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Biomedical subjects

A Galvão-Teles

Publications and source records attributed to A Galvão-Teles.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Prevalence of obesity in Portugal.

Obesity is a serious health problem in developed countries. Knowledge of reliable and nationwide representative data is a must for any public health action. The dimension of this problem in Portugal was first assessed in 1995-1998. A similar populational survey using objective anthropometric measures is now being conducted (field work started in January 2003). A total of 6411 subjects aged 18-64 years old have already been measured and their respective body mass indexes (BMIs) calculated. Results from 2003 to 2005 show 38.6% is overweight and 13.8% has obesity. The total of overweight and obesity is 52.4%. In 1995-1998 survey, overweight was 35.2% and obesity was 14.4%. The total was 49.6%. These results suggest an increase of the overweight/obesity (altogether) prevalence in the last 10 years. Actual results show that more than half of the adult sample has excessive weight and 2.4% of the sample has low BMI. Finally, 45.6% of the sample suffers increased health risks because of high waist circumference (> or =80 cm for women; > or =94 cm for men). These results highlight the fact that, although obesity was identified as a public health problem one decade ago, action to reduce it does not seem to have been very effective to date.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Relationship between the number and impact of stressful life events and the onset of Graves' disease and toxic nodular goitre.

BACKGROUND: In the last few decades, several studies have suggested a possible association between Stressful Life Events (SLEs) and the onset of Graves' Disease (GD). However, others have criticised this association and it has not yet been possible to prove it unequivocally. At present, we are not aware of studies correlating SLE and non autoimmune thyrotoxicosis. OBJECTIVE: To assess possible associations between SLEs, the onset of GD and the onset of non autoimmune thyrotoxicosis (toxic nodular goitre, TNG). DESIGN: A case-control retrospective study. PATIENTS: This study included 93 subjects, divided into three groups of 31 each: GD, TNG and control (CG). The GD and TNG patients had thyroid disease diagnosed within the last 12 months, with clinical and biochemical confirmation. In the CG, psychopathological and endocrine disturbances had been ruled out. All three groups consisted of nine males (29%) and 22 females (71%). The mean age was 38.4 +/- 10.9 years in the GD group, 48.3 +/- 11.1 years in the TNG group and 41.1 +/- 11.8 years in the CG group. SLEs were evaluated (number and impact) for the 12 months preceding the onset of symptoms of thyroid disease. MEASUREMENTS: SLE occurrences and their impact on each group of cases were measured. To assess SLEs, we used the Life Experiences Survey (LES). Our statistical analysis included descriptive techniques and parametric and/or nonparametric comparative tests. P < 0.01 was considered statistically significant. Odds ratios were also calculated. RESULTS: Patients with GD had a significantly greater number of SLEs compared to the TNG group and the CG (P < 0.001). The number and impact of negative SLEs were significantly higher in GD compared to TNG and CG (P < 0.001). The difference between TNG and CG was not significant (P > 0.01). GD had a higher impact of positive SLEs than TNG (P = 0.004), and no significant differences were found between the GD group and CG. Neutral SLEs were similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SLEs are a precipitating factor of the onset of GD. We also demonstrated that SLEs do not seem to have any conclusive relationship with the onset of TNG.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Secular trends of weight, height and obesity in cohorts of young Portuguese males in the District of Lisbon: 1960-1990.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the secular trend of weight, height and obesity among young Portuguese males at the time of military inspection for national conscription purposes in the region of Lisbon, during the last thirty years. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, based on the review of military census files. SETTING: Military selection centre of Lisbon. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In Portugal, military service is obligatory and medical inspections are carried out every year on males at the age of twenty. For study purposes, representative samples were taken from the young male population undergoing inspection for the Armed Forces on a five year basis, between 1960 and 1990 in the region of Lisbon. Weight and height were evaluated by a trained team, using standard measurement instruments and procedures. RESULTS: A progressive and significant increase in weight, height and BMI of the young male population was found between 1960 and 1990. For certain variables the increase was also statistically significant within a five-year period, as it was the case for height between 1965-1980 and for weight between 1985-1990. The increase in BMI experienced some minor fluctuation along the reference period, however, it was statistically significant between 1985-1990. The increase in weight and in BMI was greater in the highest percentiles and particularly noticeable between 1985 and 1990. The percentage of young males with BMI over 25 kg/m2 was of 8.1% in 1960 and of 18.0% in 1990, while those having a BMI over 27 kg/m2 varied between 3.6% and 6.4% in the same period, respectively. The percentage of young adult males with BMI higher than 25 kg/m2 doubled between 1960 and 1990.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Characterization of leukocytes, lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets in eating disorders].

