Energy expenditure in obese women before and during weight loss, after refeeding, and in the weight-relapse period.

In 10 moderately obese women, 24-h energy expenditure (24EE) was measured in a respiration chamber under four conditions: 1) before weight loss (body weight = 77.9 kg), 2) during weight loss (63.9 kg), 3) after realimentation (62.5 kg), and 4) 6-15 mo after the study diet with ad libitum diet (67.7 kg). The 14 +/- 8 kg (mean +/- SD) weight loss produced a decrease in 24EE of 1498 +/- 1138 kJ/d (P < 0.001), ie, a decrease of weight of 107 kJ.kg body wt-1.d-1. The subsequent 24EE (conditions 3 and 4) remained lower than the value before weight loss. A significant correlation was found between changes before and after weight regain in basal respiratory quotient (RQ) and the spontaneous rate of body-weight gain after cessation of the period of low energy intake (r = 0.89, P < 0.01); this suggests that the value of the postabsorptive RQ may be a predictor of relapse of weight gain. After discontinuation of the low energy diet, an elevated postabsorptive RQ shows that the endogenous lipid oxidation is low, a condition favoring weight gain.

Perceptions of unfairness in price increases: an experimental study

This experimental study investigates antecedents and consequences of perceptions of price unfairness in a price increase situation. The proposed theoretical model states that consumer dependence on the service provider as well as the relevance the consumer attributes to the service (for the consumer's life) will affect his/her degree of (a) unfairness price perception, (b) anger, and (c) intention to complain and retaliate. The results support all the hypotheses specified in the model. The findings not only indicate that some situations of unfairness price perception lead to stronger emotions and more dramatic reactions from consumers, but also allow us to predict which situations of perceived unfairness offer greater risks and have greater potential for conflict.

Social perceptions of floods and flood management in a Mediterranean area (Costa Brava, Spain)

Taking as an example three study cases in the Costa Brava area, this paper examines the social perceptionof floods through surveys, interviews and Focus Group sessions. Perception is then related to vulnerability, flood management, and citizen’s preferences regarding alternatives to curb flood losses in the future. The study concludes that flood awareness and the willingness to take actions regarding this hazard are clearly related to the degree of social involvement with the affairs of the local community. Furthermore, participatory settings such as Focus Group sessions appear to enable a better environment for assessing and implementing flood management options that attempt to modify human activities rather than modify natural processes as has been frequently the case in the past

Effect of weight reduction in moderately overweight patients on recorded ambulatory blood pressure and free cytosolic platelet calcium.

Although platelet cytosolic calcium has been shown to decrease during pharmacological treatment of hypertension, there is no evidence that cytosolic calcium also falls during a nonpharmacological reduction in blood pressure. To provide such evidence, we examined prospectively the relation between platelet cytosolic calcium and ambulatory blood pressure during weight reduction in moderately overweight (body mass index [BMI] greater than 25), mildly hypertensive individuals. The experimental group (responders: BMI reduction greater than 5%) consisted of 19 patients who lost 8.5 +/- 2.9 kg (mean +/- SD, p less than 0.05) during a 10-week hypocaloric diet, whereas the control group (nonresponders: BMI reduction less than 5%) consisted of 12 patients who showed no relevant change in body weight (-2.0 +/- 1.3 kg) during the same period of time. The moderate weight loss of the responders decreased blood pressure by 14/5 mm Hg (p less than 0.05), as measured by ambulatory monitoring, which renders a placebo effect unlikely. This nonpharmacological reduction in blood pressure was accompanied by a proportional 11% decrease (p less than 0.05) in platelet cytosolic calcium and also by significant (p less than 0.05) decreases in plasma catecholamines and serum cholesterol. These findings establish the concept of a nonpharmacological reduction in free cytosolic platelet calcium in humans and add further evidence suggesting a link between intracellular calcium homeostasis and blood pressure regulation.

Monoclonal antibody against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) identifies two new forms of crossreacting antigens of molecular weight 90,000 and 160,000 in normal granulocytes.

