Life Sciences Commons^™

Epidemiology Of Early And Late Growth In Height, Leg And Trunk Length: Findings From A Birth Cohort Of Brazilian Males, D. P. Gigante, Aydin Nazmi, R. C. Lima, F. C. Barros, Cesar G. Victora

Aydin Nazmi

Background/Objective:To investigate socioeconomic, gestational and early life exposures as potential determinants of total height, leg and trunk length. Subjects/Methods:Male subjects from the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study were examined in 1986 at home, and in 2000 when registering at the local army base. The follow-up rate was 79%. Standing and sitting heights were measured on both occasions. Leg length was calculated as the difference between standing and sitting heights. Outcome measures were height, leg and trunk length at 4 and 18 years and growth in this period. Complete data were obtained for 2012 participants, representing 71% of all eligible male …

Life-Course Socio-Economic Factors, Skin Colour And Abdominal Obesity In Adulthood In A Brazilian Birth Cohort, David A. Gonzalez, Aydin Nazmi, John S. Yudkin, Cesar G. Victora

Aydin Nazmi

Objective:Obesity is an increasingly prevalent nutritional disorder throughout the world. In particular, abdominal obesity is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic risk. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of skin colour and life-course socio-economic indicators on waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and waist:hip ratio (WHR) in young adults. Design:Population-based birth cohort study. Individuals born in 1982 in Pelotas (southern Brazil) were visited on a number of occasions from birth to age 23–24 years. A sample of the cohort was sought in 2006 and 972 individuals were located. The analysis was restricted to individuals with complete data available (442 …

Socioeconomic And Racial/Ethnic Differentials Of C-Reactive Protein Levels: A Systematic Review Of Population-Based Studies, Aydin Nazmi, Cesar G. Victora

Aydin Nazmi

Background:Socioeconomic and racial/ethnic factors strongly influence cardiovascular disease outcomes and risk factors. C-reactive protein (CRP), a non-specific marker of inflammation, is associated with cardiovascular risk, and knowledge about its distribution in the population may help direct preventive efforts. A systematic review was undertaken to critically assess CRP levels according to socioeconomic and racial/ethnic factors. Methods:Medline was searched through December 2006 for population-based studies examining CRP levels among adults with respect to indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP) and/or race/ethnicity. Bibliographies from located studies were scanned and 26 experts in the field were contacted for unpublished work. Results:Thirty-two relevant articles were located. …

Correlates Of C-Reactive Protein Levels In Young Adults: A Population-Based Cohort Study Of 3827 Subjects In Brazil, Aydin Nazmi, I. O. Oliveira, Cesar G. Victora

Aydin Nazmi

The socio-demographic, behavioral and anthropometric correlates of C-reactive protein levels were examined in a representative young adult Brazilian population. The 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study (Brazil) recruited over 99% of births in the city of Pelotas that year (N = 5914). Individuals belonging to the cohort have been prospectively followed up. In 2004-2005, 77.4% of the cohort was traced, members were interviewed and 3827 individuals donated blood. Analyses of the outcome were based on a conceptual model that differentiated confounders from potential mediators. The following independent variables were studied in relation to levels of C-reactive protein in sex-stratified analyses: skin …

Hb A1c In Relation To Intrauterine Growth Among Male Adolescents In Southern Brazil, Aydin Nazmi, S. R. Huttly, Cesar G. Victora, R. C. Lima, P. R. Post, J. W.L. Elizalde, B. M.C. Gerson

Aydin Nazmi

The fetal origins hypothesis states that nutritional deprivation in utero affects fetal development and contributes to the incidence of diseases associated with the metabolic syndrome in later life. This study investigated whether haemoglobin (Hb) A1c, an indicator of blood glucose, varied among healthy male adolescents according to their fetal growth rate, in a middle-income setting. Participants were men aged 18 years, belonging to the 1982 Pelotas birth cohort. Complete data, including gestational age and Hb A1c at age 18 years, were available for 197 individuals. There was an inverse association between mean Hb A1c and birthweight for the gestational age, …

Salty Students At Risk

Leonard Piché

No abstract provided.

