Association between body image dissatisfaction and body anthropometric indices among Chinese children and adolescents at different developmental stages

ObjectiveChildren at different developmental stages show different physical development and psychological cognitive characteristics and may pay different attention to body parts. The purpose of this study was to analyze the associations between body image dissatisfaction (BID) and body anthropometric indices (BAIs) among Chinese children and adolescents at different developmental stages.MethodsA total of 609 Chinese primary and secondary school students aged 8–15 years (329 boys and 280 girls) were selected using stratified cluster sampling. The students' body height, sitting height (SH), weight, chest circumference (CC), hip circumference (HC), waist circumference (WC), scapular skinfold thickness (SST), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), and abdominal skinfold thickness (AST) were measured. Boys' testicular volumes and first spermatorrhea and girls' breast measures and menarche were assessed using the Tanner stage standard. A body shape questionnaire (BSQ) was used to survey the subject's BID.ResultsIn boys with testicular volume < 4 ml, the hip-to-height ratio (HHR) was positively correlated with BSQ score (β = 8.17, P < 0.01). In boys with testicular volume ≥4 ml and nonfirst spermatorrhea, the HHR and SST were positively correlated with BSQ score (β = 2.51, P = 0.04; β = 4.98, P < 0.01). In boys with first spermatorrhea, weight was positively correlated with BSQ score (β = 10.30, P < 0.01). In girls with breast development < Tanner stage II, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was positively correlated with BSQ score (β = 5.12, P < 0.01); In girls with breast development ≥ Tanner stage II and nonmenarche, chest-to-sitting height ratio (CSHR) was positively correlated with BSQ score (β = 10.82, P < 0.01), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was negatively correlated with BSQ score (β = −3.61, P = 0.04). In girls with menarche, WHtR and sitting height-to-height ratio (SHHR) were positively correlated with BSQ score (β = 6.09, P < 0.01; β = 2.05, P = 0.02).ConclusionThe associations between body image dissatisfaction and anthropometric indices among Chinese children and adolescents at different developmental stages are different

Physical activity and eating behaviors patterns associated with high blood pressure among Chinese children and adolescents

Abstract Background Physical activity and eating behavior are associated with hypertension in children and adolescents. Revealing the associations between physical activity patterns, eating behavior patterns and high blood pressure (HBP) could help improve the problem of hypertension from the actual children’s physical activities and eating behaviors. Methods A total of 687 students aged 8–15 years were selected from two nine-year primary and secondary schools using stratified cluster random sampling method. The students’ body height, weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured, and their physical activity time and eating behaviors were surveyed by using CLASS questionnaire and self-made eating behavior questionnaire, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to extract moderate to vigorous physical activity factor (MVPAF), sedentary activity factor (SAF), healthy eating behavior factor (HEBF), unhealthy eating behavior factor (UHEBF). MVPAF ≥ SAF was defined as moderate to vigorous physical activity pattern (MVPAP), MVPAF < SAF was defined as sedentary activity pattern (SAP). HEBF ≥ UHEBF was defined as healthy eating behavior pattern (HEBP), while the opposite was defined as unhealthy eating behavior pattern (UHEBP). Lifestyles includes physical activity patterns and eating behavior patterns. Results The overall prevalence of hypertension was 5.8% (40/687), and was 5.69% (21/369) in boys and 5.97% (19/318) in girls, respectively. The MVPAF and UHEBF in boys were significantly higher than those in girls (P < 0.01), while the SAF in girls was significantly higher than that in boys (P < 0.05). The SAF was positively correlated with SBP in girls (β(SE) = 0.14 (0.50), P = 0.016), and was positively correlated with SBP (β(SE) = 0.21 (1.22), P = 0.000 and DBP (β(SE) = 0.14 (0.49), P = 0.006) in boys. The MVPAF was negatively correlated with DBP (β(SE)=-0.11 (0.40), P = 0.022) in boys. In boys, the SAP increased the risks of HBP (OR (95% CI):3.34 (1.30–8.63)) and high DBP (OR (95% CI):3.08 (1.02–9.34)) compared with MVPAP. Conclusion Compared with the boys with MVPAP, boys with SAP may increase the risks of HBP and high DBP. The SAF may be positively associated with SBP in boys and girls, while the MVPAF may be negatively associated with DBP in boys

Protein leakage in <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> cells exposed to α2,3-linked and α2,6-linked sialyllactuloses.

<p>Protein leakage in <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> cells exposed to α2,3-linked and α2,6-linked sialyllactuloses.</p

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of sialylated lactuloses and their inhibitory effects on <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

<div><p>Background</p><p>Sialylated glycoconjugates play important roles in physiological and pathological processes. However, available sialylated oligosaccharides source is limited which is a barrier to study their biological roles. This work reports an efficient approach to produce sialic acid-modified lactuloses and investigates their inhibitory effects on <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>).</p><p>Methods</p><p>A one-pot two-enzyme (OPTE) sialylation system was used to efficiently synthesize sialylated lactuloses. Silica gel flash chromatography column was employed to purify the sialylated products. The purity and identity of the product structures were confirmed with mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The inhibitory effect of sialylated lactuloses against <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> was evaluated by using microplate assay, fluorescence microscopy, DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) fluorescence staining and protein leakage quantification.</p><p>Results</p><p>Neu5Ac-containing sialylated lactuloses with either α2,3- or α2,6-linkages were efficiently synthesized via an efficient OPTE sialylation system using α-2,3-sialyltransferase or α-2,6-sialyltransferase, respectively. Neu5Ac-α2,3-lactulose and Neu5Ac-α2,6-lactulose significantly inhibited the growth of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>. Fluorescence microscopy and DAPI fluorescence staining indicated that the sialylated lactuloses might disrupt nucleic acid synthesis of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Neu5Ac-containing sialylated lactuloses had higher antibacterial activity against <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> than non-sialylated lactulose. The inhibitory effect of Neu5Ac-α2,3-lactulose was superior to that of Neu5Ac-α2,6-lactulose. The sialylated lactuloses might inhibit <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> by causing cell membrane leakage and disrupting nucleic acid synthesis.</p></div

Changes of fluorescence intensity of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> strains.

<p>a, b, c and d were the samples with different carbohydrates. a, control; b, lactulose; c, α2,3-linked sialyllactulose; d, α2,6-linked sialyllactulose.</p

Mass spectrum of purified Neu5Ac-α2,3-lactulose and Neu5Ac-α2,6-lactulose.

<p>Mass spectrum of purified Neu5Ac-α2,3-lactulose and Neu5Ac-α2,6-lactulose.</p

Changes of DNA content of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus with</i> α2,3-linked and α2,6-linked sialyllactuloses.

<p>Changes of DNA content of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus with</i> α2,3-linked and α2,6-linked sialyllactuloses.</p

The bacterial growing curves of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> in modified medium containing α2,3-linked and α2,6-linked sialyllactuloses.

<p>The control strain was not added sialyllactulose. The results are the mean values obtained from three separate experiments. Error bars represent the standard deviation.</p