Effect and process evaluation of a kindergarten-based, family-involved cluster randomised controlled trial in six European countries on four- to six-year-old children's steps per day: The ToyBox-study

Background: The ToyBox-intervention is a theory- and evidence-based intervention delivered in kindergartens to improve four- to six-year-old children''s energy balance-related behaviours and prevent obesity. The current study aimed to (1) examine the effect of the ToyBox-intervention on increasing European four- to six-year-old children'' steps per day, and (2) examine if a higher process evaluation score from teachers and parents was related to a more favourable effect on steps per day. Methods: A sample of 2438 four- to six-year-old children (51.9% boys, mean age 4.75±0.43years) from 6 European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland and Spain) wore a motion sensor (pedometer or accelerometer) for a minimum of two weekdays and one weekend day both at baseline and follow-up to objectively measure their steps per day. Kindergarten teachers implemented the physical activity component of the ToyBox-intervention for 6 weeks in total, with a focus on (1) environmental changes in the classroom, (2) the child performing the actual behaviour and (3) classroom activities. Children''s parents received newsletters, tip cards and posters. To assess intervention effects, multilevel repeated measures analyses were conducted for the total sample and the six intervention countries separately. In addition, process evaluation questionnaires were used to calculate a total process evaluation score (with implementation and satisfaction as a part of the overall score) for teachers and parents which was then linked with the physical activity outcomes. Results: No significant intervention effects on four- to six-year-old children'' steps per weekday, steps per weekend day and steps per average day were found, both in the total sample and in the country-specific samples (all p>0.05). In general, the intervention effects on steps per day were least favourable in four- to six-year-old children with a low teachers process evaluation score and most favourable in four- to six-year-old children with a high teachers process evaluation score. No differences in intervention effects were found for a low, medium or high parents'' process evaluation score. Conclusion: The physical activity component of the ToyBox-intervention had no overall effect on four- to six-year-old children'' steps per day. However, the process evaluation scores showed that kindergarten teachers that implemented the physical activity component of the ToyBox-intervention as planned and were satisfied with the physical activity component led to favourable effects on children''s steps per day. Strategies to motivate, actively involve and engage the kindergarten teachers and parents/caregivers are needed to induce larger effects

Differences in energy balance-related behaviours in European preschool children: The ToyBox-study

Background: The aim of the current study was to compare levels of energy balance-related behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and dietary behaviours (more specifically water consumption, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and unhealthy snacking)) in four- to six-year-old preschoolers from six European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Spain) within the ToyBox cross-sectional study. Methods: A sample of 4,045 preschoolers (4.77 ± 0.43 years; 52.2% boys) had valid physical activity data (steps per day), parents of 8,117 preschoolers (4.78 ± 0.46 years; 53.0% boys) completed a parental questionnaire with questions on sedentary behaviours (television viewing, computer use, and quiet play), and parents of 7,244 preschoolers (4.77 ± 0.44 years; 52.0% boys) completed a food frequency questionnaire with questions on water consumption, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and unhealthy snacking. Results: The highest levels of physical activity were found in Spain (12,669 steps/day on weekdays), while the lowest levels were found in Bulgaria and Greece (9,777 and 9,656 steps/day on weekdays, respectively). German preschoolers spent the least amount of time in television viewing (43.3 min/day on weekdays), while Greek preschoolers spent the most time in television viewing (88.5 min/day on weekdays). A considerable amount of time was spent in quiet play in all countries, with the highest levels in Poland (104.9 min/day on weekdays), and the lowest levels in Spain (60.4 min/day on weekdays). Belgian, German, and Polish preschoolers had the lowest intakes of water and the highest intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages. The intake of snacks was the highest in Belgian preschoolers (73.1 g/day) and the lowest in Greek preschoolers (53.3 g/day). Conclusions: Across six European countries, differences in preschoolers'' energy balance-related behaviours were found. Future interventions should target European preschoolers '' energy balance- related behaviours simultaneously, but should apply country-specific adaptations

The missing link in petrobactin biosynthesis: asbF encodes a (-)-3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase

10.1021/bi801876qBiochemistry474712251-12253BICH

Identification of the Biosynthetic Gene Cluster for Pyracrimycin A, an Antibiotic Produced by <i>Streptomyces</i> sp.

Actinomycetes make a wealth of complex, structurally diverse natural products, and a key challenge is to link them to their biosynthetic gene clusters and delineate the reactions catalyzed by each of the enzymes. Here, we report the biosynthetic gene cluster for pyracrimycin A, a set of nine genes that includes a core nonribosomal peptide synthase (pymB) that utilizes serine and proline as precursors and a monooxygenase (pymC) that catalyzes Baeyer–Villiger oxidation. The cluster is similar to the one for brabantamide A; however, pyracrimycin A biosynthesis differs in that feeding experiments with isotope-labeled serine and proline suggest that a ring opening reaction takes place and a carbon is lost from serine downstream of the oxidation reaction. Based on these data, we propose a full biosynthesis pathway for pyracrimycin A