1000 resultados para sulfur levels
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Introduction The immune response caused by Mycobacterium leprae is a risk factor for the development of oxidative stress (OS) in leprosy patients. This study aimed to assess OS in leprosy patients before the use of a multidrug therapy. Methods We evaluated the nitric oxide (NO) concentration; antioxidant capacity; levels of malondialdehyde, methemoglobin and reduced glutathione; and the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in leprosy patients. Results We observed lower SOD activity in these leprosy patients; however, the NO levels and antioxidant capacity were increased. Conclusions The infectious process in response to M. leprae could primarily be responsible for the OS observed in these patients.
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Introduction: The genomic heterogeneity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) influences liver disorders. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes and to investigate the influence of these genotypes on disease progression. Methods: Blood samples and liver biopsies were collected from HCV-seropositive patients for serological analysis, biochemical marker measurements, HCV genotyping and histopathological evaluation. Results: Hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) was detected in 107 patients (90.6% with genotype 1 and 9.4% with genotype 3). Patients infected with genotype 1 exhibited higher mean necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis. Conclusions: HCV genotype 1 was the most prevalent and was associated with greater liver dysfunction.
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This study aims to explore and understand what young adults’ duty free shoppers (18-26 years old) want and are getting from travel retail shopping on airport environments and to evaluate their satisfaction levels with the service. It has important managerial contributions since it is an important target in a fast growing market. An online survey was conducted with 188 young adults and its results show that young adults’ are somewhat satisfied with the overall service on duty free stores mainly in what concerns quality of the products and physical evidence of the stores. Results also show that the majority of buyers within this segment are price driven and strongly influenced by promotions associated with price reductions, and do not seem very satisfied with respect to that. Keywords: Young
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Hypoalbuminemia may cause interstitial edema and hemodilution, which we hypothesized may influence serum sodium levels. Our purpose was to compare serum sodium levels of hospitalized adults with or without hypoalbuminemia. All sodium and albumin serum levels of 142 adults hospitalized at general medical wards over a six-month period were searched at a University Hospital mainframe computer. Relevant laboratory data and clinical details were also registered. Hypoalbuminemia was defined by serum albumin concentration < 3.3 g/dl Fisher, Mann-Whitney, and Student's t tests were applied to compare groups with or without hypoalbuminemia. Ninety-nine patients, classified as hypoalbuminemic, had lower blood hemoglobin (10.68 ± 2.62 vs. 13.54 ± 2.41), and sodium (135.1 ± 6.44 vs. 139.9 ± 4.76mEq/l) and albumin (2.74 ± 0.35 vs. 3.58 ± 0.28g/dl) serum levels than non-hypoalbuminemic (n=43). Pearson's coefficient showed a significant direct correlation between albumin and sodium serum levels (r=0.40) and between serum albumin and blood hemoglobin concentration (r=0.46). Our results suggest that hypoalbuminemic adults have lower serum sodium levels than those without hypoalbuminemia, a phenomenon that may be at least partially attributed to body water retention associated with acute phase response syndrome.
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Blood glucose levels in the high normal range or even moderate hyperglycemia is the expected profile in septic postoperative patients receiving high-calorie enteral alimentation. The addition of growth hormone as an anabolic agent should additionally reinforce this tendency. In a cancer patient undergoing partial gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy and suffering from postoperative subphrenic abscess and prolonged sepsis, tube feeding (38.3 kcal/kg/day) and growth hormone (0.17 IU/kg/day) were simultaneously administered for 25 days. Blood glucose levels were in the lower limits of the normal range before growth hormone introduction, and continued with a similar tendency during most of the therapeutic period. Two additional complications, namely heart arrest and peripheral edema, were documented during the same period. It is concluded that sepsis was the most likely mechanism for low glucose values, and that high-calorie enteral diet and growth hormone supplementation did not prevent that result. It is uncertain whether heart arrest was due to the drug, but its association with peripheral edema is well documented in clinical series.
