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Disproportionate access to healthcare services among the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and others (LGBTQ+) population can be partially attributed to the lack of cultural competence among healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an interprofessional model in improving cultural competence and clinical preparedness among dental and pharmacy students for providing LGBTQ+ specific care. This study is a retrospective observational study which used a novel interprofessional model of three different LGBTQ+ focused educational interventions within a group of dental and pharmacy students. The study used pre- and post-surveys, Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale (AITCS-II) and the Team Observed Structured Clinical Encounter (TOSCE) evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the interventions. Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Welch test, Kruskal-Wallis Test, and pairwise Wilcox Test were employed to analyze quantitative data while qualitative insights were gathered from evaluator comments and student feedback. The study evaluated cultural competence among 154 dental and pharmacy students revealing improved cultural humility post-intervention, particularly for dental students although not statistically significant (p>0.05). Students participating in multiple interventions had higher mean scores, but the differences were not significant (p>0.05). Significant differences were found among interprofessional teams of students in the domains of roles and responsibilities (p = 0.039) and patient centered approach (p = 0.039). No significant differences were found in individual scores participation in the teams (p = 0.018). Students also provided positive feedback on the program's impact on their understanding of LGBTQ+ health issues and inclusive care. This program was a novel intervention aimed at improving cultural competence for health professional students in an interprofessional environment Further research in the direction can be useful in creating replicable programs.

The analysis of translocator protein (TSPO) in saliva could elucidate its potential role as biomarker in oral mucosal lesions associated to early-stage oral cancer. We compared the TSPO protein signal intensity from saliva samples of adults with and without oral mucosal lesions suspected of being potentially malignant disorders. Saliva samples were collected from 28 participants with and without oral mucosal lesions, recruited from dental clinics in Cartagena, Colombia. A biopsy was performed at the lesion site for each case, and a histopathological diagnosis was obtained. A protein precipitation method for saliva and the Dot blot technique were used to detect and analyze TSPO protein in saliva samples. The signal intensity for TSPO protein was determined by optical densitometry analysis using the software Image Lab. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the intensity of TSPO protein signal by type of histopathological diagnosis; while linear regression analysis was used for the association between TSPO protein signal intensity and the presence or absence of oral mucosal lesions, adjusting by age and sex. Comparing TSPO protein signal intensity from saliva samples of participants with and without oral mucosal lesions, a higher median was observed in the group of cases with oral mucosal lesions (p-value = 0.0141), even after adjusting by age and sex. TSPO protein signal intensity from saliva samples of participants with dysplasia showed the highest median compared with other histopathological findings (p-value = 0.0596). A high signal intensity or presence of TSPO protein in saliva samples of participants with oral mucosal lesions may indicate its potential as marker for malignant transformation; therefore, further research should be performed to investigate TSPO expression in oral carcinogenesis.

ObjectivesTo estimate the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in close contacts of adults at high risk of infection due to occupation, participants of the CoVIDA study, in Bogotá D.C., Colombia.SettingThe CoVIDA study was the largest COVID-19 intensified sentinel epidemiological surveillance study in Colombia thus far, performing over 60 000 RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study implemented a contact tracing strategy (via telephone call) to support traditional surveillance actions performed by the local health authority.ParticipantsClose contacts of participants from the CoVIDA study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresSARS-CoV-2 testing results were obtained (RT-PCR with CoVIDA or self-reported results). The secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated using contacts and primary cases features.ResultsThe CoVIDA study performed 1257 contact tracing procedures on primary cases. A total of 5551 close contacts were identified and 1050 secondary cases (21.1%) were found. The highest SAR was found in close contacts: (1) who were spouses (SAR=32.7%; 95% CI 29.1% to 36.4%), (2) of informally employed or unemployed primary cases (SAR=29.1%; 95% CI 25.5% to 32.8%), (3) of symptomatic primary cases (SAR of 25.9%; 95% CI 24.0% to 27.9%) and (4) living in households with more than three people (SAR=22.2%; 95% CI 20.7% to 23.8%). The spouses (OR 3.85; 95% CI 2.60 to 5.70), relatives (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.33 to 2.70) and close contacts of a symptomatic primary case (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.24 to 1.77) had an increased risk of being secondary cases compared with non-relatives and close contacts of an asymptomatic index case, respectively.ConclusionsContact tracing strategies must focus on households with socioeconomic vulnerabilities to guarantee isolation and testing to stop the spread of the disease.

