Factores de riesgo cardiovascular en comunidades urbana y rural Tinaquillo: Venezuela / Cardiovascular risk factors in urban and rural communities from Tinaquillo: Venezuela

RESUMEN Objetivo Comparar la frecuencia de los principales factores clínicos, bioquímicos y antropométricos de riesgo cardiovascular entre una comunidad rural y una urbana de Tinaquillo, Venezuela. Métodos Se evaluaron 118 individuos mayores de 18 años (52 pertenecientes a la comunidad urbana y 66 a la comunidad rural) a los cuales se les determinó peso, talla, circunferencia abdominal, presión arterial, glicemia y perfil lipídico. Se aplicó una encuesta para medir antecedentes personales de enfermedad cardiovascular y estilo de vida. Resultados Se evidenció que alrededor del 60 % de los individuos de la comunidad rural presentaron entre obesidad y sobrepeso. Cifras similares fueron obtenidas en la comunidad urbana, no encontrándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambas. Casi la mitad de los participantes mostró obesidad abdominal, así como una frecuencia importante de individuos con HDLc bajo (mayor al 70 %). Cabe destacar que si bien, se obtuvieron bajos porcentajes de hipertrigliceridemia, los mismos fueron significativamente superiores en la comunidad rural (Chi-cuadrado=4,82; p=0,0281). Caso contrario ocurre con la frecuencia del hábito tabáquico, el cual es estadísticamente superior en la comunidad urbana (Chi-cuadrado=4,48; p=0,0342). Conclusión Los resultados muestran una elevada frecuencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en ambas comunidades. En consecuencia, los programas de promoción en salud emergentes deben tener alcance hasta las comunidades rurales, pues el riesgo a padecer una enfermedad cardiovascular es similar al de la comunidad urbana, además de estar igualmente propensas a la adquisición de hábitos no saludables.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective To compare the frequency of major clinical, biochemical and anthropometric cardiovascular risk factors between a rural community and an urban community from Tinaquillo, Venezuela. Method 118 individuals older than 18 years (52 of the urban community and 66 of the rural community) were included; their weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid profile were assessed. A survey to measure personal history of cardiovascular disease and lifestyle was applied. Results About 60 % of the individuals of the rural community were either obese or overweight; similar figures were obtained in the urban community with no statistically significant differences. Almost half of the participants had abdominal obesity, and also a significant frequency of individuals with low HDLc (greater than 70 %) was observed. It should be noted that although low percentages of hypertriglyceridemia were obtained, they were significantly higher in the rural community (chi-square=4.82, p=0.0281). The opposite occurs with the frequency of smoking, which is statistically higher in the urban community (chi-square=4.48, p=0.0342). Conclusions The results show a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in both communities. Consequently, health promotion programs should reach out to rural communities, as the risk of cardiovascular disease is similar to that of the urban community, who are equally prone to acquire unhealthy habits.(AU)

[Cardiovascular risk factors in urban and rural communities from Tinaquillo, Venezuela]. / Factores de riesgo cardiovascular en comunidades urbana y rural. Tinaquillo, Venezuela.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of major clinical, biochemical and anthropometric cardiovascular risk factors between a rural community and an urban community from Tinaquillo, Venezuela. METHOD: 118 individuals older than 18 years (52 of the urban community and 66 of the rural community) were included; their weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid profile were assessed. A survey to measure personal history of cardiovascular disease and lifestyle was applied. RESULTS: About 60 % of the individuals of the rural community were either obese or overweight; similar figures were obtained in the urban community with no statistically significant differences. Almost half of the participants had abdominal obesity, and also a significant frequency of individuals with low HDLc (greater than 70 %) was observed. It should be noted that although low percentages of hypertriglyceridemia were obtained, they were significantly higher in the rural community (chi-square=4.82, p=0.0281). The opposite occurs with the frequency of smoking, which is statistically higher in the urban community (chi-square=4.48, p=0.0342). CONCLUSIONS: The results show a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in both communities. Consequently, health promotion programs should reach out to rural communities, as the risk of cardiovascular disease is similar to that of the urban community, who are equally prone to acquire unhealthy habits.

