Bianca Rodrigues de Oliveira

Freshwater molluscs play important functions in aquatic ecosystems, contributing to trophic nets and reflecting the environmental conditions of a given area. Despite their relevance, knowledge about the distribution and structure of these communities remains limited, particularly in areas under anthropogenic pressure. In this context, ongoing control programs against human schistosomiasis have motivated controlling actions, targeting the intermediate hosts: different mollusc species, whose impacts on freshwater ecosystems remain still poorly understood. Baldim, a municipality in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, has historically been endemic for schistosomiasis in Minas Gerais, Brazil..Between 1969 and 1973, control actions were implemented using the molluscicide niclosamide (Bayluscide, Bayer 73) and biological control through the introduction of specimens of the genus Pomacea. The present study aimed to evaluate the current diversity of the malacofauna in the area, with an emphasis on species of the genus Biomphalaria, to investigate ecological aspects, and to identify its associated trematode parasites. Freshwater mollusc surveys were conducted between June 2022 and August 2023. A total of 2,085 molluscs were collected, representing 16 species, including the first record of Biomphalaria tenagophila (an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni). Also, we found one native species Idiopyrgus souleyetianus and three exotic and invasive species Melanoides tuberculata, Physella acuta, and Corbicula largillierti. Populations of Pomacea maculata remained restricted to the former areas of introduction, with no significant impact on populations of Biomphalaria spp.. Different trematode larvae were detected, including cercariae of the types Echinostoma, Monostoma, Xiphidiocercaria, Stringiocercaria, Parapleurolophocerca, and Gymnocephala, demonstrating the diversity of parasites in the region. This study contributes to the knowledge on the freshwater malacofauna in the area. It also highlights the need for continued research on molluscs and the trematodes associated in these aquatic environments, both, before and after control interventions in their natural habitats.

Obesity is a recognized risk factor for the development of cardiometabolic outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate anthropometric and body composition indicators used for its diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass index (FMI) and body mass index (BMI) for detecting cardiometabolic outcomes in adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving adults at 30 years of age from Pelotas, RS (n = 3517) and at 37–39 years from Ribeirão Preto, SP (n = 1696). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the cut-off points for predicting cardiometabolic risk factors, including altered blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDDL-c), C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin. The cut-off points of BF% ranged from 25.2 to 27.8 in men and from 37.4 to 39.7 in women at 30 years, and from 26.1 to 27.8 in men and from 38.5 to 42.2 in women at 37–39 years. For FMI (kg/m²), the cut-off points ranged from 6.3 to 7.5 in men and from 9.5 to 10.8 in women at 30 years, and from 7.3 to 7.8 in men and from 10.2 to 12.2 in women at 37–39 years. The BMI cut-off points (kg/m²) ranged from 26.3 to 27.3 in men and from 25.4 to 27.2 in women at 30 years, and from 28.3 to 29.0 in men and from 27.2 to 29.6 in women at 37–39 years. The areas under the curve were similar for the three indicators, ranging from 0.523 to 0.746. BMI showed a performance similar to that of the body fat-based indicators in identifying cardiometabolic outcomes. The cut-off points of the three indicators showed acceptable discriminatory power in subjects with cardiometabolic risk factors.

The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has increased in recent years and has become a cause of concern because these beverages pose a risk to human health. Thus, we evaluated the association between SSBs consumption and muscle mass index (MMI) in adolescents. This cross-sectional study evaluated 2393 adolescents (18/19-years-old). Consumption of SSBs was analyzed based on the frequency of daily consumption and energy contribution categorized into tertiles. MMI was examined using the ratio of muscle mass (kilograms) to height (meters squared). The highest tertile of the frequency of daily SSB intake was associated with a reduced MMI in men (β = −0.31; 95%CI: −0.60, −0.01) and women (β = −0.24; 95%CI: −0.45, −0.02). However, these associations were not observed after adjusting for sugar contained in SSBs in men (β = −0.26; 95%CI: −0.69, 0.17) and for carbohydrate, lipid, and protein intake in women (β = −0.19; 95%CI: −0.42, 0.04). The highest energy contribution tertile of SSBs was associated with a reduced MMI in male adolescents (β = −0.34; 95%CI: −0.64, −0.04). This association was not observed after adjusting for intake of sugar in SSBs (β = −0.38; 95%CI: −0.75, 0.01). The frequency of daily consumption of SSBs was considered a risk factor for decreased MMI in both sexes, and the energy contribution of these drinks was a risk factor for MMI reduced only in male adolescents.

