Biomedical subjects

B Nicolau

Publications and source records attributed to B Nicolau.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Dental caries experience: a two-generation study.

The life-course framework stresses the importance of social, psychosocial, and biological factors in early life on the development of later disease. From this perspective, the association between edentulousness of mothers and their children's caries risk has not been studied. Therefore, a sample of 6303 mother-child pairs was randomly selected in Quebec (Canada). Mothers (6039 dentate and 264 edentulous) completed a self-administered questionnaire, and their children, aged 5 to 9 years, were clinically examined. Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regressions showed that edentulous mothers' children are more likely to experience caries on both primary [OR=1.7 (1.3-2.3)] and permanent [OR=1.4 (1.0-2.0)] dentitions when compared with dentate mothers' children. These results are independent of socio-economic status, age, gender, and children's oral-health-related behaviors. Our study is the first to show that edentulous mothers' children constitute a group at risk of caries. It also highlights the need for a better understanding of the mother-child transmission of risk.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Results of a feasibility study for a psycho-educational intervention in head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: With survival rates for people with head and neck (H&N) cancers static during the past 30 years and the enormous burden of psychosocial impacts they suffer well documented, the testing of psychosocial interventions in this group is a priority. OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility of providing a psycho-educational intervention for people with H&N cancer. METHODOLOGY: A prospective non-randomised design was used. Subjects were patients with H&N cancer. They were offered the Nucare coping strategies program in one of three formats: small group and one-to-one formats with therapists; and a home format, with material for home use, without a therapist. Outcomes measures (quality of life (QOL) and anxiety and depression) were collected at baseline and following the intervention. Analyses were performed using non-parametric statistics. RESULTS: Of 128 people invited to participate, 66 agreed, 59 completed the intervention and 50 had outcomes data. Following the intervention, there were significant improvements in physical and social functioning and global QOL, and reduced fatigue, sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the intervention is desired by the target group, feasible to deliver after cancer therapy and may have some beneficial effects, although an appropriately designed study is required to confirm this.

Feasibility Studies↗

PubMed2004

Teaching head and neck cancer patients coping strategies: results of a feasibility study.

To test the feasibility of providing a psycho-educational intervention for people with head and neck (H&N) cancer. A prospective non-randomized design was used. Subjects were patients with H&N cancer. They were offered the Nucare coping strategies program in one of three formats: small group and one-to-one formats with therapists; and a home format, with material for home use, without a therapist. Outcomes measures (quality of life (QOL) and anxiety and depression) were collected at baseline and following the intervention. Analyses were performed using non-parametric statistics. Of 128 people invited to participate, 66 agreed, 59 completed the intervention and 50 had outcomes data. Following the intervention, there were significant improvements in physical and social functioning and global QOL, and reduced fatigue, sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms. These data suggest that the intervention may have some beneficial effects, although an appropriately designed study is required to confirm this.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2001

Prevalence, causes and correlates of traumatic dental injuries among 13-year-olds in Brazil.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out. This involved 652 out of a total of 764 (85%) 13-year-old adolescents enrolled in private and public schools located in urban areas in Cianorte, Brazil. They were interviewed and examined for traumatic dental injuries by one trained examiner (B.N.) using validated criteria. Sociodemographic data included sex, family structure (nuclear families, single parents and step-parents) and socio-economic indicators. Anthropometric measures included height and weight. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated (mean=20.1; SD=3.7). Those who had BMI scores equal or above the 85% percentile were considered overweight (BMI >23). The prevalence of traumatic injuries to the permanent incisors was 20.4%. The most common reported cause of injuries to the permanent incisors was falls (24.1%) followed by collisions with people or inanimate objects (15%), traffic accidents (10.5%), misuse of the teeth (6%), sports (2.3%) and violence (1.5%). Unknown causes accounted for 40.6%. Children from non-nuclear families, overweight children and boys were 2.18, 1.93 and 2.19 times respectively more likely to have dental injuries than children from nuclear families, non-overweight children and girls (P<0.01) after adjusting for family structure, BMI, sex, family income and level of education of the parents. The relationship between dental injuries and socioeconomic indicators was not statistically significant. In conclusion, being from a non-nuclear family, overweight and a boy increased the risk of having traumatic dental injury, but the relationship with socio-economic indicators was not statistically significant.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed2000

Number of teeth and risk of root caries.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between number of natural teeth and prevalence of root caries. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was adopted. A stratified multi-stage purposive sampling method was used to select a wide range of elderly people from all social classes, educational levels and sexes. Data was collected through interviews and clinical examinations. SETTING: Urban area in Chiang Mai-Thailand. PARTICIPANTS: 549 elderly dentate aged 60-74 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Teeth with decay and filled roots (DF-T). RESULTS: The prevalence of root caries was 18.2% with a mean DF-T of 0.58 (S.D. 2.02). Results of multiple logistic regression showed that number of teeth, DMF-S scores, sex, and socio economic factors were statistically significantly associated with root caries (P < 0.05). Adjusted odds ratios demonstrated a 14% increase in the chance of having root caries when the number of teeth increased one unit. Similarly, a 3% increase was observed for each unit increase in the DMF-S scores (p < 0.001). Being male, having more than four years of education and earning more than 1500 baht/month increased the chances of root caries by 76%, 139% and 85% respectively (p < 0.001). Recession and age were not statistically significantly associated with root caries. CONCLUSIONS: Having more teeth, higher DMF-S scores, earning more than 1500 baht/month, having more than 4 years of education and being male increased the likelihood of having root caries.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A life course approach to assessing causes of dental caries experience: the relationship between biological, behavioural, socio-economic and psychological conditions and caries in adolescents.

The objective of this study was to further elucidate the relationship between relevant biological, behavioural, socio-economic and psychological conditions, experienced in very early life and along the life course, and dental caries experience using the life course approach. A two-phase study was carried out in Brazil. In the first phase, 652 13-year-olds were clinically examined and interviewed. In the second phase, 330 families were randomly selected for interview to collect information on the teenagers' early years of life. Clinical assessment included dental caries, periodontal and traumatic dental injury status. The data analysis involved multiple logistic regression analysis. Adolescents born in a non-brick house, those with a low birth weight and those who were the second or later child in the family were statistically significantly more likely to have a high DMF-T. In conclusion, the results of this study show that there is an association between socio-economic and biological factors in very early life and levels of caries in adolescents.

Adolescent↗