Nutritional status and energy expenditure in children pre-bone-marrow-transplant

The aims of this study were to establish the nutritional status of children pre- BMT and to determine whether predictive methods of assessing nutritional status and resting energy expenditure ( REE) are accurate in this population. We analysed the body cell mass ( BCM) ( n = 26) and REE ( n = 24) in children undergoing BMT. BCM was adjusted for height ( BCM/ HTp) and expressed as a Z score to represent nutritional status. To determine whether body mass index ( BMI) was indicative of nutritional status in children undergoing BMT, BMI Z scores were compared to the reference method of BCM/ HTp Z scores. Schofield predictive equations of basal metabolic rate ( BMR) were compared to measured REE to evaluate the accuracy of the predictive equations. The mean BCM/ HTp Z score for the subject population was -1.09 +/- 1.28. There was no significant relationship between BCM/ HTp Z score and BMI Z score ( r = 0.34; P > 0.05); however there was minimal difference between measured REE and predicted BMR ( bias = -11 +/- 149 kcal/ day). The results of this study demonstrate that children undergoing BMT may have suboptimal nutritional status and that BMI is not an accurate indication of nutritional status in this population. However, Schofield equations were found to be suitable for representing REE in children pre- BMT.

Economic, social and cultural influences on the status and wellbeing of Indian rural wives

Examines the status and well being of wives in rural India using results from interviews. Surveys were conducted in three villages in the southwest of West Bengal and in three villages in the west of Orissa. The survey in West Bengal contained a large proportion of Santal tribals and the Oriyan survey was dominated by Kondh tribals. The relationships between variables representing economic, social and cultural factors are compared with ‘dependent’ variables representing the status of wives within their family and their wellbeing. Wellbeing is indicated by whether the basic needs of wives for food and medical care are met. Status of wives is indicated by their ‘control’ over family resources, whether or not they are restricted in joining social groups and in working outside their home, and the extent of their involvement in family decision-making. Cultural factors are found to be the dominant influence on the status of wives. Family income and other economic factors are found to be associated cross sectionally with greater restrictions on wives within their family. Nevertheless, the higher in the economic status of the household, the more likely are the basic needs of wives to be met.

Evolutionary distinctiveness and status of the endangered Lake Eacham rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis)

The Lake Eacham rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis) was declared extinct in the wild in the late 1980s after it disappeared from its only known locality, an isolated crater lake in northeast Queensland. Doubts have been raised about whether this taxon is distinct from surrounding populations of the eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida). We examined the evolutionary distinctiveness of M. eachamensis, obtained from captive stocks, relative to M. s. splendida through analysis of variation in mtDNA sequences, nuclear microsatellites, and morphometric characters Captive M. eachamensis had mtDNAs that were highly divergent from those in most populations of M. s. splendida. A broader geographic survey using RFLPs revealed some populations initially identified as M. s. splendida, that carried eachamensis mtDNA, whereas some others had mixtures of eachamensis and splendida mtDNA. The presence of eachamensis-like mtDNA in these populations could in principle be due to (1) sorting of ancestral polymorphisms, (2) introgression of M. eachamensis mtDNA into M. s. splendida, or (3) incorrect species boundaries, such that some populations currently assigned to M. s. splendida are M. eachamensis or are mixtures of the two species. These alternatives hypotheses were evaluated through comparisons of four nuclear microsatellite loci and morphometrics and meristics. In analyses of both data sets, populations of M. s. splendida with eachamensis mtDNA were more similar to captive M. eachamensis than to M. s. splendida with splendida mtDNA, supporting hypothesis 3. These results are significant for the management of M. eachamensis in several respects. First the combined molecular and morphological evidence indicates that M. eachamensis is a distinct species and a discrete evolutionarily significant unit worthy of conservation effort. Second it appears that the species boundary between M. eachamensis and M. s. splendida has been misdiagnosed such that there are extant populations on the Atherton Tableland as well as areas where both forms coexist. Accordingly we suggest that M. eachamensis be listed as vulnerable, rather than critical (or extinct in the wild). Third, the discovery of extant but genetically divergent populations of M. eachamensis on the Atherton Tableland broadens the options for future reintroductions to Lake Eacham.

Functional polymorphism of the human arylamine N-acetyltransferase type 1 gene caused by (CT)-T-190 and G(560)A mutations

Human N-acetyltransferase type 1 (NAT1) catalyses the N- or O-acetylation of various arylamine and heterocyclic amine substrates and is able to bioactivate several known carcinogens. Despite wide inter-individual variability in activity, historically, NAT1 was considered to be monomorphic in nature. However, recent reports of allelic variation at the NAT1 locus suggest that it may be a polymorphically expressed enzyme. In the present study, peripheral blood mononuclear cell NAT1 activity in 85 individuals was found to be bimodally distributed with approximately 8% of the population being slow acetylators. Subsequent sequencing of the individuals having slow acetylator status showed all to have either a (CT)-T-190 or G(560)A base substitution located in the protein encoding region of the NAT1 gene. The (CT)-T-190 base substitution changed a highly conserved Arg(64), which others have shown to be essential for fully functional NAT1 protein. The (CT)-T-190 mutation has not been reported previously and we have named it NAT1*17. The G(560)A mutation is associated with the base substitutions previously observed in the NAT1*10 allele and this variant (NAT1*14) encodes for a protein with reduced acetylation capacity. A novel method using linear PCR and dideoxy terminators was developed for the detection of NAT1*14 and NAT1*17. Neither of these variants was found in the rapid acetylator population. We conclude that both the (CT)-T-190 (NAT1*17) and G(560)A (NAT1*14) NAT1 structural variants are involved in a distinct NAT1 polymorphism. Because NAT1 can bioactivate several carcinogens, this polymorphism may have implications for cancer risk in individual subjects. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall Ltd.

