Associations of pre-pregnancy obesity with adverse pregnancy outcomes and the optimal gestational weight gain in Japanese women.

OBJECTIVES: The authors determined associations of maternal pre-pregnancy obesity with adverse pregnancy outcomes and evaluated how gestational weight gain affects risks for such outcomes in Japanese obese pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among women who delivered at the Perinatal Center for Maternity and Neonatal, Yokohama City University Medical Center, between January 2001 and December 2012, the authors ascertained adverse pregnancy outcome incidences in 207 pre-pregnancy obese (body mass index [BMI] = 30 kg/m², obese group), 661 pre-pregnancy overweight (BMI = 25-29.9 kg/m², overweight group), and 6,801 pre-pregnancy normal weight (BMI= 18.5-24.9 kg/m², normal group) women. Subjects were stratified by weekly weight gain during the second/third trimesters to investigate associations between gestational weight gain and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Optimal weight gain for obese pregnant women was also examined. RESULTS: In the obese and overweight groups, incidences of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), large for gestational age (LGA), preterm birth, preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM), and spontaneous preterm birth were significantly higher than in the normal group. Incidences of adverse pregnancy outcomes were ap- parently higher in the obese than in the overweight group. In the latter, the incidence of large for gestational age was significantly higher in women with weight gains of 0.5 kg/week, whereas no difference in pregnancy outcomes was observed in the obese group regardless of gestational weight gain. CONCLUSION: In obese women, incidences of adverse pregnancy outcomes were higher, and pregnancy out- comes were difficult to improve with gestational weight control. Thus, it.is important to reach an optimal weight before pregnancy.

Effects of photobiomodulation on the fatigue level in elderly women: an isokinetic dynamometry evaluation.

Aging is responsible by a series of morphological and functional modifications that lead to a decline of muscle function, particularly in females. Muscle tissue in elderly people is more susceptible to fatigue and, consequently, to an increased inability to maintain strength and motor control. In this context, therapeutic approaches able of attenuating muscle fatigue have been investigated. Among these, the photobiomodulation demonstrate positive results to interacts with biological tissues, promoting the increase in cell energy production. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of photobiomodulation (808 nm, 250 J/cm(2), 100 mW, 7 J each point) in the fatigue level and muscle performance in elderly women. Thirty subjects entered a crossover randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Photobiomodulation was delivered on the rectus femoris muscle of the dominant limb immediately before the fatigue protocol. In both sessions, peripheral muscle fatigue was analyzed by surface electromyography (EMG) and blood lactate analysis. Muscle performance was evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer. The results showed that photobiomodulation was able of reducing muscle fatigue by a significant increase of electromyographic fatigue index (EFI) (p = 0.047) and decreasing significantly lactate concentration 6 min after the performance of the fatigue protocol (p = 0. 0006) compared the placebo laser session. However, the photobiomodulation was not able of increasing muscle performance measured by the isokinetic dynamometer. Thus, it can be conclude that the photobiomodulation was effective in reducing fatigue levels. However, no effects of photobiomodulation on muscle performance was observed.

Resveratrol in raw and baked blueberries and bilberries.

Resveratrol in the fruits of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), the lowbush "wild" blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton), the rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade), and the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) were measured using a new assay based on high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The LC-MS/MS assay provided lower limits of detection than previous methods for resveratrol measurement, 90 fmol of trans-resveratrol injected on-column, and a linear standard curve spanning >3 orders of magnitude. The recoveries of resveratrol from blueberries spiked with 1.8, 3.6, or 36 ng/g were 91.5 +/- 4.5, 95.6 +/- 6.5, and 88.0 +/- 3.6%, respectively. trans-Resveratrol but not cis-resveratrol was detected in both blueberry and bilberry samples. The highest levels of trans-resvertatrol in these specimens were 140.0 +/- 29.9 pmol/g in highbush blueberries from Michigan and 71.0 +/- 15.0 pmol/g in bilberries from Poland. However, considerable regional variation was observed; highbush blueberries from British Columbia contained no detectable resveratrol. Because blueberries and bilberries are often consumed after cooking, the effect of baking on resveratrol content was investigated. After 18 min of heating at 190 degrees C, between 17 and 46% of the resveratrol had degraded in the various Vaccinium species. Therefore, the resveratrol content of baked or heat-processed blueberries or bilberries should be expected to be lower than in the raw fruit. Although blueberries and bilberries were found to contain resveratrol, the level of this chemoprotective compound in these fruits was <10% that reported for grapes. Furthermore, cooking or heat processing of these berries will contribute to the degradation of resveratrol.

Effects of moisture content, hybrid variety, kernel size, and microwave wattage on the expansion volume of microwave popcorn.

This study investigated several independent variables affecting the expansion volume of microwave popcorn; (a) different hybrids were used, (b) hybrids were popped at different moisture contents, (c) microwave ovens with various wattages were employed, and (d) kernels were separated by size. The greatest expansion volume was achieved with Hunt-Wesson 214 at 11% moisture. Overall, the large-capacity bag and the 1000-watt microwave oven produced the greatest expansion volume. Medium-sized kernels produced the greatest expansion volume.

College students' attitudes, practices, and knowledge of food safety.

