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Fat mass (FM) and fat-free body mass (FFB) are important parameters for assessing nutritional status, since they are associated with higher prevalence of excess body fat and malnutrition worldwide. To develop prediction equations for fat and fat-free body mass in adolescents using body circumferences. This cross-sectional study included 218 adolescents (10-16 years) with normal weight as defined by body mass index. FM(Pred) and FFB(Pred) were estimated using stepwise multiple linear regression, considering age and body circumferences. Response variables, FM(BIA) and FFB(BIA) were estimated using bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA). The accuracy of the prediction equations was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R(2)) and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). The best prediction equations for males were FM(Pred) = -7.114 - 0.592(age) - 0.958(wrist)+0.191(hip)+0.295(abdomen); R(2) = 0.552; AIC = 416.04 and FFB(Pred) = - 52.180+1.913(age)+1.954(wrist)+1.635(forearm); R(2) = 0.869; AIC = 578.24. For females, the best equations were FM(Pred) = -17.580 - 0.678(wrist)+0.221(abdomen)+0.241(hip)+0.202(proximal thigh) - 0.228(calf); R(2) = 0.838; AIC = 415.36 and FFB(Pred) = -31.066+0.90(age)+1.090(wrist) - 0.139(abdomen)+0.326(hip)+0.632(calf); R(2) = 0.878; AIC = 512.48. The equations developed to estimate fat body mass in females and fat-free body mass in both genders had high adjusted coefficients of determination and are therefore preferable to those derived using BIA.

To determine the prevalence of systemic and ocular toxoplasmosis among 1024 students in the city of Natal, Northeastern Brazil, and correlate it with demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological risk factors.The study population was randomly selected, asked to fill out a questionnaire, provide a blood sample for IgG and IgM (MEIA) serology and a hemogram, and undergo an eye examination.The seroprevalence for IgG was 46% (95% CI = 42.9-49.2%) and that for IgM was 1.4% (95% CI = 0.8-2.4%). The prevalence of ocular lesions was 1.15% (95% CI = 0.6-2.0%). In the univariate analyses, confirmed by multivariate analysis, the socioeconomic conditions were determinants in the prevalence of systemic and ocular toxoplasmosis (mother's schooling = literacy/OR = 2.9 and p0.001).The prevalence of systemic toxoplasmosis, although high, was lower than that found in studies performed in the South and Southeast of Brazil, and the incidence of ocular lesions was totally different, being lower by a factor varying from 5 to 17. Although important epidemiological variables, such as owning a cat, drinking unfiltered water or having had contact with lakes or rivers, were found to be correlated with toxoplasmosis in the preliminary analysis, they lost their influence when included in the logistic model. However, further studies must be undertaken to identify the reasons for these findings, including the determination of the strains of Toxoplasma gondii encountered in different regions of the country and the sources of the water utilized by these populations.