Systematic training in master swimmer athletes increases serum insulin growth factor-1 and decreases myostatin and irisin levels.

During ageing, anabolic status is essential to prevent the decrease in quantity and quality of skeletal muscle mass (SMM). Exercise modulates endocrine markers of muscle status. We studied the differences of endocrine markers for muscle status in 62 non-sarcopenic Mexican swimmer adults aged 30-70 y/o, allocated into two groups: the systematic training (ST) group including master athletes with a physical activity level (PAL) >1.6, and the non-systematic training group (NST) composed by subjects with a PAL <1.5. Body composition, diet, biochemical and endocrine markers were analyzed. The ST group showed lower myostatin (MSTN) and irisin (IRI) levels, two strong regulators of SMM. The insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was higher in the ST. This is consistent with most of the evidence in young athletes and resistance training programs, where IGF-1 and IRI seem to play a crucial role in maintaining anabolic status in master athletes.

Association of cagA+ Helicobacter pylori strains with high urease activity and dyspepsia in Mexican adults. / Asociación de cepas de Helicobater pylori cagA+ con alta actividad de ureasa y dispepsia en adultos mexicanos.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with a higher risk of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. The sole presence of the bacterium is not a determinant of clinical outcome, but rather the interaction of strain type and host factors determines the risk of disease. Our aim was to study the association between bacterial load, strain type, and gastric symptoms in H. pylori-positive subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a community survey, a diagnostic 13C-urea breath test for H. pylori was performed on 302 volunteers that were not taking antibiotics, antacids, or proton pump inhibitors one month prior to the test. The breath test produced 25 H. pylori-positive subjects, between 25-74 years of age, who then took a gastric symptoms survey and were tested for the presence of the cagA genotype in gastric juice, using the Entero-test®. Bacterial load was determined as a measure of urease activity, utilizing the delta over baseline value, obtained in the 13C-urea breath test. RESULTS: A total of 48% of the H. pylori-positive subjects were cagA+. A positive association was found between cagA status and high gastric urease activity (P<.0001) and the latter was significantly associated with the presence of symptoms (P<.0001). CONCLUSION: Gastric urease activity was strongly associated with dyspeptic symptoms and cagA+ H. pylori. Elevated 13C-delta over baseline values could be used as indicators of a higher risk for gastric disease.

Body composition prediction equations based on deuterium oxide dilution method in Mexican children: a national study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity and undernutrition co-exist in many regions of Mexico. However, accurate assessments are difficult because epidemiological data on body composition are not available. The aim of this study was to facilitate assessments of body composition in Mexican school children of different geographical regions and ethnicity by developing equations for bioelectrical impedance and anthropometry based on deuterium oxide dilution. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We evaluated 336 subjects (143 belonged to six major indigenous groups) from Northern, Central and Southern Mexico. We measured height (Ht), weight (Wt), tricipital skinfold (Tricp-SKF) and resistance (R) based on a bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) were estimated from measurements of total body water with the deuterium dilution technique. RESULTS: The final BIA equation was FFM (kg)=0.661 × Ht²/R+0.200 × Wt-0.320. The R² was 0.96; the square root of the mean square error (SRMSE) was 1.39 kg. The final anthropometric equation was FM (kg)=-1.067 × sex+0.458 × Tricp-SKF+0.263 × Wt-5.407. The R² was 0.91; SRMSE was 1.60 kg. The BIA equation had a bias of 0.095 kg and precision of 1.43 kg. The anthropometric equation had a bias of 0.047 kg and precision of 1.58 kg. CONCLUSIONS: We validated two equations for evaluating body composition in Mexican indigenous and non-indigenous children and youth from three main regions of the country. These equations provided reliable estimates and will promote a better understanding of both obesity and undernutrition.

[Improvement of insulin sensitivity after an intensive lifestyle program for youth's weight management in the primary care]. / Mejora en la sensibilidad a la insulina con un programa intensivo de cambio en el estilo de vida para control de obesidad en niños y adolescentes en el primer nivel de atención.

