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Background: Skin physiology seems to be influenced by dietary choices and body composition, although links between these factors remain poorly characterised. In the present manuscript, we elaborate on the potential relationships among food groups, body composition and skin physiology in omnivores and vegetarians. Material and Methods: This cross‐sectional observational study involved 181 participants, 129 omnivores and 52 vegetarians. The main functions of the skin measured in our laboratory were transepidermal water loss, deep and superficial epidermal hydration, skin elasticity, and carotenoid content. Skin variables obtained from different body regions were made comparable by a new Proportional Skin Index calculated to respect their relative representativity. Results: No statistical differences were found when comparing both groups' body composition and skin variables from different body regions, with the exception of the skin carotenoid content significantly higher in the vegetarian group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although dietary patterns significantly differed between groups, with vegetarians consuming fewer animal‐derived products and more plant‐based foods, multiple linear regression analysis revealed no differences or association between the dietary pattern and the skin physiology. These findings highlight the need for further research to elucidate the specific impact of diet and food groups and body composition on skin physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has decreased the incidence and prevalence of several oral manifestations such as oral candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia, and Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV-infected patients. Regarding periodontal disease the findings are not clear. This disease represents a group of chronic oral diseases characterized by infection and inflammation of the periodontal tissues. These tissues surround the teeth and provide periodontal protection (the gingival tissue) and periodontal support (periodontal ligament, root cementum, alveolar bone). Clinical, immunological, and microbiological aspects of these diseases, such as linear gingival erythema (LGE), necrotizing periodontal diseases (NPD) (necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis [NUG], necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis [NUP] and necrotizing stomatitis), and chronic periodontitis, have been widely studied in HIV-infected individuals, but without providing conclusive results. The purpose of this review was to contribute to a better overall understanding of the probable impact of HIV-infection on the characteristics of periodontal infections. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: This study assesses the association among factors related with specific clinical forms of oral candidiasis (OC) in HIV-infected Brazilian adults. Design: This study was conducted with 590 HIV-infected adults from 1997 to 2004. The OC diagnosis was based in accordance with the EC-Clearinghouse classification. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to measure the association between HAART and OC, with pseudomembranous [PC], erythematous [EC], and angular cheilitis [AC]) adjusted for HIV-related diseases, smoking, alcohol consumption, injecting and non-injecting drug use. Results: Two hundred and eighteen (37.0%) individuals were undergoing HAART. The prevalence of PC, EC and AC was 21.2%, 15.7% and 8.8%, respectively. Approximately 64% of the individuals with PC and EC, and 76.5% with AC had absolute CD4 levels ≤200cells/mm3. The results of the multivariate analysis showed that subjects not undergoing HAART had a significantly higher odds ratio for PC [OR 3.67 (95% CI: 1.97–6.80)] and EC [OR 1.88 (95% CI: 1.04–3.39)], and AC [OR 4.56 (95% CI: 1.58–13.19)]. In addition, smoking [OR 2.58 (95% CI: 1.43–4.68)] and pneumocystis pneumonia [OR 1.92 (95% CI: 1.07–3.42)] were associated with PC, while high alcohol consumption [OR 3.40 (95% CI: 1.13–10.18)] and cytomegalovirus infection [OR 2.34 (95% CI: 1.06–5.15)] were associated with EC. Conclusion: The data indicates that the odds of having all clinical forms of OC are higher in HIV-infected adults not receiving HAART. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]