Tatiana Laufer da Silva

Smoking during Pregnancy and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive Type: A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE Few previous studies assessed specifically attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattentive subtype (ADHD-I) in nonreferred samples. This study investigated the association between ADHD-I and prenatal exposure to nicotine. METHOD In a case-control study performed between September 2002 and April 2005, we assessed a nonreferred Brazilian sample of 100 children and adolescents with ADHD-I and 100 non-ADHD controls (6-18 years old). Cases and controls, matched by gender and age, were screened using teacher reports in the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham-IV (SNAP-IV) scale. They were systematically evaluated through structured diagnostic interviews. Prenatal exposure to nicotine and potential confounding factors were evaluated by direct interview with mothers. RESULTS Adjusting for confounding factors (maternal ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, birth weight, and alcohol use during pregnancy), children whose mothers smoked>or=10 cigarettes per day during pregnancy presented a significantly higher odds ratio for ADHD-I than children who were not exposed to nicotine during pregnancy (odds ratio 3.44; 95% confidence interval 1.17-10.06). Dimensional analyses showed significantly higher inattentive scores in subjects whose mothers smoked>or=10 cigarettes per day than in others after adjusting for confounding factors (p=.002). CONCLUSIONS In a nonreferred sample, the authors expanded to ADHD-I previous findings documenting the association between prenatal exposure to nicotine and broadly defined ADHD in clinical samples.

Association between alpha-2a-adrenergic receptor gene and ADHD inattentive type.

BACKGROUND Previous investigations have demonstrated that an MspI polymorphism at the adrenergic alpha2A receptor gene (ADRA2A) is associated with severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inattentive symptoms in clinical samples composed mainly of subjects with ADHD, combined type. This study aimed to investigate the association between this ADRA2A polymorphism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-inattentive type (ADHD-I) in a nonreferred sample. METHODS In a case-control study, we assessed a sample of 100 children and adolescents with ADHD-I and 100 non-ADHD controls. Cases and controls were matched by gender and age and were screened by using teacher reports in a revised version of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham rating scale at 12 schools. Psychiatric diagnoses were derived through structured diagnostic interviews. RESULTS Homozygous subjects for the G allele at the ADRA2A had significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for ADHD-I than did those with other genotypes (CC + CG genotypes), even after adjusting for potential confounders (p = .02; OR = 3.78; 95% confidence interval = 1.23-11.62). In family-based analyses, no significant associations were detected. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the ADRA2A may be associated with ADHD-I, replicating previous findings from clinical samples that have suggested the importance of this gene for the dimension of inattention. In addition, these results support the role of the noradrenergic system in ADHD.

Interrater agreement for the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia epidemiological version for school-age children (K-SADS-E)

OBJECTIVE The main objective of this study was to assess the interrater agreement for the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Epidemiological version for School-Age Children (K-SADS-E). METHODS Four interviewers being trained with the K-SADS-E scored independently 29 videotaped interviews performed with psychiatric outpatients in the ADHD Outpatient Clinic at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Interrater agreement analysis was performed using the kappa coefficient (k). RESULTS Kappa coefficients were.93 (p<.001) for affective disorders,.9 (p<.001) for anxiety disorders,.94 (p<.001) for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders and disruptive behavior disorders. CONCLUSION These findings suggest an excellent interrater agreement for the diagnosis of several mental disorders in childhood and adolescence by the Brazilian Portuguese version of the K-SADS-E.

Avaliação dos sintomas emocionais e comportamentais em crianças portadoras de dermatite atópica

INTRODUCAO: A dermatite atopica (DA) e uma doenca inflamatoria cronica da pele que apresenta um impacto significativo na qualidade de vida dos pacientes, em consequencia de episodios recorrentes durante a vida. Considerando estudos recentes que descrevem a associacao entre aspectos psicologicos e DA, acredita-se que a investigacao da existencia de um possivel perfil comportamental destas criancas possa auxiliar o desenvolvimento de intervencoes psicoterapicas especificas, assim como aumentar o conhecimento sobre a doenca. METODOS: Este trabalho tem como objetivo realizar uma avaliacao do perfil sociocomportamental de criancas portadoras de DA, comparando-as com criancas sem a doenca. Neste estudo, do tipo caso-controle, foram incluidos dois grupos com idades entre 4 e 18 anos: o grupo-estudo, com pacientes portadores de DA que consultam no ambulatorio do Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), e o grupo-controle, composto por criancas e adolescentes sem doenca dermatologica, matriculados em escola da rede publica de Porto Alegre. O tamanho estimado da amostra foi de 25 individuos em cada grupo. A coleta dos dados realizou-se atraves do Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), validado no Brasil com o nome de Inventario de Comportamento da Infância e Adolescencia. RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas diferencas estatisticamente significativas nas duas dimensoes globais (internalizacao e externalizacao), sendo que as criancas portadoras de DA mostraram mais sintomas relacionados com ansiedade, depressao, alteracoes de pensamento e comportamento agressivo quando comparadas com criancas sem a doenca. CONCLUSAO: Os resultados demonstram a necessidade de abordagens interdisciplinares no tratamento da crianca com DA, valorizando nao so as lesoes dermatologicas, como tambem os aspectos emocionais dos individuos.Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that has a significant impact on the patients’ quality of life due to recurrent episodes during their lives. Considering recent studies describing the association between psychological aspects and atopic dermatitis, it can be suggested that the search of a possible behavioral profile of children presenting AD may be of help in the development of specific psychotherapeutic interventions as well as it will increase knowledge on the disease. Methodology: This research aims at evaluating the social behavior profile of children with AD compared with others without the disease. In this case-control study, two groups aged 4 to 18 years old have been included; the study-group includes patients with atopic dermatitis who have

