Evaluation of three herbal compounds used for the management of lower urinary tract disease in healthy cats: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Lower urinary tract disease (LUTD) occurs commonly in cats, and idiopathic cystitis (FIC) and urolithiasis account for >80% of cases in cats <10 years of age. Although several strategies have been recommended, a common recommendation is to induce dilute urine resulting in more frequent urination and to dilute calculogenic constituents. In addition to conventional therapy using modified diets, traditional Chinese and Western herbs have been recommended, although only one - choreito - has published data available. We evaluated three commonly used herbal treatments recommended for use in cats with LUTD: San Ren Tang, Wei Ling Tang and Alisma. We hypothesized that these three Chinese herbal preparations would induce increased urine volume, decreased urine saturation for calcium oxalate and struvite, and differences in mineral and electrolyte excretions in healthy cats. METHODS: Six healthy spayed female adult cats were evaluated in a placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover design study. Cats were randomized to one of four treatments, including placebo, San Ren Tang, Wei Ling Tang or Alisma. Treatment was for 2 weeks each with a 1 week washout period between treatments. At the end of each treatment period, a 24 h urine sample was collected using modified litter boxes. RESULTS: Body weights were not different between treatments. No differences were found in 24 h urinary analyte excretions, urine volume, urine pH or urinary saturation for calcium oxalate or struvite between treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results of this study do not support the hypothesis; however, evaluation of longer-term and different dosage studies in cats with LUTD is warranted.

Nontruncating SCN1A mutations associated with severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy impair cell surface expression.

Mutations in SCN1A, encoding the voltage-gated sodium channel Na(V)1.1, are the most common cause of severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI) or Dravet syndrome. SMEI is most often associated with premature truncations of Na(V)1.1 that cause loss of function, but nontruncating mutations also occur. We hypothesized that some nontruncating mutations might impair trafficking of Na(V)1.1 to the plasma membrane. Here we demonstrated that seven nontruncating missense or in-frame deletion mutations (L986F, delF1289, R1648C, F1661S, G1674R, and G1979E) exhibited reduced cell surface expression relative to wild type (WT) Na(V)1.1 consistent with impaired trafficking. We tested whether two commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin, lamotrigine), as well as the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) trafficking corrector VRT-325, could rescue cell surface and functional expression of two representative Na(V)1.1 mutants (R1648C, G1674R). Treatment of cells with phenytoin increased cell surface expression of WT-Na(V)1.1 and both mutant channels, whereas lamotrigine only increased surface expression of R1648C. VRT-325 did not alter surface expression of WT-Na(V)1.1 or mutant channels. Although phenytoin increased surface expression of G1674R, channel function was not restored, suggesting that this mutation also causes an intrinsic loss of function. Both phenytoin and lamotrigine increased functional expression of R1648C, but lamotrigine also increased persistent sodium current evoked by this mutation. Our findings indicate that certain nontruncating SCN1A mutations associated with SMEI have impaired cell surface expression and that some alleles may be amenable to pharmacological rescue of this defect. However, rescue of dysfunctional Na(V)1.1 channels to the plasma membrane could contribute to exacerbating rather than ameliorating the disease.

Relationship between arm usage and instrumental activities of daily living after unilateral stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the preferred pattern of arm use after unilateral hemispheric damage was associated with better everyday functioning. Our previous work showed that right-handed stroke patients with right hemisphere damage (RHD) used their right, ipsilesional arm most frequently, while those with left hemisphere damage (LHD) used both arms together most frequently. This effect was explained by right-hand preference, but its relationship to functional performance is not known. DESIGN: Observational cohort. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Stroke patients (n=60; 30 RHD, 30 LHD) and healthy controls (n=52). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Functional Impact Assessment was used to assess performance on instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). RESULTS: The preferred patterns of arm use were similar to those in our previous report. However, it was the greater use of both arms together that was associated with better IADL performance in both stroke groups. Ipsilesional arm use alone was not significantly associated with IADL performance in the RHD group and was associated with poorer performance in the LHD group. CONCLUSIONS: The modal arm use pattern did not always optimize IADL functioning. Better IADL functioning in both stroke groups was associated with the use of both arms together, which is the most common arm use pattern of healthy individuals doing these same IADLs. An important practical question that arises from these findings is whether bilateral arm rehabilitation should be emphasized, because using both arms together is the best predictor of better performance on everyday tasks.

