Increased monocytes are associated with overweight in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder / El aumento de los monocitos se asocia con el sobrepeso en los niños y adolescentes con trastorno del espectro autista

Objective: to investigate the monocyte count and its association with nutritional status in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: a cross-sectional study carried out at a Neurodevelopmental Center in the south of Brazil, with 68 ASD patients aged 3 to 18 years. The number of monocytes (per mm3) was determined in blood samples. Nutritional status was defined as BMI-for-age according to WHO standards. The Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and a standard questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were administered to caregivers. Comparisons between sociodemographic, clinical, and eating behavior variables were performed with parametric tests. Linear regression was used to test the association between nutritional status and monocyte count. Results: mean age was 8.6 ± 3.3 years, 79 % were males and 66 % were overweight. In the unadjusted regression overweight was associated with higher monocyte counts compared to those non-overweight (B: 64.0; 95 % CI, 13.9 to 114.1; β: 0.30, p = 0.01). This association remained significant after adjustment for the subscale of “emotional overeating” (B: 37.0; 95 % CI, 17.1 to 91.3; β: 0.29; p = 0.02). The variability in monocyte count attributed to overweight was 14 %. Conclusions: overweight is associated with a higher monocyte count in children and adolescents with ASD. Nutritional intervention to control overweight is essential to mitigate the negative impact on inflammatory activity and immune dysfunction in these patients. (AU)

Objetivo: investigar el recuento de monocitos y su asociación con el estado nutricional en niños y adolescentes con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA). Método: estudio transversal realizado en el Centro de Neurodesarrollo, en el sur de Brasil, con 68 pacientes con TEA de 3 a 18 años de edad. Se determinó el número de monocitos (por mm3) en muestras de sangre. El estado nutricional se definió como IMC para la edad según los estándares de la OMS. Se aplicó a los cuidadores el Cuestionario de Conducta Alimentaria Infantil y un cuestionario estándar para recoger características sociodemográficas y clínicas. Las comparaciones entre las variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y de conducta alimentaria se realizaron con pruebas paramétricas. Se utilizó la regresión lineal para probar la asociación entre el estado nutricional y el recuento de monocitos. Resultados: la edad media fue de 8,6 ± 3,3 años, el 79 % eran varones y el 66 % tenían sobrepeso. En la regresión no ajustada, el sobrepeso se asoció a un mayor número de monocitos en comparación con los que no tenían sobrepeso (B: 64,0; IC 95 %: 13,9 a 114,1; β: 0,30; p = 0,01). Esta asociación siguió siendo significativa tras ajustar la subescala de “sobrealimentación emocional” (B: 37,0; IC 95 %: 17,1 a 91,3; β: 0,29; p = 0,02). La variabilidad en el recuento de monocitos atribuida al sobrepeso fue del 14 %. Conclusiones: el sobrepeso se asocia a un mayor recuento de monocitos en niños y adolescentes con TEA. La intervención nutricional para controlar el sobrepeso es esencial para mitigar el impacto negativo sobre la actividad inflamatoria y la disfunción inmune en estos pacientes. (AU)

Age of sexual initiation and depression in adolescents: Data from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that sexual initiation at earlier ages increases the risk of depressive symptoms in adolescents. However, little is known about its association with major depressive episode (MDE). METHODS: The association between age of sexual initiation and MDE at 18 years was assessed in the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort using multiple logistic regression. Sexual initiation characteristics (age and type of partner) were assessed at the 15- and 18-years follow-up. The age of sexual initiation was evaluated in categories (11-14, 15-16, 17+ years). The type of partner was categorized into: boyfriend/ girlfriend, casual partner and other. MDE was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). RESULTS: From the 4027 adolescents assessed, the prevalence of MDE was higher in females (10.1%) than in males (3.4%), and 66.7% of the males and 58.6% of the females reported sexual initiation up to 16 years (p < 0.001). Female adolescents who had sexual initiation <17 years had higher odds of MDE (15-16 years: OR 2.29; 11-14 years: OR 2.23), however no association was found for males. The type of partner in the first sexual intercourse was not associated to depression. LIMITATIONS: Possibility of recall bias on the age of sexual initiation, and low statistical power for some analyses. CONCLUSIONS: A positive association between age of sexual initiation and MDE was observed only in females. More investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms through which age of sexual initiation can affect the risk of depression and whether the association persists in adulthood.