Oxidized and electronegative low-density lipoprotein as potential biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in obese adolescents

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate biomarkers associated with early cardiometabolic risk in obese adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 137 adolescents of both sexes aged 10 to 19 years divided into a normal weight group (NW) (n=69) and an obese group (OB) (n=68). RESULTS: As expected, obesity showed positive associations with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triacylglycerol, insulin, plasma levels of non-esterified fatty acids, and cholesterol ester transfer protein activity and negative associations with plasma antioxidant levels. Plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and electronegative low-density lipoprotein [LDL(-)] levels were significantly higher in the OB group. Higher tertiles of oxLDL were associated with increased values of body mass index; waist circumference; fatty mass percentage (%FM); and the atherogenic lipids non-high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B and triacylglycerol. Higher tertiles of LDL(-) were robustly associated with body mass index and waist circumference. Logistic regression models (odds ratios) confirmed that increased values of lipids and apolipoprotein B were associated with increased risk of oxLDL. For LDL(-), these associations were not significant, suggesting that another mechanism is involved in generating this particle in obese adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Obese adolescents showed increased plasma LDL(-) and oxLDL, and obese girls had more LDL(-) than obese boys. Therefore, oxLDL is strongly and independently associated with classical cardiovascular risk factors, while increased levels of LDL(-) were influenced by body mass index, waist circumference and demographic parameters in obese adolescents.

Assessment of quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease residing in Southern Brazil / Avaliação da qualidade de vida de pacientes com doença inflamatória intestinal residentes no sul do Brasil

CONTEXT: Chronic diseases have an impact on the quality of life of the individuals. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life of adults with inflammatory bowel disease by the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire certified for Portuguese language. METHODS: We interviewed 50 individuals from both genders aged from 18 to 60 years old, with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, regardless of disease activity. RESULTS: The average age of the sample was 42.2 ± 13.6 years old, the disease length was 98.8 ± 74.3 months, and 72 percent of patients had Crohn's disease and 14 percent presented disease activity. There was no significant difference in questionnaire scores of patients with different inflammatory bowel disease when they are in the remission phase (172.0 ± 42.4 and 173.6 ± 28.2 for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, respectively, P = 0.886). When compared to scores of patients who were in crisis, it was found that they have a lower quality of life that patients in remission (123.8 ± 44.5 and 173.3 ± 31.5 for patients in crisis and remission, respectively, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: It was noticed that the quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease did not differ among patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, when patients are in remission. The main aspect which determines the loss of quality of life would be being at the stage of disease activity.

CONTEXTO: As doenças inflamatórias intestinais são doenças crônicas e, com isso, podem exercer impacto sobre a qualidade de vida do indivíduo. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida de adultos com doenças inflamatórias intestinais, através do Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire -validado para a língua portuguesa, e comparar esta resposta entre pacientes com a doença em atividade ou não. MÉTODOS: Foram entrevistados 50 indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 18 e 60 anos. RESULTADOS: A média de idade da amostra foi de 42,2 + 13,6 anos, o tempo da doença foi de 98,8 + 74,3 meses e 72 por cento destes indivíduos tinham doença de Crohn. Sete indivíduos relataram estar no momento da atividade da doença, mas não houve diferença significativa entre o tempo de doença e o estado nutricional quando comparados os pacientes com atividade e em remissão da doença. Não foi verificada diferença significativa na pontuação do questionário dos pacientes com as diferentes doenças inflamatórias intestinais quando estes estão na fase remissiva (172 + 42,4 e 173,6 + 28,2 para retocolite ulcerativa e doença de Crohn, respectivamente, P = 0,886). Quando comparada a pontuação dos pacientes que estavam em crise, verificou-se que esses apresentam menor qualidade de vida do que os pacientes em remissão (123,8 + 44,5 e 173,3 + 31,5 para os pacientes em crise e em remissão, respectivamente, P = 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Foi possível verificar que a qualidade de vida dos pacientes com doenças inflamatórias intestinais não difere quando diagnosticadas nas suas duas classificações, quando os pacientes estão na remissão. O aspecto principal para determinação de um prejuízo na qualidade de vida seria estar na fase da atividade da doença.