Breast volume measurements were made on 47 adult subjects using a casting method. After drying, fast-setting plaster casts were filled with sand of known density to a level approximating the curvature of the chest wall. The reliability of both sand filling and casting proved to be high, r = 0.97, and r = 0.99, respectively. The total variable error was 10.2%. The effects of position (standing versus lying) was investigated in a separate sample of 15 subjects. No significant difference (P less than 0.05) was found between methods. The relationship between breast volume, girths, skinfolds, and body density was reported to be low.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fat patterning of adolescents.

Fat patterning of 110 adolescent males and 80 adolescent females was determined by principal components analysis of five skinfolds (triceps, subscaplular, iliac, abdominal and thigh). Densiometrically determined body fatness was employed to create two groups: obese (greater than 30% fat) and non-obese (less than 30% fat). Three fat patterning components emerged: trunk-extremity, upper-lower trunk and medial-lateral abdomen. The first two components accounted for 80% of the variance in fat distribution. The obese males and females demonstrate increased trunk fat patterning compared to the non-obese. Furthermore, obese males deposit increased trunk fat in the lower trunk while obese females deposit fat in the upper trunk.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of aerobic exercise on self-esteem and depressive and anxiety symptoms among breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of 10 weeks of aerobic exercise on depressive and anxiety symptoms and self-esteem of breast cancer survivors. DESIGN: Experimental, crossover. SETTING: Midwestern university town. SAMPLE: Twenty-four breast cancer survivors (mean time following surgery 41.8 months; ranging from 1 to 99 months) recruited via mail and cancer support groups. The mean age of the sample was 48.9 years. METHODS: Subjects were assigned randomly into exercise (EX), exercise-plus-behavior modification (EX + BM), and control groups. EX and EX + BM groups exercised aerobically four days/week at > or = 60% of age-predicted maximum heart rate for 10 weeks. Data were collected pretest, post-test, and crossover (12 weeks following post-test). Because pretest or post-test scores showed no statistical differences between EX and EX + BM groups, data were combined to form one group. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Aerobic exercise (four days/ week; 30-40 minutes/session), depression, (Beck Depression inventory), anxiety (Speilberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory). FINDINGS: Pre- to post-test analyses revealed that women who exercised had significantly less depression and state and trait anxiety over time compared to controls. After the crossover, the control group demonstrated comparable improvements in both depressive and state anxiety scores. Self-esteem did not change significantly. Subjects who received exercise recommendations from their physicians exercised significantly more than subjects who received no recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: Mild to moderate aerobic exercise may be of therapeutic value to breast cancer survivors with respect to depressive and anxiety symptoms but not to self-esteem. A physician's recommendation to exercise appears to be an important factor in a patient's exercise adherence. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: To Improve depressive and anxiety symptoms following breast cancer surgery, healthcare professionals should consider recommending mild to moderate exercise.

Adult↗