Abnormal Weight Research Articles

Trends of underweight, overweight, and obesity among older adults in China from 2008 to 2018: a national observational survey

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the 10-year trends and disparities in underweight, overweight, and obesity among older adults aged 65 years and older in China from 2008 to 2018.MethodsWe used four waves (2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018) of data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), a national community-based cross-sectional survey conducted every 2–3 years. Body weight and height were measured by trained assessors following standardized procedures. BMI was calculated and divided into underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), obese (≥ 30.0 kg/m2) according to WHO reference. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine factors related with abnormal BMI groups, after adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsAmong 46,543 older adults in China, the prevalence rates of underweight decreased with each survey year from 2008 to 2018, declining from 20.05 to 7.87% (p < 0.001). In contrast, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity showed an increasing trend (all p < 0.001). Specifically, the prevalence of overweight rose from 12.82% to 2008 to 28.45% in 2018, and the prevalence of obesity increased from 1.62% to 2008 to 4.95% in 2018. In the multinomial logistic regression model, survey year, gender, residence, marital status, economic status, numbers of chronic diseases, smoking status, sleep quality, and functional disability were factors related with obesity.ConclusionThe prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were increasing while the prevalence of underweight and normal weight significantly decreased from 2008 to 2018 among older adults in China, which poses a huge challenge for chronic disease. There is an urgent need for intervention policy planning and early prevention of abnormal body weight for the preparation of an aging society.

Hypothalamic DNA 5-hydroxymethylation levels are altered by diet-induced weight gain during the development of obesity in a sex-specific manner

Obesity is a major health concern that is associated with altered gene transcription in the hypothalamus. However, the mechanisms controlling this gene expression dysregulation remain largely unknown. DNA 5-hydroxymethylation (5-hmC) is a potent transcriptional activator that is expressed at 10 times higher levels in the brain than the periphery. Despite this, no study has examined if DNA 5-hmC is altered in the brain following exposure to obesogenic diets or contributes to abnormal weight gain over time. Here, we used a rodent diet-induced obesity model in combination with quantitative molecular assays and CRISPR-dCas9 manipulations to test the role of hypothalamic DNA 5-hmC in abnormal weight gain in male and female rats. We found that males, but not females, have decreased levels of DNA 5-hmC in the hypothalamus following exposure to a high fat diet, which directly correlate with increased body weight. Short-term exposure to a high fat diet, which does not result in significant weight gain, resulted in decreased hypothalamic DNA 5-hmC levels, suggesting these changes occur prior to obesity development. Moreover, decreases in DNA 5-hmC persist even after the high fat diet is removed, though the extent of this is diet-dependent. Importantly, CRISPR-dCas9-mediated upregulation of DNA 5-hmC enzymes in the male, but not female, ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus significantly reduced the percentage of weight gained on the high fat diet relative to controls. These results suggest that hypothalamic DNA 5-hmC is an important sex-specific regulator of abnormal weight gain following exposure to high fat diets.

Investigation of Antidiabetic Activities of Cu(II) Complex of Anacardium occidentale Leaves Crude Extract

Many synthetic chemical drugs have been widely used for the treatment of diabetes. However, many of these drugs are not locally available, are less effective, and are unaffordable for many diabetic patients in developing and underdeveloped countries. Therefore, in order to search for a locally available, effective, and cost-effective antidiabetic agent, this study synthesized the Cu(II) complex of crude leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale and investigated its antidiabetic activity in alloxan induced albino rats. The leaf crude extract and its metal complex were characterized using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Experimental diabetic animals were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate at a single dose of 140 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.), and animals with fasting blood glucose levels (BGL) &gt; 200 mg/dl were considered diabetic. Metformin was used as a standard drug. Fasting blood glucose level (BGL) and body weight were examined in assessing the antidiabetic activities of the crude extract and its complex in the rats. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the antidiabetic activity at a statistical significance level of p &lt; 0.05. The hypsochromic shifts of C=O and O-H bands in the Cu(II) complex and the high concentration of the metal ion in the metal complex established the coordination of the crude extract with the metal ion. A more significant reduction in the blood glucose level and increase in body weight in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats was observed when treated with the leaves crude extract and its Cu(II) complex than when treated with the standard drug metformin. It can be concluded that the Cu(II) complex of Anacardium occidentale leaf extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg wt is more effective without abnormal weight gain and could be considered as a potential antidiabetic drug to replace some of the less effective and expensive conventional antidiabetic drugs.

