The effect of pregnancy on metabolic scaling and population energy demand in the viviparous fish Gambusia affinis.

Metabolism is a fundamental attribute of all organisms that influences how species affect and are affected by their natural environment. Differences between sexes in ectothermic species may substantially alter metabolic scaling patterns, particularly in viviparous or live-bearing species where females must support their basal metabolic costs and that of their embryos. Indeed, if pregnancy is associated with marked increases in metabolic demand and alters scaling patterns between sexes, this could in turn interact with natural sex ratio variation in nature to affect population-level energy demand. Here, we aimed to understand how sex and pregnancy influence metabolic scaling and how differences between sexes affect energy demand in Gambusia affinis (Western mosquitofish). Using the same method, we measured routine metabolic rate in the field on reproductively active fish and in the laboratory on virgin fish. Our data suggest that changes in energy expenditure related to pregnancy may lead to steeper scaling coefficients in females (b = 0.750) compared to males (b = 0.595). In contrast, virgin females and males had similar scaling coefficients, suggesting negligible sex differences in metabolic costs in reproductively inactive fish. Further, our data suggest that incorporating sex differences in allometric scaling may alter population-level energy demand by as much as 20-28%, with the most pronounced changes apparent in male-biased populations due to the lower scaling coefficient of males. Overall, our data suggest that differences in energy investment in reproduction between sexes driven by pregnancy may alter allometric scaling and population-level energy demand.

The influence of a Healthy Welcoming Environment on participation in club sport by adolescent girls: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the perceived influence of a Healthy Welcoming Environment (HWE) on participation in sports clubs among adolescent girls, and how these perceptions changed longitudinally. HWE was defined in terms of a set of health promotion policies advocated by a health promotion foundation as the basis of sport club health promotion practice to promote structural reform in state sporting organisations and their affiliated associations and clubs. These included sports injury prevention, smoke-free, responsible serving of alcohol, sun protection, healthy eating, and welcoming and inclusive environments. METHODS: Year 7 and 11 female students from metropolitan (n = 17) and non-metropolitan secondary schools (n = 14) in Australia were invited to participate in three annual surveys. These surveys collected information about current or past membership of a sports club and the influence of HWEs on their decision to participate (or not) in a sports club. RESULTS: Year 7 (n = 328; 74.5%) and Year 11 (n = 112; 25.5%) female students completed all three waves (19.6% response rate; 82.7 and 74.0% retention rate). Most agreed that characteristics of HWEs were a positive influence on their participation in sports clubs, except those relating to alcohol and Sunsmart. Welcoming factors had consistent high agreement among respondents. Alcohol and friendliness factors of the club were regarded as being positively influential by higher percentages of non-metropolitan than metropolitan respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Welcoming factors were the most positive influences on decisions to participate in sports clubs. These factors may be important in reducing barriers to sport participation. Strategies supporting the social environment within sports clubs should be prioritised.

Trends in body image of adolescent females in metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Body dissatisfaction is associated with a range of adverse outcomes, including impaired psychological health, low physical activity and disordered eating. This longitudinal study used the Factors Influencing Transitions in Girls' Active Leisure and Sport (FITGALS) dataset to examine trends in body image of adolescent females. Specifically, the study examined satisfaction with body size, physical appearance and dieting behaviour for two cohorts at transitional life phases in two geographic regions longitudinally over a 3-year period. METHODS: A sample of 732 adolescent females in Grade 7 (n = 489, 66.8 %) and Grade 11 (n = 243, 33.2 %) at randomly selected Australian metropolitan and non-metropolitan secondary schools responded to a questionnaire in three successive years from 2008 to 2010. Participants reported perceptions about their body size and physical appearance and whether they were, or ought to be, on a diet. The data were analysed using a series of longitudinal logistic regression models. RESULTS: Dieting and dissatisfaction with body size significantly increased over time and more so for older than younger girls. Region significantly moderated the effect of grade level regarding dissatisfaction with body size but not dieting. In non-metropolitan regions, those in the younger cohort were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with their body size than the older cohort; whereas in metropolitan regions, those in the older cohort were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with their body size than the younger cohort. Adolescent female's perceptions of their appearance were unchanged over time, region and grade level. CONCLUSIONS: Differences across time, region and grade level were found among adolescent females on body size and dieting behaviour, but not physical appearance. Adolescent females experience early and increasing body size dissatisfaction and dieting as they age, but stable perceptions of physical appearance. Age and geographic region are important considerations for the timing and targeting of interventions to address body image concerns. Further investigation of regional differences in body image perceptions and factors that affect these is warranted. The findings of this study highlight the ongoing need for strategies during adolescence to promote a healthy appreciation of body size and appearance.

C1 inhibitor deficiency: 2014 United Kingdom consensus document.

