[Impact of family support over food intake and depressive status in cervical cancer patients during hospitalization]. / Impacto del acompañamiento familiar sobre la ingestión de alimentos y el estado depresivo en pacientes con cáncer cervicouterino hospitalizadas.

INTRODUCTION: Uterine cervical cancer represents a public health problem in Mexico; the patients suffer physical and psychological stress leading to depression and weight loss. Eating with a relative has positive effects in food ingestion and depressive status in hospitalized patients. In our society, food is the closest way that family members have to bring care and to show affection to the patient that has less appetite as disease goes on. OBJECTIVE: To establish the relationship between presence of the family during the meals and depresion, food intake, and weight variation during hospitalization. METHODOLOGY: 106 women admitted to the Oncology Department at the General Hospital of Mexico with a diagnosis of CUCA clinical stage II and III were studied in order to improve their condition. Weight and height, diet by means of 24 hour recalls were assessed both at hospital admission and discharge, and Beck's depression inventory was applied; the frequency with which the relatives escorted the patient was recorded. RESULTS: Patients were classified in two groups according to the frequency of family escorting; it was found that 43 patients (40.6%) were accompanied, and 63 patients (59.4%) were not. We did not find significant differences in age and days of hospital stay between the groups (p > 0.05). The escorted patients had more foods available during hospitalization (p < 0.05). Energy consumption (kcal) in escorted patients was higher by 12.7% as compared to non-escorted patients. 76.7% of the escorted patients were depressed, as compared to 55% in the non-escorted group. Significant differences were found with regards to clinical status and presence of depression (p < 0.05) between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Family escorting does not have an influence on the amount of foods consumed during hospitalization or body weight variation; however, it does have an influence on the presence of depression.

[Nutritional status in hospitalized patients in a public hospital in Mexico City]. / Estado nutricio en pacientes internados en un hospital público de la ciudad de México.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of malnutrition among hospitalized patients and to relate nutrition status with body mass index, fasting time, adequacy intake of protein and energy during hospitalization and length of stay. METHODS (STUDY POPULATION, SUBJECTS, INTERVENTION): We evaluated weight loss in the last 6 months prior to admission, body mass index (BMI), ideal and usual body weight percentages, days of hospitalization, energy and protein intake adequacy, fasting days and cause in hospitalized patients at different wards at Hospital General de Mexico. Patients were divided into groups according to their nutritional status (at risk/with malnutrition or normal) and data was assessed descriptively and comparatively by t-tests to determine mean differences. RESULTS: We assessed 561 hospitalized patients. We found different frequencies of malnutrition according to various indicators: 21.17% according to BMI, 38.07% and 19.57% by percentages of habitual and ideal weights--respectively-- and a weight loss in 69.57% of the patients. Mean daily energy intake was found to be of 1,061+/-432.7 kcal, while mean protein intake was 42.1 + 22.7 g, representing only the 69.4% and 54.9% of the energy and protein requirements. We found statically significant differences among malnourished and normal patients in relation to BMI (p < 0.001), length of stay (p < 0.05), energy adequacy (p < 0.001) and protein intake (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Malnutrition is common in hospitalized patients. An important factor in hospital malnutrition is the lack of compliance in the patient's requirements, preventing a fast recovery and increasing their length of stay. Thus, it is important to make changes and improvements in the institutional health system so that there is trained personnel in order to provide and adequate nutrition care attention to the critically ill patient, improving their condition and general prognosis.

[Effect of an intensive nutritional treatment in nutritional status of head and neck cancer patients in stages III and IV]. / Evaluación del impacto de un tratamiento nutricional intensivo sobre el estado nutricional de pacientes con cáncer de cabeza y cuello en estadio III y IV.

