Validation of the Subjective Happiness Scale in People with Chronic Kidney Disease

Objetivo: Validar as propriedades psicométricas da Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) em pessoas com Doença Renal Crônica (DRC) em programa de hemodiálise. Método: Trata-se de um estudo metodológico. A amostra randomizada foi constituída por 171 pessoas com DRC submetida a hemodiálise em duas clinicas na região de Lisboa, Portugal. Os dados foram colhidos de maio a junho de 2015. Foram avaliadas as propriedades psicométricas: validade (construto, convergente e discriminativa), fidedignidade por meio da consistência interna (α de Cronbach) e estabilidade (Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse e Coeficiente de Correlação de Spearman-Brown). Resultados: Os resultados suportam a estrutura unifatorial, com uma confiabilidade (α=0,90). Além disso, esta escala está positivamente correlacionada com a Escala de Satisfação com a Vida (r=0,60; p<0,001), apoiando assim a sua validade de critério. Conclusões: A versão portuguesa da SHS é válida e reprodutível em pessoas com DRC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Validación de la “Subjective Happiness Scale” en Personas con Enfermedad Renal Crónica

Objective: To explore the psychometric properties of the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This is a methodological study. The random sample included 171 patients with CKD under hemodialysis program in two clinics in the region of Lisbon, Portugal. Data was collected between May and June 2015. The following psychometric properties were evaluated: validity (construct, convergent and discriminant), reliability through internal consistency (Cronbach α) and stability (intraclass correlation coefficient and Spearman-Brown correlation coefficient). Results: The results support the unifactorial structure, with reliability (α = 0.90). In addition, this scale is positively correlated with the Satisfaction Life Scale (r = 0.60; p <0.001), supporting the validity criteria. Conclusions: The Portuguese version of the SHS is valid and reproducible in patients with CKD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Growth of Low Birth Weight Infants Aged 1–6 Mo in Ardabil, Iran

Objective To assess the effect of zinc supplementation on growth of low birth weight (LBW) infants aged 1–6 mo. Methods LBW infants were enrolled at birth and randomly assigned to receive 5 mg elemental Zn per day (n=45) or placebo (n=45) until 6 mo of age. They were followed monthly for information on compliance; anthropometric measurements were performed monthly. Results After randomization, 5 infants from zinc group and 9 from placebo group were excluded. At 6 mo of age, significantly greater weight gains were observed in the zinc than in the placebo group (4995±741g in zinc group vs. 3896±865 g in placebo group, p = 0.036). Length gain during the study period improved in zinc group (16.9±8.2 cm vs. 15.1±4.1 cm, p = 0.039); after zinc supplementation head circumference were increased (8.7±1.4 cm vs.7.4± 1.5 cm p<0.001). In male infants, total weight gain and height and head circumference gain were higher in the zinc than in the placebo group. However, only head circumference change was statistically significant. A similar trend was observed among female infants, but these differences were not statistically significant. There was no significant relation between breast-feeding status and the main outcome variables. Conclusions Infants in the present study showed improve¬ments in growth rate, but more studies are required in this field to confirm this fact

Validation of the Personal Wellbeing Index in People with Chronic Kidney Disease

Objetivo: verificar las propiedades psicométricas del Índice de bien-estar personal (IBP) en personas con enfermedad renal crónica en programa de hemodiálisis. Método: Se trata de un estudio metodológico. La muestra aleatoria es constituida por 171 personas con Enfermedad Renal Crónica (ERC) sometida a hemodiálisis en dos clínicas en la región de Lisboa, Portugal. La recogida de datos fue realizada entre mayo y junio de 2015. Se evaluaron las propiedades psicométricas: validad (constructo, predictiva convergente, y discriminativa), confiabilidad por medio de la consistencia interna (α de Cronbach) y estabilidad (Coeficiente de Correlación de Spearman-Brown y Coeficiente de Correlación Intraclasse (CCI)). Resultados: El IBP presenta una dimensión ajustada a los datos. La satisfacción con la salud es lo que más contribuye para el IBP. Tiene validad convergente con Felicidad Subjetiva y Afecto Positivo y Afecto Negativo. Tiene poder discriminativo en la nacionalidad. El α Cronbach fue de 0,82. Teste Re-teste para cuestionario 0, 92 e CCI= 0,95, para entrevista 0,85 y CCI= 0,89. Conclusiones: La versión portuguesa del IBP es válida y reproducible en personas con ERC, tanto por cuestionario como por entrevista.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efficacy of different strategies to treat anemia in children: a randomized clinical trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anemia continues to be a major public health problem among children in many regions of the world, and it is still not clear which strategy to treat it is most effective.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To evaluate the efficacy and children's acceptance of several recognized strategies to treat anemia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Non-breastfed children (n = 577), 6 to 43 mo of age, were screened for the trial; 267 were anemic (hemoglobin < 11.7 g/dL), and 266 of those were randomized into 1 of 5 treatments to received daily either: an iron supplement (IS), an iron+folic acid supplement (IFS), a multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS), a micronutrient-fortified complementary food as porridge powder (FCF), or zinc+iron+ascorbic acid fortified water (FW). The iron content of each daily dose was 20, 12.5, 10, 10 and 6.7 mg respectively. Hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, total iron, weight and height were measured at baseline and after 4 months of treatment. Morbidity, treatment acceptability and adherence were recorded during the intervention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All treatments significantly increased Hb and total iron concentration; ferritin did not change significantly. Groups MMS, IS and IFS increased Hb (g/dL) [1.50 (95%CI: 1.17, 1.83), 1.48 [(1.18, 1.78) and 1.57 (1.26, 1.88), respectively] and total iron ((μg/dL) [0.15 (0.01, 0.29), 0.19 (0.06, 0.31) and 0.12(-0.01, 0.25), respectively] significantly more than FCF [0.92 (0.64, 1.20)] but not to FW group [0.14 (0.04, 0.24)]. The prevalence of anemia was reduced to a greater extent in the MMS and IFS groups (72% and 69%, respectively) than in the FCF group (45%) (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in anthropometry or in the number of episodes of diarrhea and respiratory infections among treatment groups. The supplements MMS and IS were less acceptable to children, than IFS, FCF and FW.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The three supplements IS, ISF and MMS increased Hb more than the FCF; the supplements that contained micronutrients (IFS and MMS) were more effective for reducing the prevalence of anemia. In general, fortified foods were better accepted by the study participants than supplements.</p> <p>ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier</p> <p>NCT00822380</p

