Body composition of preschool children and relation to birth weight.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the relationship between body composition of preschool children suffering from excess weight and birth weight (BW). METHODS: probabilistic sample, by conglomerates, with 17 daycare centers (of a total of 59) composing a final sample of 479 children. We used Z-score of Body Mass Index (zBMI) ≥ +1 and ≥ +2, respectively, to identify preschool children with risk of overweight and excess weight (overweight or obesity). The arm muscle area (AMA) and the arm fat area (AFA) were estimated from measurements of arm circumference, triceps skin fold thickness. RESULTS: the prevalence of risk of overweight was 22.9% (n=110) and excess weight was 9.3% (n=44). The risk of overweight and excess weight in children did not show correlation between BW and AFA, but it did with adjusted arm muscle area (AMAa) (rp= 0.21; p= 0.0107). The analysis of the group with excess weight alone also showed a positive correlation between BW and AMAa (rp= 0.42; p= 0.0047). CONCLUSION: among overweight children, lower BW is associated with a lower arm muscle area in early preschool age, regardless of the fat arm area presented by them.

Body composition of preschool children and relation to birth weight

Objective: to evaluate the relationship between body composition of preschool children suffering from excess weight and birth weight (BW). Methods: probabilistic sample, by conglomerates, with 17 daycare centers (of a total of 59) composing a final sample of 479 children. We used Z-score of Body Mass Index (zBMI) ≥ +1 and ≥ +2, respectively, to identify preschool children with risk of overweight and excess weight (overweight or obesity). The arm muscle area (AMA) and the arm fat area (AFA) were estimated from measurements of arm circumference, triceps skin fold thickness. Results: the prevalence of risk of overweight was 22.9% (n=110) and excess weight was 9.3% (n=44). The risk of overweight and excess weight in children did not show correlation between BW and AFA, but it did with adjusted arm muscle area (AMAa) (rp= 0.21; p= 0.0107). The analysis of the group with excess weight alone also showed a positive correlation between BW and AMAa (rp= 0.42; p= 0.0047). Conclusion: among overweight children, lower BW is associated with a lower arm muscle area in early preschool age, regardless of the fat arm area presented by them. .

Objetivo: avaliar a relação entre a composição corporal de pré-escolares portadores de excesso de peso e o seu peso ao nascimento (PN). Métodos: amostra probabilística, por conglomerados, com 17 creches (de um total de 59), composta por 479 crianças. Para identificar os pré-escolares portadores de risco de sobrepeso e de excesso de peso (sobrepeso ou obesidade), utilizou-se o escore Z de índice de massa corpórea (zIMC) ≥ +1 e ≥ +2, respectivamente. A área muscular do braço corrigida (AMB) e a área gorda do braço (AGB) foram estimadas a partir das medidas de circunferência do braço e da dobra cutânea tricipital. Resultados: a prevalência de risco de sobrepeso foi de 22.9% (n= 110) e de excesso de peso de 9.3% (n= 44). Juntas, as crianças com risco de sobrepeso e excesso de peso não mostraram correlação entre o PN e a área gorda do braço, mas, sim, com a área muscular do braço corrigida (AMBc) (rp= 0.21; p= 0.0107). A análise só do grupo com excesso de peso também evidenciou correlação positiva entre PN e AMBc (rp= 0.42; p= 0.0047). Conclusão: nas crianças com excesso de peso, um menor PN está associado a uma menor área muscular do braço no início da idade pré-escolar, independentemente da área gorda do braço que elas apresentem. .

Skin reactivity to thimerosal and phenol-preserved Montenegro antigen in Brazil.

A randomized double-blind trial was performed to determine the frequency of positive reactions to the Montenegro antigen (leishmanin) preserved in thimerosal (Merthiolate) 1:10,000 or phenol 0.4%. The respective products were tested separately in 400 young healthy individuals from a non-endemic area for Leishmaniases. Each volunteer received one of the following reagents: merthiolated antigen, phenolated antigen, merthiolated saline, or phenolated saline. The frequency of positive responses to each reagent after the first application was as follows: 0% (phenolated saline), 9.2% (merthiolated saline), 34.6% (antigen in phenolated saline), and 41.1% (antigen in merthiolated saline). After 1 week, volunteers who had tested positive for merthiolated or phenolated antigen were retested with the respective preservative, while negatives were retested with the preservative they had not received during the first test. In all, 331 volunteers who received merthiolated saline during the study, of whom 41 (12.4%) tested positive. Meanwhile, 326 volunteers who received phenolated saline, 4 (1.2%) tested positive. Positive reactions in each group were similar in relation to gross appearance skin reactions. Considering the high frequency of hypersensitivity to thimerosal in the study population, it is recommended that this compound should be replaced as a preservative of the leishmanin antigen. Almost 30% of positive reactions to Montenegro antigen in what is considered a non-endemic region was surprising and will be the object of future studies.