Human Milk Exosomal MicroRNA: Associations with Maternal Overweight/Obesity and Infant Body Composition at 1 Month of Life

Among all the body fluids, breast milk is one of the richest sources of microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs packaged within the milk exosomes are bioavailable to breastfeeding infants. The role of miRNAs in determining infant growth and the impact of maternal overweight/obesity on human milk (HM) miRNAs is poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to examine the impact of maternal overweight/obesity on select miRNAs (miR-148a, miR-30b, miR-29a, miR-29b, miR-let-7a and miR-32) involved in adipogenesis and glucose metabolism and to examine the relationship of these miRNAs with measures of infant body composition in the first 6 months of life. Milk samples were collected from a cohort of 60 mothers (30 normal-weight [NW] and 30 overweight [OW]/obese [OB]) at 1-month and a subset of 48 of these at 3 months of lactation. Relative abundance of miRNA was determined using real-time PCR. The associations between the miRNAs of interest and infant weight and body composition at one, three, and six months were examined after adjusting for infant gestational age, birth weight, and sex. The abundance of miR-148a and miR-30b was lower by 30% and 42%, respectively, in the OW/OB group than in the NW group at 1 month. miR-148a was negatively associated with infant weight, fat mass, and fat free mass, while miR-30b was positively associated with infant weight, percent body fat, and fat mass at 1 month. Maternal obesity is negatively associated with the content of select miRNAs in human milk. An association of specific miRNAs with infant body composition was observed during the first month of life, suggesting a potential role in the infant’s adaptation to enteral nutrition.     

Zinc Nutritional Status in a Series of Children with Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Zinc is an essential trace element for the normal growth and development of human beings. The main objective was to evaluate the nutritional status of zinc and its association with nutritional indicators in a series of children with chronic diseases. Methods: The prevalence of patients with dietary zinc deficiency or deficit zinc intake (<80% DRI: dietary reference intake) was analyzed through prospective 72 h dietary surveys, and serum zinc deficiency or hypozincemia (≤70 µg/dL in children under 10 years of age in both sexes and in females older than 10 years and <74 μg/dL in males older than 10 years) was measured through atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The participants were classified according to their nutritional status by body mass index (BMI). Results: Mean serum zinc level in obese (87 µg/dL), undernourished (85 µg/dL), and eutrophic children (88 µg/dL) were normal, but in the undernutrition (60% DRI) and eutrophic (67% DRI) groups the mean dietary zinc intake was low compared to that in the obesity group (81% DRI). There were different associations between nutritional parameters, dietary zinc intake, and serum zinc. All patients with hypozincemia had dietary zinc deficiency. Conclusions: In the whole series, 69% of participants showed a zinc intake lower than recommended and might be at high risk of zinc deficiency.     

Evaluation of Body Composition,Physical Activity,and Food Intake in Patients with Inborn Errors of Intermediary Metabolism

Children with inborn errors of intermediary metabolism (IEiM) must follow special diets that restrict their intake of essential nutrients and may compromise normal growth and development. We evaluated body composition, bone mineral density, physical activity, and food intake in IEiM patients undergoing dietary treatment. IEiM patients (n = 99) aged 5–19 years and healthy age- and sex-matched controls (n = 98) were recruited and underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to evaluate anthropometric characteristics and body composition. Data on food intake and physical activity were also collected using validated questionnaires. The height z-score was significantly lower in IEiM patients than controls (−0.28 vs. 0.15; p = 0.008), particularly in those with carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism disorders. Significant differences in adiposity were observed between patients and controls for the waist circumference z-score (−0.08 vs. −0.58; p = 0.005), but not the body mass index z-score (0.56 vs. 0.42; p = 0.279). IEiM patients had a significantly lower total bone mineral density (BMD) than controls (0.89 vs. 1.6; p = 0.001) and a higher risk of osteopenia (z-score < −2, 33.3% vs. 20.4%) and osteoporosis (z-score < −2.5, 7.1% vs. 0%), but none presented fractures. There was a significant positive correlation between natural protein intake and BMD. Our results indicate that patients with IEiM undergoing dietary treatment, especially those with amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism disorders, present alterations in body composition, including a reduced height, a tendency towards overweight and obesity, and a reduced BMD.     

Sarcopenia and Appendicular Muscle Mass as Predictors of Impaired Fasting Glucose/Type 2 Diabetes in Elderly Women

Elderly women exhibit a high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but no definitive data exist about the possible role of postmenopausal increases in visceral adiposity, the loss of lean body mass, or decreases in the sum of the lean mass of arms and legs (appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM)). This retrospective, longitudinal study investigated whether body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis) predicted the development of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or T2D in a cohort of 159 elderly women (age: 71 ± 5 years, follow-up: 94 months) from southern Italy (Clinical Nutrition and Geriatric Units of the “Mater Domini” University Hospital in Catanzaro, Calabria region, and the “P. Giaccone ”University Hospital in Palermo, Sicily region). Sarcopenia was defined in a subgroup of 128 women according to the EWGSOP criteria as the presence of low muscle strength (handgrip strength <16 kg) plus low muscle mass (reported as appendicular skeletal muscle mass <15 kg). Participants with a low ASMM had a higher IFG/T2D incidence than those with a normal ASMM (17% vs. 6%, p-adjusted = 0.044); this finding was independent of BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and habitual fat intake (OR = 3.81, p = 0.034). A higher incidence of IFG/T2D was observed in the subgroup with sarcopenia than those without sarcopenia (33% vs. 7%, p-adjusted = 0.005) independent of BMI and fat mass (OR = 6.75, p = 0.007). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that elderly women with low ASMM had a higher probability of developing IFG/T2D. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in men and in other age groups.     

