BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess the periodontal condition of individuals with Down syndrome and the association with sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics and family perception of oral health. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was performed at a referral centre for dental assistance to disabled persons in Aracatuba, Brazil. Parents of the individuals were interviewed, and the visible plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level were recorded by one periodontist in six sites per tooth of all teeth. The individual was the unit of analysis. The significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: Sixty-four subjects (23.8 +/- 8.3 years old) were included. Eighteen (28.1%) were diagnosed with gingivitis and 46 (71.9%) with periodontitis. In the multiple logistic regression final model, age and self-reported oral hygiene practices were associated with the occurrence of periodontitis. The chance of having periodontitis was 4.7 times higher among individuals older than 20 years and approximately 4 times higher in patients whose oral hygiene was performed by themselves and their parents, compared with those who performed oral hygiene alone. Sex, follow-up time in the centre, education, degree of participants' dependence, flossing and family history of periodontal disease were not associated with the occurrence of periodontitis. Higher levels of plaque and bleeding were observed for participants with parents reporting bad gingival health (76.2% and 46.9%) and deficient oral hygiene (79.5% and 47.3%). The perception of parents regarding gingival bleeding was correlated with higher bleeding detected clinically (P = 0.01; 50.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of periodontitis in individuals with Down syndrome is high and increases with age, even in the face of the parents' perception about their children's oral condition.

BACKGROUND: Despite the association between cardiovascular diseases and periodontitis, there are scarce data on the impact of oral health in the dietary intake of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to assess the association between dietary intake with periodontitis and present teeth in individuals with stable CAD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 115 patients with stable CAD (76 males, aged 61.0 +/- 8.3 years) who were under cardiovascular care in an outpatient clinic for at least 3 months. Dietary intake was recorded applying a food frequency questionnaire previously validated. Periodontal examinations were performed by two calibrated examiners in six sites per tooth from all present teeth. Blood samples were collected to determine serum levels of lipids. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were fitted to evaluate the association between dietary outcomes and oral health variables. RESULTS: Individuals with periodontitis had significantly higher percentage of total energy intake from fried foods, sweets, and beans, and also had lower consumption of fruits than those without periodontitis. Presence of periodontitis was associated with lower percentage of individuals who reached the nutritional recommendation of monounsaturated fatty acids and higher blood concentration of triglycerides. Having a greater number of present teeth (>/=20 teeth) was associated with higher intake of fibers and total calories. CONCLUSION: In patients with stable CAD, the presence of periodontitis and tooth loss were associated with a poor dietary intake of nutrients and healthy foods, which are important for cardiovascular prevention.

OBJECTIVES: The identification of predictors of supragingival biofilm accumulation may improve the results of therapeutic strategies for dental caries and periodontal diseases in general clinical practice. This study aimed to determine predictors of changes in visible plaque (VP) and gingival bleeding (GB) during integrated dental care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted by a census of patients receiving integrated dental care in a general clinical practice ambulatory at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The sample comprised 91 charts of patients attended over a 6-months period. Gender, age, patient's main complaint, oral hygiene pattern, and clinical data were recorded from charts for the last two dental visits in the ambulatory. Changes in VP and GB were modeled by multiple linear regression and beta coefficients (b) were reported. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 13 months. Significant reductions in VP (32.8 +/- 27.9 to 17.4 +/- 19.4%; p < 0.001) and GB (27.1 +/- 23.8 to 18.5 +/- 17.3%; p < 0.001) were observed. Higher plaque reductions were predicted by higher baseline VP levels (p = 0.02), shorter time (< 12 months) elapsed between VP recordings (b = 14.1%, p = 0.02), interproximal cleansing (b = 11.9%, p = 0.03), lower number of sessions for oral hygiene instruction (b = 13.7%, p = 0.02), and presence of pockets >/= 6 mm (b = - 12.4%, p = 0.02). GB was predicted by time of follow-up > 12 months and baseline VP. CONCLUSIONS: Plaque and gingivitis improved in patients under integrated dental care. Factors related to motivation, oral hygiene practices, and baseline periodontal status might be used as predictors of VP and GB changes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Visible plaque and gingivitis reduced in a sample of patients treated under integrated dental care. Some predictors may determine for which patients the treatment may be maximize and those who will need greater efforts to achieve the therapeutic goal for oral hygiene.

