Diagnostic utility of the serum-ascites albumin gradient in Mexican patients with ascites related to portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Analysis of ascitic fluid is necessary to determine the etiology and to distinguish portal hypertension (PH)-related and unrelated ascites. Numerous diagnostic parameters have been studied, but no single parameter has completely distinguished these. We aimed to validate the serum albumin-ascites gradient (SAAG) for the diagnosis of ascites secondary to PH and to establish cutoff points to predict PH using its sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on patients diagnosed with ascites of any etiology. The SAAG and albumin concentration in ascitic fluid (AFA) were measured to establish their sensitivity and specificity for determining the presence or absence of PH. Cutoff points and levels of statistical significance were established based on the area under the curve. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were evaluated, of whom 74 (84%) were men, with an average age of 54.0 ± 13.6 years. Seventy-two (83%) were diagnosed at admission with PH-related ascites and 15 (17%) with non-PH-related ascites. SAAG correctly classified 48 (67%) patients, but 24 (33%) were classified incorrectly, while AFA classified 59 (82%) correctly and only 13 (17%) incorrectly. The diagnostic accuracy of SAAG was 57 versus 73% for AFA. AFA had a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 66% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63-0.93), while SAAG had a sensitivity of 66% but a specificity of 86% (95% CI: 0.72-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: The SAAG showed poor diagnostic performance with low sensitivity but high specificity. The diagnostic accuracy of AFA is superior to that of SAAG in discriminating between PH and non-PH ascites.

Ansiedad en presencia de alimentos en escolares de Baja California Sur / Anxiety in the presence of food in schoolchildren of Baja California Sur

INTRODUCCIÓN: muchos niños obesos serán adultos obesos a menos que adopten y mantengan patrones saludables de alimentación y actividad física. Se han descrito: ansiedad en niños con sobrepeso y obesidad en ambientes de familias disfuncionales, repercusión en la calidad de vida y riesgo de algún desorden alimenticio. OBJETIVO: identificar la ansiedad en presencia de alimentos en escolares de Baja California Sur. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio de tipo encuesta trasversal en 406 escolares de 8 a 13 años de edad; se realizó un cálculo del estado nutricional y se efectuó una medición del test de actitudes hacia la alimentación (punto de corte de > 20); se recopilaron el nivel socioeconómico, el tipo de familia y la ingesta de comida chatarra. Se realizó una estadística descriptiva con medidas de asociación mediante la prueba t de Student y prueba de chi2. Se obtuvieron el consentimiento informado de los padres y el asentimiento del menor. RESULTADOS: se evaluaron 406 escolares con edades de 10,4 ± 1,2. El 53 % presentaron peso saludable, el 44 % sobrepeso y obesidad, y el 3 % bajo peso. Predominó la familia funcional con un 67 %. Se consttó un nivel socioeconómico medio en el 64 %. El 94 % consumen alimentos chatarra. Existe asociación entre ansiedad en presencia de alimentos y nivel socioeconómico, y entre ansiedad en presencia de alimentos y estado nutricional (p = 0,01). En los escolares con sobrepeso y obesidad no se encontró asociación entre las variables del estudio. Existe ansiedad en presencia de alimentos en el 40 % por factores externos, en el 5 % por cansancio o aburrimiento y en el 11 % por sentimientos negativos. CONCLUSIÓN: existe asociación entre ansiedad, nivel socioeconómico y estado nutricional. La ansiedad en presencia de alimentos se presentó en el 54,7 % de los casos

