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This paper explores growth patterns for British and Irish adolescents transported to Australia in the 19th century. During incarceration in Australia, the young convicts did not catch up with contemporary standards of potential stature—contrary to what we are led to expect by the existing literature and the high calorie convict diet. Rather, the experience of transportation stunted the adolescent male convicts. Variation between height on arrival and in later life confirms that teen convicts remained shorter than their shipmates transported after reaching maturity. We consider, but reject, age-dependent selection as a potential explanation. We speculate that the origin of this unfortunate experience lies in the low economic value of young and unskilled males. While fewer data are available for female convicts, their colonial experiences appear to have differed, again consistent with their relative economic value in the colony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers are gaining an increasing understanding of host-gut microbiota interactions, but studies of the role of gut microbiota in linear growth are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of food restriction and refeeding with different diets on gut microbiota composition in fast-growing rats. Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed regular rat chow ad libitum (control group) or subjected to 40% food restriction for 36 days followed by continued restriction or ad libitum refeeding for 24 days. Three different diets were used for refeeding: regular vegetarian protein chow or chow in which the sole source of protein was casein or whey. In the control group, the composition of the microbiota remained stable. Food restriction for 60 days led to a significant change in the gut microbiota at the phylum level, with a reduction in the abundance of Firmicutes and an increase in Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Rats refed with the vegetarian protein diet had a different microbiota composition than rats refed the casein- or whey-based diet. Similarities in the bacterial population were found between rats refed vegetarian protein or a whey-based diet and control rats, and between rats refed a casein-based diet and rats on continued restriction. There was a significant strong correlation between the gut microbiota and growth parameters: humerus length, epiphyseal growth plate height, and levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 and leptin. In conclusion, the type of protein in the diet significantly affects the gut microbiota and, thereby, may affect animal's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Catch up growth (CUG) motivated by under-nutrition can lead to insulin resistance (IR) and visceral fat over-accumulation. However, the precise mechanisms on IR induced by adipose tissue changes during CUG remain unresolved. Methods: Experimental rats were divided into three groups: normal chow group, catch up growth group and resveratrol administrated group. The whole experiment was carried out in four stages: 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks. Peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) and fat-specific protein 27 (FSP27) expression level in epididymal adipose tissues (EAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissues (SAT) were detected along with other IR indicators. Results: Calorie restriction (CR) significantly increased PPAR-γ expression in EAT while decreased FSP27 expression. During re-feeding, both of the expression of PPAR-γ and FSP27 increased, even FSP27 returned to normal level when CUG for 4 weeks. Although PPAR-γ expression declined slightly at 8 weeks, it was still much stronger than normal chow groups. However, no changes were seen in SAT. Relative insufficiency of FSP27 expression in EAT results in a decrease in lipid storage capacity, causing a series of path physiological changes that led to the formation of IR. Resveratrol inhibited the expression of PPAR-γ and promoted FSP27 expression, thus fundamentally improving IR. Conclusions: The imbalance between adipose synthesis and storage mediated by PPAR-γ / FSP27 in the EAT plays a pivotal role in the formation of IR during CUG. Resveratrol can correct fat formation and storage imbalance status by up-regulating FSP27 and down-regulating PPAR-γ expression level, ameliorating insulin sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine whether the degree of fetal smallness in small for gestational age (SGA) infants would increase the risk of catch-up-growth failure at 12 and 24 months corrected age (CA), and whether the high-calorie nutritional support would improve catch-up growth between 12 and 24 months CA. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 103 preterm infants born between January 2010 and December 2011. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate whether the birth weight z-score would be an independent risk factor for catch-up growth failure at 12 or 24 months CA. Among the 46 infants with failed catch-up growth at 12 months CA, 16 infants were provided high-calorie nutritional support, including nutritional supplements and medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil at the pediatric gastroenterology clinic. Results: Of 103 preterm infants, 34 infants (33%) were SGA and 69 infants (67%) were appropriate for gestational age (AGA). One birth weight z-score decrement increased the odds for catch-up growth failure 2.9 times at 12 months CA and 3.0 times at 24 months CA after adjustment for major neonatal morbidities. The increase in z-score between 12 and 24 months CA was significantly greater in the infants provided nutritional support than in the infants who were not provided nutritional support. Conclusion: The birth weight z-score can be used as a predictor of catch-up growth failure. High-calorie nutritional support may improve weight gain during the second year in preterm infants with failed catch-up growth at 12 months CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth without growth hormone (GH) is often observed in the setup of obesity; however, the missing link between adipocytes and linear growth was until now not identified. 