Rates Of Weight Change Research Articles

Analyzing Children's Weight Growth Variations and Associated Factors in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam: Using Fractional Polynomial Mixed-Effects Model.

Children's growth is increasingly considered a key mediator of later life outcomes. When examining weight growth, the correlation between repeated observations on the same subject must be regarded as well-modelled. This study aimed to analyze children's weight growth variations and associated factors in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam using a fractional polynomial mixed-effects model. This study used longitudinal data from the Young Lives Cohort Study conducted from 2002 to 2016 in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. The study included 7,140 children of 1 to 15 years old A fractional polynomial mixed-effects model was used to analyze the data. Ethiopian, Peruvian, and Vietnamese children had significantly higher average body weights than children in India (1.426, P<0.001; 1.992, P<0.001; 1.334, P<0.001, respectively). Girl children's average body weight was significantly 0.15 times less than that of boys (-0.148; P=0.027). The average weight of rural children was significantly 0.671 times less than that of urban children (0.671, P<0.001). Children from Peru and Vietnam had higher rates of weight change than those from India. However, the rate of weight change was lower in Ethiopian children than in Indian children. Children from urban areas had a significantly higher rate of weight gain than those from rural areas. Country, sex, residence, parental education, household size, wealth, good drinking water, and reliable power affected children's longitudinal weight growth. Therefore, WHO and the nation's health ministry should monitor children's weight growth status and these associated factors to plan future action.

Viscoelastic Properties of Water-Absorbed Poly(methyl methacrylate) Doped with Lithium Salts with Various Anions.

We investigated the effects of water absorption on the dynamic mechanical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) doped with various generic lithium salts, such as lithium perchlorate trihydrate (LiClO4), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiCF3SO3), lithium nonafluorobutanesulfonate (LiC4F9SO3), and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiN(CF3SO2)). The rates of weight change during water absorption of lithium salt-doped samples were higher in the following order: LiClO4, LiCF3SO3, LiC4F9SO3, and LiN(CF3SO2). Interestingly, the aforementioned order was the same as the order of the terminal relaxation times in the flow region of the viscoelastic measurement in the melting-state. This implies that the water absorption of the salt-doped PMMA occurs due to the factors that affect the pinning of the PMMA molecular chains in the places.

A machine-learning approach for predicting the effect of carnitine supplementation on body weight in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The present study aimed to explore the effect of carnitine supplementation on body weight in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and predict an appropriate dosage schedule using a machine-learning approach. Data were obtained from literature mining and the rates of body weight change from the initial values were selected as the therapeutic index. The maximal effect (Emax) model was built up as the machine-learning model. A total of 242 patients with PCOS were included for analysis. In the machine-learning model, the Emax of carnitine supplementation on body weight was −3.92%, the ET50 was 3.6 weeks, and the treatment times to realize 25%, 50%, 75%, and 80% (plateau) Emax of carnitine supplementation on body weight were 1.2, 3.6, 10.8, and 14.4 weeks, respectively. In addition, no significant relationship of dose-response was found in the dosage range of carnitine supplementation used in the present study, indicating the lower limit of carnitine supplementation dosage, 250 mg/day, could be used as a suitable dosage. The present study first explored the effect of carnitine supplementation on body weight in patients with PCOS, and in order to realize the optimal therapeutic effect, carnitine supplementation needs 250 mg/day for at least 14.4 weeks.

743-P: Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Insulin Glargine 300 U/mL (Gla-300) in Insulin-Naïve People with Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and Renal Impairment (RI): A Subgroup Analysis of the ATOS Study

ATOS, a prospective, 12-month observational study in 18 countries outside US and Western Europe, showed that initiation of Gla-300 in people with T2DM resulted in improved glycemic control with low rates of hypoglycemia and minimal weight change. Here we present the results from a subgroup analysis in participants with (N=581) or without (N=3841) a history of RI (~70% microalbuminuria, Table). Patients with RI were older (62.2±10.3 vs. 56.4±10.7 years), had a longer duration of T2DM (mean: 12.7±6.9 vs. 9.8±6.0 years) and more comorbidities than patients without RI. Baseline HbA1c was comparable between groups (9.3%). Physician-set individualized HbA1c (%) goals at baseline in the RI vs. non-RI groups were Disclosure A. Tirosh: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Consultant; Self; DreaMed Diabetes, Ltd. N. Khan: None. H. Vargas-uricoechea: Advisory Panel; Spouse/Partner; Sanofi. M. N. Mabunay: Employee; Self; Sanofi, Stock/Shareholder; Self; Sanofi. M. Coudert: Employee; Self; Sanofi. V. Pilorget: Employee; Self; Sanofi. G. R. Galstyan: None. Funding Sanofi

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Disordered Eating: Clarifying the Overlap.

