Body mass index reference charts for individuals with Down syndrome aged 2–18 years

AbstractObjectiveTo develop Brazilian growth charts for body mass index (BMI-for-age) for individuals with Down syndrome (DS). The secondary objective was to compare the BMI-for-age with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards (CDC).MethodsA retrospective and cross-sectional growth study of 706 youth with DS (56.7% males) was performed in 51 centers in São Paulo state, Brazil. Weight and height were used to calculate the BMI (kg/m2). The LMS method was applied to construct the growth charts. Z-scores were based on the CDC 2000 growth standards.ResultsThe BMI-for-age reference charts showed excellent goodness of fit statistics for boys and girls with DS aged 2–18 years. At 2 years of age, the mean BMI Z-scores of boys and girls with DS were lower compared to those of the CDC (Z-score=−0.2). In contrast, children with DS aged 3–18 years had higher mean Z-scores for BMI-for-age when compared to those of the CDC (Z-scores=+0.2 to +1.3).ConclusionsThe BMI of Brazilian youth with DS differs from those references established by CDC. These are the first Brazilian BMI-for-age charts for individuals with DS and will hopefully guide clinicians and parents in the evaluation and management of the nutritional status in children and adolescents with DS in Brazil

Stemness Features in Liver Cancer

Heterogeneity is a cardinal hallmark of cancer, including primary liver cancer (PLC), and occurs at different layers including putative cell-of-origin. Current evidence suggests that within cellular subpopulations in PLC there are stem-like cells, the cancer stem cells (CSCs). The CSC concept has been recently proposed as an explanation of such intra-tumor heterogeneity. According to this model, CSCs are responsible for tumor initiation, recurrence, metastasis as well as drug-resistance. However, although the CSC hypothesis is intriguing and supported by a large number of experimental studies, there are still open questions regarding the origin of putative CSCs. Since chemo-resistance and recurrence represent major issues in PLC treatment, the development of new therapeutic strategies is needed, for which a good understanding of tumor behavior and in particular of CSCs biology is an imperative prerequisite. In this review we summarize the regulatory pathways that support CSC features in PLC. Moreover, we highlight the key features of hepatic CSC, in terms of enhanced drug-resistance, increased metastatic potential and metabolic rearrangement. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying CSC biology may provide novel options for PLC combination therapies

The meV mass frontier of axion physics

We explore consequences of the idea that the cooling speed of white dwarfs can be interpreted in terms of axion emission. In this case the Yukawa coupling to electrons has to be g_{ae} 10^-13, corresponding to an axion mass of a few meV. Axions then provide only a small fraction of the cosmic cold dark matter, whereas core-collapse supernovae release a large fraction of their energy in the form of axions. We estimate the diffuse supernova axion background (DSAB) in the universe, consisting of 30 MeV-range axions with a radiation density comparable to the extra-galactic background light. The DSAB would be challenging to detect. However, axions with white-dwarf inspired parameters can be accessible in a next generation axion helioscope.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Alergia à proteína do leite de vaca, qualidade de vida e estilos parentais

Introduction: Cow’s milk protein allergy requires changes in family habits to maintain children’s health. Objective: This study evaluated the effects of cow’s milk protein allergy on the health of children, the quality of life of parents and children, and the adopted parental styles. Methods: Control case study. The case group consisted of children with cow’s milk protein allergy, from eight months to five years old, and those guardians, and the Control Group, for healthy children of the same age group, and their parents. The quality of life of the child (TNO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life) and the caregiver (SF-36) were evaluated; parental style (Parental Beliefs and Care Practices Scale); and socioeconomic and health data of the child. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the groups (p <0.05). Results: 76 dyads from the case group and 44 from the control group participated. Children with cow’s milk protein allergy had a lower quality of life in the health dimension, worse nutritional status, followed up with a larger number of health professionals. Those in charge of the case group offered less body stimulation to the children. Those in the control group had a lower quality of emotional life. Conclusions: Cow’s milk protein allergy had an impact on the health and nutritional status of children, on the corporal stimulation received by the children, and on the quality of emotional life of those guardians.Introdução: A alergia à proteína do leite de vaca requer alterações dos hábitos familiares para manutenção das condições de saúde das crianças. Objetivo: Este estudo analisou os efeitos da alergia à proteína do leite de vaca sobre a saúde de crianças, qualidade de vida de responsáveis e crianças e sobre os estilos parentais adotados. Método: Estudo caso controle. O grupo caso foi constituído por crianças com alergia à proteína do leite de vaca, de oito meses a cinco anos de idade, e seus responsáveis, e o Grupo Controle, por crianças saudáveis, de mesma faixa etária, e seus responsáveis. Foram avaliadas a qualidade de vida da criança (TNO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life) e do responsável (SF-36); estilo parental (Escala de Crenças Parentais e Práticas de Cuidado); e dados socioeconômicos e de saúde da criança. O teste de Mann-Whitney foi utilizado para comparar os grupos (p <0,05). Resultados: Participaram 26 díades do grupo caso e 44 do grupo controle. Crianças com alergia proteína do leite de vaca apresentaram menor qualidade de vida na dimensão saúde, pior estado nutricional, realizaram acompanhamento com maior número de profissionais da saúde. Os responsáveis do grupo caso ofereceram menor estimulação corporal às crianças. Responsáveis do grupo controle apresentaram menor qualidade de vida emocional. Conclusão: A alergia à proteína do leite de vaca impactou na saúde e no estado nutricional das crianças, na estimulação corporal recebida pelas crianças, e na qualidade de vida emocional dos responsáveis

