Some effects of ovariectomy and estrogen replacement on body composition in the rat

Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OvX) at 3 ages, day 2 (D2), week 4 (W4) and week 7 (W7); a group of OvX W7 rats were treated daily with estrogen (OB; 2 μg for 2 or 5 weeks from 10 weeks of age). Rats were slaughtered at 4 ages, weeks 7, 9, 12 and 15, for the chemical analysis of carcass and skin. Chemical compositions were analysed as % wet weight and as component weights by two-way analysis of variance. Component weights were also analysed by allometry, regressing against nose-anal length. Ovariectomy increased overall body weight without causing obesity. The weight gain of the OvX rat was mainly a true growth response but OvX affected body proportions so that at a given body length the OvX rat had a larger skin and carcass than controls. Ovariectomy at the earliest age (D2) produced the smallest response in body weight and body length but produced the greatest fat redistribution towards the skin and away from the carcass; there was no net change in whole body fat levels following OvX. Long-term daily OB treatment increased fat reserves but slowed the growth of other body components, including the axial skeleton. Whereas OvX redistributed components between skin and carcass, OB treatment reversed this process.     

Body composition in French women 75+ years of age: the EPIDOS study

BACKGROUND: There are presently no published data on age-related changes in body composition in French individuals older than 65 or 80 years. This paper presents a cross-sectional study of 7518 community-residing French women older than 75 years. METHODS: We examined age differences changes in body composition and anthropometry between age groups (76-80, 81-85, and 86-95 years of age). Whole body composition was estimated using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner. Measurements of appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) mass and sarcopenia were performed for a subsample of 1321 women. RESULTS: Significant age differences exist in total fat mass and total bone mineral content in elderly women between 76 and 95 years of age. There was also a significant decreased in fat free soft tissue mass from 76 to 85. The decline in fat free mass may be reduced over 85 years of age. The prevalence of low muscle mass, or sarcopenia, increased with age from 8.9 in 76-80 to 10.9% in 86-95 age group, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional programs developed to prevent or reduce sarcopenia would have a better influence on population under 85 years, i.e. when the decline in ASM mass is the most severe. Others longitudinal studies could be performed to confirm our results.     

中国西部地区蒙古族的身体组成成分

目的 探讨西部蒙古族4个族群的身体组成成分特点。方法 采用生物电阻抗分析法测量青海和硕特部361（男性166,女性195）例、新疆察哈尔部443（男性217,女性226）例、新疆土尔扈特部239（男性112,女性127）例、阿拉善和硕特部233（男性89,女性144）例西部蒙古族4个族群18项身体组成成分指标,采用主成分分析探讨中国西部蒙古族身体组成成分的特点。结果 得出了西部蒙古族4个族群的身体组成成分数据。绝大多数指标性别间差异具有统计学意义,女性躯干、四肢的脂肪率较高,男性肌肉量较大。主成分分析表明,与中国南方族群相比,中国北方族群骨量更大,肌肉更发达,脂肪发育水平更高。在主成分散点图上,中国西部蒙古族与其他族群距离较远,表明西部蒙古族身体组成成分具有独特的特点。结论 在中国族群中,西部蒙古族骨量大,肌肉发达,体脂率高。     

Mapping the Distribution of the Telomeric Sequence (T2AG3) n in the 2n = 14 Ancestral Marsupial Complement and in the Macropodines (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) by fluorescence in situ hybridization

In this study we test the theory that the presence of the conserved vertebrate telomeric sequence (T(2)AG(3))(n) at the centromeres of Australian marsupial 2n = 14 complements is evidence that these karyotypes are recently derived, which is contrary to the generally held view that the 2n = 14 karyotype is ancestral for Australasian and American marsupials. Here we compare the distribution of the (T(2)AG(3))( n ) sequence and constitutive heterochromatin in the presumed ancestral 2n = 14 complement and in complements with known rearrangements. We found that where there were moderate to large amounts of constitutive heterochromatin, the distribution of the (T(2)AG(3))(n) sequence reflected its presence as a native component of satellite DNA rather than its involvement in past rearrangements. The presence of centromeric heterochromatin in all Australian 2n = 14 complements therefore suggests that centromeric sites of the (T(2)AG(3))(n) sequence do not represent evidence for recent rearrangements.     

