Salty water and salty leaf litter alters riparian detrital processes: Evidence from sodium-addition laboratory mesocosm experiments.

Terrestrial and freshwater secondary salinization is a global phenomenon arising partially from anthropogenic activities. How low-level direct (e.g., sodium exposure through irrigation runoff) or indirect (e.g., sodium exposure through sodium-enriched leaves as riparian plants uptake sodium that via senescence enters detrital systems) impacts detrital processes in riparia have received little attention. Based on the sodium ecosystem respiration hypothesis, we predicted low-level salinization of an inland mesic riparia would result in increased detrital processing and increased leachate dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and conductivity. Two riparian soil mesocosm experiments tested how low-level salinization affects leachate chemistry and conductivity and riparian decomposition rates and detritivore community structure: 1) direct low-level NaCl deposition in water (weekly additions of 300 ml of 0.05% NaCl or just H2O (controls)), and 2) indirect low-level NaCl deposition through Na-enriched artificial litter (0.05% NaCl or just H2O (controls)). After three months, leachate Na+ concentrations were 12-fold and 1.5-fold higher in Na-addition than control mesocosms for direct and indirect Na-addition experiments, respectively. Contrary to predictions, decomposition rate was 1.3-fold lower in indirect Na-addition than control mesocosms but invertebrate communities were similar. Decomposition rate did not differ in direct Na-addition experiments, and although invertebrate abundance was lower, diversity was 1.4-fold higher in Na-addition than control mesocosms. Leachate DOC did not differ between Na-addition and control mesocosms for either direct or indirect Na-addition experiments. This study adds to the growing evidence that even low-level Na addition can stress inland mesic terrestrial systems and demonstrates that even Na-enriched detritus alone can induce salt-stress in riparian soil systems. These results suggest that even low-level salinization of riparia can impact riparian ecosystem function and leachate chemistry through direct exposure and indirectly through Na-enriched detritus, a previously overlooked pathway.

Spontaneous subdural haemorrhage from an arachnoid cyst: a case report and literature review.

We discuss a spontaneous subdural haematoma (SDH) arising from an arachnoid cyst in a healthy adult male, presenting with headache and vomiting. Imaging revealed a large SDH communicating with an arachnoid cyst and intracystic haemorrhage. The patient fully recovered with surgical evacuation. We also discuss the causes of spontaneous SDH, and specific risk factors for bleeding in arachnoid cysts, as well as review the literature on spontaneous SDH from arachnoid cysts - a rare but serious complication.

Words will never hurt me? Preferred terms for describing obesity and binge eating.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated individuals' language preferences for discussing obesity and binge eating. METHOD: Participants (N = 817; 68.3% female) were an online community sample. They rated the desirability of terms related to obesity and binge eating, and also completed psychometrically established eating-disorder measures. In addition to examining participants' preferences, analyses explored whether preferences differed by socio-demographic variables, weight status and binge-eating status. RESULTS: Preferred obesity-related terms were weight and BMI, although women rated undesirable obesity-related terms even lower than did men. Participants with obesity and binge eating rated weight, BMI, unhealthy BMI and large size as less desirable than participants with obesity but not binge eating. Binge-related terms were generally ranked neutrally; preferred descriptions were kept eating even though not physically hungry and loss of control. CONCLUSIONS: Preferred terms were generally consistent across sex, weight status and binge-eating status. Using terms ranked more preferably and avoiding terms ranked more undesirably may enhance clinical interactions, particularly when discussing obesity with women and individuals reporting binge eating, as these groups had stronger aversion to some non-preferred terms. Findings that the selected binge-related descriptions were rated neutrally on average provide support for their use by clinicians.

Regulation of the pentose phosphate pathway by an androgen receptor-mTOR-mediated mechanism and its role in prostate cancer cell growth.

