Maternal nutrition and oral health factors in early childhood caries

Background. Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is the most common chronic infectious disease of childhood worldwide. Seven of ten American children have one or more decayed or filled primary teeth by age five. ECC prevalence is especially high in lower socio-economic ethnic populations. Commonly recognized as a diet-induced disease, focal etiological factors include cariogenic bacteria, fermentable carbohydrates, and a susceptible newly erupted tooth. Sequencing of breast and/or bottle feeding and introduction of beikost come at a time when children's defense mechanisms and, perhaps maternal direction of children's dietary patterns, are not yet fully developed or mature. To date, most research has examined biological factors, while maternal factors, especially psychosocial ones, have received scant attention. Objective. To examine the association of psychosocial factors in terms of maternal nutrition and oral health knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs, as well as social support and self-efficacy (KABS2) in a population of socio-economically disadvantaged infants and young children. A secondary aim was to describe ECC prevalence in this population. Methods. This study examined cross-sectionally the relationship between selected maternal psychosocial variables and ECC in a convenience sample of Mexican-American women and very young children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in San Antonio, Texas. Mothers were surveyed by use of a criteria- and content-valid, reliable questionnaire, and dental examinations were conducted on 191 children, aged 5 to 47 months old. Results. Thirty-nine percent of the children had ECC. As assessed on a 30-question scale, women in whose children were diagnosed with ECC were found to demonstrate lower Knowledge ( p=0.03), Attitudes (p=0.02), Beliefs (p=0.04), and Social Support (p<0.01) scores, compared to women whose children were found to be caries-free. No differences in Self-Efficacy scores were found between the groups. Conclusions. These data indicate that current etiological model depicting relevant factors associated with ECC in Mexican-American infants and children of low socio-economic status should be broadened to include consideration of maternal psychosocial factors such as nutrition and oral health knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and social support, and that these factors should be considered when planning educational approaches to reduce the occurrence of ECC. ^

Dietary intake patterns and relationships to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and phthalate body burden

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and phthalates are chemicals of concern because of high levels measured in people and the environment as well as the demonstrated toxicity in animal studies and limited epidemiological studies. Exposure to these chemicals has been associated with a range of toxicological outcomes, including developmental effects, behavioral changes, endocrine disruption, effects on sexual health, and cancer. Previous research has shown that both of these classes of chemicals contaminate food in the United States and worldwide. However, how large a role diet plays in exposure to these chemicals is currently unknown. To address this question, an exploratory analysis of data collected as part of the 2003-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was conducted. Associations between dietary intake (assessed by 24-hour dietary recalls) for a range of food types (meat, poultry, fish, and dairy) and levels PBDEs and phthalate metabolites were analyzed using multiple linear regression modeling. Levels of individual PBDE congeners 28, 47, 99, 100 as well as total PBDEs were found to be significantly associated with the consumption of poultry. Metabolites of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found to be associated with the consumption of poultry, as well as with an increased consumption of fat of animal origin. These results, combined with results from previous studies, suggest that diet is an important route of intake for both PBDEs and phthalates. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the sources of food contamination with these toxic chemicals as well as to describe the levels of contamination of US food in a large, representative sample.^

Food intake in nonpurging obese women who binge eat before and after a behavioral weight loss program

Little is known about the impact of behavioral programs to decrease binge eating in obese persons who do not purge. This study was conducted to compare the amount of change in the reduction of binge days and selected nutrients in women who had joined a behavioral weight loss program. Forty-six women in the behavioral self management (BSM) group and thirty-six women in the Wait List Control (WLC) groups completed seven day food records at baseline and six months. These records were analyzed for calories, percentage of calories from protein, carbohydrate, fat and dietary fiber/ 1000 calories and were marked as "binge" or "nonbinge" days. Foods were also divided into 12 food groups but only six contributing to fat intake were chosen for analysis: dairy; fat; grains and starchy vegetables; meat, fish, and poultry; meat, fish, and poultry combinations; snacks and desserts. At six months, there was no difference in the amount of change in any of the selected nutrients between the BSM and WLC groups or in the amount of change within each food group except in the meat, fish, and poultry combination and in the snacks and desserts groups because both groups experienced similar changes at six months. Binge and nonbinge day nutrient analysis by BSM and WLC showed that at baseline and six months within the BSM group, calories increased significantly on binge days. Within the WLC group at six months, percentage of calories from protein was significantly decreased on binge days.^ The significant finding of this study was the reduction in the amount of change in the number of binge days at six months between the BSM and WLC groups ($-$2.2 versus $-$1.1 respectively). These data suggest that behavioral programs can successful reduce binge days, but that significant change in food intake may require more intensive treatment. ^

The development of poultry farms risk assessment tool for avian influenza in Imo State, Nigeria