The associations of ferritin, serum lipid and plasma glucose levels across pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and newborn birth weight

BackgroundWomen with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at greater risk of abnormal birth weight. Since the level of biochemical indicators could often affect the intrauterine growth and development of the fetus, it is of great practical significance to understand the changes of biochemical levels across pregnancy in women with GDM and to find out the indicators that play an important role in predicting birth weight.MethodsThe data source of this study was from the Xi'an Longitudinal Mother–Child Cohort study (XAMC), in which women with GDM with normal and high pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and their newborns between January 1st and March 31st in 2018 were included. The data of ferritin, serum lipid profile and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of mothers in the three trimesters of pregnancy, as well as birth weight of newborns were all collected from medical records. Multiple linear regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association of the biochemical indexes and birth weight. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsA total of 782 mother-infant pairs were finally included and divided into normal weight group (NG) (n = 530, 67.8%) and overweight/obesity group (OG) (n = 252, 32.2%) according to maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. The level of ferritin in both NG and OG decreased during pregnancy (P for trend < 0.001 for all), whereas the levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density cholesterol (HDL-C), low density cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) all showed an upward trend (P for trend < 0.05 for all). The levels of FPG in the two groups remained in a relatively stable during the whole pregnancy even though it was higher in OG during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, whilst HbAlc levels in NG women increased (P for trend = 0.043) during pregnancy. Meanwhile, the risk of macrosomia and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) increased with the increase of FPG level (P for trend < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses results showed that only FPG level in the 3rd trimester was correlated with birth weight, with birth weight increased by 44.9 g for each SD increase in FPG level.ConclusionMaternal FPG in the 3rd trimester is an independent predictor of newborn birth weight, and a higher level of that is associated with an increased risk of macrosomia and LGA.

A Three-Year Review of Birth Weight Pattern Among Term Deliveries in Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Background: Birth weight is a commonly used indicator of newborn maturity and health and a reliable predictor of postnatal survival. There is a need to determine the birth weight pattern and maternal factors that influence the birth weight in babies delivered at term. Objective: To determine the birth weight pattern and maternal factors influencing the birth weight of babies delivered at term. Methods: In this retrospective, descriptive study, the hospital records of all pregnant women who had childbirth at term in Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ogbomoso, Nigeria, from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2020, were retrieved. Data on birth weight and maternal obstetric factors were retrieved for analysis. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 30.52 ± 5.23 years. A total of 1072 deliveries were recorded during the study period. These consisted of 580 (54.1%) males and 492 (45.9%) females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.18:1. The caesarean section rate was 37.7%. The mean birth weight was 3.15±0.56 kg, and male babies had a higher mean weight (3.186±0.535kg vs 3.14±0.493kg). Normal birth weight (NBW) was recorded among 90.3%, while low birth weight (LBW) and high birth weight (HBW) were 6.7% and 3.0%, respectively. Only maternal comorbidities (p = 0.0001) and number of gestation (p = 0.0001) were significantly associated with birth weight. Conclusion: Maternal and foetal factors influenced the birth weights of the babies. Implementing measures to minimise the risk of delivering babies with abnormal birth weights is essential to improve newborn survival.