The aim of this study was to evaluate an intensive lifestyle intervention for weight management among youth in a primary care setting on insulin sensibility, compared to a control group. The study included 42 youths 9-17 years old (n=23 intensive lifestyle intervention, n=19 control group) who completed a randomized trial for weight management in a primary care setting which included an oral glucose tolerance test. The intensive lifestyle intervention included monthly consultations with the primary care physician, nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian (weekly first 3 months and then monthly) and 12 group sessions in a behavioral change protocol. The control group attended monthly consultations with the primary care physician. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by the Insulin Sensitivity Index ISI(0,120) at baseline and 6 months posttreatment. At 6 months, the mean +/- DE, increase in insulin sensitivity was greater in the intensive lifestyle intervention than the control group (+46.8 +/- 56 vs. +5.6 +/- 47, between-group difference 41.2 [CI 95%, 8.5, 73.9], p = 0.01): Sixty five percent of youths on the intensive lifestyle intervention increased insulin sensitivity over 9 units vs. 32% in the control group (p=0.03). This study shows preliminary evidence that an intensive lifestyle intervention program can be an alternative model to improve insulin sensitivity among youths in the primary care setting.

Cuantificación de huevo en fideos secos según método electroforético (SDS PAGE) / Quantification of egg in dried noodles by electrophoretic methods (SDS PAGE)

El objetivo del trabajo fue utilizar la metodología SDS-PAGE para la cuantificación de huevo en fideos secos elaborados con harina y agregado de huevo. Se analizaron 6 sistemas modelos (SM) de fideos que contenían 0,0; 1,0; 2,5; 4,0; 6,0 y 8,0% de huevo en polvo. Se extrajeron proteínas totales con un buffer que contiene dodecilsulfato de sodio (SDS) y 2-Mercaptoetanol y se realizó electroforesis en gel de poliacrilamida con SDS. Se establecieron las relaciones de las áreas de los picos de los densitogramas (de huevo y de trigo) que permiten una correcta cuantificación del porcentaje de huevo agregado. Se analizaron 11 muestras comerciales en las cuales se realizó la cuantificación de huevo, obteniéndose valores comprendidos entre <1,0% y 8,8% de huevo en polvo. En los SM analizados y en las muestras comerciales se determinó además el contenido de colesterol (método enzimático) y el contenido de huevo por un método de ELISA. Los valores de colesterol en los SM se incrementaron con el aumento de huevo en polvo agregado, mientras que en las muestras se observaron valores bajos de colesterol para los niveles mas bajos de huevo y valores altos para los niveles mas altos de huevo. Con el método de ELISA se logró una correcta cuantificación de huevo en los SM hasta 4,0%, pero se obtuvieron resultados bajos en los sistemas mas altos (6,0 y 8,0%). Esto podría deberse a la importante dilución que debe realizarse de los extractos de las muestras para poder determinar su contenido. Con respecto a las muestras comerciales en 8 se obtuvieron valores similares a los de electroforesis mientras que en otras 3 los valores fueron diferentes. La metodología electroforética resulta una herramienta útil para la detección y la cuantificación de huevo en este tipo de muestras cuando se cuenta con SM de concentración de huevo en polvo conocida.

