Secular change in growth of native children and adolescents at high altitude Huancayo,Peru (3,280 meters)

Stature and weight of native children, adolescents, and adults at Huancayo, Peru (3,280 meters), were measured in 1977, 1978, and 1982 and compared with mean statures and weights reported in previous studies. The data indicate that in Huancayo there has been a secular increment in child stature, sitting height, and weight from 1937 to 1978–1982. The observed changes in stature are related to a proportionally greater increment in leg length relative to trunk length. It is concluded that the observed secular increase in body size reflects changes in the standard of living and a greater influx of nonnative populations, which are usually characterized by greater stature than natives.     

Evaluation of the selectivity of white rot isolates using near infrared spectroscopic techniques

Seventeen isolates from white rotted beech wood and six strains from a local culture collection were evaluated for their capability to delignify beech and spruce wood selectively. Six peroxidase-positive isolates were found using a colorimetric agar plate test (Poly R-478), and genetically identified by their internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) or 28S rDNA sequences. Colonised on beech and spruce wood veneers, some of the peroxidase-positive isolates caused selective white rot on both wood species. Weight loss and lignin content of the degraded veneers were estimated from FT-NIR spectra with established linear regression models and multivariate models based on partial least squares regression (PLSR). Weight loss of the samples was also determined gravimetrically. A measure for the relative selectivity of the strains for lignin degradation was formulated and the values were calculated. Two strains that were identified as Oxyporus latemarginatus and Trametes cervina exhibited high selectivity on spruce wood, but the lignin content of the decayed wood was higher than that degraded by the reference strain Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. One strain – identified as Phlebia tremellosa – led to a lower lignin content of beech wood but caused also comparably high weight loss and thus exhibited an overall lower selectivity. The NIR spectroscopic method proved to be convenient for the quick screening of selective white rot fungi. Furthermore, the results revealed that high selectivity for lignin degradation is much more pronounced in early degradation stages.     

翘嘴鲌鱼种对磷的需求量

以磷酸二氢钠为磷源,制成含磷水平为0.53%—1.61%的7种半精制试验饲料,饲养7组三重复的翘嘴隔冬鱼种。试验鱼每尾平均体重3.79±0.20g。饲养期为8周。试验结果表明,饲料磷含量不足会导致鱼体生长不良,饲料效率低下。饲料磷为0.88%或以上时,鱼体增重和饲料效率显著提高。全鱼脂肪含量随饲料磷水平上升而呈下降趋势,但各试验组间无显著差异(p>0.05)。全鱼的粗灰分含量与饲料磷水平呈正相关。饲料磷水平为0.88%或更高时,全鱼磷含量和脊椎骨的灰分含量稳定在同一水平上。饲料磷水平对全鱼水分、全鱼粗蛋白、鳞片灰分、鳞片磷和脊椎骨磷含量无显著影响(p>0.05)。因此,满足翘嘴鱼种生长所需的饲料磷为0.88%。     

Growth rates of contract-reared versus home-reared replacement dairy heifers

Successful heifer rearing is dependent on achieving optimal average daily gain (ADG) targets to calve for the first time at 24 months. Whilst dairy farmers internationally have traditionally managed their heifers on-farm to achieve these targets, recent dairy herd expansion within Europe has resulted in increased demand for labour-saving heifer-rearing strategies, such as off-farm contractrearing. However, loss of direct influence on the day-to-day management decisions affecting the ability of heifers to grow adequately to achieve this age of first calving may represent a potential barrier to uptake. Hence, the aim of this longitudinal observational study was to compare the growth rates of contract- vs home-reared heifers. Approximately 6 500 heifers from 120 commercial Irish dairy farms were enrolled in a 3-year study. For 65 of these farms, heifers were reared at a contract-rearing facility. For the remaining 55 farms, heifers were reared on their home farm. Over the course of 20 months from birth until precalving, heifers were examined and weighed at four farm visits. The relationship between several independent variables (farm type, herd size, heifer breed, economic breeding index (EBI) and health events) and ADG at different time points was investigated and analysed utilising linear mixed models. Overall ADG for heifers throughout the rearing period was 0.71 kg/day. There was a significant association between farm type and ADG for all five linear ADG models; home-reared heifers grew, on average, 0.025, 0.039, 0.11 and 0.059 kg/day more than contract-reared heifers between visit 1 and visit 4 (overall ADG), visit 1 and visit 2, visit 2 and visit 3 and visit 1 and visit 3, respectively. The occurrence of diarrhoea during farm visit 2 (median age 8.5 months) was associated with a significant reduction in ADG between visit 3 and visit 4. Calf-hood disease (diarrhoea, respiratory disease or navel ill) was not associated with the growth rate during any of the subsequent visit periods. While home-reared heifers had greater ADG during four of the five periods studied, median heifer ADG in both cohorts exceeded the minimum published target weight gains at each developmental stage required for heifers to reach puberty, conceive at 15 months and calve for the first time at 24 months. Importantly, there was wide variation both within enterprises and between farms. It was concluded that while the absolute difference in daily growth rates of home- and contract-reared heifers was minimal, when considered in the context of the entire heifer-rearing period, these growth rate differences have the potential to impact the future reproductive and milk production performance of heifers.     

