Folic acid and autism: updated evidences.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that impairs communication, socialization, and behavior. The association of ASD with folic acid has been investigated due to the importance of this vitamin for neurological health. This study is an update of the publication 'Folic acid and autism: What do we know?' and aims to systematically review studies examining the relationship between folic acid and ASD. The search resulted in 2,389 studies on folic acid and ASD, which were selected by two reviewers based on their titles and abstracts. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were fully read. The 52 included studies involved 10,429 individuals diagnosed with ASD and assessed the intake of vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12; serum levels of these vitamins, homocysteine, and methionine; therapeutic interventions using folic acid; and the association between maternal exposure to this vitamin and the risk of ASD. The evidence of insufficient folic acid intake in most individuals with ASD remains consistent in this update. No association was found between maternal exposure to folic acid and the risk of ASD in their children. Despite observed improvements in communication, socialization, and behavior in individuals with ASD following folic acid interventions, it is crucial to consider the individuality and complexity of ASD. Given the relevance of the topic, there remains a need for more high-quality research and clinical trials characterized by rigorous methodological designs.

Down syndrome and breastfeeding: A systematic review.

Several conditions related to serious difficulty in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding in neonates with Down syndrome are described in the literature. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of breastfeeding in neonates with Down syndrome, as well as the reasons for not breastfeeding, through a systematic literature review by searching MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase via Elsevier, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Sixteen studies were included with a total sample size of 2022 children with Down syndrome. The frequency of exclusive breastfeeding was 31.6-55.4%, with five studies reporting breastfeeding for longer than 6 months. Breastfeeding from birth was present for 48-92.5% of the children with Down syndrome in six studies. Two studies reported that around 50% and 23.3% of the children with Down syndrome were never breastfed, and rates of breastfeeding in infants with Down syndrome were lower than those in controls in three studies. The reasons for not breastfeeding or cessation of breastfeeding were associated with Down syndrome-specific challenges, maternal reasons, and healthcare aspects.

Omega-3 fatty acids' supplementation in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration disorder characterized by progressive impairments of memory, language, reasoning, and other cognitive functions. Evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may act as a possible protection factor in AD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results available in the literature involving omega-3 fatty acids supplementation and its effect on cognitive function in AD patients. METHODS: A systematic review of MEDLINE (from PubMed), Excerpta Medica Database, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Inclusion criteria consisted in original intervention studies, controlled by placebo, that assessed the impact of supplementation or dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive function, in humans with AD, without limitation for prime date of publication. RESULTS: Initial search resulted in 361 articles. Seven studies fully met the inclusion criteria. Most studies did not find statistically significant results for the omega-3 fatty acids supplementation compared to placebo, and those who show some benefit do it only in a few cognitive assessment scales. However, the effects of omega-3 fatty acids appear to be most effectively demonstrated in patients with very mild AD. CONCLUSION: The effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in mild AD corroborate epidemiological observational studies showing that omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial in disease onset, when there is slight impairment of brain function. Although some studies have shown changes in scales of cognitive function in more severe cases, they are not enough to support omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in the treatment of AD.

The effect of ketogenic diet in an animal model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid.

OBJECTIVES: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, and by restricted repetitive behaviors and interests. Its etiology is still unknown, but different environmental factors during pregnancy, such as exposure to valproic acid (VPA), are associated with high incidence of ASD in children. In this context, prenatal exposure to VPA in rodents has been used as a reliable model of ASD. Ketogenic diet (KD) is an alternative therapeutic option for refractory epilepsy; however, the effects of this approach in ASD-like behavior need to be evaluated. We conducted a behavioral assessment of the effects of KD in the VPA model of autism. METHODS: Pregnant animals received a single-intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg VPA, and their offspring were separated into four groups: (1) control group with standard diet (C-SD), (2) control group with ketogenic diet (C-KD), (3) VPA group with standard diet (VPA-SD), and (4) VPA group with ketogenic diet (VPA-KD). RESULTS: When compared with the control group, VPA animals presented increased social impairment, repetitive behavior and higher nociceptive threshold. Interestingly, the VPA group fed with KD presented improvements in social behavior. These mice displayed higher scores in sociability index and social novelty index when compared with the SD-fed VPA mice. DISCUSSION: VPA mice chronically exposed to a KD presented behavioral improvements; however, the mechanism by which KD improves ASD-like features needs to be further investigated. In conclusion, the present study reinforces the potential use of KD as a treatment for the core deficits of ASD.

