Fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocytes in term infants fed human milk and formulae with and without docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids from egg yolk lecithin.

Human milk contains small but nutritionally significant amounts of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP), such as arachidonic (AA, 20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, 22:6n-3) acids, which are not present in most infant formulae. In the present study, the fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocytes was determined at birth and again at 7 days, 1 and 3 months in 49 healthy full-term infants (37-42 week's gestation). One group of infants was fed exclusively with human milk (n=16) and the others were randomly assigned to a standard term formula (F) (n=15) or the same formula with egg yolk lecithin providing DHA (0.15%) and AA (0.30%) (LCP-F) (n=18). Plasma and erythrocyte LCP values of the three dietary groups did not differ at 7 days of age, but the contents of DHA and AA in plasma and erythrocytes at 1 and 3 months were significantly lower (P<0.05) in infants fed non supplemented formula than in infants fed breast milk and supplemented formula. There were no differences in plasma or erythrocyte AA or DHA concentrations between the group fed breast milk and the group fed supplemented formula during the period studied.

[Materno-fetal nutritional status related to vitamin E]. / Estado nutricional materno-fetal de vitamina E.

There are few papers about the placental transfer of vitamin E in human beings. It is known that umbilical cord vitamin E levels are significantly lower than in mother's plasma. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the vitamin E nutritional state between newborn infants and their mothers. The plasma levels of vitamin E and lipids at birth have been measured by using spectrophotometric methods. The statistical analysis (Student's "t" test for paired data) shows that the plasma levels of vitamin E in the newborn infants are significantly lower than that their mother's, but the nutritional indices (vitamin E/phospholipids and vitamin E/total lipids) show no statistical differences. There is a close correlation between umbilical cord vitamin E concentration and vitamin E levels in the mother's plasma. We have demonstrated that the vitamin E nutritional state of term newborn infants is equivalent to that of their mothers. On the other hand, nutritional indices such as vitamin E/phospholipids and vitamin E/total lipids, are better than the single vitamin E levels to evaluate the nutritional state of tocopherol.

[Improving home auto-control in diabetic children: reducing atherogenic risk]. / Optimización del autocontrol domiciliario en niños diabéticos: disminución del riesgo aterogénico.

UNLABELLED: Insulin-dependent Diabetes (IDDM) is a major endocrine abnormality in children and the greatest morbi-mortality problems for diabetic patients are those related to cardiovascular complications (macro-microangiopaties), where kept hyperlipidemia and hyperglucemia play a fundamental patogenic role. The programs for optimization of home autocontrol have reduced frequent metabolic derangements. The aim of this study was to analyze the metabolic control state and its relationships with plasma lipids and atherogenic ratios in diabetic patients that were submitted to a program for optimization of home autocontrol of this illness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood samples were taken fom 49 IDDM, aged 10.53 +/- 0.51 (+/- SEM) years old, with a mean evolution period of 4.34 +/- 0.38 years, at the begining of the program (Stage I) and 6 months later (Stage II). Biochemical Analysis: Total Cholesterol (TC), cholesterol joined to high density lipoprotein (HDLc), Triglycerides (TG) and Phospholipids (Ph) were measured by microspectrphotometric methods. Cholesterol joined to very low and low density lipoproteins (VLDLc and LDLc, respectively) were calculated by Friedwald's formula. Apoproteins A and B (Apo A and Apo B) were measured using Mancini's method, Glycemia levels (Gly) by peroxidase's method, Glycosilated Serum Protein (GSP) by colormetric's method and Glycosilated haemoglobine (HbA1c) by chromatographic separation using cationic interchange microcolumns. RESULTS: 65% of the patients showed a significant decrease in plasma levels of Gly, GSP and HbA1c percentage between Stages I and II (Favourable Metabolic Control).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Estimation of the degree of metabolism-energy maturity in the premature newborn infant: plasma lipid profile and lipid transport systems]. / Estimación del grado de madurez metabolico-energética del recién nacido prematuro: perfil de lípidos del plasma y sistemas de transporte de lípidos.

The newborn preterm infant loses the opportunity to store energy as triacylglycerides form in the adipose tissue during the last quarter of gestation, so they have a real threat to maintain with exogenous supports only the high energy request, and they have been exposed to an elevated risk for central nervous system damage. Small reserves of substrates and poor metabolic adaptation may make the premature infant more vulnerable to the normal stresses of birth and the early postnatal period. We have studied the changes in plasma lipids profile and plasma lipoprotein cholesterol distribution in cord blood from 109 term newborn infants and 16 newborn infants have got higher plasma lipid concentrations than term newborn infants (total cholesterol: 76.81 +/- 4.67 mg/dl (mean +/- SEM) vs 66.72 +/- 1.54 mg/dl, p less than 0.02; Phospholipids: 136.00 +/- 5.24 mg/dl vs 113.94 +/- 2.86 mg/dl, p less than 0.005) and a different cholesterol lipoprotein distribution compared to normal full-term infants, standing out in premature babies, that cholesterol is essentially joint with low density lipoproteins (LDLc: 42.40 +/- 3.62 mg/dl vs 28.76 +/- 1.16 mg/dl, p less than 0.01). These results could be the expression of a metabolic-enzymatic fetal mechanism to keep up a good cholesterol and phospholipids biodisponibility to supply the structural tissues needs in this fetal stages of rapid growth and development.