Identificar os elementos demográficos que compõem o estado da população (estrutura, dimensão e distribuição espacial), as variáveis demográficas (natalidade, mortalidade, migrações) e as dinâmicas demográficas permite melhor compreender o Brasil e suas transições. Este texto baseia-se nos dados obtidos a partir dos últimos Censos Demográficos do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) e nos dados utilizados nas Projeções da População do IBGE - Revisão 2018 para esboçar um panorama atual sobre a população residente no País. Nas últimas décadas, a estrutura da população vem passando por alterações significativas decorrentes daquilo que os demógrafos costumam chamar de transição demográfica – um fenômeno social que apesar de afetar toda população brasileira, apresenta-se de maneira diferenciada, em função das desigualdades sociais e diversidades regionais – e que se manifesta na redução da mortalidade, seguida da diminuição na natalidade (CARMO; CAMARGO, 2018).

Identifying the demographic elements that comprise the population status (structure, dimension and spatial distribution), the demographic variables (birth, mortality, migration) and the demographic dynamics allows us to better understand Brazil and its transitions. The present article – grounded on data based on the last Population Censuses of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and on data used in the Population Projections of the IBGE - 2018 Review – intends to draw a current picture of the resident population in Brazil. Over the last decades, the population structure has been undergoing significant changes resulting from what demographers tend to describe as demographic transition – a social phenomenon that affects all the Brazilian population, although it can have many faces stemming from regional and social diversities. The phenomenon is materialized in the reduction of mortality followed by a drop in birth rates (CARMO; CAMARGO, 2018).

A agricultura urbana, além promover a segurança alimentar e nutricional, é também uma forma de promoção da sociodiversidade cultural e de redução das condições de vulnerabilidades de grupos sociais. Conceber a agroecologia e a educação ambiental promove a melhoria das contribuições sociais, econômicas e ecológicas do sistema urbano. O projeto de extensão intitulado "Agricultura Urbana e Periurbana: alimentação, educação e saúde" busca integrar a Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul às instituições municipais, organizações não governamentais e à sociedade civil em torno de um projeto interdisciplinar que objetiva promover a educação ambiental e a agroecologia, oferecer cursos teórico-práticos que envolvam temas voltados à agricultura urbana e periurbana, realizar um diagnóstico das hortas no município de Tramandaí, promover a segurança alimentar e nutricional; propor o planejamento e gestão das hortas comunitárias no município e proporcionar o empoderamento de grupos sociais vulneráveis. O projeto, iniciado em fevereiro de 2019, está em processo de execução e no momento possui duas frentes: a primeira delas é uma pesquisa de campo onde estão sendo mapeadas e caracterizadas, a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas, as hortas urbanas no município de Tramandaí; a segunda é um curso de extensão que foi estruturado e está em processo de inscrições. Este possui dois módulos com carga horária de 40h, será ministrado por docentes da UFRGS e destinado à comunidade do município de Tramandaí, abordando conteúdos a respeito de técnicas de agricultura, saúde e segurança alimentar, educação e gestão comunitária. Os resultados parciais do mapeamento e caracterização das hortas urbanas demonstram que já existem agricultores urbanos que comercializam sua produção, também percebeu-se o desenvolvimento de técnicas de cultivo adaptadas às condições e espaços disponíveis. Além disto o perfil do indivíduo que cultiva no município é de pessoas acima dos 50 anos, estas destacam o caráter de sociabilidade proporcionado pelas hortas, que tornaram-se um espaço de convivência e troca com a comunidade.