Elementary school children’s recess schedule and dietary intake at lunch: a community-based participatory research partnership pilot study

BACKGROUND: School recess before lunch (e.g., reverse recess) has been suggested as a means to improve dietary intake and classroom behavior but limited research explores this school-based policy. This pilot study tests the impact of recess scheduling on dietary intake at school lunch. METHODS: A mixed methods approach included assessment of dietary intake assessed by measured plate waste on five non-consecutive days at Madras Elementary School, Madras, Oregon, United States (n = 104 intervention; 157 controls). Subjects included primary school children in grades kindergarten, first and second. Logistic regression was used to test associations between recess timing and dietary intake. Four focus groups involving teachers and staff explored reactions to the intervention. Qualitative data was transcribed verbatim and assessed for key themes. RESULTS: Milk consumption was 1.3 oz greater in the intervention group (5.7 oz vs. 4.4 oz); and 20% more of the intervention participants drank the entire carton of milk (42% vs. 25%, p < 0.0001). Intervention participants were 1.5 times more likely to meet the nutritional guidelines for calcium (≥267 mg, p = 0.01) and fat (≤30% of total energy, p = 0.02). Consumption of entrees, vegetables, and fruits did not differ between groups. Teachers perceived recess before lunch beneficial to classroom behavior and readiness to concentrate following lunch. CONCLUSIONS: The recess before lunch intervention yielded increased milk consumption; the nutritional and social benefits observed warrant policy change consideration. Future research should assess the impact of recess before lunch in larger districts

Calorie Labeling in a Rural Middle School Influences Food Selection: Findings from Community-Based Participatory Research

Background. Calorie labeling at the point-of-purchase in chain restaurants has been shown to reduce energy intake. Objective. To investigate the impact of point-of-purchase calorie information at one rural middle school. Methods. With a community-based participatory research framework a mixed method approach was used to evaluate the impact of point-of-purchase calorie information. Students in grades 6–8, dining at the school cafeteria January and February 2010, participated for 17 school days each month; in January a menu was offered in the usual manner without calorie labels; the same menu was prepared in February with the addition of calorie labels at point-of-purchase. Gross calories served per student were measured each day allowing for matched comparison by menu. In March/April of 2010, 32 students who ate in the cafeteria 3 or more times per week were interviewed regarding their views on menu labeling. Results. Calorie consumption decreased by an average of 47 calories/day; fat intake reduced by 2.1 grams/day. Five main themes were consistent throughout the interviews. Conclusion. Point-of-purchase calorie labels can play a role in reducing the number of calories consumed by middle school age children at the lunch. The majority of students interviewed found the calorie labels helped them choose healthier food

Assessment of the Psychometric Properties of the Family Management Measure

Objective This paper reports development of the Family Management Measure (FaMM) of parental perceptions of family management of chronic conditions. Method By telephone interview, 579 parents of children age 3 to 19 with a chronic condition (349 partnered mothers, 165 partners, 65 single mothers) completed the FaMM and measures of child functional status and behavioral problems and family functioning. Analyses addressed reliability, factor structure, and construct validity. Results Exploratory factor analysis yielded six scales: Child's Daily Life, Condition Management Ability, Condition Management Effort, Family Life Difficulty, Parental Mutuality, and View of Condition Impact. Internal consistency reliability ranged from .72 to .91, and test-retest reliability from .71 to .94. Construct validity was supported by significant correlations in hypothesized directions between FaMM scales and established measures. Conclusion Results support FaMM's; reliability and validity, indicating it performs in a theoretically meaningful way and taps distinct aspects of family response to childhood chronic conditions