Impact of Weight Loss and Regain on Quality of Life: Mirror Image or Differential Effect?

Objective: To compare the impact of weight regain and weight loss on health‐related quality of life. Research Methods and Procedures: Subjects were 122 (106 women, 16 men) overweight and obese participants in a weight reduction program (phentermine‐fenfluramine and dietary counseling) who had initially lost at least 5% of their total body weight and then regained at least 5% of their weight during the follow‐up period. Follow‐up periods ranged from 10 to 41 months (mean, 28 months). Participants completed the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life‐Lite, an obesity‐specific health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) measure, at 3‐month intervals. Results: Mean BMI at baseline was 40.9 ± 6.6 kg/m² (range, 29.2 to 63.7 kg/m²). Average weight loss from entry was 18.8 ± 6.7% (range, 6.0% to 43.7%), and average regain was 10.1 ±4.4% of baseline weight (range, 5.0% to 30.6%). The effects of weight regain on HRQOL mirrored the effects of weight loss—rates of HRQOL change were similar in magnitude but different in direction for comparable weight loss and regain. Those with more severe initial impairments in HRQOL experienced greater improvements in HRQOL during weight loss as well as greater deterioration during weight regain than those with less severe impairments. Discussion: Weight loss and regain produced mirror image changes in HRQOL. The initial severity of HRQOL impairment had a greater impact on the magnitude of HRQOL change than the direction of weight change. Findings underscore the importance of maintaining weight loss for the purposes of retaining obesity‐specific HRQOL benefits.     

色林错裸鲤的生长

对藏北高原色林错湖泊中色林错裸鲤（Gymnocypris selincuoensis)的生长方程、生长拐点以及生长指标等生长特征进行了分析。结果表明von Bertalanffy生长方程、Gompertz方程和三次多项式方程都可以反映色林错裸鲤的生长过程,但Gompertz方程能够很好地描述12龄之前的生长特征,而von Bertalanffy生长方程更适合描述18龄以后的生长特征。这种情况反映了色林错裸鲤具有洄游性鱼类更换生活环境的生活史特征。雄性体长的von Bertalanffy生长方程为：Lt=484.1906[1-e^-0.06839(t-0.06028)],雄性为Lt=485.3285[1-e^-0.0710(t-0.5679)]。体长和体重关系为W＝0.00023L^-5.5303(♂）和W＝0.00046L^2.4072(♀）。生长拐点为12.9龄（♀）和14．2龄（♂）。与其它裂腹鱼类相比,色林错裸鲤的生长过程尤为缓慢,这与其生存的环境条件更为恶劣直接相关。     

