Early-life weight and weight gain as predictors of obesity in Brazilian adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To test whether weight and the weight gain rate during different age periods are associated with being overweight/obese at 10 years of age. METHODS: A nested case-control study was performed in a clinical historic cohort that was selected based on medical records from the Albert Einstein Hospital Social Program in São Paulo, Brazil. A sample of 378 eutrophic and overweight/obese children was analyzed. RESULTS: After adjusting for birth weight and gestational age, the likelihood of being overweight/obese at 10 years of age was 4.04-fold greater when progressing from one quartile of weight gain to the immediately superior quartile in the first semester of life and 3.24-fold greater when this occurred from 2-5 years of age. A one-quartile change in weight gain in the first semester was associated with a 0.5 z-score increase in BMI at age 10. A robust independent effect of weight at age 5 confirmed that earlier weight gain was an important predictor. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of weight gain during the first 6 months of life and between 2 and 5 years of age and weight at age 5 were important predictors of overweight/obesity at 10 years of age

Excess body weight in children may increase the length of hospital stay

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of excess body weight in the pediatric ward of University Hospital and to test both the association between initial nutritional diagnosis and the length of stay and the in-hospital variation in nutritional status. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study based on information entered in clinical records from University Hospital. The data were collected from a convenience sample of 91 cases among children aged one to 10 years admitted to the hospital in 2009. The data that characterize the sample are presented in a descriptive manner. Additionally, we performed a multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for age and gender. RESULTS: Nutritional classification at baseline showed that 87.8% of the children had a normal weight and that 8.9% had excess weight. The linear regression models showed that the average weight loss z-score of the children with excess weight compared with the group with normal weight was −0.48 (p = 0.018) and that their length of stay was 2.37 days longer on average compared with that of the normal-weight group (p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The length of stay and loss of weight at the hospital may be greater among children with excess weight than among children with normal weight

Sueño, calidad de vida y humor en profesionales de enfermería en unidades de cuidados intensivos infantiles

OBJETIVO Avaliar sono, qualidade de vida e humor em profissionais de enfermagem em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Infantil. MÉTODO Estudo quantitativo, transversal e descritivo. Profissionais agrupados por turnos matutino, vespertino e noturno foram avaliados pelos instrumentos: Questionário de identificação Matutinidade-Vespertinidade; Índice de qualidade do sono de Pittsburgh; Escala de sonolência Epworth; Questionário genérico de avaliação de qualidade de vida - SF-36; Inventário de depressão de Beck; Inventário de ansiedade de Beck; Inventário de ansiedade Traço-Estado. RESULTADOS Amostra composta por 168 profissionais, predominando tipologia neutra, 57,49%. Não houve significância estatística quanto ao sono, apesar dos escores mostrarem qualidade ruim e sonolência diurna excessiva para os três turnos. A qualidade de vida não denotou diferença estatística, mas no domínio "aspecto social" do turno noturno, observou-se escore pior (pOBJECTIVE To assess sleep, quality of life and mood of nursing professionals of pediatric intensive care units. METHOD Quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study. Professionals grouped by morning, afternoon and evening shifts were assessed by means of the instruments: Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Epworth Sleepiness Scale; Generic questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life (SF-36); Beck Depression Inventory; Beck Anxiety Inventory; State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS Sample consisted of 168 professionals, with prevalence of neutral typology (57.49%). There was no statistical significance regarding sleep, despite scores showing a poor quality of sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness for the three shifts. Quality of life did not reveal any statistical significance, but in the field "social role functioning" of the evening shift, a lower score was observed (pOBJETIVO Evaluar el sueño, la calidad de vida y el humor en profesionales de enfermería en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Infantiles. MÉTODO Estudio cuantitativo, transversal y descriptivo. Profesionales agrupados por turno matutino, vespertino y nocturno fueron evaluados por los instrumentos: Cuestionario de identificación Matutinidad-Vespertinidad; Índice de calidad del sueño de Pittsburgh; Escala de somnolencia de Epworth; Cuestionario genérico de evaluación de calidad de vida - SF-36; Inventario de depresión de Beck; Inventario de ansiedad de Beck; Inventario de ansiedad Trazo-Estado. RESULTADOS Muestra compuesta de 168 profesionales, predominando la tipología neutra en el 57,49%. No hubo significación estadística en cuanto al sueño, pese a que los puntajes muestren mala calidad y somnolencia diurna excesiva para los tres turnos. La calidad de vida no denotó diferencia estadística, pero en el dominio "aspecto social" del turno nocturno, se observó puntaje peor (

