ABSTRACT
A eletroforese de proteínas permite qualificar e quantificar as proteínas séricas, auxiliando no diagnóstico e controle das alterações patológicas. Este trabalho objetiva estudar o perfil eletroforético das proteínas séricas das crianças atendidas no Hospitalde Pediatria (HOSPED/UFRN) e auxiliar no diagnóstico de patologias decorrentes de insuficiência/disfunção protéica. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 98 crianças atendidas no HOSPED, na faixa etária compreendida de 1 dia a 15 anos, e encaminhadas aoLaboratório de Bioquímica Clínica do DACT/CCS, onde se realizou a eletroforese de proteína em suporte de acetato de celulose, posteriormente quantificadas por Densitometria. As amostras avaliadas apresentaram um perfil eletroforético bem definido quanto à separaçãodas frações protéicas albumina, alfa 1, alfa 2, beta e gama globulina. Observou-se que 51 pacientes (52,04%) enquadaramse no Grupo I - processo inflamatório agudo, 32 pacientes (32,66%) no Grupo II - processo crônico e 11 pacientes do Grupo III (11,22%)apresentaram valores normais no padrão eletroforético analisado. Em outros 4 pacientes, observou-se situações isoladas com níveis diminuídos das frações alfa 1 e alfa 2 globulinas, da fração albumínica, ou aumento da fração beta. Estes resultados mostram um perfil preliminar das principais patologias que acometem a população estudada, sendo estes relevantes para monitoramento, auxílio e confirmação do diagnóstico das mesmas.
The electrophoresis of proteins allows to qualify and quantify seric proteins, helping out the diagnosis and control of pathologic alterations. This work aims to study the electrophoretic profile of serum proteins in children assisted at the Pediatric Hospital (HOSPED/UFRN) and aid in the diagnosis of pathologies origined by proteic insufficiency or disfuncion. It had been collected blood samples from children assisted at HOSPED, within the age range of 0 and 15 years of age, and guided to the Laboratory of Clinical Bioquemistry of DACT/CCS, where the electrophoresis of proteins took place in celulosis acetate support, later quantified by Desintometry.The samples evaluated showed an electrophoretic profile well defined regarding the separation of proteic fractions albumin, alfa 1, alfa 2, beta and gama globulins. Among 98 analysed cases, 51 patients (52.04%) were included in G-I (acute inflamatory process), 32 patients (32.66%) in G-II (cronic process) and 11 patients included in G-III (11.22%) showed normal values in the electrophoretic pattern analysed. In other 4 patients, it was observed isolated situations with low levels of alfa 1 and alfa 2 globulins, albumin fraction, or increasing of beta fraction. These results show a preliminary profile of the main pathologies which assalt the studied population, these are relevant to the follow up and confirmation of the diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Acute-Phase Proteins , Blood Chemical Analysis , Blood Protein Electrophoresis , Blood Proteins , Malaria , Plasmodium falciparumABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mothers knowledge about oral rehydration therapy and to determine the concentration of sodium in sugar salt solutions prepared by the interviewed mothers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of low-income families from the suburbs of Natal, a city in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. One hundred and thirty six households with children younger than 5 years were visited. The information on when to use the solution, how to administrate it and how to prepare it was provided by the interviewed mothers. The concentration of sodium was determined in 100 solutions prepared by those mothers. RESULTS: Only 9.0% of mothers had appropriate knowledge about when to use the solution and 21.0% knew how to administer it correctly. The error rates regarding the measurement of ingredients were: 2.5% for salt, 22.2% for water and 43.2% for sugar, according to the answers given by 81 mothers, who used a double-ended spoon made of plastic to measure quantities. In fifty percent of the analyzed samples, sodium was within safe limits (30 mmol/l to 100 mmol/l). Those considered dangerous (>100 mmol/l) or inefficient solutions (<30 mmol/l) reached the percentage of 47.0% and 3.0%, respectively. Out of the 69 solutions prepared with the double-ended spoon, 63.8% were found appropriate in terms of sodium concentration, while only 19.3% of the 31 solutions prepared using other measuring utensils were within acceptable limits (P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Mothers knowledge about oral rehydration therapy was considered poor. Moreover, the concentration of sodium in sugar salt solutions seldom remains within safe limits, particularly those solutions in which the double-ended spoon was not used for preparation. These conclusions should be considered in future educational programs on oral rehydration.
