Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L Vega Franco.
Reviewed are reports on factors, identified by risk analysis, involved in the genesis of primary malnutrition in children. Data are compared with the sequence of factors in a flow diagram, based on the natural history of malnutrition, proposed 3 decades ago. Susceptibility to malnutrition is analyzed in light of observations related to inheritance, the ob gene and leptin.
The main contributions in the knowledge of secondary lactase deficiency in children are reviewed. We present the clinical features of fermentative diarrhea and the current physiopathological issues, diagnostic procedures, and dietetic treatments, related to this diarrhea, as well as a review of the diseases associated with it. Finally, we discuss the epidemiological implications of the deficiency.
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In order to investigate the intestinal absorption in relation to parasitic diseases, 106 children were studied using the xylose test. All of them were attending a primary school. The height and weight were recorded, and the hemoblobin and hematocrit were estimated in each one. The examination of the stools shown one or more parasites in 57.6 per cent specimens. The E. histolytica, Hymenolepis nana and A. lumbricoides, were identified in 22.6, 21.7 and 20.7 per cent children, respectively; G lamblia was found in 10.4 per cent. Only the children with Giardia had a statistical difference in the absorption of xylose, with respect to those without parasites. At the same time height was low in comparison to a group of children with similar age and sex, selected among the 45 without parasitic diseases. Findings are discussed according to the pathogenic mechanism involved in giardiasis. Emphasis is done in the interplay of malnutrition and G. lamblia.
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Considering that a greater concentration of proteins in the meconium of children with pancreatic achylia has been reported, the possibility was set forth that a similar finding was present in infants with intrauterine malnutrition; this probability was established on the basis that a dysfunction of the exocrine pancreas is present in postnatal malnutrition. The study comprised 37 samples of meconium from full-term infants; 27 of them from adequate weight newborns and the remaining 10, from low weight infants for their gestational age. The results showed a significant difference when the concentration of albumin and of alpha-1-antitrypsin registered for both groups was compared. In infants classed as malnourished because of their lower weight expected for their gestational age, both the albumin as the alpha-1-antitrypsin were found raised.
Considering the possibility that during septicemic processes, pancreatitis could develop, 10 infants were studied when the clinical diagnosis of septicemia was established. With this purpose, the clinical manifestations present in the patients were recorded and the activities of serum amilase and lipase were determined at 24 hour intervals during the first three days and these studies were repeated on the 5th and 7th days. The results showed an abnormally high serum lipase activity, especially in 6 of the 10 infants. The amilase was found within normal limits with a tendency to drop in certain cases. This information suggest the presence of acute pancreatitis in some of the subjects studied.
Serum concentration of vitamin B12 is reported in children who had previously lost partially or totally the ileum. Only one of them showed a definite pondostatural retardation when evaluation of growth and development was done. No evidence of anemia was found in any one of them and the estimation of vitamin B12 was abnormally low in only one case. Findings are discussed and the necessity to carry out a periodic control of vitamin B12 in children with ileal resection is stressed.
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The effect of iron deficiency on the attention span was studied in 169 school children between 6 to 11 years of age. All were studied by hematological procedures and psychological methods in order to know the nutritional status for iron and their capacity of attention. Then were treated with iron sulfate for 12 weeks, and the hematological and psychological studies were repeated. Results shown iron deficiency anemia in 17.1 percent of the children, and iron deficiency, without anemia, in 14.7 percent. After treatment of the school children the scores and time required in a visual attention test improved. Also there was a favorable change in the scores obtained by one the subtests of the WISC Test. Findings are discussed and it is mentioned that a program for combating iron deficiency anemia through food fortification most be implemented.