Weight Growth Curves Research Articles

ESTIMACION DEL CRECIMIENTO Y MORTALIDAD DEL CHIVO CABEZON Anopsis bonillai (MILES, 1945) (PISCES: SILURIFORES. ARIIDAE), EN LA CIENAGA GRANDE DE SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA

From September 1981 and during 14 months of continued sampling in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, 3477 specimens of the New Granada sea catfish Ariopsis bonillai (Miles, 1945) were captured. These catches served as a basis for estimation of the size-weight relationships calculated for both males and females separately and in combined fashion. Growth curves for length and weight after von Bertalanffy,s model were obtained, as well as preliminary values for natural (M), total (Z) and fishing mortality (F). The variation of these results is analyzed for both sexes as a cause-effect function resulting from the mouth breeding behavior characteristic of this species.

Evaluation of growth curves in children after supraglottoplasty

ObjectivesTo determine if monitoring weight growth curves is a sensitive objective parameter for evaluating operative outcomes after supraglottoplasty. Study designRetrospective chart review. MethodsAn IRB approved retrospective review of patients who underwent supraglottoplasty from 2/28/2012 to 10/20/2014 by the otolaryngology department at a single institution was performed. Variables collected included age, race, sex, preoperative weight percentiles, and weight percentiles at 3month, 12month, and 3year followup intervals. Results20 patients met inclusion criteria. 15 (75%) patients were male and 5 (25%) were female. 9 (45%) patients were African American, 8 (40%) were Caucasian, and 3 (15%) were other. Average weight for age at surgery was 29.8 percentile. 6 (30%) had failure to thrive by weight. By 3months postop average weight had increased by 7.67 percentile (p=0.09, 95% CI −1.62 to 17.0), by 12months there was an observed increase of 19.1 percentile (p=0.06, 95% CI 0.47–37.8), and by 3years the average weight had increased by 26.53 percentile (p=0.03, 95% CI 4.47-48.59). By three years postop the average weight had normalized (64.5 percentile). Among those who met preoperative failure to thrive criteria (average 0.11 percentile), weight gain was still dramatic with average weight percentile of 37.5 by 3years postop. ConclusionPatients undergoing supraglottoplasty are typically underweight for age. Statistically significant weight gain occurs in children after going supraglottoplasty. This intervention can normalize their growth chart growth patterns by 3years postoperatively, even in children with failure to thrive.

Growth and reproduction of the mangrove crab Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) in southeastern Brazil.

Goniopsis cruentata is a common semi-terrestrial crab in Brazilian mangroves and an important fishery resource for traditional communities in the northeastern Brazilian coast. Aiming to contribute to the knowledge about the species, this study evaluated the carapace width and weight growth curves, the relative growth of weight versus carapace width, and the temporal variation of gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices for the species. A total of 524 crabs were collected in a mangrove area of Ubatuba municipality, state of São Paulo. The growth-curves parameters and longevity (tmax) were estimated for males (CW∞=50.6 mm, WE=56.4 g, k=2.24, t0=0.003631502 year-1, tmax=1.3 years) and females (CW∞=50.7 mm, WE∞=58.8 g, k=2.50, t0=0.003247209 year-1, tmax=1.2 years). The age at onset of sexual maturity was 0.23 years for both genders. The weight-growth model was isometric for the immature developmental stages and allometric negative for adults. The species exhibited a continuous reproduction, with breeding peaks in spring and summer months. The weight dynamics of gonads and hepatopancreas were not clearly related. The growth and reproductive patterns indicated that Goniopsis cruentata has a life-history that prioritizes reproduction instead of survival. The species exhibited some of the highest growth rates and lowest longevity estimates reported for brachyuran species in Brazil.

When health care professionals say "more" and parents say "enough".

The aim of the present article is to provide an overview of the myriad bioethical issues faced when a family believes that interventions are not in the child’s best interest, but the clinician believes otherwise. The present article will illustrate how an analysis of the ethical issues can provide a way forward. CASE PRESENTATION JD is a two-year-old boy with a history of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy who subsequently developed severe cerebral palsy. Although he is wheelchair-bound, his family believes that his quality of life is good. He is able to communicate through sounds and gestures, enjoys movies and books – especially cartoons – and loves to interact with their dog. However, over the course of the past year, JD has not been growing well and has experienced significant reflux despite maximizing anti-reflux medications. He has experienced two episodes of aspiration pneumonia, which were managed with oral antibiotics, and has fallen off his growth curve for weight despite optimization of his diet. He continues to be exclusively orally fed. JD’s physician has repeatedly recommended a gastrostomy tube (G-tube), which may help with many of JD’s issues (ie, weight gain, aspiration pneumonia); however, his parents have consistently declined this option. Both the physician and JD’s parents are becoming increasingly frustrated with this topic of conversation because they do not fully appreciate one another’s point of view. A common pitfall in situations such as this can occur when one party assumes that they know the other’s intentions (1). Misperceptions about motivation and goals can be easily resolved through open communication. Therefore, in the present analysis, we will explore the perspectives of the parents and clinician and their intentions.

