A preconception lifestyle intervention in women with obesity and cardiovascular health in their children.

BACKGROUND: Maternal obesity during pregnancy is associated with poorer cardiovascular health (CVH) in children. A strategy to improve CVH in children could be to address preconception maternal obesity by means of a lifestyle intervention. We determined if a preconception lifestyle intervention in women with obesity improved offspring's CVH, assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: We invited children born to women who participated in a randomised controlled trial assessing the effect of a preconception lifestyle intervention in women with obesity. We assessed cardiac structure, function and geometric shape, pulse wave velocity and abdominal fat tissue by MRI. RESULTS: We included 49 of 243 (20.2%) eligible children, 24 girls (49%) girls, mean age 7.1 (0.8) years. Left ventricular ejection fraction was higher in children in the intervention group as compared to children in the control group (63.0% SD 6.18 vs. 58.8% SD 5.77, p = 0.02). Shape analysis showed that intervention was associated with less regional thickening of the interventricular septum and less sphericity. There were no differences in the other outcomes of interest. CONCLUSION: A preconception lifestyle intervention in women with obesity led to a higher ejection fraction and an altered cardiac shape in their offspring, which might suggest a better CVH. IMPACT: A preconception lifestyle intervention in women with obesity results in a higher ejection fraction and an altered cardiac shape that may signify better cardiovascular health (CVH) in their children. This is the first experimental human evidence suggesting an effect of a preconception lifestyle intervention in women with obesity on MRI-derived indicators of CVH in their children. Improving maternal preconception health might prevent some of the detrimental consequences of maternal obesity on CVH in their children.

Aging reduces manual dexterity and force production asymmetries between the hands.

Age-related effects on motor asymmetry provide insight into changes in cortical activation during aging. To investigate potential changes in manual performance associated with aging, we conducted the Jamar hand function test and the Purdue Pegboard test on young and older adults. All tests indicated reduced motor asymmetry in the older group. Further analysis suggested that a significant decline in dominant (right) hand function resulted in less asymmetric performance in older adults. The finding is inconsistent with the application of the HAROLD model in the motor domain, which assumes improved performance in the non-dominant hand, leading to a reduction of motor asymmetry in older adults. Based on the manual performance in young and older adults, it is suggested that aging reduces manual asymmetry in both force production and manual dexterity due to the reduced performance of the dominant hand.

Preconception lifestyle intervention in women with obesity and echocardiographic indices of cardiovascular health in their children.

BACKGROUND: Improving maternal lifestyle before conception may prevent the adverse effects of maternal obesity on their children's future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. In the current study, we examined whether a preconception lifestyle intervention in women with obesity could alter echocardiographic indices of cardiovascular health in their children. METHODS: Six years after a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of a 6-month preconception lifestyle intervention in women with obesity and infertility prior to fertility care to prompt fertility care, 315 of the 341 children conceived within 24 months after randomization were eligible for this study. The intervention was aimed at weight loss (≥5% or until BMI < 29 kg/m2). Children underwent echocardiographic assessment of cardiac structure and function, conducted by a single pediatric cardiologist, blinded to group allocation. Results were adjusted for multiple variables including body surface area, age, and sex in linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Sixty children (32 girls, 53%) were included, mean age 6.5 years (SD 1.09). Twenty-four children (40%) were born to mothers in the intervention group. Children of mothers from the intervention group had a lower end-diastolic interventricular septum thickness (-0.88 Z-score, 95%CI -1.18 to -0.58), a lower left ventricle mass index (-8.56 g/m2, 95%CI -13.09 to -4.03), and higher peak systolic and early diastolic annular velocity of the left ventricle (1.43 cm/s 95%CI 0.65 to 2.20 and 2.39 cm/s 95%CI 0.68 to 4.11, respectively) compared to children of mothers from the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Children of women with obesity, who underwent a preconception lifestyle intervention, had improved cardiac structure and function; a thinner interventricular septum, lower left ventricle mass, and improved systolic and diastolic tissue Doppler velocities. Despite its high attrition rates, our study provides the first experimental human evidence suggesting that preconception lifestyle interventions may present a method of reducing CVD risk in the next generation. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: LIFEstyle study: Netherlands Trial Register: NTR1530 ( https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/1461 ). This follow-up study was approved by the medical ethics committee of the University Medical Centre Groningen (METC code: 2008/284).

Loss of MYO5B expression deregulates late endosome size which hinders mitotic spindle orientation.

