An examination of early childhood perfectionism across anorexia nervosa subtypes

OBJECTIVE

To examine childhood perfectionism in anorexia nervosa (AN) restricting (RAN), purging (PAN), and binge eating with or without purging (BAN) subtypes.

METHOD

The EATATE, a retrospective assessment of childhood perfectionism, and the eating disorder inventory (EDI-2) were administered to 728 AN participants.

RESULTS

EATATE responses revealed general childhood perfectionism, 22.3% of 333 with RAN, 29.2% of 220 with PAN, and 24.8% of 116 with BAN; school work perfectionism, 31.2% with RAN, 30.4% with PAN, and 24.8% with BAN; childhood order and symmetry, 18.7% with RAN, 21.7% with PAN, and 17.8% with BAN; and global childhood rigidity, 42.6% with RAN, 48.3% with PAN and 48.1% with BAN. Perfectionism preceded the onset of AN in all subtypes. Significant associations between EDI-2 drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction were present with four EATATE subscales.

DISCUSSION

Global childhood rigidity was the predominate feature that preceded all AN subtypes. This may be a risk factor for AN.

Habitual starvation and provocative behaviors: two potential routes to extreme suicidal behavior in anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is perhaps the most lethal mental disorder, in part due to starvation-related health problems, but especially because of high suicide rates. One potential reason for high suicide rates in AN may be that those affected face pain and provocation on many fronts, which may in turn reduce their fear of pain and thereby increase risk for death by suicide. The purpose of the following studies was to explore whether repetitive exposure to painful and destructive behaviors such as vomiting, laxative use, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) was a mechanism that linked AN-binge-purging (ANBP) subtype, as opposed to AN-restricting subtype (ANR), to extreme suicidal behavior. Study 1 utilized a sample of 787 individuals diagnosed with one or the other subtype of AN, and structural equation modeling results supported provocative behaviors as a mechanism linking ANBP to suicidal behavior. A second, unexpected mechanism emerged linking ANR to suicidal behavior via restricting. Study 2, which used a sample of 249 AN patients, replicated these findings, including the second mechanism linking ANR to suicide attempts. Two potential routes to suicidal behavior in AN appear to have been identified: one route through repetitive experience with provocative behaviors for ANBP, and a second for exposure to pain through the starvation of restricting in ANR.

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor in malignant canine epithelial nasal tumours

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling pathways play a role in carcinogenesis. Inhibition of EGF receptor (EGFR) and of VEGF is effective in increasing the radiation responsiveness of neoplastic cells both in vitro and in human trials. In this study, immunohistochemical evaluation was employed to determine and characterize the potential protein expression levels and patterns of EGFR and VEGF in a variety of canine malignant epithelial nasal tumours. Of 24 malignant canine nasal tumours, 13 (54.2%) were positive for EGFR staining and 22 (91.7%) were positive for VEGF staining. The intensity and percentage of immunohistochemically positive neoplastic cells for EGFR varied. These findings indicate that EGFR and VEGF proteins were present in some malignant epithelial nasal tumours in the dogs, and therefore, it may be beneficial to treat canine patients with tumours that overexpress EGFR and VEGF with specific inhibitors in conjunction with radiation.

Rate of inpatient weight restoration predicts outcome in anorexia nervosa

OBJECTIVE

To examine weight restoration parameters during inpatient treatment as predictors of outcome in anorexia nervosa (AN).

METHOD

Adolescent and adult females admitted for inpatient eating disorder treatment were recruited for an ongoing longitudinal study. This analysis examined several weight restoration parameters as predictors of clinical deterioration after discharge among participants with AN.

RESULTS

Rate of weight gain was the only restoration parameter that predicted year 1 outcome. Clinical deterioration occurred significantly less often among participants who gained >or=0.8 kg/week (12/41, 29%) than those below this threshold (20/38, 53%) (chi(2) = 4.37, df = 1, p = .037) and remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders.

DISCUSSION

Weight gain rate during inpatient treatment for AN was a significant predictor of short-term clinical outcome after discharge. It is unclear whether weight gain rate exerts a causal effect or is rather a marker for readiness to tolerate weight restoration and engage in the recovery process.

