Association of some socio-economic and socio-demographic variables with wasting among pre-school children of North Bengal, India.

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition is a global public health problem that causes premature morbidity and ill-health conditions and has long-lasting physiological effects in children. The present study assesses the prevalence of wasting [low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)-for-age] among children and to determine the association of wasting with different socio-economic and socio-demographic variables. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 1222 pre-school children (boys: 589; girls: 633), aged 1-5 years, in Darjeeling district, North Bengal, India, using multistage stratified random sampling method. The MUAC was measured using the standard anthropometric procedure. Low MUAC-for-age was assessed by comparing with a standard age-sex-specific reference population (WHO, 1995). Children with MUAC value were found to be the z-scores <-3SD, and <-2 SD were considered to be severely and moderately wasted, respectively. The socio-economic and socio-demographic variables were recorded using structured schedule methods. The data were statistically analyzed based on descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis and logistic regression using SPSS (version, 17.0). RESULTS: The age-specific mean MUAC ranged from 126.1-142.5 mm (boys) and 126.9-136.4 mm (girls). The prevalence of wasting was very high (boys: 62.3%; girls: 63.3%) (p>0.05). The logistic regression analysis observed that age, gender, birth order, area (rural), maternal education, household income and mothers' age were significantly associated with the prevalence of wasting (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Using MUAC-for-age, a high prevalence of wasting was observed among the children. Birth order, maternal education and maternal occupation were important determinants of wasting. There is an urgent requirement of nutritional intervention programmes to ameliorate the nutritional status of the children.

Quantitative assessment of the percent fat in domestic animal bone marrow.

Measurement of the amount of fat in femoral bone marrow can provide a quantitative assessment of the nutritional status of an individual animal. An analytical method is presented for quantitating the percent fat in bone marrow from three domestic species: bovine, canine, and equine. In this procedure, fat is extracted from bone marrow using pentane, and the percent fat recovered is determined gravimetrically. Based on analyses from adult animals (normal body condition scores), the average percentage of fat in the bone marrow was >80%. In cases in which animals have been diagnosed as emaciated or exhibit serous atrophy of fat (body scores of 1 or 2), the femoral bone marrow fat was less than 20%. In domestic animals, bone marrow fat analysis can be a useful, quantitative measure that, when used in conjunction with all other data available, can support a diagnosis of starvation or malnutrition.

Magnetic resonance imaging features of serous atrophy of bone marrow fat in the distal limb of three horses.

Emaciated human patients have changes in the fat content in medullary bone that are consistent with serous atrophy of the bone marrow histologically. Serous atrophy has been identified at postmortem examination in horses; however, the magnetic resonance (MR) characteristics have not been documented. Herein we describe the abnormalities of the bone marrow and medullary bone detected by low-field and high-field MR imaging of the distal limbs of three emaciated horses. These low- and high-field MR imaging abnormalities are characterized by a decrease in signal intensity on T1-weighted images in combination with an increase in signal intensity on short tau inversion recovery images in all areas of trabecular bone in the distal limbs, in the absence of lameness. Serous atrophy was confirmed microscopically in two horses. Appreciating the sensitivity of MR imaging for detection of bone marrow changes may assist in assessment of fat atrophy in welfare cases where starvation is suspected.

The Shetland Islands scrapie monitoring and control programme: analysis of the clinical data collected from 772 scrapie suspects 1985-1997.

There were 574 scrapie positive suspects (histopathological scrapie lesions present) and 198 scrapie negative suspects (histopathological scrapie lesions absent). The greatest number of scrapie cases were recorded in sheep of 2, 3 and 4 years of age which represented 17%, 36% and 23% of the scrapie positive suspects, respectively. The sign sensitivities and specificities for the ten recorded signs were, respectively: pruritus (62%, 42%), ataxia (23%, 74%), hyperaesthesia (32%, 74%), wool loss (25%, 73%), fleece discolouration (29%, 85%), bruxism (23%, 69%), nibbling reflex (17%, 58%), head rubbing (47%, 78%), poll rubbing (25%, 83%). These single signs had poor discriminatory values with likelihood ratios close to one (range 0.89-1.21); combinations of the four signs, pruritus, wool loss, ataxia, hyperaesthesia and emaciation were more discriminatory (range 0.30-4.3). This study covered a time period when bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) might have been introduced into the sheep population on the Shetland Islands via contaminated feed. No temporal changes could be detected in the age structure of the affected animals.

