Relationships between blood pressure, anthropometric characteristics and blood lipids in high- and low-altitude populations from Central Asia.

We studied the relationships between blood pressure, anthropometric characteristics and blood lipids in 72 low altitude (LA) Uighurs (600 m), 91 LA-Kirghizs (900 m), 117 medium altitude (MA) Kazakhs (2100 m) and 94 high altitude (HA) Kirghizs (3200 m). All subjects were male and had a similar age (p = ns, ANOVA; range for all 374 subjects: 18-66 yr). Body weight (Wt), body mass index (BM1) and the sum of four skinfolds (4SF) were significantly lower in HA-Kirghizs than the remaining groups (p < 0.

Anthropometry fails in classifying bone mineral status in postmenopausal women.

This study tested two hypotheses: (1) that simple anthropometric parameters can be used to identify patients at risk of decreased bone mineral content and (2) that an inverse relationship exists between waist:hip ratio (WHR) and bone mineral density (BMD). Bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD were evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 1873 free-living women. Of these, 1819 (97%) were post-menopausal.

Comparison of food composition tables and direct chemical analysis for the assessment of macronutrient intake in a military community.

Food composition tables (FCT) were validated against chemical analysis (CA) to assess energy, carbohydrate, lipid, protein and fibre content of the food consumed by Italian Army cadets. The absolute difference between FCT and CA in 2 separate weeks was < or = 0.7% for energy, < or = 4.

Dysplastic changes in gastric fundic gland polyps of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

Background: Fundic gland polyps are the most common gastric lesion in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and are traditionally considered a condition with no malignancy potential. However, some reports have recently questioned this view.

Aims: To prospectively evaluate their prevalence and the associated dysplastic/malignant changes in a series of affected patients.

Effects of home-based food preparation practices on the micronutrient content of foods.

We studied the effects of cooking on the vitamin and mineral content of vegetables (vegetable soup, cauliflower), meat (beefsteak) and fish (sole) and those of cutting (fruit salad) and squeezing (orange juice) on the vitamin content of fruits. In cooked dishes, vitamin retention ranged between 0 (folic acid, all dishes) and 94% (retinol, sole) and mineral retention between 63 (copper, cauliflower) and 96% (iron, vegetable soup). In orange juice, ascorbic acid appeared to be protected from oxidation for at least 12 h as compared with fruit salad.

Use of bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) in children with alterations of body water distribution.

Validation studies of bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) were performed in children with obesity, Duchenne muscle dystrophy and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. BIA allowed an accurate assessment of total body water in all groups (CV from 4.1 to 5.

Body water distribution in highlanders versus lowlanders.

Acute exposure to high altitude produces characteristic changes in body water distribution from which acclimatized individuals seem to be spared. However, it has been suggested that body water distribution may be different in highlanders (HL) as compared to lowlanders (LL). We studied the distribution of total body water (TBW) between extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) in a group of 20 HL (3200 m above sea level) versus one of 20 LL (900 m above sea level).

Endoscopic snare papillectomy in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and ampullary adenoma.

The optimal treatment of adenomas of the papilla of Vater has still not been definitively established, and the endoscopic excision of such lesions has received little attention in the literature. We report here the cases of two patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, in whom ampullary adenomas measuring 8 and 20 mm, respectively, were treated using one-piece snare excision of the lesion together with the papilla (snare papillectomy), followed by temporary biliopancreatic drainage. Procedure-related complications were an oozing-type hemorrhage and a mild pancreatitis, easily controlled by conservative measures.

The prediction of total body water from bioelectrical impedance in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Total body water (TBW) was measured by deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution and predicted from bioelectrical impedance (Z) in nineteen anorexic and twenty-seven control women. The equation of Kushner et al. (1992) based on the impedance index (ZI = height2/Z) gave biases of 0.

Assessment of body hydration in subjects with schistosomiasis.

Total body water (TBW) was measured by deuterium oxide dilution (D2O) and predicted by bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) (Deurenberg, Schouten, Andreoli and De Lorenzo 1993) in 21 subjects with Schistosoma mansoni infection and 17 healthy controls of similar age (32.8 +/- 13.7 years, n=38).

Comparison of two dosing regimens of cisapride in the treatment of reflux oesophagitis.

Aim: In an international, multicentre, double-blind trial, to document the therapeutic equivalence of two dosing regimens of cisapride on endoscopic healing and symptom improvement in patients with proven reflux oesophagitis grade I or II (Savary-Miller).

