bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adductor Insertion Avulsion Syndrome Mimicking Neoplastic Processes in a 14-year-old Long-distance Runner
Authors: Nishio Jun , Hara Michiya , Naito Masatoshi
Published: September 2012

Adductor insertion avulsion syndrome, also known as thigh splints, is an uncommon condition that can mimic primary bone tumors or osteomyelitis.

This article describes the clinical and imaging findings of adductor insertion avulsion syndrome in a 14-year-old male long-distance runner. The patient presented with a 1-month history of progressively worsening pain in the medial aspect of the left thigh. No significant findings were noted on physical examination except slight tenderness to palpation. Radiographs revealed an intracortical radiolucent lesion with a solid periosteal reaction in the medial aspect of the femoral diaphysis. Bone scintigraphy showed an increased uptake corresponding with the lesion of the left medial femoral diaphysis. Computed tomography confirmed the presence of periosteal reaction and intracortical linear hypoattenuation and showed no fracture line. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed periosteal, cortical, and intramedullary signal intensity abnormalities. These clinical and radiologic features suggested adductor insertion avulsion syndrome. The patient was treated with initial avoidance of weight bearing using 2 crutches for ambulation, followed by progressive weight bearing over a period of 2 weeks. The symptom resolved completely 7 weeks after initial evaluation, and the patient had normal gait without pain.

Knowledge of this condition is important for the appropriate interpretation of imaging findings and the avoidance of unnecessary biopsy with potentially misleading results. Moreover, this case provides a time line as a reference for the rehabilitation of patients in similar cases.
V-Lab
Authors: Xu Le , Huang Dijiang , Tsai Wei-Tek , Atkinson Robert K.
Published: September 2012

In computer and network security education, hands-on laboratories are essential to help students understand the course content. However, hands-on laboratories are difficult to implement due to the complicated setup and location restrictions of a physical laboratory, which limits their use in online education. Using a remotely accessible, physically unconstrained virtual laboratory is a natural solution. Existing laboratory solutions are usually expensive to build, configure and maintain, while still lacking reusability, flexibility, and scalability. The authors propose a remote, virtual laboratory that provides cloud resources to both desktop and mobile users, called V-Lab. By using a flexible and reconfigurable design, V-Lab greatly reduces the effort needed to establish and maintain a physical laboratory, while providing a secure, reliable, and physically unrestricted environment that allows students to use resources based on their own schedule. Preliminary results show that students report that V- Lab system is intuitive, reliable, and helps them solve real-world problems.
Characteristics of Social Networks and Employee Behavior and Performance A Chinese Case Study of a State-Owned Enterprise
Authors: Peng Jianping , Quan Jing
Published: September 2012

Based on the social networks at a Chinese state-owned enterprise, the authors examine the factors that are correlated with employee performance. They delineate two types of performance: task and contextual. The factors in their study are the characteristics of the four social networks (Job Advisory, Work Discussion, Friendship, and Email Networks) and the individual attributes (knowledge sharing behavior and IT capability). The network characteristics used in this study are the degree centrality and betweenness centrality. The authors find that 1) employee contextual performance is uncorrelated with the network characteristics; 2) it is significantly and positively correlated with knowledge sharing behavior, but significantly and negatively correlated with individual IT capability; and 3) task performance is correlated, both positively and negatively, with various network characteristics, but not with knowledge sharing behavior and individual IT capability. They discuss the cultural dimension of their results. The authors draw theoretical and managerial implications based on their research framework and findings.
Space-Time Analysis of Auto Burglary Patterns in a Fast-Growing Small City
Authors: Wu Ling , Ye Xinyue , Webb David
Published: September 2012

Auto burglary is a rising concern for small cities that rely so highly on revenues from malls and shopping. The fear of auto burglary dispels possible business partners, shoppers, and workers. This piece of research was conducted in Shenandoah, a small city near Houston, Texas. Shenandoah has been experiencing a fast-growing economy and annexation process. The research highlights the potency of space-time analysis for the local police department. The paper describes the temporal trends of auto burglary offenses. Hot spots of auto burglary offenses in different time periods are identified, which provide a clue for police to prioritize limited resources. In addition, this project analyzes the repeatability of auto burglary incidents in the same locations. The space-time analysis reveals that, once an auto burglary incident occurred, one week is the optimal time period for police to actively patrol, or adopt other preventive strategies on the same location to deter the potential follow-up auto burglaries.
Distributed Manufacturing Networks
Authors: Egge Nathan , Brodsky Alexander , Griva Igor
Published: September 2012