C1 inhibitor deficiency is a rare disorder manifesting with recurrent attacks of disabling and potentially life-threatening angioedema. Here we present an updated 2014 United Kingdom consensus document for the management of C1 inhibitor-deficient patients, representing a joint venture between the United Kingdom Primary Immunodeficiency Network and Hereditary Angioedema UK. To develop the consensus, we assembled a multi-disciplinary steering group of clinicians, nurses and a patient representative. This steering group first met in 2012, developing a total of 48 recommendations across 11 themes. The statements were distributed to relevant clinicians and a representative group of patients to be scored for agreement on a Likert scale. All 48 statements achieved a high degree of consensus, indicating strong alignment of opinion. The recommendations have evolved significantly since the 2005 document, with particularly notable developments including an improved evidence base to guide dosing and indications for acute treatment, greater emphasis on home therapy for acute attacks and a strong focus on service organization.

The United Kingdom Primary Immune Deficiency (UKPID) Registry: report of the first 4 years' activity 2008-2012.

This report summarizes the establishment of the first national online registry of primary immune deficency in the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom Primary Immunodeficiency (UKPID Registry). This UKPID Registry is based on the European Society for Immune Deficiency (ESID) registry platform, hosted on servers at the Royal Free site of University College, London. It is accessible to users through the website of the United Kingdom Primary Immunodeficiency Network (www.ukpin.org.uk). Twenty-seven centres in the United Kingdom are actively contributing data, with an additional nine centres completing their ethical and governance approvals to participate. This indicates that 36 of 38 (95%) of recognized centres in the United Kingdom have engaged with this project. To date, 2229 patients have been enrolled, with a notable increasing rate of recruitment in the past 12 months. Data are presented on the range of diagnoses recorded, estimated minimum disease prevalence, geographical distribution of patients across the United Kingdom, age at presentation, diagnostic delay, treatment modalities used and evidence of their monitoring and effectiveness.

Practical approach to self-administration of intravenous C1-INH concentrate: a nursing perspective.

At an international hereditary angioedema (HAE) expert meeting, results from a survey were used to guide discussion on how best to advise patients on self-administering intravenous C1 esterase inhibitor therapy. Treatment differences across Europe were highlighted, together with the practicalities of self-administration and useful resources for patients in the future. The international HAE experts noted an increase in the uptake of self-administration, with patients being trained by nursing staff. All patients who are willing and able to self-administer should be offered this treatment option and patients should be encouraged to treat attacks early. Several initiatives were suggested regarding support for patients who self-administer therapy, including a 24-hour helpline and home care agencies.

Bridging student health risks and academic achievement through comprehensive school health programs.

In the National Action Plan for Comprehensive School Health Education, representatives for over 40 health, education, and social service organizations viewed education and health as independent systems. Participation concluded that healthy children learn better, and they cautioned that no curriculum can compensate for deficiencies in student health status. While literature confirms the complexity of health issues confronting today's students, schools face enormous pressure to improve academic skills. Local school leaders and stakeholders often remain unconvinced that improving student health represents a means to achieving improved academic outcomes. A rich body of literature confirms a direct link between student health risk behavior and education outcomes, education behavior, and student attitudes about education. This article summarizes relevant information concerning the health risk behavioral categories of intentional injuries; tobacco; alcohol, and other drugs; dietary, physical activity, and sexual risk behaviors.

The self-reference effect in memory: a meta-analysis.

In this review, the authors examine the basis for the mnemonic superiority that results from relating material to the self. A meta-analysis confirms the expected self-reference effect (SRE) in memory, with self-referent encoding strategies yielding superior memory relative to both semantic and other-referent encoding strategies. Consistent with theory and research that suggest self-reference (SR) produces both organized and elaborate processing, the SRE was smaller (a) when SR is compared with other-reference (OR) rather than semantic encoding and (b) when the comparison tasks promote both organization and elaboration. Thus, the SRE appears to result primarily because the self is a well-developed and often-used construct that promotes elaboration and organization of encoded information. The authors discuss the implications of these and other findings for theories of the SRE and for future research.

Applying cooperative learning in health education practice.

Cooperative learning encompasses both a teaching philosophy and instructional methods that encourage students to work together to maximize learning. This article examines the rationale for incorporating cooperative learning in health education, reviews cooperative learning basics, and provides an example of cooperative learning technique in health education.

Recommendations for obtaining cooperation to conduct school-based research.

Recommendations for obtaining school cooperation to conduct school-based research are offered. Step-by-step protocols are outlined to assist prospective researchers in their quest to gain access to the school environment. The principle reason for adhering to these recommendations is to ensure research that is methodical, thorough, and scrupulous so children will benefit from resultant educational programming.

A theoretical approach to school-based HIV prevention.

To develop effective school-based programs to prevent the spread of AIDS, programmers must apply principles related to learning and behavior change. Due to the complexity of influencing contemporary adolescent sexual behavior, a multidisciplinary approach using multiple intervention strategies is essential. Health promotion efforts should include policy mandates, direct intervention, instruction, environmental support, media, role modeling, and social support. Consistent, continuous messages through multiple channels (school, home, community, and media) and by multiple agents (parents, peers, and health and education professionals) need to be provided. Examples of appropriate intervention strategies that may be employed by the professionals working in the school and the community are provided.

