Perceived health status: is obesity perceived as a risk factor and disease?

One might expect that a perception of obesity being a risk factor and disease, contributes to effective obesity prevention and management strategies. However, obesity rates continue to increase worldwide. The question arises whether obesity is truly perceived as a risk factor and a disease. This paper aims at describing perception of obesity as risk factor and disease among individuals seeking care, individuals not seeking care, the society, and different professionals having a role in the field of obesity. The paper is a reflection of the lecture on the topic that was given at the EASO's New Investigators United's Summer School 2016 in Portugal and the discussion with the new investigators and other senior speakers. Individual obese patients seeking help are very much aware of obesity being a risk factor and disease, but perceptions regarding obesity seem to be flawed among those who do not seek help for obesity. Also, misperceptions regarding obesity play a role at different levels, including society, different political levels, the fields of health care and social work, prevention organizations, and the food and marketing industry. The food and marketing industry has an enormous role in changing perceptions by the society and policy makers. Obesity rates will continue to increase as long as individuals, the society, and professionals at different levels have false interpretations of the severity of obesity. Severe action is needed against those who are playing a role in maintaining false perceptions of obesity as a risk factor and disease.- (undefined

Examining Psychosocial Functioning in Young Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Using the BASC-II Content Scales

Background/Rationale for the Study: Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) is a common neurodevelopment genetic disorder affecting 1 in 3,000 individuals. Children with NF1 are at elevated risk of social, emotional, executive functioning, and attention difficulties. The current study examined psychosocial difficulties in young children with NF1 on the Behavior Assessment System for Children – Second Edition (BASC-II) content scales that were not on the previous edition of this measure and have rich clinical information.Methods: Participants were 62 children with NF1 (37 boys, 25 girls), ages 3 to 8 years (M = 4.95, SD = 1.62). The Behavior Assessment System for Children – Second Edition and the Conners Parent Rating Scale – Revised were completed by parents. The Differential Ability Scales – Second Edition was administered to the children to measure intellectual ability and the General Conceptual Ability (GCA) score was used.Results: Developmental Social Disorders (DSD) scale showed significant elevations compared to the normative data while Executive Functioning (EF) and Negative Emotionality (NE) trended toward elevation (t(61) = 1.80, p = 0.077; t(61) = 1.96, p = 0.055). Age was not significantly correlated with T-scores on the DSD, EF, or NE scales. Visual inspection identified one outlier on the GCA variable. When this outlier was included, cognitive functioning was significant correlated with DSD T-scores (r (62) = -.276, p \u3c .05). However, once the outlier was removed, cognitive functioning was not significantly correlated with DSD T-scores (r (61) = -.160, p = .22). Notably, the outlier was a participant with a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder. Cognitive functioning was not significantly correlated with EF T-score or with NE T-score, regardless of the removal of the outlier (p’s ranged from .273 to .782). Relations between DSD, EF, and NE T-scores and attention problems will be examined.Conclusion: The findings suggest that the BASC-II content scales could be a useful measure to identify psychosocial difficulties in young children with NF1, and that social difficulties are especially common. Early detection of psychosocial difficulties in young children with NF1 could help them obtain early intervention for their difficulties

Impact of Dietary Macronutrient Intake during Early and Late Gestation on Offspring Body Composition at Birth, 1, 3, and 5 Years of Age

Dietary intake during pregnancy as a possible modifiable risk factor for childhood obesity is poorly explored. In a prospective observational study, two multivariable regression models were therefore used to associate maternal diet at 15 and 32 weeks’ gestation with offsprings’ body composition and fat distribution at birth, 1, 3, and 5 years. Mean energy intake was 2157 ± 375 kcal (n = 186) in early and 2208 ± 460 kcal (n = 167) in late gestation. The partition model showed mostly no significant associations between maternal diet in early pregnancy and offspring body composition. In late pregnancy, higher fat intake was negatively associated with clinical outcomes at birth, 1, and 5 years. Protein intake was negatively associated with BMI z score (zBMI) at 3 and 5 years. A 10 g increase in fiber was associated with an increase of 3.50 mm2 abdominal subcutaneous fat at 1, 172.49 g fat mass at 3, and 0.23 zBMI at 5 years. Results were largely comparable in the substitution model. An incremental increase in fat and protein at the expense of carbohydrates in late but not early pregnancy may be associated with lower fat mass up to 5 years. Findings require confirmation by additional prospective studies

