Consejería nutricional incrementa el consumo de alimentos ricos en calcio, pero la ingesta se mantiene por debajo del requierimiento diario / Nutritional counseling increases consumption of calcium-rich foods, but mean intake remains below the daily requirement

Calcium (Ca) plays a crucial role in the regulation of metabolic processes, especially neuromuscular function and bone health. In Chile, calcium intake in women of childbearing age does not meet the dietary requirement. Objective: To determine whether standard and virtual nutritional counseling increases the dietary calcium intake in Chilean women of childbearing age. Subjects and Methods: Dietary calcium intake in 20 women (mean age 39 ± 5 years) before and after a nutritional education intervention was compared. Nutritional counseling was provided to promote daily consumption of calcium-rich foods. Subsequently, a virtual space was provided to enhance standard counseling. On days 1, 30 and 62 a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was completed by the women. Calcium intake significantly increased post intervention (ANOVA F = 4.43, P= 0.02). Dietary calcium intake was 308 ± 116mg/d at baseline, 354 ± 138mg/d at 30 days, and 412 ± 188mg/d after 62 days. Post intervention, 95% of the participants did not meet the daily intake requirement for calcium; the average percent of adequate intake of calcium was 68 ± 19%. Conclusion: Nutritional counseling increased dietary calcium intake in women of reproductive age, but the increase was not enough to meet the daily calcium requirements.

El calcio juega un rol crucial en la regulación de procesos metabólicos, especialmente en la función neuromuscular y en la salud ósea. Sin embargo, la ingesta dietaria de calcio en mujeres en edad fértil de Chile no cubre los requerimientos. Objetivo: determinar sí la consejería nutricional presencial y virtual incrementa la ingesta dietaria de calcio en mujeres chilenas de edad fértil. Sujetos y métodos: la ingesta dietaria de calcio en 20 mujeres (edad media de 39 ± 5 años) antes y después de una intervención de educación alimentaria y nutricional fue comparada. La consejería nutricional fue impartida para promover el consumo diario de alimentos ricos en calcio. Además, se habilitó un espacio virtual para reforzar la consejería nutricional. En el día 1, 30 y 62 se aplicaron cuestionarios de frecuencia de consumo semi-cuantitativos. La ingesta dietaria de calcio incrementó significativamente (ANOVA F = 4.43, P= 0.02) después de la intervención. La ingesta dietaria de calcio fue 308 ± 116mg/d al día 1, 354 ± 138mg/d al día 30, e incrementó a 412 ± 188mg/d después de 62 días. Al final de la intervención, el 95% de las participantes no cubrieron sus requerimientos diarios de calcio; la media del porcentaje de adecuación para la ingesta de calcio fue 68 ± 19%. La consejería nutricional podría incrementar la ingesta dietaria de calcio en mujeres de edad media en Chile. Sin embargo, el aumento no es suficiente para cubrir los requerimientos de calcio.

Consumo y valoración social de la leche purita fortificada y cereal del Programa Nacional de Alimentación Complementaria (PNAC) en Chile / Consumption and social assessment of fortified milk delivered by the National Complementary Feeding Program in Chile

Introducción: El Programa Nacional de Alimentación Complementaria (PNAC), es considerado la mayor intervención nutricional en Chile. Objetivo: Evaluar el consumo y valoración social de "Leche-Purita-Fortificada®" (LPF) y "Leche-Purita-Cereal®" (LPC) en beneficiarios del PNAC. Sujetos y métodos: Estudio transversal. Se aplicó una encuesta de consumo a 544 ninos entre 11 y 72 meses de muestra representativa de las Regiones Metropolitana y Quinta de Chile. La valoración social fue evaluada en 11 grupos focales. Resultados: El 73% y 69% de las madres declaró alimentar a su hijo con LPF y LPC, respectivamente. Las madres declararon entregar una mediana de 60 (45-75)g de LPF y 50 (40-75)g de LPC; diluidas al 10 (8-10)% y 10 (10-10)%, respectivamente. Existe una buena valoración social de los alimentos. Discusión: Los alimentos LPF y LPC son ampliamente consumidos y bien valorados por la población beneficiaria. Sin embargo, el consumo y uso de estos productos puede ser mejorado.

