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Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) may coexist with other genetic disorders, such as tuberous sclerosis, when deletion in TSC2/PKD1 genes occurs. Recently, the effect of tolvaptan has been explored in ADPKD patients alone, but its safety and efficacy on TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome is unknown. Case Presentation: This report describes the case of an asymptomatic patient with TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome that fulfills the imaging criteria for initiating the treatment with tolvaptan. After twelve months, the patient did not exhibit severe adverse effects and blood pressure control improved. Conclusion: In this TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome single case report, tolvaptan was safe and well-tolerated. More extensive experimental studies are needed to deeply understand the therapeutic implications of vasopressin V2-receptor inhibition in the TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome patients.

B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) is the most frequent pediatric cancer worldwide. Despite improvements in treatment regimens, approximately 20% of the cases cannot be cured, highlighting the necessity for identifying new biomarkers to improve the current clinical and molecular risk stratification schemes. We aimed to investigate whetherA nested case-control study including Mexican children with BCP-ALL was conducted.A lower expression ofOur findings suggest that

Cities are a wealth production system that attract more and more people in search of a better lifestyle. Migration to cities affects the demand for more housing, services and facilities that, in many cases, imply uncontrolled urban growth, an increase in the number of vehicles, processes of social segregation and effects on natural systems. Indeed, cities are responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, one of the causes of climate change. Transportation Oriented Development (TOD) is an urban planning model that considers higher density, mixed land use, promotion of public transportation and also promotes a walkable and cycleable environment. This study aims to identify the characteristics of TOD that, from various studies, contribute to the construction of a more efficient and equitable city. The objective is to identify and define the characteristics that build this urban planning approach. A review of the state of the art was carried out in two phases: the first consisted of a bibliometric review based on the Vosviewer software and in the second, 28 articles published in high-impact journals were reviewed according to the Scimago ranking. The results indicate that several of the characteristics of TOD overlap in several studies and that others are not considered at a general level and should be strengthened.

Mexico City has one of the highest incidences of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) globally, with patients showing low survival, and high relapse rates. To gain more insight into the molecular features of B-ALL in Mexican children, we isolated CD10 + /CD19 + precursor B lymphoblasts from four bone marrow and nine peripheral blood samples of B-ALL patients using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting protocol. The global gene expression profile (BM vs PB) revealed 136 differentially expressed genes; 62 were upregulated (45.6%) and 74 were downregulated (54.4%). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated to determine the similarity between pre-B lymphoblast populations. We selected 26 highly significant genes and validated 21 by RT-qPCR (CNN3, STON2, CALN1, RUNX2, GADD45A, CDC45, CDC20, PLK1, AIDA, HCK, LY86, GPR65, PIK3CG, LILRB2, IL7R, TCL1A, DOCK1, HIST1H3G, PTPN14, CD72, and NT5E). The gene set enrichment analysis of the total expression matrix and the ingenuity pathway analysis of the 136 differentially expressed genes showed that the cell cycle was altered in the bone marrow with four overexpressed genes (PLK1, CDC20, CDC45, and GADD45A) and a low expression of IL7R and PIK3CG, which are involved in B cell differentiation. A comparative bioinformatics analysis of 15 bone marrow and 10 peripheral blood samples from Hispanic B-ALL patients collected by the TARGET program, corroborated the genes observed, except for PIK3CG. We conclude the Mexican and the Hispanic B-ALL patients studied present common driver alterations and histotype-specific mutations that could facilitate risk stratification and diagnostic accuracy and serve as potential therapeutic targets.

PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DO PESSOAL DE ENSINO SUPERIOR PROGRAMA DE EXCELENCIA ACADEMICA PROGRAMA DE SUPORTE À PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO DE INSTITUIÇÕES COMUNITÁRIAS DE ENSINO PARTICULARES O recente processo de paz na Colômbia (2012-2016) figura entre um dos principais acontecimentos contemporâneos nas agendas de paz e segurança na América Latina. Em linhas gerais, as negociações e o Acordo Final delas resultante foram considerados uma história de sucesso na narrativa internacional. De um lado, resultaram no término do conflito civil de mais de cinco décadas entre o Estado colombiano e as FARC-EP. De outro, fizeram isso de acordo com as melhores práticas internacionais em resolução de conflitos e construção da paz, principalmente em termos de adereçamento das raízes estruturais do conflito e de inclusão de atores da sociedade civil local. Nosso objetivo, nessa dissertação, é colocar em xeque essa narrativa de idoneidade e sucesso em torno do processo de paz na Colômbia. Fazemos isso partindo de um ponto de referência distinto do geralmente utilizado nas abordagens acadêmicas a esse conflito, priorizando sujeitos negligenciados por essas abordagens. Nos perguntamos, então: de que maneira as lutas indígenas em torno do processo de paz na Colômbia contribuem para pensar criticamente esse processo de paz? Em nossa argumentação, um primeiro elemento ressaltado pelas lutas indígenas em torno do processo de paz colombiano é que a paz é um conceito inerentemente político, em disputa por diversos atores sociais e suas agendas. Daí, avançamos uma conceitualização da paz como peça no tabuleiro político da Colômbia, demonstrando como foi mobilizada por importantes atores da cena política do país. Um segundo elemento que, em nossa avaliação, fica evidente a partir das lutas indígenas em torno do processo de paz na Colômbia é o que aqui chamamos de Colonialidade da Paz. Trata-se da reprodução, no processo de paz, das relações de poder e hierarquias sociais da matriz colonial de poder estabelecida no sistema-mundo moderno/colonial, notadamente a partir das dimensões da colonialidade do poder, do saber e do ser. A partir dessa percepção, propomos três estratégias analíticas – o resgate do legado colonial, o desvelamento de lógicas coloniais e a abertura de espaço para as vozes, manifestações e lutas subalternas – para pensar na colonialidade da paz na Colômbia. Ao utilizá-las para abordas as lutas indígenas em torno do processo de paz, notamos narrativas de complexificação de discursos sobre a violência; limitações nos modelos de participação no processo de paz e mobilizações sociais para contrarrestar essas limitações. Notamos, então, elementos que pensamos ser providenciais para desvelar a colonialidade presente no processo de paz na Colômbia, e apontar para possíveis horizontes decoloniais em torno da paz. The recent peace process in Colombia (2012-2016) is an important event in contemporary peace and security agendas in Latin America. The negotiations and the Acuerdo de Paz in the country were celebrated in the international narrative as a success story. On the one hand, it has ended more than five decades of conflict between the Colombian state and the FARC-EP. On the other hand, they were able to do it with detailed guidelines and with a large share of the Colombian civilian population. Our objective, in this work, is to test this optimistic narrative around the peace process in Colombia. We asked how do the profits of indigenous organizations face the peace process that contributed to (re) thinking critically about this phenomenon? So, we argue, from reflections on indigenous profits, that peace is a concept in political dispute over its scope and definition. We also argue that the peace processes - notably Colombia - often reproduce speeches and practices of power and racial hierarchy proper to the coloniality of power, to know and to be. Faced with this, we have outlined three analytical strategies - the rescue of colonial historical legacies; the unveiling of colonial logics and the opening of spaces for you and subordinate agencies - which, we think, help us to understand the coloniality of peace and indigenous profits around the recent peace process in Colombia. El reciente proceso de paz en Colombia (2012-2016) es un acontecimiento importante en las agendas contemporáneas de paz y seguridad en América Latina. Las negociaciones y el Acuerdo de Paz en el país fueran celebrados en la narrativa internacional como un caso de suceso. De un lado, punieron fin a más de cinco décadas de conflicto entre el Estado colombiano y las FARC-EP. De otro, lograron hacerlo con pautas osadas y con grande participación de la población civil colombiana. Nuestro objetivo, en ese trabajo, es cuestionar esa narrativa optimista entorno del proceso de paz en Colombia. Indagamos de qué manera las luchas de organizaciones indígenas frente al proceso de paz contribuyen para (re) pensar críticamente en ese fenómeno? Así, argumentamos, a partir de reflexiones acerca de las luchas indígenas, que la paz es un concepto en disputa política acerca de su alcance y definición. Argumentamos, también, que los procesos de paz – notablemente el de Colombia – muchas veces reproducen discursos y prácticas de poder y jerarquización racial propias de la colonialidad del poder, der saber e del ser. Frente a eso, delineamos tres estrategias analíticas – el rescate de los legados históricos coloniales; el desvelamiento de lógicas coloniales y la apertura de espacios para las voces y agencias subalternas – que, pensamos, nos ayudan a comprender la colonialidad de la paz y las luchas indígenas en torno del reciente proceso de paz en Colombia.

