Six months of high-dose xylitol in high-risk caries subjects—a 2-year randomised, clinical trial

Objectives The hypothesis was that the daily use of a high dose of a xylitol chewing gum for 6 months would reduce the increment of decayed permanent first molar surfaces (ΔD6S) in high-risk schoolchildren after 2 years. Methods In this randomised, clinical trial, 204 schoolchildren with a high caries risk were assigned to two experimental groups, xylitol and non-xylitol. Caries status, salivary mutans streptococci, and lactobacilli were re-evaluated 2 years later in 74 xylitol-treated and 83 non-xylitol-treated schoolchildren. Differences in mean ∆D6S between groups registered at baseline and at follow-up were evaluated using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test. Results Outcome was the development of detectable carious lesions initial (D1–D2) and manifest (D3) in the permanent first molars. In the xylitol group, the difference in proportion of children with decayed first permanent molars at baseline and follow-up was 1.43 % for manifest lesion and 2.86 % for initial lesions; while in the non-xylitol group was 10.26 % (p < 0.01) and 16.66 % (p < 0.01), respectively. A statistically significant difference regarding means was also observed in the non-xylitol group: the ∆D6S for manifest lesion was 0.18 (p = 0.03) and 0.67 (p = 0.02) for initial lesion. Conclusion The use of a chewing gum containing a high dose of xylitol for a period of 6 months has been shown to produce a long-term effect on caries development in high caries-risk children. Clinical relevance A school-based preventive programme based on 6 months’ administration of a high dose of xylitol via chewing gum proved to be efficacious in controlling caries increment in high-risk children

Homocysteine and risk of age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis

There is still no agreement on total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of new blindness in industrialized countries. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published data on the correlation between tHcy and AMD. MEDLINE/PubMed and ISI Web of Sciences searches were performed according to MOOSE guidelines. Case-control studies were eligible for inclusion. Participants and controls were AMD patients and subjects without AMD. The main outcome measure was wet AMD. Homocysteine level was the main exposure variable. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Twelve case-control studies were identified: 10 assessed wet AMD, four dry AMD, one early AMD, one late AMD, and one any AMD. As for wet AMD, there was a total of 453 cases and 514 controls. Mean tHcy was on average 1.1 μmol/l (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.96-1.25) greater in wet AMD cases, but there was evidence of extreme between-study heterogeneity (p < 0.001, I2 = 91.8%). In a model homogenous for age, including six wet AMD studies (214 cases, 274 controls), mean tHcy was on average 0.58 μmol/l (95% CI = 0.35-0.73) greater in the case group, a not statistically significant result (p = 0.144) associated with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 39.2%). Our meta-analysis indicates that there is some weak evidence that increased tHcy might be associated with wet AMD; however, this result should be interpreted cautiously, because of a marked between-study heterogeneity and the possible effect of publication bias. Future studies, preferably of cohort design, are necessary before any firm conclusions on the putative role of increased tHcy on AMD can be drawn

La Sorveglianza attiva delle paralisi flaccide acute (AFP)in Sardegna nell'obiettivo della eradicazione della poliomielite

Nella storia della salute pubblica, l’umanità sta per raggiungere un importante obiettivo nel controllo delle malattie infettive, obiettivo fino ad ora conquistato solo per il vaiolo. Nel 1988 l’Assemblea Mondiale della Sanità si è infatti proposta di perseguire, tra i suoi obiettivi, la eradicazione della poliomielite attraverso una strategia di base imperneata su a) garanzia di alti livelli di copertura nella popolazione al di sotto dei 5 anni di età con vaccinazione routinaria utilizzando vaccino antipolio orale tipo Sabin; b) attività supplementari di vaccinazione tipo NID (Giornate Nazionali di Immunizzazione) in quei Paesi in cui la copertura di cui al punto a) è inferiore al 90%; c) interventi di “mopping-up” (vaccinazione di tutti i bambini tra 0 e 5 anni, indipendentemente dal loro stato vaccinale) nelle zone in cui si verificano focolai epidemici; d) sorveglianza di tutte le paralisi flaccide acute (AFP) in modo da identificare con certezza ogni caso di poliomielite. Attualmente, i Paesi liberi dalla polio sono oltre 175* (Fig. 1), mentre rimangono ancora critiche le zone dell’Africa occidentale e centrale (comprese il Corno d’Africa) e il sub continente indiano che continuano a notificare il maggior numero di casi di polio. Per ottenere il riconoscimento della certificazione di “polio-free”, ciascun Paese deve documentare, per un periodo di almeno tre anni consecutivi, l’assenza di casi di malattia paralitica da ceppi selvaggi e l’assenza della circolazione ambientale di poliovirus selvagg

