Heavier birth weight associated with taller height but not age at menarche in US women born 1991-1998

OBJECTIVES

Heavier birth weight predicts taller adult height, but it remains unknown the extent to which this additional height increment results from a faster average growth rate versus an extension of the growth period. Aiming to distinguish these effects, this study examined associations between birth weight (BW), age at menarche (an established proxy for growth duration), and near-adult height in a cohort of US young women born in the 1990s.

METHODS

Multiple regression evaluated age-adjusted height as an outcome of BW, age at menarche, indicators of family socioeconomic status, and other potential confounders in a sample of US teens who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 and 2012 (N = 342). Relevant interactions were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Mean ± SD was 11.9 ± 1.2 years and 3262 ± 592 g for age at menarche and BW, respectively. BW did not predict age at menarche (β = -.01, p = .838). Girls were 1.3 cm taller per year delay in menarche (p < .001) and 2.9 cm taller per 1 kg increase in BW (p < .001). Additionally, the greatest gain in height associated with delayed menarche was observed among the heaviest BW quartile.

CONCLUSIONS

Girls born heavier were taller but experienced menarche at similar ages to girls born lighter. To the extent that age at menarche reflected growth duration, these results demonstrate faster average growth among heavier-born girls. Consistent with fetal programming of average growth rate, these results held after adjustment for confounders of postnatal growth like family socioeconomic status.

Birth weight predicted baseline muscular efficiency, but not response of energy expenditure to calorie restriction: An empirical test of the predictive adaptive response hypothesis

OBJECTIVES

Aiming to test the evolutionary significance of relationships linking prenatal growth conditions to adult phenotypes, this study examined whether birth size predicts energetic savings during fasting. We specifically tested a Predictive Adaptive Response (PAR) model that predicts greater energetic saving among adults who were born small.

METHODS

Data were collected from a convenience sample of young adults living in Albuquerque, NM (n = 34). Indirect calorimetry quantified changes in resting energy expenditure (REE) and active muscular efficiency that occurred in response to a 29-h fast. Multiple regression analyses linked birth weight to baseline and postfast metabolic values while controlling for appropriate confounders (e.g., sex, body mass).

RESULTS

Birth weight did not moderate the relationship between body size and energy expenditure, nor did it predict the magnitude change in REE or muscular efficiency observed from baseline to after fasting. Alternative indicators of birth size were also examined (e.g., low v. normal birth weight, comparison of tertiles), with no effects found. However, baseline muscular efficiency improved by 1.1% per 725 g (S.D.) increase in birth weight (P = 0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

Birth size did not influence the sensitivity of metabolic demands to fasting-neither at rest nor during activity. Moreover, small birth size predicted a reduction in the efficiency with which muscles convert energy expended into work accomplished. These results do not support the ascription of adaptive function to phenotypes associated with small birth size. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:484-492, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Slow early growers have more muscle in relation to adult activity: evidence from Cebu, Philippines

Background/objectives

Adult skeletal muscle mass (SMM) protects against type 2 diabetes but little is known about its developmental antecedents. We examined whether pace of early weight gain predicted adult SMM in a birth cohort from Cebu City, Philippines. Additionally, we examined whether increases in SMM associated with adult muscle-building exercise varied according to early growth.

Subjects/methods

Data came from 1472 participants of the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. Weight was measured at birth and at 6-month intervals through age 24 months. Adult SMM was estimated from anthropometric measurements when participants were 20-22 years old. Interviews provided information on adult exercise/lifestyle habits.

Results

SMM (mean ± SD) was 20.8 ± 3.9 kg (men) and 13.6 ± 3.4 kg (women). Faster early weight gain predicted higher adult SMM. After adjustment for height and lifestyle factors, strongest associations with SMM were found for 6-12 months growth in men (β=0.17, p=0.001) and for birth weight in women (β=0.14, p=0.001). Individuals who had grown slowly displayed greater SMM in association with adult weight lifting, basketball playing, and physically demanding forms of employment (men) or household chores (women).

