Analysis of the chemerin and resistin adipokines in children and adolescents

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES To compare the serum concentrations of adipokines resistin and chemerin in children and adolescents with eutrophic and overweight and to evaluate their relationship with anthropometric, biochemical, and blood pressure variables. METHODS a cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted with 234 students enrolled in public elementary schools in the city of Juiz de Fora / MG. Anthropometric evaluation, biochemistry, and blood pressure measurement were performed. Statistical analyzes included the Student-t or Mann-Whitney tests, Pearson or Spearman correlation, used according to the distribution of the variables, and linear regression analysis, by means of the evaluation of the effect of the independent variables on the serum levels of chemerin and resistin, adjusted for age and sex. For the data analysis, SPSS® software version 21.0 and STATA® version 10.1 were used, assuming a significance level of 5%. RESULTS the concentrations of chemerin were higher in eutrophic individuals than in those with excess weight (p> 0.05). In contrast, levels of resistin were higher in the young with excess weight than in the eutrophic ones (p <0.05). In the multiple linear regression analysis, the levels of chemerin were associated with the values of resistin, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure. Resistance levels maintained association only with BMI and chemerin values. CONCLUSION the adipokines analyzed presented a distinct profile in the groups of children and adolescents with eutrophic and overweight.

RESUMO OBJETIVOS Comparar as concentrações séricas das adipocinas resistina e quemerina em crianças e adolescentes com eutrofia e excesso de peso e avaliar sua relação com as variáveis antropométricas, bioquímicas e a pressão arterial. MÉTODOS Estudo epidemiológico transversal realizado com 234 estudantes matriculados em escolas públicas do ensino fundamental no município de Juiz de Fora/MG. Realizou-se avaliação antropométrica, bioquímica e aferição da pressão arterial. As análises estatísticas compreenderam os testes t de Student ou Mann-Whitney, correlação de Pearson ou Spearman, utilizados de acordo com a distribuição das variáveis, e análise de regressão linear, realizada por meio da avaliação do efeito das variáveis independentes nos níveis séricos de quemerina e resistina, ajustado por idade e sexo. Para a análise dos dados foram utilizados os softwares SPSS® versão 21.0 e Stata® versão 10.1, admitindo-se nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS As concentrações de quemerina foram maiores nos indivíduos eutróficos do que nos com excesso de peso (p>0,05). Em contrapartida, os níveis de resistina estiveram maiores nos jovens com excesso ponderal do que nos eutróficos (p<0,05). Na análise de regressão linear múltipla, os níveis de quemerina apresentaram associação com os valores de resistina, pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica. Os níveis de resistina mantiveram associação apenas com os valores de IMC e quemerina. CONCLUSÃO As adipocinas analisadas apresentaram perfil distinto nos grupos de crianças e adolescentes com eutrofia e com excesso de peso.

Associação entre estado nutricional, hábitos alimentares e nível de atividade física em escolares / Association between nutritional status, food habits and physical activity level in schoolchildren

OBJETIVO: Analisar a relação entre estado nutricional, hábitos alimentares e nível de atividade física em escolares. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se estudo transversal com 661 escolares de 6-14 anos de idade, matriculados nas escolas públicas e privadas da área urbana da cidade. Um questionário semiestruturado foi aplicado para coleta das variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas, antropométricas e nível de atividade física. Os escolares foram classificados segundo critérios para índice de massa corporal por idade, percentual de gordura corporal e nível de atividade física, respectivamente. Os dados dietéticos foram obtidos por meio de questionário de frequência alimentar validado e específico para crianças e adolescentes, a partir do qual o consumo alimentar foi avaliado segundo o Recommended Foods Score adaptado, cuja finalidade é a avaliação da qualidade global da dieta com enfoque no consumo de alimentos saudáveis. RESULTADOS: Elevadas frequências de excesso de peso segundo índice de massa corporal por idade (20,1%) e percentual de gordura corporal (22,8%), bem como inatividade física (80,3%), foram observadas entre os escolares. Baixas pontuações no escore de consumo foram encontradas para 77,2% dos escolares. Não foi observada associação significativa entre o excesso de peso e inatividade física ou consumo alimentar (p > 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Os escolares apresentaram elevada frequência de excesso de peso, que de forma isolada não foi associada a alta inatividade física e baixa qualidade da dieta. Assim, mais estudos devem ser realizados para identificar outros fatores além dos descritos que possam estar influenciando a presença do excesso de peso nessa população.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relation between nutritional status, food habits and physical activity level in schoolchildren. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 661 schoolchildren, from 6 to 14 years old, enrolled in public and private schools located in the urban area of Ouro Preto, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to collect data on demographic, socio-economic, anthropometric and level of physical activity variables. Schoolchildren were classified according to criteria for body mass index by age, body fat percentage and physical activity level, respectively. Dietary data were collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire specific for children and adolescents. Food consumption was evaluated according to an adaptation of the Recommended Foods Score, whose objective is the assessment of overall diet quality with a focus on healthy food consumption. RESULTS: We observed high frequency of overweight according to body mass index per age (20.1%) and body fat percentage (22.8%), as well as physical inactivity (80.3%) among schoolchildren. We also found low scores on the Recommended Foods Score in 77.2% of students. There was no significant relation between overweight and physical inactivity or food consumption (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Schoolchildren had a high frequency of overweight, which, alone, was not associated with the high physical inactivity and the low quality diet observed. Therefore, more studies should be performed to identify other factors besides those already described, which may be influencing overweight in this population.

Trypanosoma cruzi: blood parasitism kinetics and their correlation with heart parasitism intensity during long-term infection of Beagle dogs

The goals of the present study were to evaluate the kinetics of blood parasitism by examination of fresh blood, blood culture (BC) and PCR assays and their correlation with heart parasitism during two years of infection in Beagle dogs inoculated with the Be-78, Y and ABC Trypanosoma cruzi strains. Our results showed that the parasite or its kDNA is easily detected during the acute phase in all infected animals. On the other hand, a reduced number of positive tests were verified during the chronic phase of the infection. The frequency of positive tests was correlated with T. cruzi strain. The percentage of positive BC and blood PCR performed in samples from animals inoculated with Be-78 and ABC strains were similar and significantly larger in relation to animals infected with the Y strain.Comparison of the positivity of PCR tests performed using blood and heart tissue samples obtained two years after infection showed two different patterns associated with the inoculated T. cruzi strain: (1) high PCR positivity for both blood and tissue was observed in animals infected with Be-78 or ABC strains; (2) lower and higher PCR positivity for the blood and tissue, respectively, was detected in animals infected with Y strains. These data suggest that the sensitivity of BC and blood PCR was T. cruzi strain dependent and, in contrast, the heart tissue PCR revealed higher sensitivity regardless of the parasite stock.