Infliximab therapy reverses the increase of allograft inflammatory factor-1 in serum and colonic mucosa of rats with inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the molecular basis of infliximab (IFX) effect on colon mucosa in a colitis model and to identify new biomarkers of mucosal healing. METHODS: Healthy rats and rats which were subjected to experimental colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium, with or without IFX treatment (in the short- and long-term), were studied along with forty-seven IBD patients. Colon mucosal integrity by periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining, intestinal damage by immunohistochemistry (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, ß-catenin, E-cadherin, phosphotyrosine, p-p38, allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) and colonic mucosal apoptosis by TUNEL staining were evaluated in rats while serum and colon AIF-1 levels were determined in IBD patients. RESULTS: In rats with colitis, IFX reestablished the epithelial barrier integrity, recovered mucus production and decreased colon inflammation, as verified by reduced serum and colon AIF-1 levels; colon and serum AIF-1 levels were also lower in inactive IBD patients compare to active ones. P38 activation after IFX treatment tended to induce differentiation/proliferation of epithelial cells along the colonic crypt-villous axis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support AIF-1 as a new biomarker of mucosal healing in experimental colitis and suggest that p38 activation is involved in the mucosal healing intracellular mechanism induced by IFX treatment.

A modified acidic approach for DNA extraction from plant species containing high levels of secondary metabolites.

Purified genomic DNA can be difficult to obtain from some plant species because of the presence of impurities such as polysaccharides, which are often co-extracted with DNA. In this study, we developed a fast, simple, and low-cost protocol for extracting DNA from plants containing high levels of secondary metabolites. This protocol does not require the use of volatile toxic reagents such as mercaptoethanol, chloroform, or phenol and allows the extraction of high-quality DNA from wild and cultivated tropical species.

Azathioprine desensitizes liver cancer cells to insulin-like growth factor 1 and causes apoptosis when it is combined with bafilomycin A1.

Hepatoblastoma is a primary liver cancer that affects children, due to the sensitivity of this tumor to insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). In this paper we show that azathioprine (AZA) is capable of inhibiting IGF1-mediated signaling cascade in HepG2 cells. The efficiency of AZA on inhibition of proliferation differs in the evaluated cell lines as follows: HepG2 (an experimental model of hepatoblastoma)>Hep3B (derived from a hepatocellular carcinoma)>HuH6 (derived from a hepatoblastoma)>>HuH7 (derived from a hepatocellular carcinoma)=Chang Liver cells (a non-malignant cellular model). The effect of AZA in HepG2 cells has been proven to derive from activation of Ras/ERK/TSC2, leading to activation of mTOR/p70S6K in a sustained manner. p70S6K phosphorylates IRS-1 in serine 307 which leads to the uncoupling between IRS-1 and p85 (the regulatory subunit of PI3K) and therefore causing the lack of response of HepG2 to IGF-1. As a consequence, proliferation induced by IGF-1 is inhibited by AZA and autophagy increases leading to senescence of HepG2 cells. Our results suggest that AZA induces the autophagic process in HepG2 activating senescence, and driving to deceleration of cell cycle but not to apoptosis. However, when simultaneous to AZA treatment the autophagy was inhibited by bafilomycin A1 and the degradation of regulatory proteins of cell cycle (e.g. Rb, E2F, and cyclin D1) provoked apoptosis. In conclusion, AZA induces resistance in hepatoblastoma cells to IGF-1, which leads to autophagy activation, and causes apoptosis when it is combined with bafilomycin A1. We are presenting here a novel mechanism of action of azathioprine, which could be useful in treatment of IGF-1 dependent tumors, especially in its combination with other drugs.

Eukaryotic initiation factors (eIF) 2alpha and 4E expression, localization, and phosphorylation in brain tumors.