Evaluation of emotional and behavioral symptoms in children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis

INTRODUCAO: A dermatite atopica (DA) e uma doenca inflamatoria cronica da pele que apresenta um impacto significativo na qualidade de vida dos pacientes, em consequencia de episodios recorrentes durante a vida. Considerando estudos recentes que descrevem a associacao entre aspectos psicologicos e DA, acredita-se que a investigacao da existencia de um possivel perfil comportamental destas criancas possa auxiliar o desenvolvimento de intervencoes psicoterapicas especificas, assim como aumentar o conhecimento sobre a doenca. METODOS: Este trabalho tem como objetivo realizar uma avaliacao do perfil sociocomportamental de criancas portadoras de DA, comparando-as com criancas sem a doenca. Neste estudo, do tipo caso-controle, foram incluidos dois grupos com idades entre 4 e 18 anos: o grupo-estudo, com pacientes portadores de DA que consultam no ambulatorio do Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), e o grupo-controle, composto por criancas e adolescentes sem doenca dermatologica, matriculados em escola da rede publica de Porto Alegre. O tamanho estimado da amostra foi de 25 individuos em cada grupo. A coleta dos dados realizou-se atraves do Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), validado no Brasil com o nome de Inventario de Comportamento da Infância e Adolescencia. RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas diferencas estatisticamente significativas nas duas dimensoes globais (internalizacao e externalizacao), sendo que as criancas portadoras de DA mostraram mais sintomas relacionados com ansiedade, depressao, alteracoes de pensamento e comportamento agressivo quando comparadas com criancas sem a doenca. CONCLUSAO: Os resultados demonstram a necessidade de abordagens interdisciplinares no tratamento da crianca com DA, valorizando nao so as lesoes dermatologicas, como tambem os aspectos emocionais dos individuos.Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that has a significant impact on the patients’ quality of life due to recurrent episodes during their lives. Considering recent studies describing the association between psychological aspects and atopic dermatitis, it can be suggested that the search of a possible behavioral profile of children presenting AD may be of help in the development of specific psychotherapeutic interventions as well as it will increase knowledge on the disease. Methodology: This research aims at evaluating the social behavior profile of children with AD compared with others without the disease. In this case-control study, two groups aged 4 to 18 years old have been included; the study-group includes patients with atopic dermatitis who have

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Conservation, and Disaster Management

This article presents our work with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) centered on preservation of human lives and the ecosystems that support them. In the Taim Ecological Station located in Southern Brazil, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and other stakeholders have acted collaboratively to assess geographic information to help for the elaboration of an environmental plan to solve specific community demands and also to monitor the impact and dynamic aspects of the ecosystem, such as the occurrence of fire, invasive species, and environmental infractions. Our current work focuses on enhancing the regional models using precision and super high-resolution images taken by UAVs especially for those areas already identified as high risk. Meteorological sensors carried by UAVs can be employed to collect atmospheric information, providing better precision for the meteorological models at a local level. When these data are integrated in hydraulic/hydrological models, scene-generation becomes possible, thus allowing us to predict which regions are vulnerable to floods or landslides depending on different levels of rainfall. To foster the adaptation to global changes with the Porto Alegre Metropolitan region as a pilot area, we recently brought together individuals and volunteers willing to create technical tools and instruments.

Evaluación de los síntomas emocionales y comportamentales en niños portadores de dermatitis atópica

INTRODUCAO: A dermatite atopica (DA) e uma doenca inflamatoria cronica da pele que apresenta um impacto significativo na qualidade de vida dos pacientes, em consequencia de episodios recorrentes durante a vida. Considerando estudos recentes que descrevem a associacao entre aspectos psicologicos e DA, acredita-se que a investigacao da existencia de um possivel perfil comportamental destas criancas possa auxiliar o desenvolvimento de intervencoes psicoterapicas especificas, assim como aumentar o conhecimento sobre a doenca. METODOS: Este trabalho tem como objetivo realizar uma avaliacao do perfil sociocomportamental de criancas portadoras de DA, comparando-as com criancas sem a doenca. Neste estudo, do tipo caso-controle, foram incluidos dois grupos com idades entre 4 e 18 anos: o grupo-estudo, com pacientes portadores de DA que consultam no ambulatorio do Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), e o grupo-controle, composto por criancas e adolescentes sem doenca dermatologica, matriculados em escola da rede publica de Porto Alegre. O tamanho estimado da amostra foi de 25 individuos em cada grupo. A coleta dos dados realizou-se atraves do Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), validado no Brasil com o nome de Inventario de Comportamento da Infância e Adolescencia. RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas diferencas estatisticamente significativas nas duas dimensoes globais (internalizacao e externalizacao), sendo que as criancas portadoras de DA mostraram mais sintomas relacionados com ansiedade, depressao, alteracoes de pensamento e comportamento agressivo quando comparadas com criancas sem a doenca. CONCLUSAO: Os resultados demonstram a necessidade de abordagens interdisciplinares no tratamento da crianca com DA, valorizando nao so as lesoes dermatologicas, como tambem os aspectos emocionais dos individuos.Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that has a significant impact on the patients’ quality of life due to recurrent episodes during their lives. Considering recent studies describing the association between psychological aspects and atopic dermatitis, it can be suggested that the search of a possible behavioral profile of children presenting AD may be of help in the development of specific psychotherapeutic interventions as well as it will increase knowledge on the disease. Methodology: This research aims at evaluating the social behavior profile of children with AD compared with others without the disease. In this case-control study, two groups aged 4 to 18 years old have been included; the study-group includes patients with atopic dermatitis who have