Two new forms of non-specific crossreacting antigens (NCAs) were identified in the Nonidet P40 (NP-40) extracts of normal granulocytes by precipitation with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 192 directed against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and already known to crossreact with the perchloric acid soluble NCA-55. The NP-40 soluble NCAs recognized by MAb 192 have apparent mol. wts of 90,000 and 160,000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Both NCAs appear to consist of a single monomeric polypeptide chain, since they have the same electrophoretic mobility in SDS-PAGE under reduced and non-reduced conditions. When granulocytes were extracted with perchloric acid instead of NP-40, only the 55,000 mol. wt antigen, corresponding to the previously described NCA-55, was precipitated by MAb 192. Furthermore, it was shown that NCA-55 is not a degradation product of NCA-90 or NCA-160 due to the perchloric acid treatment because exposure to perchloric acid of NCA preparations purified from NP-40 extracts did not change their apparent mol. wts in SDS-PAGE. It was also shown that NCA-160 is not a granulocytic form of CEA because it was not precipitated by the MAb 35 reacting exclusively with CEA. Immunocytochemical studies of granulocytes and macrophages showed that MAb 192 stained both types of cells whereas MAb 47 stained only the granulocytes and MAb 35 none of these cells. In granulocytes both MAbs reacted with antigens associated with granules and also present at the periphery of the nucleus as well as in the Golgi apparatus. The NCA-90 identified by MAb 192 was found by sequential immunodepletion to be antigenically distinct from the NCA-95 precipitated by MAb 47. The epitope recognized by MAb 192 on CEA and NCA molecules appears to be on the peptidic moiety because the antigens deglycosylated by the enzyme Endo F were still precipitated by this MAb. Taken together, the results indicate that MAb 192 identifies two novel forms of NCA (NCA-90 and NCA-160) in NP-40 extracts of granulocytes, which are distinct from CEA and the previously described NCA-55 and NCA-95 identified by MAbs 192 and 47, respectively, in perchloric acid extracts of granulocytes.

Stimulated sweating as a therapy to reduce interdialytic weight gain and improve potassium balance in chronic hemodialysis patients: a pilot study.

Controlling the extracellular volume in hemodialysis patients is a difficult task. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of different methods of stimulated sweating to reduce mean interdialytic weight gain (IWG), to improve blood pressure regulation, and potassium/urea balance. Two center, crossover pilot study. In Lausanne, hemodialysis patients took four hot-water baths a week, 30 minutes each, on nondialysis days during 1 month. In Sfax, patients visited the local Hammam Center four times a week. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded, and weekly laboratory analysis was performed. Results were compared with a preceding 1-month control period. In Lausanne, five patients (all men, median age 55 years) participated. Bathing temperature was (mean ± standard deviation) 41.2 ± 3°C and sweating-induced weight loss 600 ± 500 g. Mean IWG (control vs. intervention period) decreased from 2.3 ± 0.9 to 1.8 ± 1 kg (P = 0.004), Systolic blood pressure from 139 ± 21 to 136 ± 22 mmHg (P = 0.4), and diastolic blood pressure form 79 ± 12 to 75 ± 13 mmHg (P = 0.08); antihypertensive therapy could be reduced from 2.8 ± 0.4 to 1.9 ± 0.5 antihypertensive drugs per patient (P = 0.01). In Sfax (n = 9, median age 46 years), weight loss per Hammam session was 420 ± 100 g. No differences were found in IWG or BP, but predialysis serum potassium level decreased from 5.9 ± 0.8 to 5.5 ± 0.9 mmol/L (P = 0.04) and urea from 26.9 ± 6 to 23.1 ± 6 mmol/L (P = 0.02). Hot-water baths appear to be a safe way to reduce IWG in selected hemodialysis patients. Hammam visits reduce serum potassium and urea levels, but not IWG. More data in larger patient groups are necessary before definite conclusion can be drawn.

L'intégration de la sexualité en consultation gynécologique : discordances entre les perceptions des femmes et celles des gynécologues.