Trichuriasis and low-iron status in schoolchildren from Northwest Mexico.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between trichuriasis and iron status in rural schoolchildren from Northwest Mexico. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 73 schoolchildren (37 boys, 36 girls) between the ages of 6 and 10 years were voluntarily recruited from the public primary school of the rural community of El Higueral in Culiacan, Sinaloa (Northwest Mexico) for a cross-sectional study with a longitudinal follow-up of 5 weeks. Data were collected on socioeconomic status, anthropometry, haematological and biochemical indices of iron status, daily iron intake, and prevalence and intensity of trichuriasis. Multiple regression models, independent t-test and paired t-test were used to analyse the association between trichuriasis and iron status in cross-sectional and longitudinal samples, respectively. Adjusted models were tested for linear regression assumptions using residual plots. RESULTS: The mean age of the Trichuris-free and Trichuris-infected groups was 7.7±1.3 and 7.7±1.5 years respectively (P=0.92). The height for age was significantly higher in the Trichuris-free group than the Trichuris-infected group (P=0.02). No differences were found in the socioeconomic variables between the two groups. At baseline, significantly higher concentrations of haemoglobin, haematocrit, blood cell count (RBC) and serum iron were measured in the Trichuris-free group compared with the Trichuris-infected children (P<0.05). An association was found between trichuriasis and haemoglobin adjusted for socioeconomic variables, age and sex. Haemoglobin, RBC and serum ferritin concentrations were significantly increased in the infected children 5 weeks after treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Trichuriasis could be a risk factor for low-iron status in the schoolchildren of Northwest Mexico.

Impact of Giardia intestinalis on vitamin a status in schoolchildren from northwest Mexico.

We conducted a cross-sectional study in northwest Mexico in order to investigate the association between giardiasis and serum vitamin A in 40 Giardia-infected and 70 Giardia-free schoolchildren who were covered by a regional school breakfast program. There were no significant differences in age, Z-scores for nutritional indices of height for age, weight for age, or weight for height, socioeconomic conditions (employment and education of the parents, household conditions, sanitation facilities, type of drinking water, and family income), and mean daily intakes of vitamin A in the Giardia-free (899 +/- 887 microg) and the Giardia-infected (711 +/- 433 microg) groups. A higher concentration of serum retinol was found in the Giardia-free group than in the Giardia-infected group (0.75 micromol/L versus 0.61 micromol/L, respectively; p < 0.0001). Giardia-infected children were more likely to be vitamin A-deficient than the Giardia-free children (OR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.2-8.5). Although 95% of the children met the daily-recommended intakes of vitamin A, half of them showed subclinical vitamin A deficiency. It is recognized that vitamin A deficiency is multifactorial and giardiasis was a factor significantly associated with this deficiency in this study. Mexican program developers and policymakers should be aware about the distinction between dietary deficiencies and deficiency diseases when current national program strategies for parasitic control and vitamin A supplementation are redesigned.

Composición y aporte potencial de hierro, calcio y zinc de panes y fideos elaborados con harinas de trigo y amaranto / Composition and potential contribution of iron, calcium and zinc of bread and pasta made with wheat and amaranth flours]

Amaranth, a traditional american crop that is nowadays given renewed importance, has good food potential value. The minerals contributed by the grain are quantitatively important. However, as the flour is obtained by total grinding of the grain, this process leads to the presence of anti-nutritional components, such as fitates, and therefore, the evaluation of the actual availability of the minerals of nutritional interest becomes necessary. The process of bread fermentation, plus the addition of fitases and enhancers of mineral availability such as citric and ascorbic acid, might improve mineral bioavailability. The objective of this work was to assess protein, ash, lipids and total dietary fiber content and evaluate the concentration and dialyzability of Fe, Zn and Ca (as mineral bioavailability indicator) in bread and pasta 100% wheat, and bread and pasta obtained by replacing 20% wheat flour (WF) with whole amaranth flour (WAF). Ascorbic acid (AA), citric acid (CA) and fitase were used as mineral bioavailability enhancers. The potential contribution of each mineral (PC) was calculated as each mineral concentration times its dialyzability. In 80:20 bread an increase of total dietary fiber and minerals, compared to 100% wheat products was observed. A maximum FePC in 80:20 bread was obtained with CA and fitase (0.55mg%). In pasta, the maximum effect was observed with CA (0.07 mg%). The CaPC was maximum in 80:20 pasta with CA (16.72 mg%). The greatest ZnPC was found in 80:20 bread with CA and fitase (0.40 mg%). The introduction of the WAF in fermented baked products with addition of CA and fitase allows to obtain nutritional advantages.