Increased protein synthesis is regulated, in part, by two eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs): eIF4E and eIF2alpha. One or both of these factors are often overexpressed in several types of cancer cells; however, no data are available at present regarding eIF4E and eIF2alpha levels in brain tumors. In this study, we analyzed the expression, subcellular localization and phosphorylation states of eIF4E and eIF2alpha in 64 brain tumors (26 meningiomas, 16 oligodendroglial tumors, and 22 astrocytomas) and investigated the correlation with the expression of MIB-1, p53, and cyclin D1 proteins as well. There are significant differences in the phosphorylated eIF4E levels between the tumors studied, being the highest in meningiomas and the lowest in the oligodendroglial tumors. Relative to subcellular localization, eIF4E is frequently found in the nucleus of the oligodendroglial tumors and rarely in the same compartment of the meningiomas, whereas eIF2alpha showed an inverse pattern. Finally, cyclin D1 levels directly correlate with the phosphorylation status of both factors. The different expression, phosphorylation, or/and subcellular distribution of eIF2alpha and eIF4E within the brain types of tumors studied could indicate that different pathways are activated for promoting cell cycle proliferation, for instance, leading to increased cyclin D1 expression.

Intrastriatal infusion of liver growth factor stimulates dopamine terminal sprouting and partially restores motor function in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats.

Liver growth factor (LGF) is a mitogen for liver cells that shows biological activity in extrahepatic sites and may be useful for neuroregenerative therapies. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of the intrastriatal (IS) infusion of LGF in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease. Tyrosine hydroxylase-positive innervation was significantly increased in the dopamine-denervated striatum of rats receiving intrastriatal LGF infusions (160 ng/day/rat x 15 days) as compared with a vehicle-infused group. There was no evidence of dopaminergic neurogenesis in the striatum or substantia nigra in any experimental group at the times studied. However, in those animals undergoing IS-LGF infusion for 48 hr, we found a significant increase in both microglial proliferation and in the number of microglial cells that acquired the ameboid morphology. This is characteristic of activated microglia/macrophages that has been reported to play an important role in dopamine terminal sprouting. In summary, our study shows that IS infusion of LGF stimulates the outgrowth of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive terminals in the striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats. As apomorphine-induced rotational behavior was also reduced in these animals, we propose LGF as a novel factor that, when delivered to the striatum, may be useful in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Nutrición basada en la evidencia: presente, limitaciones y futuro / Evidence-based nutrition: present, limitations and future

La medicina basada en la evidencia (MBE) es, en la actualidad, la forma más fiable y segura de enfrentarse a la práctica clínica. Una de las definiciones más aceptadas recoge las 3 vertientes fundamentales de la MBE: las pruebas científicas, la experiencia clínica, y las necesidades y los valores del paciente. Desde su introducción en 1992, la MBE se ha aceptado, extendido e incluido en las distintas especialidades médicas, aunque también han aparecido importantes críticas y rechazos a su generalización así como dificultades en su aplicación. Entre los factores relacionados con nuestra dificultad de poner en marcha la estrategia de la MBE se encuentran la formación tradicional que hemos recibido como médicos, la enorme y desbordante cantidad de bibliografía científica publicada, y el tipo de fuentes que estamos acostumbrados a consultar ante los problemas diarios de la práctica clínica. Respecto a los argumentos más utilizados por sus críticos destacan la definición de reduccionista o simplista, y la poca importancia que, a su juicio, se presta a la experiencia clínica. Probablemente, y aunque sea difícil de reconocer, la característica de la MBE que más rechazo produce es la ausencia de una verdad universal y absoluta: las conclusiones a las que la MBE puede llegar siempre van precedidas de la descripción de la investigación primaria incluida y analizada; la aparición de nuevos resultados puede (y debe) modificar nuestra práctica clínica. Las revisiones sistemáticas de la bibliografía y las guías de práctica clínica, como instrumentos propios, facilitan la incorporación y el desarrollo de la MBE. La nutrición basada en la evidencia se encuentra, además de las limitaciones propias de la MBE, con una serie de problemas específicos relacionados fundamentalmente con las dificultades de diseño metodológico de los estudios, la poca evidencia científica disponible y las escalas de calidad y niveles de evidencia utilizados. Para comprender estos problemas es importante analizarlos de forma independiente en nutrición clínica y nutrición comunitaria, y abordar la primera separándola en sus 2 vertientes: la necesidad de alimentar-mantener el estado nutricional, y la utilización de la nutrición como arma terapéutica-fármaco, capaz de modificar por sí misma la evolución de una enfermedad. A lo largo de este trabajo se revisan los conceptos, las aplicaciones y las limitaciones de la MBE y de su aplicación en el campo de la nutrición (AU)

