Abstract: Human breast milk is the best nutritional support that insure the right development and influence immune status of the newborn infant. However, when it is not possible to breast feeding may be necessary to use commercial infant formulas that mimic, where possible, the levels and types of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients present in human milk. Despite this, some formula-fed infant develops allergy, atopic disease and differences in response to infection with respect to breast-fed infants. Donkey milk may be considered a good substitute for dairy cow’s milk derivatives in feeding children with severe Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) since its composition is closer to human milk compared to other species commonly bred. It has been proposed as an alternative to cow’s milk for children affected by CMPA when it is not possible breast feeding. Donkey milk is characterized by a low casein content, with values very close to human milk, and also total whey protein content in donkey milk is very close to that found in human milk but higher compared to bovine milk. Donkey milk has been used in several clinical trials involving children affected by CMPA because of the low allergenicity of this milk. The results shown in this review confirmed the nutritional characteristics of the protein fractions of donkey milk and the possibility of using donkey milk in feeding children with CMPA, particularly after an adequate lipid integration, including children with multiple food allergies.

Keywords: Donkey milk, Human milk, Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy, Milk protein fractions, Lysozym.

Abstract: Childhood and adolescent obesity has increased drastically in the past 30 years. While this is troubling, there is also evidence of large disparities among certain ethnic groups such as African American and Hispanic children and adolescents. The Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Model emphasizes a collaborative, co-learning, mutually beneficial, and community-partnered approach to research. Unique aspects of this model include viewing community members as equal partners in non-hierarchical teams, working together in a strengths-based, action oriented research process. This review consists of an investigation of the CBPR approach, its important tenets, and why such an approach may be more effective for childhood and adolescent obesity intervention program development, especially in stratified communities.

Keywords: Childhood and adolescent obesity, Community-Based Participatory Research, community, engagement, health disparity.

Abstract: Background: The purpose of this pilot study was to identify differences between sitting and standing time in high school students’ pre and post stand-biased desk intervention.

Methods: ActivPal3™ activity monitors were affixed to 25 Bryan Collegiate High School students’ to monitor their standing time and activity levels. Data were collected at the beginning of the school year (fall) in traditional seated desks and in the spring in stand-biased desks. After attrition, 18 of the original 25 students were included in the final analysis. The physical activity data (steps) as well as standing and sitting time data provided by the monitors was used for within subject intervention analyses.

Results: Descriptive statistics and a two-sided t-test were used to analyse differences between pre and post intervention sitting and standing times. Analysis indicated a significant reduction of sitting time post stand-biased desk intervention (p<0.0001) and a significant increase in standing time, post stand-biased desk intervention (p<0.0001). Analysis also revealed a non-statistically significant (p < 0.0619) average increase of 2,286 steps per school day when comparing mean steps pre-intervention (6,612) and post-intervention (8,898).

Conclusions: Standing desks have the potential to reduce sedentary behavior and increase light to moderate physical activity for high school students during the school day.

Keywords: Sedentary behavior, stand-biased desk, high school students.

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