Temporal patterns of physical activity in successful weight loss maintainers.

Background/objectives: Individuals successful at weight loss maintenance engage in high amounts of physical activity (PA). Understanding how and when weight loss maintainers accumulate PA within a day and across the week may inform PA promotion strategies and recommendations for weight management.

Methods: We compared patterns of PA in a cohort of weight loss maintainers (WLM, n = 28, maintaining ≥13.

Decreased placental folate transporter expression and activity in first and second trimester in obese mothers.

Obese women have an approximately twofold higher risk to deliver an infant with neural tube defects (NTDs) despite folate supplementation. Placental transfer of folate is mediated by folate receptor alpha (FR-α), proton coupled folate transporter (PCFT), and reduced folate carrier (RFC). Decreased placental transport may contribute to NTDs in obese women.

Time Course of C-Reactive Protein and Procalcitonin Levels During the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin Infections.

In a pilot study of 22 patients with an acute bacterial skin infection, serum levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin tended to be elevated at presentation and declined within 3-5 days of treatment. Further study of a biomarker-guided treatment strategy to reduce antibiotic overuse in skin infections is warranted.