Recycling endosomes regulate plasma membrane recycling. Recently, recycling endosome-associated proteins have been implicated in the positioning and orientation of the mitotic spindle and cytokinesis. Loss of MYO5B, encoding the recycling endosome-associated myosin Vb, is associated with tumor development and tissue architecture defects in the gastrointestinal tract. Whether loss of MYO5B expression affects mitosis is not known. Here, we demonstrate that loss of MYO5B expression delayed cytokinesis, perturbed mitotic spindle orientation, led to the misorientation of the plane of cell division during the course of mitosis, and resulted in the delamination of epithelial cells. Remarkably, the effects on spindle orientation, but not cytokinesis, were a direct consequence of physical hindrance by giant late endosomes, which were formed in a chloride channel-sensitive manner concomitant with a redistribution of chloride channels from the cell periphery to late endosomes upon loss of MYO5B. Rab7 availability was identified as a limiting factor for the development of giant late endosomes. In accordance, increasing rab7 availability corrected mitotic spindle misorientation and cell delamination in cells lacking MYO5B expression. In conclusion, we identified a novel role for MYO5B in the regulation of late endosome size control and identify the inability to control late endosome size as an unexpected novel mechanism underlying defects in cell division orientation and epithelial architecture.

Incompatibility Influences Cursor Placement When Pointing to Images of Cups.

OBJECTIVE: As images are used within graphical user interfaces to signify menu selection, it is important to understand how image properties can influence cursor placement online. BACKGROUND: Objects have multiple dimensions that create potential ambiguity and Stroop-like confusions for the operator if a previously habitual response conflicts with the required response. METHODS: To examine the impact of compatibility and other contextual factors, 41 participants used a computer Mouse or touch screen to place the cursor upon images of full or empty cups that varied in size, and direction of handle. RESULTS: Cursor placements took longer using the Mouse than touch screen. Although participants were placing the cursor on images, the size of the cup, whether it was empty or full, and the handle orientation interacted in their effects upon response duration and cursor placement. The effects of cup size reversed for empty cups or those with incompatible handles. CONCLUSION: Context can influence cursor placement. Perceived spillability influenced precision requirements, and the cup handle can serve as target or a flanking distractor. APPLICATION: Image content can influence screen hotspots. As performance can change with cup spillability, this bodes well for attempts to detect intent from cursor trajectories.

A Molecular Mechanism Underlying Genotype-Specific Intrahepatic Cholestasis Resulting From MYO5B Mutations.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) 6 has been associated with missense but not biallelic nonsense or frameshift mutations in MYO5B, encoding the motor protein myosin Vb (myoVb). This genotype-phenotype correlation and the mechanism through which MYO5B mutations give rise to PFIC are not understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether the loss of myoVb or expression of patient-specific myoVb mutants can be causally related to defects in canalicular protein localization and, if so, through which mechanism. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We demonstrate that the cholestasis-associated substitution of the proline at amino acid position 600 in the myoVb protein to a leucine (P660L) caused the intracellular accumulation of bile canalicular proteins in vesicular compartments. Remarkably, the knockout of MYO5B in vitro and in vivo produced no canalicular localization defects. In contrast, the expression of myoVb mutants consisting of only the tail domain phenocopied the effects of the Myo5b-P660L mutation. Using additional myoVb and rab11a mutants, we demonstrate that motor domain-deficient myoVb inhibited the formation of specialized apical recycling endosomes and that its disrupting effect on the localization of canalicular proteins was dependent on its interaction with active rab11a and occurred at the trans-Golgi Network/recycling endosome interface. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal a mechanism through which MYO5B motor domain mutations can cause the mislocalization of canalicular proteins in hepatocytes which, unexpectedly, does not involve myoVb loss-of-function but, as we propose, a rab11a-mediated gain-of-toxic function. The results explain why biallelic MYO5B mutations that affect the motor domain but not those that eliminate myoVb expression are associated with PFIC6.

Health care utilization and excess costs after pelvic fractures among older people in Germany.

