[Self perception of nutritional status among adults in Santiago]. / Autopercepción del estado nutricional en adultos de Santiago.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity is growing in Chile. The personal perception about the own nutritional status is associated to the risk of obesity. AIM: To analyze the personal perception about their nutritional status among adults living in Santiago and to compare it to the objective diagnosis obtained according to Chilean Health Ministry norms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The body image was explored in 735 people between the ages of 20 and 90. The weight and height were obtained under standard conditions, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated (kg/m2) and classified according to the criteria of the Health Ministry. The concordance and Kappa index between both criteria in function of age, gender, nutritional status and height were analyzed. The model that best explained the weight subestimation was determined with multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: Fifty two percent of subjects classified correctly their nutritional status, 30% subestimated, and 18% overstimated the nutritional status (Kappa 0.27). The multivariate analysis showed greater subestimation in obese (OR 5.8 95% IC 4.2- 7.9), in men (OR 4.5 95% IC 2.7-7.3), people younger than 60 years old (OR 2.0 95% IC 1.3-3.1) and people of small stature (OR 3.1 95% IC 1.9-4.9). CONCLUSIONS: Half of the studied subjects had an inadequate perception of the body image. Educative campaigns are needed to reinforce the concept of adequate weight. This may contribute to promote health and reduce the risk of obesity.

Fosfatasa alcalina termoestable, gamaglutamil transpeptidasa y oxitocinasa en placentas de recién nacidos de término pretérmino y en pequeños para la edad gestacional / Heat stable alkaline phosphatase, gammaglutamyl transpeptidase and oxytocinase in fullterm and preterm placentas of newborn infant and infants for gestational age

Se miden las actividades de tres enzimas: Fosfatasa alcalina termoestable a 65-C (FATE), Gamaglutamil transpeptidasa (GGT) y Cisteína aminopeptidasa (CAP), en 19 placentas de término, 10 de pretérmino de embarazadas controles y en 11 placentas de término de madres con desnutrición moderada. Los resultados muestran que las placentas de menor edad gestacional, exhiben una alta actividad metabólica evaluada a través de la más alta actividad de las enzimas estudiadas. Las placentas de término de los recién nacidos con pesos reducidos, hijos de madres desnutridas, se caracterizan por una dramática caída en la actividad de GGT y un mantención de los altos niveles de FATE. La actividad de esta última se encontró similar al de las placentas de niños prematuros. El peso reducido de los niños de término se asocia con una alteración en las actividades de las enzimas estudiadas