To evaluate the efficiency of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the midpalatal suture (MPS) and pain sensation in patients undergoing rapid palatal expansion (RPE). Thirty-four individuals with the diagnosis of skeletal maxillary hypoplasia were divided in two groups: laser (n = 18) and control (n = 16). Treatment plan consisted of the use of the Hyrax expander in all patients. Subjects in the laser group were irradiated with diode laser (980 nm, 0.3 W) in six spots bilaterally distributed along the MPS for 10 s during the active phase of treatment and after overcorrection (passive phase of RPE). Control group received sham irradiations with the laser in standby mode to characterize the placebo effect. Digital occlusal radiographs were performed at different time-points for bone formation evaluation in both groups. The effects of laser irradiation on pain were assessed by the visual analog scale (Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale). Bone formation between groups was not significantly different (p = 0.2273). At 3 months, bone formation was not yet complete in both groups. Pain sensation was similar between groups (p = 0.3940). However, pain was significantly higher for the first 7 days of treatment compared with the 14th day. PBMT did not accelerate bone regeneration in the MPS and pain sensation was similar.

Cancer is a long-term, life-limiting condition, and its end-of-life stage is complex. This study aimed to understand the lived experience of patients with progressive advanced oncological disease. Seven women in an acute hospital in Portugal were interviewed and the results analysed using a phenomenological approach to understand their lived experience. The analysis indicated that lived experience of these patients has six essential constituents: information about one's own health; perception of the disease; emotional reactions; aid strategies by nurses; imitations imposed by the disease; and changes in life perspective. The experience of advanced progressive cancer is very powerful and complex. The authors believe that this study has contributed to the understanding of this situation, particularly in terms of helping to improve palliative care practices.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between insulin resistance markers and periodontitis in adolescents, analyzing confounder variables and the adiposity as a mediator.MethodsThis is population‐based study is representative of adolescents aged 17–18 years from public schools in São Luís, Brazil (n = 405). Insulin resistance was assessed using the Model of Assessment of the Homeostasis of the Insulin Resistance Index (HOMA‐IR) and its percussor triglycerides/HDL‐cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL‐c). The outcome was Initial Periodontitis, a latent variable estimated by the common variance shared among bleeding on probing, probing depth ≥ 4 mm, and clinical attachment loss ≥ 4 mm. The association between insulin resistance and Initial Periodontitis was modeled via pathways triggered by socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol, and Adiposity, using structural equation modeling.ResultsHigher TG/HDL‐c was directly associated with higher Initial Periodontitis (standardized coefficient [SC] = 0.130, p < 0.001). HOMA‐IR was not associated with periodontal outcome (SC = 0.023, p = 0.075), but it was with Adiposity (SC = 0.495, p < 0.001). Higher TG/HDL‐c was associated with Adiposity (SC = 0.202, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe insulin resistance markers were associated with early signs of periodontal breakdown among adolescents, suggesting a possible relationship between diabetes and periodontitis commences early in life.

Os autores realizaram teste de sensibilidade antimicrobiana in vitro (técnica de diluição em ágar) para 105 cepas de B. forsythus obtidas de pacientes portadores de periodontite. De acordo com o teste realizado, o microrganismo demonstrou ser sensível ao metronidazol (100% das cepas testadas) e à amoxicilina (94% das cepas testadas), enquanto 72% e 65% das cepas foram susceptíveis à tetraciclina e ciprofloxacina, respectivamente. O metronidazol e a amoxicilina parecem ser os antimicrobianos indicados para o tratamento de infecções periodontais nas quais B. forsythus seja o patógeno predominante.