INTRODUCTION: many obese children will be obese adults unless they adopt and maintain healthy eating and physical activity patterns. Anxiety has been described in overweight and obese children with dysfunctional family environments, with impact on their quality of life; risk for some eating disorder was also found. OBJECTIVE: to identify anxiety in the presence of food in schoolchildren in Baja California Sur. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a cross-sectional study in 406 schoolchildren, from 8 to 13 years of age, was performed: nutritional status calculation, measurements of attitudes towards food (cut-off point > 20), socioeconomic level, type of family, and intake of junk food were collected. Descriptive statistics and association measures were performed using Student's t-test and the chi-squared test. Parents provided their informed consent, and children provided their assent. RESULTS: a total of 406 schoolchildren were evaluated, with ages of 10.4 ± 1.2. Of these, 53 % had healthy weight, 44 % had overweight or obesity, and 3 % were underweight. Functional families predominated at 67 %. A middle socioeconomic level was found in 64 %. In all, 94 % consumed junk food. There is an association between anxiety in the presence of food and socioeconomic status, and anxiety in the presence of food and nutritional status (p = 0.01). In overweight and obese schoolchildren no association was found between study variables. There is anxiety in the presence of food in 40 % of the sample due to external factors, in 5 % because of tiredness or boredom, in 11 % because of negative feelings. CONCLUSION: there is an association between anxiety, socioeconomic status, and nutritional status. Anxiety in the presence of food occurred in 54.7 % of cases

[Anxiety in the presence of food in schoolchildren of Baja California Sur]. / Ansiedad en presencia de alimentos en escolares de Baja California Sur.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: many obese children will be obese adults unless they adopt and maintain healthy eating and physical activity patterns. Anxiety has been described in overweight and obese children with dysfunctional family environments, with impact on their quality of life; risk for some eating disorder was also found. Objective: to identify anxiety in the presence of food in schoolchildren in Baja California Sur. Material and methods: a cross-sectional study in 406 schoolchildren, from 8 to 13 years of age, was performed: nutritional status calculation, measurements of attitudes towards food (cut-off point > 20), socioeconomic level, type of family, and intake of junk food were collected. Descriptive statistics and association measures were performed using Student's t-test and the chi-squared test. Parents provided their informed consent, and children provided their assent. Results: a total of 406 schoolchildren were evaluated, with ages of 10.4 ± 1.2. Of these, 53 % had healthy weight, 44 % had overweight or obesity, and 3 % were underweight. Functional families predominated at 67 %. A middle socioeconomic level was found in 64 %. In all, 94 % consumed junk food. There is an association between anxiety in the presence of food and socioeconomic status, and anxiety in the presence of food and nutritional status (p = 0.01). In overweight and obese schoolchildren no association was found between study variables. There is anxiety in the presence of food in 40 % of the sample due to external factors, in 5 % because of tiredness or boredom, in 11 % because of negative feelings. Conclusion: there is an association between anxiety, socioeconomic status, and nutritional status. Anxiety in the presence of food occurred in 54.7 % of cases.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: muchos niños obesos serán adultos obesos a menos que adopten y mantengan patrones saludables de alimentación y actividad física. Se han descrito: ansiedad en niños con sobrepeso y obesidad en ambientes de familias disfuncionales, repercusión en la calidad de vida y riesgo de algún desorden alimenticio. Objetivo: identificar la ansiedad en presencia de alimentos en escolares de Baja California Sur. Material y métodos: estudio de tipo encuesta trasversal en 406 escolares de 8 a 13 años de edad; se realizó un cálculo del estado nutricional y se efectuó una medición del test de actitudes hacia la alimentación (punto de corte de > 20); se recopilaron el nivel socioeconómico, el tipo de familia y la ingesta de comida chatarra. Se realizó una estadística descriptiva con medidas de asociación mediante la prueba t de Student y prueba de chi2. Se obtuvieron el consentimiento informado de los padres y el asentimiento del menor. Resultados: se evaluaron 406 escolares con edades de 10,4 ± 1,2. El 53 % presentaron peso saludable, el 44 % sobrepeso y obesidad, y el 3 % bajo peso. Predominó la familia funcional con un 67 %. Se consttó un nivel socioeconómico medio en el 64 %. El 94 % consumen alimentos chatarra. Existe asociación entre ansiedad en presencia de alimentos y nivel socioeconómico, y entre ansiedad en presencia de alimentos y estado nutricional (p = 0,01). En los escolares con sobrepeso y obesidad no se encontró asociación entre las variables del estudio. Existe ansiedad en presencia de alimentos en el 40 % por factores externos, en el 5 % por cansancio o aburrimiento y en el 11 % por sentimientos negativos. Conclusión: existe asociación entre ansiedad, nivel socioeconómico y estado nutricional. La ansiedad en presencia de alimentos se presentó en el 54,7 % de los casos.