Metabolic risk factors in prepubertal and pubertal patients with overweight and obesity.

OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions linked to obesity that increases cardiovascular risk. We evaluated the frequency of clinical abnormalities associated with overweight and obesity in childhood, to determine whether a diagnosis of MetS is appropriate in this population. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 116 pubertal and prepubertal children with a mean age (SD) of 10.9 (2.5) years, with overweight and obesity. We defined MetS using the International Diabetes Federation criteria, regardless of the age. RESULTS: 45 patients met the criteria, 20 had at least one metabolic abnormality in addition to a high waist circumference (WC), and seven with WC below percentile 90th, had at least one metabolic abnormality. The prepubertal had higher zBMI [3.1 (2.6-3.8) vs. 2.8 (2.4-3.3); p=0.037], less lean body mass (kg) [27.13 (7.3) vs. 34.13 (9.8); p=0.005] and a similar frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compared to the pubertal [44.7 vs. 35.9; p=0.323]. Prepubertal with NAFLD had higher zBMI, lower HDL levels, higher TG/HDL ratios and higher fat percentages; while pubertal with NAFLD had higher WC/height, aspartate aminotransferase and oxaloacetic transaminase. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of MetS in childhood is not fundamental. Individualized management, focusing on the earliest age groups, in which we identified a more severe degree of obesity, should be done. We also recommend screening for NAFLD in all ages, due to the high prevalence observed.

Velhas teses, novos dados: uma análise metodológica / Old theses, new data: a methodological analysis

The author revisits the themes proposed by Jairo Nicolau in a previous article (Dados, vol. 47, nº 1, 2004) concerning coalition votes in Brazil. Using election tables from the Superior Electoral Court and tables amended by Nicolau, the author evaluates whether the data studied by Nicolau support the thesis that he significantly modified the original Electoral Court data and thereby invalidated current hypotheses on variations in party votes from 1946 to 1962 in relation to the degree of nationalization in the Brazilian party system and fractionation rates, both during the same period. The author concludes that Nicolau's theses are invalid, including the use he makes of the concept of "effective number of parties".

Política social e combate a pobreza / Social politics and poverty

Analisa criticamente os dilemas e contradiçöes inerentes à trágica condiçäo da maioria da sociedade brasileira, além de questionar os modos correntes de pensar e agir sobre a questäo social. Busca compreender os mecanismos de produçäo e reproduçäo da pobreza e das desigualdades e a derivaçäo de critérios de açäo, intervençäo e avaliaçäo de políticas econômicas e sociais.

Cidadania e justiça: a política social na ordem brasileira / Citizenship and justice: the social policy in the Brazilian order

Análise da política social brasileria durante o período autoritário e as tendências atuais, abordando o perfil da política de bem-estar, o estado social da nação, a política social autoritária e a cidadania emergente

Amiloidose de laringe: tratamento com "laser" de CO2 / Laryngeal amyloidosis: treatment with CO2

Apresenta-se um caso de amiloidose de laringe, discutindo a etiopatogenia da doença sob a luz das teorias atuais. Os tratamentos utilizados até entäo säo apresentados e, por fim, mostra-se o resultado do tratamento com aplicaçäo de raios laser de CO2, que, no caso, foi excelente