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RESUMO - O aumento dos produtos processados na alimentação diária, em especial das crianças, tem repercussões no consumo aumentado de aditivos, cujas consequências são ainda ambíguas. Associado ao aumento do consumo deste tipo de alimentos encontra-se a prevalência de excesso de peso e obesidade infantil. O presente estudo exploratório pretendeu avaliar a exposição a aditivos alimentares em crianças dos 0 aos 3 anos, com base nos Limites Máximos de Utilização e nas Doses Diárias Admissíveis, e estudar a sua associação com variáveis como a idade, sexo, percentil de Índice de Massa Corporal e nível de escolaridade dos Pais. Pretendeu-se também identificar as categorias de alimentos consumidas que mais contribuíram para a exposição aos aditivos alimentares em estudo. Com base numa amostra de dados reportados em diários alimentares, foram selecionados 12 aditivos. Observaram-se ingestões estimadas superiores às DDA, para o dióxido de enxofre (E220), o ácido fumárico (E297) e o nitrito de sódio (E250). As categorias de alimentos “Açúcar, confeitaria e sobremesas açucaradas”, “Leite e produtos lácteos”, “Cereais e derivados” e “Pratos compostos”, foram as que mais contribuíram para a exposição dos aditivos selecionados. O presente trabalho permitiu inferir o perfil de exposição a aditivos alimentares em crianças, lançar resultados preliminares para justificar a necessidade de estudos mais pormenorizados, e a criação do sistema de monitorização nacional da ingestão de aditivos. Estudos sobre consumos de aditivos alimentares podem servir de base para elaboração de estratégias de saúde pública, com a finalidade de reduzir o consumo destas substâncias e promover hábitos alimentares mais saudáveis.
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INTRODUCTION: The clinical importance of preoperative serum levels of CA 72-4, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was prospectively evaluated in 44 patients with gastric cancer. METHOD: The serum tumor marker levels were determined by commercial radioimmunoassay kits. Positivity for CA 72-4 (>4 U/mL), CEA (>5 ng/mL), CA 19-9 (>37 U/mL), and AFP (>10 ng/mL) were correlated according to the stage, histology, and lymph node metastasis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: CA 72-4 showed a higher positivity rate for gastric cancer (47.7%) than CEA (25%), CA 19-9 (25%), and AFP (0%). The combination of CA 72-4 with CEA and CA 19-9 increased the sensitivity to 61.4%. The positivity rates of CA 72-4 in patients at stages I and II (initial disease) and in patients at stages III and IV (advanced disease) were 9% and 60.6%, respectively (P < 0.005). No correlation was found between CEA and CA 19-9 levels and the stage of gastric cancer. There was a tendency of positivity for CA 72-4 to suggest lymph node involvement, but it was not significant (P = 0.075). Serum levels of tumor markers did not show a correlation with the histological types of gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: Preoperative serum levels of CA 72-4 provided a predictive value in indicating advanced gastric cancer.
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RESUMO: Na sociedade contemporânea a diabetes tipo 2 e a obesidade estão a aumentar exponencialmente, representando um grave problema de saúde pública. De acordo com a IDF “A diabetes e a obesidade são o principal problema de saúde pública do século XXI’. Para além destas duas patologias, a prevalência de esteatose hepática não-alcoólica (NAFLD), entre a população obesa e diabética, é de cerca de 90%. O aumento da obesidade, diabetes e NAFLD tem uma forte correlação com o aumento do consumo de gorduras e açúcares, acompanhado de um decréscimo acentuado da actividade física. A obesidade, diabetes e NAFLD tem sido escrupolosamente investigada mas as terapêuticas disponíveis continuam a ser muito limitadas. Tendo em conta o número crescente e alarmante de obesos e diabéticos o conhecimento detalhado da patofisiologia da obesidade, diabetes e NAFLD, tendo em vista a necessidade extrema de desenvolvimento de novas estratégias terapêuticas, é da mais elevada urgência. O fígado é reconhecido como um orgão primordial no controlo da homeostase. No estado pós-prandial, o fígado converte a glucose em glicogénio e lípidos. Em contraste, no estado de jejum, o fígado promove a produção de glucose. Sistemas neuronais e hormonais, bem como o estado metabólico do fígado, controlam de forma muito precisa a alternância entre os diferentes substratos metabólicos, dependente do estado prandial. A insulina tem um papel central no controlo do metabolismo energético no fígado; se, por um lado, inibe a produção hepática de glucose e corpos cetónicos, por outro, promove a glicólise e a lipogénese. O metabolismo energético no fígado é também regulado por vários factores de transcrição e co-reguladores