OBJECTIVE: Malnutrition and accelerated weight loss are frequent secondary diagnosis in patients with cancer. Head and neck cancer (H & N Cancer) affects nutritional status because of the tumor type and localization. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of an intensive nutritional treatment (INT) on nutritional status of H & N cancer patients, stages III and IV and to compare that with a historical control whose nutritional treatment was conventional (CT). METHODS: All patients were nutritionally assessed before oncological treatment started (anthropometrical, biochemical, and dietetically). A nutritional feeding plan according to their nutritional personal need was calculated. In case it was impossible to cover all the nutritional requirements orally, a feeding tube was placed. Nutritional follow up was performed each 21 days, during their oncological treatment in four occasions. The results obtained were compared with those obtained from the patients who received the CT that consisted only in nutritional counseling by the attending physician; the statistical test used was Mann Whitney U test. RESULTS: The INT was associated with maintenance of the nutritional status along their oncological treatment. The statistical significant parameters were: weight 55 to 47 kg in the CT group vs 59 a 58 kg in the INT group (p < 0.0001), and hemoglobin: from 13 to 11 g/dl in the CT group vs 14 to 13 g/dl in the INT group (p < 0.002) as the most important ones. In the rest of the data we can observe a clear tendency of increasing the nutrition parameters in patients the INT group, while in the CT group, they showed a persistent decrease. CONCLUSION: We concluded that patients who received the INT as part of their oncological treatment deteriorated less their nutritional status than those who received a CT.

Anemia reduction in preschool children with the addition of low doses of iron to school meals.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries there is high prevalence of iron deficiency anemia, which causes negative impact on growth, development and quality of life for infant population. Currently several strategies are being elaborated and tested to tackle this problem. OBJECTIVE: To measure anemia prevalence in preschool children. To evaluate fortification effectiveness with 5 or 10 mg of elemental iron/daily added to school meals by increasing hemoglobin levels in anemic children. METHODS: Double-blind, cluster randomized intervention study with 728 students from public network. Blood count was taken at beginning of study, to evaluate anemia prevalence, those anemic were selected for intervention, after intervention new blood count was taken to evaluate fortification effectiveness. Ferrous Sulphate was added in individual dosage of 5 or 10 mg of elemental iron/daily to usual school meal. From 35 schools 3 were randomized to receive 5 mg/daily (group A) and 3 to receive 10 mg/daily (group B). Hemoglobin and hematocrit averages before and after intervention were compared in each group and between them. RESULTS: In group A, the anemia prevalence reduced 34.9 to 12.4%, and in group B 39.0 to 18.7%. In both groups a significant increase in hemoglobin was observed: in group A from 10.1 to 11.5 g/dl (p < 0.01) and in group B from 10.0 to 11.0 g/dl (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in final levels of hemoglobin among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both dosages of elemental iron were equally effective in increasing hemoglobin levels, and reducing anemia prevalence. Fortification of school meals was shown to be an effective, low cost and easy to manage intervention.

Low-dietary fiber intake as a risk factor for recurrent abdominal pain in children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate dietary fiber intake in children with recurrent abdominal pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with control group. SETTING: Outpatients of the Pediatric Gastroenterology public health clinic of the Darcy Vargas Children's Hospital, Brazil. SUBJECTS: Forty-one patients with recurrent abdominal pain were evaluated and 41 children, as a control group. INTERVENTIONS: Macronutrients and fiber intake evaluation by the Daily Food Intake method. Two tables of fiber composition in foods were used. RESULTS: According to the Brazilian table the mean intake of fiber (g/day) by the children of the recurrent abdominal pain groups with chronic constipation or not, and the control group was, respectively, 18.2, 16.6 and 23.7 for total fiber (P=0.001), 7.5, 6.9 and 9.5 for soluble fiber (P=0.001) and 10.7, 9.7 and 14.1 for insoluble fiber (P=0.002). According to the AOAC table, the recurrent abdominal pain group with chronic constipation or not (10.6 and 9.9 g/day) also had lower intake of total fiber than the control group (13.4 g/day) (P=0.008). The intake of fiber was lower than the minimum recommended value (age+5 g) and statistically associated (P=0.021) with the recurrent abdominal pain group (78%) in comparison with the control one (51.2%). The odds ratio was 3.39 (95% CI, 1.18-9.95). CONCLUSION: fiber intake below the minimum recommended value is a risk factor for recurrent abdominal pain in children.

