Prevalence and demographic determinants of metronidazole resistance by Helicobacter pylori in a large cosmopolitan cohort of Australian dyspeptic patients

1. Heterozygous naked neck birds were raised under natural spring (average 21.2 degrees C) and summer temperatures (average 27.1 degrees C) to investigate the influence of dietary energy on broiler performance, carcase yield and nutrient composition of breast meat. 2. Birds were fed on a low energy diet of 12.12 MJ ME/kg, a medium energy diet of 12.96 MJ ME/kg and a high energy diet of 13.79 MJ ME/kg with 2 protein concentrations per energy treatment, 230 and 200 g/kg, from 0 to 3 and 3 to 7 weeks of age, respectively. 3. Summer rearing resulted in a decrease in body weight, body weight gain, carcase weight and carcase part yields of birds. 4. Increasing dietary energy from 12.12 to 13.79 MJ ME/kg increased body weight at 3 and 7 weeks, body weight gains from 0 to 3 and 3 to 7 weeks, carcase weights and relative abdominal fat weights of birds in a linear manner. There was no effect of dietary energy on the nutrient composition of breast meat. 5. It was concluded that there was no differences in dietary energy requirements of heterozygous naked neck birds when grown under natural optimum (21.2 degrees C) and summer temperatures (27.1 degrees C).     

Nutrient intake of elite sailors during a solitary long-distance offshore race

The purpose of the present study was to determine the nutritional intake of 11 skippers during the four stages of a solitary long-distance offshore race. Body weight significantly decreased during the race (-1.31 +/- 0.32 kg, range 3.5 to 0.1 kg, p <.01). Total daily energy intake was 18.53 +/- 0.71 MJ x day-1 during the race, and it correlated negatively with the rate duration of each leg. Energy intake during the race was 19% greater than that determined for a subgroup of 5 sailors during a control period 2 months after the race. Nutrient intake expressed as percentage calories of total energy was estimated at 50%, 35%, and 15% for carbohydrate, fat, and protein, respectively. Voluntary fluid intake decreased with increasing race duration (p<.001). Despite high energy intakes, sailors lost body weight during the solitary offshore race. It was not possible to conclude that this change in body weight was related to fluid loss and/or a discrepancy between energy intake and energy expenditure.     

Energy intake and utilisation by nursing bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) pups from Svalbard, Norway

In this study we measure energy intake via milk in nursing bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) pups and determine how this energy is allocated into metabolism and storage of new tissues. This was accomplished using longitudinal mass gain records and the doubly labelled water technique on nursing pups in combination with cross-sectional data on changes in milk composition from bearded seal mothers. The pups (n = 3) were all less than a week old at the start of the experiments. Pups gained 3.3 +/- 0.4 kg.day-1 of which 50% was fat, 14% protein and 36% water. Average daily water influx for the pups was 69.5 +/- 9.0 ml.kg-1. day-1. Average CO2 production during the study period was 0.99 +/- 0.10 ml.g-1.h-1, which corresponds to a field metabolic rate of 642 +/- 67 kJ.kg-1. day-1, or 6.0 +/- 0.5 times the predicted basal metabolic rate according to Kleiber (1975). The pups drank an average of 7.6 +/- 0.5 kg of milk daily. This corresponds to a daily energy intake of 154 +/- 8 MJ, 47 +/- 14% of which was stored as new body tissue. Despite this high energy intake bearded seal pups do not get as fat as do other nursing phocids. This is in part due to their larger body size but also due to their very active aquatic lifestyle and the lower and more consistent fat content of the milk compared to other phocid species. Bearded seal mothers forage during lactation and may also be involved in teaching their pups to feed independently. All these data suggest that the lactation strategy of bearded seals differs from the phocid norm.     

