Abstract: Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine whether there was significant risk associated with types of beverages consumed on the weight status in children.

Design: Nationally representative cross-sectional sample.

Setting: Demographic information was obtained from the NHANES interviews. Dietary intake data were obtained from Day 1, in-person 24-hour dietary recall interviews administered using an automated multiple-pass method. Height and weight were obtained according to NHANES Anthropometry Procedures Manual.

Subjects: Children 2-18 years of age.

Results: The likelihood of being overweight or obese was not significant for any of the beverages studied between consumers and non-consumers. For the total sample, for every 29.6 mL of water consumed the risk of being obese was 1%. For ages 6-11 years water consumption increased the risk of being obese and in ages 2-5 years, consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) increased the risk of being obese. The risk of being obese was significant p <0.05 for Hispanic males for every 29.6 mL of water consumed and for 100% fruit juice and SSB for other males; increased risk was ≤3%. The risk of being obese increased for White females for every 29.6 mL of flavored milk consumed and water consumption for both Black females and Hispanic females; the significant p<0.05 increased risk of obesity was ≤7%.

Conclusions: Beverage consumption was not consistently associated with weight status in the diets of a nationally representative sample of children. In some cases the increased risk was very small.

Keywords:  Beverage, consumption, NHANES, weight status, children.

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Abstract: Importance: While urban African American adolescents face significant health disparities associated with overweight and obesity that follow them into adulthood; there is limited data on body image, emotional well-being, and weight control behaviors in this population to design effective public health interventions.

Objective: This study was designed to understand the association of weight status to adolescent weight control, body image, and emotional well-being responses, in African American high school students.

Design/Setting/Participants: The study cohort consisted of 776 students, mean age 15.8 years (±1.2). Data from Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) student surveys and anthropometric studies were collected at School-Based Health Centers.

Main Outcome Measures: Associations between adolescent responses on the GAPS and body mass index (BMI) status (healthy weight: 5th to less than 85th percentile, overweight: 85th to less than 95th percentile, obese: 95th percentile or greater) were estimated using logistic regression and dose- response plots.

Results: There were statistically significant associations between BMI category and weight control (ranging from a mean 5.18 to 7.68 odds of obesity) and body image (3.40 to 13.26 odds of obesity) responses. Responses to weight control and body image questions exhibited a dose- response for odds of overweight and obesity. Feelings of depressed mood were associated with obesity (1.47 times the odds of obesity compared to students who did not endorse depressed mood; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.13) but not overweight status.

Conclusion and Relevance: Overweight and obese urban African American adolescents are more likely to screen positively on weight control risk behaviors and negative body image questions than their normal weight peers. The weight control and body image measures on the GAPS may provide information to identify youth in need of services and those motivated for brief school-based weight control interventions.

Keywords: Obesity, overweight, weight control behaviors, African American.

Abstract: Background: The credibility of the result of a complete blood count is closely connected with the preanalytical phase.

Objectives: This study evaluated accordance of filling of microtubes with manufacturer’s recommendation and assessed the effect of storage of overfilled and underfilled samples on the results of complete blood count.

Design and Methods: Volume of blood samples collected into microtubes in the wards of the University Children's Hospital in Cracow during one month was analyzed. In the stability studies, overfilled and underfilled samples stored at ambient temperature were analyzed at 1, 2, 3 and 12 hours after phlebotomy. The analysis was made using the SYSMEX XT-1800i analyzer.

Results: More than half of the analyzed samples were incorrectly filled. 63% of the samples were filled above the manufacturer's recommended volume and 15% of test-tubes were filled below the recommendation. We observed differences between collected blood volume in accordance to the age of patients (p=0.001). The storage of overfilled and underfilled microtubes for complete blood count for 1,2,3 and 12 h at room temperature had no effect on the results of this test.

Conclusion: Medical staff does not follow the instructions of the manufacturers. It might lead to a decrease of the quality and credibility of the results.

Keywords: Phlebotomy, preanalytical error, nurse training, children.

Abstract:  Background: Nutritional exposures and growth in early life are linked to immediate and also to long term health outcomes.

Objective: To assess infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices using WHO-UNICEF defined indicators in rural and urban-slum populations in India.

Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in mothers and infants up to age 24 months. Data on socio-demographics, birth history, feeding practices (WHO-UNICEF IYCF indicators), maternal weight, height, and infant’s weight, length, mid-arm, and head circumferences were collected.

Results: Five hundred and two (252 rural and 250 urban-slum) mother-infant dyads were studied. Proportions of IYCF indicators in rural and urban-slum infants were: Early initiation of breastfeeding 71 and 64%; Exclusive breastfeeding under six months, 59 and 25%; Minimum acceptable diet 11 and 27% respectively. Consumption of animal-source food (other than dairy products) and vitamin-A rich fruits and vegetables was below 15%. Cesarean section [aOR, 95% CI: 2.94 (1.53, 5.65)], hospitalization of newborn [aOR, 95% CI: 6.21 (2.95, 13.16)], pre-lacteal feeding [aOR, 95% CI: 3.38 (1.77, 6.45)], needing help in breastfeeding [aOR, 95% CI: 2.15 (1.04, 4.17)], and male gender [aOR, 95% CI: 2.13 (1.15, 4.25); p<0.05 for all] were associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding, whereas lower monthly household income [aOR, 95% CI: 2.62 (1.10, 6.25)], and younger age [aOR, 95% CI: 1.24 (1.11, 1.38); p<0.05 for both] were associated with poor dietary diversity.

Conclusions: Education of optimum IYCF practices, targeting early initiation of breastfeeding, increasing meal frequency and intake of vitamin-A rich and animal-source foods need urgent attention.

Keywords:  Breastfeeding, complementary feeding, India, IYCF practices, predictors.

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