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is currently the safest and most reliable way to practice clinical medicine. One of the most widely accepted definitions includes the three main principles of EBM: scientific evidence, clinical experience and the needs and values of the patient. Since its introduction in 1992, EBM has been incorporated into the various medical specialties, although major criticisms and obstacles to its generalization have also appeared. Among the factors involved in our difficulty in implementing EBM are our traditional training as physicians, the sheer quantity of scientific literature published and the type of sources that we are used to consulting when faced with the problems of daily clinical practice. The most frequent arguments leveled against EBM are that it is reductionist or simplistic and, according to its critics, that it gives scant importance to clinical experience. Although it is difficult to admit, the characteristic of EBM that probably arouses the strongest criticism is the absence of a universal and absolute truth: the conclusions that can be reached through EBM are always preceded by a description of the main investigation analyzed; new results can (and should) modify our clinical practice. Systematic reviews of the literature and clinical practice guidelines, as instruments by themselves, facilitate the implementation and development of EBM. In addition to the limitations of EBM, evidence-based nutrition (EBN) faces a series of specific problems mainly related to the difficulties of study designs, the scarce scientific evidence available, and the quality scales and levels of evidence used. To understand these problems, they should be analyzed independently in clinical nutrition and community nutrition, while clinical nutrition should be approached by separating it into its two branches: the need to feed-maintain nutritional status, and the use of nutrition as a therapeutic modality capable of modifying the course of a disease. The present article reviews the concepts, applications and limitations of EBN and its applications in the field of nutrition. "Half of what we teach them will be proved to be false in the next 10 years. The problem is that none of their teachers know which half this will be". Dr. Sydney Burwell, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Harvard University (Taken from "Sackett DL., Straus ShE., Richardson WS, Rosenberg W, Haynes RB. Evidence Based Medicine. How to Practice and Teach. Churchill Livingstone. Edinburgh 2000 (2nd edition) (AU)

Cholesterol is essential for mitosis progression and its deficiency induces polyploid cell formation.

As an essential component of mammalian cell membranes, cells require cholesterol for proliferation, which is either obtained from plasma lipoproteins or synthesized intracellularly from acetyl-CoA. In addition to cholesterol, other non-sterol mevalonate derivatives are necessary for DNA synthesis, such as the phosphorylated forms of isopentane, farnesol, geranylgeraniol, and dolichol. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of cholesterol in mitosis. For this, human leukemia cells (HL-60) were incubated in a cholesterol-free medium and treated with SKF 104976, which inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis by blocking sterol 14alpha-demethylase, and the expression of relevant cyclins in the different phases of the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Prolonged cholesterol starvation induced the inhibition of cytokinesis and the formation of polyploid cells, which were multinucleated and had mitotic aberrations. Supplementing the medium with cholesterol completely abolished these effects, demonstrating they were specifically due to cholesterol deficiency. This is the first evidence that cholesterol is essential for mitosis completion and that, in the absence of cholesterol, the cells fail to undergo cytokinesis, entered G1 phase at higher DNA ploidy (tetraploidy), and then progressed through S (rereplication) into G2, generating polyploid cells.

