Psychological effects of belonging to a Facebook weight management group in overweight and obese adults: Results of a randomised controlled trial

This study was conducted to test whether the weight outcomes in an online social networking group were mediated by changes to psychological outcome measures in overweight and obese individuals, following a weight management programme delivered via Facebook. The data analysed in this study were collected during a three‐armed, randomised, controlled clinical weight management trial conducted with overweight and obese adults over 24 weeks. Two intervention groups were given the same weight management programme: one within a Facebook group, along with peer support from other group members (the Facebook Group); the other group received the same programme in a pamphlet (the Pamphlet Group). A Control Group was given standard care. The primary outcome was weight; secondary outcomes included the following domains from self‐reported questionnaires: energy intake and expenditure; psychological health, social relationships, physical health, quality of life, depression, anxiety, stress, health anxiety, happiness, as well as Facebook Group participants’ opinion of this group. The Facebook Group experienced a reduction in their baseline weight measurement by week 24, significantly compared to the Control Group (p = .016). The Facebook Group recorded a significant increase in the psychological health domain during the trial (at week 12) relative to their baseline measurement, and significant compared to the Control Group (p = .022). Mediation analysis indicated a statistical trend, but not statistical significance, for psychological health as a mediator to weight loss in the Facebook Group. While both intervention groups showed significant changes in psychological outcome measures, the Facebook Group was the only group to experience statistically significant weight loss by the end of the 24 weeks. Therefore, an examination of other psychological and/or behavioural outcome measures undertaken in larger studies in the future may help to identify significant mediators to improved weight loss outcomes in online social networking groups.     

Predictive performance of obesity indexes for the risk of high blood pressure in an adult population

Background and objectives

Comparisons of predictive performance of various anthropometric measures in high blood pressure have not been investigated. This study aimed at evaluating and comparing the predictive power of Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Adiposity index (BAI) and A Body Shape Index (ABSI) for predicting hypertension in adults.

Peser les patients habillés induit un risque de surestimation de leur statut nutritionnel

In institutions and at home, some patients may have difficulty mobilizing and undressing, or refusing to put on their underwear. It is therefore likely that weighing dressed patients is a common practice. The overestimation of the body weight thus obtained could lead to an error in the evaluation of the nutritional status. The aim of the study was to determine the extent to which adult patients dressed versus underwear could alter their nutritional status. Fifty-one patients were included. Dressed weighing overestimated the actual weight of 1.6 ± 0.6 kg and induced an overestimation of nutritional status classification in almost 14% of cases. In addition, the weight of the clothes was different according to the sex and the conditions of outside temperature. These results suggest that it is desirable as much as possible to weigh all adult patients in underwear.     

Effects of gestational weight gain on pregnancy complications

Introduction and objective

Gestational weight gain (GWG) has been reported to be associated with pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GWG on maternal and birth complications.

术中体温保护对老年前列腺气化电切手术患者术后早期认知功能及血清脑损伤标志物的影响

目的 探讨术中体温保护对老年患者前列腺气化电切手术（TURP）后早期认知功能障碍（POCD）及脑损伤标志物的影响。方法 选择2017年2月至2017年9月河南科技大学第一附属医院行TURP老年患者60例,采用随机数字表法将其分为常温组（对照组）和体温保护组（观察组）,每组各30例。对照组患者术中给予棉被覆盖非手术区域,静脉输注液和电切冲洗液为室温液,观察组患者给予电热风加温毯覆盖非手术区域,静脉输注液和电切冲洗液为38℃加温液。术前1天（D1）、术后第1天（D2）、术后第3天（D3）采用简易智能精神状态检查量表（MMSE）进行神经精神功能测定,同时检测患者脑损伤标志物（MBP、NSE和S-100β蛋白）水平,比较两组患者术后各时间点POCD发病率,及MBP、NSE和S-100β蛋白水平变化。结果 在术后D2、D3时间点对照组患者POCD发病率分别为26.67%、6.67%,均较观察组POCD发病率6.67%、0高,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;在D1时间点,两组患者血清MBP、NSE和S-100β蛋白水平差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;D2、D3时,观察组患者血清MBP、NSE和S-100β蛋白均较对照组降低,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 术中体温保护可有效降低老年患者TURP术后POCD的发病率,降低脑损伤特异性血清标志物MBP、NSE、S-100β蛋白水平,是一种有效的防治POCD的保护措施。     

