Bone mineral density in adults with Down syndrome: a cross-sectional study in a Brazilian sample.

BACKGROUND: We aim to investigate the relationship between bone mass in a sample of Brazilian individuals with DS and handgrip strength, body mass index (BMI) and physical exercise. METHODS: Dual-energy X-ray emission densitometry analysis of bone mass in 26 individuals with DS (8 men and 18 women with a mean age of 30.7 ± 10.3 years) was conducted. Additionally, weight and height were measured to determine BMI, palmar grip strength was measured using a Jammar dynamometer®, and physical activity was classified using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: In this sample, 2/15 (13.3%) individuals with age between 18 to 29 years had low BMD in the spine; 2/8 (25%) of those with age between 30 and 39 years also had low BMD in the spine and 2/3 (66.6%) with age ≥40 had low BMD in the femur. There were significant correlations between palmar grip strength and Z femoral neck score in women (P = 0.02) and between BMI and Z femoral neck score in men (P = 0.04). All other correlations lacked statistical significance (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Brazilian patients with DS showed a high prevalence of low bone mass. Traditional factors such as muscle strength, BMI and physical activity appear to have little effect on bone mineral density in this population.

Population genetic structure of three species in the genus Astrocaryum G. Mey. (Arecaceae).

We assessed the level and distribution of genetic diversity in three species of the economically important palm genus Astrocaryum located in Pará State, in northern Brazil. Samples were collected in three municipalities for Astrocaryum aculeatum: Belterra, Santarém, and Terra Santa; and in two municipalities for both A. murumuru: Belém and Santo Antônio do Tauá and A. paramaca: Belém and Ananindeua. Eight microsatellite loci amplified well and were used for genetic analysis. The mean number of alleles per locus for A. aculeatum, A. murumuru, and A. paramaca were 2.33, 2.38, and 2.06, respectively. Genetic diversity was similar for the three species, ranging from HE = 0.222 in A. aculeatum to HE = 0.254 in A. murumuru. Both FST and AMOVA showed that most of the genetic variation was found within populations for all three species, but high genetic differentiation among populations was found for A. aculeatum. Three loci were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, with populations of A. paramaca showing a tendency for the excess of heterozygotes (FIS = -0.144). Gene flow was high for populations of A. paramaca (Nm = 19.35). Our results suggest that the genetic diversity within populations followed the genetic differentiation among populations due to high gene flow among the population. Greater geographic distances among the three collection sites for A. aculeatum likely hampered gene flow for this species.

Low hepatitis B vaccine response in children with Down syndrome from Brazil.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that vaccination against hepatitis B is less effective among people with Down syndrome than in the general population. We aimed to evaluate the rate of seroconversion to hepatitis B vaccine in children with Down syndrome from Brazil. METHODS: A total of 120 people with Down syndrome were included. All of them received the vaccine at intervals of 0, 30 and 180 days and serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) 30 days after the last dose. RESULTS: In the studied group, 58.3% (70/120) were male and 41.7% (50/120) female, with the median age of 5 years (range 2-15 years). Fifty-eight of 120 (48.3%) developed anti-HBs after vaccination. No association was found between gender and/or age and vaccine response. CONCLUSIONS: The low rate of seroconversion in response to hepatitis B vaccine suggests that all patients with Down syndrome immunized against hepatitis B should be followed and monitored by clinicians.

Immature stages of the Brazilian crescent butterfly Ortilia liriope (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).

We provide the first information on the morphology of the immature stages (egg, larva, and pupa), oviposition and larval behavior, and host plant, for the Brazilian crescent butterfly Ortilia liriope (Cramer), based on material from Santarém Municipality, Pará State, Northern Brazil. Females of O. liriope lay eggs in clusters. After hatching, larvae eat the exochorion and remain gregarious in all but the final instar. The host plant recorded in the study site is Justicia sp. (Acanthaceae). Despite the scarcity of data on the immature stages of Neotropical Melitaeini, we can already say that some morphological and behavioral traits observed in the immature stages of O. liriope are also present in all known genera in this tribe.