[Fiber in enteral nutrition: systematic review of the literature]. / La fibra en nutrición enteral: revisión sistemática de la literatura.

UNLABELLED: It has been suggested that adding fibre to enteral nutrition (EN) formulas may achieve a normalization of the gastrointestinal tract's functions by reducing the incidence of diarrhoea and constipation. However, this supposition is based on the demonstrated effect of fibre in natural feeding. There have so far been no firm recommendations on the use, amount or type of fibre that is most advisable in EN. GOAL: To establish the scientific evidence existing on the benefits gained by adding fibre to EN formulas compared with the use of fibre-free formulas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bibliographical search on PubMed, on the register of Randomized Prospective Trials (RPT) of the Cochrane Library and manual search. INCLUSION CRITERIA: RPT comparing fibre-free formulas with isocaloric ad isonitrogen formulas containing fibre in total EN. Four independent reviewers revised the references selected. The data were analyzed using the RevMan 4.1 programme from the Cochrane Library. RESULTS: Of 286 references, 25 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The data were grouped by population and outcome variable. The addition of fermentable fibre to the EN formulas tends to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in critically-ill and post-surgery patients (OR = 0.66; 95% CI 0.46-0.95; p = 0.19). The use of formulas with insoluble fibre seems to increase the frequency of depositions and reduce the need for laxatives in immobilized patients receiving long-term EN but the data are insufficient. In people with normal gastrointestinal functions, the frequency of depositions is similar when using formulas with and without fibre (DPM = -0.97; 95% CI -0.12-[-0.02]; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend the systematic use of formulas containing fibre in total EN. However, in critically-ill and post-surgery patients, the use of formulas with fermentable fibre tends to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea. Although information is still lacking. The formulas with insoluble fibre seem to diminish constipation in chronic EN, whereas in other situations where the digestive system is working appropriately, no benefit has been shown. It is necessary to increase the number and quality of these trials in order to be able to establish firm recommendations on the use of EN formulas containing fibre.

La fibra en nutrición enteral: revisión sistemática de la literatura / Fibre in enteral nutrition: systematic review of the literature

Se ha sugerido que añadir fibra a las fórmulas de nutrición enteral (NE) consigue una normalización del funcionamiento del tracto gastrointestinal, disminuyendo la incidencia de diarrea y de estreñimiento. Sin embargo, esta suposición está basada en el efecto demostrado de la fibra en la alimentación natural. Hasta la fecha no existen recomendaciones firmes sobre el uso, la cantidad ni el tipo de fibra más aconsejable en NE. Objetivo: Establecer la evidencia científica que existe sobre el beneficio de la adición de fibra a las fórmulas de NE comparado con el uso de fórmulas sin fibra. Material y métodos: Búsqueda bibliográfia en PubMed, en el registro de Estudios Prospectivos Aleatorizados (EPA) de la Biblioteca Cochrane y búsqueda manual. Criterio de inclusión: EPA que comparen fórmulas sin fibra con fórmulas isocalóricas e isonitrogenadas con fibra en NE total. Cuatro revisores independientes revisan las referencias seleccionadas. Para el análisis de los datos se utiliza el programa RevMan 4.1 de la Biblioteca Cochrane. Resultados: De 286 referencias 25 cumplen el criterio de inclusión. Los datos se agrupan por población y por variable de resultado. La adición de fibra fermentable a las fórmulas de NE tiende a disminuir la incidencia de diarrea en pacientes críticos y postquirúrgicos (OR = 0,66; IC 95 por ciento 0,46-0,95; p = 0,19). El uso de fórmulas con fibra insoluble parece aumentar la frecuencia de deposiciones y disminuir la necesidad de laxantes en pacientes inmovilizados con NE a largo plazo pero los datos son insuficientes. En personas con función gastrointestinal normal la frecuencia de las deposiciones es similar usando fórmulas con y sin fibra (DPM = 0,07; IC 95 por ciento -0,12-0,02, p < 0,0001). Conclusión: En la actualidad no existe suficiente evidencia para recomendar el uso sistemático de fórmulas con fibra en NE total. No obstante, en pacientes críticos y postquirúrgicos la utilización de fórmulas con fibra fermentable tiende a reducir la incidencia de diarrea. Aunque todavía faltan datos, las fórmulas con fibra insoluble parecen disminuir el estreñimiento en NE crónica, mientras que en otras situaciones, cuando el tubo digestivo funciona adecuadamente, no se ha demostrado beneficio. Es necesario aumentar el número y calidad de los estudios antes de poder establecer recomendaciones firmes sobre el uso de fórmulas de NE con fibra (AU)

