Factors Associated with Height Catch-Up and Catch-Down Growth Among Schoolchildren

In developed countries, children with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or born preterm (PT) tend to achieve catch-up growth. There is little information about height catch-up in developing countries and about height catch-down in both developed and developing countries. We studied the effect of IUGR and PT birth on height catch-up and catch-down growth of children from two cohorts of liveborn singletons. Data from 1,463 children was collected at birth and at school age in Ribeirão Preto (RP), a more developed city, and in São Luís (SL), a less developed city. A change in z-score between schoolchild height z-score and birth length z-score≥0.67 was considered catch-up; a change in z-score≤−0.67 indicated catch-down growth. The explanatory variables were: appropriate weight for gestational age/PT birth in four categories: term children without IUGR (normal), IUGR only (term with IUGR), PT only (preterm without IUGR) and preterm with IUGR; infant's sex; maternal parity, age, schooling and marital status; occupation of family head; family income and neonatal ponderal index (PI). The risk ratio for catch-up and catch-down was estimated by multinomial logistic regression for each city. In RP, preterms without IUGR (RR = 4.13) and thin children (PI<10th percentile, RR = 14.39) had a higher risk of catch-down; catch-up was higher among terms with IUGR (RR = 5.53), preterms with IUGR (RR = 5.36) and children born to primiparous mothers (RR = 1.83). In SL, catch-down was higher among preterms without IUGR (RR = 5.19), girls (RR = 1.52) and children from low-income families (RR = 2.74); the lowest risk of catch-down (RR = 0.27) and the highest risk of catch-up (RR = 3.77) were observed among terms with IUGR. In both cities, terms with IUGR presented height catch-up growth whereas preterms with IUGR only had height catch-up growth in the more affluent setting. Preterms without IUGR presented height catch-down growth, suggesting that a better socioeconomic situation facilitates height catch-up and prevents height catch-down growth

Prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Brazilian children: follow-up at school age of two Brazilian birth cohorts of the 1990's

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few cohort studies have been conducted in low and middle-income countries to investigate non-communicable diseases among school-aged children. This article aims to describe the methodology of two birth cohorts, started in 1994 in Ribeirão Preto (RP), a more developed city, and in 1997/98 in São Luís (SL), a less developed town.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prevalences of some non-communicable diseases during the first follow-up of these cohorts were estimated and compared. Data on singleton live births were obtained at birth (2858 in RP and 2443 in SL). The follow-up at school age was conducted in RP in 2004/05, when the children were 9-11 years old and in SL in 2005/06, when the children were 7-9 years old. Follow-up rates were 68.7% in RP (790 included) and 72.7% in SL (673 participants). The groups of low (<2500 g) and high (≥ 4250 g) birthweight were oversampled and estimates were corrected by weighting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the more developed city there was a higher percentage of non-nutritive sucking habits (69.1% vs 47.9%), lifetime bottle use (89.6% vs 68.3%), higher prevalence of primary headache in the last 15 days (27.9% vs 13.0%), higher positive skin tests for allergens (44.3% vs 25.3%) and higher prevalence of overweight (18.2% vs 3.6%), obesity (9.5% vs 1.8%) and hypertension (10.9% vs 4.6%). In the less developed city there was a larger percentage of children with below average cognitive function (28.9% vs 12.2%), mental health problems (47.4% vs 38.4%), depression (21.6% vs 6.0%) and underweight (5.8% vs 3.6%). There was no difference in the prevalence of bruxism, recurrent abdominal pain, asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness between cities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Some non-communicable diseases were highly prevalent, especially in the more developed city. Some high rates suggest that the burden of non-communicable diseases will be high in the future, especially mental health problems.</p

Estudo da recuperação das propriedades de poliestireno de alto impacto (HIPS) através da incorporação de borracha termoplástica tipo estireno-butadieno-estireno (SBS) Recovering properties of recycled HIPS through incorporation of SBS triblock copolymer