Cancer cells display an increased demand for glucose. Therefore, identifying the specific aspects of glucose metabolism that are involved in the pathogenesis of cancer may uncover novel therapeutic nodes. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the role of the pentose phosphate pathway in cancer. This metabolic pathway is advantageous for rapidly growing cells because it provides nucleotide precursors and helps regenerate the reducing agent NADPH, which can contribute to reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. Correspondingly, clinical data suggest glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, is upregulated in prostate cancer. We hypothesized that androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which plays an essential role in the disease, mediated prostate cancer cell growth in part by increasing flux through the pentose phosphate pathway. Here, we determined that G6PD, NADPH and ribose synthesis were all increased by AR signaling. Further, this process was necessary to modulate ROS levels. Pharmacological or molecular inhibition of G6PD abolished these effects and blocked androgen-mediated cell growth. Mechanistically, regulation of G6PD via AR in both hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant models of prostate cancer was abolished following rapamycin treatment, indicating that AR increased flux through the pentose phosphate pathway by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-mediated upregulation of G6PD. Accordingly, in two separate mouse models of Pten deletion/elevated mTOR signaling, Pb-Cre;Pten(f/f) and K8-CreER(T2);Pten(f/f), G6PD levels correlated with prostate cancer progression in vivo. Importantly, G6PD levels remained high during progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer. Taken together, our data suggest that AR signaling can promote prostate cancer through the upregulation of G6PD and therefore, the flux of sugars through the pentose phosphate pathway. Hence, these findings support a vital role for other metabolic pathways (that is, not glycolysis) in prostate cancer cell growth and maintenance.

Androgens regulate prostate cancer cell growth via an AMPK-PGC-1α-mediated metabolic switch.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among men in industrialized countries, accounting for the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Although we now know that the androgen receptor (AR) is important for progression to the deadly advanced stages of the disease, it is poorly understood what AR-regulated processes drive this pathology. Here we demonstrate that AR regulates prostate cancer cell growth via the metabolic sensor 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a kinase that classically regulates cellular energy homeostasis. In patients, activation of AMPK correlated with prostate cancer progression. Using a combination of radiolabeled assays and emerging metabolomic approaches, we also show that prostate cancer cells respond to androgen treatment by increasing not only rates of glycolysis, as is commonly seen in many cancers, but also glucose and fatty acid oxidation. Importantly, this effect was dependent on androgen-mediated AMPK activity. Our results further indicate that the AMPK-mediated metabolic changes increased intracellular ATP levels and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α)-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis, affording distinct growth advantages to the prostate cancer cells. Correspondingly, we used outlier analysis to determine that PGC-1α is overexpressed in a subpopulation of clinical cancer samples. This was in contrast to what was observed in immortalized benign human prostate cells and a testosterone-induced rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Taken together, our findings converge to demonstrate that androgens can co-opt the AMPK-PGC-1α signaling cascade, a known homeostatic mechanism, to increase prostate cancer cell growth. The current study points to the potential utility of developing metabolic-targeted therapies directed toward the AMPK-PGC-1α signaling axis for the treatment of prostate cancer.

A review of stream nutrient criteria development in the United States.

Elevated nutrients and sediments are the main factors contributing to the poor biological condition measured in over 40% of US waters, highlighting the need for criteria that can aid management efforts to protect or restore the quality of US waters. A large amount of literature on nutrient criteria has been generated since the USEPA called for their development in 1998. Our objective was to examine this peer-reviewed literature to evaluate two main approaches for criteria development in lotic ecosystems: percentile rank and bivariate predictive statistical analyses. The 25th percentile approach has been examined broadly across USEPA-aggregate nutrient ecoregions, and we found that USEPA-suggested criteria for these aggregate ecoregions were often more conservative than criteria estimated using more current regionally focused data based on our compiled data set. Furthermore, 25th percentile estimates were often less than 75th percentile estimates based on reference sites, suggesting that 75th percentile estimates were not more conservative than 25th percentile estimates. Predictive approaches have focused on establishing linear and nonlinear relationships between water quality and algae, macroinvertebrate, and fish communities; attributing causation; and determining whether threshold points exist that can aid in nutrient criteria development. Most of the predictive approaches have occurred at the state or watershed level and may not be directly comparable to USEPA aggregate ecoregions. However, percentile method estimates often fell within the confidence interval of biological threshold criteria estimates, suggesting overlap and some consensus between the two main approaches.