Development of an HPLC method for determination of diphenidol in plasma and its application in an oral multi-dose bioequivalence study in a healthy female Mexican population.

Diphenidol was determined by an HPLC method developed in our laboratory. It was validated and proved to be linear in the 40-400 ng/ml range. Accuracy for quality-control samples for intra and inter day assays ranged from 96.1-98.9% and 98.8-101.4%, respectively. This method was applied to a multi-dose bioequivalence study. No serious side effects were observed in the multi-dose design. Pharmacokinetic parameters (mean+/-standard error [S.E.]) of Cavg (ng/ml) and AUCtau (ngh/ml) for reference and test products were 139.54+/-12.66 versus 148.60+/-16.51 and 551.07+/-53.53 versus 588.78+/-69.02, respectively. Log-transformed values were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the classical 90% confidence interval (CI 90%) test and Schuirmann's test. Confidence limits ranged from 91.48-116.18% for Cmax and from 91.24-117.65% for AUCtau. These results suggest that the analytical method was linear, precise, and accurate for our purpose, and that both assayed formulations were bioequivalent.

Morphological and functional alterations of the intestine of rats with iron-deficiency anemia.

The present study was designed to assess the intestinal absorption of D-xylose and jejunal morphometry in rats with iron-deficiency anemia. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group (diet containing 50 mg Fe/kg, N = 12) and an anemic group (diet containing <5 mg Fe/kg, N = 12). The animals were housed in individual metabolic cages and deionized water and diet were provided ad libitum for 6 weeks. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were determined at 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. At the end of the study the rats were submitted to a D-xylose absorption test (50 mg/100 g body weight) and sacrificed and a jejunal specimen was obtained for morphometric study. At the end of the study the hemoglobin and hematocrit of the anemic rats (8.7 +/- 0.9 g/dl and 34.1 +/- 2.9%, respectively) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the controls (13.9 +/- 1.4 g/dl and 47.1 +/- 1.5%, respectively). There was no statistical difference in D-xylose absorption between the anemic (46.5 +/- 7.4%) and control (43.4 +/- 9.0%) groups. The anemic animals presented statistically greater villus height (445.3 +/- 36.8 microm), mucosal thickness (614.3 +/- 56.3 microm) and epithelial surface (5063.0 +/- 658.6 microm) than control (371.8 +/- 34.3, 526.7 +/- 62.3 and 4401.2 +/- 704.4 microm, respectively; P < 0.05). The increase in jejunum villus height, mucosal thickness and epithelial surface in rats with iron-deficiency anemia suggests a compensatory intestinal mechanism to increase intestinal iron absorption.

Morphological and functional alterations of the intestine of rats with iron-deficiency anemia

The present study was designed to assess the intestinal absorption of D-xylose and jejunal morphometry in rats with iron-deficiency anemia. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group (diet containing 50 mg Fe/kg, N = 12) and an anemic group (diet containing <5 mg Fe/kg, N = 12). The animals were housed in individual metabolic cages and deionized water and diet were provided ad libitum for 6 weeks. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were determined at 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. At the end of the study the rats were submitted to a D-xylose absorption test (50 mg/100 g body weight) and sacrificed and a jejunal specimen was obtained for morphometric study. At the end of the study the hemoglobin and hematocrit of the anemic rats (8.7 ± 0.9 g/dl and 34.1 ± 2.9 percent, respectively) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the controls (13.9 ± 1.4 g/dl and 47.1 ± 1.5 percent, respectively). There was no statistical difference in D-xylose absorption between the anemic (46.5 ± 7.4 percent) and control (43.4 ± 9.0 percent) groups. The anemic animals presented statistically greater villus height (445.3 ± 36.8 µm), mucosal thickness (614.3 ± 56.3 µm) and epithelial surface (5063.0 ± 658.6 µm) than control (371.8 ± 34.3, 526.7 ± 62.3 and 4401.2 ± 704.4 µm, respectively; P < 0.05). The increase in jejunum villus height, mucosal thickness and epithelial surface in rats with iron-deficiency anemia suggests a compensatory intestinal mechanism to increase intestinal iron absorption.