A randomized comparison of two weight-reducing diets. Calorie counting versus low-fat carbohydrate-rich ad libitum diet

We compared the importance of rate of initial weight loss for long term outcome in obese patients and the efficacy of two different dietary weight maintenance programmes. An initial weight loss of 12.6 kg was achieved either by eight weeks low energy diet (2 MJ/day) (n = 21) or 17 weeks conventional hypocaloric, high protein diet (5 MJ/day) (n = 22) both supported by an anorectic compound (ephedrine 20 mg and caffeine 200 mg thrice daily). Weight loss rate had no effect on long-term weight maintenance. Randomisation to one year weight maintenance of either an ad lib, low fat, high carbohydrate diet or a fixed energy diet (< 8 MJ/day), both supported by reinforcement sessions 2-3 times monthly, resulted in a maintenance of 13.2 of initial 13.5 kg weight loss in the ad lib group versus 9.7 of 13.8 kg in the fixed energy intake group. At follow-up two years after the initial weight loss, 65% of the ad lib group and only 40% of the fixed energy intake group had maintained a weight loss of > 5 kg.     

Metabolic response to experimental overfeeding in lean and overweight healthy volunteers

Possible adaptive mechanisms that may defend against weight gain during periods of excessive energy intake were investigated by overfeeding six lean and three overweight young men by 50% above baseline requirements with a mixed diet for 42 d [6.2 +/- 1.9 MJ/d (mean +/- SD), or a total of 265 +/- 45 MJ]. Mean weight gain was 7.6 +/- 1.6 kg (58 +/- 18% fat). The energy cost of tissue deposition (28.7 +/- 4.4 MJ/kg) matched the theoretical cost (26.0 MJ/kg). Basal metabolic rate (BMR) increased by 0.9 +/- 0.4 MJ/d and daily energy expenditure assessed by whole-body calorimetry (CAL EE) increased by 1.8 +/- 0.5 MJ/d. Total free-living energy expenditure (TEE) measured by doubly labeled water increased by 1.4 +/- 2.0 MJ/d. Activity and thermogenesis (computed as CAL EE--BMR and TEE--BMR) increased by only 0.9 +/- 0.4 and 0.9 +/- 2.1 MJ/d, respectively. All outcomes were consistent with theoretical changes due to the increased fat-free mass, body weight, and energy intake. There was no evidence of any active energy-dissipating mechanisms.     

Empty body weight gain, protein, faty and energy deposit and utilization of metabolizable energy for energy deposit in black and white bulls. 2. Relationship between energy deposit and intake of metabolizable energy

From 6 series of individual feeding experiments with different energy supply (EL = 1.1-1.8; EL = 538 kJ/kg LW0.75) the relationship between the intake of metabolizable energy and live weight gain empty body weight gain and energy deposition was quantified according to a nonlinear regression analysis: intake ME (MJ/d) = A.eB.ED. EBWG. LWG with A = a.LW0.75 B = b.ec.LW The estimated parameters are: [chart: see text] The regression analysis made it possible to estimate the maintenance requirement. Dependent on the variable the following values for maintenance requirements were found: [chart: see text] For the partial utilization of metabolizable energy for energy deposition an average value of 0.37 was obtained by suggestion of a maintenance requirement of 538 kJ/kg LW0.75 and a nonlinear generalization of intake of metabolizable energy. The utilization of metabolizable energy was positively influenced by the metabolizability of the energy of the diet and it was negatively influenced by the energy level. The linear quantification of the relation between the intake of metabolizable energy and the energy deposition led to an utilization of 0.40.     

Energy intake and net weight gain in pregnant women according to body mass index (BMI) status