It has been suggested that adding fibre to enteral nutrition (EN) formulas may achieve a normalization of the gastrointestinal tract's functions by reducing the incidence of diarrhoea and constipation. Howerver, this supposition is based on the demonstrated effect of fibre in natural feeding. There have so far been no firm recommendations on the use, amount or type of fibre that is most advisable in EN. Goal: To establish the scientific evidence existing on the benefits gained by adding fibre to EN formulas compared with the use of fibre-free formulas. Material and methods:Bibliographical search on PubMed, on the register of Randomized Prospective Trials (RPT) of the Cochrane Library and manual search. Inclusion criteria: RPT comparing fibre-free formulas with isocaloric ad isonitrogen formulas containing fibre in total EN. Four independent reviewers revised the references selected. The data were analyzed using the RevMan 4.1 programme from the Cochrane Library. Results: Of 286 references, 25 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The data were grouped by population and outcome variable. The addition of fermentable fibre to the EN formulas tends to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in critically-ill and post-surgery patients (OR = 0.66; 95% CI 0.46-0.95; p = 0.19). The use of formulas with insoluble fibre seems to increase the frequency of depositions and reduce the need for laxatives in immobilized patients receiving long-term EN but the data are insufficient. In people with normal gastrointestinal functions, the frequency of depositions is similar when using formulas with and without fibre (DPM = -0.97; 95% CI -0.12-[-0.02]; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend the systematic use of formulas containing fibre in total EN. However, in critically-ill and post-surgery patients, the use of formulas with fermentable fibre tends to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea. Although information is still lacking. The formulas with insoluble fibre seem to diminish constipation in chronic EN, whereas in other situations where the digestive system is working appropriately, no benefit has been shown. It is necessary to increase the number and quality of these trials in order to be able to establish firm recommendations on the use of EN formulas containing fibre (AU)

TraJ-dependent Escherichia coli K1 interactions with professional phagocytes are important for early systemic dissemination of infection in the neonatal rat.

Escherichia coli is a major cause of neonatal bacterial sepsis and meningitis. We recently identified a gene, traJ, which contributes to the ability of E. coli K1 to penetrate the blood-brain barrier in the neonatal rat. Because very little is known regarding the most critical step in disease progression, translocation to the gut and dissemination to the lymphoid tissues after a natural route of infection, we assessed the ability of a traJ mutant to cause systemic disease in the neonatal rat. Our studies determined that the traJ mutant is significantly less virulent than the wild type in the neonatal rat due to a decreased ability to disseminate from the mesenteric lymph nodes to the deeper tissues of the liver and spleen and to the blood during the early stages of systemic disease. Histopathologic studies determined that although significantly less or no mutant bacteria were recovered from the spleen and livers of infected neonatal rats, the inflammatory response was considerably greater than that in wild-type-colonized tissues. In vitro studies revealed that macrophages internalize the traJ mutant less frequently than they do the wild type and by a morphologically distinct process. Furthermore, we determined that tissue macrophages and dendritic cells within the liver and spleen are the major cellular targets of E. coli K1 and that TraJ significantly contributes to the predominantly intracellular nature of E. coli K1 within these professional phagocytes exclusively during the early stages of systemic disease. These data indicate that, contrary to earlier indications, E. coli K1 resides within professional phagocytes, and this is essential for the efficient progression of systemic disease.