Bioequivalence evaluation of two brands of ketoconazole tablets (Onofin-K and Nizoral) in a healthy female Mexican population.

A randomized, crossover study was conducted in 24 healthy female volunteers to compare the bioavailability of two brands of ketoconazole (200 mg) tablets; Onofin-K (Farmacéuticos Rayere S.A., Mexico) as the test and Nizoral (Janssen-Cilag, Mexico) as the reference products. The study was performed at the Clinical Pharmacology Research Center of the Hospital General de Mexico in Mexico City. Two tablets (400 mg) were administered as a single dose with 250 ml of water after a 12 h overnight fast on two treatment days separated by a 1 week washout period. After dosing, serial blood samples were collected for a period of 12 h. Plasma harvested was analysed for ketoconazole by a modified and validated HPLC method with UV detection in the range 400-14000 ng/ml, using 200 microl of plasma in a full-run time of 2.5 min. The pharmacokinetic parameters AUC(0-t), AUC(0-alpha), Cmax, Tmax and t(1/2) were determined from plasma concentrations of both formulations and the results discussed. AUC(0-t), AUC(0-alpha) and Cmax were tested for bioequivalence after log transformation of data, and no significant differences were found either in 90% classic confidence interval or in the Anderson and Hauck test (p < 0.05). Based on statistical analysis, it is concluded that Onofin-K is bioequivalent to Nizoral.

Dietary cellulose has no effect on the regeneration of hemoglobin in growing rats with iron deficiency anemia.

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of cellulose on intestinal iron absorption in rats during recovery from iron deficiency anemia. Twenty-one-day-old male Wistar-EPM rats were fed an iron-free ration for two weeks to induce anemia. At 5 weeks of age, the rats were divided into two groups (both groups receiving 35 mg of elemental iron per kg diet): cellulose group (N = 12), receiving a diet containing 100 g of cellulose/kg and control (N = 12), receiving a diet containing no cellulose. The fresh weight of the feces collected over a 3-day period between the 15th and 18th day of dietary treatment was 10.7 +/- 3.5 g in the group receiving cellulose and 1.9 +/- 1.2 g in the control group (P<0.001). Total food intake was higher in the cellulose group (343.4 +/- 22.0 g) than in the control (322.1 +/- 13.1 g, P = 0.009) during the 3 weeks of dietary treatment. No significant difference was observed in weight gain (cellulose group = 132.8 +/- 19.2, control = 128.0 +/- 16.3 g), hemoglobin increment (cellulose group = 8.0 +/- 0.8, control = 8.0 +/- 1.0 g/dl), hemoglobin level (cellulose group = 12.3 +/- 1.2, control = 12.1 +/- 1.3 g/dl) or in hepatic iron levels (cellulose group = 333.6 +/- 112.4, control = 398.4 +/- 168.0 g/g dry tissue). We conclude that cellulose does not adversely affect the regeneration of hemoglobin, hepatic iron level or the growth of rats during recovery from iron deficiency anemia.

Dietary cellulose has no effect on the regeneration of hemoglobin in growing rats with iron deficiency anemia