Background: The National Complementary Feeding Program (NCFP) is a universal nutritional intervention in Chile. Objective: To evaluate the consumption and social assessment ofiron fortified milk "Leche-Purita-Fortificada® (LPF)" and "Leche-Purita-Cereal® (LPC)" in NCFP's beneficiaries. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional study. A feeding questionnaire was conducted in 544 children aged 11 to 72 months in a representative sample from the Metropolitan and fifth Chilean Regions. The social assessment was evaluated through 11 focus groups. Results: Seventy three % and 69% ofbeneficiaries consumed LPF and LPC, respectively. The mothers claimed to deliver a median of 60 (45-75) g of LPF and 50 g of LPC (40-75) g, with a dilution of 10 (8-10) %% and 10 (10-10) %%, respectively. The perceived social value of these foods was positive. Discussion: LPF and LPC were consumed for most beneficiaries and well appreciated by the target population. However, the consumption of these milks can be improved.

Epidermal nevus syndrome: an unusual cerebellar involvement.

The epidermal nevus syndrome is characterized by several developmental anomalies associated with an epidermal nevus. In addition to the skin, other organs commonly affected include the brain, eyes and musculoskeletal system. We report here on a 24-year-old woman with this syndrome who presented with hemifacial hypertrophy, hearing abnormalities, arrhythmia and an unusual infratentorial brain involvement.

Hax1 lacks BH modules and is peripherally associated to heavy membranes: implications for Omi/HtrA2 and PARL activity in the regulation of mitochondrial stress and apoptosis.

Hax1 has an important role in immunodeficiency syndromes and apoptosis. A recent report (Chao et al., Nature, 2008) proposed that the Bcl-2-family-related protein, Hax1, suppresses apoptosis in lymphocytes and neurons through a mechanism that involves its association to the inner mitochondrial membrane rhomboid protease PARL, to proteolytically activate the serine protease Omi/HtrA2 and eliminate active Bax. This model implies that the control of cell-type sensitivity to pro-apoptotic stimuli is governed by the PARL/Hax1 complex in the mitochondria intermembrane space and, more generally, that Bcl-2-family-related proteins can control mitochondrial outer-membrane permeabilization from inside the mitochondrion. Further, it defines a novel, anti-apoptotic Opa1-independent pathway for PARL. In this study, we present evidence that, in vivo, the activity of Hax1 cannot be mechanistically coupled to PARL because the two proteins are confined in distinct cellular compartments and their interaction in vitro is an artifact. We also show by sequence analysis and secondary structure prediction that Hax1 is extremely unlikely to be a Bcl-2-family-related protein because it lacks Bcl-2 homology modules. These results indicate a different function and mechanism of Hax1 in apoptosis and re-opens the question of whether mammalian PARL, in addition to apoptosis, regulates mitochondrial stress response through Omi/HtrA2 processing.

Dephosphorylation by calcineurin regulates translocation of Drp1 to mitochondria.

Changes in mitochondrial morphology that occur during cell cycle, differentiation, and death are tightly regulated by the balance between fusion and fission processes. Excessive fragmentation can be caused by inhibition of the fusion machinery and is a common consequence of dysfunction of the organelle. Here, we show a role for calcineurin-dependent translocation of the profission dynamin related protein 1 (Drp1) to mitochondria in dysfunction-induced fragmentation. When mitochondrial depolarization is associated with sustained cytosolic Ca(2+) rise, it activates the cytosolic phosphatase calcineurin that normally interacts with Drp1. Calcineurin-dependent dephosphorylation of Drp1, and in particular of its conserved serine 637, regulates its translocation to mitochondria as substantiated by site directed mutagenesis. Thus, fragmentation of depolarized mitochondria depends on a loop involving sustained Ca(2+) rise, activation of calcineurin, and dephosphorylation of Drp1 and its translocation to the organelle.

¿Es efectiva la consejería para aumentar el consumo de frutas y verduras y disminuir el riesgo cardiovascular en prevención secundaria?: una revisión / Is counseling an effective strategy to increase fruits and vegetables consumption and decrease the cardiovascular risk in secondary prevention?: a review

Introducción: El consumo de frutas y verduras, dado su alto contenido de fibra y antioxidantes, se ha asociado a una mejoría de algunos de los parámetros biológicos que modifican el riesgo cardiovascular, como el colesterol total, colesterol LDL y la presión arterial. Dentro de las estrategias dirigidas a aumentar la ingesta de vegetales, la consejería es una de las más estudiadas. Métodos: se realizó una búsqueda en la base de datos MEDLINE, y en referencias de otras revisiones. Resultados: se revisaron 42 resúmenes (36 de MEDLINE y 6 de la revisión del United States Preventive Service Task Forcé) de los cuales se seleccionaron 30. De estos 30, 8 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. Se encontró evidencia epidemiológica sólida que asoció el consumo de frutas y verduras a una disminución del riesgo cardiovascular (RCV). No encontramos evidencia suficiente respecto a la efectividad de la consejería para modificar el perfil de riesgo en prevención secundaria. Conclusiones: la consejería produce cambios modestos en la dieta y el perfil de riesgo en pacientes sanos, sin embargo se necesita más información respecto su efectividad en pacientes con enfermedad CV y a sus efectos a largo plazo.

