association between dental caries experiences and nutritional status since seven SR found an association between obesity/overweight and dental caries; one, an association between underweight and dental caries; and eleven, no associations. The meta-analysis showed divergent results according to the study designs, used indices, and participants' age group, and were scored as having a very low certainty of evidence. Therefore, based on the high risk of bias, low methodological quality, and very low certainty of evidence of the chosen SR, most studies found no association between children and adolescents' nutritional status and dental caries experience.

Association of MTR and MTRR genes and oral health-related quality of life in children with dental caries.

This study aimed to assess whether genetic polymorphisms in MTR and MTRR are potential biomarkers of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children with caries. A cross-sectional study was designed wherein pairs of parents/caregivers and children (aged two-five years) were selected. Clinical examination was used to detect dental caries, which were classified as low-severity and high-severity caries. The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) questionnaire was used to assess OHRQoL. Genomic DNA extracted from the saliva was used to analyze two missense genetic polymorphisms: MTR (rs1805087) and MTRR (rs1801394). Mann-Whitney non-parametric test was used to analyze candidate genes with OHRQoL scale and domain, with a significance level of p≤0.05. MTR (rs1805087) was found associated (p = 0.05) with children's OHRQoL subscale scores in the dominant model (GG + AG). Genetic polymorphisms in MTR may increase the risk of poor OHRQoL in children with caries. Further studies are needed to investigate genetics, molecular factors, and OHRQoL.

First record of Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae and Piscinoodinium pillulare infection in Colossoma macropomum in the state of Tocantins, Brazil.

This study aims to report the occurrence of two important parasites in farmed tambaqui Colossoma macropomum in the state of Tocantins, the acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae and the dinoflagellate protozoan Piscinoodinium pillulare, also suggesting the main treatments to control them. The fish sampled for the study were infected by N. buttnerae, and P. pillulare, with prevalence from 100% and mean intensity from 51.4 to 354,264, respectively. This was the first report on the occurrence of such parasites in C. macropomum in the state of Tocantins. We emphasize the need to adopt good farm management and biosecurity practices to prevent pathogenic agents to enter or leave a property. Reported treatments with synthetic and natural products with positive results are also suggested to treat against those parasites in farmed C. macropomum.

Association between nutritional status and children and adolescents' dental caries experiences: an overview of systematic reviews

Abstract An increasing number of systematic reviews (SR) has investigated the association between dental caries and nutritional status in children and adolescents, thus requiring an overview to compile the information in a single piece of evidence. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and summarize evidence from published SR on the association between dental caries and nutritional status in children and adolescents. A wide search was conducted on May 29, 2023, in six databases (Medline via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Embase, and the Virtual Health Library - VHL). An additional search was performed in the gray literature (Open grey and Google Scholar), SR registration databases, and the list of references of the included SR. Our inclusion criteria were based on acronym PECOS. Overall, two reviewers independently extracted the data, evaluated the risk of bias (ROBIS), and assessed the quality of the chosen studies (AMSTAR-2). Data from the included meta-analysis were summarized and certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach was performed. After removing duplicates and applying our eligibility criteria, 19 SR from 2006-2022 were included. We found that 17 SR showed high risk of bias and critically low methodological quality. We observed an association between dental caries experiences and nutritional status since seven SR found an association between obesity/overweight and dental caries; one, an association between underweight and dental caries; and eleven, no associations. The meta-analysis showed divergent results according to the study designs, used indices, and participants' age group, and were scored as having a very low certainty of evidence. Therefore, based on the high risk of bias, low methodological quality, and very low certainty of evidence of the chosen SR, most studies found no association between children and adolescents' nutritional status and dental caries experience.

Association of MTR and MTRR genes and oral health-related quality of life in children with dental caries

Abstract This study aimed to assess whether genetic polymorphisms in MTR and MTRR are potential biomarkers of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children with caries. A cross-sectional study was designed wherein pairs of parents/caregivers and children (aged two-five years) were selected. Clinical examination was used to detect dental caries, which were classified as low-severity and high-severity caries. The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) questionnaire was used to assess OHRQoL. Genomic DNA extracted from the saliva was used to analyze two missense genetic polymorphisms: MTR (rs1805087) and MTRR (rs1801394). Mann-Whitney non-parametric test was used to analyze candidate genes with OHRQoL scale and domain, with a significance level of p≤0.05. MTR (rs1805087) was found associated (p = 0.05) with children's OHRQoL subscale scores in the dominant model (GG + AG). Genetic polymorphisms in MTR may increase the risk of poor OHRQoL in children with caries. Further studies are needed to investigate genetics, molecular factors, and OHRQoL.

