Search

This study examines patterns of growth and nutritional status of indigenous Tsimane' children under 9 years of age (n = 199 boys and 210 girls), based on a cross-sectional sample from 58 villages from the Beni Deparment of lowland Bolivia. Compared with US children, Tsimane' children are quite short, with linear growth tracking at or below the US 5th centile in both sexes. The prevalence of low height-for-age ('stunting;' HA Z-scores [less than or equal to] -2) is 52% in boys and 43% in girls. In contrast, weight-for-height in Tsimane' children approximates the US median, with the prevalence of low weight-for-height ('wasting'; WH Z-scores [less than or equal to] -2) being only 4% and 6% in boys and girls, respectively. Tsimane' boys and girls are leaner than their US peers, but their levels of body fatness are not so low as to indicate severe energy stress. Arm muscularity of Tsimane' children is similar to that of their US age peers, and this suggests that they are not experiencing acute protein malnutrition. Variation in measures of nutritional status of Tsimane' children is modestly correlated with village-level differences. Degree of isolation, as measured by distance to urban centers or to primary forest, was not a strong predictor of children's anthropometric status. Rather, in both boys and girls, nutritional status was most strongly associated with number of teachers in the village, a measure of access to education. Comparative analyses indicate that high levels of statural growth stunting are common among indigenous populations throughout lowland South America. This problem appears to be largely attributable to poor dietary quality (diets low in key micronutrients) and high disease loads. Further research is needed to identify the specific causes and potential interventions for the high rates of childhood growth stunting in this region. KEY WORDS anthropometry; stature; weight; skinfolds; Amazonia; diet quality