Longitudinal study of growth of children with unilateral cleft lip and palate: 2 to 10 years of age.

Objective : To study the growth of children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) from 2 to 10 years of age and to assess whether growth varied from that of children without UCLP (typical children). Design : Physical growth was one of the outcome measures of a National Institutes of Health-sponsored longitudinal, prospective clinical trial conducted by the University of Florida and the University of São Paulo. Setting : Hospital of Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo (HRAC-USP), Bauru, Brazil. Main Outcome Measures : Height and weight were prospectively measured for 360 healthy children with UCLP who were nonsyndromic, belonged to median socioeconomic status, and received health care at HRAC-USP. To compare growth of children with UCLP to that of typical children, growth curves for UCLP were developed and compared with World Health Organization curves for 2006 and 2007, which were used as reference for typical children. Third-degree polynomials were used to explain the relationship of length and weight with age. Confidence limits of 95% were used for the mean curve using the statistic Z ~ N (0,1). Results : Children with UCLP from 2 to 10 years old presented height and weight growth curves similar to those of typical children for both genders. Conclusion : Children with UCLP from 2 to 10 years old presented physical growth similar to that of typical children.

Growth charts for non-growth hormone treated Prader-Willi syndrome.

The goal of this study was to generate and report standardized growth curves for weight, height, head circumference, and BMI for non-growth hormone-treated white male and female US subjects with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) between 3 and 18 years of age and develop standardized growth charts. Anthropometric measures (N = 133) were obtained according to standard methods from 120 non-growth hormone-treated white subjects (63 males and 57 females) with PWS between 3 and 18 years of age. Standardized growth curves were developed for the third, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th percentiles by using the LMS method for weight, height, head circumference, and BMI for PWS subjects along with the normative third, 50th, and 97th percentiles from national and international growth data. The LMS smoothing procedure summarized the distribution of the anthropometric variables at each age using three parameters: power of the Box-Cox transformation λ (L), median μ (M) and coefficient of variation δ (S). Weight, height, head circumference, and BMI standardized growth charts representing 7 percentile ranges were developed from 120 non-growth hormone-treated white male and female US subjects with PWS (age range: 3-18 years) and normative third, 50th, and 97th percentiles from national and international data. We encourage the use of syndrome-specific growth standards to examine and evaluate subjects with PWS when monitoring growth patterns and determining nutritional and obesity status. These variables can be influenced by culture, individual medical care, diet intervention, and physical activity plans.

Postnatal weight growth and trihalomethane exposure during pregnancy

BackgroundImpaired postnatal growth after chloroform exposure in utero has been observed in rodents without an effect on birth weight. We aimed to study the relationship between exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) during pregnancy and postnatal weight growth during infancy. MethodsWe analysed 2216 mother–child pairs recruited in Gipuzkoa, Sabadell, Valencia (Spain, INMA Project, enrolment: 2003–2008) and Crete (Greece, RHEA Study, enrolment: 2007–2008). Drinking water habits and water-related activities ascertained through personal interviews were combined with THM measurements in drinking water to estimate THM exposure through different exposure routes during pregnancy. Weight measurements during the first year of life were used to fit postnatal weight growth curves from birth to one year and to predict weight at six months. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between six months weight gain and interquartile range (IQR) increase in THM exposure adjusting for confounders. ResultsAverage weight gain at six months ranged from 4325g (Gipuzkoa) to 4668g (Crete). Median residential THM levels ranged from 1μg/l (Crete) to 117μg/l (Sabadell). No significant association was observed overall (−24.4g [95% CI −78.8, 30.0] for an IQR increase in total residential uptake). A negative relationship was observed in Sabadell (−148g [95% CI −282, −13.7]) for an IQR increase in ingestion THM uptake. ConclusionsNo consistent evidence of an association between THM exposure during pregnancy and postnatal growth was observed. The novelty of the hypothesis and the negative trend observed in the region with the highest levels warrants the replication in future studies.

