The association of neighbourhood and individual social capital with consistent self-rated health: a longitudinal study in Brazilian pregnant and postpartum women.

BACKGROUND: Social conditions, social relationships and neighbourhood environment, the components of social capital, are important determinants of health. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of neighbourhood and individual social capital with consistent self-rated health in women between the first trimester of pregnancy and six months postpartum. METHODS: A multilevel cohort study in 34 neighbourhoods was performed on 685 Brazilian women recruited at antenatal units in two cities in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Self-rated health (SRH) was assessed in the 1st trimester of pregnancy (baseline) and six months after childbirth (follow-up). The participants were divided into two groups: 1. Good SRH--good SRH at baseline and follow-up, and, 2. Poor SRH--poor SRH at baseline and follow-up. Exploratory variables collected at baseline included neighbourhood social capital (neighbourhood-level variable), individual social capital (social support and social networks), demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health-related behaviours and self-reported diseases. A hierarchical binomial multilevel analysis was performed to test the association between neighbourhood and individual social capital and SRH, adjusted for covariates. RESULTS: The Good SRH group reported higher scores of social support and social networks than the Poor SRH group. Although low neighbourhood social capital was associated with poor SRH in crude analysis, the association was not significant when individual socio-demographic variables were included in the model. In the final model, women reporting poor SRH both at baseline and follow-up had lower levels of social support (positive social interaction) [OR 0.82 (95% CI: 0.73-0.90)] and a lower likelihood of friendship social networks [OR 0.61 (95% CI: 0.37-0.99)] than the Good SRH group. The characteristics that remained associated with poor SRH were low level of schooling, Black and Brown ethnicity, more children, urinary infection and water plumbing outside the house. CONCLUSIONS: Low individual social capital during pregnancy, considered here as social support and social network, was independently associated with poor SRH in women whereas neighbourhood social capital did not affect women's SRH during pregnancy and the months thereafter. From pregnancy and up to six months postpartum, the effect of individual social capital explained better the consistency of SRH over time than neighbourhood social capital

An approximate estimate of the ion-activity product of calcium oxalate in rat urine

The objective of this report was to derive a simplified approximate estimate of the ion-activity product of calcium oxalate (AP(CaOx)) in rat urine. the relative effect of each urine variable was assessed by means of iterative computerised approximation with the EQUIL2 program. A basic urine composition was chosen from literature and experimental data. the most pronounced influence on AP(CaOx) was recorded for urinary calcium, oxalate, citrate, magnesium and volume. Based on these calculations, an AP(CaOx) index(RAT) was formulated: A . Calcium(0.93) . Oxalate(0.96)/(Citrate + F)(0.60) . Magnesium(0.55) . Volume(0.99). for a 24-h urine sample, factor A takes the value 4067 and factor F should be set to 0.015. Conclusion. A simplified approximate estimate of AP(CaOx) was derived for rat urine. There was a reasonably good correspondence between AP(CaOx) index(RAT) and AP(CaOx), as derived from EQUIL2 (r=0.890), provided the other urine variables do not deviate very much from that in the basic composition.Huddinge Univ Hosp, Karolinska Inst, Surg Sci Ctr, Dept Urol, S-14186 Huddinge, SwedenUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism and bone mineral density in hypercalciuric calcium-stone-forming patients