Conclusions

These results suggest heightened sensitivity of activity-induced muscle hypertrophy among adults who were born light or who gained weight slowly as infants. Future research should test this finding by comparing responses of muscle mass to an intervention in slow v. fast early growers. Findings suggest that adults who display reduced SMM following suboptimal early growth may be good candidates for new anti-diabetes interventions that promote muscle-building activities.

Brains versus brawn: an empirical test of Barker's brain sparing model

The Barker model of the in utero origins of diminished muscle mass in those born small invokes the adaptive "sparing" of brain tissue development at the expense of muscle. Though compelling, to date this model has not been directly tested. This article develops an allometric framework for testing the principal prediction of the Barker model-that among those born small muscle mass is sacrificed to spare brain growth-then evaluates this hypothesis using data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). The results indicate clear support for a negative relationship between the allometric development of the two tissues; however, a further consideration of conserved mammalian fetal circulatory patterns suggests the possibility that system-constrained patterns of developmental damage and "bet-hedging" responses in affected tissues may provide a more adequate explanation of the results. Far from signaling the end of studies of adaptive developmental programming, this perspective may open a promising new avenue of inquiry within the fields of human biology and the developmental origins of health and disease.

Beyond the principle of plentitude: a review of terrestrial planet habitability

We review recent work that directly or indirectly addresses the habitability of terrestrial (rocky) planets like the Earth. Habitability has been traditionally defined in terms of an orbital semimajor axis within a range known as the habitable zone, but it is also well known that the habitability of Earth is due to many other astrophysical, geological, and geochemical factors. We focus this review on (1) recent refinements to habitable zone calculations; (2) the formation and orbital stability of terrestrial planets; (3) the tempo and mode of geologic activity (e.g., plate tectonics) on terrestrial planets; (4) the delivery of water to terrestrial planets in the habitable zone; and (5) the acquisition and loss of terrestrial planet carbon and nitrogen, elements that constitute important atmospheric gases responsible for habitable conditions on Earth's surface as well as being the building blocks of the biosphere itself. Finally, we consider recent work on evidence for the earliest habitable environments and the appearance of life itself on our planet. Such evidence provides us with an important, if nominal, calibration point for our search for other habitable worlds.

Effects of endothelial injury on the rate of thrombus organization in canine carotid arteries occluded with microcoils

SUMMARY

Thrombus organization in canine carotid arteries occluded with platinum microcoils was studied to determine if endothelial injury created with a Xenon Chloride Excimer Laser (XEL) could acclerate endovascular fibrosis. Ten common carotid artery stumps were created in ten dogs. Each of four stumps were schematically divided into four longitudinally contiguous injury zones (thermal ablation injury, non-ablative injury, proximal and distal non-injury zones) to test the effects of ablative and non-ablative injury and to establish a set of internal controls that would account for proximity to circulating blood at the ostium of the occluded artery. Following XEL irradiation of the endothelium through an arteriotomy, each stump was embolized with microcoils. Four control stumps were subjected to sham laser procedures, and embolized in an identical fashion. Two additional stumps were embolized in the absence of sham surgery. Angiographic, gross and histologic analysis was performed after four weeks. Specimens of freshly clotted whole blood mixed with microcoils were used as an additional control. In irradiated stumps and non-irradiated stumps (sham and embolization only), angiography revealed no evidence of coil compaction or recanalization. In all irradiated stumps the thermal ablation zone contained fibrous tissue and neovascularity without unorganized thrombus. The other zones in the irradiated stumps were indistingnishable from each other and from all zones in the non-irradiated sham stumps, containing primarily unorganized thrombus. Stumps embolized in the absence of sham surgery were filled with material that was grossly and microscopically identical to specimens of freshly clotted whole blood containing microcoils. The results indicate that thermal ablation injury of the endothelium accelerates thrombus organization in canine carotid arteries occluded with platinum microcoils.