한국 서해안 갈색띠매물고둥, Neptunea (Barbitonia) arthritica cumingii의 연령과 성장

The age and growth of Neptunea (Barbitonia) arthritica cumingii sampled from the West Sea of Korea were determined from 1,062 operculums from October 2007 to September 2008. Age of Neptunea (Barbitonia) arthritica cumingii was determined from the rings on the operculum. The relationship between shell height (SH; mm) and shell width (SW; mm) was expressed by the following equation : SW = 0.5757 SH + 0.222 (R = 0.8723), and shell height (SH; mm) and total weight (TW; g) was highly correlated by the equation : TW = 0.0002 SH (R = 0.9121). The main spawning periods was estimated June to July through fatness index analysis. The relationship between shell height and ring radius of operculum in each ring group was expressed as a regression line. Therefore, there is a correspondence in each ring formation. Based on the monthly variations in the marginal index (MI) of the operculum, it is assumed that the ring of this species was formed once a year during the period of July to August. Growth curves for shell height (SH) and total weight (TW) fitted to the von Bertalanffy's equation were expressed as follows :        

동해 원산 연안 대복, Gomphina (Macridiscus) veneriformis (LAMARCK, 1818) 의 연령과 성장

본 조사는 2006년 2월부터 2007년 1월까지 12개월에 걸쳐 북한 원산 연안에서 형망에 의해 어획되어 주문진 검역소로 수입되어지는 대복을 실험에 사용하였다. 총 표본수는 3,899개체였고, 비만도를 통하여 추정한 대복의 산란기는 7-8월이며, 주산란기는 8월로 조사되었다. 대복의 패각에 나타난 윤문은 연 1회 형성되는 주기성 윤문으로, 주 윤문형성시기는 7월로 조사되어, 산란 후 초륜이 형성되기까지의 기간은 약 11개월 (0.92년) 로 나타났다. 대복의 상대성장식은 다음과 같다. SH = 0.7405 SL + 0.2227 (<TEX>$R^2$</TEX> = 0.9671) SW = 0.3657 SL + 0.4253 (<TEX>$R^2$</TEX> = 0.922) <TEX>$$TW=0.4274{\times}10^{-3}{\times}SL^{2.7876}$$</TEX> (<TEX>$R^2$</TEX> = 0.9591) 대복의 von Bertalanffy 성장식은 다음 식을 통해 나타낼 수 있었다. <TEX>$$SL_t=70.80(1-e^{-0.217(t+0.367)})$$</TEX> <TEX>$$TW_t=(1-e^{-0.217(t+0.367)})^{2.7876}$$</TEX> The age and growth of Gomphina (Macridiscus) veneriformis sampled from February 2006 to January 2007 on the Wonsan coast of East Sea were determined from 3,899 shell. Age of Gomphina (Macridiscus) veneriformis was estimated from the ring on the surface of shell. The relationship between shell length (SL) and shell height (SH) was expressed by the following equation : SH = 0.7405 SL + 0.2227 (<TEX>$R^2$</TEX> = 0.9671), and shell length (SL) and shell width (SW) was highly correlated by the equation : SW = 0.3657 SL + 0.4253 (<TEX>$R^2$</TEX> = 0.922). The relationship between shell length (SL) and total weight (TW) was also expressed by the following equation : <TEX>$TW=0.4274{\times}10^{-3}{\times}SL^{2.7876}$</TEX> (<TEX>$R^2$</TEX> = 0.9591). The main spawning periods was estimated August through fatness index analysis. Based on the monthly variations in the marginal index (MI) of the shell, it is assumed that the ring of this species was formed once a year during the period of July. Growth curves for shell length (SL) and total weight (TW) fitted to the von Bertalanffy's equation were expressed as follows : <TEX>$$SL_t=70.80(1-e^{-0.217(t+0.367)})$$</TEX> <TEX>$$TW_t=(1-e^{-0.217(t+0.367)})^{2.7876}$$</TEX>

Effects of infectious bursal disease (IBD) on shank length and diameter, body weight and mortality in broiler breeder at rearing period

