Inequalities in public water supply fluoridation in Brazil: An ecological study

Background. The literature is scarce on the social and geographic inequalities in the access to and implementation of the fluoridation of public water supplies. This study adds knowledge to the Brazilian experience of the chronic privation of water and wastewater policies, access to potable water and fluoridation in the country. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify possible inequalities in the population's access to fluoridated drinking water in 246 Brazilian municipalities. Methods. The information on the process of water fluoridation in the municipalities and in the macro region in which each municipality is located was obtained from the national epidemiological survey which was concluded in 2003. The data relating to the human development index at municipal level (HDI-M) and access to mains water came from the Brazilian Human Development Atlas, whilst the size of the population was obtained from a governmental source. The Fisher exact test (P < 0.05) was employed to identify significant associations between the explanatory variables and their ability to predict the principal outcomes of interest to this study, namely the presence or absence of the water fluoridation process in the municipalities as well as the length of time during which this measure has been implemented. Linear regression was used to observe the associations between the relevant variables in a multivariate environment. Results. The results clearly showed that there is a relationship between municipalities with larger populations, located in more socio-economically advantaged regions and with better HDI-M, and where fluoridation is both present and has been implemented for a longer period of time (started before 1990). Conclusion. 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Prospect and potential of Burkholderia sp. against Phytophthora capsici Leonian: a causative agent for foot rot disease of black pepper

Foot rot disease is a very destructive disease in black pepper in Malaysia. It is caused by Phytophthora capsici Leonian, which is a soilborne pathogenic protist (phylum, Oomycota) that infects aerial and subterranean structures of many host plants. This pathogen is a polycyclic, such that multiple cycles of infection and inoculum production occur in a single growing season. It is more prevalent in the tropics because of the favourable environmental conditions. The utilization of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biological control agent has been successfully implemented in controlling many plant pathogens. Many studies on the exploration of beneficial organisms have been carried out such as Pseudomonas fluorescens, which is one of the best examples used for the control of Fusarium wilt in tomato. Similarly, P. fluorescens is found to be an effective biocontrol agent against the foot rot disease in black pepper. Nowadays there is tremendous novel increase in the species of Burkholderia with either mutualistic or antagonistic interactions in the environment. Burkholderia sp. is an indigenous PGPR capable of producing a large number of commercially important hydrolytic enzymes and bioactive substances that promote plant growth and health; are eco-friendly, biodegradable and specific in their actions; and have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity in keeping down the population of phytopathogens, thus playing a great role in promoting sustainable agriculture today. Hence, in this book chapter, the potential applications of Burkholderia sp. to control foot rot disease of black pepper in Malaysia, their control mechanisms, plant growth promotion, commercial potentials and the future prospects as indigenous PGPR were discussed in relation to sustainable agriculture

Associação do índice CPO-D com indicadores sócio-econômicos e de provisão de serviços odontológicos no Estado do Paraná, Brasil Association of the DMFT index with socioeconomic and dental services indicators in the state of Paraná, Brazil

Este estudo ecológico investigou as associações entre cárie dentária, indicadores sócio-econômicos e de oferta de serviços odontológicos no Estado do Paraná, Brasil, para o ano de 1996. Dois tipos de informações foram reunidos: (1) dados sobre prevalência de cárie dentária (CPO-D aos 12 anos) para os municípios do Estado; (2) dados relativos às condições sócio-econômicas e de oferta de serviços odontológicos. Com base em análise de regressão linear simples demonstrou-se correlação significativa entre o índice de cárie dentária nos municípios e os vários indicadores sociais e de oferta de serviços. Resultados da análise de regressão linear múltipla apontaram que apenas um indicador de desigualdade de renda permaneceu significativamente associado com cárie dentária, demonstrando que as piores condições de saúde bucal não podem ser dissociadas das disparidades de renda. Observou-se correlação negativa significativa entre o CPO-D e a proporção de população que recebe água fluorada, principalmente nos municípios com piores indicadores de desigualdade de renda. Nesse sentido, sublinha-se a importância desse benefício não só como recurso para a redução dos níveis de cárie, como também para atenuar o impacto das desigualdades sócio-econômicas sobre a prevalência de cárie dentária.<br>This ecological study investigated the associations between dental caries, socioeconomic indicators, and the supply of dental services in the State of Paraná, Brazil, for the year 1996. Two types of information were collected: (1) data on caries prevalence (DMFT at 12 years) for the municipalities (or counties) in the State; (2) data on socioeconomic conditions and the supply of dental services. Based on simple linear regression analysis, the study demonstrated a significant correlation between the caries index in municipalities and various social and dental services supply indicators. Results of the analysis of multiple linear regression showed that one indicator of income inequality remained significantly associated with dental caries, demonstrating that the worst oral health conditions cannot be dissociated from income disparities. A significant negative correlation was observed between DMFT and the proportion of the population that received fluoridated water, principally in the municipalities with the worst income inequality indicators. This highlights the importance of fluoridation for the reduction of caries rates, as well as to attenuate the impact of socioeconomic inequalities on the prevalence of dental caries