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is estimated to occur in up to 1% of adolescents, with symptoms of dizziness, fatigue, and pain impacting daily functioning. However, many risk factors and symptoms for POTS overlap with those of youth with disordered eating, and adolescents with POTS may be at increased risk for developing eating disorders. Therefore, the present study sought to better understand this overlap. We hypothesized that patients with POTS would have higher than expected rates of weight change, restrictive eating patterns, and food sensitivities. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 96 adolescents and young adults diagnosed with POTS who were participating in a 3-week intensive interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program. We conducted descriptive and correlational statistical analyses on data from self-report measures, biomarkers of nutritional status, and abstracted information about eating and weight concerns from medical notes. Nearly 3 quarters of participants described engaging in restrictive eating, and more than half of them described experiencing weight loss. They also endorsed experiencing food allergies, celiac disease, and eating disorder at higher rates than would be expected in the general population. One-fifth of the sample had experienced invasive interventions to correct for nutritional imbalances, such as having a feeding tube. Weight and eating are clear areas of risk for patients with orthostatic intolerance. It is essential that treatment team members thoroughly screen for eating disturbances and make recommendations that support regular and balanced eating habits.

Regional and Geographical Disparities in Body Mass Index (BMI) Among Chinese Older Adults: The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey.

This study examined the regional and geographical disparities in body mass index (BMI) among Chinese older adults. Using panel data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, participants included 3,740 older adults (age ≥ 65 years) who answered all three waves of the survey (2009-2014). Sex-stratified and multistate Cox regression was used to examine the disparities in BMI change. Results showed that both older males and older females who resided in the central-south had lower rates of weight change from nonobese to obese, compared with those from the east. Older females from urban regions had higher rate of weight change from nonobese to obese, compared with rural participants (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.13, 1.60]; p < .01). However, there were no disparities between urban and rural areas among older males (p > .05). These results provided practical implications for regional and geographical disparities in BMI among Chinese older adults.

Outcomes of an inpatient refeeding protocol in youth with Anorexia Nervosa and atypical Anorexia Nervosa at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

BackgroundHistorically, inpatient protocols have adopted relatively conservative approaches to refeeding in Anorexia Nervosa (AN) in order to reduce the risk of refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal constellation of symptoms. However, increasing evidence suggests that patients with AN can tolerate higher caloric prescriptions during treatment, which may result in prevention of initial weight loss, shorter hospital stays, and less exposure to the effects of severe malnutrition. Therefore the present study sought to examine the effectiveness of a more accelerated refeeding protocol in an inpatient AN and atypical AN sample.MethodsParticipants were youth (ages 10–22) with AN (n = 113) and atypical AN (n = 16) who were hospitalized for medical stabilization. A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess changes in calories, weight status (percentage of median BMI, %mBMI), and indicators of refeeding syndrome, specifically hypophosphatemia, during hospitalization. Weight was assessed again approximately 4 weeks after discharge.ResultsNo cases of refeeding syndrome were observed, though 47.3 % of participants evidenced hypophosphatemia during treatment. Phosphorous levels were monitored in all participants, and 77.5 % were prescribed supplemental phosphorous at the time of discharge. Higher rates of caloric changes were predictive of greater changes in %mBMI during hospitalization. Rates of caloric and weight change were not related to an increased likelihood of re-admission.ConclusionsResults suggest that a more accelerated approach to inpatient refeeding in youth with AN and atypical AN can be safely implemented and is not associated with refeeding syndrome, provided there is close monitoring and correction of electrolytes. These findings suggest that this approach has the potential to decrease length of stay and burden associated with inpatient hospitalization, while supporting continued progress after hospitalization.