Brain activity and desire for Internet video game play.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested that the brain circuitry mediating cue-induced desire for video games is similar to that elicited by cues related to drugs and alcohol. We hypothesized that desire for Internet video games during cue presentation would activate similar brain regions to those that have been linked with craving for drugs or pathologic gambling. METHODS: This study involved the acquisition of diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging and functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 19 healthy male adults (age, 18-23 years) following training and a standardized 10-day period of game play with a specified novel Internet video game, "War Rock" (K2 Network, Irvine, CA). Using segments of videotape consisting of 5 contiguous 90-second segments of alternating resting, matched control, and video game-related scenes, desire to play the game was assessed using a 7-point visual analogue scale before and after presentation of the videotape. RESULTS: In responding to Internet video game stimuli, compared with neutral control stimuli, significantly greater activity was identified in left inferior frontal gyrus, left parahippocampal gyrus, right and left parietal lobe, right and left thalamus, and right cerebellum (false discovery rate <0.05, P < .009243). Self-reported desire was positively correlated with the ß values of left inferior frontal gyrus, left parahippocampal gyrus, and right and left thalamus. Compared with the general players, subjects who played more Internet video game showed significantly greater activity in right medial frontal lobe, right and left frontal precentral gyrus, right parietal postcentral gyrus, right parahippocampal gyrus, and left parietal precuneus gyrus. Controlling for total game time, reported desire for the Internet video game in the subjects who played more Internet video game was positively correlated with activation in right medial frontal lobe and right parahippocampal gyrus. DISCUSSION: The present findings suggest that cue-induced activation to Internet video game stimuli may be similar to that observed during cue presentation in persons with substance dependence or pathologic gambling. In particular, cues appear to commonly elicit activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal, orbitofrontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, and thalamus.

Simple food group diversity indicators predict micronutrient adequacy of women's diets in 5 diverse, resource-poor settings.

Women of reproductive age living in resource-poor settings are at high risk of inadequate micronutrient intakes when diets lack diversity and are dominated by staple foods. Yet comparative information on diet quality is scarce and quantitative data on nutrient intakes is expensive and difficult to gather. We assessed the potential of simple indicators of dietary diversity, such as could be generated from large household surveys, to serve as proxy indicators of micronutrient adequacy for population-level assessment. We used 5 existing data sets (from Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, Bangladesh, and the Philippines) with repeat 24-h recalls to construct 8 candidate food group diversity indicators (FGI) and to calculate the mean probability of adequacy (MPA) for 11 micronutrients. FGI varied in food group disaggregation and in minimum consumption required for a food group to count. There were large gaps between intakes and requirements across a range of micronutrients in each site. All 8 FGI were correlated with MPA in all sites; regression analysis confirmed that associations remained when controlling for energy intake. Assessment of dichotomous indicators through receiver-operating characteristic analysis showed moderate predictive strength for the best choice indicators, which varied by site. Simple FGI hold promise as proxy indicators of micronutrient adequacy.

Impact of water intake on energy intake and weight status: a systematic review.