Comparing video examinations with physical clinical examinations using finishing pigs with umbilical outpouchings as a model

BackgroundVeterinary telemedicine has only been adopted to some degree. One aspect that needs to be evaluated is clinical examinations using video. The objective of this study was to evaluate agreement between a traditional physical clinical examination and a clinical examination using recorded video using finishing pigs with umbilical outpouchings (umbilical hernias, cysts, and abscesses) as the study unit. A total of 102 finisher pigs with umbilical outpouchings were clinically examined and recorded on video. Four experienced pig veterinarians were allowed to examine each pig for approximately 10 min and were individually asked to fill out a predesigned clinical record. Approximately 1 month after the physical examinations, the veterinarians individually reexamined all 102 pigs in a blinded manner, utilizing the video recordings and filling in a predesigned clinical record.ResultsFor all measurements using a ruler, a high Pearson correlation coefficient was observed between physical and video examinations (range 0.69–0.95). In comparison, the visual bodyweight estimation had a lower Pearson correlation coefficient (range 0.57–0.64). Substantial to almost perfect agreement was observed between the physical and video examinations for abnormal weight distribution on any leg, restricted gait movements, lameness, signs of pain, fitness for transportation, presence of wounds, and categorization of the number of wounds > 4 cm2 on the umbilical outpouching (mean Kappa range 0.67–0.87). Fair agreement was observed for the presence of perineal soiling, ear wounds, pendulation of umbilical outpouching, umbilical outpouching touching the legs, skin not movable over the umbilical outpouching, and umbilical outpouching wound characteristics: type, presence of crusts, active bleeding, thick wound edges, connective tissue (mean Kappa range 0.21–0.40). Slight agreement was observed for umbilical outpouching characteristics: shape, macroscopic vascularization of the skin covering the outpouching, and the presence of scars, excoriations, and fistulas (mean Kappa range 0.10–0.20). Poor agreement was observed for the presence of granulation tissue (mean Kappa = − 0.05).ConclusionsThe agreement between a physical clinical examination and a clinical examination using recorded video of the same pig varies from poor to almost perfect, depending on the clinical sign and the executing veterinarian.

Association of smoking status and nicotine dependence with multi-morbidity in China: A nationally representative crosssectional study.

Multi-morbidity is a public health priority as it is associated with an increased risk of mortality and a substantial healthcare burden. Smoking is considered a predisposing factor for multi-morbidity, but evidence for an association between multi-morbidity and nicotine dependence is insufficient. This study aimed to explore the association between smoking status, nicotine dependence, and multi-morbidity in China. We recruited 11031 Chinese citizens from 31 provinces in 2021 using a multistage stratified cluster sampling strategy to ensure the study population represented national population characteristics. The association between smoking status and multi-morbidity was analyzed using binary logistic regression and multinomial logit regression models. We then analyzed the associations between four kinds of smoking status (age at smoking initiation, cigarette consumption per day, smoking when ill in bed, and inability to control smoking in public places), nicotine dependence, and multi-morbidity among participants who were current smokers. Compared with non-smokers, the odds of multi-morbidity were higher among ex-smokers (adjusted odd ratio, AOR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.07-1.85). The risk of multi-morbidity was greater in participants who were underweight/overweight/obese (AOR=1.90; 95% CI: 1.60-2.26) compared with those who were normal weight. and also greater for drinkers (AOR=1.34; 95% CI: 1.09-1.63) than non-drinkers. Compared with children who began smoking at the age of <15 years, participants aged >18 years had a lower likelihood of multi-morbidity (AOR=0.52; 95% CI: 0.32-0.83). People who consumed ≥31 cigarettes per day (AOR=3.77; 95% CI: 1.47-9.68) and those who smoked when ill in bed (AOR=1.70; 95% CI: 1.10-2.64) were more likely to have multi-morbidity. Our findings show that smoking behavior, including initiation age, frequency of daily smoking, and still smoking during illness or in public, is a critical risk factor for multi-morbidity, especially when combined with alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and abnormal weight (underweight, overweight, or obese). This highlights the crucial effect of smoking cessation in the prevention and control of multi-morbidity, especially in patients with three or more diseases. Implementing smoking and lifestyle interventions to promote health would both benefit adults and prevent the next generation from initiating habits that increase the risk of multi-morbidity.

Nicotine exposure disrupts placental development via the Notch signaling pathway.