que, por sua vez, são regulados pela insulina, glucagina e outras hormonas metabólicas. Em conjunto, todos estes factores e reguladores vão controlar de forma muito estreita a gluconeogénese, a β-oxidação e a lipogénese, no fígado. Para além dos já conhecidos reguladores do metabolismo hepático, novas moléculas têm sido estudadas como tendo um papel fundamental na regulação do metabolismo energético no fígado. Qualquer desequilíbrio no metabolismo hepático vai contribuir para a insulino-resistência, NAFLD e diabetes tipo 2. O principal objectivo do trabalho de investigação aqui apresentado é o contributo para o estudo detalhado da patogénese da diabetes e obesidade, num contexto de dietas ricas em açúcares e gorduras, e com a perspectiva de explorar novas estratégias terapêuticas. Os objectivos específicos deste trabalho eram: primeiro, determinar se o tratamento com glutationo (GSH) e óxido nítrico (NO) era suficiente para melhorar a insulino-resistência associada ao elevado consumo de sacarose; segundo, determinar o papel da Rho-kinase 1 (ROCK1) na regulação do metabolismo hepático da glucose e dos lípidos; e terceiro, estudar o efeito do metilsulfonilmetano (MSM) em doenças metabólicas associadas à obesidade. Na primeira parte deste trabalho de investigação foram utilizados ratos Wistar machos sujeitos a uma dieta rica em sacarose (HS). Tal como esperado, estes animais apresentavam insulino-resistência e hiperinsulinémia. A dieta HS levou ao aumento dos níveis hepáticos de NO e ao decréscimo dos níveis de GSH no fígado. Em jejum, a administração intraportal de GSH e NO, a animais saudáveis promoveu um aumento significativo da sensibilidade à insulina. Também nestes animais, a administração intravenosa de S-nitrosotióis, compostos orgânicos que contém um grupo nitroso acoplado a um átomo de enxofre de um tiol, promoveu o aumento significativo da sensibilidade à insulina. Pelo contrário, em animais sujeitos à dieta HS, as doses padrão de GSH + NO e de S-nitrosotióis não conseguiram promover o aumento da sensibilidade à insulina. No entanto, ao aumentar a dose de S-nitrosotióis administrados por via intravenosa, foi possível observar o aumento da sensibilidade à insulina dependente da dose, indicando um possível papel dos S-nitrosotióis como sensibilizadores de insulina. O estudo detalhado do papel dos S-nitrosotióis na via de sinalização da insulina revelou que há um aumento da fosforilação do receptor da insulina (IR) e da proteína cinase B (Akt), sugerindo um efeito dos S-nitrosotióis nesta via de sinalização. Os resultados apresentados nesta primeira parte sugerem que os S-nitrosotióis promovem a correcta acção da insulina, podendo vir a ser importantes alvos terapêuticos. Na segunda parte deste trabalho de investigação utilizámos murganhos, com uma delecção específica da ROCK1 no fígado, e sujeitos a uma dieta rica em lípidos (HFD). Foi possível concluir que a ausência da ROCK1 no fígado previne a obesidade, melhora a sensibilidade à insulina e protege contra a esteatose hepática. A ausência de ROCK1 no fígado levou a um decréscimo significativo da expressão génica de genes associados à lipogénese, com uma diminuição acentuada do fluxo metabólico associado a esta via. Pelo contrário, a sobreexpressão de ROCK1, exclusivamente no fígado, promove a insulino-resistência e a esteatose hepática no contexto de obesidade induzida pela dieta. Para além disto, a delecção da ROCK1 no fígado de animais obesos e diabéticos, os murganhos deficientes em leptina, corroborou os dados obtidos no primeiro modelo animal, com a franca melhoria da hiperglicémia, hiperinsulinémia e esteatose hepática. Os dados que compõem esta parte do trabalho de investigação sugerem que a ROCK1 tem um papel crucial na regulação do metabolismo lipídico. Na terceira e última parte deste trabalho de investigação foi investigado o efeito do composto metilsulfunilmetano (MSM), um composto organosulfúrico naturalmente presente em plantas e utilizado também como suplemento dietético, em murganhos obesos e insulino-resistentes, por exposição a uma dieta rica em lípidos (DIO). O tratamento com MSM melhorou a insulino-resistência e protegeu contra a esteatose hepática. O conteúdo hepático em triglicéridos e colesterol também diminuíu de forma significativa nos animais DIO sujeitos ao tratamento com MSM, bem como a expressão génica associada à lipogénese. Para além disto, o tratamento com MSM levou a uma diminuição da expressão génica associada à inflamação. De realçar que o tratamento com MSM levou a uma melhoria do perfil hematopoiético destes animais, tanto na medula óssea como no sangue. Para comprovar o efeito benéfico do MSM na obesidade e insulino-resistência utilizámos murganhos deficientes no receptor da leptina, e por isso obesos e diabéticos, tendo observado um perfil semelhante ao obtido para murganhos sujeitos a uma dieta rica em lípidos e tratados com