Assessment of buccal mucosa genotoxicity in insecticide-exposed urban fumigators in Cali, Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate cytogenetic damage in the buccal mucosa of non-exposed subjects (N = 33) and insecticide-exposed fumigators (N = 31) in the urban area of Cali, Colombia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Through a questionnaire sociodemographic data, anthropometric measurements, state of health, and lifestyle were collected. Buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay was using for evaluate cytogenetic damage. RESULTS: The study showed that all fumigators used adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and had low alcohol consumption. The authors did not find significant differences in BMCyt biomarkers between the groups (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed a 13% increase in micronucleus (MN) frequency for every year of increasing age (OR = 1.13, p = 0.029), and higher MN with the decrease in daily fruit consumption (OR = 4.71, p = 0.084), without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The results between groups could be related to healthy habits and PPE use among the subjects. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):128-37.

Excess adiposity and iron-deficient status in Colombian women of reproductive age.

OBJECTIVE: Information about excess adiposity markers different from BMI and iron status is limited and more so about the shape of these associations. This study evaluated the relationship between three adiposity markers and iron-deficient status in reproductive-age women. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis in 6357 non-pregnant women from the Colombian nutritional health survey (ENSIN) 2010. Exposures were the following: waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (W-HtR), BMI, and WC > 80 cm, W-HtR > 0.5, and BMI ≥ 25 and ≥30. Outcomes were the following: iron deficiency (ID) as serum ferritin <15 µg/L, ID as ferritin <30 µg/L, anemia, and continuous values of ferritin and hemoglobin. Logistic and linear regressions adjusted for sociodemographic/inflammation covariates were conducted. RESULTS: All the adiposity markers, continuous or categorical, were inversely and significantly associated with both ID thresholds in fully adjusted models (p < 0.05). W-HtR reported stronger effect estimates for ID (odds ratios < 0.5) and for prediction of log-ferritin levels (fully adjusted ß-coefficient [95% CI] 0.61 [0.39-0.82], p < 0.01) and was also inversely associated with anemia (p < 0.05). In cubic splines analyses, W-HtR, WC, and BMI were linearly associated with ID from values closer to international thresholds of general or central obesity, and the patterns of WC and BMI tended toward flatness. A significant decline in the likelihood of anemia was steeper by increasing W-HtR than by increasing BMI. After exclusion of women with C reactive protein > 5 mg/L or adjustment for C reactive protein, adiposity markers remained significantly related to ferritin levels and W-HtR with anemia. CONCLUSIONS: Women with higher adiposity were less likely to have an iron-deficient status. W-HtR was the strongest and most consistently associated marker. Inflammation would not be involved in the associations found.

Sexual dimorphism of leptin and adiposity in children between 0 and 10 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Differences in adolescents and adults by sex in blood levels of leptin and adiposity have been described; however, it is not yet clear if these differences arise from the prepubertal stage in subjects with a normal-weight. Therefore, we examine whether there are differences by sex in levels of blood leptin and adiposity in children with a normal-weight between 0 and 10 years old. METHODS: Search strategy: eligible studies were obtained from three electronic databases (Ovid, Embase and LILACS) and contact with experts. SELECTION CRITERIA: healthy children up to 10 years of age with normal-weight according to age. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSES: data were extracted by four independent reviewers using a predesigned data collection form. For the analysis, we stratified according to age groups (newborns, 0.25-0.5 years, 3-5.9 years, 6-7.9 years, 8-10 years). The statistical analysis was performed in the R program. RESULTS: Of the initially identified 13,712 records, 21 were selected in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The sex was associated with the overall effect on blood leptin (pooled MD = 1.72 ng/mL, 95% CI: 1.25-2.19) and body fat percentage (pooled MD = 3.43%, 95% CI: 2.53-4.33), being both higher in girls. This finding was consistent in the majority of age groups. CONCLUSION: The results of our meta-analyses support the sexual dimorphism in circulating blood leptin and body fat percentage between girls and boys with normal-weight from prepuberty.

Soluble Transferrin Receptor, Antioxidant Status and Cardiometabolic Risk in Apparently Healthy Individuals.

