OBJETIVO: Analisar a relação entre o grau de obesidade ou sobrepeso medido pelo índice de massa corpórea (IMC) de crianças e adolescentes asmáticos com a gravidade clínica e funcional da doença e com a intensidade do broncoespasmo induzido pelo exercício (BIE). MÉTODOS: 20 pacientes com idade entre seis e 18 anos, asma persistente e sobrepeso ou obesidade foram submetidos ao teste padronizado com exercício em bicicleta ergométrica e avaliação seriada dos parâmetros espirométricos, realizada aos 3, 6, 10, 15, 20 e 30 minutos após o exercício. BIE foi definido como a queda do volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1) >10% e/ou do fluxo médio expiratório forçado medido entre 25 e 75% da capacidade vital forçada (FEF25-75%) >26% em relação aos valores pré-teste. Foram avaliadas as freqüências de positividade do teste e as maiores quedas de VEF1 e FEF25-75% após o término do exercício. RESULTADOS: A gravidade clínica da asma foi considerada leve, moderada e grave em dez, cinco e cinco pacientes, respectivamente. Houve BIE em 50% dos pacientes testados. Não houve correlação significativa entre os seguintes parâmetros confrontados: valores de IMC e valores basais do VEF1 e FEF25-75% percentuais em relação ao previsto; valores do IMC e as maiores quedas do VEF1 e do FEF25-75% em relação aos valores basais; valores do IMC e gravidade da asma. A melhor correlação ocorreu entre o IMC e as maiores quedas do FEF25-75% em relação ao basal. CONCLUSÕES: O IMC não teve influência no grau de hiperresponsividade brônquica induzida pelo exercício em crianças asmáticas com sobrepeso e obesas e na gravidade da obstrução basal medida pelo VEF1 e FEF25-75%.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the degree of obesity or overweight measured by the body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents with asthma and the clinical and functional severity of the disease and the intensity of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). METHODS: 20 patients (age range: 6-18 years) with persistent asthma, with overweight or obesity, were submitted to a standardized exercise test on an ergometric bicycle, followed by serial evaluations of spirometric parameters performed at 3, 6, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes after the exercise. EIB was defined as a decrease in FEV1>10% and/or FEF25-75% >26% when compared to pre-test values. The positivity of the test was evaluated as the highest decreases in FEV1 and FEF25-75% after the end of the exercise. RESULTS: Asthma severity was considered mild, moderate and severe in ten, five and five patients, respectively. EIB was observed in 50% of the studied children. There was no significant correlation among the following parameters: BMI and basal FEV1 and FEF25-75% in relation to the predicted value; BMI and the highest decrease in FEV1 and FEF25-75% in relation to the basal levels; BMI and asthma severity. The best correlation was obtained between BMI and the highest decreases in FEF25-75% in relation to basal levels. CONCLUSIONS: The BMI did not influence the degree of exercise-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness in overweight and obese children and adolescents with asthma as well as the degree of basal obstruction measured by FEV1 and FEF25-75%.

Micron-sized spheres of mesoporous styrene-divinylbenzene (Sty-DVB) copolymer were produced by suspension polymerisation in the presence of inert diluents. Using these mesoporous microspheres as a template, optically stable CdS nanoparticles have been synthesized. To characterize these CdS nanoparticles, Raman spectroscopy and micro-photoluminescence were used. We have observed enhanced emission and lasing action at certain wavelengths that correspond to the whispering gallery (WG) modes of the microspheres. High optical stability and low threshold value make this optical system promising in microlaser applications.

The Health Administration Agencies of many municipalities in Greater Buenos Aires (GBA) receive frequent reports on triatomines in houses. The aim of this work was to identify and describe the dispersal foci of Triatoma infestans in an urban neighborhood of GBA, and contribute to the knowledge of the epidemiological situation in the region. In June 1998, potentially infested places were entomologically evaluated. T. infestans was only detected in a hen building for egg production, which housed approximately 6,000 birds. A total of 2,930 insects were collected. Density was about 9 triatomines/m². The proportions of fifth instar nymphs and adults were significantly higher than those of the other stages (p<0.001). The number of triatomines collected largely exceeded the highest domestic infestation found in one house from rural endemic areas of Argentina. Though triatomines were negative for Trypanosoma cruzi, they could acquire the parasite by coming in contact with infected people living in GBA. Besides, the numerous and widely distributed places housing hens and chickens, would favor the settlement of the vector. Together, both facts may constitute a risk of parasitic vectorial transmission. It is recommended to intensify systematic activities of vector search and case detection in GBA.