Neck circumference and the burden of metabolic syndrome disease: a population-based sample.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to verify the association between neck circumference (NC) and metabolic syndrome and establish NC cut-off points to predict metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Weight, height, NC, waist circumference, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure were measured in a cross-sectional and population-based study with 966 adults. The association between NC and the burden of metabolic syndrome disease was evaluated by multinomial logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to acquire gender-specific cut-off values and predict metabolic syndrome. The NC is a simple anthropometric measurement, has low evaluation costs, can estimate the subcutaneous fat in the upper body and is related to cardiometabolic risks. RESULTS: NC is an independent predictor of metabolic syndrome burden with high association to women. The syndrome components stratification indicated that the NC of individuals with one component was lower than those with three or more (P = 0.001). Metabolic syndrome prediction cut-off point was a NC of 39.5 cm for men and 33.3 cm for women. CONCLUSIONS: Increased NC was associated with higher metabolic syndrome risks. This anthropometric parameter can be used as an additional marker for screening cardiovascular risk diseases.

Using the method of triads in the validation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess the consumption of fatty acids in adults.

BACKGROUND: It is of great value to develop valid instruments to estimate food consumption; for this purpose, the triads method has been applied in validation studies of dietary intake to evaluate the correlation between three measurements [food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), reference method and biomarker]. The main aim of the present study was to validate a FFQ for Brazilian adults by means of the method of triads by estimating the ingestion of total fatty acids based on the level of saturation. METHODS: The present study enrolled 152 Brazilian adults of both sexes, who were residents in the city of Viçosa, Brazil. The ingestion of total saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, trans, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids was assessed by means of a FFQ, two food records, and biomarkers, which were detected by gas chromatography. The validation coefficients were calculated using the method of triads and concordance was determined by Kappa statistics. RESULTS: The FFQ was considered an adequate dietary method, because, based on the validation coefficients, it estimates the intake of total fat (0.84), as well as linolenic (0.90) and linoleic acids (0.31). A high concordance rate was confirmed for all nutrients assessed by the FFQ and food records. Regarding the biomarkers, linolenic acid and linoleic acid presented greater concordance. CONCLUSIONS: According to the validation coefficients, the FFQ precisely estimated total fat, linolenic acid and linoleic acid contents.

Localization of adhesins on the surface of a pathogenic bacterial envelope through atomic force microscopy.

Bacterial adhesion is the first and a significant step in establishing infection. This adhesion normally occurs in the presence of flow of fluids. Therefore, bacterial adhesins must be able to provide high strength interactions with their target surface in order to maintain the adhered bacteria under hydromechanical stressing conditions. In the case of B. pertussis, a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for pertussis, a highly contagious human respiratory tract infection, an important protein participating in the adhesion process is a 220 kDa adhesin named filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA), an outer membrane and also secreted protein that contains recognition domains to adhere to ciliated respiratory epithelial cells and macrophages. In this work, we obtained information on the cell-surface localization and distribution of the B. pertussis adhesin FHA using an antibody-functionalized AFM tip. Through the analysis of specific molecular recognition events we built a map of the spatial distribution of the adhesin which revealed a non-homogeneous pattern. Moreover, our experiments showed a force induced reorganization of the adhesin on the surface of the cells, which could explain a reinforced adhesive response under external forces. This single-molecule information contributes to the understanding of basic molecular mechanisms used by bacterial pathogens to cause infectious disease and to gain insights into the structural features by which adhesins can act as force sensors under mechanical shear conditions.

Between-Habitat Variation of Benthic Cover, Reef Fish Assemblage and Feeding Pressure on the Benthos at the Only Atoll in South Atlantic: Rocas Atoll, NE Brazil.

