No abstract

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 disease COVID-19 pandemic caused several lifestyle changes, especially among younger people. The study aimed to describe the impact of eating habits, lifestyle, and home oral hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic, on the cariogenic risk in the Italian paediatric population, by using an online survey. The survey was conducted through a virtual questionnaire divided into four parts: child personal and anthropometric data; oral health; child dietary habits (KIDMED test); and child lifestyle, before and during COVID-19 lockdown. During the lockdown, only 18.6% of the participants had high adherence to a Mediterranean diet, recording an increase in sweets consumption and the number of meals (p < 0.001). In terms of lifestyle, the percentage of moderately and vigorously active children decreased (41.4% and 5.0%, respectively) (p = 0.014). The percentage of children sleeping more than 9 h increased (p < 0.001). They watched more television programs (p < 0.001). Regarding oral hygiene, children did not change their brushing habits (p = 0.225). The percentage of children using non-fluoridated toothpaste was higher (6.4%), and no changes were observed (p > 0.05). In some cases, dental pain and abscesses were declared (10% and 2.7%, respectively). This study confirms the need for campaigns to promote hygiene and dental care in combination with food education for a correct habit and promotion of a healthy and sustainable dietary style.

Aims Aim of the present systematic review and meta‐analysis is to investigate the oral health status of children with cerebral palsy and to compare it to that of healthy children. Methods and results An electronic search extended to October 2019 was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Two independent reviewers selected publications using a two‐stage process; data were extracted according to PRISMA statement. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the risk of bias in individual studies. After screening of the 5460 studies selected 20 publications were included in the systematic review, 15 underwent quantitative analysis. In the palsy population statistical analysis showed an OR = 1.45 (95% CI: 1.05‐2.00) for dental caries in the primary dentition and OR = 1.87 (95% CI: 1.07‐3.24) for the simplified oral hygiene index. The OR of Angle's Class II and anterior open bite were 3.27 (95% CI: 1.22‐8.81) and 14.06 (95% CI: 6.26‐31.62), respectively. Conclusion Children with cerebral palsy seem to present an increased risk of dental caries in the primary dentition, of Angle's Class II malocclusion, anterior open bite and a lower gingival status.

The World Health Organization determined that preterm birth takes place when a baby is born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy. There are sub-categories of preterm birth based on gestational age, in which the baby is considered extremely preterm, very preterm, and moderate to late preterm when the birth occurs <28 weeks, from 28 to 32 weeks and between 32 and 37 weeks, respectively. It is estimated that about 15 million babies are preterm every year and that approximately 1 million children die each year due to preterm birth complications. 1 These complications may include respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular bleeding, necrotising enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, risk of infection and persistent ductus arteriousus. 2 Commonly reported oral complications of preterm birth include notching of the alveolar ridge, palatal grooving, high arched palate, dental crossbite, and palatal asymmetry. 3

BackgroundEvidence of probiotics effects on gut function, brain activity and emotional behaviour were provided. Probiotics can have dramatic effects on behaviour through the microbiome–gut–brain axis, through vagus nerve. We investigated whether chronic probiotic intake could modulate psychological state, eating behaviour and body composition of normal weight obese (NWO) and preobese–obese (PreOB/OB) compared to normal weight lean women (NWL).Methods60 women were enrolled. At baseline and after a 3-week probiotic oral suspension (POS) intake, all subjects underwent evaluation of body composition by anthropometry and dual X-ray absorptiometry, and psychological profile assessment by self-report questionnaires (i.e. EDI-2, SCL90R and BUT). Statistical analysis was carried out using paired t test or a non-parametric Wilcoxon test to evaluate differences between baseline and after POS intake, one-way ANOVA to compare all three groups and, where applicable, Chi square or t test were used to assess symptoms.ResultsOf the 48 women that concluded the study, 24% were NWO, 26% were NWL and 50% were PreOB/OB. Significant differences in body composition were highlighted among groups both at baseline and after a POS (p < 0.05). After POS intake, a significant reduction of BMI, resistance, FM (kg and %) (p < 0.05), and a significant increase of FFM (kg and  %) (p < 0.05) were observed in all subjects in NOW and PreOB/OB. After POS intake, reduction of bacterial overgrowth syndrome (p < 0.05) and lower psychopathological scores (p < 0.05) were observed in NWO and PreOB/OB women. At baseline and after POS intake, all subjects tested were negative to SCL90R_GSI scale, but after treatment subjects positive to BUT_GSI scale were significantly reduced (8.33%) (p < 0.05) compared to the baseline (33.30%). In NWO and PreOB/OB groups significant differences (p < 0.05) in response to the subscales of the EDI-2 were observed. Significant improvement of the orocecal transit time was observed (p < 0.05) after POS intake. Furthermore, significant differences were observed for meteorism (p < 0.05) and defecation frequency (p < 0.05).ConclusionsA 3-week intake of selected psychobiotics modulated body composition, bacterial contamination, psychopathological scores of NWO and PreOB/OB women. Further research is needed on a larger population and for a longer period of treatment before definitive conclusions can be made. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Id: NCT01890070