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of vertebral fracture have been reported in calcium-stone-forming (CSF) patients presenting with idiopathic hypercalciuria. We investigated the association between Bsml vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism and BMD in 68 hypercalciuric CSF patients (35 males and 33 premenopausal females, mean age +/- SD = 39 +/- 10 years). BMD was measured at lumbar spine (L-2-L-4) and femur neck sites using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. A 72-hour dietary record and a 24-hour urine sample were obtained from each patient to determine calcium intake and excretion. the allelic frequency found for the sample as a whole was 16% BB, 44% Bb and 40% bb. Mean BMD values did not significantly differ among BB, Bb and bb patients at L2-L4 (1.162 +/- 0.10, 1.133 +/- 0.11 and 1.194 +/- 0.19 g/cm(2), mean SD, respectively) or at neck sites (0.920 +/- 0.11, 0.931 +/- 0.15 and 0.982 +/- 0.15 g/cm(2), respectively). Calcium intake and excretion were also not significantly different among the three genotypes. Patients were then divided into two groups, normal BMD, T-score greater than or equal to -1 (n = 34) and low BMD, T-score <-1 (n = 34), to further evaluate the allele influence on previous bone loss. Despite a trend for a higher mean BMD at spine or neck sites for patients with one or two b alleles when compared to BB patients, the difference did not reach statistical significance. the distribution of BB, Bb and bb genotypes in the low-bone-mass group (15, 47 and 38%, respectively) was similar to that in the normal-bone-mass group (18, 41 and 14%, respectively). These data suggest that Bsml VDR polymorphism does not play an important role in the bone loss seen in hypercalciuric CSF patients. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Effect of etidronate treatment on bone mass of male nephrolithiasis patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria and osteopenia

Osteopenia is frequently found among calcium stone forming (CSF) patients with hypercalciuria. We investigated the effect of a 2-year therapeutic course of etidronate, a bone-sparing agent, in 7 young male CSF patients. the treatment consisted of a cyclic intermittent administration of phosphate followed by sodium etidronate and calcium supplementation every 74 days. Bone mineral density (BMD) measured at 12-month intervals and bone biopsies performed at baseline and after 2 years were the primary efficacy parameters. Mean lumbar spine BMD increased significantly after the 1st year by 2.6 +/- 1.0% (mean +/- SE, p < 0.05) and nonsignificantly after the 2nd year by 5.6 +/- 2.6 %. Nonsignificant changes were observed for femoral neck mean BMD after either the 1st or the 2nd year (decrease of 2.0 +/- 1.0% and 2.0 +/- 3.0%, respectively). Mean histomorphometric parameters showed that bone volume, osteoid volume, and eroded surfaces did not differ from baseline (13.9 +/- 2.2 vs. 12.2 +/- 1.1%, 1.2 +/- 0.7 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.7%, and 20.7 +/- 6.2 vs. 13.7 +/- 1.3%, respectively). Osteoid surface was significantly lower than baseline values (9.5 +/- 5.2 vs. 18.8 +/- 5.3%, p < 0.05). These data suggest that etidronate given to young male CSF patients presenting with hypercalciuria and osteopenia led to a significant amelioration of BMD, evident only in the lumbar spine after 1 year of treatment. There was no histological evidence of long-term improvement in bone remodeling.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Nephrol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Rheumatol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Nephrol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Rheumatol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Effects of an oxalate load on urinary oxalate excretion in calcium stone formers

Objective: To investigate the oxalate intake and the effect of an oxalate load on urinary oxalate excretion in calcium stone-forming (CSF) patients.Design: Prospective study.Setting: University-affiliated outpatient Renal Lithiasis Unit.Patients and controls: Seventy (70) CSF and 41 healthy subjects (HS) collected a 24-hour urine sample and were submitted to a 3-day dietary record to determine mean oxalate (Ox), calcium (Ca) and vitamin C intake. Fifty-eight (58) CSF patients were randomly selected to receive milk (N = 28) or dark (N = 30) chocolate as an oxalate load.Intervention: Administration of either milk (94 mg Ox + 430 mg Ca) or dark chocolate (94 mg Ox + 26 mg Ca) for 3 days. A 24-hour urine sample was obtained before and after the load to determine calcium, oxalate, sodium, potassium, urea, and creatinine.Main outcome measure: Oxalate intake and excretion.Results: CSF patients presented mean Ox intake of 98 +/- 137 mg/d, similar to that of HS (108 +/- 139,mg/d).,Mean Ox and vitamin C intake was directly correlated with Ox excretion only in CSF. the consumption of dark,chocolate induced a significant increase in mean urinary Ox (36 +/- 14 versus 30 +/- 10 mg/24 hr) not observed in the milk chocolate group. Thus, a 2-fold increase in Ox intake,in this population of CSF patients produced a significant 20% increase in oxaluria, not observed when Ca was consumed simultaneously.Conclusion: the present study suggests that even small increases in Ox intake affect oxalate excretion,and the mitigation of urinary oxalate increase by Ca consumption reinforces that Ca and Ox intakes for CSF patients should be in balance. Further studies are necessary to assess whether or not a 20% increase in oxaluria will lead to a higher risk of stone formation. (C) 2003 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Nutr Postgrad Program, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Nutr Postgrad Program, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Recurrent vesical calculi, hypercalciuria, and biochemical evidence of increased bone resorption in an adult male with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury: is there a role for intermittent oral disodium etidronate therapy for prevention of calcium phosphate bladder stones?