The authors consider optimization problems expressed in Decision Guidance Query Language that may involve linear arithmetic constraints, as well as finite domain and binary variables. They focus on Distributed Manufacturing Network optimization problems in which only a part of the problem is dynamic, i.e., the demand for the output products in a manufacturing network, whereas the rest of the problem is static, i.e., the connectivity graph of the assembly processes and the cost functions of machines. The authors propose the Online Decomposition Algorithm based on offline preprocessing that optimizes each static problem component for discretized values of shared constraint variables, and approximate the optimal aggregated utility functions. The Online Decomposition Algorithm uses the pre-processed approximated aggregated cost functions to decompose the original problem into smaller problems, and utilizes search heuristics for the combinatorial part of the problem based on the pre-processed look-up tables. They also conduct an initial experimental evaluation which shows that the Online Decomposition Algorithm, as compared with Mixed Integer Linear Programming, provides an order of magnitude improvement in terms of both computational time and the quality of found solutions for a class of problems for which pre-processing is possible.
Resource-Based View, Knowledge-Based View and the Performance of Software Development Companies
Authors: Moreno Valter , Pinheiro José Ricardo Monteiro , Joia Luiz Antonio
Published: September 2012

Software development companies face a globalized, highly competitive and turbulent environment, where efficiency, efficacy and innovation capacity are critical for survival. In this context, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) tend to suffer the most due to the scarcity of resources to which they are usually subjected and their dependence on a few more powerful customers. This paper describes the elaboration and test of a model that draws on the resource-based view and knowledge-based view to explain the differences in performance of software SMEs. The analysis of data collected from 265 Brazilian companies suggests that: absorptive capacity contributes significantly to the development of a company’s stock of technological knowledge; the flexibility of the IT infrastructure, managerial capacity, and IT technological knowledge are strong predictors of software development performance; and organizational performance is positively influenced by software development performance and managerial capacity. The implications of these findings are then discussed.
Absorptive Capacity and ERP Implementation in Indian Medium-Sized Firms
Authors: Sharma Seema , Daniel Elizabeth M. , Gray Colin
Published: September 2012

Whilst absorptive capacity has been identified as an important contributor to the effective implementation of IT systems, previous studies have failed to explicitly consider the contribution of individual and organizational knowledge processes. Nine case studies of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation were undertaken. The case studies were all undertaken in SMEs in a developing country since this is an important but under researched area for the application of the concept of absorptive capacity. A particular implication of the findings is that firms lacking knowledge of IT implementation cannot simply seek this from external sources but must develop internal organizational knowledge processes if their implementations of IT systems are to be effective. This finding is particularly pertinent to the developing country and SME context of this study, where low levels of experience within the firm and the loss of experienced staff are found to impact on the development of absorptive capacity.
A Core Ontological Model for Semantic Sensor Web Infrastructures
Authors: García-Castro Raúl , Corcho Oscar , Hill Chris
Published: September 2012

Semantic Sensor Web infrastructures use ontology-based models to represent the data that they manage; however, up to now, these ontological models do not allow representing all the characteristics of distributed, heterogeneous, and web-accessible sensor data. This paper describes a core ontological model for Semantic Sensor Web infrastructures that covers these characteristics and that has been built with a focus on reusability. This ontological model is composed of different modules that deal, on the one hand, with infrastructure data and, on the other hand, with data from a specific domain, that is, the coastal flood emergency planning domain. The paper also presents a set of guidelines, followed during the ontological model development, to satisfy a common set of requirements related to modelling domain-specific features of interest and properties. In addition, the paper includes the results obtained after an exhaustive evaluation of the developed ontologies along different aspects (i.e., vocabulary, syntax, structure, semantics, representation, and context).
Effectiveness of a school-based intervention for enhancing adolescents' positive attitudes towards people with mental illness
Authors: Giannakopoulos George , Assimopoulos Haris , Petanidou Dimitra , Tzavara Chara , Kolaitis Gerasimos , Tsiantis John
Published: September 2012

High school students are a common target group in initiatives addressing discriminatory attitudes towards people with mental illness. However, these initiatives are rarely evaluated and documented. The aim of our paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based educational intervention for improving adolescents' attitudes and reducing the desire for social distance from people with mental illness living in their community. A total of 161 students aged 16-18 years old were questioned at baseline assessment and 86 of them received a three-workshop educational intervention while 75 students comprised the control group. A follow-up assessment 1 month post intervention evaluated its impact. Attitudes and the social distance were assessed through the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill scale and a 10-statement questionnaire based on the Self-report Inventory of Fear and Behavioural Intentions, respectively. Data from 140 subjects were analyzed. All attitude dimensions and half of the measured social distance statements were significantly improved in the intervention group at follow up assessment compared to controls. However, the statements measuring more intimate types of social relationships did not change significantly post intervention. In conclusion, short educational interventions can be effective to some extent in reducing discriminatory attitudes towards people with mental illness. However, effective interventions to address deeply held negative stereotypes will require further research.
The Role of Ultrasound in the Assessment of Intrauterine Device Complications
Authors: Ansari Ahmed S , Tullius Thomas G , Ross Jason R
Published: September 2012

Over the past few decades, the use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) as long-term contraception has steadily been increasing. Along with the increased use of IUDs, many possible complications have been made apparent. This article presents an overview of normal IUD placement, possible complications and their diagnosis using ultrasound. Ultrasound has emerged as an excellent imaging modality for the diagnosis of many pelvic pathologies, because of its availability, sensitivity, specificity, cost-effectiveness and lack of radiation. By reading this article, the reader will be able to identify common IUD complications using ultrasound.