Examining the Relationship Between Soda Consumption and Eating Disorder Pathology.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare diet soda drinkers, regular soda drinkers, and individuals who do not regularly consume soda on clinically significant eating disorder psychopathology, including binge eating, overeating, and purging. METHOD: Participants (n=2077) were adult community volunteers who completed an online survey that included the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and questions regarding binge eating behaviors, purging, current weight status, and the type and frequency of soda beverages consumed. RESULTS: Diet soda drinkers (34%, n=706) reported significantly higher levels of eating, shape, and weight concerns than regular soda drinkers (22%, n=465), who in turn reported higher levels on these variables than non-soda drinkers (44%, n=906). Diet soda drinkers were more likely to report binge eating and purging than regular soda drinkers, who were more likely to report these behaviors than non-soda drinkers. Consumption of any soda was positively associated with higher BMI, though individuals who consumed regular soda reported significantly higher BMI than diet soda drinkers, who in turn reported higher weight than those who do not consume soda regularly. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who consume soda regularly reported higher BMI and more eating psychopathology than those who do not consume soda. These findings extend previous research demonstrating positive associations between soda consumption and weight.

Predictive significance of the overvaluation of shape/weight in obese patients with binge eating disorder: findings from a randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Undue influence of body shape or weight on self-evaluation - referred to as overvaluation - is considered a core feature across eating disorders, but is not a diagnostic requirement for binge eating disorder (BED). This study examined the concurrent and predictive significance of overvaluation of shape/weight in obese patients with BED participating in a randomized clinical trial testing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral weight loss (BWL). Method A total of 90 participants were randomly assigned to 6-month group treatments of CBT or BWL. Assessments were performed at baseline, throughout- and post-treatment, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups after completing treatments with reliably administered semi-structured interviews and established measures. RESULTS: Participants categorized with overvaluation (n = 52, 58%) versus without overvaluation (n = 38, 42%) did not differ significantly in demographic features (age, gender and ethnicity), psychiatric co-morbidity, body mass index or binge eating frequency. The overvaluation group had significantly greater levels of eating disorder psychopathology and poorer psychological functioning (higher depression and lower self-esteem) than the non-overvaluation group. Overvaluation of shape/weight significantly predicted non-remission from binge eating and higher frequency of binge eating at the 12-month follow-up, even after adjusting for group differences in depression and self-esteem levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that overvaluation does not simply reflect concern commensurate with being obese or more frequent binge eating, but also is strongly associated with heightened eating-related psychopathology and psychological distress, and has negative prognostic significance for longer-term treatment outcomes. Overvaluation of shape/weight warrants consideration as a diagnostic specifier for BED as it provides important information about severity and treatment outcome.

Time to diagnosis of paediatric posterior fossa tumours: an 11-year West of Scotland experience 2000-2011.