Study design: Clinical case report with comments by colleagues from Sweden, Poland, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Belgium and Switzerland.Objectives: To discuss the role of disodium etidronate therapy for prevention of calcium phosphate vesical calculi in persons with spinal cord injury, who have hypercalciuria and biochemical evidence of increased bone resorption.Setting: Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport, UK.Methods: A 21-year-old male sustained paraplegia (T-10; ASIA scale: A) in a road traffic accident in June 2001. He had an indwelling urethral catheter until the end of August 2001, when he started self-catheterisation. He developed bladder stones and electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) was performed in May 2002. All stone fragments were removed. Recurrence of vesical calculi was noted in October 2002. These stones were fragmented by lithoclast lithotripsy in two sessions, in December 2002 and February 2003; all stone fragments were removed at the end of the second session. This patient reverted to indwelling catheter drainage when vesical calculi recurred. in September 2003, X-ray of the abdomen showed recurrence of vesical calculi. By February 2004, the stones had increased in size and number. EHL of vesical calculi was again performed in April 2004. Complete clearance was achieved.Results: A 24-h urinalysis detected hypercalciuria - 18.7 mmol/day ( reference range: 2.5 - 7.5). Biochemical analysis of vesical calculus revealed calcium phosphate (85%) and magnesium ammonium phosphate (15%). Plasma C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) was increased - 1.06 ng/ml ( reference range: 0.1 - 0.5 ng/ml). Free deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio (fDPD/Cr) in urine was also increased - 20.2 ( reference range: 2.3 - 5.4). in April 2004, this patient was prescribed disodium etidronate 400 mg day. Nearly 3 months after commencing therapy with etidronate, plasma CTX decreased to 0.87 ng/ml. fDPD/Cr in urine also decreased to 12.4. After 4 months of etidronate therapy, 24- h urinary calcium excretion had decreased to 6.1 mmol/day.Conclusion: Etidronate ( 400 mg daily) is a very effective inhibitor of calcium phosphate crystallisation. Etidronate decreased urinary excretion of calcium, an important factor in prevention of calcium phosphate bladder stones. Etidronate therapy is not a substitute for other well-established methods for prevention of vesical calculi in spinal cord injury patients, for example, large fluid intake, avoiding long-term catheter drainage. Intermittent therapy with etidronate may be considered in selected patients, in whom hypercalciuria persists after instituting nonpharmacological therapy for an adequate period, for example, early mobilisation, weight-bearing exercises, and functional electrical stimulation. However, possible side effects of etidronate, and the fact that etidronate is not licensed in United Kingdom for prevention of urolithiasis, should be borne in mind.Dist Gen Hosp, Reg Spinal Injuries Ctr, Southport, EnglandDist Gen Hosp, Dept Biochem, Southport, EnglandSahlgrenska Univ Hosp, Dept Urol, Gothenburg, SwedenMetropolitan Rehabil Ctr, Dept Neurourol, Konstancin, PolandUniv Balearic Isl, Inst Hlth Sci Res IUNICS, Lab Renal Lithiasis Res, Palma de Mallorca, SpainUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilNagoya City Univ, Grad Sch Med Sci, Dept Nephrourol, Nagoya, Aichi, JapanUniv Ziekenhuis Antwerpen, Cent Urol Revalidatie, Edegem, BelgiumUniv Hosp Balgrist, Spinal Cord Injury Ctr, Dept Neurourol, Zurich, SwitzerlandDist Gen Hosp, Dept Radiol, Southport, EnglandRoyal Liverpool & Broadgreen Univ Hosp, Dept Clin Chem, Liverpool, Merseyside, EnglandUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc