Placental transfer of fatty acids.
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Adipose Tissue↗
Biomedical subjects
D Hull
Publications and source records attributed to D Hull.
The effect of overfeeding newborn rabbits on the rate of skeletal maturation, as determined using a radiographic technique.
Newborn rabbits were overfed by encouraging them to suck from two lactating does. These double-fed rabbits were compared with single-fed litter-mate controls. A standard set of fore- and hind-foot radiographs was obtained by taking daily radiographs from a normal litter and selecting the most representative film to act as a standard for that day. Bone age was assessed in single- and double-fed rabbits at ages 7, 14, and 21 d by comparing radiographs taken at these ages with the standard films. Double-feeding was associated with an increase in body-weight and an increase in bone age, although the former was increased to a much greater extent than the latter. The advance in bone age was proportional to an increase in bone length. There is little information available on overnutrition and skeletal maturation in man, but what information is available suggests that height and skeletal maturation are increased in parallel. The present study with rabbits supports the concept that overnutrition increases growth rate but does not disturb the relation between bone growth and bone age. Bone age can be assessed very sensitively in rabbits using the previously-described technique. It would therefore be a valuable technique for studying the endocrinology of skeletal maturation.
Animals↗
The clinical consequences of an industrial aerosol plant explosion.
The factors relating to the clinical outcome of an industrial aerosol plant explosion are reviewed. Eighteen of 24 workers inside the plant required hospitalization and five died. Proximity to the blast was associated with extensive injuries unless workers were shielded by physical barriers or partitions. Burn severity and mortality were increased in those wearing synthetic garments compared to their counterparts wearing fiber clothing. Facial burns occurred in all unprotected workers. Forearm and hand burns in 11 patients required decompressive escharotomies. Topical treatment with silver sulfadiazine was associated with more significant leukopenia and neutropenia than treatment with silver nitrate. We conclude that industrial design should include safeguards which isolate workers from flammable materials, including isolation of explosive materials from working areas, alarm systems to detect leakage of flammable agents, protective barriers and shields, and the regulation and institution of flame and flash-resistant clothing.
Accidents, Occupational↗
The transfer of free fatty acids across the human placenta.
Thirty-three matched maternal venous and umbilical cord vein and artery plasma samples were obtained at elective caesarean section and the concentrations of the individual free fatty acids determined. The maternal levels were 1.009 (SEM 0.043) and the umbilical vein-artery difference was 0.036 (SEM 0.011) mmol/l. There was a significant correlation between the mean concentration in maternal venous blood and the vein-artery difference for myristic, palmitic, stearic, linoleic and docosahexaenoic acids but not for oleic acid. When arachidonic acid concentration in the fetus was high, then the vein-artery difference was negative (flow to the placenta), when it was low, the difference was positive (flow to the fetus). Thus whilst there appears in general to be a flow of fatty acid to the fetus dependent on maternal free fatty acid concentrations, the transfer of arachidonic acid is largely determined by other factors. The reasons why oleic acid does not behave like the other fatty acids is not clear.
Adolescent↗
The effect in newborn rabbits of overfeeding on fat deposition, gross energetic efficiency, and metabolic rate.
Newborn rabbits were overfed by encouraging them to suckle from two lactating does. Rabbits fed in this way (double fed) were compared with littermate controls (single fed) at age 7, 14, and 21 days. The double-fed rabbits gained weight more rapidly and at each age contained a higher percentage of fat than their single-fed counterparts. During the 1st wk the double fed rabbits stored some of their extra fat in the cervical and interscapular adipose lobes. Double-fed rabbits utilized their feeds more efficiently than single fed rabbits in that they gained more weight per unit milk intake and their gross energetic efficiency was 10-20% higher. In a second series of experiments oxygen consumption rate was measured in single- and double-fed rabbits at ages 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The relation between oxygen consumption and body weight were similar. We conclude that rabbits respond to over-feeding with an increased rate of weight gain associated with extra fat deposition, and this is associated with increased energy efficiency.
Adipose Tissue↗
Thermal control in the neonatal unit.
The term infant is ready for independent life and responds appropriately in response to changes in environmental conditions by physiological adjustments and giving signals or showing signs to his attendants. Preterms above 32 weeks gestation have a weaker but similar capacity. Infants below 28 weeks gestation have very limited responses and benefit from a strict control of environmental conditions.
Body Temperature Regulation↗
Small bowel exclusion from the pelvis by a polyglycolic acid mesh sling.
Radiation enteritis is seen in patients receiving radiation therapy for various pelvic malignancies. Attempts to prevent this have included various surgical as well as nutritional approaches with little success. The use of a polyglycolic acid mesh sling sewn above the pelvic inlet has prevented small bowel descent into the true pelvis in rats and in humans. The technique has been successful in both with no attendant morbidity during an 11-month follow up. Several patients have received additional doses of radiation therapy that would not have been given if the small bowel were not removed from the area to be irradiated.