NMR and Mass Spectral Analysis of Step-growth Polymers from Azide Alkyne Cycloaddition and Regioselectivity Afforded by Copper(I) and Ruthenium(II) Catalysts

Azide alkyne cycloaddition was applied to step growth polymerization of the diazido monomer, di(3-azido-2-hydroxypropyl) ether of bisphenol-A (DAHP-BPA) with either tetraethyleneglycol dipropargyl ether (TEGDPE) or tetraethyleneglycol dipropiolate (TEGDP). Polymerizations were conducted without catalyst and in the presence of Cu(I) or Ru(II) complex. The resulting oligomers and polymers were characterized using H-1- and C-13-NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), with an emphasis on the relative abundance of 1,4- vs. 1,5-disubstituted regioisomeric 1,2,3-triazoles. Uncatalyzed reaction of DAHP-BPA/TEGDPE at 70 degrees C yielded a 55/45 mixture of 1,4/1,5-disubstituted triazoles; reaction was slow and residual alkyne end groups were observed, suggesting attritional loss of azide. Catalyzed with Cu(PPh3)(3)Br, the same system yielded 93/7, 1,4/1,5-disubstituted triazoles, and few residual end groups were detected, consistent with higher molecular weight and controlled 1:1 depletion of azide and alkyne. Cp*RuCl(COD) catalyst was not soluble in the bulk system, necessitating solution polymerization in THF. Ru(II) yielded 6/94, 1,4/1,5-disubstituted triazoles, and MALDI-TOF-MS showed an end group composition similar to that observed with Cu(I). Uncatalyzed reaction of the DAHP-BPA/TEGDP system, involving the more reactive propiolate, yielded a high proportion (85%) of 1,4-disubstituted triazole linkages, and MALDI-TOF-MS revealed a controlled 1:1 depletion of azide and alkyne groups

Perceived health status: is obesity perceived as a risk factor and disease?

One might expect that a perception of obesity being a risk factor and disease, contributes to effective obesity prevention and management strategies. However, obesity rates continue to increase worldwide. The question arises whether obesity is truly perceived as a risk factor and a disease. This paper aims at describing perception of obesity as risk factor and disease among individuals seeking care, individuals not seeking care, the society, and different professionals having a role in the field of obesity. The paper is a reflection of the lecture on the topic that was given at the EASO’s New Investigators United’s Summer School 2016 in Portugal and the discussion with the new investigators and other senior speakers. Individual obese patients seeking help are very much aware of obesity being a risk factor and disease, but perceptions regarding obesity seem to be flawed among those who do not seek help for obesity. Also, misperceptions regarding obesity play a role at different levels, including society, different political levels, the fields of health care and social work, prevention organizations, and the food and marketing industry. The food and marketing industry has an enormous role in changing perceptions by the society and policy makers. Obesity rates will continue to increase as long as individuals, the society, and professionals at different levels have false interpretations of the severity of obesity. Severe action is needed against those who are playing a role in maintaining false perceptions of obesity as a risk factor and disease

Adaptive Behavior in Young Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Neurofibromatosis-1 is the most common single gene disorder affecting 1 in 3000. In children, it is associated not only with physical features but also with attention and learning problems. Research has identified a downward shift in intellectual functioning as well, but to date, there are no published studies about the everyday adaptive behavior of children with NF1. In this study, parental reports of adaptive behavior of 61 children with NF1 ages 3 through 8 were compared to an unaffected contrast group (n=55) that comprised siblings and community members. Significant group differences in adaptive skills were evident and were largely related to group differences in intellectual functioning. In a subsample of children with average-range intellectual functioning, group differences in parent-reported motor skills were apparent even after controlling statistically for group differences in intellectual functioning. The implications of the findings for the care of children with NF1 are discussed