Abstract Policy evaluation and guidance on fluoride use and sugar consumption in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACC) may provide a scientific evidence basis for policymakers, dental professionals, civil society organizations and individuals committed to improving public oral health. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the extent of implementation of policies/guidelines on fluoride use, and sugar consumption in LACC. The study had two stages. First a questionnaire covering four major areas was developed: fluoridation of public water supplies; salt fluoridation; fluoride dentifrices, and sugar consumption. Then, the questionnaire was applied to collect data among representative participants in public oral health from LACC. Ninety-six participants from 18 LACC answered the questionnaire. One-hundred seventy documents were attached, and 285 links of websites were provided by the respondents. Implementation of policies and guidelines on water and table salt fluoridation and processed and ultra-processed food consumption were found in most countries, with some issues in the consensus and coverage. Thus, differences were identified in the extent of implementation of public oral health strategies on sugar consumption and fluoridation among the countries. There is no consensus on the policies in LACC to reduce sugar consumption and for the use of fluoride. A few policies and guidelines were applied in isolated countries, with a variety of strategies and standards. For future actions, it will be important to encourage the development of strategies and public policies within countries, and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies in reducing dental caries and in improving oral health in LACC.

Resumo Avaliar o impacto das condições bucais na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal (QVRSB) em crianças de dez países da América Latina (AL). Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 930 pares de crianças/pais de 1 a 3 anos de 10 países da AL, como estudo complementar do Research Observatory for Dental Caries of the Latin American Region. A escala ECOHIS, previamente testada e validada em dez países, foi aplicada a pais/cuidadores de crianças para mensurar a QVRSB. A análise estatística incluiu análise descritiva de dados e análise de variância unidirecional (ANOVA-One-Way) para comparar grupos etários com QVRSB. Procedimentos de bootstrapping (1000 reamostragens; 95%IC Bca) foram realizados. A pontuação média da seção 'Impacto na Criança' na AL foi 4,0 (±8,3), na seção ‘Impacto na Família’ foi 2,0 (±4,0) e no escore total do ECOHIS foi 6,0 (±12,0). Na seção 'Impacto na Criança', Argentina 10,0(+2,4) e Venezuela 17,8(±17,5) demonstraram pontuações médias superiores aos dados totais da AL. Na seção ‘Impacto na Família’, os países com pontuações médias mais altas foram Argentina 4,9(±2,0), Equador 2,1(±3,1) e Venezuela 7,9(±7,8). No escore total do ECOHIS, Argentina 15,1 (±4,1) e Venezuela 25,7(±25,2) apresentaram escores médios superiores aos valores de AL. Houve associação entre a idade das crianças e o relato dos pais de impacto na QVRSB (p<0,001). As crianças de três anos tiveram média maior quando comparadas às de um e dois anos, tanto nas seções 'Impacto na Criança' e ‘Impacto na Família’ (p<0,001), quanto no escore total ECOHIS (p<0,001). Em conclusão, houveram diferenças na QVRSB entre os países da América Latina, impactando de forma mais significativa as crianças mais velhas.

Abstract To assess the impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in infants in ten Latin America countries (LAC). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 930 pairs of 1-to-3-year-old children/parents from 10 LAC, as a complementary study of the Research Observatory for Dental Caries of the Latin American Region. The scale ECOHIS, previously tested and valid in ten countries, was applied to parents/caregivers of children to measure OHRQoL. Statistical analysis included descriptive data analysis and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA-One-Way) were performed to compare age groups with OHRQoL. Bootstrapping procedures (1000 re-samplings; 95%CI Bca) were performed. The mean scores of the ‘Child Impact’ section in the LAC was 4.0(±8.3), in the ‘Family Impact’ section was 2.0(±4.0), and in overall ECOHIS score was 6.0(±12.0). In the ‘Child Impact’ section, Argentina 10.0(+2.4) and Venezuela 17.8(±17.5) demonstrated mean scores higher than the LAC total data. In the ‘Family Impact’ section, the countries with higher mean scores were Argentina 4.9(±2.0), Ecuador 2.1(±3.1) and Venezuela 7.9(±7.8). In the overall ECOHIS score, Argentina 15.1 (±4.1) and Venezuela 25.7(±25.2) has higher mean scores than the values of LAC. There is an association between children's age and parents' report of impact on the OHRQoL (p<0.001). Three-year-olds had a higher mean when compared to one- and two-year-olds, both in the Impact on the Child and Impact on the Family (p<0.001) sections, as well as in the overall ECOHIS (p<0.001). In conclusion, there are differences in OHRQoL among Latin American countries, impacting older children more significantly.