Dès les années 2000, l'Office Fédéral de la Santé Publique recommande aux médecins de premier recours, dont les gynécologues, d'aborder activement la sexualité en consultation, en raison notamment de l'augmentation des infections sexuellement transmissibles asymptomatiques (1ST). Dans le même sens, comme le montrent nombre d'études, plus de 70% des patientes souhaiteraient être interrogées au sujet de leur sexualité en consultation gynécologique. Or, il semble que peu de médecins intègrent systématiquement des questions de sexualité dans leur anamnèse. La revue de la littérature relève que les recherches réalisées à ce jour ont été menées principalement à l'aide de questionnaire selon une perspective naturaliste, qui étudie la sexualité de manière décontextualisée et qui la conçoit comme un invariant biologique et par conséquent universel. Notre objectif est de saisir en profondeur les perceptions et le vécu des gynécologues et des femmes, face à l'intégration de la sexualité en consultation gynécologique. Nous avons adopté une perspective critique en psychologie de la santé (Santiago-Delefosse & Chamberlain, 2008 ; Murray, 2004a ; Lyons & Chamberlain, 2006) qui permet de privilégier d'une part, l'étude de la signification que les sujets donnent à la sexualité dans leur contexte socio-historique et, d'autre part, une vision de l'être humain comprenant des dimensions corporelles, psychologiques et sociétales (Santiago-Delefosse, 2011). Pour ce faire, nous avons utilisé un dispositif de méthodes mixtes en deux phases. Dans la première phase, nous avons mené 21 entretiens semi directifs avec des gynécologues hommes et femmes. Puis, nous avons réalisé 3 groupes focalisés (N=16) avec des femmes âgées de 23 à 65 ans. La seconde phase a consisté à créer un questionnaire, élaboré à partir des résultats de la première phase, afin d'élargir l'expérience de l'intégration de la sexualité en consultation, à une population plus diversifiée de femmes (N=421). Les données récoltées par le biais de ces trois méthodes nous ont permis d'esquisser un modèle présentant les processus en jeu dans la situation de non intégration de la sexualité en consultation gynécologique. Celui-ci relève non seulement des lacunes dans le cursus universitaire de médecine en matière de sexualité, mais également d'importantes discordances entre les gynécologues et les femmes interviewés concernant le rôle du gynécologue, la perception de l'intime, la perception d'introduire le sujet de la sexualité en consultation, ainsi que de la définition même de la sexualité. Nos résultats ouvrent sur des perspectives pratiques pour la consultation gynécologique, ainsi que sur des pistes pour des recherches futures dans l'étude de la sexualité, selon une perspective plus intégrative. -- Since the 2000's, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health recommended primary care physicians, including gynaecologists, to actively address sexuality issues in consultation, namely because of the increasing incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). In line with this, studies have shown that more than 70% of patients would like to be asked about their sexuality by their gynaecologist. However, physicians do not take systematically sexual histories from their patients. Literature in the field has highlighted that most research has been restricted to using questionnaires following a naturalist theoretical perspective according to which sexual behaviour is defined as biologically invariant, hence, universal. Our objective is to deepen understand perceptions from gynaecologists and women with regard to the integration of sexuality in consultations. A critical health psychology approach allows us to consider on the one hand sexuality as a construct that is inseparable from a given socio-historical context. On the other hand, this approach takes into consideration an embodied, social and psychological definition of human beings. Therefore, we used a mixed methods design that included two main research steps : First, we conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with male and female gynaecologists. In this phase, we also led 3 focus groups made up of 16 women aged from 21 to 65. Second, a survey was implemented (N= 421) based on findings stemming from the first phase. This allowed us to further analyse experiences on the integration of sexuality and to extend findings to a more diversified population of women. The data analysis allowed us to create a model that highlights the processes involved in the non integration of sexuality during gynaecological consultation. It shows a lack of training in sexology within medical programs. Moreover, it emphasises the mismatches on perceptions between gynaecologists and women concerning the gynaecologist's role ; intimacy, the issue of whether introducing sexuality topics, and finally, on the actual definition of sexuality itself. Our findings open new research perspectives for the study of sexuality by proposing a more integrative approach. They also provide practical and clinical perspectives concerning consultations in gynaecology.

A qualitative study about immigrant workers’ perceptions of their working conditions in Spain

Background: Spain has recently become an inward migration country. Little is known about the occupational health of immigrant workers. This study aimed to explore the perceptions that immigrant workers in Spain had of their working conditions.Methods: Qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study. Criterion sampling. Data collected between September 2006 and May 2007 through semi-structured focus groups and individual interviews, with a topic guide. One hundred and fifty-eight immigrant workers (90 men/68 women) from Colombia (n = 21), Morocco (n = 39), sub-Saharan Africa (n = 29), Romania (n = 44) and Ecuador (n = 25), who were authorised (documented) or unauthorised (undocumented) residents in five medium to large cities in Spain.Results: Participants described poor working conditions, low pay and health hazards. Perception of hazards appeared to be related to gender and job sector. Informants were highly segregated into jobs by sex, however, so this issue will need further exploration. Undocumented workers described poorer conditions than documented workers, which they attributed to their documentation status. Documented participants also felt vulnerable because of their immigrant status. Informants believed that deficient language skills, non-transferability of their education and training and, most of all, their immigrant status and economic need left them with little choice but to work under poor conditions.Conclusions: The occupational health needs of immigrant workers must be addressed at the job level, while improving the enforcement of existing health and safety regulations. The roles that documentation status and economic need played in these informants' work experiences should be considered and how these may influence health outcomes.

