Development of adiposity, obesity and age at menarche: an 8-year follow-up study in Portuguese schoolgirls.

Aim: It has been suggested that the decline in menarcheal age is associated with the increase of obesity prevalence.

Objective: To examine the association between age at menarche and adiposity development from age 7 to 15 years.

Subjects: A cohort of 109 schoolgirls from Viana do Castelo (Northern Portugal).

Changes in adiposity status from childhood to adolescence: a 6-year longitudinal study in Portuguese boys and girls.

Background: Cross-sectional data show high prevalence of overweight in Portuguese children, but there are few longitudinal studies describing the patterns of obesity development in the young.

Aim: To examine the trajectories of obesity from late childhood to adolescence.

Subjects And Methods: Triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness measurements were carried out in 288 children at age 9 (baseline) and later at age 15 (follow-up).

School health promotion: organization of services and roles of health professionals in seven European countries.

Background: This comparative study is intended to provide a better understanding of how health promotion services are organized in school settings in Europe and to show how health professionals involved outside or within the school setting help to improve young people's health.

Methods: This study was based on an analysis of school health policies and the organization of school health services, where these existed, as well as on interviews with health and education professionals. The countries concerned were Belgium (French-speaking community), Denmark, France, Spain (Catalonia), Switzerland (Jura), Poland and Portugal.

Comparative study of metallic biomaterials toxicity: a histochemical and immunohistochemical demonstration in mouse spleen.

Metallic biomaterials available for orthopaedic purposes become essential to perform important physical activities, due to their low cost and excellent mechanical properties. In addition, they are frequently used in dentistry. However, corrosion phenomena of such devices are the main problems resulting in subsequent spreading of the elements through the whole body via lymph and blood.