Biomedical subjects

Ricardo Halpern

Publications and source records attributed to Ricardo Halpern.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of hearing complaints].

This study assessed the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of hearing complaints in outpatients attending an university ear, nose and throat clinic. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Canoas, Southern Brazil, from 1999 to 2002. Seven-hundred and ninety-five subjects who underwent the audiometric test were analyzed. The results showed that the complaint of hearing loss presented 80.9% sensitivity, 69.6% specificity and 86.5% positive predictive value and 60.4% negative predictive value. Despite its subjective character, the audiometric test can be considered a reliable diagnostic tool and should be used due to its low cost compared to the new technologies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Early behavioral effects of lead perinatal exposure in rat pups.

Acoustic analysis of infants crying, a sensitive and selective index for measuring the effect of pre and perinatal lead exposure, may provide an early marker for central nervous system damage produced by the toxic. The present study evaluated the effects of exposure to low lead levels during perinatal and early postnatal periods on ultrasonic vocalization (USV), an early behavior of rat pups essential to their development. Non-sexually experienced females were gavaged daily with 8, 16 or 24 mg/kg of lead acetate or the control solution (1 ml/kg) for 30 days prior to breeding and until their pups were weaned. After crossover of dams, pups had been exposed to lead during pregnancy+lactation, pregnancy or lactation. The physiological variables measured on postnatal days 7 or 14 were USV, locomotion, rectal temperature, body weight and blood lead levels. Lead exposition during pregnancy+lactation, pregnancy or lactation induced a significant dose-dependent decrease of USV of 7-day-old pups. On the contrary, lead exposition during the different phases of pregnancy induced a significant dose-dependent increase of USV in 14-day-old rat pups. Blood lead levels varied from 5.7 to 36.5 microg/dl in pups. Body weight and temperature were not influenced by lead exposition. Lead-exposed 14-day-old pups were significantly more active. This study provides evidence of developmental changes in USV emission in rat pups exposed with low lead levels.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

[Recent advances on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder].

OBJECTIVES: To describe the main aspects of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, including history, epidemiology, etiology, neurobiology, clinical features, comorbidities, diagnosis, outcome and treatment. SOURCES OF DATA: Comprehensive, non-systematic review of the literature on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder has a neurobiological basis, and is highly prevalent in children and adolescents. Treatment is very efficacious, including the use of medication in most the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians are in a privileged position to detect this disorder early and to start the initial management of less severe cases and of those not complicated by extensive comorbidities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Environmental influences on child mental health].

OBJECTIVE: To present an up-to-date review about environmental influences on child mental health, describing major risk factors and discussing recommendations for intervention by pediatricians. SOURCES OF DATA: MEDLINE, PsycLIT and Lilacs, technical books and publications about child development and child and adolescent mental health problems and health promotion. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Children are exposed to multiple risk factors, among them high prevalence of disease, premature birth, being born from a problematic pregnancy, and living in poverty. This negative chain of events increases the risk for emotional problems. The negative effects on development and behavior result from the complex interaction between genetic, biological, psychological and environmental risk factors. The main factors influencing the mental health of children are the social and psychological environment. The cumulative risk effect is more important in determining emotional problems in children than the presence of one single stressor, regardless of its magnitude. CONCLUSION: Environmental factors play an important role in the etiology of emotional problems in childhood. An adequate clinical investigation allows pediatricians to identify risk factors for the development of mental health problems and to ensure early intervention for children at risk.

Child↗

PubMed2003

[Risk factors associated with hospitalization for bronchiolitis in the post-neonatal period].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic factors, maternal characteristics, breastfeeding, and hospitalization for bronchiolitis in the post-neonatal period. METHODS: A nested case-control study with a cohort of 5,304 children born in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, was conducted. The cohort study consisted of four sub-studies with their own methods and logistics. Mothers were interviewed using a standard questionnaire during in-hospital and home visits. Cases were defined as any child aged 28 to 364 days who had been hospitalized for bronchiolitis. RESULTS: Among 5,304 cohort children, 113 (2.1%) were hospitalized for bronchiolitis. The hierarchical multivariate analysis performed using logistic regression showed the following results: family income and gestational age were inversely associated with the risk of hospitalization for bronchiolitis. Breastfeeding showed to have a protective effect; children who were breastfed for less than one month had 7 times less risk for being hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis in the first three months of life. The risk for hospitalization for bronchiolitis is 57% higher in those exposed to maternal smoking than in those non-exposed. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis is inversely associated with family income, gestational age and duration of breastfeeding and positively associated with maternal smoking. There was not an association with either parity or maternal history of asthma.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Essential primary cutis verticis gyrata]