Normal gene expression during early embryonic development and in the placenta is crucial for a successful pregnancy. Nicotine can disrupt normal gene expression during development, leading to abnormal embryonic and placental development. Nicotine is a common indoor air pollutant that is present in cigarette fumes. Due to its lipophilic nature, nicotine can rapidly transport through membrane barriers and spread throughout the body, which can lead to the development of diseases. However, the impact of nicotine exposure during early embryonic development on subsequent development remains elusive. In this study, we found that nicotine significantly elevated reactive oxygen species, DNA damage and cell apoptosis levels with the decrease of blastocyst formation during early embryonic development. More importantly, nicotine exposure during early embryonic development increased placental weight and disrupted placental structure. In molecular level, we also observed that nicotine exposure could specifically cause the hypermethylation of Phlda2 promoter (a maternally expressed imprinted gene associated with placental development) and reduce the mRNA expression of Phlda2. By RNA sequencing analysis, we demonstrated that nicotine exposure affected the gene expression and excessive activation of the Notch signaling pathway thereby affecting placental development. Blocking the Notch signaling pathway by DAPT treatment could recover abnormal placental weight and structure induced by nicotine exposure. Taken together, this study indicates that nicotine causes the declining quality of early embryos and leads to placental abnormalities related to over-activation of the Notch signaling pathway.

EPH5 Validity and Accuracy of Weight Status-Related Diagnosis Codes Among Hospitalized Patients in the United States: 2017−2021

Real-world administrative databases are increasingly used to generate evidence to support clinical and healthcare decision making. Abnormal weight status is associated with many health outcomes and needs to be considered in epidemiological and health outcomes research. Due to the lack of vitals data in administrative databases, assessment of abnormal weight status is often dependent on International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) diagnosis codes. We evaluated the validity and accuracy of weight status-related ICD-10-CM codes against vital measurements.

Health warning based on 3R ECG Sample's combined features and LSTM

Most researches use the fixed-length sample to identify ECG abnormalities based on MIT ECG dataset, which leads to information loss. To address this problem, this paper proposes a method for ECG abnormality detection and health warning based on ECG Holter of PHIA and 3R-TSH-L method. The 3R-TSH-L method is implemented by:(1) getting 3R ECG samples using Pan-Tompkins method and using volatility to obtain high-quality raw ECG data; (2) extracting combination features including time-domain features, frequency domain features and time-frequency domain features; (3) using LSTM for classification, training and testing the algorithm based on the MIT-BIH dataset, and obtaining relatively optimal features as spliced normalized fusion features including kurtosis, skewness and RR interval time domain features, STFT-based sub-band spectrum features, and harmonic ratio features. The ECG data were collected using the self-developed ECG Holter (PHIA) on 14 subjects, aged between 24 and 75 including both male and female, to build the ECG dataset (ECG-H). The algorithm was transferred to the ECG-H dataset, and a health warning assessment model based on abnormal ECG rate and heart rate variability weighting was proposed. Experiments show that 3R-TSH-L method proposed in the paper has a high accuracy of 98.28% for the detection of ECG abnormalities of MIT-BIH dataset and a good transfer learning ability of 95.66% accuracy for ECG-H. The health warning model was also testified to be reasonable. The key technique of the ECG Holter of PHIA and the method 3R-TSH-L proposed in this paper is expected to be widely used in family-oriented healthcare.

Abnormal birth weights for gestational age in relation to maternal characteristics in Sweden: a five year cross-sectional study

BackgroundAbnormal birth weight – small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) – are important indicators for newborn health. Due to changes in lifestyle in recent decades, it is essential to keep up-to-date with the latest information on maternal factors linked to abnormal birth weight. The aim of this study is to investigate SGA and LGA in relation to maternal individual, lifestyle and socioeconomic characteristics. .MethodsThis is a register-based cross-sectional study. Self-reported data from Sweden’s Salut Programme maternal questionnaires (2010–2014) were linked with records in the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR). The analytical sample comprised 5089 singleton live births. A Swedish standard method using ultrasound-based sex-specific reference curves defines the abnormality of birth weight in MBR. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine crude and adjusted associations between abnormal birth weights and maternal individual, lifestyle and socioeconomic characteristics. A sensitivity analysis, using alternative definitions of SGA and LGA under the percentile method, was undertaken.ResultsIn multivariable logistic regression, maternal age and parity were associated with LGA (aOR = 1.05, CI = 1.00, 1.09) and (aOR = 1.31, CI = 1.09, 1.58). Maternal overweight and obesity were strongly associated with LGA (aOR = 2.28, CI = 1.47, 3.54) and (aOR = 4.55, CI = 2.85, 7.26), respectively. As parity increased, the odds of delivering SGA babies decreased (aOR = 0.59, CI = 0.42, 0.81) and preterm deliveries were associated with SGA (aOR = 9.46, CI = 5.67, 15.79). The well-known maternal determinants of abnormal birthweight, such as unhealthy lifestyles and poor socioeconomic factors, were not statistically significant in this Swedish setting.ConclusionsThe main findings suggest that multiparity, maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity are strong determinants for LGA babies. Public health interventions should address modifiable risk factors, especially maternal overweight and obesity. These findings suggest that overweight and obesity is an emerging public health threat for newborn health. This might also result in the intergenerational transfer of overweight and obesity. These are important messages for public health policy and decision making.

