JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Condições adversas no ambiente pré-natal e primeiros anos de vida são independentemente associados com risco aumentado de doença cardiovascular. A hipótese aceita atualmente para essa associação é a de que agravos, principalmente nutricionais, ocorridos durante a gestação alteram a organização de órgãos e sistemas, que ao serem solicitados na vida adulta, teriam menor capacidade funcional. Com base nessa premissa, o trabalho tem o objetivo de estudar a relação entre o peso ao nascer, crescimento no primeiro ano de vida e fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular e aterosclerose subclínica em adultos do Centro de Saúde-Escola (CSE) \"Prof. Samuel B. Pessoa\" da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Em 2009, 88 adultos jovens com idade entre 20-31 anos, seguidos desde o início da vida no CSE, foram submetidos ao diagnóstico de aterosclerose subclínica. Informações relacionadas às características sociodemográficas, dados antropométricos, medidas da pressão arterial, perfil metabólico, e avaliação da aterosclerose subclínica pela ultrassonografia e métodos gráficos foram obtidas dos adultos, e estudadas de acordo com 2 pontos de corte em relação ao peso de nascimento (< 2.500 gramas; e, > 3.500 gramas) e ganho de peso no primeiro ano de vida. Os pesos foram obtidos dos registros de prontuários. Os achados atuais dos adultos foram analisados em relação às condições de nascimento e ao ganho de peso no primeiro ano de vida. Para realização das análises estatísticas foram realizadas regressões multivariadas. RESULTADOS: Baixo peso ao nascer, menor de 2.500 gramas (g) foi negativamente correlacionado com a relação cintura-quadril (RCQ) elevada, segundo coeficiente de regressão (CR) igual a -0,323, IC 95% [-0,571, -0,075] p < 0,05, níveis de pressão arterial diastólica (CR=-4,744, IC 95% [-9,017,-0,470] p < 0,05), HDL-colesterol reduzido (CR=-0,272, IC 95% [-0,516, -0,029] p < 0,05), e frequência da espessura da média-íntima (EMI) média da carótida esquerda (CE) acima do p75 (CR=-0,242, IC 95% [-0,476,-0,008] p < 0,05). Peso ao nascer maior do que 3.500 g foi positivamente associado com IMC (CR=2,832, IC 95% [0,433, 5,233] p < 0,05), IMC >= 25,0 kg/m2, (CR=0,317, IC 95% [0,782, 0,557] p < 0.05), cintura abdominal elevada (CR=0,284, IC 95% [0,054, 0,513] p < 0,05), RCQ elevada (CR=0,280, IC 95% [0,054, 0,505] p < 0,05), glicemia de jejum (CR=3,808, IC 95% [0,558, 7,058] p < 0,05), MEGA mínima (CR=4,354, IC 95% [0,821, 7,888] p < 0,05), MEGA máxima (CR=7,095, IC 95% [0,608, 13,583] p < 0,05), tamanho do lobo direito do fígado (CR=6,896, IC 95% [1,946, 11,847] p < 0,01), e com a frequência do lobo direito do fígado acima do p75 (CR=0,361, IC 95% [0,169, 0,552] p < 0,01). Ganho de peso no primeiro ano de vida menor que: a diferença entre o peso com 12 meses de idade e o peso de nascimento no p50 das curvas da Organização Mundial da Saúde, foi considerado inadequado, sendo negativamente correlacionado com EMI média da CE (CR=-0,046, IC 95% [-0,086, -0,006] p < 0,05), frequência da EMI média da CE acima do p75 (CR=-0,253, IC 95% [-0,487, -0,018] p < 0,05), EMI da (CE+CD)/2, com CR=-0,038, IC 95% [-0,073, -0,002] p < 0,05, e com a frequência da EMI (CE+CD)/2 acima do p75 (CR=-0,241, IC 95% [-0,442, -0,041] p < 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Adultos com pesos de nascimento menores do que 2.500 g. e maiores do que 3.500 g. e com ganho de peso insuficiente no primeiro ano de vida apresentaram diferentes fenótipos metabólicos, mas todos relacionados com fatores de risco aumentados para doença cardiovascular e aterosclerose subclínica, quando comparados com aqueles que nasceram com peso adequado e com ganho de peso suficiente no primeiro ano de vida / BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adverse conditions in the prenatal environment and in the first years of life are independently associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The currently accepted hypothesis for this association is the one that states that alterations occurred during pregnancy, mainly nutritional ones, affect the organization of organs and systems that would have a lower functional capacity when needed during adult life. This paper aims to study the relationship between weight at birth, growth in the first year of life and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and subclinical atherosclerosis subclinical atherosclerosis in adults of the \"Prof. Samuel B. Pessoa\" Health Center-School (CSE) from the Medical School of the University of São Paulo. METHODS: In the year of 2009, 88 young adults aged between 20 and 31, followed since the beginning of their lives in the CSE, were