The 'Ethereal' nature of TLR4 agonism and antagonism in the AGP class of lipid A mimetics

To overcome the chemical and metabolic instability of the secondary fatty acyl residues in the AGP class of lipid A mimetics, the secondary ether lipid analogs of the potent TLR4 agonist CRX-527 (2) and TLR4 antagonist CRX-526 (3) were synthesized and evaluated along with their ester counterparts for agonist/antagonist activity in both in vitro and in vivo models. Like CRX-527, the secondary ether lipid 4 showed potent agonist activity in both murine and human models. Ether lipid 5, on the other hand, showed potent TLR4 antagonist activity similar to CRX-526 in human cell assays, but did not display any antagonist activity in murine models and, in fact, was weakly agonistic. Glycolipids 2, 4, and 5 were synthesized via a new highly convergent method utilizing a common advanced intermediate strategy. A new method for preparing (R)-3-alkyloxytetradecanoic acids, a key component of ether lipids 4 and 5, is also described.

The genetics of anorexia nervosa collaborative study: methods and sample description

OBJECTIVE

Supported by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), this 12-site international collaboration seeks to identify genetic variants that affect risk for anorexia nervosa (AN).

METHOD

Four hundred families will be ascertained with two or more individuals affected with AN. The assessment battery produces a rich set of phenotypes comprising eating disorder diagnoses and psychological and personality features known to be associated with vulnerability to eating disorders.

RESULTS

We report attributes of the first 200 families, comprising 200 probands and 232 affected relatives.

CONCLUSION

These results provide context for the genotyping of the first 200 families by the Center for Inherited Disease Research. We will analyze our first 200 families for linkage, complete recruitment of roughly 400 families, and then perform final linkage analyses on the complete cohort. DNA, genotypes, and phenotypes will form a national eating disorder repository maintained by NIMH and available to qualified investigators.

Effects of elastic anisotropy on strain distributions in decahedral gold nanoparticles

Metallic nanoparticles exhibit exceptional optoelectronic properties with applications in plasmonics, biosensing and nanomedicine. Recently, new synthesis techniques have enabled precise control over the sizes and shapes of metal nanoparticles, occasionally leading to morphologies that cannot be properly characterized using standard techniques. An example is five-fold-twinned decahedral Au nanoparticles, which are intrinsically strained as a result of their unique geometry. Various competing models have been proposed to predict the strain states of such nanoparticles. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the internal structure of a decahedral Au nanoparticle using aberration-corrected high-resolution electron microscopy and strain mapping. Our measurements confirm the presence of a disclination, which is consistent with the commonly accepted strain model. However, we also observed shear gradients, which are absent from the models. By comparing our local strain determinations with finite-element calculations, we show the effect of elastic anisotropy on the strain state in these nanoparticles.

National athletic trainers' association position statement: preventing, detecting, and managing disordered eating in athletes

OBJECTIVE

To present recommendations for the prevention, detection, and comprehensive management of disordered eating (DE) in athletes.

BACKGROUND

Athletes with DE rarely self-report their symptoms. They tend to deny the condition and are often resistant to referral and treatment. Thus, screenings and interventions must be handled skillfully by knowledgeable professionals to obtain desired outcomes. Certified athletic trainers have the capacity and responsibility to play active roles as integral members of the health care team. Their frequent daily interactions with athletes help to facilitate the level of medical surveillance necessary for early detection, timely referrals, treatment follow-through, and compliance.

RECOMMENDATIONS

These recommendations are intended to provide certified athletic trainers and others participating in the health maintenance and performance enhancement of athletes with specific knowledge and problem-solving skills to better prevent, detect, and manage DE. The individual biological, psychological, sociocultural, and familial factors for each athlete with DE result in widely different responses to intervention strategies, challenging the best that athletics programs have to offer in terms of resources and expertise. The complexity, time intensiveness, and expense of managing DE necessitate an interdisciplinary approach representing medicine, nutrition, mental health, athletic training, and athletics administration in order to facilitate early detection and treatment, make it easier for symptomatic athletes to ask for help, enhance the potential for full recovery, and satisfy medicolegal requirements. Of equal importance is establishing educational initiatives for preventing DE.