Our study demonstrates a strong increase in utilization of inpatient health care and clear excess costs in older people in the first year after pelvic fracture, the latter even after adjustment for several confounders. Excess costs were particularly high in the first few months and mainly attributable to inpatient treatment. INTRODUCTION: We aimed to estimate health care utilization and excess costs in patients aged minimum 60 years up to 1 year after pelvic fracture compared to a population without pelvic fracture. METHODS: In this retrospective population-based observational study, we used routine data from a large statutory health insurance (SHI) in Germany. Patients with a first pelvic fracture between 2008 and 2010 (n=5685, 82% female, mean age 80±9 years) were frequency matched with controls (n=193,159) by sex, age at index date, and index month. We estimated health care utilization and mean total direct costs (SHI perspective) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using BCA bootstrap procedures for 52 weeks before and after the index date. We calculated cost ratios (CRs) in 4-week intervals after the index date by fitting mixed two-part models including adjustment for possible confounders and repeated measurement. All analyses were further stratified for men/women, in-/outpatient-treated, and major/minor pelvic fractures. RESULTS: Health care utilization and mean costs in the year after the index date were higher for cases than for controls, with inpatient treatment being particularly pronounced. CRs (95% CIs) decreased from 10.7 (10.2-11.1) within the first 4 weeks to 1.3 (1.2-1.4) within week 49-52. Excess costs were higher for inpatient than for outpatient-treated persons (CRs of 13.4 (12.9-13.9) and 2.3 (2.0-2.6) in week 1-4). In the first few months, high excess costs were detected for both persons with major and minor pelvic fracture. CONCLUSION: Pelvic fractures come along with high excess costs and should be considered when planning and allocating health care resources.

Physical activity modification in youth with congenital heart disease: a comprehensive narrative review.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects nearly 1% of births. As survival rates have dramatically improved, the majority of individuals with CHD now live into adulthood. As these patients age, they become prone to a large range of complications, such as chronic heart failure and acquired cardiovascular disease. Promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle from childhood onwards has been suggested as a sustainable and effective strategy to enhance cardiovascular health, improve quality of life and reduce immediate and long-term risk in people with CHD. Well-established physical activity consensus statements for youth with CHD have now been published. In this article, we review how increasing physical activity in youth with CHD may offer immediate and long-term cardiovascular benefits, what is known about physical activity in children with CHD, describe the unique factors that contribute to achieving sufficient and insufficient physical activity levels and summarize the evidence of trials on physical activity promotion in youth with CHD. Furthermore, we discuss some of the challenges that need to be addressed by further research regarding the optimal strategy, timing and format of physical activity intervention programmes in children and adolescents with CHD. IMPACT: Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects nearly 1% of births, with the majority of individuals with CHD now living into adulthood due to improved survival. As CHD patients age, they become prone to a large range of cardiovascular complications. This article discusses how and why increasing physical activity in youth with CHD may offer immediate and long-term cardiovascular benefits, the barriers to achieving sufficient physical activity levels and the evidence from trials on physical activity promotion in youth with CHD. The optimal strategy, timing and format of physical activity intervention programmes in children and adolescents with CHD are discussed.

Single-Cell Transcriptomics Analysis of Human Small Antral Follicles.

Human ovarian folliculogenesis is a highly regulated and complex process. Characterization of follicular cell signatures during this dynamic process is important to understand follicle fate (to grow, become dominant, or undergo atresia). The transcriptional signature of human oocytes and granulosa cells (GCs) in early-growing and ovulatory follicles have been previously described; however, that of oocytes with surrounding GCs in small antral follicles have not been studied yet. Here, we have generated a unique dataset of single-cell transcriptomics (SmartSeq2) consisting of the oocyte with surrounding GCs from several individual (non-dominant) small antral follicles isolated from adult human ovaries. We have identified two main types of (healthy) follicles, with a distinct oocyte and GC signature. Using the CellphoneDB algorithm, we then investigated the bi-directional ligand-receptor interactions regarding the transforming growth factor-ß (TGFß)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), wingless-type (MMTV)-integration site (WNT), NOTCH, and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) signaling pathways between oocyte and GCs within each antral follicle type. Our work not only revealed the diversity of small antral follicles, but also contributes to fill the gap in mapping the molecular landscape of human folliculogenesis and oogenesis.

Motor Deficits in Youth with Concussion History: Issues with Task Novelty or Task Demand?

The present study expands previous work on eye-hand decoupling deficits in youth with concussion history. It examines whether deficits can be linked to difficulties adapting to new task constraints or meeting ongoing task demands. Data from 59 youth with concussion history (M=11 months post-concussion) and 55 no history controls were analyzed. All 114 participants (M=12.5 yrs.) performed two touchscreen-based eye-hand coordination tasks: A standard task with vision and motor action in alignment, and an eye-hand decoupling task with both spatially decoupled, with twenty trials per task condition. First (trial 1-4), middle (trial 9-12), and last (trial 17-20) trial blocks were analyzed in each condition across groups, as well as first and last blocks only. The latter analysis showed in the first block longer response times in the concussion history group in the eye-hand decoupling condition due to a general slowdown of the reaction times across blocks and a trend for higher movement times. Our findings suggest that youth with concussion history have difficulty to adapt to new task constraints associated with complex skill performance during a short series of trials. These results are relevant for athletic trainers, therapists and coaches who work with youth with concussion history.