Shank length is used as a tool for the determination of fertility, body weight, estimates of frame size, and the monitoring of growth and development of pullets. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of infectious bursal disease (IBD) on shank length, diameter, body weight, shank length and body weight growth curves, and mortality rate in males and females in the rearing period in broiler breeder flocks. In this study, 2 broiler breeder flocks (Ross 308 flocks) and 800 breeder chicks (both females and males) were selected for shank length and diameter assessments. All the management, nutrition, and geographical statuses were similar, except for one flock that was infected with IBD. Results of this study showed that IBD presence in the flock decreased shank length in male and female chickens compared with the control group. Shank length in male and female chickens at 20 weeks of age was 0.53 and 0.02 cm, respectively, which was less than that in the controls, but these differences were not statistically significant. Shank diameter in the diseased male and female chicks was also smaller than that in the controls, although this difference was not also significant. There were no significant differences in the body weight of both sexes at 20 weeks of age. Body weight to shank length ratio in the diseased males was higher than that in the controls, but in female chickens it was less than it was in the control group after 12 weeks. Mortality rate in diseased males was 2.26% more than that in the control group (P < 0.05) but mortality in females was not different from that in the control group. After observing clinical IBD in both male and female chicks, antibody titers against IBD virus were found to have increased compared to the control group (P < 0.0001). It could be concluded that male chickens are more sensitive to IBD than females.

Growth model for one-year old Panulirus ornatus

We developed a growth model for Panulirus ornatus by measuring the length of individuals during dif-ferent growth periods during rearing in the laboratory.Growth was explained by the following equation: W= 0.035 8× L3.043 2.The body immortal length was explained by the equation Lt=56.0×[1-e-0.053 1(t-1.1944)].The relationship between body length and carapace length was L=2.772 2CL + 0.337 9.The body weight growth equation was Wt= 7 481.2×[1-e-0.0531(t-1.1944)]3.The rate of change in body immortal length was explained by Dl/Dt=56.0×0.0531× е-0.0531(t-1.1944).The rate of change in body weight was explained by dW/dt=3×7 481.2×0.053 1×е-0.053 1(t-1.1944)× [1-е-0.053 1(t-1.1944)]2.The inflection point age of P.ornatus was 14.56 months,calculated using the formula Tr = ln3/K+t0.Body length increased more rapidly during the early period.Conversely,body weight increased more rapidly in the later period.The body weight growth curve was represented by an asymmetrical S curve,but had an inflection point.The body weight increased up to a maximum of 79.24 g-month-1 at the inflection point.

Nestling growth of Great Tits Parus major with comparison among altitudes

Fledgling mass can have great influence on individual’s life history and reflects the availability and quality of food in the breeding territory. Thus growth curve is used to compare the difference in the quality between different ecological conditions. The aim of the study was to fill the knowledge gap on nestling growth in Great Tit in Slovenia, to determine the influence of altitude on it and to present a tool for estimating age of nestlings and key dates in breeding phenology of Great Tit. Great Tits young were monitored using nest-boxes at three locations between years 2010 and 2012. At two locations nest-boxes were placed on three separate altitudinal belts. Weight growth curve was compared with the curves from other parts of Europe. Growth curve from Slovenia differs in growth parameters from other European populations but falls within their range. Difference in growth parameters betweenseparate populations probably comes from the difference in ecological conditions. When comparing three altitudes weight parameters of hatchlings were similar at lower and middle but different at upper altitudes indicating that weigh growth changes with the altitude. Lower food abundance that comes with rising altitude may be offset by lower competition through lower breeding density (hence similar growth parameters in lower and middle altitude), but not past certain altitude. Weight parameters are usefulwhen comparing different populations, but wing-length is better in determining the age of young in the nest.

Age and growth of Spualiobarbus curriculus from Zhaoqing Guangdong Section of Xijiang River

In base of the 296 specimens of Squaliobarbus curriculus captured by gill-net in the Zhaoqing Guangdong section of Xijiang River during May~June,2006 and May,2008,we observed the annual rings on scales of S.curriculus and studied the growth of the fish.The results reveal that the individual catches of age 3 and age 4 are dominant.The relative growth rate of length is greater before age 3 and then decreases.The inflexion point of weight growth curve is aging inflection point at age 8.The total mortality coefficient Z is 0.337 9;the natural mortality coefficient M is 0.193 6;the fishing mortality coefficient F is 0.144 3;the fishing mortality rate E is 0.427.To protect the fishery resources,the capture specifications of length should not be less than 230 mm and the weight should not be less than 220 g.