Folic acid and autism: What do we know?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) consist in a range of neurodevelopmental conditions that share common features with autism, such as impairments in communication and social interaction, repetitive behaviors, stereotypies, and a limited repertoire of interests and activities. Some studies have reported that folic acid supplementation could be associated with a higher incidence of autism, and therefore, we aimed to conduct a systematic review of studies involving relationships between this molecule and ASD. The MEDLINE database was searched for studies written in English which evaluated the relationship between autism and folate. The initial search yielded 60 potentially relevant articles, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria. The agreement between reviewers was κ = 0.808. The articles included in the present study addressed topics related to the prescription of vitamins, the association between folic acid intake/supplementation during pregnancy and the incidence of autism, food intake, and/or nutrient supplementation in children/adolescents with autism, the evaluation of serum nutrient levels, and nutritional interventions targeting ASD. Regarding our main issue, namely the effect of folic acid supplementation, especially in pregnancy, the few and contradictory studies present inconsistent conclusions. Epidemiological associations are not reproduced in most of the other types of studies. Although some studies have reported lower folate levels in patients with ASD, the effects of folate-enhancing interventions on the clinical symptoms have yet to be confirmed.

C-Reactive Protein and Frailty in Heart Failure.

Frailty commonly coexists with heart failure and although both have been associated with neurohormonal dysregulation, inflammation, catabolism, and skeletal muscle dysfunction, there are still no defined biomarkers to assess frailty, especially from the perspective of populations with cardiovascular diseases. This is a cross-sectional study with 106 outpatients with heart failure, aged ≥60 years, which aimed to assess frailty through a physical (frailty phenotype) and multidimensional (Tilburg Frailty Indicator) approach and to analyze its association with inflammatory and humoral biomarkers (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-α, insulin-like growth factor-1, and total testosterone), clinical characteristics, and functional capacity. In univariate analysis, hs-CRP was associated with frailty in both phenotype and Tilburg Frailty Indicator assessment (PR = 1.005, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001 to 1.009, p = 0.027 and PR = 1.015, 95% CI 1.006 to 1.024, p = 0.001, respectively), which remained significant in the final multivariate model in the frailty assessment by the phenotype (PR = 1.004, 95% CI 1.001 to 1.008, p = 0.025). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for other biomarkers analyzed. Frailty was also associated with worse functional capacity, nonoptimized pharmacological treatment and a greater number of drugs in use, age, female gender, and a greater number of comorbidities. In conclusion, frailty is associated with higher levels of hs-CRP, which can indicate it is a promising frailty biomarker.

Handgrip strength in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: Accuracy as a predictor of malnutrition and prognostic value.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether handgrip strength (HGS) has diagnostic accuracy for malnutrition assessment and whether it is an independent predictor of 90-d mortality in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). METHODS: This cohort study evaluated patients with ADHF within 36 h of hospital admission. Subjective global assessment and handgrip dynamometry were performed and the patients' medical records were analyzed. Mortality was monitored by phone contact and/or medical record search after 90 d. Diagnostic accuracy was tested with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and survival was tested in a Cox model. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 161 patients with ADHF who were predominantly male (62%) and older (77%), with a mean age of 68 y (60-75 y) and an ejection fraction of 37.7% ± 16.2%. According to subjective global assessment, 60% were suspected of malnourishment or were moderately or severely malnourished and these patients had lower HGS values than the well-nourished patients (P < 0.001). The ROC curve for HGS was sufficiently accurate to assess malnutrition (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.696; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.614-0.779; P < 0.001) and had very good accuracy to predict severe malnutrition (AUC = 0.817; 95% CI, 0.711-0.923, P < 0.001). When analyzed by sex, HGS could only accurately detect malnutrition in men, although it could detect severe malnutrition in both men and women. During the 90-d follow-up period, there were 16 deaths (9.9%). An HGS cutoff value of 25.5 kg for men was considered significant for 90-d mortality (hazard ratio, 8.6; 95% CI, 1.1-70.9; P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: The results suggested that HGS is an independent indicator of malnutrition in patients with ADHF and can serve as a prognostic marker of 3-mo mortality in men.