Risk of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Italy: a retrospective study with Quantiferon Test

OBJECTIVE. The latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a state of persistent immune response to stimulation by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis antigens without clinical manifestation: the healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher exposure risk so prevention is an important challenge for occupational medicine. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs of the Foundation Policlinic “Tor Vergata”. METHODS. This is a retrospective study conducted by analyzing the clinical records of 825 HCWs of the PTV, from January 1st to December 31th 2016. To evaluate the TB infection we used the Quantiferon TB Gold interferon-gamma release assay. RESULTS. Our study underline the low prevalence of LTBI in the Italian healthcare workers. CONCLUSION. Although the LTBI status is not contagious, the diagnosis and the safety strategies require specific clinical and preventive considerations

Conservación de sitios arqueológicos con grabados rupestres sobre areniscas del Parque Nacional Talampaya (Argentina)

The archaeological sites with rock engravings of Los Guanaquitos, El Bosquecillo and Puerta de Talampaya at the Talampaya National Park are composed of sandstone blocks. Their management incorporates physical conservation measures by a series of interventions developed by a program of in situ and laboratory-based experimentation. This article presents this program and analyses its feasibility on the basis of available results, supplemented by archaeometric studies. It includes the diagnosis of the conservation state based on modern information and historical documentation, as well as the description of the iconographic distinctive nature of some representations, which emphasizes on the materiality studied.Los sitios arqueológicos con grabados rupestres Los Guanaquitos, El Bosquecillo y Puerta de Talampaya están constituidos por bloques de areniscas del Parque Nacional homónimo y son objeto de gestión. Para su conservación física se han delineado una serie de intervenciones que siguen un programa que incluye experimentaciones in situ y en laboratorio. Se las presenta y se analiza su efectividad en función de los resultados obtenidos hasta el momento, acompañando el proceso con estudios arqueométricos. Se incluye el diagnóstico del estado de conservación basado en información actual y documentación histórica, así como la descripción del carácter distintivo desde el punto de vista iconográfico de algunas representaciones, que ponen de relieve la materialidad sobre la que trabajamos

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment as support for bathing waters profiling

Profiling bathing waters supported by Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) is key to the WHO's recommendations for the 2020/2021 revision of the European Bathing Water Directive. We developed an areaspecific QMRA model on four pathogens, using fecal indicator concentrations (E. coil, enterococci) for calculating pathogen loads. The predominance of illness was found to be attributable to Human Adenovirus, followed by Salmonella, Vibrio, and Norovirus. Overall, the cumulative illness risk showed a median of around 1 case/10000 exposures. The risk estimates were strongly influenced by the indicators that were used, suggesting the need for a more detailed investigation of the different sources of fecal contamination. Area-specific threshold values for fecal indicators were estimated on a risk-basis by modelling the cumulative risk against E. coll. and enterococci concentrations. To improve bathing waters assessment, we suggest considering source apportionment locally estimating of pathogen/indicator ratios, and calculating site-specific indicators thresholds based on risk assessment

Therapeutic choices and disease activity after 2 years of treatment with cladribine: An Italian multicenter study (CladStop)

background and purpose: cladribine tablets, a purine analogue antimetabolite, offer a unique treatment regimen, involving short courses at the start of the first and second year, with no further treatment needed in years 3 and 4. However, comprehensive evidence regarding patient outcomes beyond the initial 24 months of cladribine treatment is limited. methods: this retrospective, multicenter study enrolled 204 patients with multiple sclerosis who had completed the 2-year course of cladribine treatment. the primary outcomes were therapeutic choices and clinical disease activity assessed by annualized relapse rate after the 2-year treatment course. results: a total of 204 patients were enrolled; most patients (75.4%) did not initiate new treatments in the 12 months postcladribine. the study found a significant reduction in annualized relapse rate at the 12-month follow-up after cladribine completion compared to the year prior to starting therapy (0.07 +/- 0.25 vs. 0.82 +/- 0.80, p < 0.001). furthermore, patients with relapses during cladribine treatment were more likely to start new therapies, whereas older patients were less likely. the safety profile of cladribine was favorable, with lymphopenia being the primary registered adverse event. conclusions: this study provides insights into therapeutic choices and disease activity following cladribine treatment. It highlights cladribine's effectiveness in reducing relapse rates and disability progression, reaffirming its favorable safety profile. real-world data, aligned with previous reports, draw attention to ocrelizumab and natalizumab as common choices after cladribine. however, larger, prospective studies for validation and a more comprehensive understanding of cladribine's long-term impact are necessary

