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Introducción: La disminución de las infecciones junto con el consumo de dietas de alta densidad calórica, explica la reducción de la prevalencia de desnutrición observada en encuestas nacionales. El consumo de 50% de energía proveniente de grasas y azúcares representa un riesgo de déficit de micronutrientes. Objetivo: Evaluar las deficiencias de zinc mediante la respuesta a su administración en la velocidad de crecimiento. Métodos: Estudio doble ciego en 270 niños sanos seleccionados en 9 guarderías, con ingesta de macronutrientes adecuada, de estrato socioeconómico medio-bajo y bajo de Cali, Colombia y que se siguieron mensualmente por un período de 18 meses. Se efectuó valoración antropométrica y dieta, análisis de zinc en sangre y faneros y coprológico inicial. Se evaluó crecimiento (cm/ mes) durante 9 meses al final de los cuales se dividieron aleatoriamente en 2 grupos: uno recibió complemento de vitaminas y minerales sin zinc y el otro con 12 mg/día de zinc, durante 8 meses. Resultados: En la primera evaluación se encontraron menos de 2% de los niños por debajo de -2 desviaciones de Z de tallaedad. Se encontró un consumo alto de grasa, azúcar y proteína. Hubo un aumento en todos los niños de la media de velocidad con complemento, pero fue mayor en los que recibieron zinc. Los cambios de velocidad ajustados por población de referencia fueron significantes. Las diferencias corresponden a cambios de percentiles en un grupo de niños más que a un efecto general sobre el grupo. El OR de aumento de escore Z de talla con zinc es 1.8 (IC 95% 1.02-3.12). No hubo diferencia de zinc en sangre o en cabello y uñas (faneros). Conclusión: La deficiencia de otros micronutrientes además del zinc, que limitan el crecimiento puede explicar el aumento de velocidad en los dos grupos. Es probable que en niños más desprotegidos la respuesta sea mayor. Introduction: In Colombia the decrease of malnutrition documented by surveys is associated with the decrease in infectious diseases and increase consumption of fats and sugar representing half caloric intake and increasing the risk of other nutrients deficiencies. The permanence of low stature in populations satisfying macronutrient requirements, suggest that there are other limiting factors in the diet. Objective: To evaluate possible deficit of Zinc or other nutrients in growth velocity a double blind study was done in Cali, Colombia. Methods: From 9 low and middle low socio-economic level day care centres 270 preschool healthy children with adequate macronutrient intake were selected and followed monthly for 17 months. At month 8th they were randomly divided in two groups and received a daily mineral and vitamin supplement with zinc (12 mg) and without zinc for the next 9 months. Dietary intake was measured and all of the children with parasites were treated initially. Anthropometrics were measured every month during the two periods. Zinc in nails, hair and plasma at the first and last visit. Results: The proportion of children with Z height age below -2SD was less than 2% in the first visit. Mean height increased after the supplement regardless of zinc but was higher in those receiving it. There were differences before and after and among children receiving or not Zn when the variables were adjusted by age and/or reference. Significant differences were found in variance and proportions. The probability of increase height Z or velocity with zinc is 1.8 (CI 95% 1.02-3.12) and 1.09 (CI 95% 0.954-1.251). There was not difference in Zn concentration in plasma, hair or nails. Conclusion: The deficience of other micronutrients besides zinc, that limit the growth could explain the improvement of velocity for the two groups. Probably in poorest children, the response would be high.

Sera from 29 individuals residing in a malaria-endemic region of Colombia were evaluated by an inhibition assay for their capacity to retard the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. The inhibitory activity was found to be independent of antibody activity. Furthermore, the degree of inhibition of parasite development was variable, depending on the parasite isolate used for the assay and the season of malaria transmission. We selected sera with high inhibitory activity and carried out partial analytical characterization by anion exchange fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) to identify the chemical nature of the inhibitory factor(s). The results suggested that the in vitro inhibitory activity might result from the additive effect of different molecules. It appears that these molecules could be non-specifically induced by stimulation of the immune system, they seem to play a role in the immunity to malaria.

Similar to other countries in America, Colombia and the Department of Valle present changes in their population structure and mortality suggesting an advanced epidemiological transition status. Grouped, chronic diseases represent the principal cause of death in municipalities with high urban concentration. To identify associated factors of chronic conditions later in life, school children stratified by age, socio-economic level and gender were studied. By random sampling of 14 schools 2.807 children were examined to measure: anthropometry, work capacity, food intake, sexual maturation, blood pressure, and blood levels of glucose and lipids. Weight and height for all ages and gender were lower than international reference but higher than in previous studies. On the contrary body mass indicators were higher. Work capacity adjusted for body weight was higher in low income children. Mean age of menarche was 11,9 years. The relative peak of growth was 11 years for girls and 14 for boys. Maturity was reached at 12 years in women and 17 in men. Blood lipids were considered high and borderline high in a large proportion of the students, while 19.5% had systolic blood pressureor = 120 mm. and 24% diastolicor = 70. Intake of protein and energy was adequate, but diet was high in fat and sugar. There was not deficiency in macro nutrients but dietary intake of some minerals was low, specially iron and calcium. The findings indicate a population with unbalanced diet and disturbing high body mass and lipid concentration that could represent in the future an increase in the already high prevalence of chronic diseases.

Multiple antigen peptide systems (MAPs) allow the incorporation of various epitopes in to a single synthetic peptide immunogen. We have characterized the immune response of BALB/c mice to a series of MAPs assembled with different B and T cell epitopes derived from the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite (CS) protein. A B-cell epitope from the central repeat domain and two T-cell epitopes from the amino and carboxyl flanking regions were used to assembled eight different MAPs. An additional universal T cell epitope (ptt-30) from tetanus toxin protein was included. Immunogenicity in terms of antibody responses and in vitro T lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated. MAPs containing B and T cell epitopes induced high titers of anti-peptides antibodies, which recognized the native protein on sporozoites as determined by IFAT. The antibody specificity was also determined by a competitive inhibition assay with different MAPs. A MAP containing the B cell epitope (p11) and the universal epitope ptt-30 together with another composed of p11 and the promiscuous T cell epitope (p25) proved to be the most immunogenic. The strong antibody response and specificity for the cognate protein indicates that further studies designed to assess the potential of these proteins as human malaria vaccine candidates are warranted.