Synthetic toll-like receptor 4 agonists stimulate innate resistance to infectious challenge

A compound family of synthetic lipid A mimetics (termed the aminoalkyl glucosaminide phosphates [AGPs]) was evaluated in murine infectious disease models of protection against challenge with Listeria monocytogenes and influenza virus. For the Listeria model, intravenous administration of AGPs was followed by intravenous bacterial challenge 24 h later. Spleens were harvested 2 days postchallenge for the enumeration of CFU. For the influenza virus model, mice were challenged with virus via the intranasal/intrapulmonary route 48 h after intranasal/intrapulmonary administration of AGPs. The severity of disease was assessed daily for 3 weeks following challenge. Several types of AGPs provided strong protection against influenza virus or Listeria challenge in wild-type mice, but they were inactive in the C3H/HeJ mouse, demonstrating the dependence of the AGPs on toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling for the protective effect. Structure-activity relationship studies showed that the activation of innate immune effectors by AGPs depends primarily on the lengths of the secondary acyl chains within the three acyl-oxy-acyl residues and also on the nature of the functional group attached to the aglycon component. We conclude that the administration of synthetic TLR4 agonists provides rapid pharmacologic induction of innate resistance to infectious challenge by two different pathogen classes, that this effect is mediated via TLR4, and that structural differences between AGPs can have dramatic effects on agonist activity in vivo.

Calibration of projector lens distortions

The distortions introduced into high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images by the projector lens system are an important source of systematic error for quantitative displacement and strain determination. Using geometric phase analysis of images of perfect crystals, we measured these errors for two different transmission electron microscopes. Local magnification varies by as much as 5%, and rotation can reach 2 degrees across a typical image. Our experimental results are compared with theory, and optical pincushion and spiral distortion coefficients are determined. A method for calibrating and removing these distortions is presented that enables quantification to 0.1% strain and 0.1 degrees rotation across the whole field of view. This calibration is also critical for the accurate measurement of local lattice parameters from HRTEM images.

Nanoscale waviness of low-angle grain boundaries

Low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) are ubiquitous in natural and man-made materials and profoundly affect many of their mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties. The properties of LAGBs are understood in terms of their constituent dislocations that accommodate the small misorientations between grains. Discrete dislocations result in a heterogeneous local structure along the boundary. In this article, we report the lattice rotation across a LAGB in olivine (Mg(1.8)Fe(0.2)SiO(4)) measured at the nanometer scale by using quantitative high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The analysis reveals a grain boundary that is corrugated. Elastic calculations show that this waviness is independent of the host material and thus a general feature of LAGBs. Based on our observations and analysis, we provide equations for the boundary position, local curvature, and the lattice rotation field for any LAGB. These results provide the basis for a reexamination of grain-boundary properties in materials such as high-temperature superconductors, nanocrystalline materials, and naturally deformed minerals.

Body composition estimates from NHANES III bioelectrical impedance data

BACKGROUND

Body composition estimates for the US population are important in order to analyze trends in obesity, sarcopenia and other weight-related health conditions. National body composition estimates have not previously been available.

OBJECTIVE

To use transformed bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) data in sex-specific, multicomponent model-derived prediction formulae, to estimate total body water (TBW), fat-free mass (FFM), total body fat (TBF), and percentage body fat (%BF) using a nationally representative sample of the US population.

DESIGN

Anthropometric and BIA data were from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III; 1988-1994). Sex-specific BIA prediction equations developed for this study were applied to the NHANES data, and mean values for TBW, FFM, TBF and %BF were estimated for selected age, sex and racial-ethnic groups.

RESULTS

Among the non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican-American participants aged 12-80 y examined in NHANES III, 15 912 had data available for weight, stature and BIA resistance measures. Males had higher mean TBW and FFM than did females, regardless of age or racial-ethnic status. Mean TBW and FFM increased from the adolescent years to mid-adulthood and declined in older adult age groups. Females had higher mean TBF and %BF estimates than males at each age group. Mean TBF also increased with older age groups to approximately 60 y of age after which it decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

These mean body composition estimates for TBW, FFM, TBF and %BF based upon NHANES III BIA data provide a descriptive reference for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans in the US population.

