Kenaf leaf development and stem height : index of crop yield in the United States /

Data collected 1961-69.

Abundance patterns and isotopic signals of morphotypes of Globigerinoides ruber

The chemical composition of shells of the planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides ruber (white) is frequently used to determine past sea surface conditions. Recently, it has been shown that arbitrarily defined morphotypes within this species exhibit different chemical and isotopic signatures. Here, we investigate the occurrence through time and in space of morphological types of G. ruber (white) in late Quaternary and Holocene sediments of the central and the eastern Mediterranean Sea. In 115 samples representing two distinct time intervals (MIS 1-2 and MIS 9-12) at ODP Site 964 and the piston core GeoTü-SL96, we have defined three morphological types within this species and determined their relative abundances and stable isotopic composition. A quantitative analysis of morphological variation within G. ruber (white) in four samples revealed that the subjectively defined morphotypes occupy separate segments of a continuous and homogenous morphospace. We further show that the abundance of the morphotypes changes significantly between glacials and interglacials and that the three morphotypes of G. ruber show significant offsets in their stable isotopic composition. These offsets are consistent within glacial and interglacial stages but their sign is systematically reversed between the two Sites. Since the isotopic shifts among the three G. ruber morphotypes are systematic and often exceed 1per mil, their understanding is essential for the interpretation of all G. ruber-based proxy records for the paleoceanographic development of the Mediterranean during the late Quaternary.

Influência da proporção entre as alturas do ramo mandibular e dentoalveolar posterior na inclinação do plano mandibular

OBJETIVO: avaliar a existência de correlação entre a proporção da altura do ramo mandibular (AR) com a altura dentoalveolar posterior total (ADAPT) e a inclinação do plano mandibular (PM). MÉTODOS: dois examinadores avaliaram 81 telerradiografias laterais de pacientes, com idades a partir de 18 anos, do arquivo do curso de especialização em Ortodontia e Ortopedia Facial da Faculdade de Odontologia da UFBA. As radiografias foram digitalizadas, os pontos marcados e as medidas obtidas através do programa Radiocef 1.0. Mediu-se a inclinação do plano mandibular para caracterizar o padrão vertical da face e dividir as radiografias em três grupos: grupo de face normal (GN), de 22º a 28º, de face curta (GC), menor que 22º, e de face longa (GL), maior que 28º. A inclinação do plano palatino serviu como critério de exclusão, sendo que valores abaixo de -2,5° ou acima de 3,5º foram excluídos. Desta forma, 46 telerradiografias laterais totalizaram a amostra. RESULTADOS: a AR diferiu entre GC e GL, porém não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para as alturas dentoalveolares posteriores. Houve baixa correlação entre a AR e a ADAPT nos grupos, no entanto, a correlação da proporção entre essas alturas com a inclinação do PM mostrou-se estatisticamente significante e negativa. CONCLUSÃO: este é um fator a ser levado em consideração na avaliação do PM, quando do diagnóstico e tratamento das displasias verticais dentofaciais.

Effects of Sibutramine on the Treatment of Obesity in Patients with Arterial Hypertension

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of weight reduction with 10mg of sibutramine or placebo on blood pressure during 24 hours (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring), on left ventricular mass, and on antihypertensive therapy in 86 obese and hypertensive patients for 6 months. METHODS: The patients underwent echocardiography, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and measurement of the levels of hepatic enzymes prior to and after treatment with sibutramine or placebo. RESULTS: The group using sibutramine had a greater weight loss than that using placebo (6.7% versus 2.5%; p<0.001), an increase in heart rate (78.3±7.3 to 82±7.9 bpm; p=0.02), and a reduction in the left ventricular mass/height index (105±29.3 versus 96.6±28.58 g/m; p=0.002). Both groups showed similar increases in the levels of alkaline phosphatase and comparable adjustments in antihypertensive therapy; blood pressure, however, did not change. CONCLUSION: The use of sibutramine caused weight loss and a reduction in left ventricular mass in obese and hypertensive patients with no interference with blood pressure or with antihypertensive therapy.

