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Biomedical subjects

K Godfrey

Publications and source records attributed to K Godfrey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Weight gain in pregnancy, triceps skinfold thickness, and blood pressure in offspring.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether women who are poorly nourished in early pregnancy, as determined by triceps skinfold thickness, or who have poor pregnancy weight gain have offspring with higher blood pressure (BP). METHODS: We evaluated 296 11-year-old children born to women who had taken part in a study of nutrition in pregnancy. Women had been weighed at 18 and 28 weeks' gestation and had had their triceps skinfold thickness measured at 18 weeks. In our follow-up study, their children were weighed and had their BP recorded. Blood pressure was adjusted for weight, gender, ethnic group, cuff size, and time of measurement. RESULTS: The children's mean (standard deviation [SD]) systolic BP was 106 (12) mmHg and their mean (SD) diastolic BP was 62 (7) mmHg. Maternal triceps skinfold thickness at 18 weeks' gestation and maternal pregnancy weight gain between 18 and 28 weeks' gestation were weakly inversely related to the children's BP. However, among women with triceps skinfold thickness at 18 weeks below the group median (15 mm), reduced pregnancy weight gain was associated with significantly higher BP in the offspring; systolic pressure increased by 11.3 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2, 20.4) and diastolic pressure by 10.1 mmHg (95% CI 3.2, 17.1) for each kilogram-per-week decrease in pregnancy weight gain. CONCLUSION: In women who were poorly nourished in early pregnancy, reduced pregnancy weight gain was associated with higher BP in the 11-year-old offspring. We suggest that fetal adaptations to poor maternal nutrition lead to elevated BP in childhood but adequate maternal weight gain during pregnancy may protect against this.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1998

The determinants of iron status in early pregnancy.

In pregnancy, the additional demands for Fe are thought to be met principally through increased maternal dietary Fe absorption and by mobilization of maternal Fe stores. In a general population sample of 576 women we examined the maternal and dietary characteristics which influenced Fe stores (assessed by serum ferritin concentration) in early pregnancy. The effects of these characteristics on two measures of functional Fe status (mean cell volume and haemoglobin concentration) were also considered. Serum ferritin concentrations were lower in multiparous women (P < 0.0001) and in those with a lower BMI (P = 0.01), and rose with increasing alcohol intake (P < 0.0001). Ferritin concentrations fell with increasing Ca intake (P < 0.0001); the proportion of women with serum ferritin values < or = 12 micrograms/l rose from 14% of the women in the lowest quarter of Ca intake to 29% of the women in the highest quarter. Mean cell volume and haemoglobin concentration were not related to Ca intake in early pregnancy. Although Ca added to test-meals reduces Fe absorption, long-term Ca supplementation has not been shown to lower plasma ferritin concentration, suggesting that high habitual Ca intakes would be unlikely to influence Fe status in non-pregnant individuals. Our findings show that in early pregnancy there is an association between high dietary Ca intake and lower Fe stores. This effect of Ca on one aspect of Fe status may result from its influence on Fe bioavailability.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Disproportionate fetal growth and fingerprint patterns.

Fingerprint whorl patterns are formed during fetal life. In a group of 180 term infants, those with more fingerprint whorls tended to have a small abdominal circumference (P = 0.09) and high ratio of head to abdominal circumference (P = 0.008). These associations were independent of the relation between the whorl counts of the mothers and their infants. We also found an independent correlation between the babies' whorl count and the combination of increasing subscapular (P = 0.03) and decreasing triceps (P = 0.02) skinfold thicknesses of the mothers. Whorl patterns are associated with adult hypertension; maternal nutritional status may influence their common origin during fetal development.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Maternal and neonatal essential fatty acid status in phospholipids: an international comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the steady decline in the maternal essential fatty acids (EFA) status during pregnancy observed in Dutch pregnant women is a local or general phenomenon. DESIGN: The EFA status was measured during uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy of healthy women from the Netherlands, Hungary, Finland, England and Ecuador. In addition, the EFA status of their neonates were measured at birth. Fatty acid profiles were analyzed in phospholipids isolated from maternal plasma and from umbilical plasma and cord vessel walls. RESULTS: Considerable differences between these centers were observed in the maternal EFA levels and EFA status indexes. However, the change in the absolute as well as relative amounts of the EFAs followed a similar course in the five populations during pregnancy. The neonatal EFA profiles reflected the differences found in maternal plasma during pregnancy and shortly after delivery. Comparable correlations were found, particularly, between the neonatal and the maternal n-3 fatty acids in the participating groups. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the reduction in maternal EFA status during pregnancy is a general phenomenon, and is largely independent of differences in dietary habits and ethnic origin. Since the lowest values for certain maternal EFAs in a given country were significantly higher than the highest value of these EFAs throughout pregnancy in other countries, the functional implications of the pregnancy-associated reduction in the maternal EFA status for the fetal and neonatal development is not obvious and needs to be further elucidated.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Trends in postgraduate education in general dentistry.