On opportunities and threats to conserve the phylogenetic diversity of neotropical palms

Aim: Palms are an ecologically and societally important plant group, with high diversity in the Neotropics. Here, we estimated the impacts of future climate change on phylogenetic diversity (PD) of Neotropical palms under varying climatic and dispersal scenarios, assessed the effectiveness of the established network of protected areas (PAs) for conserving palms PD today and in 2070, and identified priority areas for the conservation of palm species and their evolutionary history in the face of climate change. Location: Neotropics. Methods: We used ecological niche modelling to estimate the distribution of 367 species in the present and for 2070 based on two greenhouse gas emission and two dispersal scenarios. We calculated Faith's PD within each five arc-minute grid cell to evaluate the effectiveness of PAs relative to null models and used phylogenetic spatial prioritisation analysis to detect priority areas. Results: We found that even under the most optimistic climatic and dispersal scenarios, the established network of PAs performed poorly in safeguarding palms PD under both current conditions and those projected for 2070. Significant losses in PD inside PAs are expected under future climate conditions, especially if species are unable to disperse to suitable areas. Nevertheless, a modest and strategic increase in the number of PAs could considerably improve the protection of palms PD in the present and 2070. Main conclusions: The PD of Neotropical palms is poorly represented within the established network of PAs, at both present and in 2070. A higher realised dispersal rates would diminish PD losses inside the network of PAs. The conservation of palm PD can be improved through the expansion of PAs in strategic regions such as the upper portion of the Amazon Basin, Tropical Andes and Mesoamerica.Fil: Velazco, Santiago José Elías. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Svenning, Jens-christian. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Ribeiro, Bruno R.. Universidade Federal de Goiás; BrasilFil: Laureto, Livia Maira Orlandi. Universidade Federal de Goiás; Brasi

Sacrospinous Ligament Suspension With Transobturator Mesh Versus Sacral Colpopexy For Genital Prolapse

To compare the safety and efficacy of abdominal sacral colpopexy and sacrospinous ligament suspension with the use of vaginal mesh for apical prolapse. METHOD: This retrospective study was conducted from 2005 to 2012 and included 89 women with apical prolapse who underwent surgery. Assessments included pre- and postoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage. Rates of objective cure and immediate/late complications were compared. RESULTS: In total, 41 of the 89 women underwent sacrospinous ligament suspension, and 48 of the women underwent abdominal sacral colpopexy. A total of 40.4% of the women had vault prolapse (p=0.9361). Most of them had no complications (93.2%) (p=0.9418). Approximately 30% of the women had late complications; local pain was the main symptom and was found only in women who underwent the abdominal procedure (25.6%) (p=0.001). Only the women who were submitted to the vaginal procedure had mesh exposure (18.4%). The objective success rate and the rate of anterior vaginal prolapse (p=0.2970) were similar for both techniques. CONCLUSION: Sacrospinous ligament suspension was as effective and had a similar objective success rate as abdominal sacral colpopexy for the treatment of apical prolapse. Sacrospinous ligament suspension performed with the use of vaginal mesh in the anterior compartment was effective in preventing anterior vaginal prolapse after surgery.71948749