A simulation study to improve calcium intake through wheat flour fortification.

Objective: To simulate the impact on calcium intake - effectiveness and safety - of fortifying wheat flour with 200, 400 and 500 mg of calcium per 100 g of flour.

Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected through repeated 24 h dietary recalls using the Iowa State University Intake Modelling, Assessment and Planning Program.

Setting: Urban cities in the National Health and Nutrition Survey of Argentina (ENNyS 2018-2019).

GHSR in a Subset of GABA Neurons Controls Food Deprivation-Induced Hyperphagia in Male Mice.

The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), primarily known as the receptor for the hunger hormone ghrelin, potently controls food intake, yet the specific Ghsr-expressing cells mediating the orexigenic effects of this receptor remain incompletely characterized. Since Ghsr is expressed in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producing neurons, we sought to investigate whether the selective expression of Ghsr in a subset of GABA neurons is sufficient to mediate GHSR's effects on feeding. First, we crossed mice that express a tamoxifen-dependent Cre recombinase in the subset of GABA neurons that express glutamic acid decarboxylase 2 (Gad2) enzyme (Gad2-CreER mice) with reporter mice, and found that ghrelin mainly targets a subset of Gad2-expressing neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARH) and that is predominantly segregated from Agouti-related protein (AgRP)-expressing neurons.

Exome Sequencing Has a High Diagnostic Rate in Sporadic Congenital Hypopituitarism and Reveals Novel Candidate Genes.

Context: The pituitary gland is key for childhood growth, puberty, and metabolism. Pituitary dysfunction is associated with a spectrum of phenotypes, from mild to severe. Congenital hypopituitarism (CH) is the most commonly reported pediatric endocrine dysfunction, with an incidence of 1:4000, yet low rates of genetic diagnosis have been reported.

Duodenal mucosa of untreated celiac disease patients has altered expression of the GAS6 and PROS1 and the negative regulator tyrosine kinase TAM receptors subfamily.

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-driven disease characterized by tissue damage in the small intestine of genetically-susceptible individuals. We evaluated here a crucial immune regulatory pathway involving TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK (TAM) receptors and their ligands PROS1 and GAS6 in duodenal biopsies of controls and CD patients. We found increased GAS6 expression associated with downregulation of PROS1 and variable TAM receptors levels in duodenum tissue of CD patients.

Adherence to PKU guidelines among patients with phenylketonuria: A cross-sectional national multicenter survey-based study in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

Objective: To characterize adherence to Phenylketonuria (PKU) management practices among PKU patients treated at reference sites around Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, multicenter, and multinational survey-based study using aggregate data. From an initial list of 40 sites, 22 clinicians expressed interest in completing the survey, with 20 clinicians from 20 unique sites fulfilling all the study criteria.

Role of adjuvant Crohn's disease exclusion diet plus enteral nutrition in asymptomatic pediatric Crohn's disease having biochemical activity: A randomized, pilot study.

Background: Conventional therapy can result in remission in mild-moderate pediatric Crohn's disease (CD). However, some patients experience loss of response to biological drugs despite increased dosage.

Methods: We planned to determine that CD exclusion diet plus partial enteral nutrition offers additional benefits in asymptomatic children with CD having elevated fecal calprotectin.

Fatty Acid Percentage Distribution in Complex Lipids of Breast Milk From Mothers on a Low Docosahexaenoic Acid Diet.

The aim of this study was to assess the fatty acid (FA) percentage distribution in complex lipids of breast milk from mothers on a low docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) diet. We performed a descriptive, cross-sectional study of milk samples (n = 14) collected 90 days after delivery and analyzed them using gas chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and the Fiske-Subbarow method. Complex lipid distribution was 40.

Calculation of the contribution of water to calcium intake in low- and middle-income countries.

Dietary calcium intake is low in many countries, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Water is often overlooked as a source of dietary calcium despite it being universally consumed and providing good calcium bioavailability. Our objective was to assess water distribution systems in LMICs and to develop a formula to simulate the contribution of different water sources to calcium availability.

Multicentre observational study on multisystem inflammatory syndrome related to COVID-19 in Argentina.

Background: The impact of the pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) in low- and middle-income countries remains poorly understood. Our aim was to understand the characteristics and outcomes of PIMS-TS in Argentina.

Methods: This observational, prospective, and retrospective multicenter study enrolled patients younger than 18 years-old manifesting PIMS-TS, Kawasaki disease (KD) or Kawasaki shock syndrome (KSS) between March 2020 and May 2021.

Functional alterations of two novel MC4R mutations found in Argentinian pediatric patients with early onset obesity.

Loss-of-function mutations in melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) are the most common cause of monogenic obesity, a severe type of early-onset obesity. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of MC4R mutations in a cohort of 97 Argentinian children with early-onset obesity. We found two novel mutations (p.

