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Unlabelled: The small number of cases of cancer in children and the difficulties of research, have contributed to there being few studies on the metabolic and nutritional status of these patients. The main objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional and metabolic alterations in children with cancer, and specifically the plasma fatty acid profile after receiving chemotherapy, compared with a group of healthy children., Methods: We selected 12 children with cancer aged between 0 and 16, who had received at least one cycle of chemotherapy, one month before the study and were not end-stage disease. Nutritional survey was conducted, anthropometric measurements, general biochemical analysis and profile of fatty acids in plasma were evaluated., Results: No changes in anthropometric and nutritional biochemical parameters were detected. In the omega-6 fatty acids, lower values of linoleic and docosapentaenoic acid, and higher levels of gamma-linolenic acid, and normal levels of arachidonic acid were observed. In the omega-3, we found normal values of alpha-linolenic acid and docohexanoic acid, and lower values of eicosapentaenoic acid., Conclusion: It seems glimpsed a partial deficiency in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with cancer, good nutrition and having received at least one cycle of chemotherapy. Further research is needed to allow specific supplementations.

Two autopsy cases of CMV colitis in AIDS are reported. Intestinal manifestations lasted 2 and 5 months in each case and included: diarrhea and abdominal colic pain. The causes of death were: disseminated CMV infection in case 1 and miliary tuberculosis in case 2. In case 1 small ulcers were apparent in the ileum and the cecum. Microscopic foci of necrosis were also observed. Case showed: sigmoid dilatation with mucosal hemorrhages, small acute ulcers and submucosal fibrosis in the transverse portion of the colon. In both cases cytomegalic inclusion bodies within the endothelial cells of the capillaries at the bottom and the margin of the ulcers were observed. We compare our findings with those in other recently published cases.