Anemia associated with autism spectrum disorder

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of anemia in children and adolescents with autism, between 3 and 18 years old, through a retrospective review in medical records. Additionally, items relating to food selectivity and/or restriction were assed. A total of 118 medical reports were reviewed concerning hematimetric parameters (serum ferritin, iron, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and red cell distribution width). We found that 28.07% had anemia based on hemoglobin, according to the WHO; in these patients, 21.5% had some type of food selectivity. Regarding anemia as a result of iron deficiency (ferritin below 12 μg/l for children under five years and below 15μ/L for over five years) we verified that 19 patients presented a positive result. The high frequency of adolescents and children with anemia suggests that these parameters should be measured as part of a routine investigation in Autism Spectrum Disorder as a standard practice

What happens to intolerant, relapsed or refractory chronic myeloid leukemia patients without access to clinical trials?

Objective: To assess clinical outcomes of intolerant, relapsed or refractory patients who could not be treated with new tyrosine kinase inhibitors or experimental therapies. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 90 chronic myeloid leukemia patients in all phases of the disease treated with imatinib mesylate as their first TKI therapy, and with dasatinib or nilotinib as the next line of therapy. We evaluated clinical outcomes of these patients, with special focus on the group that needed more than two therapy lines. Results: Thirty-nine percent of patients were refractory or intolerant to imatinib. An 8-year overall survival rate of the patients who went through three or more lines of treatment was significantly lower, compared to those who were able to maintain imatinib as their first-line therapy (83% and 22%, respectively p < 0.01). Decreased overall survival was associated with advanced-phase disease (p < 0.01), failure to achieve major molecular response in first-line treatment (p < 0.01) and interruption of first-line treatment due to any reason (p = 0.023). Failure in achieving complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response and treatment interruption were associated with the progression to the third-line treatment. Conclusion: The critical outcome observed in relapsed, intolerant or refractory chronic phase CML patients reflects the unmet need for this group of patients without an alternative therapy, such as new drugs or experimental therapies in clinical trials. Broader access to newer treatment possibilities is a crucial asset to improve survival among CML patients, especially those refractory or intolerant to first-line therapies

Composição corporal e avaliação do consumo e do comportamento alimentar em pacientes do transtorno do espectro autista

Introdução: O transtorno do espectro autista (TEA) atualmente é definido como um distúrbio do desenvolvimento neurológico caracterizado por déficits na comunicação e interação social e padrões restritos e repetitivos de comportamento, interesses e atividades. Estima-se que aproximadamente 1% da população mundial seja diagnosticada com esta desordem. O TEA manifesta-se por uma variedade de sintomas nas áreas cognitiva, emocional e neurocomportamental. Além dos sintomas característicos como estereotipias, ecolalia, déficits de comunicação, algumas manifestações envolvendo a alimentação podem ser observadas nesses pacientes. As desordens alimentares podem envolver aversão a determinados alimentos, insistência em comer um número limitado de alimentos e recusa de provar alimentos novos. O estado nutricional desses pacientes pode ser alterado pelo inadequado consumo alimentar e fatores relacionados ao comportamento alimentar. Objetivos: avaliar o estado nutricional [antropometria e bioimpedância elétrica (BIA)], o consumo e o comportamento alimentar em crianças e adolescentes com TEA, bem como os sentimentos e estratégias dos pais/cuidadores desses pacientes frente a esse comportamento. Métodos: Para a avaliação antropométrica foram realizadas medidas de peso (kg), altura (cm) e circunferência da cintura (CC). A composição corporal (massa magra e massa gorda) e o ângulo de fase foram verificados através da BIA. Foi calculado o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e classificado o estado nutricional de cada participante. A avaliação do consumo alimentar foi realizada através do preenchimento do registro alimentar de 3 dias, posteriormente os nutrientes foram calculados no software NutriBase® e comparado com os valores das Dietary Reference Intake (DRIs) de acordo com o sexo e idade. O questionário Behavior Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFA) foi utilizado para avaliar o comportamento alimentar dos participantes e as estratégias e sentimentos dos pais/cuidadores referentes ao momento da alimentação das crianças e adolescentes. Resultados: De acordo com o percentual de gordura corporal obtido pela BIA e a CC um amplo percentual desta amostra apresentou adiposidade central e total elevada (49,2%). Segundo o IMC 38,9% apresentaram sobrepeso, 36,5% obesidade e 15,8% baixo peso. O grupo TEA ingeriu em média mais calorias do que o grupo controle apresentou repertório limitado de alimentos consumidos, e alta prevalência de inadequação no consumo de cálcio, sódio, ferro, vitamina B5, ácido fólico, e vitamina C. Os escores do BPFA foram maiores no grupo TEA comparados com controles para todos os domínios. Independente da frequência da manifestação de problemas alimentares estes impactam fortemente os pais/cuidadores. Conclusões: Esta dissertação fornece evidencias sobre seletividade alimentar que não parecem estar associadas com a redução da ingestão de calorias, mas sim com a qualidade da alimentação, sendo assim um potencial fator de risco para doenças nutricionais. Esses resultados contribuem para a importância da avaliação nutricional (antropométrica, da composição corporal e de problemas alimentares) dentro da rotina clínica de pacientes com TEA e seus familiares, sempre considerando as características singulares de cada paciente.Introduction: The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is currently defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communication and social interaction deficits and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities. Approximately 1% of the population have ASD diagnoses. ASD is manifested by a wide variety of cognitive, emotional, and neurobehavioral symptoms. In addition to the characteristic symptoms such as stereotypies, echolalia, communication deficits, some events involving nutrition aspects may be observed in these patients. Feeding problems may involve aversion to certain foods, insistence on eating only a small selection of foods and refusal to try new foods. Consequently, nutritional status can be changed by inadequate food consumption and factors related to feeding behavior. Objectives: evaluate the nutritional status [anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance (BIA)], consumption and feeding problems in children and adolescents with ASD. Methods: Anthropometric measurements - weight (kg), height (cm), waist circumference (WC) - were performed and the test of body composition (fat mass, fat free mass) and phase angle was held by BIA. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated and nutritional status of each participant was classified. The food intake evaluation was carried out by a 3-day food record, and nutrients subsequently calculated on the NutriBase® software and compared with the reference values according to sex and age in the Dietary Reference Intake (DRIs). The Behavior Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFA) questionnaire was used to evaluate the feeding problems of the participants and the strategies and feelings of parents / caregivers regarding the mealtime. Results: According to the body fat percentage obtained by BIA and WC, a large percentage of this sample showed a high central and total adiposity (49.2%). According to BMI 38.9% were overweight, 36.5% obesity and 15.8% underweight. The ASD group consumed on average more calories than the control group, showed limited repertoire of foods consumed, and high prevalence of inadequate calcium, sodium, iron, vitamin B5, folic acid, and vitamin C consumption. BPFA scores were higher in the ASD group when compared to controls for all domains. Independently of how often children and adolescents denote feeding problems, when they occur, it impacts strongly on their parents. Conclusions: These studies provides evidence on food selectivity that seem to be associated with the food quality, rather than the reduced calorie intake, thus being a potential risk factor for nutritional diseases. These results contribute to the importance of the nutritional assessment (anthropometric, body composition and eating problems) within the clinical setting in patients with ASD and parents/caregivers, always considering the unique characteristics of each patient