Introduction: Consumption of fruits and vegetables, due to their high fiber and antioxidant contain, has been associated with an improvement in some biological parameters that modify cardiovascular risk, such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. One of the most investigated strategies to increase the consumption of vegetables is counselling. Method: We searched the MEDLINE database and other review references. Results: 42 abstraéis were reviewed (36from MEDLINE and 6 of United States Preventive Service Task Force Review) and 30 were selected. Of the 30, 8 match with the inclusion criteria. We found solid epidemiological evidence that showed the association between the intake of fruits and vegetables and cardiovascular risk factors. We did not find enough evidence to demonstrate that counselling is effective in modifying the risk profile in secondary prevention. Conclusion: counselling produces modest changes in the diet and the risk profile in healthy patients, but there is still a need for more information about its effectiveness in long term changes in patients with high cardiovascular risk.

Fallecidos por carcinoma faríngeo: 1966- 1996 / Demises by pharyngeal carcionoma: 1966- 1996

Propósito: Evaluar las principales características de las lesiones, en las diferentes localizaciones de la faringe, así como las causas de muerte. Material y métodos: Fueron evaluados los pacientes con diagnóstico de carcinoma faríngeo, fallecidos en el Instituto Nacional de Oncología de la Habana, entre los años 1966 y 1996, seleccionándose 809 historias clínicas, para el presente estudio. Resultados: De los pacientes evaluados, 726 presentaban al momento de la inscripción, edades por encima de los 51 años, con predominio de los grupos de edades entre 61 y 70 años y 71 años y más, con 288 y 228 pacientes, respectivamente. La base de la lengua fue la ubicación topográfica de la lesión primaria, que mayor cantidad de fallecidos presentó, con 287 casos. En la clasificación TNM, el mayor número de casos fueron clasificados como T3N0, con 151 pacientes. La radioterapia con Co60, fue el tratamiento realizado en el mayor número de pacientes, 459 casos, seguida de la combinación de radioterapia y quimioterapia empleada en 193 casos. Conclusiones: La muerte de la gran mayoría de los pacientes con lesiones malignas ubicadas en la faringe, fue debida a la progresión de su enfermedad de base (AU)

[Malformations in cortical development in patients with epilepsy. Neuroimaging of 17 cases]. / Malformações do desenvolvimento cortical em doentes com epilepsia. Estudo neuroimagiológico de 17 casos.

This article reviews Malformations of Cortical Development (MCD) diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in a series of patients with epilepsy. This study spans a five year period. The frequency of these malformations was 7.1%. Most of these were focal or multifocal and the most common ones were polymicrogyria (35.3% of the patients), heterotopia (29.4%), and focal cortical dysplasia (29.4%). The frontal lobes were the most frequently affected regions. The various MCD encountered reflect the wide spectrum of MCD leading to epilepsy.

Fallecidos por cáncer de la cavidad bucal. 30 años / Mortality for oral cavity cancer. A 30-year experience

Propósito: Conocer las ubicaciones topográficas, causantes de pacientes fallecidos por Cáncer de la cavidad bucal, evaluando los tratamientos utilizados y las causas de muerte. Material y métodos: Fueron evaluados los pacientes con diagnóstico de carcinoma de la cavidad bucal, fallecidos en el Instituto Nacional de Oncología de La Habana, entre los años 1966 y 1996, seleccionándose 539 historias clínicas, para el presente estudio. Resultados: La ubicación topográfica de la lesión primaria que mayor cantidad de fallecidos presentó, fue la lengua móvil con 179 casos. En la clasificación TNM, el mayor número de casos fueron clasificados como T2N0, con 126 pacientes, seguido del T3N0 con 94 pacientes, llamó la atención que en 323 casos, no se hayan detectado adenopatías metastásicas en el examen clínico inicial. Se diagnosticaron segundos primarios en 36 pacientes, siendo las principales localizaciones, pulmón con 9 casos, carrillo, espacio retromolar y suelo de boca con 3 pacientes cada uno, y un pacientes con un tercer primario base de lengua. La causa de la muerte, fue debida a su enfermedad de base en 473 pacientes y en 33 pacientes a complicaciones posteriores al proceder quirúrgico. Conclusiones: La mayor parte de nuestros pacientes, fallecen debido a su enfermedad de base, 473 casos y en 33 pacientes la muerte fue debida a complicaciones posteriores al proceder quirúrgico (AU)

[Nutrient utilization in children with acute diarrhea fed with formulas containing chicken and soybean]. / Utilización de nutrientes en niños con diarrea aguda alimentados con formula a base de pollo y de soya.

