Graciela Peterson

Trans fatty acid content of a selection of foods in Argentina

Abstract Several studies have reported an association between consumption of trans fatty acids and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). These fatty acids enter the human diet most commonly as byproducts of hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fats. The amount of trans fats in foods exhibit great variation, due to differences in hydrogenation methods and intensity. In order to quantify the level of trans fats available in widely consumed commercial food items in Argentina, we measured total fat, saturated fat, and the trans fatty acid elaidic acid in 46 food items. As an example from most common items, total fat was 2.0–3.4% in sliced bread, 2.9–25% in cookies and crackers, 50–80% in margarines, 85% in butter, and 34–39% in snack products. In the same items, content of the trans fatty acid elaidic acid was: 2.35–27.7% in sliced bread, 2.85–28.95% in cookies and crackers, 18.15–31.84% in margarines, 4.63% in butter, and 0–10.58% in snacks. In order to compare the results on the fatty-acid composition by using different analysis methods, the same food items mentioned were analyzed in a column of lower polarity and shorter length, and we found trans fatty acids were masked by cis unsaturated fatty acids. A comparison with available data from similar products from other parts of the world indicates that Argentinian products in the categories studied have higher content of trans fatty acids.

Cuticle Fatty Acid Composition and Differential Susceptibility of Three Species of Cockroaches to the Entomopathogenic Fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota, Hypocreales)

ABSTRACT Differences in free fatty acids (FFAs) chemical composition of insects may be responsible for susceptibility or resistance to fungal infection. Determination of FFAs found in cuticular lipids can effectively contribute to the knowledge concerning insect defense mechanisms. In this study, we have evaluated the susceptibility of three species of cockroaches to the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin by topical application. Mortality due to M. anisopliae was highly significant on adults and nymphs of Blattella germanica L. (Blattodea: Blattellidae). However, mortality was faster in adults than in nymphs. Adults of Blatta orientalis L. (Blattodea: Blattidae) were not susceptible to the fungus, and nymphs of Blaptica dubia Serville (Blattodea: Blaberidae) were more susceptible to the fungus than adults. The composition of cuticular FFAs in the three species of cockroaches was also studied. The analysis indicated that all of the fatty acids were mostly straight-chain, long-chain, saturated or unsaturated. Cuticular lipids of three species of cockroaches contained 19 FFAs, ranging from C14:0 to C24:0. The predominant fatty acids found in the three studied species of cockroaches were oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acid. Only in adults of Bl. orientalis, myristoleic acid, &ggr;-linolenic acid, arachidic acid, dihomolinoleic acid, and behenic acid were identified. Lignoceric acid was detected only in nymphs of Bl. orientalis. Heneicosylic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were identified in adults of Ba. dubia.

Association between the APOE*4 allele and atherosclerosis is age dependent among argentine males

Several studies have shown evidence of an association between the *4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in different populations. We determined the APOE genotype and total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) values in 189 patients with angiographically evaluated atherosclerosis. The APOE*4 allele was found to be statistically significantly more frequent (odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–3.32) among male patients than in a randomly chosen population-based sample. No significant difference was found when female patients were compared to the general population. The APOE*4 allele was found primarily among young (30–45-year-old) male patients (p < 0.04). Despite the ascending linear tendency of the mean TC values for genotypes APOE*2/*3, APOE*3/*3, and APOE*3/*4 reported in our case population, no differences were observed among our patients. We conclude that the APOE*4 allele is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease, that this association has an age-dependent effect, and that it acts as a genetic factor that increases susceptibility to developing the disease in young to middle-aged male adults in our population.