Situación nutricional de la infancia en Bogotá D.C. : evolución de resultados del Sistema de Vigilancia Alimentaria y Nutricional (SISVAN) 1998-2009

El estado nutricional es un indicador de calidad de vida de los individuos; la malnutrición se ha constituido en una problemática de la población infantil de países en vía de desarrollo cuya reducción se ha incluido en los objetivos del Milenio; para su abordaje, Colombia implementó el Sistema de Vigilancia Epidemiológica Alimentaria y Nutricional –SISVAN- que desde 1998, ha recopilado información del estado nutricional de niños y niñas. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo longitudinal con un análisis evolutivo (pruebas ANOVA y Bonferoni) de la malnutrición en infantes de Bogotá, con base en los reportes del SISVAN desde 1998 al 2009. La clasificación nutricional se determinó mediante gráficas de la NCHS. Empleamos software SPSS 15. Resultados: 1’836.903 registros totales depurados (895638 niñas y 941265 niños), pertenecientes a 20 localidades de Bogotá. La prevalencia de malnutrición encontrada varía según el indicador antropométrico utilizado (Peso/Edad, Talla/Edad y Peso/Talla), así: desnutrición global varía de 2.6%(1998) a 2.8%(2009); de 1.5%(1998) a 1.6%(2009) para sobrepeso y para obesidad 0.8% según el indicador Peso/Edad para ambos géneros. Indicador Talla/Edad: prevalencias de 5.1%(1998) a 4.8%(2009) para desnutrición crónica y retraso de crecimiento de 11.7%(1998) a 11.1% (2009). Indicador Peso/Talla se encuentra: 12.7%(1998) a 12.6%(2009) para desnutrición aguda, 4.9%(1998) a 4.2%(2009) para sobrepeso y para obesidad de 4.8%(1998) a 4.0%(2009). Conclusiones: Existen diferencias significativas entre las prevalencias de desnutrición, sobrepeso y obesidad durante los años de reporte del SISVAN, observándose una tendencia al decrecimiento en obesidad, desnutrición aguda y crónica, y a un comportamiento sin variaciones para sobrepeso.

Estudo cefalométrico das alturas faciais anterior e posterior, em crianças brasileiras, portadoras de má oclusão Classe I de Angle, na fase de dentadura mista

Realizou-se um estudo das alturas faciais anterior e posterior em 79 crianças brasileiras, sendo 46 do gênero feminino e 33 do masculino, com idades de 8 a 11 anos, portadoras de má oclusão Classe I de Angle, na fase de dentadura mista, não submetidas a tratamento ortodôntico. Esta investigação utilizou duas radiografias cefalométricas em norma lateral, de cada criança, com intervalo de 8 a 16 meses entre uma radiografia e outra, para comparação dos dados cefalométricos. Foram estudadas as proporções faciais anteriores, ou seja, a relação entre as dimensões N-Me (AFT), N-ENA (AFS), ENA-Me (AFI) e o relacionamento entre as dimensões Ar-GO (AFP) e a distância entre o plano palatino ao mento (AFA) , isto é, o Índice da Altura Facial (IAF). Os resultados obtidos, possibilitaram constatar que as tendências de crescimento foram equilibradas em todas as situações estudadas; a dimensão altura facial inferior, contribuiu de forma mais significativa, nas alterações observadas na altura facial total; as proporções faciais anteriores se mantiveram em torno de 42% para a altura facial superior e 58% para a altura facial inferior; o índice da altura facial ou se manteve constante em torno de 0,66 ou apresentou uma tendência a aumentar com a idade; não ocorreu dimorfismo sexual com relação às proporções faciais e índice da altura facial.

Different degrees of malnutrition and immunological alterations according to the aetiology of cirrhosis: a prospective and sequential study

Abstract Objectives In this work we investigated how immunological dysfunction and malnutrition interact in alcoholic and viral aetiologies of cirrhosis. Methods To investigate the matter, 77 cirrhotic patients divided in three aetiologies [Alcohol, HCV and Alcohol + HCV) and 32 controls were prospectivelly and sequentially studied. Parameters of humoral immunity (Components 3 and 4 of seric complement and immunoglobulins A M, G and E) and of cellular immunity (total leukocytes and lymphocytes in peripheral blood, T lymphocytes subpopulations, CD4+ and CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and intradermic tests of delayed hypersensitivity), as well as nutrititional parameters: anthropometric measures, serum albumin and transferrin were evaluated. Results Multiple statistical comparisons showed that IgM was higher in HCV group; IgG was significantly elevated in both HCV and Alcohol + HCV, whereas for the Alcohol group, IgE was found at higher titles. The analysis of T- lymphocytes subpopulations showed no aetiologic differences, but intradermic tests of delayed hypersensitivity did show greater frequency of anergy in the Alcohol group. For anthropometric parameters, the Alcohol +HCV group displayed the lowest triceps skinfold whereas creatinine – height index evaluation was more preserved in the HCV group. Body mass index, arm muscle area and arm fat area showed that differently from alcohol group, the HCV group was similar to control. Conclusion Significant differences were found among the main aetiologies of cirrhosis concerning immunological alterations and nutritional status: better nutrition and worse immunology for HCV and vice-versa for alcohol.

