Influence of maternal obesity on subcutaneous fat in the newborn.

Skinfold thickness measurements were made at biceps, triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac sites on both sides on 265 full-term newborn infants. The mothers were classified as thin (25), normal (179), or obese (61) on the basis of their triceps skinfold thicknesses. At all skinfold sites the babies of the obese mothers were significantly fatter than the babies of normal mothers, and the babies of the normal mothers were significantly fatter than those of the thin mothers. There was a highly significant positive correlation between maternal triceps thickness and the baby''s sum of skinfold thicknesses. Hypertension was common during the pregnancies of the obese mothers and was associated with a significant reduction in the babies'' skinfold thicknesses. When each of the 61 obese mothers were matched for parity, blood pressure, and smoking habit with 61 non-obese mothers the babies of the obese mothers still had significantly greater skinfold thicknesses than the babies of non-obese mothers.     

The Bacon Chow study: Genetic analysis of physical growth in assessment of energy–protein malnutrition

Estimates of the prevalence of energy–protein malnutrition almost universally employ physical growth measurements. In this study we focus on this disease and the role of body size of relatives as mediators of responses in individuals to one type of nutrition intervention: supplementation of pregnant and lactating women. In this study, initiated by Dr. Bacon Chow and others in 1967, during gestation of a first infant a mother was untreated, while during the lactation of the first infant and the gestation and lactation of a second infant she was treated with either a calorie supplement or a placebo. Supplement–placebo group differences were sought in sibling and mother–child correlations in growth from birth to 30 months, in order to assess the role of heredity as a mediator of supplement effects. There were 108 pairs of siblings whose mothers had received a high-calorie–high-protein supplement as described above and 105 pairs of siblings whose mothers had received a placebo. Among the latter, sibling correlations for most measurements are statistically significant at birth, and of the same magnitude seen in previous studies (～0.5), while among supplemented siblings, birth correlations are unusually low and often insignificant. The sibling correlations in Rohrer's index (wt/L³) differed the most between groups (p < 0.01). Group differences in the sibling correlation tended to disappear over the first 2.5 years of life. Correlations between mothers and their second children in subscapular skinfold tended to be higher in the supplemented than in the placebo group, birth to 30 months. In both supplement groups mother–second child correlations for body weight were higher than mother–first child correlations, suggesting the occurrence of secular changes in the environment unconnected with the treatment. The results suggest that: (1) genetic analysis of components of anthropometric variation may be a more sensitive method than the more conventional comparison of group means in detecting supplement effects; and (2) infant relative weight (Rohrer index), particularly the addition of subcutaneous fat, may be more affected by maternal supplementation than growth in weight or length alone.     

Mothers' birth weight and survival of their offspring: population based study.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that a baby''s survival is related to the mother''s birth weight. DESIGN: Population based dataset for two generations. SETTING: Population registry in Norway. SUBJECTS: All birth records for women born in Norway since 1967 were linked to births during 1981-94, thereby forming 105104 mother-offspring units. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perinatal mortality specific for weight for offspring in groups of maternal birth weight (with 500 g categories in both). RESULTS: A mother''s birth weight was strongly associated with the weight of her baby. Maternal birth weight was associated with perinatal survival of her baby only for mothers with birth weights under 2000 g. These mothers were more likely to lose a baby in the perinatal period (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 3.7). Among mothers with a birth weight over 2000 g there was no overall association between mother''s weight and infant survival. There was, however, a strong interaction between mother''s birth weight, infant birth weight, and infant survival. Mortality among small babies was much higher for those whose mothers had been large at birth. For example, babies weighing 2500-2999 g had a threefold higher mortality if their mother''s birth weight had been high (> or = 4000 g) than if the mother had been small (2500-2999 g). CONCLUSION: Mothers who weighed less than 2000 g at birth have a higher risk of losing their own babies. For mothers who weighed > or = 2000 g their birth weight provides a benchmark for judging the growth of their offspring. Babies who are small relative to their mother''s birth weight are at increased risk of mortality.     

Smoking in pregnancy: associations with skinfold thickness,maternal weight gain,and fetal size at birth.

