Differences in body composition between Singapore Chinese,Beijing Chinese and Dutch children

OBJECTIVES: To compare the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) in children of different ethnic background. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTINGS: The study was performed in three different locations, Singapore, Beijing and Wageningen (The Netherlands). SUBJECTS: In each centre 25 boys and 25 girls, aged 7-12 y, were selected. They were matched on age, sex and body height. METHODS: Body weight and body height was measured following standardized procedures. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight/height squared (kg/m(2)). Body fat was measured by densitometry in Beijing and Wageningen and by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in Singapore. The DXA measurements in Singapore were validated against densitometry. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in BF% or BMI within each gender group across the three study sites. However, after controlling for (non-significant) differences in age and BF%, the Singapore children had a lower (mean+/-s.e.) BMI (15.6+/-0.3) than the Beijing 17.6+/-0.3) and Wageningen (16.9+/-0.3) children. For the same BMI, age and sex the Singapore children had a significant higher BF% (24.6+/-0.7) than the Beijing (19.2+/-0.8) and Wageningen (20.3+/-0.7) children. CONCLUSIONS: The study strongly suggests that the relationship between BF% and BMI (or weight and height) is different among children of different ethnic background. Consequently growth charts and BMI cut-off points for underweight, overweight and obesity in children may have to be ethnic-specific.     

Singaporean Chinese adolescents have more subcutaneous adipose tissue than Dutch Caucasians of the same age and body mass index

Data on weight, height and skinfold thickness (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac) of 101 Singaporean Chinese adolescents (49 girls and 52 boys), aged 16-18 years, were compared with data of Dutch Caucasians (52 girls, 37 boys) of the same age. Age did not differ between the sexes in each ethnic group or between the ethnic groups within each sex group. The Chinese females were shorter, lighter and had a lower BMI, but the sum (mean +/- SD) of four skinfolds was much higher (69.1+/-15.4 mm) than in Caucasian girls (52.4 +/- 17.8 mm). Also, the Chinese boys were shorter and lighter, but their body mass index was not lower compared to Caucasian boys. Their skinfold thickness was, as in girls, much higher compared to Caucasians (48.8 +/- 17.0 mm versus 31.1 +/- 10.2 mm). After correcting for (non significant) differences in age and skinfold thickness the Chinese adolescent girls had a 3.3 +/- 0.4 kg/m2 (mean +/- SE) lower body mass index than their Caucasian counterparts. Singapore Chinese boys had a 2.7 +/- 0.4 kg/m2 lower body mass index mean+/-SE) than their Caucasian counterparts. Similarly, predicted body fat percent was 5.8+/-0.6 percent points higher (mean +/-SE) in Singapore Chinese girls compared to their Caucasian counterparts of the same age and body mass index. Singapore Chinese boys had 6.0+/-0.6 percent more body fat percent (mean+/-SE) than Caucasians of the same age and body mass index. The data confirm the high body fat percent/low body mass index relationship in Singaporean Chinese as is reported earlier in the literature for adults and children.     

Anxiogenic-like effects of Tagetes minuta L essential oil on T-maze and tonic immobility behaviour in domestic chicks

Summary— In a first experiment, four doses (ranging between 0.04 and 0.45 mg/kg of body weight) of the essential oil from Tagetes minuta L. were subcutaneously injected in two-day-old chicks and a dose-response curve assessed for escape performance in a T-maze test. The 0.1, 0.25 and 0.45 mg/kg doses impaired the first escape performance suggesting an anxiogenic-like effect of the essential oil. After 3 h the same chicks were tested for a second escape performance, without being injected again, and no differences were observed compared to controls, suggesting that the essential oil did not affect retention. Furthermore, the effects of the essential oil were observed in the three sections of the T-maze apparatus. So, the performance was impaired in the isolation chamber section, suggesting the induction of increased anxiogenic behaviour, and also in the mirror section, suggesting that the social reinstatement behaviour was modified by an increased anxiety level. Changes in the principal corridor section were not observed, suggesting that the locomotor activity was not affected by these oil doses. The second escape performance was not affected in any of the T-maze sections, confirming that these doses did not affect learning ability. In a second experiment, a middle dose of the essential oil (0.25 mg/kg) increased the tonic immobility reaction in 15 days old chicks similarly to an anxiogenic dose of FG 7142 (1 mg/kg), while an anxiolytic dose of diazepam (0.08 mg/kg) did not affect this behaviour. Taken together, the present results suggest that the essential oil from Tagetes minuta L. may exert a negative modulation on the GABAergic function without affecting the learning ability.     

Artificial urinary sphincters: plain radiography of malfunction and complications

Inflatable artificial urinary sphincters provide excellent voluntary continence. Eighty-four consecutive patients underwent implantation of artificial urinary sphincters for intractable urinary incontinence; 33 patients had 58 episodes of sphincter malfunction, and eight patients had eight complications involving a functional prosthetic sphincter. Retrospective analysis was performed to determine the value of plain radiography of the pelvis in patients with sphincter malfunction or complication. The cause of malfunction in the majority of patients was a system leak and subsequent loss of hydraulic fluid (31 occurrences; 53%). Plain radiography permitted correct identification of all instances of fluid leakage in patients with opacified prostheses. Plain radiographs were of no value in examining patients with nonopacified prostheses or the complications of cuff erosion or wound infection. Due to the low cost and noninvasive nature of plain radiography of the pelvis, we conclude that it should be used as the initial diagnostic modality in patients with previously opacified but currently dysfunctional artificial urinary sphincters.     

