RESUMO Objetivo Determinar a confiabilidade de um instrumento de coleta de dados não laboratoriais, Encuesta de Identificación de Sujetos Metabólicamente Comprometidos en Fase-I (pesquisa de identificação de indivíduos com comprometimento metabólico em fase I, ESF-I) para identificar síndrome metabólica em uma população da região central do México. Métodos Foram coletados parâmetros clínicos e bioquímicos de 232 participantes da pesquisa entre 1° de junho de 2012 e 31 de agosto de 2013. O estudo se baseou em três definições de síndrome metabólica (definição harmonizada do Painel de Especialistas do Programa Nacional de Educação em Colesterol dos Estados Unidos [NCEP]; Painel para Tratamento de Adultos III [ATPIII]; e Federação Internacional de Diabetes [FIL]) para alocar os participantes em um grupo normal ou em um grupo com síndrome metabólica (SM). A previsibilidade do instrumento foi determinada pela área sob a curva ROC (característica de operação do receptor) (AUC). O índice de Youden foi calculado e o escore mais alto foi considerado o valor ideal de corte. O coeficiente kappa de Cohen (κ) foi calculado para determinar o grau de concordância entre o questionário ESF-1 (pontuação máxima de 15 em 15 itens) e a síndrome metabólica. Resultados Foi determinado que 53,8% a 60,7% dos participantes apresentavam SM. A pontuação média no instrumento foi significativamente maior no grupo SM com cada uma das definições usadas (4,0 vs. 8,0, P<0,05). O questionário ESF-I foi preditivo com a definição harmonizada (AUC 0,841; IC 95% 0,790–0,892), com a definição do ATPIII (AUC 0,827; IC 95% 0,774–0,880) e com a definição da FIL (AUC 0,836; IC 95% 0,785–0,887). Um valor de corte de 7 foi determinado para cada definição e a coorte foi recategorizada de acordo com os resultados do instrumento. Foi observada uma forte concordância entre o questionário ESF-I e o grupo SM (harmonizada: precisão = 77,6%, κ = 0,554; ATPIII: precisão = 74,1%, κ = 0,489; FIL: precisão = 74,6%, κ = 0,495, P<0,001). Conclusão O questionário ESF-I é capaz de identificar pacientes com síndrome metabólica, possibilitando o diagnóstico precoce, um número menor de consultas e um custo menor com uma aplicação mais simples.

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the reliability of a non-laboratorial questionnaire, the Encuesta de Identificación de Sujetos Metabólicamente Comprometidos en Fase-I (ESF-I) for identifying Metabolic Syndrome among a population in central Mexico. Methods Clinical and biochemical parameters were collected for 232 participants from 1 June 2012 – 31 August 2013. Three definitions of Metabolic Syndrome (Harmonizing, National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel and Adult Treatment Panel III [ATPIII], and International Diabetes Federation [IDF]) were used to allocate subjects to either the normal or Metabolic Syndrome positive (MetS+) group. The predictability of the questionnaire was determined by the Area-Under-the-Receiver-Operating Characteristic curve (AUC). Youden's index was calculated and the highest score was considered the optimal cutoff value. Cohen´s kappa (κ) was calculated to determine the level of agreement between the ESF-I questionnaire (max score: 15 based on 15 items) and Metabolic Syndrome. Results From 53.8% – 60.7% of the participants were determined to be MetS+. The average questionnaire score was significantly higher in the MetS+ group for each definition (4.0 vs. 8.0, P < 0.05). The ESF-I questionnaire was predictive for the Harmonizing definition (AUC = 0.841, 95%CI: 0.790 – 0.892), the ATPIII definition (AUC = 0.827, 95%CI: 0.774 – 0.880), and the IDF definition (AUC = 0.836, 95%CI: 0.785 – 0.887). A cutoff value of 7 was determined for each definition; therefore, the cohort was re-categorized based on questionnaire results. There was a strong agreement between the ESF-I questionnaire and MetS (Harmonizing: accuracy = 77.6%, κ = 0.554; ATPIII: accuracy = 74.1%, κ = 0.489; IDF: accuracy = 74.6%, κ = 0.495, P < 0.001). Conclusion The ESF-I questionnaire can identify MetS+ patients, and therefore, lead to earlier diagnoses, reduced number of consultations, and lower costs with easier application.

