Difference In Mean Weight Gain Research Articles

Safety of supplementing infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and Bifidobacterium lactis in term infants: a randomised controlled trial

Probiotics and long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) may be beneficial supplements for infants who are not breast-fed. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the safety of an infant formula containing the LC-PUFA DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) and the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis by comparing the growth rate of infants fed the supplemented and unsupplemented formulas. One hundred and forty-two healthy, term infants were enrolled in a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, controlled, parallel-group trial, and allocated to receive either standard or probiotic and LC-PUFA-containing experimental formulas. The infants were fed with their assigned formulas for 7 months. The primary outcome (weight gain) and the secondary outcomes (length, head circumference and formula tolerance) were measured throughout the study. LC-PUFA status was assessed at 4 months of age and immune response to childhood vaccines was measured at 7 months of age. There was no significant difference in growth between the two groups. The 90 % CI for the difference in mean weight gain was - 0.08, 3.1 g in the intention-to-treat population and 0.1-3.8 g in the per protocol population, which lay within the predefined boundaries of equivalence, - 3.9-3.9. There were no significant differences in mean length and head circumference. DHA and AA concentrations were higher in infants in the experimental formula group compared with the control formula group. No influence of the supplements on the response to vaccines was observed. Growth characteristics of term infants fed the starter formula containing a probiotic and LC-PUFA were similar to standard formula-fed infants.

Assessment of the safety, tolerance, and protective effect against diarrhea of infant formulas containing mixtures of probiotics or probiotics and prebiotics in a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundProbiotics and prebiotics are considered to be beneficial to the gastrointestinal health of infants. ObjectiveThe objective was to evaluate infant formulas containing probiotics and synbiotics (combinations of probiotics and prebiotics) for safety and tolerance. DesignIn a prospective, controlled, double-blind, randomized trial, healthy full-term infants were exclusively fed a control formula or study formulas containing Bifidobacterium longum BL999 (BL999) + Lactobacillus rhamnosus LPR (LPR), BL999 + LPR + 4 g/L of 90% galactooligosaccharide/10% short-chain fructooligosaccharide (GOS/SCFOS), or BL999 + Lactobacillus paracasei ST11 (ST11) + 4 g/L GOS/SCFOS from ≤2 to 16 wk of age (treatment period). Safety and tolerance were assessed based on weight gain during the treatment period (primary outcome) as well as recumbent length, head circumference, digestive tolerance, and adverse events (secondary outcomes), which were evaluated at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 52 wk of age. ResultsTwo hundred eighty-four infants were enrolled. During the treatment period, difference in mean weight gain between control and study formula groups in both the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations were within the predefined equivalence boundaries of ±3.9 g/d, indicating equivalent weight gain. Secondary outcomes did not show significant differences between groups during the treatment period. ConclusionInfants fed formulas containing probiotics or synbiotics show a similar rate in weight gain compared with those fed a control formula and tolerate these formulas well.

Effect of Feeding Different Grain Sources on the Growth Performance and Body Composition of Tilapia, (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings Fed in Outdoor Hapas

The study investigated the growth performance and body composition of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L) fingerlings (4.70g ± 0.09) fed Isonitrogenous and Isoenergetic diet of 25% crude protein containing different grain sources (maize, wheat, rice, sorghum and millet) designated DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4 and DT5 respectively. The study lasted for 56 days. Fish fed a diet containing maize gave the highest mean weight gain (MWG) of 6.05g; highest specific growth rate (SGR) of 1.47; best food conversion ratio (FCR) of 3.31 and the best Protein efficiency ratio (PER) of 0.93. Fish fed diet containing rice gave the poorest MWG of 4.70g and the poorest SGR, FCR and PER values. However, there is no significant difference in the values of SGR, FCR, PER and ANPU recorded for the five diets (P > 0.05). There was a difference in MWG of Fish Fed Diet 1 (Maize compared to the fish fed Rice and Millet (P 0.05). It can be concluded that cereal grains inclusion in the diet of Tilapia up to 57.90% can be effectively utilized by the fish with maize being the best followed closely by sorghum while rice remain the poorest in terms of growth response and nutrient utilization.

