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Objective: To assess effects of Healthy Change intervention on maternal perception of her child’s body weight (MPCW), maternal feeding style, and obesogenic home environment.A randomized control trial was conducted, consisting of two arms: the intervention group received the Healthy Change program, and the control group received the Hygiene and Accident Prevention program. A total of 356 mother-preschool child dyads participated, 182 in the intervention group and 174 in the control group, residing in Mexico and the United States. Data were collected at baseline and after the program through self-administered questionnaires completed by mothers and child anthropometric measurements.Although no significant between-group difference in pre- and post-intervention change of MPCW was found, sub-analyses revealed that a higher proportion of mothers in the intervention group accurately perceived their child’s body weight at the study endpoint using categorical (67% vs. 57.1%, p < 0.005) and visual scales (48.9% vs. 41.8%, p < 0.015). Additionally, more mothers of overweight children in the intervention group accurately perceived their children’s overweight and obese status compared to those in the control group (29.8% vs. 10.3%, X2 = 4.26, df = 1, p < 0.039). The intervention group also displayed a higher proportion of mothers with authoritative feeding style (26.4% vs. 16.5%, p < 0.036) and significantly higher family nutrition and physical activity scores (29.1 vs. 28.0, p < 0.000) at the study endpoint.Healthy Change Intervention led to improved accuracy of MPCW, a shift toward maternal authoritative feeding styles, and positive changes in obesogenic home environments.Methods: To assess effects of Healthy Change intervention on maternal perception of her child’s body weight (MPCW), maternal feeding style, and obesogenic home environment.A randomized control trial was conducted, consisting of two arms: the intervention group received the Healthy Change program, and the control group received the Hygiene and Accident Prevention program. A total of 356 mother-preschool child dyads participated, 182 in the intervention group and 174 in the control group, residing in Mexico and the United States. Data were collected at baseline and after the program through self-administered questionnaires completed by mothers and child anthropometric measurements.Although no significant between-group difference in pre- and post-intervention change of MPCW was found, sub-analyses revealed that a higher proportion of mothers in the intervention group accurately perceived their child’s body weight at the study endpoint using categorical (67% vs. 57.1%, p < 0.005) and visual scales (48.9% vs. 41.8%, p < 0.015). Additionally, more mothers of overweight children in the intervention group accurately perceived their children’s overweight and obese status compared to those in the control group (29.8% vs. 10.3%, X2 = 4.26, df = 1, p < 0.039). The intervention group also displayed a higher proportion of mothers with authoritative feeding style (26.4% vs. 16.5%, p < 0.036) and significantly higher family nutrition and physical activity scores (29.1 vs. 28.0, p < 0.000) at the study endpoint.Healthy Change Intervention led to improved accuracy of MPCW, a shift toward maternal authoritative feeding styles, and positive changes in obesogenic home environments.Results: To assess effects of Healthy Change intervention on maternal perception of her child’s body weight (MPCW), maternal feeding style, and obesogenic home environment.A randomized control trial was conducted, consisting of two arms: the intervention group received the Healthy Change program, and the control group received the Hygiene and Accident Prevention program. A total of 356 mother-preschool child dyads participated, 182 in the intervention group and 174 in the control group, residing in Mexico and the United States. Data were collected at baseline and after the program through self-administered questionnaires completed by mothers and child anthropometric measurements.Although no significant between-group difference in pre- and post-intervention change of MPCW was found, sub-analyses revealed that a higher proportion of mothers in the intervention group accurately perceived their child’s body weight at the study endpoint using categorical (67% vs. 57.1%, p < 0.005) and visual scales (48.9% vs. 41.8%, p < 0.015). Additionally, more mothers of overweight children in the intervention group accurately perceived their children’s overweight and obese status compared to those in the control group (29.8% vs. 10.3%, X2 = 4.26, df = 1, p < 0.039). The intervention group also displayed a higher proportion of mothers with authoritative feeding style (26.4% vs. 16.5%, p < 0.036) and significantly higher family nutrition and physical activity scores (29.1 vs. 28.0, p < 0.000) at the study endpoint.Healthy Change Intervention led to improved accuracy of MPCW, a shift toward maternal authoritative feeding styles, and positive changes in obesogenic home environments.Conclusions for practice: To assess effects of Healthy Change intervention on maternal perception of her child’s body weight (MPCW), maternal feeding style, and obesogenic home environment.A randomized control trial was conducted, consisting of two arms: the intervention group received the Healthy Change program, and the control group received the Hygiene and Accident Prevention program. A total of 356 mother-preschool child dyads participated, 182 in the intervention group and 174 in the control group, residing in Mexico and the United States. Data were collected at baseline and after the program through self-administered questionnaires completed by mothers and child anthropometric measurements.Although no significant between-group difference in pre- and post-intervention change of MPCW was found, sub-analyses revealed that a higher proportion of mothers in the intervention group accurately perceived their child’s body weight at the study endpoint using categorical (67% vs. 57.1%, p < 0.005) and visual scales (48.9% vs. 41.8%, p < 0.015). Additionally, more mothers of overweight children in the intervention group accurately perceived their children’s overweight and obese status compared to those in the control group (29.8% vs. 10.3%, X2 = 4.26, df = 1, p < 0.039). The intervention group also displayed a higher proportion of mothers with authoritative feeding style (26.4% vs. 16.5%, p < 0.036) and significantly higher family nutrition and physical activity scores (29.1 vs. 28.0, p < 0.000) at the study endpoint.Healthy Change Intervention led to improved accuracy of MPCW, a shift toward maternal authoritative feeding styles, and positive changes in obesogenic home environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New anti-HIV-1 drugs that target different viral proteins or genes at various steps in the viral life cycle are highly expected. HIV-1 assembly and disassembly (uncoating) processes are critical for the HIV-1 replication. HIV-1 capsid (CA) and human cyclophilin A (CypA) play essential roles in these processes. Using an in vitro screening system, we evaluated 52 thiourea derivatives for their potential CA and CypA-inhibiting activities. The antiviral activity