Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Lynn Panton, Florida State University, College of Human Sciences, Dept. of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 8, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 86 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / It is estimated that more than 29% of South African men and 56% of women are overweight or obese (Goedecke et al., 2005). Obesity can be classified as a chronic disease, with a number of detrimental health consequences, including the risk of developing insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension (Beers et al., 2006). Conventional treatments for weight loss exist, but their use may be associated with unwanted side effects (Beers et al., 1999). While herbal medications are considered safer by many people, in general, studies of herbal medicinal products have been too few, of limited duration and small sample size (Mattsson and Nilsson, 2002). This indicates that further research into herbal weight loss treatments, with minimal or no side-effects, is required. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a herbal formulation consisting of caffeine, Camellia sinensis, Coffea canephora bean, Coleus forskholii, Evodiamine, Ilex paraguariensis and Phaseolus vulgaris on human resting metabolic rate and body composition in overweight and obese individuals. The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study and formed part of a larger study where the research sample was shared by two additional researchers. A sample group of sixty healthy male and female participants between the ages of 18 and 45 years, with a body mass index of more than 25kg/m² and less than 35 kg/m², was recruited from the University of Johannesburg Doornfontein Campus Homoeopathic Health Clinic. Participants were randomly allocated into either an experimental or placebo group, in matched pairs according to gender and BMI. Both groups underwent an assessment of body composition and resting metabolic rate at the initial consultation, as well as at the two week, six week, and final twelve week follow-up consultations. Participant checklists recorded data documenting changes in general lifestyle factors for the duration of the study (Appendix E). The experimental group took two capsules of the herbal formulation daily and the control group took two capsules of the placebo, five days a week with a two day rest, for a period of twelve weeks. Data was collected and statistically analyzed using the Shapiro Wilk test, the Mann-Whitney test, the Friedman test, and the Wilcoxon signed ranks test (Smith, 2011).

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biological and Medical sciences Student: Veronika Krčmářová Supervisor of master thesis: PharmDr. Miroslav Kovařík Ph.D. Title of master thesis: Resting energy expenditure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease II The aim of this study was to compare the resting energy expenditure (REE) and nutritional substrate utilization among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and control group. Previous studies have confirmed increased values of REE in COPD patients. On the basis of the increase of this parameter there was a loss of lean and muscle mass. The utilization of nutritional substrates in patients with COPD is not yet known. Our study by a total of 20 patients includes 11 patients with COPD, and 9 from the control group . The age of patients ranged from 55 to 71 years. Each patient was examined once. We determined the value of REE by indirect calorimetry and utilization of nutritional substrates. According to our results, there was an increase in REE in 82 % of patients with COPD, while only 33 % of patients from the control group was hypermetabolic. Comparing the results of REE between groups we observed REE increase by about 20 % in patients with COPD compared with the control...

1 Abstract Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biological and Medical Sciences Student: Martin Jenšík Supervisor of master thesis: PharmDr. Miroslav Kovařík Ph.D. Title of master thesis: Resting energy expenditure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is step by step moving ahead in public and scientific interest due to its fast rising in mortality rate. Contemporary studies observed a phenomena that patients with COPD have increased resting energy expenditure (REE) that leads to loss of fat free mass and total weight. Our goal was to confirm or disprove this hypothesis. Our research ran in Department of research and development at University hospital Hradec Králové. In our study participated 30 patients, 26 men and 4 women, mean age 67 ± 8 let. Every patient was once examined after twelve-hour fasting. We determined REE and substrate utilization by method of indirect calorimetry. We confirmed increased REE from the average value of REE - 122 ± 14 % predicted by Harris - Benedict equation. None patient was hypometabolic, 7 were normometabolic and 23 hypermetabolic. Substrate utilization did not differ contrary to physiological values. Furthermore we discovered correlation among fat mass, fat free mass,...

