Effective strategies for weight loss in post-partum women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Post-partum weight loss is critical to preventing and managing obesity in women, but the results from lifestyle interventions are variable and the components associated with successful outcomes are not yet clearly identified. This study aimed to identify lifestyle intervention strategies associated with weight loss in post-partum women. MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL and four other databases were searched for lifestyle intervention studies (diet or exercise or both) in post-partum women (within 12 months of delivery) published up to July 2014. The primary outcome was weight loss. Subgroup analyses were conducted for self-monitoring, individual or group setting, intervention duration, intervention types, the use of technology as a support, and home- or centre-based interventions. From 12,673 studies, 46 studies were included in systematic review and 32 randomized controlled trials were eligible for meta-analysis (1,892 women, age 24-36 years). Studies with self-monitoring had significantly greater weight lost than those without (-4.61 kg [-7.08, -2.15] vs. -1.34 kg [-1.66, -1.02], P = 0.01 for subgroup differences). Diet and physical activity when combined were significantly more effective on weight loss compared with physical activity alone (-3.24 kg [-4.59, -1.90] vs. -1.63 kg [-2.16, -1.10], P < 0.001 for subgroup differences). Lifestyle interventions that use self-monitoring and take a combined diet-and-exercise approach have significantly greater weight loss in post-partum women.

Internal friction of hydrated soda-lime-silicate glasses

The internal friction of hydrated soda-lime-silica glasses with total water content (C(W)) up to 1.9 wt. % was studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) using temperature-frequency sweeps from 723 K to 273 K and from 1 s(-1) to 50 s(-1). Total water content and concentrations of H2O molecules (C(H2O)) and OH groups (C(OH)) in the DMA specimens were determined by infrared spectroscopy. For low water contents (C(W) ≈ C(OH) < 0.25 wt. %) two discrete internal friction peaks below the glass transition (α relaxation) were assigned to the low-temperature motion of alkali ions (γ relaxation) and cooperative movements of dissimilar mobile species under participation of OH at higher temperature (β(OH) relaxation). For large water contents (C(W) > 1 wt. %), where significant amounts of molecular water are evident (C(H2O) > 0.15 wt. %), however, internal friction spectra change unexpectedly: the β(OH) peak heights saturate and a low temperature shoulder appears on the β-relaxation peak. This emerging relaxation mode (β(H2O) relaxation) was assigned to the motions of H2O molecules. β(H2O) relaxation was found to be faster than β(OH) but slower than γ relaxation. Activation energy of the different relaxation modes increased in the order γ < β(H2O) < β(OH) < α.

Formation of Flavonol 3-O-Diglycosides and Flavonol 3-O-Triglycosides by Enzyme Extracts from Anthers of Tulipa cv. Apeldoorn / Characterization and Activity of Three Different O -Glycosyltransferases during Anther Development

Three distinct glycosyltransferases have been isolated and partially purified from anthers of Tulipa cv. Apeldoorn. The following designations are proposed; UDP-glucose: flavonol 3-O-glucosyltransferase (GT-I), UDP-rhamnose: flavonol 3-O-glucoside rhamnosyltransferase (GT-II) and UDP-xylose: flavonol 3-glycoside xylosyltransferase (GT-III). The three enzymes exhibited an identical pH optimum within the range of 8.5 -9.0. The estimated molecular weight of GT-I and GT-II was about 40 000, GT-III showed a molecular weight of 30 000. GT-III required ions like NH4 +or Ca2+ whereas these ions have almost no influence on GT-I and GT-II activity. The enzymes have a slight requirement for SH-reagents, particularly DTE. As opposed to GT-II activity of GT-I and GT-III is significantly influenced by SH reagents and PCMB. Sucrose enhanced GT-III activity but only slightly GT-I activity, GT-II activity is not influenced.

