[The prevalence and factors associated with obesity in women attended at First Aid Units of the Unified Health System in southern Brazil]. / Prevalência e fatores associados à obesidade em mulheres usuárias de serviços de pronto-atendimento do Sistema Único de Saúde no sul do Brasil.

Obesity is currently one of the major epidemics, representing an important public health problem that is associated with an increase in chronic disease. The scope of this study is to investigate the prevalence of excess weight and obesity and associated factors in 20 to 59-year-old women attended at First Aid Units of the Unified Health System. Standardized interviews and anthropometric measurements were conducted with 440 women. Factors associated with the presence of excess weight/obesity were investigated using the Poisson model with robust variance. The prevalence of excess weight and obesity (64.3%) as well as central obesity (44.1%) in women attended at First Aid Units is higher than that in the population in general and is associated with an increased incidence of health problems. Insufficient physical activity (PR=1.44; 95% CI 1.24-1.66), a history of three pregnancies or more (PR=1.45; 95% CI 1.05-2.00), age above 50 (PR=1.34; 95% CI 1.00-1.82) and central obesity (PR=1.92; 95% CI 1.64-2.25) are associated with a higher prevalence of obesity. The implementation of public health polices focused on the prevention of obesity would undoubtedly have a major impact on primary prevention of chronic diseases in the female population.

Prevalência e fatores associados à obesidade em mulheres usuárias de serviços de pronto-atendimento do Sistema Único de Saúde no sul do Brasil / The prevalence and factors associated with obesity in women attended at First Aid Units of the Unified Health System in southern Brazil

A obesidade é uma das principais epidemias modernas, sendo importante problema de saúde pública e estando associado a um aumento de doenças crônicas. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar a prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade e seus fatores associados em mulheres de 20 a 59 anos, usuárias de serviços de pronto atendimento do Sistema Único de Saúde. Realizou-se entrevista padronizada e foram tomadas as medidas antropométricas em 440 mulheres. O modelo de Poisson foi usado para avaliar a associação entre obesidade e características selecionadas. A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade (64,3 por cento) e de obesidade central (44,1 por cento) em usuárias de serviços de pronto atendimento é maior do que a encontrada na população geral e está associada a um aumento do número de agravos à saúde. Atividade física insuficiente (RP=1,44; IC 95 por cento 1,24-1,66), história de três ou mais gestações (RP=1,45; IC 95 por cento 1,05-2,00), idade maior que 50 anos (RP=1,34; IC 95 por cento 1,00-1,82) e obesidade central estão associadas a uma prevalência maior de obesidade. A implantação de políticas de saúde voltadas para a prevenção da obesidade certamente terá um impacto importante na prevenção primária de doenças crônicas na população feminina.

Obesity is currently one of the major epidemics, representing an important public health problem that is associated with an increase in chronic disease. The scope of this study is to investigate the prevalence of excess weight and obesity and associated factors in 20 to 59-year-old women attended at First Aid Units of the Unified Health System. Standardized interviews and anthropometric measurements were conducted with 440 women. Factors associated with the presence of excess weight/obesity were investigated using the Poisson model with robust variance. The prevalence of excess weight and obesity (64.3 percent) as well as central obesity (44.1 percent) in women attended at First Aid Units is higher than that in the population in general and is associated with an increased incidence of health problems. Insufficient physical activity (PR=1.44; 95 percent CI 1.24-1.66), a history of three pregnancies or more (PR=1.45; 95 percent CI 1.05-2.00), age above 50 (PR=1.34; 95 percent CI 1.00-1.82) and central obesity (PR=1.92; 95 percent CI 1.64-2.25) are associated with a higher prevalence of obesity. The implementation of public health polices focused on the prevention of obesity would undoubtedly have a major impact on primary prevention of chronic diseases in the female population.

Acute pancreatitis during interferon-alpha and ribavirin treatment for hepatitis C.

A patient treated with interferon-alpha and ribavirin for hepatitis C, who developed acute pancreatitis, is presented here along with a literature review. A 45-year-old Caucasian man was admitted to the intensive care unit because of an acute pancreatitis. According to the adverse drug reaction probability scale, it is probable that pancreatitis was induced by treatment (interferon and ribavirin) for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) commenced 2 months ago. We performed a literature search of all available English-language articles published on MEDLINE between January 1966 and July 2008 using the key terms "acute pancreatitis", "interferon" and "ribavirin"; only four papers were found with a total of 13 reported cases demonstrating acute pancreatitis developed during treatment for CHC. Looking out for the minimal clinical signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis in patients with CHC using interferon and ribavirin can help to detect this relevant and rare adverse drug reaction early.

Sleeve gastrectomy model in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has been used for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity, as a first step or as a definitive treatment. The objective of this pilot study was to establish an animal model for SG in Wistar rats. METHODS: 12 male Wistar rats were operated on. 8 of them underwent a SG, with a hand-sewn invaginating suture, and 4 underwent a laparotomy and stomach manipulation (control group). Sterilized materials, prophylactic antibiotics and nutritional supplementation were used. The animals' weight was checked on the operation day and on a weekly basis, for 7 weeks. RESULTS: The experimental SG model was possible due to careful procedures in the pre- and postoperative period. The average weight loss in the sleeve gastrectomy group was 49.6 g (43 to 60 g) until the 4th week, whereas in the control group average weight loss was 15 g (10 to 25 g) but the weight loss was achieved in the 1st week. After the 7th week, there was weight gain in both groups. However, in the SG group, this gain was significantly lower than in the control group. CONCLUSION: It has been possible to obtain a SG experimental model. The effects of this SG appear to be beneficial in weight loss. Biochemical and molecular mechanisms may also be investigated based on this model.