High cardiometabolic factor prevalence was found in the community being studied as well as a high tendency for several of these factors to cluster, thereby indicating the need to execute programmes focusing on reducing cardiometabolic risk.

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Biomphalaria glabrata and Schistosoma mansoni relationship was studied by light microscopy (LM) and freezefracture replica technique (FFR). We observed very thin cytoplasmic extensions of hemocytes in the LMMorphological and ultrastructural methods previously employed for the characterization of vertebrate immune systems (macrophages, lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclears) under normal conditions and parasitic infections were used for identifying mollusc hemocytes (Sminia & Barendsen 1980, Ottaviani & Franchini 1988, Abdul-Salam & Michelson 1980, Barracco et al. 1993. It has been lately suggested that some bacteria toxins are able to induce the re-arranging of Rho superfamily proteins and cytoskeleton alterations (stress fibers) in epithelial cells (Brest et al. 2003). These findings indicate a new perspective for studying the mechanisms mediating the B. glabrata hemocyte and S. mansoni larval interaction.The aim of this investigation was to study ultrastructural aspects of the interaction between B. glabrata hemocyte and S. mansoni occurring at the cellular membrane level. For this purpose, a useful methodology for the ultrastructural characterization of membrane systems, the freeze-fracture replica technique (FFR) was used. MATERIALS AND METHODSMiracidia -S. mansoni eggs were purified from the liver and gut sections of hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) 7 weeks after infection. Briefly, dissected organs were enzymatically digested (0.25% trypsin and 0.05% collagenase in 0.15 M PBS, pH 7.2) then eggs were purified by shifting through metallic meshes, decreasing in size from 420 to 44 µm. Eggs were collected and hatched under sterile conditions, and the resulting miracidia were sedimented at 4 o C as described by Césari and Alarcón de Noya (1987). All the animals used in this study were sacrificed in accordance to Venezuelan laws for animal care.Cytoadherence -Hemocytes were obtained from B. glabrata between 7 and 10 mm diameter. Molluscs were externally rinsed with 25% isopropylic alcohol and then