Flavonol aglycones can function as glycosyl acceptor for the GT-I, whereas flavonol 3-O-glycosides, luteolin, dihydroquercetin, naringenin, cyanidin, p-coumaric acid and some other phenols were inactive as acceptor. The best acceptors were isorhamnetin and quercetin (Km: 0.9 × 10-6 ᴍ). GT-II did not accept aglycones as substrates. For this enzyme flavonol 3-O-glucosides were the most attractive substrates. GT-III did not have any affinity towards aglycones, too. This enzyme exhibited a high specificity for flavonol 3-O-glucosides as well as flavonol 3-O-galactosides. Both enzymes, the GT-II and GT-III, were able to glycosylate flavonol 3-O-diglycosides forming triglycosides. UDP-glucose (Km = 1.0 × 10-4 ᴍ), UDP-rhamnose and UDP-xylose where shown to be the best glycosyl donors for GT-I, GT-II or GT-III respectively. The glycosyl transfer catalysed by the GT-I was shown to be a freely reversible reaction.

In the whole anthers, highest specific activities of GT-I and GT-II were found during late stages of anther development. Similar results were obtained using the contents of anthers or the tapetum fraction. In contrary, high GT-III activity can be detected already in young stages of anther devel­opment. The highest activities of the three glycosyltransferases were found in the tapetum fraction, whereas the pollen fraction exhibited only poor activities.

Non-Debye normalization of the glass vibrational density of states in mildly densified silicate glasses

The evolution of the boson peak with densification at medium densification rates (up to 2.3%) in silicate glasses was followed through heat capacity measurements and low frequency Raman scattering. It is shown that the decrease of the boson peak induced by densification does not conform to that expected from a continuous medium; rather it follows a two step behaviour. The comparison of the heat capacity data with the Raman data shows that the light-vibration coupling coefficient is almost unaffected in this densification regime. These results are discussed in relation to the inhomogeneity of the glass elastic network at the nanometre scale.

Sporadic adenoma in ulcerative colitis: endoscopic resection is an adequate treatment

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In studies with small numbers of cases, it has been shown that endoscopic resection of adenomas in ulcerative colitis represents adequate treatment. In a larger study cohort with more prolonged follow up, we assessed the reliability of this finding.

METHODS

Between 1988 and 2002, 148 consecutive patients, mainly from private gastroenterologists' practices, with ulcerative colitis were diagnosed as having an adenoma. In 60 patients, histological diagnosis was established in biopsies and in 87 patients in polypectomy specimens; one patient underwent proctocolectomy following diagnosis. The outcome of these patients was analysed after a mean follow up period of 6.0 (3.63) years.

RESULTS

Among 60 patients, surprisingly without endoscopic treatment, 48.3% developed ulcerative colitis associated neoplasia in the same colon segment (23.3% low grade intraepithelial neoplasia; 8.3% high grade intraepithelial neoplasia; 16.7% carcinoma). Among 87 patients undergoing polypectomy of the adenoma, follow up revealed colitis associated neoplasia in other segments of colon in 4.6% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Development of adenocarcinomas in a total of 6.7% of the overall patient group, and in 2.3% of those undergoing polypectomy, indicates that biopsy based diagnosis of an adenoma in ulcerative colitis must be considered to mandate endoscopic resection of the lesion; 40% of affected patients did not receive any form of endoscopic removal of the lesion. This shows that the most recent guidelines are not followed in a considerable number of patients with ulcerative colitis in private practice in Germany. Although polypectomy of the adenoma represents adequate therapy, further regular follow up examinations are nevertheless necessary.

[Sporadic adenoma and colitis-associated intraepithelial neoplasia: a difficult differential diagnosis]

