- Email: [email protected]
Fluoride and osteosarcoma
Results.—Eighty-four percent of the 144 persons available for follow-up had undergone extractions, 98.6% had restorations placed, 16.0% had restorative treatment without extractions, and 1.4% had extractions without restoration. The P-CPQ showed statistically significant changes in mean overall and subscale scores in response to the global question, ‘‘How much is the child’s overall well-being affected by his/her mouth?’’ Nearly all these changes were consistent, but those whose well-being was more severely affected had higher scores. The FIS showed that those who responded the effect was ‘‘Some’’ had slightly higher scores than those who responded the effect was ‘‘Very little.’’ Overall P-CPQ score decreased substantially after treatment, with many more patients reporting no impact on the child’s well-being related to the mouth. Similar changes were noted for questions regarding oral symptoms and emotional well-being. Moderate declines were seen in measures of questions concerning other aspects. The least decrease was found in the measure of social well-being. All subscales of the P-CPQ showed increases in the number of persons who reported no impact of the mouth on overall well-being. FIS scores showed moderately lower values after treatment than before. The greatest relative increases were noted for questions regarding parental/family activity and parental emotions. Nearly 57% of the responses indicated the child’s OHRQoL was much improved after treatment, 19.4% said it was a
little improved, 21.5% reported it was the same, and 21.5% found it was a little worse. None of the subjects reported a much worse OHRQoL status. Discussion.—The P-CPQ and FIX both revealed substantial improvements in OHRQoL after children received treatment for ECC under GA.
Clinical Significance.—Both of the instruments used to measure OHRQoL appeared to be valid and responsive to treatment-associated changes in young children with ECC. Since more than half of the sample were nonEuropean children, it seems that these instruments would be appropriate for ethnically diverse samples. This suggests that OHRQoL is a concept that transcends cultural differences. The use of GA while children are receiving treatment for ECC resulted in considerable improvement in their parent-reported OHRQoL. It would be interesting to research whether there were other factors that also contribute to this outcome.
Gaynor WN, Thomson WM: Changes in young children’s OHRQoL after dental treatment under general anaesthesia. Int J Paediatr Dent 22:258-264, 2012 Reprints available from WM Thomson, Sir John Walsh Research Inst, Dept of Oral Sciences, School of Dentistry, The Univ of Otago, PO Box 647, Dunedin, New Zealand; e-mail: [email protected]
Oral Medicine Fluoride and osteosarcoma Background.—Osteosarcoma is a rare, painful primary malignant bone tumor that may be associated with certain chemicals, genetic factors, or ionizing radiation. It is more common male patients and found more often in long bone locations and in persons under age 20 years. Fluoride has an affinity for calcified tissues, with 99% of the body’s fluoride found within the skeleton. Bone fluoride levels provide an objective measure of fluoride exposure and can serve as a biomarker for this phenomenon. Whether fluoride levels in bone are associated with osteosarcoma was investigated. Methods.—Participants included 137 individuals with osteosarcoma and 51 subjects who were newly diagnosed
with malignant bone tumors and served as controls. All completed a questionnaire and provided either tumor-adjacent or iliac crest bone for use in assaying fluoride content. Logistic regression analysis controlled for age and gender and potential confounders of osteosarcoma. Results.—The median fluoride concentration in bone did not differ significantly between the osteosarcoma patients and the control group. Control subjects had a higher median fluoride concentration compared with the tumor patients principally because the controls were older. Fluoride content in bone in both populations increased with increasing age.
Volume 58
Issue 5
2013
263
Discussion.—No significant difference in fluoride levels were noted in bone fluoride levels of osteosarcoma patients compared to control subjects.
Clinical Significance.—The use of bone fluoride concentrations to measure fluoride exposure rather than estimates of fluoride exposure from drinking water is a strength of this study because these concentrations are an objective measure. Most of the body’s fluoride is located in the bones, and fluoride concentrations depend on the amount and duration of exposure and the rate of bone turnover. If chronic fluoride
intake was a risk factor for osteosarcoma, then persons with the disease would have significantly higher bone fluoride concentrations than control subjects. This was not shown to be the case.
