[Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection in pediatrics. Part 2: Working group associated with the Antimicrobial Committee, Chilean Society of Infectology].

The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood. An adequate diagnosis is essential to be able to carry out a rational, efficient and effective treatment, however, there is great heterogeneity in diagnostic methods, specifically in the study of antimicrobial susceptibility. The aim of these recommendations is to provide tools to homogenize the diagnosis criteria, susceptibility study and antimicrobial treatment of urinary tract infection in the pediatric population, with a rational use of antibiotics approach.

[Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection in pediatrics. Part 1: Working group associated with the Antimicrobial Committee, Chilean Society of Infectology].

The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood. An adequate diagnosis is essential to be able to carry out a rational, efficient and effective treatment, however, there great heterogeneity in diagnostic methods, specifically in the study of antimicrobial susceptibility. The aim of these recommendations is to provide tools to homogenize the diagnosis criteria, susceptibility study and antimicrobial treatment of urinary tract infection in the pediatric population, with a rational use of antibiotics approach.

[Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome: recommendations of the Nephrology Branch of the Chilean Society of Pediatrics. Part two].

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is the most common glomerular disease in childhood, affecting 1 to 3 per 100,000 children under the age of 16. It most commonly occurs in ages between 2 and 10. Its cause is unknown, and its histology corresponds to minimal change disease in 90% of cases, or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

[Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome: recommendations of the Nephrology Branch of the Chilean Society of Pediatrics. Part One].

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is the most common glomerular disease in childhood, affecting 1 to 3 per 100,000 children under the age of 16. It most commonly occurs in ages between 2 and 10. Its cause is unknown and its histology corresponds to minimal change disease in 90% of cases, or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

[Evolution of scintigraphic renal lesions in children after an episode of acute pyelonephritis].

Background: Abnormal Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scintigraphy performed six months after an acute pyelonephritis (AP) is generally interpreted as scarring.

Aim: To perform a follow up of childhood patients showing scintigraphic renal lesions during the acute phase of pyelonephritis (within 7 days from the beginning of fever).

Material And Methods: A scintigraphic control was carried out at 5-7 months and, in case of persistent lesions, an additional late scintigraphy at 10-13 months.

Antisense miR-7 impairs insulin expression in developing pancreas and in cultured pancreatic buds.

MicroRNAs regulate gene expression by inhibiting translation or inducing target mRNA degradation. MicroRNAs regulate organ differentiation and embryonic development, including pancreatic specification and islet function. We showed previously that miR-7 is highly expressed in human pancreatic fetal and adult endocrine cells.

[Characterization of a rat model useful for studying the nutritional consequences of diarrhea].

Due to poor sanitary conditions, total global diarrhea mortality occurs almost exclusively in underdeveloped countries. Since, in these countries, sanitation is greatly overlooked, in the case of diarrheal disease, the emphasis must be oriented to treatment rather than prevention. An important aspect in the treatment of diarrheal disease is to avoid the malnutrition it causes and therefore, proper feeding during and after the diarrheal episode is a crucial issue.

[Effect of diarrhea on nutrient utilization in protein deficient or protein-calorie deficient rats].

Diarrhea increases the effects of malnutrition. Accordingly, the effect of diarrhea on two types of malnutrition (protein deficiency and protein-calorie deficiency) was studied. The experiment included 42 young Sprague Dawley rats.

Effect of the diuretic furosemide on urinary essential nutrient loss and on body stores in growing rats.

Studies using a model of non-infectious diarrhea, have shown that increasing fecal mass by using laxatives resulted in greater fecal losses of nutrients and lower intestinal absorption. In the present study we used a diuretic to determine if increasing urine volume could result in greater urinary losses of essential nutrients. This is a relevant question because diuretics are widely and successfully used in the treatment of diseases associated with water retention and hypertension.

[Lactose-induced diarrhea increases oxidative stress and it is more severe in rats deficient in vitamin E].

Diarrhea is the disease with high incidence in the world and causes infant mortality and malnutrition in the developing world. This justifies the study of nutrition and diarrhea. Due to ethical and financial considerations it is difficult to study nutrition and diarrhea in children thus animal models have become a convenient alternative.

Pediatric renal transplantation: 13 years of experience--report from the Chilean Cooperative Multicenter Group.

Between 1989 and 2002, 178 renal transplants were performed in 168 pediatric patients in Chile. The mean age was 10.9 +/- 3.

[Tc 99M DMSA scintigraphy in children with a first episode of acute pyelonephritis: correlation with laboratory tests, echography and the presence of vesico-ureteral reflux].

Background: Tc99m DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid) scintigraphy has a high sensitivity for the detection of cortical kidney damage.

Aim: To evaluate the Tc99m DMSA renal scintigraphy in children with a first episode of acute pyelonephritis and its association with laboratory parameters, kidney ultrasound and vesicoureteral reflux.

Patients And Methods: We studied 143 children (age range 8 days, 12 years, 66% female) hospitalized with the clinical diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (first episode) with a positive urine culture and a renal scintigraphy performed within seven days of diagnosis.

Interactions among indicators of B1, B2, B6 and vitamin C status in university students.

In 209 young university students (109 males and 80 females) with body mass index within the normal range, the activation coefficient of the erythrocyte transketolase (ETKAC) glutathione reductase (EGRAC) and aspartate amino transferase (EASTAC) as well as the circulating levels of vitamin C were determined. Using the usual cutoff points for ETKAC and serum vitamin C and higher than usual cutoff points for EASTAC and EGRAC 99, 95, 92, and 87% of the study subjects exhibited activation coefficients which were compatible with an acceptable status for vitamin B2, B6, C and B1 respectively. A correlation analysis showed a high correlation (r = 0.