of these compounds is correlated with their CA assembly inhibitory ability and with their anti-PPIase activity, suggesting that these compounds could block HIV-1 replication by disrupting CA assembly and inhibiting the PPIase activity of CypA to interfere with capsid disassembly. Among them, three compounds D4, D5, and D6 displayed the most promising potency with CA-assembly rate 15.78, 18.42, and 7.97(×10) OD/s, and their IC for inhibition of PPIase activity 0.45, 0.65, and 0.33 μM, respectively. The potent protein inhibitory activity resulted in their very low EC values (≤1.00 μM). They can be used for rational design of novel anti-HIV-1 drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have modified 4-hydroxy-pyran-2-ones, especially introduced heteroatoms ( S or O) into the substituents, and detected their interactions with the binding pockets of HIV-1 protease (PR). The results indicated that the ethoxyl groups at C-2′ and C-5′ of the phenyl ring could enhance the affinities to the S′ and S′ pockets and improve the inhibitory activities. The most potent compound 10f with an IC of 3.5 nM in enzymatic assay also exhibited good antiviral activity at the cellular level; it exhibited an EC value of 2.9 μM in Simian immunodeficiency virus-infected CEM cells and suppressed the PR activity in 293T cells using western blot analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To understand parents' perspectives of their preschoolers' physical activity behaviours.Methods: A maximum variation sample of 71 parents explored their preschoolers' physical activity behaviours through 10 semi-structured focus group discussions.Results: Parents perceived Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines for Children as inadequate; that their preschoolers get and need more than 30-90 minutes of activity daily; and that physical activity habits must be established during the preschool years. Nine barriers against and facilitators toward adequate physical activity were proposed: child's age, weather, daycare, siblings, finances, time, society and safety, parents' impact, and child's activity preferences.Discussion: The need for education and interventions that address current barriers are essential for establishing physical activity as a lifestyle behaviour during early childhood and, consequently, helping to prevent both childhood and adulthood obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood obesity is a public health concern in Canada. Few anthropometrical data are available to monitor the obesity trend in young Canadian children. This study explored the feasibility of using routine growth monitoring data from physicians' offices for tracking the prevalence of obesity in children from two to six years of age in County of Middlesex and the City of London, Ontario.Method: Data on body weight and height were retrieved from the growth chart at each immunization visit and routine checkup in five medical centres in the Middlesex-London area. Postal code data were also collected as a proxy measure for socio-economic status. The BMI-for-age references by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States were used to classify the weight status of the children.Results: In total, 1,370 growth charts of children from two to six years of age were reviewed. Approximately 30% of young children were either at risk of being overweight or were overweight, with an onset as early as age two.Conclusion: Overweight is prevalent in young children. Data from routine growth monitoring in primary health care settings have great potential to be used as a population-based data source to track the prevalence of obesity in young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study examines environmental factors associated with BMI (body mass index) levels among adolescents with the aim of identifying potential interventions for reducing childhood obesity., Methods: Students (n=1,048) aged 10-14 years at 28 schools in London, ON, completed a survey providing information on age, sex, height, weight, home address, etc., which was used to construct age-sex adjusted BMI z-scores. The presence of recreation opportunities, fast-food outlets and convenience stores was assessed using four areal units around each participant's home and school neighbourhood: "circular buffers" encompassing territory within a straight-line distance of 500 m and 1000 m; and "network buffers" of 500 m and 1000 m measured along the street network. School neighbourhoods were also assessed using school-specific "walksheds". Multilevel structural equation modeling techniques were employed to simultaneously test the effects of school-environment (Level 2) and home-environment (Level 1) predictors on BMI z-scores., Results: Most participants (71%) had a normal BMI, 16.9% were overweight, 7.6% were obese, and 4.6% were considered underweight. Multilevel analyses indicated that built environment characteristics around children's homes and schools had a modest but significant effect on their BMI. The presence of public recreation opportunities within a 500 m network distance of home was associated with lower BMI z-scores (p&lt;0.05), and fast-food outlets within the school walkshed was associated with higher BMI z-scores (p&lt;0.05)., Conclusion: Interventions and policies that improve children's access to publicly provided recreation opportunities near home and that mitigate the concentration of fast-food outlets close to schools may be key to promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing childhood obesity.

Background: Concerns about adequate food supply is a mounting problem in Canada, making food bank visits a necessity for over 820,000 Canadians. Given this reliance, the purpose of this study was to compare contents of food hampers with Canadian guidelines, at a large urban food bank in Southwestern Ontario that intends to provide 3 days worth of food per person., Method: Thirty hampers of each available size (for 1-6 people) were sampled (N = 180). Food items were recorded and analyzed for caloric value, food group, and macro- and micro-nutrient values. Results were compared to Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) and Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating., Results: 99% of hampers did not provide 3 days worth of nutrients. Grains and cereals met the lower range of Canada's Food Guide recommendations, and fruits and vegetables, meats and alternatives, and dairy products were below recommended levels, as were numerous vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, D, B12, C, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Carbohydrates were slightly above recommended DRI, and energy from fat and protein scarcely met the minimums recommended. Hampers contained 1.6 days worth of energy per person., Discussion: The energy available per person was below recommendations for most Canadians. Nutrients missing from the hampers can come from fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meats and alternatives. However, many low-income families have limited finances to purchase these foods which are relatively more expensive than processed foods. Encouraging more perishable food donations and storage facilities to maximize the nutritional intake for clients is imperative.