This study evaluated the effect of clinical, demographic and psychiatric factors on the health-related quality of life of 76 women with HIV infection seen in two HIV reference centres in Brazil. The generic questionnaire for evaluation of Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) were used. The statistical tests included the covariance analysis. The patients' mean age was 37.4 years; 44.7% had less than 8 years of schooling. A total of 44.8% were asymptomatic, 28.9% symptomatic non-AIDS and 26.3% had AIDS. Most (77.6%) used two or three kinds of antiretrovirals; 36.8 and 30.3% achieved scores for anxiety and depression, respectively (HAD); and 48.7% for conspicuous psychiatric morbidity (CIS-R). The sub-group of the non-AIDS symptoms (clinical stage B) showed the worst quality of life. The variables which better explained the scoring variation on both the mental and physical components of the SF-36 were related to mental health. The more mental symptoms present, the worse the health-related quality of life. We must rethink care strategies in the area of mental health which are directed toward HIV+ patients, by virtue of the levels of mental symptoms found and the request for care which the research revealed.

MI Paste Plus demonstrated a greater protective effect against demineralization than MI Paste and showed smoother surfaces.

This work evaluated the remineralization of demineralized enamel of pits and fissures of human third molars sealed with a glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX, GC Corporation -Japan) or with a Bis-GMA sealant (DeltonDentsply). Ten volunteers participated in this in situ study that consisted of two thirty-day periods using intra-oral devices, with a week's interval in between. Four experimental treatment procedures and one control were randomly assigned to the volunteers' specimens: Group I, no treatment, control; Group II, artificial caries process; Group III, same treatment as Group II, but sealed with Delton (Dentsply); Group IV, same treatment as Group II, but sealed with Fuji IX (GC Corporation -Japan); Group V, same treatment as Group II and no sealing. Groups I and II were not submitted to the oral environment and served as controls. After a period of 30 days in the oral environment, the specimens were removed from the devices, embedded in acrylic resin, ground flat and polished. Then, Knoop hardness tests were performed, with a 25 g static load applied for 15 seconds. The measurements were made from the base of the fissure up to an opening of 600 µm, pre-established between the inclines of the cusps. Three indentations were then made, located at 25, 75, and 125 µm in depth from the outer enamel margin and 100 µm apart from each other (Micromet 2003). The Brieger F and Bonferroni's tests were applied to the measurements. It was concluded that sealing with the glass ionomer cement Fuji IX was capable of making the enamel of pits and fissures more resistant by increasing the value of Knoop hardness. DESCRIPTORS: Glass ionomer cements; Dental enamel; Hardness. RESUMO:Esta pesquisa avaliou a remineralização do esmalte de fóssulas e fissuras de terceiros molares humanos previamente desmineralizados e selados com um cimento de ionômero de vidro (Fuji IX, GC Corporation -Japão) ou com um selante de Bis-GMA (Delton-Dentsply). Dez voluntários participaram deste estudo in situ que consistiu de dois períodos de 30 dias com intervalo de 1 semana entre eles, usando dispositivos intra-orais. Quatro procedimentos de tratamento experimental e um controle foram aleatoriamente distribuídos entre os espécimes que foram usados pelos voluntários: Grupo I, sem qualquer tratamento, controle; Grupo II, processo de cárie artificial; Grupo III, igual ao Grupo II, porém selados com Delton (Dentsply); Grupo IV, igual ao Grupo II, porém selados com Fuji IX (GC Corporation -Japão); Grupo V, igual ao Grupo II, mas sem selamento. Os Grupos I e II não foram submetidos ao meio bucal e serviram de controle. Após um período de trinta dias no meio bucal, os espécimes foram removidos dos dispositivos, montados em resina acrílica, planificados e polidos. Realizaram-se então testes de Dureza Knoop com carga estática de 25 g por 15 segundos. As medidas foram realizadas desde a base da fissura até uma abertura de 600 µm, preestabelecida entre os planos inclinados das cúspides. A cada 100 µm, três penetrações foram realizadas: a primeira a 25 µm...

The purpose of this double-blind, randomized, crossover in situ study is to compare remineralization of preformed enamel lesions by casein phosphopeptide-stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) and fluoride dentifrice products. During each of four 10-day experimental legs, 10 participants wore intraoral removable palatal acrylic appliances with four human enamel slabs with preformed lesions. A 0.03-mL treatment paste was dripped extraorally onto the enamel blocks once a day for 3 min. The four randomly allocated treatments were as follows: CO-Control: silica dentifrice without fluoride; MP: MI Paste; MPP: MI Paste Plus and FD: Fluoride dentifrice-1100 ppm F as NaF). Knoop surface hardness (SH) test was performed in three stages (T0-sound enamel, T1-after preformed lesion, and T2-after treatment) and the cross-sectional hardness (CSH) test was performed after treatment using a 50-gram Knoop load for 15 s. Knoop hardness number (KHN) was similar between treatments. %SHr was significantly higher in the MP, FD, and MPP when compared to CO group (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests, p < 0.05). Harder enamel was found in MP (75 μm) and FD groups at 75 to 175 μm. Treatment with DF, MP, and MPP promoted an increase of 20.27%, 19.24%, and 14.71%, respectively, in Integral Hardness Change (ΔIHC) when compared to CO (p<0.05). Remineralizing agents (MP, MPP, and DF) were able to inhibit demineralization of human enamel subjected to high cariogenic challenge in situ. DF had the greatest preventive potential against the progression of carious lesions.

The oral health status of children with special health care needs (SHCN) can affect their quality of life wich domains of the Brazilian version of the Early Childohood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). A cross-sectional study was conducted in children with SHCN (aged 1 to 9 years), who underwent an oral examination for the assessment of dental caries severity. Parents/caregivers answered two questionnaires, one on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL)-B-ECOHIS, and one on socioeconomic characteristics. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Poisson regression, Point-biserial correlation coefficient, and Cronbach's alpha. A total of 128 children participated in the study and OHRQoL was affected in 68.75% of them. The function domain in the Child Impact Section (CIS) had a higher mean value. Caries severity was associated with worse quality of life (p=0.001). Severe dental caries was associated with a negative impact on the OHRQoL of disabled children and of their families. The impact of untreated dental caries and severity of dental caries was associated with the CIS domains (except for the self-image/social interaction domain).