Racional: Sobrepeso e obesidade estão associados à síndrome metabólica e obesidade abdominal, aumentando o risco de diabete melito tipo 2 e doenças cardiovasculares. No Brasil, ainda não há dados precisos sobre a prevalência destas alterações, principalmente entre pessoas que estão realizando algum tipo de atividade física em ambientes públicos; também não há programas de educação e prevenção da obesidade. Objetivo: Investigar a prevalência da obesidade e síndrome metabólica em frequentadores de um parque em Recife. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo prospectivo, transversal e descritivo, onde 619 indivíduos foram avaliados e estratificados por perfil definido em protocolo específico, apresentando as seguintes características: sexo feminino (50,1%) e média de idade = 50,6 ± 14,8, havendo predomínio entre 50 e 59 anos (26,8% dos casos) e de indivíduos com ensino superior (68%) e renda familiar entre 4 e 10 salários mínimos (29,2%). Resultados: Prática regular de exercícios físicos foi relatada por 78% das pessoas e foi constatado ainda que 70,7% apresentavam excesso de peso: 45% com sobrepeso e 25,7% obesidade, dos quais 20,7% com obesidade grau I, 3,9% com grau II e 1,1% com grau III. A prevalência de síndrome metabólica foi de 4,3%, com predomínio nos homens (6,3%). Hipertensão arterial e diabetes mellitus tipo 2 foram detectados em 17,8% e 5,5%, respectivamente. Devido a influência da obesidade na ocorrência de diabetes mellitus 2 e síndrome metabólica, foi constatado que esta associação não é significativa para as duas condições (p=0,014 e 0,017, respectivamente). Conclusão : Os achados demonstram elevada prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade da população avaliada, e síndrome metabólica em 4,3%, apesar do relato de que 70% dos transeuntes realizavam atividade física regular.

Background - Overweight and obesity are associated with metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity, thereby increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. In Brazil, there are still no precise data on the prevalence of these disorders, especially among individuals who carry out some kind of physical activity in public spaces and there are no education and prevention programs for obesity. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity among park users. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with 619 individuals assessed and stratified by profile according to a specific protocol. The group was characterized as follows: female (50.1%) and mean age =50.6±14.8, with predominance of individuals aged between 50 and 59 years (26.8%) and with higher education (68%) and a household income of between 4 and 10 minimum wages (29.2%). Results: Regular physical exercise was reported by 78% of the individuals and it was found that 70.7% were nevertheless of above normal weight: 45% overweight and 25.7% obese, of whom 20.7% had obesity grade I, 3.9% grade II and 1.1% grade III. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 4.3%, mostly in men (6.3%). Arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus were detected in 17.8% and 5.5%, respectively. In view of the influence of obesity on the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, it was found that this association was not significant for the two conditions (p=0.014 and 0.017, respectively). Conclusion : The findings demonstrate a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the studied population, and metabolic syndrome in 4.3%, despite the fact that 70% reported engaging in regular physical activity.

The recruitment of circulating eosinophils by chemokines and chemokine receptors plays an important role in the inflammation process in acute human schistosomiasis. Our main focus has been on the plasma chemokines (CXCL8/CCL2/CCL3/CCL24) and chemokine receptors (CCR2/CCR3/CCR5/CXCR1/CXCR2/CXCR3/CXCR4) expressed by circulating eosinophils from acute Schistosoma mansoni infected patients (ACT). Our studies compared ACT patients and healthy individuals as a control group. Our major findings demonstrated a plethora of chemokine secretion with significantly increased secretion of all chemokines analysed in the ACT group. Although no differences were detected for beta-chemokine receptors (CCR2, CCR3 and CCR5) or alpha-chemokine receptors (CXCR3 and CXCR4), a significantly lower frequency of CXCR1+ and CXCR2+ eosinophils in the ACT group was observed. The association between chemokines and their chemokine receptors revealed that acutely infected schistosome patients displaying decreased plasma levels of CCL24 are the same patients who presented enhanced secretion of CCL3, as well as increased expression of both the CCR5 and CXCR3 chemokine receptors. These findings suggest that CCL24 may influence the kinetics of chemokines and their receptors and eosinophils recruitment during human acute schistosomiasis mansoni.

A eletromiografia é frequentemente utilizada para mensurar a atividade dos músculos mastigatórios. Esta análise exige a colocação precisa dos eletrodos, o que requer a localização exata do músculo a ser avaliado. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a acurácia de um método externo para localização do músculo bucinador. Quinze cadáveres humanos foram avaliados e planos foram determinados na face utilizando-se pontos de referência anatômicos. Um ângulo (a) foi obtido na interseção desses planos no ponto central do músculo bucinador e foi medido com um transferidor. O valor do ângulo permite localizar o ponto central do músculo bucinador baseado nos pontos de referência anatômicos da face. A análise estatística dos dados obtidos indicou um ângulo de 90º com 95% de confiabilidade, confirmando dessa forma a eficácia do método proposto.

Electromyography is frequently used to measure the activity of masticatory muscles. It requires the precise setting of the electrodes, which demands the accurate location of the muscle to be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of an external method to locate the buccinator muscle. Fifteen human cadavers were evaluated and planes were determined on the face using anatomic landmarks. An angle (a) was obtained at the intersection of these planes on the central point of buccinator muscle and measured with a protractor. The value of the angle allows locating the central point of buccinator muscle based on anatomic landmarks on the face. Statistical analysis of the collected data indicated an angle of 90º with 95% reliability, thus proving the efficacy of the proposed method.