Background: Nigeria was one of the 13 countries where avian influenza outbreak in poultry farms was reported during the 2006 avian influenza pandemic threat and was also the first country in Africa to report the presence of H5N1influenza among its poultry population. There are multiple hypotheses on how the avian influenza outbreak of 2006 was introduced to Nigeria, but the consensus is that once introduced, poultry farms and their workers were responsible for 70% of the spread of avian influenza virus to other poultry farms and the population. ^ The spread of avian influenza has been attributed to lack of compliance by poultry farms and their workers with poultry farm biosecurity measures. When poultry farms fail to adhere to biosecurity measures and there is an outbreak of infectious diseases like in 2006, epidemiological investigations usually assess poultry farm biosecurity—often with the aid of a questionnaire. Despite the importance of questionnaires in determining farm compliance with biosecurity measures, there have been few efforts to determine the validity of questionnaires designed to assess poultry farms risk factors. Hence, this study developed and validated a tool (questionnaire) that can be used for poultry farm risk stratification in Imo State, Nigeria. ^ Methods: Risk domains were generated using literature and recommendations from agricultural organizations and the Nigeria government for poultry farms. The risk domains were then used to develop a questionnaire. Both the risk domain and questionnaire were verified and modified by a group of five experts with a research interest in Nigeria's poultry industry and/or avian influenza prevention. Once a consensus was reached by the experts, the questionnaire was distributed to 30 selected poultry farms in Imo State, Nigeria that participated in this study. Survey responses were received for all the 30 poultry farms that were selected. The same poultry farms were visited one week after they completed the questionnaires for on-site observation. Agreement among survey and observation results were analyzed using a kappa test and rated as poor, fair, moderate, substantial, or nearly perfect; and internal consistency of the survey was also computed. ^ Result: Out of the 43 items on the questionnaire, 32 items were validated by this study. The agreement between the survey result and onsite observation was analyzed using kappa test and ranged from poor to nearly perfect. Most poultry farms had their best agreements in the contact section of the survey. The least agreement was noted in the farm management section of the survey. Thirty-two questions on the survey had a coefficient alpha > 0.70, which is a robust internal consistency for the survey. ^ Conclusion: This study developed 14 risk domains for poultry farms in Nigeria and validated 32 items from the original questionnaire that contained 43 items. The validated items can be used to determine the risk of introduction and spread of avian influenza virus in poultry farms in Imo State, Nigeria. After further validations in other states, regions and poultry farm sectors in Nigeria; this risk assessment tool can then be used to determine the risk profile of poultry farms across Nigeria.^

GENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE FUNCTION OF THE DROSOPHILA DOUBLESEX-RELATED FACTOR dmrt93B

DMRT (Doublesex and Mab-3 related transcription factor) proteins generally associated with sexual differentiation in many organisms share a common DNA binding domain and are often expressed in reproductive tissues. Aside from doublesex, which is a central factor in the regulation of sex determination, Drosophila possesses three different dmrt genes that are of unknown function. Because the association with sexual differentiation and reproduction is not universal and some DMRT proteins have been found to play other developmental roles we chose to further characterize one of these Drosophila genes. We carried out genetic analysis of dmrt93B, which was previously found to be expressed sex-specifically in the developing somatic gonad and to affect testis morphogenesis in RNAi knockdowns. In order to disrupt this gene, the GAL4 yeast transcriptional activator followed by a polyadenylation signal was inserted after the dmrt93B start codon and introduced into the genome by homologous recombination. Analysis of the knock-in mutation as well as a small deletion removing all dmrt93B sequence demonstrate that loss of function causes partial lethality at the late pupal stage. Surprisingly, these mutations have no significant effect on gonad formation or male fertility. Analysis of GAL4-driven GFP reporter expression indicates that the dmrt93B promoter activity is highly specific to neurons in the suboesophageal and proventricular ganglion in larva and adult of both sexes suggesting a possible role in digestive tract function. Using the Capillary Feeder (CAFÉ) assay to measure daily food intake we find that reduction in this gene’s function leads to an increase in food consumption. These results suggest dmrt93 plays an important role in the formation or maintenance of neurons that affect feeding and support the idea that dmrt genes may not be restricted to roles in sexual differentiation.

Cardiovascular diseases risk factors during the first year of life

The pattern of change in cardiovascular risk factors, blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and plasma total cholesterol (TC), over time, their tracking and their relation to anthropometric measurements during the first year of life were investigated. Also, the effect of breast feeding on TC and the relationship of blood pressure measurements and family history of CVD risk factors were examined. One hundred five newborn term, healthy infants who were seen at a pediatric clinic in The Woodlands, Texas were followed longitudinally from 2 weeks to 1 year of age. TC, blood pressure, weight and length of the infants were measured at age 2 weeks, and again at 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months. In addition, family history, maternal and paternal, of CVD risk factors was obtained. Data analyses included only 40 infants who completed one year of follow up.^ At 2 weeks of age, the median value for TC was 23 mg/dl higher for females than for males. This difference disappeared as infants got older. For males, most of the increase in TC median levels, from 114 to 137 mg/dl, occurred between the ages of 2 weeks and 2 months, whereas for the female group, TC levels increased moderately, about 10 mg/dl, between 9 and 12 months of age. Tracking of TC was examined by using Spearman's correlation analysis. There were strong correlations between measurements taken as early as 2 weeks of age with later measurements. These correlations were stronger and more significant for males than for females (for males, r varied between 0.51 to 0.70, whereas for females, r varied between 0.11 to 0.70). The association of body measurements with TC is no more than modest and is closer for female infants than for male infants. Analysis, also, showed that infants who received breast milk had a TC mean value 47 mg/dl higher than that for infants who received formula milk only during the period of breast feeding and this difference disappeared by age 12 months.^ In both genders, most of the increase in blood pressure (about 10-15 mmHg in both SBP and DBP) occurred during the first 4 months of life. Most of the increase for male infants occurred during the first 2 months of life, while for females, the increase in SBP and DBP was between the age of 2 and 4 months. Neither SBP nor DBP track well during the first year of life and most of the correlations between measurements at different ages were not significant for either gender. The cross-sectional relationship of blood pressure measurements and selected body measurements was assessed. For females, only at age of 12 months did DBP have positive and significant correlations with weight, length and Quetelet index (r = 0.57, 0.60 and 0.57, respectively). There were no significant correlations between blood pressure and body measurements for males. Finally, analysis showed that maternal history of CV risk factors was significantly related to SBP in the female infant group, but not for males. For DBP, neither maternal nor paternal history was related. ^