Background: A nutrient-poor and hypocaloric diet may be associated with lower handgrip strength (HGS), whereas a high-quality or balanced diet may be associated with higher HGS. However, no study has used the NOVA system for classifying food by their degree of processing. Objective: To analyze the association between food consumption according to the degree of food processing and HGS in Brazilian teenagers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included teenagers aged 18 and 19 years old from the 1997/98 São Luís’ birth cohort, Maranhão, Brazil. HGS (kilogram-force) was measured via a Jamar Plus + dynamometer. Food consumption was assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The energy intake of culinary preparations (unprocessed or minimally processed food and processed culinary ingredients), processed, and ultra-processed foods was evaluated in percentages and categorized in tertiles. The associations between each food group intake and HGS was estimated via crude and adjusted linear regression models. A directed acyclic graph was used to identify confounding factors. Results: We evaluated 2,433 teenagers, 52.1% of which were girls. For boys, adjusted analysis showed an association between the highest HGS and the 3^rd tertile of culinary preparation consumption (β: 1.95; 95%CI: 0.80; 3.10) and between the lowest HGS and the 3^rd tertile of ultra-processed food consumption (β: -2.25; 95%CI: -3.40; -1.10). Among girls, the consumption of culinary preparations in the 3^rd tertile was associated with higher HGS (β: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.05; 1.46). Conclusions: Higher consumption of culinary preparations and lower consumption of ultra-processed foods can contribute to reduce the chance of lower HGS in adult life. Interventions to promote the development and preservation of muscle strength should include dietary recommendations.

Longitudinal studies evaluating the relationship between UPF consumption and the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its components are still scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of UPF consumption on the incidence of MetS and its components in adults. A prospective study was conducted with 896 participants from the 1978/79 Ribeirão Preto cohort, São Paulo, Brazil. UPF consumption was evaluated in %kcal and %g at ages 23–25 years. Incidence of MetS and its components were estimated at ages 37–39 years, according to the Joint Interim Statement criteria. Poisson regression was used to assess associations, and interactions with sex were investigated. UPF consumption had no association with MetS (%kcal Adjusted PR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.99–1.01; %g Adjusted PR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.99–1.01). However, women with higher UPF consumption, in %kcal and %g, had a higher risk of abdominal obesity (%kcal: p = 0.030; %g: p = 0.003); and women with higher UPF consumption, in %g, had a higher risk of low HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.041). For the other components of MetS, no significant associations were observed in either sex. These findings suggest evidence of no association between UPF consumption and MetS; however, consumption of UPF was associated with increased WC and low HDL-c, but only in women.

Objectives: to verify the agreement among adolescents’ perception of their own body image and the health professionals’ analysis based on three-dimensional body image and the inter-rater agreement. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out with 1,662 adolescents, aged 18 to 19 years old, from the 1997/98 birth cohort in São Luís, Maranhão. Self-perception of body image was assessed using the Stunkard’s body image scale. Three nutritionists evaluated the three-dimensional body image obtained by the Photonic Scanner (3D Body Scanner) and classified according to the Stunkard’s scale. The agreement between raters was verified by using weighted Kappa. Results: the analysis of agreement between raters in the general group and when stratified by sexwas considered moderate to good by Kappa. Regarding the intraclass correlation (ICC), good and excellent correlation values were observed both in the general group, males and females. There was a greater perception of overweight by all raters, when compared with the adolescents’ self-assessments. When stratified by sex, examiner 1 had the same perception as male self-assessments, as for females the perception of overweight was more frequent, as well as raters 2 and 3, for both sexes. Conclusion: agreement between raters and self-assessments was considered weak/moderate in Kappa and good/excellent in ICC.