North South Survey of Children's Height, Weight and Body Mass Index, 2002.

North South Survey of Children’s Height, Weight and Body Mass Index, 2002. As part of a North South Survey of Childrenâ?Ts Oral Health conducted in Ireland in 2001/â?T02 [1], the heights and weights of a representative sample of children and adolescents age 4-16 years was measured. Data were collected by 34 teams of trained and calibrated dentists and dental nurses for 17,518 children aged 4-16 in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and 2,099 in Northern Ireland (NI). Click here to download PDF 379kb

North South Survey of Children's Height, Weight and Body Mass Index, 2002

As part of a North South Survey of Childrens Oral Health conducted in Ireland in 2001/’02 [1], the heights and weights of a representative sample of children and adolescents age 4-16 years was measured. Data were collected by 34 teams of trained and calibrated dentists and dental nurses for 17,518 children aged 4-16 in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and 2,099 in Northern Ireland (NI). This report presents the results of the study which provide a baseline measurement of Childrens height and weight against which future change can be measured. By comparing these data with international norms we can estimate the current prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Ireland.

No use for waist-for-height ratio in addition to body mass index to identify children with elevated blood pressure.

Abstract Background. In children, waist-for-height ratio (WHtR) has been proposed to identify subjects at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. The utility of WHtR to identify children with elevated blood pressure (BP) is unclear. Design. Cross-sectional population-based study of schoolchildren. Methods. Weight, height, waist circumference and BP were measured in all sixth-grade schoolchildren of the canton de Vaud (Switzerland) in 2005/06. WHtR was computed as waist [cm]/height [cm]. Elevated BP was defined according to sex-, age- and height-specific US reference data. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) statistic was computed to compare the ability of body mass index (BMI) z-score and WHtR, alone or in combination, to identify children with elevated BP. Results. 5207 children participated (76% response) [2621 boys, 2586 girls; mean (± SD) age, 12.3 ± 0.5 years; range: 10.1-14.9]. The prevalence of elevated BP was 11%. Mean WHtR was 0.44 ± 0.05 (range: 0.29- 0.77) and 11% had high WHtR (> 0.5). BMI z-score and WHtR were strongly correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient r = 0.76). Both indices were positively associated with elevated BP. AUCs for elevated BP was relatively low for BMI z-score (0.62) or for WHtR (0.62), and was not substantially improved when both indices were considered together (0.63). Conclusions. The ability of BMI z-score or WHtR to identify children aged 10-14 with elevated BP was weak. Adding WHtR did not confer additional discriminative power to BMI alone. These findings do not support the measurement of WHtR in addition to BMI to identify children with elevated BP.

Changes in blood lipids and their associations with changes in measures of height, weight and body mass index from age 8 to 18 years: Project Heartbeat!

A variety of studies indicate that the process of athrosclerosis begins in childhood. There was limited information on the association of the changes in anthropometric variables to blood lipids in school age children and adolescents. Previous longitudinal studies of children typically with insufficient frequency of observation could not provide sound inference on the dynamics of change in blood lipids. The aims of this analysis are (1) to document the sex- and ethnic-specific trajectory and velocity curves of blood lipids (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG); (2) to evaluate the relationship of changes in anthropometric variables, such as height, weight and BMI, to blood lipids from age 8 to 18 years. ^ Project HeartBeat! is a longitudinal study designed to examine the patterns of serial change in major cardiovascular risk factors. Cohort of three different age levels, 8, 11 and 14 years at baseline, with a total of 678 participants were enrolled. Each member of these cohorts was examined three times per year for up to four years. ^ Sex- and ethnic-specific trajectory and velocity curves of blood lipids; demonstrated the complex and polyphasic changes in TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG longitudinally. The trajectory curves of TC, LDL-C and HDL-C with age showed curvilinear patterns of change. The velocity change in TC, HDL-C and LDL-C showed U-shaped curves for non-Blacks, and nearly linear lines in velocity of TG for both Blacks and non-Blacks. ^ The relationship of changes in anthropometric variables to blood lipids was evaulated by adding height, weight, or BMI and associated interaction terms separately to the basic age-sex models. Height or height gain had a significant negative association with changes in TC, LDL-C and HDL-C. Weight or BMI gain showed positive associations with TC, LDL-C and TC, and a negative relationship with HDL-C. ^ Dynamic changes of blood lipids in school age children and adolescents observed from this analysis suggested that using fixed screening criteria under the current NCEP guidelines for all ages 2–19 may not be appropriate for this age group. The association of increasing BMI or weight to an adverse blood lipid profile found in this analysis also indicated that weight or BMI monitoring could be a future intervention to be implemented in the pediatric population. ^