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Biomedical subjects

L Mata

Publications and source records attributed to L Mata.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

S-IgA cholera toxin and rotavirus antibody in human colostrum.

S-IgA antibodies against cholera toxin and rotavirus were assayed in 43 colostral samples by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All specimens contained specific S-IgA antibodies against both antigens. Significant antibody titres to the antigens were demonstrated in almost all colostral samples.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Diarrhea associated with rotavirus in rural Guatemala: a longitudinal study of 24 infants and young children.

A population of 24 infants and young children followed prospectively during the first 3 years of life was studied for the occurrence of rotavirus infection by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect virus in stools. Infection with rotavirus was associated with 26 (14.2%) of 183 selected diarrheal episodes. Twenty of the 24 infants and young children had diarrhea associated with rotavirus on at least one occasion and six had two such episodes. Rotavirus infection was documented in over 50% of the dehydrating episodes studied, thus further indicating the importance of rotavirus in this population.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1978

Epidemiology of human rotavirus Types 1 and 2 as studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

To determine the relative importance of two known serotypes of human rotavirus, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to differentiate serotype-specific rotavirus antigen and antibody. Using this technic, we studied the epidemiology of the two serotypes in acute gastroenteritis. Seventy-seven per cent of 414 rotavirus isolates were Type 2, and the remainder were Type 1. The serotype distribution was similar in specimens from children in Washington, D.C., and other parts of the world. Sero-epidemiologic studies revealed that most children living in the Washington, D.C., area acquired antibody to both types by the age of two years. An analysis of children who were reinfected indicated that sequential infections usually involved different serotypes and that illness caused by one serotype did not provide resistance to illness caused by the other serotype. These results suggest that, to be completely effective, a vaccine must provide resistance to both serotypes.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1978

Comparison of sucrose with glucose in oral therapy of infant diarrhoea.

In a randomised double-blind trial, 51 5--10% dehydrated infants were rehydrated with oral electrolyte solutions containing sucrose or glucose. Most infants in both groups were successfully rehydrated, but the sucrose solution produced a slower correction of electrolyte abnormalities and a higher percentage of patients who needed more than 24 h of therapy. Where there is adequate knowledge of the oral therapy method sucrose can substitute for glucose in many cases; where there is a choice glucose is recommended.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

Secretory antibody directed against rotavirus in human milk--measurement by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Human milk contains antibodies to a variety of enteropathic agents. We utilized the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to investigate anti-rotavirus secretory IgA in 113 human milk and colostral specimens from a rural area in Guatemala, 32 colostral specimens from an urban area of Costa Rica, and 12 from an urban area of the United States. Anti-rotavirus SCIgA was found in all colostral samples and in 94% of the milk specimans. Both the absolute concentration of anti-rotavirus SCIgA and concentration relative to total SCIgA were highest in colostrum, falling to lower but detectable levels from one week to two years after birth. No significant differences were noted in the results from the specimens from the three different geographic areas. The possible role of this antibody in immunity to rotavirus infections is discussed.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1978

Breast-feeding: main promoter of infant health.

Unique immunological factors in breast milk are responsible for the protection it affords infants against pathogenic agents. This protection is particularly effective against the infectious agents which invade or colonize the small and large intestine. Factors interfering with enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive bacteria, and with entero- and rotaviruses, have already been detected in colostrum and mature human milk. Moreover, the biochemical composition of human milk makes it the best infant food during the first 6 months of life, and with supplementation, for months thereafter. At the same time, optimal maternal-infant interactions are effected during breast-feeding which strengthen infant care in health, in illness and during convalescence. The low cost of breast-feeding when compared to other types of alimentation, coupled with its unparalleled nutritive, anti-infectious, and behavior stimulating properties makes it the main promoter of infant health. There remains a need for investigation of the factors that have brought about a reduction in breast-feeding throughout the world. New methodologies to increase the incidence of breast-feeding, particularly in the developing nations, are critical. The availability of such methodologies could facilitate delivery of other health interventions ideally delivered by the mother, the most important agent for improving the health of infants and children.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

[Criteria in evaluating the nutritional status of the child in Costa Rica].

The present discussion reveals the need to review and substitute certain criteria currently used in Costa Rica in regards to: a) nutritional recommendations; b) standards of weight; and c) classification and evaluation of the nutritional status. Such concepts will lead to the adoption of alternate criteria and standards for a better assessment of malnutrition in children. Computation of the adequacy of the diet should be made as a function of the child's weight and not of his age (Sukhatme approach). The adoption of the Weight for Height and Height for Age criteria are recommended as a substitute for Weight for Age. The normal curves of weight and height of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS, USA) would be more accurate criteria. Systematic collections of weights and heights at the national level should be made, and the data processed by simple and rapid programs to discover and assess growth deficiencies. The philosophy and orientation, scientific basis, definition of target population, infrastructure and logistics of the nutrition intervention programs of Costa Rica, should be critically revised in the light of the present report. This particularly applies to the Program of Social Development and Family Allowances.