Skinfold thickness is an index of subcutaneous fat, and certain maternal conditions during pregnancy affect the skinfold thicknesses of the baby. A study was performed to investigate the effect of smoking on skinfold thickness, maternal weight gain, and fetal size at birth. A total of 452 mothers with normal singleton pregnancies were groups as: non-smokers, light-to-moderate smokers, or heavy smokers. Maternal age, height, parity, and duration of pregnancy were similar in the three groups. Heavy smokers gained significantly less weight than non-smokers, but there was no significant difference in skinfold thickness. Babies born to smokers had lower birth weights and smaller head circumferences and were shorter than those born to non-smokers, but skinfold thicknesses were similar. The presence of a normal layer of subcutaneous fat in babies whose mothers smoked suggests that fetal growth retardation is not caused by nutritional deficiencies.     

Neonatal hypernatremic dehydration associated with breast-feeding malnutrition: a retrospective survey

BACKGROUND: Hypernatremic dehydration in neonates is a potentially devastating condition. Recent reports have identified breast-feeding malnutrition as a key factor in its pathophysiology. METHODS: Using a theoretical framework for breast-feeding kinetics, a retrospective chart review of all neonates less than 28 days of age who were seen at either British Columbia''s Children''s Hospital or the Vancouver Breastfeeding Centre between 1991-1994 was conducted to identify and classify possible causes of breast-feeding malnutrition among neonates who developed hypernatremic dehydration. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases hypernatremic dehydration were identified. Infant weight loss ranged from 8% to 30% of birth weight, and serum sodium levels ranged from 146 mmol/L to 207 mmol/L. In each case, maternal or infant factors (e.g., poor breast-feeding technique, lactation failure following postpartum hemorrhage and infant suckling disorders associated with cleft palate or ankyloglossia) that could interfere with either lactation or breast-feeding dynamics and account for insufficient breast milk intake were identified. INTERPRETATION: Prenatal and in-hospital screening for maternal and infant risk factors for breast-feeding malnutrition combined with early postpartum follow-up to detect excessive infant weight loss are important for the prevention of neonatal hypernatremic dehydration.     

Mother-infant relationship in the slender loris (Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus)

Close observations under caged conditions were made on the behaviour of four mother lorises towards their own and alien infants. There appears to be no mutual recognition between the mother and her infant, and the relationship appears to be less specific. The infants are accepted by and get settled with any lactating female. In the first few weeks after birth, there is an intense attachment exhibited by the mother towards her baby. When the baby is separated, it exhibits a series of “fixed action patterns.” As the infant grows older, maternal interest declines and is lost after about 15–20 weeks post partum. Vocalization of the separated juveniles evokes greater maternal response than the visual cue.     

When and why are babies weaned?

A prospective study was designed to investigate the weaning practices of 50 primiparous mothers whose babies were born between September 1976 and March 1978. The question whether the age of weaning influenced growth from birth to 6 months was also considered. The mothers and babies were seen in hospital and then at a follow-up clinic at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. Details were taken of feeding practices, and measurements made of the babies'' weight, length, and subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses. Seventeen infants who were breastfed received their first solid food at a mean age of 13.8 weeks, compared with 8.3 weeks for the 33 bottle-fed infants. Most (38) mothers weaned because they though their babies were hungry (crying after a feed or demanding more frequent feeds, or both). The age of weaning did not influence weight gain, growth in length, or change in skinfold thicknesses. The results suggest that the "4-month rule" for weaning is unrealistic. The decision to wean should be based more on the mother''s interpretation of her baby''s needs than on age alone.     

安徽汉族成人皮褶厚度的研究

应用人体测量法对安徽滁州地区汉族694例(城市男性152例,城市女性158例,乡村男性201例,乡村女性183例)成年人进行6项皮褶(面颊、肱二头肌、肱三头肌、肩胛下、髂前上棘、小腿内侧)厚度的测量,分析了安徽汉族成人皮褶厚度值随年龄变化的特点,并与我国部分族群的皮褶厚度值进行比较。研究显示:1)安徽汉族成人皮褶发育躯干部优于四肢,背部优于腹部,面部居中,肱二头肌皮褶最薄。2)6项皮褶厚度值在性别间存在显著性差异。同年龄组比较,女性皮褶厚度值均高于男性。3)6项皮褶厚度多与年龄呈正相关。4)城乡比较,城市女性皮褶发育明显低于乡村女性,而城市男性皮褶发育多优于乡村男性。安徽汉族男、女性皮褶厚度具有蒙古人种北亚类型族群特点。     