The Relationship between Health‐Related Quality of Life and Weight Loss

Objective: This is a report of health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) changes in obese patients completing at least 1 year of outpatient treatment in a weight reduction program combining phentermine‐fenfluramine and dietary counseling. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were 141 women (87.6%) and 20 men (12.4%) who had an average body mass index at intake of 41.1 kg/m² (SD = 7.0, range = 29.5 to 67.0 kg/m²) and an average age of 44.9 years (SD = 9.3, range = 23 to 65 years). HRQOL was assessed at intake and at 1‐year follow‐up using the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life (IWQOL)‐Lite questionnaire. The relationship between HRQOL changes and weight loss was examined using Pearson correlations. Clinically meaningful change in HRQOL was defined as a 1.96 SEM reduction in IWQOL‐Lite total score. Results: On average, participants lost 20.2 kg or 17.6% of their weight over the 1‐year period. Of the participants, 15.5% lost <10% of their weight, 24.2% lost 10% to 14.9%, 23.6% lost 15% to 19.9%, and 36.6% lost 20% or more. All five IWQOL‐Lite scales and total score showed statistically significant improvement over the 1‐year period. Changes in IWQOL‐Lite scores from intake to 1 year showed statistically significant correlations with percentage of weight loss for all subscales and total score. Subscale correlations with weight loss ranged from 0.166 (Public Distress) to 0.396 (Physical Function) and was 0.370 for the total score. Forty‐four percent of participants losing <10% met the criterion of clinically meaningful change, compared with 51.3% losing 10% to 14.9%, 55.3% losing 15% to 19.95%, and 76.3% losing >20%. For total score and for three of the five IWQOL‐Lite scales (Physical Function, Self‐Esteem, and Sexual Life), the relationship between weight loss and clinically meaningful change was linear and was significant at p < 0.05. Physical Function and Self‐Esteem were most strongly affected by weight loss. Discussion: HRQOL changes, as measured by an obesity‐specific instrument (IWQOL‐Lite), are strongly related to weight reduction.     

Obesity and weight loss could alter the properties of adipose stem cells?

The discovery that adipose tissue represents an interesting source of multipotent stem cells has led to many studies exploring the clinical potential of these cells in cell-based therapies. Recent advances in understanding the secretory capacity of adipose tissue and the role of adipokines in the development of obesity and associated disorders have added a new dimension to the study of adipose tissue biology in normal and diseased states. Subcutaneous adipose tissue forms the interface between the clinical application of regenerative medicine and the establishment of the pathological condition of obesity. These two facets of adipose tissue should be understood as potentially related phenomena. Because of the functional characteristics of adipose stem cells, these cells represent a fundamental tool for understanding how these two facets are interconnected and could be important for therapeutic applications. In fact, adipose tissue stem cells have multiple functions in obesity related to adipogenic, angiogenic and secretory capacities. In addition, we have also previously described a predominance of larger blood vessels and an adipogenic memory in the subcutaneous adipose tissue after massive weight loss subsequent to bariatric surgery(ex-obese patients). Understanding the reversibility of the behavior of adipose stem cells in obeses and in weight loss is relevant to both physiological studies and the potential use of these cells in regenerative medicine.     

Heterogeneity in predictive power of early childhood nutritional indicators for mid-childhood outcomes: Evidence from Vietnam

We utilize longitudinal data on nearly 1800 children in Vietnam to study the predictive power of alternative measures of early childhood undernutrition for outcomes at age eight years: weight-for-age (WAZ8), height-for-age (HAZ8), and education (reading, math and receptive vocabulary). We apply two-stage procedures to derive unpredicted weight gain and height growth in the first year of life. Our estimates show that a standard deviation (SD) increase in birth weight is associated with an increase of 0.14 (standard error [SE]: 0.03) in WAZ8 and 0.12 (SE: 0.02) in HAZ8. These are significantly lower than the corresponding figures for a SD increase in unpredicted weight gain: 0.51 (SE: 0.02) and 0.33 (SE: 0.02).The heterogeneity of the predictive power of early childhood nutrition indicators for mid-childhood outcomes reflects both life-cycle considerations (prenatal versus postnatal) and the choice of anthropometric measure (height versus weight). Even though all the nutritional indicators that involve postnatal nutritional status are important predictors for all the mid-childhood outcomes, there are some important differences between the indicators on weight and height. The magnitude of associations with the outcomes is one aspect of the heterogeneity. More importantly there is a component of height-for-age z-score (at age 12 months) that adds predictive power for all the mid-childhood outcomes beyond that of birth weight and weight gain in the first year of life.     

长治市幼儿园4—5岁儿童四季生长情况

作者对山西省长治市幼儿园1980和1981年出生的216名儿童(男125、女91),在1985年四季生长的情况进行了测量和统计分析。结果表明,男童年均身高增长6.12厘米,体重增长2.49公斤;女童年均身高增长5.65厘米,体重增长2.35公斤。各季身高和体重增长值经F检验,季节差异均非常显著(p<0.01)。一年内最佳生长季节为秋季,同其它三季比较,经Dunnett检验,只有春季男女儿童身高增长和冬季女童体重增长与秋季相比,差异不显著(P<0.05)。其余各季增长同秋季比较,差异均非常显著(P<0.01)。