Deficiencia de cobre en un colectivo y factores asociados / Copper deficiency in a collective and associated factors

INTRODUCCIÓN: El cobre ejerce un papel esencial como nutriente en el organismo, se necesita un aporte diario mínimo a partir de alimentos o suplementos para el buen funcionamiento de la actividad celular. Está presente en todos los tejidos y participa activamente en la síntesis de la hemoglobina e influye sobre la absorción del hierro. Su deficiencia provoca anemia, diarrea, debilidad generalizada, alteraciones respiratorias y lesión cutánea, teniendo un papel esencial como protector frente el estrés oxidativo, un importante papel en el sistema inmunológico y una gran influencia sobre la expresión de numerosos genes. OBJETIVO: Valorar el estatus de cobre en un grupo de personas adultas sanas procedente de un colectivo de personas sanas adultas, estableciéndose tanto los niveles de ingesta como los niveles plasmáticos y eritrocitarios de este mineral, y estudiando una posible relación con otros parámetros. METODOLOGÍA: El estudio se realizó en una muestra de 90 sujetos de edades comprendidas entre 21 y 59 años (31 hombres y 53 mujeres), todos de la provincia de Granada. El criterio de inclusión se basó en la aceptación de los sujetos a participar en el estudio y no presentar ningún tipo de patología que pudiera afectar su situación clínico-nutricional. El Cu se analizó mediante Espectrofotometría de Absorción Atómica (AAS) en muestras de eritrocito y plasma mineralizadas por vía húmeda. Se aplicó un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo, y mediante programa informático Nutriber (Mataix, yGarcia Diz 2006)1 se obtuvo el % de RDA. Se contó con la aceptación del Comité ético y el consentimiento informado(AU)

RESULTADOS: La ingesta media recomendada de cobre en la población adulta española es de 1,1mg/día. Los resultados obtenidos muestran ingestas del cobre <2/3 de IR en un 58,2% de la población estudiada, de los cuales el 53,6% son hombres y el 60,8% son mujeres. En plasma, se observaron valores deficientes en cobre en el 25% de la población total, siendo el 29% hombres y el 22,6 % mujeres. En eritrocito, el 21,4% de la población general presentaron deficiencia de cobre, siendo el 28,8% hombres y el 18,9% mujeres. Se encontró una correlación significativa positiva entre la ingesta de macronutrientes y los niveles de cobre en ingesta, así como entre la ingesta de cobre y la de hierro, cinc, magnesio, calcio y selenio. Igualmente, se observa una correlación positiva significativa entre los niveles de cobre en plasma y los niveles de cinc (p<0,02). CONCLUSIÓN: Según los resultados obtenidos, podemos concluir que son necesarios estudios recientes y detallados que aborden la valoración del estatus de cobre de una manera más integral, desde una evaluación pormenorizada de la ingesta hasta la determinación de biomarcadores específicos de cobre, teniendo en cuenta su participación en numerosas reacciones biológicas celulares que pueden alterarse por la deficiencia(AU)

INTRODUCTION: The copper has a crucial role as a nutrient in the body, you need a minimum daily intake from food or supplements for the proper functioning of cellular activity. Is present in all tissues and is actively involved in the synthesis of hemoglobin and influences iron absorption. Deficiency causes anemia, diarrhea, general weakness, respiratory and skin lesion, having an essential role as a protector against oxidative stress, an important role in the immune system and a great influence on the expression of numerous genes. OBJECTIVE: To assess copper status in a group of healthy adults from a group of healthy adults, establishing both the levels of intake and plasma and erythrocyte levels of this mineral, and isexploring a possible relationship with other parameters. METHOD: The study was conducted in a sample of 90 subjects aged between 21 and 59 years (31 men and 53 women), all of the province of Granada. The inclusion criteria was based on the acceptance of individuals to participate in the study and did not show any pathology that could affect clinical and nutritional status. Cu was analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) in erythrocytes and plasma samples mineralized by wet. We applied a food frequency questionnaire, and through software Nutriben (Mataix, and Garcia Diz 2006)1 was obtained by the% of RDA. It was accepted by the Ethics Committee and informed consent(AU)

RESULTS: The average recommended intake of copper in the Spanish adult population is 1.1 mg /day. The results show copper intakes <2 / 3 of IR in 58'2% of the population studied, of which 53'6% are men and women 60'8%. In plasma, were found deficient in copper values in 25% of the total population, being 29% male and 22.6% women. In erythrocytes, 21.4% of the general population showed copper deficiency, with 28.8% men and 18.9% women. There was a significant positive correlation between macronutrient intake and levels of copper intake, as well as between dietary copper and iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium and selenium. Similarly, there is a significant positive correlation between plasma copper levels and zinc levels (p <0.02). CONCLUSION: According to the results, we conclude that studies are needed to address recent detailed assessment of copper status in a more comprehensive, since a thorough assessment of intake to the identification of specific biomarkers of copper, taking into account participation in numerous cellular biological reactions that may be altered by the deficiency(AU)

[Mother-child interaction and child behavior in preschool children with a history of iron-deficiency anemia in infancy]. / Interacción madre-hijo y conducta del niño en preescolares con antecedentes de anemia por deficiencia de hierro en la infancia.