Estimating Individual Rates of Weight Change in Healthy Young Adults

Estimating Individual Rates of Weight Change in Healthy Young Adults

PD39-10 CHANGES IN BODY MASS INDEX AND METABOLIC SYNDROME ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PROSTATE GROWTH RATE OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD

You have accessJournal of UrologyBenign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Epidemiology and Natural History1 Apr 2015PD39-10 CHANGES IN BODY MASS INDEX AND METABOLIC SYNDROME ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PROSTATE GROWTH RATE OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD Yoon Soo Kyung, Dalsan You, In Gab Jeong, Taekmin Kwon, Chunwoo Lee, Seungbong Han, Hong-Kyu Kim, Choung-Soo Kim, Myungchan Park, Chanwoo Lee, and Sangjun Yoo Yoon Soo KyungYoon Soo Kyung More articles by this author , Dalsan YouDalsan You More articles by this author , In Gab JeongIn Gab Jeong More articles by this author , Taekmin KwonTaekmin Kwon More articles by this author , Chunwoo LeeChunwoo Lee More articles by this author , Seungbong HanSeungbong Han More articles by this author , Hong-Kyu KimHong-Kyu Kim More articles by this author , Choung-Soo KimChoung-Soo Kim More articles by this author , Myungchan ParkMyungchan Park More articles by this author , Chanwoo LeeChanwoo Lee More articles by this author , and Sangjun YooSangjun Yoo More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.2405AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Recent studies indicate that BPH and prostatic enlargement are linked with modifiable factors, including obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the association between the changes in these factors over time in the general population is unclear. Therefore, too evaluate the relationship between changes in body mass index (BMI), waist circumflex (WC), MetS and prostate growth over 5 years in an adult population. METHODS Data were collected from 1,108 population-based men age ≥ 40 years without a history of prostate cancer who underwent at least three general health screenings with a duration about 5 years between 2006 and 2013. Percent change in prostate volume (PV) was assessed 5 years following baseline measurements. Rates of prostate growth, body weight, and WC change over 5 years were calculated using the following formula: [(5 years after PV - base PV) / base PV] x 100. Association between prostate growth and changes in BMI, WC, and MetS status, respectively, were calculated using uni- and multivariate linear regression analyses. RESULTS Mean PVs were 21.3 ± 6.6 cc (baseline) and 28.21 ± 9.7 cc (5-year follow up). The mean BMI and waist circumference (WC) were 24.89 ± 2.59 kg/m2 and 86.79 ± 6.9 cm (baseline) and 24.68 ± 2.65 kg/m2 and 87.86 ± 7.4 cm (5-year follow up). After univariate linear regression, initial PSA, initial PV, initial BMI, changes in weight, BMI and WC were correlated with prostate growth. By multivariate linear regression analysis, changes in weight, BMI and WC were significantly associated with prostate growth (p = < 0.01, < 0.01 and 0.03, respectively) after adjusting for age, initial PV, and initial BMI. (Table) Prostate growth and changes in BMI were correlated in the obese group [initial BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2; 0.926 (0.376 to 1.475), p = < 0.01] but not in the non-obese group [initial BMI < 25 kg/m2; 0.455 (-0.050 to 0. 960), p = 0.12]. Patients who developed MetS exhibited greater prostate growth than those who did not [6.795 (1.589 to 12.001), p = 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS Changes in weight, BMI, and MetS status affect prostate growth over a 5-year period. Obese men show a particularly strong correlation between changes in BMI and prostate growth. Therefore, weight loss and controll MetS would improve prostate growth rate. Table. Factors associated with prostate growth rate according to linear regression analysis Univariate ∗Multivariate Coefficient estimate 95% CI p Coefficient estimate 95% CI p Change in weight % 0.597 0.220-0.974 <0.01 0.662 0.287-1.036 <0.01 Change in BMI % 0.525 0.153-0.897 <0.01 0.623 0.253-0.993 <0.01 Change in WC % 0.368 0.014-0.722 0.04 0.381 0.032-0.730 0.03 PSA 3.059 1.247-4.870 <0.01 3.954 0.647-7.260 0.02 BMI 0.669 0.027-1.310 0.04 1.119 0.117-2.120 0.03 Age -0.106 -0.342-0.130 0.38 0.029 -0.215-0.275 0.81 Base prostate volume -0.386 -0.638−-0.134 <0.01 -0.595 -1.001−-0.189 <0.01 ∗ Adjustment age, PSA, BMI, base prostate volume. © 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 193Issue 4SApril 2015Page: e833-e834 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Yoon Soo Kyung More articles by this author Dalsan You More articles by this author In Gab Jeong More articles by this author Taekmin Kwon More articles by this author Chunwoo Lee More articles by this author Seungbong Han More articles by this author Hong-Kyu Kim More articles by this author Choung-Soo Kim More articles by this author Myungchan Park More articles by this author Chanwoo Lee More articles by this author Sangjun Yoo More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Effects of initiation and titration of a single pre-prandial dose of insulin glulisine while continuing titrated insulin glargine in type 2 diabetes: a 6-month ‘proof-of-concept' study