MSM. Concluímos, através dos dados recolhidos, que o MSM como suplemento pode ter efeitos benéficos na hiperinsulinémia, insulino-resistência e inflamação que caracterizam a diabetes tipo 2. Em resumo, os dados obtidos neste trabalho de investigação mostram que os S-nitrosotióis podem ter um papel importante como sensibilizadores da insulina, promovendo um aumento da sensibilidade à insulina num contexto de dietas ricas em sacarose. Para além disto, estudos in vitro, sugerem que os S-nitrosotióis regulam, especificamente, a via de sinalização da insulina. Este trabalho teve também como objectivo o estudo da ROCK1 como regulador do metabolismo da glucose e dos lípidos no fígado. Através do estudo de animais com uma delecção ou uma sobreexpressão da ROCK1 no fígado mostrou-se que esta tem um papel crucial na patogénese da obesidade e diabetes tipo 2, especificamente através do controlo da lipogénese de novo. Finalmente, foi também objectivo deste trabalho, explorar o efeito do MSM em animais DIO e deficientes em leptina. O tratamento com MSM protege de forma evidente contra a obesidade e insulino-resistência, com especial enfâse para a capacidade que esta molécula demonstrou ter na protecção contra a inflamação. Em conjunto os vários estudos aqui apresentados mostram que tanto os S-nitrosotióis como a ROCK1 têm um papel na patogénese da obesidade e diabetes tipo 2 e que a utilização de MSM como suplemento às terapêuticas convencionais pode ter um papel no tratamentos de doenças metabólicas.-------------------------------ABSTRACT: In modern western societies type 2 diabetes and obesity are increasing exponentially, representing a somber public concern. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) ‘Diabetes and Obesity are the biggest public health challenges of the 21st century’. Aside from these the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), among the diabetic and obese population, is as high as 90%. It is now well established that the increase in obesity, diabetes and NAFLD strongly correlates with an increase in fat and sugar intake in our diet, alongside physical inactivity. The pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes and NAFLD has been thoroughly studied but the treatment options available are still narrow. Considering the alarming number in the obese and diabetic population the complete understanding of the pathogenesis, keeping in mind that new therapeutic strategies need to be attained, is of the highest urgency. The liver has been well established as a fundamental organ in regulating whole-body homeostasis. In the fed state the liver converts the glucose into glycogen and lipids. Conversely, in the fasted state, glucose will be produced in the liver. Neuronal and hormonal systems, as well as the hepatic metabolic states, tightly control the fast to fed switch in metabolic fuels. Insulin has a central role in controlling hepatic energy metabolism, by suppressing glucose production and ketogenesis, while stimulating glycolysis and lipogenesis. Liver energy metabolism is also regulated by various transcription factors and coregulators that are, in turn, regulated by insulin, glucagon and other metabolic hormones. Together, these regulators will act to control gluconeogenesis, β-oxidation and lipogenesis in the liver. Aside from the well-established regulators of liver energy metabolism new molecules are being studied has having a role in regulating hepatic metabolism. Any imbalance in the liver energy metabolism is a major contributor to insulin resistance, NAFLD and type 2 diabetes. The overall goal of this research work was to contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of diabetes and obesity, on a setting of high-sucrose and high-fat diets, and to explore potential therapeutic options. The specific aims were: first, to determine if treatment with glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO) was sufficient to ameliorate insulin resistance induced by high-sucrose feeding; second, to determine the physiological role of rho-kinase 1 (ROCK1) in regulating hepatic and lipid metabolism; and third, to study the effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on obesity-linked metabolic disorders. In the first part of this research work we used male Wistar rats fed a high-sucrose (HS) diet. As expected, rats fed a HS diet were insulin resistant and hyperinsulinemic. HS feeding increased hepatic levels of NO, while decreasing GSH. In fasted healthy animals administration of both GSH and NO, to the liver, was able to increase insulin sensitivity. Intravenous administration of S-nitrosothiols, organic compounds containing a nitroso group attached to the sulfur atom of a thiol, in fasted control animals also increased insulin sensitivity. Under HS feeding the standard doses of GSH + NO and S-nitrosothiols were unable to promote an increase in insulin sensitivity. However, the