Esophageal and gastric biopsies in symptomatic children and adolescents. Should both be performed?

This study investigated the relationship among the histological diagnosis of esophagitis and gastritis in children and adolescents with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and/or dyspepsia. Records of 366 patients submitted to endoscopic biopsies were reviewed. Two groups were analyzed: G1 n=258 with esophageal and gastric biopsies, G2 n=108 with gastric biopsies only. For total subjects median age (range) was 8.5y (2mo-19.9y). Helicobacter pylori infection was detected in 30.6 %, median age 12.5y for H pylori-infected and 5.5y for uninfected children. Histological esophagitis was found in 216/258 (83.7 %) and gastritis in 95/258 (36.8 %) of G1. Both biopsies were normal for 13.6 % cases. Normal gastric biopsies were associated with esophagitis in 128/ 163 (78.5 %) of G1, but gastritis was associated with normal esophageal biopsies in only 7/95 (7.4 %) (0<.001). Histological gastritis was found in 80/108 (74.1 %) of G2 patients. Therefore, for symptomatic children both biopsies are indicated.

Brazilian natural dietary components (annatto, propolis and mushrooms) protecting against mutation and cancer

Considering the high number of new cancer cases in Brazil (approximately 470 000 cases in 2005) and the remarkable differences in the incidence of this disease around the world, the development of chemopreventive strategies using foods widely consumed would have a huge impact, both medically and economically. This review summarizes some of our studies conducted to verify the anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic potential of some Brazilian natural dietary constituents (annatto, mushrooms, and propolis). Overall data have shown a clear role for these compounds in preventing mutation and specific preneoplastic lesions. Taken together, these agents indicate a favorable side-effect profile and may prove to be a promising alternative for cancer prevention strategies, although more investigation is needed to fully explore this issue.

Increased interleukin-10 associated with low IL-6 concentration correlated with greater survival rates in mice infected by rabies virus vaccinated against it and immunomodulated with P-acnes

Macrophage activity, cytokines serum concentration, serum neutralizing antibodies and lethality by rabies were evaluated in swiss mice experimentally infected with street rabies virus and submitted or not to antirabies vaccination and immunomodulation with P. acnes. Animals were killed at different times and serum was collected in order to evaluate cytokines concentration; peritonial and splenic macrophages were collected for macrophage activity evaluation. Greater survival rates higher IL-10 and low IL-6 serum concentration were observed in vaccinated animals treated using P. acnes. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intravesical oxybutynin protects the vesical wall against functional and smooth muscle changes in rabbits with detrusor overactivity

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Clinical and microbiological studies of children and adolescents receiving orthodontic treatment

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Blastocystis hominis: occurrence in children and staff members of municipal day-care centers from Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil

To study the frequency of Blastocystis hominis among healthy individuals, feces were collected from 153 children and 20 staff members of some municipal day-care centers. Three separate stool specimens of each individual were processed by Lutz and Faust methods. From 173 studied individuals, 60 (34.7%) showed B. hominis, frequently in association with other intestinal parasites and/or commensals. B. hominis was found mainly in adults and children between 36 and 72 months old. All positive cases were detected only by Lutz method and the use of three stool specimens increased the positivity of the parasitological diagnostic.

Acaricidal activity of ethanolic extract from aerial parts of Tagetes patula L. (Asteraceae) against larvae and engorged adult females of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

beta-glucans in promoting health: Prevention against mutation and cancer

The polysaccharides beta-glucans occur as a principal component of the cellular walls. Some microorganisms, such as yeast and mushrooms, and also cereals such as oats and barley, are of economic interest because they contain large amounts of beta-glucans. These substances stimulate the immune system, modulating humoral and cellular immunity, and thereby have beneficial effect in fighting infections (bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic). beta-Glucans also exhibit hypocholesterolemic and anticoagulant properties. Recently, they have been demonstrated to be anti-cytotoxic, antimutagenic and anti-tumorogenic, making them promising candidate as pharmacological promoters of health. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Resting heart rate as a predictor of metabolic dysfunctions in obese children and adolescents

Background: Recent studies have identified that a higher resting heart rate (RHR) is associated with elevated blood pressure, independent of body fatness, age and ethnicity. However, it is still unclear whether RHR can also be applied as a screening for other risk factors, such as hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Thus, the purpose of the presented study was to analyze the association between RHR, lipid profile and fasting glucose in obese children and adolescents.Methods: The sample was composed of 180 obese children and adolescents, aged between 7-16 years. Whole-body and segmental body composition were estimated by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Resting heart rate (RHR) was measured by heart rate monitors. The fasting blood samples were analyzed for serum triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glucose, using the colorimetric method.Results: Fasting glucose, TC, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C and RHR were similar in both genders. The group of obese subjects with a higher RHR presented, at a lower age, higher triglycerides and TC. There was a significant relationship between RHR, triglycerides and TC. In the multivariate model, triglycerides and TC maintained a significant relationship with RHR independent of age, gender, general and trunk adiposity. The ROC curve indicated that RHR has a high potential for screening elevated total cholesterol and triglycerides as well as dyslipidemia.Conclusion: Elevated RHR has the potential to identify subjects at an increased risk of atherosclerosis development.

Performance of body fat and body mass index cutoffs in elevated blood pressure screening among male children and adolescents

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The Association between Skipping Breakfast and Biochemical Variables in Sedentary Obese Children and Adolescents

Objective To investigate the relationship between skipping meals and biochemical variables in obese children and adolescents.Study design The sample was composed of 174 obese children and adolescents, aged between 6 and 16 years (80 male and 94 female). Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile were measured after 12 hours fasting. The frequency of skipping breakfast, lunch, or dinner was assessed through a face-to-face interview carried out with the parents.Results The prevalence of eating breakfast daily was low in boys (47.5%) and girls (44.7%). A higher frequency of eating breakfast was negatively correlated with glucose (r = -0.16; P = .026), triglycerides (r = -0.19; P = .011), and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -0.21; P = .005). In the multivariate model, the weekly frequency of eating breakfast remained negatively associated with glucose (beta = -0.975; P = .017), triglycerides (beta = -7.792; P = .017), and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (beta = -1.870; P = .009) independent of age, sex, trunk fatness, and parents' education.Conclusion Skipping meals, mainly breakfast, is associated with glucose and lipid levels in obese children and adolescents. (J Pediatr 2012;161:871-4).

Perception-action and adaptation in postural control of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to examine the coupling between visual information and body sway and the adaptation in this coupling of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Fifteen children with and 15 without CP. 6-15 years old, were required to stand upright inside of a moving room. All children first performed two trials with no movement of the room and eyes open or closed, then four trials in which the room oscillated at 0.2 or 0.5 Hz (peak velocity of 0.6 cm/s), one trial in which the room oscillated at 0.2 Hz (peak velocity of 3.5 cm/s), and finally two other trials in which the room oscillated again at 0.2 Hz (peak velocity of 0.6 cm/s). Participants with CP coupled body sway to visual information provided by the moving room, comparable to the coupling of participants without CP. However, participants with CP exhibited larger body sway in maintaining upright position and more variable sway when body sway was induced by visual manipulation. They showed adaptive sensory motor coupling, e.g. down-weighting visual influence when a larger stimulus was provided, but not with the same magnitude as typically developing participants. This indicates that participants with CP have less capability of adaptation. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Approach on the Electrochemical Reactivity of Poly-L-Glutamic Acid Against Doxorubicin and Its Application in the Development of a Voltammetric Sensor

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)