Effects of distractors on upright balance performance in school-aged children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, preliminary study / Efeitos de distrações sobre o desempenho do equilíbrio vertical em crianças em idade escolar com transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade - estudo preliminar

Abstract Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common impairing neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in early childhood. Almost half of the children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also experience a variety of motor-related dysfunctions ranging from fine/gross motor control problems to difficulties in maintaining balance. Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of distractors two different auditory distractors namely, relaxing music and white noise on upright balance performance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Methods: We compared upright balance performance and the involvement of different sensory systems in the presence of auditory distractors between school-aged children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (n = 26) and typically developing controls (n = 20). Neurocom SMART Balance Master Dynamic Posturography device was used for the sensory organization test. Sensory organization test was repeated three times for each participant in three different test environments. Results: The balance scores in the silence environment were lower in the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder group but the differences were not statistically significant. In addition to lower balance scores the visual and vestibular ratios were also lower. Auditory distractors affected the general balance performance positively for both groups. More challenging conditions, using an unstable platform with distorted somatosensory signals were more affected. Relaxing music was more effective in the control group, and white noise was more effective in the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder group and the positive effects of white noise became more apparent in challenging conditions. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating balance performance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder under the effects of auditory distractors. Although more studies are needed, our results indicate that auditory distractors may have enhancing effects on upright balance performance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Resumo Introdução: O transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade é um distúrbio neuropsiquiátrico comum que causa comprometimentos, com início na primeira infância. Quase metade das crianças com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade também experimenta uma variedade de distúrbios relacionados às habilidades motoras, desde problemas de controle de habilidades motoras finas/grossas até dificuldades na manutenção do equilíbrio. Objetivos: O principal objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos de distrações, especificamente duas distrações auditivas diferentes, música relaxante e ruído branco, sobre o desempenho do equilíbrio vertical em crianças com transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade. Método: Comparamos o desempenho do equilíbrio vertical e o envolvimento de diferentes sistemas sensoriais na presença de distração auditiva entre crianças em idade escolar com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (n = 26) e controles com desenvolvimento típico (n = 20). O dispositivo Neurocom Smart Balance Master Dynamic Posturography foi utilizado para o teste de organização sensorial. O teste de organização sensorial foi repetido três vezes para cada participante em três ambientes de teste diferentes. Resultados: Os escores de equilíbrio no ambiente em silêncio foram menores no grupo com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade, mas as diferenças não foram estatisticamente significativas. Além dos escores de equilíbrio mais baixos, as razões vestibulares e visuais também foram menores. As distrações auditivas afetaram positivamente o desempenho do equilíbrio geral para ambos os grupos. Condições mais desafiadoras, usando uma plataforma instável com sinais somatossensoriais distorcidos, foram mais afetados. Música relaxante foi mais eficaz no grupo de controle, e ruído branco foi mais eficaz no grupo de hiperatividade com déficit de atenção e os efeitos positivos do ruído branco se tornaram mais evidentes em condições desafiadoras. Conclusão: Que seja de nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro estudo que avalia o desempenho do equilíbrio em crianças com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade sob os efeitos de distrações auditivas. Embora mais estudos sejam necessários, os nossos resultados indicam que as distrações auditivas podem ter efeitos de aumento no desempenho do equilíbrio vertical em crianças com transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade.

Comparing school lunch and canteen foods consumption of children in Kayseri, Turkey

School Nutrition Programs [SNPs] may have positive effects on children's food choices through high nutritional quality meals. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted to determine nutritional quality of school lunch and to compare lunch consumption of students who participated in SNP and who did not, at the first governmental school serving school lunch in Kayseri, Turkey. Methods: One hundred and sixteen students aged 9-14 years were divided into two groups after being matched according to gender, age, grade; 58 participants [school lunch group; SL-G] and 58 nonparticipants [school canteen group; SC-G] were recruited. Energy-nutrient content of 5-day school lunch was determined by recipes. Socio-demographic data and lunch consumption on 5 consecutive weekdays with weighed left overs were obtained. Lunch energy-nutrient intakes and anthropometric measurements were compared. Results: School lunch was adequate for vitamins [E and C], fibre, iron, inadequate for energy, carbohydrate, folate, calcium. Contribution of fat [36.6 +/- 6.8%] and saturated fat [12.2 +/- 3.5%] to energy and sodium content was high [1001 mg] in school lunch. SL-G consumed significantly higher protein, vitamin C, thiamine, vitamin B[6], potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc [p < 0.001 for each] than SC-G. Energy [p < 0.001], carbohydrate [p < 0.001], fat [p < 0.05]", vitamin E [p < 0.001] intakes of SC-G were significantly higher than SL-G. Body weights, height, body mass index of groups were similar. Foodservice at school should be revised with collaboration of school management, catering firm, dietetic professionals. Policy should focus on reducing fat, saturated fat, sodium content and meeting energy-nutrient requirements of school aged children

effects of oligofructose and polydextrose on metabolic control parameters in type-2 diabetes

This study investigated the effects of oligofructose and polydextrose on metabolic control in Type-2 diabetes. Twenty voluntary, postmenopausal, total cholesterol [TC]/HDL-cholesterol [HDL-C] ratios >4.5, female, Type-2 diabetes patients were included. The study was performed in four periods, with the baseline as the period one. In periods two and four, the patients consumed individual diabetic diets for eight weeks. In period three, they consumed 20g of oligofructose and polydextrose mixture in 40g sweetener [in powdered form], added to their diets for six weeks. Prebiotic soluble fiber sources [oligofructose and polydextrose] significantly decreased fasting and postprandial [2-hour] blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, TC, LDL-cholesterol [LDL-C], TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios, triglyceride, VLDL-cholesterol, lipoprotein [a], systolic and diastolic blood pressures [p<0.001], apolipoprotein B [p<0.05], and increased HDL-C, insulin [p<0.05], and C-peptide levels [p>0.05] compared to the initial values, respectively. Individual diabetic diets supplemented with prebiotics improved metabolic control in Type-2 diabetes