Study of some aspects of honeybee nutrition in the south-east of Scotland with special reference to pollen

Colonies of honeybees gather and consume pollen and nectar; the pattern of collection of these substances, certain aspects of their composition, the individual pollen types utilised and the effect of variations in the pattern of nectar collection on colony development have been investigated in the South-East of Scotland. A very small proportion of the available flora is utilised by bees for pollen gathering and an even smaller number of pollen types are collected in any quantity. The mean active pollen gathering period is only between 107 and 120 days long. Variability between colonies rather than between sites accounted for most of the differences between the amounts of pollen trapped. Most pollen and most pollen types were gathered when brood rearing was at its peak. Mixed woodland was the habitat from which bees gathered relatively most pollen and sycamore was the best individual source; less pollen was collected from raeadowland and arable land; in the former white clover was the best source and cruciferous weeds in the latter. The same pollen types were harvested from the one site during the 4 years in which it was investigated although individual colonies there showed slightly different preferences. Trapping pollen from colonies did not affect the amount of brood reared although it appeared to influence the winter survival and also produced a few other temporary effects. A variable proportion of the total pollen being harvested appeared to be culled from the colonies throughout the active season by the traps. Significant relationships between the colony weight and the amount of honey in store throughout the active season (r = 0.94) allowed a study of the nectar flows in the area to be made by direct weighing of the colonies in their hives. This established that good nectar flows occurred on the Lothians' coast in early summer and in the upland area to the south of this coast in Enid and late summer. The first of these produced transient effects upon the colonies while the second affected the amount of honey stored (36 kg stored in upland colonies compared with 11 kg in the coastal ones) and the brood reared. All the colony characteristics measured with the exception of honey in store reached their maxima about mid-summer when they averaged 37,000 adult bees, 2.7 kg stored pollen and 21,000 brood. Larger colonies stored most honey by the end of the season and reared most brood; but the only significant correlations were those between the pollen trapped per day and the brood, and between the mean pollen in store and the brood. As a result of chemical investigations the results mentioned in this next section seemed most worthy of note. Fresh pollen contained 27% water. Wooden traps produced pollen in a much more satisfactory state than metal ones. The mean lipid and ash content of the pollens was low. About 31% of the pollen consisted of sugars, which are valuable food materials for honeybees. The gross energy of pollen was high (5,500 kilo calories per g). Pollens contain a low quantity of nucleic acid. Most of the nitrogen content of pollens after hydrolysis was in the form of amino acids. The various types of pollen showed a close similarity in the relative amounts of amino acids which they contained with the exceptions of serine, cystine and histidine. Analyses of honeybee carcasses indicated that their amino acid contents were very similar to those of the pollens which are therefore nearly ideal sources of these nutrients for bees. Pollens were also found to be better sources of the minerals Na, Mg, K and P for honeybees than honey in which the cation pair K and Mg were closely related and Mg was most affected by the other ions investigated

Tackling Male Obesity: the ROMEO (Review Of MEn Obesity) study

Background: Male obesity is particularly problematic in that men are less likely than women to realise they have a weight problem and are also less likely to engage in weight reduction programmes. Little is known about the most effective ways to engage obese men with obesity services in order to manage weight loss successfully. Aim: Funded by the National Institute of Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme, theROMEO (Review Of MEn and Obesity) project is an on-going integrated series of five quantitative and qualitative systematic reviews of the evidence associated with management strategies for treating obesity in men, and how to engage men in these obesity services Methods: Studies included in the review are men 16 years or over, with no upper age limit. Ideally all groups of participants in studies must have a mean or median BMI of 30kg/m2. However, in most qualitative papers, BMI is not clearly stated. We are aiming to find out not only ‘what works’ for men in terms of weight management, but also ‘for which men, and under what circumstances’. Our pragmatic approach to this mixed methods evidence synthesis is informed by methods such as realist synthesis, thematic synthesis, framework synthesis, and analytical approaches developed from methods of inquiry such as grounded theory. Findings: We will present initial findings from the qualitative arm of the project. Conclusions: Our work will identify the existing evidence with which to develop guidance for the NHS onthe subject of men and obesity management. The individual reviews and integrated report will also provide guidance on whether further research is needed to develop better methods for engaging and retaining men in obesity interventions

Correspondence to General William Robertson Boggs, 1870s: January 21, 1875 - November 6, 1878

Boggs Papers, Box 1, Folder 2 Correspondence to General William Robertson Boggs, 1870s: January 21, 1875 - November 6, 1878https://digitalcommons.wofford.edu/littlejohnboggs/1001/thumbnail.jp

Systematic reviews of and integrated report on the quantitative, qualitative and economic evidence base for the management of obesity in men