RESUMEN Objetivo Determinar la fiabilidad de un cuestionario en el que no se recurre al diagnóstico de laboratorio, la Encuesta de Identificación de Sujetos Metabólicamente Comprometidos en Fase-I (ESF-I), para detectar el síndrome metabólico en una población de la región central de México. Métodos Se recogieron parámetros clínicos y bioquímicos de 232 participantes desde el 1 de junio del 2012 al 31 de agosto del 2013. Se usaron tres definiciones de síndrome metabólico (la unificadora, la del Grupo de Expertos en el Tratamiento de Adultos [ATPIII] del Programa Nacional de Educación sobre el Colesterol y la de la Federación Internacional de la Diabetes [FID]) para asignar los participantes al grupo normal o al grupo de síndrome metabólico positivo (SMet+). Se determinó la previsibilidad del cuestionario con el área bajo la curva de eficacia diagnóstica (curva ROC). Se calculó el índice de Youden y la puntuación más alta se consideró el valor de corte óptimo. El coeficiente (k) de Cohen se calculó para determinar el grade de acuerdo entre el cuestionario ESF-I (máxima puntuación: 15 sobre 15 ítems) y el síndrome metabólico. Resultados Del 53,8 % al 60,7 % de los participantes se asignaron al grupo SMet+. La puntuación promedio del cuestionario fue significativamente mayor en el grupo de SMet+ para cada definición (4,0 vs. 8.0, P < 0.05). El cuestionario ESF-I fue predictivo para la definición unificadora (AUC = 0,841, 95 % CI: 0,790 – 0,892), la definición ATPIII (AUC = 0,827, 95 % CI: 0,774 – 0,880) y la definición de la FID (AUC = 0,836, 95 % CI: 0,785 – 0,887). Se determinó un el valor de corte óptimo de 7 para cada definición; por lo tanto, se reclasificó la cohorte según los resultados del cuestionario. Hubo una gran coincidencia entre el cuestionario ESF-I y SMet (unificadora: exactitud = 77,6 %, κ = 0,554; ATPIII: exactitud = 74,1 %, κ = 0,489; FID: exactitud = 74,6%, κ = 0,495, P < 0,001). Conclusiones El cuestionario ESF-I puede detectar pacientes con SMet+ y, por lo tanto, conducir a diagnósticos más tempranos, reducir la cantidad de consultas y reducir los costos con una aplicación más fácil.

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, represents an endemic among Latin America countries. The participation of free radicals, especially nitric oxide (NO), has been demonstrated in the pathophysiology of seropositive individuals with T. cruzi. In Chagas disease, increased NO contributes to the development of cardiomyopathy and megacolon. Metallothioneins (MTs) are efficient free radicals scavengers of NO in vitro and in vivo. Here, we developed a murine model of the chronic phase of Chagas disease using endemic T. cruzi RyCH1 in BALB/c mice, which were divided into four groups: infected non-treated (Inf), infected N-monomethyl-L-arginine treated (Inf L-NAME), non-infected L-NAME treated and non-infected vehicle-treated. We determined blood parasitaemia and NO levels, the extent of parasite nests in tissues and liver MT-I expression levels. It was observed that NO levels were increasing in Inf mice in a time-dependent manner. Inf L-NAME mice had fewer T. cruzi nests in cardiac and skeletal muscle with decreased blood NO levels at day 135 post infection. This affect was negatively correlated with an increase of MT-I expression (r = -0.8462, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, we determined that in Chagas disease, an unknown inhibitory mechanism reduces MT-I expression, allowing augmented NO levels.

Background. Nosocomial infections are risk factors related to intrahospital mortality. Among other factors, these infections are strongly associated with invasive devices. In pediatric patients, the central venous catheter (CVC) is one of the most frequently related device-associated bloodstream infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a chlorhexidine-gluconate impregnated patch (CHGp) in reducing infections related to CVC in pediatric patients. Methods. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. An electronic search of the literature (Medline, EMBASE, Lilacs and the Cochrane Library Plus) from 1966 to December 2010 was carried out for clinical trials comparing the CHGp vs. standard case management for prevention of catheter tip colonization (CTC); bloodstream infections (BSI) were retrieved. Results. Only two clinical trials were found with a total of 850 participants. Patients randomized to the CHGp group showed a lower incidence of CTC than the control group (14% vs. 25%), relative risk [RR]: 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI 95% (0.45, 0.81)], p = 0.001), with a number needed to treat of 11. BSI showed a RR: 1.14, ([CI 95% (0.57, 2.28)], p = 0.71). Adverse events were found mainly in the CHGp group and were described as local skin reactions in 5.6% (RR 8.17 [95% CI: 1.19-56.14], p = 0.04). Local necrosis was present in only two infants of very low birth weight (0.48%). Conclusions. This meta-analysis demonstrated that the chlorhexidine-gluconate impregnated patch is effective in reducing CVC-related infections in the pediatric population. Serious adverse events are rare.