A survey instrument was developed to assess attitudes, practices, and knowledge of food safety of college students in three U.S. geographic locations. Eight hundred twenty-four students in both food-related (one-third of sample) and nonfood-related disciplines completed the questionnaire during classroom periods. Data were analyzed to obtain total attitude, practice, and safety scores, with emphasis given to analyzing differences among disciplines and demographic characteristics. Mean scores were given for each of the survey items, and results from open-ended questions were discussed. Dietetic, food science, nutrition, and health majors had significantly (< or = 0.05) higher attitude scores than students majoring in other disciplines. No differences were found among disciplines for the practice scores, which ranged from 74 to 79% of the total possible practice score. Students enrolled in dietetics, arts and science (physical sciences), and veterinary medicine had significantly (< or = 0.05) higher knowledge scores, although the highest mean score (for dietetics) was only 74% of the total possible score. Women who had enrolled in a college course that included food safety information had significantly (< or = 0.05) higher attitude and practice scores. Such course enrollment led to both genders having significantly (< or = 0.05) higher knowledge scores than those without this opportunity. Implications were given for using these data to encourage college professors in food-related disciplines to become involved with the education of all future consumers, especially as the prevalence of food safety controversies is likely to increase as the food supply changes and technology becomes more sophisticated.

Nutrition knowledge among adolescent high school female athletes.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an original sports nutrition education program in changing the nutrition behavior of the female high school varsity football teams of the Baseline League of Southern California. A total of 72 subjects from eight teams were randomly divided into two groups, control and experimental. Only the experimental group received nutrition education. Dietary habits of the athletes were studied through a pre- and post- 24-hour recall. A comparison of pretest scores of both groups showed no significant difference in level of nutrition knowledge. The posttest scores obtained after nutrition education showed a significant difference in nutrition knowledge for the experimental group. However, there was no significant improvement in dietary intake and food choices due to the limited duration of the study.

Effects of debittering on grapefruit juice acceptance.

This study was conducted to assess the acceptance of grapefruit juice which has undergone a debittering process. The sensory effect of debittering and the sensory attributes of sourness, sweetness, bitterness, and aftertaste were appraised, and the correlation between chemical and sensory analyses of the debittered juice were identified. The effect of added grapefruit flavor on perception of sweetness and sourness was statistically significant. Both the level of bitterness and storage duration of grapefruit were shown to influence the way judges perceived bitterness and sweetness. Storage study showed no difference in aftertaste, which may increase consumers buying interest in debittered juice with a high level of bitterness (450 ppm).

Irradiated versus fumigated spices in sausage.

The efficacy of gamma radiation and ethylene oxide fumigation as decontaminating treatments for spices used in sausages was compared. Microbial loads of sausages containing irradiated, fumigated or non-treated spices were examined over three intervals of time. No significant differences between microbial loads of Mexican sausages containing irradiated spices (10 kGy) verses ethylene oxide-treated spices were found. Mexican sausages containing treated spices had significantly lower yeast, mould and spore counts than control sausages. After 8 weeks of storage, only the microbial loads of control sausages suggested spoilage. No discernable differences in treatment efficacy were noted with respect to yeast, mould and spore counts in Italian sausages.

Clinical parameters and dietary intake of midwestern adolescent females.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between assessed clinical parameters and dietary intake of adolescent females in the midwest of the United States. A total of 60 subjects participated in the study over a period of four months. Several laboratory tests along with 24-hour dietary recall were statistically analyzed. Results showed that one third of the outpatient group had serum albumin below normal range and were of marginal health status. Also, several parameters (wt., MAC, TSF, MAMA) correlated with anthoropometric measurements. Other factors: Hgb, Hct, and TLC correlated with protein intake.

Correlates of modified Stroop tasks, reading ability, and mental ability among college students.

13 men and 13 women in college viewed 40 modified Stroop tasks consisting of line drawings with embedded words and nonwords. Scores on vocabulary, reading comprehension, and a mental abilities measure were correlated with percent errors on the modified Stroop tasks. Significant correlations (.34 to .70) were found.

Color preference and food choice among children.

The effects of color on children's food choices were investigated. Subjects were 120 children who were equally distributed among each of the combinations of age (5 vs. 9 years old), sex (male vs. female), food type (3 types of candies), and color (red, green, yellow, and orange) in a counterbalanced, factorial, analysis-of-variance design with repeated measures on subjects. A significant main effect for color indicated that children preferred foods that were red, green, orange, and yellow, in that order. Interpretation of this main effect was not interfered with by main effects or interaction terms involving age, sex, or food type, which served as alternative rival hypotheses.

Taste changes during pregnancy.

The ability of pregnant women to discriminate among different concentrations of salt and sucrose solutions, and their preference for the solutions, were assessed to determine if changes in the sense of taste occur during pregnancy. Results of tests with salt solutions showed that pregnant women were significantly less able to correctly identify concentration differences (p less than 0.005), and preferred significantly stronger solutions (p = 0.004) than did nonpregnant women. The data suggest that a physiological mechanism for increasing salt intake may develop during pregnancy.

Interference effects in the picture-word stroop task.

Line drawings of common objects with an embedded three-or four-letter word or scrambled word were presented either to the right or left visual field. Subjects were to name the line drawing of a common object as fast and as accurately as possible. Reaction times and response accuracy were recorded and analyzed. Percent errors were significantly higher when a line drawing with a word was presented in the right visual field than in the left visual field. Sex of subject was not significant. This finding is analogous to results found when the color-word Stroop task is used.