Thickness and nanomechanical properties of protective layer formed by TiF4 varnish on enamel after erosion

Abstract The layer formed by fluoride compounds on tooth surface is important to protect the underlying enamel from erosion. However, there is no investigation into the properties of protective layer formed by NaF and TiF4 varnishes on eroded enamel. This study aimed to evaluate the thickness, topography, nanohardness, and elastic modulus of the protective layer formed by NaF and TiF4 varnishes on enamel after erosion using nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Human enamel specimens were sorted into control, NaF, and TiF4 varnish groups (n = 10). The initial nanohardness and elastic modulus values were obtained and varnishes were applied to the enamel and submitted to erosive challenge (10 cycles: 5 s cola drink/5 s artificial saliva). Thereafter, nanohardness and elastic modulus were measured. Both topography and thickness were evaluated by AFM. The data were subjected to ANOVA, Tukey’s test and Student’s t test (α = 0.05). After erosion, TiF4 showed a thicker protective layer compared to the NaF group and nanohardness and elastic modulus values were significantly lower than those of the control group. It was not possible to measure nanohardness and elastic modulus in the NaF group due to the thin protective layer formed. AFM showed globular deposits, which completely covered the eroded surface in the TiF4 group. After erosive challenge, the protective layer formed by TiF4 varnish showed significant properties and it was thicker than the layer formed by NaF varnish

Factors associated with the risk of falls in hospitalized adult patients

OBJECTIVE Analyzing factors related to the risk of falls in hospitalized adult patients. METHOD A cross-sectional, analytical and quantitative study, developed in Clinical and Surgical Hospitalization Units from June to August 2015. Data collection instruments were sociodemographic and clinical forms, and the Morse Scale. Data were obtained with the patients and from medical records. Absolute and relative frequencies were used in the univariate statistical analysis, and chi-square test in the bivariate analysis. RESULTS 612 patients participated in the study. An association (pOBJETIVO Analisar os fatores relacionados ao risco de quedas em pacientes adultos internados em um hospital. MÉTODO Estudo transversal, analítico e quantitativo, desenvolvido em Unidades de Internação Clínica e Cirúrgica, no período de junho a agosto 2015. Os instrumentos de coleta de dados foram formulários sociodemográfico, clínico e Escala de Morse. Os dados foram obtidos com os pacientes e nos prontuários. Na análise estatística univariada utilizou-se de frequência absoluta e relativa, e na bivariada utilizou-se do teste de qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS Participaram do estudo 612 pacientes. Foi encontrada associação (pOBJETIVO Analizar los factores relacionados con el riesgo de caídas en pacientes adultos en estancia hospitalaria. MÉTODO Estudio transversal, analítico y cuantitativo, desarrollado en Unidades de Estancia Clínica y Quirúrgica, en el período de junio a agosto de 2015. Los instrumentos de recolección de datos fueron formulario sociodemográfico y clínico y Escala de Morse. Los datos fueron obtenidos de los pacientes y las fichas. Para el análisis estadístico univariado se utilizó frecuencia absoluta y relativa y en el bivariado se utilizó la prueba de chi-cuadrado. RESULTADOS Participaron en el estudio 612 mujeres. Se encontró asociación (

Validation of an instrument to evaluate health promotion at schools

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To validate an instrument designed to assess health promotion in the school environment. METHODS A questionnaire, based on guidelines from the World Health Organization and in line with the Brazilian school health context, was developed to validate the research instrument. There were 60 items in the instrument that included 40 questions for the school manager and 20 items with direct observations made by the interviewer. The items’ content validation was performed using the Delphi technique, with the instrument being applied in 53 schools from two medium-sized cities in the South region of Brazil. Reliability (Cronbach’s alpha and split-half) and validity (principal component analysis) analyses were performed. RESULTS The final instrument remained composed of 28 items, distributed into three dimensions: pedagogical, structural and relational. The resulting components showed good factorial loads (> 0.4) and acceptable reliability (> 0.6) for most items. The pedagogical dimension identifies educational activities regarding drugs and sexuality, violence and prejudice, auto care and peace and quality of life. The structural dimension is comprised of access, sanitary structure, and conservation and equipment. The relational dimension includes relationships within the school and with the community. CONCLUSIONS The proposed instrument presents satisfactory validity and reliability values, which include aspects relevant to promote health in schools. Its use allows the description of the health promotion conditions to which students from each educational institution are exposed. Because this instrument includes items directly observed by the investigator, it should only be used during periods when there are full and regular activities at the school in question