AimStepwise intensification of insulin treatment to match the progressive decline of endogenous insulin secretion has been shown to be an effective management strategy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The efficacy of initiating and titrating a single bolus dose of insulin glulisine to baseline insulin glargine plus oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) was investigated.MethodsThis was a 6-month, parallel-group, randomized, open-label, Phase IV study conducted in the US, UK and Russia. People with T2DM (HbA1c 7.5–9.5%) using any basal insulin underwent a 3-month run-in period on insulin glargine titrated to optimize fasting blood glucose (BG) control. Those with HbA1c >7.0% were randomized to either continue prior therapy (n = 57) or to add a single dose of insulin glulisine (n = 49) immediately prior to the main meal for a further 3 months. Two different titration algorithms were employed for the bolus dose, targeting 2-h postprandial BG ≤135 mg/dL (≤7.5 mmol/l; Russia and UK) or pre-meal/bedtime BG 100–120 mg/dl (5.5–6.7 mmol/l; US).ResultsHbA1c and fasting plasma glucose levels decreased during the run-in period. In the 3 months after randomization, more participants in the basal-plus-bolus group reached HbA1c <7.0% than the basal-only control group (22.4 vs. 8.8%; p < 0.05), with significantly greater reduction of HbA1c (−0.37 vs. −0.11%; p = 0.0290). Rates of hypoglycaemia and mean weight change were comparable between the treatment groups.ConclusionsIn people with T2DM inadequately controlled on basal insulin plus OHAs, adding a single injection of insulin glulisine prior to the main meal significantly improves glucose control without undesired side effects.

Patrones de crecimiento postnatal en ocho especies de garzas (Ciconiiformes: Ardeidae)

Avian postnatal growth has received considerable attention and its ecological implications have been deeply analyzed. In this current paper, I describe the patterns of culmen and tarsus growth, as well as of weight gain patterns in eight species of herons and egrets (Aves: Ardeidae) found in the Birama Swamp in Eastern Cuba. Between 1998 and 2006,714 nestlings of the following species were measured every two days: Butorides virescens, Bubulcus ibis, Egretta thula, E. tricolor, E. caerulea, E. rufescens, Ardea alba and Nycticorax nycticorax. Logistic and Gompertz equations were adjusted to data using non-lineal regression models with adult values as the asymptote. For each species, the following were determined and recorded: growth rate, age at inflexion, instantaneous growth rates at each age interval, and time taken to reach 90% of adult size. Reported hatchling sizes were similar in other localities, with a variation coefficient ranging between 10-19%. At hatch, each species exhibited differing sizes relative to adult values. In all cases, Gompertz equations were best fitted to explain more variance and lesser residuals. Rates of weight change and tarsus growth were alometrically related to the log of adult weight. Two main growth processes were identified: a physical extension in dimensions of each measurement reflecting inter-specific morphometric differences, and a lineal increase of the growth period from Green Heron to Great Egret. The Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret and Reddish Egret exhibited some unique measurement characteristics in comparison to the remaining members of the family. All results support the hypothesis that hypermorphosis, as the main evolutionary process in the microevolution of Ardeidae, is caused by a delayed final moment of growth.