Los métodos utilizados para la obtención de glicoproteínas de glándulas submaxilares de bovino consisten en esquemas que implican la eliminación de compuestos acuoinsolubles, aislamiento y purificación de las glicoproteínas. El propósito de este estudio fue evaluar un método de obtención de glicoproteínas (Escalona y col. 1989) a partir de glándulas de bovino para obtener un extracto mucínico destinado a la elaboración de un sustituto salival, con el fin de conocer el tipo y cantidad de proteínas presentes y su asociación con la viscosidad. Se analizaron 6 fases acuosas posteriores a la primera centrifugación. De cada una de las fases acuosas se tomó una alícuota y se determinó la cantidad de proteínas totales, y la viscosidad. La viscosidad aparente se midió con un viscosímetro Marca Brokfield modelo LVT con un eje Nº4 a una velocidad de desplazamiento a 73.42seg-1, y las proteínas se caracterizaron por electroforesis en geles de SDS-PAGE al 8%. Cada uno de los geles se escaneo y la densitometría se realizó en forma computarizada (un programa MultiAnalystTM /PC -Bio Rad- Versión 1.1). Se observó que a medida que se avanzaba en el esquema de extracción de glicoproteínas disminuía la cantidad de proteínas totales, el patrón electroforético mostró diferencias cualitativas entre las muestras evaluadas lo cual se reflejó en una disminución estadísticamente significativa (p<0,05) de la viscosidad aparente. Al expresar la viscosidad con relación al contenido proteico ésta aumentaba, lo que nos permitió inferir que a pesar que hubo una perdida de proteínas se preservaron las glicoproteínas viscosas a expensa del rendimiento proteico.

For the obtainment of glycoproteins from bovine submaxillary glands methods are used that encompass the elimination of insoluble compounds, and fractionation and purification procedures. This study was designed to evaluate a particular method (Escalona et al. 1989) for the obtainment of glycoprotein to be used in the preparation of a salivary substitute, and aimed to gathering information on the type and amount of present proteins and their association with viscosity. For this purpose, the six aqueous phases following a centrifugation step in the fractionation scheme were analyzed for protein content (Lowry et al 1951), aparent viscosity (Brookfield viscometer, model LVT), and 8% SDS-PAGE electrophoresis with electronic processing of the densitograms (Bio-Rad/multi Analyst). The protein content, aparent viscosity (statistically significant P<0.05), and number of electrophoretic bands showed a decrease with the progress of the fractionation procedure. However, when aparent visxosity was ex pressed in terms of protein content it showed an increase, which is consonous with the relative enrichmentain of the fractions glycoprotein along the purification procedure.

El propósito de esta investigación fue determinar la concentración de fluoruros presente en los alimentos de la cesta básica del Estado Aragua. El estudio se enmarcó en un tipo de investigación no experimental transaccional, sustentada en un estudio de campo con carácter descriptivo. La muestra estuvo constituida por los 9 alimentos de mayor consumo pertenecientes a la cesta básica venezolana expendidos en el Estado Aragua. Igualmente se recolectaron muestras de leche pasteurizada para conocer la concentración de fluoruro dada la importancia de los productos lácteos en poblaciones infantiles. Para obtener la información, se aplicó como instrumento de recolección de datos un formulario de registro, el cual permitió la identificación de la muestra, descripción de la misma y su reconocimiento. Las muestras fueron analizadas por duplicado utilizando el método de microdifusión de Taves1, modificado por Rojas-Sánchez y col.2, empleando el electrodo de ión selectivo para fluoruro y un potenciómetro marca Orión, modelo 710A. Los resultados indican que de los alimentos analizados, las sardinas, del grupo de las proteínas, contenían la mayor concentración de fluoruro con un rango entre 5,19±0,00 mgF/kg en el municipio San Sebastián a 10,45±0,22 mgF/kg en el municipio Girardot. La concentración de fluoruro presente en el queso fue la segunda mayor encontrada en los alimentos analizados y esta osciló entre 0,24 mg/kg en el municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry a 1,24 mg/kg en el municipio San Sebastián. Con relación a las presencia de fluoruro según el grupo alimenticio, las proteínas contienen la mayor concentración 2,695 mgF/kg, seguida por el grupo de las grasas con 0,209±0,268 mgF/kg y el grupo de los carbohidratos 0,173±0,089 mgF/kg. Los resultados indican la presencia de concentraciones bajas de fluoruro en los alimentos, lo que nos permiten sugerir que el fluoruro proveniente de los alimentos seleccionados y analizados a partir de la cesta básica en el estado Aragua no se considera un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de fluorosis dental.