Tryptophan hydroxylase-type 2 (Tph2) is the first rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of serotonin (5-HT) in the brain. The ophthalmic administration (Op-Ad) is a non-invasive method that allows delivering genetic vehicles through the eye and reaches the brain. Here, the murine Tph2 gene was cloned in a non-viral vector (pIRES-hrGFP-1a), generating pIRES-hrGFP-1a-Tph2, plus the FLAG-tag. Recombinant Tph2-FLAG was detected and tested in vitro and in vivo, where 25 μg of pIRES-hrGFP-1a-Tph2-FLAG was Op-Ad to mice. The construct was capable of expressing and producing the recombinant Tph2-FLAG in vitro and in vivo. The in vivo assays showed that the construct efficiently crossed the Hemato-Ocular Barrier and the Blood–Brain Barrier, reached brain cells, passed the optical nerves, and transcribed mRNA-Tph2-FLAG in different brain areas. The recombinant Tph2-FLAG was observed in amygdala and brainstem, mainly in raphe dorsal and medial. Relative Tph2 expression of threefold over basal level was recorded three days after Op-Ad. These results demonstrated that pIRES-hrGFP-Tph2-FLAG, administrated through the eyes was capable of reaching the brain, transcribing, and translating Tph2. In conclusion, this study showed the feasibility of delivering therapeutic genes, such as the Tph2, the first enzyme, rate-limiting step in the 5-HT biosynthesis.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of chronic and end-stage kidney disease worldwide. Its pathogenic mechanism is complex, and it can affect the entire structures of the kidneys such as the glomerulus, tubules and interstitium. Currently, the urinary albumin excretion rate and the estimated glomerular filtration rate are widely accepted as diagnostic criteria. However, some studies have reported a different or non-classical clinical course of DKD, with some patients showing declined kidney function with normal levels of albuminuria, known as the ‘non-albuminuric DKD’ phenotype. The pathogenesis of this phenotype remains unclear, but some clinical and pathological features have been postulated. This review explores the evidence regarding this topic.

Lipodistrofia se trata de uma disfunção ocasionada pelo acúmulo de células de gordura no tecido, que pode ser causado por diversos fatores, como hereditariedade, má postura, alimentação inadequada, dentre outros. O ultrassom terapêutico de 3 MHz é um equipamento que se mostra bastante eficaz para o tratamento de disfunções estéticas, dentre elas o acúmulo irregular de gordura. Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura cujo objetivo geral foi avaliar os efeitos do ultrassom terapêutico associado à cafeína para o tratamento da lipodistrofia localizada. Este estudo consistiu em levantamentos bibliográficos nas bases eletrônicas como: a Scientific Eletronic Library Online – Scielo, Bireme, e Google acadêmico e LILACS (Literatura científica e técnica da América Latina e Caribe), a seleção dos artigos foi feita segundo a leitura da revisão e da introdução dos mesmos. Após seleção e análise desses materiais foi identificado a eficácia do ultrassom para o tratamento da lipodistrofia localizada, devido seu efeito térmico e mecânico agitando assim as moléculas, e a cafeína com efeito lipolítico. Conclui-se que as literaturas existentes, há diversos materiais que comprovam a eficácia do US e cafeína, a associação de ambos, pode promover respostas bastante satisfatórias no tratamento dessa disfunção estética.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different forms of reimplantation of pasture with and without phosphatation aiming to contribute to the increase of soybean yield. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Universidade do Oeste Paulista (Unoeste), located in the municipality of Presidente Bernardes - SP. The design was done with split plot scheme, containing four replicates. The plots were constituted with 4 kg ha-1 of Urochloa brizantha (Marandu grass), BNS + Seeding in haul, BNS + Seeding in line consortium with soybean as subplots (with and without phosphatation). The following were analyzed: number of tillers and dry mass yield (PMS); analysis of plant tissue from pasture; foliar diagnosis analysis; and components of production and production of soy. Analyzed variables were submitted to analysis of variance (p

