-Development occurs in a proper rhythm as result of genetic inheritance and environment factors. This study had the aim to identify some environmental risk factors for the motor development in two groups of healthy children. 100 pre-school aged (five years children) from two day-care centers and a private school were evaluated, in Recife-PE. All the children underwent to a motor skills assessment and their parents answered a questionnaire. The children from the public nursery remained behind in fine motor skills. The results showed that the biologically healthy children development can suffer negative influence of the environmental risk factors. In this research these factors were: the father absence, improper toys use to the correct age, the place were the child was kept in the early childhood, the lack of pedagogical guidance and extra-parental socialization and low familiar socioeconomic status.KEY WORDS: motor development, environment stimulation, child.Influências do ambiente podem alterar a aquisição de habilidades motoras? Uma comparação entre Influências do ambiente podem alterar a aquisição de habilidades motoras? Uma comparação entre Influências do ambiente podem alterar a aquisição de habilidades motoras? Uma comparação entre Influências do ambiente podem alterar a aquisição de habilidades motoras? Uma comparação entre Influências do ambiente podem alterar a aquisição de habilidades motoras? Uma comparação entre pré-escolares de creches públicas e escolas privadas pré-escolares de creches públicas e escolas privadas pré-escolares de creches públicas e escolas privadas pré-escolares de creches públicas e escolas privadas pré-escolares de creches públicas e escolas privadas RESUMO -----O desenvolvimento ocorre num ritmo resultante da interação entre herança genética e fatores ambientais. Este estudo teve por objetivo identificar alguns fatores de risco ambientais para o desenvolvimento motor, em dois grupos de crianças saudáveis. Foram avaliadas 100 crianças (idade:5 anos) provenientes de duas creches públicas e uma escola particular, em Recife-PE. Todas as crianças foram submetidas a uma avaliação das habilidades motoras e seus pais responderam a um questionário. As crianças da creche pública mostraram atraso no campo das habilidades motoras finas. Os resultados indicaram que o desenvolvimento das crianças biologicamente saudáveis pode sofrer influência negativa dos fatores de risco ambientais. Os fatores encontrados foram: a ausência do pai; a utilização de brinquedos inadequados para faixa etária; o local onde a criança era mantida em idades precoces da infância; a falta de orientação pedagógica e de socialização extra-familiar precoce, e a baixa condição socioeconômica familiar.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of malnutrition, induced by a regional basic diet (RBD), on motor development. RBD is a 7.87%-protein diet based on aliments typical of Northeastern Brazil, elaborated after nutritional investigation by Teodosio et al. (1979). Female rats were treated with RBD during lactation. The reflex ontogenesis and the development of locomotor activity in their offspring were assessed. Malnourished (MN) rats showed a delay in reflex maturation and in locomotor activity evolution. The decreased locomotor activity may be related to the reduced movement experiences induced by the delay in the reflex maturation. Occurring during the critical period of brain development, this fact could jeopardize all the steps in future locomotion evolution. The present results confirm deleterious effects of RDB-induced malnutrition on the somatic development and maturation of the nervous system (NS).

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Objectives: To investigate the occurrence of delayed neuropsychological and motor development in a community assisted through the Family Health Program and to evaluate its association with possible biological, environmental and socioeconomic risk factors. Methods:The sample consisted of 31 five-year-old children who were evaluated using the Neurological Development Test, following guidelines proposed by Coelho (1999)*. The study was carried out at the Family Health Program (FHP) center in the Brasilit area of Recife, PE, Brazil. Data were collected using a questionnaire that sought information on the child, its mother/guardian, the family's socioeconomic status and residence. Fisher's exact test was used for the statistical analysis of the results, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Appendicular coordination was the parameter with the highest frequency of deficits (90%) and static balance was the item least compromised (12.9%). The frequency of static balance deficits was higher among children who did not attend day care centers (p=0.0163) and among those who spent less time with their mother (p=0.0278). Motor persistence deficits were statistically associated with age of entry into day care (p=0.0415) and father-child time (p=0.0436). Conclusions: The FHP was not only a valuable setting for developing studies of this nature but also an appropriate setting for child development follow-up.Key words: child development; risk factors; Family Health Program; motor activity. * Coelho MS. Avaliação infantil nas ações primárias de saúde. São Paulo: Atheneu; 1999. ResumoObjetivos: Este estudo teve por objetivos investigar a ocorrência de atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor em uma comunidade assistida pelo Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF) e verificar a sua associação com possíveis fatores de risco biológicos, ambientais e socioeconômicos. Métodos: A amostra constou de 31 crianças, com 5 anos de idade, que foram avaliadas por meio do exame neurológico evolutivo (ENE) segundo roteiro proposto por Coelho (1999)*. O local do estudo foi o PSF do bairro de Brasilit, na Cidade de Recife, PE, Brasil, e os dados foram coletados mediante questionário contendo informações sobre a criança, sua mãe ou responsável, a situação socioeconômica da família e o domicílio. Para análise estatística dos resultados, utilizou-se o Qui-quadrado de associação de Fisher, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: A coordenação apendicular foi o parâmetro que apresentou a maior frequência de déficit (90%), e o equilíbrio estático foi o item menos comprometido (12,9%). A frequência de déficit no equilíbrio estático foi mais elevada nas crianças que não participaram de creche (p=0,0163) e naquelas que passavam menor tempo com a mãe (p=0,0278). O déficit na persistência motora esteve estatisticamente associado à idade de início na creche (p=0,0415) e ao tempo paifilho (p=0,0436). Conclusões: O PSF, além de se constituir num espaço valioso para o desenvolvimento de trabalhos desta natureza, demonstrou ser local adequado para o a...