The aim of this study was to determine the fluoride concentration in food samples consummed in the Aragua state. This study is a transitional non-experimental research, basically a descriptive study. The samples were conformed by nine types of food mostly consummed in the Aragua State. Also, milk samples were colected in order to know their fluoride concentration. To collect the data, we used a questionnary in order to identified the samples. The samples were analyzed by duplicate using the microdifusion method of Taves (1968)1, modified by Rojas-Sanchez et al. (1999)2, using the selective fluoride electrode attached to an ORION analyzer, model 710A. Results indicated that sardines, belongs to the protein group, had the highest fluoride concentration and varied in the range from 5.19±0.00 mgF/kg in San Sebastian to 10.45±0.22 mgF/kg in Girardot municipality. Cheese was the second food with the highest fluoride concentration and varied from 0.24 mgF/kg in the Mario Briceño Iragorry municipality to 1.24 mgF/kg in the San Sebastian municipality. Grouping the diferent type of food in protein, carbohydrate and fat, the proteins had the highest level of fluoride (2.695 mgF/kg), followed by the fat group (0.209±0.268 mgF/kg) and the carbohydrates with 0.173±0.089 mgF/kg. Results showed a low fluoride concentration in the food mostly consummed in the Aragua state, suggesting that the foods aren´t considered a risk factor for the development of dental fluorosis.

El ácido nonanoico es un ácido graso saturado de 9 carbonos el cual se ha demostrado reduce la aparición de caries de fisura en ratas cuando es incluido en la dieta (Hayes y Berkovitz, 1979). En 1979, Griffiths demostró que el nonanoato de potasio agregado en enjuagues con sacarosa inhibe la producción de ácidos por parte de las bacterias de la placa dental en humanos. El objetivo de esta investigación fue estudiar el efecto de ácidos grasos y fluoruros en la producción de cidos en placa dental de humanos in vitro. Para ello se recolectó placa dental en ayunas de 3 horas, en niños con caries activa y con edades comprendidas entre los 5 y 12 años. La producción de ácidos fue determinada por el método de titulación reportado por Hayes y Roberts (1980) luego de la adición de glucosa exógena. Los resultados demostraron que a pH 7,4 el NK (3mM) y el NaF (13 mM) produjeron una inhibición en la producción de ácidos en un 45,0% y 54,5% respectivamente, mientras que con la mezcla se observó una reducción de un 39%. A pH 5,5 el NK y el NaF a una concentración de 0,26 mM produjeron una inhibición de 21.2% y 29,3% respectivamente, y cuando se mezclaron esta inhibición se incrementó a 49,3%. Estos resultados sugieren que a pHs cercanos a la neutralidad (7,4) no hay efecto aditivo del NK y NaF, mientras que a pH ácido (5,5) la combinación de estos compuestos incrementó significativamente (p<0.01) su efectividad.

Nonanoic acid a saturated 9-carbon fatty acid, was earlier shown to reduce fissure caries in rats when included in their diet (Hayes and Berkovitz, 1979). Griffiths in 1979 showed that potassium nonanoate added to sugar-rinses inhibits plaque bacteria in man. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of potassium nonanoate (NK), sodium fluoride (NAF) and their combination on acid production, and this was assessed by back tritation using the method described by Hayes and Roberts, (1980). At pH 7.4 KN and NaF added separately reduced acid production by 45.0% and 54.5%, respectively, compared to the control. The reduction in acid production when using the compounds in combination was 39%. At pH 5.5, both KN and NaF alone showed 21.2% and 29.3% inhibition, respectively, and when combined this inhibition increased to 49.3%. At pH 5.5 a cumulative effect of KN and NaF was observed. We conclude that at acid pH both compounds, KN+NaF combined would be the best to be effective.