Revista Uningá

Access of hypertensive patients to dental care in Primary Health Care in Palmas, TO

2023-10-17T13:21:46-03:00

Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) is a highly prevalent pathology in the Brazilian population and requires significant efforts from primary healthcare units, serving as the gateway to the Unified Health System (SUS) and providing ongoing care for chronic conditions. As the guiding principle of the Health Care Network (RAS), Primary Health Care (PHC) should provide comprehensive, accessible, and community-oriented health care. The aim of this study was to analyze access to dental care for patients diagnosed with SAH in the Family Health Units in the Krahô territory of Palmas, Tocantins, over the past four years (from 2019 to 2022). This is cross-sectional, observational study with a quantitative approach, whose data were collected from e-SUS reports and a structured, standardized questionnaire administered online to dentists working in the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the Krahô health territory. In 2022, the coverage of dental care for hypertensive patients in the Krahô territory was 12.8%. Regarding the dentists who provide care in this territory, 100% of them provide care to these patients, 77.8% of them communicate with the attending physician, 100% of them measure blood pressure before treatment, and 66.7% of them report they find easy to provide this type of treatment. However, only 33.3% request complementary exams. Despite the dental professionals being capable of providing dental care to hypertensive patients in the Krahô territory, the coverage of this care is still very low.

Knowledge and precautions of light-curing composite resin restorations by dental students

2023-10-05T14:16:10-03:00

Composite resin is versatile material for performing several dental procedures in dentistry, and its use has already been consolidated in this field. The clinical success of adhesive restorations is directly related to the knowledge of restorative material properties and light-curing unit factors, among others. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge about the technical characteristics of light-curing devices and the forms of use and maintenance employed by undergraduate dental students. A total of 230 students answered a questionnaire containing six questions on technical data, use, and maintenance of light-curing units. Of the total number of participants, the majority were students from private educational institutions attending the last two years. With 59.1% of them unaware of the ideal irradiance of a light-curing unit, 73.0% were careful to position the light-curing unit as close as possible to the restoration, and 42.6% followed the light-curing time recommended by textbooks and theoretical texts. As for use and maintenance, 50.4% used the protector attached to the light-curing unit, 57.4% used safety barriers, and 63.0% sanitized the light tip after use. The evaluation suggests that student’s knowledge of “light-curing resin materials” is incomplete. Therefore, it can be inferred that the students have a good understanding of biosafety precautions when using light-curing units, but more knowledge is needed about the technical and clinical aspects of the devices.

Use of chemicals to improve sports performance in Physical Education students at a public university

2023-11-09T08:26:26-03:00

The indiscriminate consumption of performance-enhancing chemicals in sport has become a cause for concern by putting the athlete's well-being and life at risk. Considering the relevance of understanding the determinants that lead individuals to the use of chemical compounds with ergogenic properties, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics associated with the use of chemical substances for sports improvement among university students enrolled in the Physical Education course of a public higher education institution. The sample of the present study consisted of 230 participants who were submitted to a questionnaire based on scientific papers that address the prevalence and use of supplements and performance enhancers. It was found that the most frequently adopted supplements were those containing proteins and amino acids as major components, while anabolic-androgenic steroids are the most commonly used enhancers. The most cited prescription for the use of supplements and enhancers was by self-prescription. The presence of side effects from the use of chemicals has been reported. Logistic regression with independent variables showed an association of the use of supplements with the variables: sex OR= 2.4 (95% CI: 1.4 - 4.4); type of undergraduate degree OR= 2.6 (95% CI: 1.4 - 4.8) and age OR= 3.1 (95% CI: 1.4 - 7.0). The indiscriminate consumption of these products points to the need to alert the population to health risks, making further studies in the area necessary.