INTRODUCTION: Brain tumours are the most common solid childhood malignancy accounting for 20% of all paediatric cancers. Of these, posterior fossa tumours comprise approximately 60-70% of all brain tumours in children. Several studies have estimated the median pre-diagnostic interval (PSI) of paediatric brain tumours as approximately 60 days. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this retrospective analysis were to (a) identify the common presenting symptoms of posterior fossa tumours, (b) determine the time interval from the first attributable symptom to the radiological diagnosis of a posterior fossa tumour, (c) compare the West of Scotland with other international centres and (d) identify which factors correlate with outcome for these children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case note review of 69 children diagnosed with posterior fossa tumours from January 2000 to September 2011. Of the 69 children diagnosed during this period, complete data were available for 66 children (M:F = 31:35, Mean age (SD): 7.50 + 4.53 years). Results. Nausea and vomiting (75.8%), headaches (63.6%) and incoordination (51.5%) were recorded as the most common presenting symptoms followed by lethargy (28.8%), cranial nerve palsy (25.8%) and diplopia (24.2%). Fifty-three of the sixty-six children (i.e., 80.3%) demonstrated radiological evidence of hydrocephalus on their initial scan. The majority of children were assessed by less than three specialists after a median PSI of 43.5 days. The only variable significantly associated with PSI was tumour grade (r = - 0.202, p = 0.036). Neither age at diagnosis, number of specialists seen, nor outcome was significantly correlated with PSI. The only factor associated with outcome was tumour grade (r = 0.337, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Despite recent reports indicating poor performance of the UK with respect to time to diagnosis of paediatric brain tumours, the present data indicate that the experience of this cohort is favourably comparable to international standards.

Rapid response predicts 12-month post-treatment outcomes in binge-eating disorder: theoretical and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: We examined rapid response in obese patients with binge-eating disorder (BED) in a clinical trial testing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral weight loss (BWL). METHOD: Altogether, 90 participants were randomly assigned to CBT or BWL. Assessments were performed at baseline, throughout and post-treatment and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Rapid response, defined as 70% reduction in binge eating by week four, was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves and used to predict outcomes. RESULTS: Rapid response characterized 57% of participants (67% of CBT, 47% of BWL) and was unrelated to most baseline variables. Rapid response predicted greater improvements across outcomes but had different prognostic significance and distinct time courses for CBT versus BWL. Patients receiving CBT did comparably well regardless of rapid response in terms of reduced binge eating and eating disorder psychopathology but did not achieve weight loss. Among patients receiving BWL, those without rapid response failed to improve further. However, those with rapid response were significantly more likely to achieve binge-eating remission (62% v. 13%) and greater reductions in binge-eating frequency, eating disorder psychopathology and weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid response to treatment in BED has prognostic significance through 12-month follow-up, provides evidence for treatment specificity and has clinical implications for stepped-care treatment models for BED. Rapid responders who receive BWL benefit in terms of both binge eating and short-term weight loss. Collectively, these findings suggest that BWL might be a candidate for initial intervention in stepped-care models with an evaluation of progress after 1 month to identify non-rapid responders who could be advised to consider a switch to a specialized treatment.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for a 7-cm mass in a renal allograft.

Treatment options for a suspicious renal mass in a renal allograft include radical nephrectomy or nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). To our knowledge robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RPN) as treatment for a renal mass in a transplant kidney has not been previously reported. We report the case of RPN for a 7-cm renal mass in a transplanted kidney. A 35-year-old female with reflux nephropathy received a living-related donor kidney transplant in 1986. At 24 years after transplantation she had a 7-cm Bosniak III cystic mass of the allograft detected on computerized tomography (CT) scan. Preoperative creatinine was 2.2 mg/dL with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) . RPN was performed with bulldog clamping of the renal vessels, the graft was left in situ and immunosuppression was maintained postoperatively. Tumor diameter was 7.3 cm with a nephrometry score of 10a. Warm ischemia time (WIT) was 26.5 min. Estimated blood loss was 100 mL. There was no change between pre- and postoperative eGFR. There were no operative complications. Histology was papillary renal cell carcinoma type 1, nuclear grade 2. Margins were negative. RPN is a technically feasible treatment option for a suspicious renal mass in renal allografts.

Attitudes toward obesity in obese persons: a matched comparison of obese women with and without binge eating.

