Undernutrition, Vitamin A and Iron Deficiency Are Associated with Impaired Intestinal Mucosal Permeability in Young Bangladeshi Children Assessed by Lactulose/Mannitol Test.

BACKGROUND: Lactulose/mannitol (L:M) test has been used as a non-invasive marker of intestinal mucosal -integrity and -permeability (enteropathy). We investigated the association of enteropathy with anthropometrics, micronutrient- status, and morbidity in children. METHODS: The urine and blood samples were collected from 925 children aged 6-24 months residing in Mirpur slum of Dhaka, Bangladesh during November 2009 to April 2013. L:M test and micronutrient status were assessed in the laboratory of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) following standard procedure. RESULTS: Mean±SD age of the children was 13.2±5.2 months and 47.8% were female. Urinary- lactulose recovery was 0.264±0.236, mannitol recovery was 3.423±3.952, and L:M was 0.109±0.158. An overall negative correlation (Spearman's-rho) of L:M was found with age (rs = -0.087; p = 0.004), weight-for-age (rs = -0.077; p = 0.010), weight-for-length (rs = -0.060; p = 0.034), mid-upper-arm-circumference (rs = -0.098; p = 0.001) and plasma-retinol (rs = -0.105; p = 0.002); and a positive correlation with plasma α-1-acid glycoprotein (rs = 0.066; p = 0.027). However, most of the correlations were not very strong. Approximately 44% of children had enteropathy as reflected by L:M of ≥0.09. Logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age (infancy) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.35; p = 0.027), diarrhea (AOR = 4.00; p = 0.039) or fever (AOR = 2.18; p = 0.003) within previous three days of L:M test were the risk factors of enteropathy (L:M of ≥0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Enteropathy (high L:M) is associated with younger age, undernutrition, low vitamin A and iron status, and infection particularly diarrhea and fever.

Reduced cholesterol levels in renal membranes of undernourished rats may account for urinary Na⁺ loss.

PURPOSE: It has been demonstrated that reabsorption of Na⁺ in the thick ascending limb is reduced and the ability to concentrate urine can be compromised in undernourished individuals. Alterations in phospholipid and cholesterol content in renal membranes, leading to Na⁺ loss and the inability to concentrate urine, were investigated in undernourished rats. METHODS: Sixty-day-old male Wistar rats were utilized to evaluate (1) phospholipid and cholesterol content in the membrane fraction of whole kidneys, (2) cholesterol content and the levels of active Na⁺ transporters, (Na⁺ + K⁺)ATPase and Na⁺-ATPase, in basolateral membranes of kidney proximal tubules, and (3) functional indicators of medullary urine concentration. RESULTS: Body weight in the undernourished group was 73 % lower than in control. Undernourishment did not affect the levels of cholesterol in serum or in renal homogenates. However, membranes of whole kidneys revealed 56 and 66 % reduction in the levels of total phospholipids and cholesterol, respectively. Furthermore, cholesterol and (Na⁺ + K⁺)ATPase activity in proximal tubule membranes were reduced by 55 and 68 %, respectively. Oxidative stress remained unaltered in the kidneys of undernourished rats. In contrast, Na⁺-ATPase activity, an enzyme with all regulatory components in membrane, was increased in the proximal tubules of undernourished rats. Free water clearance and fractional Na⁺ excretion were increased by 86 and 24 %, respectively, and urinary osmolal concentration was 21 % lower in undernourished rats than controls. CONCLUSION: Life-long undernutrition reduces the levels of total phospholipids and cholesterol in membranes of renal tubular cells. This alteration in membrane integrity could diminish (Na⁺ + K⁺)ATPase activity resulting in reduced Na⁺ reabsorption and urinary concentrating ability.

[Proteinuria in urinary infection and acute pyelonephritis in paediatric patients: can it replace scintigraphic studies in diagnostic localisation?]. / Estudio de proteinuria en infección urinaria y pielonefritis aguda en Pediatría: ¿puede sustituir en el diagnóstico de localización al estudio gammagráfico?