El amaranto es un cultivo americano autóctono actualmente revalorizado por su elevado potencial alimentario. Los minerales aportados por el grano son cuantitativamente importantes. Sin embargo, la presencia de fitatos en los tegumentos externos del grano hace necesaria la evaluación de la biodisponibilidad de los minerales de interés nutricional pues la harina se obtiene por molienda integral. El proceso de fermentación del pan, sumado al agregado de fitasas y promotores de la dializabilidad mineral, podría mejorar la biodisponibilidad mineral. El objetivo del trabajo fue establecer el porcentaje de proteínas, cenizas, lípidos, fibra dietaria total (FDT), Fe, Zn y Ca y estudiar la dializabilidad de esos minerales - como indicadora de su biodisponibilidad - en panes y fideos elaborados con 100% harina de trigo (HT) y con 20% de reemplazo de HT por harina integral de amaranto (HIA). Como promotores de la biodisponibilidad mineral se utilizaron ácidos ascórbico (AA) y cítrico (AC) y fitasa. Se estableció el aporte potencial (AP) de cada mineral como el producto de su concentración y dializabilidad. En los panes 80:20 se observó un incremento sustancial del contenido de FDT y minerales. El máximo APFe se obtuvo en panes 80:20 con AC y fitasa (0,55 mg%). En fideos, el máximo efecto se observó con AC (0,07 mg%). El APCa fue máximo en fideos 80:20 con AC (16,72 mg%). El mayor APZn se evidenció en pan 80:20 con AC y fitasa (0,40 mg%). La introducción de la HIA en productos panificados fermentados con adición de AC y fitasas permite obtener ventajas nutricionales.

Effect of the extrusion on functional properties and mineral dialyzability from Phaseolus vulgaris bean flour.

The effects of extrusion conditions on cooking degree, flour dispersion viscosity and mineral potential availability of extruded bean flour were studied. Phaseolus vulgaris beans of the agronomic cultivar "Flor de mayo" were ground and dehulled to obtain grits and then extruded at different temperatures (140, 160 and 180 degrees C) and moisture contents (17, 20 and 23%), according to a bifactorial experimental design. Degree of cooking was estimated by water solubility (WS) and specific mechanical energy (SME). The effect of variables on WS and SME were analysed by surface response methodology. Flour dispersion viscosity and mineral availability (estimated by in vitro dialyzability), were also evaluated on selected samples. Results showed that, within the ranges of the variables used for this study, only the effect of temperature was significant on the degree of cooking. No direct correlation was observed between water solubility and SME, although a maximum value of WS corresponded to a range of SME values of 400-500 J/g was observed. Dispersion viscosity decreases as WS increases, so if high calorie density is desired, for instance in order to produce a cream soup formula, bean grits should be extruded at high temperature and as low moisture as possible, in our case 180 degrees C and 17% moisture. On the other hand, the effects of extrusion variables on iron and zinc dialyzability were not much affected.

Body composition by the four-compartment model: validity of the BOD POD for assessing body fat in Mexican elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to validate BOD POD in a wide sample of healthy and independent Mexican elderly men and women subjects using the 4 compartment (4C) model as the reference method, and to evaluate the assumptions of the densitometric two-compartment (2C) model. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study designed to assess body composition and validation of a method based on 2C model (BOD POD). SETTING: Urban and rural regions of Sonora, Mexico. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and two free-living subjects >or=60 years old were completed in this study. METHODS: Body density and body fat were measured by the BOD POD, total body water by deuterium dilution and total body bone ash by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Body composition was determined using Baumgartner's equation. RESULTS: Percent body fat by the 4C model was 31.2 and 42.5% in men and women, respectively (P<0.001). Group mean accuracy of body fat by BOD POD against that of the 4C model showed an effect of sex (P<0.001), but not the method (P=0.27). Results of individual accuracy showed no significant difference with the identity line and the slope was significantly different from zero or a slope similar to one. Precision assessed by model R (2) was high for all subjects and for men and women by separate. The standard error of the estimate was low for all and for men and women by separate. Bland and Altman analysis showed no significant bias. CONCLUSION: The BOD POD technique is a valid and reliable method compared to the 4C model and it could be applied in subjects with similar physical and anthropometric characteristics to subjects of this study.