Hdl-Cholesterol-Raising Effect Of Orange Juice In Subjects With Hypercholesterolemia, Elzbieta Kurowska, J. Spence, John Jordan, Stephen Wetmore, David Freeman, Leonard Piché, Paula Serratore

Leonard Piché

Background: Orange juice-a rich source of vitamin C, folate, and flavonoids such as hesperidin-induces hypocholesterolemic responses in animals. Objective: We determined whether orange juice beneficially altered blood lipids in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia. Design: The sample consisted of 16 healthy men and 9 healthy women with elevated plasma total and LDL-cholesterol and normal plasma triacylglycerol concentrations. Participants incorporated 1, 2, or 3 cups (250 mL each) of orange juice sequentially into their diets, each dose over a period of 4 wk. This was followed by a 5-wk washout period. Plasma lipid, folate, homocyst(e)ine, and vitamin C (a compliance marker) concentrations …

Understanding Screen-Related Sedentary Behavior And Its Contributing Factors Among School-Aged Children: A Social-Ecologic Exploration, Meizi He, Stewart Harris, Leonard Piché, Charlene Beynon

Leonard Piché

Purpose: To explore the factors that contribute to children's screen-related sedentary (S-RS) behaviors. Settings: Elementary schools. Subjects: A random sample of children in grades five and six and their parents. Measures: The outcome measure was children's S-RS activity level measured by a self-administered questionnaire. A full spectrum of potential contributing factors for children's S-RS behaviors was obtained through surveys. Multilevel linear regression methods were used to determine the associations between these factors and children's screen time (hours per day) and results were expressed as regression coefficients (g). Results: Of 955 child-parent pairs in 14 participating schools, 508 pairs (53%) completed …

Sweetened Beverage Consumption And Its Contributing Factors Among School-Aged Children–A Multilevel Analysis, Meizi He, Leonard Piché, Danielle Battram, Isabelle Giroux, Charlene Beynon, Jacqline Swans, Rohna Hanning

Leonard Piché

Excessive consumption of sweetened beverages by children and youth has become an issue of great concern among health professionals and health policy makers in the U.S. and Canada. Over-consumption of sweetened beverages can have negative effects on children's nutrient profile and may increase their risk of obesity. Reducing children's sweetened beverage consumption offers an opportunity to decrease unnecessary energy intake and prevent excess weight gain.

Effect Of Flash-Heat Treatment On Immunoglobulins In Breastmilk, Caroline J. Chantry, Kiersten Israel-Ballard, Zina Moldoveanu, Jan Peerson, Anna Coutsoudis, Lindiwe Sibeko, Barbara Abrams

Lindiwe Sibeko

Background—Heat-treated expressed breastmilk is recommended by WHO as an option to reduce vertical HIV transmission in resource poor regions. Flash-heat (FH) is a low technology pasteurization method developed for home use, but its effect on quantity and quality of breastmilk immunoglobulins is unknown. Objective—To evaluate FH's effect on breastmilk immunoglobulin levels and antigen binding capacity. Design/Methods—Fifty HIV+ mothers in South Africa provided breastmilk. Part of each sample served as an unheated (UH) control; the remainder was Flash-heated. Total and antigen-specific IgA and IgG were measured by ELISA. Paired t-test was performed on log transformed data. Results—FH significantly decreased total IgA …

Updated Health Canada Links, Leonard Piché, Alicia Garcia

Leonard Piché

No abstract provided.

Diet And Physical Activity Patterns Of School-Aged Children.Pdf, Maya Vadiveloo, Paula Quatromoni

Maya Vadiveloo

A Photovoice Participatory Evaluation Of A School Gardening Program Through The Eyes Of Fifth Graders, Catherine Sands, Krista Harper, Lee Ellen Reed, Maggie Shar

Catherine Sands

In the springtime, fifth grade students at the Williamsburg Elementary School in rural Western Massachusetts ask to snack on sorrel and chives from the school garden, between planting potatoes and building a shade structure for their outdoor classroom. They are members of the first cohort of the curriculum-integrated program initiated by Fertile Ground, a grassroots organization in western Massachusetts. The children’s delight in the fresh greens they have grown marks a national phenomenon: the farm-to-school movement. With limited resources, parents, teachers, students, administrators, and community activists are developing inroads to better school food and food education, by constructing school teaching …