How to cite this article

Ansari AS, Tullius TG Jr, Ross JR, Plavsic SK. The Role of Ultrasound in the Assessment of Intrauterine Device Complications. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2012;6(3):318-326.
One Report: Bringing Change in Corporate Reporting through integration of Financial and Non-Financial Performance Disclosure
Authors: Azam Zubair , Warraich Khalid Mehmood , Awan Sajid Hussain
Published: September 2012

Investment community is understandably preoccupied with determination to bring assured transparency within organization’s operations. To get companies more transparent, and to win stakeholder’s trust, companies need to communicate their actions and level of commitment to incorporate sustainability into every organizational decision. And companies communicate with their stakeholders through issuing various internal and external reports.This research paper proposes that to bring assured transparency and to win stakeholder trust, companies should integrate financial and non-financial performance reports and thus should produce One Report. The paper presents an annotated literature review which covers conceptual foundations of One Report, drivers, prospective benefits to both stakeholders as well as to companies, and prospective challenges that companies can face in the adoption of One Report. Survey has been conducted to assess important factors that practitioners consider while making judgment about a company, useful metrics to be included in an annual report and prospective benefits on one report. Descriptive statistical techniques are employed and on the basis of findings, it has been discussed that how business schools can incorporate the sustainability topic into the curriculum. A roadmap for adoption of one report has also been suggested. Finally, managerial implications and future research areas have been identified.
Grotesque Bodies, Princely Delight:
Authors: O'Bryan Robin
Published: September 2012

This essay examines the representation of dwarfs in Italian Renaissance court imagery, principally in works that are portrait-like in nature and that highlight their bodily deformations. While such renderings offered evidence of the artist's virtuosity in depicting unusual physiognomies, I suggest that court artists went beyond mere verisimilitude, deliberately accentuating and exploiting the dwarf's distinctive anatomical deficiencies, whether through juxtapositions with well-proportioned bodies, or as singular expressions of corporeal irregularity. This investigation also delves into the fluctuating and at times contradictory nature of the Italian Renaissance mentalité, which viewed dwarfs—in life as in art—as both repellant and yet attractive, and alternatively as benign, potent, and/or comical. For however much negativity was ascribed to their deformed stature, the presentation of the dwarf's body in court imagery had equally positive implications, providing pleasure for the viewer, bestowing prestige on the princely patron, and evoking amazement for the dwarf as Nature's own marvel.
The Werewolves of Livonia:
Authors: Donecker Stefan
Published: September 2012

Throughout the early modern period, the territory of Livonia, roughly corresponding to present-day Latvia and Estonia, was known as an abode of particularly vicious werewolves. Diabolic shape-shifting was a common feature in witch trials all over Europe, but no other country gained a similar notoriety as an alleged lycanthropy hot spot. During the last two decades, historians and anthropologists have devoted considerable attention to the topic, but their research has been predominantly focused on trial records and juridical sources. Complementing these contributions, this essay approaches the Livonian werewolves from a different angle: as a topic of theoretical considerations and scholarly treatises.

European men of letters first learned about the shape-changers of Livonia from Sebastian Münster's influential Cosmographia in 1550. Five years later, the exiled Swedish bishop Olaus Magnus expanded Münster's succinct report into a detailed and fanciful description of the Baltic werewolves and their savage nature—an account that left a lasting impression on the imagination of European intellectuals. For the next 150 years, Livonian werewolves were regularly mentioned and discussed in demonological, ethnographic, and historiographic treatises, before the skeptical attitude of the early Enlightenment banished them from scholarly literature in the 1720s.
Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and their Technological Advantages for the Design in Healthy Meat Product
Authors: Rey J. F. , Povea I. E.
Published: September 2012

Current trends in the formulation for new food shows that healthy or â€œfunctionalâ€ products are graduallyincreasing their participation in the preference of the consumers (Catalá Ramón). Nowadays, the participation of meatproducts in this behavior of the marketing is not growing at the same rate, because their ingredients and nutritionalcompounds, like saturated fats, which are rejected by consumers. But, a group of investigators from La Salle University(Universidad De La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia), have been working hard, in order to obtain healthier meat products, usingBufalo as the main raw material, because its important properties like 15 to 35% of protein, 40% more water holdingcapacity (CRA, in Spanish) and 30% more emulsifying capacity (CE in Spanish). Previous values are compared with rawbeef. The group, who has developed a functional buffalo meat product, added vegetal oil from soybeans and dehydratedhemoglobin to its formulation and obtained a food with 70% less of saturated fat and a significantly increase of iron,without affecting the non-saturated fat compound of the food. Now, a functional product packed in a "smart packaging" has been studied, in order to increase its shelf life, supported on positive migration process.
Ultrasonographic Biometry of the Ovaries of Pregnant Kundhi Buffaloes
Authors: Kachiwal Allah Bux , Sheikh Bashir Ahmed , Sheikh Saghir Ahmed , Qureshi Tofique Ahmed , Memon Maqbool Ahmed
Published: September 2012