Total energy expenditure, resting metabolic rate and physical activity level in free-living rural elderly men and women from Cuba, Chile and México.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess total energy expenditure (TEE), resting metabolic rate (RMR) and physical activity level (PAL), and to estimate energy requirements (ERs) in free-living elderly subjects from Cuba, Chile and Mexico. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study designed to estimate ERs. SETTING: Rural regions of Cuba, Chile and Mexico. SUBJECTS: Forty subjects >60 years old were selected to participate in this study. INTERVENTIONS: A dose of doubly labeled water (DLW) was administered and urine samples were collected in the following 12-14 days. From the isotopic analysis, TEE was derived. RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry. RESULTS: TEE in Chilean (8.8+/-1.6 MJ/day) and Cuban (8.3+/-1.3 MJ/day) elderly was not different, and was higher for the Mexican group (9.5+/-1.5 MJ/day) (P < 0.0001). RMR was not different between countries. PAL and activity energy expenditure (AEE) were only different between Chile and Mexico (P < 0.002). For the three regions, overall PALs were 1.70+/-0.16 for male and 1.62+/-0.13 for female subjects (P < 0.02), and AEE was 3.05+/-0.66 and 2.27+/-0.66 MJ/day for male and female subjects, respectively (P < 0.001). Predictive equations (MJ/day) were RMR = 1.6447 + 0.05714 x weight (kg) + 0.449 sex (male = 1; female = 0) (R2 = 0.75; SEE = 0.479) and TEE = 3.414 + 0.0795 x weight (kg) + 1.227 x sex (male = 1; female = 0) (R2 = 0.75; SEE = 0.668). CONCLUSIONS: There were differences in TEE and PAL owing to sex and region. The average PAL in men was higher than the PAL reported either with factorial approach or with the DLW method in elderly. Predictive ER equations based on RMR and TEE gave very similar results to calculations from the 2004 FAO/WHO/UNU report.

Prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasitic infections in relation to nutritional status in Mexican schoolchildren.

Undernutrition and intestinal parasitic infections affect childhood development and morbidity in many developing countries. Undernutrition may increase susceptibility to parasitic infections which in turn impair the nutritional status of the host. The relationship between intestinal parasitic infections and nutritional status in 400 Mexican schoolchildren was investigated. More than half of the children in the study showed intestinal parasites and polyparasitism. The prevalence of helminth infections was significantly higher in Oaxaca than in Sinaloa (P < 0.05). Z scores for weight-for-age (WA) and height-for-age (HA) were much lower in children of Oaxaca than in Sinaloa (P < 0.001). A significantly higher Z score for weight-for-height (WH), WA, and HA were found in non-infected versus infected children (P < 0.05). Higher prevalences of intestinal infections were found in children with lower HA and WA than in normally nourished children (P < 0.05). Higher intensities of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were found in the schoolchildren of Sinaloa than in Oaxaca (P < 0.01). Negative and significant associations were found between Hymenolepis nana and T. trichiura infection (eggs per gram) and nutritional status. Intestinal parasitic infections may be regarded as main risk factors associated with poor nutritional status in Mexican schoolchildren.

Determination of body composition using air displacement plethysmography, anthropometry and bio-electrical impedance in rural elderly Mexican men and women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Air displacement plethysmography with the BOD-POD is a new densitometry technique, and has been found to be an accurate method to measure body composition. The aim of this study was to assess body composition in a group of free living healthy subjects 60 years of age or older from a rural area of Northwest Mexico, and to evaluate body composition by anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance (BIA) using equations reported for other elderly populations. METHODS: Body composition was evaluated in 21 women and 26 men with the BOD-POD, by anthropometry, and BIA and compared to different equations using the Bland- Altman procedure. RESULTS: Body fat in elderly women and men was 42.7 and 30.2 % respectively. In women, Segal's equation using BIA 1, based on standing height, showed no significant differences with the BOD-POD. There was satisfactory agreement between Segal's equation and BOD-POD. In men similar results was found with Deurenberg's equation using B1A 2 based on recumbent length. CONCLUSIONS: Segal's and Deurenberg's equations were accurate and precise for the estimation of body fat in the elderly of this study. The use of these equations could improve the estimation of body composition for similar elderly subjects. Further studies are recommended with a larger size samples to include elderly subjects from other Latin American countries.