Kim FM, Hayes C, Williams PL, et al: An assessment of bone fluoride and osteosarcoma. J Dent Res 90:1171-1176, 2011 Reprints available from CW Douglass, Dept of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA; e-mail: [email protected]
Periodontal Disease Religiosity and periodontal health Background.—The etiology of periodontitis is complex and several risk factors and protective factors have been identified. It has been suggested that protective factors such as coping are actually more important than risk factors, such as stress. Among the protective factors that have been detected are marital quality, positive life events, social support, and good coping skills. Religiosity is a protective factor for several other chronic systemic diseases and may serve that role for periodontitis as well. The Jewish population of Israel, optimally expressed in Jerusalem, provides the opportunity to study the relationship between religiosity and periodontitis. Three distinct groups of religious intensity are included in this population, with the orthodox community being the most religious, the nonorthodox religious group still maintaining a religious orientation that significantly affects their daily activities, and the secular group observing minimal Jewish religious traditions. An investigation focused on the relationship between periodontitis and religiosity as well as whether oral health-related behaviors, spirituality, and social support can explain the link between religiosity and periodontitis. Methods.—Two hundred forty-eight married adult Jewish people age 35–44 years who lived in Jerusalem were included. All completed a questionnaire and a clinical examination. Sociodemographic information included gender, age, education level, employment status, and home density. Behavioral data included tooth brushing, use of oral hygiene aids, and tobacco smoking status. Level of spirituality was estimated by the validated Hebrew version of the spiritual and religious attitudes dealing with illness questionnaire for religiosity, spirituality, and health. Social support
264
Dental Abstracts
was assessed using the validated Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The clinical parameters included plaque levels, dental status, and periodontal health. Periodontitis was defined as having at least one periodontal pocket depth measuring 6 mm or greater. Data were analyzed and tested for interactions between religiosity and education level, age, and gender. Results.—Among the 123 men and 125 women, the mean age was 38.6 years; 33.9% were orthodox, 33.1% were religious, and 33.1% were secular Jewish persons. The prevalence of periodontitis was 14.5%, which was high compared to the assumption that 10% of the population had periodontal pockets of 6 mm or greater. The presence of moderate to abundant plaque levels and tobacco smoking were risk factors for periodontitis. Higher levels of education and social support form family were identified as protective factors. Religious affiliation and the domains of spirituality (search for meaningful support, positive interpretation of disease, and support of internal life through spirituality) were significantly associated with periodontitis. A clear gradient in periodontitis was noted from higher to lower levels among the secular, religious, and orthodox Jewish individuals (29.3%, 8.5%, and 6.0%, respectively). Participants with higher levels of spirituality were less likely to have periodontitis. Level of education was identified as the best socioeconomic indicator using univariable analysis. With multiple logistic regression, the level of plaque was the best predictor. Application of conceptual hierarchical data analysis modeling confirmed that higher levels of religiosity, support of internal life
little improved, 21.5% reported it was the same, and 21.5% found it was a little worse. None of the subjects reported a much worse OHRQoL status. Discussion.—The P-CPQ and FIX both revealed substantial improvements in OHRQoL after children received treatment for ECC under GA.
Clinical Significance.—Both of the instruments used to measure OHRQoL appeared to be valid and responsive to treatment-associated changes in young children with ECC. Since more than half of the sample were nonEuropean children, it seems that these instruments would be appropriate for ethnically diverse samples. This suggests that OHRQoL is a concept that transcends cultural differences. The use of GA while children are receiving treatment for ECC resulted in considerable improvement in their parent-reported OHRQoL. It would be interesting to research whether there were other factors that also contribute to this outcome.
Gaynor WN, Thomson WM: Changes in young children’s OHRQoL after dental treatment under general anaesthesia. Int J Paediatr Dent 22:258-264, 2012 Reprints available from WM Thomson, Sir John Walsh Research Inst, Dept of Oral Sciences, School of Dentistry, The Univ of Otago, PO Box 647, Dunedin, New Zealand; e-mail: [email protected]
Oral Medicine Fluoride and osteosarcoma Background.—Osteosarcoma is a rare, painful primary malignant bone tumor that may be associated with certain chemicals, genetic factors, or ionizing radiation. It is more common male patients and found more often in long bone locations and in persons under age 20 years. Fluoride has an affinity for calcified tissues, with 99% of the body’s fluoride found within the skeleton. Bone fluoride levels provide an objective measure of fluoride exposure and can serve as a biomarker for this phenomenon. Whether fluoride levels in bone are associated with osteosarcoma was investigated. Methods.—Participants included 137 individuals with osteosarcoma and 51 subjects who were newly diagnosed
with malignant bone tumors and served as controls. All completed a questionnaire and provided either tumor-adjacent or iliac crest bone for use in assaying fluoride content. Logistic regression analysis controlled for age and gender and potential confounders of osteosarcoma. Results.—The median fluoride concentration in bone did not differ significantly between the osteosarcoma patients and the control group. Control subjects had a higher median fluoride concentration compared with the tumor patients principally because the controls were older. Fluoride content in bone in both populations increased with increasing age.
