Joan R. Griffith

A new BIA equation estimating the body composition of young children.

Bioelectric impedance analyses (BIA) provides a valid and reliable measure of body composition in field, clinical, and research settings if standard protocol procedures are followed, and population‐specific equations are available and utilized. The objective of this study was to create and cross‐validate a new BIA body composition equation with representative healthy weight (HW), overweight (OW), and obese (OB) young children. Participants were 436 children who were 5–11 years of age. Dual‐energy absorptiometry fat‐free mass (FFM) was used as the criterion measure and a single frequency tetra‐polar BIA device was used to create the new BIA equation. The new BIA equation explained 95.2% of the variance in FFM with no statistical shrinkage upon cross‐validation. The use of this equation may help to identify effective intervention strategies to prevent or combat childhood obesity, and may assist in additional conditions or treatments where information concerning body composition measures would provide greater accuracy and sensitivity measures for preventing or combating disease.

Assessing childhood obesity programs in low-socioeconomic and diverse communities.

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity disproportionately affects low-socioeconomic and diverse communities. After a national childrens health care quality organization announced a request for programs addressing the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, 80 programs were received. The objective of this study was to identify a best practice for addressing childhood obesity in low-socioeconomic and diverse communities. METHODS A secondary analysis of the 80 programs was conducted in spring 2007 using a framework developed after a mini literature review using PubMed and Google, a review of the recommendations from the 1998 national childhood obesity expert committee, and 5 semistructured interviews with childhood obesity key informants. RESULTS The key informants unanimously recommended that obesity reduction programs in low-socioeconomic and diverse communities should combine 4 themes: lifestyle changes, family-centeredness, prevention, and early community involvement. These 4 themes were combined in 50% of the 80 programs. CONCLUSIONS An evidence-based best practice for reducing childhood obesity in low-socioeconomic and diverse communities could not be identified utilizing the 4 themes recommended by the key informants. Preliminary data suggest that 1 academic program may offer promise for addressing childhood obesity in low-socioeconomic and diverse communities and improved data collection.

Association between vegetarian diet and menstrual problems in young women: a case presentation and brief review.

In the last twenty years, several studies have suggested the existence of an association between vegan diets and adolescent menstrual disorders. We share our experience with this problem and a review of the literature on the subject. We conclude that despite the existence of some evidence to the possible association between vegetarian diet and menstrual disorders, it is still not clear if this association is due solely to the vegetarian diet or due to the overall inadequate nutrition with decreased proportions of fat and protein in the diet. We believe that more prospective, well controlled studies are needed to truly explain this association.

Chiari I Malformation: Patient Report and a Mini Review

Chiari I malformation refers to the downward herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. It may occur in pediatric patients as an incidental finding or may present with varied and unusual clinical symptoms. The case of a 17-year-old female who presented with a 2-year history of chronic back, left hip, and left leg pain is discussed. She was subsequently diagnosed with borderline Chiari I, pseudotumor cerebri, and HAIR-AN syndrome.

Adolescent violence prevention: a case presentation.

Violence in adolescence has seen an increase since the 1990s with dramatic statistics on violent death and risk behaviors. School violence has been focused upon by a huge media coverage of especially violent cases that could have had some endemic consequences worldwide. We present a case of a 14 year old white male with change in school behavior, strategies for the case investigation, its results, and long term prevention. Other research has shown that preventive measures during pregnancy, infancy and childhood can prevent adolescent and adult delinquency.