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether body mass index (BMI) is related to energy intake during pregnancy, and whether BMI, energy intake and other factors are related to net weight gain. DESIGN: Longitudinal, duration of pregnancy. SUBJECTS: 156 healthy pregnant women residing in Quedlinburg county, Germany. METHODS: Weighed 7 d food records and standardized anthropometric measures in the first, second and third trimester. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical technique was used to analyze differences in energy intake, net weight gain and birthweight across BMI groups, and the Cochran-Mantel Haenszel test was used to analyze food group intake by BMI group. RESULTS: Women at the highest level of BMI were significantly less often in the high energy intake category than women at the medium or low level of BMI (15% vs 36% and 48%). Net weight gain during pregnancy was independently influenced by BMI status and energy intake. Women at the highest level of BMI gained significantly less weight (4.2 kg) from first to third trimester than women at the medium or low levels of BMI (weight gains of 6.2 kg and 5.9 kg, respectively). Women with a low daily energy intake gained 4.6 kg during pregnancy, while women with medium and high energy intakes gained 6.0 kg and 6.1 kg, respectively. Examination of net weight gain simultaneously across BMI and parity groups revealed a much lower net weight gain among multigravid women at the highest BMI level (3.3 kg). Primigravid high BMI women, in contrast, gained 6.9 kg, whereas multigravid and primigravid women at medium and low BMI levels gained average of 4.8 kg and 6.5 kg, respectively. The mean birth weight in the three BMI groups did not differ and was not influenced by age, marital status, education, parity or smoking. CONCLUSION: Because other studies have shown that weight gain during pregnancy increases the risk of subsequent overweight, multigravid high BMI women may prevent an increased weight retention after pregnancy due to lower weight gain in the current gestation. A lower caloric diet may help to accomplish a lower weight gain during pregnancy in overweight women without increased risk of low birth weight infants. These findings indicate further investigation of the associations between BMI, parity and caloric intake during pregnancy are needed to increase understanding of factors affecting subsequent weight gain.     

Effects of different energy levels, concentrate/forage ratios and lipid supplementation to the diet on the adaptation of the energy metabolism at calving in dairy cows

A low level of energy (110 MJ ME) and a low concentrate/forage ratio (10/90) at calving resulted in low basal concentrations of glucose and insulin, but the cows had the capacity to increase the glucose level after glucagon injections. No signs of disturbances in the metabolic adaptation were observed. High intensity feeding (200 MJ ME and 50% concentrates) resulted in high basal serum insulin levels. The increase in the insulin concentrations after glucagon injections and the changes in insulin levels around calving varied widely between individual cows. The metabolic adaptation period was longer than in cows in the former group. An energy level of 170 MJ ME and variations of concentrate/forage ratios (5/95, 30/70 and 60/40) resulted in small differences in basal glucose and insulin concentrations and in response to glucagon injections. But the cows fed 60% concentrates showed signs of prolonged metabolic adaptation. Increased lipid concentrations in diets containing equal levels of energy and protein resulted in a fall in basal glucose and insulin levels and the metabolism seemed to be directed towards catabolism. Because of these metabolic effects, more needs to be known on fat supplementation if it is used in practical feeding. It is also necessary to take more interest in the effects of protein feeding on the periparturient metabolism.     

Energy metabolism in sedentary and active 49- to 70-yr-old women

This study examined differences between long-term exercising (LE) and long-term nonexercising (LNE) women [n = 24; age 56.4 +/- 6.2 (SD) yr] for resting metabolic rate (RMR) and energy expenditure in the free-living state by using doubly labeled water (DLW). There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0002) between the 12 LE (94.85 +/- 8.44 kJ . kg-1 . day-1) and 12 LNE (81.16 +/- 6.62 kJ . kg-1 . day-1) for RMR, but this difference was only marginally significant (P = 0.06) when the data (MJ/day) were subjected to an analysis of covariance with fat-free mass as the covariate. The DLW data indicated that the eight most active LE (12.99 +/- 3.58 MJ/day) expended significantly (P = 0.01) more energy than did the eight least active LNE (9.30 +/- 1.15 MJ/day). Energy expenditures ranged from 7.64 to 18.15 MJ/day, but there was no difference (P = 0.96) between the LE and LNE in energy expenditure during activity that was not designed to either improve or maintain fitness. These cross-sectional data on 49- to 70-yr-old women therefore suggest that 1) aerobic-type training results in a greater RMR per unit of body mass and also when statistical control is exerted for the effect of the metabolically active fat-free mass, 2) there is a large range in the energy intake necessary to maintain energy balance, and 3) aerobic training does not result in a compensatory reduction in energy expenditure during the remainder of the day.     

