The prevalence of wheezing and its association with serum zinc concentration in children and adolescents in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of zinc serum status on the prevalence of wheezing in a sample of children and adolescents in Northeastern Brazil. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This is a cross-sectional study which included 592 students of 6-12 years old, from the public elementary schools of São Francisco do Conde, Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Report of wheezing in the past 12 months was collected using a questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Program (ISAAC) phase III, adapted to Portuguese. The determination of serum Zn levels was performed using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Data on anthropometric status, level of physical activity, pubertal development and socioeconomic information, for each participant were obtained. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations of interest. RESULTS: Of the students, 8.6% (95% CI 6.30-10.9) reported having wheezing. The mean (SD) serum zinc level was 114 (22.9 µg/dL). The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis showed, after adjustments, positive and significant association between low serum zinc levels and wheezing. Students categorized as being below the median for serum Zn concentration presented an almost 1.9-fold increase in the wheezing prevalence ratio (OR=1.9; 95% CI 1.03-3.53). CONCLUSION: The main findings of this study suggest that the level of zinc may influence the risk of wheezing in late childhood on the study population.

Evaluation of freshness of frozen seafood sold at the Municipal Market of São Francisco do Conde - BA / Avaliação do frescor do pescado congelado comercializado no mercado municipal de São Francisco do Conde-BA

Avaliou-se o frescor do pescado congelado comercializado no Mercado Municipal de São Francisco do Conde-BA. Foram coletadas 72 amostras de pescado, compreendendo 12 amostras de cada uma das seguintes espécies: robalo (Centropomus undecimalis), tainha (Mugilbrasiliensis), camarão (Penaeus brasiliensis), sururu (Mytella guyanensis), ostra (Crassostrea rhizophorae) e siri (Callinectes sapidus).As análises realizadas compreenderam determinação de pH e de bases voláteis totais (BVT) e provas de Éber para gás sulfídrico e para amônia, seguindo metodologias estabelecidas pelo Instituto Adolfo Lutz e pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). Os resultados evidenciaram que 62,5% das amostras estavam fora do limite permitido pela legislação para pH, 27,8% para bases voláteis totais e 70,8% para gás sulfídrico. Em relação à prova de Éber para amônia, evidenciou-se que 40,3% das amostras apresentaram-se positivas, estando em desacordo com recomendações técnicas. Em face à legislação, registrou-se 90,3% de não conformidade para o conjunto de amostras. Os crustáceos compreenderam o grupo de pescado com maior índice de não atendimento aos padrões. Avalia-se que as "não conformidades"observadas decorreram, provavelmente, de inadequações, tanto no que se refere às condições de higiene quanto à insuficiência de métodos de conservação dos produtos, desde a captura até a comercialização. O estudo sinaliza riscos potenciais à saúde dos consumidores destes produtos e a necessidade de medidas estruturantes, com vistas a fortalecer esta cadeia produtiva, em nível local.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the frozen seafoodcommercialized at the Municipal Market of São Francisco do Conde-BA.Seventy-two samples of seafoodwere collected, comprised of twelve samples for each one of the following species: sea bass (Centropomus undecimalis), mullet (Mugil brasiliensis), shrimp (Penaeus brasiliensis), mussel (Mytella guyanensis), oyster (Crassostrea rhizophorae), and blue crab(Callinectes sapidus). Analyses were carried out to determine pH and total volatile bases (TVB) and Éber test for sulfidric gas and ammonia, following methodologies established by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. Results showed that 62.5% of the samples were above the limit allowed by the legislation for pH, 27.8% for total volatile bases, and 70.8% for sulfudric gas. Regarding Éber test for ammonia, 40.3% of the samples were positive, being failing to comply with technical recommendations. A percentage of 90.3% of non-compliance with the legislation was observed for the whole set of samples. Crustaceans were the group that showed the highest rate for not achieving standards. The study analyzes these non-conformities as being probably resulting from inadequate hygiene conditions, as well as from insufficient of the conservation methods, from the catching to the selling. It points out potential risks for consumer'shealth of this products and the need for structuringmeasures, with the objective of strenghtening this production chain at a local level.(AU)

Avaliação do frescor do pescado congelado comercializado no mercado municipal de São Francisco do Conde - BA / Evaluation of freshness of frozen sea food sold at the municipal market of São Francisco do Conde - BA

Avaliou-se o frescor do pescado congelado comercializado no Mercado Municipal de São Francisco do Conde-BA. Foram coletadas 72 amostras de pescado, compreendendo 12 amostras de cada uma das seguintes espécies: robalo (Centropomus undecimalis), tainha (Mugilbrasiliensis), camarão (Penaeus brasiliensis), sururu (Mytella guyanensis), ostra (Crassostrea rhizophorae) e siri (Callinectes sapidus).As análises realizadas compreenderam determinação de pH e de bases voláteis totais (BVT) e provas de Éber para gás sulfídrico e para amônia, seguindo metodologias estabelecidas pelo Instituto Adolfo Lutz e pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). Os resultados evidenciaram que 62,5% das amostras estavam fora do limite permitido pela legislação para pH, 27,8% para bases voláteis totais e 70,8% para gás sulfídrico. Em relação à prova de Éber para amônia, evidenciou-se que 40,3% das amostras apresentaram-se positivas, estando em desacordo com recomendações técnicas. Em face à legislação, registrou-se 90,3% de não conformidade para o conjunto de amostras. Os crustáceos compreenderam o grupo de pescado com maior índice de não atendimento aos padrões. Avalia-se que as “não conformidades” observadas decorreram, provavelmente, de inadequações, tanto no que se refere às condições de higiene quanto à insuficiência de métodos de conservação dos produtos, desde a captura até a comercialização. O estudo sinaliza riscos potenciais à saúde dos consumidores destes produtos e a necessidade de medidas estruturantes, com vistas a fortalecer esta cadeia produtiva, em nível local.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the frozen seafood commercialized at the Municipal Market of São Francisco do Conde-BA. Seventy-two samples of seafood were collected, comprised of twelve samples for each one of the following species: sea bass (Centropomus undecimalis), mullet (Mugil brasiliensis), shrimp (Penaeus brasiliensis), mussel (Mytella guyanensis), oyster (Crassostrea rhizophorae), and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Analyses were carried out to determine pH and total volatile bases (TVB) and Éber test for sulfidric gas and ammonia, following methodologies established by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. Results showed that 62.5% of the samples were above the limit allowed by the legislation for pH, 27.8% for total volatile bases, and 70.8% for sulfudric gas. Regarding Éber test for ammonia, 40.3% of the samples were positive, being failing to comply with technical recommendations. A percentage of 90.3% of non-compliance with the legislation was observed for the whole set of samples. Crustaceans were the group that showed the highest rate for not achieving standards. The study analyzes these non-conformities as being probably resulting from inadequate hygiene conditions, as well as from insufficient of the conservation methods, from the catching to the selling. It points out potential risks for consumers health of this products and the need for structuring measures, with the objective of strenghtening this production chain at a local level.(AU)