The usefulness of stable isotopes in nutrition and human health: the application of mass spectrometry and 13C-breath tests to detect helicobacter pylori infection.

The interest in Helicobacter pylori has escalated in recent years. H. pylori may produce a chronic gastric infection which is usually life-long and many epidemiological studies have shown that this is the most common bacterial infection throughout the world involving 50% of the world population. Thus, it is clear that the diagnosis of H. pylori infection represents at least a key step in the management of many of the patients referred to the gastroenterologist. Additionally, due to the wide range and relevance of pathologies possibly related to this infection, from micronutrient malnutrition and co-infections to malignancies, there is the potential for H. pylori to be a major health problem. Improved methods for the diagnosis and follow up treatment of the infection have been developed. Use of stable isotopes as non-invasive and safe diagnostic methods, namely (13C) breath tests, has been the key to a new era of research in H. pylori epidemiology and diagnosis as well as the establishment of eradication therapies. This non-invasive nuclear technique, that is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of this bacterial infection, has successfully been standardized and implemented along Latin America. Taking into account the high prevalence of this bacterial infection, the impact of this technique in the whole region is very high. In this article we discuss several aspects of this methodology in order to harmonize the application of this method in developing regions.

Body composition by hydrometry (deuterium oxide dilution) and bioelectrical impedance in subjects aged >60 y from rural regions of Cuba, Chile and Mexico.

BACKGROUND: In Latin American and Caribbean countries such as Chile, Mexico and Cuba, the population over 60 y has increased steadily. In this age group, there is scarce information about body composition, particularly for those living in rural areas. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine body composition in free-living and healthy elderly subjects >60 y from rural areas of Chile, Cuba and Mexico using deuterium oxide dilution and bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and to develop and cross-validate a predictive equation for this group of subjects by BIA for future use as a field technique. SUBJECTS: The study included 133 healthy subjects (73 males and 60 females) >60 y from rural regions of Cuba, Chile and Mexico. MEASUREMENTS: Total body water, body weight, height and other anthropometric and BIA variables (resistance and reactance) were measured. METHODS: Total body water was determined by deuterium oxide dilution, and fat-free mass (FFM)/fat mass were derived from this measurement. The total sample was used in a split-sample internal cross-validation. BIA and other anthropometric variables were integrated to multiple regression model to design the best predictive equation, which was validated in the other sample. ANOVA, multiple regression and Bland and Altman's procedure were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Body weight, percentage of fat and fat-free mass were lower in the Cuban men and women compared with Chilean and Mexican men and women. The best predictive equation of the FFM was: FFM kg=(-7.71+(H(2)/R x 0.49)+(country or ethnicity x 1.12)+(body weight x 0.27)+(sex x 3.49)+(Xc x 0.13)), where H(2) is height(2) (cm); R is resistance (Omega); country: Chile=1, Mexico=2 and Cuba=3; sex: women=0 and men=1; body weight (kg) and Xc is reactance (Omega). R(2) was 0.944 and the root mean square error (RMSE) was 2.08 kg. The mean+/-s.d. of FFM prediction was 44.2+/-9.2 vs 44.6+/-10.1. The results of cross-validation showed no significant difference with the line of identity, showing that the predicted equation was accurate. The intercept (=-0.32) was not significantly different from zero (P=0.89) and the slope (=1.02) not significantly different from 1.0 (P>0.9). The R(2) was 0.86, RMSE=3.86 kg of FFM and the pure error was 3.83. CONCLUSION: The new BIA equation is accurate, precise and showed good agreement. The use of this equation could improve the estimates of body composition for the elderly population for these regions, as well as enhancing the opportunity to conduct studies in the elderly population from Latin America.

