Prevalence of Hypoproteinemia and Hypoalbuminemia in Pregnant Women from Three Different Socioeconomic Populations.

Protein requirements of pregnant women are increased due to anatomical and physiological changes. However, optimal levels of plasma proteins do not receive adequate attention from health professionals and researchers. We aimed to evaluate the plasma protein status in pregnant women receiving care at health centers, with the intention of identifying potential deficiency states and their relationship with quality of life during pregnancy. This is a population-based, prospective, and observational study among a cohort of 215 pregnant women from three different socioeconomic areas (urban, semi-urban, and rural). Blood samples in the first (T1), second (T2), and third (T3) trimester of pregnancy were obtained to quantify the proteins and albumin levels. Statically significant differences regarding the age of pregnant women (p = 0.002), education status (p = 0.034), and socioeconomic level (p = 0.000), were found among groups. Prevalence of protein and albumin deficits was much higher in women from rural and semi-urban areas than in women from urban areas (p = 0.001). Moreover, these deficits were associated with the appearance of edema. Plasma total protein deficit could be an undervalued public health problem in pregnant women receiving prenatal care that could affect the quality of life in the gestational period. It would be important to establish reference intervals for plasma protein monitoring in each trimester of pregnancy, and protein levels should be measured routinely throughout pregnancy.

Complications in Elderly Patients Undergoing Lumbar Arthrodesis for Spinal Stenosis.

PURPOSE: To report the perioperative complication rates in elderly patients undergoing lumbar arthrodesis and to analyze the risk factors. METHODS: Between September 2015 and June 2018, 215 patients aged ≥70 underwent posterior lumbar arthrodesis with pedicle screw fixation. Demographic data including age, gender, smoking status, body mass index (BMI) and preoperative comorbidities were collected. Operative records as the number of levels fused, estimated blood loss, time of surgery, and the occurrence of perioperative complications were reviewed. Risk factors of perioperative complications were determined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The total perioperative complication rate in all patients was 30.2%, of which major complications occurred in 24 patients (11.2%) and minor complications occurred in 41 patients (19.1%). Two risk factors of perioperative complications (major or minor) were chosen: BMI (cutoff value 24.32) and surgical level (≥3). Lower surgical level (≥3) and smaller BMI were risk factors for perioperative minor complications, and major complication was affected only by surgical level (≥3). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factor of perioperative complication in elderly patients after lumbar arthrodesis was fusion segment (≥3), and BMI was a protective factor. Elderly patients with BMI <24.32 are more likely to have perioperative complications after lumbar arthrodesis.

Protein malnutrition incidence comparison after gastric bypass versus biliopancreatic diversion / Comparación de la incidencia de malnutrición proteica tras bypass gástrico versus derivación biliopancreática

Background: bariatric surgery is widely employed nowadays. Nutritional complications following malabsorptive bariatric surgery are common. Objectives: to compare protein malnutrition incidence, the amount of protein intake and the influence of various risk factors in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and biliopancreatic diversion (BPD). Methods: retrospective study comparing the development of hypoalbuminemia in 92 patients undergoing BPD and 121 RYGB, before surgery and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after it. Protein intake was estimated by serum prealbumin. The influence of prior body mass index (BMI), age and sex was analyzed. Results: hypoprealbuminemia was found in around 40% of patients 3 months after both procedures, decreasing to about 10% after 2 years of surgery. Hypoalbuminemia incidence was close to 20% in the first post-surgery year in BPD, persisting in 10-15% of cases thereafter. After RYGB, hypoalbuminemia incidence was lower (5-9% in all postoperative follow-up measurements). During the first year after surgery, hypoalbuminemia was more frequent after BPD than after RYGB (at the 3rd month (OR:3.9; p=0.006; 95%CI:1.5-10.4), 6th (OR:5.0; p=0.002; 95% CI:1.8-13.8), and at the 12th month (OR:4.4;p=0.007;95%;CI:1.5-12.8)), but not after the first year. A higher preoperative BMI favored it (OR: 1.03; p=0.046; 95% CI:1-1.06), as well as greater age during the first 6 months. Conclusion: Patients with BPD had a higher risk for hypoproteinemia than those undergoing RYGB, especially during the first year post-surgery. Higher preoperative BMI, and age (in the short-term period) could have a significant inverse relation to hypoproteinemia (AU)