3T3L1 cells were induced to differentiate into adipocytes and their conditioned medium (CM) (adipocytes CM, CMA) was added to metatarsals bone culture and compared to CM derived from undifferentiated cells. CMA significantly increased metatarsals bone elongation. Adipogenic differentiation increased the expression of growth and differentiation factor (GDF)-5, also found to be secreted into the CMA. GDF-5 significantly increased metatarsal length in culture; treatment of the CMA with anti-GDF-5 antibody significantly reduced the stimulatory effect on bone length. The presence of GDF-5 receptor (bone morphogenetic protein receptor; BMPR1) in metatarsal bone was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Animal studies in rodents subjected to food restriction followed by re-feeding showed an increase in GDF-5 serum levels concomitant with nutritional induced catch up growth. These results show that adipocytes may stimulate bone growth and suggest an additional explanation to the growth without GH phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a paucity of observational data from India on initial catch up growth in hypothyroid children started on thyroxine replacement therapy. Methods: We retrospectively studied 44 children and adolescents (32 girls) with a diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism i.e., (thyrotropin > 15 μIU/mL and thyroxine < 55ng/mL). All were started on treatment with oral thyroxine. The dose was adjusted to maintain thyrotropin between 0.5-5 μIU/mL. Height was measured at baseline and at each follow-up visit and height standard deviation scores (HtSDS) were calculated. We studied the therapeutic benefit of thyroxine replacement therapy on growth in the initial couple of years of treatment. Results: Dose of thyroxine required to restore euthyroidism was 4.1±2.5 μg/kg body weight. The dose fell from 9.7±2.4 μg/kg body weight in infants to 3.0±1.5 μg/kg body weight in adolescence (p<0.001). Likewise, the dose per unit body surface area also fell consistently from 207 ± 70.3 μg/m2 in infants to only 89.3±17.9 μg/m2 in adolescents (p<0.001). The initial HtSDS was 2.0±1.5 and this improved by 0.4 to final value of 1.6±1.3 (p < 0.001) after an average follow up of 14.1±2.5 months. The mean catch-up growth velocity, weighted for the duration of follow-up was 7.7 cm/year. Conclusions: The HtSDS deficit because of hypothyroidism is partially regained in the first few years after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the change of bone mineral density ( BMD) in nutrition-induced catch up growth rats. Methods Five-week-old male Wistar rats were fed with normal or high fat diet to establish catch up growth model after 4-week semi-starvation. Their body weight and daily food intake were recorded. Total amount of food calories. protein. and calcium were calculated. Serum leptin were detected using ELISA method. BMD was detected using DXA. Results After 4-week semi- starvation . BMD was damaged significantly in rats of semi-starvation group (S). After refeeding. BMD in rats of refeeding normal chow group (RN) recovered continually. but in the refeeding high-at diet group ( RH) the recovery decreased again. After refeeding. the body weight of rats in RN and RH group catch up their same age rats in normal chow group (NC) and high-at diet group (HF). Serum leptin decreased significantly in S group. After refeeding. the leptin level increased, especially in RH group. The leptin level in RH and RN group was higher than that in NC group in 8 weeks. and was higher than that in HF group in 12 weeks. During the whole research. the food calorie intake in HF group and RH group was higher than that in NC group and in RN group. but the intake of protein and calcium was lower. Food calorie was not correlated with BMD. but food protein and calcium were positively correlated with BMD. Body weight was positively correlated with BMD. and was an important influential factor of BMD. Leptin was negatively correlated with BMD. The effect of leptin was more obvious when the influence of body weight was excluded. Conclusion Abdominal obesity and high leptin level occur more likely in individuals with catch up growth. leading to damaged bone growth. Efficient but not over dosed food calorie should provide to those individuals. Over intake of food calorie may not help the BMD recovery. The supplement should be mainly food with high protein and calcium to help growth of body weight especially non-fat tissues, thus to contribute better recovery of the bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To compare auxological and metabolic status of preterm (PT) and fullterm (FT) small for gestational age (SGA) babies from birth until age 2 years and to study the role of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in auxological and metabolic outcome in SGA babies. Methods. We enrolled 44 SGA babies (22 FTs, 22 PTs) followed up six monthly. Anthropometric and metabolic measurements (fasting glucose, basal insulin level, total-cholesterol, triglycerides) were performed. HOMA-IR was selected to assess insulin sensitivity. Results. Both FTs and PTs from birth to age 6 months showed a significant increase in weight and length; the weight gain decreased from 6 to 12 months only in PTs. At 24 months, we observed catch-up growth in 90% of FTs and 87% of PTs. Insulinemia and HOMA-IR decreased from birth to 24 months, in particular between 6 and 12 months. PTs SGA with IUGR were significantly smaller than FTs SGA without IUGR ( p = 0.01) and showed a lower length growth velocity. Moreover they showed also higher insulin levels and HOMA-IR at birth; these values decreased at 12 and 24 months. Conclusions. Our study showed no significant difference between PTs and FTs SGA in auxological and metabolic parameters. However, prematurity with IUGR proved to be a significant factor that should be considered in the timing of auxological follow-up of SGA subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Rapid postnatal weight gain