Assessing impaired gastric accommodation in children with functional constipation using the water load test.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate gastric accommodation in pediatric patients with functional constipation using the water load test. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional case-control study. Herein, the water load test results of children aged >4 years with functional constipation referred to a Pediatric Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic (functional constipation group) were compared with those of a control group (without functional constipation or chronic abdominal pain) recruited from two public schools. Clinical manifestations outlined in the Rome IV criteria were used to diagnose functional constipation. Water load tests were performed after 3 h of fasting. For the test, the participants were asked to drink as much water as possible in 3 min. KEY RESULTS: A total of 36 patients and 77 students were included in the functional constipation and control groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in age between the groups (8.6 ± 2.3 years and 8.8 ± 1.8 years in the functional constipation and control groups, respectively). The water load test showed intake volumes of 390 ± 245 mL and 528 ± 219 mL in the functional constipation and control groups, respectively (p = 0.001). The maximum volume in the water load test correlated with the 24 h daily intake of energy (rS = +0.42, p = 0.012), protein (rS = +0.48, p = 0.004), and water (rS = +0.39, p = 0.020) only in the group with functional constipation. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: According to the water load test, gastric accommodation was impaired in children with severe functional constipation. The impairment of gastric accommodation in children with severe functional constipation is related to food intake.

Fluid intake and urinary osmolality in pediatric patients with functional constipation.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate fluid intake and urinary osmolality in pediatric patients with functional constipation. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, case-control study that prospectively included two groups: 36 pediatric patients older than 4 years with functional constipation (Rome III criteria) who were consecutively admitted in a public tertiary pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic and 93 controls with normal bowel habits. The control group was recruited from a public school and did not have any of the characteristics of the Rome III criteria. Fluid and food intakes were assessed using a daily diet inquiry and 24 h recording method. Hypohydration was defined as osmolality greater than 800 mOsm/kg H2O in a spot urine sample. RESULTS: The age of the functional constipation group (median, 8.9 years; range 7.3-10.0 years) and the control group (8.8 years) was similar (p = 0.51). The proportion of boys in the functional constipation group (76.6%; 25/36) was higher (p = 0.01) than that in the control group (45.2%; 41/93). The total water intake of the functional constipation group (median 1566 mL) was lower (p < 0.001) than that of the control group (median 2177 mL). Urinary osmolality was higher (p = 0.039) in the functional constipation group (median 859 mOsm/kg H2O) than in the control group (median 775 mOsm/kg H2O). The association between hypohydration and functional constipation did not reach statistical significance (Odds ratio 2.06; 95% confidence interval 0.93-4.55; p = 0.073). CONCLUSION: Compared to the control group, patients with functional constipation have lower fluid intake and higher urinary osmolality.

Gut Microbiota Differences in Children From Distinct Socioeconomic Levels Living in the Same Urban Area in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To compare gut microbiota in impoverished children versus children of high socioeconomic status living in the same urban area in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate 100 children living in a slum and 30 children from a private school, ages between 5 and 11 years old, in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. To characterize the groups, data based on socioeconomic status, sanitation, and housing conditions were collected. Anthropometric measurements and neonatal data were obtained from both groups. Gut microbiota were quantified in fecal samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The children in the private school group had higher rates of cesarean delivery and premature birth than the children in the slum group. Staphylococcus aureus (90% vs 48.0%) and Clostridium difficile (100% vs 43.0%) were more commonly found in the children from the private school than in the impoverished children (P < 0.0001). C perfringens was most frequently identified in the group of children from the slum (92.0% vs 80%; P = 0.064). Higher counts of total eubacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla organisms, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp., and Methanobrevibacter smithii were found in the children living in poverty, whereas higher counts of Salmonella spp., C difficile, and C perfringens were observed in the children living in satisfactory housing conditions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Important differences were observed between the gut microbiota of children living under distinct socioeconomic and environmental conditions within the same city. Our findings suggest that children of high socioeconomic status have less favorable gut microbiota than do children who live in poverty.