Body composition and sleeping metabolic rate in response to a 5-month endurance-training programme in adults

Summary This study examined the effect of exercise training on body composition and sleeping metabolic rate (SMR) in 15 men and 13 women who participated in a 20-week training programme aimed at running a half marathon. Body mass (BM) was measured after waking up, fasted and with an empty bladder. Body composition was assessed using densitometry. The SMR was measured from 0300–0600 hours during an overnight sleep in a respiration chamber. Assessment of SMR was at least 36 h after the last period of exercise training. After 20 weeks of endurance training no change in BM was observed. However, body composition changed significantly. On average men lost 2.4 kg body fat (P< 0.01) and gained 1.7 kg fat free mass (FFM) (P<0.01). In women fat loss averaged 0.9 kg after 20 weeks (P<0.01), while FFM increased by 1.0 kg (P<0.05). Loss of fat mass was significantly larger in males (P<0.05). No changes in SMR were found, either in absolute terms, or when normalised for BM or FFM. Therefore, we have concluded that exercise training has no chronic, long-term effect on SMR: A possible explanation for this outcome in view of the different findings in similar studies is discussed.     

Body composition of high altitude natives on descent to the plains: A densitometric,hydrometric, and anthropometric evaluation

Summary Body density was experimentally determined at a field location at 3,920 m on 32 medically fit and active high altitude native males using a water displacement technique. Stature, body weight and the bony widths at the elbow, wrist, knee, and ankles; and thickness of skin folds at eight sites were measured. Based on body density and bony widths, body fat, total body water (TBW), mineral mass and total cell solids (TCS) were calculated.Similar measurements were made on another group of 16 high altitude natives after one months stay in Dehli (200 m). TBW of 11 of these subjects was experimentally determined by the oral administration of 200 Ci of tritiated water. This group of subjects was physically less active in Delhi. At high altitude the natives consumed a balanced diet which provided 20.21 MJ, but in the plains the diet provided only 15.69 MJ though it was nutritionally balanced.In spite of the reduced calorie intake this group showed greater fat content in Delhi than the group located at high altitude. These men were also hyperhydrated. Hyperhydration of the lean body could be an adaptive response of the high altitude natives to the new environment. Due to the disturbed state of hydration of the lean body of these men in the plains, use of Siri's formula for the computation of total body fat is questioned.     

The effect of liver denervation on meal patterns,body weight and body composition of rats

Neural liver glucoreceptors have been proposed as a primary controller of food intake (FI). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were either sham operated or liver denervated (LD). LD rats had all tissue cut between the liver and the esophagus, stomach and upper 1 cm of the duodenum. The hepatic artery and surrounding tissue were also removed. Finally the hepatic portal vein and the bile duct were stripped clean and the former phenol treated. Three days after surgery animals were placed in modules for continuous computer monitoring of feeding behavior. At no time after surgery did the daily food intake or body weight of the groups differ significantly. Meal size and frequency (light-dark distribution) were determined for 6 days and averaged. Neither parameter was altered by LD. During the next 6 months food intake and body weights of the groups did not differ significantly. At sacrifice, body composition was directly determined with no significant differences observed between LD and sham operated rats. LD were confirmed histologically. Monoamine histofluorescence of the livers of rats subjected to liver denervation revealed an absence of the normal fluorescence seen on small blood vessels in liver parenchyma of sham operated rats. The data do not support the concept that liver glucoreceptors are a major controller of FI.     