The objective of this study was to measure in children with acute diarrhea the apparent absorption and retention of the macronutrients and some micronutrient present in a formula prepared with chicken and a formula prepared with soybean protein. Fourteen male children (9 months old) with acute diarrhea were assigned to each of these formulas and the consumption and excretion of the studied nutrients were monitored during 48 h. The results showed that the children assigned to the chicken formula consumed more protein and less fat than those in the soybean protein formula. These differences however were associated with differences in the composition of the formulas offered rather than to differences in protein or fat utilization. Fecal mass (800 g/48 h) was similar in both groups and the macronutrient content of the feces, reflected well the amount consumed. The apparent absorption of fat (63%), nitrogen (75%) and carbohydrates (78%) resulted similar in both groups and there were no differences in the retention of nitrogen which approximated 55%. The digestible energy and the metabolizable energy of both formulas, also resulted equal. In general the children excreted more urinary ammonia and less creatinine than healthy children but there were no differences in the excretion of these metabolites between the children assigned to the chicken or to the soybean protein formulas. The retention of Zn (47%) and Ca (72%) were also similar in both groups and they excreted a high (0.17 mg/48 hr) but similar amount of Vitamin A. In summary, these results showed that from a nutritional point of view, the chicken and the soybean protein formulas were equally utilized during the acute phase of diarrhea.

Nutritional evaluation of the soy-whey milk analog La colina.

The milk analog La colina is a product which contains mainly whey, soy protein isolate and vegetable oil, designed for infants since one year, children, adolescents and adults of all ages. The concept behind this product is to offer an alternative to milk consumption which during the last decade has decreased dramatically in Venezuela mainly due to its high price and low availability. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to evaluate nutritionally this new product in order to determine if from a nutritional stand point it could represent a valid alternative to milk consumption. The results showed that La Colina offers the same amount of protein, energy, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus and potassium as whole milk powder and more sodium, iron and zinc. In addition, a rat assay showed that the energy in these two products is equally available and even though the proteins in La colina are 3.9% less digestible, their quality determined by growth, PER or the nitrogen retained are excellent and identical to the quality of the proteins in milk. These results agreed with the theoretical chemical score of the proteins of this new product, which indicated that the amino acid profile of the mixture can fulfill the amino acid requirements of children, adolescents an adults. Both milk and La colina are products with a high fat content. The fat in this new product however, is vegetable oil and therefore it has a more convenient fatty acid profile than whole milk and about one third of its cholesterol. In short, these results showed that La Colina from a nutritional point of view is an excellent alternative to milk consumption.

[Minimal time for detecting protein quality using indicators of protein catabolism in chickens]. / Tiempo mínimo para detectar calidad proteica usando indicadores del catabolismo proteico en pollos.

Previous studies shown that in chickens the hepatic activities of the purine enzymes Xanthine Dehydrogenase and Nucleoside Phosphorylase and the uric acid excretion can predict the quality of the protein consumed in a very short time. In these studies even though the experimental time was short, the time used for the conditioning of the chickens was long and included five days with six chickens per cage and then five to six days for progressively changing the chickens to individual cages in order to avoid the stress associated with the isolation of the animals. Thus the purpose of this study was to determine the minimal time required to detect differences in these parameters after feeding a soy-met and a gelatin diet and eliminating completely the time required for the isolation of the chickens. Thus, 76 one day old Warren male chickens were placed in groups of six on a soy-met powdered diet during five days and on day six all the chicken were placed in individual cages and one halve was offered the same diet while the rest received a gelatin diet. Then on day 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 after the diet change five chickens on each diet were sacrificed and the activity of the liver purine enzymes as well as the uric acid excreted were determined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tiempo mínimo para detectar calidad proteica usando indicadores del catabolismo proteico en pollos / Minimal time for detecting protein quality using indicators of protein catabolism in chickens

Previous studies shown that in chickens the hepatic activities of the purine enzymes Xanthine Dehydrogenase and Nucleoside Phosphorylase and the uric acid excretion can predict the quality of the protein consumed in a very short time. In these studies even though the experimental time was short, the time used for the conditioning of the chickens was long and included five days with six chickens per cage and then five to six days for progressively changing the chickens to individual cages in order to avoid the stress associated with the isolation of the animals. Thus the purpose of this study was to determine the minimal time required to detect differences in these parameters after feeding a soy-met and a gelatin diet and eliminating completely the time required for the isolation of the chickens. Thus, 76 one day old Warren male chickens were placed in groups of six on a soy-met powdered diet during five days and on day six all the chicken were placed in individual cages and one halve was offered the same diet while the rest received a gelatin diet. Then on day 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 after the diet change five chickens on each diet were sacrificed and the activity of the liver purine enzymes as well as the uric acid excreted were determined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Host and tumor responses to varying rates of nitrogen infusion in the tumor-bearing rat.