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of cellulose on intestinal iron absorption in rats during recovery from iron deficiency anemia. Twenty-one-day-old male Wistar-EPM rats were fed an iron-free ration for two weeks to induce anemia. At 5 weeks of age, the rats were divided into two groups (both groups receiving 35 mg of elemental iron per kg diet): cellulose group (N = 12), receiving a diet containing 100 g of cellulose/kg and control (N = 12), receiving a diet containing no cellulose. The fresh weight of the feces collected over a 3-day period between the 15th and 18th day of dietary treatment was 10.7 + or - 3.5 g in the group receiving cellulose and 1.9 + or - 1.2 g in the control group (P<0.001). Total food intake was higher in the cellulose group (343.4 + or - 22.0 g) than in the control (322.1 + or - 13.1 g, P = 0.009) during the 3 weeks of dietary treatment. No significant difference was observed in weight gain (cellulose group = 132.8 + or - 19.2, control = 128.0 + or - 16.3 g), hemoglobin increment (cellulose group = 8.0 + or - 0.8, control = 8.0 + or - 1.0 g/dl), hemoglobin level (cellulose group = 12.3 + or - 1.2, control = 12.1 + or - 1.3 g/dl) or in hepatic iron levels (cellulose group = 333.6 + or - 112.4, control = 398.4 + or - 168.0 æg/g dry tissue). We conclude that cellulose does not adversely affect the regeneration of hemoglobin, hepatic iron level or the growth of rats during recovery from iron deficiency anemia

Copper and zinc intake and serum levels in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the copper and zinc intake and serum levels in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), considering the pauci and polyarticular types, the disease activity and duration, the number of inflamed joints and the use of corticosteroids therapy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with control group. SETTING: Outpatients of the pediatric rheumatology public health clinic, of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina, Brazil. SUBJECTS: Forty-one patients with JRA were evaluated and 23 patients' brothers, as a control group. INTERVENTIONS: Copper and zinc intake evaluation by Food Register method. Copper and zinc serum levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The disease activity did not determine difference in copper (P=0.624) and zinc (P=0.705) intake, being predominantly below the Recommended Dietary Allowances. The serum copper in relation to control was statistically greater (P=0.018), showing that the number of inflamed joints is statistically significantly related with its variation (P=0.001). The serum zinc was not different either in relation to control (P=0.940) or to the disease characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of copper intake seems to be of fundamental importance. It may influence the efficiency of the organic serum response. More research is needed to indicate, with security, adequate zinc intake.

Anaphylactic reaction in experimental malnutrition.

We evaluated the effects of malnutrition on the allergic response in male EPM-1 Wistar rats. The animals underwent two dietary regimens from the 21st to the 60th day of life as follows: control animals were fed a normoproteic diet (18% casein) and malnourished animals a hypoproteic diet (4.5% casein). On day 60, some of the animals were sacrificed for determination of total serum protein and albumin levels. In addition, within each subgroup of the remaining animals, some underwent intraperitoneal immunization with ovalbumin in aluminum hydroxide. Thus, four groups of animal were obtained: immunized controls (n = 11); immunized malnourished animals (n = 11); unimmunized controls (n = 7) and unimmunized malnourished rats (n = 8). Fourteen days after sensitization with ovalbumin, the animals were challenged with intravenous ovalbumin in order to induce an anaphylactic reaction, which was evaluated by vascular permeability increase as assessed by the Evans blue dye extravasation method. Extravasation of Evans blue was quantitated in dried gastrointestinal tissues obtained from rats sacrificed 10 min after induction of the anaphylactic reaction. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reactions were also evaluated in the controls and malnourished rats. The adequacy of our model was confirmed by the reduction in weight gain, in food intake, and in total protein and albumin serum levels in malnourished rats as compared to controls at 60 days of life. The anaphylactic reaction induced significant increase in vascular permeability particularly among control animals. PCR results showed significantly lower titers in malnourished animals when their sera were injected into the skin of control animals. In contrast, PCA reactions using sera from immunized control rats to inject into the skin of malnourished rats showed an equally intense reaction as that observed in control animals. Our results suggest that malnourished animals have a normal capacity of releasing inflammatory mediators, and show a normal vascular response after anaphylaxis. The diminished vascular response seen in the gastrointestinal tract in malnourished animals, as compared to controls, may be due to the production of lower levels of IgE antibodies caused by malnutrition.

[Intrauterine energetic malnutrition in rats: muscle skeletal changes in the 1st and 2nd generations] / Desnutrição energética intra-uterina em ratos: alterações músculo-esqueléticas na 1a e 2a gerações.

