A lifestyle assessment and intervention tool for pediatric weight management: the HABITS questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle assessment and intervention tools are useful in promoting pediatric weight management. The present study aimed to establish convergent validity and reliability for a quick simple measure of food intake and physical activity/sedentary behaviour. The HABITS questionnaire can be used to identify and monitor behavioural intervention targets. METHODS: Thirty-five youths (ages 7-16 years) were recruited from the waiting area of the Jacobi Medical Center Child and Teen Health Services. To establish convergent validity for the HABITS questionnaire, study participants completed the HABITS questionnaire, a 24-h recall and a modified version of the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (MAQ). Participants completed a second HABITS questionnaire within 1 month to assess test-retest reliability. Internal consistency for dietary and physical activity/sedentary behaviour subscales was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest reliability was assessed using Cohen's Kappa coefficient. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated for individual items using the 24-h recall and the MAQ as reference standards. RESULTS: The HABITS questionnaire subscales showed moderate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.61 and 0.59 for the dietary and physical activity/sedentary behaviour subscale, respectively). The test-retest reliability was 0.94 for the dietary subscale and 0.87 for the physical activity/sedentary behaviour subscale. Several items on the HABITS questionnaire were moderately correlated with information reported in the MAQ and the 24-h recall (r = 0.38-0.59, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The HABITS questionnaire can reliably be used in a paediatric setting to quickly assess key dietary and physical activity/sedentary behaviours and to promote behaviour change for weight management.

Easily hydrolyzable, water-soluble derivatives of (+/-)-alpha-5-[1-(indol-3-yl)ethyl]-2-methylamino-delta2-thiazoline-4-one, a novel antiviral compound.

The preparation of a series of indole N-acyl and N-carbamic esters of (+/-)-alpha-5-[1-(indol-3-yl)ethyl]-2-methylamino-delta2-thiazolin-4-one (1) is reported. These derivatives were synthesized as potential water-soluble precursors of the antiviral thiazolinone 1, for evaluation by intranasal administration against influenza and other respiratory infections caused by viruses. Salts of the basic carbamic esters (16--19) possess the required water solubility, undergo rapid hydrolysis and decarboxylation at pH values greater than 6, and have high activity against influenza A2 and Coxsackie B1 viruses in vitro. In influenza A2 infected ferrets a representative ester (16) reduced the severity and duration of disease symptoms and reduced nasal wash virus titres but caused local irritancy.

Thiazolinone analogues of indolmycin with antiviral and antibacterial activity.

Total synthesis of a series of thiazolinone and thiazolidinone analogues of the antibacterial oxazolinone antibiotic indolmycin is described. The synthetic route involves nucleophilic displacement of mesyloxy and chloro groups from methyl 2-substituted-3-(indol-3-yl)propionates 3 and 4 and butyrate 19 with N-substituted thioureas. The formation of the rearranged chloro esters 29, 43, and 44 from beta(RS,RS)-methyl indolmycenate (27), alpha(RS,SR)-methyl 2-hydroxy-3-(2-methylindol-3-yl)butyrate (39), and alpha-methyl 2-hydroxy-3-(indol-3-yl)valerate (41) supports a reaction mechanism involving neighboring group participation by the indole C-3 carbon during nucleophilic displacement on the beta-carbon of a C-3 substituent. Structure-activity relationships are discussed. Although neither indolmycin nor its diastereoisomer isoindolmycin is antiviral, 2-monoalkylaminothiazolinone analogues have in vitro activity against both RNA viruses and bacteria. The most active compound is the sulfur isostere of indolmycin, and only the levorotatory enantiomer 46, with the same absolute stereochemistry as natural indolmycin, has antimicrobial activity.