Deformation of the Russian constitutional economic model: assessment and response options

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether metformin or vitamin E treatment for six months is effective in reducing body weight, blood pressure, and also ameliorating insulin resistance, adiponectin, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in obese adolescents with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: Sixty-seven obese adolescents with liver steatosis (age range, 9 - 17 years) were included in the study. The metformin group received an 850-mg dose of metformin daily and the vitamin E group received 400 U vitamin E /daily, in capsule form for 6 months, plus an individually tailored diet, exercise, and behavioral therapy. Results: After 6 months later, there was a significant decline in body mass index, and fasting insulin and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) values in all three groups. Moreover, in comparingson of changes in HOMA among the groups, the metformin- treated group showed significantly improved metabolic control and insulin sensitivity (HOMA) at the end of the study. There were no significant differences for changes of adiponectin, TNF-alpha, in all three groups after 6 months study. Conclusion: These data suggest that metformin treatment is more effective than dietary advice and vitamin E treatment in reducing insulin resistance, and also in ameliorating metabolic parameters such as fasting insulin and lipid levels, in obese adolescents having NAFLD.

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Clinical factors correlated with vitamin D deficiency in patients with obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery: A single center experience

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000662 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 90 (3-4) ◽

pp. 346-352

Author(s):

Vincenzo Pilone ◽

Salvatore Tramontano ◽

Carmen Cutolo ◽

Federica Marchese ◽

Antonio Maria Pagano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bariatric Surgery ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Model Assessment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Serum Vitamin D ◽

Female Sex ◽

Vitamin D Levels

Abstract. We aim to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in patients scheduled for bariatric surgery (BS), and to identify factors that might be associated with VDD. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study involving all consecutive patients scheduled for BS from 2017 to 2019. The exclusion criteria were missing data for vitamin D levels, intake of vitamin D supplements in the 3 months prior to serum vitamin D determination, and renal insufficiency. A total of 206 patients (mean age and body mass index [BMI] of 34.9 ± 10.7 years, and 44.3 ± 6.99 kg/m2, respectively) met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled for data analysis. VDD (<19.9 ng/mL), severe VDD (<10 ng/mL), and vitamin D insufficiency (20–29.9 ng/mL) were present in 68.8 %, 12.5 %, and 31.2 % of patients, respectively. A significant inverse correlation was found between vitamin D levels and initial BMI, parathyroid hormone, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (r = −0.280, p < 0.05; r = −0.407, p = 0.038; r = −0.445, p = 0.005), respectively. VDD was significantly more prevalent in patients with higher BMI [−0.413 ± 0.12, CI95 % (−0.659; −0.167), p = 0.006], whereas no significant association between hypertension [−1.005 ± 1.65, CI95 % (−4.338; 2.326), p = 0.001], and diabetes type 2 (T2D) [−0.44 ± 2.20, CI95 % (−4.876; 3.986), p = 0.841] was found. We observed significant association between female sex and levels of vitamin D [6.69 ± 2.31, CI95 % (2.06; 11.33), p = 0.006]. The present study shows that in patients scheduled for BS, VDD deficiency is common and was associated with higher BMI, and female sex.

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The Weight Loss Effects of Branched Chain Amino Acids and Vitamin B6: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Obese and Overweight Women

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000511 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 88 (1-2) ◽

pp. 80-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zahra Shakibay Novin ◽

Saeed Ghavamzadeh ◽

Alireza Mehdizadeh

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Body Composition ◽

Vitamin B6 ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Branched Chain Amino Acids ◽

Model Assessment ◽

Waist To Hip Ratio ◽

Branched Chain

Abstract. Branched chain amino acids (BCAA), with vitamin B6 have been reported to improve fat metabolism and muscle synthesis. We hypothesized that supplementation with BCAA and vitamin B6 would result in more weight loss and improve body composition and blood markers related to cardiovascular diseases. Our aim was to determine whether the mentioned supplementation would affect weight loss, body composition, and cardiovascular risk factors during weight loss intervention. To this end, we performed a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial in 42 overweight and obese women (BMI = 25–34.9 kg/m2). Taking a four-week moderate deficit calorie diet (–500 kcal/day), participants were randomized to receive BCAA (6 g/day) with vitamin B6 (40 mg/day) or placebo. Body composition variables measured with the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis, homeostatic model assessment, and plasma insulin, Low density lipoprotein, High density lipoprotein, Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride, and fasting blood sugar were measured. The result indicated that, weight loss was not significantly affected by BCAA and vitamin B6 supplementation (–2.43 ± 1.02 kg) or placebo (–1.64 ± 1.48 kg). However, significant time × treatment interactions in waist to hip ratio (P = 0.005), left leg lean (P = 0.004) and right leg lean (P = 0.023) were observed. Overall, supplementation with BCAA and vitamin B6 could preserve legs lean and also attenuated waist to hip ratio.

