Showing papers by "Michael L. Power published in 2018"

A retrospective study of gestational weight gain in relation to the Institute of Medicine's recommendations by maternal body mass index in rural Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2015.

Abstract: In 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published guidance on gestational weight gain (GWG) modified by maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). Estimates indicate that less than half of US pregnant women have GWG within recommendations. This study examined GWG from before (2006–2009) and after (2010–2015) the release of the IOM guidance in a rural, non-Hispanic white population to assess the proportion of women with GWG outside of IOM guidance, whether GWG became more likely to be within IOM guidance after 2010, and identify potential maternal factors associated with GWG outside of recommendations. We examined GWG in 18,217 term singleton births between 2006 and 2015 in which maternal pre-pregnancy BMI could be calculated from electronic medical records at Geisinger, PA, and a subset of 12,912 births in which weekly GWG in the third trimester could be calculated. The primary outcome was whether GWG was below, within, or above recommendations based on maternal BMI. The relationships between GWG, maternal BMI, parity, age at conception, gestation length, and maternal blood pressure were examined. GWG declined with increasing maternal BMI, however, more than 50% of overweight and obese women gained above IOM recommendations. About one of five women gained below recommendations (21.3%) with underweight women the most likely to gain below recommendations (33.0%). The proportion of births with usable data increased after 2010, driven by a higher probability of recording maternal weight. However, the proportion of women who gained below, within or above recommendations did not change over the ten years. GWG above recommendations was associated with higher maternal BMI, lower parity, and longer gestation. GWG below recommendations was associated with lower maternal BMI, higher parity, shorter gestation, and younger age at conception. Maternal blood pressure was higher for GWG outside recommendations. Despite the publication of IOM recommendations in 2009 and an apparent increase in tracking maternal weight after 2010, GWG in this population did not change between 2006 and 2015. A majority of overweight and obese women gained above recommendations. GWG below recommendations continues to occur, and is prevalent among underweight women.

Offspring growth and mobility in response to variation in parental care: a comparison between populations

Abstract: Life history theory emphasizes the importance of trade-offs in how time and energy are allocated to the competing demands of growth, fecundity, and survival. However, avian studies have historically emphasized the importance of resource acquisition over resource allocation to explain geographic variation in fecundity, parental care, and offspring development. We compared the brood sizes and nestling mass and feather growth trajectories between orange-crowned warblers Oreothlypis celata breeding in Alaska versus California, and used 24-h video recordings to study the relationship between parental care and growth rates. Per-offspring provisioning rates were highest in the smallest broods, and food delivery was positively correlated with nestling growth over the 24-h period only in Alaska. Females in Alaska spent more time brooding, and juveniles there showed faster feather growth and earlier mobility compared with those in California. We also found differences in the energetic and nutritional content of insect larvae that could facilitate the observed differences in nestling growth relative to food provisioning. Our results point to the potential importance of food quality and parental provisioning of warmth, in addition to food, for explaining avian growth patterns. We highlight the need to quantify multiple dimensions of parental care and of offspring growth and development, and to better understand the relationships between feather growth, nestling period length, and fledgling mobility.

Vitamin D and corticotropin-releasing hormone in term and preterm birth: potential contributions to preterm labor and birth outcome.

Abstract: Background: Poor maternal vitamin D status and elevated circulating corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are associated with preterm birth. It is not known if these risk factors are independent or...

Macronutrient composition of milk of captive nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Abstract: Armadillo pups rapidly grow a bony carapace, suggesting a large transfer of calcium and phosphorus from mother to pups via milk. Because Ca and P in milk are bound in casein protein micelles, we predicted armadillo milk to be high in protein content. Milk samples (n = 25) from 10 lactating nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) collected at days 1–6, 14–15, 33–38, and 49–51 after birth were assayed for macronutrient composition (water, fat, protein, sugar, ash, Ca, and P). Gross energy (GE) was calculated from protein, sugar, and fat. Protein concentration (8–11%) was the highest of the milk solids at all time points, and ash (total mineral) values increased from 1.6% to 3.6% and were higher than sugar values (2.4%) after 1 month. Calcium concentration increased from 0.4% to over 1.0% by 1 month of lactation. Calcium and phosphorus were strongly correlated with milk protein (r = 0.796 and 0.815, respectively; P < 0.001). Protein contributed the majority of milk GE over the first 2 weeks of lactation (51%) and was equal to fat after 1 month (both about 47% of GE). The proportion of GE from sugar declined from 14.5% to 6.6%. We suggest that a milk high in protein was an ancestral trait for armadillos that allowed the evolution of a bony carapace by enabling large amounts of Ca and P to be transferred via casein micelles. Based on data from giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) milk, a highprotein milk may be ancestral to all Xenarthrans, but this suggestion awaits confirmation from data on the milk of sloths. We suggest that armadillo pups likely catabolize a significant amount of milk protein for metabolic energy.