The differential diagnosis between sporadic adenoma and colitis-associated neoplasia is difficult. Clinical, histological and molecular genetic methods are available to recognise a difference between these two entities. The aim of the present analysis was to check known criteria in a large series of patients and 352 patients with ulcerative colitis and concomitant intraepithelial neoplastic lesions [149 adenomas (A), 123 colitis-associated intraepithelial neoplasias (N), 80 carcinomas (K)] were investigated. Clinical history helped to identify patients with sporadic adenoma since patients with colitis-associated neoplastic lesions presented with different data such as age (A: 61.3+/-13 years, N: 48.4+/-16.4 years, K: 53.9+/-16.9 years), duration of disease (A: 6.9+/-8.1 years, N: 11.9+/-10 years, K: 13.6+/-9.6 years), frequency of pancolitis (A: 28.6%, N: 56.3%, K: 48.3%) and frequency of solitary lesions (A: 83.7%, N: 23.1%, K: 51.9%). The differential diagnosis between adenoma and colitis-associated neoplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis appears to be possible but the diagnosis should only be made in the remission phase. Furthermore the patients need a careful endoscopic and bioptic follow-up. If in doubt one should consider colitis-associated neoplasia especially when there are multiple intraepithelial neoplastic lesions. Long-term follow-up studies are urgently needed.

H2O/OH ratio determination in hydrous aluminosilicate glasses by static proton NMR and the effect of chemical shift anisotropy

Static 1H NMR spectra of hydrous NaAlSi3O8 glasses have been acquired at low temperature (140 K) in order to quantitatively determine OH and H2O concentrations. Since both components overlap in the spectra, an unambiguous determination of the line shapes is required. The structurally bonded hydroxyl groups are well described by a Gaussian line and the water molecules exhibit a Pake doublet-like line shape due to the strong proton-proton dipolar interaction. However, at proton resonance frequencies used in this study (360 MHz), the Pake doublet has an asymmetric line shape due to chemical shift anisotropy (CSA), which is significant and must be included in any simulation in order to reproduce the experimental line shape successfully. The simulations for rigid water molecules dissolved in our hydrous aluminosilicate glasses result in a CSA of 30+/-5 ppm and a dipolar interaction constant of 63.8+/-2.5 kHz (i.e., dipolar coupling constant (DCC) of 42.6+/-1.7 kHz), corresponding to a proton-proton distance of r(ij) = 154+/-2 pm. In contrast to earlier work, water speciation obtained from the simulations of our 1H NMR spectra are in excellent agreement with those obtained from infrared (IR) spectroscopy.

Data Import and Validation in the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database

In the following paper the input procedures for the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD) will be outlined. The input flow of the data is explained. Since the data have been excerpted from journal articles a bibliometric analysis of the relevant literature is presented. The types of data and the form in which they are recorded are discussed. Finally, illustrations are given of the importance of data checking and the data checking procedures are described in detail.

[Diabetes insipidus--a rare complication post partum]

A report is made on the manifestation of diabetes insipidus (neuropituitary syndrome), observed six days after a Caesarean section (29-years old I. Gravida). The progress of pregnancy and delivery as well as the successful treatment with Desmopressin (Minirin) post partum are described. The aetiology is still obscure.

[The metabolism of various acaloric compounds with fatlike properties in rats]

Pseudofats as total substituted long-chain esters and ethers of polyhydroxyl compounds (sucrose, triglycerol, and polyethyleneglycol) are more or less indifferent against gastrointestinal enzymes, but display specific metabolic effects on lipid metabolism especially on cholesterol synthesis in liver, plasma lipid level, and fecal cholesterol excretion. Among the different tested compounds there exist similarities as well as differences, which are to consider as an indication for a specific relationship between structure and effect. These relations are more closely investigated and critically discussed.

[Synthesis, characterization and application of polyglycerols and polyglycerol fatty acid esters]

The current state of knowledge in the field of synthesis and properties of polyglycerols and polyglycerol fatty acid esters is presented. Alternatives for the analytical characterization of these families by means of physico-chemical methods, with special reference to chromatography and spectroscopy, are described. Furthermore, the use of polyglycerol fatty acid esters as food additives is considered from the view-points of the physiology of nutrition and of processing technology.

[Non-caloric compounds with fat-like functional properties (pseudofats)]

The review deals with the synthesis, characterization, physicochemical and physiological properties with respect to nutrition of acaloric fat-like compounds (pseudofats) with special regard to fatty acid esters of sucrose, glycerol ethers and glycerol dicarbonic acid esters. Furthermore an outlook is given of other classes of compounds that are potentially suited to substitute fat as for instance polycarbonic acid-, polyglycerol-, and polyglycol derivatives.