Body iron excess appears to be related to insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk and increased oxidative stress might be involved in this relationship. Very few studies have described the association between soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels and cardiometabolic risk in the general population or antioxidant status. There were 239 subjects (20−65 years old) included in this cross-sectional study. Linear regressions adjusting for BMI, menopausal status, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), physical inactivity, alcohol intake and subclinical/chronic inflammation were used to describe the association between sTfR, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and measures of cardio-metabolic risk. sTfR levels were positively associated with TAC in men (ßeta [95% confidence interval ]: 0.31 [0.14 to 0.48]) and women (ßeta = 0.24 [0.07 to 0.40]) in non-adjusted and adjusted models (p < 0.05). In men, sTfR levels were inversely associated with waist circumference (ßeta [95% confidence interval]: −1.12 [−2.30 to −0.22]) and fasting glucose (−2.7 (−4.82 to −0.57), and positively with LDL cholesterol (12.41 (6.08 to 18.57) before and after adjustments for confounding variables. LDL cholesterol had a significant and positive association with TAC in non-adjusted and adjusted models in men (p < 0.05). sTfR levels are significantly associated with antioxidant status and a few specific cardio-metabolic risk variables, independently of covariates that included serum ferritin and hepcidin. This might imply that iron biomarkers in regard to cardiometabolic risk reflect physiological contexts other than iron metabolism.

Metabolic status is related to the effects of adding of sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) oil on postprandial inflammation and lipid profile: Randomized, crossover clinical trial.

Sacha inchi oil (SIO) is an attractive source of polyunsaturated acids oil. A randomized crossover clinical trial was done to evaluate SIO effects on postprandial lipids and inflammatory state caused by a high-fat intake. Twenty metabolically healthy (MH) and 22 metabolically unhealthy (MU) subjects consumed a high-fat breakfast alone or supplemented with SIO. The biomarkers were measured in serum upon fasting, and after 1 and 4 hrs after breakfast. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression was determined in mononuclear cells. In the MH group, SIO reversed the cholesterol increase [iAUCHFM : 0.27 mmol/L/4 h (IQR: -0.07/0.81); iAUCHFM+S : -0.18 mmol/L/4 h (IQR: -0.49/0.31) p = 0.037] and decreased interleukin-6 concentration. In MU group, SIO attenuated lipopolysaccharides increase and interleukin-6 expression [(FCHFM  = -1.19 (IQR: -1.72/1.93) and FCHFM+S  = -1.83 (IQR: -4,82/-0.01), p = 0.017]. The effects of a high-fat meal on postprandial lipids and inflammation could be modified by the addition of SIO, but the outcomes are depending on the metabolic individual status. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The seeds of Plukenetia volubilis L., also known as Sacha inchi, Sacha peanut or Inca peanut are an attractive vegetable source of oil which includes a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the intake of Sacha inchi oil could improve the postprandial responses of a high-fat intake, and could be able to help to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Our results contribute to know the effects of this oil on postprandial inflammation and lipids. In addition, establishing how a person's basal metabolic status can determinate the metabolic response to this oil can help improve its use, and our results add evidence about the role of nutrition and diet in health and disease. At this time, the cultivation of Sacha inchi is being proposed as an agro-industrial alternative for the improvement of quality of living in Colombian rural areas.

Determinantes prenatales y postnatales tempranos de enfermedades cardiovasculares en el adulto / Prenatal and early postnatal determinants of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood

El enfoque tradicional en la prevención de las Enfermedades Crónicas No Transmisibles (ECNT) como las Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (ECVs) se ha centrado en el estudio e intervención de factores de riesgo clásicos (sedentarismo, malnutrición, tabaquismo, obesidad etc) en la etapa adulta, sin embargo actualmente hay suficiente evidencia que permite considerar que el riesgo de desarrollar una ECVs se inicia desde la etapa prenatal y postnatal temprana. Esta susceptibilidad ocurre en periodos de tiempo de alta plasticidad celular frente a factores de riesgo clásicos y no clásicos, que pueden determinar las instauración fisiológica de disfunción endotelial, resistencia a la insulina, inflamación subclínica crónica y modificaciones epigenéticas estables. Por lo tanto, nuevos esfuerzos en prevención y tratamiento de las ECVs deberían tener en cuenta la salud prenatal y postnatal temprana como un primer paso para reducir la morbimortalidad ocasionada por estas patologías.

