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OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels of lipid, cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins in newborns and their mothers and to know the association between them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 200 newborns and from their mothers, and analyzed for lipid, cholesterol, triglyceride and lipoprotein content in an autoanalyzer. Data were analyzed with the Epi Info 6 program. Central tendency measurements, variance analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient were obtained. RESULTS: Average lipid levels in newborn blood samples was 625.2 +/- 130, 158.8 +/- 44 mg/dl of cholesterol, 136.9 +/- 97 mg/dl of triglycerides, 70.5 +/- 23.9 mg/dl LDL, 52.7 +/- 14 mg/dl HDL and 26.5 +/- 15.5 mg/dl VLDL. CONCLUSIONS: Newborn cholesterol levels were similar to values reported by Alpers and higher than levels published by the American Committee of Pediatric Biochemistry in USA. An association between levels in mothers and their children was found.

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A randomized clinical trial was performed in children with cancer, fever and neutropenia, to evaluate the efficacy of amikacin once daily versus thrice daily dosing plus carbenicillin in both groups. Fifty patients were included, 25 patients in group A who received amikacin once daily and 25 in group B who received amikacin thrice daily. No intergroup differences were observed, i.e., fever diminished in a median of 6 days (2-8 days) vs. 7 days (3-12 days) in groups A and B respectively (p = 0.37);clinical improvement was observed in a median of 6 days (3-10 days) vs 7 days (2-14 days) (p = 0.68). One patient in group A and two in B died. The peak levels of amikacin on the 7th day of treatment were 10-60 and 7-25 micrograms/mL in groups A and B respectively, and the serum creatinine levels were 0.3 - 0.7 for group A and 0.2 - 0.8 mg/dL for group B; none of the patients presented a creatinine above 40% of the basal value. Three patients of group A had amikacin levels higher than 40 micrograms/mL without increasing the creatinine levels; our observations do not suggest that toxicity is higher. We conclude that the administration of aminoglycoside once daily seems to be as effective as the traditional dosing.

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In order to evaluate the effect of zinc (Zn) deficiency on thyroid abnormalities in chronic renal failure, a Zn supplement (100 mg/day, p.o.) was given for four weeks to eight uremic patients under peritoneal dialysis. Zn supplementation increased plasma levels of TSH (5.8 +/- 0.7 to 7.4 +/- 0.7 mU/l, p < 0.02), T4 (61.6 +/- 3.9 to 93.9 +/- 6.2 nmol/l, p < 0.01), T3 (1.31 +/- 0.14 to 1.70 +/- 0.18 nmol/l, p < 0.01) and Zn (7.23 +/- 0.45 to 12.27 +/- 0.76 mumol/l, p < 0.01). A close correlation was found between changes in plasma levels of Zn and changes in TSH (r = 0.82), T4 (r = 0.55) and T3 (r = 0.64), suggesting that Zn deficiency may play a role in the biosynthesis or release of hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in chronic renal failure.

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OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: To measure the seric levels of zinc and copper in healthy and in hepatic damaged rats when an inflammatory stimulus is applied. RESEARCH DESIGN: 2 x 2 factorial design. SUBJECTS: Fisher *44 strain rats, healthy and with chronic hepatic damage. MEASUREMENTS: Serum levels of Zn and Cu were determined in the different experimental conditions. RESULTS: Basal Zn levels were found diminished in rats with hepatic damage as compared with healthy ones (p < 0.05), whereas Cu levels were found increased in hepatic damaged rats as compared with healthy ones (p < 0.05). Application of an inflammatory stimulus decreased Zn and increased Cu levels in healthy rats as compared to their basal conditions (p < 0.05), whereas no statistically significant variations were found in the group of rats with hepatic damage when comparing their serum levels before and after inflammatory stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Rats with liver damage present alterations in their Zn and Cu levels under basal conditions. Rats with liver damage, submitted to an inflammatory stimulus, do not modify their serum Zn and Cu levels.

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To determine the relationship between bone mineral content (BMC), 25-Hydroxycalciferol (25OHD) and zinc serum levels in young insulin-dependent diabetics, we performed photon absorptiometry on a poorly controlled group of 22 patients. Zinc, 25OHD and alkaline phosphatase were measured in fasting serum. Ca, P, Mg, glucose and cAMP were determined in serum and in 24 hours urine collection. The diabetic group showed a significant decrease in BMC (less than 0.001) with raised urinary excretion rate of calcium (p less than 0.001). On the other hand, serum levels of zinc and 25OHD showed a significant decrease (p less than 0.001, both). We found a positive and significant correlation between glycosuria and urinary excretion rate of calcium (r = 0.77; p less than 0.001) and negative one for 25OHD and urinary excretion rate of calcium (r = -0.77; p less than 0.001). We conclude that decreased zinc and 25OHD serum levels in poorly controlled insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetic patients, in addition to raised urinary excretion rate of calcium, as result of the osmotic diuresis, contribute to bone loss in these patients.

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Plasma zinc and pituitary and testicular hormone concentrations were measured in two groups of male adolescents. One group comprised insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients, aged 14-19 years; the other, as control, included 12 healthy youngsters aged 13-19 years. Plasma concentration of zinc, prolactin, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone were lower in diabetics than in controls, whereas the ratios of androstenedione and androstenedione to testosterone + dihydrotestosterone were higher. Plasma FSH and LH were normal. These results suggest a diminished conversion of androstenedione to testosterone and relate zinc with the 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme activity.

