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Biomedical subjects

K M Hendricks

Publications and source records attributed to K M Hendricks.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Diet, activity, and other health-related behaviors in college-age women.

Morbidity and mortality data for young women in the United States reflect several health risk behaviors for both acute and chronic disease development. Available data suggest that young women's diets are high in total and saturated fat and low in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. As a result, diets of young women are frequently low in iron, folate, and calcium. Prevalence of overweight continues to increase significantly in this population, but inappropriate body image concerns and disordered eating patterns are also common. Inactivity, smoking, and weight cycling are patterns that appear to begin early in women's lives. Some data suggest that young women value nutrition quality and are more likely to attempt positive changes than are young men.

Adult↗

Malnutrition in hospitalized pediatric patients. Current prevalence.

OBJECTIVE: To document the current prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition compared with that reported from the same institution in 1976. DESIGN: All inpatients of this tertiary-care facility were assessed by anthropometric, laboratory, and clinical nutrition assessment methods in a 1-day cross-sectional survey. The comparison study from 1976 was also a 1-day cross-sectional survey. SETTING: A tertiary-care facility in Boston, Mass. PATIENTS: The entire inpatient population was assessed on a single weekday in September 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition as judged by anthropometric and laboratory data. Data on demographics, admission classification, underlying disease, route of nutrition, and global nutritional status were also assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of acute protein-energy malnutrition (weight for height) based on the Waterlow criteria was as follows: severe, 1.3%; moderate, 5.8%; mild, 17.4%; and none, 75.5%. The prevalence of chronic protein-energy malnutrition (height for age) was as follows: severe, 5.1%; moderate, 7.7%; mild, 14.5%; and none, 72.8%. Although the prevalence of acute and chronic protein-energy malnutrition was significantly less in 1992 than in 1976 (P = .03 and P < .001, respectively), the numbers are still alarmingly high. Children younger than 2 years and older than 18 years and those with chronic medical conditions had a higher prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition. Twenty-four percent of patients had a serum albumin level less than 30 g/L, 34.8% had a total lymphocyte count less than 1.5 x 10(9)/L, and 24.9% had a hemoglobin concentration less than 105 g/L. One fourth of all patients were obese (> 120% weight for height), with the greatest prevalence in children aged 2 to 18 years. CONCLUSIONS: Acute and chronic protein-energy malnutrition remains common in hospitalized pediatric patients in the United States. Important risk factors may be underlying chronic disease, periods of normally rapid growth, and recognized need for nutrition intervention.

Acute Disease↗

Weaning recommendations: the scientific basis.

Current weaning recommendations are based on nutritional need, physiologic maturation, and the behavioral and developmental aspects of infant feeding. Inadequate energy and protein intake and deficiencies of iron, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin D are the most commonly observed nutrient deficiencies during infancy and weaning recommendations have focused on their prevention. This article reviews the data and summarizes implications for infant weaning in both developed and developing countries. Current published recommendations for infant feeding are outlined and major concerns are highlighted.

Child Development↗

Dietary risk factors associated with acute and persistent diarrhea in children in Karachi, Pakistan.

Feeding practices may have an important impact on diarrheal diseases in developing countries. This study evaluated feeding practices in three groups of male children aged 6-36 mo: 100 with persistent diarrhea (PD), 79 with acute diarrhea (AD), and 86 in a comparison group (CG). The children came from comparably poor socioeconomic settings in Karachi, Pakistan, except that the literacy rates were higher in mothers of the CG (P = 0.0001). Although greater than 95% of all infants were breast-fed, delayed initiation of breast-feeding was more common in the diarrhea groups. Children with diarrhea were also more likely to receive supplemental milk (PD = 92%, AD = 87%) than were children in the CG (69%, P less than 0.05). Feedings were not withheld during diarrhea but changes were made in the nature of foods given. These results indicate that several feeding practices may be important risk factors for diarrhea in Pakistan.

Acute Disease↗

Growth failure and inflammatory bowel disease: approach to treatment of a complicated adolescent problem.

Severe retardation of linear growth occurs in a minority of children with Crohn's disease. It appears to be associated with increased disease activity and decreased caloric intake. Why some children are affected and others are not is unknown, but some degree of growth retardation is probably more prevalent than is generally appreciated. The use of somatomedin-C levels may be of some future value in predicting which children will be affected. Growth failure is often difficult to treat and requires vigorous medical and nutritional support. No current treatment is without attendant problems. Proper and frequent assessment of growth and development will help ensure intervention while growth potential still exists in these children. Large cooperative studies are needed to compare the effects of various treatment plans on the growth velocity and ultimate stature of children with Crohn's disease-related growth retardation.

Adolescent↗

Chronic nonspecific diarrhea. A complication of dietary fat restriction.

Chronic nonspecific diarrhea is a frequent cause of prolonged diarrhea in childhood. Typical diagnostic features include onset by 30 months of age, normal growth and development, and diarrhea lasting longer than two weeks. It usually follows a gastroenteritis or an acute infection and has been associated with a low intake of dietary fat. Five patients experienced this condition following dietary manipulation to prevent the occurrence of atheromatous coronary artery disease. This indicates that diminished dietary fat not only can prolong postinfectious diarrhea but can also induce a state of chronic diarrhea without evidence of malabsorption.

Child, Preschool↗

Chronic nonspecific diarrhea: dietary relationships.

Chronic nonspecific diarrhea (CNSD) is the most common cause of prolonged diarrhea without failure to thrive. Although it is most commonly seen from ages 6 to 36 months, CNSD may persist until 54 months of age. Forty-four patients with this syndrome had complete dietary histories, and were divided into four groups on the basis of their intakes and responses to its modification. Each of the four groups had significantly less fat in their diet at the time of presentation than did ten non-CNSD patients (P less than .005) presenting similarly. In three of the groups, daily fat consumption was increased, irrespective of the adequacy of their initial intakes. In all 38 patients in these groups, this dietary modification was associated with the resolution of symptoms. The fourth group, with initially normal dietary fat ingestion, did not respond to dietary therapy. The overall success rate of the regimen in this patient population was 82%. Carbohydrate, fiber, and caloric contents of the diets did not appear to play as significant a role as fat intake.

Child, Preschool↗