[Gastric emptying in children. I. Influence of the temperature of a hydration solution for oral use]. / Esvaziamento gástrico em crianças. I. Influência da temperatura de uma solução hidratante de uso oral.

The effect of temperature of solutions on gastric emptying was studied in sixteen children (8 infants and 8 newborns). At the time of the study all of them were being fed by nasogastric tube. Each baby had measured its gastric emptying for two different temperature solutions, approximately 27 degrees C and 4 degrees C, room and cold temperature. The gastric retention was calculated by knowing the injected volume, of about 20 ml per kilo of weight, the aspirated volume after 10 minutes and the obtained concentration of phenol red used as marker. The results showed a significant larger gastric retention for low temperature one. Possibly, low temperature solutions decrease the gastric peristalsis in accordance with hypothesis that low temperature solutions may inhibit vomiting.

[Zinc in protein-calorie malnutrition. I. Concentration in serum of children with the clinical types, kwashiorkor and marasmic kwashiorkor]. / Zinco na desnutrição protéico-calórica. I. Concentração no soro de crianças com os tipos clínicos kwashiorkor e kwashiorkor-marasmático.

Zinc concentration was measured in the serum of 10 children with protein-energy malnutrition (eight with clinical signs of kwashiorkor, and two with marasmic-kwashiorkor) on the first, 15th and 30th day after admission. The zinc levels were significantly lower for these patients on the first day than those observed for children with good nutritional status. No significant increase in zinc concentration occurred in the serum of these patients during initial period of recovery of nutritional status. The possibility of zinc supplementation for malnourished children during recovery is discussed.

[Saliva secretion, concentration and secretion of human salivary amylase in the 1st year of life]. / Secreção de saliva, contração e secreção da amilase salivar humana no primeiro ano de vida.

This work show the levels of the salivary secretion volume in 5 min., the salivary amylase concentration in U/ml and the salivary amylase secretion in U/kg/5 min. in 10 children at 4, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 days of life and at 9 and 12 months. All the children had the same nourishment orientation and showed a good weight and neuromotor development during the period of the observation. The datas were compared with datas of 18 children with 20-36 months of age and 18 healthy young man. It was standardized the technic and the time-table to collect the salivary secretion. It was observed that the salivary secretion is higher between 90 and 180 days of age preceding theeth eruption. At 12 months of life the levels of the amylase salivary concentration reach the levels of infants and adults. The salivary amylase secretion is high after the 60 days of life. Probably this is responsible by the good starch tolerance at this time.