Horacio F González

Nutrition and immunological status in long-term follow up of children with short bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND Little is known about the long-term evolution, nutrition status, growth, and eventual deficiencies of patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) adapted to oral feeding after parenteral nutrition (PN). Because there are not absolute criteria for weaning from parenteral or enteral nutrition to oral feeding, new nutrient deficiencies may develop. Subtle nutrition deficits could induce subclinical immune deficiencies; therefore, we studied long-term growth, nutrition status, and the state of the immune system in 10 patients with SBS after weaning PN for at least 2 years. METHODS Ten children with SBS (3-12 years old; mean, 7.4 years) who had not received PN for at least 2 years were studied. Anthropometric measurements, hemoglobin values, and indicators of iron, zinc, copper, folate and vitamin B(12) nutrition status were evaluated, along with immunoglobulins, lymphocyte subpopulations, and polymorphonuclear candidicidal activity. RESULTS Weight-for-height was normal in 8 children; height-for-age was low in 5 children whose SBS was established early in life. Fat body mass was also low in 5 subjects. Four children presented macrocytosis, 2 with anemia. Low serum levels of vitamin B(12) (1 child), folates (4 children), and ferritin (2 children) were observed. Diminished candidicidal activity (4 children) was the only remarkable immunological abnormality. CONCLUSION Many biologic and growth deficiencies are frequently seen in patients with SBS, even in children adapted to enteral feeding. This finding and the existence of previously unreported decreased candidicidal activity in some patients with SBS deserve long-term clinical and biologic follow up.

A large-solid-angle X-ray Raman scattering spectrometer at ID20 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

An end-station for X-ray Raman scattering spectroscopy at beamline ID20 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility is described. This end-station is dedicated to the study of shallow core electronic excitations using non-resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. The spectrometer has 72 spherically bent analyzer crystals arranged in six modular groups of 12 analyzer crystals each for a combined maximum flexibility and large solid angle of detection. Each of the six analyzer modules houses one pixelated area detector allowing for X-ray Raman scattering based imaging and efficient separation of the desired signal from the sample and spurious scattering from the often used complicated sample environments. This new end-station provides an unprecedented instrument for X-ray Raman scattering, which is a spectroscopic tool of great interest for the study of low-energy X-ray absorption spectra in materials under in situ conditions, such as in operando batteries and fuel cells, in situ catalytic reactions, and extreme pressure and temperature conditions.

A high‐energy‐resolution resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering spectrometer at ID20 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

An end-station for resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and (resonant) X-ray emission spectroscopy at beamline ID20 of ESRF - The European Synchrotron is presented. The spectrometer hosts five crystal analysers in Rowland geometry for large solid angle collection and is mounted on a rotatable arm for scattering in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The spectrometer is optimized for high-energy-resolution applications, including partial fluorescence yield or high-energy-resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy and the study of elementary electronic excitations in solids. In addition, it can be used for non-resonant inelastic X-ray scattering measurements of valence electron excitations.

El estado nutricional de niños escolares y su relación con la tensión arterial

RESUMEN Introducción. La obesidad se asocia a un amplio espectro de enfermedades cardiovasculares y metabólicas. Objetivo. Establecer la asociación entre el estado nutricional de niños y niñas de 6 a 10 años con la tensión arterial. Población y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal analítico en niños y niñas de 6 a 10 años, escolarizados. Las variables e indicadores estudiados fueron el estado nutricional por el índice de masa corporal; la presencia de masa grasa con distribución central estimada por la circunferencia de la cintura, y la tensión arterial (tablas de talla, edad y sexo). Las diferencias entre medias se analizaron con la prueba de la t de Student. La relación entre las variables se estimó mediante el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson. Se ajustaron modelos de regresión lineal para tensión arterial sistólica y tensión arterial diastólica utilizando como variables explicativas: puntaje z del índice de masa corporal, edad, sexo y circunferencia de la cintura. Resultados. Se evaluaron 555 niños y niñas menores de 11 años. El 26,3% presentó sobrepeso y el 15,1%, obesidad. La prevalencia de hipertensión arterial fue 1,081%. Los resultados muestran una relación lineal positiva de la tensión arterial sistólica y diastólica con la edad y el perímetro de la cintura, y se observa una tendencia entre la tensión arterial sistólica y el puntaje z del índice de masa corporal (p= 0,068). Conclusión. El sobrepeso y la obesidad fueron los problemas nutricionales más frecuentes en los niños en edad escolar del municipio estudiado; existe una asociación entre la edad, la circunferencia de la cintura con la tensión arterial sistólica y diastólica y entre la tensión arterial sistólica y el puntaje z del índice de masa corporal. Palabras clave: niños, estado nutricional, obesidad, sobrepeso, prevalencia, hipertensión.

