Trace elements in fruit juices.

Fruit juices are widely consumed in tropical countries as part of habitual diet. The concentrations of several minerals in these beverages were evaluated. Four commercially available brands of juices were analyzed for cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, aluminum, iron, chromium, manganese, and molybdenum. The levels ranged from 0.02 to 0.08 mg/L for copper, from 0.05 to 0.23 mg/L for zinc, from 0.1 to 0.4 mg/L for aluminum, from 0.02 to 0.45 mg/L for iron, and from 0.01 to 0.22 mg/L for manganese. The levels of cadmium, lead, and chromium in all samples were very low or undetectable. The metal contents of fruit juices depend on a number of factors, including the soil composition, the external conditions during fruit growing and fruit harvesting, as well as on details of the fruit juice manufacturing processes employed. The concentrations of none of the metals in juice samples analyzed exceeded the limits imposed by local legislation.

Copper and ceruloplasmin in children undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) nowadays has become a routine procedure. However, under nonadequate hemodynamic conditions and because of the changes related to ischemia-reperfusion, there is a possibility to provoke oxidative stress with all undesirable consequences. Copper (Cu) is closely related to this stress, taking part in the formation of the hazardous-free radicals. Meanwhile, at least in the pediatric area, little is known about Cu kinetics during cardiac surgery. The purpose of the present work was to study Cu and ceruloplasmin (Cp) dynamics during surgery with CPB in children. Twenty-one patients of both genders from Campo Grande, Brazil with congenital heart conditions were enrolled in the investigation. Blood samples were collected before the surgery and during and 24 h after it. Cu and Cp levels were measured at selected moments and the influence of hemodilution studied. It was concluded that serum Cu dynamics during cardiopulmonary bypass reflects the protective effects of this trace element. Ceruloplasmin levels correlate positively with copper.

Inalação contínua com fenoterol na criança com asma aguda grave: efeitos clínicos imediatos / Continuos fenoterol inhalation by children with severe acute asthma: immediate clinical effects

Objetivos: avaliar as alterações da freqüência cardiaca, da pressão arterial, do psiquismo e da saturação arterial de oxigênio, após a inalação continua com fenoterol, na criança com asma aguda grave. Casuística e métodos: foram estudados 30 pacientes com asma aguda grave, atendidos no PAM-Pediatria do Hospital Universitário-UFMS. Os pacientes receberam inalação continua durante uma hora, com 0,5 mg/kg (2 gotas/kg) de fenoterol. O psiquismo, a saturação arterial de oxigênio, a freqüência cardiaca e a pressãoarterial foram avaliados antes, imediatamente após, e uma hora após a inalação com fenoterol. Resultados: 17 crianças eram do sexo masculino (56,6por cento), e 13do sexo feminino (43,4Ýpor cento). Foi observado sonolência em 16 (53,3por cento),agitação psicomotora em 1 (3,3por cento), náusea e vômito em 12 pacientes (40por cento). A média da saturação arterial de oxigênio aumentou de 90,9 2,8por cento para 92,7 2,5por cento (p<0,05) após a inalação. Houve um aumento estatisticamente significativo da média da freqüência cardiaca do início da inalação ao término da mesma (139,5 13,5 bpm, 166,5 1,lbpm, respectivamente) p<0,05. A média da pressão arterial era de 117,56 10,3 /74,6 7 mmHg antes da inalação, e ocorreu diminuição ao final da inalação, atingindo valores médios de 107,6 11/63,6 9,3 mmHg (p<0,05).Conclusões: a inalação continua com fenoterol na dose de 0,5mg/kg, na criança com asma aguda grave, desencadeou sonolência, náusea, vômitos, taquicardia e diminuição da pressão arterial. Os autores sugerem que esta modalidade de tratamento seja realizada com monitorização clinica, em ambiente hospitalar...

[Continuous fenoterol inhalation by children with severe acute asthma: immediate clinical effects]. / Inalação contínua com fenoterol na criança com asma aguda grave: efeitos clínicos imediatos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the alterations of heart rate, blood pressure, psychological aspects and oxygen saturation after continuous fenoterol inhalation (0.5 mg/Kg) by children with severe acute asthma. METHODS: We studied 30 patients with severe acute asthma who were treated at the pediatric ward of Hospital Universitário-UFMS. The patients inhaled 0.5 mg/Kg of fenoterol (two drops/Kg) during one hour. Psychological aspects, oxygen arterial saturation, heart rate and blood pressure were evaluated at three different moments: before, after and one hour after the fenoterol inhalation. RESULTS: There were 17 males (56.6%) and 13 females (43.4%). Sleepiness was observed in 16 (53.3%), psychomotor agitation in one (33%) and nausea and vomiting in 12 patients (40%). The average of oxygen arterial saturation increased from 90.9 +/- 2.8% to 92.7 +/- 2.5% (P<0.05) after inhalation. There was statistically significant increase in the average heart rate before and after inhalation (139.5 +/- 13.5 beats/min, 166.5 +/- 11.1 beats/min, respectively), P<0.05. A significant decrease in blood pressure rate was observed from 117.56 +/- 10.3 / 74.6 +/- 7 mmHg, to 107.6 +/- 11 / 63.6 +/- 9.3 mmHg (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous fenoterol (0.5 mg/Kg) inhalation by children with severe acute asthma caused sleepiness, nausea, vomits, palpitation and decrease in blood pressure rate. The authors suggest that patients submitted to this treatment need clinical monitorship at hospital settings. Children with concomitant diseases such as diarrhea, vomits, and dehydration require special attention.