Influences of weight, age, gender, genetics, diseases, and ethnicity on bitterness perception: a narrative review of current methodological aspects

BACKGROUND: Bitterness perception seems to be related to an enhanced intake of dietary fat and to a tendency to the development of diseases such as obesity. However, the exact factors for this possible contribution still need to be better investigated. So, gustatory perception of the bitter taste is a promising area of study because of its importance regarding food choices and consequently feeding behavior. Therefore, this short review focused on recent papers reporting correlations between bitter taste, anthropometric variables, obesity and other chronic diseases, age, gender, ethnicity, and genetics. METHODS: A survey was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed) and Scielo from September 2015 to January 2017.Only review articles, observational studies and clinical trials published in English and Portuguese over the last15 years which met the objectives of the present study were considered. A total of 40 papers were evaluated. RESULTS: Two papers showed a positive correlation between bitter taste and obesity, one indicated that this correlation is influenced by the subject's age, one suggested a negative correlation, and two found no association. Age seems to be negatively correlated with the bitterness perceived, and female gender was associated with a stronger perception of bitterness. Genetics, mostly due to differences in TAS2R38 expression, influences sensitivity to the bitter taste, feeding behavior and also alcohol intake. Ethnicity, not only the subject's phenotypic or genotypic characteristics, seems to play a role in taste perception and nutritional diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender, genetics and ethnicity seem to play a role in bitterness perception. Data about associations between bitterness perception and anthropometrics are conflicting.

Reference index and reduction in physical fitness tests proposed by proesp-br

The purpose of this study was to create an unifying index of the PROESP-BR tests for school aged teenagers and propose a reduction in the physical fitness tests. A total of 414 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17 years old, representative of the public school population in the city of Cuiaba were evaluated. The tests include general physical fitness, proposed by PROESP-BR. Multivariate factorial analysis was used, observing the commonality/representativeness of each test with regard to the set, and the index was created for girls and boys. With this analysis we can choose to use the following tests: female - throwing medicine ball, horizontal jump and run 20 meters; male - throwing medicine ball, representing the overall performance. The created index was divided into quintiles and allowed you to view the whole performance of the six tests, as well as their distribution within the group and away from the ideal reference.

Body surface infrared thermometry in patients with central venous cateter-related infections / Termometria infravermelha da superfície corporal em pacientes com infecção relacionada a cateter venoso central

Objective To evaluate if body surface temperature close to the central venous catheter insertion area is different when patients develop catheter-related bloodstream infections.Methods Observational cross-sectional study. Using a non-contact infrared thermometer, 3 consecutive measurements of body surface temperature were collected from 39 patients with central venous catheter on the following sites: nearby the catheter insertion area or totally implantable catheter reservoir, the equivalent contralateral region (without catheter), and forehead of the same subject.Results A total of 323 observations were collected. Respectively, both in male and female patients, disregarding the occurrence of infection, the mean temperature on the catheter area minus that on the contralateral region (mean ± standard deviation: -0.3±0.6°C versus-0.2±0.5ºC; p=0.36), and the mean temperature on the catheter area minus that on the forehead (mean ± standard deviation: -0.2±0.5°C versus-0.1±0.5ºC; p=0.3) resulted in negative values. Moreover, in infected patients, higher values were obtained on the catheter area (95%CI: 36.6-37.5ºC versus 36.3-36.5ºC; p<0.01) and by temperature subtractions: catheter area minus contralateral region (95%CI: -0.17 - +0.33ºC versus -0.33 - -0.20ºC; p=0.02) and catheter area minus forehead (95%CI: -0.02 - +0.55ºC versus-0.22 - -0.10ºC; p<0.01).Conclusion Using a non-contact infrared thermometer, patients with catheter-related bloodstream infections had higher temperature values both around catheter insertion area and in the subtraction of the temperatures on the contralateral and forehead regions from those on the catheter area.

