Eating Disorders: Rodent Model in Caries Research.
Rodent model in caries research.
Filed under: Eating Disorders
Odontology. 2012 Nov 6;
Bowen WH
The rodent model of dental caries has made fundamental contributions to the understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis, and prevention of this disease. In conducting animal-based investigations, important details considered essential for successful outcome are occasionally overlooked. Adequate number of animals of appropriate age should always be included to ensure sufficient statistical power to draw valid conclusions. Attention should be paid to litter source as it is clear that litter origin may have a profound effect on the outcome. Inclusion of additive in diet may also affect eating pattern. A range of special techniques are available which can expand the role of animals in exploring the pathogenesis of dental caries. The arrival of genetically altered microorganisms along with availability of knock-out rodents offers exciting challenges to further explore the pathogenesis of this still too common disease.
HubMed – eating
Precocious hand use preference in reach-to-eat behavior versus manual construction in 1- to 5-year-old children.
Filed under: Eating Disorders
Dev Psychobiol. 2012 Nov 5;
Sacrey LA, Arnold B, Whishaw IQ, Gonzalez CL
The variation in hand use as a function of task and developmental age poses a problem for understanding how and when “handedness,” preferred use of one hand, develops. The present cross-section study is the first to contrast hand preference use for the natural and frequently used reach-to-eat movement with a constructional task that requires a very similar reach-to-grasp movement. Thirty children between the ages of 1 and 3 years completed an eating task, in which they grasped small food items (Cheerios™ or Froot Loops™) that they brought to the mouth for eating. Thirty children between the ages of 3 and 5 years completed the construction task, in which they grasped LEGO® pieces to construct 3D models. Hand use preference for grasping in the eating and construction tasks was calculated by comparing the percentage of grasps made by the right hand and by the left hand. There were two main findings: First, right hand preference for grasping in the eating task is present as early as 1 year of age, whereas right hand preference for grasping in the construction task does not develop until 4 years of age. Second, right hand preference for grasping is greater in the eating than in the construction task. The results are discussed in relation to the idea that a consideration for task constraints (e.g., unimanual vs. bimanual; eating vs. construction; natural vs. praxic) should be incorporated into the experimental design when measuring hand use in children. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol.
HubMed – eating
The importance of the food and physical activity environments.
Filed under: Eating Disorders
Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser. 2012; 73: 113-21
Oppert JM, Charreire H
There is increasing interest in identifying characteristics of neighborhood environments (physical, social, economical) that might favor unhealthy dietary and physical activity patterns leading to excess weight at population level. Measurement of characteristics of the physical environment in relation to food and physical activity has greatly improved in recent years. Methods based on assessment of perceptions by residents of their neighborhood or on objective assessment of the actual built environment (such as provided by Geographic Information Systems tools) would benefit to be combined. A number of recent systematic reviews have updated our knowledge on relationships of food and physical activity environments with relevant behaviors and obesity. Available evidence appears to show more consistent evidence of association between built environment characteristics related to physical activity (‘walkability’ indices, land use mix, variety of transports. . .) with physical activity behavior than with weight status. In contrast, built environment characteristics related to food habits (accessibility to different types of food outlets, availability of healthy foods. . .) would be more consistently associated with weight status than with eating behavior. The need for data from different countries and cultures is emphasized, as much as the importance of transdisciplinary research efforts for translation of these findings into our living environment. Copyright © 2012 Nestec Ltd., Vevey/S. Karger AG, Basel.
HubMed – eating
Quality of life in swallowing in healthy elderly.
Filed under: Eating Disorders
J Soc Bras Fonoaudiol. 2012; 24(3): 223-232
Cassol K, Galli JF, Zamberlan NE, Dassie-Leite AP
PURPOSE: To understand the self-perception of healthy elderly regarding possible swallowing difficulties. METHODS: Participants were 104 seniors, 62 women and 42 men, ranging in age from 60 to 88 years (mean 70.6), who reported good general health, no history of degenerative diseases, neurological or any other diseases that could influence swallowing participated. All subjects underwent cognitive and emotional screening and presented satisfactory conditions for both. A questionnaire to gather general and health information, and the protocol SWAL-QOL were applied. The data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Most domains of the SWAL-QOL showed mean numbers close to the maximum score (100 points), indicating a positive perception of the elderly about quality of life related to swallowing. Individuals with dentures showed better rates in most domains when compared to non-users. Individuals who self-reported ill-fitting dentures had lower scores for the domains “burden”, “eating duration” and “frequency of symptoms”. Men and women differed only in the domains “sleep” and “fatigue”, for which women had lower mean scores. There was no correlation between the SWAL-QOL scores obtained and the variables age and monthly income. CONCLUSION: Healthy elderly, in general, do not self-report significant changes in the quality of life related to swallowing. Moreover, there is no reduction of quality of life related to swallowing as age advances. Well-adjusted dentures minimize impairment related to swallowing.
HubMed – eating
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