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Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) concentrations were studied in plasma and erythrocytes in patients with chronic renal failure that were on hemo or peritoneal dialysis together with the effect of dialysis treatment on these element concentrations. Plasma Zn was found to be significantly reduced in both groups of patients. On the other hand, erythrocyte zinc levels were higher. This considered more as a metabolic adaptation than as a pathological fact. Plasma Cu increase was observed in hemodialysis patients; however in the group on peritoneal dialysis it was found to be normal. Dialysis did not alter significantly plasma levels in any of these two elements; on the contrary, Zn and Cu levels were decreased in erythrocytes. Ceruloplasmin increased with hemodialysis and decreased with peritoneal dialysis possible due to protein loss resulting in this procedure.

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The effects of colonic and fecal bacterial proliferation on jejunal function were studied in normal rats and in low-germ rats after intraperitoneal injections of mecamylamine HCl. Jejunal bacteriology, bile salts, ultrastructure, and transport capacity were assessed. Normal rats given mecamylamine for 3 days had increased anaerobic bacteria in the intestinal fluid, and had high concentrations of deconjugated bile salts in the intraluminal contents. Jejunal bacteria were lodged between microvilli without penetrating the cell cytoplasm. However, there was focal cellular damage, including fused microvilli, dilated endoplasmic reticulum, and secondary lysosomes. In the mecamylamine treated normal rats intestinal glucose transport was reduced with an alteration compatible with noncompetitive inhibition. The absorption rates of galactose, fructose, 3-0-methyl-D-glucose, tyrosine, Na, and K were also decreased. In contrast, low-germ mecamylamine-treated rats showed no evidence of either increased anaerobic bacterial proliferation or deconjugation of bile salts, and had none of the fine structural alterations seen in regularly raised rats. Also, the transport of carbohydrates was unaltered. The findings suggest that non-invasive enteric proliferation of colonic and fecal bacterial anaerobes in rats may be associated with deconjugation of bile salts, ultrastructural alterations of the intestinal epithelial cells, and a diminished jejunal transport capacity of carbohydrates and other solutes.

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Immunoglobulins in duodenal content were measured by immunodiffusion in children without infection. Two groups were studied: group I with 11 infants 1 to 35 months old without infectious problems and group II with 14 children 3 to 13 years old who one month previously had suffered typhiod fever. Two groups of commercial plates were used both designed to detect low levels. The plate for values of 1 to 10 mg. % was selected for the study. Secretory IgA (IgAS) was determined using a standard of human colostrum. Total proteins were measured by Biuret's method. The values obtained in Group I were: 2.3 +/- 0.44 for IgAS, 4.9 +/- 1.29 for IgM, 2.3 +/- 1.0 for IgG and 461.09 +/- 160.89 mg. % for total proteins. In Group II, in the same order, the values were: 2.28 +/- 0.59, 3.70 +/- 0.98, 1.57 +/- 0.37 and 333.91 +/- 64.63 mg.%. No sataistically significant difference was found for any of the values mentioned when comparison between the two groups was made; therefore, when values for the two groups were added, the final results were: 2.29 +/- 0.35 for IgAS, 4.23 +/- 0.74 for IgM, 1.89 +/- 0.45 for IgG and 389.86 +/- 70.53 for total proteins. Between serum and intestinal IgA (r = 0.11), there was no correlation. No statistical difference was either found when grouped by sexes or ages (less than 3 and greater than 3 years). It is concluded that the method applied allows the use of very small amounts of the sample, avoids the inconveniences of concentration, is available to any laboratory and permits detection of values as low as 0.5 mg. %.

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The results of treatment with human colostrum in 6 babies with protracted infectious diarrhea from enteropathogenic E. coli and/or Salmonella are reported. Active diarrhea was present in 5 cases and the 6th was a carrier. Remission was obtained in cases with diarrhea and all showed increase in weight. Negativeness of stool cultures was achieved in four cases and in the other two, the bacteriologic control was not complete. One patient died from a secondary pulmonary infectious problem. As an average, all patients showed rise in secretory IgA and in IgG measured at the duodenal fluid level and in comparison with a control group, there were statistically significant differences. Serum immunoglobulins showed no changes following administration of human colostrum. Although the number of patients reported is small, the results obtained may be considered favorable.

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The fecal mucus obtained from 110 samples in 50 children with diarrhea was studied. Leukocytes were present in 44 cases and 66 samples were negative. Patients with E. coli 0111 did not show fecal leukocytes in contrast with those with E. coli 0119. Patients with shigellosis showed fecal leukocytes of polymorphonuclear predominance, the same as patients with non-thyphoid salmonellosis. But when septicemia was present, either from salmonella or from other enterobacteria, there was a striking increase in percentage of mononuclears. Several patients with negative stool cultures showed fecal leukocytes of polymorphonuclear predominance which suggested residual inflammatory reaction or presence of bacteriologically unidentified invasive E. coli. The index of diagnostic prediction for this test was 73%. Its routine use is recommended in any child with acute or protracted diarrhea, before the initiation of antimicrobial treatment.

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