Evidence of Breed-dependent Differences in Susceptibility to Porcine Circovirus Type-2-associated Disease and Lesions

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been confirmed as the primary cause of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). However, in the field, PMWS is seen only in a small percentage of pigs infected with PCV2. The overall objective of the study reported here was to determine whether host genetic differences in the susceptibility to PCV2-associated disease exist among selected breeds of pigs. This study included Duroc (n = 23), Landrace (n = 19), and Large White (n = 21) pigs. The pigs were infected intranasally and intramuscularly at 5-7 weeks of age with PCV2. A portion of the pigs (31/63; 30.2%) had low passively acquired PCV2 antibodies at the time of infection. There were no differences in mean weight gain, rectal temperature, or respiratory score. Clinical disease compatible with PMWS was observed only in the Landrace pigs. Most of the PCV2-infected pigs had enlarged lymph nodes, and individual Duroc and Landrace pigs had mottled tan lungs. PCV2-associated lymphoid depletion and granulomatous inflammation were observed in pigs of all breeds. Three of 19 Landrace pigs and none of the Duroc or Large White pigs developed severe lymphoid lesions associated with large amounts of intralesional PCV2 antigen typical of PMWS. Compared with seronegative Landrace pigs, Landrace pigs that had low maternal antibodies at the time of PCV2 inoculation had significantly (P < 0.05) less-severe PCV2-associated lesions. The results suggest a predisposition of the Landrace pigs of this study to PCV2-induced disease and lesions, and that low levels of passively acquired antibodies are protective.

Growth, survival and histological responses of the marine shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, to three dosage levels of oxytetracycline

Toxicity of oxytetracycline (OTC) in prepared feed for penaeid shrimp was evaluated in a 42-day trial with Litopenaeus vannamei (initial mean weight, 10.3 g ± 0.504 S.D.). Four treatments consisted of: (1) 0.0 g/kg OTC (control feed), (2) 4.5 g/kg OTC (1× treatment, maximum recommended dose), (3) 13.5 g/kg OTC (3× treatment) and (4) 22.5 g/kg OTC (5× treatment). Each treatment consisted of 11 replicate tanks, with 8 shrimp per replicate. The test period was three times the recommended OTC label dosing period (14 days). This target animal safety study was conducted under GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) conditions, as part of submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine for approval of therapeutic use of OTC in penaeid shrimp feeds. Growth rate (weight gain) was found to be OTC-dose-related. There was no significant difference in mean weight gain between control and 1× OTC treatments (9.1 g and 9.2 g, respectively), but growth was strongly depressed in the 3× and 5× treatments (1.50 g and 4.02 g, respectively). There did not appear to be a dose response in mean percent survival of test shrimp (range: 93.2% to 98.9%). Abnormal soft exoskeletons (= shell, cuticle) were observed in 66.7% to 90.9% of shrimp in the 3× and 5× treatments after 42 days, compared with 0.0% and 9.1% in control and 1× treatments, respectively (from sample N = 3 per tank = N = 33 per treatment, 37.5% of individuals stocked). The high numbers of soft exoskeletons observed could be related to a deficiency of calcium/magnesium, principal shell components, due to divalent cation-chelating properties of OTC. Some dose-related histological changes were apparent in the hepatopancreas (HP) of experimental shrimp sampled after 42 days of OTC feeds. Only slight changes were apparent in the histological presentation of the HPs of the shrimp from the 0× (untreated control) and the 1× treatment levels. In contrast, shrimp sampled from the 3× and 5× OTC treatment levels showed generally reduced levels of lipid droplet storage in the HP, and some necrosis and sloughing of the HP tubule epithelium. The virtually complete absence of HP lipids and the presence of moderate atrophy of the proximal portion of the HP tubules, indicated by markedly reduced tubule epithelial cell height, were the principal characteristics of the HP of shrimp sampled from the 5× OTC group. Mitotic activity in E-cells, a measure of the regenerative capability of the HP, was constant across all experimental groups regardless of the OTC level in the experimental feed. Mean OTC consumed per shrimp in the 1× treatment was estimated to be 0.09813 g over 42 days, compared with 0.16850 g and 0.29687 g in the 3× and 5× treatments, respectively. Feeds containing OTC at higher levels (3× and 5×) were consumed at much lower rates than control and 1× treatments, indicating lower palatability and/or toxicity of extreme dosage levels. The 3× and 5× treatments consumed approximately 46% less feed than the control and 1× treatments.