Sixteen gravid uteri of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th month of pregnant Kundhi buffaloes were collected from Hyderabadslaughterhouse for this study. The ovaries were separated from gravid uteri of Kundhi buffaloes and ultrasonographicbiometry was performed by ultrasound machine (HS-2000, Honda electronics Co. Ltd., Japan). The ovaries wereexamined for presence of follicles and/or corpus luteum. The length, width and height of ovaries and corpus luteum (CL)were recorded and measured. The average weight of ovaries with corpus luteum during 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th month's ofpregnancy was 4.6 + 0.345, 5.90 + 1.134, 6.10 + 1.179, and 6.50 + 1.139 gms, respectively. The average weight of CLduring 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th month of pregnancy was 2.0 +0.162, 2.4 + 0.35, 2.6 + 0.27, and 3.0 + 0.49 gm, respectively.The average weight of ovaries of non-gravid uterus of same buffaloes was 2.7 + 0.35, 3.6 + 1.10, 3.9 + 1.15, and 4.2 +1.09 gm during 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th month of pregnancy respectively. The average size of the left and right ovary was 29.0+ 1.2 mm and 20.01 + 2.15 mm respectively and the average size of CL was 17.13 + 3.15 mm. There was significantincrease in the weight, length, width and height of ovaries and corpus leutum as pregnancy advances than non-pregnantbuffaloes. A greater number of ovarian structure (follicles) was found at the time of oestrus than anoestrus period.
Bassin d'oued Serrat : terrils et rejets domestiques, reconnaissance des métaux lourds et polluants, impact sur les eaux souterraines (nord-ouest de la Tunisie)
Authors: Mlayah Ammar , Ferreira Da Silva Eduardo Anselmo , Hatira Nouri , Jellali Salah , Lachaal Fethi , Charef Abdelkrim , Noronha Fernando , Ben Hamza Chedly
Published: September 2012

Le présent travail visait à déterminer l'impact de rejets de deux mines de fer et de phosphates sur la qualité physicochimique de l'eau d'un système aquifère alluvial (nord-ouest de la Tunisie). Des échantillons de terrils, de sols ainsi que de l'eau de puits captant la nappe ont été prélevés et analysés. Les résultats d'analyses des échantillons de terrils ont montré que cette matrice renferme des concentrations remarquables en métaux lourds (essentiellement le Cd, Cr, Pb et Zn). Ces éléments métalliques ont été également détectés à des concentrations non négligeables dans la fraction fine des sols situés en aval des rejets miniers, suite à son transport éolien et hydrique. En ce qui concerne les eaux de la nappe, il s'avère que le transport des métaux issus des terrils est totalement atténué par les éléments constituant le sous-sol. Ces eaux, de bonne qualité géochimique, sont toutefois assez contaminées en nitrates dû aux pratiques agricoles intenses et à l'absence de systèmes d'assainissement urbains.
Crystallography of DNA and RNA G‐Quadruplex Nucleic Acids and Their Ligand Complexes
Authors: Campbell Nancy , Collie Gavin W. , Neidle Stephen
Published: September 2012

Quadruplexes are higher‐order structures formed by natural guanine‐rich nucleic acid sequences. They may play a role in gene regulation and in telomere function. This article focuses on the crystallization of quadruplexes and their complexes with small‐molecule ligands. Protocols for successful crystallization, as used in the author's laboratory, are described in detail. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 50:17.6.1‐17.6.22. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Lipolysis in Intraabdorninal Adipose Tissues of Obese Women and Men
Authors: Fried Susan K. , Leibel Rudolph L. , Edens Neilé K. , Kral John G.
Published: September 2012

Intraabdominal fat in humans is located in two major depots, the omental and mesenteric. We compared basal and stimulated lipolysis in adipose tissue from these two depots and the subcutaneous abdominal depot of obese women and men. Omental fat cells of women are smaller and have lower rates of basal lipolysis than in men. Basal Iipolysis rates are significantly higher in subcutaneous than intraabdominal adipose tissues of both genders. In men, the incremental lipolytic response to norepinephrine is significantly greater in both intraabdominal fat depots than in the subcutaneous fat, while in women tlie response of tlie mesenteric is lower than tlie omental. In women, but not men, responsiveness to tlie beta agonist isoproterenol is also increased in omental tissue. Thus, in women, omental and mesenteric adipose tissues show distinctly different metabolic properties which may moderate the impact of intraabdominal obesity.
Insulin Secretion in Hypothalamic Obesity: Diurnal Variation and the Effect of Naloxone
Authors: Lee Amy , Bray George A.
Published: September 2012

This paper has tested the hypothesis that patients with hypothalamic obesity have altered mechanisms controlling insulin secretion when compared to obese patients without hypothalamic injury. Fasting glucose and insulin values were significantly higher in the morning than in the afternoon in the six control obese patients, but there was no diurnal difference in the six patients with hypothalamic obesity (n=6). The control obese subjects showed a diurnal variation in glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion, whereas the patients with hypothalamic obesity did not, suggesting that hypothalamic injury had destroyed diurnal rhythms. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, acutely suppressed fasting insulin in the six patients with essential obesity but had little effect on fasting insulin in the three patients with hypothalamic obesity or in five normal‐weight controls. Naloxone increased insulin sensitivity in the obese control patients, but did not affect either insulin secretion or insulin sensitivity in patients with hypothalamic obesity or in normal weight subjects. Our results support the conclusion that hypothalamic obesity disrupts diurnal rhythms, with the suggestion that opioid peptides affect insulin secretion differently in patients with essential obesity as compared to normal weight subjects or those with hypothalamic obesity.
Two Preadipocyte Subtypes Cloned from Human Omental Fat
Authors: Kirkland James L , Hollenberg Charles H. , Gillon Wanda S.
Published: September 2012