Gastric Cancer Risk in Association with Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the risk of gastric cancer (GC) in abnormal body mass index (BMI) groups. A systematic search was carried out on Embase, PubMed/Medline, and Scopus from January 2000 to January 2023. The pooled risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was assessed using a random-effect model. Thirteen studies with total of 14,020,031 participants were included in this systematic review. The pooled RR of GC was 1.124 (95% CI, 0.968-1.304, I2: 89.08%) in underweight class, 1.155 (95% CI, 1.051-1.270, I2: 95.18%) in overweight class, and in 1.218 (95% CI, 1.070-1.386, I2: 97.65%) obesity class. There is no difference between cardia and non-cardia gastric cancer, while non-Asian race and female gender have higher risk of cancer, as Meta-regression of obesity and overweight classes showed. These findings suggest that there is a positive association between excess body weight and the risk of GC, with a higher impact in women than men and in non-Asian than Asian populations. Since abnormal weight is tied to various diseases, including GC, healthcare experts, and policymakers should continue interventions aiming to achieve a normal BMI range.

Ursolic Acid: Historical Aspects to Promising Pharmacological Actions for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Diseases

Abstract: Ursolic acid (UA) has been utilized to improve memory-related cognitive processes and intellectual functions. This study aims to examine the ethnobotanical uses, phytochemical composition, toxicity, and central nervous system activities of UA. It promotes learning and memory and has biological effects against Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cognitive impairment, according to pharmacological investigations. UA did not cause any death, abnormal body weight, or pathological diseases at any of the test doses. Furthermore, no behavioral, neurotoxin, coagulation, haematological, or clinical chemistry changes were seen as a result of UA treatment. UA is also used as a cosmeceutical product to improve skin functions. This article examines all knowledge that has become available at this time for revealing the chemistry of the current has been extensively investigated based on the data, resulting in UA derivatives with improved potency, bioavailability, and stability being used to treat a number of non-communicable diseases. The pharmacological activity of UA has been exploited to improve learning and memory and treat depression, emotional stress, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. The effects of UA on the central nervous system detailed in this review. The majority of UA studies have been preclinical evaluations of cellular mechanisms in the central nervous system, and more translational clinical research is needed to assess the drug's safety and efficacy, as well as its favorable, biodistribution, which could be targeted using different pathways and administration routes. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have investigated the pharmacological properties of UA reporting neuroprotective effects and improvements in cognitive function. These effects are attributed to its antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory actions.

A Case Study on OPD Level Management of Infertility due to PCOS with Ayurvedic Medicines

PCOS is the primary cause of Hyperandrogenism and oligo-ovulation at the reproductive age and is often associated with infertility. The prevalence of infertility in women with PCOS varies between 70 and 80 %. In Ayurveda, Vandhyatva is considered as one among the Rasa pradoshaja vikaras. This is case report of an infertile couple who had not been able to conceive since 4 yrs. The wife was diagnosed with PCOS. Based on the parameters of Ayurvedic science this case was diagnosed as Vandhyatva (infertility) due to Nashtarthava (PCOS). The treatment plan for PCOS is to correct the menstrual irregularity and ensure proper ovulation, this itself helps to develop healthy progeny and successful childbirth. The treatment principles selected here were mild Shodhana and Samana therapy especially Vatakaphahara, Agni deepana along with Pathya ahara. After two and half month of internal medications, reduction in abnormal hair growth, blackish discolouration and weight were noticed. The outcome of the treatment resulted in natural conception and delivered a full term male baby. So this case signifies effect of Ayurvedic science in the management of infertility.

