Body image of adolescents in a multi-ethnic Caribbean population.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the perceptions of body size among adolescents in Trinidad and to determine whether there were ethnic differences. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Secondary schools in Trinidad. SUBJECTS: A stratified random sample of 1139 adolescents, aged 14-17 y. MEASUREMENTS: Silhouettes of different body sizes were used to determine perceptions of body size, while weights and heights were measured to determine actual body size. RESULTS: A total of 1090 students (96% response rate) participated, comprising 578 (53%) females. The main ethnic groups were South Asian (49%), African (25%) and persons of mixed ethnicity (23%). The calculated body mass index (BMI) indicated that 14% were thin, 73% normal and 13% overweight; however there was a preponderance of thinness among South Asian males (28%). Whereas 68% of students correctly identified their body size, South Asian males were also more likely to overestimate their body size than the other adolescents, ie they were thinner than they thought. Overall, 64% of the sample was satisfied with their current size, but thin South Asians were more likely to be satisfied with their size than other thin adolescents (P=0.04), while overweight Africans were more likely to be satisfied than other overweight persons (P=0.03). The majority of the sample associated the normal body size with good health, but the majority also associated the overweight and obese silhouettes with wealth. In addition, 40% of them associated the male overweight and obese silhouettes with happiness. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of overweight/obesity was not high, the perception of the Trinidadian adolescent that obesity was associated with wealth, and to a lesser extent happiness, and the satisfaction of the overweight African females with their size, were all causes for concern.

A phase I study of oxidized raffinose cross-linked human hemoglobin.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of oxidized-raffinose cross-linked human hemoglobin, Hemolink, in normal healthy volunteers. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. SETTING: Clinical research facility of a contract research organization. PATIENTS: Forty-two healthy adult male volunteers of which 33 received Hemolink. INTERVENTIONS: Oxidized-raffinose cross-linked and polymerized hemoglobin as a 10% (w/v) solution, in doses of 0.025-0.6 g/kg or an equivalent volume of lactated Ringer's solution, was infused intravenously on day 1, and subjects were monitored for 3 days in the clinical facility with < or =6 wks follow-up. Major organ function was assessed pre- and postinfusion, by hemodynamic, electrocardiographic, pulmonary function, and clinical chemistry measurements. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Doses of 1.7-42 g of hemoglobin were administered with no serious adverse events noted. Abdominal pain of moderate to severe intensity was seen in some subjects at doses >0.4 g/kg and was alleviated with smooth muscle relaxants. There was a dose-dependent increase in mean arterial pressure with a plateau of approximately 14% above baseline at 0.1 g/kg. There was a concomitant reduction in heart rate, with no electrocardiographic abnormalities found. Respiratory function was not affected. There was a dose-dependent increase in serum bilirubin with values above the upper limit of normal at doses of > or =0.4 g/kg. Small increases in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were noted in some patients, whereas alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase remained in the normal range. Serum amylase concentrations were normal in 31 of 33 patients receiving Hemolink, whereas lipase was within the normal range in 21 of 33 patients. LDH was increased in a dose-dependent fashion. Two patients had increased creatine kinase concentrations, with a normal creatine kinase-MB mass fraction. All hematologic variables were within the normal range. The half-life of the oligomeric (>64 kDa) fraction of Hemolink was 18-20 hrs. CONCLUSION: Oxidized-raffinose cross-linked hemoglobin, Hemolink, at doses < or =0.6 g/kg were well tolerated in healthy volunteers with no evidence of organ dysfunction. Further investigation of its potential use in surgical and trauma settings appears warranted.

Interferences of o-raffinose cross-linked hemoglobin in three methods for serum creatinine.

The interferences of o-raffinose cross-linked hemoglobin (Hemolink) were examined and compared in two serum creatinine methods on the Hitachi 717 [Boehringer Mannheim (BMC) and Synermed] and in an enzymatic creatinine method on the Vitros 750 (Johnson & Johnson). Interference was considered significant when the change in creatinine concentration from the control exceeded the 95% confidence limits of each method. Significant interference was observed for the BMC/Hitachi 717 method with Hemolink > or = 5 g/L. No interference was observed for the Synermed/Hitachi 717 assay with Hemolink up to 30 g/L in normal samples and up to 50 g/L in samples with increased creatinine. No interference was observed for the Vitros 750 assay with Hemolink up to 50 g/L at both normal and increased concentrations of creatinine. Although the BMC/Hitachi 717 method was considered unacceptable, the Synermed/Hitachi 717 and the Vitros 750 methods allow accurate quantification of serum creatinine in the presence of Hemolink.