Humoral anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune response for different strains after Sinovac-CoronaVac and Oxford/AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-S) full vaccination on a healthcare population in Brazil

2023-11-27T13:39:43-03:00

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a global respiratory syndrome with high mortality rates. Vaccination is currently the only proven method to prevent the disease, although the role of lab data in assessing efficacy remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess spike-binding and neutralizing antibody levels following full vaccination with Oxford/AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) or CoronaVac in healthcare workers in southeastern Brazil. ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and CoronaVac induced IgG antibodies against trimeric spike glycoproteins in 99.5% and 80.9% of individuals, respectively. Neutralizing antibodies were produced against two viral strains groups: variants group 1 (Wuhan-Hu-1, Alpha) and variants group 2 (Beta, Gamma) with neutralization rates of 88.3% and 78.2% for ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and 68.1% and 48.9% for CoronaVac. No associations were found between neutralizing levels and comorbidities, age, or side effects. A positive correlation was observed between IgG antibody concentrations against trimeric spike glycoproteins and neutralizing levels for both vaccines and variants. These findings indicate that both vaccines induced reasonable levels of neutralizing antibodies against variants group 1, but only ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 maintained acceptable levels against a variant strain. The study suggests that evaluating vaccine responses to different pathogen strains can aid in managing healthcare workforce concerns and improve vaccine selection, thereby enhancing overall vaccination strategies.

Do variations in craniofacial shape and size allow the identification of dental malocclusions?

2024-01-22T08:43:58-03:00

Based on the Angle’s classification, to identify and compare changes in the shape and size of the craniofacial region in lateral teleradiographs of the face of individuals with dental malocclusions. This is a cross-sectional analytical study carried out using morphometric analysis of teleradiographs of adult individuals with Class I, II and III malocclusions. With the aid of conventional craniometric and cephalometric points, anatomical landmarks and semilandmarks were inserted. For the verification of the shape variation, MANOVA, canonical variable analysis, Mahalanobis and Procrustes distances, discriminant function and cross-validation were carried out. One-way ANOVA was also carried out for size, based on the size of the centroid. On the teleradiographs, significant differences (p<0.05) were found between the craniofacial shapes of the three groups, based on MANOVA. From the deformation grids, it was possible to observe variations in the mentonian and anterior maxillary regions. The variation in the shape of the structures was more pronounced in the teleradiographs of the Class III group. The measurements of the Mahalanobis and Procrustes distances were greater in the teleradiographs with Class II and III malocclusions, corroborating the results found by cross-validation. Size differences (p<0.05) were found, using the one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test, when comparing Class I individuals with the other groups. Geometric morphometrics helped us to identify variations in the shape and size of craniofacial structures. This technique, when applied to lateral teleradiographs, proved to be a promising auxiliary method for characterizing dental malocclusions, according to Angle's classification.

Influence of brightness and contrast adjustment on the detection of soft tissue calcifications in panoramic radiographs

2024-02-26T09:24:06-03:00

The aim of this study was to assess how changes in the adjustment of brightness and contrast settings affect the detection of calcifications in the soft tissues of the head and neck region on panoramic radiographs (PRs), taking into account the experience of Dental Radiology and Imaging professionals. A total of 2,661 RPs were evaluated, of which 53, whose images suggested the presence of different types of soft tissue calcifications, were selected and placed in different files (folders) with different changes in the brightness and contrast, including (V1) -30% brightness and +30% contrast; (V2) -15% brightness and -15% contrast; (V3) original image; (V4) +15% brightness and -15% contrast. Thus, a total of 212 images were obtained. Six volunteer dentists evaluated the radiographs, looking for suggestive images of soft tissue calcifications, divided into two groups: (1) evaluators with one to five years of experience and (2) evaluators with over five years of experience in the field. As a result, group 1 found it easier to detect calcifications in the V3 folder compared to the V4 folder (p=0.006), while group 2 detected more alterations in the V1 folder compared to all others (p=0.000). It is important to consider different image modifications when assessing PRs to detect soft tissue calcifications, and the dentist's experience can influence the choice of the best brightness and contrast level settings for diagnostic purposes.

Hospital morbidity and mortality of malignant neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx in Brazil (2016-2021)

2024-03-09T09:07:57-03:00

The aim of this study was to describe the morbidity and hospital mortality of malignant neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx in Brazil (from 2016 to 2021). This is an epidemiological, observational, analytical and cross-sectional study of notifications of malignant neoplasms, using information from DATASUS (Brazilian Public Health Service Database) and analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 150,025 reports of malignant neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx in Brazil from 2016 to 2021 were analyzed. In 2016, the national rate of malignant neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx was 12.43 per 100,000 inhabitants, decreasing to 10.25 in 2021. Among the regions of the country, the highest rates were found in the South region, ranging from 19.35 in 2016 to 16.40 in 2021. As for the characteristics of hospitalizations, the highest incidence was noted for males (73.76%), the age group was between 50 and 64 years (45.56%), and the race/color was white (43%). Considering the patients hospitalized in the period, 18,185 died, representing a lethality rate of 12.12%. In Brazil, the incidence of oral cancer in the analyzed period differed among the regions. Although the number of hospitalizations for malignant neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx remains high, there was a decrease in the period analyzed, with a downward trend in hospitalizations for oral cancer, increasingly emphasizing the need for early action, such as prevention, diagnosis and treatment by dental professionals, as well as public policies to prevent this disease.

