The overweight increases circulating inflammatory mediators commonly associated with obesity in young individuals.

Obesity is a serious and growing world healthy problem affecting developed and developing countries. The new conception of obesity as a basal inflammatory condition has opened a new window of possibilities to identify inflammatory biomarkers to be used in the diagnosis or prognosis of obesity-associated comorbidities. This present work aims the identification of the adipokines (leptin and resistin), chemokines (CCL2, CCL5, CXCL16) and the BMP-2 and their association with the clinical, biochemical (fasting glucose, hemogram, cholesterol, T3, T4 and TSH) and anthropometric (weight, height, body circumferences, skinfold thickness and percentage of body fat) parameters in young adults (18-30 years old) presenting obesity and overweight. Our data showed increasing in anthropometric parameters and in the plasma inflammatory levels in those individuals presenting overweight and obesity. We observed a higher plasma levels of CCL2, CCL5, CXCL16, leptin and resistin in those overweigh and obese individuals. In addition, the CCL2, CCL5 presented a positive correlation with the body mass index and the body fat percentage. Assuming the obesity as a systemic inflammatory process, in this current study, the overweight individuals possess a close similar pattern of circulating inflammatory mediators which might be a potential risk of the development of obesity comorbidities. Further studies are still needed to precise the role of the biomarkers CCL2, CCL5, CXCL16 and BMP-2 in the clinical prognosis related to the overweight or obese individuals.

CXCL-16, IL-17, and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) are associated with overweight and obesity conditions in middle-aged and elderly women.

BACKGROUND: The current concept of overweight/obesity is most likely related to a combination of increased caloric intake and decreased energy expenditure. Widespread inflammation, associated with both conditions, appears to contribute to the development of some obesity-related comorbidities. Interventions that directly or indirectly target individuals at high risk of developing obesity have been largely proposed because of the increasing number of overweight/obese cases worldwide. The aim of the present study was to assess CXCL16, IL-17, and BMP-2 plasma factors in middle-aged and elderly women and relate them to an overweight or obese status. In total, 117 women were selected and grouped as eutrophic, overweight, and obese, according to anthropometric parameters. Analyses of anthropometric and circulating biochemical parameters were followed by plasma immunoassays for CXCL-16, IL-17, and BMP-2. RESULTS: Plasma mediators increased in all overweight and obese individuals, with the exception of BMP-2 in the elderly group, whereas CXCL16 levels were shown to differentiate overweight and obese individuals. Overweight and/or obese middle-aged and elderly individuals presented with high LDL, triglycerides, and glycemia levels. Anthropometric parameters indicating increased-cardiovascular risk were positively correlated with CXCL-16, BMP-2, and IL-17 levels in overweight and obese middle-aged and elderly individuals. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that CXCL-16, IL-17, and BMP-2 are potential plasma indicators of inflammatory status in middle-aged and elderly women; therefore, further investigation of obesity-related comorbidities is recommended. CXCL16, in particular, could be a potential marker for middle-aged and elderly individuals transitioning from eutrophic to overweight body types, which represents an asymptomatic and dangerous condition.

Retinol-binding protein 4 and insulin resistance are related to body fat in primary and secondary schoolchildren: the Ouro Preto study.

PURPOSE: Evidence suggests that plasma retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and insulin resistance are related to body fat (BF). We aimed to assess the relationship between RBP4 and insulin resistance with obesity in a mixed (skin color) cohort of the Brazilian population. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted in 227 schoolchildren aged 7-14 years. Schoolchildren with a high BF percentage (% BF, ≥ 30 for girls and ≥ 25 for boys) were identified as the obese group (n = 137), and those with lower values were identified as the non-obese group (n = 90). Percentage of body fat (% BF) was determined by tetrapolar bioimpedance (Quantum II, RJL System), RBP4 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Immunology Consultants Laboratory), plasma fasting insulin by chemiluminescent immunoassay (Access(®) Immunoassay System) and insulin resistance by the homeostasis model insulin resistance (IR(HOMA)) index. Serum lipid profile and arterial blood pressure were evaluated. RESULTS: The significant independent risk factors associated with obesity were as follows: male sex, increased serum LDL-C, RBP4 and IR(HOMA). Among children with higher RBP4, the association with obesity increased significantly (from 3.1 to 8.5) in the presence of insulin resistance, when compared to higher RBP4 and non-insulin resistance. CONCLUSION: IR(HOMA) and RBP4 showed significant associations with obesity and traditional CVD risk factors. They might therefore be used as a marker for CVD risk and have clinical implications in the development of comorbidities associated with obesity.

Prevalência de enteroparasitoses em escolares do bairro Morro de Santana no município de Ouro Preto, MG / Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in students from public school in Morro de Santana, Ouro Preto, MG

As parasitoses intestinais representam um grave problema de saúde pública, principalmente nos países em desenvolvimento, onde as condições de higiene e saneamento básico são precárias. Considerando que as crianças são as mais atingidas, avaliamos neste trabalho, a prevalência de enteroparasitoses nos discentes das escolas municipais de educação infantil e ensino fundamental, situadas no bairro Morro de Santana em Ouro Preto, MG, no período de agosto a dezembro de 2000. No estudo foram realizados exames parasitológicos de fezes e hemogramas dos alunos na faixa etária de 4 a 16 anos. A análise das fezes revelou alto índice de parasitoses (53 de amostras positivas), com prevalência de Ascaris lumbricoides. Dentre os positivos, 49