Tests of emigration in small mammals under experimental conditions

Holding animals in enclosures that block emigration causes demographic abnormalities called "fence effects." Experimenters have built exits that require animals to move through unfavorable conditions to leave enclosures. There are doubts about whether individuals that cross these challenging exits are true emigrants. We tested whether an exit that required house mice (Mus musculus) to swim through a water-filled trough was used only by mice triggered to emigrate from an experimental enclosure. Also, we examined the responses of mice to the availability of resources and the presence of conspecific adult animals in a small enclosure with an exit and in an enclosure made by joining two single enclosures. All mice left a barren enclosure within 12 h but no mice left during 7-day trials in a resource-rich enclosure during spring and summer. At the end of trials with repeated introduction of pairs of mice, about 85% of resident mice were the first mice added. Nearly all mice added later left the enclosure. A relatively constant number of mice became residents in small enclosures and about 2.3 times as many mice resided in double enclosures. Mice readily found and used exits when motivated to leave and did not accidentally pass through exits during routine exploration. Thus, mice that stayed in enclosures were not "fenced in" by the water-filled exit and exhibited residency as in nature. Tests of exits should give ecologists confidence that animals can display normal residency and emigration behaviors in experimental settings. The defense of resources by residents and the emigration of excess animals resulted in a consistent limit to the number of animals able to reside in enclosures.

A note on the emission of nitrogen oxides from silage in opened bunker silos

The evolution of NOx from grass and maize silages was measured using chemiluminescence in samples kept in airtight containers, in the silos and in a 750 kg mass removed to a mixer waggon. Measurements were made on the grass and maize silos in two consecutive years. The results show that there is continuous evolution of NOx after silos have been opened and that high concentrations persist in the mass which are rapidly released on agitation at the feed-out. The maximum recorded concentrations of NO and NO2 were 1985 and 152 ppbv respectively. These values are orders of magnitude greater than for rural background levels and exceed the maximum hourly exposure of 50 ppbv for NO2 recommended by the UK expert panel for quality standards.

Involvement of protein kinase C-delta in DNA damage-induced apoptosis

We have previously shown that the protein kinase C (PKC) signal transduction pathway regulates cell death by the DNA damaging agent cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cDDP). In the present study we have investigated how PKC influences the sequence of events that are triggered by cDDP-induced DNA damage. cDDP caused activation of caspases-8, -9, -3, -7 and cleavage of PKCdelta. Rottlerin, a selective inhibitor of novel PKCdelta, blocked activation of caspases, proteolytic activation of PKCdelta and cell death induced by cDDP. In contrast, Gö 6976, an inhibitor of conventional PKCalpha and betaI, did not prevent cDDP-induced caspase activation and cDDP cytotoxicity. In HeLa cells, PKCdelta was distributed both in the cytosol and heavy membrane (HM) fraction containing mitochondria. While caspase-8 was primarily cytosolic, a small amount of caspases-9, -7 and -3 could be detected in the HM fraction. cDDP caused a time-dependent increase in Cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and processing of both cytosolic and membrane-associated caspases, as well as proteolytic cleavage of PKCdelta. Rottlerin attenuated late but not early release of Cytochrome c by cDDP. It, however, inhibited activation of caspases and proteolytic cleavage of PKCdelta in both cytosolic and HM fractions. The antiapoptotic effect of rottlerin was evident when it was added together with or following cDDP addition but not when added after cDDP was removed from the medium. Thus, the PKCdelta inhibitor acts at an early stage of the cDDP-induced cell death pathway that precedes caspase activation.

Replication of Chilo iridescent virus in the cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis, and development of an infectivity assay

The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, is a devastating pest of cotton. Chemical pesticides are problematic due to relative lack of target specificity and resistance. Microbial pesticides may provide viable alternatives because of their narrow host range. Chilo iridescent virus (CIV) is the type species for genus Iridovirus, family Iridoviridae: large, icosahedral cytoplasmic viruses containing a double-stranded DNA genome. Earlier work suggested that CIV replicated in the boll weevil; however, efficiency or production of infectious virus was not established. We showed that CIV undergoes a productive cycle in A. grandis. CIV DNA levels in boll weevil pupae increased significantly from 0 to 3 days post infection. Moreover, virogenic stromata and complete virus particles were observed in the cytoplasm by 7 days. An endpoint dilution assay using viral DNA replication as indicator suggested a 10(5)-fold increase in infectious virus titer over 7 days. This is the first such demonstration in larval infections with genus Iridovirus. Our study establishes that CIV undergoes a productive cycle in the boll weevil and provides an important and useful model system for replication at the organismal level. These results have important implications for the potential of CIV and its components in boll weevil control.