No research has compared expressions of weight bias across different subgroups of obese individuals. This study compared attitudes toward and beliefs about obesity in women with and without binge eating disorder (BED) and examined whether these attitudes are related to psychological factors. Fifty obese women with BED were compared with an age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched group of 50 obese women without BED on a battery of established measures of anti-fat attitudes and beliefs about weight controllability and psychological factors (self-esteem, depression, and eating disorder features). The ageand BMI-matched groups did not differ with respect to beliefs about obesity or attitudes toward obese persons, or in self-esteem or depression. Correlational analyses conducted separately within each group revealed that women with BED who reported more favorable attitudes towards obese persons had higher self-esteem and lower levels of depression, whereas there were no significant associations between these variables among women without BED. In addition, weight controllability beliefs and eating disorder features were unrelated to self-esteem and depression in both groups. These findings suggest that stigmatizing attitudes endorsed by obese persons are neither tempered nor worsened by psychological distress or eating pathology. Given that stigmatizing attitudes did not differ between obese women with and without BED, it may be that obesity itself, rather than psychological features or disordered eating, increases vulnerability to negative weight-based attitudes. Potential implications for stigma reduction efforts and clinical practice are discussed.

Spin waves and quantum criticality in the frustrated XY pyrochlore antiferromagnet Er2Ti2O7.

We report detailed measurements of the low temperature magnetic phase diagram of Er2Ti2O7. Heat capacity and time-of-flight neutron scattering studies of single crystals reveal unconventional low-energy states. Er3+ magnetic ions reside on a pyrochlore lattice in Er2Ti2O7, where local XY anisotropy and antiferromagnetic interactions give rise to a unique frustrated system. In zero field, the ground state exhibits coexisting short and long-range order, accompanied by soft collective spin excitations previously believed to be absent. The application of finite magnetic fields tunes the ground state continuously through a landscape of noncollinear phases, divided by a zero temperature phase transition at micro{0}H{c} approximately 1.5 T. The characteristic energy scale for spin fluctuations is seen to vanish at the critical point, as expected for a second order quantum phase transition driven by quantum fluctuations.

Evolutionary divergence of LFY function in the mustards Arabidopsis thaliana and Leavenworthia crassa.

LEAFY (LFY), a transcription factor involved in the regulation of flower development in Arabidopsis thaliana, has been identified as a candidate gene in the diversification of plant architecture in Brassicaceae. Previous research with Leavenworthia crassa, which produces solitary flowers in the axils of rosette leaves, has shown that the L. crassa LFY ortholog, LcrLFY, rescues most aspects of flower development in A. thaliana but showed two novel traits: flowers produced additional petals and inflorescences produced terminal flowers. In this paper, we explore the molecular mechanisms responsible for these novel phenotypes. We used microarray hybridizations to identify 32 genes differentially expressed between a transgenic LcrLFY line and a control transgenic LFY line. Of particular interest, TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) transcripts were found at elevated levels in LcrLFY lines. To distinguish regulatory versus functional changes within the LcrLFY locus, reciprocal chimeric transgenes between LcrLFY and LFY were constructed. These lines implicate divergence of LcrLFY cis-regulation as the primary cause of both novel transgenic phenotypes but implicate divergence of LcrLFY protein function as the primary cause of elevated TFL1 levels. Taken together these results show that LcrLFY has diverged from A. thaliana in both the cis-regulatory and protein-coding regions and imply that molecular coevolution of LcrLFY and the L. crassa TFL1 ortholog, LcrTFL1, contributed to the evolution of rosette flowering.

Extreme heat reduces and shifts United States premium wine production in the 21st century.