Lordis Paradox and the Assessment of Change During College

During the 1980s, discussions of “value added” occupied a prominent place in the assessment literature (see Astin, 1987; Astin & Ewell, 1985; Baird, 1988; McMillan, 1988; Pascarella, 1989; Terenzini, 1989; Warren, 1984). Despite widespread agreement about the importance of assessing how students change as a result of college, discussions of value added are rare today, due in large part to the many problems associated with assessing change (Ewell, 2002). One of the most vexing problems confronting the assessment of value added is that the two methods generally used to analyze change—difference scores and the analysis of covariance—produce contradictory results. In a series of three articles, Frederic Lord (1967, 1969, 1973) compared the results of analyses of pretest-posttest designs that used difference scores and the analysis of covariance. Best known is his example of weight gains in males and females from the beginning to the end of their first year in college. (According to Lord [1973], he chose weight gain to show that the phenomenon he described was not due to measurement error.) The paradox is that analyses using difference scores generally show no statistically significant changes, whereas analyses of covariance do show statistically significant changes. Lord’s Paradox is shown in Figure 1. In the figure, the ellipses represent scatter plots of the beginning and ending weights of men and women during their first year in college. Individuals falling on the 45-degree line in the figure are students whose weights did not change during the school year (i.e., gain = 0). The fact that the centroids of the scatter plots for men and women fall on the 45-degree line indicates that there was not a statistically significant difference in mean weight gain for men and women. The two dashed lines in Figure 1 represent the slopes for regressions of ending weights on beginning weights (i.e., an analysis of covariance). The fact that the two lines are parallel demonstrates that the assumption of homogeneity of the regression functions has been satisfied. Most important, the fact that the intercepts for the two regression lines are substantially different indicates that there are statistically significant differences in weight gain for the two groups. Specifically, males weigh significantly more than women, after controlling for initial weight. Stated differently, for males and females with the same initial weight, males will have significantly higher ending weights. In his subsequent articles, Lord provided additional examples of the paradox, including examples of how differences in analytic approaches have affected the results of actual program evaluations (see Campbell

Valproic acid fails to induce polycystic ovary syndrome in female rats

Purpose: Valproic acid (VPA) treatment in female patients is suggested to be associated with the occurrence of a variety of endocrine side effects that include many characteristic symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of our study was to prospectively measure whether VPA treatment was associated with the presentation of PCOS symptoms in rats, as well as determine whether this model could be used to examine the underlying mechanism by which these effects are induced. Methods: Normal estrus-cycling female rats ( n=22) were treated perorally three times daily with VPA (300 mg/kg/day), divalproex sodium (DVS) (330 mg/kg/day), or phosphate-buffered saline for a minimum of 30 days. PCOS-associated symptoms (estrus cycle, weight, estradiol and testosterone levels, aromatase activity, and ovarian morphology) were assessed at baseline, mid-, and endpoint. Results: There was no significant difference in the mean number of days animals were in proestrus–estrus or metestrus–diestrus between the three groups. All groups of animals gained weight during the study and there were no appreciable differences in mean weight gain or leptin between groups. Total serum estradiol or testosterone levels and ovarian aromatase activity were not significantly different between the groups. The number of corpora lutea was not significantly different between the groups; however, cystic follicles were present in 50% of the drug-treated animals compared to 25% of saline-treated animals. Conclusions: VPA and DVS treatment were associated with a higher proportion of animals developing cystic follicles but did not mimic the VPA-induced PCOS that is observed in women. Thus, it appears that the rat has limited usefulness for modeling VPA-induced symptoms associated with PCOS.