Iron deficiency anemia is a highly prevalent nutritional disorder. Research in the last two decades shows that if this nutritional disorder occurs during the first two years of life it is associated with poor psychomotor performance and changes in behavior, such as reduced levels of responsitivy to persons and stimuli, irritability and inhibition. Further studies demonstrate that effects observed during infancy persist in the long term; preschool children who were anemic at twelve months show lower cognitive and motor scores than control children with normal iron nutritional status. In the study we evaluated 35 preschool children with an average age of 5 years and 6 months, 20 were anemic at one year and 15 had normal iron status. Behavior characteristics of the child and the mother-child interaction patterns were analyzed. All children participated in a semistructured play and teaching task trial which was filmed and later codified through a specially designed guideline. Results suggest that formerly anemic preschool children are less active, more inhibited and timid than the corresponding controls. Mothers of children with normal iron status during infancy are more responsive, having a rich two-way interaction with their sons, while mother of preschool children who were anemic are more frequently restricted to a response to the child. Although findings are not conclusive, they may direct future studies designed to clarify the complex relationship between anemia and behavior.

[Characteristics of the family structure of school children with antecedents of severe and early malnutrition which nowadays present different intellectual levels]. / Caracteristícas de la estructura familiar de escolares con antecedentes de desnutrición grave y precoz que presentan actualmente diferente nivel intelectual.

Children who present early and severe malnutrition show a deficit in their psychomotor development and specific behaviour disturbances which are recovered to a large extent when receiving integral rehabilitation. During their growth and development process, these children have differences in their intellectual development that cannot be explained as a consequence of the nutritional deficit alone. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe and compare from a systemic perspective, some characteristics of the family structure of these children with a history of early and severe malnutrition and who showed a differing intellectual performance at school age. Seven families with infants who had been admitted and treated in a Closed Nutritional Recovery Center of the Corporation for Infantile Nutrition (CONIN) were studied. All the children showed a moderate delay in their psychomotor development on admission, but all had significantly recovered at their discharge. At school age, in four families, the index subject presented an intellectual capacity of greater than or equal to 70 less than 80 and in the other three, children showed an intelligence quotient greater than or equal to 85. Each family was studied through a semi-structured interview held at the family's home with participation of all its members. Each interview lasted approximately one hour and was filmed with an audio-video equipment. The interviews were later coded using a checklist of behaviour indicators for family interaction. The results revealed differences between the two family groups, both with respect to their parental sub-systems and also in the relations established between the parents and those children with a history of early and severe malnutrition, especially with respect to the paternal sub-system and their index children. The observed differences between the two groups centered mainly on the amount of help that parents give to their children with a history of malnutrition, and the orders given to them. The results obtained are discussed in relation to sexual roles in low-income families and their relation to socioeconomic conditions.

[Nosocomially acquired infection of the urinary tract]. / Infección del tracto urinario de adquisición nosocomial.

We have evaluated 283 consecutive hospital acquired urinary tract infections (HAUTI) in a University hospital (incidence 5.6% of admissions). In females, spontaneous, symptomatic and younger patient infections predominated, while in males HAUTI were mostly asymptomatic, after catheterization and in elderly patients. Chronic nonfatal diseases--particularly neurologic disease and diabetes--, old age, previous antibiotic use, the postoperative period, and cancer were the major general predisposing factors, mostly because they involved urological procedures. There was an urethral catheter in 78% of cases, with questionable indication or maintenance in 37%. In 65% of cases there were clinical data attributable to HAUTI; however, on strict criteria only 5% of pyelonephritis and 24% of cystitis were detected. Mortality rate was 0.4%. Etiology was E. coli in 29%, Proteus in 13%, Enterobacter in 12%, enterococcus in 11.5%, Serratia in 7%, Pseudomonas in 6.5%, and Klebsiella in 6.5%. There were differences regarding endogenous and hospital flora on the basis of sex, hospital situation, catheterization, mobility, and previous duration of hospitalization. The microbial resistance pattern was high in the hospital flora. The major therapeutical problem was the high number of unnecessary treatments representing the automatic medical response to the finding of a positive urine culture.