The effects of consuming water with meals rather than drinking no beverage or various other beverages remain under-studied. This systematic review of studies reported in the English-language literature was performed to compare the effects of drinking water and various beverage alternatives on energy intake and/or weight status. Relevant clinical trials, epidemiologic studies, and intervention studies were identified and findings across the literature were summarized. From the clinical trials, average differences were calculated in total energy intake at test meals (DeltaTEI) for each of several beverage categories in comparison with water. The available literature for these comparisons is sparse and somewhat inconclusive. However, one of the most consistent sets of findings was related to adults drinking sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) versus water before a single meal. In these comparisons, total energy intakes were 7.8% higher (DeltaTEI range, -7.5 to 18.9) when SSBs were consumed. Studies comparing non-nutritive sweeteners with water were also relatively consistent and found no impact on energy intake among adults (DeltaTEI, -1.3; range, -9 to 13.8). Much less conclusive evidence was found in studies replacing water with milk and juice, with estimated increases in TEI of 14.9% (range, 10.9 to 23.9%). These findings from clinical trials, along with those from epidemiologic and intervention studies, suggest water has a potentially important role to play in reducing energy intake, and consequently in obesity prevention. A need for randomized-controlled trials to confirm this role exists.

Multiplexed transposon-mediated stable gene transfer in human cells.

Generation of cultured human cells stably expressing one or more recombinant gene sequences is a widely used approach in biomedical research, biotechnology, and drug development. Conventional methods are not efficient and have severe limitations especially when engineering cells to coexpress multiple transgenes or multiprotein complexes. In this report, we harnessed the highly efficient, nonviral, and plasmid-based piggyBac transposon system to enable concurrent genomic integration of multiple independent transposons harboring distinct protein-coding DNA sequences. Flow cytometry of cell clones derived from a single multiplexed transfection demonstrated approximately 60% (three transposons) or approximately 30% (four transposons) stable coexpression of all delivered transgenes with selection for a single marker transposon. We validated multiplexed piggyBac transposon delivery by coexpressing large transgenes encoding a multisubunit neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel (SCN1A) containing a pore-forming subunit and two accessory subunits while using two additional genes for selection. Previously unobtainable robust sodium current was demonstrated through 38 passages, suitable for use on an automated high-throughput electrophysiology platform. Cotransfection of three large (up to 10.8 kb) piggyBac transposons generated a heterozygous SCN1A stable cell line expressing two separate alleles of the pore-forming subunit and two accessory subunits (total of four sodium channel subunits) with robust functional expression. We conclude that the piggyBac transposon system can be used to perform multiplexed stable gene transfer in cultured human cells, and this technology may be valuable for applications requiring concurrent expression of multiprotein complexes.

Distinct subdomains of the KCNQ1 S6 segment determine channel modulation by different KCNE subunits.

Modulation of voltage-gated potassium (KV) channels by the KCNE family of single transmembrane proteins has physiological and pathophysiological importance. All five KCNE proteins (KCNE1-KCNE5) have been demonstrated to modulate heterologously expressed KCNQ1 (KV7.1) with diverse effects, making this channel a valuable experimental platform for elucidating structure-function relationships and mechanistic differences among members of this intriguing group of accessory subunits. Here, we specifically investigated the determinants of KCNQ1 inhibition by KCNE4, the least well-studied KCNE protein. In CHO-K1 cells, KCNQ1, but not KCNQ4, is strongly inhibited by coexpression with KCNE4. By studying KCNQ1-KCNQ4 chimeras, we identified two adjacent residues (K326 and T327) within the extracellular end of the KCNQ1 S6 segment that determine inhibition of KCNQ1 by KCNE4. This dipeptide motif is distinct from neighboring S6 sequences that enable modulation by KCNE1 and KCNE3. Conversely, S6 mutations (S338C and F340C) that alter KCNE1 and KCNE3 effects on KCNQ1 do not abrogate KCNE4 inhibition. Further, KCNQ1-KCNQ4 chimeras that exhibited resistance to the inhibitory effects of KCNE4 still interact biochemically with this protein, implying that accessory subunit binding alone is not sufficient for channel modulation. These observations indicate that the diverse functional effects observed for KCNE proteins depend, in part, on structures intrinsic to the pore-forming subunit, and that distinct S6 subdomains determine KCNQ1 responses to KCNE1, KCNE3, and KCNE4.