<b>Background</b><p></p> Obesity increases the risk of many serious illnesses such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis. More men than women are overweight or obese in the UK but men are less likely to perceive their weight as a problem and less likely to engage with weight-loss services.<p></p> <b>Objective</b><p></p> The aim of this study was to systematically review evidence-based management strategies for treating obesity in men and investigate how to engage men in obesity services by integrating the quantitative, qualitative and health economic evidence base.<p></p> <b>Data sources</b><p></p> Electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and the NHS Economic Evaluation Database were searched from inception to January 2012, with a limited update search in July 2012. Subject-specific websites, reference lists and professional health-care and commercial organisations were also consulted.<p></p> <b>Review methods</b><p></p> Six systematic reviews were conducted to consider the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and qualitative evidence on interventions for treating obesity in men, and men in contrast to women, and the effectiveness of interventions to engage men in their weight reduction. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with follow-up data of at least 1 year, or any study design and length of follow-up for UK studies, were included. Qualitative and mixed-method studies linked to RCTs and non-randomised intervention studies, and UK-based, men-only qualitative studies not linked to interventions were included. One reviewer extracted data from the included studies and a second reviewer checked data for omissions or inaccuracies. Two reviewers carried out quality assessment. We undertook meta-analysis of quantitative data and a realist approach to integrating the qualitative and quantitative evidence synthesis.<p></p> <b>Results</b><p></p> From a total of 12,764 titles reviewed, 33 RCTs with 12 linked reports, 24 non-randomised reports, five economic evaluations with two linked reports, and 22 qualitative studies were included. Men were more likely than women to benefit if physical activity was part of a weight-loss programme. Reducing diets tended to produce more favourable weight loss than physical activity alone (mean weight change after 1 year from a reducing diet compared with an exercise programme -3.2 kg, 95% CI -4.8 kg to -1.6 kg). The type of reducing diet did not affect long-term weight loss. A reducing diet plus physical activity and behaviour change gave the most effective results. Low-fat reducing diets, some with meal replacements, combined with physical activity and behaviour change training gave the most effective long-term weight change in men [-5.2 kg (standard error 0.2 kg) after 4 years]. Such trials may prevent type 2 diabetes in men and improve erectile dysfunction. Although fewer men joined weight-loss programmes, once recruited they were less likely to drop out than women (difference 11%, 95% CI 8% to 14%). The perception of having a health problem (e.g. being defined as obese by a health professional), the impact of weight loss on health problems and desire to improve personal appearance without looking too thin were motivators for weight loss amongst men. The key components differ from those found for women, with men preferring more factual information on how to lose weight and more emphasis on physical activity programmes. Interventions delivered in social settings were preferred to those delivered in health-care settings. Group-based programmes showed benefits by facilitating support for men with similar health problems, and some individual tailoring of advice assisted weight loss in some studies. Generally, men preferred interventions that were individualised, fact-based and flexible, which used business-like language and which included simple to understand information. Preferences for men-only versus mixed-sex weight-loss group programmes were divided. In terms of context, programmes which were cited in a sporting context where participants have a strong sense of affiliation showed low drop out rates and high satisfaction. Although some men preferred weight-loss programmes delivered in an NHS context, the evidence comparing NHS and commercial programmes for men was unclear. The effect of family and friends on participants in weight-loss programmes was inconsistent in the evidence reviewed - benefits were shown in some cases, but the social role of food in maintaining relationships may also act as a barrier to weight loss. Evidence on the economics of managing obesity in men was limited and heterogeneous.<p></p> <b>Limitations</b><p></p> The main limitations were the limited quantity and quality of the evidence base and narrow outcome reporting, particularly for men from disadvantaged and minority groups. Few of the studies were undertaken in the UK.<p></p> <b>Conclusions</b><p></p> Weight reduction for men is best achieved and maintained with the combination of a reducing diet, physical activity advice or a physical activity programme, and behaviour change techniques. Tailoring interventions and settings for men may enhance effectiveness, though further research is needed to better understand the influence of context and content. Future studies should include cost-effectiveness analyses in the UK setting

Re: Sex-based subgroup differences in randomized controlled trials: empirical evidence from Cochrane meta-analyses.

This is an online-posted "rapid response" comment to the article published with DOI 10.1136/bmj.i5826The rapid response itself does not have a DOI, only the URL (https://www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i5826/rr

A qualitative evidence synthesis on the management of male obesity.

Objectives: To investigate what weight management interventions work for men, with which men, and under what circumstances. Design: Realist synthesis of qualitative studies. Data sources: Sensitive searches of 11 electronic databases from 1990 to 2012 supplemented by grey literature searches. Study selection: Studies published between 1990 and 2012 reporting qualitative research with obese men, or obese men in contrast to obese women and lifestyle or drug weight management were included. The studies included men aged 16 years or over, with no upper age limit, with a mean or median body mass index of 30 kg/m2 in all settings. Results: 22 studies were identified, including 5 qualitative studies linked to randomised controlled trials of weight maintenance interventions and 8 qualitative studies linked to non-randomised intervention studies, and 9 relevant UK-based qualitative studies not linked to any intervention. Health concerns and the perception that certain programmes had ‘worked’ for other men were the key factors that motivated men to engage with weight management programmes. Barriers to engagement and adherence with programmes included: men not problematising their weight until labelled ‘obese’; a lack of support for new food choices by friends and family, and reluctance to undertake extreme dieting. Retaining some autonomy over what is eaten; flexibility about treats and alcohol, and a focus on physical activity were attractive features of programmes. Group interventions, humour and social support facilitated attendance and adherence. Men were motivated to attend programmes in settings that were convenient, non-threatening and congruent with their masculine identities, but men were seldom involved in programme design. Conclusions: Men's perspectives and preferences within the wider context of family, work and pleasure should be sought when designing weight management services. Qualitative research is needed with men to inform all aspects of intervention design, including the setting, optimal recruitment processes and strategies to minimise attrition

Are men difficult to find? Identifying male-specific studies in MEDLINE and Embase.

Systematic reviews often investigate the effectiveness of interventions for one sex. However, identifying interventions with data presented according to the sex of study participants can be challenging due to suboptimal indexing in bibliographic databases and poor reporting in titles and abstracts. The purposes of this study were to develop a highly sensitive search filter to identify literature relevant to men's health and to assess the performance of a range of sex-specific search terms used individually and in various combinations

Sex can affect participation, engagement, and adherence in trials.

No abstract available