[Effects of intra-partum stress on lipid metabolism. Adaptation of plasma lipid transport systems in neonates]. / Influencias del estrés intraparto en el metabolismo de los lípidos. Adaptación de los sistemas de transporte de lípidos plasmáticos en el recién nacido.

UNLABELLED: Intrapartum asphyxia modifies lipoprotein cholesterol distribution with possible repercussions related to membrane structures and its metabolic functions. We have studied plasma lipid profile and plasma lipoproteins cholesterol distribution in cord blood from 115 newborn infants and 72 pregnant women at delivery. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: newborn infants with perinatal asphyxia (n, 48; pHua less than 7.20) have a higher cord blood triglyceridemia and lower plasma HDL-cholesterol, associated to high significant concentrations of atherogenic ratios (CT/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc) than normal newborn infants (n, 67; pHua = 7.20) [TG, 54.81 +/- 2.96 mg/dl vs 45.74 +/- 2.10 mg/dl (p less than 0.005); CT/HDLc, 24.00 +/- 1.30 mg/dl vs 29.62 +/- 1.12 mg/dl (p less than 0.05); LDLc/HDLc, 1.38 +/- 0.10 vs 1.07 +/- 0.06 (p less than 0.01)]. The highest triglycemia and atherogenic ratios in the acidotic newborn infants reveal deep changes in "esterified cholesterol/binding proteins" system, whereon "Apo A1-LCAT-Apo D" molecular complex binding HDL participate. More studies must be done to understand well this phenomenology. Furthermore, at delivery, pregnant women, that their newborn infants suffer an intrapartum hypoxia, had lower lipidemia than those who had newborn infants with intrapartum physiological stress.

[Interrelation of bilirubin and free fatty acids in newborn infants with pathologic conditions]. / Interrelaciones entre bilirrubina y ácidos grasos libres en recién nacidos patológicos.

Authors analyzed total and free bilirubin concentrations (TB and FB) and free fatty acid levels (FFA) (by enzymatic methods) in the serum (S) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 26 sick newborn infants. Relationship between these three biochemical parameters in both S and CSF and also between these latter 15 studies FFA serum concentration of neonates (n: 9) with TB less than 2 mg/dl - 70.15 (15.63) (+/- SEM) mg/l - was not statistically different from those calculated in CSF - 67.45 (13.80) mg/l - (p: NS): while newborn infants (n: 17) with TB greater than 2 mg/dl had FFA serum levels - 152.75 (22.84) less than 0.002). There was a positive correlation between TB and FFA in S (n: 26, r: 0.52, p less than 0.01). There was no correlation of the FFA levels between S and CSF (n: 26, r: -0.02, p: NS). In CSF, FFA concentrations were correlated with albumin levels (n: 26, r: 0.67, p less than 0.005) and white cell recound (n: 26, r: 0.53, p less than 0.01). Authors discuss results and conclude that: a) bilirubin interferes with FFA metabolism, probably as the result of a toxic effect on extraneuronal tissue; b) an increase of FFA serum concentrations does not cause them to rise in the CSF by transport across blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier; and c) although, the source of the FFA in CSF is varied (from serum or loss of myelin, for instance, as a consequence of an asphyxial insult, or devitalized white cells) their increased concentrations are correlated with enhanced albumin levels and white cell recounts.

[Effect of perinatal hypoxia on blood triglycerides and total cholesterol including high density lipoproteins]. / Efecto de la hipoxia perinatal sobre la trigliceridemia y el colesterol unido a lipoproteínas de alta densidad.

Cholesterol, low/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc, HDLc), triglycerides and phospholipids plasma concentrations were measured in arterial (UA) and venous (UV) cord blood samples collected at birth in 22 healthy newborn infants (G-I) in 24 intrapartum stressed newborn infants (G-II) and in plasma of their 46 mothers at delivery. Chol was measured by ALLAIN'S, HDLcUA by LOPES-VIRELLA'S (and LDLc by FRIEDEWALD'S formula), TG by HOPPE'S and Ph by TAKAYAMA'S enzymatic methods. TGUA concentrations were higher (p less than 0.01) and HDLc ones lower (p less than 0.005) in G-II than in G-I group. These phenomena were found to be a sign of fetal stress, since there was a significant correlation between TGUA and pHUA (r, -0.42; p less than 0.005) and HDLc and pHUA (r, 0.41; p less than 0.0025). Furthermore, there was a correlation between TGUA HDLUA (r, 0.46; p less than 0.0025). Intrapartum hypoxia has a profound effect on lipid stores of the fetus during delivery. Data suggest that high levels of triglycerides in plasma might fall lecitin cholesterol acid transferase activity and this way to explain lower HDLc concentrations of newborn infants with intrapartum acidosis.