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The interaction between dietary approaches to stop hypertension and MC4R gene variant in predicting cardiovascular risk factors

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000690 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Habib Yarizadeh ◽

Alireza Bahiraee ◽

Sara Asadi ◽

Niloofar Sadat Maddahi ◽

Leila Setayesh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Model Assessment ◽

Iranian Women ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Dash Diet ◽

Melanocortin 4 Receptor Gene ◽

Significant Difference ◽

High Adherence

Abstract. Objective: The genetic variants near the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R), a key protein regulating energy balance and adiposity, have been related to obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. However, qualitative and quantitative aspects of diet may modulate the association of this polymorphism with obesity and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate interactions among MC4R rs17782313, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and risk factors for CVDs. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 266 Iranian women categorized by body mass index (BMI) range of 25–40 kg/m2 as overweight or obese. CVD risk factors included waist circumference (WC), lipid profile, blood pressure, insulin circulation and fasting blood sugar (FBS). Insulin and FBS were used to calculate homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) Body composition was assessed by a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer, InBody 770 scanner. Results: The findings of this study show that high adherence to the DASH diet in the CC groups were associated with decreased SBP and DBP compared to the TT group. In addition, a significant difference between women with high adherence to the DASH diet compared to low adherence was observed for body weight (p < 0.001), fat free mass (FFM) (p = 0.01) and BMI (p = 0.02). Women with the CC genotype had higher insulin (mg/dl) (mean and SD, for TT: 14.6 ± 4.6, TC: 17.3 ± 9.2, CC: 15.3 ± 4.8, p = 0.04) and HOMA-IR (mean for and SD, TT: 3.1 ± 1.07, TC: 3.9 ± 2.4, CC: 3.2 ± 1.1, p = 0.01) than TT group. Inclusion of potential confounding variables (age, physical activity, BMI and daily caloric intake) did not attenuate the difference. Conclusion: Among overweight/obese Iranian women with the CC genotype, incorporating the DASH diet may serve as a dietary prescription to decrease CVD risk. A dietary intervention trial is warranted.

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Assessing Stressors Related to Migration in Patients With Psychiatric Disorders

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000106 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 262-269 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Matthias Johannes Müller ◽

Suzan Kamcili-Kubach ◽

Songül Strassheim ◽

Eckhardt Koch

Keyword(s):

Interrater Reliability ◽

Item Analysis ◽

Global Assessment Of Functioning ◽

Family Conflicts ◽

Response Options ◽

Reliability Indices ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Functional Relevance ◽

Sum Scores ◽

Gaf Scores

A 10-item instrument for the assessment of probable migration-related stressors was developed based on previous work (MIGSTR10) and interrater reliability was tested in a chart review study. The MIGSTR10 and nine nonspecific stressors of the DSM-IV Axis IV (DSMSTR9) were put into a questionnaire format with categorical and dimensional response options. Charts of 100 inpatients (50 Turkish migrants [MIG], 50 native German patients [CON]) with affective or anxiety disorder were reviewed by three independent raters and MIGSTR10, DSMSTR9, and Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) scores were obtained. Interrater reliability indices (ICC) of items and sum scores were calculated. The prevalence of single migration-related stressors in MIG ranged from 15% to 100% (CON 0–92%). All items of the MIGSTR10 (ICC 0.58–0.92) and the DSMSTR9 (ICC 0.56–0.96) reached high to very high interrater agreement (p < .0005). The item analysis of the MIGSTR10 revealed sufficient internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.68/0.69) and only one item (“family conflicts”) without substantial correlation with the remaining scale. Correlation analyses showed a significant overlap of dimensional MIGSTR10 scores (r² = 0.25; p < .01) and DSMSTR9 scores (r² = 9%; p < .05) with GAF scores in MIG indicating functional relevance. MIGSTR10 is considered a feasible, economic, and reliable instrument for the assessment of stressors potentially related to migration.

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Manipulate Me

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000534 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 554-562

Author(s):

Alica Thissen ◽

Frank M. Spinath ◽

Nicolas Becker

Keyword(s):

High School Students ◽

Spatial Ability ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Item Difficulty ◽

Test Results ◽

Response Elimination ◽

School Students ◽

Test Environment ◽

Response Options ◽

Construction Task

Abstract. The cube construction task represents a novel format in the assessment of spatial ability through mental cube rotation tasks. Instead of selecting the correct answer from several response options, respondents construct their own response in a computerized test environment, leading to a higher demand for spatial ability. In the present study with a sample of 146 German high-school students, we tested an approach to manipulate the item difficulties in order to create items with a greater difficulty range. Furthermore, we compared the cube task in a distractor-free and a distractor-based version while the item stems were held identical. The average item difficulty of the distractor-free format was significantly higher than in the distractor-based format ( M = 0.27 vs. M = 0.46) and the distractor-free format showed a broader range of item difficulties (.02 ≤ pi ≤ .95 vs. .37 ≤ pi ≤ .63). The analyses of the test results also showed that the distractor-free format had a significantly higher correlation with a broad intelligence test ( r = .57 vs. r = .17). Reasons for the higher convergent validity of the distractor-free format (prevention of response elimination strategies and the broader range of item difficulties) and further research possibilities are discussed.

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The Sorting Paired Features Task

Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) ◽

10.1027/1618-3169.56.5.329 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 56 (5) ◽

pp. 329-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Yoav Bar-Anan ◽

Brian A. Nosek ◽

Michelangelo Vianello

Keyword(s):

Discriminant Validity ◽

Association Measures ◽

Response Options ◽

Convergent And Discriminant Validity ◽

Attitude Measures ◽

Stimulus Features ◽

Single Response

The sorting paired features (SPF) task measures four associations in a single response block. Using four response options (e.g., good-Republicans, bad-Republicans, good-Democrats, and bad-Democrats), each trial requires participants to categorize two stimuli at once to a category pair (e.g., wonderful-Clinton to good-Democrats). Unlike other association measures, the SPF requires simultaneous categorization of both components of the association in the same trial. Providing measurement flexibility, it is sensitive to both focal, attended concepts and nonfocal, unattended stimulus features (e.g., gender of individuals in a politics SPF). Three studies measure race, gender, and political evaluations, differentiate automatic evaluations between known groups, provide evidence of convergent and discriminant validity with other attitude measures, and illustrate the SPF’s unique measurement qualities.

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