Perception of body weight status: a case control study of obese and lean children and adolescents and their parents

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to investigate differences in weight perception and self-concept of obese and lean children, and to examine parents' awareness of overweight in themselves and their children. A total of 59 obese patients aged 7-17 years and 49 of their parents from a pediatric obesity out-patient clinic participated and were compared with 96 normal-weight patients and 81 of their parents from a pediatric pulmonary disease out-patient clinic.

METHODS

Children's and parents' self-perception of weight, desire for weight change and weight concerns, children's belief that their desired weight can be achieved, and parents' perception of their child's weight status were assessed using single questionnaire items. Children's self-concept was measured by the Self-Perception Profile for Children. In addition, children drew pictures about themselves and their favorite activity.

RESULTS

Obese patients wished to change their weight more frequently (p < 0.001) and had more weight concerns (p < 0.001). Their self-concept was significantly more negative. Physical activities were more common in their drawings than in those of normal-weight peers. Parents of obese children were more frequently overweight or obese themselves (p < 0.001). 35 of them and 73 parents of normal-weight children perceived their own weight realistically. Of the parents with overweight or obese children, 69.4% perceived their own child as overweight and 28.6% as very overweight, whereas 83% of them were obese.

CONCLUSION

Children and adolescents as well as their parents recognize overweight as a health problem. In the majority, weight perception matches real body weight. Most parents at least recognize overweight in their children.

Parental dyadic coping in families of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

The strains of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents pose a challenge to the minor and his/her parents.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify parental dyadic coping patterns and explore their relation to psychosocial and disease variables.

SUBJECTS

Parents (n=44 dyads) of children/adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

Cluster analysis employing Ward's method was conducted as a multivariate classification procedure without predetermined cluster centers.

RESULTS

Three parental coping clusters were identified and labeled: avoiders, negotiators, and doers. Although not reaching statistical significance, the HbA1c levels of children/adolescents with parental dyads exhibiting the negotiator coping pattern were consistently lower than the levels of children with parents classified as avoiders or doers.

CONCLUSIONS

Parental dyads were distinguishable based on their dyadic coping patterns with a substantial proportion employing avoidant coping and suboptimal communication strategies. These parental dyads may benefit from minimal psychosocial intervention.

Structural and functional insights into the interaction and targeting hub TMD0 of the polypeptide transporter TAPL

The ATP-binding cassette transporter TAPL translocates polypeptides from the cytosol into the lysosomal lumen. TAPL can be divided into two functional units: coreTAPL, active in ATP-dependent peptide translocation, and the N-terminal membrane spanning domain, TMD0, responsible for cellular localization and interaction with the lysosomal associated membrane proteins LAMP-1 and LAMP-2. Although the structure and function of ABC transporters were intensively analyzed in the past, the knowledge about accessory membrane embedded domains is limited. Therefore, we expressed the TMD0 of TAPL via a cell-free expression system and confirmed its correct folding by NMR and interaction studies. In cell as well as cell-free expressed TMD0 forms oligomers, which were assigned as dimers by PELDOR spectroscopy and static light scattering. By NMR spectroscopy of uniformly and selectively isotope labeled TMD0 we performed a complete backbone and partial side chain assignment. Accordingly, TMD0 has a four transmembrane helix topology with a short helical segment in a lysosomal loop. The topology of TMD0 was confirmed by paramagnetic relaxation enhancement with paramagnetic stearic acid as well as by nuclear Overhauser effects with c6-DHPC and cross-peaks with water.

Gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität von Geschwistern an Diabetes mellitus Typ 1 erkrankter Kinder und Jugendlicher

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A chronic illness in childhood or adolescents constitutes a drastic event for the whole family, especially for the healthy siblings. This could impair their quality of life.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We designed a case-control-study in three centres (Leipzig, Giessen and Augsburg) with questionaires sent to 72 diabetic children, 71 of their siblings and 63 children of neighbourhood (controls) aged between 8 and 16 years. KINDL-Questionnaire was used for the study of the health-related quality of life of children and adolescents, supplemented by other appropriate items.

RESULTS

The results indicate a positive health related quality of life of the healthy siblings of families with a child who has type 1 diabetes. Differences in the quality of life depend on factors such as age and gender of the children and relate to specific items of sibling relationship (e. g. "worried about sibling", "looked after sibling"). Generally, there was a great similarity with regard to the quality of life of healthy brothers and sisters from affected families compared with children of families without a child suffering from chronic illness.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that the health related quality of life of healthy siblings of children with diabetes only differs insignificantly from brothers and sisters of "healthy" families.

["What is important to paediatric practitioners regarding their working relationships with a university hospital?"]

BACKGROUND

Quality management is part of Good Medical Practice. Surveys of both patient satisfaction and collaborative aspects of medical care amongst physicians in hospital and primary care are essential.

METHODS

In February 2006, 92 questionnaires were distributed among office-based paediatricians in Leipzig and its suburbs. Until the reply deadline, which was in April 2006, 43 of the questionnaires had been completed and returned. The questionnaire examined attitudes of the referring physicians towards the hospital.

RESULTS

Considering all answers, the Children's Hospital of the University of Leipzig received a positive rating. The results were influenced both by the age of the responding physicians and by the answer to the question of whether the respondents had previously been employed by the Children's Hospital of the University of Leipzig.

CONCLUSION

This survey revealed important data on the attitudes of practitioners towards the strengths and weaknesses of the hospital. As a result, concrete measures could be implemented to enhance this co-operation with general practitioners.