Abstract INTRODUCTION: Among patients with Chagas disease, men have a higher risk of worse pathological symptoms than women. We aimed to explore the role of the Y chromosome in men diagnosed with Chagas disease and assess the relationship between their ancestry and disease status. METHODS In this comparative study, we analyzed 150 men with unrelated non-chagasic disease (nCD) and 150 men with unrelated chagasic disease (CD). We assessed the serological diagnosis of Chagas disease, biochemical parameters, thoracic X-rays, electrocardiogram, and transthoracic echocardiography and determined the haplogroup by analyzing a set of 17 microsatellites from the Y chromosome. We examined the associations between common Y chromosome haplogroups and the clinical parameters of risk by logistic regression. RESULTS For all patients, the most common haplogroups were R1b (43%), G2a (9%), and E1b1b (9%). The R1b and G2a haplogroup was more frequent in men with nCD and CD, respectively. As expected, we observed a high proportion of symptomatic patients in the CD group independent of the haplogroups. Men from both groups classified as having the R1b haplogroup showed less clinical evidence of disease. Multivariate analysis showed that CD patients without R1b were about five times more likely to have a cardio-thorax index >0.5% (OR [odds ratio] = 5.1, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 3.31-8.17). Men without the R1b haplogroup were 2.5 times more likely to show EcoCG alterations (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 0.16-3.94). CONCLUSIONS: Our results provided evidence that the R1b haplogroup may have a potential protective cardiovascular effect for its carriers.

The access to adequate food in older adults (OA) is essential to keep healthy, reduce the impact of disease and help preserve independence. Key nutrients such as proteins of high biological value, vitamins and minerals are provided by the group of eggs, meat and derivatives. Objectives: to describe the food consumption profile in OA of eggs, meat and derivatives and to assess if the consumption profile is associated with age, sex, educational level and coexistence. Methods: Universe: all the =60 year- old OA outpatients beneficiaries of the ProBienestar program of Cordoba City. Stratified sampling of pension centers; random sampling of each centre: n 451 OA. Variables: food consumption, age, sex, educational level and coexistence. Research instrument: Food Frequency Questionnaire. Categories: Regular consumption (1-7 days / week), Occasional consumption (1-3 days /month) and Null (no consumption). Results: Regular consumption (RC) prevailed for beef 93%, chicken 85% and fish only 19%. A 56% never consumed fish. For eggs, the RC was 76%. Among offal, the one that outweighed was the Occasional consumption (OC), liver being the most consumed (30%); as well as cold meats: blood sausage, chorizo, sausage, bologna and salami, and cured meats: cottage ham. The OC of heart and kidney prevailed among men, and the OC of cold and cured meats was higher among the OA that lived with others. Conclusions: beef, poultry (chicken) and eggs were the protein foods most consumed by the OA beneficiaries of the ProBienestar program of Cordoba City. Sex was associated with offal consumption and coexistence with cured and cold meats. Except for eggs and fish preserves (in limited quantity), the remaining foods do not integrate the nutritional module given to the OA of the program; however, meat foods are usually consumed by this low-income population.

En los Adultos Mayores (AM) el acceso a una alimentación adecuada es primordial para mantener la salud, disminuir el efecto de las enfermedades y contribuir a preservar la independencia. Nutrientes fundamentales como las proteínas de alto valor biológico, vitaminas y minerales son aportadas por el grupo de huevos, carnes y sus derivados. Objetivos: Describir el perfil de consumo de alimentos del grupo de huevos, carnes y derivados, de los AM; evaluar si existen asociaciones en el perfil de consumo según edad, sexo, nivel educacional y convivencia. Métodos: Universo: todos los AM=60 años ambulatorios, beneficiarios del programa ProBienestar, de Córdoba capital. Muestreo estratificado de centros de jubilados; muestra aleatoria de cada centro (n 451 AM). Variables: consumo alimentario, edad, sexo, nivel educativo y tipo de convivencia. Instrumento: Cuestionario de Frecuencia de Consumo de Alimentos. Categorías: consumo Habitual (1 a 7 días/ semana), consumo Ocasional (1 a 3 días/mes) y Nulo (no consume). Resultados: el consumo habitual (CH) prevaleció para carnes de res 93% y de aves 85%; pescados sólo 19%. El 56% no consumía pescados nunca. Para los huevos, el CH fue de 76%. Entre las vísceras preponderó el consumo ocasional (CO) siendo el hígado la más consumida (30%); igual que para embutidos: morcilla, chorizo, salchicha, mortadela y salame; y fiambres: paleta. El CO de corazón y riñón prevaleció entre los varones, y el de fiambres/embutidos fue mayor en los AM que vivían acompañados. Conclusiones: las carnes bovina y de ave (pollo), y huevos fueron los alimentos proteicos más consumidos por los AM del programa ProBienestar, Córdoba capital. El sexo se asoció al consumo de vísceras y la convivencia al de fiambres/embutidos. A excepción de huevos y conservas de pescado (en escasa cantidad), el resto no integran el módulo alimentario otorgado a los AM del programa, no obstante los alimentos cárneos son consumidos habitualmente por esta población de bajos ingresos.