[Effects of secretory and osmotic diarrhea on rats intestinal function and morphology].

In order to compare intestinal morphology and function, diarrhea was produced in rats using laxatives in the diet. The 14 day study included two groups of rats with diarrhea (osmotic or secretory), two groups without diarrhea but with a degree of malnutrition which was similar to that seen in the rats with diarrhea (malnourished without diarrhea) and a well-nourished group (control). The inclusion of laxatives(lactose or bisoxatin acetate) cause a reduction in food intake, diarrhea an malnutrition.

Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of an exo-levanase gene from the endophytic bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus SRT4.

Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus produces levan from sucrose by a secreted levansucrase (LsdA). A levanase-encoding gene ( lsdB), starting 51 bp downstream of the lsdA gene, was cloned from strain SRT4. The lsdB gene (1605 bp) encodes a protein (calculated molecular mass 58.

[Absorption of fat from three dietary sources in rats with lactose induced diarrhea].

Low energy intake is one the most important factors related to nutritional wasting during diarrheal episodes and fat is the macronutrient with the highest energy value. So we intended to seek dietary fat sources, with the highest bioavailability during diarrheal episodes. Three basal (control) and three 42.

Value of a tomato byproduct as a source of dietary fiber in rats.

A residue consisting of tomato peel and seeds is a byproduct of the tomato paste industry. This product had, after drying and grinding, 101.4 g water, 175.

[Macronutrients, fiber, fatty acids and minerals in meals served in a university dining room].

We studied the nutritional quality of six lunch menus offered in a university's dining room located in Caracas City. Each of these menus included soup, main dish, salad, bread and dessert. The results showed that each lunch offered 15 to 20 different kinds of foods.

[Effect of the lactose induced diarrhea on macronutrients availability and immune function in well-nourished and undernourished rats].

In this study we compared the availability of nutrients in a balanced diet offered to young well-nourished and undernourished Sprague Dawley rats, with and without diarrhea. Malnutrition was induced by restricting food intake (50%) in one half of the rats for 2 weeks and diarrhea was induced by including 45% lactose in the diet after malnutrition had been established. During the experiment which lasted 8 d the animals were kept on the same feeding protocol but one half of the nourished and one half of the undernourished received lactose to induce diarrhea.

[Dietary fiber in industrial tomato residue and its effects on glycaemic response and seric cholesterol in rats].

The left over after ketchup sauce is obtained is a tomato residue (RIT) that contains skin and seeds. Proximal analysis of the flour of this industrial product reveals that it has 50% dietary fiber, 18% protein and 10% fat. Due to the high dietary fiber content the effect on glucose absorption and seric cholesterol was studied.

[Nutrient utilization in children with acute diarrhea fed with formulas containing chicken and soybean].

The objective of this study was to measure in children with acute diarrhea the apparent absorption and retention of the macronutrients and some micronutrient present in a formula prepared with chicken and a formula prepared with soybean protein. Fourteen male children (9 months old) with acute diarrhea were assigned to each of these formulas and the consumption and excretion of the studied nutrients were monitored during 48 h. The results showed that the children assigned to the chicken formula consumed more protein and less fat than those in the soybean protein formula.

In well-fed young rats, lactose-induced chronic diarrhea reduces the apparent absorption of vitamins A and E and affects preferentially vitamin E status.

To establish the effect of lactose-induced diarrhea on the apparent absorption and status of vitamins-A and E in well-fed young rats, we fed Sprague Dawley rats a balanced diet or a lactose diet (350 g/kg). A group of rats fed the control diet equal to the level measured in the lactose-fed rats (pair-fed) was also included. The experiment lasted 23 d and feces were collected on days 4-6, 10-12, 14-16 and 20-22.

[Serum lipids and vitamin A, C and E concentrations in an adult population of Caracas City].

Lipid profiles as well as vitamins A, C and E were determined in a sample of 90 men and 151 women with ages within 35 and 50 years old. Comparing the lipid profiles obtained in the study with the limits established by the National Cholesterol Education Program, resulted that a little more than 60% of the group had total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in the desirable range, 20 to 30% had levels in the marginal range while 10 to 15% had levels in the high risk range. This distribution of the risk is more favorable than that observed in populations with a high risk of heart diseases such us the British or American populations, which show a substantially higher segment of the people in the high risk level.

[The effect of lactation time on the macronutrient and mineral composition of milk from Venezuelan women].

Human milk is considered the ideal food for the infant and it has been extensively used to estimate its nutrient requirements. The objective of this paper was to determine the effect of lactation time on the macronutrient an mineral content of milks obtained from Venezuelan women and also to compare this with the established nutrient requirements of the infant. For this purpose 83 milk samples from 45 low income mothers were analyzed at the colostrum (48 h to 54 d) and mature states of lactation (1.

[Agreement between animal and vegetable protein digestibility measured in vivo and in vitro and its effect on the chemical score].

Protein digestibility is a key factor in the determination of protein quality using the chemical score. Since there are several methods available for determining protein digestibility the purpose of this study was to compare three methods in vitro (pH drop, pH stat and pepsin digestibility) and two methods in vivo (true and apparent digestibility in rats) in the determination of the protein digestibility of: casein, soy protein isolate, fish meal, black beans, corn meal and wheat flour. The results showed that in the case of highly digestible proteins all methods agreed very well.