Plasma Cortisol and Prolactin Secretion Rhythms in Cattle Under Varying External Environments and Management Techniques.

Plasma cortisol and prolactin secretion rhythms in cattle under varying external environments and management techniques.

Anim Sci J. 2013 Jul 5;
Ogino M, Matsuura A, Yamazaki A, Irimajiri M, Suzuki Y, Kushibiki S, Singu H, Kasuya E, Hasegawa Y, Hodate K

The secretion rhythms of plasma cortisol (CORT) and prolactin (PRL), hormones related to stress responsiveness and biological rhythm and controlled by light and temperature, were investigated under varying external environments and different management techniques. Serial blood samples were collected from female cattle reared in free-stall and freely fed (FF) conditions (n?=?4) or in tie-stall and restricted feeding (RF) conditions (hay and concentrate twice daily, n?=?4). Plasma CORT and PRL concentrations, eating behavior, and environmental parameters were analyzed. Cyclic patterns for each parameter were examined using spectral analysis, and correlations between CORT, PRL and other parameters were investigated using cross-spectral analysis. Under FF conditions, CORT secretion was not related to the lighting intensity and eating behavior. However, under RF conditions, the CORT secretion rhythm showed a distinct correlation with lighting intensity and eating behavior. Under FF conditions, the PRL secretion rhythm was similar in all seasons. However, under RF conditions, the PRL rhythm oscillated with high frequency in summer and low frequency in winter, indicating a seasonal change in rhythm. The present study demonstrates that hormone secretion rhythms change under different environments and management techniques. HubMed – eating

Oh baby! Motivation for healthy eating during parenthood transitions: a longitudinal examination with a theory of planned behavior perspective.

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2013 Jul 6; 10(1): 88
Bassett-Gunter RL, Levy-Milne R, Naylor PJ, Symons Downs D, Benoit C, Warburton DE, Blanchard CM, Rhodes RE

Transitioning to parenthood is a major life event that may impact parents’ personal lifestyles, yet there is an absence of theory-based research examining the impact of parenthood on motives for dietary behaviour. As a result, we are unaware of the social cognitive variables that predict eating behaviour among those transitioning to parenthood. The purpose of the study was to examine eating behaviour motives across 12 months within the framework of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and compare these across groups of new parents, non-parents, and established parents.Non-parents (n = 92), new parents (n = 135), and established parents (n = 71) completed TPB questionnaires assessing attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intentions and three day food records at baseline, and 6- and 12-months post-delivery (for parents) and 6- and 12-months post-baseline (for non-parents).Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that among men, new- and established-parents had greater intentions to eat healthy compared to non-parents, F(2) = 3.59, p = .03. Among women, established parents had greater intentions than new- and non-parents, F(2) = 5.33, p = .01. Among both men and women during the first 6-months post-delivery, new-parents experienced decreased PBC, whereas established parents experienced increased PBC. Overall, affective attitudes were the strongest predictor of intentions for men (beta = 0.55, p < .001) and women (beta = 0.38, p < .01). PBC predicted changes in fruit and vegetable consumption for men (beta = 0.45, p = .02), and changes in fat consumption for men (beta = -0.25, p = .03) and women (beta = -.24, p < .05), regardless of parent status.The transition to parenthood for new and established parents may impact motivation for healthy eating, especially PBC within the framework of TPB. However, regardless of parental status, affective attitudes and PBC are critical antecedents of intentions and eating behaviour. Interventions should target affective attitudes and PBC to motivate healthy eating and may need to be intensified during parenthood. HubMed – eating

Factors associated with health-related quality of life among overweight or obese adults.

J Clin Nurs. 2013 Aug; 22(15-16): 2172-82
Wang J, Sereika SM, Styn MA, Burke LE

To identify factors associated with health-related quality of life among overweight or obese adults.The obesity epidemic presents a global challenge. Obesity is associated with lower health-related quality of life; however, no study has comprehensively examined correlates of health-related quality of life in this population.A cross-sectional design.The physical component score, mental component score and eight domain scores of the Short Form-36 v2 were used to assess health-related quality of life. We identified 23 possible correlates of health-related quality of life, including age, body mass index, health and weight histories, perceived stress, cholesterol-lowering diet self-efficacy, problem-solving, binge eating, dietary intake and physical activity. Correlational analyses were used to examine the bivariate associations between correlates and health-related quality of life variables. All possible subsets regression was used to develop predictive models of health-related quality of life.The sample (n = 210) was predominantly White (84·8%), female (78·1%) and middle-aged (average age = 46·80 years). Age, body mass index, education, having children at home, and being hypertensive were identified as the best predictors of physical component score, explaining about 9% of the variance. Age, marital status, having hyperlipidaemia, perceived stress, problem-solving, self-efficacy, binge eating and barriers to healthy eating predicted mental component score, explaining approximately 48% of the variance. Physical functioning and role physical domains of health-related quality of life had similar sets of predictors, with 15% and 13% of the variance explained, respectively, while similar predictors were identified for bodily pain (6%), general health (26%), vitality (40%), social functioning (32%), role emotional (42%) and mental health (46%) domains.Psychosocial factors were associated with the mental-related quality of life. Further exploration of factors related to physical-related quality of life is warranted in this population.When working with overweight/obese adults who are trying to lose weight, nurses need to consider socio-demographic and psychosocial factors in the development of a treatment plan that will improve health-related quality of life in this population. HubMed – eating