Alberto Pradilla

Impact of Helicobacter pylori infection on growth of children: A prospective cohort study

Objective The aim of this study was to prospectively follow a cohort of children without Helicobacter pylori infection and to compare growth velocity in the children who become infected during follow-up with that of children who remained infection-free. Methods Three hundred forty-seven children in general good health, aged 12 to 60 months, who tested negative for H. pylori by the 13C-urea breath test, from three daycare centers in a lower-middle class borough of Cali, Colombia, were monitored for 2.5 years. Anthropometric measurements were performed every 2 months and breath tests every 4 months. Linear mixed models were used to analyze growth velocity in relation to onset of H. pylori infection. Results One hundred five (30.3%) children who were uninfected at the start of the study became infected during follow-up. Growth velocity in infected children was reduced by 0.042 ± 0.014 cm/mo (P = 0.003) (approximately 0.5 cm/yr) after adjusting for age. The rate of deceleration in growth velocity was relatively constant over time. Conclusions Among these lower-middle class children aged 12 to 60 months from a population with high prevalence of H. pylori infection, a new and sustained infection was followed by significant growth retardation.

Falta de relación entre el nivel de actividad física con marcadores de riesgo cardiovascular y síndrome metabólico en hombres aparentemente sanos

BACKGROUND The World Health Report 2002 estimated that sedentary is one of the main 10 causes of morbidity and mortality and the proportion of people whose health is at risk due to sedentary life is approximately 60%. OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship of the physical activity level with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in 61 healthy men. METHODS The short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) recommended by the World Health Organization was used as a valid measure to estimate two categories of physical activity, such as: low level (insufficient and sedentary) and vigorous level (moderate and very active). Cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome were defined according to criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program of the United States and International Diabetes Federation respectively. Serum levels of C-reactive protein and ferritin were also measured, and insulin sensitivity was estimated by the Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS Mean age of study population was 47.1 ± 6.9 years. 17 participants (28%) had metabolic syndrome. There were no differences between the categories of low and vigorous level physical activity, or relationship with total physical activity (MET × week). No association was seen between low levels of physical activity and metabolic syndrome criteria. CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of physical inactivity found in study participants using the IPAQ questionnaire was not associated to cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome.

Percentile values for physical condition for Cali, Colombian children and adolescents

INTRODUCTION Baseline data for physical condition are not available for adolescents in Cali, Colombia. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop representative age- and sex- specific percentile baseline data for physical condition (mL.kg-1.min-¹) for urban adolescents aged 10-16 years. Materials and methods. The sample (n=1,773) consisted of 865 males and 908 females from the cross-sectional population survey, the IFRECNTEC Study (Identification of Risk Factors of Non-Transmissible Adult Chronic Diseases in School-age Populations in the City of de Cali), for whom the data for physical condition were recorded. Smoothed age- and sex- specific 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th centile values where derived using least mean squares regression analysis. RESULTS Percentile-based reference data for physical condition were presented for adolescent Colombian boys and girls for the first time. In males, the p50 of the PWC-170 (VO2max) ranged 49-43, and in females 52-40. A decreasing trend (~10%) in the p50 was seen in both sexes over 16 years of age. In general, more heterogeneity was present among males than females in terms of physical aptitude through VO2max test. CONCLUSION The results established a baseline level of physical condition in adolescents that can be interpreted as an indicator of future cardiovascular health. They also recommend that the physical condition of Colombian adolescents must be improved to protect against cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Situación nutricional de la gestante y su recién nacido en Cali, 2008

Objetivo Evaluar el estado nutricional de gestantes antes de la concepcion y su evolucion entre consultas prenatales por medio del indice de masa corporal, ganancia de peso y prevalencia de anemia. Metodologia Estudio transversal en una muestra de historias clinicas de gestantes de bajo riesgo con parto entre Junio de 2007 a Junio de 2008. Se evaluo la presencia de anemia, el estado nutricional pre gestacional y el aumento de peso. En el recien nacido se valoro peso y talla al nacer. La significancia estadistica se determino con la prueba Chi cuadrado. Resultados La talla promedio de la embarazada fue de 1,58 metros (m), Indice de Masa Corporal (IMC) pregestacional promedio de 22,6. Al inicio del embarazo 21,7 % presenta bajo peso, 55,2 % presenta IMC normal y un 22,9 % exceso. Se encontro asociacion significativa entre el estado nutricional al inicio y fin del embarazo. La proporcion de anemicas aumenta de 8,3 % a 22,7 % independientes del IMC. Los hijos de las madres con bajo peso tuvieron menor peso promedio. Discusion Aunque todas las gestantes del estudio presentaron un numero de controles adecuados, la mayoria termino el embarazo sin modificaciones en su estado nutricional aun cuando se clasifican en bajo peso o exceso de peso. El peso pre gestacional se mostro como un buen indicador del estado nutricional final de la gestante, lo cual conduce a la importancia de fortalecer la promocion de un estilo de vida saludable, para el control de peso antes y despues del embarazo.

Association of Self‐Reported Familial History of Cardiometabolic Disease with Metabolic Syndrome in Apparently Healthy Urban Colombian Men

Evidence about the relationship between familial history (FH) of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Latin American populations is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of FH of CMD and of dyslipidemia and obesity with MetS in healthy men.

Genetic manipulation of plant protein quality and its value in human nutrition.

The “green revolution” is causing an increase in production of major cereal crops in the developing tropics and in some cases may contribute to a reduction in quality of the consumer’s diet due to better availability of cereal grains and fewer legumes and other crops. This may be aggravated as well by changes in the relative prices of alternative food sources as a result of increased cereal production and diversion of land and resources from the more protein-rich legume species. A new “quality revolution” is the next frontier for improving cereal grain crops.