[Distribution of anthropometrical parameters in infants in the Monastir region, Tunisia]. / Distribution des paramètres anthropométriques des nourrissons dans la région de Monastir (Tunisie).

We evaluated the distribution of anthropometrical parameters in infants in Monastir and compared them with the National Center of Health Statistics reference. Our prospective study included 3033 infants attending primary health care centres for vaccinations who were followed for 18 months. In each visit, we measured weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height. We found a difference between our distribution curve and the NCHS reference. The prevalence of growth retardation increased with age. The prevalence of under-weight and of wasting were less than 10%. Obesity was seen 6.2% of infants aged 3 months and 11.6% aged 9 months.

Déficit de talla y emaciación en menores de cinco años en distintas regiones y estratos en México / Stunting and wasting in children under five years for different regions and strata in Mexico

Se analizaron datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición de 1988, aplicada en una muestra probabilística de 13 236 viviendas y 7426 menores de cinco años, con representatividad nacional y de cuatro regiones (Norte, Centro, Sur y Distrito Federal), Se obtuvieron riesgos de emaciación y de déficit severo de talla y razones de momios por región, por municipio según proporción de población indígena y grado de urbanización, por educación de la madre y del padre, por género y por diversas combinaciones de estos estratos. Se encontró un elevado riesgo de déficit de talla y un menor riesgo de emaciación. El déficit de talla es mayor en municipios predominantemente indígenas, rurales, en las regiones Sur y Centro y en familias de madres con baja educación formal y condiciones de vivienda pobres. Los resultados pueden ser útiles para el diseño de políticas de alimentación y nutrición y para la focalización de programas

Data from a National Nutrition Survey conducted in 1988 in a probability sample of 13 236 households and 7 426 children under five, representative at the national level and for four regions (North, Center, South, and Mexico City), were analyzed. Risks for wasting and stunting and odds ratios were obtained by region, by district according to proportion of indigenous population and by level of urbanization, by level of education of both parents, by gender, and by various combinations of the former strata. A high risk of stunting and a low risk of wasting were found. The risk of stunting is greater in predominantly indigenous and rural districts, in the South and Center, and in families of mothers with low education and poor housing conditions. The results can be used for food and nutrition policy planning and for targeting nutrition intervention programs.

[Symptoms: anorexia and emaciation]. / Symptome: Anorexie und Abmagerung.

Anorexia and emaciation are symptoms which can be found in many diseases either singly or in combination with other unspecific clinical signs such as diarrhea and vomiting. Therefore accurately assessing the medical history, performing a thorough clinical examination and carrying out laboratory tests are all necessary steps in establishing a diagnosis. Further specific examinations such as radiography, ultrasonography or endoscopy may also have to be performed. Since anorexia and emaciation can result in severe consequences for the organism, establishing a definitive diagnosis is important to enable the appropriate therapy to be applied without delay.

Unexplained weight loss in sheep and goats. A guide to differential diagnosis, therapy, and management.

A review of the likely causes of unexplained weight loss in sheep and goats has been presented, with particular emphasis on diagnosis. Through the use of careful clinical examination and knowledge of the likely causes of progressive weight loss, a definitive diagnosis can often be made, although this is not always possible, even with rigorous investigation (Fig. 1). In most cases, establishing a definitive diagnosis will allow the practitioner to institute appropriate therapeutic measures, correct deficient management procedures, or institute suitable prevention and control programs to reduce ongoing or future losses to the client.

Subdural cysts and diencephalic tumor.

Four children with diencephalic emaciation, three of whom had subdural cysts (effusions), are described. In two of these cases the initial diagnosis was subdural effusion, which delayed the correct diagnosis. Three of the four patients with emaciation of diencephalic origin had large tumors in which the involved part of the diencephalon accounted for only a small part of the total tumor bulk. The fourth patient had a large glioma of the optic chiasm.