IGF-1R mRNA expression is increased in obese children.

OBJECTIVES: Obese children are often taller than age-matched subjects. Reports on GH and IGF-I levels in obese individuals are controversial, with normal and reduced GH-IGF-I levels having been reported in this group of patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyse insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF-IR) mRNA expression in obese children. METHODS: Forty-seven pre-pubertal children were included in this study: 29 were obese and taller than their target height, and 18 were normal eutrophic controls. Fasting blood samples were collected for IGF-IR mRNA expression in isolated lymphocytes and serum IGF-I, ALS, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-1 concentration analysis. RESULTS: Relative IGF-IR gene expression (2-ΔΔCT) was significantly (P=0.025) higher in obese children (median 1.87) than in controls (1.15). Fourteen of the 29 obese subjects showed 2-ΔΔCT values greater than or equal to 2, while only 2 individuals in the control group showed values above 2 (P=0.01). Obese children showed significantly (P=0.01) higher IGF-I concentrations than the control group (237ng/ml and 144ng/ml, respectively). Among obese patients, 65.5% had IGF-I values above the 75 percentile of the control group (P=0.02). ALS concentration was significantly (P=0.04) higher in the obese group, while IGFBP-3 levels were similar in obese and control children. IGFBP-1 concentration was lower in obese children, while insulin levels and HOMA-IR index were higher than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: The higher IGF-IR mRNA expression observed in obese children, associated with the higher IGF-I and ALS and the lower IGFBP-1 levels, suggest that the higher stature observed in these children may be due to increased IGF-I bioactivity.

[Prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in the city of Serrana, São Paulo, Brazil]. / Prevalência e determinantes do aleitamento materno exclusivo no município de Serrana, São Paulo, Brasil.

The objective of this cross-sectional and quantitative study was to identify the prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding among infants less than six months of age in the city of Serrana, Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2009. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the guardians of the children less than six months of age who attended the second phase of a Brazilian vaccination campaign against polio. Univariate and multivariate analysis presented in odds ratios and confidence intervals was accomplished. Of the total of 275 infant participants, only 29.8% were exclusively breastfed. Univariate analysis revealed that mothers who work outside the home without maternity leave, mothers who did not work outside the home, adolescent mothers, and the use of pacifiers have a greater chance of interrupting exclusive breastfeeding. In the multivariate analysis, mothers who work outside the home without maternity leave are three times more likely to wean their children early. Results provide suggestions for the redirection and planning of interventions targeting breastfeeding.

Prevalência e determinantes do aleitamento materno exclusivo no município de Serrana, São Paulo, Brasil / Prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in the city of Serrana, São Paulo, Brazil / Prevalencia y determinantes del amamantamiento materno exclusivo en el municipio de Serrana, São Paulo, Brasil

Estudo transversal e quantitativo, com objetivos de identificar a prevalência e os determinantes do aleitamento materno exclusivo em crianças menores de 6 meses, no município de Serrana - SP, no ano de 2009. Aplicou-se um questionário semiestruturado validado junto aos responsáveis pelas crianças menores de 6 meses que compareceram à segunda etapa da Campanha Nacional de Vacinação contra a poliomielite. Foram realizadas análises uni e multivariadas apresentadas em Odds Ratio e intervalos de confiança. Do total das 275 crianças participantes, apenas 29,8% estavam em aleitamento materno exclusivo. Nas análises univariadas, verificou-se que mães que trabalham fora sem licença-maternidade, mães que não trabalham fora, adolescentes e o uso de chupeta apresentaram maior chance de interrupção do aleitamento materno exclusivo. Na análise multivariada, as mães que trabalham fora sem licença-maternidade têm 3 vezes mais chance de desmamarem precocemente seus filhos. Os resultados forneceram subsídios para o redirecionamento e planejamento de ações em aleitamento materno.

The objective of this cross-sectional and quantitative study was to identify the prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding among infants less than six months of age in the city of Serrana, Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2009. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the guardians of the children less than six months of age who attended the second phase of a Brazilian vaccination campaign against polio. Univariate and multivariate analysis presented in odds ratios and confidence intervals was accomplished. Of the total of 275 infant participants, only 29.8% were exclusively breastfed. Univariate analysis revealed that mothers who work outside the home without maternity leave, mothers who did not work outside the home, adolescent mothers, and the use of pacifiers have a greater chance of interrupting exclusive breastfeeding. In the multivariate analysis, mothers who work outside the home without maternity leave are three times more likely to wean their children early. Results provide suggestions for the redirection and planning of interventions targeting breastfeeding.