Epidemiology of hydatidosis in the province of Sassari, Italy

Cystic echinococcosis is endemic in certain parts of the world, including Sardinia, Italy. It was performed a study in the province of Sassari in order to evaluate the incidence of the infection in man and the effects of control programs since 1964 to 2002. Data obtained by surgical records, hospital discharge forms, radiological and pathological files were collected using a case report form. During the years 1964- 2002, 2702 new cases were identified (average annual incidence: 17 per 100,000) and 1981 (73.3%) were submitted to surgical treatment. In 57.3% municipalities no cases were observed during the years 1998- 2002. Males are more affected (56.2%), mostly farmers-shepherdess (68.6 per 100,000) and pensioners (59.6 per 100,000). Control measures led to a significant decline in the incidence rate of hydatidosis during the period 1964-2002, dropping by 27.6 per 100,000. The mean age of surgical patients increased during the years of surveillance, such as the surgical liver/lung ratio as a consequence of a cohort effect. The durability of control programs is the corner stone for obtaining a significant decrease of this infection

Caries experience among adolescents in southeast Italy

Abstract Background/purpose According to WHO recommendations, 12-year-olds are considered an important target group for evaluating the level of dental caries among children with permanent teeth, and are often chosen for international comparisons. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the current oral health status of 12-year-old children in southeast Italy, stratified by gender and residential area. Materials and methods The survey was conducted on 431 children enrolled by multistage cluster sampling. A dental caries experience index (decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth; DMFT) was recorded at schools by a team of examiners trained at the start of the study. Statistical analyses by Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Wilcoxon tests were performed using SAS version 9.1 software for PCs. We applied the Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial regression model in the STATA package. Results Caries prevalence was recorded in 38.3% of the sample. Estimated means and 95% confidence intervals of the DMFT index by gender were: 1.15 (0.91–1.39) for males, 1.26 (1.02–1.5) for females, and 1.21 (1.03–1.39) for the total sample. The D component of the index was dominant. The mean number of caries found in southeast Italy was significantly higher than the national mean ( t =3.125, P=0.002), but significantly lower than the mean for south Italy ( t =−2.125, P=0.03). Results of the regression model showed that only the mother and father's nationality and educational level contributed to the DMFT. Conclusions The oral health situation of 12-year-old children from southeast Italy seems to be in line with that in other Western European countries

Cadmium modifies the cell cycle and apoptotic profiles of human breast cancer cells treated with 5-fluorouracil

Industrialisation, the proximity of factories to cities, and human work activities have led to a disproportionate use of substances containing heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), which may have deleterious effects on human health. Carcinogenic effects of Cd and its relationship with breast cancer, among other tumours, have been reported. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug used to treat solid tumours of the colon, breast, stomach, liver, and pancreas. The purpose of this work was to study the effects of Cd on cell cycle, apoptosis, and gene and protein expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with 5-FU. Cd altered the cell cycle profile, and its effects were greater when used either alone or in combination with 5-FU compared with 5-FU alone. Cd significantly suppressed apoptosis of MCF-7 cells pre-treated with 5-FU. Regarding gene and protein expression, bcl2 expression was mainly upregulated by all treatments involving Cd. The expression of caspase 8 and caspase 9 was decreased by most of the treatments and at all times evaluated. C-myc expression was increased by all treatments involving Cd, especially 5-FU plus Cd at the half time of treatment. Cd plus 5-FU decreased cyclin D1 and increased cyclin A1 expression. In conclusion, our results indicate that exposure to Cd blocks the anticancer effects of 5-FU in MCF-7 cells. These results could have important clinical implications in patients treated with 5-FU-based therapies and who are exposed to high levels of Cd

