Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular and kidney disease in Brazilian healthy preschool children

AIM To investigate the prevalence of nutritional parameters of risk for cardiovascular disease(CVD) and kidney diseases in healthy preschool children.METHODS This is an observational cross-sectional study with 60 healthy children, of both genders, aged two to six years old and 56 mothers, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Preschool children and their families with regular activities at public schools were invited to paticipate in the study. The following characteristics were assessed: Socio-demographic condictions, clinical health, anthropometric, biochemical, lifestyle and data on food consumption. The 56 healthy children were divided into two groups, overweight(C1) and non-overweight(C2), as well as their mothers, respectively, in overweight(M1) and non-overweight(M2). Nutritional status was defined according to results obtained through the Anthro? Software for nutritional analysis. RESULTS Thirty-five children were male, with mean age of 4.44 ± 1.0 years old. Eighty-nine percent of them were eutrophic, 86.7% were sedentary and they had five meals a day. Body mass index(BMI) for age and total cholesterol(TC) was higher on C1(P = 0.0001) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c) was higher on C2. Mothers were 32.5 ± 7.1 years old, mostly married and employed. Eighty-six percent of them were sedentary and 62.5% were overweight with BMI = 26.38 ± 5.07 kg/m2. Eighteen percent of the overweight mothers had isolated total hypercholesterolemia(TC levels elevated) and 12.5% had low HDL-c levels. The present study showed an association between overweight and obesity during the preschool years and the correspondent mothers' nutritional status of overweight and obesity(OR = 4.96; 95%CI: 0.558-44.17). There was a positive correlation between the food risk associated with CVD by children and mothers when their consumption was 4 times/wk(P = 0.049; r = 0.516) or daily(P = 0.000008; r = 0.892).CONCLUSION Analyzed children showed high rates of physical inactivity, high serum cholesterol levels and high consumption of food associated with risk for CVD and renal disease. Changes in habits should be encouraged early in kindergarten.

Periodontal Disease: General Aspects from Biofilm to the Immune Response Driven by Periodontal Pathogens

Periodontal disease is of inflammatory origin and affects the dental support tissues. The initial phase is characterized by the accumulation of biofilm, which is a predisposing factor for several oral pathologies. The combination of extrinsic factors such as lack of hygiene, smoking and diet, and intrinsic factors such as genetics, and major changes in the immune response associated with immune escape mechanisms of biofilm constituents are crucial to the development and progression of the disease, which when untreated entails local irreversible consequences that can lead to systemic changes. In this brief review, we describe general aspects of periodontal disease, its risk factors and ways of preventing the disease. In particular, we discuss some of the mechanisms of immune response to periodontal pathogens, as well as the escape mechanisms of these microorganisms.

Invasive Fungal Infections in People Living with HIV/AIDS

The increased incidence of invasive and opportunistic mycoses is probably related to the growth of the immunocompromised population, such as people living with HIV. This study is a literature review that aims to analyze the frequency of invasive fungal infections in people living with HIV. In most studies evaluated, Pneumocystis pneumonia was the most frequent invasive fungal infection among people living with HIV, and cryptococcosis was the second most frequent. Invasive fungal infections are associated with greater morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV. The most important highlighted information is that the lack of epidemiological data on fungal infections in the studied populations was reported by most studies. Therefore, there is a need for further studies to assess the frequency of invasive fungal infection in people living with HIV, which may serve as subsidies for the implementation of strategies for the prevention and management, with a consequent increase in the quality of life and reduction of morbidity/mortality in this population.

Antibiofilm and immunomodulatory resorbable nanofibrous filing for dental pulp regenerative procedures

Multifunctional scaffolds with host defense peptides designed for regenerative endodontics are desirable nanobiotechnological tools for dentistry.Here,different scaffolds were tested for use during the pulp revascularization process,including poly(vinyl alcohol)-PVA hydrogels or resins,collagen hydrogels and poly(vinyl alcohol)PVA/Chitosan(PVA/CS)nanofibers.Based on time to degradation(21 days),nanofibers were chosen to be incorporated with ciprofloxacin and IDR-1002(each at 50 mg/g).Nanofibers containing ciprofloxacin and IDR-1002 had anti-biofilm activity against Enterococcus faecalis,Staphylococcus aureus and a multispecies oral biofilm,besides anti-inflammatory activities.The in vivo subcutaneous tissue response to tooth fragments filled with nanofibers demonstrated a pulp-like tissue formation,when compared to empty teeth fragments.Thus,we designed a strong antimicrobial,immunomodulatory and regenerative candidate for pulp revascularization and regeneration procedures.