[Serum vitamin E in well-nourished and malnourished infants]. / Vitamina E sérica en lactantes eutróficos y malnutridos.

Vitamin E (tocopherol) concentrations in blood plasma were determined in 48 infants and correlated with their nutritional status. Infants were divided into two groups as following: group I (n : 12) estimated well-nourished, and group II (n : 36) appreciated undernourished. Clinical nutritional status was evaluated according to their weight, height and skinfold thickness of triceps percentiles. Plasma vitamin E levels were analysed by a modification of the spectrophotometric micro-technique of Fabiank et al. (using 0.2 ml of plasma). There was difference in serum tocopherol levels between two groups: 1.21 (0.21) mg/dl: mean (+/- SEM) in group I in front of 1.84 (0.18) mg/dl in group II (0.10 greater than p greater than 0.05). On the other hand, vitamin E concentrations were correlated with the skinfold thickness of triceps percentiles by a logarithm curve: y = 2.25-0.31 1n X (r: 0.35, p less than 0.02). Probably, serum vitamin E levels do not reflect the tissue store status in undernourished infants without malabsorption.

[Branched-chain amino acids: indicators of fetal nutritional status]. / Aminoácidos de cadena ramificada: "indicadores del estado nutritivo fetal".

Both nutritive state for Rohrer's ratio (Rr) and serum aminoacids (aa) (Chromatospek J-180) of the umbilical cord have been analyzed and correlated in two groups of the newborns: G-I (n: 12) preterm infants with an adequated weight for their gestational age (Re greater than 10 percentile) and G-II (n: 8) small for-date term infants (Rr less than 10 p). Ratios of the serum aa (total aa, no essential aa, NE/E, Ala/Thr, Whitehead's ratio (Wr), Ala/Leu, Ala/BCA, Gly/Val, Ser + Gly + Ala/BCA) were more elevated in G-II than those one of the G-I. We have shown a single correlation between Wr and Rr (r. much greater than 0.48, p less than 0.025) in G-I and between BCA Rr (r. much greater than 0.88, p less than 0.0025) in G-II; furthermore, we have proved a good correlation between the week of gestation and sum of BCA (r. much greater than 0.53, p less than 0.05) in the former that have not been observed among the latter which had BCA more increased than G-I (p less than 0.050). Some speculations about the role that could play the BCA in the energetic metabolism of the small-for-date infants are made; on the other hand, the BCA can give help to distinguish between premature or pseudopremature among infants weighing 2.500 g or less a birth.

[Tryptophan metabolism in children with epilepsy]. / Estudio del metabolismo del triptófano en niños afectos de epilepsia.

Authors measured urinary excretion of tryptophan derivatives (kynurenine way) in 13 healthy and 15 epileptic children, modifying the technique qualitatively and quantitatively. In both groups, they measure tryptophan metabolites before and after L-tryptophan overload, the dosage being 100/mg/kg of body weight. They found higher tryptophan derivative values in the group suffering a epilepsy.

[Cancer and adolescence]. / Cáncer y adolescencia.

Since 1977, 64 children were diagnosed with cancer in the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Granada. Incidence and mortality rates from specific tumor types are discussed. Most common malignant neoplasms of children are: 1. Leukemia (36.3%). 2. Tumors of central nervous system (10.7%). 3. Lymphoma, and tumors of sympathetic nervous system (19.9%). 4. Soft tissue (6.1%). 5. Kidney (7.6%). 6. Bone (4.6%). Most of the male excess (1.9:1, p less than 0.01) is accounted for by acute lymphocytic leukemia, and central nervous system tumors. It is evident that about one-half of all children diagnosed currently with a malignant disease will survive for a long period. Psychosocial aspects of cancer in the young are commented. This paper examines how patients, family members and medical staff feel and behave in response to occurrence of cancer in adolescent.

[Epidemiologic aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in the Province of Granada]. / Aspectos epidemiológicos de la leishmaniosis visceral en la provincia de Granada.

Authors make a retrospective study in 18 children with kala-azar, considering in every case the following epidemiological aspects: age, sex, situation, time of the year and lethality. They have also studied the vector of this disease in some points in Granada and after an adequate study concluded that the main vector of the kala-azar in the investigated zone is "Phlebotomus perniciosus". They have detected as well a new species in Spain, "Plebotomus longicuspis", with a slight epidemiological interest. Finally both investigations are compared finding two zones in Granada (the town and the coast) where most of the cases of kala-azar, are agglutinated and where main species of the vectors were found.