The traditional approach in the prevention of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has focused on the study and intervention of classic risk factors (sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, smoking, obesity etc.) in adulthood, however currently, there is evidence that suggest that the risk of developing CVD starts since prenatal and early postnatal stage. This susceptibility occurs in periods of high cellular plasticity where the risk factors classical and non-classical can determine the physiological onset of endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, chronic subclinical inflammation and stable epigenetic modifications. Therefore, further efforts in prevention and treatment of CVD should consider the prenatal and early postnatal determinants of child health as a first step towards reducing morbidity and mortality caused by these diseases.

Relationship between maternal and newborn endothelial function and oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Relationship between maternal and newborn endothelial function and oxidative stress. METHODS: Forty-three pregnant women and their offspring were evaluated. As markers of endothelial function, the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured in pregnant women in the second and third trimesters, and nitric oxide (NO) was quantified in the endothelial cells of the umbilical cord vein. Malondialdehyde (MDA), as a marker of oxidative stress, was measured in the maternal plasma (second and third trimesters) and plasma from umbilical cord blood. Gestational age and birth weight were recorded. Correlations between variables were estimated, and adjustments were made for specific gestational week of measurement, gestational age at birth, and complications during pregnancy and/or at delivery. RESULTS: Maternal FMD at second trimester correlated positively with newborn MDA, although with marginal significance (P = 0.090). The change in maternal FMD was positively correlated with newborn NO (P = 0.039), although adjustment for gestational age and specific week of gestation attenuated this relationship (P = 0.070). Maternal MDA at second trimester correlated positively with newborn MDA independently of gestational age at birth, specific week of gestation of the measurement, and having complications during pregnancy or at delivery (P = 0.032). After adjustments, the change in maternal MDA correlated with newborn MDA but marginally (P = 0.077). CONCLUSION: Study findings suggest that under physiological conditions, enhanced endothelial function and/or oxidative stress in the mother may impact on normal fetal development. Future studies are recommended, employing larger sample sizes, a more extensive set of markers of oxidative stress, and comparisons of complicated versus normal pregnancies.

Early atherosclerotic lesions and post-mortem serum cholesterol level in a group of Colombian children / Lesiones ateroscleróticas tempranas y nivel de colesterol post mórtem en un grupo de niños colombianos

Introduction: Atherosclerosis is an asymptomatic chronic disease, which begins at early age and is difficult to detect during this stage. Prospective studies suggest a causal relationship between total serum cholesterol levels during childhood and early adolescence and the development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of early atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta artery of children and its relationship with post-mortem serum cholesterol levels. Material and methods: Post-mortem samples of blood and aorta were taken from 43 subjects aged less than 17 years old. Histopathological analysis (intimal thickening and inflammatory infiltrates) of the thoracic aorta and measurement of total serum cholesterol were performed. Results: The analysis showed thickening of the intima and lymphocyte infiltrates in 93% of children, and macrophage infiltrates in 79.1% of cases. A relationship between the highest terciles of total serum cholesterol levels and the presence of multiple lesions in the aorta wall was found (P<0.05). Conclusion: This group of children had a high prevalence of early inflammatory atherosclerotic lesions positively related with serum cholesterol levels. To our knowledge this study represents the first report of a relationship between post-mortem total serum cholesterol levels and pathological findings of macrophages and lymphocytes infiltrates in the aorta wall.