Animals↗
The calorie intake and weight gain of low birth weight infants fed on fresh breast milk or a special formula milk.
The calorie intake and weight gain of 24 low birth weight (LBW) infants, less than 33 weeks gestation and less than 1500 g birth weight, was studied prospectively. Fourteen infants were fed on a commercially available LBW formula milk and ten were fed on their own mother's fresh unpasteurised expressed breast milk (EBM). The difference between the two feeding groups in the intake of milk and calories was not significant, but from the third week onwards those fed on the LBW formula gained weight faster. The mean (+/- SEM) weight increments for weeks 3-6 (inclusive) for LBW formula and EBM fed infants was 189.3 (+/- 7.9) and 139.6 (+/- 11.1) g/wk respectively (P less than 0.001). The LBW formula was well tolerated and is a suitable feed for LBW infants. However some babies thrived well on fresh EBM and so we are continuing to encourage mothers who wish, to breast feed their own preterm infants. When such infants fail to thrive it is appropriate to supplement with a LBW formula.
Blood↗
Glutaric aciduria type II: biochemical investigation and treatment of a child diagnosed prenatally.
Two sibs with the acute neonatal form of glutaric aciduria type II (deficient in vivo activity of multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenases) are described. In the second case diagnosis was made prenatally on the basis of reduced oxidation of palmitate by cultured amniotic fluid cells. With prompt intervention in the neonatal period and a carefully controlled diet later, this second progressed well up to 4 months of age but died suddenly of cardiac failure, probably attributable to accumulation of fat. Neither patient showed any congenital morphological abnormality. Cultured fibroblasts from the second case showed a marked defect in the oxidation of a range of substrates requiring acyl-CoA dehydrogenases for their catabolism, but residual activity for some substrates was quite high. Large quantities of sarcosine were excreted in urine, again suggesting that the mutation leaves some residual dehydrogenation activity. Butyryl-, octanoyl- and palmitoyl-CoA dehydrogenases were present in essentially normal quantities in postmortem liver.
Adipates↗
The effect of over-feeding newborn rabbits on somatic and visceral growth, body composition and long-term growth potential.
Newborn rabbits were over-fed by encouraging them to suck from two lactating does. These double-fed animals were compared with single-fed litter-mate controls. Single- and double-fed rabbits were compared with respect to body-weight, bone length and weights of heart, kidney, lung, liver, spleen, stomach, brain and adipose lobes at ages 7, 14 and 21 d and at 25 weeks. Body composition with respect to fat, protein and water was also analysed in animals killed during the first month of life. Double feeding had a profound effect on body-weight, such that by 21 d of age these animals weighed 65% more than controls. Longitudinal growth was also increased, but to a lesser extent. Organ weights were largely determined by body-weight with the exception of the brain which was unaffected by double feeding and the heart and adipose lobes which were represented to excess. Body composition studies demonstrated a marked increase in body fat and a decrease in body water as a percentage of body-weight in the double-fed. When mature, double-fed rabbits weighed a little more than controls and had accumulated significantly more fat. No other difference between them was demonstrated. Other experiments on rats, mice and pigs, along with these experiments on rabbits, suggest that young mammals respond to over-feeding with a limited increase in real growth associated with excess deposition of adipose tissue. Studies on infants of diabetic mothers have demonstrated that the human fetus responds to over-nutrition in a very similar way. Therefore we should be cautious about over-feeding human infants, especially premature ones, as it seems unlikely that excessive deposition of fat will be beneficial.
Adipose Tissue↗
The development of cold-induced thermogenesis and the structure of brown adipocyte mitochondria in genetically-obese (ob/ob) mice.
The onset of cold-induced thermogenesis was studied in a strain of mice which produced among their offspring genetically-obese (ob/ob) individuals. A thermogenic response was present in a majority by day 5 after birth. The thermogenic response to cold was measured on days 5, 10 or 15 after birth, and the animals reared and the onset of obesity noted. The correlation between the subsequent development of obesity and a poor thermogenic response in early life was low. A poor thermogenic response at day 15 was associated with the presence in brown adipocytes of mitochondria with disordered internal structures. At day 42 both non-obese and obviously-obese mice showed a similar thermogenic response to moderate cold exposure. It would seem that in this strain of mice disordered internal mitochondrial structure in brown adipose tissue is associated with a poor thermogenic response to cold, but not invariably with the subsequent onset of obesity.
Adipose Tissue, Brown↗
Transfer of fatty acid across the cat placenta.