Hyperammonemia and coma developed by a woman treated with valproic acid for affective disorder

The authors report the case of a patient who developed hyperammonemia and coma during therapy with valproic acid for affective disorder. Onset of the coma was gradual and initially interpreted as a therapeutic reduction in the patient's anxiety. In a psychiatric setting, treatment of hyperammonemia may be delayed if a patient's increasing lethargy is interpreted as a therapeutic response. Staff may need to be educated about the potential for hyperammonemia, and patients whose tolerance for valproic acid is unknown may need to be monitored for liver function and blood levels of urea and ammonia.

Aggression, alcohol dependency, and self-consciousness among high school students of divorced and nondivorced parents

134 high school students from a small high school in north central Kansas completed the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale, Fenigstein, et al.'s Self-consciousness Scale, and Zaks' Aggression Scale. Analyses of variance showed significant differences between boys and girls but not among grades. On the aggression and alcohol measures boys scored higher than girls, but lower on public self-consciousness. Youth of divorced parents scored significantly higher than those of nondivorced parents on aggression, private self-consciousness, and general self-consciousness. Aggression scores were significantly and positively correlated with those on the alcohol and private self-consciousness scales. When students' alcoholism scores indicate problems with alcohol, their scores on aggression indicate greater aggression and their private self-consciousness scores indicate sensitivity toward events in their environment, then having concerns about inner self can inhibit the action required for change. MacAndrew scores correlated significantly and negatively with scores on social anxiety about self-consciousness. When MacAndrew scores indicated problems with alcohol, the students' scores on social anxiety about self-consciousness suggested confidence in social settings, being at ease interacting with people. The present study involved students from a single rural district so increased understanding will require more extensive research if strategies for prevention and intervention are to be developed and utilized.

Depression, suicide ideation, and aggression among high school students whose parents are divorced and use alcohol at home

106 high school students from a small rural high school completed the Children of Alcoholics Scale, Zaks and Walters' Aggression Scale, Beck Depression Scale, and a modified version of the Beck Scale of Suicide Ideation. Analyses of variance showed boys were not experiencing suicide ideation any more than girls; suicide ideation was similar across the four grades, but on aggression alcohol-dependent boys scored significantly higher than girls, and in Grade 9 boys' scores were significantly higher than those in Grade 10. The sophomores' scores on alcohol dependency were significantly lower than the freshmen's scores. Boys and children from divorced homes had higher scores on aggression than girls and children from nondivorced homes. Children from homes in which alcohol was used had higher depression scores than children from nonalcoholic homes. Freshman girls and sophomore boys had higher depression scores than senior boys and girls. A Pearson r of 0.28 between scores on alcohol dependency and suicide ideation was significant, but research is needed to understand better the associations of thoughts of suicide and drug-alcohol dependency among these high school students so strategies for prevention and intervention can be focused.

Problems in measuring heart rate variability of patients with congestive heart failure

Heart rate variability (HRV) has become an important noninvasive measure of the integrity of the autonomic nervous system in various disease states. The power spectrum of HRV is a means to separate the instability oscillations of the various feedback mechanisms that contribute to cardiovascular homeostasis. The reliability of HRV data is largely unexplored. The day-to-day correlations in the low and mid-frequency components of HRV spectra average 91%, and that of the high-frequency component averages 81%. The correlations among spectral and nonspectral measures of HRV (SD) for the same data segment average 50-60%, suggesting that they encode similar information. Heart rate variability spectra exhibit diurnal variation consistent with physiologic expectation: respiratory sinus arrhythmia (thought to be mediated by parasympathetic tone) and to a lesser extent, the low-frequency spectral component (thought to be of mixed sympathetic-parasympathetic origin) are higher at night than in the daytime; the mid-frequency component (associated with the baroreflex, which is more excited when the patient is upright) is slightly higher during the daytime. Increased frequency of ectopic beats, such as occurs in congestive heart failure, reduces the reliability of the power spectrum since the number of usable data segments falls off rapidly with even small increases in rate of ectopy, and the variance of the estimate (in the method of averaged periodograms) is inversely proportional to the square root of the number of data segments. Using shorter data segments increases the number of segments available, but reduces resolution. Interpolation over ectopic beats (by either linear or cubic splint interpolation) increases the apparent power in low frequencies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relationship between alcohol dependency and suicide ideation among high school students