Introducción. La aterosclerosis es una enfermedad crónica asintomática que se inicia a edad temprana y es de difícil detección en esta etapa. Los estudios prospectivos sugieren una relación causal entre el nivel de colesterol sérico total en la niñez y la adolescencia, y el desarrollo de enfermedades cardiovasculares en la adultez. Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar, post mórtem, la prevalencia de lesiones ateroscleróticas tempranas en la arteria aorta de niños y su relación con los niveles de colesterol. Materiales y métodos. Se tomaron muestras de sangre y de aorta de 43 sujetos con edades menores de 17 años. Se hizo el análisis histopatológico (engrosamiento de la íntima e infiltrado inflamatorio) de la aorta torácica y la medición de colesterol en suero. Resultados. El análisis mostró engrosamiento de la íntima e infiltrado linfocitario en 93 % de los niños, e infiltrado de macrófagos en 79,1 %. Se encontró relación entre los terciles superiores de colesterol sérico y la presencia de múltiples lesiones en la pared de la aorta (p<0,05). Conclusión. Este grupo de niños presentó una alta prevalencia de lesiones ateroscleróticas inflamatorias tempranas relacionada positivamente con niveles de colesterol sérico. Para nuestro conocimiento, este estudio representa el primer reporte de la relación entre el colesterol sérico y los hallazgos histopatológicos de infiltrado de macrófagos y linfocitos en la pared de la aorta, post mórtem.

Adiposity markers and cardiovascular risk in urban Colombian adolescents: heterogeneity in association patterns.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of tricipital (TS), abdominal (AS), subscapular (SS), and suprailiac (SIS) skinfolds, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Waist Circumference (WC) with 1) variables related to cardiovascular risk (CVR) and 2) the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) - referenced pediatric cut-off points - in a multivariate analysis. MATERIALS/METHODS: The sample was 1672 adolescents. Glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure and anthropometric variables were measured. RESULTS: Adjusting for age, gender, and caloric intake, the highest quartile (Q4) of adiposity markers was associated to Q4 of biochemical and blood pressure variables. However, the association was not found for WC, SS and TS with glucose, and for diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with TS, SS, and SIS. Triglycerides Q4 was related to Q4 of SS, AS, and SIS after further adjustments, as well as HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) Q1 with Q4 of SS and AS. Glucose Q4 was associated to BMI, AS (Not adjusting for BMI and SIS), and SIS Q4 (Not adjusting for BMI and TS). LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) Q4 was associated to TS and SS Q4. The associations of LDL-C Q4 and HDL-C Q1 with WC Q4 were not significant after further adjustments. All the adiposity markers, except WC and TS, were associated to CVRF clustering in all the adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: In the adolescents, subcutaneous fat from the trunk (SS, AS, SIS) was better and independently associated to CVR variables and with CVRF clustering than visceral fat (WC). Further research is required to explain the specificity in the described associations.

Early atherosclerotic lesions and post-mortem serum cholesterol level in a group of Colombian children.

INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerosis is an asymptomatic chronic disease, which begins at early age and is difficult to detect during this stage. Prospective studies suggest a causal relationship between total serum cholesterol levels during childhood and early adolescence and the development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of early atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta artery of children and its relationship with post-mortem serum cholesterol levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Post-mortem samples of blood and aorta were taken from 43 subjects aged less than 17 years old. Histopathological analysis (intimal thickening and inflammatory infiltrates) of the thoracic aorta and measurement of total serum cholesterol were performed. RESULTS: The analysis showed thickening of the intima and lymphocyte infiltrates in 93% of children, and macrophage infiltrates in 79.1% of cases. A relationship between the highest terciles of total serum cholesterol levels and the presence of multiple lesions in the aorta wall was found ( P <0.05). CONCLUSION: This group of children had a high prevalence of early inflammatory atherosclerotic lesions positively related with serum cholesterol levels. To our knowledge this study represents the first report of a relationship between post-mortem total serum cholesterol levels and pathological findings of macrophages and lymphocytes infiltrates in the aorta wall.

Análisis comparativo del VO2máx estimado mediante las ecuaciones desarrolladas por Jackson et al y el American College of Sport Medicine en corredores de maratón / No disponible

Fundamento: Una reducida capacidad funcional, o VO2máx, es considerada como factor de riesgo que ocasiona la muerte por múltiples causas, pero principalmente por enfermedad coronaria. Por lo anterior, y sumado a la dificultad que representa su evaluación, se han sugerido otras alternativas para considerarla, desarrollando ecuaciones de predicción, sin la necesidad de realizar ejercicio. Objetivo: Analizar comparativamente las ecuaciones para la predicción del VO2máx mediante el test “Nonexercise regression models to estimate peak oxygen consumtion” (PAR/PAF), y la desarrollada por el American College Sport Medicine (ACSM) en corredores de maratón. Mediciones principales: Variables sociodemográficas: edad (años), estado civil, estrato socioeconómico, nivel educativo y tipo de afiliación al sistema de Seguridad Social en Salud. Variables antropométricas: estatura (m), peso (kg), índice de masa corporal (IMC kg/m2) y perímetro abdominal. Variable de capacidad funcional: ecuaciones de predicción, descritos por Jackson et al (PAR/PAF), y el ACSM(AU)