Does selective caries removal in combination with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy affect the clinical performance of adhesive restorations of primary or permanent teeth? A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an adjunct to a selective caries removal (SCR) technique for deep caries lesion treatment. The knowledge about chemical and structural changes affecting the remaining dentin surface after the use of this therapy is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: to answer the following question: Does the SCR technique in combination with aPDT affect the clinical performance of adhesive restorations in deep carious lesions of primary or permanent teeth? STUDY DESIGN: a systematic review was conducted. Five databases, supplemented by trial registers, google scholar, manual search, personal communications, and grey literature were investigated. Randomized clinical trials were included. Two independent reviewers selected the studies, extracted qualitatively the data, and evaluated the risk of bias (using Cochrane Collaboration's tool and Robot Reviewer program). The certainty of the evidence was accessed based on The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. A meta-analysis of comparable data was performed with RevMan software 5.3. RESULTS: A total of 39 articles and 3 studies were found. The final selection included 3 articles with a total of 82 participants. No studies were found on permanent teeth. The studies presented low risk of bias. Considering the treatment in the experimental (SCR + aPDT) or control groups (SCR), no difference on clinical performance of adhesive restorations in deep caries of primary teeth was observed after 6 months (p = 0.78; CI -0.01 (-0.09, 0.07)) or 12 months (p =0.75; CI -0.02 (-0.12, 0.08)). All outcomes presented moderate certainty of evidence mainly due to the small sample size that downgrade the GRADE scores. CONCLUSIONS: based on moderate certainty of the evidence, the clinical use of aPDT as an adjuvant of SCR has potential indication for treatment in deep caries of primary teeth. However, studies with more follow up and on permanent teeth are missing with the necessity for further research.

Dental trauma in primary dentition and the importance of its preservation until the eruption of permanent successor: a 6-year follow-up case report.

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are a public health concern that requires special attention in primary dentition due to the sequel that can be originated in permanent dentition. This paper aims to report a dental trauma injury highlighting the importance of follow-up the traumatized primary tooth until the eruption of its permanent successor. A 3-year-old female patient referred to a Dental Trauma Care Program (DTCP) in a Brazilian Public University after falling from her own height with the involvement of the deciduous maxillary left central incisor. The child's mother did not seek immediate care. The patient did not have any complaint and the tooth presented an enamel fracture during the clinical examination without radiographic alterations. The procedure performed was occlusal wear and insertion of the patient into the DTCP. After a 6-months clinical and radiographic follow-up, the primary maxillary left central incisor presented crown discoloration and periapical bone rarefaction. The treatment was pulpectomy followed by restoration of the tooth. In the 3-year follow-up, prolonged retention occurred and tooth extraction was the treatment of choice. After a 6-year follow-up, the permanent teeth erupted without any sequelae. TDIs are frequent in the primary dentition and, in some circumstances may interfere with the normal development of the permanent tooth causing irreversible sequelae. This case report reinforces the importance of seeking immediate care whenever dental traumas occur. Besides, a long-term follow-up of the traumatized tooth is essential for successful outcomes. Clinical and radiographic monitoring is fundamental to help dental professionals to decide the best treatment and to minimize potential complications.

Protocolo clínico-laboratorial para a confecção de protetor bucal personalizado ao alcance do clínico / Clinical-laboratory protocol for the manufacture of personalized mouthguard within the reach of the clinician

O procedimento de pulpectomia em dentes decíduos consiste na remoção total do tecido pulpar com inflamação irreversível ou com necrose, preparo químicomecânico e obturação com material reabsorvível, com o intuito de manter o dente o maior tempo possível na cavidade bucal, devolvendo função e saúde para o paciente infantil. Existem vários protocolos descritos na literatura, no entanto, não há consenso entre eles e poucos possuem acesso livre. Sendo assim, observa-se carência de um guia clínico e prático para nortear o cirurgião-dentista na realização desse procedimento durante o atendimento odontopediátrico. Portanto, o intuito deste trabalho é apresentar aos clínicos um protocolo de pulpectomia com altas frequências de sucesso clínico e radiográfico, baseado em evidências científicas, desenvolvido e aplicado pelo Grupo de Pesquisa de Endodontia em Odontopediatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (GEDOPED-UFRJ). O presente protocolo contempla indicações, contraindicações, tática operatória, materiais necessários e orientações para acompanhamento. Com esta publicação de maneira gratuita, de acesso livre e no idioma dominante do país, espera-se ampliar o alcance de odontopediatras e clínicos gerais que atendem crianças a um tratamento eficaz.