Effect of clenbuterol on growth and body composition during food restriction in rats

Clenbuterol was administered as a dietary admixture (4 mg/kg diet) to three groups of male Wistar rats (n = 8) housed individually in metabolism cages and fed for 15 d at 110, 160, and 235% (ad libitum) of estimated requirement for energy maintenance. Untreated groups at each level of energy intake were also included. There was no effect of clenbuterol on food intake in the ad libitum group, but the drug produced significant increases in body weight, feed efficiency, and carcass weight, dressing and protein content at all three levels of energy intake. This effect of clenbuterol was particularly noticeable in the restricted animals. Clenbuterol caused changes in body composition (increased percentage of water and protein, decreased percentage of fat) in the ad libitum rats but had no effect in the restricted groups. The reduction in the growth of the viscera caused by energy restriction was not affected by clenbuterol, apart from in the 110% restricted group, where the gastrointestinal tract was 26% heavier in the clenbuterol-treated rats. The results show that the growth anabolic actions of clenbuterol can be sustained and may be even more marked in rats fed restrictively than in those given ad libitum access to feed.     

Cost-effectiveness of transesophageal echocardiographic-guided cardioversion: a decision analytic model for patients admitted to the hospital with atrial fibrillation

Ten muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) each were infected with 17,000 eggs (long-term study) and eight muskrats each were infected with 8,000 eggs (short-term study) of Capillaria hepatica (Nematoda). Food intake, body weight, and selected clinicopathological parameters were measured every 2 days for 28 days in the short-term study and every 14 days for 184 days in the long-term study. Muskrats in the short-term study had moderate to severe necrotizing granulomatous hepatitis associated with mild anorexia and weight loss, varying degrees of leukocytosis with eosinophilia and elevation of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases. No significant changes in packed cell volume, hemoglobin, total plasma protein, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase or alkaline phosphatase were found among animals from the short-term study. Muskrats in the long-term study had severe necrotizing granulomatous hepatitis associated with marked anorexia, weight loss and 60% mortality over 39 days post-inoculation (PI); animals that survived for 184 days did not return to pre-inoculation body weights despite returning to normal food intake. Hepatic lesions at 184 days PI consisted of minimal to severe liver replacement by C. hepatica eggs. No statistically significant differences in values of clinical parameters between inoculated animals and a non-inoculated control group from the long term study were found.     

Role of calreticulin in regulating intracellular Ca2+ storage and capacitative Ca2+ entry in HeLa cells

Protein and energy metabolism in boars of different breeds, 10 each of Hampshire, Duroc and Danish Landrace was measured in balance and respiration experiments by means of indirect calorimetry in an open-air circulation system. Measurements were performed in four periods (Period I-IV) covering the body weight range from 25 to 100 kg. In order to achieve maximum protein retention (RP) a daily intake of digestible protein > 12 g/kg0.75 and metabolisable energy > 1100 kJ/kg0.75 was assumed to be necessary. Protein retention of Danish Landrace boars was inferior to that of Hampshire and Duroc boars in Periods III and IV, and therefore, 55 measurements on Hampshire and Duroc boars fulfilling the chosen criteria for digested protein and ME intake were used for calculation of maximum protein retention, giving the following significant quadratic relationship: RP [g/d] = 11.43.W0.75-0.144.W1.50 (n = 55, RSD = 15.2, CV = 9.2%, R2 = 0.851) with a summit of 227 g/d at 135 kg BW. In Period I, when BW was below 30 kg, 12 measurements fulfilled the chosen criterion for digested protein but not for ME, and these data were used comparatively. Protein retention of boars with a low ME intake in Period I was significantly below that of boars with a high ME intake (93 g/d vs. 107 g/d; P = 0.02). In summary, the present data have shown that boars of high genetic potential have capacity for maximum protein retention of about 230 g/d, and that there was a significant quadratic relationship between protein retention and metabolic body weight, indicating that maximum protein retention was not reached until 135 kg BW. Differences in capacity for protein retention were recorded between boars of different breeds, with Duroc and Hampshire boars being superior to Danish Landrace boars. Additionally, the crucial importance of a sufficient ME supply early in the growth period was underscored by a lower protein accretion rate of boars given a daily ME supply below 1100 kJ ME/kg0.75 at an approximate BW of 25 kg.     

