The occurrence of diseases and variations from normality is very common in the maxillofacial complex, and this phenomenon is closely associated to peculiar genetic determinants and influenced by genetic isolation. Studies on the distribution of oral diseases and variations from normality in South American natives are generally directed mainly to the study of dental caries in the children and periodontal diseases in the adults, disregarding a wide range of other oral diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of lesions and anatomical variations from normality in eight ethnic groups living in the Umutina Indian Reservation, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, through physical and oral examinations besides cytological evaluation and assessment of diet and habits, such as tobacco and alcohol consumption. A total of 291 Indians, of both genders, with ages ranging from 1 to 96 years, were examined, being identified 132 variations from normality, evidencing a high occurrence of ankyloglossia, which was present in 108 cases (37.1%), followed by benign migratory glossitis in 5 cases (1.7%); mandibular torus and candidiasis in 3 cases (1.0%). No malignant lesion was identified in the population.

La ocurrencia de enfermedades y variaciones de normalidad son muy comunes en el complejo maxilofacial. Este fenómeno se asocia estrechamente a determinantes genéticos peculiares y son influenciados a través del aislamiento genético. Estudios sobre la distribución de enfermedad oral y variaciones de la normalidad en nativos Sudamericanos son generalmente dirigidos al estudio de la caries dental en niños y enfermedad periodontal en adultos, dejando de lado una amplia gama de otras enfermedades orales. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la distribución de lesiones y las variaciones anatómicas de normalidad en ocho grupos étnicos indígenas pertenecientes a la reserva Umutina, Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil, a través del examen físico y oral, además de la evaluación citológica y valoración de dieta y hábitos como tabaco y consumo de alcohol. Un total de 291 indígenas de ambos sexos, con edades que van de 1 a 96 años fueron examinados, identificándose 132 variaciones de normalidad, evidenciando una alta ocurrencia de anquiloglosia, la cual se presentó en 108 casos (37,1%), seguido por glositis migratoria benigna en 5 casos (1,7%); torus mandibular y candidiasis en 3 casos (1,0%). Ninguna lesión maligna se identificó en la población.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is associated with periodontal disease, especially localized aggressive periodontitis, produces a potent leukotoxin and its distribution is influenced by ethnic characteristics of the population. Objective: Using culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, this study evaluated the occurrence of this microorganism and the distribution of leukotoxic strains isolated from Indians belonging to the Umutima Reservation, Mato Grosso, Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-eight native Brazilians with gingivitis and 38 with chronic periodontitis, belonging to Umutina, Paresi, Bororo, Bakairi, Kayabi, Irantxe, Nambikwara and Terena ethnicities, were studied. Subgingival, supragingival and saliva samples of each patient were collected and transferred to VMGA III medium and to ultra pure Milli Q water. Bacteria were grown on TSBV agar and incubated in anaerobiosis (90% N2 + 10% CO2) at 37ºC for 72 h. The presence of the ltx promoter was determined by PCR, and a 530 bp deletion in the promoter was evaluated by using specific primers. RESULTS: A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated from 8.33% of saliva, supragingival and subgingival samples from patients with gingivitis and from 18.42% of saliva and supragingival biofilm, and 26.32% subgingival biofilm from patients with chronic periodontitis. By PCR, the bacterial DNA was detected in 8.33% of saliva, supragingival and subgingival biofilms from patients with gingivitis and from 23.68% of saliva, 28.95% supragingival biofilm and 34.21% subgingival biofilm from patients with periodontitis. All strains were grouped as non-JP2 clones based on the absence of deletion in the leukotoxin promoter. Differences among the microbial and clinical parameters in patients were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney, Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that A. actinomycetemcomitans can be related to the attachment loss in this population, but the presence of minimally leukotoxic strains, as well as its role in the pathogenesis of the periodontitis in these native Brazilians need to be further investigated.

This research evaluated the bone repair process after implantation of homogenous demineralized dentin matrix (HDDM) in surgical defects in the parietal bone of rabbits with alloxan-induced diabetes, using a polytetrafluorethylene (PTFe) barrier for guided bone regeneration. Thirty-six rabbits were used and divided into four groups: control (C, n = 12), diabetic (D, n = 12, left parietal bone), diabetic with PTFe (D-PTFe, same 12 rabbits, right parietal bone), and diabetic with PTFe associated to HDDM (D-PTFe+HDDM, n = 12). Bone defects were created in the parietal bone of the rabbits and the experimental treatments were performed, where applicable. The rabbits were sacrificed after 15, 30, 60 and 90 days. The bone defects were examined radiographically and by optical density (ANOVA and Tukey test, p < .05). The radiographic findings showed that the D-PTFe+HDDM group presented greater radiopacity and better trabecular bone arrangement when compared to that of the C, D and D-PTFe groups. The statistical analysis showed significant differences in the optical density of the newly formed bone among the studied groups. It was possible to conclude that HDDM was biocompatible in diabetic rabbits.

This research evaluated the bone repair process in surgical defects created on the parietal bones of diabetic rabbits using the guided bone regeneration technique to observe the effects of alloxan in the induction of diabetes mellitus. Twenty-four adult rabbits were divided into three study groups: control (C), diabetic (D) and diabetic associated to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane (D-PTFE). For diabetes induction the animals received one dose of monohydrated alloxan (90 mg/kg) by intravenous administration in the auricular or femoral vein. In group D-PTFE the membrane covered both the floor and the surface of the bone defect. In groups D and C, the bone defect was filled up with blood clot. The specimens were fixed in 10% formol and prepared for histomorphometric analysis. The results showed that the 90 mg/kg dose of monohydrate alloxan was sufficient to promote diabetes mellitus when administered in the auricular vein. Bone regeneration was slower in the diabetic group when compared with the control and diabetic-PTFE groups, but there was no significant statistical difference between the two experimental groups (D and D-PTFE). The oral and general clinical complications among the diabetics were weight loss, polyuria, polyphagia and severe chronic gingivitis.

Endodontic infections are mixed aerobic-anaerobic infections and several microbial groups associated to these pathologies are also involved in orofacial infections. The goal of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of microorganisms isolated from endodontic infections to beta-lactams and metronidazole and verify the production of beta-lactamases. Clinical specimens were collected from 58 endodontic infections of 52 patients. The microorganisms were isolated in selective and non-selective culture media, under anaerobiosis and aerobiosis, and identified using biochemical methods. In the susceptibility tests, it was used an agar dilution method, and Wilkins-Chalgren agar enriched with blood, hemin and menadione for the anaerobes, while Mueller-Hinton agar was employed for the facultative anaerobes. The production of beta-lactamases was evaluated through the biological and chromogenic cephalosporin methods. All tested isolates were sensitive to imipenem and 99.3% to amoxicillin/clavulanate association, while 16.1% showed resistance to amoxicillin and penicillin G, and 4.89% to cefoxitin. Resistance to metronidazole was just found in facultative anaerobes. Production of beta-lactamases was detected in 18.2% of the isolates and presented a correlation with resistance to beta-lactams.