Resumo: O objetivo do estudo foi verificar os fatores associados à elevada adiposidade corporal em adolescentes. Trata-se de um estudo transversal tendo como fonte de dados uma coorte de nascimentos iniciada em São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil, em 1997/1998 e reentrevistada em 2016. A adiposidade corporal foi mensurada por meio de pletismografia por deslocamento de ar. Variáveis sociodemográficas, hábitos de vida e alimentares foram incluídos como possíveis fatores associados à elevada adiposidade corporal, sendo estratificada por sexo. A adiposidade corporal foi considerada elevada quando ≥ 25% para o sexo masculino e ≥ 30% para o sexo feminino. Verificaram-se maiores prevalências de alta adiposidade corporal nas adolescentes do sexo feminino que tinham 19 anos (RP = 1,17; IC95%: 1,02-1,35), que consumiam bebida alcoólica (RP = 1,14; IC95%: 1,00-1,30), as que nunca faziam o desjejum (RP = 1,46; IC95%: 1,17-1,81) ou o almoço (RP = 1,51; IC95%: 1,18-1,93). Os adolescentes do sexo masculino que tinham maior prevalência de elevada adiposidade corporal eram ativos fisicamente (RP = 1,49; IC95%: 1,07-2,09). Menor prevalência de elevada adiposidade corporal foi encontrada nos adolescentes do sexo masculino pertencentes à classe econômica D/E (RP = 0,38; IC95%: 0,16-0,90). Conclui-se que adolescentes do sexo feminino de 19 anos, que consumiam bebida alcoólica, e as que não costumavam fazer o desjejum e o almoço tinham maior adiposidade corporal, assim como os adolescentes do sexo masculino ativos fisicamente. Enquanto adolescentes do sexo masculino pertencentes à classe socioeconômica D/E tinham menor adiposidade corporal.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between food consumption by the degree of processing and sleep quality in adolescents from São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. A cross-sectional study with 2499 adolescents (aged 18 to 19 years) was developed. Exposure variables included energy contributions of food groups stratified by the NOVA classification: fresh or minimally processed foods (FMPF), processed foods (PF), and ultra-processed foods (UPF), categorized into quartiles. The outcome variable was sleep quality assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Associations between these variables were estimated by Poisson regression, with robust estimation of variance. Most of the adolescents had poor sleep quality (57.1%). There were associations between FMPF in the third (57.1%–66.0% of total calories; prevalence ratio PR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.97) and fourth quartile (66.1%–95.8% of total calories; PR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.96) and lower prevalence of poor sleep quality. The fourth quartile of UPF (44.3%–81.8% of total calories; PR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.27) was associated with a higher prevalence of poor sleep quality. Higher intake of FMPF is a protective factor for poor sleep quality, whereas higher UPF consumption is a risk factor for poor sleep quality.

RESUMO: Objetivos: Estimar a prevalência de sonolência diurna excessiva (SDE) e os fatores associados a ela em adolescentes da coorte de nascimentos de São Luís (MA). Método: Estudo transversal realizado com 2.514 adolescentes com idade de 18 e 19 anos. Utilizou-se abordagem hierarquizada e calculou-se a razão de prevalências utilizando regressão de Poisson com ajuste robusto da variância. Foram estudadas características sociodemográficas (sexo, cor, classe econômica, ocupação), hábitos de vida (lazer, fumo, álcool, uso de drogas ilícitas, consumo de café e de bebidas energéticas, prática de atividade física, adiposidade corporal, tempo de tela, depressão) e fatores relacionados ao sono. Resultados: A prevalência de SDE foi de 36,8%. Sexo feminino (razão de prevalência - RP = 1,33; intervalo de confiança de 95% - IC95% 1,19 - 1,49), alto risco de consumo de bebidas alcoólicas (RP = 1,26; IC95% 1,09 - 1,46), episódio depressivo maior atual (RP = 1,26; IC95% 1,08 - 1,46), escore de 10 a 18 de alterações do sono (RP = 1,43; IC95% 1,10 - 1,85) e escore de 5 a 7 da disfunção durante o dia (RP = 2,51; IC95% 2,06 - 3,07) foram os fatores de risco para SDE. A classe econômica D/E foi fator de proteção para SDE (RP = 0,47; IC95% 0,27 - 0,85). Conclusão: Mais de um terço dos adolescentes apresentou SDE, e aqueles com maiores riscos precisam melhorar seus hábitos de vida e de sono para que não tenham mais SDE, visando melhorar sua qualidade de vida.