Search

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of dental implants (DIs) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiotherapy (RT), isolated chemotherapy, or bone modifying agents (BMAs). This study was registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42018102772); conducted via the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist; and based on PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and gray literature searches. The selection of studies was performed in 2 phases by 2 independent reviewers. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed by the Measurement Tool to Assess the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2. Twenty systematic reviews were included in the qualitative analysis. The majority scored as having high RoB (n = 11). Primary DIs placement in the mandible of patients with HNC subjected to RT doses <50 Gy was associated with better survival rates. The placements of DIs could be considered safe in patients with HNC in sites of alveolar bone that received RT (≤5000 Gy); however, no conclusions could be made in patients with cancer managed by chemotherapy or BMAs. Due to the heterogeneity of studies included, the recommendation for DIs placement in patients with cancer should be carefully considered. Future better controlled randomized clinical trials are required to provide enhanced clinical guidelines for best patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compare data from the Unified Health System on the number of herpes zoster (HZ) diagnoses from the pre-pandemic period with data from the pandemic period. Data were extracted from the public database (DATASUS), the five Brazilian geographic regions. Descriptive data analysis was performed using the statistical program PASW 24.0®. A previous study showed an increase in the number of HZ diagnoses throughout Brazil, from March to August 2020 compared to the same months of 2017-2019. Comparison of the second half of the pandemic period with the first half of the COVID-19 pandemic and afterward with the same months before the pandemic. There was an increase in HZ cases in the second half of the pandemic throughout Brazil (+11%). When comparing the pandemic period (September the February 2020/2021) with the same months before the pandemic, the increase in the number of HZ cases (+53%). There was an increase in the incidence rate all over Brazil between the first and second pandemic periods and between the pre-pandemic and second pandemic periods. Measures to control the rise in cases of HZ in the first period of the pandemic were ineffective, including seeking health care. Acknowledgment: FAPEMIG and CNPq [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluate the teaching of oral medicine (OM) and oral pathology (OP) in dentistry courses in Brazil, analyzing their pedagogical matrices. This is an exploratory study of document analysis. The institutions investigated were collected on the website of the Ministry of Education of Brazil (www.portal.mec.gov.br). Accessing websites of these institutions, we researched their pedagogical matrices. We studied 567 undergraduate courses in dentistry. The teaching of OM and OP was reported in disassociated subjects in 246 institutions (43.3%) and in association in 23 (4.0%). The exclusive teaching of OM was observed in 129 (22.7%) and exclusive of OP in 13 (2.2%). Additionally, 156 institutions do not report anything about OM or OP disciplines (27.5%). The workload of the OM and OP disciplines taught in association had a mean of 191 hours for OM courses; taught independently, a mean of 108 hours; and for OP courses a mean of 80 hours. The teaching of OM and OP in Brazil, despite being implemented in most dentistry courses, showed a great inconsistency of curricular information and lack of standardization in workloads, which can prejudice the learning of their basic contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the restrictive measures that have been implemented by the government, dentistry services underwent forced changes in their operation and function. Recent studies highlighted the difficulties and damage from the current COVID-19 pandemic to dental services in general and oral medicine (OM) and oral pathology particularly. Thus, this investigation aimed to compare Brazilian Unified Healthcare System–oriented OM clinical care in Brazil before and during the pandemic so far. The data were extracted from the public database of the Ministry of Health of Brazil and a descriptive analysis was performed of the mean number of clinical consultations in OM comparing the prepandemic period with the pandemic period. The data showed the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in OM clinical consultation. Brazilian general average deficit on OM clinical consultations in the pandemic period was −65.59%, representing more than 21,000 clinical consultations. Quick and safe actions are needed to regularize or at least minimize both the critical immediate risks as well as the possible long-term negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on oral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, studies have discussed reports of patients positive for COVID-19 with skin lesions and vesicobullous oral lesions consistent with the manifestations of herpes zoster (HZ) and the involvement of this manifestations with the COVID-19 infection. The objective of this study was to compare the data from the Unified Health System on the number of diagnoses of HZ the period from March to September in each year 2017, 2018 and 2019 with the same period of 2020 in all Brazilian regions. The data were extracted from the public database of the Ministry of Health of Brazil (DATASUS) and a descriptive analysis of the numbers was performed per million inhabitants and by percentage comparing the prepandemic period with the pandemic period. The data showed an increase in the number of HZ diagnoses over the years and the negative impact of COVID-19, revealing an average increase corresponding to an extra 10.7 cases per million inhabitants (+35.4%) during the pandemic in Brazil. Although the association between HZ and COVID-19 is not well stablished, we observed an increase in HZ cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, which suggests a correlation between these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study suggests the involvement of Herpes Zoster manifestations with the COVID-19. • Diagnoses of Herpes Zoster was compared from a pre-pandemic with the pandemic period. • The number of new Herpes Zoster cases has increased in all Brazilian regions. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the pathogen SARS-CoV-2, was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Recently, studies have discussed reports of patients infected with COVID-19 associated with vesicular manifestations of Herpes Zoster. The objective of this study was to compare the data from the Unified Health System (SUS) on the number of diagnoses of Herpes Zoster from March to August from 2017 to 2019, with the same period in 2020, in the five Brazilian regions (North, Northeast, Southeast, South, and Midwest). The data were extracted from the public database (DATASUS) of Brazil's Ministry of Health. The data showed an increase in the number of Herpes Zoster diagnoses over the years and the negative impact from the COVID-19 disease, revealing an average increase corresponding to an extra 10.7 cases per million inhabitants during the pandemic in all Brazilian Regions. Therefore, although the association between HZ and COVID-19 is not well established, we observed in this study an increase in HZ cases during the COVID -19 pandemic, which suggests a correlation between these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1- Relation between the COVID-19 pandemic and cases of Leishmaniasis in Brazil. 2- Impact of primary health actions care in the diagnosis of Leishmaniasis. 3- Increase in the diagnosis of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in regions of the Brazil. 4- Urban exodus and increase in cases of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in Brazil. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protocols has reduced primary and secondary health care for other diseases, such as leishmaniasis, a parasitic, endemic, chronic and persistent disease in Brazil. To ascertain this, we compared the number of leishmaniasis cases diagnosed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 5 regions of Brazil, there was an increase in the mean number of leishmaniasis clinic visits from 2020 pandemic period (over 57%) compared with 2017-2019 years. Interestingly, this increase was due to tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) while visceral leishmaniasis consultations decreased considerably. The increase in clinic visits with a diagnosis of TL in all regions of Brazil during the pandemic period in 2020, shows that the epidemiological surveillance of neglected tropical diseases cannot slowdown in the country. Expanding information can minimize the negative impacts of COVID-19 on health promotion, prevention and monitoring of the most prevalent neglected diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]