Pulpectomy in primary teeth consists of the complete removal of the irreversibly affected pulp or necrotic pulp tissue, chemical-mechanical preparation of the root dentin and filling root canals with a resorbable material, to keep the tooth as long as possible in the oral cavity, restoring function and health. There are several pulpectomy protocols described in the literature, however, there is no consensus among them and only few of them are open access. Therefore, there is a lack of clinical and practical guides to the practitioner in performing this procedure during pediatric dental care. The aim of this article is to present a clinically and radiographically successful pulpectomy protocol, based on scientific evidence, developed, and applied by the Research Group on Endodontics in Pediatric Dentistry at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. This protocol includes indications, contraindications, operative techniques, materials, and guidelines for follow-up appointments. With this open access publication in Portuguese, we hope to disseminate an effective treatment and expand the outreach of a pulpectomy technique protocol to pediatric dentists and clinicians who treat children.

Dental trauma in primary dentition, its effect on permanent successors and on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: a 4-year follow-up case report.

Traumatic dental injury (TDI) in deciduous teeth can affect itself and subsequent dentition due to its close anatomical relationship with the permanent germ. Besides, it can have psychologically undesirable effects on children and their parents and impact their Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). In this case report, we aimed to describe a TDI in primary dentition that presented sequel on primary and on permanent dentition as well to describe the impact on OHRQoL after 4 years of follow-up. A 4-year-old boy was referred to the Dental Trauma Care Program (DTCP) six months after an accident at school that resulted in TDI. In deciduous dentition, the tooth 51 presented periapical lesion due to lateral luxation and tooth 61 presented pulp canal obliteration due to a concussion. The teeth received appropriate treatment. After 4 years of follow-up, in the permanent dentition, tooth 11 presented mild disturbance (demarcated opacity) as sequel of TDI in deciduous dentition. The patient's OHRQoL was evaluated throughout this process until the eruption of the permanent tooth. TDI and the sequelae on permanent tooth had a negative impact on the patient's OHRQoL. TDI treatment improved the patient's OHRQoL. This case report reinforces the importance of regular follow-up of traumatized teeth as it can affect both dentitions with a negative impact on OHRQoL.

Estimating resting energy expenditure of patients on dialysis: Development and validation of a predictive equation.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to develop and validate a resting energy expenditure (REE) predictive equation in a cohort of patients on dialysis and to test the accuracy of two previously developed specific equations to estimate REE of these patients. METHODS: A database with REE measured by indirect calorimetry (IC) of 189 patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis was used to develop and validate the new equation. The sample including only patients on hemodialysis (n = 131) was used to test the accuracy of the specific REE dialysis equations by Vilar and Byham-Gray. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis generated two equations: REE (kcal/d) = 957.02 - 8.08 × age + 11.07 × body weight + 136.4 (if men) (R2 = 0.515) (1) REE (kcal/d) = 624.6-4.8 × age + 20.6 × fat-free, ass-fat-free mass-8.65 (if men) (R2 = 0.512) (2) In the validation group, REE by both equations did not differ from the REE measured by IC. No bias was found in the Bland-Altman analysis and the intraclass correlation coefficient and P20 test showed good reliability with measured REE. Vilar's equation overestimated REE; whereas REE generated by Byham-Gray's equation did not differ from measured REE. Proportional and systematic biases were significant for both equations. CONCLUSIONS: The new equations developed showed good accuracy and can be valuable to estimate energy needs of patients on dialysis. Byham-Gray's and Vilar's equations presented low to moderate performance to estimate REE of the patients on dialysis.

Eugenia dysenterica DC. (Myrtaceae) exerts chemopreventive effects against hexavalent chromium-induced damage in vitro and in vivo.

CONTEXT: Eugenia dysenterica DC. (Myrtaceae) has been widely used in the folk medicine and it presents phytochemicals constituents associated to antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of E. dysenterica leaf hydroalcoholic extract (EDE) in vitro and in vivo using AMJ2-C11 cells and Swiss mice exposed to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AMJ2-C11 cells were pretreated with EDE and exposed to Cr(VI) to evaluate cytotoxicity and the pathways involved in the chemopreventive effects of the extract. Mice were daily pretreated with EDE and then exposed to Cr(VI). Survival analysis, histopathological examination and determination of Cr levels in biological tissues were carried out. RESULTS: In vitro studies showed that pretreatment of the AMJ2-C11 cells with EDE protected against the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by Cr(VI). Consequently, the pretreatment with EDE reduced reactive oxygen species and apoptosis triggered by Cr(VI), probably by a marked antioxidant and chelating activities demonstrated by EDE. Regarding in vivo studies, pretreatment for 10 days with EDE increased survival of the mice exposed to Cr(VI). In addition, EDE prevented liver and kidney pathological damages, in parallel with reduction in chromium levels found in these organs and plasma. EDE also showed a marked antioxidant potential associated with the presence of polyphenols, especially flavonoids and tannins, as confirmed by HPLC-PDA. CONCLUSION: The study showed that EDE protects against Cr(VI)-induced damage in vitro and in vivo supporting further studies for the development of therapeutic products applied to prevent the damage induced by toxic metals, especially Cr(VI).