A tenacificação de termoplásticos vítreos através da adição de partículas de borracha na matriz polimérica é um processo amplamente estudado. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a recuperação das propriedades de poliestireno de alto impacto (HIPS) reciclado através da incorporação de copolímeros estireno-butadieno-estireno (SBS) de estrutura linear e radial. As blendas foram processadas em uma extrusora dupla rosca. Os copolímeros foram adicionados em teores de 5, 10 e 15% em massa. As propriedades avaliadas foram o índice de fluidez, a morfologia e o comportamento frente a ensaios de tração, flexão e resistência ao impacto das blendas formuladas. Em todos os casos, o SBS radial foi mais eficiente na recuperação das propriedades do poliestireno de alto impacto que o SBS linear quando comparadas às propriedades do HIPS reciclado.Toughening glassy thermoplastics by blending a rubbery material to the polymeric matrix has been extensively studied. In this work, we evaluated the resulting properties of recycled high impact polystyrene (HIPS), after the incorporation of either radial or linear SBS triblock copolymers. The blends were melt mixed using a twin-screw extruder. The copolymers were added at 5, 10 and 15% weight percent. The investigated properties included the determination of the melt flow index, the morphology and the mechanical behavior according to standard tension, flexion and impact methods of all formulated blends. In all cases, the radial SBS was more efficient in recovering the HIPS properties than the linear SBS, when comparing the properties of the blends with the properties of recycled HIPS

Native LDL-Cholesterol Mediated Monocyte Adhesion Molecule Overexpression is Blocked by Simvastatin

Aim of the study This study sought to evaluate the effect of nLDL concentrations on monocyte adhesion molecule expression in hypercholesterolemic patients with stable corollary artery disease (CAD) and to determine whether lipid-lowering therapy with simvastatin Would change this effect.Methods Blood samples from patients with hypercholesterolemia (mean LDL 152 mg/dL) and CAD (HC, n = 23) were collected before and after a 12-week treatment with 40 mg of simvastatin. Healthy individuals (mean LDL 111 mg/dL) were used as controls (CT, n = 15). Isolated nLDL, at a fixed concentration of 100 mg/dL, was added to monocyte suspensions obtained before and after the simvastatin treatment. Monocyte activation was determined by changes in cellular adhesion molecule expression.Results in response to nLDL, CD11b and CD14 adhesion molecule expression was higher in HC patients than in CT patients before treatment (174.2+/-8.4 vs 102.2+/-6.3, P<0.03 and 140.4+/-5.0 vs 90.4+/-6.7, P<0.04). After simvastatin treatment, CD11b expression decreased to 116.9+/-12.5 (P< 0.03) and CD14 expression to 107.5+/-6.2 (P<0.04). Alternatively, L-selectin expression was lower in HC patients than in CT patients before therapy (46.0+/-3.5 vs 62.1+/-5.5, P<0.04), and it increased markedly after lipid reduction to 58.7+/-5.0 (P<0.04 vs baseline). After simvastatin treatment, LDL was reduced to mean 101.5 mg/dL.Conclusions These data demonstrate that monocytes from HC patients are more prone to marked nLDL-mediated changes of adhesion molecule expression than monocytes from controls. Simvastatin is capable of inhibiting such nLDL effects. This proinflammatory response to nLDL may have a role in the early onset of atherosclerosis.Univ São Paulo, Heart Inst InCor HCFMUSP, Sch Med, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Texas SW Med Ctr Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Mol Biochem Biol Dept, Paulista Sch Med CINTERGEN, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Mol Biochem Biol Dept, Paulista Sch Med CINTERGEN, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Avaliação sorológica de imunização contra o sarampo com duas doses administradas aos 6 e 11 meses de idade: estudo prospectivo

A prospective study was designed to evaluate the serologic efficacy of a two dose meas les vaccination schedule, at 6 months and 11 months of age. Infants were given a further attenuated measles virus vaccine (BIKEN CAM 70, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz) and serum samples were tested for measles antibodies using the indirect immunofluorescence technique (IFA) and ELISA. Seroconversion rates 6 to 12 months (mean of 8.0 &plusmn;1.7 months) following the second dose of measles vaccine were 88.5% (85/96) by IFA and 96.8% (93/96) by ELISA. No measles cases were reported during the study period. In regions where a significant proportion of measles cases occurs before nine months of age, vaccination with a two doses schedule, at 6 and 11 months of age, may represent an alternative for measles control.A eficácia sorológica de um esquema de vacinação contra o sarampo empregando duas doses da vacina BIKEN CAM 70, sendo a primeira dose administrada aos 6 meses de idade e a segunda aos 11 meses de idade foi avaliada através de um estudo prospectivo. A amostra de sangue foi colhida entre 6 e 12 meses (média de 8,0 &plusmn; 1,7 meses) após a segunda dose da vacina, tendo-se empregado para pesquisa de anticorpos específicos a reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) e a técnica imunoenzimática ELISA. Anticorpos para o sarampo na amostra de sangue pós-vacinal foram detectados em 88,5% (85/96) das crianças quando foi empregada a RIFI e em 96,8% (93/96) quando se empregou a técnica imunoenzimática ELISA. Nenhuma das crianças apresentou, durante o período do estudo, quadro clínico compatível com sarampo. Em regiões em que uma proporção significativa de casos ocorrem antes dos 9 meses de idade, o esquema de vacinação de 2 doses, a primeira aos 6 e a segunda aos 11 meses de idade, pode representar alternativa válida para o controle do sarampo

