[Fat oxidation and energy expenditure at different intensities of exercise during running and cycling in obese adolescent boys]

Running and cycling are two modalities of exercise commonly used to promote fat oxidation in weight loss programs for obese people. In order to design appropriate training programs, the objective of the present study was to compare fat oxidation and energy expenditure at different intensities of exercise during running and cycling in obese adolescent boys. Eleven healthy obese adolescent boys [mean age 13 +/- 1.2 years, mean weight 73.1 +/- 7.6 kg, and body mass index 27.5 +/- 2.5 kg/m2] voluntarily participated in this study. Subjects performed 2 incremental graded exercise tests on a cycle ergometer and a motorized treadmill. Heart rate, mean oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide generation during the last two minutes of each level of test were measured and respiratory exchange ratio was calculated. Energy expenditure and fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates were calculated at different intensity levels. At comparable and similar heart rates, the fat oxidation rate was significantly higher during running, compared to cycling over a wide range of intensities [p<0.05], except at intensities of 20w and 170w, as was the total energy expenditure, compared to cycling [266 +/- 43 vs237 +/- 39 kJ/min] [p<0.05]. Carbohydrate oxidation was, however, significantly higher during cycling compared to running, at intensities of 45w, 70w and 95w. It is concluded that for obese adolescents, in order to lose weight and reduce body fat mass [increased energy expenditure and promoted fat oxidation in a certain level of cardio-vascular responses], moderate intensity of running would be more effective than cycling

Waist circumference: a better index of fat location than WHR for predicting lipid profile in overweight/obese Iranian women

We carried out a clinical cross-sectional study on 728 overweight and obese women aged 20-60 years during July 2005-May 2006 in Sistan and Baluchestan, Islamic Republic of Iran. Body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC] showed significant correlation with total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. After adjustment for age and BMI, this was also true for WC with TC and TG. There was no such correlation between waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] and lipid profile. Hence, WC was a better anthropometric index of fat location than WHR to estimate lipid profile in overweight and obese adult women

Role of endoscopy in finding causes of chronic abdominal pain in children

In recent years, along with advancement in medical technology including endoscopic techniques have played an important role in the etiology of recurrent abdominal pain [RAP]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of upper endoscopy and gastrointestinal biopsy in the children with RAP. This cross sectional study took place in Zahedan [IRAN] in 2005- 2007. Chronic abdominal pain was defined as three episodes of pain occurring in a period of 3 consecutive months with a severity in routine functioning. After taking history and physical examination, patients underwent upper endoscopy. Sections of biopsy were evaluated by a pathologist. Informed consent was taken. Then, data were gathered and analyzed with SPSS. From 80 children in this study, 58 cases had gastritis [22 cases with HP gastroduodenitis], 13 cases had esoghagogastritis and 23 cases had chronic nonspecific gastritis. Celiac disease in 5 cases and normal results in 3 cases were found. The most remarkable symptom was night abdominal pain [52%].Upper endoscopy has an important role in finding etiologies in children with RAP

Incidence of minor anomalies versus normal variation in Iranian newborns

One thousand, one hundred and thirty four Iranian newborn infants were examined for 44 Physical features to identify which constitute minor anomalies in our population. Twenty four of the 44 Physical features occurred at a rate of 4% or less, and were hence designated minor anomalies, the commonest of these being simian crease [frequency 2.68%]. Of the study population, 13.1% had at least one minor anomaly while only 0.35% had three or more. Surprisingly, low set ears with a posterior slant was a common occurrence in our newborns