Association between adiposity indicators, metabolic parameters and inflammatory markers in a sample of female adolescents

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between total and abdominal adiposity with metabolic parameters and inflammatory markers, in female adolescents. The sample consisted of 53 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years from a public school in Curitiba, Brazil. The adiposity indicators studied were body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), trunk fat mass (TKFM), total fat mass (TFM) and body fat percentage (BF%) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The metabolic and inflammatory parameters studied were systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), leptin, adiponectin and resistin. Eighty percent of WC variation, 87% of TKFM and TFM, and 73% of BF% were predicted by BMI variation. There was a significant positive correlation between all indicators of adiposity with SBP, DBP, insulin, HOMA-IR, CRP and leptin. Triglycerides were positively correlated with BMI and WC, and adiponectin correlated negatively with BMI. TNF-α, IL-6, glucose, total cholesterol, and high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not correlate to the studied variables. BMI showed a significant association with most of the parameters studied, and WC was slightly better than BMI to predict insulin resistance in this specific population.59432533

Avaliação sorológica, clínica e epidemiológica da toxocaríase em áreas urbanas do sul do Brasil

Toxocariasis is a worldwide public-health problem that poses major risks to children who may accidentally ingest embryonated eggs of Toxocara. The objectives of this study were to investigate the occurrence of anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies in children and adolescents and the variables that may be involved, as well as environmental contamination by Toxocara spp. eggs, in urban recreation areas of north central mesoregion, Paraná State, Brazil. From June 2005 to March 2007. a total of 376 blood samples were collected by the Public Health Service from children and adolescents one to 12 years old, of both genders. Samples were analyzed by the indirect ELISA method for detection of anti-Toxocara antibodies. Serum samples were previously absorbed with Ascaris suum antigens, and considered positive with a reagent reactivity index >;1. Soil samples from all of the public squares and schools located in the four evaluated municipalities that had sand surfaces (n = 19) or lawns (n = 15) were analyzed. Of the 376 serum samples, 194 (51.6%) were positive. The seroprevalence rate was substantially higher among children aging one to five years (p = 0.001) and six to eight years (p = 0.022). The clinical signs and symptoms investigated did not show a statistical difference between seropositive and seronegative individuals (p >; 0.05). In 76.5% of the investigated recreation places, eggs of Toxocara were detected in at least one of the five collected samples. Recreation areas from public schools were 2.8 times more contaminated than from public squares. It is important to institute educational programs to inform families and educators, as well as to improve sanitary control of animals and cleaning of the areas intended for recreation in order to prevent toxocariasis.A toxocaríase é um problema de saúde pública mundial, com maior risco para crianças que podem, acidentalmente, ingerir ovos embrionados de Toxocara spp.. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Toxocara spp. em crianças e adolecentes e as variáveis que podem estar envolvidas, bem como a contaminação ambiental por ovos de Toxocara spp., em locais de recreação, em áreas urbanas da mesorregião norte central, Paraná, Brasil. De junho de 2005 a março de 2007 foram coletadas 376 amostras de sangue de crianças e adolescentes de um a doze anos, de ambos os sexos, atendidas pelo Sistema Único de Saúde. As amostras foram analisadas pelo método de ELISA indireto para detecção de IgG anti-Toxocara e previamente absorvidas com antígeno de Ascaris suum. Foram consideradas reagentes as amostras com índice de reatividade >; 1. A análise das amostras de areias (n = 19) e gramados (n = 15) de cada município foi realizada em todas as praças e escolas públicas. Das 376 amostras de soro, 194 (51,6%) foram positivas. A taxa de soroprevalência foi substancialmente mais elevada entre as crianças na faixa etária de até um a cinco (p = 0.001) e de seis a oito anos de idade (p = 0,022). Os sinais e sintomas clínicos investigados não mostraram diferenças estatísticas entre soropositivos e soronegativos (p >; 0,05). Em 76,5% dos locais de recreação investigados, ovos de Toxocara foram detectados em pelo menos uma das cinco amostras. Os locais de recreação das escolas públicas estavam 2,8 vezes mais contaminados do que as praças. É importante a realização de programas educativos junto às famílias e educadores, o controle sanitário de animais e a higienização dos locais destinados à recreação para prevenção da toxocaríase

Synthesis, anti-toxoplasma gondii and antimicrobial activities of 2-hydrazolyl-3-phenyl-5-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-4-thiazolidinone substituted derivatives

A novel series of 2-hydrazolyl-3-phenyl-5-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-4-thiazolidinone substituted (3a-p) has been synthesized. The intermediates 2-hydrazolyl-3-phenyl-4-thiazolidinone substituted (2a-p) were prepared by condensation of benzaldehyde 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone substituted (1a-p) with ethyl chloroacetate. Theses intermediates were submitted to reaction with ethyl 2-cyano-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-acetate to give the title compounds. The 4-thiazolidinones were screened for their anti-Toxoplasma gondii, and all derivatives promoted decrease of percentage of infection of Vero cells, with elimination of intracellular tachyzoites. The LD50 ranged around 0.5 mM for the intracellular parasites and were higher than 10 mM for Vero cells. According to results of antimicrobial activity, only two compounds showed significant inhibition against M. luteus, but demonstrated higher values of MIC and MBC when compared with standard drug.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Synthesis, anti-toxoplasma gondii and antimicrobial activities of 2-hydrazolyl-3-phenyl-5-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-4-thiazolidinone substituted derivatives

A novel series of 2-hydrazolyl-3-phenyl-5-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-4-thiazolidinone substituted (3a-p) has been synthesized. The intermediates 2-hydrazolyl-3-phenyl-4-thiazolidinone substituted (2a-p) were prepared by condensation of benzaldehyde 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone substituted (1a-p) with ethyl chloroacetate. Theses intermediates were submitted to reaction with ethyl 2-cyano-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-acetate to give the title compounds. The 4-thiazolidinones were screened for their anti-Toxoplasma gondii, and all derivatives promoted decrease of percentage of infection of Vero cells, with elimination of intracellular tachyzoites. The LD50 ranged around 0.5 mM for the intracellular parasites and were higher than 10 mM for Vero cells. According to results of antimicrobial activity, only two compounds showed significant inhibition against M. luteus, but demonstrated higher values of MIC and MBC when compared with standard drug.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Erratum to: The study of cardiovascular risk in adolescents – ERICA: rationale, design and sample characteristics of a national survey examining cardiovascular risk factor profile in Brazilian adolescents

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