Efeitos do atraso na colheita e do período de armazenamento sobre o rendimento de grãos inteiros de arroz de terras altas Effect of harvest moisture and storage period upon the yield of whole grains in the upland rice processing

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos do atraso da colheita sobre o rendimento de grãos inteiros no beneficiamento de 12 cultivares e linhagens de arroz, bem como diferentes períodos de armazenamento sobre a recuperação da porcentagem de grãos inteiros. Para tanto, procedeu-se à avaliação da umidade dos grãos e ao rendimento de grãos inteiros de amostras de arroz colhidas aos 0, 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias após a maturação. Foram armazenadas também amostras de grãos para determinação do rendimento de grãos inteiros aos 30, 60, 90, 120 e 150 dias após a colheita de cada cultivar e linhagem. Os maiores rendimentos de grãos inteiros são obtidos quando a colheita é realizada com umidade em torno de 20%; a cultivares Caiapó e a linhagem CNAs 8983 toleram atraso na colheita sem maiores prejuízos ao rendimento de grãos inteiros. O armazenamento dos grãos por mais de 90 dias mantém ou favorece o rendimento de grãos inteiros no beneficiamento.<br>The present work was develop with a view to evaluating the effect of the delay of harvest on grain moisture and whole grain yield in the processing of 12 rice cultivars as well as the different storage periods upon the recovery of the percentage of whole grains of samples of rice (Oryza sativa L.) harvested at 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after maturation, respectively. Grain samples were also stored determination of the yield of whole grains at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after harvest of each cultivar. The results showed that the highest yield of whole grains and obtained when harvest is performed with moisture around 20%, the cultivars Caiapó and CNAs 8983 tolerate delay in harvest without further damages to grain yield and the grains for over 90 days maintains of favors the yield of whole grains in processing

Identificação de fisiológicas de Pyriculariagrisea em arroz no estado de Minas Gerais Identification of physiological races of Pyricularia grisea in rice in the State of Minas Gerais

Com o objetivo de identificar as raças fisiológicas de Pyricularia grisea que ocorrem em Minas Gerais, coletaram-se 23 amostras de folhas de arroz com sintomas da brusone em 15 municípios representativos do estado. Foram obtidos 138 isolados, oriundos das 23 amostras, sendo duas lesões por amostra e três monospóricas por lesão. Os 138 isolados foram inoculados na série Internacional de diferenciadoras e as raças, determinadas utilizando-se uma escala visual de notas de 0 a 9. Foram identificadas as raças IA-1, IA-9, IA-10, IA-13, IA-65, IA-73, IB-1, IB-9, IB-15, IB-41, IB-64, IC-9, IC-14, IC-16. A raça predominante foi a IA-9 em 41,18% dos isolados, seguida pela IA-1 em 18,37% e IB-9 em 16,92%.Diferentes raças fisiológicas de P. grisea foram identificadas nos isolados provenientes de uma única lesão, indicando alta variabilidade do fungo.<br>With the objective of identifying the physiological races of Pyricularia grisea which occur in Minas Gerais, samples of rice leaves with blast lesions were collected from 15 locations. Three single spore isolates from each one of the two lesions obtained from 23 samples were analyzed. Races were identified according to the reaction pattern on eight standard international differentials utilizing the visual rating scale of 0 to 9. Races IA-1, IA-9, IA-10, IA-13, IA- 65, IA-73, IB-1, IB-9 IB-15, IB-1, IB-64, IC-9, IC-14, IC-16 were identified. The predominant race IA-9 was identified in 41.18% of the isolates , followed by IA-1 in 18.37% and IB-9 in 16.92%. Different physiological races of P. grisea were identified from isolates obtanied from a single lesion indicating high variability of the fungus