低出生体质量儿坏死性小肠结肠炎的影响因素及手术疗效分析

目的 探讨低出生体质量儿坏死性小肠结肠炎(NEC)的影响因素、手术疗效与预后。 方法 以2006年1月至2015年12月收治的146例低出生体质量NEC患儿为病例组,另采用随机数字表法选取同期在新生儿重症监护室(NICU) 住院治疗的146例非NEC低出生体质量儿为对照组。分析两组患儿的临床资料,采用单因素和多因素分析探讨NEC的影响因素,并分析NEC患儿中手术组与保守治疗组疗效的差异。 结果 多因素logistic回归分析显示,母乳喂养与喂服益生菌为NEC的保护性因素,先天性心脏病、败血症与输血是NEC的危险因素。手术组的好转率(95.45%)明显高于保守治疗组(85.00%)(P<0.05)。 结论 低出生体质量儿NEC的发病受多种因素影响,应针对其影响因素进行综合干预。适合的手术疗法能提高疗效,改善患儿的预后。     

An Examination of Gender Differences in the Association of Adolescent Substance use with Eating and Weight Loss Attitudes

Objective: To assess gender differences in the relationship between eating and weight loss attitudes (EWAs), and 30-day tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents, while controlling for potential confounds (age, country of birth, psychological distress, pubertal development, peer alcohol and tobacco use, and sexual activity). Methods: School students aged between 11 and 17 years (N = 10,273) from high schools in the State of Victoria (Australia) completed surveys in class under conditions of anonymity and confidentiality. Results: The interaction between EWAs and gender was significant for tobacco use but not for alcohol use, indicating that the effect of EWAs on tobacco use, but not alcohol use, vary by gender. Conclusions: Tobacco use was related to EWAs in adolescent females but not males, and this is consistent with the possibility that females use tobacco in an instrumental fashion to control weight. Implications and Contribution: Female adolescents high in eating and weight loss attitudes were more likely to engage in tobacco use. In contrast, eating and weight loss attitudes were not related to male tobacco use. These results point to the potential importance of developing gender-specific approaches towards addressing problematic behaviors in adolescent populations.     

The safety of pharmacologic treatment for pediatric obesity

Introduction: Pediatric obesity is a serious public health concern. Five medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, when used as an adjunct to lifestyle modification. Orlistat is the only FDA-approved medication for pediatric patients aged 12 years and above.

Areas covered: This paper summarizes safety and efficacy data from clinical trials of weight loss medications conducted among pediatric samples. Relevant studies were identified through searches in PubMed.

Expert opinion: Orlistat, as an adjunct to lifestyle modification, results in modest weight losses and may be beneficial for some pediatric patients with obesity. However, gastrointestinal side effects are common and may limit use. In adults taking orlistat, rare but severe adverse events, including liver and renal events, have been reported. Recent pediatric pharmacokinetic studies of liraglutide have demonstrated similar safety and tolerability profiles as found in adults, with gastrointestinal disorders being the most common adverse events. Clinical trials are needed of liraglutide, as well as other medications for obesity, that systematically evaluate their risks and benefits in pediatric patients.     

Indocyanine green loaded hyaluronan-derived nanoparticles for fluorescence-enhanced surgical imaging of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is highly lethal and surgical resection is the only potential curative treatment for the disease. In this study, hyaluronic acid derived nanoparticles with physico-chemically entrapped indocyanine green, termed NanoICG, were utilized for intraoperative near infrared fluorescence detection of pancreatic cancer. NanoICG was not cytotoxic to healthy pancreatic epithelial cells and did not induce chemotaxis or phagocytosis, it accumulated significantly within the pancreas in an orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma model, and demonstrated contrast-enhancement for pancreatic lesions relative to non-diseased portions of the pancreas. Fluorescence microscopy showed higher fluorescence intensity in pancreatic lesions and splenic metastases due to NanoICG compared to ICG alone. The in vivo safety profile of NanoICG, including, biochemical, hematological, and pathological analysis of NanoICG-treated healthy mice, indicates negligible toxicity. These results suggest that NanoICG is a promising contrast agent for intraoperative detection of pancreatic tumors.     

Multimodal imaging for a theranostic approach in a murine model of B-cell lymphoma with engineered nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) are a promising tool for in vivo multimodality imaging and theranostic applications. Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based NPs have numerous active groups that make them ideal as tumor-targeted carriers. The B-lymphoma neoplastic cells express on their surfaces a clone-specific immunoglobulin receptor (Ig-BCR). The peptide A20-36 (pA20-36) selectively binds to the Ig-BCR of A20 lymphoma cells. In this work, we demonstrated the ability of core-shell chitosan-HA-NPs decorated with pA20-36 to specifically target A20 cells and reduce the tumor burden in a murine xenograft model. We monitored tumor growth using high-frequency ultrasonography and demonstrated targeting specificity and kinetics of the NPs via in vivo fluorescent reflectance imaging. This result was also confirmed by ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging and confocal microscopy. In conclusion, we demonstrated the ability of NPs loaded with fluorescent and paramagnetic tracers to act as multimodal imaging contrast agents and hence as a non-toxic, highly specific theranostic system.