Influence of Parenting Style on Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Time.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the influence of parenting style on body mass index (BMI) percentile, physical activity (PA), and sedentary time (ST) in children. Accelerometers were used to assess PA and ST in 152 fifth-grade children. Parenting style was assessed by the child participants' responses to modified questions from the Parenting Style Inventory II and dichotomized as authoritative or non-authoritative. Multiple linear regression analyses were utilized to identify significant predictors of outcomes of interest. Parenting style did not predict ST or any intensity of PA; however, BMI percentile and gender were significant predictors of moderate-intensity PA, vigorous-intensity PA, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (P < .01). BMI percentile was predicted to be lower in females with authoritative mothers (P < .01). While authoritative and non-authoritative parenting style did not predict objectively measured PA or ST in early adolescents, authoritative parenting style did predict BMI percentile in female participants.

Unusual presentation of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension typically presents with holocephalic headache associated with nausea, vomiting and bilateral papilledema. Involvement of the sixth cranial nerve is relatively common. The involvement of other cranial nerves, however, is rare in this disorder. We describe a patient with idiopathic intracranial hypertension who presented with episodic unilateral retro-orbital pain and multiple cranial nerve abnormalities without papilledema. Imaging studies excluded alternate diagnoses, and the immediate resolution of symptoms after lumbar puncture confirmed that these symptoms were due to intracranial hypertension. Atypical presentations of such a disabling yet treatable disorder is very important to recognise and address.

Power and sensitivity of alternative fit indices in tests of measurement invariance.

Confirmatory factor analytic tests of measurement invariance (MI) based on the chi-square statistic are known to be highly sensitive to sample size. For this reason, G. W. Cheung and R. B. Rensvold (2002) recommended using alternative fit indices (AFIs) in MI investigations. In this article, the authors investigated the performance of AFIs with simulated data known to not be invariant. The results indicate that AFIs are much less sensitive to sample size and are more sensitive to a lack of invariance than chi-square-based tests of MI. The authors suggest reporting differences in comparative fit index (CFI) and R. P. McDonald's (1989) noncentrality index (NCI) to evaluate whether MI exists. Although a general value of change in CFI (.002) seemed to perform well in the analyses, condition specific change in McDonald's NCI values exhibited better performance than a single change in McDonald's NCI value. Tables of these values are provided as are recommendations for best practices in MI testing.

Amino acids injure mesangial cells by advanced glycation end products, oxidative stress, and protein kinase C.

BACKGROUND: In diabetes, high intake of dietary protein exacerbates responses associated with kidney damage. Increased levels of amino acids could injure cells by providing free amino groups for glycation reactions leading to advanced glycation end products (AGEs). METHODS: Rat mesangial cells were cultured with increased amino acids designed to resemble protein feeding, high glucose (30.5 mmol/L), and, the combination, amino acids/high glucose. AGEs, reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein kinase C (PKC) activity and production, and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1,2 activity were measured. Inhibitors were used to determine roles of these processes in fibrosis and/or AGE formation. RESULTS: AGE immunostaining increased when cells were cultured in amino acids and was comparable to that observed with high glucose. In amino acids/high glucose, AGE immunostaining appeared even greater. Amino acids, high glucose, and amino acids/high glucose induced ROS production. Aminoguanidine and vitamin E prevented AGE accumulation and induction of protein and mRNA for fibrosis markers [transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), fibronectin, and collagen IV]. PKC and ERK 1,2 activity increased with amino acids, high glucose, and amino acids/high glucose. PKC-beta inhibition prevented ERK 1,2 activation and fibrosis induction. ERK 1,2 inhibition also blocked the fibrosis response. CONCLUSION: A profibrotic injury response occurred in mesangial cells exposed to amino acids, with or without high glucose, by formation of AGE, oxidative stress, and activation of the PKC-beta and MAP kinase-ERK 1,2 signal pathway. These observations provide new insight into cellular mechanisms of kidney damage produced by excess dietary protein, particularly in diabetes.

Cultivation and characterization of coronary microvascular endothelial cells: a novel porcine model using micropigs.

Coronary microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) play an important role in many physiological processes. Porcine CMECs from large breed pigs have been isolated and successfully cultured. However, because micropigs offer research advantages over large breed pigs, micropig CMEC (MPCMEC) cultures may be useful as an alternative in vitro porcine model for cardiovascular studies. We isolated MPCMECs from six Panepinto micropigs using a simplified technique and developed a system for their successful culture. MPCMECs were isolated by collagenase digestion of left ventricular samples obtained using sterile techniques. Primary isolates of MPCMECs grew steadily in complete DMEM supplemented with 20% FBS, 4 mM MgSO(4), and 500 microM dibutyryl cAMP and reached confluence in 7-10 days. Endothelial origin was demonstrated by rapid (4-h) uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein, immunostaining for the presence of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1, CD31), von Willebrand factor (vWf)-related antigen, vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and by positive staining using two fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled endothelial-specific lectins, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1. MPCMECs also exhibited immunostaining for alpha-smooth muscle actin. MPCMECs were successfully subcultured in the absence of dibutyryl cAMP and continued to express PECAM-1 and vWf, but not eNOS, to passage six. The typical morphology of subconfluent MPCMECs consisted of elongated cells that grew in a swirling, herringbone pattern.

Student critical thinking is enhanced by developing exercise prescriptions using online learning modules.

Developing the ability to think critically is an important element of undergraduate physiology education and is influenced by many factors, including the learning environment, the social context of the learning environment, and the instructor's approach to teaching. In this work, we describe online learning modules (OLM) that were designed to promote higher-order critical thinking skills in students enrolled in an upper-division Exercise Testing and Prescription course. The OLM provided students with an online learning environment in which to review clinical physiological details from authentic patient case data and develop exercise prescriptions (ExRx), by requiring students to critically analyze authentic patient case histories and collaborate on computer-based learning activities. On the basis of assessment data, we conclude that the OLM helped exercise science students develop the critical thinking skills necessary for development of effective exercise prescriptions by requiring them to think critically while concurrently reinforcing lecture-presented exercise science content.