intravenous administration of increasing concentrations of S-nitrosothiols was able to restore insulin sensitivity, suggesting that S-nitrosothiols have an insulin sensitizing effect. Investigation of the effect of S-nitrosothiols on the insulin signaling pathway showed increased phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (IR) and protein kinase B (Akt), suggesting that S-nitrosothiols may have an effect on the insulin signaling pathway. Together, these data showed that S-nitrosothiols promote normal insulin action, suggesting that they may act as potential pharmacological tools. In the second part of this research work we used liver-specific ROCK1 knockout mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet. Liver-specific deletion of ROCK1 prevented obesity, improved insulin sensitivity and protected against hepatic steatosis. Deficiency of ROCK1 in the liver caused a significant decrease in the gene expression of lipogenesis associated gene, ultimately leading to decreased lipogenesis. Contrariwise, ROCK1 overexpression in the liver promoted insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in diet-induced obesity. Furthermore, liver-specific deletion of ROCK1 in obese and diabetic mice, the leptin-deficient mice, improved the typical hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and liver steatosis. Together, these data identify ROCK1 as a crucial regulator of lipid metabolism. In the third and final part of this research work we investigated the effect of MSM, an organosulfur compound naturally found in plants and used as a dietary supplement, on diet-induced obese (DIO) and insulin resistant mice. MSM treatment ameliorated insulin resistance and protected against hepatosteatosis. Hepatic content in triglycerides and cholesterol was significantly decreased by MSM treatment, as well as lipogenesis associated gene expression. Furthermore, MSM treated mice had decreased inflammation associated gene expression in the liver. Importantly, FACS analysis showed that MSM treatment rescued the inflammatory hematopoietic phenotype of DIO mice in the bone marrow and the peripheral blood. Moreover, MSM treatment of the obese and diabetic mice, the leptin-deficient mice, resulted in similar effects as the ones observed for DIO mice. Collectively, these data suggest that MSM supplementation has a beneficial effect on hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and inflammation, which are often found in type 2 diabetes. In conclusion, this research work showed that S-nitrosothiols may play a role as insulin sensitizers, restoring insulin sensitivity in a setting of high-sucrose induced insulin resistance. Furthermore, in vitro studies suggest that S-nitrosothiols specifically regulate the insulin signaling pathway. This research work also investigated the role of hepatic ROCK1 in regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Using liver-specific ROCK 1 knockout and ROCK1 overexpressing mice it was shown that ROCK1 plays a role in the pathogenesis of obesity and type 2 diabetes, specifically through regulation of the de novo lipogenesis pathway. Finally, this research work aimed to explore the effect of MSM in DIO and leptin receptor-deficient mice. MSM strongly protects against obesity and insulin resistance, moreover showed a robust ability to decrease inflammation. Together, the individual studies that compose this dissertation showed that S-nitrosothiols and ROCK1 play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity and type 2 diabetes and that MSM supplementation may have a role in the treatment of metabolic disorders.
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Leaves from 120 canopy trees and 60 understory tree saplings growing in primary and secondary forests near Manaus, Brazil, were collected for determination of standing levels of herbivory (percent leaf area lost). Overall, levels of herbivory on leaves of central Amazonian trees were low. About one quarter of the leaves examined (n = 855) had no damage at all. In most other Neotropical sites studied the mean percentage of herbivory was found to vary between 5.7 and 13.1%, whereas in Manaus it was only 3.1%. The data presented here support the contention that levels of herbivore damage are positively related to soil fertility. No significant difference was found in herbivory levels between canopy trees and understory saplings. Also, there was no difference in damage between leaves from pioneer and late successional trees. Field assays of preference, however, revealed that leaves from pioneer trees are more palatable to leaf-cutting ants (Atta laevigata). This effect was dependent upon leaf age, being observed in mature leaves, but not in young leaves. The greater rate of leaf production in secondary forests may be a factor accounting for the greater abundance of leaf-cutting ants in secondary compared to primary forests.
