ABSTRACT. Background and aims:The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between individual salivary components, dental caries and age, utilizing (Aging Clin Exp Res 2008; 20: 503-508)

While experimental designs are regarded as the gold standard for establishing causal relationships, such designs are usually impractical owing to common methodological limitations. The objective of this article is to illustrate how propensity score matching (PSM) and using propensity scores (PS) as a covariate are viable alternatives to reduce estimation error when experimental designs cannot be implemented. To mimic common pediatric research practices, data from 140 simulated participants were used to resemble an experimental and nonexperimental design that assessed the effect of treatment status on participant weight loss for diabetes. Pretreatment participant characteristics (age, gender, physical activity, etc.) were then used to generate PS for use in the various statistical approaches. Results demonstrate how PSM and using the PS as a covariate can be used to reduce estimation error and improve statistical inferences. References for issues related to the implementation of these procedures are provided to assist researchers.

A mother's cultural beliefs can affect her infant's health, but the influence of acculturation of Mexican-American women on their young children's oral health is unknown. The authors hypothesized that maternal acculturation impacts very young children's oral health practices favoring, in particular, the mothers who are more Anglo-oriented. A convenience sample of 204 predominantly Mexican-American women attending the Women, Infants, and Children Clinic in San Antonio, Texas, completed the Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, Social Support, and Self-Efficacy of Oral Health (KASE-OH) and Acculturation Questionnaires. Results indicated that mothers with strong Anglo orientation were more likely educated in the United States, first visited a dentist while in elementary school, and breast-fed their children. Children belonging to Anglo-oriented Mexican-American mothers had stronger oral health practices, were more likely to breast-feed, were exposed to more sugary and acidic drinks, consumed higher levels of candy, had Medicaid coverage, and had stronger supervisions of tooth brushing practices.

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