submitted to the diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis. Their sociodemographic qualities, anthropometric data, blood pressure measurements, metabolic profile, evaluation of subclinical atherosclerosis by ultrasound and graphical methods were collected. These pieces of information were later studied according to their birth weight (< 2,500 grams and > 3,500 grams) and to the gain of weight during their first year of life. Weights were obtained from the registrations of their medical records. The current findings in the adults were analysed in relation to their conditions of birth and weight gain in the first year of life. Multivariate regressions were performed in order to obtain the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Low birth weight, less than 2,500 grams (g) was negatively correlated with higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), according to regression coefficient (RC) equal to -0.323, 95% CI [-0.571, -0.075] p < 0.05, diastolic blood pressure (RC=-4.744, 95% CI [-9.017, -0.470] p < 0.05), reduced HDL cholesterol (RC=-0.272, 95% CI [-0.516, - 0.029] p < 0.05), and the frequency of the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the left carotid artery average above 75th p (RC=-0.242 95% CI [-0.476, -0.008] p < 0.05). Birth weight greater than 3,500g was positively associated with BMI (RC=2.832, 95% CI [0.433, 5.233] p < 0.05), BMI >= 25.0 kg/m2, (RC=0.317, 95% CI [0.782, 0.557] p < 0.05), waist circumference elevated (RC=0.284, 95% CI [0.054, 0.513] p < 0.05), WHR elevated (RC=0.280, 95% CI [0.054, 0.505] p < 0.05), fasting glucose (RC=3.809, 95% CI [0.559, 7.058] p < 0.05), minimum subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with RC=4.354, 95% CI [0.821, 7.888] p < 0.05), maximum SAT (RC=7.095, 95% CI [0.608, 13.583] p < 0.05), size right lobe of the liver (RC=6.896, 95% CI [1.946, 11.847] p < 0.01), and the frequency of the right lobe of the liver above the 75th percentile (RC=0.361, 95% CI [0.169, 0.552] p < 0.01). Weight gain in the first year of life was considered inadequate when it was lower than the difference between the weight at 12 months of age and birth weight at the 50th percentile curves of the World Health Organization (WHO), and negatively correlated with media IMT of left carotid (RC=-0.046, 95% CI [-0.086, -0.006] p < 0.05, frequency of media IMT of left carotid above the 75th percentile (RC=-0.253, 95% CI [-0.487, -0.018] p < 0.05), media IMT(left carotid + right carotid)/2 com RC=-0.038, 95% CI [-0.073, -0.002] p < 0.05, and the frequency of the media IMT (left carotid + right carotid)/2 above the 75th percentile (RC=-0.241, 95% CI [-0.442,-0.041] p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adults with weight at birth lower than 2,500 g and higher than 3,500 g and with insufficient weight gain in the first year of life have showed different metabolic phenotypes, but all related to increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease and subclinical atherosclerosis when compared to those who were born with appropriate weight and who have gained enough weight during the first year of life

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Vários estudos têm mostrado o peso ao nascer de ambos os pais como preditor do peso de nascimento do descendente, com correlação mais fortemente transmitida através da linhagem materna, sugerindo que exposições desfavoráveis à mãe desde a sua própria vida intrauterina até os períodos de pré-concepção e gestacional, além dos genes herdados, influenciam o tamanho ao nascimento da prole. A preocupação atual se relaciona ao ciclo intergeracional do baixo peso ao nascer ou do peso ao nascer elevado entre gerações, com todos os agravos imediatos e a longo prazo que estão implicados em nascer pequeno para a idade gestacional e/ou baixo peso ou grande para a idade gestacional e/ou macrossômico. O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de estudar a correlação entre o peso ao nascer da criança com o peso ao nascer da mãe, com as condições maternas, em crianças nascidas a termo no Hospital Universitário da USP (HU-USP). MÉTODOS: Foram identificados 773 binômios mães-crianças, 773 crianças nascidas de 558 mães, com a informação documentada do peso ao nascer tanto do bebê quanto da mãe. As informações referentes aos antecedentes maternos, pré-natal e parto, e as medidas antropométricas de nascimento da criança e da mãe foram obtidas através do registro em prontuários, sendo 83,8% das mães nascidas no HU-USP. Foram constituídos grupos de estudo de peso ao nascer da criança [< 2.500 gramas (g) e >= 3.500 gramas (g)], e também foi realizado o estudo do comprimento ao nascer da criança <= 47,5cm (quartil inferior). Foram