Effect of testosterone supplementation on sarcopenic components in middle-aged and elderly men: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature of randomized controlled trials on the effect of testosterone (T) supplementation compared to the placebo group or lower dose on sarcopenic components (muscle mass, strength and physical performance) in middle-aged and elderly men. Major electronic databases were searched for articles published on or before December 2019. Studies including individuals with age ≥ 40 years and which described the effect of T supplementation on sarcopenic components were found eligible (11 studies). Outcomes were calculated as the difference in means between the experimental and control/placebo groups, and data were presented as effect size with 95% confidence limits (95%CI). The meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model. Regarding lean body mass (LBM), eight studies evaluated the effect of T supplementation on this outcome, of these, seven reported gains after the intervention period. Our meta-analysis showed a beneficial effect on LBM of 2.54 kg (95% CI, 1.27 to 3.80) (p < 0.001). In muscle strength (MS), seven included studies evaluated the handgrip strength (HGS) and just one reported gain after the intervention period, but the meta-analysis showed an increase for HGS of 1.58 kgf (95%CI, 0.17 to 3.0) (p = 0.03). The second outcome for MS was leg strength (LS), where nine studies were included and five demonstrated gains in this parameter after the intervention period. In the meta-analysis, two out of three tests showed an effect on LS: T supplementation increase the leg press strength in 91.23 N (95%CI, 0.23 to 182.22) (p = 0.05) and leg extension in 144.10 N (95%CI, 44.21 to 244.00) (p < 0.01). In physical performance, four studies evaluated this outcome, with three of them showing positive effects in this parameter. In the meta-analysis, only two studies that reported the same assessment test (Physical Performance Test) were included, but no effect of T supplementation on this parameter was found. It can be concluded that T supplementation influences sarcopenic components in middle-aged and older men, because is associated with increased in muscle mass and strength in addition to physical performance.

Safety and Results of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the dual interference between cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). METHODS: Forty-three individuals admitted for CIEDs implantation were submitted to a tetrapolar BIA with an alternating current at 800 microA and 50 kHz frequency before and after the devices' implantation. During BIA assessment, continuous telemetry was maintained between the device programmer and the CIEDs in order to look for evidence of possible electric interference in the intracavitary signal of the device. RESULTS: BIA in patients with CIEDs was safe and not associated with any device malfunction or electrical interference in the intracardiac electrogram of any electrode. After the implantation of the devices, there were significant reductions in BIA measurements of resistance, reactance, and measurements adjusted for height resistance and reactance, reflecting an increase (+ 1 kg; P<0.05) in results of total body water and extracellular water in liter and, consequently, increases in fat-free mass (FFM) and extracellular mass in kg. Because of changes in the hydration status and FFM values, without changes in weight, fat mass was significantly lower (-1.2 kg; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: BIA assessment in patients with CIEDs was safe and not associated with any device malfunction. The differences in BIA parameters might have occurred because of modifications on the patients' body composition, associated to their hydration status, and not to the CIEDs.

Validation of the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) Questionnaire.