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Introdução: A obesidade infanto-juvenil é um problema de saúde pública, com alta endemia e prevalência crescente no mundo todo. É uma doença associada a significativos problemas de saúde na população pediátrica, que afeta principalmente os sistemas cardiovascular e o endócrino, com risco elevado de desenvolvimento de diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensão arterial, aterosclerose e dislipidemias. Objetivo: Investigar a relação entre os níveis séricos de leptina, a taxa metabólica basal e a resistência insulínica com o escore Z do índice de massa corporal de crianças púberes com obesidade. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 37 crianças obesas púberes de 7 a 12 anos de idade, atendidas pela primeira vez no Ambulatório de Obesidade Infantil, entre junho/2013 a abril/2014. Os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação antropométrica, aferição da pressão arterial, auto-classificação da maturação sexual, testes laboratoriais e bioimpedância. Resultados: O peso, o índice de massa corporal e a leptina diferiram de modo significativo entre os grupos (grupo 1 indivíduos com obesidade (2 <zIMC 3), e grupo 2 indivíduos com obesidade grave (zIMC>3)), bem como a porcentagem da massa gorda e a taxa metabólica basal. As crianças desse estudo, independente do grau de obesidade, apresentaram níveis elevados de insulina (70,3%), Homeostasis model assessment >3,16 (73%), níveis baixos de colesterol de lipoproteína de alta densidade (67,6%) e circunferência abdominal acima p90 (89,18%). Em relação às variáveis analisadas, observa-se que não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Conclusão: A obesidade infanto-juvenil já é um sinal de risco aumentado para o desenvolvimento de diabetes mellitus. Neste estudo, o índice de massa corporal e a circunferência abdominal, já se mostraram preditores de risco para alterações metabólicas, sendo instrumentos de fácil acesso e baixo custo. / Introduction: Childhood and adolescent obesity is a public health problem that presents high endemic and growing prevalence worldwide. It is a disease associated with important health problems in the population of children, that affects mainly the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, with high risck of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia. Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the serum levels of leptin, the basal metabolic rate and the insulin resistance, with the Z score of the body mass index of children with obesity. Methods: This is a transversal study and 37 obese children, aged between 7 to 12 years old, were treated for the first time in the outpatient care unit specialized in childhood obesity, from June/2013 to April/2014. The participants were submitted to anthropometric evaluation, blood pressure measurement, selfclassification of sexual maturity, laboratory tests and bioimpedance. Results: Weight, body mass index and leptin differed significantly between the groups (Group 1 - individuals as obese (2 <zBMI 3), and group 2 - individuals with severe obesity (zBMI> 3)), as well as body fat percentage and the basal metabolic rate. The children of this study presented high levels of insulin (70.3%), Homeostasis model assessment >3.16 (73%), low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (67.6%) and abdominal circumference above p90 (89.18%), regardless of their obesity classification. Concerning the variables analyzed, there were no significantly differences between the groups. Conclusion: Childhood and adolescent obesity already is an element that indicates a higher risk for the development of diabetes mellitus. In this study, the body mass index and the abdominal circumference have proven predictors of risk to develop metabolic alterations, being instruments easy to access and low cost.

Introdução: A obesidade infanto-juvenil é um problema de saúde pública, com alta endemia e prevalência crescente no mundo todo. É uma doença associada a significativos problemas de saúde na população pediátrica, que afeta principalmente os sistemas cardiovascular e o endócrino, com risco elevado de desenvolvimento de diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensão arterial, aterosclerose e dislipidemias. Objetivo: Investigar a relação entre os níveis séricos de leptina, a taxa metabólica basal e a resistência insulínica com o escore Z do índice de massa corporal de crianças púberes com obesidade. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 37 crianças obesas púberes de 7 a 12 anos de idade, atendidas pela primeira vez no Ambulatório de Obesidade Infantil, entre junho/2013 a abril/2014. Os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação antropométrica, aferição da pressão arterial, auto-classificação da maturação sexual, testes laboratoriais e bioimpedância. Resultados: O peso, o índice de massa corporal e a leptina diferiram de modo significativo entre os grupos (grupo 1 indivíduos com obesidade (2 <zIMC 3), e grupo 2 indivíduos com obesidade grave (zIMC>3)), bem como a porcentagem da massa gorda e a taxa metabólica basal. As crianças desse estudo, independente do grau de obesidade, apresentaram níveis elevados de insulina (70,3%), Homeostasis model assessment >3,16 (73%), níveis baixos de colesterol de lipoproteína de alta densidade (67,6%) e circunferência abdominal acima p90 (89,18%). Em relação às variáveis analisadas, observa-se que não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Conclusão: A obesidade infanto-juvenil já é um sinal de risco aumentado para o desenvolvimento de diabetes mellitus. Neste estudo, o índice de massa corporal e a circunferência abdominal, já se mostraram preditores de risco para alterações metabólicas, sendo instrumentos de fácil acesso e baixo custo. / Introduction: Childhood and adolescent obesity is a public health problem that presents high endemic and growing prevalence worldwide. It is a disease associated with important health problems in the population of children, that affects mainly the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, with high risck of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia. Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the serum levels of leptin, the basal metabolic rate and the insulin resistance, with the Z score of the body mass index of children with obesity. Methods: This is a transversal study and 37 obese children, aged between 7 to 12 years old, were treated for the first time in the outpatient care unit specialized in childhood obesity, from June/2013 to April/2014. The participants were submitted to anthropometric evaluation, blood pressure measurement, selfclassification of sexual maturity, laboratory tests and bioimpedance. Results: Weight, body mass index and leptin differed significantly between the groups (Group 1 - individuals as obese (2 <zBMI 3), and group 2 - individuals with severe obesity (zBMI> 3)), as well as body fat percentage and the basal metabolic rate. The children of this study presented high levels of insulin (70.3%), Homeostasis model assessment >3.16 (73%), low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (67.6%) and abdominal circumference above p90 (89.18%), regardless of their obesity classification. Concerning the variables analyzed, there were no significantly differences between the groups. Conclusion: Childhood and adolescent obesity already is an element that indicates a higher risk for the development of diabetes mellitus. In this study, the body mass index and the abdominal circumference have proven predictors of risk to develop metabolic alterations, being instruments easy to access and low cost.

