Resultados: No estudo de validade concorrente, a correlação encontrada entre as duas escalas foi alta (r = 0,95) e estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,01) na população total de lactentes, alcançando valores mais altos aos 12 meses (r = 0,89) do que aos 6 meses (r = 0,74). A confiabilidade interobservador apresentou valores satisfatórios de ICC em todas as idades avaliadas, variando de 0,76 a 0,99. Conclusão:A AIMS é uma escala válida e confiável para ser utilizada na avaliação do desenvolvimento motor de lactentes de risco na população da rede pública de saúde brasileira.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2008;84(5):442-448: Prematuro, desenvolvimento infantil, avaliação, Alberta Infant Motor Scale, reprodutibilidade dos testes. AbstractObjective: To verify the concurrent validity and interobserver reliability of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) in premature infants followed-up at the outpatient clinic of Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IFF/Fiocruz), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Methods: A total of 88 premature infants were enrolled at the follow-up clinic at IFF/Fiocruz, between February and December of 2006. For the concurrent validity study, 46 infants were assessed at either 6 (n = 26) or 12 (n = 20) months' corrected age using the AIMS and the second edition of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, by two different observers, and applying Pearson's correlation coefficient to analyze the results. For the reliability study, 42 infants between 0 and 18 months were assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, by two different observers and the results analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results:The concurrent validity study found a high level of correlation between the two scales (r = 0.95) and one that was statistically significant (p < 0.01) for the entire population of infants, with higher values at 12 months (r = 0.89) than at 6 months (r = 0.74). The interobserver reliability study found satisfactory intraclass correlation coefficients at all ages tested, varying from 0.76 to 0.99. Conclusions:The AIMS is a valid and reliable instrument for the evaluation of motor development in high-risk infants within the Brazilian public health system. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2008;84(5):442-448: Prematurity, child development, assessment, Alberta Infant Motor Scale, validity and reliability.

Chicken meat and eggs are important sources of food for the world population. The significant increase in food demand has pushed the food industry toward a rapid non-expensive production which in turn raises ethical issues. How chicken are cultivated and processed in food industry is no longer acceptable. Ethical and economical concerns emerging from chicken culling need to be solved in the near future. Indeed, in egg production industry, male chicken are killed at the age of 1-day post-hatching since they are not egg producers. A number of laboratory all over the world are looking for innovative non-invasive sexing methods to determine the sex of chicken in the early stages of the development before hatching. It will allow males’ chicken elimination before the pain-feeling stages. In order to evaluate the efficiency of these methods, the scientific community need a reliable, easy to use and cost-effective in-ovo invasive sexing method. In this report, we developed two new invasive assays based on PCR and Q-PCR techniques respectively, which fulfil the above mentioned requirements. In the same line with other groups, we exploited the differences betweed males (ZZ) and females (ZW) chicken sexual chromosomes. We identified two genes, SWIM and Xho-I, on chromosome W and DMRT gene on chromosome Z allowing a clear discrimination between the two sexes using PCR and qPCR respectively. These two new genomic markers and their corresponding methods not only increase the accuracy but also reduce time and cost of the test compared to previously developed sexing methods. Depending on the technology available in the lab, one can choose between the two techniques requiring different machines and expertise.

Objective: To verify the concurrent validity and interobserver reliability of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) in premature infants followed-up at the outpatient clinic of Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IFF/ Fiocruz), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. infants between 0 and 18 months were assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, by two different observers and the results analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Methods Results:The concurrent validity study found a high level of correlation between the two scales (r = 0.95) and one that was statistically significant (p < 0.01) for the entire population of infants, with higher values at 12 months (r = 0.89) than at 6 months (r = 0.74). The interobserver reliability study found satisfactory intraclass correlation coefficients at all ages tested, varying from 0.76 to 0.99. Conclusions:The AIMS is a valid and reliable instrument for the evaluation of motor development in high-risk infants within the Brazilian public health system. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2008;84(5):442-448: Prematurity, child development, assessment, Alberta Infant Motor Scale, validity and reliability.

Objective: The study aimed to assess bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as a predisposing factor for alteration in the psychomotor development index (PDI) in premature infants and verify the incidence of neuromotor alterations at 6 months corrected age. Method: This was a prospective cohort study that followed the neuromotor development of 152 very low birth weight premature infants, with psychomotor development index as the outcome. The study used the Bayley Scale of Infant Development at 6 months corrected age, and neurological examination. results: Incidence of BPD was 13.2% (n=20). Logistic regression analysis showed an association between BPD and altered psychomotor development index (OR 3.98; 95%CI: 1.04-15.1) after adjusting for confounding variables. Neurological examination was altered in 67.1% of the 152 infants. conclusion: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia acted as an independent predisposing factor for alteration in the psychomotor development index in premature infants at 6 months corrected age. Key words: infant, premature, child development, psychomotor performance, risk factors, bronchopulmonary dysplasia.Displasia broncopulmonar como fator predisponente para alterações motoras aos 6 meses em prematuros resuMO Objetivo: Avaliar a displasia broncopulmonar (DBP) como fator predisponente para alteração no índice de desenvolvimento psicomotor em prematuros e verificar a incidência das alterações neuromotoras aos 6 meses de idade corrigida. Método: Estudo de coorte prospectivo que acompanhou o desenvolvimento neuromotor de 152 prematuros de muito baixo peso, cujo desfecho foi o desenvolvimento psicomotor. Utilizou-se a Bayley Scale of Infant Development aos 6 meses de idade corrigida e exame neurológico. resultados: A incidência de DBP foi de 13,2% (n=20). A análise de regressão logística mostrou associação entre a DBP e alteração no índice de desenvolvimento psicomotor (RC 3,98 IC 95%:1,04-15,1) após ajuste para as variáveis de confundimento. O exame neurológico apresentouse alterado em 67,1% das 152 crianças. conclusão: A displasia broncopulmonar atuou como fator predisponente independente para alteração no índice de desenvolvimento psicomotor em prematuros aos 6 meses de idade corrigida. Palavras-chave: lactente, prematuro, desenvolvimento infantil, desempenho psicomotor, fatores de risco, displasia broncopulmonar.