Fluoride prevents dental caries in a dose–response manner, leading some countries to adjust fluoride levels in water or table salt, as well as to promote the widespread use of topical fluoride. Recent studies have found associations between prenatal fluoride exposure levels of < 1.5 mg/L in water and urine and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Although high fluoride levels have been recognized as neurotoxic in the past, a large body of contemporary evidence derived from retrospective analyses of birth cohort studies suggests fluoride may be neurotoxic to children at lower levels, highlighting the need for further, prospective research and multidisciplinary collaborations. The International Fluoride Symposium, held from April 29 to 30, 2024, brought together 20 researchers from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Spain to discuss the impacts of fluoride on human health and its mechanisms of action. The primary goals of the symposium were to address challenges related to assessing fluoride exposure, share findings from cohort studies, develop a comprehensive research agenda, and foster international research partnerships. Key discussions included the dental caries preventive and toxic effects of fluoride, sources of fluoride exposure, biomarkers, dietary intake assessment methods, and analytical challenges. Presentation of results from cohort studies highlighted research on prenatal fluoride exposure and its association with neurodevelopmental outcomes and presented perspectives for future analyses. The symposium emphasized the need for customized dietary fluoride intake assessment tools, the development of high-throughput analytical methods for fluoride analysis, and research on the combined effects of fluoride with other chemical elements commonly found in the environment and the human diet. Additionally, there was a call for the harmonization of cohort data from diverse populations to address urgent questions about the impact of fluoride on human neurodevelopment and other health outcomes beyond oral health. It was agreed that prospective longitudinal cohort studies intentionally designed to assess fluoride exposure and neurodevelopment are essential, as none of the existing birth cohorts were designed to specifically study fluoride exposure (e.g., selection of biomarkers, collection intervals, diet exposure assessment). Furthermore, broader environmental health cohort studies that incorporate high-quality biomonitoring of waterborne neurotoxicants (such as fluoride, arsenic, lead, mercury), repeated measures of exposure, and inclusion of key covariates (e.g., socio-economic status, diet, iodine) are encouraged. Finally, developing effective communication strategies among scientists and the public was considered crucial for advancing fluoride research and mitigating potential health risks.

This study proposed using enamel surface texture and thickness for the objective detection and monitoring of erosive tooth wear (ETW), comparing them to the standard subjective Basic Erosive Wear Evaluation (BEWE). Thirty-two subjects (n = 597 teeth) were enrolled in this longitudinal observational clinical study. Enamel thickness (by cross-polarization optical coherence tomography, CP-OCT) and 3D dental microwear parameters, i.e., area-scale fractal complexity (Asfc), anisotropy (Str), and roughness (Sa) (by white-light scanning confocal profilometry), were obtained from buccal surfaces. Buccal, occlusal, and lingual surfaces were scored for BEWE and the maximum score per tooth (BEWEMax) was determined at baseline and 12 months (M12). Data outcome relationships were evaluated (alpha = 0.05). Enamel thickness decreased (p < 0.001), BEWE scores, Sa, and Str increased (p < 0.001), while Asfc did not change at M12. Baseline BEWEBuccal correlated strongly with BEWEMax (r = 0.86, p < 0.001) and moderately with BEWELingual (r = 0.42, p < 0.001), but not with enamel thickness (r = 0.03, p = 0.43). Change (Δ) in surface texture outcomes correlated poorly but significantly with ΔBEWEBuccal (r = −0.15–0.16, p < 0.001) and did not correlate with Δenamel thickness (r = 0.02–0.09, p > 0.06). Teeth with BEWE progression revealed a greater increase in ΔSa and ΔStr. These findings suggest that enamel surface roughness can potentially determine ETW severity, and CP-OCT may be relevant for clinically monitoring enamel thickness.