Introdução: A obesidade infanto-juvenil é um problema de saúde pública, com alta endemia e prevalência crescente no mundo todo. É uma doença associada a significativos problemas de saúde na população pediátrica, que afeta principalmente os sistemas cardiovascular e o endócrino, com risco elevado de desenvolvimento de diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensão arterial, aterosclerose e dislipidemias. Objetivo: Investigar a relação entre os níveis séricos de leptina, a taxa metabólica basal e a resistência insulínica com o escore Z do índice de massa corporal de crianças púberes com obesidade. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 37 crianças obesas púberes de 7 a 12 anos de idade, atendidas pela primeira vez no Ambulatório de Obesidade Infantil, entre junho/2013 a abril/2014. Os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação antropométrica, aferição da pressão arterial, auto-classificação da maturação sexual, testes laboratoriais e bioimpedância. Resultados: O peso, o índice de massa corporal e a leptina diferiram de modo significativo entre os grupos (grupo 1 indivíduos com obesidade (2 <zIMC 3), e grupo 2 indivíduos com obesidade grave (zIMC>3)), bem como a porcentagem da massa gorda e a taxa metabólica basal. As crianças desse estudo, independente do grau de obesidade, apresentaram níveis elevados de insulina (70,3%), Homeostasis model assessment >3,16 (73%), níveis baixos de colesterol de lipoproteína de alta densidade (67,6%) e circunferência abdominal acima p90 (89,18%). Em relação às variáveis analisadas, observa-se que não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Conclusão: A obesidade infanto-juvenil já é um sinal de risco aumentado para o desenvolvimento de diabetes mellitus. Neste estudo, o índice de massa corporal e a circunferência abdominal, já se mostraram preditores de risco para alterações metabólicas, sendo instrumentos de fácil acesso e baixo custo. / Introduction: Childhood and adolescent obesity is a public health problem that presents high endemic and growing prevalence worldwide. It is a disease associated with important health problems in the population of children, that affects mainly the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, with high risck of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia. Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the serum levels of leptin, the basal metabolic rate and the insulin resistance, with the Z score of the body mass index of children with obesity. Methods: This is a transversal study and 37 obese children, aged between 7 to 12 years old, were treated for the first time in the outpatient care unit specialized in childhood obesity, from June/2013 to April/2014. The participants were submitted to anthropometric evaluation, blood pressure measurement, selfclassification of sexual maturity, laboratory tests and bioimpedance. Results: Weight, body mass index and leptin differed significantly between the groups (Group 1 - individuals as obese (2 <zBMI 3), and group 2 - individuals with severe obesity (zBMI> 3)), as well as body fat percentage and the basal metabolic rate. The children of this study presented high levels of insulin (70.3%), Homeostasis model assessment >3.16 (73%), low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (67.6%) and abdominal circumference above p90 (89.18%), regardless of their obesity classification. Concerning the variables analyzed, there were no significantly differences between the groups. Conclusion: Childhood and adolescent obesity already is an element that indicates a higher risk for the development of diabetes mellitus. In this study, the body mass index and the abdominal circumference have proven predictors of risk to develop metabolic alterations, being instruments easy to access and low cost.

