Cultural consonance and adult body composition in urban Brazil

In previous research in Brazil, we found socioeconomic and gender differences in body mass and percent body fat, consistent with a model in which individuals in higher socioeconomic strata, especially women, could achieve a cultural ideal of body size and shape. In this article, using new data, we examine these processes more precisely using measures of cultural consonance. Cultural consonance refers to the degree to which individuals approximate, in their own beliefs and behaviors, the shared prototypes for belief and behavior encoded in cultural models. We have found higher cultural consonance in several domains to be associated with health outcomes. Furthermore, there tends to be a general consistency in cultural consonance across domains. Here we suggest that measures of body composition can be considered indicators of individuals` success in achieving cultural ideals of the body, and that cultural consonance in several domains will be associated with body composition. Using waist circumference as an outcome, smaller waist size was associated with higher cultural consonance in lifestyle (beta = -0.311, P < 0.01) and higher cultural consonance in the consumption of high prestige foods (beta = -0.260, P < 0.01) for women (n = 161), but not for men (n = 106), controlling for age, family income, tobacco use, and dietary intake of protein and carbohydrates. Similar results were obtained using the body mass index and weight as outcomes, while there were no associations with height. These results help to illuminate the cultural mediation of body composition.

Iron Fortification Strategies for the Control of Childhood Anemia in Brazil

This article presents data on the fortification of foods, necessary as an important public health approach for the success in reducing anemia. The use of food vehicles, iron salts and their costs, as well as recent work on iron fortification of foods in Brazil are reviewed. Recent research serves as a cornerstone for countries that attempt to implement permanent, long-lasting iron fortification programs aimed at the prevention of anemia considering cultural habits, type of iron salts and at-risk groups.

Increased basal FSH levels as predictors of low-quality follicles in infertile women with endometriosis

Objective: To determine whether basal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), and the numbers of dominant follicles, oocytes, and mature oocytes retrieved after ovarian stimulation differed between infertile women with endometriosis and healthy women undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART). Method: Of 77 consecutive ART candidates, 27 were infertile and had endometriosis. A male factor caused the infertility of the other 50, who acted as controls. Results: The AMH and AFC levels were similar in the 2 groups. The FSH levels were higher (8.28 mIU/ML [range, 5.25-24.1 mIU/ML] vs 5.91 mIU/mL [range, 2.47-18.7 mIU/ML]; P<0.01) in the study group. And the numbers of retrieved (n = 5 [range, 0-12] vs n = 9 [range, 0-27]; P<0.05) and mature oocytes (n = 4 [range, 0-11] vs n = 5 [range, 0-16]; P<0.05) were less in the study group. Conclusion: Because AMH levels were unchanged, endometriosis seems not to damage the primordial pool of follicles and oocytes, but to lessen the quality of the ovarian response to the hCG injection. Basal FSH levels may be of value in predicting ART success in women with the disease. (C) 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block plus buccal infiltration or periodontal ligament injections with articaine in patients with irreversible pulpitis in the mandibular first molar

Objective. We compared the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) plus buccal infiltration (BI) and IANB plus periodontal ligament (PDL) articaine injections in patients with irreversible pulpitis in the mandibular first molar. Study design. Fifty-seven volunteers, patients with irreversible pulpitis in the mandibular first molar admitted to the Department of Stomatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, randomly received conventional IANB, containing 1.7 mL 4% articaine/HCl with 1:100,000 epinephrine, plus either BI or PDL injections containing 0.4 mL articaine/HCl with 1: 100,000 epinephrine. The patients recorded the pain of the injections and endodontic access on a Heft-Parker visual analog scale (VAS). Results. According to the VAS scores, all patients experienced no or mild pain with BI and PDL injections after the application of IANB. Anesthetic success occurred in 81.48% for IANB plus BI (IANB/BI) compared with 83.33% for IANB plus PDL injection (IANB/PDL injection). None of the observed differences between the 2 groups was significant (P > .05). Conclusion. Both injection combinations resulted in high anesthetic success in patients with irreversible pulpitis in the mandibular first molar. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009;108:e89-e93)