Prospective Relations between Social Comparison Orientation and Weight Loss Outcomes

Abstract

Maintenance of weight loss after behavioral intervention tends to be poor, and there is need for an improved understanding of factors that are associated with successful maintenance. Social comparison is known to be a powerful influence on treatment outcomes for group-based behavioral weight loss programs, but little is known about the role of individual differences in social comparison orientation (i.e., tendency to value comparison information) in this context. The goal of this study was to examine prospective relations between social comparison orientation and long-term weight loss outcomes (percent weight loss and aerobic-intensity physical activity) among participants in behavioral weight loss treatment. Participants (n?=?161, M_Age?=?54, M_BMI?=?34.4?kg/m²) completed a measure of social comparison orientation at pre-treatment baseline. Height and weight were measured in the research center and aerobic-intensity physical activity was assessed via accelerometer at baseline, mid- and end-of-treatment, and at 6 and 12 months post-treatment (representing maintenance). Multilevel models tested prospective relations between comparison orientation and treatment outcomes over time, with emphasis on differences during the post-treatment maintenance phase. Stronger (vs. weaker) general comparison orientation was associated with better maintenance of aerobic-intensity physical activity. However, stronger (vs. weaker) orientation toward comparisons with better-off others (i.e., upward comparison) was associated with less weight loss success during and after treatment. Social comparison orientation thus shows meaningful relations with long-term maintenance of key outcomes in group-based behavioral weight loss treatment, and warrants further investigation in this context.     

A Novel Similarity Learning Method via Relative Comparison for Content-Based Medical Image Retrieval

Nowadays, the huge volume of medical images represents an enormous challenge towards health-care organizations, as it is often hard for clinicians and researchers to manage, access, and share the image database easily. Content-based medical image retrieval (CBMIR) techniques are employed to facilitate the above process. It is known that a few concrete factors, including visual attributes extracted from images, measures encoding the similarity between images, user interaction, etc. play important roles in determining the retrieval performance. This paper concentrates on the similarity learning problem of CBMIR. A novel similarity learning paradigm is proposed via relative comparison, and a large database composed of 5,000 images is utilized to evaluate the retrieval performance. Extensive experimental results and comprehensive statistical analysis demonstrate the superiority of adopting the newly introduced learning paradigm, compared with several conventional supervised and semi-supervised similarity learning methods, in the presented CBMIR application.     

Novel method for selecting slices of the same cross-sectional view from digital tomosynthesis for monitoring posterior spinal instrumentation

BackgroundA method to evaluate pedicle screw loosening on digital tomosynthesis images is yet to be established owing to lack of methods for selecting slices of the same cross-sectional view. We aimed to develop an objective method for selecting slices of the same cross-sectional view on digital tomosynthesis images.MethodsFirst, an objective method of pixel selection was developed by measuring the size of glass disk and titanium alloy screw on digital tomosynthesis images followed by comparison with the actual sizes. Second, a method for selecting slices of the same cross-sectional view was explored on a bone model with posterior spinal instrumentation using the screw centerline and rod curvature as indicators of the same cross section. The angle between the screw centerline and rod was calculated to verify the accuracy in obtaining the same cross-sectional view. Third, the method for selecting slices of the same cross-sectional view was applied to six patients after posterior lumbar spinal instrumentation.ResultsThe pixel selection method enabled objective determination of a pixel on the peripheral lines of objects with an error as low as 200 μm in distance measurements on titanium alloy and glass. The mean differences of rod-screw angles between two slices were less than 1° and were not statistically significant in the bone model and patient images.ConclusionA method for selecting slices of the same cross-sectional view on digital tomosynthesis images was successfully developed. This method can enable objective and quantitative evaluations of pedicle screw loosening.     