The influence of variations in nitrogen content of nutritional substrate available to the tumor-bearing (TB) host on tumor growth and host have not yet been completely defined. One hundred fifty-two growing Fischer 344 rats were either transplanted with a sarcoma (TB) or injected with saline (NTB, day 0), had aseptic placement of superior vena cava catheter (day 14), and were infused with total parenteral nutrition solutions (days 18-28). Isocaloric solutions (approximately 50 kcal/d) contained either 0%, 5%, 16%, 33%, 67%, 100%, 133%, or 167% of normal intake of an adequate amino acid mixture. Final tumor weight in the 5% group (23.4 +/- 3.0 g) was significantly less than tumor weights of all other groups (range: 33.3 +/- 3.3 to 42.6 +/- 11.3) (p less than 0.05). The carcasses of TB animals were slightly smaller than NTB animals but showed no major alterations in protein, fat, or water composition. This study suggests that the tumor can be starved selectively by strictly nutritional means with complex accompanying host carcass and organ changes.

[Nutritional quality of soybean proteins and casein, thermally damaged, and determined in vivo by an enzymatic method]. / Calidad nutricional de las proteínas de soya y caseina, dañadas térmicamente, y determinada in vivo por un método enzimático.

In this study, the potential of the hepatic activity of the enzyme nucleoside phosphorylase (E. C. 2.4.2.1) as an indicator of dietary protein quality was tested in chickens. For this purpose, a thermal damage of increasing severity was induced on the proteins of casein and soy by heating them in an autoclave (121 degrees C) for 10 to 40 minutes in the presence of glucose. These treatments resulted in variable losses of available lysine, measured chemically, and protein quality, measured by growth assays (PER and NPR) or assays based on nitrogen gained (NPU and nitrogen retained) with chickens. These measurements were then compared with the hepatic activity of the nucleoside phosphorylase measured in the same chicks. The data revealed that the NPU and nitrogen retained procedures were more sensitive than PER or NPR in detecting changes in the protein quality associated with a heat treatment. Moreover, NPU, nitrogen retained and the activity of nucleoside phosphorylase showed that a mild heat treatment of casein, improved the quality of this protein. More prolonged heat treatments, however, caused a reduction in the quality of soy or casein protein as determined by all the methods for measuring protein quality used here, including the enzymatic method. The high correlation coefficients found in this study between the enzymatic method and those based on nitrogen gain or growth, indicate that this method may have a potential as a predictor of the quality of dietary protein.

Calidad nutricional de las proteinas de soya y caseina, danadas termicamente, y determinada in vivo por un metodo enzimatico. / Nutritional quality of soy bean and casein proteins, thermically damaged, and determined by an in vivo enzymatic method

Se estudio la posibilidad de usar la actividad de la enzima nucleosido fosforillasa (EC. 2. 4. 2. 1), proveniente del higado del pollo, como un indicador de la calidad de la proteina dietaria. Para ello se indujo un deterioro a la caseina y a la proteina de soya mediante un tratamiento termico en presencia de glucosa (121o. graus C.), de duracion variable (de 10 a 40 minutos). Este tratamiento indujo perdidas en la disponibilidad a traves de ensayos de crecimiento (PER,NPR) o de ganancia de nitrogeno (NPU, NR). Los resultados de estos ensayos se compararon luego con la actividad hepatica de la nucleosido fosforilasa en los mismos animales. Los ensayos de ganancia de nitrogeno fueron mas sensibles que los de crecimiento en detectar ciones de calidad proteinica inducidas por el calor, e indicaron que un tratamiento termico corto mejora la calidad de la caseina, mientras que tratamientos mas prolongados la reducen, tanto en el caso de la caseina, como los de la soya. La actividad de la nucleosido fosforilasa hepatica fue tan sensible como los metodos de retencion de nitrogeno en detectar cambios en la calidad de proteina dietaria y muestra un buen potencial como indicador de la calidad proteinica