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The role of vitamin C on physiological responses of matrinxã (Brycon amazonicus) submitted to air exposure was analyzed. Nine hundred fish (70.15 g) were distributed in fifteen 500 l boxes (60 fish.box-1) and fed five rations (treatments): Control (no vitamin C); T100 (100 mg); T200 (200 mg); T400 (400 mg) and T800 (800 mg of vitamin C kg.ration-1). Each ration was offered to fish of three boxes during 60 days before the stress challenge that consisted of exposing fish to air for two minutes. Samplings were carried out for 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after the air exposure. Blood was collected for glucose, cortisol, total protein, sodium, chloride, hematocrit, hemoglobin determination, and white and red cell count. Liver was removed for hepatosomatic index (HSI) calculation and glycogen determination. Vitamin C did not affect the levels of cortisol, chloride, total protein, hemoglobin, leukocytes, hepatic glycogen or HSI in air exposed fish. Blood glucose levels elevation observed 60 minutes after the challenge did not depend on the levels of vitamin C, nor did the drop in serum sodium levels verified 60 minutes after stressor. In general, hematocrit did not change by effect of vitamin C but it was lower at 15 and 30 minutes after the challenge. The number of erythrocytes decreased in fish after 5 minute sampling in all treatments, especially at 30 and 60 minutes. The air exposure evoked alterations in stress indicators of matrinxã, and the vitamin C did not alter the responses.
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Mercury and Lead concentrations obtained by ICP-OAS analysis of human hair from riverside communities along the Orinoco river in the Amazon state (Venezuela) were compared with those from Caracas, Venezuela. Taking into account the characteristics of these two environments and the values of the average concentrations of Mercury and Lead, baselines were established suggesting that gold mining activity near the Orinoco river is responsible for the high levels of Mercury in hair from the Amazon state, whereas automobile activity is responsible for high levels of Lead in hair in Caracas.
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Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum), a specie native to Amazonia, has been planted commercially in Brazil to satisfy the demand for the flavorful juice obtained from the pulp around its seeds. The trees are notorious for low and irregular fruit production. Data gathered over two seasons from trees in a germplasm collection in Pará, Brazil, showed that some of them fruited more regularly than others. Differences in fruit production correlated to differences in flower production. Tree-to-tree variation in flower production, fruit production, and consistency of both over time suggest considerable scope for improving yields by selection. Hand pollinations resulted in a much higher frequency of fruit set than open pollinations, indicating that lack of effective pollination is also a reason for low yield. However, attempts to increase the level of effective pollination are handicapped by low knowledge about the pollinators of cupuassu and their behavior.
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OBJECTIVE: Population-based studies on excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in older adults living in less developed countries are scarce. The purpose of this paper was to estimate the prevalence of EDS and its association with sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors in Brazilian community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: The study was carried out in Bambuí, a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. EDS was defined as the presence of sleepiness in the last month occurring three or more times per week, with any interference in usual activities. The exploratory variables were: gender, age, skin color, marital status, schooling level, current employment status, religion, recent migration, smoking, binge drinking and physical activities during leisure time. RESULTS: Of 1,742 residents aged > 60 years, 1,514 (86.9%) participated. The prevalence of EDS was 13%. After adjustment for confounders, female gender and low schooling level remained positively and independently associated with EDS. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of EDS in the study population was within the range observed in studies carried out in developed countries. The most impressive finding was the association of EDS with schooling, indicating that even in a population with low levels of schooling, this was an important factor to explain the distribution of EDS.
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Tese de Doutoramento em Ciência e Engenharia de Polímeros e Compósitos
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OBJECTIVE: To compare circulating plasma levels of immunoinflammatory markers in patients with known de novo coronary artery disease and patients with postangioplasty restenosis. METHODS: Using enzymatic immunoabsorbent assay, we measured plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptosr, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and soluble tumor necrosis alpha receptors I and II in 11 patients with restenosis postcoronary angioplasty (restenosis group), in 10 patients with primary atherosclerosis (de novo group) who were referred for coronary angiography because of stable or unstable angina, and in 9 healthy volunteers (control group). Levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors were significantly higher in the de novo group compared with that in the restenosis and control groups. Levels were also higher in the restenosis group compared with that in the control group. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis alpha and receptor levels were significantly higher in the de novo group compared to with that in the restenosis and control groups, but levels in the restenosis group were not different from that in the controls. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery disease, either primary or secondary to restenosis, is associated with significant immunoinflammatory activity, which can be assessed by examining the extent of circulating plasma levels of inflammatory markers. Moreover, patients with de novo lesions appear to have increased inflammatory activity compared with patients with restenosis.