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Biomedical subjects

James R Scott

Publications and source records attributed to James R Scott.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Factors related to rapid weight loss practices among international-style wrestlers.

PURPOSE: The deaths of three intercollegiate wrestlers in 1997 prompted the NCAA and governing bodies that oversee high school sports to adopt new policies prohibiting unsafe weight loss practices. Similar policies have not yet been adopted for international style wrestling, a style that attracts thousands of youth once the regulated scholastic season is over. Therefore, this study examined the rapid weight loss practices in high school wrestlers participating in international style wrestling. To do this, rapid weight gain (RWG), an index that reflects the degree of rapid weight loss (RWL), was examined. METHODS: Wrestlers (N = 2638) participating in the 1997 and 1998 National wrestling championships were randomly selected to be weighed at matside with electronic scales. The methods wrestlers used to accomplish weight loss were also assessed in a subsample of wrestlers. RESULTS: Wrestlers gained an average of 3.4 kg, which represents a 4.81% gain of body weight. The range across weight classes and age groups was -2.68 kg (-2.1% loss of body weight) to +16.73 kg (13.4% gain of body weight). No differences in RWG existed as a function of the represented state teams. In addition, wrestlers who were older and more successful (i.e., placers) gained significantly more weight that their younger and less successful counterparts (P < 0.001). Excessive running, using saunas, and wearing vapor-impermeable suits were cited as the most common methods used to achieve RWL. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RWL still exists in international style wrestling, and similar policies to those recently instituted by the NCAA are warranted.

Adolescent↗

Weight loss practices of college wrestlers.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the weight management (WM) behaviors of collegiate wrestlers after the implementation of the NCAA's new weight control rules. METHODS: In the fall of 1999, a survey was distributed to 47 college wrestling teams stratified by collegiate division (i.e., I, II, III) and competitive quality. Forty-three teams returned surveys for a total of 741 responses. Comparisons were made using the collegiate division, weight class, and the wrestler's competitive winning percentage. RESULTS: The most weight lost during the season was 5.3 kg +/- 2.8 kg (mean +/- SD) or 6.9% +/- 4.7% of the wrestler's weight; weekly weight lost averaged 2.9 kg +/- 1.3 kg or 4.3% +/- 2.3% of the wrestler's weight; post-season, the average wrestler regained 5.5 kg +/- 3.6 kg or 8.6% +/- 5.4% of their weight. Coaches and fellow wrestlers were the primary influence on weight loss methods; however, 40.2% indicated that the new NCAA rules deterred extreme weight loss behaviors. The primary methods of weight loss reported were gradual dieting (79.4%) and increased exercise (75.2%). However, 54.8% fasted, 27.6% used saunas, and 26.7% used rubber/plastic suits at least once a month. Cathartics and vomiting were seldom used to lose weight, and only 5 met three or more of the criteria for bulimia nervosa. WM behaviors were more extreme among freshmen, lighter weight classes, and Division II wrestlers. Compared to previous surveys of high school wrestlers, this cohort of wrestlers reported more extreme WM behaviors. However, compared to college wrestlers in the 1980s, weight loss behaviors were less extreme. CONCLUSIONS: The WM practices of college wrestlers appeared to have improved compared to wrestlers sampled previously. Forty percent of the wrestlers were influenced by the new NCAA rules and curbed their weight loss practices. Education is still needed, as some wrestlers are still engaging in dangerous WM methods.

Adolescent↗

Autoimmune and pregnancy complications in the daughter of a kidney transplant patient.

BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressive agents taken by pregnant organ transplant recipients readily cross the placenta during development of the fetal immune system. There are few data on the long-term implications for the progeny, but evidence from animal studies suggest that second and third generations of organ transplant patients may be at risk for autoimmune disorders and reproductive problems. METHODS: We present the 23-year-old daughter of a renal allograft recipient exposed to azathioprine 75 mg/day and prednisone 5 mg/day throughout her mother's pregnancy. RESULTS: During the daughter's first pregnancy, she developed multiple autoantibodies, Raynaud's phenomenon, and fetal death occurred at 20 weeks gestation. The second pregnancy was complicated by systemic lupus erythematosus, preeclampsia, and the birth of a preterm male infant. CONCLUSIONS: It is uncertain whether the autoimmune manifestations and obstetric complications in this patient were related to fetal exposure to immunosuppressive drugs. Nevertheless, further studies on the health and pregnancies of adult offspring of transplant patients are warranted.

Adolescent↗

Recurrent pregnancy loss with antiphospholipid antibody: a systematic review of therapeutic trials.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of interventions given to improve pregnancy outcome in women with antiphospholipid antibodies. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Cochrane Collaboration Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Specialized Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, and MEDLINE were searched in December 1999. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of therapy for pregnancy loss associated with antiphospholipid antibodies were identified. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Trial selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two authors independently. Quantitative analysis of summary data was performed using the fixed- and random-effects models with heterogeneity assessments. Pregnancy loss and adverse neonatal outcomes were the main outcome measures. Ten trials (n = 627) fulfilled the inclusion criteria (of which four lacked adequate allocation concealment). Three trials of aspirin alone showed no significant reduction in pregnancy loss (relative risk [RR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66, 1.68). Heparin combined with aspirin (two trials, 140 patients) significantly reduced pregnancy loss compared with aspirin alone (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29, 0.71). Prednisone and aspirin resulted in a significant increase in prematurity (RR 4.83, 95% CI 2.85, 8.21) but no significant reduction in pregnancy loss (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.53, 1.36). CONCLUSION: Combination therapy with aspirin and heparin may reduce pregnancy loss in women with antiphospholipid antibodies by 54%. Further large, randomized controlled trials with adequate allocation concealment are necessary to exclude significant adverse effects.

Abortion, Habitual↗