The relationship between spindly leg syndrome incidence and water composition, overfeeding, and diet in newly metamorphosed harlequin frogs (Atelopus spp.).

Abstract: Spindly Leg Syndrome (SLS) is a persistent animal welfare issue associated with the rearing of amphibians in captivity. We conducted two experiments to investigate the effects of diet, water composition and overfeeding on prevalence of SLS in newly metamorphosed harlequin frogs (Atelopus spp.). In our first experiment, we offered 400 full-sibling tadpoles of Atelopus certus isocaloric diets in treatments of 31%, 37%, 42% and 48% crude protein respectively. Tadpoles fed higher protein diets metamorphosed faster, but the incidence of SLS exceeded 80% in all treatments leading to the conclusion that variation in dietary protein was not responsible for causing SLS. We used 720 full-sibling Atelopus glyphus tadpoles in a second experiment to examine the effects of diet type, water composition and diet ration on SLS. We found that an overall incidence of 58% spindly leg in tadpoles reared in tap water, but reduced to about 10% in water treated by reverse osmosis and then reconstituted. It is possible that the reverse osmosis treatment removed some factor that caused the SLS, or that the reconstitution may have added a mineral lacking in the original tap water. Within tap water treatments, overfeeding tadpoles in tanks increased the incidence of SLS. We recommend further experimental research into this condition to identify the causative factors in the water. Additional research into the nutritional composition of food available to wild tadpoles would be useful in formulating captive diets, that have to date been solely based on surrogate species.

Provider and Patient Knowledge and Views of Office Practices on Weight Gain and Exercise during Pregnancy.

Abstract: Objective This study sought to assess provider and patient knowledge and beliefs on gestational weight gain (GWG) and exercise during pregnancy, outline current clinical practices and the perceived value of educational tools. Study Design Providers and patients at the George Washington Medical Faculty Associates Obstetricians and Gynecologists clinic were recruited for a voluntary survey. Descriptive statistics of responses were compared and chi-square analysis tested for significant associations. Results A total of 461 patient and 36 provider questionnaires were analyzed. Providers recommended GWG consistent with the Institute of Medicine guidelines for a “normal” body mass index (82.9%); however, a majority (52.8%) recommended GWG below guidelines for obese women. All providers reported counseling patients on GWG, but only 53.4% of patients reported discussing personal recommendations. About half of providers reported distributing educational materials for GWG (60.0%); however, only 30.6% of patients reported receiving them. African American patients self-reported receiving the highest rates of counseling and educational materials, though a lower rate of recommendations to exercise. Patients perceived educational tools to be more useful than did providers. Conclusion Our findings suggest a gap between provider–patient perceptions regarding counseling and provision of informational materials. Future research should study whether implementing various educational tools might increase the efficacy of current practices.

The nutritional content of Tana River yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus) foods in a partially forested habitat.

Abstract: Here we report the first dietary macronutrient and mineral content information for a little-studied yellow baboon group (i.e., the Mchelelo troop) at the Tana River Primate National Reserve, Kenya. We compare forest to savanna samples for this troop found in a partially forested habitat. Observations conducted between 1988 and 1992 determined our list of foods. Subsequently, flora samples, representing 56 species, were collected between April 2008 and March 2009 with nutrient content determined via standard procedures for fiber, gross energy, ash/minerals, crude protein, and crude fat/lipids. Concentrations of specific minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc) were also measured. We predicted forest items would be higher in gross energy and lipids and savanna items higher in crude protein, fiber, and minerals. Our analyses support only the predicted difference in crude protein for savanna items for the overall dataset. In our examination of the top 15 foods, savanna items had significantly higher crude protein, ash, magnesium, and manganese while forest items had higher gross energy. Right-angled mixture triangles show some clustering by location but with substantial overlap in values. Our data provide further indication of the particularity and purposefulness of dietary choices made by primates. They also contribute to the broader discussions of primate nutritional ecology and are a first step towards an examination of macronutrient balancing for this group. Finally, we discuss the impact heavy reliance upon forest products by a "savanna species" may have upon competitors and forest composition. Ultimately, we show that there is still much to be learned about baboon nutrition.