A adolescência é acompanhada de mudanças cognitivas, emocionais, sociais e biológicas que ampliam as situações de risco ao desenvolvimento de disfunções psicossomáticas. Este estudo aferiu e classificou a composição corporal e a comparou à autopercepção corporal em adolescentes. Alunos do sétimo ao nono ano do ensino fundamental público no Distrito Federal, Brasil, responderam a questionários sócio-demográfico e de percepção corporal. Massa e estatura foram medidas e o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) foi calculado para classificação da composição corporal. Dos 977 adolescentes, 79.1% apresentaram IMC eutrófico. Dos 473 meninos, 11.4% apresentaram excesso de peso e 4.7% baixo peso; 23.8% perceberam o corpo como menor do que realmente é e 25.5% tentaram ganhar massa corporal. Das 504 meninas, 11.9% apresentaram excesso de peso e 13.4% baixo peso; 24.1% perceberam o corpo como maior do que realmente é e 32.5% tentaram perder massa corporal. A composição corporal inadequada, prevalente em 20.9% dos adolescentes, pode trazer prejuízos ao crescimento, desenvolvimento e saúde. Estes problemas podem ser agravados pela elevada prevalência de autopercepção corporal distorcida e de atitudes para obter mudanças corporais. Recomenda-se a realização de intervenções educativas sobre composição, percepção e cultura corporal e saúde de forma integrada, com abordagens diferenciadas por sexo.

Adolescence is accompanied by cognitive, emotional, social and biological changes; situations that increase the risk for development of psychosomatic disorders. This study measured and classified body composition and compared it to body self-perception in adolescents. Students from the seventh to ninth grade in public primary education in Distrito Federal, Brazil, answered socio-demographic and body self-perception questionnaires. Weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated for body composition classification. From the 977 adolescents, 79.1% presented eutrophic BMI. Of the 473 boys, 11.4% were overweight and 4.7% underweight, 23.8% perceived the body as smaller than it really is and 25.5% tried to gain body mass. Of the 504 girls, 11.9% were overweight and 13.4% underweight, 24.1% perceived the body as larger than it really is and 32.5% tried to lose body mass. Inadequate body composition, prevalent in 20.9% of adolescents, may harm growth, development and health. These problems may be aggravated by the high prevalence of distorted body self-perception and attitudes for bodily changes. It is recommended the implementation of educational interventions on body composition, perception and culture and health, with different approaches by gender.

Several studies have demonstrated an inverse relation between serum selenium levels (Se) and advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Objective: To determine and compare selenium plasma levels in patients with different prostatic pathologies. Material and methods: It is a transversal, descriptive and comparative study. A sample of 64 men between 50 and 80 years old were selected for the study between 2007 and 2009. All volunteers underwent a digital rectal examination, prostate specific antigen level, ultrasound and transrectal prostate biopsy (12-14 chips). Prostate cancer was subclassified according to Gleason Score. Selenium was determined indirectly by serum Glutathione peroxidase (Kit Ransel, Randox SRL, Crumlin, UK). Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA I (p<0.05). Results: Glutathione Peroxidase level was 33.75±2.36mg/ml in control patients. A decrease of 31.6% was observed in patients with BPH (23.08±1.57mg/ml) and of (63.6%) in subjects with prostate cancer (12.28±1.03mg/ml) (p<0,0001). There was no correlation with the Gleason Score. Conclusion: Serum Seleniun is lower in patients with prostatic pathologies being even more important in cancer patients regardless the Gleason Score.

Diversos estudios han demostrado una relación inversa entre los niveles séricos de selenio (Se) y la detección de cáncer de próstata (CaP) avanzado. Objetivo: Determinar y comparar los niveles plasmáticos de Se en pacientes con diferentes enfermedades prostáticas. Materiales y métodos: El estudio fue transversal, descriptivo y comparativo. La población estuvo constituida por 64 hombres de entre 50-80 años, seleccionados luego de una consulta urológica de rutina durante el período 2007-2009. Se realizó una historia clínica detallada, tacto rectal, determinación de PSA y concentración plasmática de Se mediante una técnica espectrofotométrica para glutatión peroxidasa en sangre entera (Kit Ransel, Randox SRL, Crumlin, UK). Las afecciones prostáticas se establecieron por biopsia transrectal ecodirigida (12-14 tomas) y el grado tumoral por score de Gleason. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante ANOVA I (p<0,05). Resultados: La concentración media de Se en los individuos controles (n=10) fue de 33,75±2,36mg/ml, en los pacientes con enfermedad benigna (n=41) de 23,08±1,57mg/ml y en los casos con CaP (n=13) de 12,281,03mg/ml (p<0,0001). Se observó una disminución del 31,6% en los pacientes con enfermedad prostática benigna y de un 63,6% en aquellos con CaP en relación con los controles. No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el score de Gleason y los valores de glutatión peroxidasa. Conclusión: Los sujetos con enfermedad prostática, tanto benigna como maligna, tienen niveles de Se en sangre menores que los individuos sanos.

Cell cultures of Mandevilla velutina have proved to be an interesting production system for biomass and secondary metabolites able to inhibit the hypotensive activity of bradykinin, a nonapeptide generated in plasma during tissue trauma. The crude ethyl acetate extract of cultured cells contains about 31- to 79-fold more potent anti-bradykinin compounds (e.g., velutinol A) than that obtained with equivalent extracts of tubers. Somaclonal variation may be an explanation for the wide range of inhibitor activity found in the cell cultures. The heterogeneity concerning morphology, differentiation, carbon dissimilation, and velutinol A production in M. velutina cell cultures is reported. Cell cultures showed an asynchronous growth and cells in distinct developmental stages. Meristematic cells were found as the major type, with several morphological variations. Cell aggregates consisting only of meristematic cells, differentiated cells containing specialized cell structures such as functional chloroplasts (cytodifferentiation) and cells with embryogenetic characteristics were observed. The time course for sucrose metabolism indicated cell populations with significant differences in growth and metabolic rates, with the highest biomass-producing cell line showing a cell cycle 60% shorter and a metabolic rate 33.6% higher than the control (F2 cell population). MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis of velutinol A in selected cell lines demonstrated the existence of velutinol A producing and nonproducing somaclones. These results point to a high genetic heterogeneity in general and also in terms of secondary metabolite content.