A novel therapeutic strategy using ultrasound mediated microbubbles destruction to treat colon cancer in a mouse model

The goal of this study was to determine whether ultrasound mediated microbubbles destruction (UMMD) could inhibit colon cancer growth in a mouse model. Six-week-old balb/c female nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with HT29-GFP cells (HT29 cells labeled with green fluorescent dye) in axilla to establish a xenograft mouse model of colon carcinoma, which were randomly divided into five groups (n=10 each): group A (blank group): no treatment; group B (saline only); group C (saline+ultrasound exposure); group D (intravenous microbubbles only); and group E (intravenous microbubbles+ultrasound exposure). Treatment of each group was performed on days 20, 21, and 22 after inoculation. Tumor growth and metastatic spread were monitored by the whole-body fluorescent imaging, tumor volume growth and body weight growth curve were obtained as well. The mice were euthanized 30days after treatment. Specimens of the tumor tissues were evaluated pathologically using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Necrosis percentages, microvascular density and tumor cells damage of each tumor were assessed histologically. Our data indicate that: (1) tumor growth in group E (intravenous microbubbles+ultrasound exposure) was significantly decreased after four weeks post inoculation, compared with other control treatments (P<0.05); (2) the tumor weight at sacrifice in group E was significantly lower than that in other groups; (3) The intravenous microbubbles combined with ultrasound exposure treated mice showed significantly decreased expression levels of CD31. (4)The pathological changes of absence of nucleus membrane, chromatin condensation, mitochondrial vacuolation and hemorrhagic damage of microvessel were observed in the tumors of group E only, whereas these changes occurred rarely in other groups; and (5) no metastatic lesion was found in any group throughout this study using whole-body fluorescent imaging, and the skin of the mouse in group E was intact after UMMD treatment. Our results suggest that UMMD can be used as a promising novel therapeutic strategy to treat colon cancer.

Early life growth trajectories and future risk for overweight

Objective:Standard approaches have found that rapid growth during the first 2 years of life is a risk factor for overweight in later childhood. Our objective was to test whether growth velocity, independent of concurrent size, was associated with overweight using a nonlinear random-effects model that allows for enhanced specifications and estimations.Methods:Longitudinal data from a birth cohort in Mexico (n=586) were used to estimate growth trajectories over 0–24 months for body mass index (BMI), length and weight using the SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) models. The SITAR models use a nonlinear random-effects model to estimate an average growth curve for BMI, length and weight and each participant's deviation from this curve on three dimensions—size, velocity and timing of peak velocity. We used logistic regression to estimate the association between overweight status at 7–9 years and size, velocity and timing of BMI, length and weight trajectories during 0–24 months. We tested whether any association between velocity and overweight varied by relative size during 0–24 months or birth weight.Results:SITAR models explained the majority of the variance in BMI (73%), height (86%) and weight (85%) between 0–24 months. When analyzed individually, relative BMI/length/weight (size) and BMI/length/weight velocity during 0–24 months were each associated with increased odds of overweight in late childhood. Associations for timing of peak velocity varied by anthropometric measure. However, in the mutually adjusted models, only relative BMI/length/weight (size) remained statistically significant. We found no evidence that any association between velocity and overweight varied by size during 0–24 months or birth weight.Conclusions:After mutual adjustment, size during 0–24 months of life (as opposed to birth size), but not velocity or timing of peak velocity, was most consistently associated with overweight in later childhood.

Growth in individuals with Majewski osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II caused by pericentrin mutations

Microcephalic primordial dwarfism (MPD) is a class of disorders characterized by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), impaired postnatal growth and microcephaly. Majewski osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD II) is one of the more common conditions within this group. MOPD II is caused by truncating mutations in pericentrin (PCNT) and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Detailed growth curves for length, weight, and OFC are presented here and derived from retrospective data from 26 individuals with MOPD II confirmed by molecular or functional studies. Severe pre- and postnatal growth failure is evident in MOPD II patients. The length, weight, and OFC at term (when corrected for gestational age) were -7.0, -3.9, and -4.6 standard deviation (SD) below the population mean and equivalent to the 50th centile of a 28-29-, 31-32-, and 30-31-week neonate, respectively. While at skeletal maturity, the height, weight, and OFC were -10.3, -14.3, and -8.5 SD below the population mean and equivalent to the size of 3-year 10- to 11-month-old, a 5-year 2- to 3-month-old, and 5- to 6-month-old, respectively. During childhood, MOPD II patients grow with slowed, but fairly constant growth velocities and show no evidence of any pubertal growth spurt. Treatment with human growth hormone (n = 11) did not lead to any significant improvement in final stature. The growth charts presented here will be of assistance with diagnosis and management of MOPD II, and should have particular utility in nutritional management of MOPD II during infancy.

