Effect of Physical Training and Its Cessation on Percent Fat and Bone Density of Children with Obesity

GUTIN, BERNARD, SCOTT OWENS, TOMOKI OKUYAMA, SHARON RIGGS, MICHAEL FERGUSON, AND MARK LITAKER. Effect of physical training and its cessation on percent fat and bone density of children with obesity. Obes Res. Objective We determined the effect of 4-month periods of physical training (PT) and detraining on percent fat (percent fat) and bone density of children with obesity. Research Methods and Procedures Subjects were 79 7- to 11-year-old children with obesity; 34 were white, 44 were black, and 1 was Asian, 26 were male and 53 were female. They were randomly assigned to two groups: group 1 engaged in PT for the first 4 months, while group 2 engaged in PT during the second 4 months. Body composition was measured with dual energy absorptiometry, and diet was measured with 4 days of recall for each 4-month period. PT was offered 5 dayslweek for 40 minuteslsession, heart rate monitors were worn, and no dietary information was given; mean attendance was 80%, and mean heart rate per session was 157 bpm. Results Group by time interactions across the three time-points (from analysis of variance) were significant for percent fat (p = <0.001) and bone density (p = 0.045). Both groups declined in percent fat during the periods of PT, by an average of 1.6 %fat units; in the 4 months after cessation of PT, group 1 increased by 1.3 %fat. In both groups, bone density increased more during periods of PT (0.025 g/cm²) than during periods of no PT (0.010 g/cm²). No significant PT vs. no-PT differences were found for dietary intake of energy, macronutrients, or calcium. Discussion This study suggests that regular exercise, without dietary intervention, can enhance the body composition of children with obesity.     

Effect of salinity on nest building behaviour in the nine-spined stickleback Pungitius sinensis

The authors evaluated the adaptability of male nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius sinensis) at three salinity levels (0, 5 and 10 psu) by comparing nest building success rates with nest structures. Successful nest building decreased as salinity increased. In addition, nests built in fresh water (i.e., 0 psu) were glued together, whereas those built in brackish water (5 and 10 psu) broke easily and fell from the nest site to the gravel bottom. Based on these findings, the authors suggest that P. sinensis adapts to freshwater environments.     

Monogamous mating system and protandrous-like sexuality in the goby Trimma taylori

Ichthyological Research - The reproductive ecology of the gobiid Trimma taylori is investigated using combined field sampling and rearing experiments. In captivity this species maintains continuous...     

Application of a new method of antibody-enzyme conjugation with maleimide derivative for immunohistochemistry: hepatocellular production, interstitial tissue distribution, and renal cell reabsorption of plasma albumin in guinea pig

A new sophisticated method for enzyme-antibody conjugation developed in quantitative solid-phase enzyme immunoassay was revealed to be an applicable method for immunohistochemistry; one that offered several advantages over present methods. Using a new maleimide derivative as a coupling reagent, monomeric conjugate of horseradish peroxidase and Fab' antibody was easily prepared with high efficiency and reproducibility. Nonspecific staining was greatly reduced in the presence of this monomeric conjugate. Since the enzyme activity and antigen-binding activity were well preserved in the conjugate, the reaction was strong enough to analyze the antigen localization in intracellular organelles or in interstitial tissue space by both light and electron microscopy. The fate of plasma albumin was investigated in liver, skin, and kidney using the new method with rabbit anti-guinea pig albumin antibody, and satisfactory results were obtained. In the liver, the reaction products were observed in the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus in hepatocytes, which confirmed the synthesis of plasma albumin in hepatocytes of guinea pig. In a study of the distribution of albumin, reaction products were seen in the intercellular space of the epidermis, along the basement membranes of epidermis and of proximal convoluted tubules in kidney, and among the collagen fibers in interstitial tissue, particularly at papillary dermis, suggesting the wide distribution of plasma albumin in interstitial extravascular tissue spaces. In addition, positive reaction was obtained in the apical vesicles and the lysosomes of the proximal convoluted tubules and in the pinocytotic vesicles of the basal cells of epidermis, suggesting the reabsorption and destruction of albumin in the kidney and the skin.