Invasive mechanical ventilation in postterm neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome: an integrative review

2024-05-07T09:59:09-03:00

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) is a clinical condition that affects neonates exposed to amniotic fluid containing meconium. This situation can result in serious respiratory complications, leading to respiratory failure. The use of oxygen and/or Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (IMV) are crucial treatments for newborns with respiratory problems. The aim of the study is to identify the impacts of IMV on full-term neonates with SAM. This is an integrative review, carried out in five electronic databases: SciELO, ScienceDirect, LILACS, MEDLINE and PubMed. Studies published between 2013 and 2023 in English and Portuguese were considered, with intervention methods in full-term neonates, of both sexes, of any ethnicity, who have been subjected to mechanical ventilation. Four studies were chosen, totaling 204 participants with an average gestational age between 37.4 and 40.16 weeks. The professionals employed basic and advanced ventilation methods in the treatment of respiratory dysfunction, along with the use of Helium gas. An improvement in oxygenation and a reduction in mechanical ventilation time were noted. The positive effectiveness of IMV in improving oxygenation is evident, especially when combined with other strategies, such as the use of helium gas, which can result in shorter ventilation time. This highlights the importance of ventilatory strategies in lung protection for these newborns.

Perception of deaf patients about medical care

2024-08-12T11:25:07-03:00

Deaf people are those who understand and interact with the world through visual language. Due to the linguistic and cultural differences that characterize the deaf population, this group still faces difficulties in accessing health services. For this reason, it was proposed to investigate communication difficulties in providing care to deaf patients. This is a qualitative study which was carried out at the Association of the Deaf of Maranhão (ASMA), in São Luís. The sample consisted of 10 women and 10 men, all over the age of 18. The information was collected through semi-structured interviews, with the help of Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) interpreters. Data interpretation were performed based on thematic content analysis. Two thematic categories were identified: “communication” and “autonomy”. In the first, the interviewees pointed out the lack of knowledge of the doctors about the needs of the deaf community or about their language, LIBRAS. In an attempt to establish a dialogue, the patients reported the use of writing, gestures and orofacial reading during the consultations. These strategies, however, are insufficient, since the information cannot be well understood. The second evidenced the need for the presence of companions to mediate the dialogue, as the participants stated that they did not find LIBRAS interpreters in the health units, resulting in loss of autonomy and confidentiality of information. It is concluded that this scenario of adversity implies important consequences for the health of this population, as well as lower adherence to treatments and a decrease in the search for medical care.

Antifungal effect of a metabolite of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LV strain on azole-resistant Candida albicans

2024-08-12T13:26:10-03:00

Candida albicans remains the most common agent of candidiasis worldwide. This yeast is generally sensitive to most antifungals, however, the emergence of azole-resistant C. albicans has been reported. In addition, this microorganism can form biofilms on various surfaces, making it difficult to treat infections. In this study, the effect of secondary metabolites of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain LV on planktonic and sessile cells of C. albicans, with different genotypes and susceptibility profile to fluconazole and voriconazole, was evaluated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the semi-purified fraction F4a ranged from 1.56 to 6.25 μg/mL and 6.25 to 25 μg/mL, respectively. Fluopsin C appears to be the antifungal component of F4a. The semi-purified fraction and fluopsin C showed fungicidal activity, dose and time dependent. F4a caused severe damage to the morphology and ultrastructure of planktonic fungal cells, and significantly reduced the viability of 24-hour biofilms, with MIC for sessile cells from 12.5 to 25.0 μg/mL. However, cytotoxicity was detected in mammalian cells for F4a and fluopsin C at concentrations that showed antifungal activity. These results indicate that fluopsin C may be a prototype for the development of new antifungals for C. albicans.