Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection may cause nutrient deficiency and affect the nutritional status. Objetive: To assess nutritional status, and energy and macronutrient intake in HCV/HIV coinfected patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study on HIV/HCV-coinfected patients treated in a public hospital. Nutritional status was assessed by measurements of weight, height, waist circumference (WC), arm circumference (AC), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), non-dominant hand grip strength (NDHGS), body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Dietary intake was assessed by 24-hour recall. Results: Fifty-seven patients (59.6% women) with mean age of 46 ± 11.2 years were studied. According to BMI, more than half of patients were overweight or obese, and 41% of men and 68% of women had increased or substantially increased WC. The prevalence of malnutrition varied between the methods -10.5% (BMI), 29.8% (AC), 56.2% (TST), 17.6% (MUAC), and 12.3% (NDHGS). We found a high percentage of patients with inadequate intake of protein, fat and energy. The percentage of total energy intake (%TEI) from carbohydrates inversely correlated with WC and AC. A positive correlation was observed between %TEI from protein and NDHGS, and between %TEI from fat and BMI, WC and AC. Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of increased body weight and WC, and inadequate dietary intake in HCV/HIV coinfected patients. We observed a positive association between protein intake and muscle function, and between fat intake and obesity.

Introducción: la coinfección con el virus de la hepatitis C (HCV) y el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (HIV) puede comprometer el estado nutricional y causar deficiencia de nutrientes. Objetivo: evaluar el estado nutricional y la ingesta de energía y macronutrientes en pacientes coinfectados por el HCV/HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Métodos: estudio transversal con pacientes coinfectados por el HCV/HIV de un hospital público. El estado nutricional se evaluó por mediciones de peso, altura, circunferencia de la cintura (CC), circunferencia del brazo (CB), pliegue cutáneo del tríceps (DCT), fuerza de prensión mano no dominante (FAM), índice de masa corporal (IMC) y circunferencia muscular del brazo (CMB). La evaluación del consumo de alimentos se realizó mediante encuesta de recordatorio de 24 horas. Resultados: se evaluaron 57 pacientes (59,6% mujeres) con una edad media de 46 ± 11,2. De acuerdo con el IMC, más de la mitad de los participantes eran obesos o con sobrepeso. Además, el 40,9% de los hombres y el 67,6% de las mujeres tenían CC aumentada. La prevalencia de desnutrición varió entre los métodos: IMC (10,5%), CB (29,8%), DCT (56,2%), CMB (17,6%), FAM (12,3%). Hubo un alto porcentaje de consumo insuficiente de proteínas, lípidos y energía. El porcentaje del valor energético total (%VET) de carbohidratos se asoció inversamente con las medidas de CC y CB. El %VET de proteínas se correlacionó positivamente con las medidas de FAM. El %VET de lípidos mostró una asociación positiva con el IMC, CC y CB. Conclusión: se encontró una alta prevalencia del aumento de peso corporal y CC, y una ingesta dietética inadecuada. Se observó una asociación positiva entre la ingesta de proteínas y la función muscular, y entre la ingesta de grasa y la obesidad.

O Brasil tem o maior rebanho bovino comercial e é o principal exportador de carne do mundo. Pastagens cultivadas são a base para a produção de carne brasileira, e ocupam uma área de 101,4 milhões de hectares. Entretanto, poucas cultivares de forrageiras estão disponíveis comercialmente, e a maioria delas são de reprodução por apomixia, portanto, geneticamente homogêneas. O melhoramento de forrageiras tropicais ainda está na sua infância, porém muitos esforços e investimentos foram despendidos nas últimas três décadas e algumas novas cultivares foram lançadas. Neste trabalho são apresentados e discutidos a origem das diferentes espécies, o modo reprodutivo, os programas de melhoramento e as novas cultivares resultantes lançadas.

Brazil has the largest commercial beef cattle herd and is the main beef exporter in the world. Cultivated pastures are the basis for the Brazilian beef production, and occupy an area of 101.4 million hectares. However, very few forage cultivars are commercially available, and the majority of these are of apomictic reproduction, thus genetically homogeneous. Tropical forage breeding is at its infancy, but much investment and efforts have been applied in the last three decades and some new cultivars have been released. In this paper, origin of different species, modes of reproduction, breeding programs and targets are discussed and the resulting new cultivars released are presented.

Although medical ethics is part of medicine since its beginning, it is only in the last decades that it is recognized as a necessary discipline. A survey of pediatricians of Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez was carried out to determine a) the knowledge of basic concepts of bioethics b)the place and function of the committee. A total of 150 surveys were given out, 90 responses were obtained (60%). Basic concepts of bioethics (definition of bioethics, end of life, autonomy, justice, beneficence, and informed consent) were correctly answered by 75.2%; 97.8% knew of the existence of the committee in the hospital, it had been consulted by 61.1%. From the group that had consulted the recommendations suggested by the committee to solve the ethical dilemma was considered: useful by 23.6%, partially useful by 45.5% and not useful by 27.3%; 37.8% had never consulted the committee. Of these, 64.7% had never had a dilemma, 11.7% considered not useful any possible answer of the committee, and 11.7% did not give a reason. The majority of the responders had appropriate information of the basic bioethical concepts. Both the index of consultation to the committee and the assessment of its judgements as totally or partially useful (69.1%) guarantee its presence. It is peculiar that the principal argument for not consulting the committee was the absence of dilemmas. Both the committee in the hospital and the universities should intensify the teaching of medical ethics (mainly practical ethics), in order to facilitate the detection of ethical dilemmas by the health team.

La ética médica (EM) forma parte de la medicina desde sus comienzos pero recién en las últimas décadas se la reconoce como disciplina independiente. Se realizó un estudio observacional y descriptivo a médicos del Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez para determinar: a) el conocimiento de conceptos básicos de EM entre sus miembros, b) la inserción y función del comité de bioética (CB) en dicha institución. Se repartieron 150 encuestas, se recuperaron 90 (60%). Los conceptos teóricos de EM (definiciones de bioética, paciente terminal, autonomía, justicia, beneficencia, y consentimiento informado) fueron respondidos correctamente por el 75.2%. Conocía la existencia del CB el 97.8%. Lo había consultado alguna vez el 61.1%. De aquellos que consultaron, la recomendación sugerida por el CB para resolver el dilema ético presentado fue: totalmente útil, para el 23.6%, parcialmente útil para el 45.5%, y no útil para el 27.3%. Nunca había consultado al CB el 37.8%, del cual el 64.7% refería no haber tenido dilema, el 11.7% consideraba no útil"a priori" la posible respuesta del CB, el 11.7% no justificó la causa, el 2.9% no distinguió los dilemas y a otro 2.9% no se le ocurrió consultar. La mayoría de los que respondieron tenía información adecuada sobre conceptos básicos de EM. Tanto el índice de consultas al CB como la valoración de sus dictámenes como total o parcialmente útiles (69.1%) avalan la acción del mismo. Es llamativo que el principal argumento por el cual no se consultó al CB fue el no tener dilemas éticos. Tanto el CB en el HNRG como las universidades deberían intensificar la docencia en EM, fundamentalmente en los aspectos prácticos, que facilitaría a los integrantes del equipo de salud detectar dilemas éticos.