Could giardiasis be a risk factor for low zinc status in schoolchildren from northwestern Mexico? A cross-sectional study with longitudinal follow-up

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Both giardiasis and zinc deficiency are serious health problems worldwide. In Mexico, the prevalence of <it>G. intestinalis </it>was estimated at 32% in 1994. It remains a health problem in northwestern Mexico. Recent surveys (1987, 1995, and 1999) reported zinc deficiency in the Mexican population. The association of giardiasis and malabsorption of micronutrients has been well documented, although the association with zinc remains controversial. This study investigated the association between giardiasis and zinc deficiency in schoolchildren from northwestern Mexico.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We combined a cross-sectional design with a longitudinal follow-up six months after parasite treatment. The baseline sample consisted of 114 schoolchildren (mean age 8.8 yr) from seven suburban public schools, grouped as <it>Giardia</it>-free (<it>n </it>= 65, 57%) and <it>Giardia</it>-infected (<it>n </it>= 49, 43%). Three stool analyses per child were done using Faust's method. Children with giardiasis received secnidazole. Serum zinc was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Height and weight were measured. Socioeconomic information was obtained in an oral questionnaire, and daily zinc intake was assessed using 24 hour-recalls. Pearson's correlation and ANCOVA and paired t-test analyses were used to determine the association between giardiasis and zinc status.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Longitudinal analysis demonstrated a significant increase of the mean serum zinc levels in the <it>Giardia</it>-infected group six months after treatment (13.78 vs. 19.24 μmol/L μmol/L; p = 0.001), although no difference was found between the <it>Giardia</it>-free and the <it>Giardia</it>-infected groups (p = 0.86) in the baseline analysis. Z scores for W/A and H/A were lower in the <it>Giardia</it>-infected than in the <it>Giardia</it>-free group (p < 0.05). No difference was observed in the socioeconomic characteristics and mean daily intakes of zinc between the groups (p > 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Giardiasis may be a risk factor for zinc deficiency in schoolchildren from northwestern Mexico.</p

A global catalog of primary reptile type specimens

We present information on primary type specimens for 13,282 species and subspecies of reptiles compiled in the Reptile Database, that is, holotypes, neotypes, lectotypes, and syntypes. These represent 99.4% of all 13,361 currently recognized taxa (11,050 species and 2311 subspecies). Type specimens of 653 taxa (4.9%) are either lost or not located, were never designated, or we did not find any information about them. 51 species are based on iconotypes. To map all types to physical GLOBAL TYPE CATALOG OF REPTILES Zootaxa 4695 (5) © 2019 Magnolia Press · 439collections we have consolidated all synonymous and ambiguous collection acronyms into an unambiguous list of 364 collections holding these primary types. The 10 largest collections possess more than 50% of all (primary) reptile types, the 36 largest collections possess more than 10,000 types and the largest 73 collections possess over 90% of all types. Of the 364 collections, 107 hold type specimens of only 1 species or subspecies. Dozens of types are still in private collections. In order to increase their utility, we recommend that the description of type specimens be supplemented with data from high-resolution images and CT-scans, and clear links to tissue samples and DNA sequence data (when available). We request members of the herpetological community provide us with any missing type information to complete the list.Copyright © 2019 Magnolia Press. This is an open access article .icensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0. The attached file is the published pdf.NHM Repositor

Staphylococcal phenotypes induced by naturally occurring and synthetic membrane-interactive polyphenolic β-lactam resistance modifiers.

Galloyl catechins, in particular (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECg), have the capacity to abrogate β-lactam resistance in methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); they also prevent biofilm formation, reduce the secretion of a large proportion of the exoproteome and induce profound changes to cell morphology. Current evidence suggests that these reversible phenotypic traits result from their intercalation into the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. We have endeavoured to potentiate the capacity of ECg to modify the MRSA phenotype by stepwise removal of hydroxyl groups from the B-ring pharmacophore and the A:C fused ring system of the naturally occurring molecule. ECg binds rapidly to the membrane, inducing up-regulation of genes responsible for protection against cell wall stress and maintenance of membrane integrity and function. Studies with artificial membranes modelled on the lipid composition of the staphylococcal bilayer indicated that ECg adopts a position deep within the lipid palisade, eliciting major alterations in the thermotropic behaviour of the bilayer. The non-galloylated homolog (-)-epicatechin enhanced ECg-mediated effects by facilitating entry of ECg molecules into the membrane. ECg analogs with unnatural B-ring hydroxylation patterns induced higher levels of gene expression and more profound changes to MRSA membrane fluidity than ECg but adopted a more superficial location within the bilayer. ECg possessed a high affinity for the positively charged staphylococcal membrane and induced changes to the biophysical properties of the bilayer that are likely to account for its capacity to disperse the cell wall biosynthetic machinery responsible for β-lactam resistance. The ability to enhance these properties by chemical modification of ECg raises the possibility that more potent analogs could be developed for clinical evaluation