The effect of methylphenidate on Internet video game play in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE: A number of studies about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Internet video game play have examined the prefrontal cortex and dopaminergic system. Stimulants such as methylphenidate (MPH), given to treat ADHD, and video game play have been found to increase synaptic dopamine. We hypothesized that MPH treatment would reduce Internet use in subjects with co-occurring ADHD and Internet video game addictions. METHODS: Sixty-two children (52 males and 10 females), drug-naive, diagnosed with ADHD, and Internet video game players, participated in this study. At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of treatment with Concerta (OROS methylphenidate HCl, Seoul, Korea), participants were assessed with Young's Internet Addiction Scale, Korean version (YIAS-K), Korean DuPaul's ADHD Rating Scale, and the Visual Continuous Performance Test. Their Internet usage time was also recorded. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment, the YIAS-K scores and Internet usage times were significantly reduced. The changes in the YIAS-K scores between the baseline and 8-week assessments were positively correlated with the changes in total and inattention scores from the Korean DuPaul's ADHD Rating Scale, as well as omission errors from the Visual Continuous Performance Test. There was also a significant difference in the number of omission errors among non-Internet-addicted, mildly Internet addicted, and severely Internet addicted participants. DISCUSSION: We suggest that Internet video game playing might be a means of self-medication for children with ADHD. In addition, we cautiously suggest that MPH might be evaluated as a potential treatment of Internet addiction.

KCNE4 domains required for inhibition of KCNQ1.

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are modulated in distinct ways by members of the KCNE family of single transmembrane domain accessory subunits. KCNE4 has a dramatic inhibitory effect on KCNQ1 that differs substantially from the activating effects of KCNE1 and KCNE3. The structural features of KCNE4 that enable this behaviour are unknown. We exploited chimeras of KCNE1, KCNE3 and KCNE4 to identify specific domains responsible for the inhibitory effects on heterologously expressed KCNQ1. Previous structure-function analysis of KCNE1 and KCNE3 identified a critical tripeptide motif within the transmembrane domain that accounts for the differences in KCNQ1 modulation evoked by these two KCNE proteins. Swapping the transmembrane tripeptide motif of KCNE4 with the corresponding amino acid sequence of KCNE1 did not influence the behaviour of either protein. Similarly, exchanging the tripeptide regions of KCNE3 and KCNE4 further demonstrated that this transmembrane motif does not explain the activity of KCNE4. Using a more systematic approach, we demonstrated that the KCNE4 C-terminus was critical for KCNQ1 modulation. Replacement of the KCNE1 or KCNE3 C-termini with that of KCNE4 created chimeric proteins that strongly inhibited KCNQ1. Additional evidence supported a cooperative role of the KCNE4 transmembrane domain. Although the C-terminus was necessary for KCNE4 activity, we demonstrated that a surrogate transmembrane domain derived from the cytokine receptor CD8 did not enable inhibition of KCNQ1, indicating that the KCNE4 C-terminus alone was not sufficient for KCNQ1 modulation. We further demonstrated that the KCNE4 C-terminus interacts with KCNQ1. Our data reveal important structure-function relationships for KCNE4 that help advance our understanding of potassium channel modulation by KCNE proteins.

Craving for alcohol and food during treatment for alcohol dependence: modulation by T allele of 1519T>C GABAAalpha6.

BACKGROUND: Craving for alcohol and food has been studied in association with alcohol dependence and eating disorders, respectively. One subclass of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, 1519T>C GABA(A)alpha6 has been reported to be associated with both alcohol dependence and weight gain. In this study, we hypothesized that patients being treated for alcohol dependence would report decreased craving for alcohol, but an increased craving for food during a 4-week treatment period. We further hypothesized that the T allele of the 1519T>C GABA(A)alpha6 gene would modulate the extent of changes in craving for alcohol and food. METHODS: This study included 98 male inpatients being treated for alcohol dependence. A 7-point visual analog scale was applied to evaluate relative levels of alcohol and food craving at baseline and again 4 weeks later. Body weight was also checked at the same periods. Genotyping of the 1519T>C SNP in GABA(A)alpha6 was carried out by restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: There were significant changes in craving for alcohol and food in all patients with alcohol dependence. During the treatment period, body weight increased in all patients with alcohol dependence. Changes in alcohol and food craving in T-allele carriers (CT + TT) of 1519T>C GABA(A)alpha6 were greater than those observed in CC homozygotes. In T-allele carriers, body weight significantly increased and the changes in weight showed a negative correlation with the change in the craving for alcohol and a positive correlation with the changes in craving for food. DISCUSSION: The current results suggest that in T-allele carriers the change in craving for alcohol during treatment for alcohol dependence is negatively associated with changes in craving for food. The T allele of the 1519T>C GABA(A)alpha6 gene may be one of the modulating factors associated with changes in craving for alcohol and food during treatment of patients with alcohol dependence.