High prevalence of antimicrobial drug-resistant diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in asymptomatic children living in an urban slum.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and antibiotic resistance in asymptomatic school-age children living in an area with defective environmental sanitation, comparing with children registered at a private school, both in the city of Osasco, Brazil. METHODS: Seventy-nine school-age children between 5 and 10 years living in a slum and 35 children who attended a private school of the same city were included in the study. RESULTS: DEC was found in 58% of the children living in the slum and in 17% of the control group (P=0.001). Resistance to at least one antimicrobial drug was found in 65% of DEC strains; resistant to two or more antimicrobial drugs was found in 46% of strains. CONCLUSION: The high carriage status among the slum children point towards the widespread environment contamination in low socio-economic housing conditions, in conformance with the pediatric population at higher risk for developing DEC diarrhea.

Lactobacilos e bifidobactérias nas fezes de crianças escolares de dois estratos socioeconômicos: moradores em uma favela e alunos de uma escola particular / Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the feces of schoolchildren of two different socioeconomic groups: children from a favela and children from a private school

OBJETIVO: Determinar o número de colônias de lactobacilos e bifidobactérias nas fezes de crianças escolares, pertencentes a dois estratos socioeconômicos. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas amostras de fezes de crianças com idade entre 6 e 10 anos sem sintomas gastrointestinais ou uso recente de antimicrobianos. O primeiro grupo foi constituído por 86 crianças, moradoras em uma favela localizada no município de Osasco (SP). O segundo grupo foi constituído por 36 crianças matriculadas em uma escola particular da mesma cidade. O estado nutricional foi avaliado usando o índice de massa corporal (IMC) de acordo com os valores de referência do National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). O isolamento das colônias foi realizado em meios de cultura específicos em anaerobiose, durante 48 e 72 horas a 37 °C. A determinação do número foi feita pelo método da contagem em placa. RESULTADOS: A mediana de lactobacilos (1,125 x 10(9) unidades formadoras de colônia, UFC/g) e bifidobactérias (1,675 x 10(9) UFC/g) na escola particular foi superior (p < 0,001) ao do grupo da favela: 0,250 x 10(9) e 0,350 x 10(9) UFC/g, respectivamente. No grupo da favela, crianças com escore z de IMC < -1,0 desvio padrão (n = 28) apresentaram menor mediana (p < 0,05) de lactobacilos (0,100 x 10(9) UFC/g) e bifidobactérias (0,095 x 10(9) UFC/g) em relação às crianças com IMC > -1,0 desvio padrão (n = 57): 0,350 x 10(9) e 0,420 x 10(9) UFC/g, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A microbiota de crianças escolares que moram em condições ambientais desfavoráveis apresenta menor número de colônias de lactobacilos e bifidobactérias nas fezes, especialmente naquelas com menores valores do IMC.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium colonies in the feces of schoolchildren from two different socioeconomic levels. METHODS: We analyzed fecal samples of children aged 6 to 10 years without gastrointestinal symptoms or recent use of antimicrobials. The first group included 86 children living in a favela in the city of Osasco, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The second group included 36 children attending a private school in the same city. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess nutritional status according to the reference values of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Specific anaerobic culture media were used for isolation of colonies for 48 and 72 hours at 37 °C. The number of colonies was determined using the plate-counting method. RESULTS: The mean lactobacillus (1.125 x 10(9) colony-forming units, CFU/g) and bifidobacterium (1.675 x 10(9) CFU/g) counts in the private school group were higher (p < 0.001) than those in the favela group: 0.250 x 10(9) and 0.350 x 10(9) CFU/g, respectively. In the favela group, children with BMI z score < -1.0 standard deviation (SD) (n = 28) showed lower mean (p < 0.05) lactobacillus (0.100 x 10(9) CFU/g) and bifidobacterium (0.095 x 10(9) CFU/g) counts than the children with BMI > -1.0 SD (n = 57): 0.350 x 10(9) and 0.420 x 10(9) CFU/g, respectively. CONCLUSION: The microbiota of schoolchildren living in unfavorable environmental conditions shows lower numbers of fecal lactobacillus and bifidobacterium colonies, especially in children with lower BMI values.