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in The Netherlands in relation to sociodemographic variables, lifestyle and eating behavior: starting points for the prevention and treatment of obesity

The prevalence and incidence of overweight and obesity has been studied in a young adult population aged 19-35 years. Special attention was given to the relation with psychosociological variables and life-style. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was also studied in a representative population for The Netherlands, in which population also the relation with self-reported illness and subjective health was studied. In the patient population of four general practices the relation of overweight and obesity with disease was investigated in a retrospective design. Also the influence of the body fat distribution was studied. The prevalence of overweight (BMI greater than 25 kg/m2) in the Dutch adult population was 34% in men and 24% in women. The prevalence of obesity (BMI greater than 30 kg/m2) was 4 and 6% in men and women, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was negatively related with social class and increased with age. Also, life-style variables such as coffee consumption, alcohol consumption, smoking and amount of hours sleep (CASS behavior), physical activity during leisure time, slimming behavior and health-conscious behavior were correlated with the prevalence of overweight. Life events caused an increase in body weight, but in women (not in men) this gain was suppressed by following slimming periods. Thus, emotional eating seems to be an important factor in the etiology of obesity. The results of our studies on the relation of overweight and obesity with morbidity aspects show a clear relation of some diseases and subjective health with overweight, especially in men and women with an abdominal fat distribution. From the results of this study starting points for the prevention and treatment of obesity are proposed.     

Shoulder instability: evaluation with MR imaging

Instability of the glenohumeral joint is a common cause of chronic shoulder pain and disability. One or more episodes of subluxation or dislocation may result in a tear, detachment, or attenuation of the glenoid labrum, stripping of the joint capsule from the scapula, or trauma to the tendons or muscles of the rotator cuff. A series of 27 shoulders examined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed changes of glenohumeral instability, which were confirmed with open or arthroscopic surgery. MR imaging was capable of displaying common types of pathologic conditions resulting from instability, including labral trauma, capsular detachment, and retraction of the subscapularis muscle. MR imaging is a valuable diagnostic tool for the evaluation of glenohumeral instability.     

Low-dose flying spot digital radiography of the chest: sensitivity studies

Standard film examinations of the chest were compared with low-dose flying spot digital radiographic examinations obtained with a prototype unit in 174 patients. Analysis of pooled data from a double-blind study of 120 patients showed that film was more sensitive than digital images in the detection of pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities, that is, abnormal opacities, atelectasis, scar, and interstitial lung disease (P less than .05). Analysis of pooled data from a side-by-side study of 54 patients showed that the digital images were more sensitive than film in the detection of normal mediastinal and pleural soft-tissue contours, including the azygoesophageal recess, paraspinal line, and vertebral disk spaces (P less than .05). However, film was more sensitive than digital images in the detection of abnormalities of the lung, including scar, interstitial lung disease, septal lines, and the presence of vascular catheters (P less than .05). These findings suggest that low-dose flying spot digital radiography of the chest, as performed with this specific prototype unit, is not adequate to replace film in the detection of abnormalities of the lung parenchyma.     

Two serologic markers to monitor the engraftment, growth, and treatment response of human leukemias in severe combined immunodeficient mice

We have investigated human lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes and human nuclear matrix protein 41/7 (NMP 41/7) as potential serologic markers to monitor the course of human leukemia in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Following the transplantation of 10(6) human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Nalm-6 cells, human specific LDH isoenzymes were measurable in the serum of SCID mice as early as 7 days after transplantation, although serum total LDH increased in some animals as early as 5 days after transplantation. Human NMP 41/7 was measurable in all animals at day 15 after leukemia cell injection. Serum levels of total LDH, human specific LDH and NMP 41/7 increased progressively over time, reaching total LDH levels as high as 50,000 U/L at day 25 after transplantation. To determine whether the levels of LDH and NMP 41/7 in serum were a reflection of human tumor burden, we studied these serologic markers in SCID mice bearing measurable subcutaneous human neuroblastoma tumors, or compared the serum levels of these markers with the number of human leukemia CD10+ cells in the bone marrow of the SCID mice. The serum levels of total LDH, human specific LDH isoenzymes, and NMP 41/7 correlated well with tumor burden, and they drastically decreased or disappeared from serum after the human leukemia or neuroblastoma cells were selectively killed with a single intravenous (IV) injection of 1 to 3 micrograms diphtheria toxin (DT) (the cellular receptor for DT is present on human cells, but not on mouse cells). Paraplegic mice with central nervous system leukemia completely recovered after DT treatment. We conclude that measurements of serum levels of total LDH, human LDH isoenzymes, and NMP 41/7 are sensitive, quantitative, rapid, and easy to perform serologic methods useful to monitor the engraftment, progression, and treatment response of human leukemia in SCID mice.