Plasma concentration of thyroid hormones in lambs fed poultry offal meal in replacement of soybean meal at two energy levels

Sixty growing Najedi ram lambs (23.5 kg BW: 3 months old) were divided randomly to 6 equal groups. Each group was fed on different (isonitrogenous) diet, being either high energy (2.79 Mcal ME/kg DM) or low energy (2.15 Mcal Me/kg DM), supplemented with either 0.5 or 10% poultry offal meal (POM) in replacement of an equal amount of soybean meal (SBM). Feeding was ad libitum for 15 weeks experimental period. Thyroid hormones levels in plasma were determined during the last 7 weeks of the experiment and were related to feed intake and body weight during the same period. Lambs fed high-energy diets showed higher (P < 0.01) levels of both thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) compared to those fed low-energy diets leading to lower T4 to T3 ratios. There was more conversion of T4 to T3 for more utilization of food by the lambs fed the 10% POM diet of the high-energy content.     

Seasonal weight loss and metabolic adaptation in rural Beninese women: the relationship with body mass index

A large variation in seasonal weight loss between individuals exists in rural communities in developing countries. Therefore, it was investigated whether some individuals show a metabolic adaptation and, through that, prevent large body-weight losses during the preharvest season. Basal metabolic rate (BMR), energy intake and physical activity level (PAL) of rural Beninese women were measured in three seasons. Groups of subjects were: women with a body mass index (BMI) < 18 (n 18), and a BMI > 23 (n 16), and women who had shown small (n 18) and large (n 15) preharvest weight loss. All groups of subjects decreased energy intake during the preharvest season by 0.66-1.09 MJ/d. PAL did not show significant seasonal changes in any of the four groups. Only subjects with a BMI < 18 decreased BMR during the preharvest season with 2.9 (SD 6.7) J/kg per min (P < 0.05), with a decrease of 0.8 (SD 1.4) kg (P < 0.05) in body weight. In very thin women with a BMI < 17 (n 5) BMR expressed per unit body weight decreased even more during the preharvest season (by 12%).     

Selected certification problems for students and candidates in technical vocational schools]

The present study investigated the influence of dietary protein on the intensity of parasitaemia, degree of anaemia and erythropoietic responses, in sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense and given either a high protein diet (116 g digestible crude protein [DCP] per day) or a low protein diet (51.5 g DCP per day). It was observed that infected and control animals on the high protein diet grew at similar rates while infected animals on the low protein diet experienced marked retardation of growth compared with their uninfected controls. Dietary protein had no influence on the degree of anaemia that followed infection. Measurement of blood volumes revealed that low protein infected group had significantly lower mean circulating red cell volume than their controls. Ferrokinetic measurements indicated that plasma iron turnover rates (PITR) and 59Fe incorporation rates were higher in the high protein infected group than in the low protein infected group, although these differences were not significant. These observations indicate that infected animals on a high protein tended to show greater enhancement of erythropoietic activity that infected animals on low protein diet.     

Effects of fill volume of diets on digestive tract kinetics and fattening pattern of growing Holstein-Friesian bull calves

Young Holstein-Friesian bull calves were tested in three trials for their performance and digestive tract kinetic responses to diets differing in their fill volume (FV) in the digestive tract. In Trial 1, a high ME (11.7 MJ/kg of DM) diet was compared with three medium ME (10.5 MJ/kg of DM) diets, one of high FV and two of low FV. In Trial 2, two silages (wheat and sorghum), differing in FV, were compared with or without poultry litter inclusion. All the diets in this trial had the same ME content of 10.5 MJ/kg of DM. Rate of gain, DM and ME intake, and depot fat percentage at slaughter were recorded. In Trial 3, two diets (high and low FV) and the same ME content of 10.4 MJ/kg of DM were compared in a short-term trial for digestive tract kinetics using a single dose of Cr-NDF and Co-EDTA as particulate and solute markers, respectively. Calves in Trial 1 fed medium ME and low FV diets had higher (not significant) DMI than high ME calves but similar ADG, whereas medium ME and high FV calves had the lowest DMI (P < .1) and ADG (P < .05). Low FV and medium ME calves were leaner (P < .05) at slaughter than the high ME calves and fatter (not significant) than the high FV and medium ME calves. In Trial 2, reduction of FV by silage replacement increased DMI (P < .01) and ADG (P < .05). Incorporation of poultry litter into the diets resulted in effects in the same direction (not significant). Such a reduction caused increased (P < .01 for both silage end poultry litter effects) deposition of cod fat in the carcass. Mean retention time estimations in Trial 3 indicated increased (P = .055) particle retention time in the low FV calves, compared to the high FV calves. This increase was due to a longer (P = .1) stay of particles in the lower parts of the digestive tract, and not in the rumen. Lowering the FV of medium ME diets increased DMI of calves to support ADG equal to that of a high ME diet, but with a lower fat accumulation.     