Tendência temporal e desigualdades na mortalidade por diarreias em menores de 5 anos / Temporal trends and inequality in under-5 mortality from diarrhea

OBJETIVO: Analisar a tendência da mortalidade por diarreia entre menores de 5 anos, no município de Osasco (SP), entre 1980 e 2000. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo observacional com dois delineamentos. Um descritivo, que toma o indivíduo como unidade do estudo, e outro ecológico, analisando agregado populacional que incluiu análise de séries temporais. A fonte de dados foi o sistema de informação de mortalidade do Estado de São Paulo e censos de 1980, 1991 e 2000. Descreveu-se a variação sazonal e para a análise de tendência aplicaram-se modelos log lineares de regressão polinomiais, utilizando-se variáveis sociodemográficas da criança e da mãe. Foram analisadas a evolução de indicadores sociodemográficos do município de 1980 a 2000, as taxas médias de mortalidade por diarreia nos menores de 5 anos e seus diferenciais por distrito nos anos 90. RESULTADOS: Dos 1.360 óbitos, 94,3 e 75,3 por cento atingiram, respectivamente, menores de 1 ano e de 6 meses. O declínio da mortalidade foi de 98,3 por cento, com deslocamento da sazonalidade do verão para o outono. A mediana da idade elevou-se de 2 meses nos primeiros períodos para 3 meses no último. O resíduo de óbitos manteve-se entre filhos de mães de 20 a 29 anos e escolaridade < 8 anos. O risco relativo entre o distrito mais atingido e a taxa média do município diminuiu de 3,4 para 1,3 do primeiro para o segundo quinquênio dos anos 90. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados apontam uma elevação da idade mais vulnerável e a provável mudança do agente mais frequentemente associado ao óbito por diarreia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the trend in mortality due to diarrhea among children under 5 in the town of Osasco (SP), Brazil, between 1980 and 2000. METHODS: This is a descriptive observational study with two different designs, the first using individuals as the unit of study, and the other ecological, using groups of individuals as units of observation and including time series analysis. Data were obtained from the state of São Paulo information system of deaths and the results of the 1980, 1991 and 2000 censuses. Seasonal variations were described and log linear polynomial regression models were employed to analyze trends, using the sociodemographic characteristics of mothers and their children. Analyses were carried out of the changes in the town's sociodemographic indicators from 1980 to 2000, the average mortality rates among under-5s due to diarrhea and the differences between districts during the 1990s. RESULTS: There were a total of 1,360 deaths, 94.3 percent of which were before 1 year of age and 75.3 percent of which were before 6 months. There was a 98.3 percent reduction in mortality and the period of peak mortality shifted from summer to autumn/fall. The median age at death increased from 2 months at the first three quinquenium of study to 3 months at the last. The residual deaths were among the children of mothers aged 20 to 29 years and of mothers who had spent less than 8 years in education. The relative risk between the worst-affected district and the average rate for the town reduced from 3.4 to 1.3 from the first 5 years of the 1990s to the second half of the decade. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate an increase in the age of greatest vulnerability and indicate that it is probable that the agent most often linked with mortality due to diarrhea has changed.

Temporal trends and inequality in under-5 mortality from diarrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the trend in mortality due to diarrhea among children under 5 in the town of Osasco (SP), Brazil, between 1980 and 2000. METHODS: This is a descriptive observational study with two different designs, the first using individuals as the unit of study, and the other ecological, using groups of individuals as units of observation and including time series analysis. Data were obtained from the state of São Paulo information system of deaths and the results of the 1980, 1991 and 2000 censuses. Seasonal variations were described and log linear polynomial regression models were employed to analyze trends, using the sociodemographic characteristics of mothers and their children. Analyses were carried out of the changes in the town's sociodemographic indicators from 1980 to 2000, the average mortality rates among under-5s due to diarrhea and the differences between districts during the 1990s. RESULTS: There were a total of 1,360 deaths, 94.3% of which were before 1 year of age and 75.3% of which were before 6 months. There was a 98.3% reduction in mortality and the period of peak mortality shifted from summer to autumn/fall. The median age at death increased from 2 months at the first three quinquenium of study to 3 months at the last. The residual deaths were among the children of mothers aged 20 to 29 years and of mothers who had spent less than 8 years in education. The relative risk between the worst-affected district and the average rate for the town reduced from 3.4 to 1.3 from the first 5 years of the 1990s to the second half of the decade. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate an increase in the age of greatest vulnerability and indicate that it is probable that the agent most often linked with mortality due to diarrhea has changed.