We analyzed a deletion/insertion polymorphism within the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTPLR) in 81 patients with late onset Alzheimer's (AD) disease (mean age 70.02 ± 8.13 years). Control groups included 81 normal subjects with comparable age (mean age 75.6 ± 10.2) and 82 younger normal subjects (mean age 37.4 ± 9.1). Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in the genotype and gene frequencies between the AD group and normal controls ( 2 = 9.021; 2 d.f. and 2 = 5.59, 1 d.f., respectively, PϽ0.05) due to the higher frequency of the L allele and the lower frequency of the s allele in controls than among AD patients. However, no differences were found in the genotype frequencies in older as compared to younger normal control groups ( 2 = 0.337, 2 d.f. and PϾ0.05). The present study confirms, in a different population, that the short variant of the 5-HTTPLR polymorphism may be a risk factor for late onset AD.

It can be concluded that malocclusion and loss of five or more posterior teeth does not contribute to TMD.

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common condition. This study is part of a research group and it investigated the prevalence of TMD and myofascial pain and its association with gender, age and socioeconomic class. The sample comprised 100 subjects, aged 15 to 70, users of the Family Health Units' services, in the city of Recife, PE, Brazil. The TMD degree was evaluated using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD and socioeconomic class by the Economic Classification Criteria Brazil. Categorical variables were analyzed by chi-square test for proportions and Fisher's exact test for 2x2 tables, and binary logistic analysis to track the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. According to the results, 42% of the subjects had TMD and 14% myofascial pain. No statistically significant association could be found between TMD and gender or socioeconomic class, but it was found to have statistically significant association with age, and myofascial pain was associated with socioeconomic class. Considering that the results of the present study should be confirmed by further studies and the fact that this was a pilot study, the prevalence must be analyzed with caution.

No abstract