Effect of metabolic inhibitors on cyclosporine pharmacokinetics using a population approach

Drugs known to inhibit the metabolism of cyclosporine are administered concomitantly to those who undergo cardiothoracic transplantation. The aim of this study was to examine in quantitative terms the relationship between cyclosporine oral dose rate and the trough concentration (Css(trough)) at steady state in patients who undergo cardiothoracic transplantation and are administered cyclosporine alone or in combination with drugs known to inhibit its metabolism. Dose and whole blood cyclosporine Css(tough) observations measured using the enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) (396 observations) or the TDx assay (435 observations) were collected as part of routine blood concentration monitoring from 182 patients who underwent cardiothoracic transplantation. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects modeling approach to examine the effect of metabolic inhibitors on dose-rate-Css(trough) ratio. The mean (and 95% confidence interval) dose-rate-Css(trough) ratio for cyclosporine generated from concentrations measured using EMIT was 94 (82.5-105.5) Lh(-1) for patients administered cyclosporine alone, 66.7 (58.1-75.3) Lh(-1) for patients administered concomitant diltiazem, 47.9 (15.4 -80.4) Lh(-1) for patients administered concomitant itraconazole, 21.7 (14.8-28.5) Lh(-1) for patients administered concomitant ketoconazole, and 14.9 (11.8-18.1) Lh(-1) for patients concomitantly administered diltiazem and ketoconazole. For patients administered concomitant cyclosporine, ketoconazole, and diltiazem, the dosage of cyclosporine, if it is administered alone, should be 20% to achieve the same blood concentrations. This will allow safer drug concentration targeting of cyclosporine after cardiothoracic transplantation.

A case-control study of employment status and mortality in a cohort of Australian youth

Recent studies have demonstrated a link in young populations between unemployment and ill health. The purpose of this study is to correlate mortality with employment status in two cohorts of young Australian males, aged 17-25 years, from 1984 to 1988. Two youth cohorts consisting of an initially unemployed sample (n = 1424 males) and a population sample (n = 4573 males), were surveyed annually throughout the study period. Those lost to follow-up during the survey period were matched with death registries across Australia. Employment status was determined from weekly diaries and death certificates and was designated as: employed or student; unemployed; not in the work force (excluding students). Conditional logistic regression, using age- and cohort- matched cases (deaths) and controls (alive), was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of dying with regard to employment status, taking into account potential confounders such as ethnicity, aboriginality, educational attainment, pre-existing health problems, socio-economic status of parents, and other factors. Twenty three male survey respondents were positively matched to death registry records. Compared to those employed or students (referent group), significantly elevated ORs were found to be associated with neither being in the workforce nor a student for all cause, external cause, and external cause mortality other than suicide. Odds ratios were adjusted for age, survey cohort, ethnicity, pre-existing physical and mental health status, education level, and socio-economic status of parent(s). A statistically significant increasing linear trend in odds ratios of male mortality for most cause groups was found across the employment categories, from those employed or student (lowest ORs), through those unemployed; to those not in the workforce (highest ORs). Suicide was higher, but not statistically significantly, in those unemployed or not in the workforce. Suicide also was associated, though not significantly, with the respondent not living with their parents when they were 14 years of age. No association was found between mortality and past unemployment experience, as measured by length of time spent unemployed, or the number of spells of unemployment experienced during the survey. The results of this study underscore the elevated risk to survival in young males as a consequence of being neither employed nor a student. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Metabolic analysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production by recombinant Escherichia coli

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production by fermentation was examined under both restricted- and ample-oxygen supply conditions in a single fed-batch fermentation. Recombinant Escherichia coli transformed with the PHB production plasmid pSYL107 was grown to reach high cell density (227 g/l dry cell weight) with a high PHB content (78% of dry cell weight), using a glucose-based minimal medium. A simple flux model containing 12 fluxes was developed and applied to the fermentation data. A superior closure (95%) of the carbon mass balance was achieved. When the data were put into use, the results demonstrated a surprisingly large excretion of formate and lactate. Even though periods of severe oxygen limitation coincided with rapid acetate and lactate excretion, PHB productivity and carbon utilization efficiency were not significantly impaired. These results are very positive in reducing oxygen demand in an industrial PHA fermentation without sacrificing its PHA productivity, thereby reducing overall production costs.