Asymmetry in the aging brain: A narrative review of cortical activation patterns and implications for motor function.

Age-related changes have been identified in neural and motor level. A prominent change is reduced asymmetry in cortical activation as well as motor performance. Cortical activation models have been established based on cognitive research utilizing neuroimaging techniques to explain age-related effects on neural recruitment and reduced brain asymmetry. Recently, researchers in motor behaviour attempted to apply the models to explain motor pattern changes in aging and proposed compensation as the mechanism of the reduced motor asymmetry in older adults. Age-related alterations in movement patterns and brain activations seem to be correlated. However, based on the literature search result, no direct evidence substantiates the connection between reduced brain asymmetry and motor asymmetry in older adults. Therefore, a theoretical gap was identified. The theoretical gap exists because either neuroimaging studies have not considered motor asymmetry or motor asymmetry studies have not integrated neuroimaging techniques into study designs. Answering the research question can be valuable to both research and clinical practice. With the mechanisms of brain activation patterns during motor tasks in an aging population being better understood, protocols developed upon the new understandings can be applied to current motor interventions and better maintain the longevity of motor function of older adults.

Pluripotent stem cell-derived bile canaliculi-forming hepatocytes to study genetic liver diseases involving hepatocyte polarity.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocyte polarity is essential for the development of bile canaliculi and for safely transporting bile and waste products from the liver. Functional studies of autologous mutated proteins in the context of the polarized hepatocyte have been challenging because of the lack of appropriate cell models. The aims of this study were to obtain a patient-specific hepatocyte model that recapitulated hepatocyte polarity and to employ this model to study endogenous mutant proteins in liver diseases that involve hepatocyte polarity. METHODS: Urine cell-derived pluripotent stem cells, taken from a patient with a homozygous mutation in ATP7B and a patient with a heterozygous mutation, were differentiated towards hepatocyte-like cells (hiHeps). HiHeps were also derived from a patient with MEDNIK syndrome. RESULTS: Polarized hiHeps that formed in vivo-like bile canaliculi could be generated from embryonic and patient urine cell-derived pluripotent stem cells. HiHeps recapitulated polarized protein trafficking processes, exemplified by the Cu2+-induced redistribution of the copper transporter protein ATP7B to the bile canalicular domain. We demonstrated that, in contrast to the current dogma, the most frequent yet enigmatic Wilson disease-causing ATP7B-H1069Q mutation per se did not preclude trafficking of ATP7B to the trans-Golgi Network. Instead, it prevented its Cu2+-induced polarized redistribution to the bile canalicular domain, which could not be reversed by pharmacological folding chaperones. Finally, we demonstrate that hiHeps from a patient with MEDNIK syndrome, suffering from liver copper overload of unclear etiology, showed no defect in the Cu2+-induced redistribution of ATP7B to the bile canaliculi. CONCLUSIONS: Functional cell polarity can be achieved in patient pluripotent stem cell-derived hiHeps, enabling, for the first time, the study of the endogenous mutant proteins, patient-specific pathogenesis and drug responses for diseases where hepatocyte polarity is a key factor. LAY SUMMARY: This study demonstrates that cells that are isolated from urine can be reprogrammed in a dish towards hepatocytes that display architectural characteristics similar to those seen in the intact liver. The application of this methodology to cells from patients diagnosed with inherited copper metabolism-related liver diseases (that is, Wilson disease and MEDNIK syndrome) revealed unexpected and novel insights into patient mutation-specific disease mechanisms and drug responses.

Time spent on self-management by people with diabetes: results from the population-based KORA survey in Germany.