utilizados Chi-quadrado ou teste exato de Fisher, Spearman\'s Rho, e Odds-Ratio para investigar as relações entre o peso e comprimento ao nascer das crianças com variáveis maternas e das próprias crianças. RESULTADOS: As meninas (nascidas entre 1999-2014) foram mais pesadas ao nascer do que as suas mães (nascidas entre 1972-1998), com uma média no aumento do peso ao nascer de 79g entre as duas gerações. O peso ao nascer da criança < 2.500g não apresentou correlação alguma com o peso ao nascer materno < 2.500g (Fisher 0,264*; Spearman´s Rho 0,048; OR 2,1 e OR lower 0,7), e com a estatura materna na gestação no quartil inferior (< 157cm) (Chi2 sig 0,323; com Spearman´s Rho 0,036; OR 1,5 e OR lower 0,7). O baixo peso ao nascer da criança (< 2.500g) foi levemente correlacionado com o uso de drogas pela mãe durante a gestação (Fisher 0,083*; Spearman´s Rho 0,080;OR 4,9 e OR lower 1,0). O peso ao nascer da criança < 2.500g mostrou correlação acentuada com a idade gestacional menor que 38 semanas e 3 dias (Chi2 sig 0,002; Spearman´s Rho 0,113; OR 3,2 e OR lower 1,5). O peso ao nascer da criança >= 3.500g apresentou forte correlação com o peso ao nascer materno >= 3.500g (Chi2 sig 0; Spearman´s Rho +0,142; OR 0,5** e OR upper 0,7); sendo que quanto maior o IMC pré-gestacional da mãe maior a correlação com o peso de nascimento da criança >= 3.500g [(IMC materno pré gestacional >= 25,0 kg/m2 com Chi2 sig 0,013; Spearman´s Rho 0,09; OR 1,54 e OR upper 2,17) e (IMC materno pré gestacional >= 30,0 kg/m2 com Chi2 sig 0; Spearman´s Rho 0,137; OR 2,58 e OR upper 4,26)]. O peso ao nascer da criança >= 3.500g também foi correlacionado com o parto cesareano (Chi2 sig 0; Spearman´s Rho +0,132; OR 0,5** e OR upper 0,8). O comprimento ao nascer da criança no quartil inferior (<= 47,5cm) mostrou-se significante em mães que nasceram com peso < 3.500g (Chi2 sig 0; Spearman´s Rho -0,154; OR 3,2** e OR lower 1,8). O comprimento ao nascer da criança <= 47,5cm apresentou forte correlação com o uso de drogas pela mãe durante a gestação (Chi2 sig 0,004; Spearman´s Rho 0,105; OR 4,3 e OR lower 1,5). O comprimento ao nascer da criança <= 47,5cm apresentou tênue correlação com a estatura materna no quartil inferior (< 157cm) e com o tabagismo na gestação, evidenciados pelo Chi2 sig 0,012; Spearman´s Rho 0,091; OR 1,6 e OR lower 1,1 e Chi2 sig 0,012; Spearman´s Rho 0,091; OR 1,7 e OR lower 1,1, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: O peso de nascimento da mãe >= 3.500g e o sobrepeso ou obesidade pré-gestacional materna foram correlacionados com o peso ao nascer da criança >= 3.500g e maior comprimento ao nascer do recém-nascido, acoplado à tendência do aumento do peso ao nascer entre gerações de mães e filhas. Também, os descendentes com menores comprimentos ao nascimento são os filhos das mulheres com as mais baixas estaturas. A co-existência do ciclo intergeracional da obesidade e da \"falência do crescimento\" se mostrou presente na população estudada / BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many studies have shown that both parents\' birth weight acts as a predictor for the descendant birth weight, with the correlation more strongly transmitted through maternal line. This suggests that adverse expositions to the mother, from her own intrauterine life until the pre-conception and pregnancy periods, in addition to the inherited genes, influences the size of the offspring at birth. The current preoccupation relates to the intergenerational cycle of low birth weight or increased birth weight between the generations, with all the immediate and long term aggravations that are implied in small birth size for the gestational age and/or low birth weight or large birth size for the gestational age and/or macrosomic. The present research aims to study the correlation between the child\'s birth weight with the mother\'s birth weight, and maternal conditions, in term infants born in the \"Hospital Universitário\" from the University of São Paulo. METHODS: 773 mother-infant binomials were identified (773 children born from 558 mothers) with information on both the baby\'s and the mother\'s birth weight recorded. The information referring to maternal antecedents, pre-natal, parturition and birth anthropometric measures of the infant and the mother were obtained through the registrations of their medical recordes. 