OBJECTIVE: To study by histochemical analysis the skeletal muscle in malnourished newborn rats submitted to intrauterine malnutrition. METHODS: 90 days old female, Wistar EPM-1 rats, with 200 -/+ 20g body weight, malnourished during the gestation period were studied. At the 21th day of gestation, muscular biopsy was performed in the biceps bracchi of the newborns, obtained by cesarean (1st generation). One group of newborn intrauterine malnourished rats had nutritional recovery after birth by staying six/lactating rat and by free feeding up to the 90th day of life, when the females became pregnant and their offspring formed the 2nd generation. RESULTS: Weight gain during gestation and body weight of the newborn were significantly different when each malnourished group was compared to its respective control. The muscular biopsies of the malnourished newborns presented tissue involvement, characterized by loss of predominance of type II fibres, low oxidative activity, lessening of muscular fiber diameter, proliferation of intersticial tissue, and edema. In the 2nd generation, the newborns presented adequate body weight, but maintained muscular tissue involvement, with lessening of predominance of type II fibers, reduction of muscular fiber diameter, low oxidative activity, increase of intersticial space, necrosis, but without edema. CONCLUSION: The energetic malnutrition affects the skeletal muscle at birth, when it occurs during miogenesis, in both 1st and 2nd generation, maintaining permanent or temporary lesions in the muscular tissue.

[Effect of malnutrition and chronic use of nicotine during pregnancy on lung phospholipid concentration in neonate rats] / Efeito da desnutrição e do uso crônico de nicotina durante a gestação sobre a concentração de fosfolipídios pulmonares em ratos recém-nascidos.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine whether lung phospholipid concentration is affected in neonate rats "Wistar EPM-1" following a continuous 21-day gestational exposure to nicotine. METHODS: Eighty rats "Wistar EPM-1" were randomly divided in four control (diet free and water "ad libitum") groups (10 rats each): 1 - Control, 2 - Physiologic Solution (infused with 0.15ml of NaCl 0.9%), 3 - Nicotine 1 (infused with 900 micro g/kg/day of nicotine bitartrate 95%), and 4 - Nicotine 2 (infused with 2.700 micro g/kg/day of nicotine bitartrate 95%), and four undernourished (diet 13g/day and water ad libitum) groups (10 rats each), that received the same kind of treatment as the control groups. The infusion of nicotine was subcutaneous. The offspring were divided in eight groups according to their origin. RESULTS: A significant high lung phospholipid concentration was observed in the non-undernourished nicotized group which was injected with a high dose of nicotine. In the other groups, there was no alteration in that concentration. CONCLUSION: We conclude that gestational exposure to nicotine increases lung phospholipid concentration in neonate rats, and that the nutritional state also influences this lung phospholipid concentration.

Malnutrition and experimental lung allergy.

BACKGROUND: Although it is commonly accepted that the immune response is affected by malnutrition there are very few data about its effect in allergic diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of malnutrition in allergic lung inflammation. METHODS: An anaphylactic reaction was induced in rat lungs and the increased vascular permeability was measured in the trachea, internal and external bronchi and parenchyma by the Evans blue extravasation method. These studies were conducted in two dietary groups: one fed a normoproteic diet (18%) and the other a hypoproteic diet (4.5%). When the animals were 60 days old the group fed the hypoproteic diet presented a reduction of 77.86% in bodyweight, 63.3% in food intake and 36% in plasma protein concentration characterizing a severe protein-calorie malnutrition. RESULTS: The anaphylactic reaction in the lungs induced a significant increase in vascular permeability in the trachea and bronchi of both dietary groups. However, the intensity of this effect was significantly lower in the malnourished group. Analysis of immunoglobulin isotypes in the serum by ELISA showed that whereas IgG1 and IgG2a levels were similar in both groups, the levels of IgE were significantly lower in the malnourished animals. Moreover, the levels of antigen-specific IgG1, IgG2a and IgE were all significantly inhibited by the protein-calorie malnutrition. When antibodies were passively transfered to the malnourished rats, they developed a reaction as intense as the normoproteic group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the capacity to release inflammatory mediators and the vascular response to these mediators is not affected by this type of malnutrition and, therefore, the diminished response of the airways reported here is probably due to the lower levels of anaphylactic antibodies produced by the malnourished rats.

