This study aims to identify risk factors for cardiovascular disorders in schoolchildren living in Ouro Preto City, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a population-based sampling of schoolchildren (6-14 years old), randomly selected and stratified by the proportion of students according to age and gender in each schools of the city. Biochemical, clinical and anthropometric variables as well as physical activity and family history were used in a logistic regression model for obesity or arterial hypertension. Out of 780 schoolchildren sampled, the risk of obesity was greater in subjects presenting high triglyceride and low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, and those whose parents were obese, while the risk of hypertension was high in obese subjects and those who presented low birth weight. It was observed that 44.4% of the schoolchildren were exposed to two or three cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and 8.2% were exposed to four or six factors. These findings should be considered in preventive measures to reduce the future risk for CVD among schoolchildren in Brazil.

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The present study was intended to characterize Rickettsia spp. circulating in arthropod vectors in Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil, by PCR and to

The influence of apolipoprotein E alleles and genotypes on plasma lipid levels was determined in 185 individuals of mixed ethnicity living in Ouro Preto, Brazil. DNA was obtained from blood samples and the genotypes were determined by an RFLP-PCR procedure. The *3 allele was the most frequent (72%), followed by *4 (20%) and *2 (8%); *4 frequency was higher and *2 frequency was lower in the dyslipidemic group than in the normal control group. The *2 carriers presented lower LDL and total cholesterol levels compared to the *3 and *4 carriers. All six expected genotypes were observed in the individuals genotyped: E2/2 (2.1%), E4/4 (2.7%), E2/4 (3.7%), E2/3 (8.0%), E3/3 (53.3%), E3/4 (29.9%); no difference in genotype frequencies was found between the normal and dyslipidemic groups. Compared with *2, the presence of *3 increases more than two times the risk for dyslipidemia (OR = 2.31; P = 0.025; 95% CI = 1.06-5.06) and the presence of *4 increases it three times (OR = 3.31; P = 0.006; 95% CI = 1.36-8.04). The only significant effect of genotype was an increased risk for dyslipidemia in the *4 genotype carriers (E3/4 + E4/ 4) compared with the *2 genotype carriers (E2/2 + E2/3) with OR = 3.69 (95% CI = 1.25-10.88). The present study indicates that in the Ouro Preto admixed population the presence of APOE *2 can confer a protective effect, whereas the presence of APOE *4 implies an enhanced risk for dyslipidemia.

These results show the antioxidant benefit of dietary açai for the healthy women included in the present study, and may increase understanding of the beneficial health properties of this fruit.

Association studies of genetic variants and obesity and/or obesity-related risk factors have yielded contradictory results. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible association of five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the IGF2, LEPR, POMC, PPARG, and PPARGC1genes with obesity or obesity-related risk phenotypes. This case-control study assessed overweight (n=192) and normal-weight (n=211) children and adolescents. The SNPs were analyzed using minisequencing assays, and variables and genotype distributions between the groups were compared using one-way analysis of variance and Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for selected phenotype risks in each group. No difference in SNP distribution was observed between groups. In children, POMC rs28932472(C) was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure (P=0.001), higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P=0.014), and higher risk in overweight children of altered total cholesterol (OR=7.35, P=0.006). In adolescents, IGF2 rs680(A) was associated with higher glucose (P=0.012) and higher risk in overweight adolescents for altered insulin (OR=10.08, P=0.005) and homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (OR=6.34, P=0.010). PPARG rs1801282(G) conferred a higher risk of altered insulin (OR=12.31, P=0.003), and HOMA-IR (OR=7.47, P=0.005) in overweight adolescents. PARGC1 rs8192678(A) was associated with higher triacylglycerols (P=0.005), and LEPR rs1137101(A) was marginally associated with higher LDL cholesterol (P=0.017). LEPR rs1137101(A) conferred higher risk for altered insulin, and HOMA-IR in overweight adolescents. The associations observed in this population suggested increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and/or type 2 diabetes later in life for individuals carrying these alleles.

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Key words:Breast cancer. Vitamin D. Menopause. Physical activity. Case-control study. Palabras clave:Cáncer de mama. Vitamina D. Menopausia. Actividad física. Estudio de casos y controles. ResumenIntroducción: la estrategia de prevención del cáncer de mama sigue siendo el factor clave para el diagnóstico precoz y el método más efi caz para el seguimiento de la enfermedad. Objetivo: este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el nivel de vitamina D asociado con el cáncer de mama en las mujeres. Métodos: este estudio de casos y controles hospitalarios se llevó a cabo con 181 mujeres con cáncer de mama y 197 controles sanas. Se estudió el nivel de vitamina D, calcio, fósforo y la dosis de suero PTH; se recopilaron de datos relacionados con el estilo de vida y com la historia de las pacientes, además se realizaron mediciones antropométricas. El análisis univariante (Chi-cuadrado probabilidades y primas ratio) y el análisis multivariado se realizó mediante regresión logística multivariante. Resultados: este estudio muestra un valor más alto de vitamina D en los controles de salud (26,9 mg/dl) que en las mujeres con cáncer de mama (24,8 mg/dl). Se encontraron más mujeres con sufi ciente vitamina D (34,85%) en el grupo control que en el grupo de cáncer. Usando el modelo de regresión logística múltiple, la historia familiar de cáncer de mama (OR 36,37; IC del 95%: 4,75 a 278,50) y la menopausia (OR 5,17; IC del 95%: 2,72 a 9,80) se halló una relación directa con el cáncer de mama, mientras que el nivel de vitamina D (OR 0,95; IC del 95%: 0,91 a 0,99) y la actividad física moderada (OR 0,31; IC del 95%: 0,10 a 0,93) mantienen las asociaciones inversas con la enfermedad. Conclusión: el estado de vitamina D y la práctica de actividad física moderada se consideraron factores de protección para el cáncer de mama. Sin embargo, la menopausia y la historia familiar de cáncer de mama se consideran un factor de riesgo para el cáncer de mama. AbstractIntroduction: The prevention strategy of breast cancer is still the key factor for early diagnosis and the most effective method for tracking the disease.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association vitamin D level with breast cancer in women.Methods: This hospital case-control study was conducted with 181 women with breast cancer and 197 healthy controls. Vitamin D status, calcium, phosphorus and PTH serum dosage and data collection related to lifestyle and patient's history, besides anthropometric measurements were performed. Univariate analysis (Chi-square and raw odds ratio) and multivariate analysis were performed through multivariate logistic regression. Results: This study shows a higher value of vitamin D in health controls (26.9 mg/dL) than in breast cancer women (24.8 mg/dL). Higher numbers of women with suffi cient vitamin D status (34.85%) were found in control group than cancer group. Using the multiple logistic regression model, the family history of breast cancer (OR 36.37,) and menopause (OR 5.17, 95% CI 2.72-9.80) had a direct association with breast cancer, wh...