Triacetyluridine (TAU) decreases depressive symptoms and increases brain pH in bipolar patients.

Eleven patients with bipolar depression were given doses of up to 18 g per day of triacetyluridine (TAU) over 6 weeks to test the effect of uridine on symptoms of depression via Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS; Asberg, Montgomery, Perris, Schalling, & Sedvall, 1978) scores and on cellular bioenergetics using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (31P-MRSI). All patients and comparison participants (n = 9) completed baseline 31P-MRSI scans, and 9 patients completed posttherapy scans. The percentage changes for MADRS scores (Week 2, -23.8; Week 3, -34.9; Week 4, -42.5) and the time effects of TAU on MADRS scores (Week 2, z = -2.07, p = .039; Week 3, z = -4.28, p < .001; Week 4, z = -4.54, p < .001) may reflect TAU effects on early symptom improvement. TAU responders (patients who had a 50% or greater reduction in MADRS scores from baseline at any time) demonstrated a significant difference from nonresponders in pH changes from baseline (effect size = 150). These results suggest that TAU treatment may decrease symptoms of depression and improve mitochondrial functioning.

Aboriginal nursing education in Canada: an update.

Canada does not have enough aboriginal nurses and aboriginal nursing faculty. Consequently, there is an inadequate number of nurses to meet both on- and off-reserve and community health care staffing needs. In 2002, Health Canada asked the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing to facilitate a national task force that would examine aboriginal nursing in Canada. The task force engaged in an extensive literature review, conducted a national survey of nursing programs, and explored recruitment and retention strategies. In 2007, the association prepared an update on the current status. In this article, the authors review the progress made during the intervening five years in the recruitment, retention and education of aboriginal nursing students.

Depression like characteristics of 5HTTLPR polymorphism and temperament in excessive internet users.

INTRODUCTION: Excessive internet use (EIU) has been reported to be comorbid with depression and the manifestation of its symptoms. This study examines the characteristics of excessive internet users that are similar to those of patients with depressive disorders in terms of serotonin transporter gene expression and harm avoidance. METHODS: 91 male adolescents with EIU and 75 healthy comparison subjects were recruited. Between group comparisons were made on genetic polymorphisms of the serotonin transport gene and with respect to novelty seeking and harm avoidance (HA) of Cloninger's Temperament Character Inventory. RESULTS: The homozygous short allelic variant of the serotonin transporter gene (SS-5HTTLPR) is more frequent in the EIU group (chi(2)=4.38, df=1, p<0.05). The HA and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were significantly higher in the EIU group than in the healthy comparison group (t=7.03, df=164, p<0.01; t=2.12, df=164, p=0.04). EIU subjects expressing SS-5HTTLPR also showed higher HA (HA1, HA2, HA4, and total HA) and Young's internet addiction scale scores than EIU subjects expressing the other serotonin transporter gene allele variants (t=2.47, df=89, p=0.01; t=2.33, df=89, p=0.02; t=2.17, df=89, p=0.03; t=2.25, df=89, p=0.03; t=2.93, df=89, p<0.01 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The EIU group had higher SS-5HTTLPR frequencies, harm avoidance, and BDI scores. SS-5HTTLPR expression was closely related to harm avoidance in EIU. The results of this study suggest that EIU subjects may have genetic and personality traits similar to depressed patients.