Atualmente, mudas de diversas fruteiras são produzidas no cultivo protegido, com o uso de substratos aliados a adubações. Há necessidade de substrato de fácil aquisição e que proporcione mudas de boa qualidade. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar diferentes substratos comerciais e doses de nitrogênio sobre o desenvolvimento de mudas de maracujazeiro em condições protegidas. Os tratamentos consistiram de três substratos comerciais (Bioplant®, Fibra de coco e Vivato®) e quatro doses de nitrogênio (0; 150; 300 e 600 mg dm-³ N). Após 120 dias, avaliou-se a altura de planta, número de folhas, peso da matéria seca de parte aérea (MSPA), raizes (MSR) e total (MST) e o teor de clorofila (SPAD). Na altura das plantas, a Fibra de Coco diferiu significativamente dos demais substratos. A altura máxima de 122 cm foi obtida na dose de 600 mg dm-³ de N. No número de folhas a Fibra de coco proporcionou a melhor resposta com média de 20 folhas, sendo superiores Bioplant® e Vivatto®. Na MSPA a Fibra de Coco e Bioplant® foram superiores em relação ao Vivatto®, e na avaliação de MST observou-se o acúmulo máximo de 19 g de matéria seca das mudas na dose de 600 mg dm-³ de N nas plantas desenvolvidas com Bioplant®. No teor de clorofila os melhores resultados foram obtidos no substrato Bioplant® com média de valores SPAD de 40, mas não houve diferença para a Fibra de coco.

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências da Educação: Área de Especialização em Administração Educacional

The aim of this work was to evaluate commercially available substrates and levels of potassium on the development of passion fruit seedlings in protected conditions. The experiment was conducted at the city of Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo within the period from April to September of 2010. The treatments were made with three different substrates (Bioplant®, Coconut fiber and Vivatto®) and four levels of potassium (0, 150, 300 and 600 mg-1 of K dm-³), arranged in a 3 × 4 factorial design with five repetitions. The following parameters were analyzed 120 days after seedlings transplanting: Plant height, number of leaves, length of root, dry matter of shoot, root, total matter and chlorophyll content. The dose of 600 mg dm-3 of K provided the highest seedling height, 85.83 cm independent of the substrate. The commercial substrates Bioplant® and Coconut fiber with a dose of 150 mg dm-3 of K influenced the maximum accumulation of total dry matter of seedlings. However, Vivatto® substrate provided the highest accumulation of total dry matter with application dose of 600 mg dm-3 of K. Mineral potassium fertilization in the substrate Bioplant® and Coconut fiber with a dose of 150 mg dm-3 reduced the length of passion fruit’s roots. Key words: Passiflora edulis Sims., mineral nutrition, protected cultivation.

Introdução: O trabalho em espaços confinados apresenta um conjunto de fatores de risco que colocam em causa a segurança e a saúde do trabalhador. No presente estudo os objetivos foram: verificar a influência dos fatores sociodemográficos e dos hábitos dos trabalhadores offshore na sintomatologia depressiva e na prevalência da insónia; verificar se a prevalência de depressão dos trabalhadores offshore influencia a prevalência de insónia Metodologia: Realizou-se um estudo transversal analítico. De um universo de 120 trabalhadores a amostra final ficou constituída por 102 trabalhadores (99,0% do género masculino, com idades entre os 26 e os 59 e com uma média de 39,13 anos). Os dados foram recolhidos através de um questionário auto-aplicado constituído por questões sociodemográficas e profissionais dos trabalhadores, hábitos de sono e sintomas de insónia avaliados através dos critérios da DSM-IV e o inventário depressivo de Beck (Beck et al, 1961) para avaliar a sintomatologia depressiva. Resultados: Existe relação estatisticamente significativa entre a prevalência de depressão e prevalência de insónia. Quem tem depressão apresenta uma percentagem significativamente superior de prevalência de insónia, em comparação com quem não tem depressão (92,3% vs 20,7%). Os fatores sociodemográficos têm influência na sintomatologia depressiva e na prevalência de insónia. Conclusão: Podemos concluir que os trabalhadores solteiros/separados, sem residência, com sistemas de rotação mais alargados e sem prática de atividade física têm mais sintomatologia depressiva. Os trabalhadores mais jovens e sem residência apresentaram mais perturbações de sono. Foi possível verificar também que os trabalhadores que apresentam sintomatologia depressiva têm maior prevalência de insónia. Palavras-chave: adulto, offshore, sintomatologia depressiva, perturbações de sono, insónia. Abstract Introduction: Work in confined spaces presents a wide range of risk factors that jeopardize worker safety and health. In the present study we intend to investigate the influence of the environmental context of the offshore workers of an oil platform, regarding the consequences of the confinement in the work in offshore context and also analyze the relation with the depressive symptomatology and the sleep disturbances of the workers. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out. From a universe of 120 workers, the final sample consisted of 102 workers (99.0% male, aged 26 to 59 and an average of 39.13 years). Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic and occupational issues of workers, sleep habits and insomnia symptoms assessed using the DSM-IV criteria and the Beck Depressive Inventory (Beck et al, 1961) to evaluate the depressive symptomatology. Results: There is a statistically significant relationship between the prevalence of depression and the prevalence of insomnia. Those who have depression present a significantly higher percentage of insomnia prevalence compared to those who do not have depression (92.3% vs 20.7%). Socio-demographic factors have an influence on depressive symptomatology and prevalence of insomnia. Conclusion: We can conclude that single/separated workers, without residence, with wider rotation systems and without physical activity practice have greater depressive symptomatology. Younger workers with no residence reported more sleep disorders. It was also possible to verify that workers with depressive symptomatology have a higher prevalence of insomnia. Keywords: Adult; offshore, depressive symptoms, insomnia, sleep disorders.

