Children With Chronic Physical Disorders: Maternal Reports of Their Psychological Adjustment

Advances in biomedical science have resulted in dramatic improvementsin the medical care of chronically ill and handicapped children.Past measurement problems have resulted in a lack of clarityregarding the psychological adjustment of these children. Themothers of 270 chronically ill and handicapped children wereadministered the Child Behavior Checklist in an attempt to identifypatterns of behavioral functioning across six pediatric chronicdisorders: juvenile diabetes, spina bifida, hemophilia, chronicobesity, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and cerebral palsy.In general, it was found that children in all chronic disordergroups were perceived by their mothers as evidencing on theaverage more behavioral and social competence problems thanexpected based on norms for children in general. However, theirbehavioral and social adjustment was reported as better thanthat of a normative sample of children referred to mental healthclinics. There were essentially no differences between childrenwith different chronic disorders in terms of behavior problemsand social competence. The results were taken to support theview that these children were as a group at risk for adjustmentproblems. They were also discussed in terms of the noncategorialapproach, which suggests that similar psychosocial challengesare faced across pediatric chronic physical disorders.     

A case-control study of breast cancer among Japanese women: with special reference to family history and reproductive and dietary factors

Summary To study the effects of family history and reproductive, anthropometric, and dietary factors on the risk of breast cancer among low risk populations, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study involving 908 patients with breast cancer and their matched controls, in Japan. A positive family history of breast cancer significantly increased the risk of breast cancer (odds ratio = 1.52, 95% confidence interval: 1.14–2.03). The risk further increased with increasing number of family members affected. Obesity, single marital status, fewer births, a late childbirth, and less consumption of green-yellow vegetables and dairy products were also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. These associations were independent in multivariate analyses. There was no increase in risk associated with consumption of high fat foods. When analyzed by menopausal status, the association with family history of breast cancer, especially in the first degree of relatives, was more evident for premenopausal breast cancer. The associations with obesity and lower consumption of dairy products were more pronounced for postmenopausal breast cancer, while those with lower parity and single marital status were stronger for premenopausal breast cancer.     

单纯性肥胖儿童的智力研究

本调查了１１４名不同肥胖程度的儿童智力状况。结果发现：患儿与正常体重儿童的智力水平没有显差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。表明单纯性肥胖儿童的智力发育正常。     

The biomechanics of restricted movement in adult obesity

In spite of significant advances in the knowledge and understanding of the multi-factorial nature of obesity, many questions regarding the specific consequences of the disease remain unanswered. In particular, there is a relative dearth of information pertaining to the functional limitations imposed by overweight and obesity. The limited number of studies to date have mainly focused on the effect of obesity on the temporospatial characteristics of walking, plantar foot pressures, muscular strength and, to a lesser extent, postural balance. Collectively, these studies have implied that the functional limitations imposed by the additional loading of the locomotor system in obesity result in aberrant mechanics and the potential for musculoskeletal injury. Despite the greater prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the obese, there has been surprisingly little empirical investigation pertaining to the biomechanics of activities of daily living or into the mechanical and neuromuscular factors that may predispose the obese to injury. A better appreciation of the implications of increased levels of body adiposity on the movement capabilities of the obese would afford a greater opportunity to provide meaningful support in preventing, treating and managing the condition and its sequelae. Moreover, there is an urgent need to establish the physical consequences of continued repetitive loading of major structures of the body, particularly of the lower limbs in the obese, during the diverse range of activities of daily living.     

