Trends and determinants of change in compliance to dietary guidelines in a Swiss community-dwelling sample.

Adherence to dietary guidelines is associated with significantly better health outcomes. Studies across the world shows that compliance with the guidelines was low, but data in Switzerland are lacking. Hence, we aimed to assess the 5-year trends in dietary compliance regarding food guidelines in Switzerland in a prospective, population-based observational study. Data from 2882 participants (1591 women, 35-75 years), from the first (2009-2012) and second (2014-2017) follow-up. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Compliance with the guidelines of the Swiss society of nutrition was assessed at baseline and 5.5 years afterwards. Prevalence rates for compliance were calculated using the exact Poisson method. Factors associated with changes in compliance (never, shifter or maintainer) were assessed by multinomial logistic regression using "Never compliers" as reference. Overall, improvements in compliance to fruits (42.4% to 45.1%) vegetables (6.9% to 8.6%) and fish (66.6% to 60.5%) were found, while compliance to meat decreased (61.1% to 58.5%). The prevalence of participants complying with at least three dietary recommendations did not change (24.1% to 25.2%). During follow-up, only 11.6% of participants maintained compliance to at least three dietary recommendations, and 62.4% never managed to comply. Female gender and older age were associated with maintaining compliance during the two study periods. In conclusion, compliance with dietary guidelines is a dynamic status, and only a small fraction of the population achieves sustained compliance with at least three guidelines. Almost two thirds of the population never achieve compliance with three guidelines.

Cytogenomic Evaluation of Subjects with Syndromic and Nonsyndromic Conotruncal Heart Defects.

Despite considerable advances in the detection of genomic abnormalities in congenital heart disease (CHD), the etiology of CHD remains largely unknown. CHD is the most common birth defect and is a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality, and conotruncal defects constitute 20% of all CHD cases. We used array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) to retrospectively study 60 subjects with conotruncal defects and identify genomic imbalances. The DNA copy number variations (CNVs) detected were matched with data from genomic databases, and their clinical significance was evaluated. We found that 38.3% (23/60) of CHD cases possessed genomic imbalances. In 8.3% (5/60) of these cases, the imbalances were causal or potentially causal CNVs; in 8.3% (5/60), unclassified CNVs were identified; and in 21.6% (13/60), common variants were detected. Although the interpretation of the results must be refined and there is not yet a consensus regarding the types of CHD cases in which array-CGH should be used as a first-line test, the identification of these CNVs can assist in the evaluation and management of CHD. The results of such studies emphasize the growing importance of the use of genome-wide assays in subjects with CHD to increase the number of genomic data sets associated with this condition.

Nutritional assessment of children and teenager with down syndrome and congenital cardiopathy / Evaluación nutricional de niños y adolescentes con síndrome de down y cardiopatía congénita

The aim of this study was to analyze the nutritional status ofpatients with Down Syndrome (DS) and congenital heart defect (CHD). A transversal study which assessed the nutritional profile of DS and CHD patients between 0 and 18 years of age was done. Weight and stature, both at birth and current were considered. A total of 98 patients, 56% female were analyzed. Prevalence of low weight, overweight and low stature at the current anthropo-metric data (CAD) was 30%, 22% and 17%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between malnutrition at birth and the CAD (p<0.01). The current weight/age (WIA) ratio showed significant increase as compared to birth WIA (p=<0.05). In addition, there was also stature recovery based on statureIage (SIA) ratio (p<0,001). In conclusion, at birth, these patients present stature and weight deficit but as age advances there is a stature improvement; however it is not properly accompanied by the weight, since there is a tendency towards overweight in puberty.

El objetivo del esto estudio fue analizar el perfil nutricional de las pacientes con síndrome de Down (SD) y cardiopatía congênita (CC). Se trata de un estudio transversal de avaluación del estado nutricional en 98 pacientes con SD y CC, 56% mujeres entre 0 y 18 anos de edad. La prevalencia de bajo peso, sobrepeso y baja estatura fue de 30%, 22% y 17%, respectivamente. Hubo diferencia entre la desnutrición al nacer y la que se refiere a los actuales datos antropométricos (p = 0,01). Una asociación mostró un incremento significativo en el peso (p = 0,049) y hubo recuperación del estatura (p< 0,001). En conclusión, el nacimiento hay déficit de estatura y peso. Al aumentar la edad hay una mejoría en la estatura, pero no así en el peso. Se observó una predisposición al sobrepeso en estos pacientes.