Biomedical subjects

G Venegas

Publications and source records attributed to G Venegas.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

[Prevalence of celiac disease in diabetic children and adolescents].

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease is more common in patients with insulin dependent diabetes than in the general population. AIM: To detect celiac disease in diabetic children and adolescents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: IgA antigliadin, IgG antireticulin and IgG antiendomysium antibodies were measured in 67 diabetic children (35 female), aged between 4 and 18 years old. RESULTS: Only one male adolescent, aged 18 years old, without gastrointestinal symptoms, had a significant elevation of antireticulin and antiendomysium antibodies. His intestinal biopsy showed subtotal villous atrophy, consistent with celiac disease. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of celiac disease in these diabetic children is 1:67 (1.5%). Similar figures have been reported elsewhere.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Zinc supplementation and growth of infants born small for gestational age.

To analyze the effect of zinc supplementation on postnatal growth of infants born small for gestational age, we selected 68 infants at birth and followed them monthly for 6 months. They were randomly assigned to a supplemented group (group S, n = 35) receiving 3 mg of Zn (acetate) per day, or to a placebo (group P, n = 33), in a double-blind study. Weight increments in group S were significantly higher than those in group P at 2 months (p < 0.003); z scores showed catch-up growth only in group S. Length increments were also greater in group S than in group P, ending at 6 months were 64.9 +/- 1.8 versus 63.4 +/- 3.5 cm (mean +/- SD; p < 0.01); changes in z scores for 6 months were -1.28 to -0.66 in group S and -1.43 to -1.47 in group P (p < 0.001). Weight-for-length improved similarly in both groups (z score, -2.2 to +0.2). The increase in weight-for-age was higher in group S girls (p < 0.034), ending at 6 months with -0.13 +/- 0.59, versus -0.52 +/- 0.62 in group S boys, -1.15 +/- 0.49 in group P girls, and -1.05 +/- 0.80 in group P boys (+/- SD). More infants in group P received cow milk-based formula before 4 months because of inadequate weight increments. An additive effect on weight increase was observed between Zn supplementation (p < 0.02), exclusive breast-feeding after 4 months of age (p < 0.001), and gender (p < 0.02). Plasma and hair Zn values showed a downward trend, less marked in group S than in group P. We conclude that Chilean infants born small for gestational age have better weight and linear growth during the first 6 months of life if they receive Zn supplementation.

Acetates↗

PubMed1985

Zinc and copper in hair and plasma of children with chronic diarrhea.

Zinc and copper status was evaluated in nineteen children with chronic diarrhea. An intestinal biopsy suggested that eight of these patients had celiac disease and eleven suffered chronic diarrhea without malabsorption and had normal villi or minimal changes. They were studied for malabsorption and compared with two control groups consisting of nineteen healthy and eleven malnourished children. Plasma zinc was depressed in the celiac disease group when compared with the normal children, but was similar to that of the malnourished children. Hair zinc was also depressed for the chronic diarrhea groups (23.2 +/- 15.2 and 34.4 +/- 21.9 micrograms/g for those with or without malabsorption respectively, vs. 97.9 +/- 15.2 for the healthy group). Plasma and hair copper values were diminished in both groups with chronic diarrhea. A significant correlation was found between plasma carotene levels after oral carotene overload, and both plasma zinc and hair copper values (r = 0.62, p less than 0.01 and r = 0.56, p less than 0.05, respectively). There was also a significant correlation between plasma zinc and plasma protein (r = 0.54, p less than 0.05). Hair determinations seem to be more sensitive than plasma values to changes in zinc or copper status in chronic diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea in children is associated with lower levels of zinc and copper, especially when accompanied by malabsorption.

Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed1984

[Zinc and copper levels in Chilean infants].

Zinc and copper levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, in the hair and plasma of 81 Chilean infants of both sexes, comprised within an age range of two to 36 months, after routine clinical examination at a Peripheral Health Service. The children were eutrophic, free from chronic pathologies, and their birth weights were over 2,500 grams. The infants were distributed within seven age groups and the mineral levels found were correlated mainly with age and sex.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1982