Infection with Equine Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) Strain HVS25A in Pregnant Mice

The abortigenic effects of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) strain HVS25A, given intranasally, were assessed in pregnant BALB/c, C57BL/6J and Quakenbush mice at day 16 of pregnancy. All EHV-1-infected BALB/c mice showed clinical signs typical of EHV-1-induced disease, together with evidence of abortion. However, although there were fetal and neonatal deaths in some C57BL/6J and Quakenbush litters, the respiratory and systemic effects of EHV-1 infection in the dams were inconsistent. BALB/c dams were then inoculated at day 15 of pregnancy with either EHV-1 or rabbit kidney (RK) cell lysate (controls) and animals were killed at days 1–5 post-inoculation (pi), i.ebefore the occurrence of abortions. EHV-1-infected mice showed a significant fall in rectal temperature between days 1 and 2 pi and lost weight during the first 4 days pi, demonstrating a significant mean difference in weight gain from the control group at days 2, 3, 4 and 5 pi. Deathin uterowas seen in five of 90 fetuses of EHV-1-infected mice, but in no fetuses from RK-inoculated mice. On days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 pi, the fetuses from EHV-1-infected dams were significantly smaller than those from RK-inoculated dams. Congestion and necrosis of the middle layer of trophoblast and chorionic necrosis were observed in the placentae from EHV-1-infected dams and assessed by a scoring system. Virus was isolated rarely from the fetuses (1/73), placentae (3/72) and uteri (1/16) of EHV-1-infected dams, and only from those killed on day 1 or 2 pi. This indicates that, as in the horse, abortion caused by EHV-1 infection in mice is not necessarily a consequence of fetal infection but may be due to fetal compromise due to vascular effects on the placenta.

The gestational weight gain and the birth weight outcome in adolescent pregnancy compared to young adult pregnancy.

Design The study design incorporated a random assignment to either a teenage group (13–18 years of age; n=50), or to an adult group (19–25 years of age; n=50). Comparisons were made on length of gestation; maternal birthdate; maternal gravida; maternal pregestational weight; maternal weight at the first visit; maternal height; maternal prepregnancy BMI; weights measured monthly during gestation; gestational age at delivery; infant birth weight and length between the two groups. Pregnancy outcome was defined as optimum if newborn birth weight ranged from 3 to 4Kg. The total maternal weight gain was calculated.Subjects/Setting Patients were from a designated prenatal clinic in an inner city hospital.Statistical Analysis Multi-variate regression analysis was used to determine mean differences in weight gain on the pregnancy outcome between the two groups.Results No significant difference was found between the birth weight of the babies of the two groups.Conclusions This study demonstrated that mothers’ weight gain is the strongest determinant of the birth weight of the babies regardless of their age. No significant difference was found in the birth weights of infants born to adolescents and young adult mothers, when race and gravidity were comparable in the two groups. A significant correlation was noted between the weight gain of adolescent African-American mothers and the birth weight of their babies. However, this correlation was not noted among young adult African-American mothers suggesting that a higher weight gain among adolescents may result in larger babies.

