BACKGROUND School programs can be effective in modifying knowledge, attitudes, and habits relevant to long-term risk of chronic diseases associated with sedentary lifestyles. As part of a long-term research strategy, we conducted an educational intervention in preschool facilities to assess changes in preschoolers’ knowledge, attitudes, and habits toward healthy eating and living an active lifestyle. METHODS Using a cluster design, we randomly assigned 14 preschool facilities in Bogotá, Colombia to a 5-month educational and playful intervention (7 preschool facilities) or to usual curriculum (7 preschool facilities). A total of 1216 children aged 3–5 years, 928 parents, and 120 teachers participated. A structured survey was used at baseline, at the end of the study, and 12 months later to evaluate changes in knowledge, attitudes, and habits. RESULTS Children in the intervention group showed a 10.9% increase in weighted score, compared with 5.3% in controls. The absolute adjusted difference was 3.90 units (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64–6.16; P <.001). Among parents, the equivalent statistics were 8.9% and 3.1%, respectively (absolute difference 4.08 units; 95% CI, 2.03 to 6.12; P <.001), and among teachers, 9.4% and 2.5%, respectively (absolute difference 5.36 units; 95% CI, −0.29–11.01; P = .06). In the intervened cohort 1 year after the intervention, children still showed a significant increase in weighted score (absolute difference of 6.38 units; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS A preschool-based intervention aimed at improving knowledge, attitudes, and habits related to healthy diet and active lifestyle is feasible, efficacious, and sustainable in very young children.

The transforming growth factor-␤ (TGF-␤) type I (T␤R-I) and type II (T␤R-II) receptors are responsible for transducing TGF-␤ signals. We have previously shown that inhibition of farnesyltransferase activity results in an increase in T␤R-II expression, leading to enhanced TGF-␤ binding, signaling, and inhibition of tumor cell growth, suggesting that a farnesylated protein(s) exerts a repressive effect on T␤R-II expression. Likely candidates are farnesylated proteins such as Ras and RhoB, which are both farnesylated and involved in cell growth control. Neither a dominant negative HaRas, constitutively activated Ha-Ras, or a pharmacological inhibitor of MEK1 affected T␤R-II transcription. However, ectopic expression of RhoB, but not the closely related family member RhoA, resulted in a 5-fold decrease of T␤R-II promoter activity. Furthermore, ectopic expression of RhoB, but not RhoA, resulted in a significant decrease of T␤R-II protein expression and resistance of tumor cells to TGF-␤-mediated cell growth inhibition. Deletion analysis of the T␤R-II promoter identified a RhoB-responsive region, and mutational analysis of this region revealed that a site for the transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP1) is critical for RhoB-mediated repression of T␤R-II transcription. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays clearly showed that the binding of AP1 to its DNA-binding site is strongly inhibited by RhoB. Consequently, transcription assays using an AP1 reporter showed that AP1-mediated transcription is down-regulated by RhoB. Altogether, these results identify a mechanism by which RhoB antagonizes TGF-␤ action through transcriptional down-regulation of AP1 in T␤R-II promoter.

BACKGROUND Educational interventions in preschool children could improve dietary behavior and physical activity, and prevent unhealthy body weights in low- and middle-income countries. Previously, we have reported the beneficial impact of an educational intervention in preschoolers in a 6-month trial. We now report extended results after 36 months. METHODS Evaluating the cohort of previously intervened children, baseline measurements were made in May 2009 in 14 preschool facilities in Usaquén (Bogotá, Colombia). Follow-up measurements were performed at 18 and 36 months. The primary outcome was the mean change in children’s knowledge and attitudes scores regarding healthy eating and living an active lifestyle, including habits scores related to physical activity. Secondary outcomes were the change over time of children’s nutritional status and the mean change in parent’s knowledge, attitudes, and habits. RESULTS We included 1216 children, 3–5 years of age, and 928 parents. After adjusting by sex and age of children, socioeconomic status, age of parents, and age and education level of teachers, we found a significant increase in mean knowledge, attitudes, and habits scores at 36 months, compared with baseline: 87.94 vs 76.15 (P <.001); 86.39 vs 57.03 (P <.001); and 66.29 vs 48.72 (P <.001), respectively. We observed a similar increase in knowledge and attitude scores in parents: 73.45 vs 70.01 (P <.001); and 78.08 vs 74.65 (P <.001). The proportion of eutrophic children increased from 62.1% at baseline to 75.0% at 36 months (P <.0001). CONCLUSIONS After 36 months, the educational intervention maintained a beneficial trend toward a healthy lifestyle in children and their parents.

Introducción. Los factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV) tienen su origen en la infancia. Existen estudios que muestran diferencias en la prevalencia de los FRCV en el área rural y urbana posiblemente asociadas a los estilos de vida.Objetivos. El presente estudio describe los FRCV identificados en niños de una población rural y una población urbana en Colombia.Materiales y métodos. Estudio de corte transversal realizado entre marzo y junio de 2013 en escolares de un área urbana y otra rural en Colombia. Se realizaron mediciones de peso, ta-lla, presión arterial, triglicéridos, glicemia y colesterol total en ayunas, y se aplicó una encues-ta alimentaria sobre actividad física y tabaquismo pasivo. Se evaluaron prevalencias de los FRCV con un IC95%.Resultados. 1055 escolares, 833 (urbanos), 222 (rurales), promedio de edad de 6.71 años. La prevalencia de FRCV en la población de estudio rural/urbano fue para sedentarismo 68.69%/90.16%, dieta no saludable 97.18%/95.44%, tabaquismo pasivo 11.16%/14.52%, obe-sidad 0%/5.64%, hipertensión arterial 6.31%/11.28%, diabetes 0%/0%, hipercolesterolemia 18.28/16.31%. El 99.15% de la población de estudio presentó al menos un FRCV, promedio área urbana de 3.14 (DE: 1.12), y rural 2.76 (DE: 1.1). Los niños con exceso de peso presen-taron mayor prevalencia de hipertensión arterial, 15,21%, y de sedentarismo, 90.69%, comparado con aquellos sin exceso de peso, 8,98 %, y 84,32% respectivamente.Conclusiones. Nuestros resultados evidencian una alta prevalencia de FRCV en niños, siendo mayor en el área urbana. Es necesario la implementación de estrategias en salud pú-blica adaptadas a la población rural y urbana.

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