83.8% of the mothers were born in the \"Hospital Universitário\". Group studies were constituted, dividing the sample according to birth weight [< 2.500 grams (g) and >= 3.500 grams (g)]. The length at birth was also studied in children <= 47,5cm (lower quartile). Chi-squared test or Fisher\'s exact test, Spearman\'s Rho and Odds-Ratio were performed in order to investigate the relation between the children\'s weight and length at birth and the mothers\' and children\'s variables. RESULTS: The girls (born between 1999 and 2014) were heavier at birth than their mothers (born between 1972 and 1998), with an average increase at birth weight between the generations of 79 grams. The child\'s birth weight < 2.500 grams did not show any correlation with maternal birth weight < 2.500 grams (Fisher 0.264*; Spearman\'s Rho 0.048; OR 2.1 and OR lower 0.7) nor with maternal stature below the lower quartile (< 157cm) (Chi2 sig 0.323; with Spearman\'s Rho 0.036; OR 1.5 and OR lower 0.7). The child\'s low birth weight (< 2.500g) was lightly correlated with drug use by the mother during pregnancy (Fisher 0.083*; Spearman\'s Rho 0.080; OR 4.9 and OR lower 1.0). The child\'s birth weight < 2.500g showed increased correlation with gestational age lower than 38 weeks and 3 days (Chi2 sig 0.002; Spearman\'s Rho 0.113; OR 3.2 and OR lower 1.5). The child\'s weight at birth >= 3.500g showed strong correlation with maternal weight at birth >= 3.500g (Chi2 sig 0; Spearman\'s Rho +0.142; OR 0.5** and OR upper 0.7). It was also revealed that the higher the maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, the stronger the correlation with child\'s birth weight >= 3.500g was [(maternal pre-pregnancy BMI >= 25,0 kg/m2 with Chi2 sig 0.013; Spearman\'s Rho 0.09; OR 1.54 and OR upper 2.17) and (maternal pre-pregnancy BMI >= 30,0 kg/m2 with Chi2 sig 0; Spearman\'s Rho 0.137; OR 2.58 and OR upper 4.26)]. The child\'s weight at birth >= 3.500g was also correlated with Caesarean section (Chi2 sig 0; Spearman\'s Rho +0.132; OR 0.5** and OR upper 0.8). Child\'s length at birth in the lower quartile (<= 47,5cm) was significant in mothers who were born with weight < 3.500g (Chi2 sig 0; Spearman\'s Rho -0.154; OR 3.2** and OR lower 1.8). The child\'s length at birth <= 47,5cm showed strong correlation with drug use by the mother during pregnancy (Chi2 sig 0.004; Spearman\'s Rho 0.105; OR 4.3 and OR lower 1.5). The child\'s length at birth <= 47,5cm showed tenuous correlation with maternal stature in the lower quartile (< 157cm) and with gestational smoking, demonstrated by Chi2 sig 0.012; Spearman\'s Rho 0.091; OR 1.6 and OR lower 1.1 and Chi2 sig 0.012; Spearman\'s Rho 0.091; OR 1.7 and OR lower 1.1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The mother\'s weight at birth >= 3.500g and the prenatal overweight or obesity were correlated with the child\'s weight at birth >= 3.500g and increased length at birth of the newborn, coupled with the tendency of increasing birth weight between generations of mothers and daughters. Also, descendants with smaller length at birth are the children of women with the lowest statures. The coexistence of the intergenerational vicious cycle of obesity and of \"growth failure\" was found on the studied population

A ocorrência de doença cardiovascular não pode ser explicada somente pelo estilo de vida do adulto. Estudos ecológicos e epidemiológicos dos últimos vinte anos demonstraram maior incidência de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis em indivíduos que nasceram com baixo peso e tiveram um ganho de peso inadequado nos dois primeiros anos de vida. A hipótese aceita atualmente é a de que agravos, principalmente nutricionais, ocorridos durante a gestação alteram a programação de órgãos e sistemas para preservar, principalmente, o desenvolvimento cerebral, levando ao sacrifício metabólico de vários órgãos, como rins, fígado, coração, pâncreas, que ao serem solicitados na vida adulta, teriam menor capacidade funcional. Esta teoria foi chamada Hipótese de Barker ou do Fenótipo Poupador. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o peso de nascimento e do primeiro ano de vida de adultos usuários do Centro de Saúde-Escola Prof. Samuel B. Pessoa, que foram matriculados quando lactentes e que estão atualmente em seguimento nesta unidade de saúde, correlacionando com a sua condição de saúde atual, para tentar demonstrar a teoria das origens desenvolvimentistas da saúde e da doença em nosso meio. A anamnese clínica, medidas da cintura abdominal, cintura quadril, pressão arterial, freqüência cardíaca, e exames laboratoriais, tais como colesterol total e frações, triglicérides, glicemia de jejum foram estudados. Constituiu-se um grupo de 298 usuários, com média de idade de 25 anos, sendo 212 mulheres e 86 homens. Após a execução do estudo observamos que não houve diferença estatisticamente significante em relação a anamnese e aos exames laboratoriais alterados dos adultos, quando se compararam aos grupos com baixo peso de nascimento, nem quando comparados aos grupos com peso baixo com um ano de idade. O