Effect of symbiotic supplementation on fecal calprotectin levels and lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacteria, Escherichia coli and Salmonella DNA in patients with cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: patients with cervical cancer (CC) receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy have several gastrointestinal adverse effects. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effect of dietary symbiotic supplementation on fecal calprotectin (FCP), bacterial DNA levels, and gastrointestinal adverse effects in patients with CC. METHODS: clinical, controlled, randomized, double-blind trial. Patients consumed symbiotics or placebo three times a day for seven weeks. FCP was assessed by Elisa method. DNA from probiotic and pathogenic bacteria were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Diarrheal evacuations were evaluated with the Bristol stool form scale and nausea and vomiting were measured using the scale of the National Institute of Cancerology of the United States. RESULTS: after a seven-week treatment, FCP concentration was lower in the symbiotic group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Stool consistency in the placebo and symbiotic groups was similar at baseline. A significant improvement in stool consistency was obtained in both groups at the end of the intervention (p < 0.001). The concentrations and total proportions of the probiotic and pathogenic bacteria were similar in both groups. Nausea significantly diminished in both groups (p < 0.001) at the end of the trial. Furthermore, the symbiotic group had a statistically significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of vomiting when compared to the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the symbiotic treatment decreases significantly the FCP levels and the frequency and intensity of vomiting in patients with CC.

Non-Traditional Risk Factors of Albuminuria in the Pediatric Population: A Scoping Review.

The presence of albumin in urine has been used for more than four decades as a marker of renal and cardiovascular damage. Most of the information on this marker is related to adults. The prevalence of albuminuria in the pediatric population has been reported as being 2.2-12.8% in some countries. Most research in this field is related to albuminuria and diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. Using the methodology described by Arksey and O'Malley in 2005, a scoping review was carried out to show that the presence of albumin in urine in the pediatric population might be associated with environmental, demographic, congenital, infectious, and non-infectious factors. The information collected is supported by 74 references present in PubMed. The results reveal the multiple causes associated with albuminuria in the pediatric population. This information can be very useful for clinical practice by adding knowledge about albuminuria behavior in children.

Interaction between mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) affects the activity of glutathione S-transferase in breast milk; possible relationship with fish and sellfish intake.

Breast milk is regarded as an ideal source of nutrients for the growth and development of neonates, but it can also be a potential source of pollutants. Mothers can be exposed to different contaminants as a result of their lifestyle and environmental pollution. Mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) could adversely affect the development of fetal and neonatal nervous system. Some fish and shellfish are rich in selenium (Se), an essential trace element that forms part of several enzymes related to the detoxification process, including glutathione S-transferase (GST). The goal of this study was to determine the interaction between Hg, As and Se and analyze its effect on the activity of GST in breast milk. Milk samples were collected from women between day 7 and 10 postpartum. The GST activity was determined spectrophotometrically; total Hg, As and Se concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. To explain the possible association of Hg, As and Se concentrations with GST activity in breast milk, generalized linear models were constructed. The model explained 44% of the GST activity measured in breast milk. The GLM suggests that GST activity was positively correlated with Hg, As and Se concentrations. The activity of the enzyme was also explained by the frequency of consumption of marine fish and shellfish in the diet of the breastfeeding women.

La leche materna es considerada como una fuente ideal de nutrientes para el crecimiento y el desarrollo de los recién nacidos, pero también puede ser una fuente potencial de contaminantes. Las madres pueden estar expuestas a diversos contaminantes como resultado de su estilo de vida y de la contaminación ambiental. Mercurio (Hg) y arsénico (As) pueden afectar negativamente el desarrollo del sistema nervioso fetal y neonatal. Algunos peces y mariscos son ricos en selenio (Se), un oligoelemento esencial que forma parte de diversas enzimas relacionadas con el proceso de desintoxicación, incluyendo glutatión S-transferasa (GST). El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la interacción entre Hg, As y Se, así como analizar su efecto sobre la actividad de GST en la leche materna. Muestras de leche materna fueron obtenidas entre los días 7 y 10 después del parto. La actividad de la GST fue determinada espectrofotométricamente. Las concentraciones totales de Hg, As y Se fueron medidas por espectrometría de absorción atómica. Para explicar la posible asociación de las concentraciones de Hg, As y Se con la actividad de la GST en la leche materna, se construyeron modelos lineales generalizados. El modelo explicó el 44% de la actividad de GST medida en leche materna. El MLG sugiere que la actividad de GST se correlacionó positivamente con las concentraciones de Hg, As y Se. La actividad de la enzima se explica también por la frecuencia de consumo de peces marinos y mariscos en la dieta de las mujeres que se encuentran en periodo de lactancia.

Interaction between mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) affects the activity of glutathione S-transferase in breast milk; possible relationship with fish and shellfish intake / Efecto de la interacción entre mercurio (hg), arsénico (as) y selenio (se) en la actividad de glutatión s-transferasa en leche materna; potencial relación con el consumo de pescados y mariscos

Breast milk is regarded as an ideal source of nutrients for the growth and development of neonates, but it can also be a potential source of pollutants. Mothers can be exposed to different contaminants as a result of their lifestyle and environmental pollution. Mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) could adversely affect the development of fetal and neonatal nervous system. Some fish and shellfish are rich in selenium (Se), an essential trace element that forms part of several enzymes related to the detoxification process, including glutathione S-transferase (GST). The goal of this study was to determine the interaction between Hg, As and Se and analyze its effect on the activity of GST in breast milk. Milk samples were collected from women between day 7 and 10 postpartum. The GST activity was determined spectrophotometrically; total Hg, As and Se concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. To explain the possible association of Hg, As and Se concentrations with GST activity in breast milk, generalized linear models were constructed. The model explained 44% of the GST activity measured in breast milk. The GLM suggests that GST activity was positively correlated with Hg, As and Se concentrations. The activity of the enzyme was also explained by the frequency of consumption of marine fish and shellfish in the diet of the breastfeeding women (AU)

La leche materna es considerada como una fuente ideal de nutrientes para el crecimiento y el desarrollo de los recién nacidos, pero también puede ser una fuente potencial de contaminantes. Las madres pueden estar expuestas a diversos contaminantes como resultado de su estilo de vida y de la contaminación ambiental. Mercurio (Hg) y arsénico (As) pueden afectar negativamente el desarrollo del sistema nervioso fetal y neonatal. Algunos peces y mariscos son ricos en selenio (Se), un oligoelemento esencial que forma parte de diversas enzimas relacionadas con el proceso de desintoxicación, incluyendo glutatión S-transferasa (GST). El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la interacción entre Hg, As y Se, así como analizar su efecto sobre la actividad de GST en la leche materna. Muestras de leche materna fueron obtenidas entre los días 7 y 10 después del parto. La actividad de la GST fue determinada espectrofotométricamente. Las concentraciones totales de Hg, As y Se fueron medidas por espectrometría de absorción atómica. Para explicar la posible asociación de las concentraciones de Hg, As y Se con la actividad de la GST en la leche materna, se construyeron modelos lineales generalizados. El modelo explicó el 44% de la actividad de GST medida en leche materna. El MLG sugiere que la actividad de GST se correlacionó positivamente con las concentraciones de Hg, As y Se. La actividad de la enzima se explica también por la frecuencia de consumo de peces marinos y mariscos en la dieta de las mujeres que se encuentran en periodo de lactancia (AU)