is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes in later life. The influence of rapid weight gain on body composition in early infancy is still unknown and the critical periods of weight gain for later disease are debated. Aims: To investigate the effect of birth weight and rapid weight gain on body composition in the first 6 months of life. Study design: The Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life onwards. Subjects and outcome measures: We measured body fat and fat distribution by skinfold thickness at the age of 6 weeks and 6 months in 909 Dutch term infants. Analyses were adjusted for current body mass index, sex and maternal socioeconomic status, pre-pregnancy body mass index, height and duration of breastfeeding. Results: Upward postnatal weight percentile change was associated with increased skinfold thickness, percentage body fat at 6 weeks and 6 months and a larger truncal/peripheral fat ratio at 6 months (p <0.01 for all). Birth weight was inversely associated with truncal/peripheral fat ratio (p <0.01) but not with relative body fat at 6 months. Conclusion: During early postnatal rapid weight gain infants do not grow in all body tissues in equal measure. Instead, they acquire relatively large amounts of fat, which is preferentially distributed to the truncal region. Long term observational studies have to assess if such changes in body composition persist into adulthood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Being born small for gestational age (SGA) is one of the most common causes of childhood short stature, and recombinant GH therapy has been recently licensed to promote growth in short SGA children from the age of 4 years old. Studies are now reporting very encouraging effects on adult height gains, especially in those children who started GH therapy early, at least 2 years prior to the onset of puberty. Compared to the age at starting treatment, the GH dose has a less significant impact on final height, and more attention needs to be paid now to identify earlier those SGA children who fail to catch-up spontaneously. The benefits are not just in terms of height, but also in body composition and possibly blood pressure and lipid levels. However the risk of side effects and long-term complications, particularly related to the expected metabolic effects of GH in inducing insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia, need to be carefully monitored especially in SGA children with a family history of type 2 diabetes. Recently, GH therapy was found to amplify the adrenarche of short SGA children and to induce a pro-inflammatory shift, as judged by a rise of neutrophil count and circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6), and a fall in adiponectin levels. Further progress is anticipated to assess the addition of insulin-sensitizing therapy to attenuate the GH-induced hyperinsulinemia, in order to alter the pro-inflammatory course, to avoid excessive release of adrenal androgens, and to slow down the potential rapid tempo of pubertal progression in SGA children. In the meantime, post-SGA short stature is rapidly becoming one of the prime indications for GH therapy in childhood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Feeding regimes on fish farms are often disrupted for logistical reasons or adverse environmental conditions. Issues such as these are commonplace with respect to the sea pen culture of Yellowtail Kingfish Seriola lalandi (YTK) in Australia. These disruptions represent periods of feed restriction which lead to reduced productivity. However, production losses may be ameliorated using different feeding strategies or the use of nutrient dense aquafeeds. To examine the potential of these options we conducted an eight-week experiment with sub-adult YTK (stocking weight ~ 0.80 kg) investigating three feeding regimes crossed with two dietary specifications. The feeding regimes were selected following industry consultation; feeding once daily 7 days per week (control), once daily Monday to Friday (economic) or once daily on randomly selected days of the week (random). Regardless of regime all feed was offered to apparent satiation. A standard specification (Std-Spec; 386 g DP kg−1, 15.1 MJ DE kg−1) and high specification diet (High-Spec; 460 g DP kg−1 and 19.2 MJ DE kg−1) were formulated using a similar suite of ingredients. Each of the 6 treatment combinations was fed to three replicate tanks of fish and results were examined using two-way ANOVA. There was a general absence of interaction between the main effects for most production indices. Specific growth rate (SGR) and relative feed intake (RFI) were significantly better in YTK fed 7 days per week than in YTK fed under more restricted regimes, but feeding regime did not affect FCR. The SGR, FCR and condition factor of YTK were significantly better when fed the High-Spec diet than in YTK fed the Std-Spec diet. The RFI of fish fed under restricted regimes was significantly lower than YTK fed 7 days per week, irrespective of diet specification, indicating YTK were not capable of hyperphagia. However, the RFI of YTK fed the Std-Spec diet was significantly higher than YTK fed the High-Spec diet, confirming nutrient or energy density was likely controlling feed intake. Examination of data on digestible protein, fat and energy intake indicated YTK were eating primarily to satisfy their protein requirement and sub-optimal energy intake was indirectly limiting growth. Our results demonstrate YTK have a limited capacity to increase their feed intake as a means of overcoming moderate feed restriction in order to meet nutrient and energy demands. We recommend feeding YTK of this size a high specification diet to apparent satiation once per day 7 days a week in order to maximize their growth, feed efficiency and physical condition. • Production performance of Yellowtail Kingfish is better using a high specification diet. • Feed intake in Yellowtail Kingfish is governed by their digestible protein requirement. • The production performance of YTK is extremely sensitive to the nutrient and energy composition of aquafeeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]