Associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and components of the metabolic syndrome in obese adolescent females.

Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk for metabolic syndrome. We determined the relationship of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) with metabolic syndrome components in obese adolescent females and assessed whether vitamin D treatment corrects metabolic disturbances. Eighty postmenarchal adolescents (53 African American (AA) and 27 Caucasian American (CA)) were evaluated with blood pressures and fasting measurements of serum 25(OH)D, lipid profile, C-reactive protein, alanine transaminases (ALTs) and aspartate transaminases followed by an oral glucose tolerance test.

Doing well: a SEM analysis of the relationships between various activities of daily living and geriatric well-being.

An existing large data set, the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) with the subsequent addition of the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS) data, provides a rich data set for the examination of the activities of older adults. In this study HRS and CAMS data are used to examine relationships between various activities of daily living (ADLs) and well-being in older adults. Using structural equation modeling, influences of direct and indirect factors that affect older individuals' cognitive and emotional well-being are analyzed.

Essential tools for a study abroad nursing course.

Research results indicate that study-abroad programs have positive learning outcomes. Drawing on their experiences as faculty in a study-abroad program for student nurses, the authors identify basic educational components and learning activities that can be used to maximize students' learning in a study-abroad program in a low-resource country.

Threshold for effects of vitamin D deficiency on glucose metabolism in obese female African-American adolescents.

Context: Vitamin D status can influence insulin resistance.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in obese African-American (AA) adolescent females in a southeastern latitude and to determine the relationship of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with insulin and glucose dynamics.

Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a University Children's Hospital.

The Network for Nursing in Child Health.

The Network for Nursing in Child Health was launched in 2006 building on earlier collaboration of a group of nurses in Latin America to study the needs for strengthening pediatric nursing curricula in the region. This Network is one of more than 10 specialty nursing networks being developed with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as a mechanism for promoting collaboration and communication between nurses of different countries to improve nursing practice and health care. The initial goals of the Network for Nursing in Child Health are to share knowledge and experience related to child health nursing and to promote incorporation of guidelines related to the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) in nursing curricula.