Volume 58
Issue 5
2013
263
Discussion.—No significant difference in fluoride levels were noted in bone fluoride levels of osteosarcoma patients compared to control subjects.
Clinical Significance.—The use of bone fluoride concentrations to measure fluoride exposure rather than estimates of fluoride exposure from drinking water is a strength of this study because these concentrations are an objective measure. Most of the body’s fluoride is located in the bones, and fluoride concentrations depend on the amount and duration of exposure and the rate of bone turnover. If chronic fluoride
intake was a risk factor for osteosarcoma, then persons with the disease would have significantly higher bone fluoride concentrations than control subjects. This was not shown to be the case.
Kim FM, Hayes C, Williams PL, et al: An assessment of bone fluoride and osteosarcoma. J Dent Res 90:1171-1176, 2011 Reprints available from CW Douglass, Dept of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA; e-mail: [email protected]
Periodontal Disease Religiosity and periodontal health Background.—The etiology of periodontitis is complex and several risk factors and protective factors have been identified. It has been suggested that protective factors such as coping are actually more important than risk factors, such as stress. Among the protective factors that have been detected are marital quality, positive life events, social support, and good coping skills. Religiosity is a protective factor for several other chronic systemic diseases and may serve that role for periodontitis as well. The Jewish population of Israel, optimally expressed in Jerusalem, provides the opportunity to study the relationship between religiosity and periodontitis. Three distinct groups of religious intensity are included in this population, with the orthodox community being the most religious, the nonorthodox religious group still maintaining a religious orientation that significantly affects their daily activities, and the secular group observing minimal Jewish religious traditions. An investigation focused on the relationship between periodontitis and religiosity as well as whether oral health-related behaviors, spirituality, and social support can explain the link between religiosity and periodontitis. Methods.—Two hundred forty-eight married adult Jewish people age 35–44 years who lived in Jerusalem were included. All completed a questionnaire and a clinical examination. Sociodemographic information included gender, age, education level, employment status, and home density. Behavioral data included tooth brushing, use of oral hygiene aids, and tobacco smoking status. Level of spirituality was estimated by the validated Hebrew version of the spiritual and religious attitudes dealing with illness questionnaire for religiosity, spirituality, and health. Social support
264
Dental Abstracts
was assessed using the validated Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The clinical parameters included plaque levels, dental status, and periodontal health. Periodontitis was defined as having at least one periodontal pocket depth measuring 6 mm or greater. Data were analyzed and tested for interactions between religiosity and education level, age, and gender. Results.—Among the 123 men and 125 women, the mean age was 38.6 years; 33.9% were orthodox, 33.1% were religious, and 33.1% were secular Jewish persons. The prevalence of periodontitis was 14.5%, which was high compared to the assumption that 10% of the population had periodontal pockets of 6 mm or greater. The presence of moderate to abundant plaque levels and tobacco smoking were risk factors for periodontitis. Higher levels of education and social support form family were identified as protective factors. Religious affiliation and the domains of spirituality (search for meaningful support, positive interpretation of disease, and support of internal life through spirituality) were significantly associated with periodontitis. A clear gradient in periodontitis was noted from higher to lower levels among the secular, religious, and orthodox Jewish individuals (29.3%, 8.5%, and 6.0%, respectively). Participants with higher levels of spirituality were less likely to have periodontitis. Level of education was identified as the best socioeconomic indicator using univariable analysis. With multiple logistic regression, the level of plaque was the best predictor. Application of conceptual hierarchical data analysis modeling confirmed that higher levels of religiosity, support of internal life