Rapid increases in obesity in Jamaica, compared to Nigeria and the United States

BackgroundWeight gain in adulthood is now common in many populations, ranging from modest gains in developing countries to a substantial percentage of body weight in some Western societies. To examine the rate of change across the spectrum of low to high-income countries we compared rates of weight change in samples drawn from three countries, Nigeria, Jamaica and the United States.MethodsPopulation samples from Nigeria (n = 1,242), Jamaica (n = 1,409), and the US (n = 809) were selected during the period 1995–1999 in adults over the age of 19; participation rates in the original survey were 96%, 60%, and 60%, respectively. Weight in (kg) was measured on 3 different occasions, ending in 2005. Multi-level regression models were used to estimate weight change over time and pattern-mixture models were applied to assess the potential effect of missing data on estimates of the model parameters.ResultsThe unadjusted weight gain rate (standard error) was 0.34(0.06), 1.26(0.12), 0.34(0.19) kg/year among men and 0.43(0.06), 1.28(0.10), 0.40(0.15) kg/year among women in Nigeria, Jamaica, US, respectively. Regression-adjusted weight change rates were significantly different across country, sex, and baseline BMI. Adjusted weight gain in Nigeria, Jamaica and US was 0.31(0.05), 1.37(.04), and 0.52(0.05) kg/year respectively. Women in Nigeria and the US had higher weight gains than men, with the converse observed among Jamaicans. The obese experienced weight loss across all three samples, whereas the normal weight (BMI < 25) had significant weight gains. Missing data patterns had an effect on the rates of weight change.ConclusionWeight change in sample cohorts from a middle-income country was greater than in cohorts from either of the low- or high-income countries. The steep trajectory of weight gain in Jamaica, relative to Nigeria and the US, is most likely attributable to the accelerating effects of the cultural and behavioral shifts which have come to bear on transitional societies.

Accelerated Weight Loss May Precede Diagnosis in Alzheimer Disease

To determine the association of weight loss and the onset of dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and to characterize the rate of weight change over time in older adults (aged 65-95 years) who develop DAT vs those who remain without dementia. Rates of weight change were investigated in older adult research participants (N = 449) who were enrolled as control subjects without dementia and followed up longitudinally (6 years on average) at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine. Some individuals (n = 125) eventually developed DAT; the others (n = 324) remained without dementia. Body weight was measured at each annual assessment. Piecewise linear regression and random effects models were used to test longitudinal rates of weight change between the groups. Participants without dementia lost about 0.6 lb per year. For those individuals who developed DAT, about 1 year before the detection of DAT, the rate of weight loss doubled (1.2 lb per year). As a group, participants who eventually developed DAT weighed less (about 8 pounds) at study enrollment (ie, when they did not have dementia) than participants who remained without dementia. Aging with and without DAT is associated with weight loss; however, weight loss may accelerate before the diagnosis of DAT. Specific factors contributing to weight loss are unknown, but these data suggest they operate before the development of DAT. Hence, weight loss may be a preclinical indicator of Alzheimer disease.

Treatment With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors During Pregnancy: Deceleration of Weight Gain Because of Depression or Drug?

Treatment With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors During Pregnancy: Deceleration of Weight Gain Because of Depression or Drug?

Lifetime Weight Patterns in Male Physicians: The Effects of Cohort and Selective Survival

The natural history of lifetime weight change is not well understood because of conflicting evidence from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Cross-sectional analyses find that adult weight is highest at approximately 60 years of age and lower thereafter. Longitudinal analyses have not found this pattern. Our objective was to test whether cohort effects and selective survival may explain the differences observed between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. We analyzed data on white men from the Johns Hopkins Precursors Study (n = 1197). Weight and height were measured at enrollment during medical school. The Precursors Study collected subsequent weight measurements by self-report and follows all participants for mortality. In preliminary analyses that ignored cohort and survival effects, average weight increased 0.16 kg/yr to age 65 (p < 0.001) and declined 0.10 kg/yr thereafter (p = 0.002). When controlling for differing rates of weight change by cohort and survival group, the apparent decline after 65 years of age was mostly explained. These data suggest that, in white men, weight increases steadily until age 65 and then plateaus. These findings emphasize the necessity of longitudinal rather than cross-sectional data to describe lifetime weight patterns.

Analyzing the weight dynamics of recurrent learning algorithms

We provide insights into the organization and dynamics of recurrent online training algorithms by comparing real time recurrent learning (RTRL) with a new continuous-time online algorithm. The latter is derived in the spirit of a recent approach introduced by Atiya and Parlos (IEEE Trans. Neural Networks 11 (3) (2000) 697), which leads to non-gradient search directions. We refer to this approach as Atiya–Parlos learning (APRL) and interpret it with respect to its strategy to minimize the standard quadratic error. Simulations show that the different approaches of RTRL and APRL lead to qualitatively different weight dynamics. A formal analysis of the one-output behavior of APRL further reveals that the weight dynamics favor a functional partition of the network into a fast output layer and a slower dynamical reservoir, whose rates of weight change are closely coupled.