In Mexico, leukemia represents the most common type of cancer in the population under 15 years old with a high incidence rate when compared with developed countries. The etiology of leukemia may be unknown, however different factors are involve such as chromosomal translocations. The aim of this work is to detect the molecular alterations: TEL-AML1, MLL-AF4, BCR-ABL minor and E2A-PBX1 in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.91 bone marrow samples were collected from pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia from january 2012 to march 2013 at the Pediatric Hematology Service, Hospital General "Gaudencio González Garza". Translocations detected (TEL-AML1, MLL-AF4, BCR-ABL minor and E2A-PBX1) using real time PCR, SYBR Green (Qiagen, Alameda, CA).91 samples were processed, the detected frequencies for each translocation were: TEL-AML1 (7.21%), E2A-PBX1 (5.15%). The MLL-AF4 and the BCR-ABL minor translocations were not detected in this study.The frequencies shown in this study are consistent with the data shown in the literature, where TEL-AML1 is the most common translocation found in pediatric patients. It is of relevance to mention that E2A-PBX1 is found in a high frequency in developing countries when compared with developed countries.Introducción: en México, las leucemias representan el tipo de cáncer más frecuente en la población menor de 15 años con una tasa de incidencia alta cuando se compara con países desarrollados. La etiología de las leucemias puede ser desconocida, sin embargo se presentan distintos factores que pueden condicionar la enfermedad, tal es el caso de las translocaciones cromosómicas. El objetivo de este trabajo es detectar las alteraciones moleculares: TEL-AML1, MLL-AF4, BCR-ABL menor y E2A-PBX1 en los pacientes pediátricos con leucemia aguda linfoblástica. Métodos: se colectaron 91 muestras de médula ósea de enero de 2012 a marzo de 2013 de pacientes pediátricos con leucemia aguda linfoblástica del Servicio de Hematología. Se detectaron las translocaciones (TEL-AML1, MLL-AF4, BCR-ABL menor y E2A-PBX1) con técnicas moleculares de tiempo real con SYBR Green (Qiagen, Alameda, CA). Resultados: se procesaron 91 muestras, las frecuencias detectadas para cada una de las translocaciones fueron: TEL-AML1 (7.21%), E2A-PBX1 (5.15%). Las translocaciones MLL-AF4 y BCR-ABL menor no fueron detectadas en este estudio. Conclusiones: las frecuencias mostradas en este estudio están en concordancia con los datos mostrados en la literatura donde TEL-AML1 es la translocación más común encontrada en pacientes pediátricos. Es importante mencionar que E2A-PBX1 se encuentra en una frecuencia alta en países en vías de desarrollo al comparase con países desarrollados.