The transfer of fatty acids across the placenta was investigated in six anaesthetised pregnant cats at 60 days gestation (term 64-66 days). 1-14C palmitic acid bound to albumin was infused for 20 min and blood samples taken from a maternal artery and the umbilical vessels of the fetuses as they were delivered serially by Caesarean section either during and immediately after the infusion. Fetal blood and organs were analysed with respect to fatty acid content and presence of labelled fatty acid. The maternal and fetal plasma free fatty acid concentrations were 0.32 +/- 0.02 and 0.18 +/- 0.02 mmol/L (mean +/- SE) respectively. There was no significant umbilical v-a difference and no correlation between maternal and fetal concentrations. The specific activity of labelled palmitic acid in the fetal circulation was less than 1% of that in the maternal circulation but there was a very small but significant umbilical v-a difference during the infusion. The percentage composition of arachidonic acid in maternal plasma free fatty acid was 4.0%; in fetal plasma free fatty acid 5.8%; in fetal plasma triacylglycerol 1.9%; in fetal adipose tissue triacylglycerol 0.6%, and in fetal brain total fatty acids 12.9%. It is concluded that in the cat fatty acids do not pass freely from the maternal free fatty acid to the fetal free fatty acid compartment. It is suggested that as arachidonic acid forms a higher fraction of fetal than of maternal plasma free fatty acid and as the cat tissues are unable to convert linoleic to arachidonic acid, the possibility that fetal arachidonic acid is derived from maternal plasma phospholipids must be considered.
Adipose Tissue, Brown↗
A career in British paediatrics.
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Career Mobility↗
Incubation of very immature infants.
The range of thermal control and the thermoneutral range of preterm infants under 30 weeks' gestation was calculated by extrapolation of data from studies on more mature infants. Even assuming some thermoregulatory capacity, the range of control is less than 3 degrees C, the thermoneutral range is less than 0.5 degrees C, and both are greatly influenced by the rate of transepidermal water loss. Measurements of metabolic rate and effective thermal environment made on 6 infants under 30 weeks' gestation in the first week of life showed that the very preterm infant exerts little thermoregulatory control and that variations in transepidermal water loss are a major factor determining the appropriate thermal environment.
Birth Weight↗
Effect of maternal diet during late pregnancy on fetal lipid stores in rabbits.
Pregnant rabbits were fed on a standard laboratory diet enriched with either 5-6% coconut oil or 6-7% corn oil for the last three or last six days of pregnancy. Control rabbits were maintained on the standard laboratory diet. Maternal and newborn plasma concentrations of free fatty acid, triacylglycerol and phospholipid and the profile of their fatty acids were measured. The fatty acid composition of newborn brown adipose tissue, white adipose tissue and liver was analysed. Raised levels of lauric and myristic acids in does on the coconut oil enriched diet and of linoleic acid in does on the corn oil enriched diet were found in maternal and newborn plasma free fatty acids and triacylglycerols when compared to control rabbits. The proportion of lauric and myristic acids found in the tissues of newborn from does on the coconut oil enriched diet and the proportion of linoleic acid found in the tissues of newborn from does on the corn oil enriched diet were substantially increased when compared to control newborn. Newborn adipose stores reflected the change in maternal dietary fatty acid composition when the doe had been fed an oil enriched diet for only three days favouring the view that maternal triacylglycerol could be a major source of fetal lipids.
Adipose Tissue↗
Unusual injury? Recent injury in normal children and children with suspected non-accidental injury.
Four hundred normal children aged between 2 weeks and 11 years were examined to determine the prevalence and site of recent injury of any type. There was evidence of injury in 37% with a steady increase in prevalence to 60% by the end of the third year of life. Bruising of the hands and feet and of the lower legs was the most frequent type of injury. Head and facial injuries were most common between 18 months and 3 years (17% of children) but were rare at other ages. Injury to the lumbar region was unusual before 5 years but was present in 14% of children of school age. In 84 children of similar age where non-accidental injury was proved or suspected a different pattern of injury was present. Sixty per cent had injuries to the head and face; this increase in prevalence was seen at all ages. These children also had more frequent injuries in the lumbar region, particularly before the age of 5 years.
Age Factors↗
Energy intake and weight gain of very low birthweight babies fed raw expressed breast milk.
The energy intake and weight gain of low birthweight infants (under 1500 g) fed expressed breast milk were measured. Between the second and fourth weeks of life the mean energy intake was 577 kJ (138 kcals)/kg/day and the mean weekly increase in weight 119 g/week. Feeding energy-rich hind milk to two babies increased their energy intake but had little effect on their rate of weight gain. There appeared to be no correlation between energy intake and weight gain, probably owing to variation in the absorption of nutrients from expressed breast milk. This study forms a basis for a comparison of weight gain in babies fed alternative regimens of artificial milks.
Aging↗