Premium wine production is limited to regions climatically conducive to growing grapes with balanced composition and varietal typicity. Three central climatic conditions are required: (i) adequate heat accumulation; (ii) low risk of severe frost damage; and (iii) the absence of extreme heat. Although wine production is possible in an extensive climatic range, the highest-quality wines require a delicate balance among these three conditions. Although historical and projected average temperature changes are known to influence global wine quality, the potential future response of wine-producing regions to spatially heterogeneous changes in extreme events is largely unknown. Here, by using a high-resolution regional climate model forced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emission Scenarios A2 greenhouse gas emission scenario, we estimate that potential premium winegrape production area in the conterminous United States could decline by up to 81% by the late 21st century. While increases in heat accumulation will shift wine production to warmer climate varieties and/or lower-quality wines, and frost constraints will be reduced, increases in the frequency of extreme hot days (>35 degrees C) in the growing season are projected to eliminate winegrape production in many areas of the United States. Furthermore, grape and wine production will likely be restricted to a narrow West Coast region and the Northwest and Northeast, areas currently facing challenges related to excess moisture. Our results not only imply large changes for the premium wine industry, but also highlight the importance of incorporating fine-scale processes and extreme events in climate-change impact studies.

Efficacy of an internet-based behavioral weight loss program for overweight adolescent African-American girls.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of an internet-based lifestyle behavior modification program for weight management in African-American girls. DESIGN: African-American girls were randomly assigned to an interactive behavioral internet program or an internet health education program, the control condition. The behavioral intervention included internet counseling and was highly interactive. The control intervention was a passive (non-interactive) educational program. Parents were also participants in the study. Participants in both treatment groups met in face-to-face sessions on four occasions over the first 12 weeks of a 6-month intervention. SUBJECTS: The study enrolled 57 African-American adolescent girls (ages 11 to 15 years) who were overweight or obese and had at least one biological parent who was obese [body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2]. Of the 57 participants, 50 (88%) completed the 6-month trial. MEASUREMENTS: Outcome data, including BMI, body weight, body composition, dietary intake, and weight loss behaviors were collected at baseline and 6-months later. A computer server tracked utilization of the websites. Participation in the program was measured by number of "hits" on the website. RESULTS: Compared to the control condition, adolescents in the behavioral treatment lost more body fat (group difference =1.6% body fat) and parents lost significantly more body weight (group difference =2.1 kg). Utilization of the behavioral website by adolescents and parents was associated with positive outcome. Dietary fat intake was lowered for adolescents and parents in the behavioral treatment group. CONCLUSION: An internet-based behavioral intervention was superior to internet-based health education and yielded decreased body fat for adolescent girls and decreased body weight for parents.

Percent body fat measured by BIA and DEXA in obese, African-American adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the estimation of body fat between bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in overweight, African-American female adolescents. SUBJECTS: In total, 54 African-American adolescent female subjects were recruited for Study 1. Each adolescent's body mass index was greater than the 85th percentile and their average body fat was 45% according to DEXA. A total of 26 African-American adolescent female subjects were available for Study 2, and had an average body fat of 26% according to DEXA. MEASUREMENTS: Percent body fat was measured by DEXA and BIA. Seven different BIA equations were tested. Both sets of data were analyzed using Bland-Altman regression analyses, utilizing percent body fat measured by DEXA as the criterion. RESULTS: The Kushner equation provided estimates that were unaffected by body fat in both studies. Estimates were unbiased when applied to the exclusively overweight sample and biased when utilized with the separate sample of normal weight and obese girls. The remaining equations were biased, provided inconsistent estimates across body weight, or were biased and provided inconsistent estimates. Ethnicity-specific and ethnicity-combined equations performed similarly in the obese sample, but became more disparate when applied to a sample encompassing a wider body weight range. The limits of agreement between all BIA equations and the DEXA estimates ranged from 6 to 9%. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the Kushner BIA equation is appropriate for use with African-American female adolescents across the weight spectrum, while the majority of BIA equations underestimated percent body fat as body fat increased.

Association of body size estimation and age in African-American females.

