Nuclear factor-kappa-B-inhibitor alpha (NFKBIA) is a developmental marker of NF-κB/p65 activation during in vitro oocyte maturation and early embryogenesis.

BACKGROUND: The oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET) requires a co-ordinated transcriptional programme acting through evolutionarily conserved events, and transcription factors (TFs) are known to control these processes. Here, we focus on nuclear factor (NF)-κB, a TF involved in several cellular processes, studying NFκB-inhibitor (NFKBIA) mRNA and its protein product, IκBα, during OET. NFKBIA and IκBα are part of a regulatory loop, as IκBα is the major down-regulator of NF-κB activation while NFKBIA transcription is activated by NF-κB. METHODS AND RESULTS: We found a dynamic correlation between NFKBIA transcript, expression of IκBα-protein and activation of NF-κB/p65 in bovine oocyte and embryo. During the transition from immature to in vitro matured bovine oocyte, we observed a decrease in maternal NFKBIA mRNA and a parallel increase of the IκBα-protein (both P < 0.05). In the embryo, NFKBIA neo-synthesis is activated as a consequence of embryo genome activation (EGA), and IκBα decreases. NF-κB/p65-binding activity was detectable at low levels in immature oocyte, disappeared in dormant metaphase II oocyte and was strong in the embryo, during embryonic NFKBIA synthesis. The level of NF-κB/p65 DNA binding correlates with the timing of meiotic silencing during bovine oocyte maturation and embryonic transcription reprogramming. CONCLUSIONS: The IκBα/NF-κB circuit appears to be a tightly stage-controlled mechanism that could govern OET, being activated at EGA. Our findings represent the first characterization of NFKBIA and IκBα as maternal effectors in both the bovine oocyte and embryo. We suggest a role for NFKBIA as a marker of NF-κB/p65 activation in the human oocyte and early embryo.

[Motor assessment in school-aged children with indicators of the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder]. / Evaluación motora en escolares con indicadores del trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad.

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequent disorders in childhood. In the literature there are claims that ADHD is associated with important comorbidities, which include disorders affecting motor coordination. AIM. To evaluate motor development of schoolchildren with ADHD indicators. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sample used in our study consisted of 31 schoolchildren (aged between 7.3 and 10.8 years) studying in the first and second years of primary education in state-run schools in Florianopolis, SC, Brazil, who had ADHD indicators in accordance with DSM-IV (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders) and attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder evaluation scale (EDAH) criteria, which had been answered by teachers and parents. Motor evaluation was evaluated using the Motor Development Scale. The Epi Info 3.2.2 software application was used for descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Findings showed that 48.4% of the schoolchildren had a motor development that was considered to be 'low average' according to the Motor Development Scale; 35.5% were 'inferior'; 9.7% were 'very inferior'; and 6.4% were found to be 'medium average'. The mean motor development of the group as a whole was classified as being 'low average'; the greatest difficulties were temporal organisation ('very inferior'), spatial organisation ('inferior') and balance ('inferior'). Fine motor control, general motor control and body schema were classified as 'low average'. With respect to laterality, 48.4% were right-handed, 48.4% had crossed laterality and 3.2% had undefined laterality. CONCLUSIONS: These results are in line with studies that suggest the existence of alterations in the motor coordination of children with symptoms of ADHD.

[The biopsychosocial characteristics of schoolchildren with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder indicators]. / Características biopsicosociales de los escolares con indicadores de trastorno de déficit de atención e hiperactividad.

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequent disorders in childhood. According to the literature, ADHD is a syndrome produced by multiple causes that depend on genetic factors and environmental and social adversities. AIMS: Our aim was to describe the biopsychosocial characteristics of schoolchildren with ADHD indicators. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sample used in our study consisted of 31 children (aged between 7 and 10 years) studying in the first and second course of primary education in state-run schools in Florianopolis (Santa Catarina, Brazil), who had ADHD indicators based on the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and the EDAH questionnaires, which were answered by teachers and parents. The mothers and another legal guardian of these children answered a biopsychosocial questionnaire that contained questions concerning their pre, peri and postnatal history, neuropsychomotor development, family environment and questions about ADHD. RESULTS: Findings showed a number of diverse risk factors that may be related with the disorder. Many of these biopsychosocial characteristics were highly prevalent in the children in this study. They cannot, however, be considered to be a cause of the disorder but they may be possible risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the child's history is important to be able to reach an accurate diagnosis, as well as to try to prevent and treat this syndrome.

Comparison between manual and automatic coding of medical record statistical cards at a university hospital.

The coding error rate of systems for medical record statistical cards (MRSCs) throughout health services is about 30%. A program using automatic coding has been developed at the Institute of Clinical Surgery II, Padua University Hospital, with a view to reducing this percentage. Out of an overall sample of 4776 MRSCs from all departments of the hospital, 54 were automatically coded at our institute. Categories of discrepancy between the discharge diagnosis codes of the 4722 manually coded MRSCs and the other 54 MRSCs were classified as follows: types I-III, diagnosis assigned to an erroneous under-class, class or heading (ICD-9) respectively; type IV, incorrect diagnosis formulation precluding code assignment; type V, two or more discrepancies on MRSC; and type VI, secondary diagnosis not coded. Discrepancy rates were as follows: 22.3% and 0.0% for type I; 21.3% and 0.0% for type II; 17.6% and 0.0% for type III; 1.9% and 0.0% for type IV; 5.8% and 0.0% for type V; 31% and 1.9% for type VI. Code discrepancy rates for surgical procedures, which were also compared, ranged from 7.0 to 12.5% for manual coding, while no discrepancy was observed in automatically-coded MRSCs. The results clearly demonstrate the utility of the system reported on, and it is suggested that it should be used in a modified form in other hospital departments.