一种新的分段生物电阻抗评估人体成分方法的实现：人体参数相关性分析

用分段生物电阻抗方法评估人体成分需测量人体各段的长度或横面积,增加了这种方法的复杂性。本文通过分析人体参数间相关性,得到了用性别、身高、体重表示的各段参数的线性回归等式,从而简化了分段阻抗法。     

Chemical composition and toxicity of the essential oils from Cunila species (Lamiaceae) on the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

The essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of five species of Cunila (Lamiaceae) native to Southern Brazil were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil of Cunila angustifolia was characterized by sabinene; Cunila incana is rich in α-pinene and β-pinene, Cunila spicata and Cunila microcephala presented menthofuran as the main component, and in the essential oil of Cunila incisa, the major component was 1,8-cineole. Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the effect of the essential oils of the above cited plants on larvae of the cattle tick Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. C. angustifolia, C. incana, and C. spicata were the most active samples killing almost the totality of the larvae. C. incisa and C. microcephala showed low acaricidal effect.     

Body composition,work capacity,and work efficiency of active and inactive young men

On 46 healthy young men, of whom 18 took part in strenuous sport at least once a week, height, weight, total body fat (as % of body mass) and lean body mass (LBM) were determined. The subjects performed submaximal exercise on a bicycle ergometer and climbing on an upwardly inclined treadmill at work loads of 60, 110, and 140 watts. Oxygen consumption ( ), respiratory quotient (RQ), energy expenditure (), and heart rate (f _H) were measured at rest and at each work load, and maximum oxygen intake ( max) and physical work capacity (PWC₁₅₀, PWC₁₇₀) were calculated.Anthropometric parameters did not differ significantly between sportsmen and sedentary subjects. max, PWC₁₅₀, and PWC₁₇₀ had higher correlations with LBM than with the other anthropometric parameters. max expressed in terms of LBM (ml/kg LBM/min) was the parameter which showed the clearest distinction between sportsmen and sedentary individuals. The sportsmen had higher max on the treadmill test than on the bicycle ergometer. PWC₁₅₀ and PWC₁₇₀ were higher on the bicycle than on the treadmill and had high correlations with max. Work efficiency was of the same order in both groups and showed negative correlation with the degree of obesity on the bicycle ergometer and positive correlation on the treadmill.     

Acute exposure to a high-fat diet alters meal patterns and body composition

Weight gain and adiposity are often attributed to the overconsumption of unbalanced, high-fat diets however, the pattern of consumption can also contribute to associated body weight and compositional changes. The present study explored the rapid alterations in meal patterns of normal-weight rats given continuous access to high-fat diet and examined body weight and composition changes compared to chow fed controls. Ten Long-Evans rats were implanted with subcutaneous microchips for meal pattern analysis. Animals were body weight matched and separated into two groups: high-fat or chow fed. Each group was maintained on their assigned diet for nine days and monitored for 22 h each day for meal pattern behavior. Body weight was evaluated every other day, and body composition measures were taken prior and following diet exposure. High-fat fed animals gained more weight and adipose tissue than chow fed controls and displayed a reduced meal frequency and increased meal size. Furthermore, meal size was significantly correlated with the gain of adipose tissue. Together, these results suggest that consumption of a high-fat diet can rapidly alter meal patterns, which in turn contribute to the development of adiposity.     

Body weight as an indicator of fat-free mass in active elderly women

Objective

Fat-free mass (FFM) reduction and the tendency for a reduction in surrounding fatty issue and increase in the middle are a natural consequence of growing old and should be studied in order to gain a better understanding of the aging process. This study set out to find the FFM differences between active elderly women in two age groups (60–69 and 70–80 years) and to determine which of the anthropometric measurements, body weight (BW), abdominal circumference (AC), or body mass index (BMI) are the best predictors of FFM variation within the group.

