Molecular detection of Hepatozoon felis in cats from Maio Island, Republic of Cape Verde and global distribution of feline hepatozoonosis.

Background: Vector-borne diseases are emerging worldwide and have an important zoonotic relevance. In the last few years, the interest in vector-borne pathogens in cats has increased. However, studies on feline vector-borne pathogens on tropical islands are lacking.

Modelling the dynamics of children's gross motor coordination.

This study modelled children's gross motor coordination, investigated sex-differences and identified the effects of fixed and dynamic correlates on motor coordination development. A total of 344 Portuguese children (170 girls), from 6 age cohorts (5 to 9 years of age), were followed consecutively for three years (age range 5 to 11 years) using a mixed-longitudinal cohort design. Birth weight, hand dominance and socioeconomic status (SES) were identified.

Lipoabdominoplasty: repercussions for diaphragmatic mobility and lung function in healthy women.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of lipoabdominoplasty on diaphragmatic mobility (DM) and lung function in healthy women.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study using high-resolution ultrasound and forced spirometry to assess DM and lung function, respectively, prior to lipoabdominoplasty, as well as on postoperative day (POD) 10 and POD 30. DM was measured under two conditions: during tidal volume breathing and during a VC maneuver.

Epidemiological Transition in Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Children.

Background: To determine if children's moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time varied across levels of household income in countries at different levels of Human Development Index (HDI), consistent with the theory of epidemiological transition.

Methods: Data from 6548 children (55% girls) aged 9-11 years from 12 countries at different HDI levels are used in this analysis to assess MVPA and sedentary time (measured using ActiGraph accelerometers) across levels of household income. Least-square means are estimated separately for boys and girls at the estimated 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of HDI for the sample.

Familial aggregation and heritability of markers of metabolic risk, physical activity, and physical fitness in nuclear families from Muzambinho (Minas Gerais, Brazil).

Objective: This study investigated the familial aggregation and heritability of markers of metabolic risk, physical activity, and physical fitness in nuclear families from Muzambinho (Minas Gerais, Brazil).

Subjects And Methods: The study included members of 139 families, comprising 97 fathers (aged 40 ± 7 years), 129 mothers (35 ± 6 years), 136 sons (12 ± 4 years), and 121 daughters (12 ± 5 years). Evaluated markers included (A) body mass index, waist circumference, glycemia, and cholesterolemia, as metabolic risk markers; (B) total weekly volume of physical activity, as a physical activity marker; and (C) relative muscle strength, as a physical fitness marker.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme glucan 1,4-α-maltotetraohydrolase from (strain DP-Dzr46).

The food enzyme glucan 1,4-α-maltotetraohydrolase (4-α-d-glucan maltotetraohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme α-amylase and 1,4-α-glucan 6-α-glucosyltransferase from .

The food enzyme α-amylase (4-α-d-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.

Are there gross motor coordination spurts during mid-childhood?

Objectives: The aims of this study were (1) to identify the timing of the mid-growth spurt (MGS) in stature in children and (2) to identify gross motor coordination (GMC) spurts when aligned by the age of attainment of the MGS (aMGS).

Methods: Stature, weight, and GMC were measured in 245 Portuguese children followed annually from 6 to 10 years. GMC was assessed and to estimate children's MGS in stature as well as GMC spurts in each of the four tests aligned by aMGS, we used a nonsmoothed polynomial methodology.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme endo-1,4-β-xylanase from a genetically modified (strain NZYM-CE).

The food enzyme endo-1,4-β-xylanase (4-β-d-xylan xylanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.

International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE): Contributions to Understanding the Global Obesity Epidemic.

The purpose of this review is to summarize the scientific contributions of the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) in extending our understanding about obesity in children from around the world. ISCOLE was a multi-national study of 9 to 11 year-old children from sites in 12 countries from all inhabited continents. The primary purpose was to investigate relationships between lifestyle behaviors and obesity, and the influence of higher-order characteristics such as behavioral settings, and physical, social and policy environments.

Parental Education and Genetics of BMI from Infancy to Old Age: A Pooled Analysis of 29 Twin Cohorts.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze how parental education modifies the genetic and environmental variances of BMI from infancy to old age in three geographic-cultural regions.

