Postural control and movement performance during upper limb tasks in children with developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD)

At least 6% of primary school aged children present with DCD, where co-ordination is substantially below the normal range for the child’s age and intelligence. Motor skill difficulties negatively affect academic achievement, recreation and activities of daily living. Poor upper-limb co-ordination is a common difficulty for children with DCD. A possible cause of this problem is deviant muscle timing in proximal muscle groups, which results in poor postural and movement control. While studies have been published investigating postural control in response to external perturbations, detail about postural muscle activity during voluntary movement is limited even in children with normal motor development. No studies have investigated the relationship between muscle timing, resultant arm motion and upper-limb coordination deficits. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between functional difficulties with upper-limb motor skills and neuromuscular components of postural stability and coordination. Specifically, to investigate onset-timing of muscle activity, timing of arm movement, and resultant three-dimensional (3D) arm co-ordination during rapid, voluntary arm movement and to analyse differences arising due to the presence of DCD. This study is part of a larger research program investigating postural stability and control of upper limb movement in children. Design: A controlled, cross-sectional study of differences between children with and without DCD. Methods: This study included 50 children aged eight to 10 years (25 with DCD and 25 without DCD). Children participated in assessment of motor skills according to the Movement ABC Test and a laboratory study of rapid, voluntary arm movements. Parameters investigated included muscle activation timing of shoulder and trunk muscles (surface electromyography), arm movement timing (light sensor) and resultant 3D arm motion (Fastrak). Results: A MANOVA is being used to analyse between-group differences. Preliminary results indicate children with DCD demonstrate altered muscle timing during a rapid arm raise when compared with the control group of children. Conclusion: Differences in proximal muscle timing in children with DCD support the hypothesis that altered proximal muscle activity may contribute to poor proximal stability and consequently poor arm movement control. This has implications for clinical physiotherapy.

Growth hormone regulates osteogenic marker mRNA expression in human periodontal fibroblasts and alveolar bone-derived cells

Background: Growth hormone (GH) is a potent regulator of bone formation. The proposed mechanism of GH action is through the stimulation of osteogenic precursor Cell proliferation and, following clonal expansion of these cells. promotion of differentiation along the osteogenic lineage. Objectives: We tested this hypothesis by studying the effects of GH on primary cell populations of human periodontal ligament cells (PLC) and alveolar bone cells (ABC), which contain a spectrum of osteogenic precursors. Method: The cell populations were assessed for mineralization potential after long-term culture in media containing beta-glycerophosphate and ascorbic acid, by the demonstration of mineral deposition by Von Kossa staining. The proliferative response of the cells to GH was determined over a 48-h period using a crystal violet dye-binding assay. The profile of the cells in terms of osteogcnic marker expression was established using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin. osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein (BSP), as well as the bone morphogenetic proteins BMP-2, BMP-4 and BMP-7. Results: As expected, a variety of responses were observed ranging from no mineralization in the PLC populations to dense mineralized deposition observed in one GH-treated ABC population. Over a 48-h period GH was found to be non-mitogenic for all cell populations. Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) BSP mRNA expression correlated well with mineralizing potential of the cells. The change in the mRNA expression of the osteogenic markers was determined following GH treatment of the cells over a 48-h period. GH caused an increase in ALP in most cell populations, and also in BMP expression in some cell populations. However a decrease in BSP. osteocalcin and osteopontin expression in the more highly differentiated cell populations was observed in response to GH. Conclusion: The response of the cells indicates that while long-term treatment with GH may promote mineralization, short-term treatment does not promote proliferation of osteoblast precursors nor induce expression of late osteogenic markers.

Motor and functional skills of children with developmental coordination disorder: A pilot investigation of measurement issues

