Serum and Plasma Markers of Nutritional Status in Children Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Objective To determine whether reduced serum or plasma protein and micronutrient levels are common in children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and whether these levels are different in children with growth retardation compared to those with normal growth.

Subjects Children were separated into three groups: (a) HIV-infected with growth retardation (HIV+Gr); (b) HIV-infected with normal growth (HIV+); (c) HIV-uninfected with normal growth (HIV-). All children were afebrile and free of acute infection at the time of study. During a 24-hour stay in the Pediatric Clinical Research Unit, blood was drawn for analysis of total protein, albumin, zinc, selenium, and vitamin A levels; growth measurements were obtained; and dietary intake was assessed by 24-hour weighed food intake and 24-hour dietary recall.

Statistical analysis Mean differences between groups were assessed by analysis of variance, and differences in the frequency of nutrient deficiency were determined by χ² analysis.

Results Thirty-eight children between 2 and 11 years of age were studied: 10 HIV+Gr, 18 HIV+, and 10 HIV-. No statistically significantly differences were noted in mean levels of albumin, prealbumin, zinc, and selenium. Mean serum level of vitamin A was significantly higher in the HIV+Gr group than in the other two groups. There were no significant differences between groups in the frequency of deficiency for any nutrient studied. Mean energy and nutrient intake was similar among groups.

Applications/conclusions Abnormal serum or plasma protein or micronutrient levels were uncommon in this cohort of HIV-infected children, even in children with growth retardation. Routine monitoring of the level of proteins and micronutrients studied is unnecessary in the absence of specific clinical indicators of deficiency. J Am Diet Assoc. 1997-97:1377-1381.     

Nutrition Management of Patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa

Epiderrnolysis bullosa (EB), a heterogeneous group of rare, inherited disorders, is manifested by recurrent blistering of the skin induced by the slightest trauma. Little information exists regarding the nutrition management of patients with EB. This study presents information on growth, identifies potential nutrition problems, and provides guidelines for nutrition management of persons with EB. Eighty patients attending a dermatology clinic for EB patients are described. Severity of disease ranged from mild blistering of the knees, elbows, and feet to extensive blistering and scarring of the skin and entire gastrointestinal tract. Of the 18 children with EB simplex, which is a mild form of the disease, 4 (22%) were at nutritional risk. None of the 13 adults with EB simplex were underweight and 8 (62%) were overweight. Of the patients with the more severe forms of EB, 27 of the 35 (77%) children with dystrophic EB and 4 of the 7 (57%) children with junctional EB were at risk for malnutrition. Of the 7 adults with dystrophic EB, 6 (86%) were underweight. Common nutrition problems included protein-energy malnutrition, chewing and swallowing problems, constipation, anemia, and vitamin/mineral deficiencies. When nutrition care protocols address these problems, growth, development, and nutritional status can improve. For those with severe nutrition problems, gastrostomy feeding or similar nutrition therapies should be considered. J Am Diet Assoc. 1995; 95:575-579.     

Validation in the sheep of an ultrasound velocity dilution technique for haemodialysis graft flow

BACKGROUND: A simple, rapid, inexpensive method for measuring the flow in a patient's vascular access would permit routine monitoring during haemodialysis, and hence provide information of access graft deterioration sufficiently early to increase the success of minimally invasive remedial procedures. This paper reports the validation of such a method in animals. METHODS: A PTFE graft was implanted in sheep between the carotid artery and the jugular vein. While the sheep was under general anaesthesia and on an haemodialysis circuit, ultrasound velocity in its blood was perturbed by the injection of a 5-10 ml bolus of isotonic NaCl. The pump tubing flow was measured by a transit-time blood flow meter. This flow was combined with the areas of perturbation generated by the injection before and after mixing in the access flow to estimate graft flow. The calculated graft flow was compared to flow measured directly by a transit-time probe on the same carotid artery. RESULTS: Over a 10-fold range, 120-1260 ml/min, graft flow measured by ultrasound velocity dilution agreed well with graft flow measured directly with a scatter of 76 ml/min about the regression line. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound velocity dilution provides a method for measuring flow in the graft accurate enough for clinical evaluation of patients on dialysis.      

Identification of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism with Biological Parameters

The prevalence and incidence of heavy alcohol consumption are major problems which have been increasing in many countries in recent years. It is crucial for physicians to consistently identify early drinking problems as well as the various end disease states in order to minimize suffering and maximize recovery. This paper reviews the evolutionary development of clinical tools for detection of alcohol abuse. The focus is primarily on clinical/biochemical indicators of alcohol abuse, emphasizing but not limited to changes in hematological characteristics, liver enzyme activity, lipids, immune function factors, hormones, neurological factors, and some physically based tests. Use of test combinations and sophisticated statistical analysis of pattern changes in test batteries evidence increased diagnostic efficiency.     

Liver transplantation in children. Blood transfusion and metabolic disorders

Metabolic disorders during hepatic transplantation can be partly induced by blood transfusion. A retrospective survey of perioperative biological data recorded in patients under 18 years of age having liver transplantation was performed. Blood transfusion was also studied. For this evaluation, patients were divided in a paediatric group I (n = 20; mean age: 3.7 years) and an adolescent group II (n = 11; mean age: 14.3 years). Blood transfusion was significantly (p less than 0.05) more important in group I (302 +/- 286 ml X kg-1) than in group II (148.5 +/- 156 ml X kg-1). Autotransfusion of washed red cells was performed in six patients, allowing a mean 17 +/- 7% saving in blood transfusion. Severe hypernatraemia over 152 mmol X l-1 due to blood transfusion was observed only in five patients in group I. Hyperglycaemia increasing till the revascularization of the new liver was constant in both groups, but significantly more pronounced in group II. Cardiac arrest occurred twice in group I at initial revascularization. In group I, children with biliary atresia were not significantly different from the others for the duration of operation and the volume of blood transfusion; however the latter was more abundant. Conversely, in group II, the duration of operation was longer (p less than 0.05) in patients with previous abdominal surgery than in others. Finally the paediatric group differs from the adolescent group by obvious differences in anaesthesia and intensive care and specifically in hepatic transplantation by larger volume of blood transfusion leading to severe hypernatraemia. In further studies, adolescents should be distinct from the paediatric group and included in the adult group.