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Objective: To investigate the antifungal potential of A. colubrina , and its phytochemical characteristics, thermal profile and toxicity. Material and Methods: To assess potential antifungal activity, the technique of microdilution was used with the determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration, using standard species of Candida and recent clinical isolates of Candida albicans . Analyses of action of the extract were performed on the wall and cell morphology of C. albicans , of the interactive effect between the plant extract and nystatin on C. albicans through the checkerboard method, and of growth kinetics. The phytochemical screening was determined by spectrophotometry. The thermal profile was traced with the determination of thermogravimetric curves (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The toxicity was evaluated by the method of hemolysis. Results: The extract of A. colubrina showed a fungistatic potential against all bacteria tested and it acted by modifying the cellular morphology of C. albicans . There was a synergism between nystatin and the plant extract (FIC=0.375), and 53.18% of total polyphenols were determined. The TG curve showed the occurrence of three steps of thermal decomposition. None of the tested concentrations became the effective cytotoxic concentration. Conclusion: Further studies should be conducted to understand the efficacy and the mechanisms of action involved in the antifungal activity of the plant extract of A. colubrina in order to produce a new drug for the treatment of oral candidiasis.

Objective: To compare the rate of cell proliferation and expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 between drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) and clinical healthy gingiva (CHG) and to establish associations with histopathological features. Material and Methods: Twenty specimens of DIGO and 20 CHG specimens were submitted to morphological and immunohistochemical analysis by light microscopy. Cell proliferation (Ki-67) and the expression of Bcl-2 were evaluated in epithelial cells and spindle-shaped mononuclear cells of the connective tissue by establishing the labeling index (LI). Results: In epithelial tissue, the mean LI for Ki-67 was 17.2% in DIGO and 21.71% in CHG ( p = 0.137). The mean LIs for Bcl-2 in epithelial tissue were 14.67% and 10.24% in DIGO and CHG, respectively ( p = 0.026). In connective tissue, DIGO and CHG specimens exhibited low LIs for Ki-67 and Bcl-2, with mean values of less than 0.5% in both groups. No significant differences in the LIs for Ki-67 or Bcl-2 in epithelial tissue were observed according to the degree of collagenization, degree of vascularization and intensity of inflammatory infiltration ( p > 0.05). No significant correlations were observed between the LIs for Ki-67 and Bcl-2 ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: The present results suggest that the pathogenesis of DIGO does not involve increased proliferation or decreased apoptosis of fibroblasts. On the other hand, the morphological pattern of elongated epithelial cristae observed in DIGO could mainly be due to the inhibition of keratinocyte apoptosis and not to increased proliferation of these cells.

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge level of dentists about oral cancer (OC) in Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil. Material and Methods: It was an observational, transversal, descriptive and analytical study. It was applied 200 structured forms. The sample was chosen for convenience. Statistical associations were performed using the Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests (P

Objeti vo: Identi fi car clinicamente e por meio de questi onario anamnesico, as condicoes de saude bucal em individuos, causadas pelo uso de drogas e suas relacoes com fatores sociodemografi cos. Metodo: O estudo foi do ti po descriti vo transversal, com abordagem pelo metodo induti vo, sendo a amostra composta de 70 pacientes que buscaram atendimento no CAPS-ad (Centro de atencao psicossocial – alcool e outras drogas). Os dados foram coletados de forma sistemati ca por uma unica examinadora previamente calibrada, atraves de exame clinico e aplicacao de formulario especifi co para identi fi cacao e classifi cacao de provaveis alteracoes. Resultados: Os resultados encontrados mostraram que a idade media dos pacientes pesquisados foi de 40,44 anos; o genero masculino (90%) foi predominante na amostra; mais da metade dos pacientes eram da raca branca (57,1); o nivel de escolaridade encontrado nos mesmos e baixo; as drogas mais consumidas pelos mesmos foram respecti vamente o alcool (68,6%), maconha(17,1%), cocaina(7,1%), crack (4,3%) e farmacos psicotropicos (2,8%); a maioria dos dependentes apresentou saude bucal defi ciente; eram dependentes quimicos ha mais de cinco anos; a defi ciencia na saude bucal pode estar associada ao descaso com a higiene corporal provocado pelo uso abusivo de drogas. Observou-se ainda que quanto maior o periodo de dependencia mais precaria a saude bucal do usuario (p= 0,002) e que a precariedade da saude bucal dos mesmos, esta relacionada aos seus habitos de higiene bucal (p=0,029). Conclusao: Observou-se a necessidade da insercao do profi ssional de odontologia nos projetos de recuperacao oferecidos a estes pacientes, para a realizacao de programas de promocao e de recuperacao da saude bucal melhorando assim, a qualidade de vida desses pacientes. 1