Southern Africa is characterised by an unpredictable environment with daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations. As a local or non-migratory endothermic species occurring over an altitudinal gradient from the Drakensberg to the coast of KwaZulu- Natal in southern Africa, Amethyst Sunbirds (Chalcomitra amethystina) experience challenging thermal conditions and increased energetic stress as a result of ambient temperature variation. Flexibility of metabolic rates within a species allows for the colonization of different habitats along an altitudinal and thus temperature gradient. It was predicted that over this altitudinal gradient Amethyst Sunbirds would exhibit variation in metabolic rates, particularly basal metabolic rates, pre- and postacclimation, as well as variation in hematocrit levels in winter and summer trials. It was also predicted that Amethyst Sunbirds would exhibit seasonal variation in metabolic parameters. Sunbirds were caught in a winter and summer season (2006-2007) using mist nets in three locations; Underberg (1553 m), Howick (1075 m) and Oribi Gorge (541 m). Upon capture, metabolic rate was measured indirectly by quantifying oxygen consumption (VO2) using flow through respirometry, at 5 and 25°C. Birds were then acclimated at 25°C for 6 weeks on a 12L:12D cycle. VO2 was measured postacclimation at 8 different temperatures (15, 5, 10, 20, 30, 28, 25 and 33°C). Hematocrit levels were taken pre-acclimation and pre-release. Winter and summer data were compared. In the winter trials it was found that there was little variation in VO2 between individuals from the same locality, whereas significant variation was observed at the same temperatures between localities and thus between altitudes. The subpopulation from the highest altitudinal site had the highest basal metabolic rate (BMR). Summer trials showed that metabolic rates did not differ significantly between altitudinal subpopulations of Amethyst Sunbirds, however, BMR was observed to decrease as altitude decreased. The comparison of seasonal data showed that Amethyst Sunbird subpopulations from Underberg and Howick showed higher post-acclimation VO2 values per temperature in winter than in summer trials. Post-acclimation resting metabolic rate (RMR) values for Howick subpopulations were generally higher in winter than in summer, Underberg Amethyst Sunbirds showed a significant difference between summer and winter RMR at 5 and 10°C and Howick sunbirds showed a significant difference in RMR between seasons at 5°C. The Oribi Gorge subpopulation, however, showed no significant differences in metabolic rate between any temperatures when comparing a summer and a winter season. Thermal neutral zones of all of the subpopulations of Amethyst Sunbirds shifted between the winter and summer trial period. This study thus emphasized the need to understand plasticity in metabolic rates and acknowledge altitudinal and seasonal differences within a species, in order to make accurate predictions about a species thermal physiology and responses to changes in ambient temperatures. In particular, the variation in BMR, which is usually used as a species specific value, should be acknowledged in comparative studies of avian metabolic rates or in climate change models. / Thesis (M.Sc.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Deserticolous birds inhabit an environment characterised by high ambient temperatures and low rainfall that has low primary productivity. The combination of these factors may lead to the evolution of adaptations that minimise food and water requirements. One physiological adaptation that has been found in many deserticolous birds is the reduction of basal metabolic rate (BMR). I measured metabolic rate in the laboratory using four species of African lovebirds (Agapornis) , and four species of Australian grass parakeets (one Neopsephotus and three Neophema), all similar in body mass. Tests for differences between groups were carried out using both conventional and phylogenetically independent methods. The BMRs of the lovebird and grass parakeet species were not statistically correlated with habitat type. These results confirm the findings of previous studies on the effect of desert conditions on the BMR of parrots. I also found no significant differences in BMR between the species assemblages from different continents. The lack of significant differences in BMR between deserticolous and nondeserticolous parrots supports the idea that birds are "ex-adapted" to living in desert environments. I suggest that the results may have been affected by phenotypic plasticity in BMR, as recent evidence has shown that the scaling exponent of BMR differs between captive-raised and wild-caught birds. To elucidate the effect of origin (captive-raised vs. wild-caught) on the BMR of birds used in this study a large scale analysis of bird BMR data was undertaken. BMR and body mass data for 242 species of birds were obtained from the literature, this study, and unpublished data from various sources. A phylogeny was constructed using molecular and morphological phylogenies from the literature, and analysed using conventional and phylogenetically independent methods. The conventional analysis found significant differences in the scaling exponents of BMR of captive-raised and wild-caught birds. However the phylogenetically independent method showed non-significant differences between these two groups. Conventional analysis of differences between parrots and all other birds yielded significant differences between these two groups, with parrots having significantly higher BMRs than other birds. Again the phylogenetically independent analysis found non-significant differences between these VII two groups. A test of homogeneity of variance between these two groups found significant differences between the variances ofthe two groups, probably due to disparity in sample size and range of body sizes. The conventional and phylogenetically independent tests for differences between captive-raised and wild-caught parrots yielded non-significant results, suggesting that the parrots are not subject to the phenotypic adjustments postulated for all other birds. The lack of significant differences between captive-raised and wild-caught parrots suggests that the analyses of differing habitat type for African and Australian parrots is indeed valid. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.