Moderators and Predictors of Response to Eating Disorder Risk Factor Reduction Programs in Collegiate Female Athletes.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this paper was to investigate moderators and predictors of response to two programs designed to reduce eating disorder risk factors in collegiate female athletes. This study served as an ancillary study to a parent trial that investigated the feasibility of an athlete modified cognitive dissonance-based program (AM-DBP) and an athlete modified healthy weight intervention program (AM-HWI). DESIGN: 157 female collegiate athletes were randomized to either the AM-DBP or the AM-HWI program. Participants completed surveys at baseline, post-intervention, 6 weeks, and 1 year. METHODS: After classifying sports as either lean or non-lean, we investigated if sport type acted as a moderator of program response to AM-DBP and AM-HWI using ANOVAs. Next, we examined whether baseline thin-ideal internalization, weight concern, shape concern, bulimic pathology, dietary restraint, and negative affect acted as predictors of changes in bulimic pathology using linear regression models. RESULTS: Athletes in non-lean sports who received AM-DBP showed more improvement in negative affect versus non-lean sport athletes in AM-HWI. Higher baseline scores of bulimic pathology predicted greater response in bulimic pathology to both programs at 6-weeks. In contrast, athletes with higher dietary restraint and negative affect baseline scores showed decreased response to both interventions at 6-weeks. Finally, athletes with higher baseline shape concern showed a decreased response to the AM-HWI intervention at the post intervention time point. CONCLUSION: Results from the present study indicate that lean/non-lean sport may not play a strong role in determining response to efficacious programs. Further, factors such as pre-existing bulimic pathology, dietary restraint, negative affect, and shape concern may affect general response to intervention versus specific responses to specific interventions.

Tailoring a dissonance-based body image intervention for adult women in a proof of concept trial: The Women's Body Initiative.

Although historically conceptualized as problems of youth, recent research indicates that women of all ages experience body dissatisfaction and eating disorder (ED) pathology. Despite this, existing body image interventions predominantly target youth. The Body Project (BP) has extensive support for reducing ED risk factors in younger women and girls. The current proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and estimates of intervention effect sizes of a modified BP for adult women, the Women's Body Initiative (WBI). Conducted in the Southwestern United States, adult women (N = 13) aged 29-70 (M = 49.1) participated in 4, 1-h weekly sessions, completing measures at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Participants rated the program as highly feasible and acceptable. Within-subjects effects sizes were medium to large for primary outcomes (body dissatisfaction, ED pathology) and secondary outcomes (psychosocial impairment, negative affect, quality of life, nutritious food consumption, and sleep) through 3-months. Results suggest preliminary feasibility and acceptability of WBI for adult women, and support proceeding with a larger trial to investigate intervention efficacy.

Human follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit gene encodes multiple messenger ribonucleic acids.

FSH is a pituitary gonadotropin that is encoded by separate alpha- and beta-subunit genes. We isolated a 12 kilobase (kb) DNA fragment containing the entire human FSH beta gene from a lambda phage genomic DNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the FSH beta gene predicts a 19 amino acid signal sequence and a 111 amino acid apoprotein that differs from the reported protein sequence at three residues and lacks the carboxyterminal eight amino acids, thereby bringing the human FSH beta sequence into register with those described for other mammalian species. Southern blot analyses of human genomic DNA are consistent with a single copy of the FSH beta gene per haploid genome. The FSH beta transcriptional unit spans 3.9 kb and contains two introns. The second intron (1.4 kb) is located between amino acids 35 and 36, a position that is strictly conserved among all of the glycoprotein hormone beta-subunit genes. The first intron occurs 6 base pairs upstream from the start of translation in a location analogous to that of the TSH beta gene. The first exon contains an alternate splicing donor site resulting in 5'-untranslated sequences of 63 (Exon IA) and 33 (Exon IB) bases in length. Approximately 65% of transcripts contain exon IA and 35% contain exon IB. Two different polyadenylation sites are also used. One polyadenylation site coincides with the stop codon, while the other site, which is used in greater than 80% of FSH beta mRNA transcripts, is located approximately 1 kb downstream, resulting in an unusually long 3'-untranslated sequence. The distribution of polyadenylation sites is similar for FSH beta mRNAs containing either Exons IA or IB suggesting that intron processing and polyadenylation are regulated independently. Thus, at least four distinct species of FSH beta mRNA transcripts, all encoding identical peptides, are processed from a single FSH beta gene. The distribution of different FSH beta mRNAs is similar in normal human pituitary tissue and several different FSH producing pituitary adenomas.