Objetivo Avaliar se a temperatura da superfície corporal nas proximidades da área de inserção do cateter venoso central é diferente quando os pacientes desenvolvem infecções da corrente sanguínea relacionadas ao cateter.Métodos Estudo transversal observacional. Usando um termômetro infravermelho sem contato, 3 medições consecutivas de temperatura da superfície corporal foram coletadas de 39 pacientes com cateter venoso central nos seguintes locais: nas proximidades da área de inserção do cateter ou do reservatório do cateter totalmente implantável, na região contralateral equivalente (sem cateter), e na fronte do mesmo paciente.Resultados Um total de 323 observações foram coletadas. Respectivamente nos pacientes do sexo masculino e feminino, desconsiderando a ocorrência de infecção, a temperatura média na área do cateter menos a da região contralateral (média ± desvio padrão: -0,3±0,6°C versus -0,2±0,5°C; p=0,36) e a da área do cateter menos a da fronte (média ± desvio padrão: -0,2±0,5°Cversus -0,1±0,5°C; p=0,3) resultaram em valores negativos. Além disso, em pacientes infectados, foram obtidos valores mais elevados na área do cateter (IC95%: 36,6-37,5ºC versus36,3-36,5ºC; p<0,01) e nas subtrações de temperaturas: área do cateter menos região contralateral (IC95%: -0,17 - +0,33°C versus-0,33 - -0,20°C; p=0,02) e a área do cateter menos fronte (IC95%:-0,02 - +0,55°C versus -0,22 - -0,10ºC; p<0,01).Conclusão Utilizando um termômetro infravermelho sem contato, os pacientes com infecções da corrente sanguínea associadas ao cateter apresentaram valores de temperatura mais elevados, tanto ao redor da área de inserção do cateter e na subtração das temperaturas das regiões contralateral e fronte, em relação àquelas da área do cateter.

Perfil físico das diferentes posições de jogadores de futebol / Physical profile of different positions of soccer players

O objetivo foi comparar as medidas antropométricas e o desempenho físico de jogadores profissionais de futebol de diferentes posições de jogo. Fizeram parte do estudo 17 atletas (21±6,9 anos) divididos em: Goleiros (G; n=2), Defensores (D; n=4), Meio-campistas (M; n=5) e Atacantes (A; n=6). Foram realizadas avaliações antropométricas (peso, estatura, e dobras cutâneas) e então calculados a composição corporal e o índice de massa corporal (IMC, kg/m2) e de desempenho motor (velocidade de deslocamento de 30 metros, potência anaeróbia relativa e capacidade aeróbia (VO2máx). Os resultados do grupo foram 70,2±22,9 kg, 180±0,6 cm de estatura, IMC de 22,4±7,6 kg/m2 e 3,6±2,1 % de gordura corporal e sem diferença entre eles. Na velocidade de deslocamento os goleiros e atacantes foram iguais entre si e melhores que os outros grupos (G: 4,3±0,2= A: 4,2±0,2 > D: 4,5±0,1; M: 4,6±01 s; p<0,05); na potencia anaeróbia todos os grupos foram classificados como fraco (G: 7,39±2,03; D: 8,51±1,24; M: 8,55±0,89; A: 9,63±0,85 W/kg; p<0,05). Conclui-se que os atletas meio-campistas mostraram-se menos velozes que aos demais jogadores, principalmente em relação aos atacantes. Todos os grupos se mostraram abaixo dos padrões mencionados pela literatura pesquisada, principalmente nos testes de potência e velocidade de deslocamento, reforçando a necessidade de maior ênfase no treinamento destas capacidades físicas.

The objective was to compare anthropometric measurements and physical performance of professional soccer players of different game positions. Study participants were 17 athletes (21 ± 6.9 years) divided into: Goalkeepers (G, n = 2), Defenders (D, n = 4), Midfielders (M, n = 5) and Strikers (S; n = 6). Anthropometric data were collected (weight, height, and skinfolds) than calculated body composition and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and motor performance (velocity of 30 meters, anaerobic power and aerobic capacity (VO2max)). The results of the group were 70.2 ± 22.9 kg, 180 ± 0.6 cm in height, BMI 22.4 ± 7.6 kg/m2 and 3.6 ± 2.1% of body fat with no difference between them. In velocity goalkeepers and attackers were equal and better than the other groups (G: 4.3 ± 0.2 = A: 4.2 ± 0.2> D: 4.5 ± 0.1; M: s 01 ± 4.6, p <0.05); anaerobic power in all groups were rated as poor (G: 7.39 ± 2.03, D: 8.51 ± 1.24, M: 8, 55 ± 0.89, S: 9.63 ± 0.85 W/kg, p <0.05). We conclude that athlete’s midfielders were less fast than the other players, especially in relation to the strikers. All groups were below the standards mentioned by literature, especially in tests of power and speed, reinforcing the need for greater emphasis on training these physical abilities.