手术绝经对身体脂肪分布影响的研究

目的：探讨手术绝经对身体脂肪分布的影响。方法：手术绝经者32例,进行术前及术后6个月的自身比较。用双能X线吸收仪（DEXA）测定体脂肪量、躯干脂肪量及下肢脂肪量,并计算体脂肪率、躯干脂肪量／下肢脂肪量比（T／L）、上半身型的百分比。结果：手术绝经者术后6个月下肢脂肪量明显低于手术前（P＜0．05）,T／L明显高于手术前（P＜0．01）,手术前后的上半身型各占19．4％和36．6％。结论：手术绝经也可能会使身体脂肪分布向上半身型移行,且最初可能是下肢脂肪量的减少。上半身型脂肪分布会引起一系列代谢合并症,应引起高度重视。     

大黄和黄芪配伍对大鼠减体重的体成分影响研究

目的研究大黄和黄芪配伍在大鼠减体重过程中对体成分的影响。方法大鼠胃饲大黄、黄芪混合水煎剂 ,观察对体重、摄食量、游泳时间、肥体重 (fatbodyweight,FBW )、瘦体重 (leanbodyweight,LBW )、%FBW、脂肪垫、心脏和心脏体重比的影响。结果R1ATr1组 (大黄 :黄芪 1∶1,游泳组 )与CTr组 (游泳对照组 )相比体重、摄食量减少 ,游泳时间延长 (P <0 .0 1) ,FBW和脂肪垫重量减少 (P <0 .0 1)。R1Auntr1组 (大黄 :黄芪 1∶1,不游泳组 )与Cuntr组 (不游泳对照组 )相比 ,体重、摄食量、FBW和脂肪垫重量均减少 (P <0 .0 1)。结论给药大鼠无论运动或不运动 ,体重的减轻主要是FBW减少。提示大黄和黄芪混合水煎剂的作用是促进脂肪动用。     

螺旋CT定位在微电极引导脑立体定向手术中的临床应用

目的 :探讨螺旋CT辅以LeksellG定向仪在微电极引导脑立体定向术中的应用。方法 :对治疗组和对照组帕金森病病人进行CT定位和手术靶点定位 ,比较AC PC层面与体表标志间的关系以及进行定位结果分析。结果 :对照组和治疗组AC PC层面与外耳孔上缘之间的距离无显著差异 ,距离为 ( 4 7.75± 0 .6 2 )mm ;AC PC层面与GI线之间没有确定的关系 ,与听眶线的夹角为 ( 1.0± 1.5 )° ;与外耳孔上方中点联线的夹角为 ( 0 .5± 1.0 )°。结论 :螺旋CT辅以LeksellG定向仪可以较好地满足临床定位要求 ,以听眶线为扫描基线更易掌握     

饮食、运动治疗对单纯性肥胖症患者瘦素及内分泌脂肪调节激素水平的影响

目的研究饮食和运动治疗对瘦素及部分内分泌脂肪调节激素的影响.方法选择单纯性肥胖患者216例,随机分为饮食、运动治疗组(实验组)和对照组,观察瘦素及内分泌脂肪调节激素水平的变化.结果观察6个月时,与对照组相比,实验组BMI和腰围显著下降,血空腹胰岛素、瘦素和皮质醇(4pm)水平亦显著降低(P<0.05).BMI与男性、女性瘦素、空腹胰岛素及皮质醇(4pm)水平均呈正相关,而与男性睾酮呈负相关,与女性睾酮呈正相关;男性、女性胰岛素对瘦素均呈正性影响,而睾酮对瘦素的影响则因性别而不同,在男性表现为负性影响,在女性则为正性影响,未见皮质醇、生长激素对瘦素的影响.结论单纯性肥胖患者饮食控制加适当运动可有效降低体重,改善胰岛素抵抗及皮质醇的昼夜规律,降低瘦素水平.     

睫状神经营养因子对应激大鼠体质量的影响及其机制探讨

①目的　探讨睫状神经营养因子 (CNTF)对躯体性和心理性应激大鼠体质量的影响及其与下丘脑促肾上腺皮质素释放激素 (CRH)含量的关系。②方法　建立应激大鼠动物模型 ,应用鼠脑立体定向方法 ,在应激前给予大鼠双侧海马微量注射CNTF ,称量大鼠应激前后的体质量变化 ,并用放射免疫分析法测定大鼠下丘脑CRH含量的变化。③结果　在应激前及应激期间给予双侧海马微量注射CNTF ,可以有效改善应激引起的大鼠体质量的下降 (t=2 .16 3.86 ,P <0 .0 5 ,0 .0 1) ,改善应激引起的下丘脑CRH含量的升高 (t=3.0 5 4.0 3,P <0 .0 1)。④结论　CNTF可以改善应激对大鼠生长的损害 ,其机制可能与CNTF降低应激大鼠下丘脑CRH的含量有关。     

我国男性青年人体质量的分布

目的　探讨我国男性青年人体质量的几何分布。方法　采用CT 图像分析法对 5 0例 18～ 2 3岁我国男性青年进行了全身CT横断层扫描、影像分析和测算。结果　获得了样本各环节的质量数据 ,与国外有关数据比较 ,整体质量最大绝对误差为 2 .94kg ,平均绝对误差为 0 .88kg ;最大相对误差为 5 .0 0 % ,平均相对误差为 0 .34 %。结论　为建立我国男性青年人体惯性参数模型奠定了基础。