Fatores preditores do alcance das metas de um programa de intervenção em nipo-brasileiros / Predictors of goal achievement in an intervention program among Japanese-Brazilians

Identificar fatores da linha de base preditores do alcance das metas do programa de intervenção no estilo de vida após 12 meses em população de nipo-brasileiros, empregando-se modelos de regressão logística ajustados. Em 2005, 321 participantes eram portadores de excesso de peso e houve maior chance [OR (IC95 por cento)] de alcance da meta de perda de peso após 12 meses entre mulheres [2,45 (1,33; 4,13)], indivíduos de maior idade [1,03 (1,00; 1,06)] e menor chance entre portadores de morbidades no início do estudo [0,33 (0,14; 0,77)]. Dos 261 indivíduos sedentários, o alcance da meta de atividades físicas foi inversamente relacionado ao exercício de atividades profissionais [0,40 (0,17; 0,95)]. Não se verificou fatores da linha de base associados ao alcance das metas do consumo de legumes, verduras e frutas e gorduras saturadas da dieta após 12 meses. Indivíduos de maior idade, mulheres, não portadores de morbidades e sem exercício de atividades profissionais na linha de base apresentaram maior chance de alcance das metas após 12 meses de intervenção no estilo de vida.

The aim of this study was to identify baseline factors associated with achieving goals after a 12-month lifestyle intervention program in a Japanese-Brazilian population, using adjusted logistic regression models. In 2005, 321 participants were overweight. The odds [OR (IC95 percent)] of reaching the goals after 12 months of intervention were directly related to female gender [2.35 (1.34, 4.13)] and older age [1.03 (1.00, 1.06)] and inversely related to baseline morbidity [0.33 (0.14, 0.77)]. Of the 261 sedentary individuals, achieving the goal for physical activity was inversely related to working [0.44 (0.17, 0.95)]. No baseline predictors were found for reaching the goal of fruit and vegetable consumption or saturated fat intake after 12 months. At baseline, women, older individuals, and individuals without diseases or not working showed increased odds of achieving the goals after 12 months of the lifestyle intervention.

Specific insulin and proinsulin secretion in glucokinase-deficient individuals

Glucokinase (GCK) is an enzyme that regulates insulin secretion, keeping glucose levels within a narrow range. Mutations in the glucokinase gene cause a rare form of diabetes called maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). An early onset (less than 25 years), autosomal dominant inheritance and low insulin secretion stimulated by glucose characterize MODY patients. Specific insulin and proinsulin were measured in serum by immunofluorimetric assays (IFMA) during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Two kindreds (SA and LZ) were studied and compared to non-diabetic unrelated individuals (control group 1) matched for age and body mass index (BMI). In one kindred, some of these subjects were also obese (BMI>26 kg/m2), and other family members also presented with obesity and/or late-onset NIDDM. The MODY patients were also compared to a group of five of their first-degree relatives with obesity and/or late-onset NIDDM. The proinsulin profile was different in members of the two MODY kindreds. Fasting proinsulin and the proinsulin/insulin ratio were similar in MODY members of kindred LZ and subjects from control group 1, but were significantly lower than in MODY members of kindred SA (P<0.02 and P<0.01, for proinsulin and proinsulin/insulin ratio, respectively). Moreover, MODY members of family SA had higher levels of proinsulin and proinsulin/insulin ratio, although not significantly different, when compared to their first-degree relatives and to subjects from control group 2. In conclusion, we observed variable degrees of proinsulin levels and proinsulin/insulin ratio in MODY members of two different kindreds. The higher values of these parameters found in MODY and non-MODY members of kindred SA is probably related to the obesity and late-onset NIDDM background present in this family.

A specific and highly sensitive time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for human proinsulin

We describe a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay specific for human proinsulin using a combination of two high-affinity monoclonal antibodies, one against insulin and the other specific for intact proinsulin and for split 65-66 and des 64-65 proinsulin forms. The assay employs only 200 micro liters of serum, with a detection limit of 0.1 pmol/l. The intra-assay variation coefficient was less than 3 percent between 3 and 1000 pmol/l. There was 0 percent cross-reaction with insulin, C-peptide, split 32-33 and des 31-32 proinsulin. Serum concentration of proinsulin was analyzed in 50 subjects during an oral glucose tolerance test (10 non-obese controls, 10 obese controls, 10 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, 10 patients with type II diabetes meIlitus (DM) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) <140 mg/dl, and 10 patients with type II DM and FBG >150 mg/dl). Mean fasting serum proinsulin levels measured by this assay in non-obese controls (0.84 +/-0.90 pmol/l; 0.1-2.4 pmol/l) were lower than the results reported by her investigators. There was an increase of proinsulin related to obesity and increased glucose levels, suggesting that proinsulin levels increase with insulin resistance.