This cross-sectional research study tested the hypothesis that body image estimates of African-American females differ as a function of age. To test this hypothesis, body image estimates of 379 African-American females, ranging in age from 16 to 96 years, were contrasted as a function of age group, while statistically controlling body mass index. Three body size estimates, current body size, ideal body size, and reasonable body size were measured using the Body Image Assessment for Obesity. The discrepancies between current and ideal body size estimates and between current and reasonable body size estimates were also analyzed to assess for differences in body size dissatisfaction. The study found that younger African-American women (16 to 35 years) differed from older African-American women (>35 years) on measures of body size dissatisfaction. Women in the age range of 26 to 35 years reported higher estimates of current body size in comparison to women older than 35 years. The youngest age group (16 to 25 years) reported thinner ideal body size goals in comparison to women who were slightly older (26 to 35 years) and women who were older than 75 years. The pattern of body image estimates across a large age range suggests that younger African-American women, in comparison to older African-American women, may have body images that may make them more susceptible to eating disorders.

Racial/ethnic differences in weight concerns: protective and risk factors for the development of eating disorders and obesity among adolescent females.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared African American and Caucasian adolescent girls on measures of appearance concerns, body-contingent self-esteem, pressures for thinness, and dieting behaviour. Also, correlations among these measures were contrasted across the two ethnic groups. METHOD: African American (n = 32) and Caucasian (n = 29) adolescent girls completed a series of self-report measures concerning dieting behaviour, perceived pressures for thinness, self-esteem, and perceptions of physical appearance. RESULTS: Across all measures, Caucasian girls endorsed more disturbed eating behaviors and beliefs about body shape and weight. Dieting among Caucasian girls was correlated with preoccupation with body shape. Among African American girls dieting behaviour was unrelated to concerns about body shape. DISCUSSION: These findings support the hypothesis that in comparison to Caucasian girls, African American girls may be at lessened risk for developing eating disorders but may be at greater risk for developing obesity. This conclusion is based upon the findings of higher levels of eating disorder symptoms among Caucasian girls and the relative absence of significant correlations between dieting and body shape and appearance concerns among African American girls.

Determination of cadmium and zinc in Alzheimer's brain tissue using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

In this work, brain tissue was taken from Alzheimer's Disease (AD) subjects (n=11), 'normal' subjects (n=10) and from subjects with senile involutive cortical changes (SICC) (n=6). Concentrations of Cd and Zn were determined in all samples, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The brain tissue was selected and obtained from the Netherlands Brain Bank. Samples were taken in each case, from both hemispheres of the superior frontal gyrus, the superior parietal gyrus, the medial temporal gyrus, the hippocampus and the thalamus of the same brain.Cd which is known to have no essential role in the brain was found to follow, as expected, a lognormal distribution of concentrations in 'normal' subjects (Shapiro-Wilk's test (0.98) (p<0.18)). For the Alzheimer's Disease subjects and SICC subjects, the data tends to follow a lognormal distribution, rather than a normal distribution, but is still significantly different from it (Shapiro-Wilk's test (0.97) (p<0.03); (0.93) (p<0.0067), respectively)). In the case of Zn concentrations, the data tends to follow a normal distribution for the 'normal' subject group, even though the data is significantly different from it (Shapiro-Wilk's test (0.95) (p<0.001)). Whereas in the Alzheimer's Disease and SICC subject groups, the data follows a normal distribution (Shapiro-Wilk's test (0.98) (p<0.21); (0.97) (p<0.2002), respectively)). When comparing age-matched groups, for all regions and both hemispheres, no significant differences (p>0.1) for Cd were found between 'normals' and Alzheimer's Disease subjects and Alzheimer's Disease subjects and SICC but at a low level of significance, lower concentrations of Cd were found in the SICC group compared to the 'normals'. For all regions and both hemispheres, Zn was found to be significantly decreased in the Alzheimer's Disease group, compared to the 'normal' and SICC groups. Zn concentrations were also found to be significantly decreased in the 'normals' compared to the SICC group. It is also of interest that Cd negatively correlates with the scale of tangles in both 'normals' (p<0.001) and Alzheimer's Disease subjects (p<0.01). In the SICC subjects Cd correlates negatively with the tangles but not significantly so (p>0.1).