acompanhamento destes de adultos, por duas a três décadas, poderá trazer dados que venham a ajudar a comprovar a teoria das origens desenvolvimentistas da saúde e da doença em nosso meio. A prevenção primordial, isto é, antes do nascimento, das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis será o objetivo futuro da Pediatria Preventiva / The appearance of a cardiovascular disease cannot be explained only by the adults lifestyle. Ecological and epidemiological studies from the last twenty years show a more frequent incidence of non-communicable chronic diseases in individuals that were born under the ideal weight and had an inadequate gain of weight during their first two years. The hypothesis initially accepted is that certain deficiencies, mainly nutritional, that occurred during pregnancy alter the programming of organs and systems in order to preserve the cerebral development. This process may lead to metabolic sacrifice of many organs, including liver, kidneys, heart and pancreas, which will have a worse functional capacity when necessary in adult life. This theory was called Barker Hypothesis or Thrifty Phenotype Hypothesis. This research project has for objective the comparation of the weight at birth and during the first year of life from adults whose health is followed at Health Center School Prof. Samuel B. Pessoa. This group of adults was subscripted when its members were infants. A correlation between their present health and their health conditions when infants was made during this study in order to try to demonstrate in our environment the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. The basis of the study was the clinical anamneses, the measures of the abdominal waist, hip, arterial pressure, cardiac frequency and some laboratorial examinations, such as total and fractional cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose levels. A group of 298 patients was formed, with an average age of 25 years-old members. 212 of them were women and 86 were men. After this study, it was concluded that the underweight at birth and underweight during the first year of life do not lead to alterations statistically relevant in the anamneses and in the laboratorial examinations. The following of these adults during two or three decades may bring data that might help to prove the developmental origins of health and disease theory in our environment. The primordial prevention (before the child is born) of non-communicable chronic diseases will be the future target of Preventive Pediatrics

Estudos experimentais feitos em nosso laboratório comprovaram que a inalação de material particulado proveniente da queima de combustíveis fósseis utilizados em siderurgia pelos ratos adultos diminuiu a atividade motora dos animais no campo aberto. Além disso, provamos que os ratos habituaram ao ambiente desse teste, o que significa que a inalação desse tipo de material não provocou variação em termos de aprendizado simples. Uma das causas da alteração no comportamento em relação à motricidade seria o estresse oxidativo causado pelo material particulado no estriado e cerebelo desses animais. Entretanto, em nossa cidade não existem estudos que demonstrem a estreita associação entre inalação de poluentes, estresse oxidativo e alterações comportamentais. Baseados nos nossos trabalhos anteriores e na literatura, nosso objetivo foi investigar se a poluição atmosférica a nível ambiental durante as fases pré e pós-natal alteraria a memória discriminativa de curta-duração e a memória espacial. Além disso, avaliamos o papel do estresse oxidativo como o mecanismo propulsor dessas mudanças de comportamento. Para tal, ratas prenhas foram expostas ao ar filtrado e ao ar não filtrado durante os 21 dias de gestação. Ao final do período de amamentação, os machos foram separados e subdividos em 4 grupos experimentais (n=24): 1) Filtrado: nasceu e viveu em ambiente cujo ar era filtrado, 2) NFF: nasceu em ambiente cujo ar era não filtrado e viveu a partir do 21o dia do pós-natal no ambiente com ar filtrado, 3) FNF: nasceu sob ar filtrado e viveu a partir do 21o dia do pós-natal sob ar não filtrado, 4)NF: nasceu e viveu em ambiente cujo ar era não filtrado. Os animais ficaram expostos a poluição por 150 dias. Os animais foram divididos em 3 lotes: lote 1: n=6 animais por grupo; após anestesia profunda, os animais foram perfundidos com soro fisiológico seguido de paraformaldeído 4%, o encéfalo foi retirado e dissecado em córtex, hipocampo e estriado para análises histológicas por técnicas estereológicas; lote 2: n=12 ratos por grupo; aplicação dos testes comportamentais; um dia após os testes, esses animais foram eutanasiados por decapitação, o encéfalo retirado e dissecado da