Intoxicacion aguda acuosa / Acute water intoxication

No disponible

[Acute water intoxication as complication of intravenous urography]. / Intoxicación aguda acuosa como complicación de una urografía intravenosa.

Physiologically, two complementary mechanisms regulate plasma osmolality: antduretic hormone ADH) and thirst. ADH release s supressed, thirst s inhbted and renal water loss occurs when plasma osmolality below a threshold level. The rise in plasma osmolalty causes ADH release, stimulation of thirst and water intake. Acute water intoxication is exceptional in patients without a chronic psychiatric disease. Herein, we describe a case of acute water intoxication in a previously healthy patient, after making an intravenous urography. The excessive water intake and the impossibility of renal water loss because of streee-induced ADH release originated t. Only nine cases have been previously described; almost they all were women preparing for diagnostic procedures.

Intoxicación aguda acuosa como complicación de una urografía intravenosa / Acute water intoxication as a complication of intravenous urography

En circunstancias fisiológicas la osmolalidad plasmática se regula por dos mecanismos complementarias: la hormona antidiurética (ADH) y la sed. Cuando se produce una disminución de la osmolalidad por incremento del agua en el organismo se inhibe la sensación de sed y la secreción de ADH, siendo el exceso de agua eliminado por el riñón. Cuando aumenta la osmolalidad se libera ADH, que disminuye la pérdida de agua por el riñón, y aparece la sed, produciendo ingreso de agua por vía digestiva.La intoxicación acuosa aguda es excepcional en personas sin patología psiquiátrica crónica. Presentamos un caso de intoxicación acuosa aguda durante la realización de una urografía intravenosa. La intoxicación se produjo por una ingesta acuosa excesiva junto con la liberación de ADH por estrés psicológico, que impidió la eliminación de agua por el riñón.De los 9 casos semejantes previamente descritos, la mayoría han sido en mujeres y en el contexto de la preparación de pruebas diagnósticas. (AU)

Alarm communication network to help carers of the elderly for safety purposes: a survey of a project.

Over years, radical changes in engineering technology have taken place due to greatly improved instrumentation, enhanced computing power, new sensors and upgraded transmission mediums making it possible to achieve in the field what once could only be done on laboratory models. In daily life, the use of an active self-testing instrumentation endowed with a self-diagnostic capability built into the structural fabric of a machine permits us to monitor the initiation of breakdown, corrosion and erosion. This has become particularly important in such means of transportation as planes, boats and automobiles where advanced instrumentation, signal processing and pattern recognition systems operate in fairly conventional structures. By capitalizing on the technological progress in the field of instrumentation and data processing, help can be contemplated for elderly people in nursing homes through detection of abnormal situations. The continued assistance to elderly people is achieved by utilizing a technological system respectful of the elderly's privacy and operating without their active participation.

[Description and evaluation of the adequacy of parenteral nutrition in our hospital]. / Descripción y valoración de la adecuación de la nutrición parenteral en nuestro hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a form of nutrition that can be very beneficial, but it does have some indications and complications that should be taken into consideration. With this work we would like to describe the characteristics of our patients with PN, as well as their follow up, and to evaluate the appropriateness of its prescription. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study carried out at a hospital with 415 beds. All patients who received PN during the first six months of 1996 were reviewed. Inadequacy criteria are established and a nutritional assessment was carried out by means of clinical and analytical parameters. Catheter infections were recorded according to specific criteria and the clinical and analytical evolution of the patients was followed. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were given parenteral nutrition. The most frequent indication was prolonged fasting after a surgical resection of the digestive apparatus. The most common nutritional status when beginning the PN was severe protein malnutrition (23%). There were 33 cases (39.7%) of PN that was not indicated and/or potentially avoidable. A catheter infection was reported in 7 cases (8.4%).

