Use of television, videogames, and computer among children and adolescents in Italy

Background  

This survey determined the practices about television (video inclusive), videogames, and computer use in children and adolescents in Italy.     

The Pregnancy,Arsenic, and Immune Response (PAIR) Study in rural northern Bangladesh

Background

Arsenic exposure and micronutrient deficiencies may alter immune reactivity to influenza vaccination in pregnant women, transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies to the foetus, and maternal and infant acute morbidity.

Objectives

The Pregnancy, Arsenic, and Immune Response (PAIR) Study was designed to assess whether arsenic exposure and micronutrient deficiencies alter maternal and newborn immunity and acute morbidity following maternal seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy.

Population

The PAIR Study recruited pregnant women across a large rural study area in Gaibandha District, northern Bangladesh, 2018–2019.

Design

Prospective, longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohort.

Methods

We conducted home visits to enrol pregnant women in the late first or early second trimester (11–17 weeks of gestational age). Women received a quadrivalent seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine at enrolment. Follow-up included up to 13 visits between enrolment and 3 months postpartum. Arsenic was measured in drinking water and maternal urine. Micronutrient deficiencies were assessed using plasma biomarkers. Vaccine-specific antibody titres were measured in maternal and infant serum. Weekly telephone surveillance ascertained acute morbidity symptoms in women and infants.

Preliminary Results

We enrolled 784 pregnant women between October 2018 and March 2019. Of 784 women who enrolled, 736 (93.9%) delivered live births and 551 (70.3%) completed follow-up visits to 3 months postpartum. Arsenic was detected (≥0.02 μg/L) in 99.7% of water specimens collected from participants at enrolment. The medians (interquartile ranges) of water and urinary arsenic at enrolment were 5.1 (0.5, 25.1) μg/L and 33.1 (19.6, 56.5) μg/L, respectively. Water and urinary arsenic were strongly correlated (Spearman's ⍴ = 0.72) among women with water arsenic ≥ median but weakly correlated (⍴ = 0.17) among women with water arsenic < median.

Conclusions

The PAIR Study is well positioned to examine the effects of low-moderate arsenic exposure and micronutrient deficiencies on immune outcomes in women and infants. Registration : NCT03930017.     

Participation of children on the autism spectrum in home,school, and community

Background

Children on the autism spectrum participate less frequently, and in a narrower range of activities, than their nonautistic peers, but little is known about exact participation patterns across contexts or how this is perceived by caregivers. This study aimed to document patterns of participation and caregiver views with regard to frequency and intensity of activities.

Method

Caregivers of children on the spectrum aged 5 (n = 90) and 9–10 years (n = 128) completed the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth for home, school, and community. Caregivers reported on frequency of child's participation, level of involvement, and caregivers' desire for change in participation patterns.

Results

Item‐level analyses revealed similar patterns of participation across home, school, and community for both cohorts with some small age‐appropriate differences. Caregivers generally desired increased diversity, frequency, and involvement in activities but a decreased use of electronics (computers, games, TV, and DVDs).

Conclusion

The possibility of autism‐specific participation patterns could inform future interventions aimed at enhancing social inclusion. This warrants further investigation through multiinformant designs that seek the perspectives of the child and caregivers.     

Physical activity,quality of life,weight status and diet in adolescents

Purpose  

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between quality of life (QoL), physical activity (PA), diet and overweight status in children 11 to 15 years old.     

Socioeconomic position,gender, and inequalities in self-rated health between Roma and non-Roma in Serbia

Objective  

Roma experience high levels of discrimination and social exclusion. Our objective was to examine differences in self-rated health (SRH) between Roma and non-Roma in Serbia.     

The relative influence of demographic,individual, social,and environmental factors on physical activity among boys and girls

Background  

This study aimed to evaluate the associations of selected demographic, individual, social, and environmental factors with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a sample of children and adolescents.     

Findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – smoking initiation, prevalence of tobacco use and cessation

Objectives  

To show selected findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.     

Interrelationships of adolescent physical activity, screen-based sedentary behaviour, and social and psychological health

Objectives:  

To examine how adolescent physical activity (PA) and screen-based media sedentary behaviours (SBM) relate to psychological and social health and identify cross-national differences in these relationships.     