Genotoxicants Target Distinct Molecular Networks in Neonatal Neurons

BACKGROUND: Exposure of the brain to environmental agents during critical periods of neuronal development is considered a key factor underlying many neurologic disorders. OBJECTIVES: In this study we examined the influence of genotoxicants on cerebellar function during early development by measuring global gene expression changes. METHODS: We measured global gene expression in immature cerebellar neurons (i.e., granule cells) after treatment with two distinct alkylating agents, methylazoxymethanol (MAM) and nitrogen mustard (HN2). Granule cell cultures were treated for 24 hr with MAM (10–1,000 μM) or HN2 (0.1–20 μM) and examined for cell viability, DNA damage, and markers of apoptosis. RESULTS: Neuronal viability was significantly reduced (p < 0.01) at concentrations > 500 μM for MAM and > 1.0 μM for HN2; this correlated with an increase in both DNA damage and markers of apoptosis. Neuronal cultures treated with sublethal concentrations of MAM (100 μM) or HN2 (1.0 μM) were then examined for gene expression using large-scale mouse cDNA microarrays (27,648). Gene expression results revealed that a) global gene expression was predominantly up-regulated by both genotoxicants; b) the number of down-regulated genes was approximately 3-fold greater for HN2 than for MAM; and c) distinct classes of molecules were influenced by MAM (i.e, neuronal differentiation, the stress and immune response, and signal transduction) and HN2 (i.e, protein synthesis and apoptosis). CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrate that individual genotoxicants induce distinct gene expression signatures. Further study of these molecular networks may explain the variable response of the developing brain to different types of environmental genotoxicants

Ethylene receptors and related proteins in climacteric and non-climacteric fruits

Fruits have been traditionally classified into two categories based on their capacity to produce and respond to ethylene during ripening. Fruits whose ripening is associated to a peak of ethylene production and a respiration burst are referred to as climacteric, while those that are not are referred to as non-climacteric. However, an increasing body of literature supports an important role for ethylene in the ripening of both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits. Genome and transcriptomic data have become available across a variety of fruits and we leverage these data to compare the structure and transcriptional regulation of the ethylene receptors and related proteins. Through the analysis of four economically important fruits, two climacteric (tomato and apple), and two non-climacteric (grape and citrus), this review compares the structure and transcriptional regulation of the ethylene receptors and related proteins in both types of fruit, establishing a basis for the annotation of ethylene-related genes. This analysis reveals two interesting differences between climacteric and non-climacteric fruit: i) a higher number of ETR genes are found in climacteric fruits, and ii) non-climacteric fruits are characterized by an earlier ETR expression peak relative to sugar accumulation

WSES guidelines for management of Clostridium difficile infection in surgical patients

In the last two decades there have been dramatic changes in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), with increases in incidence and severity of disease in many countries worldwide. The incidence of CDI has also increased in surgical patients. Optimization of management of C difficile, has therefore become increasingly urgent. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts prepared evidenced-based World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines for management of CDI in surgical patients.Peer reviewe

Chronique du Centre de conservation du Québec

Pour cette première collaboration à Rabaska, la directrice du Centre de conservation du Québec (Ccq), Mme Nicole Champagne, nous présente cette institution exceptionnelle qui regroupe sous un même toit la plus importante équipe de professionnels de la conservation-restauration au Québec. Le Ccq nous offre ensuite trois textes préparés par des restaurateurs pour faire connaître des projets de restauration « coup de coeur » regroupés sous le thème de la chasse et la pêche. Stéphane Doyon, de l’atelier bois, relate une intervention menée sur le panneau polychrome « le mur de truites » ; Jean Dendy, restauratrice spécialisée en objets ethnologiques, raconte l’histoire d’une poire à poudre sculptée dans de l’os d’auroch ; enfin, Michael O’Malley, restaurateur de peintures, présente un aperçu des soins prodigués à un tableau présentant une « pêche miraculeuse ».For this first contribution to Rabaska, the director of the Centre de conservation du Québec (Ccq), Ms. Nicole Champagne, presents this exceptional institution which groups under one roof the most important team of preservation and restoration professionals in Québec. The Ccq then presents us with three texts prepared by specialists that acquaint us with some of their favourite restoration projects grouped under the theme of hunting and fishing. Stéphane Doyon, member of the woodworking workshop, tells a restoration process undertaken on the polychromatic panel entitled « wall of trout fish » ; Jean Dendy, who specializes in ethnological artifacts, tells the history of a powder horn carved from an aurochs’ bone ; finally, Michael O› Malley, restorer of paintings, presents an overview of the care given to a work presenting the Lord’s « Miraculous catch of fish »