Multisensor system and artificial intelligence in housing for the elderly.

To improve the safety of a growing proportion of elderly and disabled people in the developed countries, a multisensor system based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Advanced Telecommunications (AT) and Information Technology (IT) has been devised and fabricated. Thus, the habits and behaviours of these populations will be recorded without disturbing their daily activities. AI will diagnose any abnormal behavior or change and the system will warn the professionals. Gerontology issues are presented together with the multisensor system, the AI-based learning and diagnosis methodology and the main functionalities.

Cisapride use during human pregnancy: a prospective, controlled multicenter study.

The objective of this prospective multicenter study was to determine whether cisapride is associated with increased risk of malformations, spontaneous abortions, or decreased birthweight when used during pregnancy. Cases were paired for age, smoking, and alcohol consumption with controls exposed to nonteratogens, as well as with disease-paired controls. One hundred and twenty-nine pregnant women were exposed to cisapride during pregnancy, including 88 during the period of fetal organogenesis. There were no differences in maternal history, birthweight, gestational age at delivery, and rates of livebirths, spontaneous or therapeutic abortions, fetal distress, and major or minor malformations among groups. It is concluded that exposure to cisapride during pregnancy is not associated with a major increased risk of malformations or spontaneous abortions or with decreased birthweight.

[Consumption of sweets and snacks by a population of school children in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. The CAENPE Group]. / Consumo de alimentos del grupo "dulces y golosinas" en la población infantil escolarizada de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid. Grupo CAENPE.

BACKGROUND: In our society advertising compaigns promote consumption of superfluous foods, such as sweets and snacks, displacing the intake of other basic nutrients. The aim of this study is to assess the intake of these foods by children, their relative contribution to overall macronutrient intake and their effects on health. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A dietary assessment was performed on a representative sample of scholar children from the Autonomous Community of Madrid. It reflects food consumption for a 4-days period (3 week-days and 1 weekend day) in 2,698 boys and girls aged 6 to 15 years. The intake is expressed as grams per 1,000 kcal to standardize nutrient consumption in boys and girls. Lipid profile and several markers of nutritional status are also determined. RESULTS: The consumption of sweets and snacks items per 1,000 kcal is higher in boys than in girls (35.8 +/- 20.0 and 34.2 +/- 19.6 g/1,000 kcal, respectively; p = 0.01) and increases during adolescence (12 and 13 years) in both sexes. Sweets and snacks provide 16.1% of dietary total caloric intake, 7.1% of saturated fatty acids, 10.7% of monounsaturated fatty acids, 10.4% of polyunsaturated fatty acids and 11.3% of cholesterol. Children of ages 6, 7, 8 and 9 years with high calculated LDL-cholesterol levels (> or = 120 mg/dl) consume significative higher amounts of sweet foods than children with low calculated LDL-cholesterol levels (< or = 90 mg/dl). CONCLUSIONS: Children from the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain consume excessive sweets, which could be responsible for a higher prevalence of diseases related to this intake, such as caries, obesity and obesity-related associate diseases.

[Impact of a nutrition education program on the lipid profile and food habits of a working adult population]. / Impacto de un programa educativo nutricional sobre el perfil lipídico y los hábitos alimentarios de una población adulta laboralmente activa.

To evaluate the influence of health care education of the diet, we studied, in a sample of 68 workers (47 men and 21 women), the usual food intake (by means of a weekly registration technique), the anthropometry and the lipid profile, before and after giving a nutritional information program which lasted one year. At the end thereof, we observed a significant reduction in the global caloric intake, at the expense of a lower supply of proteins and fats (mainly saturated fats), which translated into a percentile distribution of macronutrients, which more closely resembles the dietary recommendations. The average anthropometric parameters did not vary. With respect to the lipid profile, a decrease of the plasma levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol was observed. These results confirm the capacity of educational interventions in changing the eating habits to a more healthy style, with repercussions on the lipid profile.