Influence of stocking density on growth of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in suspended culture

Crowding conditions in bivalve populations cause intraspecific competition processes, resulting in individual growth reduction. In aquaculture, density is usually maximized to obtain a greater commercial yield. Commercial farms provide an ideal scenario for studying the effect of density on mussel growth in suspended culture systems. In this study, different growth indicators for Mytilus galloprovincialis (growth rates, length and weight growth curves and size frequency distributions) were measured along a cultivation density gradient. Ropes cultured at different densities (220, 370, 500, 570, 700, 800 and 1150ind/m) were hanged from a commercial raft and growth indicators were monitored monthly over the second phase of traditional culture in Galicia, from thinning-out to harvest (April to October 2008). A negative effect of density on individual growth was observed. Individuals cultured at lower densities presented higher growth rates and consequently reached greater weight and length values at the end of the experimental period than those cultured at higher densities. Differences in growth related to the cultivation density may suggest differences in intraspecific competition for limiting resources (space/food). Effects of density on growth started after 4months of culture (August) when individuals reached sizes around 66±1.3mm. The increase in size of individuals in a population implies an increment of their food and space requirements, which in turn intensifies intraspecific competition. This fact should be considered in aquaculture management, since higher densities could be supported without effects on growth performance if cultured mussels are limited to a lower size.

Evaluation of mathematical models to describe growth of grazing young bulls

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of different mathematical models to describe growth of grazing beef cattle. Data of 20 Nellore bulls with initial weight of 129±28.1 kg and final weight of 405±62.0 kg were used. The animals were randomly divided into four plots and placed on B. decumbens Stapf pastures. Three plots received concentrate supplement with different protein profiles and the fourth plot received only mineral supplement. Animals were weighed every 28 days to design growth curve of full body weight. Five mathematical models were evaluated to describe animal growth: Multiphase, Linear, Logarithmic, Gompertz and Logistic models. Assessment of adequacy of the models was performed by using coefficient of determination, simultaneous F-test for identity of parameters, concordance correlation coefficient, root of the mean square error of prediction and partition of the mean square error of prediction. The analysis of the pairwise mean square error of prediction and the delta Akaike's information criterion were used to compare the models for accuracy and precision. Evaluation of all the tested models showed that all of them were able to predict variability among animals. However, Gompertz, Logarithmic and Logistic models created individual predictions that were not satisfactory. Models differed from each other concerning accuracy and precision; the best were in the following order: Multiphase, Linear, Gompertz, Logarithmic and Logistic. The Multiphase model was more efficient than the others for description of grazing beef cattle growth.

Postnatal Weight Changes in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants - Comparison with Intrauterine and Postnatal Growth Grids

Background and objectives: The better providers understand growth of premature infants, more appropriate interventions can be developed to help these children to grow and develop. Controversy still exists whether growth of premature infants should be compared with intrauterine or longitudinal postnatal growth curves. We aimed to define the postnatal growth of premature infants and compare it with reference growth curves. Methods: We studied a prospective cohort of VLBW infants. Infants whose birth weight was < 10th centile, major neurological lesions and necrotizing enterocolitis ≥IIa were excluded. Weight was measured at five time points until 44 weeks postnatal age. Multiple comparisons were made between our postnatal weight gain and Ehrankranz's adequate for gestational age and Fenton's 50th centile weight growth curves, using Wilcoxon's test after Bonferroni's adjustment for multiple comparisons. Results: We studied 88 infants with a mean GA of 28,6 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1085g. Postnatal weight gain was statistically different from Fenton's 50th centile in all time points (p< 0,003). There was no difference when we compare our postnatal weigh growth with Ehrenkranz's curves except for infants with birth weight 701-900, 901-1100 and 1101-1300g, which had less weight at 13th postnatal day. Conclusions: Intrauterine growth curve were not appropriate for evaluation of postnatal weight gain of our cohort and confirms impression given by most authors that an adverse extrauterine environment prevents catch-up growth. Extrauterine postnatal curves proved to be more realistic and suitable to evaluate weight gain of premature infants.

Agnostic about in Vivo Inverse Agonism of Agouti-Related Peptide

Agnostic about in Vivo Inverse Agonism of Agouti-Related Peptide