Introducción: la cirugía bariátrica es muy empleada actualmente y en las malabsortivas, las complicaciones nutricionales son habituales. Objetivos: comparar la incidencia de malnutrición proteica e ingesta estimada de proteínas en pacientes intervenidos de bypass gástrico en Y-de-Roux (BGYR) y derivación biliopancreática (DBP), y la influencia de algunos factores de riesgo. Métodos: estudio restrospectivo comparando el desarrollo de hipoalbuminemia en 92 pacientes intervenidos mediante DBP y 121 de DBP (prequirúrgico, a los 3, 6, 12, 18 y 24 meses postquirúrgicos). La ingesta proteica se estimó mediante prealbúmina. Se evaluó la influencia del índice de masa corporal (IMC) previo, la edad y el sexo. Resultados: se encontró hipoprealbuminemia en torno al 40% de los pacientes a los 3 meses tras ambas técnicas, disminuyendo hasta el 10% a los dos años. La incidencia de hipoalbuminemia fue cercana al 20% durante el primer año tras DBP, persistiendo posteriormente en un 10-15% de los casos. Tras el BGYR, dicha incidencia fue menor (5-9% en todos los momentos). Así, durante el primer año postquirúrgico la hipoalbuminemia fue más frecuente tras DBP [3 meses: (OR:3,9;p=0,006; 95%CI:1,5- 10,4), 6 meses (OR:5,0; p=0,002; 95% CI:1,8-13,8), y al año (OR:4,4;p=0,007;95%;CI:1,5-12,8)], pero no así después. Un mayor IMC prequirúrgico favoreció la inicidencia de hipoalbuminemia (OR:1,03; p=0,046; 95% CI:1-1,06), así como una mayor edad a los 6 meses postquirúrgicos. Conclusión: los pacientes intervenidos mediante DBP tuvieron mayor riesgo de presentar hipoproteinemia que tras BGYR, especialmente durante el primer año postquirúrgico. Un mayor IMC postquirúrgico y la edad (a los 6 meses) podrían favorecer la aparición de hipoproteinemia (AU)

Hypoalbuminemia in donors with twin anemia-polycythemia sequence: a matched case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the differences in albumin levels between donors and recipients with twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS). METHODS: We included all consecutive monochorionic twins with TAPS with double survivors. Each twin pair was matched for gestational age at birth with 2 control monochorionic twin pairs unaffected by TAPS or twin-twin transfusion syndrome. We measured levels of albumin, total protein, and hemoglobin on the first day of life in donors and recipients (TAPS group) and the control group. RESULTS: A total of 25 TAPS twin pairs and 50 control twin pairs were included in the study. The median gestational age at birth was 32 weeks in both groups. In the TAPS group, median levels (IQR) of albumin in donor twins were significantly lower than in recipient twins, i.e. 28.0 g/l (24.0-32.0) versus 32.0 g/l (30.0-34.5) (p = 0.008). Median levels (IQR) of total protein in donor twins were also lower than in recipients, i.e. 44.0 g/l (36.5-49.0) versus 49.0 g/l (46.5-51.0), respectively (p = 0.004). The median (IQR) intertwin albumin difference was significantly higher in the TAPS group than in the control group, i.e. 4.0 g/l (2.5-10.5) versus 2.0 g/l (1.0-4.0) (p = 0.003). The rate of hypoalbuminemia (<20 g/l) and hypoproteinemia (<40 g/l) in donor twins with TAPS was 20% (5/25) and 32% (8/25). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to lower hemoglobin levels, donor twins with TAPS also have significantly lower albumin and total protein levels compared to recipient twins.