尿毒症维持性血液透析患者血清CRP与营养状态及感染的相关性

目的:探讨尿毒症维持性血液透析患者的血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)与营养状态及感染的相关关系。方法:按照是否发生感染将2013年2月-2015年8月我院收治的238例尿毒症维持性血液透析患者分为感染组(118例)和非感染组(120例),对两组患者的血清CRP、营养状态相关指标进行比较,并分析CRP水平与营养状态及感染的相关性。结果:感染组的体质量指数(BMI)、白蛋白、前白蛋白、转铁蛋白、血红蛋白水平低于非感染组,重组人促红细胞生成素、血清CRP水平高于非感染组,肱三头肌皮褶厚度低于非感染组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。经Pearson积矩相关分析,血清CRP与BMI、白蛋白、前白蛋白、转铁蛋白、血红蛋白呈负相关关系(r=-0.81、-0.93、-0.85、-0.79、-0.91),差异有统计学意义(P0.05),血清CRP与肱三头肌皮褶厚度(TSF)呈负相关关系(r=-0.76,P0.05),与重组人促红细胞生成素呈正相关关系(r=0.89,P0.05)。结论:尿毒症维持性血液透析患者的血清CRP水平可作为评估患者营养状态及感染的重要指标,具有重要的参考价值。     

Physical growth of infants 7 to 13 months of age: results from a national survey

This study considers measurements of weight, recumbent length, head circumference, triceps skinfold, and arm circumference of 1,100 infants aged 7 to 13 months from a cross-sectional sample representative of the U.S. infant population. Based on these data, smoothed percentiles of weight, recumbent length, head circumference, triceps skinfold, and arm circumference by sex and age (in months) and weight for recumbent length were calculated. Compared with the percentile values from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS; Hamill et al., 1977, DHEW Publ. No. PHS 78-1650), percentile values from the 1984 Ross Laboratories Infant Nutrition Survey (RNS) for weight, recumbent length, and weight for recumbent length tended to be smaller (p less than .05). We attribute these variations to differences in sampling design and conclude that they are not of sufficient magnitude to warrant new growth charts. Smoothed percentiles for triceps skinfold and arm circumference presented herein are new reference values that can be used for assessment of the nutritional and growth status of older infants.     

Fetal growth and cardiovascular risk factors in Jamaican schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE--To determine relation between schoolchildren''s blood pressure, glycated haemoglobin level, and cholesterol concentration and their anthropometry, socioeconomic status, and birth measurements. DESIGN--Retrospective cohort study. SETTING--27 schools closest to University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. SUBJECTS--2337 children aged 6-16 years who were born at university hospital were recruited, and their birth records were recovered: 1610 had suitable records, 659 had records including birth length, and 610 of these were prepubertal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Blood pressure, glycated haemoglobin level, serum cholesterol concentration, anthropometry at birth, current anthropometry, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS--Multiple regression analysis showed that children''s systolic blood pressure was inversely related to their birth weight (P < 0.0001) and directly related to their current weight. Glycated haemoglobin level was higher in children with thicker triceps skinfolds (P < 0.001) and who had been shorter at birth (P = 0.003). Serum cholesterol concentration was inversely related to current height (P = 0.001) and to length at birth (P = 0.09) and was directly related to triceps skinfold thickness and higher socioeconomic status (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS--Blood pressure in childhood was inversely related to birth weight and directly to current weight. Glycaemic control and serum cholesterol were related to short length at birth, height deficit in childhood, and childhood obesity.     