Testing for sensory threshold in drinking water with added calcium: a first step towards developing a calcium fortified water.

Food fortification is an effective strategy that has been recommended for improving population calcium inadequate intakes. Increasing calcium concentration of water has been proposed as a possible strategy to improve calcium intake. The objective of this study was to determine the sensory threshold of different calcium salts added to drinking water using survival analysis.

Contribution of enriched wheat flour and flour products to iron requirements in children aged 6 months to 7 years.

Introduction: Wheat flour enrichment is a public health strategy recommended to prevent micronutrient deficiencies, including iron deficiency. The objective of this study was to determine iron content in enriched wheat flour and flour products and their contribution to nutritional recommendations for children.

Population And Methods: Observational, analytical, cross-sectional study based on the total diet study method.

Neurodevelopmental assessment of infants born to mothers with hypertensive disorder of pregnancy at six months of age.

Infant neurodevelopment is a complex process which may be affected by different events during pregnancy, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). We conducted a prospective cohort study to compare the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders in infants born to mothers with and without HDP at six months of age. Participants attended the Health Observatory of Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas "Prof.

[Functional constipation in pediatrics, diagnosis and treatment].

Functional constipation is a common disease and one of the most frequent reasons of visit in pediatric clinics with a 3 % of prevalence. The Constipation Working Group of the Gastroenterology Committee of the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría met with the objective of updating the diagnosis and treatment of functional constipation in pediatrics. A literature search was performed to assess the quality of the evidence.

Contribution of calcium in drinking water from a South American country to dietary calcium intake.

Objective: To describe the calcium concentration of tap and bottled waters from Argentina and to estimate the contribution of drinking water to calcium recommendations.

Results: Calcium concentrations provided by water authorities ranged from 6 to 105 mg/L. The mean calcium level of samples analysed at the Laboratorio de Ingeniería Sanitaria, National University of La Plata was 15.

[Anti-GQ1b syndrome. A child with Miller-Fisher-Bickerstaff syndrome].

Miller-Fisher syndrome and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis, among others, constitute the anti-GQ1b syndrome, with a common immune pathophysiologic pathway characterized by the presence of anti-GQ1b antibodies, which react against the different nervous system GQ1b sites according to their different accessibility. The Miller-Fisher syndrome has a prevalence of 0.09 cases per 100 000 people-year but there are not epidemiological studies about Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis, that it seems to be less frequent.

[Allergy and intolerance to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in children].

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely prescribed in children. They are the second cause of drug's reactions in pediatrics after beta-lactam antibiotics, however only a part of them are hypersensitivity reactions. The prevalence of these reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in children is 0.

Mechanisms Involved in the Relationship between Low Calcium Intake and High Blood Pressure.

There is increasing epidemiologic and animal evidence that a low calcium diet increases blood pressure. The aim of this review is to compile the information on the link between low calcium intake and blood pressure. Calcium intake may regulate blood pressure by modifying intracellular calcium in vascular smooth muscle cells and by varying vascular volume through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Docosahexaenoic Acid in Mature Breast Milk of Low-income Mothers.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is among the main components of synaptosomal membranes and myelin sheaths. Because DHA is essential for child neurodevelopment, breast milk DHA levels should be improved by optimizing maternal nutrition. We determined DHA percentage levels in breast milk of low-income mothers receiving care at the public healthcare sector.

Vitamin A content in mature breast milk and its adequacy to the nutritional recommendations for infants.

Objective: To determine vitamin A content in breast milk and evaluate whether it satisfies the recommendations for infants.

Material And Methods: Observational, prospective, cross sectional study. Milk samples were obtained between 30 and 90 days postpartum from mothers seen in public hospitals, and analyzed.

Contribution of diet to lead exposure among children aged 1 to 7 years in La Plata, Buenos Aires.

Introduction: Lead is a toxic metal which, even at low blood levels, can alter normal neurodevelopment in children, so no blood lead level is acceptable. Lead absorption from diet accounts for the highest contribution to blood lead levels in the population who is not exposed to contaminated environments or because of their occupation. The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of diet to lead exposure among children aged 1 to 7 years who attended Hospital de Niños de La Plata for health check-ups.

Nocturnal but not Diurnal Hypertension Is Associated to Insulin Resistance Markers in Subjects With Normal or Mildly Elevated Office Blood Pressure.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the relationships among insulin resistance markers and nocturnal and diurnal hypertension in normotensive or mildly untreated hypertensive adults.

Methods: The study was performed in both female and male adults referred to the Cardiometabolic Unit of the Hospital San Martín, La Plata, Argentina, in order to perform an ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) for the evaluation of a possible hypertensive disorder. The population was stratified according to their ABPM in: 1-presence or absence of diurnal hypertension and 2-presence or absence of nocturnal hypertension; both conditions were analyzed separately.