Background and Aims Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the leading cause of childhood cancer-related deaths worldwide. Multiples studies have shown that ALL seems to be originated by an interaction between environmental and genetic susceptibility factors. The ARID5B polymorphisms are among the most reproducible ALL associated-risk alleles in different populations. The aim of the present study was to examine the contribution of ARID5B, CEBPE, and PIP4K2 risk alleles for the development of ALL in children from Mexico City and Yucatan, Mexico. Methods A study was conducted with a total of 761 unrelated subjects. Two hundred eighty five ALL cases (111 from Yucatan and 174 from Mexico City) and 476 healthy subjects. Genotyping included the rs7088318 ( PIP4K2A ), rs10821936 ( ARID5B ), rs7089424 ( ARID5B ) and rs2239633 ( CEBPE ) polymorphisms. Results Associations between ALL and rs10821936 and rs7089424 ARID5B SNPs were found (OR = 1.9, 95% CI (1.5–2.4) and OR = 2.0, 95% CI (1.6–2.5), respectively). Moreover, a higher risk was observed in the homozygous risk genotypes of carriers from Mexico City (OR = 3.1, 95% CI (2.0–4.9) and OR 3.1, CI 95% (2.0–4.8), respectively). Otherwise, the rs7088318 ( PIP4K2A ) and rs2239633 ( CEBPE ) polymorphisms were not associated with ALL risk. Conclusions Our analysis suggests that ARID5B confers risk for childhood ALL in a Mexican population.

Background and Aims It has been demonstrated that heterozygote and homozygote thiopurine S-methyltransferase ( TPMT ) mutant allele carriers are at high risk to develop severe and potentially fatal hematopoietic toxicity after treatment with standard doses of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and methotrexate (MX). Those drugs are the backbone of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and several autoimmune disease treatments. We undertook this study to determine the frequency of the TPMT deficient alleles in children with ALL and non-ALL subjects from Mexico City and Yucatan, Mexico. Methods We included 849 unrelated subjects, of which 368 ALL children and 342 non-ALL subjects were from Mexico City, and 60 ALL cases and 79 non-ALL individuals were from Yucatan. Genotyping of the rs1800462, rs1800460 and rs1142345 SNPs was performed by 5′exonuclease technique using TaqMan probes (Life Technologies Foster City, CA). Results The mutant TPMT alleles were present in 4.8% (81/1698 chromosomes) and only 0.2% were homozygote TPMT*3A/TPMT*3A . We did not find statistically significant differences in the distribution of the mutant alleles between patients from Mexico City and Yucatan in either ALL cases or non-ALL. Nonetheless, the TPMT*3C frequency in ALL patients was higher than non-ALL subjects ( p = 0.03). To note, the null homozygous TPMT*3A/TPMT*3A genotype was found in 2.5% of the non-ALL subjects. Conclusions TPMT mutant alleles did not exhibit differential distribution between both evaluated populations; however, TPMT*3C is overrepresented in ALL cases in comparison with non-ALL group. Assessing the TPMT mutant alleles could benefit the ALL children and those undergoing 6-MP and MX treatment.

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] was discovered by Kare Berg in 1963 from the study of low-density lipoprotein genetic variants. Lp(a) contains a unique protein, apolipoprotein(a), which is linked to the Apo B-100 through a disulfide bond that gives it a great structural homology with plasminogen, and confers it atherogenic and atherothrombotic properties. Interest in Lp(a) has increased because an important association between high plasma levels of Lp(a) and coronary artery disease and cerebral vascular disorders has been demonstrated. Numerous case control studies have confirmed that hyper-Lp(a) is a risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease. Lp(a) is identified as a genetic trait with autosomal transmission, codified by one of the most studied polymorphic genes in humans. It has been demonstrated that variations in this gene are a major factor in the serum levels of Lp(a). Variations differ considerably between individuals and sex across populations. Various approaches to drug treatment using fibric acid derivatives, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, alcohol extracted soy protein, niacin, and exercise have been proven to decrease Lp(a) in high risk patients, but none has really been an effective therapeutic option for successfully reducing Lp(a) plasma levels.

Recently, it has been suggested that non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol measure is a useful evaluation tool to assess heart disease death risk. The non-HDL cholesterol is defined as the value between total cholesterol and HDL - total cholesterol, and it involves the different fractions of lipoproteins: low-density lipoprotein, intermediate-density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein, including highly atherogenic lipoproteins as very low density lipoprotein remnants. The purpose of this study was to compare the values of non-HDL cholesterol as a cardiovascular risk marker in a control population, and one diabetic and hypertensive. It was demonstrated that the mean values of non-HDL cholesterol in the diseased groups were higher than the values from the control group, whereas the low-density lipoprotein showed no marked difference in high-risk patients. Non-HDL cholesterol has shown to be a quick and simple way to estimate the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.