STUDY OF CORRELATION OF PLACENTAL WEIGHT WITH BIRTH WEIGHT OF FETUS IN NORMAL DELIVERY

Objectives: To measure placental weight and birth weight in normal pregnancies and to determine whether there is any association between abnormal placental weight and its ratio with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Design : Descriptive observational study. Material and method: From 1st Sept 2020 to Sept 30th 2021, placentae were obtained from 300 normal pregnancies, between 37-40 gestational weeks. The placentas weights were recorded. Pearson chi square test was used to analyze the data. A p value &lt; 0.05 was considered signicant. Results: In our study 45.7 % were in age group of 21-25 followed by 22.3 % in 15 -20 years 65.7% were multiparous and 34.3 were primiparous . Mean placenta weight was 529.8 g with SD of 93.49.Mean birth weight in our study was 2.91 kg with SD of 0.4 kg. Our study proves that there is a strong relationship between the placenta Conclusion: and the fetus suggesting that the wellbeing of the fetus is highly dependent on the placenta since it serves as a link between the mother and the developing fetus.

The Relationship between Weight Gain and The Anemia in The Third Trimester Pregnant Women in Sangkrah Surakarta Health Center Area

Anemia during pregnancy is a blood disorder that occurs in pregnant women when hemoglobin (Hb) in the body is less than 11 gr / dl in the 1st and 3rd trimesters, and less than 10.5 gr / dl in the 2nd trimester. In Surakarta, there are 1,077 pregnant women with anemia (10.15%) in 2020, while in 2019 the number of pregnant women with anemia reached 10.51%. One of the factors causing anemia in pregnant women is nutritional status. The nutritional status of pregnant women can be measured by the mother's weight gain before pregnancy and during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between weight gain and the incidence of anemia in pregnant women in the III trimester in Sangkrah Surakarta Health Center area in 2022. This study used the cross sectional method. The population in this study was pregnant women in the third trimester which were 88 people in Sangkrah Health Center area. The sampling technique in this study was total sampling. Data analysis using Chi-square statistical tests. The results showed that most respondents with abnormal weight gain experienced anemia as many as 33 pregnant women (37.5%). The results of the Chi-square test analysis ρ-value of 0.025 α (0.05) which means that there is a relationship between weight gain and the incidence of anemia in pregnant women in the third trimester in Sangkrah Surakarta Health Center area. It is recommended that the community can play an active role in preventing anemia for pregnant women by paying attention to the nutritional needs of pregnant women based on the ideal weight gain to achieve a good nutritional status of pregnant women.

Proprioception and Tactile Perception in Schizophrenia

The aim of this review is to investigate the relationship between proprioceptive and tactile perceptual aberrations and the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia, a correlation which has already been established by several studies (Lenzenweger, 2006; Postmes et al., 2014; Chang and Lenzenweger, 2005; Michael and Park, 2016; Germine et al., 2013; Kent et al., 2010). However, the direction of causality within the correlation is still unknown. Because several studies indicate an abnormal and uneven weighting of the senses in schizophrenic multisensory integration, it is possible that the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia may be due to multisensory integration abnormalities involving proprioceptive and tactile perception. Several theories have also been proposed that schizophrenia itself is the cause of these proprioceptive and tactile perception anomalies. There could also be neuroanatomical factors that underlie both the schizophrenia psychotic symptoms and proprioceptive and tactile perception aberrations. Because of limitations in the current research, a definite causal direction is still unable to be determined. Several practices to improve the methods of analysis in this field of study include incorporating measures of schizotypy with less subjectivity and using longitudinal neurodevelopmental studies to pinpoint developmental aberrations in proprioception, tactile perception, and the correlated psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. These methods may lead to better pre-emptive target interventions and could establish the directionality of causation between proprioception and tactile perception anomalies and positive schizophrenia symptoms.