Mental anorexia patients have severe denutrition and high cortisol levels. Nervous bulimia presents a particular psychic profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate lymphocyte population in eating disorders in order to understand the effect of these disturbances on immune system. We have found that patients with mental anorexia or bulimia present a significant decrease of leucocytes, lymphocytes, CD2 and CD4. Patients with post-anorexia bulimia have no significant variants. There is no difference between mental anorexia and nervous bulimia. There is a tendential variation between mental anorexia and controls in relation to CD45Ra. Considering the similar patterns of immune disturbance in anorexia and bulimia it looks like a dominance of neuroimmune network over malnutrition. Naive cells are particularly sensitive to malnutrition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Free cortisol in obesity; effect of fasting.

Plasma and urinary corticosteroids were measured in 13 obese subjects before and after high and low protein diets, and after fasting. During isocaloric high and low protein diets, urinary 17-oxogenic steroids and to a lesser extent urinary free cortisol excretion rose and fell in parallel with protein intake. Plasma unbound cortisol levels were not much changed by high or low protein intake. However, during 7 to 11 days total fasting, there was a highly significant rise in plasma unbound cortisol at 24.00. A smaller rise occurred at 09.00. The overall effect was a considerable diminution of the day-night variation of plasma unbound coritsol levels during fasting, and a rise in prevailing unbound cortisol levels and urinary free cortisol excretion. In 3 subjects tested these changes were reversed immediately by glucose re-feeding.

17-Ketosteroids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiology of anorexia nervosa. Prevalence of anorexia nervosa in female adolescents from the districts of Lisboa and Setubal].

UNLABELLED: Prevalence studies of anorexia nervosa (AN) have shown differences depending of the country and method applied. The partial syndrome is being emphasized. There has been no epidemiological study done on AN in the Portuguese population of continental Portugal. Our objectives were: 1) to study the prevalence of AN in Portuguese populations; 2) to study the presence of partial syndrome and of body image disturbance; 3) to calculate the number of girls dieting; 4) to correlate with other variables. A population of 2,398 girls ranging 10 to 21 years old, from 30 State secondary schools in the Lisbon and Setubal districts were studied. A questionnaire was answered with questions allowing assessment of all DSM IIIR criteria for AN. RESULTS: Prevalence of AN--0.37%, partial syndrome--12.6%, body image disturbance without weight loss--7%, wish to decrease weight in normal or low weight girls--38%, overweight--15.3%, the peak of age for AN was 15 years, the most prevalent socio-economic class for AN was 2 (scale 1 (higher) to 5). School performance was worse with AN and the age menarche was sooner.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Asymptomatic hepatitis induced by propylthiouracil].

Propylthiouracil (PTU) is widely used to treat patients with hyperthyroidism. In rare cases this drug has been found to have toxic effects on the liver. We describe the second assymptomatic case, reported in the literature, of PTU induced hepatotoxicity. Sixteen cases have been published so far, all with clinical manifestations. A 20-year-old female patient developed an elevation of AST, ALT and GGT levels after 5 months of PTU (50 mg tid) therapy for Graves disease with hyperthyroidism. The patient showed normal levels of liver aminotransferases before starting PTU. She had no risk factors for or clinical evidence of pre-existing liver disease. She didn't take any regular medication. After stopping PTU, the plasma levels of hepatic enzymes normalised within 6 weeks. Thirteen days after the reinstitution of PTU (150 mg tid), because of the recurrence of hyperthyroidism, another episode of assymptomatic hepatotoxicity was documented. AST, ALT, GGT and AP levels rose again, but bilirrubin levels remained normal, which represents a very unusual laboratory constellation in this kind of patient. The serology for hepatitis A, B, C and for EBV and CMV was negative. After stopping PTU, methimazole (MMI) was started and the liver enzymes normalised within two weeks. After 12 months of MMI therapy, the patient is assymptomatic, with normal liver enzyme levels and normal thyroid function tests. This case is the second to be described where the diagnosis was confirmed by the rechallenge of PTU, being this a major diagnostic criteria. Despite its rarity the disease should be suspected in any patient receiving PTU in whom clinical or laboratorial evidence of hepatocellular injury develops. The drug should be discontinued immediately when the hepatic injury is detected. Recovery is usually complete after the withdrawal of the drug, but there were al least, three fatalities among the 17 cases described.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Obesity and dyslipidemia. Nature of an association].

Obesity is commonly associated with hyperlipidemia on the basis of clinical and epidemiological studies, but the mechanisms of that relationship are not well understood. To evaluate the contribution of obesity to fasting levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG), we retrospectively analyzed data of 209 patients (175 women and 34 men) attending our outpatient clinic to lose weight. Hyperlipidemia, namely hypertriglyceridemia and low levels of HDL-C, was more frequent in more advanced grades of obesity. Fifty per cent of men with moderate obesity were found to have hypertriglyceridemia and 41.6% showed low levels of HDL-C. However, the relationship between obesity and hyperlipidemia is confounded by age and is not significant when body mass index (BMI) is correct for age. After this correction, we only found a significant correlation (r = 0.93, p = 0.01) between BMI and hypertriglyceridemia in female patients. We conclude that hyperlipidemia and obesity are associate but their relationship is weak and influenced by age. Also important in this relationship seems to be the distribution of body fat.

Adult↗