Indicators of lean body mass catabolism: emphasis on the creatinine excretion rate

Background: The major stress response to critical illness leads to a catabolic state and loss of lean body mass. Aims: To test whether an increased rate of creatinine excretion might provide unique and timely information to monitor cell catabolism; to relate this information to balances of cell constituents (nitrogen, potassium, phosphate and magnesium); to evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional therapy to reverse this catabolic process. Design: Prospective observational study. Methods: Children with severe traumatic brain injury admitted to the paediatric critical care units of The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada and Hospital das Clnicas, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeiro Preto, University of So Paulo, Brazil were studied. Complete 24 h urine collections were obtained for measurement of creatinine excretion rate and daily balances of nitrogen, potassium, phosphate and magnesium. Results: Seventeen patients were studied for 310 days. On Day 1, all had negative balances for protein and phosphate. Balances for these intracellular constituents became positive when protein intake was >= 1 g/kg/day and energy intake was >= 50% of estimated energy expenditure (P < 0.0001). Creatinine excretion rate was positively correlated with the urea appearance rate (r = 0.60; P < 0.0001), and negatively with protein balance (r = -0.45; P < 0.0001). Sepsis developed in four patients; before its clinical detection, there were negative balances for all intracellular markers and an abrupt rise in the excretion of creatinine. Conclusions: Negative balances of intracellular components and an increase in rate of creatinine excretion heralded the onset of catabolism.

Genetic and environmental factors affecting ultrasound measures of longissimus muscle area and backfat thickness in Nelore cattle

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic and environmental factors affecting records of longissimus muscle area (LMA) and back fat thickness (BF) obtained between the 12th and 13th ribs, and rump fat thickness (RF) between the hook and pin bones, measured by real-time ultrasound in Nelore cattle. Also, weight records of 22,778 animals born from 1998 to 2003, in ten farms across six Brazilian states were used. Carcass traits as measured by ultrasound of the live animal were recorded from 2002 to 2004 in 2590 males and females with ages varying from 450 to 599 days. Fixed models including farm, year and season of birth, sex and type of feed effects, and the covariates age of dam (AOD) and age of animal at measurement were used to study the effect of environmental factors on these traits. The genetic parameters for LMA, BF and RF were estimated with two and three-trait animal models with 120-day weights using a restricted maximum likelihood method. All environmental effects significantly affected carcass traits, with the exception of year of birth for BF and RF and AOD for LMA. The heritability estimates for LMA, BF and RF were 0.35, 0.51 and 0.39, respectively. Standard errors obtained in one-trait analyses were from 0.07 to 0.09. Genetic correlation estimates between LMA and the two traits of subcutaneous fat were low (close to zero) and 0.74 between BF and RF, indicating that the selection for LMA should not cause antagonism in the genetic improvement of subcutaneous fat measured by real-time ultrasound. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All fights reserved.

Will Bangladesh's economic growth solve its environmental problems?

Bangladesh has experienced rising GDP and rising per capita incomes now for at least three decades. This article considers whether its continuing economic growth is likely to solve its environmental problems. In doing so, it critically considers the application to Bangladesh of Environmental Kuznets Curve relationships and applies other macro-methods of assessing the relationship between economic growth and the environment to Bangladesh’s situation. The consequences of Bangladesh's economic reforms for the economic welfare of Bangladeshis and the state of Bangladesh's environment are also examined. Particular attention is given to environmental change in agriculture in the light of Bangladesh economic growth, reforms and proposed growth strategy. Doubts are expressed about the environmental benefits claimed by the Bangladeshi Government for its agricultural development strategy. Indeed, it may exacerbate many existing environmental problems, such as depletion of soil fertility and water supplies, already present.

Human settlements: Australia state of the environment report, 2001

Australia’s transition to the 21st century has been marked by an extended period of economic prosperity unmatched for several decades, but one in which a series of question marks are being raised in three principal areas: in relation to the environment, the social well-being of the population, and the future path of economic development. The first concern, which is of primary interest in this report, relates to the physical environment of cities and their surrounding regions, and the range of pressures exerted by population and human activity. The report begins by noting the increasing divergence of the prime indicator of national economic performance—gross domestic product (GDP)—from the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI). GPI is a new experimental measure of sustainable development that accommodates factors currently unaccounted for in GDP, such as income distribution, value of household work, cost of unemployment, and various other social and environmental costs. The divergence of these two indicators in recent decades suggests that Australia’s growth has been heavily dependent on the draw-down of the nation’s stocks of capital assets (its infrastructure), its human and social capital, and its natural capital (Hamilton 1997).

Outcomes and indicators, measurement tools, and databases for the National Action Plan for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health 2000

This publication is a support and resource document for the "National Action Plan for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health 2000". It includes indicators, measurement tools and databases relevant to assessing the implementation of the outcomes and strategies identified in the action plan.