To determine whether the characteristics of preadipocytes derived from human fat are uniform or variable, we developed methods for culturing and differentiating cloned human preadipocytes. Individual human omental preadipocytes were cultured for six weeks. The number of cells varied considerably among clones derived from the same subject, implying that human preadipocytes vary in replicative capacity. Indeed, two cell subtypes were found in human omental fat; one type replicated slowly and the other was capable of extensive replication. Cells of both subtypes were capable of differentiation into adipocytes, confirming that both subtypes were preadipocytes. When rat perirenal and epididymal preadipocytes were cloned, a slowly replicating and an extensively replicating preadipocyte subtype were also found. It is proposed that preadipocytes of the rapidly and the slowly replicating subtypes may be at different stages along the pathway between uncommitted precursor cells and differentiated adipocytes.
Fluoxetine: A Randomized Clinical Trial in the Maintenance of Weight Loss
Authors: Goldstein David J. , Rampey Alvin H. , Dornseif Bruce E. , Levine Louise R. , Potvin Janet H. , Fludzinski Laura A.
Published: September 2012

Because current weight‐reduction treatments have considerable recidivism, a therapy that could help patients maintain weight loss would be of benefit. A six‐center, randomized, double‐blind trial compared the effects of the specific serotonin uptake inhibitor, fluoxetine hydrochloride, and placebo on maintenance of weight loss. Obese outpatients who had lost ≤3.6 kg after 8 weeks of single‐blind fluoxetine 60 mg/day in the qualification phase (N=317 [70.4% of patients entered]; mean ± standard deviation [SD] weight loss, 6.8 ± 2.8 kg) were randomly assigned to fluoxetine 20 mg/day (N=104), fluoxetine 60 mg/day (N=106), or placebo (N=107) for 40 weeks (maintenance phase). Patients received minimal nutrition/dietary counseling. Qualification phase clinic visits were biweekly; maintenance phase visits were monthly for 4 months, then bimonthly for 6 months. Patients treated with fluoxetine 60 mg/day continued to lose weight for 8 additional weeks (16 weeks total; maximum mean ± SD weight loss, 7.2 ± 4.6 kg); those treated with fluoxetine 20 mg/day or placebo began to regain weight. Mean weights remained below baseline values at week 48 (all groups); treatment differences were not statistically significant. Study completion rates were comparable (fluoxetine 20 mg/day, 67.3%; fluoxetine 60 mg/day, 56.6%; placebo, 67.3%; p = 0.175). Among commonly reported adverse events (>10% incidence), only asthenia was reported statistically significantly (p< 0.050) more frequently with fluoxetine than with placebo. Few patients discontinued for any single adverse event. Fluoxetine 60 mg/day was effective for a longer period than fluoxetine 20 mg/day or placebo in maintaining weight loss. Overall, fluoxetine was safe and well tolerated.
Non Linear Weight Gain with Long Term Overfeeding in Man
Authors: Deriaz Olivier , Tremblay Angelo , Bouchard Claude
Published: September 2012

This study deals with the pattern of body weight gain during an overfeeding period with a constant energy intake, in order to assess whether total daily energy expenditure (TEE) increased with body weight and thus could account for the progressive slow down in body weight gain over time. Twenty‐four young adult males (12 pairs of identical twins) were overfed by 4.2 MJ per day, six days a week, for a total of 84 days during a 100‐day overfeeding period. The total excess amount each man consumed was 353 MJ. It was assumed that, at a given time, the TEE increase (E) was dependent on body weight gain and energy cost (C) was proportional to the daily body weight gain. Results show an exponential increase in body weight, fat free mass, and fat mass (with half‐times of 86, 57, and 84 days, respectively) that allows the calculation of E (246 ± 37 kJ*kg−1 d−1, mean ± SE) and C (32.3 ± 2.4 MJ kg−1). Energy expenditure from other sources besides resting metabolic rate, such as physical activity and thermic effect of food, may represent as much as 65% of E. At the beginning of the overfeeding period, almost all the energy surplus was recovered as body substances but this proportion decreased to 60% after 100 days of overfeeding. It is concluded that 1) TEE changes were related to body weight change, 2) about 65% of E were accounted for by physical activity, thermic effect of food, or some other components, and 3) the fraction of the energy surplus stored as body substances decreased with the duration of overfeeding.
Binge Eating Disorder Affects Outcome of Comprehensive Very‐Low‐Calorie Diet Treatment
Authors: Yanovski Susan Zelitch , Gormally James F. , Leser Maureen S. , Gwirtsman Hurry E. , Yanovski Jack A.
Published: September 2012