[Learning relationships between anemia women the Rebublic Uzbekistan and indicators of serum of protein among women].

Relationships between anemia and indicators of serum of protein was learned among 551 women who are at the age of 15-49 years, in three regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The results showed that among all examined women hypoproteinemia was 18.9%, hyperproteinemia was 5.8%, with the rest of the women indicators corresponded to the limit of the rate. Accordingly, hypo- and hyperproteinemia appeared most frequently among women who has anemia with indefinite etiology is 27.6% and 8.6%. Among women who has iron deficiency anemia these indicators formed 18.4 and 5.4%, in healthy women it was 18.3 and 4.8%.

Tissue Doppler echocardiography for the diagnosis of new-onset heart failure with normal ejection fraction: influence of serum protein concentration on clinical interpretation in elderly patients.

INTRODUCTION: According to Starling's law, low serum colloid osmotic pressure related to hypoproteinaemia is likely to modulate the pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure threshold of pulmonary oedema formation. We therefore examined the clinical relevance of bedside tissue Doppler echocardiography in the emergency diagnosis of new-onset heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFnlEF) according to serum protein concentration. METHODS: A total of 105 consecutive elderly patients presenting with acute severe dyspnoea were prospectively enrolled. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration and spectral tissue Doppler-derived septal E/E' ratio were obtained at presentation. Serum protein concentration was measured immediately after clinical stabilization, with a value of less than 6g/dL defining hypoproteinaemia. RESULTS: The diagnostic performance of E/E' was excellent in normoproteinaemic patients (n=71; area under the receiver-operating characteristic [ROC] curve 0.97; p<0.001) and reasonable in hypoproteinaemic patients (n=34; area under ROC curve 0.83; p<0.001). By multivariable logistic regression analysis, E/E' provided independent and incremental diagnostic information over the Boston score and BNP concentration in patients with a normal serum protein concentration (p<0.01). Critical elevation of pulmonary capillary pressure, defined as E/E'>15, was present in 93% of patients with HFnlEF and normoproteinaemia versus 55% of patients with HFnlEF and hypoproteinaemia (p=0.0017). CONCLUSION: Septal E/E'>15 is clinically relevant for the emergency diagnosis of new-onset HFnlEF among elderly patients with normal serum protein concentration. Lower abnormal values less than 15 should be considered predictive of this condition in the setting of hypoproteinaemia.

Adrenal insufficiency in the critically III trauma population.

Acute adrenal insufficiency has been demonstrated in a number of patients with shock. This study was designed to evaluate the rate of occult adrenal insufficiency in the critically ill trauma population and to determine the impact of hypoproteinemia on the use of random cortisol levels as a marker for adrenal insufficiency. Forty-four patients were prospectively enrolled on admission to the trauma intensive care unit, with three excluded, for a total n of 41. Random total serum cortisol and albumin levels were drawn on hospital Days 1, 4, 8, and 14. Occult adrenal insufficiency was defined as a cortisol less than 25 mcg/dL in the setting of an albumin greater than 2.5 g/dL. The prevalence of cortisol less than 25 mcg/dL ranged from 51 to 81 per cent during the study period, and peaked on Days 4 and 8. Albumin 2.5 g/dL or less ranged from 37 to 60 per cent, and this prevalence also peaked on Days 4 and 8. The patients with a low albumin had a high prevalence of low cortisol, ranging from 67 to 100 per cent. The prevalence of adrenal insufficiency, with low cortisol and normal albumin, ranged from 41 to 82 per cent during the study period. None of our patients with occult adrenal insufficiency were treated with steroids, which was a decision made by the treating physicians. Among the patients with occult adrenal insufficiency, survival was 100 per cent. Occult adrenal insufficiency is common in critically ill trauma patients, and is a dynamic entity that can be acquired and even resolved during critical illness. Random cortisol of 25 mcg/dL may actually not be an adequate marker of occult adrenal insufficiency. Low albumin predicts a low cortisol. Hemodynamically stable occult adrenal insufficiency should not be treated with steroid replacement in the critically ill trauma patient, as survival in our series was 100 per cent without replacement.