OBJETIVO: Comparar la frecuencia de los principales factores clínicos, bioquímicos y antropométricos de riesgo cardiovascular entre una comunidad rural y una urbana de Tinaquillo, Venezuela. MÉTODOS: Se evaluaron 118 individuos mayores de 18 años (52 pertenecientes a la comunidad urbana y 66 a la comunidad rural) a los cuales se les determinó peso, talla, circunferencia abdominal, presión arterial, glicemia y perfil lipídico. Se aplicó una encuesta para medir antecedentes personales de enfermedad cardiovascular y estilo de vida. RESULTADOS: Se evidenció que alrededor del 60 % de los individuos de la comunidad rural presentaron entre obesidad y sobrepeso. Cifras similares fueron obtenidas en la comunidad urbana, no encontrándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambas. Casi la mitad de los participantes mostró obesidad abdominal, así como una frecuencia importante de individuos con HDLc bajo (mayor al 70 %). Cabe destacar que si bien, se obtuvieron bajos porcentajes de hipertrigliceridemia, los mismos fueron significativamente superiores en la comunidad rural (Chi-cuadrado=4,82; p=0,0281). Caso contrario ocurre con la frecuencia del hábito tabáquico, el cual es estadísticamente superior en la comunidad urbana (Chi-cuadrado=4,48; p=0,0342). CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados muestran una elevada frecuencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en ambas comunidades. En consecuencia, los programas de promoción en salud emergentes deben tener alcance hasta las comunidades rurales, pues el riesgo a padecer una enfermedad cardiovascular es similar al de la comunidad urbana, además de estar igualmente propensas a la adquisición de hábitos no saludables.

Comparison of Cytotoxic Activity of Anticancer Drugs against Various Human Tumor Cell Lines Using In Vitro Cell-Based Approach.

Chemotherapy is the main treatment modality for certain types of cancer. It is important to monitor and ensure that these chemotherapeutic drugs are potent and effective prior to patient administration. The objective of the study is to evaluate the cytotoxic activity and potency of selected commercially available generic anticancer drugs in comparison with originator using various human cancer cell lines in an in vitro cell-based assay. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the different chemotherapeutic agents was obtained from an experimentally derived dose-response curve. Relative potency of the drugs was estimated according to Parallel Line assay. This study demonstrated that the selected generic oncology products tested had similar efficacy compared with the originator. Both products showed comparable results as shown both in vitro cytotoxicity assay and statistical analysis. In vitro cell-based cytotoxicity assay promises to be a useful, reliable and rapid method for demonstrating chemotherapeutic drug activity.

One-carbon metabolism in plants: characterization of a plastid serine hydroxymethyltransferase.

SHMT (serine hydroxymethyltransferase; EC 2.1.2.1) catalyses reversible hydroxymethyl group transfer from serine to H4PteGlun (tetrahydrofolate), yielding glycine and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. In plastids, SHMTs are thought to catalytically direct the hydroxymethyl moiety of serine into the metabolic network of H4PteGlun-bound one-carbon units. Genes encoding putative plastid SHMTs were found in the genomes of various plant species. SHMT activity was detected in chloroplasts in pea (Pisum sativum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), suggesting that plastid SHMTs exist in all flowering plants. The Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes one putative plastid SHMT (AtSHMT3). Its cDNA was cloned by reverse transcription-PCR and the encoded recombinant protein was produced in Escherichia coli. Evidence that AtSHMT3 is targeted to plastids was found by confocal microscopy of A. thaliana protoplasts transformed with proteins fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein. Characterization of recombinant AtSHMT3 revealed that substrate affinity for and the catalytic efficiency of H4PteGlu1-8 increase with n, and that H4PteGlu1-8 inhibit AtSHMT3. 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate with one and five glutamate residues inhibited AtSHMT3-catalysed hydroxymethyl group transfer from serine to H4PteGlu6, with the pentaglutamylated inhibitors being more effective. Calculations revealed inhibition with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate or 5-formyltetrahydrofolate resulting in little reduction in AtSHMT3 activity under folate concentrations estimated for plastids.