Altered cingulate white matter connectivity in panic disorder patients.

OBJECTIVE: Functional imaging studies of panic disorder subjects suggest an increased activation of the cingulate regions of the brain. Aim of the current study was to explore the white matter connectivity differences between subjects with panic disorder and healthy comparison subjects. METHOD: Structural white matter connectivity, as determined from fractional anisotropy (FA) values obtained by diffusion tensor imaging, was assessed for anterior and posterior cingulate regions in 24 panic disorder patients and 24 age and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects. RESULTS: Subjects with panic disorder exhibited significantly greater FA values in left anterior and right posterior cingulate regions (by 13.3% and 19.6%, respectively) relative to comparison subjects. White matter connectivity for these two cingulate regions was also positively correlated with clinical severity, as determined by Panic Disorder Severity Scale. FA values in left anterior cingulate region negatively correlated with the time of Trail Making Tests and positively with Digit Symbol Substitution Test. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a potential 'enhancement' in white matter connectivity in left anterior and right posterior cingulate regions in panic disorder, and that these changes may play an important role in mediating clinical symptoms of panic disorder.

Relationship between N-acetyl-aspartate in gray and white matter of abstinent methamphetamine abusers and their history of drug abuse: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

OBJECTIVE: Altered concentrations of the brain metabolites, including N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) and myo-inositol (MI), may indicate neurotoxicity associated with drug abuse. In this study, the authors explored differences in brain metabolites between abstinent methamphetamine (MA) abusers and healthy comparison subjects and the associations between metabolite concentrations and clinical characteristics. METHOD: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed on 30 abstinent MA abusers and 20 healthy comparison subjects. Two sets of MA user subgroups were defined depending on abstinence duration (greater or less than 6 months) or the total cumulative MA dose (greater or less than 100 g lifetime). NAA and other metabolites were measured in the frontal gray and white matter and compared between MA abuser groups and healthy comparison subjects. RESULTS: MI concentrations were higher for the MA abusers relative to healthy comparison subjects. NAA concentration was lower in frontal white matter of MA abusers with a 'large' cumulative dose relative to those with a 'small' cumulative dose and to healthy comparison subjects. Additionally, in MA abusers NAA concentrations in frontal white matter correlated inversely with the cumulative MA dose. In contrast, there was no significant difference in frontal gray matter NAA concentration among the three groups. However, frontal gray matter NAA concentrations for MA abusers correlated negatively with the total cumulative MA dose and positively with the duration of abstinence. There were no differences between the different MA user groups for MI. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that MA-induced metabolic alterations of frontal gray and white matter are dose-dependent, for primarily male subjects. Additionally, these findings potentially suggest that the MA-related abnormalities may, in part, recover with abstinence in gray matter, but not in the white matter regions.

Visitor evaluations of management actions at a highly impacted Appalachian Trail camping area.

Protected area management involves balancing environmental and social objectives. This is particularly difficult at high-use/high-impact recreation sites, because resource protection objectives may require substantial site management or visitor regulation. This study examined visitors' reactions to both of these types of actions at Annapolis Rocks, Maryland, a popular Appalachian Trail camping area. We surveyed visitors before and after implementation of camping policies that included shifting camping to designated newly constructed campsites and prohibiting campfires. Survey results reveal that visitors were more satisfied with all social and environmental indicators after the changes were enacted. An Importance-Performance analysis also determined that management actions improved conditions for factors of greatest concern to campers prior to the changes. Posttreatment visitors were least satisfied with factors related to reduced freedom and to some characteristics of the constructed campsites. Although there was evidence of visitor displacement, the camping changes met management goals by protecting the camping area's natural resources and improving social conditions.

Breast-feeding influences cognitive development in Filipino children.