To determine the effects of binge eating disorder (BED) on weight loss and maintenance in women undergoing treatment for obesity, we studied the weight changes of 38 women (body mass index >30 kg/m2), 21 of whom met proposed criteria for BED and 17 of whom reported few problems with binge eating, during and after a 26‐week comprehensive very‐low‐calorie diet (VLCD) treatment program. All 17 subjects without and 16/21 subjects with BED returned for four follow‐up visits over 12 months (p=0.05). While a similar proportion of subjects with and without BED reported absolute adherence to both the modified fast and refeeding, those with BED showed a significantly different distribution in energy intake from those without BED, with fewer small and more large lapses among those who deviated from the diet (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in mean weight loss over the 26 weeks of treatment, but subjects with BED showed significantly diminished weight loss during the middle third of treatment (p<0.05). Black subjects, regardless of the presence of BED, lost significantly less weight during treatment than white subjects (p<0.005). Although there was no significant difference in mean weight loss at any of the four follow‐up visits between subjects with and without BED, 25% of subjects with BED had regained >50% of their lost weight by three‐month follow‐up, vs. no subjects without the disorder (p<0.05). One year after completing treatment, approximately half of BED (+) and BED (‐) subjects had a good outcome, maintaining a weight loss ≥10% of initial body weight. However, 35% of subjects with BED, and none of the subjects without BED, had a poor outcome (p<0.05). We conclude that many individuals with BED will respond well to a medically supervised comprehensive VLCD program, attaining medically significant weight loss. However, this subgroup appears to be at risk for early major regain of lost weight and for poor outcome one year following weight‐loss treatment.
An Exploratory Investigation of Genetic Linkage with Body Composition and Fatness Phenotypes: The Québec Family Study
Authors: Borecki Ingrid B. , Rice Treva , Pérusse Louis , Bouchard Claude , Rao D. C.
Published: September 2012

In the present investigation, we have attempted to identify regions of the genome in which “obesity genes” potentially reside using robust sib‐pair linkage analysis. Data were collected on 1,628 individuals in 301 nuclear families residing in the environs of Québec City during the period 1978–1981. In addition to traditional blood group antigens and enzyme polymorphisms, several phenotypes in the obesity domain that are associated with increased morbidity were assessed, including measures relating to heaviness (i.e., the body mass index), body composition and nutrient partitioning (i.e., % body fat), and regional fat distribution without and with standardization for total fat mass (i.e., the sum of six skinfold thicknesses, and the ratio of the sums of trunk to extremity skinfold thicknesses). Three consistent patterns of potential linkage relationships with obesity phenotypes were revealed in these data, involving the marker loci adenosine deaminase, the Kell blood group antigen, and esterase D, which identify chromosomal regions 20q13, 7q33, and 13q14, respectively. Other potential linkages also were identified in the short arm of chromosome 1, interesting because of the presence of the db and fa loci on homologous regions of chromosome 1 in mouse and rat models of obesity, respectively. Each of the tentative linkage relationships reported here warrant follow‐up using alternative methods and require replication in independent studies.
Comparison of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Obese Blacks and Whites
Authors: Darga Linda L. , Holden Jacqueline H. , Olson Sheldon M. , Lucas Charles P
Published: September 2012

Blacks are known to have higher blood pressure levels, a higher prevalence of hypertension, and higher body weights than whites. However, the interrelationships of these and other cardiac risk factors have not been analyzed in an obese population. We compared blood pressure (BP) and lipid levels in 174 obese blacks and 939 obese white patients who were entering a weight loss program; we also assessed the effects of weight loss on these factors. Prevalence of treated hypertension was similar in blacks and whites (28% vs. 25%, respectively). In patients not taking BP medication, black women weighed more (108 kg) than white women (102 kg) and black and white males' weights were similar (135 kg vs. 131 kg). Systolic and diastolic BP were similar in black and white women; black males had similar SBP but a significantly lower DBP than white males (83 mmHg vs. 89 mmHg, respectively). Lipid levels were similar in black and white women except black women had lower triglycerides (1.30 mmol/L) than white women (1.58 mmol/L, p<0.05); and black males compared to white males had significantly lower total cholesterol (4.76 mmol/L vs. 5.56 mmol/L), LDL‐cholesterol (3.15 mmol/L vs. 3.52 mmol/L) and triglycerides (1.31 mmol/L vs. 2.17 mmol/L, p<0.05). Adult‐onset obesity adversely affected a number of cardiovascular risk factors in whites, but not in blacks. Blacks lost significantly less weight (−13 kg) than whites (−19 kg). However, controlling for the difference in weight loss, blacks sustained comparable improvement in lipids and blood pressure, except for TC/HDL‐C (whites improved significantly more, −0.36 kg/m2, than blacks, 0.03 kg/m2). Thus, the impact of obesity on cardiovascular risk factors seems ameliorated in blacks com‐pared to whites.
Stress‐Induced Cortisol Response and Fat Distribution in Women
Authors: Moyer Anne E. , Rodin Judith , Grilo Carlos M. , Cummings Nancy , Larson Lynn M. , Rebuffé‐Scrive Marielle
Published: September 2012