Psychosocial stress, demoralization and the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and medical drugs by veterinarians

Background  

In this cross-sectional study the association between psychosocial stress, demoralization and the consumption of psychotropic substances in veterinarians was examined using data from a sample of 1,060 subjects (52.7% response).     

BMI,waist circumference,and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in Japanese adults

Objective  

To examine whether the association between waist circumference (WC) and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors varies with obesity (BMI) status.     

The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised,double‐blind,placebo‐controlled clinical trial

Background

Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorder of childhood, affecting 3–5% of school‐age children. The present study investigated whether the supplementation of soy‐derived phosphatidylserine (PS), a naturally occurring phospholipid, improves ADHD symptoms in children.

Methods

Thirty six children, aged 4–14 years, who had not previously received any drug treatment related to ADHD, received placebo (n = 17) or 200 mg day^–1 PS (n = 19) for 2 months in a randomised, double‐blind manner. Main outcome measures included: (i) ADHD symptoms based on DSM‐IV‐TR; (ii) short‐term auditory memory and working memory using the Digit Span Test of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; and (iii) mental performance to visual stimuli (GO/NO GO task).

Results

PS supplementation resulted in significant improvements in: (i) ADHD (P < 0.01), AD (P < 0.01) and HD (P < 0.01); (ii) short‐term auditory memory (P < 0.05); and (iii) inattention (differentiation and reverse differentiation, P < 0.05) and inattention and impulsivity (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in other measurements and in the placebo group. PS was well‐tolerated and showed no adverse effects.

Conclusions

PS significantly improved ADHD symptoms and short‐term auditory memory in children. PS supplementation might be a safe and natural nutritional strategy for improving mental performance in young children suffering from ADHD.     

Overweight,obesity, and colorectal cancer screening: Disparity between men and women

Background  

To estimate the association between body-mass index (BMI: kg/m²) and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among US adults aged ≥ 50 years.     

Effects of occupational exposure to 1,4-dichlorobenzene on hematologic,kidney, and liver functions

Purpose  

To investigate the effects of 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) on kidney, liver, and hematological functions of workers in insect repellent factories in Taiwan.     

Substance abuse, treatment needs and access among female sex workers and non-sex workers in Pretoria, South Africa

Background  

This study examined cross-sectional data collected from substance-using female sex workers (FSW) and non-sex workers (non-SW) in Pretoria, South Africa, who entered a randomized controlled trial.     

Infection status and risk factors of HIV,HBV, HCV,and syphilis among drug users in Guangdong,China - a cross-sectional study

Background  

China has witnessed a remarkable increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. The study is to assess the prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis and related risk factors among drug users in mandatory detoxification center Qingyuan, Guangdong, China.     

Effect of fluoride exposure on bone metabolism indicators ALP,BALP, and BGP

Objective  

To analyze the changes in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) activity and changes in osteocalcin (BGP) content following fluoride exposure and, thereby, determine the reference indications of fluoride-induced changes in bone metabolism.     

Association between glycemic index, glycemic load, and fructose with insulin resistance: the CDC of the Canary Islands study

Background  

The involvement of carbohydrates in triggering insulin resistance (IR) remains a source of controversy.     

Variability in childhood allergy and asthma across ethnicity, language, and residency duration in El Paso, Texas: a cross-sectional study

Background  

We evaluated the impact of migration to the USA-Mexico border city of El Paso, Texas (USA), parental language preference, and Hispanic ethnicity on childhood asthma to differentiate between its social and environmental determinants.     

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis,human immunodeficiency virus,and foreign birth in North Carolina, 1993 – 2006

Background  

The proportion of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) reported in the United States has been gradually increasing. HIV infection and foreign birth are increasingly associated with tuberculosis and understanding their effect on the clinical presentation of tuberculosis is important.     

Pathways to HIV risk and vulnerability among lesbian,gay, bisexual,and transgendered methamphetamine users: a multi-cohort gender-based analysis

Background  

Methamphetamine (MA) use continues to be a major public health concern in many urban settings. We sought to assess potential relationships between MA use and individual, social, and structural HIV vulnerabilities among sexual minority (lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered) drug users.