Prevalence of overweight in US children: comparison of US growth charts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with other reference values for body mass index

BACKGROUND

Several different sets of reference body mass index (BMI) values are available to define overweight in children.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of overweight in US children calculated with 3 sets of reference BMI values: the revised growth charts of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-US growth charts), international standards proposed by Cole et al, and values developed by Must et al.

DESIGN

Data for children and adolescents came from cross-sectional nationally representative US surveys: cycles II and III of the National Health Examination Survey (1963-1965 and 1966-1970) and the first, second, and third National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys: NHANES I (1971-1974), II (1976-1980), and III (1988-1994). The reference values of Cole et al equivalent to a BMI of 25 were compared with the 85th percentiles from the other 2 methods; the values equivalent to a BMI of 30 were compared with the 95th percentiles.

RESULTS

The 3 methods gave similar but not identical results. The reference values of Cole et al gave lower estimates than did the CDC-US growth charts for young children but higher estimates for older children. The reference values of Must et al gave much higher prevalences for younger girls than did the other 2 methods.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences between methods were related to differences in data sets, smoothing methods, and theoretical approaches. All 3 methods are based on statistical criteria and incorporate arbitrary assumptions. These methods should be used cautiously, with awareness of the possible limitations.

Functional genomic, biochemical, and genetic characterization of the Salmonella pduO gene, an ATP:cob(I)alamin adenosyltransferase gene

Salmonella enterica degrades 1,2-propanediol by a pathway dependent on coenzyme B12 (adenosylcobalamin [AdoCb1]). Previous studies showed that 1,2-propanediol utilization (pdu) genes include those for the conversion of inactive cobalamins, such as vitamin B12, to AdoCbl. However, the specific genes involved were not identified. Here we show that the pduO gene encodes a protein with ATP:cob(I)alamin adenosyltransferase activity. The main role of this protein is apparently the conversion of inactive cobalamins to AdoCbl for 1,2-propanediol degradation. Genetic tests showed that the function of the pduO gene was partially replaced by the cobA gene (a known ATP:corrinoid adenosyltransferase) but that optimal growth of S. enterica on 1,2-propanediol required a functional pduO gene. Growth studies showed that cobA pduO double mutants were unable to grow on 1,2-propanediol minimal medium supplemented with vitamin B(12) but were capable of growth on similar medium supplemented with AdoCbl. The pduO gene was cloned into a T7 expression vector. The PduO protein was overexpressed, partially purified, and, using an improved assay procedure, shown to have cob(I)alamin adenosyltransferase activity. Analysis of the genomic context of genes encoding PduO and related proteins indicated that particular adenosyltransferases tend to be specialized for particular AdoCbl-dependent enzymes or for the de novo synthesis of AdoCbl. Such analyses also indicated that PduO is a bifunctional enzyme. The possibility that genes of unknown function proximal to adenosyltransferase homologues represent previously unidentified AdoCbl-dependent enzymes is discussed.

Periodontal disease estimates in NHANES III: clinical measurement and complex sample design issues

OBJECTIVE

This paper evaluates the possibility that examiner bias or other factors contributed to an observed decline in pocket depth and gingivitis between the two three-year sequential periods of time (or phases) covered by the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

METHODS

Prevalences of periodontal conditions were analyzed using data from two sets of repeat oral health examinations by examining dentists of NHANES III sample persons. The first set includes sample persons who were examined twice by the same examining dentist at an interval of one to six weeks. The second set includes sample persons who were assessed on the same day by both an examining dentist and a reference dentist. Other possible sources of error also were evaluated.

RESULTS

Overall kappa statistics measuring agreement between or within dental examiners were within the range observed for other periodontal disease surveys. While differences were found among dentists in the prevalence of pocket depth of 4 mm or more, for each group of sample persons assessed by a reference examiner-examining dentist pair, the reference examiner's periodontal measurements closely corresponded to measurements made by the examining dentists.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences between dental examiners in prevalences of periodontal conditions may be due in part to the fact that examinees were not randomly assigned to examiners. As a result, the sample persons examined by each dentist may not have been alike in characteristics thought to affect periodontal disease status. These findings suggest that the observed declines in periodontal health status between phases is not due to examiner bias. This unexplained decline may be the result of sampling variation. It is recommended that combined six-year survey results be presented whenever possible.