Comparing the Diagnostics Accuracy of CD4+ T-Lymphocyte Count and Percent as a Surrogate Markers of Pediatric HIV Disease.

The percentage CD4+ T-lymphocytes is used to monitor pediatric HIV disease. However, in resource-limited settings, enumerating the percentage of CD4+ T-lymphocytes is hampered by the lack of laboratory infrastructure and trained technicians. In this paper, we investigated the performances of the percentage and absolute CD4+ T-lymphocytes as markers of pediatric HIV disease progression using data from HIV-infected children enrolled through the Yale Prospective Longitudinal Pediatric Cohort study.

Effects of equine assisted activities on autism spectrum disorder.

Quality of life assessments were used in this study to determine the behavioral changes of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who participated in equine assisted activities. Behavioral changes of children with ASD participating in 9 weeks of equines assisted activities (EAA) (N = 10) were compared to behavioral changes of children who participated in a non-equine intervention (N = 8). Parents noted significant improvements in their child's physical, emotional and social functioning following the first 6 weeks of EAA.

Elevated body mass index in Texas Head Start children: a result of heredity and economics.

Objective: The problem of high body mass index (BMI) for age in the Head Start population in Texas is of great concern. The primarily Mexican American population is at high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study examines the prevalence of elevated BMI for age in the Head Start population in a sampling of South Texas border counties and a Central Texas county from 2003-2008, and compares it to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data for Hispanic preschool children.