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This article, titled "EP23.06: External validation of the ovarian-adnexal reporting and data system lexicon in a pediatric population," evaluates the diagnostic performance of the ovarian-adnexal reporting and data system (O-RADS) lexicon in a pediatric population. The study was conducted at a single tertiary referral center for pediatric gynecology in Australia and included 313 patients diagnosed with an adnexal mass who underwent surgical management between 1982 and 2018. The results showed that the ORADS lexicon performed well as a diagnostic test in transabdominal imaging and in predicting malignancy risk in the pediatric population. [Extracted from the article]

Background The Food Intake and Physical Activity of School Children ( CAAFE) comprises an online questionnaire to self-report diet and physical activity of Brazilian schoolchildren. Background The present study aimed to assess the validity (matches, omissions and intrusions) and moderating factors of the CAAFE. Methods Direct observation was made of foods consumed (five public schools) and child self-reporting on the CAAFE. Additional data included school grade, gender, body mass index, completion of food diary, socioeconomic status and access to computer. Data were analysed using regression. Results In total, 602 children participated in the study [mean (SD) age 9.5 (1.24) years; 53.6% boys]. On average, there were 43% matches, 29% intrusions and 28% omissions. Matches doubled in third grade compared to the second grade ( P = 0.004); matches almost tripled for afternoon snack compared to morning snack ( P < 0.001); and matches were 69% higher for children with access to a computer at home ( P < 0.01). Intrusions decreased by almost one-half in fifth compared to fourth grades ( P = 0.004). Omissions declined significantly in the third and fourth grades but increased in the fifth grade. Omissions were 47% lower for children in the highest income and lower among children who completed the food diary. No differences were found for gender or body mass index. Conclusions Children older than 8 years old, who owned a computer and completed a food diary, performed better in the CAAFE. A high incidence of disagreement was found in relation to the schools and the type of meal. Overall matches (43%), intrusions (29%) and omissions (28%) indicate that further studies are required to improve the validity of the CAAFE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Consumo Alimentar e Atividade Fisica de Escolares ( CAAFE) questionnaire is an online research tool that has been developed to enable the self-report of physical activity and diet by Brazilian schoolchildren aged 7-10 years. Formative research was conducted with nutritionists during the development of the web-based questionnaire. The suggestions and insights obtained were used to design a tool to monitor schoolchildren's food consumption based on the concept of healthy and unhealthy food indicators. The present study aimed to report the focus group discussions conducted with nutritionists concerning the CAAFE questionnaire. Methods Focus group discussions were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire, and these were then analysed thematically. Results Twenty-four nutritionists participated (four focus groups; average per group: six people); the majority ( n = 22) had experience with 7-10-year-old children. Four themes emerged: (i) healthy and unhealthy food indicators; (ii) suggestions for the online instrument; (iii) potential applications; and (iv) challenges for its construction. Conclusions Comments made by nutritionists enabled the construction of an instrument that is able to answer questions related to food consumption in schools and at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thyroid gland was assessed by ultrasound in healthy euthyroid mixed-breed medium size dogs in different age groups. The objective was to verify ultrasonographic imaging patterns in these groups, as well as to identify possi-ble changes in imaging features resulting from ageing. Thirty dogs - 10 young (<1 year), 10 adult and 10 elderly - without clinical signs or history of thyroid gland disease with complete blood count and thyroid function tests within the reference values were evaluated. Each thyroid lobe was examined by ultrasound for shape, size, echogenicity and echotexture. The analysis of echogenicity and echotexture was made by histogram. Thyroid volume was estimated by the equation for ellipsoid (length x width x height) π/6. The thyroid volume of the young dogs in this study had a tendency to be higher than in adult dogs (P = 0.068) and older dogs (P = 0.120). The height of the thyroid lobe in the longitudinal plane was significantly higher (P = 0.026) in young dogs com-pared with the other dogs. The echotexture and echogenicity had no significant differences between groups, but the echogenicity was greater in older dogs. The results point out that ultrasound imaging of the thyroid volume is influenced by age in euthyroid dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoU possesses two functional blocks of homology to calcium-independent (iPLA2) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), we addressed the question whether it would exhibit a proinflammatory activity by enhancing the synthesis of eicosanoids by host organisms. Endothelial cells from the HMEC-1 line infected with the ExoU-producing PA103 strain exhibited a potent release of arachidonic acid (AA) that could be significantly inhibited by methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate (MAFP), a specific PLA2 inhibitor, as well as significant amounts of the cyclooxygenase (COX)-derived prostaglandins PGE2 and PGI2. Cells infected with an isogenic mutant defective in ExoU