Growth and protein utilization by juvenile catfish ( Clarias gariepinus) fed dry diets containing co-dried lactic-acid-fermented fish-silage and protein feedstuffs

Fish-silage (FS), prepared from lactic acid fermentation of whole tilapias, 5% sugar beet molasses and 2% Lactobacillus plantarum, was blended and co-dried with soybean meal (SBM), poultry by-product meal (PBM), hydrolysed feather meal (HFM) and meat and bone meal (MBM). The blends were evaluated as protein source (providing 50% of dietary protein) in dry diets (40% protein, 4·3 kcal g −1 gross energy) for juvenile catfish, Clarias gariepinus, fed at 4% body weight day −1 for 70 days. The fish-silage pellets maintained their shape during water immersion and their water stability was high and similar ( P>0·05) to that of a reference diet. Clarias gariepinus fed on the different fish-silage diets showed some significant ( P<0·05) differences in mean weight gain, specific growth rate and protein productive value, but feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios were similar ( P>0·05). Protein digestibility was reduced ( P<0·05) in catfish fed diets containing FS: HFM while digestibility of energy content was lower ( P<0·05) in those fed diets containing FS:SBM and these low values were responsible for the poor performance of catfish in both treatments. There were no effects among treatments on carcass composition, hepatosomatic index, histology of pancreas, liver and intestine tissues, or on haematocrit and haemoglobin contents. Fermented fish-silage codried with protein feedstuffs is a suitable protein supplement, which can provide up to 50% of dietary protein without affecting feed efficiency, fish growth or health.

Genetic testing of common carp in cages. 3. Comparison of the effect of grading and multiple nursing on growth

The effects of initial weight differences between groups of common carp, generated by grading and multiple nursing, on their weight gains were compared. Grading is carried out in the commercial culture of some salmonids and eels. Multiple nursing is an experimental technique, performed to remove the bias in observed weight gains of different genetic groups in communal testing. In this investigation, multiple nursing and grading, carried out sequentially on a number of genetic groups of common carp, enabled dividing each group into four samples. Their growth in cages was compared in conditions of communal and separate testing. The association between differences in mean initial weight and differences in mean weight gain were estimated by a factor (b + ad), where b = the linear coefficient of regression of weight gain differences on initial weight differences, a = the y-intercept of this regression line, and d = difference in initial weight between the larger and smaller samples. The results indicate the existence of a genetic component, differentiating graded weight classes and absent between multiply nursed samples. They also indicate the effect of competition among test groups in communal testing, influencing their weight gains. The factors (b + ad) were monitored by applying them to adjust observed weight gains. This study indicates that only multiple nursing generates true correction factors for adjusting observed weight gains in genetic testing programs.

The Nutritional Value of a Whey Hydrolysate Formula Compared with a Whey‐Predominant Formula in Healthy Infants

SummaryForty‐five healthy infants were included in a double‐blind randomized prospective study comparing the nutritional value of two formulas. One group received a whey‐predominant formula (n = 20); the other group received a whey hydrolysate formula (n = 25). Four infants of the whey hydrolysate group were dropped because they refused the formula. Although the mean daily volume intake was smaller with the whey hydrolysate formula compared with the whey‐predominant formula (p &lt; 0.001), the weight gain in the two groups after 13 weeks was identical (27.2 g/day in both groups; the mean difference in weight gain between the groups after 13 weeks was only 8 g). Length gain at 13 weeks was 10.4 cm in the whey‐predominant formula group and 10.8 cm in the whey hydrolysate formula group (p = NS). After 13 weeks, blood was sampled for hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, lymphocytes, glycemia, proteins, albumin, prealbumin, calcium, phosphorus, urea, creatinine, iron, iron‐binding capacity, zinc, and vitamins A and E. Except for the iron‐binding capacity, zinc, urea (in plasma as well as in urine) (all three were higher in the whey hydrolysate group), no significant differences were found. According to these results, exclusive feeding of the whey hydrolysate formula from birth to 3 months of age to healthy infants appears to result in an adequate nutritional status, as assessed at 3 months of age.

