Associations of blood pressure with body composition among Afro-Caribbean children in Barbados

Despite complex presentation of adult hypertension and a concomitant obesity epidemic, little is known about overweight in relation to blood pressure among Caribbean children. We examined blood pressure in relation to body size in a cross-sectional study of 573 Barbadian children aged 9–10 years (2010-2011).The United States normative blood pressure percentiles were used to identify children with high (≥ 95th percentile) or high normal blood pressure (90th – 95th percentile). The World Health Organization body mass index cut-off points were used to assess weight status. Major findings: Thirty percent of children were overweight/obese. Percentage fat mass differed between girls (20.4%) and boys (17.72%) (p< 0.05). Mean systolic blood pressure among girls was 106.11 (95% CI 105.05, 107.17) mmHg and 105.23 (104.09, 106.38) for boys. The percentages with high or high-normal mean systolic blood pressurewere14.38% (10.47, 18.29) for girls and 8.08% (4.74, 11.41) for boys. Height and body mass index were independent correlates of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Mean systolic blood pressure was related to lean mass but not fat mass, while diastolic blood pressure was associated with fat mass index and overweight. Principal conclusion: One third of 9-10 year old children in Barbados were overweight/obese and 12% had elevated mean systolic blood pressure. BP was related to body size. These findings signal potential adverse trends in weight gain and BP trends for children growing up in the context of a country that has recently undergone rapid economic transition

The Influence of Dietary Intake on Hypertension and/or Erythrocyte Na\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e, K\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e- ATPase Activity

Normotensive (11) and medicated hypertensive (6) female subjects ages 23 to 58 participated in blood pressure measurements, blood sampling (2 days) following a 10-hour fast, for the determination of maximum ouabain binding, and dietary assessment using 7-day records and/or food frequency forms. Maximum ouabain binding, an index of Na+,K+-ATPase activity, was measured using a tritiated ouabain binding technique in which the number of ouabain binding sites per cell are determined. The number of enzyme units (Na+,K+-ATPase units) was calculated from the number of binding sites per cell because the two are directly proportional. Stepwise regression procedures in the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) (SAS Institute, 1982b) were used to analyze the relationships among mean systolic blood pressure taken prior to blood sampling (dependent variable, MBP1S), maximum ouabain binding (MBMAX), dietary intake, body mass index (BMI), and age. MBP1S and MBMAX were directly related when data from 15 of the 17 subjects were analyzed. Arthritis medications taken by two of the subjects may have an effect on the blood pressures of the subjects. For this reason, subsequent data analysis excluded these two subjects. Age and BMI were not related to either MBP1S or MBMAX. Total Inhibition Scores and Total Vanadium Indices, indicators of the consumption of foods containing in vitro Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitors and/or vanadium, were calculated per subject (17) from food frequency data. No associations were found among MBP1S, MBMAX, and the consumption of foods containing in vitro Na+,K+-ATPase and/or food containing vanadium (an inhibitor of Na+,K+-ATPase activity). The lack of associations may be due to the scarcity of published data on in vitro Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitors or vanadium contents in foods, and/or the possible inabilities of subjects to determine the quantities and frequencies of consumption. Food frequency forms are not the best method to use when quantitative data are needed. Enery and nutrient intake means were calculated for the 15 subjects who kept 7-day dietary records. Mean energy intakes ranged from 1002 to 2262 kcal/day, the principal source of calories for most subjects being carbohydrates. Calcium and iron intakes for several subjects were ≤ 70% of the 800-mg RDA. All medicated hypertensive subjects\u27 calcium intakes were low (≤ 80% of the RDA). None of the subjects consumed ≤ 70% of the RDA for vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin. One subject\u27s mean vitamin A intake was \u3c 70% of the RDA. Of the dietary variables analyzed using PROC STEPWISE (SAS Institute, 1982b) (energy, protein, carbohydrate, crude fiber, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and cholesterol), only crude fiber was related to MBP1S. A negative relationship was found between MBP1S and crude fiber intake only when MBMAX was included in the regression equation. MBMAX and crude fiber intake also were inversely related. Crude fiber may appear as a proxy for other variables that independently do not significantly alter blood pressure: including cholesterol, thiamin, niacin, and carbohydrate. Multiple vitamins taken by several subjects may have obscured the relationship between MBP1S and some of the dietary variables. This should be a consideration in future research studies conducted with a larger number of subjects

