Influence of early life factors on body mass index trajectory during childhood: a population‐based longitudinal analysis in the Western Brazilian Amazon

Low‐ to middle‐income countries may experience the occurrence of a dual burden of under and overnutrition. To better understand the overall progression of body mass index (BMI) during childhood, we estimated average BMI‐for‐age z‐score (BAZ) growth curves in a population‐based longitudinal study of 255 children living in the Brazilian Amazon. Children were aged 0.1–5.5 years at recruitment (2003). We collected data on socio‐economic and maternal characteristics, children's birthweight and infant feeding practices. Child anthropometric measurements were taken in 2003, 2007 and 2009. BAZ differences among categories of exposure variables were calculated at 6 and 12 months, and 2, 7 and 10 years. At baseline, the mean (standard deviation) age was 2.6 (1.4) years; 12.9% were overweight and 3.9% thin. After adjustment, mean BAZ estimates were mostly negative. Boys were close to the median value for BAZ until 12 months, whereas girls were below the median (P = 0.05). Children from households above the wealth median were 0.36 z‐ and 0.49 z‐less underweight than poorer children at 7 and 10 years, respectively (P < 0.01). Maternal BMI was positively associated with children's BAZ since 12 months old; BAZ in children from overweight mothers was higher by 0.69 compared with their counterparts at 10 years (P < 0.01). Birthweight was positively related to BAZ up until 2 years (P = 0.01). Socio‐economic background and maternal nutritional status are important predictors of BAZ throughout childhood. Although excessive weight gain is a public health concern, it is critical to restrict inequities, while promoting healthier growth in developing countries.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110869/1/mcn12005.pd

Internal consistency of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in Amazonian children

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency of behavioral problems and the internal consistency of the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-P) in Amazonian preschool children during the covid-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data from the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre (MINA-Brazil) study, a population-based birth cohort in the Western Brazilian Amazon, were used. The SDQ-P was applied in 2021 at the five-year follow-up visit to parents or caregivers of 695 children (49.4% of which were girls). This instrument is a short behavioral screening questionnaire composed of 25 items reorganized into five subscales: emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, and prosocial behavior. Cases of behavioral problems were defined according to the original SDQ cut-offs based on United Kingdom norms. Moreover, cut off points were estimated based on the SDQ-P percentile results of our study sample. Internal consistency was assessed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and McDonald’s omega for each scale. RESULTS: According to the cut-offs based on our studied population distribution, 10% of all children had high or very high total difficulty scores, whereas it was almost twice when the original SDQ cut-offs based on United Kingdom norms, were applied (18%). Differences were also observed in the other scales. Compared to girls, boys showed higher means of externalizing problem and lower means of prosocial behavior. The five-factor model showed a moderate internal consistency of the items for all scales (0.60 ≤ α ≤ 0.40), except for total difficulty scores, which it considered substantial (α &gt; 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the usefulness of SDQ in our study population and reinforce the need for strategies and policy development for mental health care in early life in the Amazon

Profile of neurologists in Brazil: a glimpse into the future of epilepsy and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Disciplina de Neurologia ExperimentalUNIFESP, EPM, Disciplina de Neurologia ExperimentalSciEL

Prevalence and correlates of childhood anemia in the MINA-Brazil birth cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and predictors of childhood anemia in an Amazonian population-based birth cohort study. METHODS: We estimated the prevalence of maternal anemia at delivery (hemoglobin [Hb] concentration &lt; 110 g/L) in women participating in the MINA-Brazil birth cohort study and in their children examined at 1 and 2 years (Hb &lt; 110 g/L) and at 5 years of age (Hb &lt; 115 g/L). We measured ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, and C-reactive protein concentrations in mothers at delivery and in their 1- and 2-year old children to estimate the prevalence of iron deficiency and its contribution to anemia, while adjusting for potential confounders by multiple Poisson regression analysis (adjusted relative risk [RRa]). RESULTS: The prevalence 95% confidence interval (CI) of maternal anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia at delivery were 17.3% (14.0–21.0%), 42.6% (38.0–47.2%), and 8.7% (6.3–11.6)%, respectively (n = 462). At age 1 year (n = 646), 42.2% (38.7–45.8%) of the study children were anemic, 38.4% (34.6–42.3%) were iron-deficient, and 26.3 (23.0–29.9) had iron-deficiency anemia. Prevalence had decreased to 12.8% (10.6–15.2%), 18.1% (15.5–21.1%), and 4.1% (2.8–5.7%), respectively, at 2 years (n = 761); at 5 years of age, 5.2% (3.6–7.2%) children were anemic (n = 655). Iron deficiency (RRa = 2.19; 95%CI: 1.84–2.60) and consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) (RRa = 1.56; 95%CI: 1.14–2.13) were significant contributors to anemia at 1 year, after adjusting for maternal schooling. At 2 years, anemia was significantly associated with maternal anemia at delivery (RRa: 1.67; 95%CI: 1.17–2.39), malaria since birth (2.25; 1.30–3.87), and iron deficiency (2.15; 1.47–3.15), after adjusting for child ’s age and household’s wealth index. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia continues to be highly prevalent during pregnancy and early childhood in the Amazon. Public health policies should address iron deficiency, UPF intake, maternal anemia, and malaria in order to prevent and treat anemia in Amazonian children