Effects of host variety on blue willow beetle Phratora vulgatissima performance

Summary Phratora vulgatissima adults exhibit feeding preferences among willow varieties, yet little is known of the effects of willow variety on larval and adult performance. The effects of host variety on adult fitness and fecundity as well as on larval mortality and development were studied under laboratory conditions for 35 willow varieties. The host variety significantly affected the number of days that adults survived and the rates of weight change. On average, males lost weight and females gained weight. The total number of eggs, eggs day1, eggs clutch−1 and the length of the oviposition period were also significantly affected by willow variety. Progeny from eggs laid by adults fed on the different willow varieties showed significant differences in days to pupation and pupal weight when subsequently reared on Salix × dasyclados or on the same variety as fed to the adults. However, there was no correlation between these parameters on S. × dasyclados and the variety fed to adults. The willow variety fed to larvae significantly affected larval mortality (four varieties caused 100% mortality), the shape of larval growth curves (as measured by predicted final weight and time to half the final weight), the number of days to pupation and pupal weight. There were significant positive correlations between previously determined adult P. vulgatissima feeding preferences of the 35 willow varieties and the following: number of eggs laid, length of the oviposition period, larval mortality and development and change in adult weight. There was a considerable degree of variation in these correlations and some varieties did not follow the general trend indicated by the size or sign of particular correlations, for example, having a high feeding preference ranking yet few eggs laid, low larval weight and longer time to pupation. The differences found between varieties for adult and larval performance in conjunction with previously established feeding preferences offer great potential for utilising plant resistance to P. vulgatissima as a means of strategic control. Despite the general correlation of feeding preference and performance parameters, the results found here suggest that it appears to be possible for plant breeders to circumvent this trend.

Rates of weight change for black and white Americans over a twenty year period.

To examine the rate of weight gain over time among Americans by age, gender, and race. Scientific sample of 5117 Americans, ages 25-74 y in 1971 followed for 20 y. Rates of weight gain estimated by mixed effects models are highest among young adults and rates of weight loss are greatest among older adults. The overall shape of the growth curves are similar for men and women, black and white, in terms of both weight gain and weight loss. Rates are also affected by baseline body mass index (BMI=wt in kg/height in m(2)). Americans gain weight until middle age, stabilize, and begin to lose weight near age 60. Weight loss during old age is especially evident for obese Americans. The ability to accurately identify groups with increased risk and target them for obesity prevention will help combat the steady rise of overweight and obesity in America.

Deficits in sensorimotor control during precise hand movements in Huntington's disease

Objectives: To investigate the performance of patients with Huntington's disease (HD) while manipulating objects using a precision grip. Methods: The grip forces developed by the fingers were studied while subjects lifted an object of unpredictable weight in the hand. The ability to stabilize grip force after externally imposed weight change was also studied. Results: Patients used higher grip forces than the normal subjects in both the lifting and holding phases, particularly with a lighter weight. Lift timing was slowed in the patients, most markedly with a lighter weight. Increased levels of inter-trial variation were observed only with a light weight. This indicates that the slowing in HD differs from that in Parkinson's disease, which remains constant regardless of object load, and that the slowing in HD is not due to involuntary antagonist muscle activity resulting from an underlying chorea. The grip force response to sudden weight change was normal, but appeared after a delay which increased at lower rates of weight change. Conclusions: Disturbances in precision grip timing and magnitude in HD may result from a reduced ability to process relevant tactile afferent input. The delay in the adaptive response suggests an increased threshold for detection of weight change in HD. Alternatively, this delay may arise from mediation of the response over an additional cerebellar pathway to compensate for damage to the basal ganglia.

Efficacy of moxidectin, ivermectin and albendazole oral drenches for suppression of periparturient rise in ewe worm egg output and reduction of anthelmintic treatment for lambs

Sixty multiparous crossbred ewes which had lambed within three days in the first week of April 1996, were divided into four groups. Each group consisted of 15 ewes plus 12...