Preparation and biological distribution of technetium diphosphonate radiotracers synthesized without stannous ion.

Two HEDP complexes of technetium (either Tc-99 or a mixture of Tc-99 and Tc-99m) have been prepared without the use of stannous ion. The first, Tc(NaBH4)-HEDP, is synthesized by reduction of TcO4- with NaBH4 in the presence of excess HEDP; this is analogous to the preparation of Tc(Sn)-HEDP in commercial kits wherein SN(II) functions as the reductant. The second, Tc-HEDP, is prepared by substitution of HEDP onto the pre-formed, pre-reduced, technetium center TcBr62-. The HEDP-to-Tc ratio in Tc-HEDP was found to be 1.0 by double-labeling procedures (Tc-99 and [3H]HEDP), implying that in solution this material is polymeric or at least dimeric. Preparations of Tc(NaBH4)-HEDP and Tc-HEDP with Tc-99m are excellent bone-imaging agents in both rats and dogs. Tissue distribution studies in rats show that uptake of Tc(NaBH4)-HEDP and Tc-HEDP by the bone is at least equivalent to that achieved by Tc(Sn)-HEDP prepared in commercial kits with Sn(II) as the reductant. Tin is therefore not necessary for the bone-seeking properties of Tc(Sn)-HEDP, and the in vivo distribution of a given HEDP radiotracer seems to depend primarily on the presence of the HEDP ligand and not on the exact nature of the technetium complex itself. Synthesis of technetium radiotracers by a substitution route, rather than by redox, is practicable; this route has the potential of introducing hitherto unattainable flexibility and subtlety into the preparation of technetium radiotracers.

Iodinated glycerol and thyroid dysfunction. Four cases and a review of the literature.

Iodinated glycerol (Organidin) has recently been shown to be a useful adjunct in the symptomatic treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Over an 18-month period, we saw four patients with significant thyroid dysfunction resulting from iodinated glycerol use. All were elderly patients with COPD who had been started on standard doses of iodinated glycerol 4 to 24 months earlier. None of the patients had histories of thyroid disease. Three of the patients had symptomatic thyrotoxicosis and one had severe hypothyroidism while taking iodinated glycerol. We review the literature on the mechanisms and management of iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction and conclude the following: (1) all iodine-containing drugs may adversely affect thyroid function; (2) these compounds should be prescribed with extreme caution to any patients with underlying thyroid disease; and (3) all patients receiving iodine-containing medications should be closely monitored for evidence of thyroid dysfunction.

Prevalence of eating disordered behavior in collegiate lightweight women rowers and distance runners.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined eating behavior in collegiate women lightweight rowers, runners, and controls. It was hypothesized that rowers would show an increased prevalence of restraint in their eating behaviors, but not probable eating disorder cases as compared with runners or controls, because they are required to make their target weight but are discouraged from further weight loss. DESIGN: Retrospective survey. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Lightweight women rowers (n = 122) at eastern collegiate championship regattas, collegiate distance runners (n = 79) at a regional track meet, and a convenience sample of collegiate controls (n = 95) were surveyed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire, a validated questionnaire evaluating eating attitudes and behaviors, and additional questions regarding weight and menstrual history were used to assess probable eating disorder cases and disordered eating tendencies. RESULTS: Rowers showed significantly more restraint in eating patterns during the previous month and less shape concern than either runners or controls. Rowers also reported increased use of diuretics. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of probable cases of eating disorders or disordered eating behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Lightweight rowing and distance running were not associated with increased prevalence of eating disorders in this sample, although rowing was associated with increased restraint and diuretic misuse. This use of pathologic weight-making behaviors is of significant clinical concern. These results support ongoing monitoring of disturbed eating and weight-making practices in weight-dependent sports, but do not support discouraging the growth of lightweight women's rowing at the collegiate level.