Risk of Getting COVID-19 in People With Multiple Sclerosis

Background and Objectives Several studies have assessed risk factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). The potential role of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and demographic and clinical factors on the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been evaluated so far. The objective of this study was to assess risk factors of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection in PwMS by using data collected in the Italian MS Register (IMSR). Methods Acase-control (1:2) studywas set up. Cases included PwMSwith a confirmed diagnosis ofCOVID-19, and controls included PwMS without a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Both groups were propensity score–matched by the date of COVID-19 diagnosis, the date of last visit, and the region of residence. No healthy controls were included in this study. COVID-19 risk was estimated by multivariable logistic regression models including demographic and clinical covariates. The impact of DMTs was assessed in 3 independent logistic regression models including one of the following covariates: last administeredDMT, previousDMTsequences, or the place where the last treatment was administered. Results A total of 779 PwMS with confirmed COVID-19 (cases) were matched to 1,558 PwMS without COVID-19 (controls). In all 3 models, comorbidities, female sex, and a younger age were significantly associated (p < 0.02)with a higher risk of contractingCOVID-19. Patients receiving natalizumab as last DMT(OR[95%CI]: 2.38 [1.66–3.42], p < 0.0001) and those who underwent an escalation treatment strategy (1.57 [1.16–2.13], p = 0.003) were at significantly higher COVID-19 risk. Moreover, PwMS receiving their last DMT requiring hospital access (1.65 [1.34–2.04], p < 0.0001) showed a significant higher risk than those taking self-administered DMTs at home. Discussion This case-control study embedded in the IMSR showed that PwMS at higher COVID-19 risk are younger, more frequently female individuals, and with comorbidities. Long-lasting escalation approach and last therapies that expose patients to the hospital environment seem to significantly increase the risk of SARS-CoV2 infection in PwMS. Classification of Evidence This study provides Class III evidence that among patients with MS, younger age, being female individuals, having more comorbidities, receiving natalizumab, undergoing an escalating treatment strategy, or receiving treatment at a hospital were associated with being infected with COVID-19. Among patients with MS who were infected with COVID-19, a severe course was associated with increasing age and having a progressive form of MS, whereas not being on treatment or receiving an interferon beta agent was protective

Promoting healthy feeding practices among 0-5 year old children: the contribution of lay community health workers

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing both in the world and in Brazil towards an epidemic level. There are pieces of evidence that suggest that the larger the weight gain between 0 to 5 years of age the greater the risk for future obesity. National studies have shown that preschool children have high level of hydro carbonate intake. However interventions on this topic are mainly punctual in time. Investing in capacity building and supervision of Community Health Workers (CHW) of the Family Health Strategy could help promoting an adequate nutrition in the population. An example: in 2012 a group of students in the Primary Health Care course of the first year of the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo chose to work with healthy toddler nutrition as a project within the course. CHW were trained to answer questions on this theme that the population could have and to identify diet mistakes. The post-intervention assessment showed that the trained CHW had a better performance in comparison to a control group.A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade tem aumentado no mundo e no Brasil em caráter epidêmico. Há evidências de que quanto maior o ganho de peso entre 0 a 5 anos de idade, maior o risco de obesidade futura. Estudos nacionais mostram que nossas crianças pré-escolares ingerem um alto percentual de carboidrato. Mesmo diante desses fatos os trabalhos de intervenção nutricional existentes são, na sua maioria, ações pontuais. Investir na capacitação e supervisão contínua dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACSs) da Estratégia de Saúde da Família pode auxiliar na promoção de uma nutrição adequada da população. Um exemplo: no ano de 2012 um grupo de alunos da disciplina de Atenção Primária do primeiro ano médico da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) optou por trabalhar, como projeto de intervenção obrigatório da disciplina, com o tema alimentação saudável na infância e escolheu treinar ACSs, capacitando-os para saber responder perguntas que lhes fossem feitas pela comunidade e também para identificar erros dietéticos. A avaliação pós-intervenção mostrou que esses ACSs tiveram melhor desempenho em comparação com um grupo controle