AIMS: Time needed for health-related activities in people with diabetes is assumed to be substantial, yet available data are limited. Time spent on self-management and associated factors was analysed using cross-sectional data from people with diagnosed diabetes enrolled in a population-based study. METHODS: Mean total time spent on self-management activities was estimated using a questionnaire for all participants with diagnosed diabetes in the KORA FF4 study (n = 227, 57% men, mean age 69.7, sd 9.9 years). Multiple two-part regression models were fitted to evaluate associated factors. Multiple imputation was performed to adjust for bias due to missing values. RESULTS: Some 86% of participants reported spending time on self-management activities during the past week. Over the entire sample, a mean of 149 (sd 241) min/week were spent on self-management-activities. People with insulin or oral anti-hyperglycaemic drug treatment, better diabetes education, HbA1c 48 to < 58 mmol/mol (6.5% to < 7.5%) or lower quality of life, spent more time on self-management activities. For example, people without anti-hyperglycaemic medication invested 66 min/week in self-management, whereas those taking insulin and oral anti-hyperglycaemic drugs invested 269 min/week (adjusted ratio 4.34, 95% confidence interval 1.85-10.18). CONCLUSIONS: Time spent on self-management activities by people with diabetes was substantial and varied with an individual's characteristics. Because of the small sample size and missing values, the results should be interpreted in an explorative manner. Nevertheless, time needed for self-management activities should be routinely considered because it may affect diabetes self-care and quality of life.

Brain functional differences in visuo-motor task adaptation between dominant and non-dominant hand training.

Although learning and adapting to visuo-motor tasks is critical to child development and health conditions requiring rehabilitation, the neural processes involved in learning a new visuo-motor task and adapting it to novel conditions such as execution with an untrained limb are not fully understood. Therefore, we trained 27 healthy, right-hand-dominant individuals aged 18-35 years to perform a multidirectional point-to-point visually rotated aiming task with a joystick during functional magnetic resonance imaging, with 13 participants learning the task with the dominant (D) and 14 with the non-dominant (ND) hand. All individuals performed the task with the trained and untrained hand before and after training. As expected, performance of both the trained and the untrained hand improved significantly over the course of task acquisition. Brain functional changes associated with adaptation to the demands of the task, and execution differed significantly between D and ND groups. In particular, the ND group showed greater recruitment of visual and motor regions (left middle occipital and left precentral gyri) than the D group during task acquisition. In addition, the D group exhibited greater recruitment of motor planning regions (left precuneus) that contribute to performance with the trained hand, even after bilateral transfer-switching from the trained to non-trained hand. The D group showed more persistence of activation in sensorimotor regions-greater activation when returning to the rotated task after a switching to a simpler, non-rotated aiming task for a short interval. Finally, the D group showed more activation after-effects-increases in simpler task activation after training on the visually rotated task. The findings suggest that brain functional changes associated with adaptation to a visuo-motor skill may differ substantially depending on whether the dominant or non-dominant hand is trained, with non-dominant-hand training associated with greater activation during acquisition, and dominant-hand training associated with greater activation during bilateral transfer, persistence, and after-effects.

MYO5B, STX3, and STXBP2 mutations reveal a common disease mechanism that unifies a subset of congenital diarrheal disorders: A mutation update.

Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is a rare but fatal autosomal recessive congenital diarrheal disorder caused by MYO5B mutations. In 2013, we launched an open-access registry for MVID patients and their MYO5B mutations (www.mvid-central.org). Since then, additional unique MYO5B mutations have been identified in MVID patients, but also in non-MVID patients. Animal models have been generated that formally prove the causality between MYO5B and MVID. Importantly, mutations in two other genes, STXBP2 and STX3, have since been associated with variants of MVID, shedding new light on the pathogenesis of this congenital diarrheal disorder. Here, we review these additional genes and their mutations. Furthermore, we discuss recent data from cell studies that indicate that the three genes are functionally linked and, therefore, may constitute a common disease mechanism that unifies a subset of phenotypically linked congenital diarrheal disorders. We present new data based on patient material to support this. To congregate existing and future information on MVID geno-/phenotypes, we have updated and expanded the MVID registry to include all currently known MVID-associated gene mutations, their demonstrated or predicted functional consequences, and associated clinical information.

The effects of a two-step transfer on a visuomotor adaptation task.

The literature has shown robust effects of transfer-of-learning to the contralateral side and more recently transfer-of-learning effects to a new effector type on the ipsilateral side. Few studies have investigated the effects of transfer-of-learning when skills transfer to both a new effector type and the contralateral side (two-step transfer). The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of two-step transfer and to examine which aspects of the movement transfer and which aspects do not. Individuals practiced a 30° visual rotation task with either the dominant or non-dominant limb and with either the use of the fingers and wrist or elbow and shoulder. Following practice, participants performed the task with the untrained effector type on the contralateral side. Results showed that initial direction error and trajectory length transferred from the dominant to the non-dominant side and movement time transferred from the elbow and shoulder condition to the wrist and finger conditions irrespective of which limb was used during practice. The results offer a unique perspective on the current theoretical and practical implications for transfer-of-learning and are further discussed in this paper.

