Alteraciones histológicas hepáticas provocadas por la ingesta crónica de glutamato monosódico / Histological liver changes caused by chronic intake of monosodium glutamate

ntroducción. El glutamato es un aminoácido que está implicado en numerosas reacciones relacionadas con el metabolismo hepático, por lo que la sobreactivación de los receptores de glutamato por acción de la ingesta de glutamato monosódico (GMS) proveniente de la dieta, podría llevar a daño del tejido hepático. Este estudio se realizó con el objetivo de evaluar los cambios histológicos producidos en el hígado de ratas sometidas a la administración crónica de GMS. Metodología. Se trabajó con dos lotes de animales, uno experimental y otro control, cada uno de ellos constituido por seis ratas machos cepa Wistar de cinco semanas de edad. Al grupo experimental se le administró diariamente 0,1 g de queso de bajas calorías que contenía GMS monohidrato de 99% de pureza (grado alimentario puro), diluido en 50 µL de agua desionizada (0,3 g/100 g de peso corporal). Al grupo control se le administró la misma cantidad de sodio que el que contenía el GMS del grupo tratado, pero bajo la forma de NaCl. Al concluir el tratamiento, las ratas pertenecientes a ambos grupos se pesaron y sacrificaron, y se les extrajo el hígado para el estudio histológico. Se obtuvieron cortes histológicos que fueron coloreados con hematoxilina-eosina, PAS y coloración con tricrómico de Masson. El análisis de los cortes histológicos se llevó a cabo por observación directa en microscopio óptico con objetivo de 40x. Resultados. Se observó en general, conservación y apariencia normal de las características histológicas de los acinos hepáticos en el grupo control, en tanto que el hígado de las ratas tratadas con GMS presentó diferentes grados de degeneración hidrópica, cantidades variables de cuerpos hialinos eosinófilos, infiltración inflamatoria de células mononucleares y necrosis focal, principalmente en la zona 1 del acino hepático. Conclusión. Los resultados encontrados permiten aportar evidencias en torno a las alteraciones histopatológicas que la ingesta crónica de GMS provoca sobre el tejido hepático. Se recomienda alertar a la población para reducir la ingesta de alimentos que poseen GMS como saborizante.

Introduction. Glutamate is an amino acid that is involved in numerous reactions related to liver metabolism, so the overactivation of glutamate receptors due to the ingestion of monosodium glutamate (MSG) from the diet could lead to liver tissue damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological changes produced in the liver of rats subjected to chronic administration of MSG. Methodology. Two sets of animals were used, an experimental and a control group, each consisting of six five-week-old Wistar male rats. The experimental group was administered 0.1 g of low-calorie cheese containing 99% purity MSG monohydrate (pure food grade) diluted in 50 µL of deionized water (0.3 g/100 g of weight) daily. The control group was administered the same amount of sodium as that contained in the MSG of the treated group, but in the form of NaCl. At the end of the treatment, the rats belonging to both groups were weighed and sacrificed, and their liver was removed for histological analysis. Histological sections were obtained and stained with hematoxylineosin, PAS and Masson's trichrome. The analysis of the histological sections was carried out by direct observation with an optical microscope and a 40x objective. Results. In general, conservation and normal appearance of the histological characteristics of the liver acini were observed in the control group, while the liver of the rats treated with MSG presented different degrees of hydropic degeneration, variable amounts of eosinophilic hyaline bodies, inflammatory infiltration of mononuclear cells and focal necrosis, that affected mainly zone 1 of the liver acinus. Conclusion. The results allow us to provide evidence about the histopathological alterations that the chronic intake of MSG causes on the liver tissue. It is recommended to alert the population to reduce the intake of foods that have GMS for flavoring.

Conhecimento e implementação de medidas de controle ambiental no manejo da asma e da rinite alérgica / Knowledge and implementation of environmental control measures in the management of asthma and allergic rhinitis

Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento de pais ou responsáveis por pacientes sobre medidas de controle ambiental no manejo da asma e da rinite alérgica, bem como a implementação destas medidas. Métodos: Estudo transversal, descritivo, que incluiu pacientes entre 5 e 18 anos, com asma e/ou rinite alérgica, sensibilizados a alérgenos inalatórios domésticos. Os entrevistados responderam questionário sobre sensibilização alérgica, medidas de controle ambiental e exposição ao tabagismo passivo. Resultados: Foram incluídos 122 pais ou responsáveis. Embora 97% acreditassem que seu filho tinha uma doença alérgica, apenas 43% conseguiam relacionar os sintomas da doença à presença de alérgenos. O percentual de pais capaz de referir os alérgenos para os quais seus filhos estavam sensibilizados foi de 88% para ácaros, 56% para fungos, 41% para baratas e gatos, e 40% para cães. Medidas para controle de ácaros foram adotadas por 83% das famílias, com exceção das capas antiácaros, utilizadas por 39%. Entre donos de cães e gatos, 57% não permitiam que seus animais entrassem na casa; 21% dedetizavam a casa contra baratas. Entre os familiares tabagistas, 14% pararam de fumar. Conclusões: A maioria dos entrevistados reconheceu que seu filho tinha uma doença alérgica, mas grande parte não relacionou os sintomas da doença à exposição a alérgenos. Grande percentagem dos entrevistados cujos filhos eram sensibilizados a fungos, baratas, gatos e cães não soube referir este resultado. Os entrevistados aplicavam medidas gerais para controle de alérgenos, mas a maioria não implementava algumas medidas com benefício comprovado para uma estratégia abrangente de controle ambiental.

Objective: To assess the knowledge of patients' caregivers on environmental control measures in the management of asthma and allergic rhinitis, as well as their adherence to such measures. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study included patients aged between 5 and 18 years with a diagnosis of asthma and/ or allergic rhinitis and sensitivity to indoor inhaled allergens. Caregivers answered a questionnaire on allergen sensitization, environmental control measures, and exposure to secondhand smoke. Results: A total of 122 parents/guardians were recruited. Even though 97% of the caregivers believed that their children had an allergic disease, only 43% were able to relate disease symptoms with the presence of allergens. The percentage of caregivers who were able to list the allergens to which their child was sensitive resulted in 88% of correct answers for house dust mites, 56% for fungi, 41% for cockroaches and cats, and 40% for dogs. Moreover, 83% of the families adopted general house dust mite control measures, but only 39% used allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers. Among the families who had pets, 57% kept the pets outdoors; chemical control of cockroaches was adopted by 21% of the families. Among the caregivers who smoked, only 14% quit the habit. Conclusions: Even though the majority of caregivers were aware of the allergic status of their child, most of them did not understand the relationship between allergic disease symptoms and exposure to allergens. Furthermore, a large percentage of caregivers failed to recognize their children's sensitization to fungi, cockroaches, cats, and dogs. Caregivers applied general allergen control measures in their homes, but the majority did not implement some specific measures with proven benefit as part of a broad environmental control strategy.

Beneficios de incorporar un simbiótico a la dieta de adultos mayores con infecciones recurrentes / Benefits of adding symbiotic food to the diet of elderly people with recurrent infections

El propósito de este trabajo fue estudiar la evolución clínica de un grupo de adultos mayores, proclives a padecer infecciones bacterianas principalmente de las vías respiratorias, al adicionar a su dieta un alimento simbiótico con Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophillus y fructanos y, además, correlacionar los resultados obtenidos con modificaciones en los parámetros inmunológicos medidos. Se incluyeron 90 pacientes adultos mayores de 65 años, todos con antecedentes de infecciones bacterianas recurrentes de las vías respiratorias. Cada individuo suplementó su dieta habitual con una dosis diaria del simbiótico SanCor Bio con fructanos. La administración se realizó durante los meses de época invernal. Se realizó un seguimiento clínico, se hizo recuento de Lactobacillus spp en materia fecal, se cuantificaron subpoblaciones linfocitarias CD4 y CD8 y se evaluó la activación de monocitos en sangre periférica. Se observó disminución de los cuadros virales (gripales) y ausencia de infecciones bacterianas de vías respiratorias; además, aumentó el número de Lactobacillus spp en materia fecal y se estimuló la respuesta inmune principalmente inespecífica. Esto sugiere que dicho simbiótico puede ser utilizado como terapia preventiva en grupos vulnerables a infecciones y con depleciones del sistema inmunológico.

The aim of this work was to study the clinical evolution of a group of elderly people who had a tendency to suffer from bacterial infections, mainly of the respiratory tract, after having added food with Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus and fructans to their diet, and then to correlate the results obtained with alterations in immunological parameters previously set. Ninety patients who were older than 65 and had a background of recurrent bacterial infections in their respiratory tract were included in this study. Their daily diet was supplemented with a dose of Sancor Bio during winter months in 2007. A clinical analysis was carried out, Lactobacillus spp in faeces were counted, CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes were quantified and the activation of monocytes in peripheral blood was evaluated. In conclusion, the administration of this symbiotic food proved to be biochemical and clinically effective, showing to be a good colony of the intestinal mucose, promoting the principally unspecific immune response, everything correlated with clinical information. All this suggests that this food can be used asa preventive therapy in groups of people who are vulnerable to infections and who have immunological system depletions.