The Southwestern Atlantic harbors unique and relatively understudied reef systems, including the only atoll in South Atlantic: Rocas atoll. Located 230 km off the NE Brazilian coast, Rocas is formed by coralline red algae and vermetid mollusks, and is potentially one of the most "pristine" areas in Southwestern Atlantic. We provide the first comprehensive and integrative description of the fish and benthic communities inhabiting different shallow reef habitats of Rocas. We studied two contrasting tide pool habitats: open pools, which communicate with the open ocean even during low tides, thus more exposed to wave action; and closed pools, which remain isolated during low tide and are comparatively less exposed. Reef fish assemblages, benthic cover, algal turfs and fish feeding pressure on the benthos remarkably varied between open and closed pools. The planktivore Thalassoma noronhanum was the most abundant fish species in both habitats. In terms of biomass, the lemon shark Negaprion brevirostris and the omnivore Melichtys niger were dominant in open pools, while herbivorous fishes (mainly Acanthurus spp.) prevailed in closed pools. Overall benthic cover was dominated by algal turfs, composed of articulated calcareous algae in open pools and non-calcified algae in closed pools. Feeding pressure was dominated by acanthurids and was 10-fold lower in open pools than in closed pools. Besides different wave exposure conditions, such pattern could also be related to the presence of sharks in open pools, prompting herbivorous fish to feed more in closed pools. This might indirectly affect the structure of reef fish assemblages and benthic communities. The macroalgae Digenea simplex, which is uncommon in closed pools and abundant in the reef flat, was highly preferred in herbivory assays, indicating that herbivory by fishes might be shaping this distribution pattern. The variations in benthic and reef fish communities, and feeding pressure on the benthos between open and closed pools suggest that the dynamics in open pools is mostly driven by physical factors and the tolerance of organisms to harsh conditions, while in closed pools direct and indirect effects of species interactions also play an important role. Understanding the mechanisms shaping biological communities and how they scale-up to ecosystem functioning is particularly important on isolated near-pristine systems where natural processes can still be studied under limited human impact.

Comparison of remote video and diver's direct observations to quantify reef fishes feeding on benthos in coral and rocky reefs.

This study compared remote underwater video and traditional direct diver observations to assess reef fish feeding impact on benthos across multiple functional groups within different trophic categories (e.g. herbivores, zoobenthivores and omnivores) and in two distinct reef systems: a subtropical rocky reef and a tropical coral reef. The two techniques were roughly equivalent, both detecting the species with higher feeding impact and recording similar bite rates, suggesting that reef fish feeding behaviour at the study areas are not strongly affected by the diver's presence.

Prevalência da utilização de serviços de fisioterapia entre a população adulta urbana de Lages, Santa Catarina / Prevalence of the use of physical therapy services among the urban adult population of Lages, Santa Catarina

Objetivo: Descrever a prevalência da utilização de serviços de fisioterapia entre a população adulta urbana de Lages (Santa Catarina) segundo variáveis demográficas e socioeconômicas. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo transversal de base populacional com amostra obtida em múltiplos estágios e composta por adultos entre 20 e 59 anos (n=2.051). Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas domiciliares em que se obteve a informação por parte dos sujeitos de pesquisa sobre o uso, em algum momento da vida, de serviços de fisioterapia. Foi calculada a prevalência desse desfecho para a população global segundo sexo, idade, escolaridade, autoavaliação em saúde e renda. Resultados: Observou-se que a prevalência da utilização de serviços de fisioterapia foi de 33,5% (IC95% 33,0%-39,8%) entre os homens e de 31,5% (IC95% 28,9%-34,1%) entre as mulheres. Quanto às demais variáveis demográficas investigadas, verificou-se que a prevalência do uso da Fisioterapia aumentou de acordo com a idade dos indivíduos, sendo o maior valor relatado no grupo de 50 a 59 anos (47,2%; IC95% 42,4%-52,0%) e foi maior entre as pessoas que referiram cor amarela (45,9%; IC95% 29,1%-62,7%). Em relação às variáveis socioeconômicas, constatou-se que grupos com melhores indicadores reportaram maior uso do serviço, sendo esse valor equivalente a 46,9% (IC95% 42,3%-51,5%) no estrato de maior renda e a 37,5% (IC95% 34,4%-40,7%) entre aqueles de 12 a 15 anos de estudo. Conclusão: Observou-se, no presente estudo, que o uso de serviços de fisioterapia variou na população de acordo com as características socioeconômicas e demográficas das pessoas investigadas.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of physical therapy service use among the urban adult population of Lages (Santa Catarina), according to demographic and socioeconomic variables. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study with multiple-stage sampling was carried out among adults aged 20 to 59 years (n=2051). Data were gathered by means of interviews at the participants’ home, in which they provided information on the use of physical therapy services over their lifetime. The prevalence of this outcome was estimated for the entire population according to sex, age, educational level, self-evaluation of health, and income. Results: The prevalence of physical therapy service use was 33.5% (95% CI: 33.0%-39.8%) among men and 31.5% (95% CI: 28.9%-34.1%) among women. Regarding the other demographic variables investigated, the prevalence of physical therapy use increased with age and was highest among the 50 to 59 year-old group (47.2%; 95% CI: 42.4%-52.0%). The prevalence was also higher among participants of self-reported Asian background (45.9%; 95% CI: 29.1%-62.7%). Regarding socioeconomic variables, it was observed that groups with better indicators reported greater service use: 46.9% (95% CI: 42.3%-51.5%) in the highest income range and 37.5% (95% CI: 34.4%-40.7%) in the range of 12 to 15 years of education. Conclusion: The present study found that physical therapy service use varied among this population according to the participants’ socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.