Body Height↗
PubMed1978

[Admissions for protein-calorie malnutrition at the National Children's Hospital, Costa Rica, 1975].

The hospital records of 478 children with protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) were reviewed. These represented all children diagnosed as malnourished during 1975 (3.6 per cent of all hospital admittances in the National Children's Hospital); 52% of the cases were infants less than 6 months of age; 28% had low birth weight, a rate much in excess of the prevalence of low birth weight in the general population of Costa Rica (7%). In general, malnourished children had been weaned early, 75% during the first month of life. A considerable number of children belonged to "malnourishing families" which have particular characteristics favorable to establishment of malnutrition in the family. Thus, 36% of their siblings had also been admitted with malnutrition at a previous date to that of this study.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

[Food consumption of children under 5 in rural communities of Costa Rica, 1977].

Six Costa Rican communities of different ecological settings were selected for the study of food intake in children under 5 years of age. Intake was expressed as calorie and protein adequacy. Calorie deficiency was more prevalent than protein defficiency. Practically there were no differences in adequacy by age, although 4 year-olds had a slightly greater deficiency than observed in a relatively more advanced rural region 4 years earlier. Only 13 per cent of the children selected at random were covered by Social Development and Family Allowances programs which provide for two "hot meals" per day. Calorie deficiencies of children benefiting from this program were of similar magnitude as those of children not attending the food distribution centers. These observations point to the need to carry out further investigation of the actual effectiveness and drawbacks of such programs.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1978

[Human fetal growth in Costa Rica, 1970-1975].

Costa Rica has experienced a marked reduction in infant mortality--both in the neonatal and post-neonatal components--in the last decade. The decline could be related to improvements in the pattern of fetal growth. The present report analyses the birth weight of newborns from a random sample of all births in the Republic of Costa Rica during 1970 and 1975. While the average birth weight in that period was 3100 grams, the prevalence of low birth weight neonates decreased from 9 to 7 per cent in five years. The provinces of Limon and San Jose exhibited the highest frequency of low birth weight. Women 20 to 29 years old had babies with better or optimal body weight. Age, marital status and occupation of the mother appeared correlated with birth weight. A relationship between changes in fetal growth and changes in maternal, perinatal and neonatal mortality is apparent. The present situation of birth weight places Costa Rica among the countries in transition with a clearer perspective to attain an even higher infant survival in the near future. In this regard, several measures oriented toward prevention of low birth weight are recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Viral infections during pregnancy and in early life.

There is evidence that fetal antigenic stimulation and intrauterine infection is much more frequent in developing rural populations than in industrialized societies. A similar contrast is observed for postnatal intestinal infection that is significantly greater in the less developed areas. The differences are explained by the divergence in environmental sanitation and personal hygiene. Intestinal infection is important in that diarrheal disease is one of the main factors leading to malnutrition. It is apparent that for developing nations to attain better nutrition, much of the present burden of intestinal infection needs to be controlled.

Feces↗
PubMed1975

Microflora of maize prepared as tortillas.

Very little is known of the microflora in tortillas, the major component in the diet of many Guatemalans and other Central Americans. Based in a Guatemalan highland Indian village, this study examined the types and amounts of bacteria, yeasts, and molds in tortillas and in their maize precursors. Coliforms, Bacillus cereus, two species of Staphylococcus, and many types of yeast were the main contaminants, but low concentrations of alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus, facultative Clostridium, and other bacterial types were also found. When tortillas were first cooked, the bacterial counts dropped to 1,000 or fewer organisms per g, a safe level for consumption. Under village conditions, bacterial counts regained precooking levels (about 10(8) organisms/g) within 24 h and rose even higher after 48 h. Reheating caused very little change; hence, bacterial levels remained very high in old tortillas kept for later consumption. A search for the sources of contamination showed that most came from water used in preparation and from the soiled hands of women preparing the tortillas. As an attempt to correct certain nutritional needs of the population, the Institute of Nutrition for Central America and Panama initiated a tortilla fortification project in the Guatemalan village. The bacterial counts in fortified tortillas did not differ significantly from those in oridinary tortillas. Furthermore, the level of contamination was constant among tortillas of different sizes and among tortillas made from different types of maize.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sociocultural factors in the control and prevention of parasitic diseases.

Control and prevention of parasitic disease depends on an adequate knowledge of interactions among factors such as human behavior, the environment, and the life cycles of parasites. Sociocultural factors in large part determine transmission and persistence of parasites. The main determinants are poverty, low educational level, deficiencies in home technologies, high demographic density, and ruralism. Selected interventions designed to improve any of these situations may fail if they are applied in an isolated manner. The holistic implementation of interventions has proved successful in the control and prevention of parasitic infections in several parts of the word. The implementation of several kinds of interventions simultaneously, that is, a holistic approach, combined with an awareness of a society's infrastructure, can produce favorable results. For such an awareness--when it provokes action--can improve the overall quality of life.

Adolescent↗