ABSTRACT:The aim of this randomised, double blind controlled trial was to verify the efficacy of a herbal dentifrice on the reduction of plaque and gingivitis. Forty eight volunteers with established gingivitis were randomly assigned to either a test group (herbal dentifrice) or positive control group (dentifrice with triclosan and fluoride). The dentifrices were distributed in plain white tubes by an independent pharmacy, which revealed the contents of each tube only after the experimental period. Plaque and gingivitis assessments were carried out on baseline and after 28 days of product use. All examinations were conducted by the same calibrated investigator. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth three times daily using their assigned dentifrice for 28 days. There was a significant reduction in plaque levels in both the test and control groups. However, there was no significant difference between the groups. A significant reduction in gingivitis was observed in both groups, although there was no significant difference between them. No adverse reactions were reported. The authors concluded that both dentifrices were effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis in subjects with established gingivitis. DESCRIPTORS: Gingivitis; Plant preparations; Phytotherapy; Triclosan. RESUMO:O objetivo deste ensaio clínico aleatório duplo-cego foi verificar a eficácia de um dentifrício fitoterápico na redução de placa e gengivite. Quarenta e oito voluntários com gengivite estabelecida foram aleatoriamente alocados aos grupos teste (dentifrício fitoterápico) e controle positivo (dentifrício com triclosan e flúor). Os dentifrícios foram distribuídos em tubos brancos por uma farmácia independente, que revelou o conteúdo de cada tubo apenas após o final do período experimental. A aferição de placa e gengivite foi conduzida por um único examinador, previamente calibrado, no início e após 28 dias de uso do produto. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram orientados a escovar os dentes com o dentifrício de seu grupo três vezes ao dia, por 28 dias. Houve redução significativa na quantidade de placa nos grupos teste e controle. No entanto, não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Os dois grupos experimentais apresentaram redução significativa nos níveis de gengivite, porém não houve diferença significativa entre eles. Não foram observadas reações adversas. Os autores concluíram que os dois dentifrícios foram eficazes na redução de placa e gengivite em indivíduos com gengivite estabelecida.

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The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of different forms of periodontal diseases on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). Fifty-two patients with Aggressive Periodontitis (AP) or Chronic Periodontitis (CP) were included: nine patients with Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP), thirty-three patients with Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis (GAP) and ten patients with Generalized Chronic Periodontitis (GCP). Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaires (OHIP-14) were distributed after a clinical examination that measured the following periodontal parameters: tooth loss, bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (REC) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The global OHIP-14 score means were 10.6 for LAP, 16.5 for GAP, and 17.5 for GCP. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed between the LAP group and the other two groups. There was significantly less bleeding and recession in the LAP group than in the patients with the generalized forms of periodontitis. LAP, GAP and GCP have an impact on patient quality of life when measured using the OHIP-14. Patients with GAP and GCP had poorer OHRQoL than LAP patients.

The objective of the present study was to compare anthropometry with bioelectrical impedance (BIA) in relation to densitometry (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; DEXA) as methods of nutritional assessment and body composition in out-patients with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD). We conducted a cross-sectional clinical study with sixty-one patients with COPD (forty-two men and nineteen women), mean age of 66·5 (SD 7·9) years and forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 1·3 (SD 0·6) litres (52·2 (SD 19·8) % predicted), referred to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center. The patients were evaluated regarding nutrition status and body composition as determined by anthropometry, BIA and DEXA. In the results, 34·4 % showed mild obstruction, 31·2 %, moderate and 34·4 %, severe obstruction. According to the BMI (mean 24·5 (SD 4·5) kg/m 2 ), 45·9 % of the patients exhibited normal weight, while 27·9 % were underweight and 26·2 % were obese. Related to fat-free mass (FFM), anthropometry and BIA compared with DEXA presented high correlations (r 0·96 and 0·95 respectively; P,0·001) and high reliability between the methods (a 0·98; P, 0·001). Agreement analysis between the methods shows that anthropometry overestimates (0·62 (SD of the difference 2·89) kg) while BIA underestimates FFM (0·61 (SD of the difference 2·82) kg) compared with DEXA. We concluded that according to the nutritional diagnosis, half of our population of patients with COPD showed normal weight, while the other half comprised equal parts obese and underweight patients. Body composition estimated by BIA and anthropometry presented good reliability and correlation with DEXA; the three methods presented satisfactory clinical accuracy despite the great disparity of the limits of agreement.Chronic pulmonary obstructive disease: Nutritional assessment: Anthropometry: Electrical bioimpedance: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry