BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest that C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with coronary artery disease in adults. However, this association has not been thoroughly explored in cases of adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between CRP and cardiovascular risk factors in obese adolescents. METHODS: Eighty-four adolescents (12.6 ± 1.3 years) of both genders were divided into the following groups: Normal weight (n = 28), Overweight (n = 28), and Obese (n = 28), according to body mass index (BMI). CRP levels (ultrasensitive ELISA), the lipid profile, and anti-oxLDL antibody levels (ELISA) were determined after a 12-hour fast. RESULTS: The groups were similar in age (p = 0.13) and gender (p = 0.83). Total cholesterol, HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C showed significant differences between Normal weight and Obese groups. There was no significant variation in anti-oxLDL levels. CRP values were different among the three groups (p < 0.01). CRP levels showed a significant association with BMI (β = 2.533), AC (β = 2.645), WC (β = 2.945), TC (β = 0.006), LDL-C (β = 0.006), and anti-oxLDL antibodies (β = 0.383), and a negative association with HDL-C (β = -0.017). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that CRP is significantly associated with markers of cardiovascular risk in adolescents.

FUNDAMENTO: Diversos estudios sugieren que la proteína-C reactiva (PCR) se correlaciona con la enfermedad arterial coronaria en adultos. Sin embargo, esta asociación es todavía poco explorada en adolescentes. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la asociación entre la PCR y los factores de riesgo cardiovascular en adolescentes obesos. MÉTODOS: Ochenta y cuatro adolescentes (12,6 ± 1,3 años), de ambos sexos, se distribuyeron en los grupos Eutrófico (n=28), Sobrepeso (n=28) y Obeso (n=28), según el IMC. La concentración de PCR (ELISA ultrasensible), el perfil lipídico y el contenido de anticuerpos anti-LDLox (ELISA) fueron determinados tras ayuno de 12h. RESULTADOS: Los grupos se hallaron semejantes en cuanto a la edad (p=0,13) y sexo (p=0,83). Colesterol total, HDL-C, CT/HDL-C y LDL-C/HDL-C expresaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos Eutrófico y Obeso. No hubo variación significativa en el contenido de anticuerpos anti-LDLox. Los valores de PCR fueron diferentes entre los tres grupos (p<0,01). La PCR expresó asociación significativa con IMC (β=2,533), CB (β=2,645) y CC (β=2,945), CT (β=0,006), LDL-C (β=0,006) y anticuerpos anti-LDLox (β=0,383) y negativa entre HDL-C (β= -0,017). CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados indican que la PCR se asocia significativamente con marcadores de riesgo cardiovascular en adolescentes.

FUNDAMENTO: Vários estudos sugerem que a proteína-C reativa (PCR) se correlaciona com doença arterial coronariana em adultos. Entretanto, essa associação ainda é pouco explorada em adolescentes. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação entre a PCR e os fatores de risco cardiovascular em adolescentes obesos. MÉTODOS: Oitenta e quatro adolescentes (12,6 ± 1,3 anos), ambos os sexos, foram distribuídos nos grupos Eutrófico (n = 28), Sobrepeso (n = 28) e Obeso (n = 28), segundo o índice de massa corpórea (IMC). A concentração de PCR (ELISA ultrassensível), o perfil lipídico e o conteúdo de anticorpos anti-LDLox (ELISA) foram determinados após jejum de 12h. RESULTADOS: Os grupos foram semelhantes quanto a idade (p = 0,13) e sexo (p = 0,83). Colesterol total, HDL-C, CT/HDL-C e LDL-C/HDL-C apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os grupos Eutrófico e Obeso. Não houve variação significativa no conteúdo de anticorpos anti-LDLox. Os valores de PCR foram diferentes entre os três grupos (p < 0,01). PCR apresentou associação significativa com IMC (β = 2,533), CB (β = 2,645) e CC (β = 2,945), CT (β = 0,006), LDL-C (β = 0,006) e anticorpos anti-LDLox (β = 0,383) e negativa entre HDL-C (β = -0,017). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados indicam que a PCR se associa significativamente com marcadores de risco cardiovascular em adolescentes.

Studies were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the growth regulator, triflumuron (TFM) (Starycide® sc 480 Bayer), for disrupting the development of Rhodnius prolixus fifth-instar nymph by oral, topical or continuous treatment. All treatments were able to induce high levels of mortality, delay development and molt inhibition. Oral treatment induced molt inhibition in all insects that survived at doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 5.0 mg/mL of a blood meal. The highest levels of both mortality in 24 h and molt inhibition were always observed after topical treatment. The lowest doses needed to obtain considerable biological effects were always observed after continuous treatment. In this way, the highest levels of mortality within 30 days were detected after continuous treatment, which also induced an extended inter-molting period, a lower number of over-aged nymphs and the highest level of molting in nymphs that survived. Moreover, the effects of TFM on insects were often displayed in a dose response manner. These results indicate that TFM acts as a potent growth inhibitor of R. prolixus nymphs and has the potential to be used in integrated vector control programs against hematophagous triatomine species.

The effects of blood components, nerve-cord severance, and ecdysone therapy on the posterior midgut epithelial cells of 5th-instar Rhodnius prolixus nymphs 10 days after feeding were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Cutting the nerve-cord of the blood-fed insects partially reduced the development of microvilli and perimicrovillar membranes (PMM), and produced large vacuoles and small electrondense granules; insects fed on Ringer's saline diet exhibited well developed microvilli and low PMM production; swolled rough endoplasmatic reticulum and electrondense granules; Ringer's saline meal with ecdysone led to PMM development, glycogen particles, and several mitochondria in the cytoplasm; epithelial cells of the insects fed on Ringer's saline meal whose nerve-cord was severed showed heterogeneously distributed microvilli with reduced PMM production and a great quantity of mitochondria and glycogen in the cytoplasm; well developed microvilli and PMM were observed in nerve-cord severed insects fed on Ringer's saline meal with ecdysone; Ringer's saline diet containing hemoglobin recovered the release of PMM; and insects fed on human plasma showed slightly reduced PMM production, although the addition of ecdysone in the plasma led to a normal midgut ultrastructural organization. We suggest that the full development of microvilli and PMM in the epithelial cells depends on the abdominal distension in addition to ingestion of hemoglobin, and the release of ecdysone.