Effect of Sodium Trimetaphosphate on Hydroxyapatite Solubility: An In Vitro Study

This study evaluated the effect of different concentrations of sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) with and without fluoride (F) on the concentration of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and F in hydroxyapatite (HA). Synthetic HA powder (0.15 g) was suspended (n=6) in solutions (75 mL) of TMP at 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 4.0%, 6.0%, 8.0% and 10% concentrations in the presence and absence of 100 ppm F and subjected to a pH-cycling process. The precipitates were filtrated, dried at 70° C for 24 h and ground onto a fine powder. The concentrations of F (KOH (CaF2) and HCl (FA) soluble), Ca (Arsenazo III), and P (molybdate method) in HA were determined. The Ca P, and Ca/P ratio data were subjected to Tukey's test and the F data were subjected to Student-Newman-Keuls test (p<0.05). The addition of TMP to the samples reduced F deposition to 98% (p<0.001). The groups containing 100 ppm F and 0.4% or 0.6% TMP exhibited a higher Ca concentration than the group containing only 100 ppm F (p<0.05). Furthermore, the HA treated with 0.2% and 0.4% TMP and 100 ppm F showed a higher Ca/P ratio than the other groups (p<0.001). In conclusion, TMP at 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% concentrations combined with F seemed to be able to precipitate HA with low solubility. However, especially at high concentrations, TMP interferes with F deposition on HA.Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Public Health Dental School UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, SPDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry and Public Health Dental School UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, S

Perceived physical risk and risk-reducing strategies in the consumption of raw vegetable salads in restaurants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The importance of eating away from home has revealed the need to understand consumer perception with respect to the physical risks in this context. When a consumer perceives risks, he/she uses different strategies to minimize them. This study aimed to identify consumer perception concerning the physical risks of consuming raw vegetable salads in full-service restaurants, as also the frequency of using physical risk-reducing strategies, examining the influence of socio-demographic variables and social desirability. The survey instrument consisted of 5 items to measure risk perception, 17 items regarding the risk-reducing strategies, socio-demographic questions and the social desirability scale. A total of 359 consumers were interviewed in the city of Campinas, Brazil. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out to group the risk-reducing strategies using the software PASW Statistics, 18.0. A moderate level of physical risk (mean +/- standard deviation = 24.2 +/- 13.2, on a response scale that could vary between 1 and 49) was perceived by consumers. Three physical risk-reducing strategies presented significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) with social desirability, and were excluded from the other statistical analyses. The fourteen physical risk-reducing strategies were categorized in four factors: "restaurant quality and previous bad experience", "information from the waiter, the media, and the price", "workers and restaurant smell" and "word of mouth and full, already known restaurant". "Restaurant quality and previous bad experience" was the factor significantly (p < < 0.05) more used by the consumers in the reduction of physical risks, whereas "information from the waiter, the media, and the price" was the least used. Differences (p < 0.05) in the frequencies of using the strategies contained in the factors were identified with respect to the socio-demographic variables. Those individuals who perceived a greater level of physical risk in the context surveyed used all the factors related to the strategies with greater frequency, to reduce the risk. The results could provide important information for Public and private programs. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.282412419Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq [143493/2008-6

Development of a scale to measure consumer perception of the risks involved in consuming raw vegetable salad in full-service restaurants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The importance of the number of meals taken away-from-home represents an opportunity to promote consumption of vegetables in this context. However, the perception of risk may interfere with the food consumption behavior. The objective of this research was to develop a scale to measure consumer perception of the risks involved in consuming raw vegetable salad in full-service restaurants. The following research steps were carried out: item elaboration; content validity; scale purification (item-total correlation, internal consistency and exploratory factor analysis); and construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis). Non-probabilistic samples of consumers were interviewed (a total of 672 individuals) in the city of Campinas, Brazil. Several analyses were carried out using the Predictive Analytics Software 18.0 and LISREL 8.80. The final scale contained 26 items with an adequate content validity index (0.97) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.93). The confirmatory factor analysis validates a six risk type factor model: physical, psychological, social, time, financial and performance (chi-square/degrees of freedom = 2.29, root mean square error of approximation - RMSEA = 0.060 and comparative fit index - CFI = 0.98). The scale developed presented satisfactory reliability and validity results and could therefore be employed in further studies. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.593713722Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq [143493/2008-6

Impact of Seasonality on the Prevalence of Dyslipidemia: A Large Population Study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Assessment of lipid profile parameters has been considered a cornerstone in classifying individuals and populations at risk for cardiovascular disease. Recently, however, preliminary data have raised the possibility of seasonal variations in these parameters, which may cause under- or overestimation. Biological rhythms and seasonal variation of lipid profile was investigated in 227 359 consecutive individuals who underwent health checkups in primary care centers between 2008 and 2010. Plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >130 mg/dL was 8% more prevalent during winter than summer, with a larger difference among women and middle-aged adults (p150 mg/dL were respectively 9% and 5% more prevalent during the summer (p<0.001). Variation amplitude was 3.4 +/- 0.3 mg/dL for HDL-C (p = 0.005), 7 +/- 2 mg/dL for LDL-C (p = 0.047), and 12 +/- 9 mg/dL for TG (p = 0.058). Based on a large population sample, this study confirms the existence of biological rhythms and seasonal variation in lipid profile. This finding must be particularly accounted for in cross-sectional analyses of relative risk, prevalence, or the rate of goal achievement for lipid parameters.30810111015Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Fatores associados ao consumo da alimentação escolar por adolescentes no Brasil: resultados da PeNSE 2012

The aim was to study the association between socio-demographic and routine dietary variables and consumption of school meals by adolescents enrolled in public schools in Brazil. The study used data used from the National School Health Survey (PeNSE) 2012. To assess differences between schoolchildren based on whether or not they ate school meals, the study used Pearson's chisquare test, and associations were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models. Of the 86,660 students included in the study, 22.8% eat school meals. Higher consumption of school meals is associated with male gender, brown skin color, residence outside state capitals, working, and low maternal schooling, for those that ate breakfast and lunch with their parents. The findings are relevant for planning strategies to encourage consumption of school meals.Objetivou-se estudar a associação de variáveis sociodemográficas e de rotina alimentar de adolescentes com o consumo da alimentação escolar em escolas públicas brasileiras. Foram utilizados os dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE) realizada em 2012. Para avaliar a diferença entre os escolares que consomem e não consomem a refeição na escola, foi realizado o teste de qui-quadrado de Pearson e as análises de associação foram realizadas por modelos de regressão de Poisson univariados e múltiplos. Dos 86.660 participantes do estudo, 22,8% consomem alimentação escolar. O consumo da alimentação escolar é maior entre os alunos do sexo masculino, pardos, que não moram em capitais, trabalham, com mães com baixa escolaridade, para aqueles que tomam café da manhã e almoçam com os pais. Esses achados são relevantes para planejar estratégias que incentivem o consumo da alimentação escolar.Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Rua Silva Jardim 136, BR-11015020 Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Estado Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Silva Jardim 136, BR-11015020 Santos, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc