This study explores the effects of light maternal ethanol consumption during pregnancy on the appearance of minor malformations in neonates as well as on the contractile properties of their umbilical cord arteries (UCAs). Clinical external findings of newborns of women declaring light ethanol consumption during any period of their pregnancies [ethanol-exposed group (E group), n ϭ 79] were compared with those of nonexposed mothers [nonexposed to ethanol group (NE group), n ϭ 100]. Women who smoked or had any associated pathology were excluded. E group mothers consumed, on average, 200 -250 mL ethanol/trimester (upper limit 700 mL/ trimester). Sixty-six percent of the neonates in the E group presented at least one minor malformation (retromicrognathia and minor anomalies of the auricular/preauricular area were the more common), whereas only 16% of the NE group did (p ϭ 0.0000). The percentage of children exhibiting Apgar scores Ͻ7 was significantly greater in the E group (11% versus 2%, p ϭ 0.0119). UCAs from the E group developed significantly less contractile force (p Ͻ 0.05) than those of the NE group when exposed to 1 M serotonin (5-HT) or to a high K ϩ depolarizing solution. This difference persisted after inhibition of endothelial release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin. In conclusion, even light drinking should be considered a risk during pregnancy. (Pediatr Res 61: 456-461, 2007)

Introduction:The oral breathing is a disturb of high prevalence and that modify directly the structures of the estomatognathic system, damage alterations in the faces' structure, influencing in the functions of chewing and swallowing, and being able to cause obesity or low weight . Objective: To study the prevalence of oral breathing in obese and healhty teenagers and compare the phonoaudiologic alterations in these groups. Methods: Fifty teenagers (males and females) were evaluated, 30 obeses and 20 healthy. All the patients, had been trough odontologic care and phonoaudiologic interview, to find any possible interference in the results. After that, they had been evaluated for facial, swallowing and chewing functions . This procedure was taped for further analysis. Results: We found alterations in tonus and mobility of: tongue in oral breathers (OB) obeses (48%), cheeks in nasal breather (NB) obeses (89%) and lips in OB healthy (89%). The higher alteration of the swallowing was found in obese OB (81%) and of chewing in healthy OB (78%). Conclusion: The healthy nasal breathers have the lower indices of alterations in the speech organs and in the oral functions. The oral breathing was associated to swallowing' alteration in obeses and in the chewing process in the healthy group. We found the higher rates of alterations in the speech organs in obeses, independently of the oral or nasal breathing. Since the importance of these functions for the maintenance of muscle's tonus and for one adequate mechanics of food ingestion, the inquiries and research become pertinent for the area. In clinics, the facial miotherapy, involves aspects that if they are not integrated, may become a mistake. P045 HEME-FE UPTAKE INVOLVES THE PARTICIPATION OF HEME OXYGEN-ASE AND MICROFILAMENTS ASSOCIATED TO THE APICAL MEMBRANEArredondo M, Flores S, Mendiburo MJ, Pizarro F. Micronutrient Laboratory, Nutrition Institute and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.Introduction: Heme Fe is the main source of Fe in developed countries, because it has a better absorption than inorganic Fe. In the cell, heme-Fe is degradated to free Fe, Co and biliverdin for the microsomal enzyme heme oxygenase (HO). The role of HO1 in the intracellular Fe metabolism and heme-Fe uptake mechanisms by the cell it is unknown. Objective: To study the intracellular distribution of HO1 and its relationship with the heme-Fe uptake mechanisms in the enterocyte. Methods: Caco-2 cells were incubated with heme-Fe55 in the presence of inhibitors of endocytosis and intracellular traffic. HO1 intracellular localization was studied by membrane biotinylation and confocal microscopy. Results: HO1 is localized mainly in the apical membrane of the enterocyte and co-localized with the glucose transporter Glut1. However, a small fraction is localized in the basolateral membrane and co-localized with the transferrin receptor. Heme-Fe uptake increased en the presence of cytochalasin D, metil-␤-cyclodextrine, nocodazole and phenylarsine oxide. Conclusions: Heme-Fe uptake pr...

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