Studies in nonhuman primates indicate that changes in the thickness and integrity of the vaginal epithelium affect the transmission rates of HIV-1, but few studies have examined the normal variations that may occur in the vagina of normal macaques as a result of aging or changes in the menstrual cycle. This study was conducted to determine if differences occur in the thickness of the vaginal mucosa with age or menses. Vaginal mucosal thickness was compared in 46 rhesus macaques grouped as juvenile (1-3 years old), mature cycling (3-21 years old), and geriatric (O21 years old). Epithelia of mature cycling macaques were also compared at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Older females (O21 years) had the thinnest and least keratinized epithelium of all groups, followed by the youngest females (!3 years). The vaginal epithelium was also thinner in cycling macaques during menses compared to the follicular stage. In addition, young, geriatric, or cycling macaques during menses had minimal keratinization. We hypothesize that normal physiologic changes in the vaginal epithelium of women occur with age and menses, which may affect a woman's susceptibility to HIV-1 transmission and other sexually transmitted diseases. Also, age and menstrual cycle should be considered when designing vaginal transmission experiments in rhesus macaques.

The present study investigated the factors associated with the development of dental caries in preschool children who receive regular dental care and follow-up. The research was carried out at the Baby Clinic, Londrina State University, and comprised two hundred preschool children, whose ages ranged from 24 to 48 months, as well as their mothers, who had already taken part in a dental program at the Baby Clinic during, at least, the previous twelve months. Regarding oral hygiene habits, there was no significant difference between the preschool children who presented with caries and those who did not present with caries. However, the presence of visible bacterial plaque on the upper incisors was strongly associated with the presence of dental caries. Other factors associated with the presence of caries were: period of formal education of the father or of both parents equal or inferior to 8 years, high sugar consumption and bottle-feeding during sleep. In the studied population, the dietary pattern is still the main cause of carious lesions. In addition, the presence of visible bacterial plaque on the labial surface of the upper incisors must be considered as an important clinical sign, often associated with inadequate patterns of diet and oral hygiene.

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Objective:To analyze the interference of age in the entrance into a public dental care program for infants as well as family behavioral aspects about tooth decay experience in children 0 to 4 years old.Methods:Cross-sectional study involving 465 children who were divided into 3 groups: infants whose mothers joined the program during pregnancy (n=50); infants enrolled in the program during the first year of life (n=230); and infants enrolled in the program between 13 and 18 months old (n=185). The χ2 and Kruskal-Walis tests (95% confidence interval) were used to assess the relationship among variables.Results:There was an association between the age of entrance in the programs and dental caries (p<0.001). A lower prevalence was seen in infants whose mothers joined the program during pregnancy, and among those infants enrolled in the program during the first year of life. The same low prevalence occurred in relation to mothers' commitment to attend follow-up visits with their infants, cariogenic diet, nighttime oral care, duration of night feeding and parents' educational level (p<0.001). Unfavorable socioeconomic conditions (p>0.05) and daily oral care (p=0.214) were common variables in the groups with 99% of occurrence. Commitment to attend follow-up visits, nighttime oral care and parents' educational level (p>0.05) were considered protective factors for dental caries. Cariogenic diet and night feeding were determinant factors to the appearance of dental caries.Conclusion:To promote children oral health it is essential to enroll children in oral health programs and adopt healthy habits as early as possible, besides the adherence of the child to their parents' advice.

The 24-h mean plasma concentrations of 8 hormones were measured in 11 men with chronic uremia and 32 normal men. Our findings confirm previous reports of subnormal levels of testosterone, T3, and T4 and elevated levels of LH, PRL, and cortisol. In addition, we observed a new finding: markedly subnormal levels of the adrenal androgens dehydroisoandrosterone (DHA) and DHA sulfate. The mean DHA level in the patients was 164 +/- 46 (SD) ng/dl, compared with 320 +/- 124 in age-matched controls (P < 0.0001); the geometric mean DHA sulfate level was 40 micrograms/dl (95% confidence limits, 11-113) in the patients and 76 micrograms/dl (95% confidence limits, 26-214) in age-matched controls (P = 0.005). The depression of adrenal androgen levels in the face of elevated cortisol levels suggests a biosynthetic block in the adrenal cortex at the step where the C-19 and C-21 pathways diverge, namely the removal of the 2-carbon side chain by C-17, 20-lyase. If a similar defect were present in the testes, it could account for the diminished synthesis of testosterone, which is a further metabolite of DHA in the testes.

Participating in the program positively impacted the infants' oral health.

We have observed six episodes of severe symptomatic hypoglycemia in 5 nondiabetic patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis. The common factor in all 5 patients was propranolol administration for the treatment of hypertension. This observation suggests that β-adrenergic blockade may cause profound hypoglycemia in dialyzed patients with other predisposing factors such as poor nutrition, liver dysfunction or stress. On the basis of our experience, we recommend blood sugar determinations for propranolol-treated patients during dialysis against glucose-free dialysate.