Methods

Eighty-one (n = 81) active elderly women of the Third Age willingly signed up to participate in the research during the activities at the University of the Third Age (UTA) in Brazil. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Body weight (BW), height (H) and the BMI were measured according to the international standards. The AC was measured in centimetres at the H of the navel and body composition was ascertained using bioimpedance analysis. The SAS program was used to perform the statistical analysis of independent samples and parametric data.

Results

The results showed FFM values with significant differences between the two groups, with the lowest values occurring among the women who were over 70 years of age. In the analysis, the Pearson's Correlation Coefficient for each measured independent variable was ascertained, with the BW measurement showing the highest ratio (0.900).

Conclusions

The BW measurement was regarded as reliable, low-cost and easy to use for monitoring FFM in elderly women who engage in physical activities.     

A test of the carbon-nitrogen balance technique to measure body composition of exercising animals

Four randomly selected male Wistar rats were placed in separate metabolic chambers containing torqued Wahmann activity wheels. Quantitative collection of expired CO2, feces, and urine were carried out and the Carbon-Nitrogen balance technique was used to determine the changes in body composition of exercised animals during sequential, 48-hour periods. The behavioral contigency significantly increased running performance and weight gain. The weight of all body compartments, with the exception of body fat, increased significantly. Increased exercise significantly increased heat production. Sufficient data were gathered to permit discussion of individual animals and their adaptations and responses to the running contingencies.     

甘肃及西藏藏族成人体成分分析

目的收集我国藏族居民体成分数据并比较甘肃、西藏藏族成人体成分各指标差异,揭示藏族成人体成分分布的特点。方法采用整群抽样法抽取西藏藏族自治区日喀则市,甘肃省甘南藏族自治州、天祝藏族自治县藏族成年居民共814名,采用生物电阻抗法检测受试者体成分各项指标,比较两省区藏族成年人体成分数据的差异。结果藏族成年男性身体质量指数(BMI)、去脂体重、体脂肪率、内脏脂肪量、皮下脂肪量、肌肉量、身体水分及蛋白质量、腰臀比(WHR)均在40~50岁达到峰值,基础代谢在40~50岁后随着年龄的增长下降,细胞内外液比值(E/I)随年龄的增长而升高;女性去脂体重、肌肉量、基础代谢在30~40岁达到高峰,身体水分量在40~50岁达到最大值;BMI、体脂肪率、内脏脂肪量、皮下脂肪量、WHR及E/I均随年龄的增高而升高,而蛋白质量随年龄增高而下降。甘肃藏族BMI、去脂体重、肌肉量、皮下脂肪量、内脏脂肪量、身体水分、基础代谢、超重肥胖比率均高于西藏藏族,西藏藏族成人WHR过高的比率高于甘肃藏族,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论我国藏族成人男性及女性体成分中脂肪相关指标随年龄增长分别呈正弦曲线及单向增高变化;不同地域藏族成人体成分也存在差异,甘肃藏族成人体成分多项指标尤其是大部分体脂肪相关指标高于西藏藏族成人,可能会导致甘肃藏族成人慢性病发病率较高。     

拉萨藏族成人体成分现状

目的:了解拉萨藏族成人体成分现状,进一步探讨拉萨藏族与锦州汉族体成分差异。方法:随机抽取拉萨藏族健康成人1 149例(男为560例,女为589例),采用生物电阻抗法对所有受试者进行体成分的测量。所得数据经SPSS 20.0统计软件包进行统计学处理。结果:拉萨藏族成年男性除脂肪量、体脂率低于女性外,其他各项指标均高于女性,且性别间差异具有统计学意义。随着年龄增加,拉萨藏族成年男女性身高、蛋白质含量均逐渐降低,去脂体质量保持相对稳定,身体水分变化幅度相对较小;体质量、肌肉量、骨含量男性在30岁组、女性在40岁组达峰值,之后呈逐渐降低趋势;身体质量指数随年龄增加呈波动变化,男性30岁组出现1次小高峰,50岁组达峰值后开始下降,女性则是40岁组达峰值后出现一过性下降,50岁组后又开始呈增加趋势。男性脂肪含量出现2次高峰,分别是30岁组和50岁组,之后开始下降;体脂肪率随年龄增长呈增加趋势,50岁后女性增加幅度更明显,但男性呈下降趋势。拉萨藏族成人体成分各指标均值均低于锦州汉族成人男、女性,且差异具有统计学意义。结论:拉萨藏族成人体成分随年龄的增长发生变化,尤其在30、40岁年龄组变化明显;藏汉族体成分差异的原因,可能与两地居民生活环境、经济文化水平不同有关,尤其是海拔的差异可能是主要原因。     