synthesis did not differ from non-infected cells in the AA release and produced prostanoids in significantly lower concentrations. Infection by PA103 induced a marked inflammatory response in two different in vivo experimental models. Inoculation of the parental bacteria into mice footpads led to an early increase in the infected limb volume that could be significantly reduced by inhibitors of both COX and lipoxygenase (ibuprofen and NDGA respectively). In an experimental respiratory infection model, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from mice instilled with 104 cfu of PA103 exhibited a marked influx of inflammatory cells and PGE2 release that could be significantly reduced by indomethacin, a non-selective COX inhibitor. Our results suggest that ExoU may contribute to P. aeruginosa pathogenesis by inducing an eicosanoid–mediated inflammatory response of host organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To describe the food intake of garbage collectors, who works in three shifts, in terms of meal and snack frequency, content, time distribution and the contribution of various popular foods to the total diet. Methods Sixty-six Brazilian garbage collectors, who work in morning, afternoon, and night shift, participated in the present study. The quantitative methods used were a combination of one 24-h recall and two 24-h records during three nonconsecutive work days. The qualitative method used was the food-based classification of eating episodes model modified in order to define meals or snacks in three categories of events: meals with three food groups of high nutrient density (three HND meals), meals with two food groups of high nutrient density (two HND meals) and snacks, composed of only one food category of high nutrient density. Results The total number of eating events per day was significantly higher for night shift workers. Over 24-h, ‘two HND meals’ were the most common events and contributed the most energy, in all three shifts. Night shift workers ate more at dawn and less in the morning than other shifts. In all three shifts, meat was the most important food contributing to energy intake. Conclusion Different work schedules did not affect the relative frequency of meal types and snacks or their contribution to daily energy intake, but affected the daily distribution of eating events, with a redistribution of intake from day to night in night shift workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A population of over 12 000 mature subjects participated in a longitudinal study (8 years) of nutrition and health (the Su.Vi.Max Study). In this context, a specific cross-sectional study was carried out in a randomly selected subpopulation. Aim To identify anthropometric, nutritional and biochemical correlates of spontaneous use of ‘light’ foods and drinks in a free-living population. Design Men (n =2299) and women (n =1979), 45–60 years, reported their food intakes over six non-consecutive days. Consumers of low-fat and low-sugar foods and drinks, and artificial sweeteners, were compared with non-consumers. Results Users of low-sugar products were heavier than non-users; female consumers of low-fat products, but not males, had higher body weight and BMI than non-consumers. Users of low-sugar products had higher triacylglycerols and glycaemia than non-users while biochemical parameters were not different in users and non-users of low-fat products. Use of low-sugar products led to increased diet density of a few micronutrients, including cholesterol. Low-fat product selection was associated with increased intake of most micronutrients, both in absolute value and in density. Conclusions In mature adults, selection of fat-reduced products was associated with improved quality of the diet, while anthropometric and biological parameters appeared less favourable in consumers of low-sugar products vs. non-consumers. The longitudinal follow-up of the cohort in future years will help determine cause-and-effect relationships among these parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SummaryProinflammatory cytokines have been shown to activate endothelial cells. To investigate the effect of cytokines on the interaction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cells were treated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) plus tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) for 24 hr and exposed to P. aeruginosa suspension for 1 hr. Light microscopy showed that activated cells internalized significantly more bacteria than control cells. To ascertain the effect of cytokines on the microbicidal activity of HUVEC, the concentrations of viable intracellular (IC) bacteria in control and activated cells were determined, at 1 and 5 hr postinfection, by the gentamicin exclusion assay. In control cells, no significant decrease in the concentration of bacteria was detected 5 hr postinfection. In contrast, in activated cells the concentration of viable bacteria at 5 hr was significantly lower. Concentrations of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide detected in supernatants of activated cells were significantly higher than in control cell supernatants. HUVEC anti-P. aeruginosa activity was insensitive to the antioxidants superoxide dismutase, dimethylthiourea and allopurinol as well as to the l-arginine analogues aminoguanidine and NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA), but was significantly inhibited by catalase. Our results indicate that HUVEC can be activated by IFN-γ plus TNF-α to kill IC P. aeruginosa and suggest a role for reactive oxygen radicals, notably hydrogen peroxide, in HUVEC antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Effects of Socioeconomic Status (SES) on Physical Activity in Adolescents: A Systematic Review of the Evidence."