Cross-cultural correlations of childhood growth and adult breast cancer

International differences in breast cancer incidence and mortality, and studies on Japanese migrants to the United States, point to the importance of environmental factors, including diet and nutrition, in the etiology of breast cancer. Some studies have suggested that dietary patterns in early life are important to the long-term risk of breast cancer. Given that human growth is partially a function of early dietary intake, cross-cultural correlations between breast cancer rates and anthropometric variables measured at different times in childhood provide additional information about the association of early nutrition and cancer. In this study, the associations between food consumption and anthropometric variables, and childhood growth patterns (attained size at age) and adult breast cancer rates, were considered. Data from cross-sectional growth studies conducted during the years 1956-1971 on children aged 6-18 years were obtained for age-specific stature, sitting height, weight, triceps skinfold thickness, arm and chest circumferences, and biacromial and biiliac diameters. National food consumption data were obtained from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and socioeconomic status indicators from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Cancer incidence data for the years 1972-1977 were obtained from regional cancer registries reported by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and mortality data for 1978 were obtained from national cancer registries around the world. Significant correlations were seen between national food consumption data and childhood growth (attained size at age); between cancer incidence and age-specific stature (r = 0.68), weight (r = 0.59), triceps skinfold thickness (r = 0.78), and biacromial width (r = 0.84); and between mortality and age-specific stature (r = 0.77), weight (r = 0.75), and biacromial width (r = 0.78). In general, the correlation coefficients of the observed anthropometric variables with breast cancer increase with increasing age and become highly significant at ages 13-14 years, reflecting cumulative childhood nutritional intake.     

Phenotypic variability and correlation between skinfold thickness and arterial pressure level]

Contribution of genetic and environmental factors in phenotypic variability of blood pressure level and skinfold thickness, and phenotypic correlation between these characters was calculated on the basis of familial correlations. It was shown that genetic determinant explains considerable portion of blood pressure level and skinfold thickness variability. Among common environmental effects, the factors affecting one generation are important with regard to variability of these characters. Maternal effect is expressed in the variability of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Correlation between blood pressure level and triceps skinfold thickness is determined by genetic factors, whereas that between blood pressure level and subscapular skinfold thickness is mediated by environmental factors. The results obtained may be applied in populational prevention of cardiovascular disease.     

Food and nutritional condition of free ranging Japanese monkeys on Koshima Islet during winter

A female with infant was chosen as material for study in an attempt to assess the nutritional condition of free ranging Japanese monkeys during winter. Her daily food composition, dry weight intake and nutritional (protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash and calorie) intake were measured monthly (October to March). About 90% and 8% of the autumn diet consisted of fruits and invertebrate animals, respectively, while 70% of the winter diet (February) consisted of leaves of evergreen trees. Comparing the daily protein intake of this focal female with the requirement level estimated from references, only October and November represented months fulfilling this level. Also, there was a remarkable decrease in lipid intake towards winter. These results coincided well with the observed body weight loss in the female and the increasing feeding activity of her baby towards winter. It is suggested that such seasonal malnutrition of the mother might affect population parameters such as the infant mortality.     

Nutrition, fertility and maternal investment in primates

While the energetics of reproduction have been intensively investigated among women, studies of mother-offspring relationships among non-human primates have tended to neglect the effect of nutrition of the mother on lactational performance and on growth and survival of offspring. Typically fertility has been compared between populations under different nutritional regimes. In this paper, the relations between suckling frequencies, the time of weaning, the survivorship of offspring, the contraceptive effects of lactation and the quality of maternal diets are outlined. Energy transfer from mother to offspring in the form of milk is proposed as a measurable component of maternal investment, and the behavioural causes and consequences of lactational anoestrus are explored using data from free-ranging vervet monkeys. It is suggested that nutrition of the mother is most important during the early phase of rapid infant growth, because at that time the energetic requirements of lactation are high; and that a mother's ability to assess her infant's demands and needs for nutrition for growth leads to alterations in suckling frequencies which result in variation in female fertility.     

Subcutaneous adiposity and relative fat patterning in adult white and migrant asian males in Britain

A comparative study of subcutaneous adiposity and relative fat patterning in adult White (n=262) and migrant Indian (n=39) and Pakistani (n=100) males living in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire revealed no significant difference in the level of generalised adiposity (measured as body mass index) between the ethnic groups. However, Asians had significantly higher means for all five truncal skinfolds; for all upper body: upper extremity, upper body: lower extremity, central body: upper extremity and central body: lower extremity skinfold rations; more total subcutaneous adiposity; and significantly more subcutaneous fat in subscapular, suprailiac and abdomen regions relative to total subcutaneous fat. However, Asian men had significantly less subcutaneous fat in all the extremity sites relative to total subcutaneous adiposity and lower mean forearm subcutaneous adiposity. Discriminant analysis revealed that 80.6% of all individuals were correctly classfied, with Whites being grouped more correctly than Asians. Suprailiac/forearm and suprailiac/triceps skinfold ratios, height, weight, age, body mass index, and subscapular, midauxillary, chest and medial calf skinfolds were among the most important discriminating variables/ratios of the three ethnic groups.     

