Gut Microbiota of Young Children Living in Four Brazilian Cities.

Recent studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota development is influenced by human biogeographic factors such as race, ethnicity, diet, lifestyle or culture-specific variations, and other environmental influences. However, biogeographic variation in gut microbiota assembly remains largely unexplored in Latin America. In this paper, we compared food recall information and microbiota composition of toddlers living in geographically separated urban populations within four states of Brazil.

FEEDING DIFFICULTIES IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN, PREVIOUS FEEDING PRACTICES, AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS.

Objective: To identify the prevalence of feeding difficulties in preschoolers, its association with epidemiological factors and previous eating habits, and repercussion on nutritional status.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with a questionnaire given to the mothers of 301 children aged 2-6 years enrolled in public and private kindergartens in Natal, Northeast Brazil, conducted in 2014-2015. Feeding difficulty was assessed according to Kerzner's criteria, resulting in the profiles "highly selective intake", "active child with small appetite", "fear of feeding", and "child with psychological disorder or neglected".

The celiac iceberg: from the clinical spectrum to serology and histopathology in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and Down syndrome.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) and extraintestinal symptoms in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) and Down syndrome (DS) and their association with specific antibodies and histopathology of celiac disease (CelD), representing its clinical forms in the iceberg.

Material And Methods: Cross-sectional study (November 2009-December 2012) conducted at an outpatient care facility in Northeast Brazil including patients [DM1 (n = 111); DS (n = 77)] aged 10 months-18 years old. Measurement of anti-endomysial (EmA) and anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) IgA antibodies was performed, as was that of anti-tTG-IgG in the cases with low serum IgA.

Clinical and follow up assessment of children in a program directed at the use of formulas for cow's milk protein allergy.

Objective: To determine clinical and follow up characteristics of children enrolled in a program to supply formulas for cow's milk allergy.

Methods: descriptive study of a convenience sample composed of 214 children up to three years old, with clinical diagnosis of cow's milk allergy and/or standardized oral challenge, referred to the Program of Formulas for Cow's Milk Allergy at a Pediatric University Hospital, in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (2007/2009). Clinical-epidemiological data and formula indication (soy, protein hydrolysates or aminoacid formula) were assessed at the first consultation.

[Regional differences in knowledge, attitudes, and practice in emergency contraceptive use among health sciences university students in Brazil].

The aim of this study was to evaluate regional differences in knowledge, attitudes, and practice in emergency contraception use among Brazilian university students. A sample of university students answered a semi-structured questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to emergency contraception and sexual behavior. Fisher's exact test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.

Hepatic stellate cell activation and hepatic fibrosis in children with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis: an immunohistochemical study of paired liver biopsies before treatment and after clinical remission.

Objectives: The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is considered the most important event in hepatic fibrogenesis. The precise mechanism of this process is unknown in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and more evidence is needed on the evolution of fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess these aspects in children with type 1 AIH.

Bacterial contamination and nutrient content of home-prepared milk feeding bottles of infants attending a public outpatient clinic.

To evaluate the bacterial contamination and the nutrient content of home-prepared milk feeding bottles, 48 samples of their lacteal contents were collected; of these, 29 samples were cultured and 48 were analyzed to determine their macronutrients composition by chemical analyses. The medians (percentiles 25 and 75) of the counts (bacteria/ml) were mesophilic bacteria, 78,000 (500-1,125,000) and coliforms, 600 (0-44,000). Adding sugar (41/48) and cereals (39/48) to the milk was a common practice.