Stress exposure in specific growth periods associates with children's weight,height, and body mass index

Objectives

We investigate associations between children exposure to stressful events, considering: (1) the period in which the event took place, (2) the type of event, and (3) the cumulative effect of the events on children's weight, height and body mass index (BMI).

Methods

A total of 8429 Portuguese children (3349 exposed to at least one stressful event during their lifetime; 50.2% males; mean age = 7.21 ± 1.85 years) were included in the analysis. The occurrence of stressful (i.e., adverse) events was reported in a parental questionnaire; children's weight and height were objectively measured.

Results

When the stress event took place in the first 2 years of life, compared with during pregnancy or after the 2 years, children were shorter; but the association was weak and only significant for boys. After adjustment for child's birthweight, gestational age, breastfeeding duration, number of siblings, and father's education, the experience of 3+ stressful events (vs. 1 or 2) was associated with higher weight and height in boys. No interaction effect was found between stress and BMI.

Discussion

We found some evidence of associations between exposure to stressful events and physical growth of boys. We highlight the complex relationship between exposure to stressful experiences and children's physical growth, particularly the different effects of specific characteristics of the stress event and the sex differences.

     

Carbohydrate and lipid status in soybean roots influenced by ferulic acid uptake

The objective of this research was to investigate how the allelochemical ferulic acid affects the carbohydrate and lipid contents of soybean roots cultivated in nutrient culture. The results presented revealed that ferulic acid has significant effects on carbohydrates by the increase in xylose, fructose and sucrose and decrease in glucose, after 24 h treatment of roots. Ferulic acid increased the contents of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids of the polar and non-polar lipid fractions. The results may contribute as additional data to explain allelopathic effects caused by ferulic acid.     

Metabolites of Cercospora. Taiwapyrone,an α-pyrone of unusual structure from Cercospora taiwanensis

(+)-Mellein (1), cis-3S,4S-4-hydroxymellein (3), and taiwapyrone (4), a new α-pyrone, have been isolated from the mycelium of Cercospora taiwanensis, grown on potato-agar. The structure and absolute configuration of (3) and (4) have been elucidated.     

Weight Loss Expectations in Obese Patients Seeking Treatment at Medical Centers

Objective: To investigate weight loss expectations (expected 1‐year BMI loss, dream BMI, and maximum acceptable BMI) in obese patients seeking treatment and to examine whether expectations differ by sex, weight, diet and weight history, age, psychological factors, and primary motivations for weight loss. Research Methods and Procedures: 1891 obese patients seeking treatment in 25 Italian medical centers (1473 women; age, 44.7 ± 11.0 years; BMI, 38.2 ± 6.5 kg/m²) were evaluated. Diet and weight history, weight loss expectations, and primary motivation for seeking treatment (health or improving appearance) were systematically recorded. Psychiatric distress, binge eating, and body image dissatisfaction were tested by self‐administered questionnaires (Symptom CheckList‐90, Binge Eating Scale, and Body Uneasiness Test). Results: In 1011 cases (53.4%), 1‐year expected BMI loss was ≥9 kg/m², dream BMI was 26.0 ± 3.4 kg/m² (corresponding to a 32% loss), and maximum acceptable BMI was 29.3 ± 4.4 kg/m² (?23%). BMI and age were the strongest predictors of weight goals. Weight loss necessary to reach the desired targets was largely in excess of weight loss observed during previous dieting. Psychiatric distress, body dissatisfaction, and binge eating did not predict weight loss expectations. The primary motivation for weight loss was concern for future or present health; women seeking treatment to improve appearance had a lower grade of obesity, were younger, and had first attempted weight loss at a younger age. Discussion: Obese Italian patients had unrealistic weight loss expectations. There were significant disparities between patients’ perceptions and physicians’ weight loss recommendations of desirable treatment outcome.     

Molecular characterization of the human PLC β1 gene

Inositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) signaling constitutes a central intermediate in a number of cellular functions among which the control of cell growth raises a particular interest. Indeed, we have previously shown that nuclear phospholipase C β1 (PLC β1) is central for the regulation of mitogen-induced cell growth. We have also assigned by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis the PLC β1 to human chromosome 20p12. In this study, we have carried out a detailed analysis of the human gene, showing the existence of alternative splicing, which gives rise, besides the two forms (1a and 1b) already shown in rodents, to a new 600 bp smaller form coding for a 110 kDa protein. We have also identified a new exon at the 5′, showing no homology with the rodent sequence. Here we provide the complete determination of the exon/intron structure of the gene spanning 250 kb of DNA. We found that the exons are quite small, ranging from 49 to 222 bp, while the introns vary between 108 bp and 34,400 bp. The availability of the understanding of the genome organization of this inositide-specific PLC, which represents a key step of the cell cycle related signaling, could actually pave the way for further genetic analysis of p12 region of human chromosome 20 in diseases involving alterations of the control of cell growth such as malignancies.     

The structural organization of calf retinal photoreceptors derived from freeze-fracture study

Freeze-fracturing and double replica technique provided some evidence that the membranes of the outer segment of calf retina are asymmetric. The intramembranous particles, probably consisting of rhodopsin, exposed by the fracture, are apparently more strongly anchored to one half of the bilayer. These results are consistent with the molecular model of disc membrane suggesting that rhodopsin is associated only with one side of the membrane.     

Dothistromin and 2-epidothistromin from Cercospora smilacis

Examination of a strain of Cercospora smilacis Thüm grown on potato-agar medium showed the presence of the known phytotoxin dothistromin together with the new 2-epidothistromin. Mutual conversion by epimerization at C-2 occurred during derivatization.     

Interaction of alpha-sarcin and gelonin with Cibacron blue

Alpha-sarcin and gelonin, two proteins which inactivate the 60S ribosomal subunit, interact with Cibacron blue and bind to blue dextran-Sepharose, from which they are partially desorbed by nucleoside triphosphates and, more efficiently, by homopolynucleotides. It is further shown that the two proteins bind to poly(U)-Sepharose and that homopolynucleotides protect dilute solutions of both inhibitors from inactivation. It is suggested that the presence of a polynucleotide site on alphasarcin is related to its ribonuclease activity. The existence of a similar site on gelonin might be a clue to its yet unknown mechanism of action.