Amplification and diffusion of manual preference from lateralized practice in children

The effect of lateralized practice on manual preference was investigated in right-handed children. Probing tasks required reaching and grasping a pencil at distinct eccentricities in the right and left hemifields (simple), and its transportation and insertion into a small hole (complex). During practice, the children experienced manipulative tasks different from that used for probing, using the left hand only. Results showed that before practice the children used almost exclusively the right hand in the right hemifield and at the midline position. Following lateralized practice frequency of use of the left hand increased in most lateral positions. A more evident effect of lateralized practice on shift of manual preference was detected in the complex task. Implications for lateralization of behavior in a developmental timescale are discussed on the basis of the proposition of amplification and diffusion of manual preference from lateralized practice. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 723-730, 2010.

Auto-antibodies do not influence development of atherosclerotic plaques in rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Many questions remain unanswered about premature atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Besides inflammation, some studies have suggested the role of autoantibodies on its pathogenesis. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of antibodies against phospholipids, beta2-glycoproteinl (beta2-gpl), lipoprotein lipase, and heat shock proteins (Hsp) in RA patients and to evaluate their possible association with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Methods: Seventy-one RA patients and 53 age- and sex-matched controls were selected to perform anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) (IgG and IgM), anti-beta2-gpl (IgG, IgM, and IgA), anti-lipoprotein lipase (anti-LPL), anti-Hsp 60, and anti-Hsp 65 by ELISA tests. Intima-medial thickness (IMT) of common carotid and presence of plaques were assessed by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Exclusion criteria were smoking, diabetes, and arterial hypertension. Lipoproteins, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen levels, as well as health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and disease activity score (DAS) 28 were also evaluated. Results: Age (48.93 +/- 12.31 vs. 45.37 +/- 9.37 years; p = 0.20) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.69) were similar in RA and controls, as well as female gender (p = 0.56). The mean IMT was similar between RA and controls (0. 721 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.667 +/- 0.14 turn, p = 0.07) but the frequency of plaques was higher in RA (14.1% vs. 1.9%; p = 0.02). In RA patients, IMT measurements did not differ according to the presence or absence of these antibodies: IgG aCL (0.62 +/- 0.64 vs. 0.72 +/- 0.17 mm, p = 0.24), IgM aCL (0.65 +/- 0.79 vs. 0.73 +/- 0.17 mm, p = 0.33), anti-Hsp 60 (0.78 +/- 0.20 vs. 0.71 +/- 0.16 mm, p = 0.27), anti-Hsp 65 (0.73 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.72 +/- 0.17 mm, p = 0.77), IgG anti-beta2-gpl (0.73 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.71 +/- 0.17 mm, p = 0.72), and anti-CCP (0.71 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.76 +/- 0.20 mm, p = 0.36). In addition, IMT did not correlate with antibodies titers: IgG aCL (r = -0.09, p = 0.47), IgM aCL (r = - 0.15, p = 0.21), anti-Hsp 60 (r = 0.10, p = 0.42), anti-Hsp 65 (r = 0.05, p = 0.69), IgG anti-beta2-gpl (r = - 0.07, p = 0.57), IgM anti-beta2-gpl (r = - 0.05, p = 0.69), IgA anti-beta2-gpl (r = 0.03, p = 0.79), and anti-CCP (r = - 0.07, p = 0.57). RA patients with plaques had a significantly higher age compared to those without plaques (p = 0.001), as well as higher mean IMT (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p = 0.001), and LDL (p = 0.003). Conclusions: In RA a clear association between all autoantibodies studied herein and increased IMT or presence of plaques was not observed. The great prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in RA was related to age, total and LDL cholesterol, as identified in normal population. (c) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Adult starvation and disease-related malnutrition: A proposal for etiology-based diagnosis in the clinical practice setting from the International Consensus Guideline Committee

