Preventing and treating childhood overweight and obesity in children up to 5 years old: A systematic review by intervention setting

The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide with long‐term health consequences. Effective strategies to stem the rising childhood obesity rates are needed but systematic reviews of interventions have reported inconsistent effects. Evaluation of interventions could provide more practically relevant information when considered in the context of the setting in which the intervention was delivered. This systematic review has evaluated diet and physical activity interventions aimed at reducing obesity in children, from birth to 5 years old, by intervention setting. A systematic review of the literature, consistent with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, was performed. Three electronic databases were searched from 2010 up to December 2020 for randomised controlled trials aiming to prevent or treat childhood obesity in children up to 5 years old. The studies were stratified according to the setting in which the intervention was conducted. Twenty‐eight studies were identified and included interventions in childcare/school (n = 11), home (n = 5), community (n = 5), hospital (n = 4), e‐health (n = 2) and mixed (n = 1) settings. Thirteen (46%) interventions led to improvements in childhood obesity measures, including body mass index z‐score and body fat percentage, 12 of which included both parental/family‐based interventions in conjunction with modifying the child''s diet and physical activity behaviours. Home‐based interventions were identified as the most effective setting as four out of five studies reported significant changes in the child''s weight outcomes. Interventions conducted in the home setting and those which included parents/families were effective in preventing childhood obesity. These findings should be considered when developing optimal strategies for the prevention of childhood obesity.     

Secondary biogenic amine deficiencies: genetic etiology,therapeutic interventions,and clinical effects

neurogenetics - Monoamine neurotransmitter disorders present predominantly with neurologic features, including dystonic or dyskinetic cerebral palsy and movement disorders. Genetic conditions that...     

Peer Stress-Related Coping Activities in Young Adolescents' Asthma Management

Managing asthma around peers can be stressful for young adolescents (age 9–14). However, the contexualised coping activities under asthma management-related peer stress is under-investigated. The study aims to explore the peer stress-related coping strategies young adolescents adopt in asthma management. Thirty-four young adolescents were interviewed with semi-structured storytelling protocols. Young adolescents expressed their opinions about four scenarios where the characters had difficulties managing asthma among peers. Interviews were transcribed, and qualitative data were analysed with analytical induction and constant comparison to generate themes that described the coping activities young adolescents adopted in four asthma management scenarios. Young adolescents' responses in each scenario were summarised. The coping activities adolescents adopted were cognitive justifying, explaining, outsourcing and undisclosing. Despite the limitations in a scenario-based qualitative study, the results may be useful for teachers and health professionals in social skill interventions for asthma management in early adolescence.     

Diagnosis of brain death with technetium 99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime

We report on the utility of technetium 99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (^99mTc-HMPAO) to diagnose brain death following cardiac surgery on a 49-year-old man with triple-vessel coronary artery disease. The imaging parameters and criteria to diagnose irreversible brain damage (brain death) with ^99m-TcHMPAO are outlined. Brain imaging with this tracer seems to be more reliable than classic radionuclide angiography and has a potential value to confirm the diagnosis of brain death at an early stage. In addition, it may be used to evaluate the perfusion pattern to other vital organs with potential for transplantation.Partially presented as a poster demonstration to the 19th Annual Meeting of the BNMS. Offprint requests to: D.C. Costa