Recent studies have shown an association between uncontrollable stress and abdominal fat distribution. It has been suggested that changes in cortisol secretion might represent one possible mechanism for this relationship. This study investigated whether body fat distribution, determined by waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), is related to salivary cortisol levels in response to laboratory stressors. Subjects were 41 overweight women with a Low or a High WHR. Multiple measures of cortisol and mood were obtained during a session of stressful tasks (eg., timed arithmetic) and during a time‐matched, control rest session. Also, background life stress and psychological trait variables were assessed. Compared to Low WHR subjects, High WHR subjects secreted significantly more cortisol during the stressful session after 60 minutes of stress, and considering the total area under the curve of secretion. This difference was not seen on the rest day. In terms of background and psychological measures, High WHR subjects were characterized by poorer coping skills and differences in mood reactivity. Specifically, although all subjects became more angry in response to the stressful session, High WHR subjects showed smaller increases in anger. This could indicate that they are more likely to evidence a helpless reaction to uncontrollable stress. These findings support the hypothesis that cortisol secretion might represent a mechanism for the observed association between stress and abdominal fat distribution. Furthermore, differences in coping and appraisal may suggest that a particular psychological pattern might influence the reactivity of the adrenal‐cortical system to stress, and subsequent fat distribution.
Growth Hormone Secretion after Testosterone Administration to Men with Visceral Obesity
Authors: Mårin Per , Rosmond Roland , Bengtsson Bengt‐Åke , Gustafsson Carola , Holm Göran , Bjömtorp Per
Published: September 2012

Visceral obese men were characterized by a decreased total GH secretion and diminished peak amplitude, size, and number. T‐substitution was followed by elevation of IGF‐I levels. The IGF‐I increase correlated with the elevation of T‐concentration, and was most pronounced in men with the lowest concentrations of free T from the outset. There were no detectable changes in total quantity, amplitude, size or number of peaks of GH secretion. Glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides as well as diastolic blood pressure decreased. There were no changes in thyroid or hematology variables.

Visceral obesity in men has been reported to be characterized by low testosterone (T) and insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) concentrations, the latter suggesting a relative growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Since T and GH‐secretions are interrelated, men with visceral obesity were substituted with T for 14 days, and diurnal secretion pattern of GH as well as IGF‐I concentrations, and metabolic variables were followed.

T‐substitution of visceral obese men is followed by an elevation of IGF‐I concentrations. It is suggested that this might be due either to minor, non‐detectable increases in GH secretion, or to direct effects of T on IGF‐I concentrations. The regulatory mechanisms by which T‐administration are leading to metabolic and anthropometric improvements, might be direct effects of T, with or without mediation via GH secretion.
Endocrine Regulation of Fetal Adipose Tissue Metabolism in the Pig: Role of Hydrocortisone
Authors: Hausman Dorothy B. , Hausman Gary J. , Martin Roy J.
Published: September 2012

Glucocorticoids have been shown to be essential for the excessive fat deposition and development of obesity in several animal models. This study was performed to characterize the role of glucocorticoids in the developmental regulation of adipose tissue metabolism. On day 70 of gestation, pig fetuses were hypophysectomized by micro‐cauterization. Hypophysectomized fetuses were implanted subcutaneously with hydrocortisone pellets or received no hormone replacement. Fetuses were removed by laparotomy on day 90 of gestation. Additional fetuses were hypophysectomized on day 70, implanted with hydrocortisone pellets on day 90 and removed on day 105 of gestation. Several intact fetuses were also implanted subcutaneously with hydrocortisone pellets during this later gestational period. Serum cortisol concentrations were reduced in hypophysectomized pigs at both fetal ages and were restored to intact levels by hydrocortisone treatment. Hydrocortisone supplementation enhanced lipolytic response to isoproterenol in intact fetuses but failed to restore lipolytic response to isoproterenol in hypophysectomized animals at either fetal age. Hydrocortisone induced a slight increase in lipogenesis in hypophysectomized fetuses when administered from 70 to 90 days of gestation and a more dramatic increase when administered from days 90 to 105 of gestation. However, hydrocortisone had no effect on basal or insulin stimulated lipogenesis in intact fetuses when administered from days 90 to 105 of gestation. These results indicate that hydrocortisone may have a primary influence on adipose tissue metabolism during late fetal development only in the absence of inhibition from counterregulatory hormones of pituitary origin.
Hypersensitivity of the Corticotropic Axis to the Serotoninergic Agent Clomipramine in Obese Women
Authors: Laferrère Blandine , Lahlou Najiba , Saltiel Henri , Roger Marc , Basdevant Arnaud , Oppert Jean‐Michel , Guy‐Grand Bernard
Published: September 2012

