Efecto de la administración semanal de ácido fólico sobre los valores sanguíneos The effect of weekly administration of folic acid on folic blood levels

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el efecto de la administración de 5 mg por semana de ácido fólico sobre los valores sanguíneos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de comparación concurrente realizado en zonas urbanas y rurales del estado de Nuevo León, México, en 1998, a 74 mujeres, 39 de ellas con antecedente de un producto con defecto de cierre del tubo neural y 35 sin dicho antecedente. La muestra sólo incluyó a mujeres que parieron durante 1997. Las mujeres recibieron 5 mg de ácido fólico por semana durante tres meses. El AF sanguíneo fue determinado por radioinmunoanálisis (RIA), al inicio y una semana después de la última tableta. Se calcularon promedios y desviaciones estándar. RESULTADOS: El 90% de las mujeres aumentó significativamente los valores sanguíneos. El ácido fólico intraeritrocitario se incrementó de 150.49 ± 31.17 ng/ml a 184.21 ± 35.53 ng/ml (phttp://www.insp.mx/salud/index.htmlOBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of weekly administration of 5 mg. folic acid (FA) intake on folic acid blood levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This concurrent comparative study was conducted in 1998, in urban and rural areas of Nuevo Leon State, Mexico. The study population consisted of 74 women who delivered a child during 1997, 39 of whom had a child with a neural tube defect. Women were given 5 mg. of folic acid, weekly for 3 months. Blood levels of folic acid were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at baseline, and a week after taking the last folic acid dose. Data are presented as means and standard deviations. RESULTS: Ninety per cent of the women had significantly increased folic acid intraerythrocytary blood levels. Red cell folate increased from 150.49 ± 31.17 ng/ml to 184.21 ± 35.53 ng/ml (phttp://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html</a

Association between umbilical cord leptin and weight gain according to feeding type in the early postnatal period, a brief report

Antecedentes. La ganancia de peso en la infancia depende del estado nutricional in utero y el crecimiento posnatal, así como de las prácticas de alimentación, cultura, accesibilidad a los alimentos y el nivel educativo de los padres. Objetivo. Evaluar la relación de los niveles de leptina del cordón umbilical y la influencia del tipo de alimentación (seno materno vs. fórmula) en la ganancia de peso a los tres meses de vida en recién nacidos sanos. Material y métodos. Noventa y nueve recién nacidos a término (masculinos, n = 48; femenino, n = 51) fueron incluidos en dos grupos de acuerdo con el tipo de alimentación: alimentados al seno materno (n = 49) y alimentados con fórmula (n = 50). La leptina fue medida de la sangre obtenida de la vena del cordón umbilical. Resultados. Las concentraciones de leptina del cordón umbilical y la ganancia de peso a los tres meses tuvieron una correlación inversa en lactantes alimentados con fórmula (r = -0.294, P = 0.038), estos hallazgos no fueron reflejados en lactantes alimentados al seno materno (r = -0.212, P = 0.144). Conclusiones. En esta cohorte mexicana de alimentación al seno materno, los niveles de leptina en el cordón umbilical fueron un predictor significativo de la ganancia de peso en infantes alimentados con fórmulaBackground. Weight gain in infancy depends on in utero nutritional status, with postnatal growth also dependent on feeding practices, culture, food accessibility and parents’ education. Objective. To evaluate the relationship between umbilical cord blood leptin levels and feeding mode (breast-fed vs. formula) on weight gain at three months of life. Material and methods. Ninety-nine full-term newborns (male, n = 48; female, n = 51) were included in two groups according to feeding type: breast-fed (n = 49) and formula-fed (n = 50). Leptin was measured in blood obtained from the umbilical cord vein. Results. Umbilical cord leptin levels and weight gain at three months had a significant inverse correlation in formula-fed infants (r = -0.294, P = 0.038). This finding was not reflected in breast-fed infants (r = -0.212, P = 0.144). Conclusions. In our Mexican breastfeeding cohort, umbilical cord leptin levels were a significant predictor of weight gain in formula-fed infantsThis work was supported by grants from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León through the Scientific and Technological Research Support Program (PAICYT) (SA1463-06)

Algorithm for Screening of Adrenal Function in Stable Patients with Cirrhosis

Introduction and aims: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is common in patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to assess the presence of AI in stable patients with cirrhosis using the gold-standard insulin tolerance test (ITT) and to propose an algorithm for screening AI in these patients. Material and methods: We studied 40 stable patients with cirrhosis. We determined the basal total (BTC) and peak cortisol (PTC) levels. Using the ITT, we defined AI as a serum PTC 9 or MELD >12). Conclusion: An algorithm including the use of BTC and the severity of liver disease may be a useful and simple method for assessing adrenal function in stable patients with cirrhosis

Plasma cytokine levels imbalance in cirrhotic patients with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus. A prospective study

Aims. To define if there is an imbalance in plasma levels of proinflammatory, fibrogenic and antifibrogenic cytokines in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or diabetes mellitus (DM).Material and methods. We randomly selected 54 out of 100 patients with LC who had normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. Three groups were formed based on an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results: 18 patients were normal, 18 had IGT, and 18 had DM. Plasma levels of cytokines were measured: TNF-α, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), leptin, TGF-β1, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Also, fasting plasma insulin (FPI) levels were determined and HOMa2-IR was calculated. Results were compared with those of a control group of 18 patients without liver disease nor DM. Intergroup comparison was performed using non parametric tests.Results. Significantly higher sTNF-R1 and lower TGF-β1 were found in patients with IGT and DM compared to controls. Leptin, HGF, and TNF-α levels showed no significant differences. According to Child-Pugh classification all cytokines levels were impaired in groups B or C as compared to group A. Positive correlations between sTNF-R1 and HOMA2-IR and between leptin and HOMA2-IR were found.Conclusions. IGT and DM were associated with abnormalities of sTNF-R1 and TGF-β1 compared to non cirrhotic controls. Among cirrhotic patients impairment of all cytokines were more marked in advanced liver disease. Finally, sTNF-R1and leptin correlated with IR. These findings suggest that IGT and DM may be causally implicated with liver inflammation process

Reference values for amino acids and acylcarnitines in peripheral blood in Quarter horses and American Miniature horses

Abstract Background Free amino acids and acylcarnitines circulating in the blood can be used for diagnosis for metabolic illness and imbalances. To date, the normal reference ranges of amino acids and acylcarnitines in horse peripheral blood have not been established. In this study, the concentrations of 12 amino acids and 26 acylcarnitines were determined by tandem mass spectrometry in complete blood from 100 healthy horses (50 Quarter horses (QH) [23 males and 27 females] and 50 American Miniature horses (AMH) [15 males and 35 females]) with no signs of metabolic disease. The means and standard deviations were determined and data statistically analyzed. Findings Concentrations of short, medium, and long chain acylcarnitines were significantly higher in male AMH than in male QH. The concentrations of the amino acids alanine, arginine, glycine, proline (glycogenic), and leucine (ketogenic) were higher in the QH than in the AMH. Female AMH had higher concentrations of propionylcarnitine, leucine, proline, arginine, and ornithine than female QH. Conclusions Normal reference ranges of amino acids and acylcarnitines were established for AMH and QH. Significant differences were found in concentration of these compounds between breeds and gender