Changes in bone mineral density of adolescent mothers during the 12-month postpartum period.

OBJECTIVE Bone mineral density (BMD) loss has been described in adult women in the 12-month postpartum period. However, little is known about the precise BMD pattern in adolescent mothers. The present study aimed to evaluate BMD in Argentinean adolescent mothers followed up during the 12-month postpartum period. DESIGN Analytical, prospective clinical trial. BMD and body composition were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD were measured in the lumbar spine (L2-L4), femoral neck (FN), femur trochanter (TR), total hip (TH) and total body. Changes in BMD and BMC were analysed using ANOVA for pairwise comparisons. Other comparisons were performed with the paired-sample t test and Wilcoxon test; Pearsons correlation coefficient was used to analyse the relationship among continuous variables. SETTING La Plata, Argentina. SUBJECTS Adolescent mothers (n 35; 17 years old or less) were recruited within 15 d after delivery. Studies and follow-up were performed at 15 d and 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. RESULTS BMD and BMC losses at 3 and 6 months and recovery at 12 months fitted a quadratic curve (ANOVA) at the three sites studied (FN, TH, TR), in total-body BMD (P = 0.000) and BMC (P = 0.038). At hip sites, BMD loss occurred at 3 months (FN, P = 0.000; TR, P = 0.000; TH, P = 0.000) and 6 months (FN, P = 0.000; TR, P = 0.000; TH, P = 0.000) compared with basal values. Percentage BMD loss immediately after delivery up to 6 months was about 5 %. CONCLUSIONS Adolescents showed significant BMD and BMC losses at 6 months postpartum, with an almost total recovery at 12 months in all sites studied.

Red blood cell membrane fatty acid composition in infants fed formulas with different lipid profiles

BACKGROUND There is growing interest in the fatty acid composition of breast milk and substitute formulas used to replace or complement infant breastfeeding. AIM The aims of this study were to assess the impact of two follow-up infant formulas based on cow milk fat, vegetable oils and different docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (ARA) acid content on red blood cell membrane fatty acid composition, and determine the percent saturated fatty acid (SFA) incorporation into the membrane. STUDY DESIGN This was a double-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. Infants received treatment or control product for at least four months before the age of six months. The control group (n=25) received standard infant formula (FA) and the treatment group (n=24) received the same formula supplemented with higher DHA and ARA content (FB). The reference group (n=47) consisted of normal healthy exclusively breastfed infants. OUTCOME MEASURE Red blood cell membrane fatty acid composition was determined by capillary gas chromatography. RESULTS Ninety-six infants completed the study (FA, 25; FB, 24; reference, 47). Higher DHA content reflected higher DHA percentage in the red blood cell membrane. Breast milk and FB did not show any significant differences in DHA content. ARA percentage was higher in breastfed infants and palmitic acid percentage was higher in FB- compared with FA-fed infants. CONCLUSION DHA and palmitic acid percent distributions were higher in the red blood cell membrane of infants receiving FB. DHA percent distribution was not significantly different in FB-fed and breastfed infants. SFA percent distribution was not significantly different when comparing both formulas with breast milk.

Prenatal lead exposure and relationship with maternal exposure determinants in a public maternity hospital of La Plata, Argentina.

Prenatal lead exposure is a health hazard that may cause cognitive development impairments and other adverse effects in children. We conducted a cross sectional study analyzing cord blood lead levels (CBLL) of newborns and their relationship with maternal determinants of lead exposure. Mothers answered a questionnaire about socio-demographic, lifestyle habits and environmental characteristics. We used Mann-Whitneys test to compare CBLL geometrical means (GM) corresponding to the presence or absence of each lead exposure determinant, and Chi square test to study the relationship between CBLL and maternal lead exposure determinants. A total of 159 newborns participated in the study. CBLL GM was 2.1 μg/dL; and 25% of the participants had a measurable CBLL (LOQ=3.3 μg/dl). Although the participants had several determinants of lead exposure, we only found a significant relationship with inside household determinants, such as presence of lead piping (p=0.026), unplastered walls (p=0.046) and peeling paint (p=0.048). Our results show that CBLL GM was similar to that reported in several studies conducted around the world. However, 25% of the participants might have some degree of risk for lead poisoning.

Nutritional status of school-aged children and its relation to blood pressure

RESUMEN Introducción. La obesidad se asocia a un amplio espectro de enfermedades cardiovasculares y metabólicas. Objetivo. Establecer la asociación entre el estado nutricional de niños y niñas de 6 a 10 años con la tensión arterial. Población y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal analítico en niños y niñas de 6 a 10 años, escolarizados. Las variables e indicadores estudiados fueron el estado nutricional por el índice de masa corporal; la presencia de masa grasa con distribución central estimada por la circunferencia de la cintura, y la tensión arterial (tablas de talla, edad y sexo). Las diferencias entre medias se analizaron con la prueba de la t de Student. La relación entre las variables se estimó mediante el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson. Se ajustaron modelos de regresión lineal para tensión arterial sistólica y tensión arterial diastólica utilizando como variables explicativas: puntaje z del índice de masa corporal, edad, sexo y circunferencia de la cintura. Resultados. Se evaluaron 555 niños y niñas menores de 11 años. El 26,3% presentó sobrepeso y el 15,1%, obesidad. La prevalencia de hipertensión arterial fue 1,081%. Los resultados muestran una relación lineal positiva de la tensión arterial sistólica y diastólica con la edad y el perímetro de la cintura, y se observa una tendencia entre la tensión arterial sistólica y el puntaje z del índice de masa corporal (p= 0,068). Conclusión. El sobrepeso y la obesidad fueron los problemas nutricionales más frecuentes en los niños en edad escolar del municipio estudiado; existe una asociación entre la edad, la circunferencia de la cintura con la tensión arterial sistólica y diastólica y entre la tensión arterial sistólica y el puntaje z del índice de masa corporal. Palabras clave: niños, estado nutricional, obesidad, sobrepeso, prevalencia, hipertensión.

Variations in estimates of underweight, overweight, and obesity in pregnant women from Argentina comparing two reference charts

The prevalence of low weight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity in a sample of Argentinian pregnant women using two reference charts, the Rosso and Mardones (RM) and the Calvo Chart were compared.

Estudio cuali-cuantitativo del estado nutricional y la alimentación en niños de 1 a 3 años de familias de bajos recursos en dos grupos poblacionales con diferentes actividades productivas (Buenos Aires, Argentina), 2007-2008

The aim of this article is to describe the nutritional status and eating patterns of children aged 1-3 years from low-income families who reside in areas with different productive activities: primary production and production of goods and services. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with a qualitative and quantitative methodology, evaluating anthropometric and biochemical nutritional status, food intake, economic and demographic characteristics, dietary practices and representations. The results show that children from areas of primary production had a lower prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency. They also had a higher consumption of energy, calcium, zinc, vitamin A and protein and a greater diversity and quality in food consumption. We can conclude that the geographical context of families closer to sources of primary production favors interaction with individuals outside of the family, expanding both the informal social network and access to better quality nutritional food.RESUMEN El objetivo de este articulo es describir el estado nutricional y los patrones de alimentacion de ninos de 1 a 3 anos de familias de bajos recursos, que residen en dos areas con diferentes actividades productivas: produccion primaria y de bienes y servicios. Se realizo un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, con metodologia cuali-cuantitativa; se evaluo el estado nutricional antropometrico y bioquimico, ingesta alimentaria, caracteristicas economicas y sociodemograficas, practicas alimentarias y representaciones. Los resultados muestran que los ninos del area de produccion primaria presentaron menor prevalencia de anemia y deficiencia de hierro. Asimismo tuvieron un consumo superior de energia, calcio, zinc, vitamina A y proteinas y una mayor diversidad y calidad en el consumo de alimentos. Podemos concluir que el contexto geografico de las familias que residen cerca de fuentes de produccion primaria favoreceria la interaccion con individuos ajenos a la familia, ampliando la red social informal y el acceso a alimentos de mejor calidad nutricional.