The Nutritional Value of a Whey Hydrolysate Formula Compared with a Whey-Predominant Formula in Healthy Infants

Forty-five healthy infants were included in a double-blind randomized prospective study comparing the nutritional value of two formulas. One group received a whey-predominant formula (n = 20); the other group received a whey hydrolysate formula (n = 25). Four infants of the whey hydrolysate group were dropped because they refused the formula. Although the mean daily volume intake was smaller with the whey hydrolysate formula compared with the whey-predominant formula (p < 0.001), the weight gain in the two groups after 13 weeks was identical (27.2 g/day in both groups; the mean difference in weight gain between the groups after 13 weeks was only 8 g). Length gain at 13 weeks was 10.4 cm in the whey-predominant formula group and 10.8 cm in the whey hydrolysate formula group (p = NS). After 13 weeks, blood was sampled for hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, lymphocytes, glycemia, proteins, albumin, prealbumin, calcium, phosphorus, urea, creatinine, iron, iron-binding capacity, zinc, and vitamins A and E. Except for the iron-binding capacity, zinc, urea (in plasma as well as in urine) (all three were higher in the whey hydrolysate group), no significant differences were found. According to these results, exclusive feeding of the whey hydrolysate formula from birth to 3 months of age to healthy infants appears to result in an adequate nutritional status, as assessed at 3 months of age.

Management of Malnourished Children with Acute Diarrhoea and Sugar Intolerance

A protocol of nutritional rehabilitation using fermented milk, vegetable oil and caster sugar has been tested on 54 Senegalese children, aged 6-36 months, admitted with acute diarrhoea and malnutrition. At the time of admission, 39 per cent of children were dehydrated and 26 per cent had sugar intolerance. In the course of treatment three went home against medical advice and one died from acute pneumonia with respiratory-heart failure. Among the cases of marasmus there were no differences in mean weight gain between children with sugar intolerance and others despite a longer duration of diarrhoea in the first group. Furthermore, the experimental protocol has never been compromised because of worsening diarrhoea or weight loss. These results indicate that a formula based on fermented milk together with oral rehydration can be used to treat malnourished children with acute diarrhoea and sugar intolerance.

Energy expenditure and intake in infants born to lean and overweight mothers.

We investigated the contributions of low energy expenditure and high energy intake to excessive weight gain in infants born to overweight mothers. The subjects were infants of 6 lean and 12 overweight mothers, recruited soon after birth. Total energy expenditure and metabolizable energy intake were measured with a new doubly labeled water method over a period of seven days when the infants were 3 months of age, and the postprandial metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry when the infants were 0.1 and 3 months of age. The results were related to weight gain in the first year of life. No significant difference was observed between infants who became overweight by the age of one year (50 percent of infants born to overweight mothers) and those who did not, with respect to weight, length, skinfold thicknesses, metabolic rate at 0.1 and 3 months of age, and metabolizable energy intake at 3 months. However, total energy expenditure at three months of age was 20.7 percent lower in the infants who became overweight than in the other infants (means +/- SE, 256 +/- 27 and 323 +/- 12 kJ per kilogram of body weight per day; P less than 0.05). This difference could account for the mean difference in weight gain. These data suggest that reduced energy expenditure, particularly on physical activity, was an important factor in the rapid weight gain during the first year of life in infants born to overweight mothers.

Age changes in body weight and in several blood components of conventional versus miniature pigs.

SummaryTwo litters (11 pigs) of Pitman-Moore miniature pigs (M) and 3 litters (26 pigs) of conventional pigs (C) of Hampshire and the cross of Hampshire and Yorkshire breeding were used to compare body weight gain, blood hemoglobin, blood urea and serum alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, and protein to 20 weeks of age. Body weight gain was similar during the first 6 weeks for M and C pigs, but the difference in mean weight gain between M and C pigs steadily increased at each subsequent time interval in favor of the latter. The mean weight at 20 weeks was 43kg and 69 kg for M and C pigs, respectively. Blood parameters were similar for M and C pigs at each time interval except that serum alkaline phosphatase dropped much more rapidly in M pigs during the first 6 weeks, serum cholesterol was lower during the suckling period in M pigs and the blood urea was lower in M pigs from weeks 10 to 20 and serum protein higher in M pigs throughout.