Background & aims: Multiple definitions for malnutrition syndromes are found in the literature resulting in confusion. Recent evidence suggests that varying degrees of acute or chronic inflammation are key contributing factors in the pathophysiology of malnutrition that is associated with disease or injury. Methods: An International Guideline Committee was constituted to develop a consensus approach to defining malnutrition syndromes for adults in the clinical setting. Consensus was achieved through a series of meetings held at the ASPEN and ESPEN Congresses. Results: It was agreed that an etiology-based approach that incorporates a current understanding of inflammatory response would be most appropriate. The Committee proposes the following nomenclature for nutrition diagnosis in adults in the clinical practice setting. ""Starvation-related malnutrition"", when there is chronic starvation without inflammation, ""chronic disease-related malnutrition"", when inflammation is chronic and of mild to moderate degree, and ""acute disease or injury-related malnutrition"", when inflammation is acute and of severe degree. Conclusions: This commentary is intended to present a simple etiology-based construct for the diagnosis of adult malnutrition in the clinical setting. Development of associated laboratory, functional, food intake, and body weight criteria and their application to routine clinical practice will require validation. (C) 2009 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism and ASPEN American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adult Starvation and Disease-Related Malnutrition: A Proposal for Etiology-Based Diagnosis in the Clinical Practice Setting From the International Consensus Guideline Committee

Background & Aims: Multiple definitions for malnutrition syndromes are found in the literature resulting in confusion. Recent evidence suggests that varying degrees of acute or chronic inflammation are key contributing factors in the pathophysiology of malnutrition that is associated with disease or injury. Methods: An International Guideline Committee was constituted to develop a consensus approach to defining malnutrition syndromes for adults in the clinical setting. Consensus was achieved through a series of meetings held at the ASPEN. and ESPEN Congresses. Results: It was agreed that an etiology-based approach that incorporates a current understanding of inflammatory response would be most appropriate. The Committee proposes the following nomenclature for nutrition diagnosis in adults in the clinical practice setting. ""Starvation-related malnutrition,"" when there is chronic starvation without inflammation, ""chronic disease-related malnutrition"", when inflammation is chronic and of mild to moderate degree, and ""acute disease or injury-related malnutrition"", when inflammation is acute and of severe degree. Conclusions: This commentary is intended to present a simple etiology-based construct for the diagnosis of adult malnutrition in the clinical setting. Development of associated laboratory, functional, food intake, and body weight criteria and their application to routine clinical practice will require validation. (JPEN J Parenter Enteral Mar. 2010;34:156-159)

Knowledge and Practice of Prechewing/Prewarming Food by HIV-Infected Women

OBJECTIVE: HIV transmission has been associated with offering a child food prechewed by an HIV-infected caregiver. We assessed awareness of prechewing and oral prewarming of food by an adult before offering it to a child among HIV-infected pregnant women and clinical investigators in 3 Latin American countries. METHODS: HIV-infected pregnant women at 12 sites (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development International Site Development Initiative Perinatal Longitudinal Study in Latin American Countries, a prospective cohort trial) in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru were administered a screening survey about prechewing/prewarming of infant foods and cautioned against these feeding practices. Survey responses were analyzed, overall, and stratified according to country. RESULTS: Of the 401 HIV-infected pregnant women interviewed, 34% had heard about prechewing (50% from Argentina, 32% from Brazil, and 36% from Peru), 23% knew someone who prechewed food for infants, and 4% had prechewed food in the past. Seventeen percent had heard about oral prewarming of food, 13% knew someone who prewarmed food for infants, and 3% had prewarmed food for an infant in the past. Women who reported knowing someone who prechewed were more likely to also know someone who prewarmed food (P < .0001). Few site investigators anticipated that their patients would be aware of these practices. CONCLUSIONS: Prechewing food, a potential risk factor for HIV transmission, and orally prewarming food, which has not been associated with HIV transmission but might expose a child to blood from an HIV-infected adult, are not uncommon practices in Latin America. Both practices should be further investigated. Site investigator responses underscore that health care providers could be missing information about cultural practices that patients may not report unless specifically asked. Pediatrics 2011;127:e1206-e1211