Cross-country validity of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale using a Brazilian sample

BackgroundPrevious validity studies of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), using raw scores and percentile curves for group comparisons, showed that infants in Brazil achieved gross motor milestones at later ages. Validity of the AIMS norms were later reassessed using a logistic regression model that placed the AIMS items on an age scale.ObjectivesOur study examined the validity of the AIMS norms for Brazilian infants using the recommended method for calculating and comparing item locations.MethodsData from 732 Brazilian infants (2009–11), 3 days to 18 months old, were compared to the AIMS normative sample (n = 2202). Logistic regression placed the AIMS items of both samples on age scales representing the age at which 50% of infants passed an item and compared the two datasets. Pearson correlation coefficient tested the association across samples.Results47 of the 58 AIMS items met the criterion for stable regression to calculate item locations of the Brazilian dataset. Based on the age when 50% of the infants passed a criterion, most of the items from the Brazilian sample (n = 28) differed by two weeks or less compared to the Canadian normative sample.ConclusionThe sequence and age for the emergence of AIMS items were similar between the Brazilian and Canadian samples. Canadian norms are appropriate for clinical decisions and research with Brazilian infants.     

湿润烧伤膏联合创疡贴治疗失禁相关性皮炎的疗效分析

目的探讨湿润烧伤膏联合创疡贴治疗失禁相关性皮炎的临床疗效。方法将2013年10月至2014年8月收治的34例失禁相关性皮炎患者随机分为两组,试验组(17例)采用湿润烧伤膏联合创疡贴治疗,对照组(17例)采用紫草油护理皮肤,观察两组患者皮炎创面的愈合效果及愈合时间。结果试验组治愈14例、好转3例、无效0例,对照组治愈7例、好转5例、无效5例,两组对比,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);试验组创面平均愈合时间为轻度3.7 d±1.4 d、中度5.9 d±1.5 d、重度7.2 d±0.9 d,对照组创面平均愈合时间为轻度5.9 d±1.2 d、中度8.2 d±1.3 d、重度11.3 d±0.7 d,两组对比,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论湿润烧伤膏联合创疡贴治疗失禁相关性皮炎疗效显著,愈合时间明显短于紫草油治疗者,值得临床推广。     

Defining ''full-length'' recombinant factor VIII: a comparative structural analysis

Coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) is an important glycoprotein co-factor involved in haemostasis, functioning to accelerate activation of factor X by activated factor IX. Insertion of expression vectors containing the full-length cDNA sequence of human FVIII into mammalian cell lines results in the production of recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII), typically referred to as 'full-length' rFVIII (FLrFVIII). Both FLrFVIII and plasma-derived FVIII exist primarily as heterodimeric proteins, consisting of a heterogenous light and heavy chain. The objectives of this study were to compare the structural heterogeneity of high-purity FVIII preparations and further define the term 'full length' as it refers to rFVIII protein structure. Five commercially available FVIII concentrates were characterized based on SDS-PAGE, N-terminal sequencing, and peptide and domain mapping coupled to mass spectrometry. The major heavy chain species identified in FLrFVIII included various B-domain-truncated forms of FVIII, with the predominant species terminating at Arg(1313). This study demonstrates that the use of full-sequence FVIII cDNA for the production of rFVIII does not result in a homogeneous FLrFVIII protein product. Rather, commercially available FLrFVIII represents a heterogenous mixture of various B-domain-truncated forms of the molecule, with no evidence of a contiguous, intact B-domain.     

EDI results of Japanese and German women and possible sociocultural explanations

The goal of this study was to compare data for women with bulimia nervosa and for a healthy control group both in Japan and Germany. These data were obtained using the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI‐2). In Germany, EDI‐2 data and BMI values were collected from 102 nurses in training, 57 female medical students, and 29 patients with bulimia nervosa. In Japan, data were gathered from 243 female ‘short college’ students and 20 patients with bulimia nervosa. The Japanese non‐clinical control group showed significantly higher values on nearly all EDI scales than the German control group. They had a markedly higher drive for thinness, though their BMI values were lower. When the German and the Japanese bulimia nervosa patients were compared, the Japanese patients also showed higher values than their German counterparts on three EDI scales, but these differences were negligible. It is suggested that sociocultural factors in Japan, in particular a significant dependency on social norms, may contribute to the high EDI values. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.