Estudio transversal, cuantitativo, objetivando identificar la prevalencia y determinantes del amamantamiento materno exclusivo en lactantes menores de 6 meses, en el municipio de Serrana-SP, en 2009. Se aplicó cuestionario semiestructurado validado, junto a los responsables por los niños menores de 6 meses que comparecieron a la segunda etapa de la Campaña Nacion al de Vacunación contra la Poliomielitis. Fueron realizados análisis uni y multivariados presentados en Odds Ratio e intervalos de confianza. De los 275 niños participantes, apenas 29,8% estaban en amamantamiento exclusivo. En los análisis univariados se verificó que madres que trabajan fuera sin licencia maternal, madres que no trabajan fuera, adolescentes y el uso del chupete presentan mayor chance de interrupción del amamantamiento exclusivo. En el análisis multivariado, las madres que trabajan fuera sin licencia maternal tienen tres veces más posibilidades de destetar precozmente a sus hijos. Los resultados brindaron ayuda para redireccionar y planear acciones de amamantamiento materno.

[Evaluation of organizational and performance features in a Basic Health Unit]. / Avaliação das características organizacionais e de desempenho de uma unidade de atenção Básica à Saúde.

This research aims to evaluate organizational and performance features of a traditional Basic Health Unit, from the Primary Health Care service network, from users' perspective. The sample of 55 users was established using the same criteria of a rapid evaluation methodology, which was already validated and based on a free lectureship research sampling process. Empirical data were collected using the Primary Care Assessment Tool instrument validatedfor Brazil. Results revealed that access is one of the bottlenecks in the system. Primary Health Care practice does not focus on families and community in its process of work. The Basic Health Unit offers several services, establishing itself as an entrance to the system, though it does not always establish a link with users. Investments are needed in the Brazilian municipal health network in order to strengthen Primary Health Care attributes.

Avaliação das características organizacionais e de desempenho de uma unidade de Atenção Básica à Saúde / Evaluación de las características organizacionales y de desempeño de una unidad de Atención Básica a la Salud / Evaluation of organizational and performance features in a Basic Health Unit

Este estudo objetiva avaliar as características organizacionais e de desempenho, a partir dos usuários, de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde tradicional, da rede de serviços de Atenção Básica à Saúde. Utilizando os mesmos critérios de uma metodologia de avaliação rápida já validada, e baseando-se no processo amostral de uma pesquisa de livre docência, foi estabelecida a amostra de 55 usuários. O material empírico foi coletado pelo instrumento que compõe o Primary Care Assessment Tool validado para o Brasil. Os resultados revelam o atributo acesso como um dos pontos de estrangulamento do sistema. A prática de atenção não enfoca a família e a comunidade em seu processo de trabalho. A unidade oferece uma diversidade de serviços estabelecendo-se como porta de entrada para o sistema, incorpora ações de coordenação, mas, nem sempre estabelece vínculo com os usuários. Conclui-se a necessidade de investimentos na rede municipal, visando fortalecer os atributos da Atenção Básica.

Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar las características organizacionales y de desempeño, a partir de la opinión de los usuarios de una Unidad Básica de Salud tradicional, de la red de servicios de Atención Básica a la Salud. La presente investigación estableció muestra de 55 usuarios, utilizando los mismos criterios de una metodología de evaluación rápida ya validada, y teniendo por base el proceso de muestreo de una investigación de libre docencia. El material empírico fue recolectado por el instrumento que compone del Primary Care Assessment Tool, validado para Brasil. Los resultados revelan el acceso como uno de los puntos de estrangulamiento del sistema. La práctica de atención no enfoca la familia ni la comunidad en su proceso de trabajo. La Unidad ofrece una diversidad de servicios y se establece como puerta de entrada para el sistema, incorporando acciones de coordinación, pero ni siempre establece vínculo con los usuarios Se concluye que son necesarias inversiones en la red municipal para fortalecer los atributos de la Atención Básica.

This research aimed to evaluate organizational and performance features of a traditional Basic Health Unit, from the Primary Health Care service network, as from users' perspective. The sample of 55 users was established using the same criteria of a rapid evaluation methodology, which was already validated, and based on a free lectureship research sampling process. Empirical data were collected using the Primary Care Assessment Tool instrument, validated for Brazil. Results revealed that access is one of the bottlenecks in the system. Primary Health Care practice does not focus on families and community in its process of work. The Basic Health Unit offers several services, establishing itself as an entrance to the system, however, it not always establishes link with users. Investments are needed in the Brazilian municipal health network in order to strengthen Primary Health Care attributes.