Association between GIS-based exposure to urban air pollution during pregnancy and birth weight in the INMA Sabadell Cohort

Background: There is growing evidence that traffic-related air pollution reduces birth weight. Improving exposure assessment is a key issue to advance in this research area.Objective: We investigated the effect of prenatal exposure to traffic-related air pollution via geographic information system (GIS) models on birth weight in 570 newborns from the INMA (Environment and Childhood) Sabadell cohort.Methods: We estimated pregnancy and trimester-specific exposures to nitrogen dioxide and aromatic hydrocarbons [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene (BTEX)] by using temporally adjusted land-use regression (LUR) models. We built models for NO2 and BTEX using four and three 1-week measurement campaigns, respectively, at 57 locations. We assessed the relationship between prenatal air pollution exposure and birth weight with linear regression models. We performed sensitivity analyses considering time spent at home and time spent in nonresidential outdoor environments during pregnancy.Results: In the overall cohort, neither NO2 nor BTEX exposure was significantly associated with birth weight in any of the exposure periods. When considering only women who spent < 2 hr/day in nonresidential outdoor environments, the estimated reductions in birth weight associated with an interquartile range increase in BTEX exposure levels were 77 g [95% confidence interval (CI), 7–146 g] and 102 g (95% CI, 28–176 g) for exposures during the whole pregnancy and the second trimester, respectively. The effects of NO2 exposure were less clear in this subset.Conclusions: The association of BTEX with reduced birth weight underscores the negative role of vehicle exhaust pollutants in reproductive health. Time–activity patterns during pregnancy complement GIS-based models in exposure assessment.

Association between weight perception and socioeconomic status among adults in the Seychelles.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the association between weight perception and socioeconomic status (SES) in sub-Saharan Africa, and none made this association based on education, occupation and income simultaneously. METHODS: Based on a population-based survey (n = 1255) in the Seychelles, weight and height were measured and self-perception of one's own body weight, education, occupation, and income were assessed by a questionnaire. Individuals were considered to have appropriate weight perception when their self-perceived weight matched their actual body weight. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 35% and 28%, respectively. Multivariate analysis among overweight/obese persons showed that appropriate weight perception was directly associated with actual weight, education, occupation and income, and that it was more frequent among women than among men. In a model using all three SES indicators together, only education (OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-4.8) and occupation (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2-4.5) were independently associated with appropriate perception of being overweight. The OR reached 6.9 [95% CI: 3.4-14.1] when comparing the highest vs. lowest categories of SES based on a score including all SES indicators and 6.1 [95% CI: 3.0-12.1] for a score based on education and occupation. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriately perceiving one's weight as too high was associated with different SES indicators, female sex and being actually overweight. These findings suggest means and targets for clinical and population-based interventions for weight control. Further studies should examine whether these differences in weight perception underlie differences in cognitive skills, healthy weight norms, or body size ideals.

Feeding and the Equilibrium Feeder Animal Price-Weight Schedule, June 2005

The feeder animal price is a derivative in the sense that its value depends upon the price of animals for the consumption market. It also depends upon the biological growth technology and feed costs. Daily maintenance costs are of particular interest to the husbander because they can be avoided through accelerated feeding. In this paper, the optimal feeding path under equilibrium feeder animal prices is established. This analysis is used to gain a better understanding of feeding decisions, regulation in feedstuff markets, and the consequences of genetic innovations. It is shown that days on feed can increase or decrease with a genetic innovation or other improvement in feed conversion efficiency. The structure of comparative prices for feeder animals at different weights, the early slaughter decision, and equilibrium in feeder animal markets are also developed. Feeder animal prices can increase over a weight interval if biological feed efficiency parameters are low over the interval.

Exercise and postprandial thermogenesis in obese women before and after weight loss.

The magnitude of thermogenesis induced by a test meal (17% protein, 54% CHO, and 29% fat) was assessed using indirect calorimetry in six obese women before and after weight loss (mean loss: 11.2 kg) and compared with six nonobese matched controls at rest for 5 h and during and following graded moderate exercise on a bicycle ergometer at three workloads. The test meal contained 60% of the energy expended in basal state over 24 h (736-1020 kcal/meal according to the group). In obese subjects the net absolute increase in energy expenditure (delta EE) in response to the meal was similar between exercising and resting conditions (delta EE = 0.27 vs 0.32 kcal/min, respectively) but tended to be lower in obese women after weight loss (delta EE = 0.19 kcal/min while exercising and 0.25 kcal/min while resting, p less than 0.05) and in control subjects (delta EE = 0.16 vs. 0.25 kcal/min, respectively: p less than 0.05). These results show that the thermogenic response to a meal is not potentiated by moderate exercise.