Perfil do desenvolvimento puberal e do estado nutricional de adolescentes / Transversal study to ecvaluate puberal development and nutritional status of the adolescents

Realizou-se estudo transversal retrospctivo de 116 adolescentes dos sexos masculino e feminino, acompanahados no Ambulatório de Adolescência Clínica do NUNADI do CRSMNADI, com o objetivo de avaliar o estado nutricional e o desenvolvimento puberal, considerando-se que os critérios habitualmente utilizados para avaliaçäo nutricional nesse período da vida, talvez näo reflitam adequadamente as profundas mudanças que estäo ocorrendo, podendo causar viés de interpretaçäo. A média de idade foi 12 anos e 10 meses , variando de 10 anos a 17 anos e 10 meses, sendo que 57,8 por cento dos participantes eram do sexo feminino e 42,2 por cento do sexo masculino...

[Tissue and serum copper concentration in malnourished pregnant rats and in their offspring]. / Cobre sérico e tecidual em rata gestante desnutrida e em sua prole.

OBJECTIVE: To study copper status in malnourished pregnant rat and its offspring. METHODS: Female Wistar rats at age of 90 days and body weight of 200-/+20g were studied. These animals were randomly assigned to one of the 3 pregnant groups: control-PC, malnourished-MP1 (severe malnutrition) and MP2 (mild malnutrition), and their offspring, born by cesarean section, constituted the newborn groups: NBC, MNB1 and MNB2, respectively. The collected tissues (liver, muscle, bone, placenta and carcass) suffered previous liquid digestion, and the copper level, also in serum, was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The copper level in serum, bone, placenta and liver showed a significant difference between the pregnant groups; in the liver this difference was also significant between newborn groups. The values of the copper in the carcass were statistically lower in the newborn control animals. CONCLUSIONS: There is appropriate offer of maternal copper to the fetus which does not depend on the nutritional state of the mother, because there is a mobilization of the hepatic copper in the pregnant control group and also a mobilization of bone copper in the malnourished pregnant groups; however the intrauterine malnutrition is the one that determines inappropriate utilization of this ion by the fetus.

[Tissue weight and histologic alterations in pregnant rats submitted to malnutrition and chronic nicotine distress, and in their neonates]. / Alterações de peso tecidual e histológicas em ratas gestantes submetidas à desnutrição e ao estresse crônico de nicotina, e em seus recém-nascidos.

The effects of a gestational exposure of 80 rats Wistar EPM-1 to nicotine and undernutrition was examined. The weight and histological alterations on the liver and lungs was evaluated on the rats and their offspring. A significantly lower weight gain, including liver and lung weight, was observed in nicotine exposed groups. There was no alteration of the placental weight. Decidual necrosis and hepatic congestion was frequent in the rats. Lung emphysema was found in the neonates.

Zinc deficient diet consequences for pregnancy and offsprings of Wistar rats.

Adult female Wistar rats (90 days old; weight 180 to 220 grams) were submitted to different zinc deficient diets (Zn; severe = 2.6 ppm; mild = 9.0 ppm and normal diet = 81.6 ppm), during 6 weeks. After this time they were coupled with normal male Wistar rats. No differences regarding fecundity and sterility were observed between the groups. During pregnancy, part of the animals from severe and mild Zn deficient groups received the same diet and the others received normal diet. The animals from the group receiving normal diet, were divided into other 3: the first received severe, the second mild Zn deficient diet and the third normal diet. During the study we observed that animals submitted to a Zn deficient diet (acute or chronic) had tendency to lower weight gain, lower weight of the offspring, lower serum levels of Zn in maternal and newborn (pool) blood. A significant reduction in the number of alive newborns was observed in the group of animals submitted to severe Zn deficiency. These data reinforces that Zn is a very important trace element overall during pregnancy.