Longitudinal assessment of cognitive and psychosocial functioning after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Exploring disaster impact on middle-aged, older, and oldest-old adults

The authors examined the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on cognitive and psychosocial functioning in a lifespan sample of adults 6-14 months after the storms. Participants were recruited from the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study. Most were assessed during the immediate impact period and retested for this study. Analyses of pre- and post-disaster cognitive data confirmed that storm-related decrements in working memory for middle-aged and older adults observed in the immediate impact period had returned to pre-hurricane levels in the post-disaster recovery period. Middle-aged adults reported more storm-related stressors and greater levels of stress than the two older groups at both waves of testing. These results are consistent with a burden perspective on post-disaster psychological reactions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Genetic variation in Glp1r expression influences the rate of gastric emptying in mice.

We demonstrated previously that food intake traits map to a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on proximal chromosome 17, which encompasses Glp1r (glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor), encoding an important modulator of gastric emptying. We then confirmed this QTL in a B6.CAST-17 congenic strain that consumed 27% more carbohydrate and 17% more total calories, yet similar fat calories, per body weight compared with the recipient C57BL/6J. The congenic strain also consumed greater food volume. The current aims were to 1) identify genetic linkage for total food volume in F(2) mice, 2) perform gene expression profiling in stomach of B6.CAST-17 congenic mice using oligonucleotide arrays, 3) test for allelic imbalance in Glp1r expression, 4) evaluate gastric emptying rate in parental and congenic mice, and 5) investigate a possible effect of genetic variation in Glp1r on gastric emptying. A genome scan revealed a single QTL for total food volume (Tfv1) (log of the odds ratio = 7.6), which was confirmed in B6.CAST-17 congenic mice. Glp1r exhibited allelic imbalance in stomach, which correlated with accelerated gastric emptying in parental CAST and congenic B6.CAST-17 mice. Moreover, congenic mice displayed an impaired gastric emptying response to exendin-(9-39). These results suggest that genetic variation in Glp1r contributes to the strain differences in gastric emptying rate

Effects of consuming mycoprotein, tofu or chicken upon subsequent eating behaviour, hunger and safety

This study tested if: (1) a preload of mycoprotein and tofu consumed before a lunch meal have a greater effect on satiety when compared to a chicken preload, (2) the mycoprotein and tofu preloads, compared to chicken, are not associated with compensation or eating more food at a subsequent dinner meal. These hypotheses were tested in a controlled laboratory study using universal eating monitors to measure food intake and visual analogue scales to monitor hunger and satiety. Forty-two overweight adult females consumed three meals in the laboratory on 3 test days. At lunch, isocaloric pasta preloads, containing mycoprotein, tofu, or chicken, varied across the days in a balanced order. The findings of the study supported the two hypotheses. Mycoprotein and tofu preloads, in comparison to the chicken preload, were associated with lower food intake shortly after consuming the preload at lunch. Food intake following consumption of mycoprotein and tofu did not differ, and participants did not compensate for lower food intake at lunch by consuming more food at dinner. The findings suggest that mycoprotein and tofu have satiating properties that persist for several hours after a meal. These findings have significant implications for the development of foods that are low in kilojoules, but are also filling

QTL analysis of self-selected macronutrient diet intake: fat, carbohydrate, and total kilocalories.

The present study investigated the inheritance of dietary fat, carbohydrate, and kilocalorie intake traits in an F(2) population derived from an intercross between C57BL/6J (fat-preferring) and CAST/EiJ (carbohydrate-preferring) mice. Mice were phenotyped for self-selected food intake in a paradigm which provided for 10 days a choice between two macronutrient diets containing 78/22% of energy as a composite of either fat/protein or carbohydrate/protein. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis identified six significant loci for macronutrient intake: three for fat intake on chromosomes (Chrs) 8 (Mnif1), 18 (Mnif2), and X (Mnif3), and three for carbohydrate intake on Chrs 17 (Mnic1), 6 (Mnic2), and X (Mnic3). An absence of interactions among these QTL suggests the existence of separate mechanisms controlling the intake of fat and carbohydrate. Two significant QTL for cumulative kilocalorie intake, adjusted for baseline body weight, were found on Chrs 17 (Kcal1) and 18 (Kcal2). Without body weight adjustment, another significant kcal locus appeared on distal Chr 2 (Kcal3). These macronutrient and kilocalorie QTL, with the exception of loci on Chrs 8 and X, encompassed chromosomal regions influencing body weight gain and adiposity in this F2 population. These results provide new insight into the genetic basis of naturally occurring variation in nutrient intake phenotypes

Heteroscedastic ANOVA: old p values, new views

Accuracy of p value, Approximate F test, Nonhomogeneous one-way fixed model,