The importance of breast-feeding (BF) for cognitive development has been researched widely over the past several decades. Although scholars agree that children who breast-feed are generally more intelligent, it is uncertain whether this advantage is due to BF effects or to other accompanying healthy characteristics of women who breast-feed. This is a problem in nearly every study, and even in studies controlling for known confounding variables, residual confounding remains a concern. This study tried a new approach, evaluating the relation between BF and cognitive development or ability in a population in which BF was inversely correlated with socioeconomic advantages and other healthy maternal behaviors. Normal birthweight (NBW, n = 1790) and low birthweight (LBW, n = 189) (<2500 g) infants born in 1983-84 in Metropolitan Cebu, Philippines were followed from birth through middle childhood. Cognitive ability was assessed at ages 8.5 and 11.5 y with the Philippines Nonverbal Intelligence Test. Multivariable linear regressions were created to estimate crude and adjusted relations of various BF measures and later cognitive ability. After controlling for confounding variables, scores at 8.5 y were higher for infants breast-fed longer (1.6 points and 9.8 points higher among NBW and LBW infants, respectively, breast-fed for 12 to <18 mo vs. <6 mo). BF coefficients in both NBW and LBW 11.5-y models were attenuated but remained positive. This analysis highlights the importance of long-term BF after initial introduction of complementary foods, particularly in LBW infants born close to term.

Growth in young Filipino children predicts schooling trajectories through high school.

Several studies link childhood malnutrition to adverse schooling outcomes, including delayed or diminished enrollment and increased grade repetition. However, the effects of nutrition on schooling trajectories are obscured by the cross-sectional nature of most previous research and the complex array of other phenomena that affect schooling outcomes. We explored the association between height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) at 2 y and schooling trajectory among 2198 children from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. Parity, parental education, maternal height, household assets, environmental cleanliness, presence of electricity, and household income were identified as potential confounders. Crude and adjusted logistic and multinomial regressions of schooling outcomes (entrance age, grade repetition, and grades completed) were conducted. Entrance age and IQ were evaluated as potential mediators between HAZ and schooling outcomes. After adjustment for confounders, greater height for age protected against late enrollment among both boys and girls and predicted early enrollment among boys. Taller children were less likely to repeat grades [girls OR = 0.78 (0.67, 0.89); boys OR = 0.86 (0.74, 0.99)] and less likely to drop out during grade school rather than graduate from high school [girls OR = 0.74 (0.56, 0.98; boys OR = 0.66 (0.51, 0.84)]. Models predicting the changes in school outcomes associated with a change in overall height from -2 to 0 SD of HAZ were simulated. Absolute probability of late enrollment dropped substantially, from 6% for both boys and girls to 2% for boys and 1% for girls. Absolute grade repetition dropped approximately 7% for boys and 9% for girls. Improving early childhood nutrition may have long-lasting educational benefits, increasing the likelihood of high school completion in developing countries.

Associations between breast cancer risk factors and religious practices in Utah.

BACKGROUND: Utah has the lowest female malignant breast cancer incidence rates in the United States, due in part to low rates among women who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon). Several established reproductive and non-reproductive breast cancer risk factors may be lower among LDS women because of their religious doctrine related to marriage, family, and health. This paper investigates the association between selected breast cancer risk factors and religious preference and religiosity in Utah. METHODS: A 37-item anonymous cross-sectional telephone survey was developed and conducted during March and April 2002. Results are based on 848 non-Hispanic white female respondents. RESULTS: Number of births (parity), prevalence of breastfeeding, and lifetime total duration of breastfeeding were highest among LDS women who attended church weekly. Average months of breastfeeding per child were greatest among weekly church attendees, regardless of religious preference. Oral contraceptive use and total duration of hormone replacement therapy use were greatest for individuals of any religion attending church less than weekly and for individuals with no religious preference. Comparisons of divergent reproductive behaviors between LDS and non-LDS, and between weekly and less than weekly church goers, provide strong support for the relatively low breast cancer incidence rates previously identified among LDS and, therefore, in Utah. CONCLUSIONS: High parity and breastfeeding coincide with comparatively low breast cancer incidence rates among LDS and are consistent with recent findings of the Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, showing the primary role parity and breastfeeding play in reducing breast cancer.