Factors influencing individual variability in high fat diet-induced weight gain in out-bred MF1 mice.

Easy access to high-energy palatable foods has been suggested to have contributed to the world-wide obesity epidemic. However, within these 'obesogenic' environments many people manage to remain lean. Mice also show variability in their weight gain responses to high-fat diet (HFD) feeding and their weight loss responses to calorically restricted (CR) feeding. In this study we investigated which factors contribute to determining susceptibility to HFD-induced obesity in mice, and whether the responses in weight gain on HFD are correlated with the responses to CR. One-hundred twenty four mice were exposed to 30% CR for 28days followed by a 14day recovery period, and subsequent exposure to 60% HFD for 28days. Responses in various metabolic factors were measured before and after each exposure (body mass; BM, body composition, food intake; FI, resting metabolic rate; RMR, physical activity, body temperature and glucose tolerance; GT). Weight changes on HFD ranged from -1 to 26%, equivalent to -0.2g to 10.5g in absolute mass. Multiple regression models showed that fat free mass (FFM) of the mice before exposure to HFD predicted 12% of the variability in weight gain on HFD (p<0.001). Also, FI during the first week of HFD feeding predicted 20% of the variability in BM and fat mass (FM) gain 4weeks later. These data may point to a role for the reward system in driving individual differences in FI and weight gain. Weight gain on the HFD was significantly negatively correlated to weight loss on CR, indicating that animals that are poor at defending against weight gain on HFD, were also poor at defending against CR-induced weight loss. Changes in FM and FFM in response to HFD or CR were not correlated however.

Limits to sustained energy intake XII: is the poor relation between resting metabolic rate and reproductive performance because resting metabolism is not a repeatable trait?

Many studies have investigated the consequences of individual variation in resting metabolic rate at thermoneutrality (RMRt) on reproductive performance. Despite strong theoretical reasons for expecting such an association, results have generally been disappointing. A fundamental assumption of these studies is that RMRt is a repeatable trait. We examined repeatability of RMRt in female MF1 mice over short (15 days apart; N=238) and long intervals (110 days apart; N=33). In the long-term experiment, after the first RMRt measurement, females were separated in two groups: the first was kept virgin (N=16); the second was allowed to breed (N=17) and measured 15 days after they had weaned their pups. We also examined the association between RMRt and reproduction. We used Pearson's correlation (r) and intraclass correlation coefficients (rho) to estimate repeatability. There was a strong effect of body mass on RMRt for all measurements. Over the short interval, repeatability was significant for body mass (r=0.86; rho=0.86), RMRt (r=0.68; rho=0.68,) and residual-RMRt (r=0.58; rho=0.58). Over long intervals, repeatability of residual-RMRt was high in virgin females (r=0.59; rho=0.60), but not in the breeders (r=0.38; rho=0.39); body mass was repeatable only for non-breeders measured by r (r=0.55). There was no significant correlation between RMRt or residual-RMRt and litter size or litter mass. In conclusion, RMRt and residual-RMRt are highly repeatable traits in virgin MF1 female mice. The lack of association between non-reproductive RMRt and reproductive performance in MF1 mice does not come about because of its poor repeatability.

Neonatal tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis rarely presents in the neonatal period. Though treatable, it may be fatal despite modern treatment. The diagnosis of congenital tuberculosis should be considered in any neonate with pneumonia that fails to respond to conventional treatment, particularly in a child from an ethnic or socioeconomic environment where tuberculosis is prevalent.

Be serious about siriasis. Guidelines for avoiding heat injury during 'dog days'.

Heat injury is a threat to athletes performing in a hot, humid environment. High metabolic rate, dehydration, and hidromeiosis all interfere with regulation of core body temperature and compromise athletic performance. Precautions can be taken to prepare athletes for these adverse conditions and to minimize potentially serious consequences. Physicians working closely with coaching staffs and athletes can establish a sound medical program aimed at prevention of heat-related injuries and, when injury does occur, at immediate, decisive management.