Body fat mass and the proportion of very large adipocytes in pregnant women are associated with gestational insulin resistance.

Pregnancy is accompanied by fat gain and insulin resistance. Changes in adipose tissue morphology and function during pregnancy and factors contributing to gestational insulin resistance are incompletely known. We sought to characterize adipose tissue in trimesters 1 and 3 (T1/T3) in normal weight (NW) and obese pregnant women, and identify adipose tissue-related factors associated with gestational insulin resistance

Evidence-based Kernels: Fundamental Units of Behavioral Influence

This paper describes evidence-based kernels, fundamental units of behavioral influence that appear to underlie effective prevention and treatment for children, adults, and families. A kernel is a behavior–influence procedure shown through experimental analysis to affect a specific behavior and that is indivisible in the sense that removing any of its components would render it inert. Existing evidence shows that a variety of kernels can influence behavior in context, and some evidence suggests that frequent use or sufficient use of some kernels may produce longer lasting behavioral shifts. The analysis of kernels could contribute to an empirically based theory of behavioral influence, augment existing prevention or treatment efforts, facilitate the dissemination of effective prevention and treatment practices, clarify the active ingredients in existing interventions, and contribute to efficiently developing interventions that are more effective. Kernels involve one or more of the following mechanisms of behavior influence: reinforcement, altering antecedents, changing verbal relational responding, or changing physiological states directly. The paper describes 52 of these kernels, and details practical, theoretical, and research implications, including calling for a national database of kernels that influence human behavior

Developmental programming: the role of growth hormone

Developmental programming of the fetus has consequences for physiologic responses in the offspring as an adult and, more recently, is implicated in the expression of altered phenotypes of future generations. Some phenotypes, such as fertility, bone strength, and adiposity are highly relevant to food animal production and in utero factors that impinge on those traits are vital to understand. A key systemic regulatory hormone is growth hormone (GH), which has a developmental role in virtually all tissues and organs. This review catalogs the impact of GH on tissue programming and how perturbations early in development influence GH function

Detecção de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis em ambientes clínicos e não clínicos na Cidade de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil Screening of sexually transmitted diseases in clinical and non-clinical settings in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar (1) a aceitação de rastreamento para DST em ambientes não clínicos por indivíduos assintomáticos, (2) os fatores de risco e prevalência de DST em ambientes não clínicos e clínicos e (3) o rastreamento não clínico de populações assintomáticas como um método viável para controle das DST. Recrutamos 139 participantes masculinos e 486 femininos entre 18 e 30 anos em clínica de planejamento familiar, escolas e comunidades de baixa renda. Inquirimos os recrutados sobre sintomas de DST e comportamentos de risco para DST/HIV e os testamos para gonorréia, clamídia, sífilis e HIV. Exceto pelo HIV, as mulheres recrutadas diretamente da comunidade apresentavam maior prevalência de DST do que as que procuravam a clínica. O rastreamento das DST em ambientes não clínicos no Brasil é aceitável e vantajoso para jovens em comunidades de baixa renda. Participantes infectados provavelmente nunca teriam procurado assistência, sido testados ou tratados. Medidas para o controle das DST podem ser implementadas em qualquer lugar onde se alcancem as populações de risco e transformadas em rotina nos serviços de saúde, mesmo entre indivíduos com problemas não relacionados com DST.<br>The objectives were to study: (1) acceptance of STD screening in non-clinical settings for asymptomatic individuals; (2) risk factors and STD prevalence among individuals in non-clinical and clinical settings; and (3) non-clinical screening of asymptomatic populations as a feasible method for STD control. We recruited 139 males and 486 females between 18 and 30 years of age from a family planning clinic, schools, and community centers in low-income neighborhoods. We asked about STD symptoms and STD/HIV risk behaviors and tested the individuals for gonorrhea, Chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV. Except for HIV, women recruited directly from the community had higher STD rates than those who came in for care at the clinic. Screening in non-clinical settings in Brazil is feasible and has a high yield among young adults in low-income communities. Infected participants would likely never have otherwise sought care or been tested or treated. STD control efforts could be implemented in any site that can reach populations at risk and become a routine procedure in health care settings where people report for problems unrelated to STDs