The analysis of translocator protein (TSPO) in saliva could elucidate its potential role as biomarker in oral mucosal lesions associated to early-stage oral cancer. We compared the TSPO protein signal intensity from saliva samples of adults with and without oral mucosal lesions suspected of being potentially malignant disorders. Saliva samples were collected from 28 participants with and without oral mucosal lesions, recruited from dental clinics in Cartagena, Colombia. A biopsy was performed at the lesion site for each case, and a histopathological diagnosis was obtained. A protein precipitation method for saliva and the Dot blot technique were used to detect and analyze TSPO protein in saliva samples. The signal intensity for TSPO protein was determined by optical densitometry analysis using the software Image Lab. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the intensity of TSPO protein signal by type of histopathological diagnosis; while linear regression analysis was used for the association between TSPO protein signal intensity and the presence or absence of oral mucosal lesions, adjusting by age and sex. Comparing TSPO protein signal intensity from saliva samples of participants with and without oral mucosal lesions, a higher median was observed in the group of cases with oral mucosal lesions (p-value = 0.0141), even after adjusting by age and sex. TSPO protein signal intensity from saliva samples of participants with dysplasia showed the highest median compared with other histopathological findings (p-value = 0.0596). A high signal intensity or presence of TSPO protein in saliva samples of participants with oral mucosal lesions may indicate its potential as marker for malignant transformation; therefore, further research should be performed to investigate TSPO expression in oral carcinogenesis.

El cáncer bucal posee una alta incidencia y mortalidad a nivel global. A pesar de los avances en el diagnóstico y el pronóstico de esta enfermedad, aún se mantiene una baja tasa de supervivencia de 5 años, lo cual hace necesario el estudio de métodos diagnósticos que sean capaces de detectar la enfermedad en estadios tempranos. Es por esto que avances en proteómica e inmunohistoquímica, han permitido identificar diversos biomarcadores, entre ellos la proteína translocadora (TSPO) mitocondrial de 18kDa, la cual está involucrada en diversos procesos celulares, como el transporte de colesterol, la proliferación celular y la apoptosis. Se ha reportado la presencia de valores alterados de la TSPO en diversos tipos de cáncer, así como la presencia de la TSPO en saliva y tejido de sujetos con cáncer bucal, lo cual representa una oportunidad para entender el proceso de la carcinogénesis bucal e identificar nuevas alternativas para el diagnóstico de esta enfermedad. La presente revisión de tema tiene como objetivo presentar aspectos teóricos en relación con la TSPO como un biomarcador a estudiar en sujetos con cáncer bucal, considerando su implicación en los procesos de apoptosis celular y participación en el estrés oxidativo. Palabras clave: Cáncer bucal, proteínas salivales, carcinogénesis, estrés oxidativo (DeCs-bvs). Oral cancer has a high incidence and mortality rate globally. Despite the advances in the diagnosis and prognosis of this disease, a 5 years survival rate still remains, which makes it necessary to study diagnostic methods capable to detect the disease in early stages. That is why advances in proteomics and immunohistochemistry had allowed the identification of various biomarkers, including the 18 kDa mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO), which is involved in some cellular processes, such as cholesterol transport, cellular proliferation and apoptosis. It has been reported the altered TSPO values in various types of cancer, as well as the presence of TSPO in saliva of subjects with oral cancer, which represents an opportunity to understand the oral carcinogenic process and identify new alternatives for the diagnosis of this disease. The objective of this review is to present theoretical aspects related to TSPO as a biomarker to study in subjects with oral cancer, considering its implication in the apoptosis mechanism and participation in oxidative stress. Keywords: Mouth neoplasms, TSPO Protein, biomarkers, oxidative stress. (MeSH-NCBI). O câncer bucal apresenta alta incidência e mortalidade ao nível mundial. Apesar dos avanços no diagnóstico e prognóstico da doença, uma baixa taxa de sobrevivência de 5 anos ainda é mantida, o que requer o estudo de métodos de diagnóstico capazes de detectar a doença nos estágios iniciais. É por isso que os avanços na proteômica e imuno-histoquímica identificaram diversos biomarcadores, incluindo a proteína translocadora (TSPO) 18 kDa mitocondriais, que está envolvida em diversos processos celulares, tais como o transporte de colesterol, a proliferação celular e a apoptose. Tem sido relatada a presença de valores alterados da TSPO em diferentes tipos de câncer, assim como a presença da TSPO em saliva e tecidos de pacientes com câncer bucal, o que representa uma oportunidade para entender o processo da carcinogênese bucal e identificar novas alternativas para o diagnóstico desta doença. A presente revisão de literatura tem como objetivo apresentar aspectos teóricos em relação ao uso da TSPO como um biomarcador a ser estudado em pacientes com câncer bucal, considerando seu envolvimento nos processos de apoptose celular e participação no estresse oxidativo. Palavras chaves: Neoplasias Bucais, Proteínas Salivares, Carcinogênese, Estresse Oxidativo. (DeCs-bvs).