Osteometabolic profile and bone mass in the transition phase: ethnic differences in Brazilians treated with somatropin during childhood

Abstract Objective: The main growth hormone action is to promote linear growth increasing protein synthesis stimulation and osteoblastic activity. Peak bone mass extends from adolescence to 30 years of age. Several factors may influence this acquisition and prevent fracture risk in adulthood, such as genetic potential, GH, ethnicity, and lifestyle factors. This study aims to compare bone mass and osteometabolic profile of white and Afro-descendant Brazilian adolescents in the transition phase, who were treated with human recombinant growth hormone in childhood. Methods: The authors selected 38 adolescents from the Transition Outpatient Clinic of the University of São Paulo. Lumbar spine and total body bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC), serum calcium, 25-OH-vitamin D and bone markers were analyzed at the rhGH withdrawal. Results: The mean age was 16.8 ± 1.6 years. There were 21 Afro-descendant and 17 whites. Thirty-four percent of the sample presented vitamin D insufficiency, 66% inadequate calcium intake and 44.7% physical inactivity. The Afro-descendants showed a lower lumbar spine and total body Z scores than those of the whites (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively), as well as their mean body weight (p = 0.03). There were no differences in the remaining osteometabolic parameters. Conclusion: As most adolescents had vitamin D insufficiency, low calcium intake, and physical inactivity, calcium, and cholecalciferol supplementation and lifestyle changes should be encouraged. The Brazilian Afro-descendant may be a vulnerable group for low bone mass, requiring

An especial transition phase of hospitals: the adaptation of hospital operations to the development of COVID-19 and policy adjustments

The ongoing pandemic coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) remains a significant issue for global health, economics, and society. In order to balance epidemic control and economic recovery, many countries have successively announced the gradual relaxation of some lockdown restrictions. Hospitals and medical staff constitute the backbone in this war against COVID-19. In response to this serious situation, many hospitals went into emergency and impaired healthcare access to patients with conditions other than COVID-19. Therefore, gradually promoting hospital operations and functions back to the new normal is important, especially when this outbreak has been effectively controlled. In this study, we introduce existing and potential problems that could seriously affect people's health. Additionally, we propose that an especial transition phase between the emergency and regular modes of hospitals can be well adapted to the current situation.

Como se tornar um pai presente: impactos de um grupo de pais / How to become a present father: impacts of a group of parents

Este estudo avaliou a eficácia de um programa de intervenção para pais sobre o envolvimento paterno. Os participantes foram divididos em três grupos. No grupo experimental 1 (GE1), formado por 29 pessoas, (pais, mães e crianças), apenas os pais receberam intervenção. No grupo experimental 2 (GE2), formado por 36 pais e mães e 38 crianças, apenas as mães receberam intervenção. No grupo controle, composto por 34 pessoas (pais, mães e crianças), pais e mães não receberam intervenção. Para avaliar a frequência do envolvimento paterno, pais, mães e crianças de todos os grupos responderam ao questionário “Avaliação do relacionamento pai-filho”em três momentos diferentes: antes da intervenção (pré-teste), após a intervenção (pós-teste) e após um ano do início da intervenção (follow-up). Nos grupos GE1 e GE2, as frequências de comunicação entre pai e filho e de participação do pai nas atividades escolares, culturais e de lazer do filho foram estatisticamente maiores no pós-teste do que no pré-teste.

This study assessed the effectiveness of an intervention program for parents on parental involvement. Participants were divided into three groups. In experimental group 1 (GE1), composed of 29 people (parents and children), only fathers received intervention. In experimental group 2 (GE2), composed of 36 parents and 38 children, only mothers received intervention. In control group, composed of 34 people (parents and children), parents received no intervention. To assess the frequency of father involvement, parents and children of all groups answered the questionnaire “Assessment of father-child relationship” in three different moments: before the intervention (pre-test), after the intervention (post-test) and one year after the beginning of the intervention (follow-up). In groups GE1 and GE2, the frequencies of communication between father and child and of involvement of the father in school, cultural and leisure activities of the child were significantly higher in the post-test than in the pre-test.

Impactos de uma intervenção com pais: o desempenho acadêmico e comportamento das crianças na escola / Impacts of a parent intervention program: their children's academic achievement and classroom behavior

Neste estudo avaliou-se o impacto de um programa de intervenção com os pais, sobre o desempenho acadêmico e o comportamento de crianças da 1ª e 2ª séries do Ensino Fundamental. Os participantes foram divididos em três grupos: Grupo Experimental 1 (GE1 - professores e 29 crianças cujos pais participaram da intervenção), Grupo Experimental 2 (GE2 - professores e 36 crianças cujas mães participaram da intervenção) e Grupo Controle (GC - professores e 34 crianças cujos pais e mães não participaram da intervenção). Antes e após o programa de intervenção, as crianças foram avaliadas utilizando-se o Teste de Desempenho Escolar (TDE); os professores preencheram um questionário aberto e o Social Skills Rating Scale -Versão para Professores (SSRS-P). Em comparação com o pré-teste, no pós-teste, as crianças do GE1 e do GE2 (mas não as do GC) apresentaram: (a) melhor desempenho acadêmico em leitura e na pontuação total do TDE, (b) resultados mais positivos no SSRS-P e, (c) um maior número de atributos positivos e menor número de atributos negativos, segundo as professoras.

This paper presents the impacts of a parent intervention program on the academic performance and classroom behavior of their children. The participants of the study were either first or second grade students. There were three groups of participants: Experimental Group 1 (EG1 - 29 children whose fathers participated in the intervention program along with the children's teachers); Experimental Group 2 (EG2 - 36 children whose mothers participated in the intervention program along with the children's teachers); and Control Experimental Group (CG - 34 children, whose parents did not participate in the intervention program, and the children's teachers). Before and after the intervention program, the children were evaluated using the Academic Achievement Test (AAT) and their teachers completed an open-ended questionnaire as well as the teacher's version of the Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS-T). In comparison with the pre-test, in the post-test the children in the EG1 and EG2 (but not in the CG) obtained: (a) higher overall scores in the AAT and in the reading sub-test; (b) more positive results in the SSRS-T; and (c) were rated by their teachers as presenting a greater number of positive attributes and a smaller number of negative attributes.

Determination of Behavior and the Stimuli-dependent Transition of the Probability of Behavioral Expression: A Study on the Fluctuation of Behavioral State as Represented by the Level of Body Movement Suppression

The behavior of most animals is extremely complex. Despite accumulating knowledge about the mechanisms of neurons and nervous systems, which regulate these complex behaviors, we have little understanding about how these mechanisms function. In the present study, we analyzed the exploratory behavior of mice repeatedly exposed to a novel context and tracked the changes in the fluctuation patterns of the accumulated level of body movement suppression (BMS). As a result, we found that the fluctuation in BMS can be divided into two phases, which show a pattern of progressive transition from the initial state to the context-dependent and stable equilibrium state. In the former, transition phase, the level of BMS was easily affected by the number of exposures and mental status of mice. However, in the latter, equilibrium phase, the level of BMS was only dependent on the environmental stimuli involved in the context. On the basis of the results, we suggests here a model that explains the determination of complex behavior observed in higher animals by means of the probability of behavioral expression.