Body, head, and facial growth: comparison between macaques (Macaca fuscata) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) based on somatometry

Chimpanzees and macaques were compared in their growth of head, face and body, based on a largescale somatometrical database. Their growth stages, i to v, were determined by inflection points in velocity curves. Sex differences in their growth are shown both by elongated stages in juvenile and adolescent and by the greater velocity in males in the stages. Chimpanzees need longer to get their full growth, especially in the later infantile and juvenile stages. The growth patterns are classified into three types of “sigmoid”, “parabolic”, and “fast & slow” in distance curves, and in velocity curves, they correspond to “convex”, acceleration in mid-growth stage; “linear”, linear deceleration with age; and “concave”, rapid deceleration in earlier stages and slow velocity in later stages. Great differences between chimpanzees and macaques were found in their growth patterns of upper facial height and facial height, which are “linear” or intermediate of “linear” and “concave” in macaques and “concave” in chimpanzees. These differences in their growth patterns explain the characteristic development of craniofacial proportions.     

Body cell mass and physical performance capacity (W170) of school children

Summary The physical working capacity (W ₁₇₀) of 38 boys and 27 girls at the age between 8 and 16 years was investigated. Simultaneously the potassium content of the body representing the body cell mass was determined using the⁴⁰ K-method.W ₁₇₀ was correlated with the results thus obtained, as well as with body weight and body height. The best correlations were found betweenW ₁₇₀ and the potassium content. Minimal differences between the sexes were observed. Possible causes for these differences are discussed.     

Body mass,body composition and sleeping metabolic rate before,during and after endurance training

Metabolic rate, more specifically resting metabolic rate (RMR) or sleeping metabolic rate (SMR), of an adult subject is usually expressed as a function of the fat-free mass (FFM). Chronic exercise is thought to increase FFM and thus to increase RMR and SMR. We determined body mass (BM), body composition, and SMR before, during, and after an endurance training programme without interfering with energy intake. The subjects were 11 women and 12 men, aged 37 (SD 3) years and body mass index 22.3 (SD 1.5) kg · m^–2. The endurance training prepared subjects to run a half marathon competition after 44 weeks. The SMR was measured overnight in a respiration chamber. Body composition was measured by hydrostatic weighing. Measurements were performed at 0, 8, 20, 40, and 90 weeks after the start of the training. The BM had decreased from a mean value of 66.6 (SD 6.9) to 65.6 (SD 6.7) kg (P<0.01), fat mass (FM) had decreased from 17.1 (SD 3.9) to 13.5 (SD 3.6) kg (P<0.001), and FFM had increased from 49.5 (SD 7.3) to 52.2 (SD 7.6) kg (P<0.001) at 40 weeks. Mean SMR before and after 40 weeks training was 6.5 (SD 0.7) and 6.2 (SD 0.6) MJ · day^–1 (P<0.05). The decrease in SMR was related to the decrease in BM (r=0.62,P=0.001). At 90 weeks, when most subjects had not trained for nearly a year, BM and SMR were not significantly different from the initial value while FM and FFM had not changed since week 40 of training. In conclusion, it was found that an exercise induced increase in FFM did not result in an increase in SMR. There was an indication of the opposite effect, a decrease in SMR in the long term during training, possibly as a defence mechanism of the body in the maintenance of BM.