This paper reports on the motor and functional outcomes of 20 children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) aged 4-8 years consecutively referred to a pediatric physiotherapy service. Children with a Movement ABC (M-ABC) score less than the 15th percentile, and with no concurrent medical, sensory, physical, intellectual or neurological impairments, were recruited. The Motor Assessment Outcomes Model (MAOM) [Coster and Haley, Infants and Young Children 4 (1992) 11] provided the theoretical base for measurement selection, and preliminary findings at the activities and participation levels of the model are reported in this article. Children with DCD performed at the lower end of the normal range on the Pea-body Developmental Motor Scales (fine motor total score) (M = 85.65, SD = 12.23). Performance on the Visual Motor Integration Test (VMI) standard scores was within the average range (M = 96.15, SD = 10.69). Videotaped observations of the children's writing and cutting indicated that 29% were left-handed and that a large proportion of all children (31%) utilized unusual pencil grasp patterns and immature prehension of scissors. Measurement at the participation level involved use of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance (PCSA) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Overall, these young children rated themselves towards the more competent and accepted end of the PCSA over the dimensions of physical and cognitive competence and peer and maternal acceptance. The PEDI revealed generally average performance on social (M = 49.98, SD = 16.62) and mobility function (M = 54.71, SD = 3.99), however, self-care function was below the average range for age (M = 38.01, SD = 12.19). The utility of the MAOM as a framework for comprehensive measurement of functional and motor outcomes of DCD in young children is discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Poor correlation of mid-femoral measurements by CT and hip measurements by DXA in the elderly

Background and aims: Hip fracture is a devastating event in terms of outcome in the elderly, and the best predictor of hip fracture risk is hip bone density, usually measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, bone density can also be ascertained from computerized tomography (CT) scans, and mid-thigh scans are frequently employed to assess the muscle and fat composition of the lower limb. Therefore, we examined if it was possible to predict hip bone density using mid-femoral bone density. Methods: Subjects were 803 ambulatory white and black women and men, aged 70-79 years, participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study. Bone mineral content (BMC, g) and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD, mg/cm(3)) of the mid-femur were obtained by CT, whereas BMC and areal bone mineral density (aBMD, g/cm(2)) of the hip (femoral neck and trochanter) were derived from DXA. Results: In regression analyses stratified by race and sex, the coefficient of determination was low with mid-femoral BMC, explaining 6-27% of the variance in hip BMC, with a standard error of estimate (SEE) ranging from 16 to 22% of the mean. For mid-femur vBMD, the variance explained in hip aBMD was 2-17% with a SEE ranging from 15 to 18%. Adjusting aBMD to approximate volumetric density did not improve the relationships. In addition, the utility of fracture prediction was examined. Forty-eight subjects had one or more fractures (various sites) during a mean follow-up of 4.07 years. In logistic regression analysis, there was no association between mid-femoral vBMD and fracture (all fractures), whereas a 1 SD increase in hip BMD was associated with reduced odds for fracture of similar to60%. Conclusions: These results do not support the use of CT-derived mid-femoral vBMD or BMC to predict DXA-measured hip bone mineral status, irrespective of race or sex in older adults. Further, in contrast to femoral neck and trochanter BMD, mid-femur vBMD was not able to predict fracture (all fractures). (C) 2003, Editrice Kurtis.

A????es premiadas no 17?? Concurso Inova????o na Gest??o P??blica Federal 2012

Este livro traz os relatos das 10 iniciativas premiadas no 17?? Concurso Inova????o na Gest??o P??blica Federal. Iniciativa da ENAP, em parceria com o MP, o Concurso conta com o apoio, para as premia????es, das embaixadas da Fran??a, da Noruega e da Nova Zel??ndia; da Coopera????o Alem?? para o Desenvolvimento (GIZ); e da Ag??ncia Brasileira de Coopera????o (ABC). Ao longo de 17 anos, o Concurso tem cumprido seu objetivo de estimular a implementa????o de iniciativas inovadoras de gest??o em organiza????es do governo federal; dissemin??-las e valorizar servidores p??blicos que atuam de forma criativa em suas atividades

Sistema de custos e informa????es gerenciais do Banco Central do Brasil

O Banco Central do Brasil desenvolveu e implantou, no per??odo de abril de 2002 a mar??o de 2003, Sistema de Custos e Informa????es Gerenciais, utilizando o m??todo de custeio baseado em atividades - Activity Based Costing (ABC), destinado a apurar os custos das atividades, dos projetos, dos processos e dos produtos e servi??os ofertados pela Institui????o, distribu??dos pela sua estrutura organizacional. O sistema, mais do que um enfoque voltado para o simples controle e redu????o de custos, constitui-se em significativo instrumento de apoio gerencial, ao propiciar a utiliza????o mais racional de todos os recursos consumidos. Ademais, apresenta-se como iniciativa pioneira vez que, pelo que se tem not??cia, inexistem experi??ncias semelhantes em organiza????es com este porte e com a amplitude adotada neste caso, tanto no ??mbito governamental brasileiro, quanto no que se refere aos demais bancos centrais espalhados pelo mundo