Automatic analysis of locomotion in studies of behavior and development is of great importance because it eliminates the subjective influence of evaluators on the study. This study aimed to develop and test the reproducibility of a system for automated analysis of locomotor activity in rats. For this study, 15 male Wistar were evaluated at P8, P14, P17, P21, P30 and P60. A monitoring system was developed that consisted of an open field of 1m in diameter with a black surface, an infrared digital camera and a video capture card. The animals were filmed for 2 min as they moved freely in the field. The images were sent to a computer connected to the camera. Afterwards, the videos were analyzed using software developed using MATLAB® (mathematical software). The software was able to recognize the pixels constituting the image and extract the following parameters: distance traveled, average speed, average potency, time immobile, number of stops, time spent in different areas of the field and time immobile/number of stops. All data were exported for further analysis. The system was able to effectively extract the desired parameters. Thus, it was possible to observe developmental changes in the patterns of movement of the animals. We also discuss similarities and differences between this system and previously described systems.

We investigated the somatic maturation of neonate rats treated during the suckling period with citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Groups with 6 male neonates were randomly assigned to different treatments 24 h after birth. Each litter was suckled by one of the dams until the 21st postnatal day. Body weight, head axis and tail length were measured daily from the 1st to the 21st postnatal day. Time of ear unfolding, auditory conduit opening, incisor eruption, and eye opening was determined. Pups received 5 mg (Cit5), 10 mg (Cit10) or 20 mg/kg (Cit20) citalopram sc, or saline (0.9% NaCl, w/v, sc). Compared to saline, body weight was lower (24.04%, P < 0.01) for Cit10 from the 10th to the 21st day and for Cit20 from the 6th to the 21st day (38.19%, P < 0.01). Tail length was reduced in the Cit20 group (15.48%, P < 0.001) from the 8th to the 21st day. A reduction in mediolateral head axis (10.53%, P < 0.05) was observed from the 11th to the 21st day in Cit10 and from the 6th to the 21st day in Cit20 (13.16%, P < 0.001). A reduction in anteroposterior head axis was also observed in the Cit20 group (5.28%, P < 0.05) from the 13th to the 21st day. Conversely, this axis showed accelerated growth from the 12th to the 21st day in the Cit5 group (13.05%, P < 0.05). Auditory conduit opening was delayed in the Cit5 and Cit20 groups and incisor eruption was delayed in all citalopram groups. These findings show that citalopram injected during suckling to rats induces body alterations and suggest that the activity of the serotoninergic system participates in growth mechanisms.

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During the post-weaning growth and maturation period (25/90 days after birth), rat limb muscles are submitted to specific adaptations. Our aim was to characterize the mechanical properties of two muscles that are opposite in terms of fibre-type distribution, the soleus and the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of male Wistar rats. Results showed a fast-to-slow fibretype transition in soleus while no modification in fibre-type distribution was observed in EDL. A growth-induced increase in muscle force was observed. Soleus underwent an increase in twitch kinetics, but EDL showed no modification. Resistance to fatigue was higher in 90-day-old soleus but not modified in the EDL. Surprisingly, analysis of maximal shortening velocity showed a decrease in both soleus and EDL. Finally, tension/extension curves indicated a growth-induced increase in series elastic stiffness in the two muscles. These results suggest that during this growth period, skeletal muscles are submitted to differential adaptations. Moreover, whereas adaptation of biomechanical properties observed can be explained partly by an adaptation of fibre profile in soleus, this is not the case for EDL. It is suggested that changes in muscle architecture, which are often disregarded, could explain some variations in mechanical properties, especially when muscles undergo an increase in both mass and length.