Browsing by Author "Zaura, Egija"
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- Association between maternal cardiometabolic risk factors and oral health of infantsPublication . Pestana, Rebeca Saad; Baptista, Manuel; Magalhães, Inês; Morais, Juliana; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Marques, Sofia Cameron; Jerónimo, Maria Luís; Pinto, Carla; Sousa, Marta; Falcão-Pires, Inês; Duister, Denise; Zaura, Egija; Azevedo, Maria João; Maia, Benedita SampaioMaternal health conditions during pregnancy influence infant health1-3. Cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs), such as obesity, hypertension, and gestational diabetes, increase maternal and neonatal complications due to chronic inflammation, which disrupts immune and endocrine adaptation4,5. While the effects of CRFs on infant development are well studied, their impact on oral health remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to assess the association between maternal CRFs and oral health of infants at three years of age. The prospective OralBioBorn cohort follows pregnant women (healthy and with CRFs) and their children up to 36 months postpartum. At age three, oral hygiene habits, caries experience using ICDAS, and Quigley-Hein plaque index (PI) of children were assessed. PI was evaluated on buccal and lingual surfaces. Preliminary data from 36 children (26 from healthy mothers, 10 from mothers with CRFs) showed no cavitated, missing, or filled teeth due to caries, nor PUFA Index lesions, in either group. The PI did not differ significantly between children of healthy mothers and those of mothers with CRFs (0.17±0.32 vs. 0.49±0.72, p>0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). The lack of associations between maternal CRFs and child oral health may reflect multiple factors, including the small sample size, the young age of the children, and the possibility that maternal CRFs do not exert a strong early influence on oral health. Future work will focus on evaluating a larger cohort and considering additional determinants, such as oral hygiene and dietary habits, which may play a more prominent role in shaping early oral health outcomes. This will provide a deeper understanding of potential mediating factors influencing early oral health trajectories
- Breastfeeding and malocclusions: Characterization of a pediatric dentistry population enrolled in a birth cohort studyPublication . Marques, Sofia Cameron; Baptista, Manuel; Magalhães, Inês; Morais, Juliana; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Pestana, Rebeca; Jerónimo, Maria Luís; Pinto, Carla; Sousa, Marta; Pires, Inês Falcão; Deuster, Denise; Zaura, Egija; Areias, Cristina; Maia, Benedita SampaioBreastfeeding plays an important role in the development of the craniofacial complex (1,2). However, the role of breastfeeding duration, non-nutritive sucking habits, and the timing of solid food introduction on the development of malocclusions is still in debate (25). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate these associations in a birth cohort. In the ongoing OralBioBorn birth cohort, occlusion of three-year-old children was assessed in maxiumum intercuspidation, examining the left and right sides, followed by a frontal assessment. In addition, the information on breastfeeding type and duration, solid food introduction, and non-nutritive sucking habits was collected through a parental questionnaire. Preliminary data from 39 children revealed a high prevalence of open bite (33.3%), crossbite (20.5%), and overbite (10.3%). Scissor bite, high/narrow palate, and crowding were observed in only one child each. The relationship between these occlusal characteristics and breastfeeding duration, non-nutritive sucking habits, and solid food introduction will be further explored. The preliminary findings suggest that malocclusions are frequent at an early age, reinforcing the need to investigate their potential early-life determinants. Future work will involve a more in-depth analysis of the associations between occlusal development and early feeding practices, considering additional factors such as genetic predisposition and environmental influences. Longitudinal follow-up of this cohort will provide valuable insights into the long-term impact of breastfeeding and oral habits on craniofacial growth, ultimately contributing to early preventive strategies.
- Potential pathogenic and opportunistic oral bacteria in early life: the role of maternal factors in a portuguese populationPublication . Fernandes, Mariana; Azevedo, Maria João; Campos, Carla; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Azevedo, Álvaro; Falcão-Pires, Inês; Zaura, Egija; Ramalho, Carla; Campos, Joana; Sampaio-Maia, BeneditaIn early life, maternal factors are of the utmost relevance for oral microbiome acquisition and maturation. Therefore, our study explored the impact of maternal factors, such as saliva and breastmilk colonization, cardiovascular risk factors (CRF), type of delivery, oral health, and caregiving habits on the prevalence of potential pathogenic and opportunistic oral bacteria in early life. A total of 26 healthy mothers, 23 mothers with CRF, and their 50 children were included and samples (child’s oral swabs, mother’s saliva, and breastmilk) were collected 4 to 12 weeks after delivery and inoculated in selective and differential media for detection of non-fastidious Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria to isolate potential pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria identified by MALDI-TOF MS (414 isolates). Within mother–child dyads, the same species were identified in 86% of the pairs and potential pathogenic microorganisms from the Staphylococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae families were found to be statistically significantly concordant between mother–child samples, particularly in the healthy group. Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia oral colonization in mother–child pairs were associated with the presence of CRF. Breastfeeding was related to the early life oral colonization of Staphylococcus epidermidis in children from healthy mothers and C-section was associated with higher diversity of pathogens, independent of cardiovascular status (p = 0.05). This study reveals the presence of potential oral opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria in early life and highlights the importance of maternal factors in its acquisition.
- Vertical transmission and antifungal susceptibility profile of yeast isolates from the oral cavity, gut, and breastmilk of mother–child pairs in early lifePublication . Azevedo, Maria João; Araújo, Ricardo; Campos, Joana; Campos, Carla; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Falcão-Pires, Inês; Ramalho, Carla; Zaura, Egija; Pinto, Eugénia; Sampaio-Maia, BeneditaYeast acquisition begins at birth; however, the contribution of the mother on yeast trans mission to the offspring and associated resistance is yet to be clarified. The aim of this study was to explore the vertical transmission of yeasts and their antifungal susceptibility profile in early life. Oral, fecal, and breastmilk samples were collected from 73 mother–child pairs four to twelve weeks after delivery and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol. The isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The vertical transmission was studied by microsatellite genotyping. Antifungal susceptibility was determined for fluconazole, voriconazole, miconazole, anidulafungin, and nystatin by broth microdilution assay, following CLSI–M60 guidelines. A total of 129 isolates were identified from 53% mother–child pairs. We verified the vertical transmission of Candida albicans (n = three mother–child pairs) and Candida parapsilosis (n = one mother–child pair) strains, includ ing an antifungal resistant strain transmitted from breastmilk to the gut of a child. Most isolates were susceptible to the tested antifungals, with the exception of four C. albicans isolates and one R. mucilaginosa isolate. The vertical transmission of yeasts happens in early life. This is the first work that demonstrated the role of the mother as a source of transmission of antifungal-resistant yeasts to the child.