The explosion of knowledge coupled with a more diversified society have led to a new set of demands on dentists. For more than 20 years, dental educators and the profession have been concerned about the pressure on the university to ensure that every new graduate is fully competent to enter a dental practice independently and successfully. This paper reviews some of the innovations which are being employed to attempt to deal with these concerns. There is no one formula that can answer these concerns. Postgraduate training in general dentistry is becoming more widespread and may need further investigation. The main focus of this paper is on trends in formal advanced postgraduate training in general dentistry.

Asia↗
PubMed1996

Maternal nutrition in early and late pregnancy in relation to placental and fetal growth.

OBJECTIVE: To assess how nutrient intakes of mothers in early and late pregnancy influence placental and fetal growth. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Princess Anne Maternity Hospital, Southampton. SUBJECTS: 538 mothers who delivered at term. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Placental and birth weights adjusted for the infant's sex and duration of gestation. RESULTS: Mothers who had high carbohydrate intakes in early pregnancy had babies with lower placental and birth weights. Low maternal intakes of dairy and meat protein in late pregnancy were also associated with lower placental and birth weights. Placental weight fell by 49 g(95% confidence interval 16 g to 81 g; P=0.002) for each log g increase in intake of carbohydrate in early pregnancy and by 1.4 g (0.4 g to 2.4 g; P=0.005) for each g decrease in intake of dairy protein in late pregnancy. Birth weight fell by 165 g (49 g to 282 g; P=0.005) for each log g increase in carbohydrate intake in early pregnancy and by 3.1 g (0.3 g to 6.0 g; P=0.03) for each g decrease in meat protein intake in late pregnancy. These associations were independent of the mother's height and body mass index and of strong relations between the mother's birth weight and the placental and birth weights of her offspring. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a high carbohydrate intake in early pregnancy suppresses placental growth, especially if combined with a low dairy protein intake in late pregnancy. Such an effect could have long term consequences for the offspring's risk of cardiovascular disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

A survey of the prevalence of biting by the Blandford fly during 1993.

To assess the frequency of bites by the Blandford fly, a postal survey was carried out at the end of the 1993 biting season. Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 1,500 people, selected from the lists of the two general practices in Blandford Forum, and satisfactory replies were obtained from 1203 (80%). Altogether, 194 (16%) of subjects reported one or more insect bites, during the 2-month season, that had led to skin swelling more than 2.5 cm across. Of these, more than a quarter had suffered associated systemic symptoms, in the form of fever or joint pain. One hundred and forty-nine had used medications for bites, 20 had consulted a doctor, and seven had taken time off work or school. Bites were more common in females (22%) than males (9%). This difference was due largely to a higher frequency of bites on the legs. Risk might be reduced substantially in women by wearing trousers, especially in those who spend a lot of time outdoors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of a food frequency questionnaire used to assess nutrient intakes in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare nutrient intakes assessed by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with those determined from food diaries. DESIGN: A 100-item FFQ was administered to women at 15 weeks of pregnancy. Food diaries were kept for a 4-day period at 16 weeks of pregnancy. SETTING: Community-based study of a general population sample of pregnant women booked for delivery at the Princess Anne Maternity Hospital, Southampton, UK. SUBJECTS: 603 women were recruited. Complete dietary data were provided by 569 women. RESULTS: Nutrient intakes determined by FFQ were greater than those from food diaries. Spearman rank correlation coefficients for macronutrients ranged from 0.27 (protein and starch) to 0.37 (fat). Stronger correlations for energy, fat and carbohydrate were seen in women who did not experience nausea, suggesting that the level of agreement observed between the FFQ and food diary in the whole group may be an underestimate of the true agreement. The percentage of individuals classified to the same quarter of the distribution of nutrient intake by the FFQ and diaries ranged from 30% (starch) to 41% (calcium), with between 4% (riboflavin) and 8% (energy, protein and vitamin E) classified to the opposite quarters. Using serum vitamin C as an independent biomarker of intake, the percentage of individuals classified to the correct quarter of intake was similar for the FFQ and diary (34% and 37%), with 8% (FFQ) and 6% (diary) misclassified to the opposite quarter. CONCLUSION: The FFQ appears to give meaningful estimates of nutrient intake in early pregnancy which can be used to rank individuals within the distribution.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

In vitro shearing force testing of the Australian zirconia-based ceramic Begg bracket.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the condition of bond failure of the Australian zirconia-based ceramic Begg bracket (Elipse bracket) in comparison with that of a small-base metal Begg bracket (Solitaire bracket) under various environmental conditions. Shear tests were performed and sites of bond failure were also recorded. The results showed that (1) mean shear force of the bonded Elipse ceramic bracket is significantly higher than the metal one (2) shearing force at failure in both ceramic and metal groups, is considered clinically acceptable, (3) thermocycling (1000 cycles) had no significant additional effect on shearing force with both groups, (4) failure sites of the bonding were more likely to be at enamel/resin interfaces, and (5) there was no instance of fracture of the ceramic bracket and the enamel. A particular distinction is noted concerning the test results that measured shearing force rather than shear strength. It is questioned whether some published reports referring to "shear strength" have adequately accounted for bond surface area estimation necessary for proper calculation of strength values.

Acrylic Resins↗