Dose-dependent sickness behavior, abortion and inflammation induced by systemic LPS injection in pregnant mice.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical and experimental evidences indicate that intrauterine inflammation during pregnancy is associated to brain damage. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of lipopolysaccharide in temperature, cytokine production and sickness behavior of pregnant dams. METHODS: A single i.p. injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (50, 150 or 300 µg/kg) was administered on E18. Controls received isotonic saline. Body temperature was controlled before and 3 h after injections. Animals' behavior was assessed by the OF test 3 h following treatment. Animals were sacrificed for leukocyte, IL-1ß and TNF-α determination. Placental tissue and abortion were also examined. RESULTS: LPS administration elicited hypothermia. Abortion was observed in LPS 150 and 300 µg/kg. Leukocyte levels were significantly lower with LPS 300 µg/kg than in controls. LPS induced dose-dependent impairment in animals' locomotion. IL-1ß serum and amniotic fluid were higher than the saline, and TNF-α serum and amniotic fluid increased when compared to controls. Placental histopathologic abnormality was not found. CONCLUSION: LPS induces dose-dependent sickness behavior and hypothermia in pregnant mice. Our findings suggest that the presence of inflammation may be a causative factor for premature labor and that Escherichia coli antigens modify the concentration of pro-inflammatory agents in circulatory system and intra-uterine environment.

Avaliação nutricional de lactentes e pré-escolares hospitalizados no Hospital Universitário Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago em 1995 e 2005 / Nutritional evaluation of hospitalized suckling and preschool children in the University Hospital Polydoro Ernani of São Thiago in 1995 and 2005

Objetivos: Avaliar o estado nutricional de crianças menores de cinco anos internadas na enfermaria Pediátricado Hospital Universitário Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago, em Florianópolis, em 1995 e 2005 e a evolução do estado nutricional durante a internação. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, observacional e descritivo com 216 crianças que estiveram internadas no HU em 1995 e 2005. O estado nutricional foi determinado por meio do escore Z do peso para idade e pesopara estatura, para as crianças menores e maiores de dois anos, respectivamente. Foram considerados desnutridos graves os que apresentavam escore Z menor que–3, desnutridos moderados escore Z entre -2 e -3, eutróficos escore Z entre -2 e +2 e sobrepeso os com índicemaior que +2. Resultados: A prevalência de crianças com desnutrição grave na alta hospitalar em 1995 não se alterou, já em 2005, houve queda de 0,92 ponto percentual. Em 1995 também houve redução na prevalência de eutrofiade 75,93% para 72,22% e de sobrepeso de 4,63% para 3,70%. Em 2005, apesar das crianças apresentaremperda ponderal durante a hospitalização não houve redução na prevalência de eutrofia e de sobrepeso. Conclusões: A prevalência de desnutrição grave emoderada foi maior no ano de 1995. As crianças consideradas eutróficas prevaleceram em 2005. A prevalênciade sobrepeso na admissão foi a mesma nos dois anos. A desnutrição hospitalar continua sendo um importante problema clínico, entretanto pode-se observar uma melhora do estado nutricional das crianças internadas entre 1995 e 2005.

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional state of interned five year lesser children in the Unit of Pediatricsof the University hospital Polydoro Ernani of São Thiago, in Florianópolis, in 1995 and 2005 and evolution of the nutritional state during the internment.Method: Retrospective, observacional and descriptive study with 216 children who had been interned in the HU in 1995 and 2005. The nutricional state was determined through it Z-score of the weight for age and weight for stature, for the lesser and bigger children of two years, respectively. They had been considered unfed serious the ones that presented Z-score lesser that -3, unfed moderate Z-score between -2 and -3, eutrophic Z-score between -2 and +2 and overweight with bigger index that +2. Results: The prevalence of children with serious malnutrition in the high hospital in 1995 did not changed, already in 2005, had reduced of 0,92 percentile point. In 1995 also had reduction in the prevalence of eutrofia of 75,93% for 72,22% and overweight of 4,63% for 3,70%. In 2005, although the children to present ponderal loss during hospitalization did not have reduction in the prevalenceof eutrofia and overweight. Conclusions: The prevalence of serious and moderatemalnutrition was bigger in the year of 1995. The children considered euthrofics had prevailed in 2005. Theprevalence of overweight in the admission was the same one in the two years. The hospital malnutrition continues being an important clinical problem, however an improvementof the nutricional state of the children interned between 1995 and 2005 can be observed.