No abstract

The present paper describes a nutritional survey carried out among Japanese-Brazilian subjects living in Bauru, south-eastern Brazil. Data were from a cross-sectional population-based study of 1283 first-generation Japanese-Brazilian subjects (Japan-born; 127 men and 121 women) and second-generation Japanese-Brazilian subjects (Brazil-born; 456 men and 573 women) aged 30 -90 years. Anthropometric measurements and % body fat were measured and BMI and waist:hip ratio calculated. Dietary assessment was performed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. A considerable proportion of men (51 %) and women (47 %) had excess weight (BMI.24·9 kg/m 2 ). A greater waist circumference in men and women (age-adjusted by covariance analysis) was observed among Brazil-born participants. In general, only 10 % of the participants reported current practice of sports or other vigorous physical activity. Age-adjusted mean energy intakes and % energy from macronutrients were found to be similar across generations. The age-adjusted mean daily % energy intake from fat were similar across generations: among Japan-born participants, they were 31·5 (95 % CI 30·6, 32·4) % for men and 32·6 (95 % CI 31·7, 33·5) % for women. The respective figures for Brazil-born subjects were 32·1 (95 % CI 31·6, 32·6) % and 33·2 (95 % CI 32·7, 33·5) %. These values are quite different from the usual intakes reported in Japan during the last decades (about 25 %). Taking into account the traditional Japanese diet, a high energy density diet and a sedentary lifestyle may be implicated in the high prevalence of central obesity and metabolic syndrome observed among Japanese-Brazilian subjects across gender and generations.

The strict guideline was effective in reducing erythrocyte transfusions in very-low-birthweight infants.

The aim of this study was to verify if the adoption of a strict guideline would reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions in the first 28 days of life in very low birth weight preterm infants. Retrospective study of two cohorts of very low birth weight infants transfused according to neonatologist decision (Period 1) or according to a strict guideline for erythrocytes transfusion (Period 2). Clinical and hematological data of 80 premature infants transfused in both periods of the study were obtained by chart review. During the first 28 days of life, 45 (62.5%) of 72 premature infants born in the Period 1, and 44 (55.7%) of 79 newborns born in Period 2 received at least one erythrocyte transfusion; p = 0.40. Among patients transfused, the median number of transfusions was four per infant transfused (range: 1-13; mean: 4.6 +/- 3.2) in Period 1 and 3 (range: 1-18; mean: 4.0 +/- 3.5) in Period 2; p = 0.26. The median volume of erythrocytes administered per infant transfused in Period 1 was 40 ml kg(-1) (range: 10-170; mean: 48.8 +/- 38.3) and in Period 2 was 30 ml kg(-1) (range: 10-225; mean: 43.4 +/- 40.4), p = 0.41. Multiple linear regression analysis, after adjusting for birth weight, clinical risk index for babies, blood loss and days of ventilation, showed that the adoption of the strict guideline reduced the volume of erythrocytes transfused in 15.91 ml kg(-1) per infant transfused (95% CI: -24.69-7.14) p < 0.001. The adoption of a strict guideline reduced the need for red blood cells transfusions in very low birth weight infants.

The results strengthen the reliability of the Neonatal Facial Coding System for bedside pain assessment in preterm neonates.