Resultados: Se encontraron correlaciones entre el cálculo del ACSM y el cuestionario PAR/PAF en función al tiempo de llegada (p < 0,001, r2 = 0,94), (pNS, r2 = 0,00), y en función de la edad (pNS, r2 = 0,00), (p < 0,001, r2 = 0,87), n = 81, respectivamente. Al diferenciarlos por grupos de edad, con el cálculo del ACSM y el PAR/PAF en mayores de 30 años, se encontró una importante correlación en función al tiempo de llegada (p < 0,001, r2 = 0,95), (pNS, r2 = 0,09), respectivamente. Resultados contrarios en función de la edad, ACSM (pNS, r2 = 0,03), PAR/PAF (p < 0,001, r2 = 0,78). En menores de 30 años, comparados los métodos con el tiempo de llegada, el cálculo del ACSM demostró una alta correlación (p < 0,001, r2 = 0,97), contraria al cálculo del PAR/PAF (pNS, r2 = 0,03). Al comparar ambos métodos y su relación con la edad, no se encontraron correlaciones significativas (r2 = 0,22) y (r2 = 0,05). La correlación entre ambos métodos para estimar de manera indirecta el VO2máx en corredores de media maratón sólo fue encontrada en el grupo de mayores de 30 años (p < 0,01, r = 0,32), n=65. Conclusiones: Los modelos de predicción del VO2máx pueden constituirse en una alternativa viable para la evaluación de la capacidad funcional en estudios epidemiológicos. A pesar de esto, ambos métodos presentan un grado bajo de correlación, lo cual hace necesario futuras investigaciones para su validez(AU)

Background: Reduced cardiorespiratory function is an independent risk factor for mortality by all causes, but mainly for coronary heart disease. Nevertheless, there are many difficulties in evaluating it by exercise testing in the epidemiological context. Alternative forms of evaluation have therefore been suggested using non-exercise regression models. Aim: To comparatively analyse equations for predicting VO2max through the “Non-exercise test to estimate maximal oxygen uptake” (PAR/PAF), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in runners of marathon. Measurements: Socio-demographic variables: age (years), marital status, socioeconomic status, educational level, and membership of the Social Security Health System. Body composition variables: height (m), weight (kg), body mass index (BMI kg/m2) and abdominal circumference. Functional capacity: equations for the prediction of functional capacity VO2max described by Jackson et al PAR/PAF and the ACSM(AU)

Results: Correlations were seen between the ACSM calculation and the PAR/PAF questionnaire according to time of arrival (p < 0.001, r2 = 0,94), (PNS, r2 = 0.00), and according to age (PNS, r2 =0.00), (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.87), n = 81, respectively. When differentiating by age group, with the calculation of the ACSM and the PAR/PAF, a significant correlation was found in the in> 30 years group according to time of arrival (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.95), (PNS, r2 = 0.09), respectively. Results compared depending on age, ACSM (PNS,r2 =0.03), PAR/PAF (p < 0.001, r2 = 78). In the < 30 years group, compared with the methods the time of arrival, the calculation of the ACSM showed a high correlation (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.97), compare to the PAR/PAF calculation (PNS, r2 = 0.03). When comparing the two methods and their relationship withage, there were no significant correlations (r2 = 22) and (r2 = 0.05). A correlation between the two methods for indirectly estimating VO2 max in the half-marathon runners was found only in the > 30 years group (p < 0.01, r = 32), n = 65. Conclusion: This study showed a higher adjusted r2, which reflected the quality and the prediction power of the models. The authors conclude that cardiorespiratory assessment by non-exercise models in epidemiological studies could be feasible(AU)