Characterization of graphomotor functions in individuals with Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.

In this study, we explored the relationship between the clinical features and motor impairments related to the graphomotor function of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET). We recruited 46 participants: 12 with PD, 13 with ET, and 21 controls. All participants were asked to perform six graphomotor tasks on a digitizer tablet: drawing straight lines, cursive-connected loops, discrete circles, and continuous circles, and making goal-aimed movements with a stylus in two different directions with three different accuracy constraints. The results showed that although participants with PD were able to draw straight lines slightly faster than controls, they produced cursive-connected loops much slower than controls. In addition, in contrast to controls and individuals with ET, PDs also drew the cursive loops progressively smaller. In the aiming task, we found that equivalent movements with high accuracy constraints were drawn slower by individuals with ET or PD than by controls. However, when performing the equivalent movements with moderate or low accuracy constraints, PDs performed similarly to controls. In contrast to the equivalent movements, PD and ET participants both performed nonequivalent movements slower than controls, no matter the demands arising from the accuracy constraints. The present study shows that simple graphic tasks can differentiate impairments in fine motor function resulting from ET and PD.

The association of birth weight and postnatal growth with energy intake and eating behavior at 5 years of age - a birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Low and high birth weight and accelerated postnatal weight gain are associated with an increased risk of obesity. Perinatal effects on energy intake and eating behavior have been proposed as underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to examine the independent associations of birth weight and postnatal weight and height gain with childhood energy intake and satiety response. METHODS: In a birth cohort study, we used data from 2227 children (52% male), mean age 5.6 (±0.4) years. Mean daily energy intake and satiety response were parent-reported through validated questionnaires. Exposures were birth weight z-score and conditional weight and height gain between 0-1, 1-3, 3-6, 6-12 months and 12 months to 5 years. Conditional weight and height are residuals of current weight and height regressed on prior growth data, to represent deviations from expected growth. Analyses were adjusted for a set of potential confounding variables. RESULTS: Conditional weight gain between 1-3, 3-6 months and 12 months to 5 years was significantly associated with energy intake, with 29.7 (95%-CI: 4.6; 54.8), 24.0 (1.8; 46.1) and 79.5 (29.4; 129.7) kcal/day more intake for each Z-score conditional weight gain between 1-3, 3-6 months and 12 months to 5 years, respectively. Conditional height gain between 0-1, 1-3 months and 12 months to 5 years was negatively associated with energy intake (ß: -42.0 [66.6; -17.4] for 0-1 months, -35.1 [-58.4; -11.8] for 1-3 months and -37.4 [-72.4; -2.3] for 12 months to 5 years). Conditional weight gain in all periods was negatively associated with satiety response, with effect sizes from - 0.03 (-0.06; -0.002) in early infancy to -0.12 (-0.19; -0.06) in childhood. Birth weight was not associated with energy intake or satiety response. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that accelerated infant and childhood weight gain are associated with increased energy intake and diminished satiety response at 5 years. Accelerated height gain seems to be beneficial for childhood energy intake. This perinatal 'programming' of energy intake and eating behavior provide a potential mechanism linking early life influences with later obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Peripheral neuropathy reduces asymmetries in inter-limb transfer in a visuo-motor task.

Asymmetry of inter-limb transfer has been associated with the specialization of the dominant and non-dominant motor system. Reductions of asymmetry have been interpreted as behavioural evidence showing a decline of hemispheric lateralization. A previous study showed that ageing did not qualitatively change the inter-limb transfer asymmetry of a visuo-motor task. The current study elaborates on these findings; it examines whether diminished somatosensory information as a result of peripheral neuropathy (PN) adversely affects inter-limb transfer asymmetry. Twenty individuals affected by PN and 20 older controls were recruited and divided equally across two groups. One group trained a visuo-motor task with the right hand while the other group trained it with the left hand. Performance (initial direction error) of the untrained hand before and after training was collected to determine learning effects from inter-limb transfer. Similar to previous studies, the current study showed asymmetric inter-limb transfer in older controls. In contrast, PN showed inter-limb transfer in both directions indicating that PN reduces inter-limb transfer asymmetry. Increased bilateral hemispheric recruitment is suggested to be responsible for this reduced asymmetry which may compensate for deteriorated tactile and/or proprioceptive inputs in PN. Two possible hypotheses are discussed explaining the relationship between declined somatosensory information and increases in bilateral hemispheric recruitment.