This paper describes the first post-Master's program in the US in end-of-life care for social workers. Developed at the Smith College School for Social Work, this program used innovative relational methods in student recruitment, curricular design, supervision, and leadership development, based upon input from the faculty, students, and field supervisors. Collaborations emerged with funders, agencies, and programs nationally. The program was based on a pedagogical stance that clinical work with dying people requires the capacity to be fully present- in individual, group, and family work; in interdisciplinary meetings; and in advocating for quality and equity of care-while attending to diverse and at-risk populations. Students deepened their clinical skills and took leadership in the field of end-of-life care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Milkweeds (Asclepias L.) have been extensively investigated in diverse areas of evolutionary biology and ecology; however, there are few genetic resources available to facilitate and compliment these studies. This study explored how low coverage genome sequencing of the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) could be useful in characterizing the genome of a plant without prior genomic information and for development of genomic resources as a step toward further developing A. syriaca as a model in ecology and evolution. Results A 0.5× genome of A. syriaca was produced using Illumina sequencing. A virtually complete chloroplast genome of 158,598 bp was assembled, revealing few repeats and loss of three genes: accD, clpP, and ycf1. A nearly complete rDNA cistron (18S-5.8S-26S; 7,541 bp) and 5S rDNA (120 bp) sequence were obtained. Assessment of polymorphism revealed that the rDNA cistron and 5S rDNA had 0.3% and 26.7% polymorphic sites, respectively. A partial mitochondrial genome sequence (130,764 bp), with identical gene content to tobacco, was also assembled. An initial characterization of repeat content indicated that Ty1/copia-like retroelements are the most common repeat type in the milkweed genome. At least one A. syriaca microread hit 88% of Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) unigenes (median coverage of 0.29×) and 66% of single copy orthologs (COSII) in asterids (median coverage of 0.14×). From this partial characterization of the A. syriaca genome, markers for population genetics (microsatellites) and phylogenetics (low-copy nuclear genes) studies were developed. Conclusions The results highlight the promise of next generation sequencing for development of genomic resources for any organism. Low coverage genome sequencing allows characterization of the high copy fraction of the genome and exploration of the low copy fraction of the genome, which facilitate the development of molecular tools for further study of a target species and its relatives. This study represents a first step in the development of a community resource for further study of plant-insect co-evolution, anti-herbivore defense, floral developmental genetics, reproductive biology, chemical evolution, population genetics, and comparative genomics using milkweeds, and A. syriaca in particular, as ecological and evolutionary models.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons, causing progressive muscle weakness and respiratory failure. The presence of an expanded hexanucleotide repeat in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72) is the most frequent mutation causing familial ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). To determine if suppressing expression of C9ORF72 gene products can reduce toxicity, we designed a set of artificial microRNAs (amiRNA) targeting the human C9ORF72 gene. Here we report that an AAV9-mediated amiRNA significantly suppresses expression of the C9ORF72 mRNA, protein, and toxic dipeptide repeat proteins generated by the expanded repeat in the brain and spinal cord of C9ORF72 transgenic mice., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objectives: To describe beverage behaviors among preschooler-parent dyads and explore correlates with preschooler's beverage behaviors., Methods: This exploratory, cross-sectional study includes a convenience sample of 202 parents of preschoolers surveyed from four Head Start programs in Virginia and Ohio. Measurements included parent-child beverage behaviors, parent beverage perceptions, parent beverage rules, home beverage availability, and demographics. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Quade's non-parametric ANCOVA tests., Results: Mean sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB; i.e., regular soda, sweetened fruit drinks, sports/energy drinks, and coffee/tea with sugar) intake was 1.3 (SD = 1.4) and 2.3 (SD = 2.0) times/day for preschoolers and parents, respectively. When considering all sugary drink sources [i.e., summing SSB with flavored milk and 100% fruit juice (FJ)], the mean frequency increased to 3.2 (SD = 2.1) and 3.6 (SD = 2.4) times/day, respectively, for preschoolers and parents. A significant positive correlation was observed between preschooler-parent dyads for SSB (r = 0.406, p < 0.001) and for all sugary drinks (r = 0.572, p < 0.001). Parents who were younger, single, less educated, and with lower income had preschoolers with significantly higher SSB and all sugary drink intake (all p < 0.05). Significant correlates with preschoolers' beverage behaviors also included parent perceived behavioral control (SSB: p = 0.003, 100% FJ: p = 0.008, water: p < 0.0001), parenting practices (SSB: p = 0.022), and home availability (SSB: p = 0.011, 100% FJ: p < 0.001, water: p < 0.001)., Conclusions: This study highlights excessive SSB and all sugary drink consumption among Head Start preschooler-parent dyads. Also, intervention targets to improve preschooler's beverage behaviors are identified, including efforts to improve parent's beverage behaviors, perceived behavioral control, parenting practices, and the home environment., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To determine whether adolescents with persistent postconcussion symptoms (PPCS) differ from healthy peers in their personality traits and social supports., Setting: Specialty Concussion Clinic and Primary Care Clinic affiliated with an academic medical center., Participants: Ninety-seven adolescents (42 with PPCS, 55 healthy peers; age: 15 ± 2 years)., Design: Participants completed a web-based survey that included medical and demographic characteristics, mechanisms of concussion, 10-item Big Five Inventory, and Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale. A Student's 2-tailed t test with multiple testing corrections was used to compare the youths with PPCS to healthy peers., Main Measures: The primary outcome was PPCS, defined by the presence of 2 or more concussion-related symptoms on the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), lasting for more than 4 weeks after initial injury. The secondary outcome was perceived personality traits and social support, based on the 10-item Big Five Inventory and the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale, respectively., Results: The PPCS group had higher neuroticism scores on their Big Five Inventory than healthy peers. They also reported less social support from teachers and classmates than healthy peers., Conclusion: Youths with PPCS report specific personality and social support characteristics that differ from their peers. These findings suggest that individual personality and school-based social supports may influence concussion recovery., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