In vivo metabolism of a new anticancer agent, 6-N-formylamino-12, 13-dihydro-1,11-dihydroxy-13-(beta-D-glucopyranosil)5H-indolo [2,3-a]pyrrolo [3,4-c]carbazole-5,7(6H)-dione (NB-506) in rats and dogs: pharmacokinetics, isolation, identification, and quantification of metabolites

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies have shown alcohol consumption to be inversely as well as positively related to body weight and body fat. Metabolic studies have shown an increase in energy intake as well as compensation after alcohol consumption. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess the effects on energy intake of an apéritif compared with those of a water appetizer and 3 fruit juice appetizers. DESIGN: Fifty-two men and women aged 20-45 y with a body mass index (in kg/m2) between 20 and 32 were randomly given 1 MJ (340 mL) alcohol (wine or beer), fat (cream fruit juice), protein (protein fruit juice), carbohydrate (grape juice), or water, or no preload 30 min before an ad libitum lunch consumed from the universal eating monitor. RESULTS: Energy intake (3.5+/-0.3 MJ compared with 2.7+/-0.2 MJ, P < 0.001) and eating rate were higher (44+/-3 g/min compared with 38+/-3 g/min, P < 0.01), meal duration was longer (14 min compared with 12.0 min, P < 0.01), satiation started to increase later (3.5 min compared with 1.5 min, P < 0.01), and eating was prolonged after maximum satiation (2.5 min compared with 0.6 min, P < 0.01) after an apéritif than after a fat, protein, or carbohydrate appetizer,. Twenty-four-hour energy intake was higher on a day that an apéritif was consumed than after water or no preload. CONCLUSION: Twenty-four-hour energy intake was elevated with a 1-MJ apéritif but not with a 1-MJ liquid carbohydrate, fat, or protein appetizer.     

Comparative effects of volume loading on pulmonary venous flow in dogs with normal heart and with myocardial ischemia

1. Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRsp) have been used widely to test agents putatively capable of vascular protection. These animals present an accelerated time course of hypertension and a reduced life-span. When fed a high-sodium diet from the eighth week of life, a further acceleration in blood pressure increase is obtained, and rats start to die after 5 weeks of diet as a consequence of cerebral haemorrhage. In this model, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were repeatedly proved to prevent vascular lesions and death. Notably, this effect was independent of any hypotensive effect. On the contrary, diuretics were shown not to be equally effective. A combination of ACE inhibitors and diuretics, although known to have synergistic effects in the therapy of hypertension, has never previously been tested. 2. Our aim was to study the effects of long-term treatment with the ACE inhibitor delapril (12 mg day-1 kg-1), the thiazide-like diuretic indapamide (1 mg day-1 kg-1), and their combination (12 and 1 mg day-1 kg-1 respectively), on the survival of SHRsp rats fed a high-sodium diet from the eighth week of life onwards. The effects of the treatments on blood pressure, body weight, food and fluid intake, diuresis, proteinuria and the appearance of lesion signs and death were assessed weekly. When control rats reached 50% mortality, they were killed, together with some drug-treated rats, to compare lesions in brain and kidney. The other drug-treated rats continued treatments until 50% mortality was reached in two treatment groups. 3. All drug treatments were able to delay death significantly when compared with control rats, which reached 50% mortality after 6 weeks of salt loading. This event was preceded by a highly significant increase in proteinuria, diuresis and fluid intake that took place 3 weeks after the increase in blood pressure over the initial range. In delapril- or indapamide-treated SHRsp these changes were never seen, even when animals started to die. In the combination-treated group, a significant increase (P < 0.01) in fluid intake and diuresis, but not proteinuria, was observed from the third week of treatment onwards. 4. Treatment with delapril or indapamide did not block the progressive increase in blood pressure as observed in control animals. However, the increase in blood pressure was markedly retarded with respect to control rats. At variance with this, in combination-treated animals blood pressure levels were maintained until the end of the experiment within the 99% confidence interval initially observed in control animals. 5. Infarctual and haemorrhagic cerebral lesions were observed in 38% of control rats; no lesions were noted in brains of age-matched rats receiving a drug treatment. Kidneys from control animals presented major degenerative lesions of glomeruli and arteries, characterized by fibrinoid necrosis. This condition was absent in drug-treated animals, which presented minor signs of ischaemic lesion. Heart hypertrophy, when heart weight was expressed as a percentage of body weight, was similar in saline-, delapril- or indapamide-treated rats. At variance with this, in combination-treated animals the heart weight to body weight ratio was significantly (P < 0.01) lower than in the other groups. 6. In conclusion, the diuretic indapamide showed similar protective effects as the ACE inhibitor delapril on acute vascular lesions and survival of SHRsp. Moreover, their combination synergized in preventing heart hypertrophy consequent to longterm hypertension. This results is probably related to the enhanced diuresis and the better control of blood pressure levels selectively found in combination-treated animals.     