A????es premiadas no 16?? Concurso Inova????o na Gest??o P??blica Federal 2011

Este livro re??ne as dez iniciativas premiadas no 16?? Concurso Inova????o na Gest??o P??blica Federal. Nesta 16?? edi????o, o Concurso conta com os apoios da Embaixada da Fran??a, da Embaixada da Noruega, da Ag??ncia de Coopera????o Internacional Alem?? (GIZ) e da Ag??ncia Brasileira de Coopera????o (ABC), que premiam os primeiros colocados com visitas t??cnicas. A ENAP tamb??m premia os vencedores com vagas nos cursos de Especializa????o em Gest??o P??blica e Desenvolvimento Gerencial , publica????es da Escola, livro contendo os relatos das iniciativas, certificado, divulga????o no Banco de Solu????es do s??tio do Concurso, assinatura de um ano da Revista do Servi??o P??blico (RSP) e Selo Inova????o

Documento do projeto apoio ao desenvolvimento gerencial estrat??gico do governo de Mo??ambique

Documento do projeto de coopera????o t??cnica internacional "Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Gerencial Estrat??gico do Governo de Mo??ambique", assinado entre a Ag??ncia Brasileira de Coopera????o (ABC), a Escola Nacional de Administra????o P??blica (ENAP), o Instituto Superior de Administra????o P??blica (ISAP) e o Minist??rio da Fun????o P??blica de Mo??ambique

Relat??rio de avalia????o do projeto de desenvolvimento gerencial estrat??gico do governo de Mo??ambique

Relat??rio de avalia????o do projeto de coopera????o t??cnica internacional "Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Gerencial Estrat??gico do Governo de Mo??ambique". A avalia????o, realizada por colaborador eventual, se deu por meio de entrevistas presenciais realizadas com a equipe do projeto em Mo??ambique e no Brasil

Relat??rio da IV reuni??o do comit?? gestor do projeto apoio ao desenvolvimento do setor algodoeiro dos pa??ses do C4

O projeto ???Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Setor Algodoeiro dos Pa??ses do Cotton-4??? objetiva aumentar a produtividade, gerar diversidade gen??tica e aprimorar a qualidade do algod??o cultivado em Benin, Burkina Faso, Chade e Mali, de forma a contribuir para o desenvolvimento e o fortalecimento econ??mico. A IV Reuni??o do Comit?? Gestor do Projeto teve como um de seus objetivos refletir sobre as pr??ticas de implementa????o das a????es previstas no documento do projeto Cotton-4, bem como registrar percep????es e opini??es das equipes dos pa??ses africanos, com o prop??sito de reunir os elementos cr??ticos essenciais para sua posterior avalia????o

Termo de coopera????o para a constru????o do marco anal??tico de avalia????o do projeto Cotton 4

O termo de coopera????o assinado entre a Escola Nacional de Administra????o P??blica (ENAP) e a Ag??ncia Brasileira de Coopera????o (ABC) tem como objetivo elaborar termo de refer??ncia, o qual especificar?? o perfil de um avaliador externo a ser posteriormente contratado para avaliar o projeto ???Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Setor Algodoeiro dos Pa??ses do Cotton-4???. Esse projeto busca aumentar a produtividade, gerar diversidade gen??tica e aprimorar a qualidade do algod??o cultivado em Benin, Burkina Faso, Chade e Mali, de forma a contribuir para o desenvolvimento e o fortalecimento econ??mico

Programa executivo do acordo geral de coopera????o entre o governo da Rep??blica Federativa do Brasil e do governo da Rep??blica de Mo??ambique para o projeto "apoio ao desenvolvimento gerencial estrat??gico do governo de Mo??ambique"

Programa Executivo do acordo geral de coopera????o entre o governo da Rep??blica Federativa do Brasil e o governo da Rep??blica de Mo??ambicano para o projeto "Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Gerencial Estrat??gico do Governo de Mo??ambique". O Programa foi assinado pelo Minist??rio do Planejamento, Or??amento e Gest??o do Brasil e pelo Minist??rio da Fun????o P??blica de Mo??ambique