Prevalence and predictors of breastfeeding in the MINA-Brazil cohort

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and factors associated with exclusive (EBF) and continued breastfeeding (BF) practices among Amazonian children. METHODS: Data from 1,143 mother-child pairs recorded on the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre (MINA-Brazil) birth cohort were used. Information on EBF and BF was collected after childbirth (July 2015–June 2016) and during the follow-up visits at 1 and 6 months postpartum, 1, 2, and 5 years of age. For longitudinal analysis, the outcomes were EBF and BF duration. Probability of breastfeeding practices were estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Associations between baseline predictors variables and outcomes among children born at term were assessed by extended Cox regression models. RESULTS: EBF frequencies (95% confidence interval [95%CI]) at 3 and 6 months of age were 33% (95%CI: 30.2–36.0) and 10.8% (95%CI: 8.9–12.9), respectively. Adjusted hazard ratio for predictors of early EBF cessation were: being a first-time mother = 1.47 (95%CI: 1.19–1.80), feeding newborns with prelacteals = 1.70 (95%CI: 1.23–2.36), pacifier use in the first week of life = 1.79 (95%CI: 1.44–2.23) or diarrhea in the first two weeks of life = 1.70 (95%CI: 1.15–2.52). Continued BF frequency was 67.9% (95%CI: 64.9–70.8), 29.3% (95%CI: 26.4–32.4), and 1.7% (95%CI: 0.9–2.8) at 1, 2 and 5 years of age, respectively. Adjusted hazard ratio for predictors of early BF cessation were: male sex = 1.23 (95%CI: 1.01–1.49), pacifier use in the first week of life = 4.66 (95%CI: 2.99–7.26), and EBF less than 3 months = 2.76 (95%CI: 1.64–4.66). CONCLUSIONS: EBF and continued BF duration among Amazonian children is considerably shorter than recommendations from the World Health Organization. Significant predictors of breastfeeding practices should be considered for evaluating local strategies to achieve optimal breastfeeding practices

Substantive rationality of impression management:an analysis of corporate reports of JBS

Objective: To investigate the substantive rationality inherent to the practice of impression management (IM). Originality/value:Based on the taxonomy created by Merkl-Davies and Brennan (2011), it is analyzed: 1. the discussion under the sociological perspective; and 2. the actions of substantive rationality in the management of impressions that can manifest through actions of symbolic management. This study responds to the call of Merkl-Davies et al. (2011) by putting into practice an unconventional analytical model based on the use of the corporate reports (annual and sustainability) of the company JBS with special attention to the “Carne Fraca” [Weak Meat] Operation. Design/methodology/approach: A content analysis of the accounting narratives of JBS’ corporate reports between 2015 and 2018 was carried out.Findings: Accounting narratives suggest evidence of IM and substantive rationality. The preparers of the corporate reports used substantive rationality to legitimize the company’s actions, with the most significant manifestations of this practice in the 2017 report, the year of the “Carne Fraca” operation. The implications of this research lie in demonstrating evidence that guides companies regarding the use of accounting narratives to convince society of their actions as consistent with the structure of social rules and norms. Furthermore, we emphasize that the accounting narratives must be analyzed with caution since they can be elaborated under the influence of the manager’s opportunistic behavior.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Actividad antibacteriana in vitro del extracto etanólico de propóleo peruano sobre Streptococcus mutans y Lactobacillus casei

With the intention of determining the antibacterial action of the ethanolic extract of Peruvian propolis (EEPP) originally from Oxapampa’s Valley (Pasco); using the method of diffusion in Plate the vine-stocks Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 and Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 were used, and faced to the solutions: 0,8, 20 and 30 % v/v of the EEPP, and compared them to the witnesses Clorhexidine 0,12 % and alcohol 70 %. It was determined that the antibacterial action of the EEPP against S. mutans shows a greater tendency of inversely proportional activity in its concentration, to that of L. casei case; such antibacterial action in concentrations 0,8, 20 and 30 % is significant in comparison to the negative witness; also the action against S. mutans is greater than in L. casei; being significant in the concentrations of 0,8 and 20 %; and also the antibacterial action of the EEPP to 0,8 % is greater than the action of Clorhexidine, as much for S. mutans and L. casei. One concludes that EEPP in solution to 0,8 % has a better antibacterial action against S. mutans and L. casei that the Clorhexidine to 0,12 %.Con el objeto de determinar la acción antibacteriana del extracto etanólico del propóleo peruano (EEPP) proveniente del Valle de Oxapampa (Pasco); mediante el método de difusión en Placa se usó las cepas Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 y Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393, para enfrentarlas a las soluciones: 0,8, 20 y 30 % v/v del EEPP, y compararlas a los testigos Clorhexidina 0,12 % y alcohol 70 %. Se determinó que la acción antibacteriana del EEPP contra S. mutans muestra una mayor tendencia de actividad inversamente proporcional a su concentración, que en el caso del L. casei; tal acción antibacteriana en las concentraciones 0,8, 20 y 30 % es significativa en comparación al testigo negativo; así mismo la acción contra S. mutans es mayor que en L. casei; siendo significativas en las concentraciones de 0,8 y 20 %; y también la acción antibacteriana del EEPP al 0,8 % es mayor que la acción de la Clorhexidina, tanto para S. mutans y L. casei. Se concluye que EEPP en solución al 0,8 % tiene una mejor acción antibacteriana contra S. mutans y L. casei que la Clorhexidina al 0,12 %