Sensitivity of multiple frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis to changes in ion status

Bioelectrical impedance analysis has found extensive application as a simple noninvasive method for the assessment of body fluid volumes, The measured impedance is, however, not only related to the volume of fluid but also to its inherent resistivity. The primary determinant of the resistivities of body fluids is the concentration of ions. The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity of bioelectrical impedance analysis to bodily ion status. Whole body impedance over a range of frequencies (4-1012 kHz) of rats was measured during infusion of various concentrations of saline into rats concomitant with measurement of total body and intracellular water by tracer dilution techniques. Extracellular resistance (R-o), intracellular resistance (R-i) and impedance at the characteristic frequency (Z(c)) were calculated. R-o and Z(c) were used to predict extracellular and total body water respectively using previously published formulae. The results showed that whilst R-o and Z(c) decreased proportionately to the amount of NaCl infused, R-i increased only slightly. Impedances at the end of infusion predicted increases iu TBW and ECW of approximately 4-6% despite a volume increase of less than 0.5% in TBW due to the volume of fluid infused. These data are discussed in relation to the assumption of constant resistivity in the prediction of fluid volumes from impedance data.

The status of the genera Hysterolecithoides Yamaguti, 1934, Neotheletrum Gibson & Bray, 1979 and Machidatrema Leon-Regagnon, 1998 (Digenea : Hemiuroidea), including a description of M. leonae n. sp from Australian waters

A diagnosis is given for the lecithasterid genus Hysterolecithoides Yamaguti, 1934, which is now found to have two to six (possibly seven) vitelline masses. The species H. frontilatus (Manter, 1969) is returned to the genus, having been considered a member of the bunocotylid genus Neotheletrum by recent authors. It is redescribed from Siganus nebulosus, Moreton Bay, and S. doliatus, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia, with emphasis on the presence of Juel's organ, a uterine seminal receptacle and the blind sac associated with the genital atrium. It differs from its congeners in the trajectory of the pars prostatica which recurves dorsally to the sinus-sac. Oligolecithoides Shen, 1982 is synonymised with Hysterolecithoides and O. trilobatus Shen, 1982 is synomised with H. epinepheli Yamaguti, 1934. Machidatrema Leon-Regagnon, 1998 is diagnosed, and found to be close to Hysterolecithoides, but differs in the lack of a blind-sac projecting from the dorsal genital atrium, by its tandem testes, the coiling of the uterus between the testes and the ovary, and the ventral excretory pore. M. leonae n. sp. is described from Siganus fuscescens, S. lineatus, S. doliatus, S. corallinus, S. vulpinus and Scarus globiceps at Heron Island, Queensland. It differs from its closest congener, M. akeh, in the muscular and tegumental flap over the genital pore and details of the terminal genitalia. M. chilostoma (Machida, 1980) and M. kyphosi (Yamaguti, 1970) are redescribed from Kyphosus vaigiensis from Heron Island. Neotheletrum Gibson & Bray, 1979 is diagnosed: it differs from Hysterolecithoides in its confluent excretory arms, blind seminal receptacle (no Juel's organ) and uniformly tripartite vitellarium. A cladistic analysis suggests that M. chilostoma and M. kyphosi are not best accommodated in Machidatrema, that Machidatrema (sensu stricto) is monophyletic and that Hysterolecithoides is paraphyletic. Hysterolecithoides and Machidatrema are considered hysterolecithine lecithasterids, whilst Neotheletrum is retained as an opisthadenine bunocotylid.

The status of Petalocotyle Ozaki, 1934 (Digenea : Gyliauchenidae), including the description of two new species from acanthurid fishes in Queensland, Australia

The status of Petalocotyle Ozaki, 1934 within the Gyliauchenidae Goto & Matsudaira, 1918 is reviewed. Two new species, P. adenometra from Prionurus microlepidotus (Amity Point, Queensland, Australia) and P. diverticulata from Acanthurus nigrofuscus and A. lineatus (Heron Island, Queensland, Australia), are described. The body plan of Petalocotyle conforms to that of members of the Gyliauchenidae (oral sucker absent, well-developed pharynx, complex oesophagus and characteristic male terminal genitalia), indicating justifiable inclusion in this family. A new diagnosis is given for the genus, such that Petalocotyle is now identified by the presence of an anterior, protuberant ventral sucker, long caeca, a large, sigmoid cirrus-sac containing a coiled ejaculatory duct, and an extensive vitellarium. We suggest that, of all the known genera of gyliauchenids, Petalocotyle may most closely resemble the 'archaetypal gyliauchenid', that is, it may be placed basally within the radiation of the Gyliauchenidae. However, derived characters, like diverticula in the reproductive system, indicate that some characters of individual members of Petalocotyle may be considered advanced and do not reflect an archaetypal condition. Parallels in the structure of the male and female genitalia of Robphildollfusium Paggi & Orecchia, 1963 and Petalocotyle, along with the shared morphology of the digestive tract, indicate possible phylogenetic links between the two genera. This affinity is difficult to infer using morphology alone and recommend that Robphildollfusium remain detached from the Gyliauchenidae.

Hydraulics of stepped spillways: Current status (Forum article)

Abstract not available