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and senile cataract in a Sardinian population, Italy

Purpose: There is still no general agreement on the role of G6PD deficiency in the pathogenesis of cataract. Although G6PD deficiency has been correlated with cataract in some studies, other reports have showed no correlation. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in male patients of Sardinian origin with senile cataract and to compare it with the prevalence rate of G6PD deficiency in the general population of the same area. Methods: Erythrocyte G6PD activity was determined using a quantitative assay in 1628 male patients with cataract. The control group consisted of 1646 apparently healthy male patients from the same area described in a former study. Student's t test was used to determine differences between groups. Results: G6PD deficiency was found in 134 (8.2%) patients with cataract and in 120 (7%) control subjects. Differences between cases and controls were not statistically significant (P=0.78). Conclusion: The results of this large study suggest that male patients with G6PD deficiency in the Sardinian population do not have a higher risk of developing presenile cataract

What really affects student satisfaction? An assessment of quality through a University-wide student survey

The analysis of students satisfaction for their university experience is important within the educational evaluation. In this study was explored the satisfaction of students to identify which aspects of teaching may be cause of dissatisfaction. A survey questionnaire contains items on motivations, teaching quality and services was compiled in anonymous by the students that attending the courses of the Faculty of Sci-ence (University of Sassari, Sardinia) during the second semester of the 2009/2010 academic year. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed by Cronbach’s Alpha. A preliminary chi square test at stepwise logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the association between student satisfac-tion and motivation, quality of teacher and services, at a 0.05 significance level. Only 403 questionnaires were considered good with a response rate of 82.6%. The student’s satisfaction is significant different by gender (p = .009). Significant are the items on the interest for scientific studies, the acquisition of the de-gree as social prestige and future work (p < .05); also, the ability of teacher to stimulate and attract the student, the encouragement, the advice to the students and the his professionality are significantly associ-ated with the students satisfaction (p < .05). In males the main factor associated to the satisfaction is to have achieved always good results in school (OR = 2.84, p = .036); instead, in females, the interest in science (OR = 4.75, p = .023), the title of degree to acquire a social prestige (OR = 2.00, p = .033) and the possibility of a future work (OR = 2.09, p = .028). Although good judgments made by students, however, require further attention, such as such as the abandonment of the university, the time of graduation degree, the future career, for better analysis of aspects related to the satisfaction of the quality of teaching

Visual and auditory event related potentials in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is classically described as an upper and lower motor neuron disease without clinical sensory disorders. Various studies have been conducted to explore and understand motor impairment but in the last years also cognitive functions have drawn attention in ALS patients investigating extra-motor involvment. Recent neuropsychological studies have been carried out to evaluate specific cognitive dysfunction also supported by MRI, PET and SPECI findings. All papers report subtle cognitive impairment especially related to the frontal lobe functions. Gil et al (1995) performed an auditory ERPs study and they found 60% of patients had P300 delayed latency. To further investigate the relationship between ALS and cognitive function, visual and auditory oddball ERPs were recorded in 10 patients by using 30 electrodes. Attention was focused on latency and amplitude of P300 and on its topographic distribution. Neuropsychological evaluation allowed to test the cognitive status of patients and psychometric tests were selected to assess intelligence, executive functions, attention, memory, word fluency, visuo-motor and visual-constructive skills. Motor disability was scored by ALS Severity Scale including bulbar and spinal score. Depression state was evaluated by using Hamilton Scale. Results of ERPs were compared to 10 healthy age-matched controls. Preliminary data show abnormalities of P300 in about 50% of patients. Correlations between visual and auditory P300 latency and amplitude, psychometric tests, disease duration, physical disability and depression will be discussed