Alimentary fluoride intake in preschool children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The knowledge of background alimentary fluoride intake in preschool children is of utmost importance for introducing optimal and safe caries preventive measures for both individuals and communities. The aim of this study was to assess the daily fluoride intake analyzing duplicate samples of food and beverages. An attempt was made to calculate the daily intake of fluoride from food and swallowed toothpaste.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Daily alimentary fluoride intake was measured in a group of 36 children with an average age of 4.75 years and an average weight of 20.69 kg at baseline, by means of a double plate method. This was repeated after six months. Parents recorded their child's diet over 24 hours and collected duplicated portions of food and beverages received by children during this period. Pooled samples of food and beverages were weighed and solid food samples were homogenized. Fluoride was quantitatively extracted from solid food samples by a microdiffusion method using hexadecyldisiloxane and perchloric acid. The content of fluoride extracted from solid food samples, as well as fluoride in beverages, was measured potentiometrically by means of a fluoride ion selective electrode.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Average daily fluoride intake at baseline was 0.389 (SD 0.054) mg per day. Six months later it was 0.378 (SD 0.084) mg per day which represents 0.020 (SD 0.010) and 0.018 (SD 0.008) mg of fluoride respectively calculated per kg bw/day.</p> <p>When adding the values of unwanted fluoride intake from the toothpaste shown in the literature (0.17-1.21 mg per day) the estimate of the total daily intake of fluoride amounted to 0.554-1.594 mg/day and recalculated to the child's body weight to 0.027-0.077 mg/kg bw/day.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the children studied, observed daily fluoride intake reached the threshold for safe fluoride intake. When adding the potential fluoride intake from swallowed toothpaste, alimentary intake reached the optimum range for daily fluoride intake. These results showed that in preschool children, when trying to maximize the benefit of fluoride in caries prevention and to minimize its risk, caution should be exercised when giving advice on the fluoride containing components of child's diet or prescribing fluoride supplements.</p

Estudo de 26 casos de Paracoccidioidomicose avaliados no Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) A study of 26 cases of Paracoccidioidomycosis evaluated at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) Otorhinolaryngology Service

A Paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) é uma micose profunda sistêmica causada por um fungo dimorfo, de aspecto microscópico similar a roda de leme de navio, o Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). A PCM apresenta distribuição geográfica restrita ao continente americano, acomete sobretudo indivíduos do sexo masculino, sem predileção por raça. Seu quadro clínico é bastante variado. OBJETIVO: Realizar análise epidemiológica de 26 casos de PCM avaliados no Setor de Otorrinolaringologia da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico retrospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudou-se retrospectivamente 26 prontuários de pacientes com manifestações otorrinolaringológicas da PCM atendidos no período de outubro de 1998 a setembro de 2001. Avaliou-se: sexo, idade, profissão, grau de escolaridade, se etilistas e/ou tabagistas, sintomatologia, local das lesões, presença de co-infecção, exames complementares realizados e opção terapêutica. RESULTADOS: 23 (88,5%) pacientes eram do sexo masculino e 3 (11,5%) do sexo feminino, com idade entre 32 e 72 anos. 11 (42,3%) pacientes eram agricultores e 21 (80,8%) tabagistas e/ou etilistas. Os locais mais comumente atingidos foram a epiglote e a parede nasal lateral. Utilizaram-se derivados sulfamídicos para o tratamento de 14 (53,9%) pacientes e imidazólicos em 12 (46,1%) casos. DISCUSSÃO: Lesões pulmonares podem ser confundidas com tuberculose, devido a suas semelhanças clínicas e radiográficas. A desnutrição pode predispor quadros clínicos de extrema gravidade. CONCLUSÃO: A anamnese detalhada dos pacientes portadores de PCM revela importantes aspectos, como procedência e hábitos pessoais. A atuação interdisciplinar, sobretudo de médicos e dentistas, colabora para um precoce diagnóstico e adequado acompanhamento do doente.<br>Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an acute systemic mycosis caused by a dimorphous fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), whose appearance under the microscope is similar to a ship rudder's wheel. Cases of PCM are restricted to the American continent and the disease affects mostly male individuals, with no marked tendency to affect any race in particular. Clinical symptoms are varied. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a thorough epidemiological analysis of 26 cases of PCM evaluated at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) Sector. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical retrospective. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out on 26 medical charts of patients with otorhinolaryngological manifestations of PCM who were attended to from October 1998 to September 2001. Aspects taken into account: sex, age, occupation, number of years of schooling, smoking and drinking habits, main complaints, parts of the body presenting most lesions, the presence of co-infection, complementary examinations done, prescribed treatment. RESULTS: 23 patients (88.5%) were male and 3 (11,5%) were female, their ages ranging from 32 to 72. 11 patients (42.3%) were farm workers and 21 (80.8%) were heavy smokers and/or drinkers. The most affected parts were the epiglottis and the lateral nasal wall. Sulphonamide derivatives were used to treat 14 patients (53.9%) and imidazoles were used for 12 cases (46.1%). DISCUSSION: Pulmonary lesions may be mistaken for tuberculosis due to clinical and radiological similarities. Malnutrition may lead to clinical conditions of extreme gravity. CONCLUSION: The detailed medical histories of PCM carriers reveal important aspects such us the patients' origins and personal habits. Interdisciplinary actions, especially involving doctors and dentists, contribute to an early diagnosis and adequate treatment and follow-up of patients

Perfil clínico-epidemiológico dos pacientes portadores de paracoccidioidomicose no Serviço de Estomatologia do Hospital São Lucas da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul Clinical-epidemiologic profile of paracoccidioidomycosis at the Stomatology Department of São Lucas Hospital, Pontificia Universidade Católica of Rio Grande do Sul

No presente estudo, são descritas as características clínicas e epidemiológicas de 61 casos de paracoccidioidomicose, atendidos no Serviço de Estomatologia do Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS, no período de junho de 1976 a junho de 2004. O Rio Grande do Sul é considerado uma região endêmica da doença devido às condições eco-epidemiológicas para o desenvolvimento do fungo. Observou-se que a doença ocorreu em 58 (95%) homens e 3 (5%) mulheres, predominando a faixa etária de 40 a 59 anos (70,5%), e a profissão vinculada à agricultura em 27 (44,3%) pacientes. O hábito de fumar foi prevalente em 52 (85,3%) pacientes da amostra e muitos eram, também, etilistas. Todos os casos apresentavam manifestações estomatológicas, sendo que as lesões orais ocorreram predominantemente com aspecto ulcerado e moriforme, observadas em vários sítios anatômicos. As evidências radiográficas de lesões pulmonares estavam presentes em 32 (65,3%) radiografias avaliadas.<br>The aim of the article was to describe clinical and epidemiological features of 61 oral paracoccidioidomycosis cases from the Stomatology Department of São Lucas Hospital, analyzed from July 1976 to June 2004. The State of Rio Grande do Sul is an endemic region due to ecoepidemiologic conditions, that are favorable for the development of the yeast. Men are the most affected gender, with 58 (95%) affected compared to 3 (5%) women. Ii is most prevalent (70.5%) between 40 and 59 years of age. Agricultural labor was the most common occupation with 27/61 (44.3%) patients. Tobacco smoking was prevalent in 52 (85.3%) of the sample, and alcoholism was a frequent finding. All the patients showed stomatologic manifestations, with ulcers and mulberry-like stomatitis the most prevalent, these oral lesions were also observed in many anatomical sites. Alterations were present in 32 (65.3%) of the pulmonary radiographs