Measuring the intakes of foods and nutrients of marginal populations in north-west Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To describe methodological issues regarding the measurement of food intake of marginal populations in the north-west of Mexico. METHODS: Dietary data from three sources were analysed. The Sonora State Food Basket Study (505 individuals from all ages, both sexes, high, medium and low income, and from urban and rural settings), 144 individuals from rural Indian communities, and 152 low-income urban women. Methods of dietary data collection were single 24-hour recalls for the first two studies, and four non-consecutive 24-hour recalls as well as a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for low-income urban women. RESULTS: The food patterns in the three studies showed similar core foods; however, food diversity resulted in 19, 13 and 57 different foods reported by 90% of the population in the state, Indian communities and urban women, respectively. Mean intakes of selected food components in the sample of urban women vs. a representative sample of the population of the state were similar, although smaller variation in consumption was observed in urban women with repeated 24-hour recalls. Inter-individual variation in intake of food components was similar in the state and urban women samples, but the Indian communities showed lower coefficients of variation (CVs). Use of four 24-hour recalls decreased the inter-individual variation in food component intakes of low-income urban women, especially for vitamin intakes. The FFQ did not show an additional decrease in inter-individual variation for macronutrients, but reduced even more the CVs for vitamins. Intra-individual variation was higher than inter-individual variation for urban women's intakes when estimated by repeated 24-hour recalls. This effect was reversed when estimated by duplicate food frequencies. Ratios of intra-individual to inter-individual variation in food intake were lower for Mexican when compared with US women. These results should be considered, especially for association analysis of low-income women's diets and health outcomes.

Trasplante hepático, manejo en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos: una opinión de dos continentes / Liver transplantation: post-surgical care in the intensive care units

Desde el descubrimiento de la ciclosporina, los avances en el manejo de los pacientes trasplantados han sido parte fundamental del cuidado postoperatorio en las unidades de cuidados intensivos. Lentamente, la recuperación de estos pacientes paso de un simple cuidado posquirúrgico a un detallado enfoque y manejo por sistemas, con énfasis en la recuperación fisiopatológica de los pacientes con enfermedad hepática. Por lo tanto, la frecuente aparición de complicaciones pulmonares, cardiovasculares, hematológicas, infecciosas, etc., en este grupo de pacientes ha hecho del cuidado pos-trasplante hepático una parte fundamental de la especialización del cuidado crítico. Los avances en tecnología genética, quirúrgica y farmacológica harán del paciente trasplantado un paciente común en las unidades de cuidado intensivo

Protein quality evaluation in rats of typical diets for 4- to 6-year-old children from different socioeconomic areas living in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Legumes and cereals are principal sources of energy and protein in developing countries. In Oaxaca, Mexico, corn is the primary agricultural crop, therefore corn tortillas and beans are the main energy and protein sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protein quality in rats of typical diets for 4- to 6-year-old children from different socioeconomic areas in Oaxaca, Mexico. Composite diets representing the typical diets were formulated and fed to male weanling rats for 10 days. A control diet using casein as the reference diet and one free of nitrogen were included in the study. The apparent protein digestibility was determined in rats using the chromic oxide marker technique and the data was statistically analyzed for differences between control and experimental diets. Rats fed the diet of low income children gained about 2 g/day compared to about 3.8 g/day for the rats fed the control (casein) diet and had the lowest weight gain/g of protein intake. The NPR was 3.52 compared to 4.31 for the control diet. This diet is 67% vegetable protein and 33% animal protein. The diet for the medium income group contained a higher percentage of animal protein, 76% and thus higher digestibility, 78%. The results of this study indicate that the protein quality of children's diets in Oaxaca, Mexico, need to be improved.