OBJECTIVE: To report a rare case of a child with essential primary Cutis verticis gyrata. REPORT: Nine-year-old boy with extensive hypertrophy of scalp skin, with a cerebriform appearance. No underlying neurologic and ophthalmologic disorders were found, and no other cases were described in his family. COMMENTS: The diagnosis of primary Cutis verticis gyrata was established by thickening of the scalp and absence of neurologic and ophthalmologic abnormalities. Differential diagnosis comprises secondary conditions such as: cerebriform intradermal nevus, pachydermoperiostosis, acromegaly, and inflammatory diseases of the scalp. This is the first report of a child with this form of Cutis verticis gyrata.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Nutritional status surveillance of children in a health district in southern Brazil].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nutritional status of children referred by a primary care center to the Nutritional Surveillance Program (Prá-Crescer), and to follow up children at risk in a health district of Porto Alegre. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 674 children, aged between 6 and 59 months, referred to the Prá-Crescer Program. Height-for-age, weight-for-height and weight-for-age indices were used to evaluate nutritional status. The cutoff points were the 3rd and 10th percentiles of the NCHS standards. The nutritional status of 391 children at nutritional risk was followed up for 12 months. The chi-square test was used to analyze associations between variables. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of the children had nutritional deficit. Of these, 38.1% were undernourished (< P3), and 61.9% were at nutritional risk (between P3 and P10). Height-for-age deficit was the most frequent, and the age group mostly affected was 12 to 24 months. Among those at nutritional risk, 50.1% completed the follow-up, 33.5% did not start follow-up, and 16.4% were lost to follow-up. 41.3 % recovered nutritional health, 10.2% showed some improvement, without correcting their anthropometric deficits. 39.8% did not show any improvement, and 8.7% had worsening of their deficits. Recovery of nutritional health occurred, on average, within 7.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the importance of following up children at nutritional risk and indicates that some aspects should be improved in surveillance programs. Such improvements may reduce the number of children lost to follow-up.

Body Height↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Breastfeeding of premature babies with less than 1500g: oral motor functioning and attachment].

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding of premature babies. AIM: To describe breastfeeding in premature babies with very low birth weight (VLBW) and its association with the oral motor system (OMS) and with maternal-child bonding. METHOD: A cross-sectional study with 48 VLBW premature babies. An interview with the mothers, as well as the evaluation of the newborns' OMS and signs of attachment was performed. Data was submitted to a descriptive analysis and to the Fischer Test. RESULTS: Variables that showed statistical association with nutritive sucking were: child's position at breast; nipple grasping; sucking coordination between sucking, breathing and swallowing; strength and maintenance; rhythm, and level of conscious. Twelve pair situations presented signs possible bonding problems. CONCLUSION: Components of OMS are associated to the quality of feeding of premature babies. This fact suggests that the early evaluation of breastfeeding can detect difficulties that could jeopardize adequate nutrition.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Risk factors for accidental injuries in preschool children].

OBJECTIVE: To measure the main risk factors associated with the occurrence of accidental injuries in children aged 4-5 years. METHODS: The study included a prospective cohort of children whose parents filled in a diary recording accidents and injuries during a period of one-month. The children represented a systematic subsample from a population-based birth cohort in southern Brazil. The outcome was the number of reported injuries per child during one month. Multivariate analysis (Poisson regression) was used to assess confounding factors. RESULTS: The monthly frequency of accidents was 53.8%, and 48.4% of the children suffered at least one injury. Boys had 30% more injuries than girls, and white children had 70% higher incidence than non-white. Family income, parental education and maternal employment were not associated with the frequency of injuries. After adjustment of socioeconomic and environmental factors, having younger siblings was associated with a 30% higher injury rate, and living in a home made of bricks was associated with a 35% increase. The incidence of injuries appeared to be higher among children attending day-care centers and those living in periurban areas. CONCLUSIONS: Few risk factors were associated with an increased frequency of injuries. Among them, the most amenable to intervention seems to be the presence of younger siblings. Parents should become aware of children's needs for increased attention when a younger sibling is born.

English Abstract↗