The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the factors associated with the impact of oral health on the quality of life in a sample of 504 Brazilian independent elderly. Data collection included oral examinations and structured interviews. The simplified form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to measure OHRQoL. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, use of dental services, and subjective measures of health was collected. Poisson regression within a hierarchical model was used to data analyses. The following variables were associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL: female gender (PR = 1.40; CI 95%: 1.11–1.77); lower class (PR = 1.58; CI 95%: 1.13–2.20); up to 3 occluding pairs of posterior teeth (PR = 1.88; CI 95%: 1.13–3.14); at least one untreated caries (PR = 1.28; CI 95%: 1.06–1.54); curative reasons for the last dental appointment (PR = 1.52; CI 95%: 1.15–2.00); poor self-perception of oral health (PR = 2.49; CI 95%: 1.92–3.24); and poor perception of dental care provided (PR = 1.34; CI 95%: 1.12–1.59). The younger elderly also noticed this negative impact. These findings showed that the clinical, sociodemographic, and subjective factors evaluated exerted a negative impact on OHRQoL in elderly people. Health authorities must address all these factors when planning interventions on oral health for this population.

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The effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the healing of skin lesions has been evaluated in many studies; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in the biostimulatory effects resulting from this treatment need to be better understood. The paper aims to analyze the effects of LLLT (660 nm) at doses of 1 and 5 J/cm on cell viability and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin (IL6) genes in L929 fibroblast cells. The dose-response curve was performed with the GaInAlAs (660 nm) laser-treated cells at energy rates of 1 and 5 J/cm. Cell viability was quantified at 24, 48, and 72 h after irradiation and the effects of TLBP on the cytoskeleton and endoplasmic reticulum were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and the RT-qPCR method was used for the analysis of gene expression. It was observed that the 72 h group had a statistically significant increase in cell viability compared to the 48 h group (p < 0.01) and when compared to the 72 h control (p = 0.03). In 72 h, a greater distribution of the cytoskeleton filaments and the more evident endoplasmatic reticulum was verified, indicating an increase in the protein synthesis when compared with the control group. In the expression of the VEGF gene, a significant increase of 1.98 times (p < 0.05) in the number of transcripts was observed; whereas for the IL6 gene, a decrease of the transcripts was 4.05 times (p < 0.05), both occurring within 72 h after irradiation at 5 J/cm. The LLLT (660 nm) at the dose of 5 J/cm should modulate cellular viability, upregulated VEGF, and downregulated IL6 expression of messenger RNA in culture of L929 fibroblast cells.

Objective: To evaluate the sweetness taste preference levels and their relationship with the nutritional and dental caries patterns among preschool children. Material and Methods: The participants of this cross-sectional study were 191 children aged 4 to 5 years, who were regularly attending public Child Education Centers of a city southern Brazil. Children's preference for sugar was evaluated by the Sweet Preference Inventory; caries prevalence, according to the World Health Organization criteria, and nutritional status, by anthropometric weight and stature measurements, in accordance with child growth standards of the World Health Organization. Results: High levels of sweetness preference were identified. The majority of children (67.5%) opted for the most concentrated sucrose solutions. Excess weight was recorded in 27.7% of the preschoolers. The prevalence of caries was 51.8%, with the mean dmf-t equal to 1.92 (± 2.72) and the decayed (c) component responsible for 94.2% of the index. No significant association between sweetness preference and the nutritional or the oral health patterns could be established. In addition, no association between excess weight and dental caries was identified. The diseases studied were only associated with sociodemographic variables. Excess weight was associated with maternal age (p=0.004) and caries experience with family income (p=0.013). Conclusion: No significant associations could be stablished between the sweetness taste preference and the diseases studied, nor between excess weight and dental caries. However, the findings of high patterns of sweet preference, excess weight and untreated caries experience, highlight the need for the implementation of integrated public policies aimed at controlling both nutritional and of oral health problems in the studied population.

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