This study demonstrates that MelasQoL-BP is a valid instrument and can be used to evaluate the quality of life and response to melasma treatment in Brazilian patients. The triple combination treatment produced significant results, regarding both clinical severity and quality of life.

Several different plant extracts have been evaluated with respect to their antimicrobial effects against oral pathogens and for reduction of gingivitis. Given that a large number of these substances have been associated with significant side effects that contraindicate their long-term use, new compounds need to be tested. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term safety and efficacy of a Lippia sidoides ("alecrim pimenta")-based essential oil mouthrinse on gingival inflammation and bacterial plaque. Fifty-five patients were enrolled into a pilot, double-blinded, randomized, parallel-armed study. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo a 7-day treatment regimen with either the L. sidoides-based mouthrinse or 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthrinse. The results demonstrated decreased plaque index, gingival index and gingival bleeding index scores at 7 days, as compared to baseline. There was no statistically significance difference (p>0.05) between test and control groups for any of the clinical parameters assessed throughout the study. Adverse events were mild and transient. The findings of this study demonstrated that the L. sidoides-based mouthrinse was safe and efficacious in reducing bacterial plaque and gingival inflammation.

H. pylori is highly prevalent among children in a north-eastern Brazilian community characterised by poor living conditions, and this infection is largely acquired during early childhood. The infection increased with age, and domestic overcrowding. Further longitudinal studies must examine in depth the possible modes of transmission of the organism in young children.

OBJECTIVE:To describe the main characteristics of victims, roads and vehicles involved in traffi c accidents and the risk factors involved in accidents resulting in death. METHODS:A non-concurrent cohort study of traffi c accidents in Fortaleza, CE, Northeastern Brazil, in the period from January 2004 to December 2008. Data from the Fortaleza Traffi c Accidents Information System, the Mortality Information System, the Hospital Information System and the State Traffi c Department Driving Licenses and Vehicle database. Deterministic and probabilistic relationship techniques were used to integrate the databases. First, descriptive analysis of data relating to people, roads, vehicles and weather was carried out. In the investigation of risk factors for death by traffi c accident, generalized linear models were used. The fi t of the model was verifi ed by likelihood ratio and ROC analysis. RESULTS:There were 118,830 accidents recorded in the period. The most common types of accidents were crashes/collisions (78.1%), running over pedestrians (11.9%), colliding with a fi xed obstacle (3.9%), and with motorcycles (18.1%). Deaths occurred in 1.4% of accidents. The factors that were independently associated with death by traffi c accident in the fi nal model were bicycles (OR = 21.2, 95%CI 16.1;27.8), running over pedestrians OR = 5.9 (95%CI 3.7;9.2), collision with a fi xed obstacle (OR = 5.7, 95%CI 3.1;10.5) and accidents involving motorcyclists (OR = 3.5, 95%CI 2.6;4.6). The main contributing factors were a single person being involved (OR = 6.6, 95%CI 4.1;10.73), presence of unskilled drivers (OR = 4.1, 95%CI 2.9;5.5) a single vehicle (OR = 3.9, 95%CI 2,3;6,4), male (OR = 2.5, 95%CI 1.9;3.3), traffi c on roads under federal jurisdiction (OR = 2.4, 95%CI 1.8;3.7), early morning hours (OR = 2.4, 95%CI 1.8;3.0), and Sundays (OR = 1.7, 95%CI 1.3;2.2), adjusted according to the log-binomial model. CONCLUSIONS:Activities promoting the prevention of traffi c accidents should primarily focus on accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles that most often involves a single person, unskilled, male, at nighttime, on weekends and on roads where they travel at higher speeds.

The article analyzes the quality of information of deaths from external causes in Fortaleza, in

AKI is a rare but potential fatal complication in obstetric patients. RIFLE criteria seem to have association with mortality. There are important factors associated with oliguria and death, which must be prompt recognized to the institution of adequate therapeutic measures.

A epidemiologia tem focado a violência como um dos problemas da Saúde Pública. Dentre as categorias da violência encontra-se o suicídio. Este estudo descreve associações entre suicídio e aspectos sociodemográficos. Usa metodologia ecológico-transversal por meio de técnicas de correlação e regressão linear múltipla (backward). A mortalidade proporcional em relação ao total de óbitos foi o melhor desfecho para modelagem (R² = 0,41). As variáveis resultantes: porcentual da população residente com religião de origem pentecostal, porcentual de pessoas com 10 anos ou mais de idade com estado civil solteiro, média de anos de estudos, altitude para municípios da divisão político-administrativa vigente 2.000m, percentual de moradores em domicílios particulares permanentes com ausência de banheiro, percentual de pessoas com 10 anos ou mais de idade ocupadas no setor "educação" e porcentual de pessoas com 10 anos ou mais de idade com rendimento nominal de até um salário mínimo, todas estatisticamente significantes no nível de 0,05. O resultado encontrado vem reforçar a ideia da influência de fatores causais extrínsecos na determinação desse desfecho.

A distribuição geográfica dos agravos à saúde e sua relação com potenciais fatores de risco vêm abrindo um vasto campo para a investigação epidemiológica. O presente estudo visa a identificar padrões de distribuição espacial dos componentes neonatal (TMIN) e pós-neonatal (TMIP) da taxa de mortalidade infantil (TMI) dos municípios do Ceará, Brasil, e discute os principais fatores sócio-econômicos, demográficos e de atenção à saúde que contribuíram para dependência espacial destes componentes. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico transversal, utilizando regressão linear múltipla, cuja análise espacial desses componentes foi obtida através do índice de Moran. Conclui-se que as condições de assistência à gravidez, ao parto e ao recém-nascido somadas a uma melhor distribuição de renda são decisivas para a sobrevivência no primeiro mês de vida, enquanto que a má alimentação, imunização, saneamento, educação e situação econômica são possíveis determinantes da mortalidade pós-neonatal. Reconhece-se a importância que as ações de atenção seletiva à saúde exercem para o declínio da TMI. No entanto, mudanças estruturais e intersetoriais são as que irão gerar a sustentabilidade necessária para levar esse indicador ao nível dos países desenvolvidos.