Methods: Four hundred and seven patients were randomly allocated to treatment with either cisapride 10 mg q.d.

Effects of cooking and storage methods on the micronutrient content of foods.

Food processing has the potential to alter the nutrient quality of foods. This review deals with the effects of home-based cooking and storage practices on the micronutrient content of foods. It describes the effects of cooking, freezing and refrigeration on the vitamin and mineral content of meats, fish, fruit, vegetables and cereals.

The prediction of total body water and extracellular water from bioelectric impedance in obese children.

Objectives: To assess the reliability of bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) for predicting total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) in obese children.

Design: Comparison of five prediction models based on: (i) body weight (Wt), (ii) the impedance (Z) index (ZI = height2/Z), (iii) the association of Wt and ZI, (iv) the body surface area (SA) to impedance ratio (SA:Z) and, (v) the body volume (V) to impedance ratio (V:Z).

Subjects: Thirty obese and 25 control children of 11.

High prevalence of adenomas and microadenomas of the duodenal papilla and periampullary region in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

Background: Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) are traditionally considered to be at high risk for duodenal-papillary and periampullary adenomas and cancer.

Aim: To evaluate prospectively the prevalence, histology and clinical significance of ampullary and periampullary macroscopic and microscopic lesions in our population of affected patients.

Setting: Three gastroenterological departments of northern Italian hospitals.

Multi-frequency bioelectric impedance measurements for predicting body water compartments in patients with non-ascitic liver cirrhosis.

We assessed total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) in thirty-four non-ascitic cirrhotics and twenty healthy controls by 2H2O and Br dilution. In the same subjects, bioelectric impedance (BI) was recorded at multiple frequencies. Body hydration was similar for controls (mean 55.

Altered body water distribution in subjects with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and its effects on the measurement of water compartments from bioelectric impedance.

Objective: To assess the reliability of bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) for predicting total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) in children affected by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Subjects: Thirty-nine children affected by JRA and 23 healthy children of similar age (11.0 +/- 3.

Triple therapy with azithromycin, omeprazole, and amoxicillin is highly effective in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a controlled trial versus omeprazole plus amoxicillin.

Background: Azithromycin is a new-generation, acid-stable macrolide antibiotic that achieves remarkably high concentrations in gastric tissue, persisting above the MIC90 for Helicobacter pylori over a 5-day period after a single 500-mg oral dose.

Methods: We evaluated a new metronidazole-free triple therapy with omeprazole 20 mg b.i.

Multifrequency bioelectric impedance measurements for predicting body water compartments in duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Body hydration and extra- to intra-cellular water ratio (ECW: ICW) have been studied in 12 duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and 15 healthy controls. Subjects underwent total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) assessment by deuterium and bromide dilution, respectively. Multifrequency bioelectric impedance analysis (MFBIA) was performed on all subjects with the aim to establish its accuracy in predicting TBW and ECW in DMD.

First observation of microadenomas in the ileal mucosa of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and colectomies.

Background & Aims: Little data are available on the type and prevalence of mucosal changes involved in the development of ileal adenomas in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis who have undergone colectomy. However, colonic metaplasia of the ileal epithelium is thought to be an important step in the development of such adenomas.

Methods: Retrograde endoscopy and biopsy of the distal ileum were performed in 17 affected patients who underwent total colectomy or proctocolectomy 3-184.

The prediction of extracellular and total body water from bioelectric impedance in a non-Caucasian population from central Asia.

The availability of only a small number of studies on bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) in non-Caucasian ethnic groups appears to limit reliable utilization of this method in anthropological field studies. In this study, 28 male Turkish-Mongolian subjects native of Kazakhstan (Central Asia) underwent total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) assessment by deuterium oxide (D2O) and sodium bromide (NaBr) dilution respectively. Bioelectric impedance (BI) was recorded at multiple frequencies.

Comparison of body weight, body height and body fatness of Italian children aged 6-12 years with American standards.

World Health Organization has suggested that American standards may be adopted for use in countries where no local reference data are available. Since no locally accepted growth standard is available in Italy, this study investigated if American growth curves for weight, height and triceps skinfold (TSF) provide reliable values for Italian children. Weight, height and TSF were measured in 1273 Italian children (boys: 656, girls: 617) ranging in age from 6 to 12 years and their percentiles were compared with that provided by NCHS for American children.