Improving the physical activity and nutrition environment through self-assessment (NAP SACC) in rural area child care centers in North Carolina

OBJECTIVE

To determine if child care centers in rural, Western North Carolina met recommendations for nutrition and physical activity, if focusing on nutrition and physical activity practices and policies was effective in improving the center environment, and if differences existed between centers affiliated or unaffiliated with schools.

METHODS

Of 33 child care centers in three counties, 29 submitted mini-grant requests and participated in a pre-post evaluation using Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC). NAP SACC assesses compliance for nutrition and physical activity recommendations and standards. Between October 2011 and April 2012, centers participated in workshops and goal setting specific to nutrition and physical activity.

RESULTS

At baseline, over 95% of the centers met all recommendations. However, post-intervention, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test (p<0.05) indicated significant improvement across center types in five out of 37 nutrition and seven out of 17 physical activity standards following the intervention. Centers unaffiliated with schools made significant changes in ten nutrition standards, while those affiliated with schools improved in only two standards and decreased on one standard.

CONCLUSION

Overall, rural child care centers in Western North Carolina were meeting standards, they were still able to strengthen policies and practices by following NAP SACC. This was especially true for centers unaffiliated with schools. Continued financial support may assist centers in sustaining increased physical activity in children.

Relapsing oligoarticular septic arthritis during etanercept treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Septic arthritis is a commonly reported complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role in host defense against infection. Inhibition of its activity could therefore be anticipated to augment the risk of infection. Both opportunistic and bacterial infections have been described in patients with RA treated with anti-TNF-alpha therapy. We describe a patient who experienced 2 episodes of septic arthritis. Both occurred while the patient was on etanercept. Recurrence developed despite prolonged parenteral antibiotic. To our knowledge, this is the first report of relapsing oligoarticular methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus septic arthritis despite prolonged antibiotic treatment in a patient receiving etanercept therapy. Our case underscores the advisability of discontinuing TNF-alpha blockade in patients with septic arthritis during prolonged antimicrobial therapy.

Aspergillus infection of total knee arthroplasty presenting as a popliteal cyst. Case report and review of the literature

Fungal infections have only rarely been reported to occur in patients having undergone total knee arthroplasty. This case report documents the first known case of Aspergillus fumigatus as the offending organism. Its initial presentation as a popliteal cyst further reinforces the known association of popliteal cysts and intra-articular knee pathology.

Clinical approach to weight loss in the patient with HIV infection

The loss of body weight is a common finding in the setting of AIDS or ARC. Weight loss usually heralds the appearance of an AIDS-associated infectious disease or neoplasm. Multiple mechanisms for catabolism exist, including decreased caloric intake, excessive caloric loss, and increased metabolic caloric consumption. Among the most serious implications of weight loss is the fact that many of the immune defects observed in persons with AIDS are exacerbated by protein-calorie malnutrition. There are myriad causes of weight loss in patients with AIDS and ARC. A systematic and thorough diagnostic approach guided by the patient's presenting symptoms often yields an etiology and therapeutic direction.

Gallium-67 scans of the chest in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Eighty-six [67Ga]citrate chest scans were performed in 71 adult patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Forty-five of these patients also had Kaposi's sarcoma. Only 29 of 57 abnormal scans were correlated with abnormal chest radiographs. Chest radiographs were negative for 27 scans and unavailable for one. Several scan patterns were seen. Diffusely increased lung uptake was seen most commonly with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, but also other infections and noninfectious inflammatory conditions. Focal uptake corresponding to regional lymph node groups occurred most often with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare but aslo with lymphoma. Localized intrapulmonary uptake was seen in bacterial pneumonias. Perihilar activity occurred in two cases. When chest radiographs were abnormal and 67Ga scans negative, the most common diagnosis was pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma.

Histologic demonstration of intradermal spirochetes in a patient with Lyme disease

Spirochetal organisms were demonstrated histologically in skin biopsy specimens from a patient with Lyme disease and erythema chronicum migrans. The patient responded rapidly to penicillin G benzathine administration. Convalescent serum contained a high titer of antibody to an lxodes dammini spirochete antigen. The finding of spirochetes in an erythema chronicum migrans lesion in a patient with clinical Lyme disease supports further recent evidence that this illness is an infectious disease caused by a tick-borne bacterium. The skin biopsy may be a useful diagnostic tool in this disease.

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare: a cause of disseminated life-threatening infection in homosexuals and drug abusers

Five men developed disseminated infection with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare. These patients all lived in the New York City area and presented with their illnesses between January 1981 and September 1981; four were homosexual and one was an intravenous drug abuser. Four patients died. All five patients had defects in the cell-mediated immune response. The infections were characterized histopathologically by poor or absent granulomatous tissue reaction. Clinical isolates of M. avium-intracellulare from all five patients agglutinated commonly used antimycobacterial drugs. The spectrum of opportunistic infections among populations of homosexuals and drug abusers should be expanded to include disseminated disease due to M. avium-intracellulare.

An outbreak of community-acquired Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: initial manifestation of cellular immune dysfunction

Eleven cases of community-acquired Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia occurred between 1979 and 1981 and prompted clinical and immunologic evaluation of the patients. Young men who were drug abusers (seven patients), homosexuals (six), or both (two) presented with pneumonia. Immunologic testing revealed that absolute lymphocyte counts, T-cell counts, and lymphocyte proliferation were depressed, and that humoral immunity was intact. Of the 11 patients, one was found to have Kaposi's sarcoma, and another had angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy. Eight patients died. In the remaining three, no diagnosis of an immunosuppressive disease was established, despite persistence of immune defects. These cases of pneumocystosis suggest the importance of cell-mediated immune function in the defense against P. carinii. The occurrence of this infection among drug abusers and homosexuals indicates that these groups may be at high risk for this infection.

Kaposi's sarcoma in homosexual men-a report of eight cases

The clinical findings in eight young homosexual men in New York with Kaposi's sarcoma showed some unusual features. Unlike the form usually seen in North America and Europe, it affected younger men (4th decade rather than 7th decade); the skin lesions wee generalised rather than being predominantly in the lower limbs, and the disease was more aggressive (survival of less than 20 months rather 8-13 years). All eight had had a variety of sexually transmitted diseases. All those tested for cytomegalovirus antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen of anti-hepatitis B antibody gave positive results. This unusual occurrence of Kaposi's sarcoma in a population much exposed to sexually transmissible diseases suggests that such exposure may play a role in its pathogenesis.

Choriocarcinoma with cerebral metastases coexistent with a first pregnancy

A case is presented of choriocarcinoma with cerebral metastases which was unsuspected until a life-threatening life-threatening situation occurred. A viable infant was born and there was dramatic response to treatment with probable cure.