The importance of membrane stabilization in protecting the developing rat myocardium from the actions of triac.

Administration of triiodothyroacetic acid (triac) to pregnant rats produces cardiac hypertrophy and myofibrillar disarray in the hearts of the newborn offspring. Previous experiments have shown that concurrent administration of dl exprenolol or dl or d propranolol prevent the disarray but not the hypertrophy, suggesting that membrane stabilization and not beta-adrenergic blockade may be responsible for modifying the actions of triac. In order to clarify this, further experiments have been carried out whereby timolol, a beta-blocking agent with minimal or no membrane stabilizing activity, and procainamide, a pure membrane stabilizing compound, have been administered with triac. Timolol had no effect, but procainamide reduced the level of disarray and the hypertrophy to a minor degree. The results have thus confirmed the proposal that membrane stabilization is of major importance in modifying the actions of triac.

Cardiac hypertrophy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and hyperparathyroidism--an association.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (symmetric, asymmetric, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) is an almost invariable accompaniment of primary hyperparathyroidism. Five of 18 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy had raised serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone with normal serum calcium concentrations. Left ventricular hypertrophy did not occur in any of the six patients with hypercalcaemia alone. These relations suggest that parathyroid hormone rather than a rise in the extracellular calcium concentration is associated with a spectrum of left ventricular hypertrophy. All patients with increased circulating parathyroid hormone concentrations should have echocardiographic examination of the left ventricle. Conversely, parathyroid hormone concentrations should be measured in all patients with left ventricular hypertrophy from an unknown cause, especially those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Role of calcium in the induction of cardiac hypertrophy and myofibrillar disarray. Experimental studies of a possible cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The role of calcium in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was investigated experimentally. For this purpose the calcium antagonist verapamil and the calcium ionophore A23187 were administered to pregnant rats together with triac in order to observe their effect on triac induced myocardial disarray and hypertrophy in developing rat hearts. At a low dose verapamil reduced both the level of disarray and hypertrophy, but a higher dose produced hypertrophy when given alone. A23187 did not appreciably potentiate the actions of triac when given in combination but when administered alone produced both disarray and hypertrophy. Verapamil prevents the inward movement of calcium ions to the myocardial cell, whereas A23187 increases the inflow of calcium ions. The results suggest that the actions of triac in producing myocardial disarray and hypertrophy are attributable to an increased concentration of intracellular calcium.

Effect of triac and beta-adrenergic blocking agents on the myocardium of developing rats.

Triiodothyroacetic acid, triac, when given to rats during pregnancy, causes hypertrophy and intracellular disarray in the hearts of their offspring and concurrent treatment with dl propranolol can prevent the latter abnormality. Further experiments have been carried out to test the effect of dl oxprenolol and d propranolol on triac-induced myofibrillar disarray. Administration of dl oxprenolol at the same time as triac prevented disarray but a higher dose than that of dl propranolol was required to produce this effect. Disarray was also prevented by d propranolol. Selective consideration of the membrane stabilising, beta blocking and agonist activities of dl oxprenolol and d and dl propranolol leads to the conclusion that although direct or indirect beta stimulation by triac may play a small part in its disruptive effect on the developing myocardium, its main deleterious action can be blocked by membrane stabilisation.

Production of cardiac muscle abnormalities in offspring of rats receiving triiodothyroacetic acid (triac) and the effect of beta adrenergic blockade.

As a part of a continuing study on the effects of thyroid hormones on heart muscle, triiodothyroacetic acid (triac), either alone or concurrently with propranolol, has been administered to rats during pregnancy. Control groups received either buffer or propranolol. Offspring, which were given no further treatment, were killed at intervals after birth and their hearts examined histologically, histochemically, and electron microscopically. At 2, 6, and 14 days, offspring of triac-treated rats showed cardiac hypertrophy and, at ultrastructural level, marked disarray of the myofibrils was present. By 28 days, arrangement of the myofibrils had become regular but hypertrophy persisted and was still found in rats examined at 56 days of age, after which time the myocardium was normal. Offspring of rats which had received propranolol at the same time as triac showed a similar pattern of hypertrophy but myofibrillar disarray was not found. Propranolol alone produced no abnormalities. These findings provide further evidence that thyroid hormone analogues can adversely affect heart muscle. When considered in conjunction with previous experiments which showed that thyroxine or triac cause severe hypertrophy but not disarray when given directly to growing rats, they suggest that thyroid hormones can produce a spectrum of abnormalities, thought to depend on the stage of myocardial development at which the stimulus is administered. In the present experiment, the triac-induced myofibrillar disarray but not the hypertrophy was prevented by propranolol, indicating that beta-adrenergic blockade or some other action of propranolol protects the developing myofibrils. Possible mechanisms for the adverse effects of thyroid hormones and the protective action of propranolol are discussed.