Drug pharmacokinetics in the obese

In the obese, modifications in body constitution (higher percentage of fat and lower percentage of lean tissue and water) can affect drug distribution in the tissues. For slightly liposoluble molecules (e.g., digoxin, antipyrine), the equilibrium distribution volume (V), total and per kilogram weight, is significantly less than that of control subjects. With lipophilic drugs (e.g., barbiturates, benzodiazepines), this parameter is significantly increased, explaining the prolongation of the plasma elimination half-life. For drugs that are almost equally soluble in water and oil (methyl xanthines, aminoglycosides), the V is slightly increased in the obese. The other main factors involved in drug diffusion in the tissues are binding to plasma and tissue proteins, and regional blood flow. In the obese the binding of drugs to albumin does not seem to be altered. A marked increase in plasma alpha-glycoprotein acid and in propranolol binding has been reported in some studies; this has not been corroborated by other authors. Although the cardiac output and total blood volume are increased in the obese, the blood flow per gram of fat is less than in nonobese subjects. This could limit diffusion in the tissues of some lipophilic drugs. Studies on hepatic clearance of drugs are not available in the obese, but hepatic histological alterations have been described. In most publications concerning drugs with biotransformation as the principal elimination route, the total plasma clearance is not reduced. Up to the present, there are no reports of any impairment involving renal elimination of drugs in the obese. Dose-adjustment of hydrophilic drugs is assessed according to the ideal weight of the individual obese subject; with lipophilic drugs the loading dose can be fixed according to the total weight; calculation of the maintenance dose depends on possible changes in the total clearance.     

Relationship between maternal glycaemia and birth weight in glucose-tolerant women from different ethnic groups in New Zealand.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the population attributable fraction(PAF) for a large baby (> or =4 kg) due to glycaemia, weight and smoking in glucose-tolerant women from different ethnic groups. METHODS: A retrospective review of screening for gestational diabetes (GDM)and associated birth weight was undertaken in New Zealand European (n= 529), Maori (n= 540) and Pacific (n= 916) women. The proportion with a large baby was compared by 1-h post 50-g glucose challenge test tertile and maternal weight tertile. RESULTS: Large babies were more common from Pacific and European than Maori women (24.3%, 18.8%, 8.9%, respectively; P<0.001). Birth weight increased significantly with increasing glucose among Pacific women (P<0.001) even after adjusting for maternal weight and other confounders. The risk of having a large baby was 2.56 (1.82-3.60)-fold greater in women in the highest maternal weight tertile (> or =84 kg), with a significantly greater PAF in Pacific women(27.2%, 12.9%, 16.4%, respectively; P<0.001). The odds ratio (OR) of having a large baby increased with even mildly elevated maternal 1-h glucose concentrations [OR for 5.6-6.2 mmol/l: 1.54 (1.11-2.14); for > or =6.3 mmol/l: 2.06 (1.50-2.82)], with no ethnic differences in PAF (11.1-11.8%, 16.7-18.7%, respectively). Smoking and being Maori were associated with smaller babies. CONCLUSIONS: Increased maternal weight and glycaemia are associated with a greater proportion of large babies among glucose-tolerant women. Growth of Pacific babies may be more sensitive to a higher maternal glucose when the mother is obese.     

复方通络中药改善肥胖患者血管内皮细胞功能障碍研究

目的观察复方通络中药对单纯性肥胖患者血管内皮依赖性舒张功能障碍的干预效应，探讨其作用机制。方法应用高分辨血管超声检查选择血管内皮依赖性舒张功能障碍[以血流介导的肱动脉扩张率（FMD）表示]肥胖患者（65例），随机分为通络中药治疗组和对照组。治疗组32例，对照组33例。治疗组给予辛香疏络2号胶囊，3g／次，每日3次；对照组给予淀粉胶囊，3g／次，每日3次。共用药12周，分别测定用药前后FMD、肱动脉内径（D0），同时检测辛香疏络2号治疗前后患者血清总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）的变化。结果治疗后治疗组FMD较对照组明显增加（P〈0．01），TC、TG较治疗前及对照组明显下降（P〈0．01）。结论复方通络中药辛香疏络2号胶囊可明显改善肥胖患者血管内皮障碍，调节血脂可能是其改善血管内皮功能机制之一。     

Appetite and obesity: a gastroenterologist''s perspective

This review focuses on the gastrointestinal tract's control of appetite and interventions directed to the gut that are effective in the treatment of obesity. It examines the evidence linking gut hormones to the control of both appetite and upper gastrointestinal motility, the evidence that stomach function is altered and contributes to satiation in obesity and outlines the principles of therapy for obesity which are directed at the gastrointestinal tract. These therapies impair fat absorption or alter stomach functions through pharmacological, device, endoscopic, or surgical approaches. Gastroenterologists need to understand the role of factors controlling appetite in order to effectively manage the increasing number of obese patients and the ways the gut function may be altered as a result of the treatments and their complications.