Methods: A pooled sample of 29 cohorts including 143,499 twin individuals with information on parental education and BMI from age 1 to 79 years (299,201 BMI measures) was analyzed by genetic twin modeling.

Results: Until 4 years of age, parental education was not consistently associated with BMI.

Susceptibility Perturbation MRI Maps Tumor Infiltration into Mesorectal Lymph Nodes.

Noninvasive characterization of lymph node involvement in cancer is an enduring onerous challenge. In rectal cancer, pathologic lymph node status constitutes the most important determinant of local recurrence and overall survival, and patients with involved lymph nodes may benefit from preoperative chemo and/or radiotherapy. However, knowledge of lymph node status before surgery is currently hampered by limited imaging accuracy.

Image reconstruction utilizing median filtering applied to elastography.

Background: The resources of ultrafast technology can be used to add another analysis to ultrasound imaging: assessment of tissue viscoelasticity. Ultrafast image formation can be utilized to find transitory shear waves propagating in soft tissue, which permits quantification of the mechanical properties of the tissue via elastography. This technique permits simple and noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of disease.

The Roles of Growth, Maturation, Physical Fitness, and Technical Skills on Selection for a Portuguese Under-14 Years Basketball Team.

This study investigated the roles of growth, maturation, physical fitness, and technical skills on selection onto an under-14 years basketball team. The sample consisted of 150 male players, aged 13.3 ± 0.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase from (strain LFS).

The food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme glucose oxidase from (strain ZGL).

The food enzyme glucose oxidase (β-d-glucose:oxygen 1-oxidoreductase; EC 1.1.3.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme β-glucanase, xylanase and cellulase from (strain NZYM-ST).

The food enzyme has three declared activities (endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase EC 3.2.1.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme 4-α-glucanotransferase from (strain AE-SAS).

The food enzyme 4-α-glucanotransferase (1,4-α-d-glucan:1,4-α-d-glucan 4-α-d-glycosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.

Sibling Similarity in Metabolic Syndrome: The Portuguese Sibling Study on Growth, Fitness, Lifestyle and Health.

This study aims to estimate sibling resemblance in metabolic syndrome (MS) markers, and to investigate the associations of biological and behavioral characteristics with MS. The sample comprises 679 biological siblings (363 females; 316 males) aged 9-20 years. MS markers included waist circumference (WC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TRI), fasting glucose (GLU) and systolic blood pressure (SBP).

Effects of inoculation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the composition of the essential oil, plant growth, and lipoxygenase activity of Piper aduncum L.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the production of secondary metabolites Piper aduncum seedlings were inoculated by spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Rhizophagus clarus and Claroideoglomus etunicatum. P. aduncum seedlings were inoculated by spores of R.

Association between breakfast frequency and physical activity and sedentary time: a cross-sectional study in children from 12 countries.

Background: Existing research has documented inconsistent findings for the associations among breakfast frequency, physical activity (PA), and sedentary time in children. The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations among breakfast frequency and objectively-measured PA and sedentary time in a sample of children from 12 countries representing a wide range of human development, economic development and inequality. The secondary aim was to examine interactions of these associations between study sites.

Large desmoid tumors in familial adenomatous polyposis: a successful outcome.

Desmoid tumors develop from connective tissue, fasciae, and aponeuroses, and may occur in the context of familial adenomatous polyposis or may arise sporadically; also, they may be extra-abdominal, intra-abdominal, or located in the abdominal wall. These benign tumors have a great aggressiveness with a high rate of local recurrence. Familial adenomatous polyposis is an inherited condition with autosomal dominant transmission, and is characterized by the development of multiple colonic and rectal adenomatous polyps, as well as desmoid tumors.

Emotional Eating, Health Behaviours, and Obesity in Children: A 12-Country Cross-Sectional Study.

Eating in response to negative emotions (emotional eating, EE) may predispose an individual to obesity. Yet, it is not well known how EE in children is associated with body mass index (BMI) and health behaviours (i.e.

Joint associations between weekday and weekend physical activity or sedentary time and childhood obesity.

Objective: To evaluate the single and joint associations of objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time on week and weekend days with obesity in children from 12 countries across all inhabited continents.

Methods: A multinational, 12-country cross-sectional study of 5779 children aged 9-11 years was conducted. Time spent in MVPA and sedentary behaviors was assessed by waist-worn accelerometry.