mesma forma citada anteriormente para análise de estresse oxidativo; lote 3: n=6 animais por grupo; os animais foram decapitados e o sangue troncular coletado para análises de elementos traço tóxicos e essenciais no sangue total. O córtex apresentou lipoperoxidação no grupo NF quando comparado aos outros grupos, assim como uma alta concentração de Cd no sangue. O grupo NFF apresentou uma maior concentração de Cu, Se e Zn no sangue em relação aos demais. Em relação à memória discriminativa de curta-duração, houve uma diminuição no grupo NF em relação aos demais grupos. No hipocampo e estriado, foi observado aumento da lipoperoxidação nos grupos FNF e NF, respectivamente, quando comparado aos outros grupos. Quanto à memória espacial, não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos. Primeiramente, como pudemos observar, o cada estrutura encefálica apresenta uma resposta ao estresse oxidativo. O córtex do grupo NF apresentou aumento de lipoperoxidação. Como se sabe, o Cd é feto tóxico e passa via transplacentária adsorvido ao material particulado inalado pela mãe. No caso do grupo NF, o Cd possivelmente deslocou o Zn do sítio ativo da enzima CuZn superóxido dismutase formando forma inativada da mesma. O Cd, também, forma conjugado com duas moléculas de glutationa reduzida a fim de ser excretado pela bile. Isso reduz a sua capacidade antioxidante. Esse elemento traço desloca o Fe e o Cu dos sítios ativos das suas proteínas de armazenamento, a ferritina e a ceruplasmina, respectivamente. Esses dois elementos ficam livres para catalisar a reação de Fenton cujo produto é o radical hidroxil, extremamente tóxico para o organismo. O grupo NF apresentou uma diminuição na capacidade de discriminar dois objetos diferentes. Provavelmente, o Cd agiu de forma indireta diminuindo a capacidade antioxidante da CuZn superóxido dismutase e da glutationa, além de liberar Fe e Cu e aumentar a produção de radical hidroxil. O aumento da lipoperoxidação causado pelo Cd pode ser o mecanismo responsável pela perda desse tipo de memória. Entretanto, o grupo NFF, cuja exposição à poluição foi na fase pré-natal, não apresentou aumento na lipoperoxidação. Possivelmente, a alta concentração dos elementos traço essenciais, Cu, Zn e Se aumentou a atividade das enzimas CuZn superóxidodismutase e glutationa peroxidase, respectivamente, o que evitou danos oxidativos durante o período intra-uterino. O grupo FNF apresentou aumento de lipoperoxidação no hipocampo, mas não houve diferença na memória espacial testada com o labirinto de Morris modificado. Portanto, considerando todos os achados, concluímos que, possivelmente, o aumento da lipoperoxidação causado indiretamente pelo Cd pode ser um dos mecanismos responsáveis pela perda da capacidade da memória discriminativa de curta-duração. Além disso, os elementos traço essenciais exercem uma proteção via aumento das defesas antioxidantes dos animais que nasceram em ambiente poluído e, após 21 dias de vida, foram transferidos para o ambiente com o ar filtrado, o que demonstra, provavelmente, a existência de mecanismos antioxidantes de adaptação em ambientes inóspitos como forma de proteção contra o agente agressor durante o desenvolvimento do embrião. / Experimental studies done at our laboratory demonstrated that the inhalation of residual oil fly ash by the adult rats decreased motor activity of the animals in the open-field test. Additionaly, we showed that rats which inhalated residual oil fly ash preserved its habituation capacity. In this study, oxidative stress in striatum and cerebellum might be the cause of motor activity alterations. However, there were any studies about air pollution and behavioral alterations in Porto Alegre. Based on our previous works and in the literature, our objective was to investigate if the exposure to air pollution during intrauterine and lactation periods would damage the short term discriminative and spatial memories and if the mechanisms would be dependent of oxidants. For such, female pregnant rats were exposed to the filtered air and to the non filtered air during the 21 days of gestation. At the end of the breast-feeding period, the males were separate and divided in 4 experimental groups (n =24): 1) Filtered (F): - pre and post-natal exposure until adulthood in filtered air; 2) non filtered/filtered air (NFF): pre-natal period in non-filtered air until PND21 and post-natal in filtered air until adulthood; 3) filtered air/non-filtered air (FNF): pre-natal period in filtered air until PND 21 and post-natal period in non-filtered air until adulthood; 4) non filtered air (NF): pre and post-natal periods in non-filtered air.The animals were exposed the pollution for 150 days. The animals were divided in 3 