UNLABELLED: ANTECEDENTS AND OBJECTIVES: The location of the urinary tract infection in children has serious implications both in therapy and prognosis. Affectation in gammagraphic studies is considered the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis. Several studies with biomarkers have been made with controverted results. The objective of this study is to set the utility of beta2-microglobuline, alfa1-microglobuline, Cistatine C, IgG and albumin in the location of the infection, through the analysis of the relation among their urinary excretion, clinical and laboratory parameters and the renal scintigraphy findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study made in 40 patients, aged from 1 month to 11 years, after their Hospital admission with suspicion for acute pyelonephritis. Exclusion criteria were: decrease in the glomerular filtration rate, malnutrition, massive albuminuria and history or findings of nephrourologic disease. Clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed, and renal ultrasonography and scintigraphy were performed within the first seven days after admission. Once the fever dropped, the urinary creatinine-protein ratio was analyzed. After the acute process, a renal scintigraphy was performed in order to detect renal scars. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test has been used as the statistical hypothesis test, and Chi-square and Fisher s exact tests have been used to compare the qualitative variables. RESULTS: The glomerular filtration rate, as well as the ultrasonography scan, was normal in all patients. 45% of the children (24/80 kidneys) had scintigraphic alterations that were compatible with acute pyelonephritis, and there were not differences in proteinuria between these and those with normal scintigraphy. To greater age greater probability of scintigraphic affectation. The sensitivity and specificity of leukocytes and CRP to predict pyelonephritis were 77-65% and 94-52%, r = 0.70 (CI 95% 0.54-0.87) y 0.75 (CI 95% 0.60-0.90) respectively. An apparent relation between the maximum temperature or duration of the symptoms and the renal affectation does not exist. In all the children, the normality of urinary markers of renal function was confirmed once the acute phase had passed, even in those 3 patients with renal scars (7.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Renal scintigraphy is still being the reference pattern for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis in Pediatrics. The combined use of different urinary markers of renal function does not increase its sensitivity. It is necessary to do research in order to confirm the utility of new biomarkers.

Total energy expenditure (H218O), physical activity level and milk output of lactating rural Bangladeshi tea workers and nontea workers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), milk output and physical activity level (PAL) of chronically malnourished lactating women using the doubly labelled water method (DLW). DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal study designed to assess the extent of malnutrition and energetics of lactating tea workers and nontea workers. SETTING: North-east Bangladesh on women working and living in the same tea estates. SUBJECTS: Of an original cohort of 150 lactating women, 30 were selected to participate in this study when they were at about 12 months postpartum. One mother subsequently dropped out. INTERVENTIONS: On day 1 each women provided a urine sample, was administered a dose of DLW and 6 h later provided another sample. Further urine samples were collected for 21 subsequent days. In addition, every 5 days the mother provided a milk sample and at the same time her baby provided a urine sample. RESULTS: Mean (s.d.) BMI was 17.4 (1.63). Mean TDEE and PAL were significantly higher in workers than nonworkers (8.42 (1.38) and 6.83 (2.09) MJ/day, P = 0.02 and 1.92 (0.34) and 1.59 (0.44), P = 0.03, respectively). Mean milk output was similar in the two groups (672 (180) ml and 749 (189) ml in workers and nonworkers, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Based on international BMI cutoffs, 79% of mothers were suffering from some degree of chronic energy deficiency. A total of 35% of workers and 17% of nonworkers were engaged in strenuous physical activity. The mean milk output of both workers and nonworkers was not different and was high especially as most of the mothers were about 12 months postpartum. No relationship was found between menses return and any of the variables studied. SPONSORSHIP: World Health Organization, Nestle Foundation, UNICEF.

Urinary iodine/creatinine ratio in patients with stomach cancer in Urmia, Islamic Republic of Iran.

We carried out a case-control study is to investigate the relationship between iodine deficiency and stomach cancer. We compared the ratio of urinary iodine to urinary creatinine in 100 patients diagnosed with stomach cancer and 84 people in a control group. Mean urinary iodine levels were lower in the patients with stomach cancer, 61.9 microg/g creatinine, compared to 101.7 microg/g creatinine in the control group (P < 0.0001). More of the cancer patients (49.0%) had severe iodine deficiency (< 25 microg/g creatinine) than people in the control group (19.1%) (P< 0.0001). We found the relationship between stomach cancer and iodine deficiency to be significant.