The influence of sex hormones on obesity across the female life span

Women have a higher prevalence of obesity than men in most developed countries. Obesity affects many aspects of women's health by increasing risk for heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, and infertility. One reason for the gender difference in obesity may be that fluctuations in reproductive hormone concentrations throughout women's lives uniquely predispose them to excess weight gain. Studies in experimental animals and women have shown that hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle affect calorie and macronutrient intake and alter 24-hour energy expenditure. Pregnancy is a significant factor in the development of obesity for many women. Various factors are associated with excess weight retention following pregnancy, including weight gain during pregnancy, ethnicity, dietary patterns, and interval between pregnancies. There is a need to tailor recommendations for energy intake during pregnancy to individual women, and recent evidence also suggests that the timing of weight gain during pregnancy is a critical factor. Menopause is also a high-risk time for weight gain in women. Although the average woman gains 2-5 pounds during menopausal transition, some women are at risk for greater weight gains. There is also a hormonally driven shift in body fat distribution from peripheral to abdominal at menopause, which may increase health risks in older women. Hormone therapies have varying impacts on body weight and fat distribution. In summary, hormonal fluctuations across the female life span may explain the increased risk for obesity in women. Awareness of these factors allows development of targets for prevention and early intervention.     

Relation between circulating leptin concentrations and appetite during a prolonged, moderate energy deficit in women

BACKGROUND: On the basis of observations in rodents, leptin is thought to play a key role in the regulation of energy expenditure and food intake, but less is known of its influence on ingestive behavior and energy balance in humans. OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect in women of a chronic energy deficit on plasma leptin concentrations and self-reported appetite and explored possible relations between leptin and appetite sensations. DESIGN: Twelve healthy women (body mass index, in kg/m2: 23-37) participated in a metabolic ward study in which 3 wk of neutral energy balance was followed by 12 wk of energy deficit (energy intake reduced by 2 MJ/d and energy expenditure increased by 0.8 MJ/d). Body weight and composition were monitored, fasting leptin concentrations were measured 4 times, and feelings of hunger, fullness, desire to eat, and prospective consumption were monitored hourly throughout the day on 7 selected days. RESULTS: Adiposity-adjusted leptin decreased by 54% after 1 wk of a moderate energy deficit and remained low after 6 and 12 wk. Leptin was associated with self-reported hunger, desire to eat, and prospective consumption (range of r: -0.6 to -0.7, P < 0.01). The greatest hunger increase coincided with the largest percentage drop in circulating leptin and the lowest final leptin concentration. The relation between leptin and hunger was not influenced by amount of weight or body fat loss. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the idea that leptin is a physiologic regulator of hunger during energy deficits in humans; the role of leptin in the long-term regulation of food intake warrants further study.