This study aims to translate the Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviour Inventory (BAMBI) questionnaire to Brazilian Portuguese, in order to provide a tool to be used in clinic routine that encourages the evaluation of the feeding behaviour of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The final sample contained 410 participants, the mean age was 9.58 ± 1.2 and the majority of participants were male (95%). Validation of this questionnaire allows a structured evaluation for this population to be integrated not only into the clinical routine but also to help parent's interventions about the eating problems and possible consequences. This is of utmost importance, since parents are reporting the nutritional aspects more often, and studies indicate that up to 80% of ASD patients may present feeding behavior problems.

Handgrip Strength in Preoperative Elective Cardiac Surgery Patients and Association With Body Composition and Surgical Risk.

BACKGROUND: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a potential method to approximate perioperative risk in cardiothoracic surgery patients and correlates well with European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) values. This study aimed to characterize the functional capacity in preoperative cardiac surgery patients through HGS. METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated patients aged 18 years or older. The collected data included surgical risk (EuroSCORE), body mass index (BMI), body composition (electrical bioimpedance), and HGS. RESULTS: The mean age of the 278 participants was 62.1 ± 11.2 years, of whom 61.5% were male, 43.2% were overweight, and 26.3% were obese. The main types of surgery were myocardial revascularization (50%) and valve replacement (40.6%). HGS values differed between genders in all age groups (P < 0.05) and were approximately 40% lower than reference values for healthy individuals. The values differed with respect to operative risk (P = 0.003) and had a moderate positive correlation with fat-free mass (rs = 0.435, P < 0.001), a moderate negative correlation with fat mass (rs = -0.447, P < 0.001), and weak negative correlations with age (rs = -0.270, P < 0.01) and EuroSCORE (rs = -0.316, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The HGS values of preoperative elective cardiac surgery patients were below reference values for healthy individuals, were lower in male patients, were positively correlated with fat-free mass, and were negatively correlated with fat mass, age, and operative risk. Its preoperative use in these patients is an attractive complementary method of risk assessment in clinical practice.

Feeding behavior and dietary intake of male children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A case-control study.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with restrictive or repetitive behaviors and difficulties with verbal and interpersonal communication, in which some problems involving nutrition may be present. This study aims to evaluate dietary intake and identify feeding behavioral problems in male children and adolescents with ASD when compared to matched controls, as well as parents or caregivers' feelings about strategies for dealing with eating problems. A 3-day food record was performed and nutrient intake was compared to the Dietary Reference Intake according to age. To evaluate children feeding behavior and parents or caregivers' feelings, the Behavior Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFA) was used. ASD patients consumed in average more calories than controls (though with a high patient's frequency above and below calorie range references), had a limited food repertoire, high prevalence of children with inadequate calcium, sodium, iron vitamin B5, folate, and vitamin C intake. BPFA scores were also higher in the ASD group when compared to controls for all frequencies (child behavior, parents and total). These findings lead us to endorse the importance of evaluating feeding problems in the clinical routine, considering also the singular features of the patients.

Safety and results of bioelectrical impedance analysis in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices

Abstract Objective: To analyze the dual interference between cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Methods: Forty-three individuals admitted for CIEDs implantation were submitted to a tetrapolar BIA with an alternating current at 800 microA and 50 kHz frequency before and after the devices' implantation. During BIA assessment, continuous telemetry was maintained between the device programmer and the CIEDs in order to look for evidence of possible electric interference in the intracavitary signal of the device. Results: BIA in patients with CIEDs was safe and not associated with any device malfunction or electrical interference in the intracardiac electrogram of any electrode. After the implantation of the devices, there were significant reductions in BIA measurements of resistance, reactance, and measurements adjusted for height resistance and reactance, reflecting an increase (+ 1 kg; P<0.05) in results of total body water and extracellular water in liter and, consequently, increases in fat-free mass (FFM) and extracellular mass in kg. Because of changes in the hydration status and FFM values, without changes in weight, fat mass was significantly lower (-1.2 kg; P<0.05). Conclusion: BIA assessment in patients with CIEDs was safe and not associated with any device malfunction. The differences in BIA parameters might have occurred because of modifications on the patients' body composition, associated to their hydration status, and not to the CIEDs.