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ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether the therapeutic use of caffeine for premature newborns is associated with changes in sleep habits and the presence of obstructive sleep apnea in childhood. Methods: This is a cross-sectional single-center study in which the caretakers of 87 children aged 5-10 years, born full-term or preterm, treated or not with caffeine in the neonatal period, answered questionnaires to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening Tool [PosaST]) and to characterize the sleep habits (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire [CSHQ]) of their children. ANOVA and linear regression tests were performed to verify possible differences between the groups. Results: Children born prematurely who were treated with caffeine woke up significantly later on weekdays than those born at term (09h±00h58 and 07h43±1h15, respectively, p=0.022) and had longer total daily sleep time also compared to those born at term (10h24±1h08 and 09h29±1h08, respectively, p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the three groups in overall PosaST and CSHQ scores. Conclusions: Caffeine use in the neonatal period did not impair sleep habits later in life and did not lead to increased obstructive sleep apnea scores in prematurely born children compared to those born at term.
RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar se o uso terapêutico de cafeína para recém-nascidos prematuros se associa a alterações nos hábitos de sono e à presença de apneia obstrutiva do sono na infância. Métodos: Este é um estudo unicêntrico transversal no qual os responsáveis por 87 crianças com idades entre cinco e dez anos, nascidas a termo ou pré-termo e tratadas ou não com cafeína no período neonatal responderam a questionários para triagem de apneia obstrutiva do sono (Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening Tool - PosaST) e para a caracterização dos hábitos de sono (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire - CSHQ) de seus filhos. Foram realizados testes de variância (ANOVA) e de regressão linear para verificar possíveis diferenças entre os grupos. Resultados: As crianças nascidas prematuras que foram tratadas com cafeína acordaram significativamente mais tarde nos dias de semana do que as nascidas a termo (09h±00h58 e 07h43±1h15, respectivamente, p=0,022) e tiveram maior tempo total de sono diário também comparadas às nascidas a termo (10h24±1h08 e 09h29±1h08, respectivamente, p<0,001). Não houve diferença significativa entre os três grupos na pontuação geral dos questionários PosaST e CSHQ. Conclusões: O uso de cafeína no período neonatal não prejudicou tardiamente os hábitos de sono e não levou ao aumento dos escores de apneia obstrutiva do sono de crianças nascidas prematuras quando comparadas com crianças nascidas a termo.
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Abstract Psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent all over the world with a great impact on public health. Altered homocysteine metabolism is implicated in the pathogenesis of many of these disorders, as it can interfere in normal methylation of subcellular components, promote neuroexcitotoxicity, and induce oxidative stress and inflammation. There are cumulative data implicating these mechanisms in the development of autism, schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer disease. Altered homocysteine metabolism is multifactorial in its origin. On one hand, genetic factors act as predisposing factors through brain development and function, and on the other hand, environmental factors give the opportunity for nutritional interventions improving metabolic status and possibly also clinical parameters. This article provides a review on the association of 1-carbon metabolism and autism, schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and dementia and goes through studies on the role of different cofactors and metabolites involved in this pathway.
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CONTEXT: Inborn Errors of Metabolism are hereditary affections resulting from incompetence in enzymatic reactions of intermediary metabolism. At present, several hundred hereditary metabolic disturbances are known, many of which correspond to severe life-threatening disorders. OBJECTIVE: The early detection of carriers has motivated the screening for these disturbances among newborns at the Neonatal Unit of Hospital Säo Paulo, in an attempt to initiate support treatment, when available, before clinical manifestations become evident. DESIGN: Prospective study of risk patients. SETTING: Laboratory for Inborn Errors of Metabolism at the Center for Medical Genetics of the Departments of Pediatrics and Morphology of Universidade Federal de Säo Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina.Newborn care unit at a tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 101 children admitted into the Neonatal Unit were included in this study by presenting hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, jaundice, difficulty in gaining weight, diarrhea, vomiting, hepato- and/or splenomegaly, cataracts, apnea, convulsions, hypo- or hypertonia. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS: Tests routinely utilized, performed for qualitative research of abnormal substances excreted in the urine in situations of metabolic disorder. RESULTS: Children were included in the study mainly because of presenting hypoglycemia, jaundice and metabolic acidosis. Sixty-four newborns presented at least one positive test result. Most of the positivity was due to transitory metabolic alterations of the newborn, such as the case of Transitory Neonatal Tyrosinemia, presented by 29 patients. Nine infants were referred to the Center for Medical Genetics of Universidade Federal de Säo Paulo for continuation of the diagnostic investigation. For three of them, the tests applied permitted us to formulate a diagnostic hypothesis of mucopolysaccharidosis, tyrosinemia type I and non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The high positivity observed in the tests reflects the newborn's own metabolic immaturity. The selection of 9 percent of the studied cases for outpatient follow-up confirms that Inborn Errors of Metabolism must be suspected whenever a patient presents metabolic disturbances or neurological manifestations without a determined cause. They should be researched in parallel with the other diagnostic possibilities and not just taken to be exceptional diagnoses