血液透析联合血液透析滤过对患者营养及微炎症指标的影响

目的:探讨血液透析(HD)联合血液透析滤过(HDF)对维持性血液透析(MHD)患者营养及微炎症指标的影响。方法:选择2005年12月到2014年12月在我院接受治疗的140例MHD患者,随机分为HD组(n=70)和HD+HDF组(n=70)。比较两组患者治疗前后营养不良-炎症评分(MIS)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、白蛋白(ALB)、前白蛋白(PA)、血红蛋白(Hb)、握力(HS)、肱三头肌皮褶厚度(TSF)的变化。结果:治疗后,HD+HDF组患者MIS明显降低,ALB、PA、Hb、HS、TSF明显升高(均P0.05),且各指标改善程度均优于HD组(均P0.05);治疗后,HD+HDF组患者相比于治疗前和HD组治疗后,CRP、IL-6明显降低(均P0.05)。结论:HD联合HDF较单纯HD能更好的改善患者营养状态,减轻微炎症反应。     

Lack of effect of maternal body mass index on anthropometric characteristics of newborns in twin gestations

We examined the correlation between maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and newborn weight, length, BMI, and gestational order, in singleton and twin births. The sample comprised 381 mothers of multiple babies (562 twins), and 7979 singleton pregnancies, used as controls. The Mann-Whitney non-parametric test was used to compare the values between the two groups, and the Spearman's correlation test (rS) was applied to the quantitative variables. A significant positive correlation was found with singleton baby variables: the higher the maternal BMI, the higher the newborn's BMI, weight, length, and gestational order. However, no significant correlation was found between maternal BMI and any of these variables in twins. Maternal weight gain, in the twin group, showed a significant positive correlation with the newborn gestational order (rS = 0.154; P = 0.002), weight (rS = 0.493; P < 0.001), length (rS = 0.469; P < 0.001), and BMI (rS = 0.418; P < 0.001). In singletons, the correlation was positive with all the variables, except for the gestational order. The newborn BMI was significantly higher in twins born by C-section than those born by vaginal birth (Z = -4.974; P < 0.001). Mothers of singletons delivered by C-section had a significantly higher BMI than those of singletons born by vaginal birth (Z = -1.642; P < 0.001); however, no significant differences were observed in mothers of twins. Prepregnancy maternal BMI in twin births would not be predictive of newborns weight, length and BMI in this population. Maternal weight gain during pregnancy proved to be the most adequate for predicting the weight, length and BMI of twins delivered by C-section.     

Baby-transfer and other interactions between its mother and grandmother in a captive social group of lowland gorillas

This report describes the responses of an experienced gorilla mother to inappropriate maternal behavior displayed by her young adult daughter toward a newborn baby and repeated acts of baby-transfer between these two females in a captive social group of lowland gorillas (Gorilla g. gorilla). The quality of infant care by the young adult daughter clearly improved during the first 4 days after birth, and this improvement was at least partly based on her mothers encouragement. Thus, the mothers activities can be considered scaffolding for her daughter with regard to maternal infant care.     

A method for encouraging maternal care in the giant panda

We developed a method to facilitate maternal care in a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) female that rejected her cub immediately after parturition. After removal of the cub, the female was systematically exposed to a regime of infant‐related stimuli, including a surrogate toy panda, accompanied by infant vocalizations and urine, and the mother's own milk. The female displayed several measures of maternal behavior toward the surrogate, for example, spending 61% of her time holding the surrogate in positions typical for the species. There was some evidence that maternal proficiency increased across the 4 weeks of the experiment. Results also indicate that the female was responsive to both infant vocalizations and urine, but not milk. After a transitional period in which we assisted the female in her efforts to nurse and groom the infant, all maternal care‐giving responsibilities were returned to the mother. Over the next 3 months, the pattern of maternal care followed the species‐typical course of declining mother‐infant contact, grooming, overall interaction time, and responsiveness to the cub's vocalizations. This study marks the first successful reunification of a giant panda mother with an infant separated at birth and, it is hoped, will serve as a model for similar efforts elsewhere. Zoo Biol 19:53–63, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.