A Miniaturized Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscope (MVP-SEM) for Mars

No abstract availabl

Parents’ Preparedness for Their Infants’ Discharge Following First-stage Cardiac Surgery: Development of a Parental Early Warning Tool

Aim The aim of this study was to explore parental preparedness for discharge and their experiences of going home with their infant after the first-stage surgery for a functionally univentricular heart. Background Technological advances worldwide have improved outcomes for infants with a functionally univentricular heart over the last 3 decades; however, concern remains regarding mortality in the period between the first and second stages of surgery. The implementation of home monitoring programmes for this group of infants has improved this initial inter-stage survival; however, little is known about parents’ experiences of going home, their preparedness for discharge, and parents’ recognition of deterioration in their fragile infant. Method This study was conducted in 2011–2013; eight sets of parents were consulted in the research planning stage in September, 2011, and 22 parents with children aged 0–2 years responded to an online survey during November, 2012–March, 2013. Description of categorical data and deductive thematic analysis of the open-ended questions were undertaken. Results Not all parents were taught signs of deterioration or given written information specific to their baby. The following three themes emerged from the qualitative data: mixed emotions about going home, knowledge and preparedness, and support systems. Conclusions Parents are not adequately prepared for discharge and are not well equipped to recognise deterioration in their child. There is a role for greater parental education through development of an early warning tool to address the gap in parents’ understanding of signs of deterioration, enabling appropriate contact and earlier management by clinicians

Lynx X-Ray Observatory: Response to the First Astro 2020 Decadal Survey Request for Information

This document serves as the Lynx Teams response to the first Request For Information (RFI) from the 2020 Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Detailed answers to all of the questions asked in this RFI can be found in the Lynx Concept Study Report, Supplementary Technology Roadmaps, and the Lynx Cost Book

The Suitability of Discharge Information for Parents of Infants with Single Functioning Ventricle Heart Condition: Evolution of a Congenital Heart Assessment Tool (CHAT) for Parents

Whilst advances in the care of infants with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) have resulted in remarkably improved prognosis, death between first and second surgical stage has remained a concern in the UK and America particularly for those with single cardiac ventricle anatomy.1-8 This has prompted the development of home monitoring programs (HMP) to encourage early identification at home, of infants vulnerable to potentially life threatening events4, 5 ,9-13. However to date no randomised controlled trials have been published and therefore the robustness of the available research is debatable. In 2011 a research proposal was developed by KG (Coventry University) in collaboration with the team at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Little Hearts Matter (LHM) to undertake a Feasibility Study (randomised controlled trial) to test the feasibility of using a Congenital Heart Assessment Tool (CHAT) as part of a home monitoring programme (HMP) for infants with single ventricle heart conditions and those with systemic shunt dependent heart conditions. A consultation event [funded by a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Bursary from the NIHR West Midlands Research Design Service ]was hosted by LHM in September 2011 during which a Focus Group was facilitated by KG with a small group of parents to ascertain their views regarding the implementation of a home monitoring programme. The Focus Group was transcribed, thematically analysed and subsequently contributed to the development of the content of the online survey and the Congenital Heart Assessment Tool (CHAT) which is being reported in this poster presentation

Racial and ethnic disparities in prescription coverage and medication use

This study compared drug coverage and prescription drug use by race and Hispanic ethnicity for Medicare beneficiaries with three chronic conditions: diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease. We found that among beneficiaries without any drug coverage black persons and Hispanics used 10 to 40 percent fewer medications, on average, than white persons with the same illness, and spent up to 60 percent less in total drug costs. Having drug coverage somewhat lessened these differences although the effect was consistent with only M + C prescription benefits. Substantially lower medication use remained for dually eligible black beneficiaries and Hispanics with employer-sponsored drug benefits