Chagas disease, which is caused by the intracellular protozoanTrypanosoma cruzi, is a serious health problem in Latin America. The heart is one of the major organs affected by this parasitic infection. The pathogenesis of tissue remodelling, particularly regarding cardiomyocyte behaviour after parasite infection, and the molecular mechanisms that occur immediately following parasite entry into host cells are not yet completely understood. Previous studies have reported that the establishment of parasitism is connected to the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), which controls important steps in cellular metabolism by regulating the production of the second messenger phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate. Particularly, the tumour suppressor PTEN is a negative regulator of PI3K signalling. However, mechanistic details of the modulatory activity of PTEN on Chagas disease have not been elucidated. To address this question, H9c2 cells were infected with T. cruzi Berenice 62 strain and the expression of a specific set of microRNAs (miRNAs) were investigated. Our cellular model demonstrated that miRNA-190b is correlated to the decrease of cellular viability rates by negatively modulating PTEN protein expression in T. cruzi-infected cells.

The nutritional assessment may detect a state of malnutrition, overweight and cardiometabolic risk in the elderly. Easy to apply instruments enable the identification of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Objective: to analyze the applicability of Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) in the prediction of MS components in the elderly. Methods: cross-sectional study with 221 elderly at a mean age of 70.65 ± 7.34 years; 53.4% female and 46.4% male. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), fasting glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and blood pressure (BP), data was obtained, as well as information about lifestyle. There were calculated the Body Mass Index (BMI), the Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), and the VAI. The adiposity measures were compared with the components of MS, and for the VAI there was determined the capability of predicting the occurrence of MS components. Results: by analyzing the association among the biochemical and pressoric variables and MS components with the anthropometric indicators of obesity, there was a direct and significant correlation of the BMI, the weight and the VAI with blood glucose, HDL and TG (p<0.01); the VAI was the indicator with the strongest correlation for all parameters. The WC associated significantly with the HDL and the TG, and the WHR only with the HDL. Regarding to the applicability of the VAI in the determination of the relative risk of occurrence of MS components, the VAI was good predictor of abdominal obesity (OR = 1.27, p<0.001), hyperglycemia (OR = 1.10, p=0.043), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 3.64, p<0.001) and low HDL-c (OR = 2.26, p<0.001). Conclusion: the VAI showed association with components of the metabolic syndrome in men and women with increased risk of abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL-c, proving to be a good predictor of MS components in the elderly.

La evaluación nutricional puede detectar un estado de desnutrición, sobrepeso y riesgo cardiometabólico en los ancianos. Fácil de aplicar, los instrumentos permiten la identificación de factores de riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV). Objetivo: analizar la aplicabilidad del Índice de Adiposidad Visceral (VAI) en la predicción de los componentes del SM en los ancianos. Métodos: estudio transversal con 221 personas mayores con una edad media de 70,65 ± 7,34 años; 53,4% mujeres y 46,4% hombres. Se obtuvieron peso, talla, circunferencia de la cintura (CC), glucosa en ayunas, triglicéridos (TG), colesterol total (CT), colesterol HDL (HDL-C), colesterol LDL (LDL-C) y presión arterial (PA), así como información acerca del estilo de vida. No se calcularon el índice de masa corporal (IMC), la relación cintura-cadera (WHR) y el VAI. Las medidas de adiposidad se compararon con los componentes de la MS, y para el VAI no se determinó la capacidad de predecir la ocurrencia de los componentes del SM. Resultados: el análisis de la asociación entre las variables bioquímicas y de presión y los componentes del SM con los indicadores antropométricos de obesidad evidencia que existe una correlación directa y significativa entre el índice de masa corporal, el peso y el VAI con la glucosa en sangre, colesterol HDL y TG (p < 0,01); el VAI fue el indicador con la correlación más fuerte para todos los parámetros. El WC se asoció significativamente con el HDL y TG, y el RHO solo con el HDL. En lo que respecta a la aplicabilidad de la VAI en la determinación del riesgo relativo de aparición de los componentes del SM, el VAI era buen predictor de obesidad abdominal (OR = 1,27, p < 0,001), hiperglucemia (OR = 1,10, p = 0,043), hipertrigliceridemia (OR = 3,64, p < 0,001) y bajos niveles de HDL-c (OR = 2,26, p < 0,001). Conclusión: el VAI mostró asociación con componentes del síndrome metabólico en los hombres y las mujeres con mayor riesgo de obesidad abdominal, hiperglucemia, hipertrigliceridemia y bajos niveles de HDL-c, demostrando ser un buen predictor de componentes del SM en los ancianos.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os principais fatores de risco para as doenças cardiovasculares hipertensivas e isquêmicas da síndrome metabólica (SM) podem ser favoravelmente modificados pelo estilo de vida (EV). OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito de um programa de modificação do estilo de vida sobre os fatores de risco cardiovascular de voluntários com síndrome metabólica (SM). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico em que oito voluntários (cinco mulheres) com diagnóstico de SM foram submetidos, ao longo de três meses, à intervenção nutricional quinzenal e a um programa de exercício físico, realizado em esteira rolante com intensidade de 65% a 75% da frequência cardíaca máxima, com duração de 30 minutos, três vezes por semana. Após o programa os dados foram comparados pelo teste t de Student. RESULTADOS: Houve redução significativa da pressão arterial sistólica (-7,5%), triglicerídeos (-6,7%) e lipoproteínas de alta densidade (-8%). Além disso, o índice de trabalho cardíaco avaliado em repouso reduziu significativamente (-11%), ao passo que o condicionamento físico expresso pelo trabalho muscular e consumo de oxigênio aumentaram significativamente (29% e 24%, respectivamente). CONCLUSÃO: Até o momento, esses resultados indicam que a mudança nos hábitos alimentares associados à prática regular de exercício físico pode reduzir beneficamente as concentrações de triglicerídeos, bem como a PAS e o DP. Além disso, devido à relevância dos resultados obtidos ao final do programa, acredita-se que a continuidade das atividades propostas neste estudo possa beneficiar outros indivíduos com SM.

INTRODUCTION: The main risk factors for hypertensive and ischemic cardiovascular disease of the metabolic syndrome (MS) can be favorably change by the life style (LS). OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of a lifestyle modification program (LMP) on cardiovascular risk factors of the Metabolic Syndrome (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this clinical trial, 08 volunteers (05 women) with MS underwent a biweekly nutritional intervention and a physical exercise program, using a treadmill, at 65-75 % of maximum heart rate, during 30 minutes, three times a week. After tree mouths on LPM the data were compared using Student's t-test. RESULTS: There was a dramatic reduction in systolic blood pressure (-7.5%), triglycerides (-6.7%) and high density lipoprotein (-8%). Moreover, there was a reduction in resting double product (-11%) and an increase in physical conditioning expressed by the workload in watts (29%), as well as in the oxygen consumption (24%). CONCLUSION: Until this moment, these results indicate that food habits change, associated to frequently physical exercise can reduce the triglycerides concentration as well as SBD and DP. Besides, since the relevance of the results obtained at the end of the program, we believe that the continuity of the activities proposed by this study can benefit other individuals with MS.