An 84-year-old woman with a history of dry age-related macular degeneration presented with an acute inability to read, but intact writing ability (pure alexia or alexia without agraphia). She denied any difficulty speaking, paresthesias, or hemiparesis. Her visual acuity was 20/20 in each eye. Macular examination, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography demonstrated the previously diagnosed macular drusen and geographic atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium consistent with the dry form of age-related macular degeneration both eyes. Automated perimetry revealed a right homonymous hemianopsia. Neuroimaging confirmed a left occipital ischemic infarction with involvement of the splenium of the corpus callosum producing the classic disconnection syndrome of alexia without agraphia., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Distal biceps rupture is less common than injury to the proximal biceps; however, injury distally has profound functional implications on activities which rely on power during elbow flexion and forearm supination. The majority of distal biceps ruptures can be treated with surgical repair of the distal biceps utilizing either a single or two-incision technique; both of which achieve comparable improved outcomes and reported minimal pain and disability at two years. Safe and effective rehabilitation following distal biceps repair is accomplished through a phased progression, with avoidance of premature stress to the healing soft tissue repair.The purpose of this clinical commentary is to provide a concise review of distal biceps tendon injury, including relevant anatomy, etiology, diagnosis, and operative intervention as well as post-operative factors influencing the pursuit of a criterion based, progressive rehabilitation program after distal biceps tendon repair. This commentary seeks to provide an update on current treatment strategies used in distal biceps rehabilitation with accompanying scientific rationale., Level of Evidence: 5.

Malnutrition disorders affect more than 30% of schoolchildren in Egypt. This problem appears to be largely attributable to poor dietary quality and micronutrient deficiencies, such as iron and vitamin A. Inadequate nutrition intake has important implications because malnutrition has been shown to negatively affect the cognitive development of primary schoolchildren. This study assesses the awareness of schoolteachers about the impact of malnutrition on the scholastic performance of primary schoolchildren living in Egypt. Two focus group discussions were conducted with Egyptian schoolteachers from the Quena and Kharbia Governorates. The study indicates that schoolteachers consider low body weight and thinness as the primary signs of malnutrition. They do not prioritize malnutrition as a factor for poor scholastic performance. They also suggest that unhealthful eating habits, especially a lack of breakfast, negatively affect children's interaction with schoolteachers and their ability to excel in their studies. Schoolteachers endorse a more reliable and nutritionally valuable school-feeding program as a way to increase the scholastic performance of their students. The teachers advocate developing integrated programs between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Population, teachers, children, and parents that provide nutrition education. A lack of awareness among teachers about the relationship of nutrition and cognitive function can lead to the misdiagnosis or delayed management of malnourished and scholastically challenged schoolchildren. This paper suggests that proper school-feeding programs and nutrition education programs, which integrate government ministries, teachers, children and parents, should be developed to improve the physical and cognitive health status of Egyptian schoolchildren.

The birth of hospice in the United States was fostered by the work of Florence Wald, former Dean of the Yale School of Nursing. Her activities are emblematic of the dedication of many other hospice volunteers who made hospice a reality in the United States. Nurturer, humanitarian and visionary, we salute Florence Wald and the many others who have contributed to the change in how end-of-life care is rendered in the United States. Congratulations and well done.

This paper considers the stresses and satisfactions experienced by health care social workers as they help clients with grief and loss at a time of great fiscal restraint. Their clients face life-threatening illnesses such as AIDS and many forms of cancer. There are untimely losses in families and communities whose resources are dwindling. As social workers confront struggles with death and bereavement, they may receive limited support to deal with these stresses in their work. The authors suggest administrative strategies both to help workers reduce stress and increase satisfactions and to demonstrate the value of social work services to dying and bereaved clients along a continuum of health care.

The hospital setting presents special needs for an Employee Assistance Program and special complications for sponsorship, development, and maintenance. What has been learned, how certain problems can be solved or avoided, how responsibility and accountability can be negotiated are presented by a team that has successfully established such a program at a large metropolitan medical center. In addition to successes, some unsolved problems are identified for further study.

This paper examines the historic and contemporary commitment of social work to discharge planning in the context of current threats from external systems as well as dilemmas within the profession. Through the examination of events in one hospital, the authors identify legislative and fiscal trends and place the social work role with its specific skills and knowledge at the forefront of the planning process. Finally, there is a discussion of crucial developments and implications for directions and for needed professional growth.

The growing movements in behalf of consumers' rights and self-help in health care were the impetus for the formation of a hospital group program for patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. The authors use case examples and summaries to describe the steps by which these patients began to offer each other help, which in turn led to both personal and institutional change.