Intervention and Mechanisms of Alanyl-glutamine for Inflammation, Nutrition, and Enteropathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Determine the minimum dosage of alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln) required to improve gut integrity and growth in children at risk of environmental enteropathy (EE).

Methods: This was a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled dose-response trial. We enrolled 140 children residing in a low-income community in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Etiology and severity of diarrheal diseases in infants at the semiarid region of Brazil: A case-control study.

Background: Diarrheal diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. We aimed to study the etiology and severity of diarrhea in children living in the low-income semiarid region of Brazil.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, age-matched case-control study of diarrhea in children aged 2-36 months from six cities in Brazil's semiarid region.

Campylobacter jejuni virulence genes and immune-inflammatory biomarkers association with growth impairment in children from Northeastern Brazil.

Campylobacter spp. have been associated with anthropometric Z-score decrements, but the role of specific virulence genes associated with these outcomes has not been explored. This study aimed to investigate whether specific Campylobacter jejuni virulence-related gene and immune-inflammatory biomarkers are associated with malnutrition in children from Northeastern Brazil.

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli Subclinical Infection and Coinfections and Impaired Child Growth in the MAL-ED Cohort Study.

Objective: We evaluated the impact of subclinical enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) infection alone and in combination with other pathogens in the first 6 months of life on child growth.

Methods: Nondiarrheal samples from 1684 children across 8 Multisite Birth Cohort Study, Malnutrition and Enteric Diseases (MAL-ED) sites in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were tested monthly; more than 90% of children were followed-up twice weekly for the first 6 months of life.

Results: Children with subclinical EAEC infection did not show altered growth between enrollment and 6 months.

Determinant Variables, Enteric Pathogen Burden, Gut Function and Immune-related Inflammatory Biomarkers Associated With Childhood Malnutrition: A Prospective Case-Control Study in Northeastern Brazil.

Malnutrition results in serious consequences for growth and cognitive development in children. We studied select child and maternal biologic factors, socioeconomic factors, enteric pathogenic burden and gut function biomarkers in 402 children 6-24 months of age in Northeastern Brazil. In this prospective case-control study, not being fed colostrum [odds ratio (OR): 3.

Urinary N-methylnicotinamide and β-aminoisobutyric acid predict catch-up growth in undernourished Brazilian children.

Enteric infections, enteropathy and undernutrition in early childhood are preventable risk factors for child deaths, impaired neurodevelopment, and later life metabolic diseases. However, the mechanisms linking these exposures and outcomes remain to be elucidated, as do biomarkers for identifying children at risk. By examining the urinary metabolic phenotypes of nourished and undernourished children participating in a case-control study in Semi-Arid Brazil, we identified key differences with potential relevance to mechanisms, biomarkers and outcomes.

Geography, population, demography, socioeconomic, anthropometry, and environmental status in the MAL-ED cohort and case-control study Sites in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

The Etiology, Risk Factors and Interactions of Enteric Infections and Malnutrition and the Consequences for Child Health and Development (MAL-ED) cohort in the study's Fortaleza, Brazil, catchment area has a population of approximately 82 300 inhabitants. Most of the households (87%) have access to clean water, 98% have electricity, and 69% have access to improved toilet/sanitation. Most childbirths occur at the hospital, and the under-5 mortality rate is 20 per 1000 live births.

Effects of glutamine alone or in combination with zinc and vitamin A on growth, intestinal barrier function, stress and satiety-related hormones in Brazilian shantytown children.

Objective: To determine the impact of supplemental zinc, vitamin A, and glutamine alone or in combination on growth, intestinal barrier function, stress and satiety-related hormones among Brazilian shantytown children with low median height-for-age z-scores.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in children aged two months to nine years from the urban shanty compound community of Fortaleza, Brazil. Demographic and anthropometric information was assessed.

Improvement of intestinal permeability with alanyl-glutamine in HIV patients: a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Context: Glutamine is the main source of energy of the enterocyte and diarrhea and weight loss are frequent in HIV infected patients.

Objective: To determine the effect of alanyl-glutamine supplementation on intestinal permeability and absorption in these patients.

Methods: Randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled study using isonitrogenous doses of alanyl-glutamine (24 g/day) and placebo (glycine, 25 g/day) during 10 days.

Zinc, vitamin A, and glutamine supplementation in Brazilian shantytown children at risk for diarrhea results in sex-specific improvements in verbal learning.

Objective: To identify the impact of supplemental zinc, vitamin A, and glutamine, alone or in combination, on long-term cognitive outcomes among Brazilian shantytown children with low median height-for-age z-scores.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in children aged three months to nine years old from the urban shanty compound community of Fortaleza, Brazil. Demographic and anthropometric information was assessed.

Prevalence of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli and its virulence-related genes in a case-control study among children from north-eastern Brazil.

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is an important agent that causes endemic and epidemic diarrhoeal diseases worldwide. Several EAEC virulence-related genes (VRGs) have been described but their role in the clinical outcome of infection is not completely defined. This study investigated the prevalence of EAEC and potential associations of its VRGs with risk of or protection from diarrhoeal diseases in children from urban communities in north-eastern Brazil.

Prolonged episodes of acute diarrhea reduce growth and increase risk of persistent diarrhea in children.

Background & Aims: Prolonged episodes of acute diarrhea (ProD; duration 7-13 days) or persistent diarrhea (PD; duration ≥14 days) are important causes of undernutrition, yet the epidemiology and nutritional impact of ProD are poorly understood.

Methods: We conducted a 10-year cohort study of 414 children from a Brazilian shantytown who were followed from birth; data were collected on diarrhea, enteric pathogens, and anthropometry.

Results: During 1276 child-years of observation, we recorded 3257 diarrheal episodes.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in children from communities in Northeastern Brazil: molecular detection and relation to nutritional status.

This study determined the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni/coli and its relation with nutritional status in children from Northeastern Brazil. This was a case-control study design. Stool samples were evaluated for hipO (C.

Effects of vitamin A supplementation on intestinal barrier function, growth, total parasitic, and specific Giardia spp infections in Brazilian children: a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: This study evaluates the effects of retinol on intestinal barrier function, growth, total parasites, and Giardia spp infections in children in northeastern Brazil.

Subjects And Methods: The study was a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial (http://clinicaltrials.gov; register no.

Wasting and intestinal barrier function in children taking alanyl-glutamine-supplemented enteral formula.

Objective: We examined the effect of a diet supplemented with alanyl-glutamine (AG) or placebo glycine (G) on intestinal barrier function and growth in children in northeastern Brazil.

Patients And Methods: One hundred seven children ages 7.9 to 82.

Intestinal barrier function and weight gain in malnourished children taking glutamine supplemented enteral formula.

Objective: We examined the effect of standard formula and glutamine or glycine supplemented enteral formula on intestinal permeability and weight gain in children with malnutrition.

Methods: 80 children aged 2 to 60 months with a weight-for-age z-score less than -- 2 were studied. From December 1996 to April 1999, 27 study patients received nonsupplemented formula.