126 high school students completed the MacAndrew Alcohol Scale and a modified version of the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. Analyses of variance (2 x 4) showed boys were not experiencing suicide ideation any more than girls; suicide ideation was similar across the four grades, but on alcohol-dependency boys scored significantly higher than girls and scores for Grade 9 were significantly higher than those for Grade 10. The sophomores' scores on alcohol dependency were significantly lower than the freshmen's scores. One Pearson r of 0.28 between alcohol dependency and suicide ideation was significant but research must explore better the associations of thoughts of suicide and drug/alcohol dependency among high school students so strategies may focus upon prevention and intervention.

Self-esteem, depression, and alcohol dependency among high school students

123 high school students completed the short form of the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory-School Form and its Lie scale, Beck's Depression Inventory, and an Alcohol Dependency Scale. Analyses of variance (2 x 4) showed boys had higher mean Lie scores than girls, and freshmen had lower mean alcohol dependency scores than sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Correlations between self-esteem scores and depression scores were significant and negative, but values were significant and positive between self-esteem and lie scores and between depression and alcohol dependency scores. Much work is required to understand better the relations among depression, self-esteem, and drug and alcohol dependency in high school students if interventions are to focus upon prevention.

Intra-abdominal recurrence of colorectal cancer detected by radioimmunoguided surgery (RIGS system)

Since 1986, 32 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have undergone second-look radioimmunoguided surgery (RIGS system). The primary tumor was located in the right and transverse colon in 11 patients, left and sigmoid colon in 16, and rectum in five. The carcinoembryonic antigen level was elevated in 30 patients (94%); all patients underwent a computed tomographic scan of the abdomen and pelvis. The overall sensitivity of the computed tomographic scan was 41% (abdomen other than liver, 27%; liver, 58%; and pelvis, 22%). The RIGS system identified recurrent tumor in 81% of the patients. The most common site of metastasis was the liver (41%), independent of the primary location. Local/regional recurrences alone accounted for 40% of all recurrences. In six patients (18%), recurrent tumor was found only with the RIGS system. The RIGS system is more dependable in localizing clinically obscure metastases than other methods, and carcinoembryonic antigen testing remains the most accurate preoperative method to indicate suspected recurrences.

Electron Spin Resonance of 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-Oxyl (TEMPO)-labeled Plant Leaves

Temperature dependence for partitioning of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) between aqueous and lipid components of whole leaf tissue was measured. TEMPO is an electron spin resonance nitroxide label that has been used in model systems to detect membrane phase separations. Measurements were made on chilling-sensitive tomato leaves, frost-sensitive potato leaves, and frost-hardy and supercooled wheat leaves. The results suggest a membrane phase separation at 11 C in tomato, 3 C in potato, and -11 C in wheat.

The Effect of Low Temperature on Phosphate Esterification and Cell Membrane Permeability in Tomato Fruit and Cabbage Leaf Tissue

Exposure to O�C for 4 weeks caused a threefold increase in cell membrnno permeability of mature-green tomato fruits (susceptible to chilling injury) hut had no effect on that of cabbage leaves (not susceptible). While tomato fruits chilled for 12 days lost two-thirds of their capacity to esterify phosphate at 20�0, a steady rise in this capacity occurred during chilling of cabbage leaves for 5 weeks. In tomato fruits the rate of phosphate esterification at the chilling temperature fell in 12 days to about one-half of the rate at the commencement of chilling .. It is suggested that the characteristic symptoms of chilling injury in mature-green tomato fruits, viz. increased susceptibility to fungal attack and loss of the capacity to ripen normally. may result from an energy deficit caused by a chilling. induced reduction in the phosphorylative capacity of the tissue.