Comparison of anthropometric measures of men with HIV: asymptomatic, symptomatic, and AIDS.

OBJECTIVE: Anthropometric measures were performed to determine differences in estimated fat mass, lean body mass, and body weight among three groups of men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). DESIGN: This study was cross-sectional. SETTING: Local centers of community services and support groups for persons infected with HIV in the province of Quebec, Canada. SUBJECTS: Thirty-seven HIV-positive men were recruited; 11 were asymptomatic (T helper cells [CD4+ count] > 400 cells/mm3), 8 were symptomatic (CD4+ < 400 cells/mm3), and 17 were clinically stable but met the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported usual weight, actual weight, body mass index, midarm circumference, and triceps and subscapular skinfolds were recorded. From those we derived the percentage of body fat, the midarm muscle, and fat areas. Daily energy and protein intakes were determined from a 7-day food record. Clinical signs and symptoms were assessed by a structured questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: For statistical comparisons, analysis of variance was used, with P < .05 being significant. RESULTS: We found a trend toward a decrease in body weight and in the fat mass indicators as the disease progressed. Lower energy intakes were observed among symptomatic and AIDS groups. The number of nutrition-related clinical signs and symptoms experienced by each individual correlated with the magnitude of weight loss (P < .0004, r = -.69). APPLICATIONS: The findings suggest that anthropometric measures can be used in routine clinical practice to assess changes in body weight and in estimated fat mass among men infected with HIV. Symptoms and energy intakes should be assessed to identify subjects at high risk of greater weight loss.

Effects of bile and pancreatic secretions on intestinal mucosa after proximal small bowel resection in rats.

After proximal small bowel resection the remaining small intestine undergoes adaptive hyperplasia. In the present study, the relative contributions of bile and (or) pancreatic juice to adaptive intestinal hyperplasia following proximal resection was studied. Using male Sprague-Dawley rats a 50% proximal intestinal resection was done starting 10 cm distal to the beginning of the jejunum. The animals were also subjected to diversion of bile and (or) pancreatic secretions to the distal ileum at 18 cm proximal to the ileocecal junction. After 8 days gut and mucosal weights, mucosal proteins, and DNA were measured in the duodenojejunum (gut segment proximal to the resection anastomosis) and in the ileum (first half of the small bowel segment distal to the diversion site). The results indicate that (1) in rats fed either chow (Purina rat chow) or a chemically defined diet diversion of pancreaticobiliary secretions to the ileum significantly stimulated ileal mucosa growth whereas no changes were observed in the duodenojejunum, (2) in rats fed a chemically defined diet neither bile nor pancreatic juice affected ileal mucosa when separately diverted to the ileum, and (3) pancreatic juice draining into the duodenum while bile was diverted to the ileum induced hypoplastic changes in the duodenojejunum. The present study suggests that following jejunectomy the regulation of mucosal growth by pancreatic and bile secretions is different in the proximal and distal small intestine. Pancreaticobiliary secretions are trophic for the ileum. However, in the proximal gut bile offers protection against a direct or indirect catabolic action of pancreatic juice.

Exocrine pancreatic function following proximal small bowel resection in rats.

1. In order to assess if proximal enterectomy induces changes in the function of the exocrine pancreas, the exocrine pancreas was studied 1 week, 4 weeks, and 6 months after 50 or 75% proximal small bowel resection. 2. One week after 50 and 75% proximal small bowel resections, basal pancreatic bicarbonate outputs, studied by means of an external pancreatic fistula in conscious rats, were increased significantly over control values by 43 and 78% respectively. Four weeks after a 75% resection, the bicarbonate output was still significantly higher in resected animals than in sham operated animals. 3. The increase of volume and bicarbonate of the basal pancreatic secretion coincided with a 4-fold increase in plasma secretin concentration 1 week after resection. Both increased pancreatic secretion and plasma secretin concentration were transient. 4. The pancreatic hypersecretion was specifically reversed to control values with an I.P. injection of jejunoileal mucosa homogenate. 5. Serum gastrin and somatostatin values in intestinal mucosa and pancreas were not changed 1 and 4 weeks after enterectomy compared with sham operated animals. 6. The weight of the pancreas and its content of DNA were unaltered by resection. Amylase and chymotrypsinogen per gram pancreatic tissue and per microgram DNA were reduced 4 weeks following resections as compared with sham operated rats. After 6 months, chymotrypsinogen appeared further reduced in resected animals. 7. It is concluded that extensive proximal enterectomy in rats produced early, transient and marked increases in basal pancreatic water and bicarbonate secretion and in plasma secretin due to the loss of jejunoileal inhibitor(s), and a selective decrease in certain enzymes in pancreatic tissue.