Clinical Characteristics of Pediatric Patients With Septic Shock Caused by Acute Appendicitis: A Case Series.

This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of septic shock in pediatric patients caused by acute appendicitis. This case series included patients with septic shock caused by acute appendicitis in Beijing Children's Hospital between January 2015 and December 2020. Six patients with septic shock caused by acute appendicitis were enrolled. One patient was an infant with extremely low weight; 2 patients were obese. The diagnosis was delayed in 4 patients (the time from onset to diagnosis was 5 days in 3 children and 4 days in 1 child). All patients had abnormally raised inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein 119.17 ± 48.36 mg/L, procalcitonin 129.95 ± 86.09 ng/mL). Severe abdominal infection was found in all patients. There was appendix perforation in 4 patients and diffused peritonitis in 3 patients. Two patients had metabolic diseases (Wilson disease and decreased biotinase activity, respectively). Five patients had an appendectomy and 1 patient received conservative treatment. Five patients were discharged in stable condition, while 1 patient died. Children with delayed diagnosis, abnormal body weight, significant elevation in inflammatory markers, and underlying metabolic disease may be at greater risk of complicated appendicitis and septic shock. Level of Evidence: IV.

Clinico-Metabolic Profile in Lean Versus Obese Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Women.

Background Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which affects women of reproductive age, is the most prevalent endocrine disorder. Signs of excessive androgen, irregular menses, prolonged anovulation, and infertility are characteristics of the clinical phenotype. Women with PCOS are more likely to have diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, anxiety, and depression. PCOS affects women's health starting before conception and continuing through their post-menopausal years. Methods Ninety-six study subjects were recruited from women visiting the gynaecology clinic according to the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. Study subjects were then divided into lean and obese groups according to their body mass index (BMI). Demographic data, and obstetrical and gynaecological history were obtained including marital status, menstrual cycle regularity, recent abnormal weight gain (in the preceding six months), and subfertility. To identify any clinical signs of hyperandrogenismsuch as acne, acanthosis nigricans, or hirsutism, a general and systemic examination was conducted. Data were analyzed after the clinico-metabolic profile was assessed, compared, and contrasted between the two groups. Results The findings showed a significant correlation between obese women with PCOS and the clinical profile of PCOS i.e. menstrual irregularities, acne vulgaris, acanthosis nigricans and hirsutism; the waist-hip ratio was higher in both groups. Higher levels of fasting insulin, fasting glucose: insulin ratio, postprandial sugars, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, total testosterone, free testosterone, and luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone (LH: FSH) ratio were seen in obese women with PCOS, whereas the levels of fasting glucose, serum triglycerides, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were higher in all the study subjects irrespective of BMI. Conclusion The study showed that women with PCOS have a deranged metabolic profile like abnormal blood sugar, insulin resistance (IR), and hyperandrogenemia with clinical derangements like irregular menses, subfertility, and recent weight gain more frequently with higher BMI.

Association of multiple anthropometric indices with in 944,760 elderly Chinese people.

The aims of this study were to update the latest data on the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in the elderly Chinese population and to assess relationships between new anthropometric indices and HTN. Data were obtained from the Basic Public Health Service (BPHS) survey for Jiangsu Province, China. A total of 944,760 people aged 65 years and older were included in this study. Blood pressure was measured by trained investigators. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), conicity index (COI), body roundness index (BRI), and a body shape index (ABSI) were included in the analysis as anthropometric indices. Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the association of anthropometric indices with HTN. The prevalence of HTN among elderly residents of Jiangsu Province was 64.7% (95% confidence interval, 64.6 to 64.8). After adjusting for multiple covariates, all anthropometric indices except ABSI showed significant non-linear positive dose-response associations with HTN across sex (pnonlinear<0.001). Among participants with BMI <28 kg/m2, abnormal weight, WC, WtHR, BRI, COI, and ABSI were positively associated with HTN. The prevalence of HTN in the elderly in Jiangsu Province is gradually increasing. It is necessary to consider the combination of ABSI and COI with BMI for screening elderly individuals for HTN in follow-up prospective studies.