Serum copper and zinc concentrations and their relation to superoxide dismutase in severe malnutrition.

UNLABELLED: Serum Zn and Cu levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 117 children (aged 3 months to 5 years), divided into two groups; 80 children suffered from severe malnutrition and 37 children served as controls. Significantly lower levels of serum Zn and Cu were found in the malnutrition group. Zn levels of 2.59 +/- 0.15 microg/ml as compared to 3.92 +/- 0.35 microg/ml in the control group (P = 0.0037) and Cu levels of 0.74 +/- 0.05 microg/ml in the malnutrition group as compared to 1.19 +/- 0.08 microg/ml in the control group were observed. Superoxide dismutase activity in children with severe malnutrition was 21.13 micro 0.75 U/min per mg protein as compared to 26.02 +/- 0.66 U/min per mg protein in controls. Absence of breast-feeding, recurrent respiratory tract infection and diarrhoea correlated significantly with low serum Zn and Cu levels. Hypoproteinaemia and anaemia in malnourished children were also associated with a significant decline in both serum Zn and Cu levels. CONCLUSION: Serum trace element deficiency leading to depleted antioxidant protection may be a contributing factor to the pathophysiology of protein malnutrition and replacement of these elements in the management of this condition might be important.

Infants of mothers with HELLP syndrome compensate intrauterine growth retardation faster than unaffected premature infants: does HELLP change fetal programming?

OBJECT: To investigate the influence of HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) pregnancies on the postpartal course and further development of the neonate. METHODS: The postnatal course and further development up to 4 years of age of 43 infants after pregnancies complicated by HELLP syndrome were evaluated. 43 unexposed infants matched for gestational age and gender served as controls. RESULTS: Small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates exhibiting hypoglycemia and hypoproteinemia during the first 4 weeks after birth were significantly more commonly observed in the HELLP group (p < 0.5). No other differences in the postpartal course or clinical outcome were detected. At the age of 4 years the gains in weight and length were significantly increased in the HELLP group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The postnatal course of newborns after HELLP pregnancies is influenced by low energy stores. Fetal programming toward a more efficacious GH-IGF-1 pathway may explain the faster postnatal catch-up growth of premature SGA infants born to mothers with HELLP syndrome.

Thrombocytosis in 24 horses (1989-1994).

The records of horses presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine between January 1, 1989 and April 30, 1994 were evaluated to determine risk factors associated with thrombocytosis. Of the 2,346 horses for which a CBC was performed, 24 (1.0%) had a platelet count > 400,000/microL. Demographic, diagnostic, physical examination, and clinicopathologic variables from these cases were compared with a reference population consisting of 189 horses with a normal platelet count presenting during the same period. Infectious/ inflammatory disorders were observed more commonly in horses with high platelet counts than in horses with normal platelet counts. Initial independent evaluation of demographic variables revealed that horses more than 3 years of age, females, and geldings were less likely to have thrombocytosis than were younger horses or stallions. Independent analysis of clinicopathologic variables revealed that horses with thrombocytosis were more likely to have hyperfibrinogenemia, leukocytosis, hypoproteinemia, and anemia than were horses with normal platelet counts. Physical examination parameters associated with thrombocytosis included tachycardia and pyrexia. In the final multivariable model, the variables with the strongest association with thrombocytosis included leukocytosis, anemia, and hyperfibrinogenemia. Thrombocytosis rarely causes clinical problems in horses and is not likely to require specific antiplatelet therapy. The strong association of thrombocytosis with infectious/inflammatory disorders, however, should lead clinicians to suspect these types of conditions in horses with high platelet counts.