Serotoninergic control of food intake has been shown to be abnormal in obese persons with a decrease in serotoninergic tone. The neuroendocrine effects of intravenous I.V. administration of clomipramine (CMI), a serotonin uptake inhibitor, were studied in normal‐weight (n=7) and obese subjects before (n=12) and after (n=6) dietary restriction. Under double‐blind, placebo‐controlled conditions, a single 12.5 mg dose of CMI was administered. There was no difference in baseline values of prolactin (PRL), corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol in non‐obese controls, obese before and obese after weight loss. CMI led to significant increases of PRL, ACTH, and cortisol concentrations in the controls as well as the obese group. The ACTH and cortisol responses to CMI in obese subjects were somewhat greater than the responses in normal‐weight subjects. The area under the curve AUC for ACTH after clomipramine was 6202 ± 976 pg/ml.150 minutes for the obese before weight loss and 3274 ± 512 pg/ml.150 minutes for the controls and the difference was significant at the level of p=0.052. The cortisol peak value after clomipramine was 163.71 ± 14.31 ng/ml in the non‐obese and 214.66 ± 12.59 ng/ml in the obese (p=0.025). However, there was no difference in the obese subjects before and after weight loss. These data support the assumption that obese women have an abnormal sensitivity to the serotoninergic control of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA), and that a mild weight loss does not significantly modify their serotoninergic tone.
Relation Between BglII Polymorphism in 3β‐Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Gene and Adipose Tissue Distribution in Humans
Authors: Vohl Marie‐Claude , Dionne France T. , Pérusse Louis , Dériaz Olivier , Chagnon Monique , Bouchard Claude
Published: September 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) at the 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase locus and adipose tissue distribution pheno‐types. A total of 132 unrelated individuals from the Quebec Family Study were followed prospectively for an average period of 11.3 years. The BglII polymorphism in exon 4 of the 3β‐HSD gene was detected by PCR. Body mass, body fat, and regional fat distribution indicators were adjusted for age and age2 within each gender. Associations were assessed in unrelated adults with ANOVA across three genotypes. No association was found for the indicators of body mass, body fat, and regional distribution of adipose tissue measured in 1992. In women, the changes (difference between data collected in 1992 and at entry) in the sum of six skinfolds (p=0.04), abdominal skinfold (p=0.01), and abdominal skinfold adjusted (p=0.03) for the sum of six skinfolds at entry were related to the BglII polymorphism at the 3β‐HSD locus. These relations were not found in men, but they gained less body mass and body fat over the 11.3‐year period. This suggests that sequence variation at the 3β‐HSD locus or in neighboring genes on chromosome 1 may contribute to individual differences in body fat content and adipose tissue distribution in adult women, particularly in abdominal adipose tissue deposition as they grow older and gain body fat.
Child and Parent Psychological Problems Influence Child Weight Control
Authors: Epstein Leonard H. , Wisniewski Lucene , Weng Richard
Published: September 2012

This study used path analytic methods to assess the influence of child psychopathology measured using the Child Behavior Checklist and parent psychiatric symptoms measured using the Cornell Medical Index on changes in child percent overweight in obese 8‐ to 11‐year‐old children over 2 years (6 months of treatment, 18 months of follow‐up) provided family‐based behavioral intervention. Path analysis for the 0–6 month change showed the influence of mother and father psychiatric symptoms and child age on child anxiety/depression scores that in turn influenced child percent overweight change during treatment, accounting for 41 % of the shared variance. The path analysis for follow‐up change showed mother and father psychiatric symptoms influenced child social problems at the first stage, and child social problems influenced child percent overweight change, accounting for 68.5% of the shared variance. These results provide the first demonstration that both parent and child problems may influence the short‐ and long‐term success of obese children who participate in family‐based behavioral treatment programs.
Intra‐Abdominal Adipose Tissue Values Associated With Risk of Possessing Elevated Blood Lipids and Blood Pressure
Authors: Hunter Gary R. , Snyder Scott W. , Kekes‐Szabo Tamas , Nicholson Christal , Berland Lincoln
Published: September 2012

Central fat distribution and more recently intra abdominal adipose tissue (IAF) have been associated with elevated cardiovascular risk factors (CRF). Despite increased interest in use of IAF for screening for CRF, interpretation of risk found in a specific IAF is difficult since regressions for estimating CRF from IAF have not been published. The purpose of this paper is to report IAF values that are likely to be associated with elevated CRF. One hundred forty‐six healthy male subjects 30–71 years were evaluated for IAF and subcutaneous fat (computed tomography scan at 4th lumbar vertebra), height, body weight, % fat, various anthropometric measures, blood cholesterol (CHOL), HDL cholesterol (HDL), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Receiver‐Operating‐Characteristic curves (ROC) were used to develop IAF cutpoints associated with elevation of at least one established CRF criteria (CHOL=200, HDL=<35, SBP=140, DBP=90). A sensitivity/(1‐ specificity) curve estab lished the value of using IAF cutpoints for detecting elevated CRF. Likelihood ratios were used to identify optimal cutpoints. Two cutpoints were identified, 131 cm2 with a relatively high Lpos ratio and 71 cm2with a relatively low Lneg. False positives associated with 131 cm2 were 14% for one or more elevated CRF. False negatives associated with 71 cm2 were 9% for one or more elevated CRF, 4% for two or more CRF, and 0% for three or more elevated CRF. This study clearly indicates that IAF above 131 cm2is related to elevated CRF and IAF below 71 cm2 is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk.