Adiponectin Is Inversely Associated With Tumour Grade in Colorectal Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Colorectal cancer is frequently associated with metabolic diseases. Adiponectin (APN) is an insulin-sensitizing adipokine circulating as low molecular weight (LMW), medium molecular weight (MMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) oligomers; the latter are the most bio-active oligomers. APN, through AdipoR1, AdipoR2 and T-cadherin receptors, regulates inflammation, and proliferation. Considering the anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties of APN, we investigated the involvement of the "APN system" in colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 44 colorectal cancer patients and 51 healthy controls were recruited. We analysed APN and HMW oligomers in sera, AdipoR1, AdipoR2 and T-cadherin expression in non-cancerous and cancerous colon tissues. RESULTS: we found statistically lower levels of APN in patients compared to controls, with a specific decrease of HMW oligomers. Importantly, APN correlated to cancer grade. AdipoR1 was found overexpressed in cancerous compared to non-cancerous tissues while AdipoR2 and T-cadherin were down-regulated. CONCLUSION: The deregulated expression of the "APN system" in colorectal cancer with a specific correlation to tumor grade suggests APN as a promising biomarker in colorectal cancer.

Binge Eating Disorder and Related Features in Bariatric Surgery Candidates.

OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to: 1) assess the prevalence of Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and abnormal eating behaviors in bariatric surgery candidates; 2) compare patients with and without BED as regards to eating disturbances, psychological characteristics, and health status; 3) individuate which factors were significantly related to binge eating severity. METHODS: Sixty-three preoperative patients (17 males and 46 females) were screened by means of an ad hoc socio-demographic schedule, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Eating Disorders Inventory-3, the Binge Eating Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire-28. BED diagnosis was performed through a clinical interview. RESULTS: BED and disordered eating, such as episodes of binge eating, sense of lack of control over eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors, appear common in patients undergoing weight loss surgery. Significant differences between BED and non-BED subjects in relation to eating disturbances and psychological characteristics emerged. Multiple regression analysis revealed that only emotional dys-regulation significantly predicted binge eating vulnerability. CONCLUSION: The recognition of factors involved in the development and maintenance of disordered eating in bariatric patients may support the choice of particular therapeutic strategies and improve bariatric surgery outcome. Further studies on this issue would be useful.

Measuring the perception of quality physical education in Latin American professionals / Medindo a percepção de profissionais latino-americanos sobre a qualidade da educação física / Midiendo la percepción de profesionales latinoamericanos acerca de la Calidad de la Educación Física

Abstract An unsteady plan for curriculum development and supportive issues in physical education (PE) has created confusion among professionals. The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors perceived as important in the development of quality physical education (QPE) by professionals in Latin American (LA) countries. A questionnaire consisting of 24 items based on QPE was responded by 468 professionals collected from 6 LA cities. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the 24 items using ML extraction and direct oblimin rotation were applied, and the retained 17 items were clustered in a three factor solution referred to as, Development and Supportive Elements for QPE in School (DSFQPE) (α = .935), Core Value of QPEtabl (CVPE) (α = .890), and Curriculum Arrangement of Physical Activities (CAPA) (α = .850). The retained items indicated excellent properties and the basic framework as perceived by professionals from PE in LA countries as important in the investigation of QPE.

Resumo Um plano instável para o desenvolvimento de currículos e questões de apoio na educação física (PE) criou confusão entre os profissionais. O objetivo desta pesquisa é investigar os fatores percebidos como importantes no desenvolvimento da educação física de qualidade (QPE) por profissionais de países da América Latina (AL). Um questionário composto por 24 itens com base no QPE foi respondido por 468 profissionais coletados em 6 cidades da América Latina. Uma análise fatorial exploratória dos 24 itens usando extração ML e rotação obliminar direta foram aplicados, e os 17 itens retidos foram agrupados em uma solução de três fatores denominada Elementos de Desenvolvimento e Suporte para QPE na Escola (DSFQPE) (α = 0,935), Valor essencial do QPE (CVPE) (α = 0,890) e Arranjo Curricular das Atividades Físicas (CAPA) (α = 0,850). Os itens retidos indicaram propriedades excelentes e o referencial básico percebido pelos profissionais de EF em países da América Latina como importante na investigação do PEQ.

