BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is among the most common chronic diseases of the modern world with a wide variety of factors including genetic, environmental and metabolic. The aim of this study was to verify the association between the degrees of hepatic steatosis at the abdominal ultrasound and the values of aminotransferases (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transferase (ALT)), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index.MethodsA prospective, descriptive survey study, using a quantitative analytical examination, was conducted from July 2013 to July 2014. In the statistical analysis, values were expressed as median, first and third quartiles. We used the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the medians between the degrees of steatosis, adopted a statistical significance of 5% (P ≤ 0.05) and used the statistical program SPSS 22.0.ResultsWe diagnosed 233/800 (29.1%) patients with hepatic steatosis on routine ultrasound, and 65.7% were female. Regarding degrees, 119 had grade 1 (51.0%), 94 grade 2 (40.4%) and 20 grade 3 (8.6%). The median age of the patients with grade 1, 2 or 3 did not vary significantly (P > 0.05). The median body mass index (BMI), although clinically important because of its elevation, did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). ALT levels increased as the degree of hepatic steatosis has advanced as well as the levels of AST, GGT and HOMA-IR. AST values showed a greater association with the severity of fatty liver (P = 0.0001) than the ALT (P = 0.001).ConclusionsALT, AST, GGT and HOMA-IR are associated to the degrees of hepatic steatosis on ultrasound and can help in the selection of patients for the liver histological evaluation.

EGH promotes hypersensitivity to noxious thermal but not mechanical stimulus. Moreover, motor force is similarly reduced in male and female OMTDs, whereas motor performance is reduced only in mature male OMTD, suggesting the presence of a protective factor in females.

ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence and evaluate sonographic findings compatible with changes consistent with hepatic steatosis in patients referred for abdominal ultrasonography at four reference centers in Aracaju, SE, Brazil.Materials and MethodsProspective, descriptive survey, with analytical and quantitative approach, comprising abdominal ultrasonography scans performed with a convex, dynamic 3.75 MHz transducer. Liver dimensions and parenchymal echotexture were evaluated, classifying hepatic steatosis into grades (1, 2 or 3). The SPSS® 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis, adopting p < 0.05 as significance level.ResultsA total of 800 individuals (561 women and 239 men) were evaluated. The prevalence of steatosis was 29.1%, and the male patients were most affected, presenting with more advanced grades of disease (p = 0.021), as follows: 119 grade 1 (51.0%); 94 grade 2 (40.4%); and 20 grade 3 (8.6%). The median age patients' was 46 years.ConclusionIn the present study sample, the prevalence of hepatic steatosis was high, particularly in the male patients. Ultrasonography is suggested as a first choice for the diagnosis of this condition, considering its wide availability, low cost and absence of side effects or risks to the patient.

Objetivo: Identificar o perfil clínico e sociodemográfico em adultos com excesso de peso na cidade de Aracaju, Sergipe. Estudo transversal, descritivo tipo survey, com abordagem analítica quantitativa. Métodos: Amostra com 690 indivíduos que procuraram de forma aleatória quatro centros de referências para a realização de exame de ultrassonografia abdominal. A aferição de medidas antropométricas entre julho de 2013 a julho de 2014. Foram analisadas as variáveis idade, sexo, renda, escolaridade, comorbidades, circunferência da cintura e índice de massa corpórea (IMC). O programa estatístico utilizado foi o SPSS 22.0 e o nível de significância p<0,05. Resultados: Foram avaliadas 494 mulheres (71,6%) e 196 homens (28,4%). Média de idade dos pacientes foi de 39,4 anos e, naqueles com obesidade foi de 42,3 anos. Em relação ao IMC, 52,9% dos indivíduos eram normais, 31,2% tinham sobrepeso, e o restante obesidade grau I (10,4%), grau II (4,5%) ou grau III (1,0%). O IMC foi significativamente maior no grupo dos hipertensos (p=0,001), no grupo de menor escolaridade (p=0,004), bem como no de maior renda (p=0,003). A circunferência da cintura apresentou média de 104,9cm em obesos. Conclusão: Observaram-se altas prevalências de excesso de peso nos adultos pesquisados consoante a tendência epidemiológica nacional, o que permite classificar a situação como um problema de saúde pública no município avaliado.

Introduction Perinatal hypothyroidism has a negative repercussion on the development and maturation of auditory system function. However, its long-term effect on auditory function remains unsettled. Objective To evaluate the effect of prenatal hypothyroidism on the auditory function of adult offspring in rats. Methods Pregnant Wistar rats were given the antithyroid drug methimazole (0.02% -1-methylimidazole-2-thiol– MMI) in drinking water, ad libitum, from gestational day (GD) 9 to postnatal day 15 (PND15). Anesthetized offspring from MMI-treated dams (OMTD) and control rats were evaluated by tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), and auditory brainstem response (ABR) at PNDs 30, 60, 90, and 120. Results Our data demonstrated no middle ear dysfunction, with the OMTD compliance lower than that of the control group. The DPOAE revealed the absence of outer hair cells function, and the ABR showed normal integrity of neural auditory pathways up to brainstem level in the central nervous system. Furthermore, in the OMTD group, hearing loss was characterized by a higher electrophysiological threshold. Conclusion Our data suggest that perinatal hypothyroidism leads to irreversible damage to cochlear function in offspring.