lots: lot 1: n=6 animals per group; after anesthesia, the animals were perfused with saline solution following by paraformaldehyde 4%, the brain was removed and dissected in cortex, hippocampus and striatum for histological analyses by stereological techniques; lot 2: n=12 rats per group; submitted to behavioral tests; one day after the tests, those animals were euthanized by decapitation, the brain was removed and dissected in the same way mentioned previously for oxidative stress analysis; lot 3: 6 animals per group; the animals were decapitated and the troncular blood was collected to analyze the toxic and the essential trace elements. The cortex presented lipoperoxidation in NF group when compared to other groups, as well as a high concentration of Cd in the blood. The group NFF presented higher blood concentration of Cu, Se and Zn when compared to other groups. There was a decrease in the discriminative capacity in the group NF when compared to other groups. In the hippocampus and striatum, increases of lipidperoxidation were observed in the groups FNF and NF, respectively, when compared to other groups. Spatial memory of all groups was preserved. We observed the each brain structure reacts in a different way to oxidative stress. The NF cortex group presented an increased of lipidperoxidation. In this group, there was higher Cd blood concentration, which passes through placenta and it is fetotoxic. It might be possible that Cd dislocated Zn of the active site of CuZn superóxido dismutase resulting in inactive forms of this enzyme. The Cd also depletes reduced glutathione. Moreover, Cd may dislocate the Fe and Cu from its storage proteins to react with oxygen peroxide increasing the hydroxyl radical production by Fenton reaction. The group NF presented a decrease in the capacity to discriminate two different objects. Cd may act in an indirect way reducing the antioxidant capacity of CuZn superxidodismutase and of the glutathione and increasing the hydroxyl radical production. Lipoperoxidation in NF cortex caused by the Cd may be one of the mechanisms which explain the loss of discriminative capacity. However, the group NFF, whose air pollution exposure was in the pre-natal period, did not present increase of lipidperoxidation. The higher concentrations of essential trace elements (Cu, Se and Zn) may protect this group against oxidative stress. These elements are cofactor of antioxidants enzymes, superoxidodismutase and glutathione peroxidase and increased its activities during the intra-uterine exposure to air pollution. The group FNF presented lipidperoxidation increase in the hippocampus, but there was no difference in the spatial memory tested with Morris\' maze. Therefore, considering our data, we suggested that the increase of lipidperoxidation caused indirectly by Cd, which was adsorbed in particulate matter surface, may be one of the mechanisms which explain the loss of short-term discriminative memory

No / Acrylamide is a common dietary exposure that crosses the human placenta. It is classified as a probable human carcinogen, and developmental toxicity has been observed in rodents. OBJECTIVES: We examined the associations between prenatal exposure to acrylamide and birth outcomes in a prospective European mother-child study. METHODS: Hemoglobin (Hb) adducts of acrylamide and its metabolite glycidamide were measured in cord blood (reflecting cumulated exposure in the last months of pregnancy) from 1,101 singleton pregnant women recruited in Denmark, England, Greece, Norway, and Spain during 2006-2010. Maternal diet was estimated through food-frequency questionnaires. RESULTS: Both acrylamide and glycidamide Hb adducts were associated with a statistically significant reduction in birth weight and head circumference. The estimated difference in birth weight for infants in the highest versus lowest quartile of acrylamide Hb adduct levels after adjusting for gestational age and country was -132 g (95% CI: -207, -56); the corresponding difference for head circumference was -0.33 cm (95% CI: -0.61, -0.06). Findings were similar in infants of nonsmokers, were consistent across countries, and remained after adjustment for factors associated with reduced birth weight. Maternal consumption of foods rich in acrylamide, such as fried potatoes, was associated with cord blood acrylamide adduct levels and with reduced birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary exposure to acrylamide was associated with reduced birth weight and head circumference. Consumption of specific foods during pregnancy was associated with higher acrylamide exposure in utero. If confirmed, these findings suggest that dietary intake of acrylamide should be reduced among pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Many women of reproductive age are employed in industries involving exposure to organic solvents. Animal toxicological studies and human case reports demonstrate that exposure to organic solvents can cause neuropsychological deficits in exposed offspring; however, there is limited data from prospective controlled human studies. OBJECTIVE: To compare neuropsychological functioning between children whose mothers were occupationally exposed to organic solvents during pregnancy with a non-exposed matched comparison group. METHODS: Participants were 48 women who had previously contacted the Motherisk Program in Toronto, Canada during pregnancy regarding occupational exposure to organic solvents and a matched comparison group of women with no known exposure to teratogens during pregnancy. Children (18 months to 8 years 11 months at time of study) were compared in areas of cognitive, language, motor, and behavioral functioning. RESULTS: Children whose mothers were exposed to organic solvents during pregnancy displayed a lower level of functioning when compared with their matched peers in areas of cognitive, language, motor, and behavioral domains. Although the scores on measures of behavioral functioning were not in the clinical range, the mothers of exposed children reported more challenging behavioral problems. In order to determine whether exposure predicted neuropsychological outcomes above and beyond maternal intellectual functioning, hierarchical regressions were run with maternal IQ and maternal education at Step 1and exposure status added at Step 2. In utero exposure to organic solvents predicted lower sores on global measures of Verbal IQ, receptive and expressive language scales above and beyond maternal intellectual functioning. Factors associated with higher levels of exposure (detecting odor, longer duration and total number of toxicity symptoms) was associated with poorer outcome on behavioral and motor functioning tests. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the exposed mothers experienced minimal symptoms of toxicity, detrimental effects were still evident in their offspring. Current safety standards for exposure were designed for adults and need to be reevaluated. Further studies addressing exposure to specific organic solvents, dose, and gestational timing of exposure are warranted.

BACKGROUND: Many women of reproductive age are employed in industries involving exposure to organic solvents. Animal toxicological studies and human case reports demonstrate that exposure to organic solvents can cause neuropsychological deficits in exposed offspring; however, there is limited data from prospective controlled human studies. OBJECTIVE: To compare neuropsychological functioning between children whose mothers were occupationally exposed to organic solvents during pregnancy with a non-exposed matched comparison group. METHODS: Participants were 48 women who had previously contacted the Motherisk Program in Toronto, Canada during pregnancy regarding occupational exposure to organic solvents and a matched comparison group of women with no known exposure to teratogens during pregnancy. Children (18 months to 8 years 11 months at time of study) were compared in areas of cognitive, language, motor, and behavioral functioning. RESULTS: Children whose mothers were exposed to organic solvents during pregnancy displayed a lower level of functioning when compared with their matched peers in areas of cognitive, language, motor, and behavioral domains. Although the scores on measures of behavioral functioning were not in the clinical range, the mothers of exposed children reported more challenging behavioral problems. In order to determine whether exposure predicted neuropsychological outcomes above and beyond maternal intellectual functioning, hierarchical regressions were run with maternal IQ and maternal education at Step 1and exposure status added at Step 2. In utero exposure to organic solvents predicted lower sores on global measures of Verbal IQ, receptive and expressive language scales above and beyond maternal intellectual functioning. Factors associated with higher levels of exposure (detecting odor, longer duration and total number of toxicity symptoms) was associated with poorer outcome on behavioral and motor functioning tests. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the exposed mothers experienced minimal symptoms of toxicity, detrimental effects were still evident in their offspring. Current safety standards for exposure were designed for adults and need to be reevaluated. Further studies addressing exposure to specific organic solvents, dose, and gestational timing of exposure are warranted.