Resumen Un plan inestable para el desarrollo curricular y aspectos de apoyo para la educación física (EF) han creado confusión entre los profesionales. El propósito de esta investigación es investigar los factores percibidos como importantes en el desarrollo de la educación física de calidad (EFC) por profesionales en países de América Latina (AL). Un cuestionario que consta de 24 ítems basados en EFC fue respondido por 468 profesionales recolectados en 6 ciudades de LA. Se aplicó un Análisis factorial exploratorio de los 24 ítems que utilizan extracción ML y rotación oblicua directa, y los 17 ítems retenidos se agruparon en una solución de tres factores denominada Elementos de desarrollo y de apoyo para EFC en la escuela (EDAEFC) (α = 0,935); Valor principal de EFC (CVPE) (α = 0,890) y Arreglo del plan de actividades físicas (CAPA) (α = 0,850). Los ítems retenidos indicaron excelentes propiedades y el marco básico es percibido por los profesionales de EF en los países de AL como importante en la investigación de EFC.

Determinants of weight gain in children from 7 to 10 years.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To determine the influence of the family risk factors (parental weight, socioeconomic status and cultural level) on the distribution of overweight or obesity in prepubertal children and the dynamics of their weight gain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three hundred forty-one children (183 boys) attending the second grade of primary school (age 7.4+/-0.5 years) were enrolled in a longitudinal study in Southern Italy. Overweight and obesity status were defined by a body mass index (BMI) above the percentile having respectively the value of 25 and 30 kg/m(2) at 18 years, according to national reference data; overweight extent was expressed as BMI standard deviation score (BMI-SDS). Information about BMI and socioeconomic conditions (occupation and educational level) of parents were collected. Distribution of overweight and obese schoolchildren and variations of BMI-SDS were evaluated over a 3-year period; relationships with family risk factors were also sought. The distribution of overweight/obese children at baseline was high (40%). Tracking rates of overweight and obesity were 73% and 80%, respectively. The higher the BMI-SDS at 7 years, the higher the BMI-SDS at 10 years (r 0.86, P=0.0001). The highest BMI value and the highest distribution of overweight/obese children were observed in subjects with the highest amount of family risk factors. Children exhibiting accelerated weight gain (delta BM I>1/year) showed higher male/female ratio, higher baseline BMI values, higher maternal BMI values, lower maternal educational level and a dramatic increase in the percentage of overweight/obese children than children with normal weight gain. CONCLUSIONS: Children who are overweight/obese at 7 years tend to maintain this condition during prepubertal age. Paediatricians should be alerted when dealing with a child showing a BMI increase above than 1U/year during primary school. Targeted intervention should be directed at young children with overweight parents and low socio-cultural level.

Fracción de eyección normal en pacientes hospitalizados por insuficiencia cardíaca / Normal ejection fraction in hospitalized patients by heart failure

Introducción: Desde la década pasada se reconoce la existencia de Insuficiencia Cardíaca (IC) con Función Sistólica (FS) conservada. Objetivos: Determinar la frecuencia relativa de IC con FS conservada debido a Disfunción Diastólica (DD), sus etiologías relacionadas y el perfil clínico de sospecha. Material y método: Se revisaron las Historias Clínicas de pacientes internados por IC en un período de tres años y se definió DD a la IC con FS normal (Fracción de Eyección (FE) ò 55 por ciento) evaluada por Ecocardiografía Bidimensional, no debida a otras situaciones que cursan con FS conservada. Resultados: De los 64 pacientes incluidos, 37 (58 por ciento) tenían Disfunción Sistólica (DS) y 27 (42 por ciento) DD. De estos últimos la edad promedio fue de 65 años; 9 (34 por ciento) eran varones y 18 (66 por ciento) eran mujeres. Presentaron signos de IC Global: 21 (77,7 por ciento), de IC Izquierda aislada: 6 (22,3 por ciento) y ninguno con IC Derecha aislada. Se encontró HTA en 17 (63 por ciento); HTA asociada a Cardiopatía Isquémica (CI) en 7 (26 por ciento) y Estenosis Aórtica en 3 (11 por ciento). El Indice Cardiotoráxico (ICT) ó 0,55 en 15 (56 por ciento) pacientes y > 0,55 en 12 (44 por ciento), de estos últimos, 10 (83 por ciento), presentaron Hipertrofia Ventricular Izquierda. La FE promedio fue de 65,5 por ciento. Recibieron tratamiento inadecuado para DD previo a la Ecocardiografía 12 (44 por ciento). Comentarios: Se encontró una alta frecuencia relativa de DD, siendo la etiología más frecuente la HTA. A pesar de que estadísticamente existe una fuerte asociación entre tipo de Disfunción e ICT, esta no llega a ser perfecta y considerando el resto de los parámetros, no se encontró un perfilclínico distintivo respecto de la DS. Se concliye que la Ecocardiografía Bidimensional resulta esencial para definir el tipo de Disfunción Ventricular y adecuar la terapéutica en la IC