Haptoglobin phenotypes in diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy.

An analysis of haptoglobin (HP) phenotypes in 81 cases of diabetes mellitus (DM) without retinopathy and 122 cases with diabetic retinopathy (DR) were studied in relation to 180 normal and healthy controls matched for age and sex. A significant decrease in HP 2-1 frequency was found, suggesting protection for heterozygotes in both DM and DR (with a relative risk of about 0.31). As an acute-phase reactant HP may be functionally involved in the etiology of DM and DR, which are associated with immunologic and inflammatory processes, respectively. No significant differences were found with respect to sex, age at onset, duration of DR, types of DM and DR, and family history.     

Airborne Pollen Grains of Gurdur,Turkey

Ｔｈｃ ｐｏｌｌｅｎ ｇｒａｉｎｓ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ａｔｍｏｓｐｈｅｒｅ ｏｆ Ｂｕｒｄｕｒ ｈａｖｅ ｂｅｅｎ ｓｔｕｄｉｅｄ ｆｏｒ ａ ｔｗｏ－ｙｅａｒ ｐｅｒｉｏｄ（１９９６ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ １９９７）ｗｉｔｈ ａ Ｄｕｒｈａｍ ｓａｍｐｌｅｒ．Ａ ｔｏｔａｌ ｏｆ １１ ８８１ ｐｏｌｌｅｎ ｇｒａｉｎｓ ｂｅｌｏｎｇｉｎｓ ｔｏ ３９ ｔａｘａ ｈａｖｅ ｂｅｅｎ ｉｄｅｎｔｉ－ｆｉｅｄ     

Pattern of Resource Allocation of Six Plantago Species with Different Breeding Systems

Plantago exhibit great deal of differences in the breeding system. The reproductive effort calculated on the basis of, (i) dry biomass of foliar and floral parts and (ii) seed output-weight (mg) per unit leaf area (cm²), exhibits relation with breeding system. The predominantly inbreeding taxa invest higher reproductive effort compared to their outbreeding allies. In terms of sex allocation strategies, the outbreeding species like P. lanceolata, P. lagopus invest more to the development of floral features and to male functions. On the contrary, inbreeding species such as P. patagonica, P. drummondii, and P. ovata invest greater resources to the female function. Received 13 April 1998/ Accepted in revised form 6 November 1998     

Possible influences of a macroalgal bloom in eelgrass beds on fish assemblages in the lower Knysna Estuary,South Africa

The occurrence of a macroalgal bloom at eelgrass (Zostera capensis) sampling sites in the summer of 2014/2015 provided an opportunity to use underwater video cameras to monitor the possible effects of environmental change on fish diversity and abundance in the lower reaches of the Knysna Estuary. A General Linear Model (GLM) showed that there was a significant difference in the abundance of fish before and after an invasion of the sampling sites by the macroalga Ulva lactuca. The eelgrass bed fish abundance was more affected by the macroalgal bloom than the bare substratum fish abundance, with the Ulva impacting negatively on the relative abundance of Mugilidae in the former habitat. The hypothesis that macroalgal invasions have a negative effect on fish diversity and abundance is therefore supported by this preliminary study.     

Maternal Infection Is a Risk Factor for Early Childhood Infection in Filariasis

Background

Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) launched by WHO aims to eliminate the disease by 2020. To achieve the goal annual mass drug administration (MDA) with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) plus albendazole (ABZ) has been introduced in all endemic countries. The current policy however excludes pregnant mothers and children below two years of age from MDA. Since pregnancy and early childhood are critical periods in determining the disease outcome in older age, the present study was undertaken to find out the influence of maternal filarial infection at the time of pregnancy on the susceptibility outcome of children born in a community after implementation of MDA for the first time.

Methodology and Principal Findings

The participants in this cohort consists of pregnant mothers and their subsequently born children living in eight adjacent villages endemic for filarial infections, in Khurda District, Odisha, India, where MDA has reduced microfilariae (Mf) rate from 12% to 0.34%. Infection status of mother and their children were assessed by detection of Mf as well as circulating filarial antigen (CFA) assay. The present study reveals a high rate of acquiring filarial infection by the children born to infected mother than uninfected mothers even though Mf rate has come down to < 1% after implementation of ten rounds of MDA.

Significance

To attain the target of eliminating lymphatic filariasis the current MDA programme should give emphasis on covering the women of child bearing age. Our study recommends incorporating supervised MDA to Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health Programme (ARSH) to make the adolescent girls free from infection by the time of pregnancy so as to achieve the goal.     

Whole Grain Intakes in the Diets Of Malaysian Children and Adolescents – Findings from the MyBreakfast Study

Background

Diets rich in whole grain are associated with several health benefits. Little is known however, about whole grain consumption patterns in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to assess whole grain intakes and dietary source in Malaysian children and adolescents.

Methods

This analysis is from the MyBreakfast study, a national cross sectional study investigating eating habits among primary and secondary school children throughout Malaysia, conducted in 2013. Children (n = 5,165) and adolescents (n = 2,947) who completed two days of dietary assessment using a food record or recall respectively were included. The whole grain content of foods was estimated mainly through the use of quantitative ingredient declarations on food labels. All wholegrain foods were considered irrespective of the amount of whole grain they contained.

Results

Overall, only 25% of children and 19% of adolescents were wholegrain consumers. Mean daily intakes in the total sample were 2.3g/d (SD 5.8g/d) in children and 1.7g/d (SD 4.7g/d) in adolescents and in the consumer’s only sample, mean intakes reached 9.1g/d (SD 8.6) and 9.2g/d (SD 7.1g/d) respectively. Wheat was the main grain source of whole grain while ready to eat breakfast cereals and hot cereals were the main food contributors. Less than 3% of the children and adolescents reached the US quantitative whole grain recommendation of 48g/day.

Conclusion

Whole grain is consumed by only a minority of Malaysian children and adolescents and even among consumers, intakes are well below recommendations. Efforts are needed to firstly understand the barriers to whole grain consumption among Malaysian children in order to design effective health promotion initiatives to promote an increase in whole grain consumption.     

Protozoan, bacterial, and volatile Fatty Acid changes associated with feeding tylosin

Tylosin was fed to two of six wethers for 79 days, to a second two for only 28 days, and not at all to a third pair (controls). The addition of tylosin to the daily feed resulted in a rapid twofold increase in protozoal concentration and a change in the composition or characteristics, or both, of the bacterial population. The results indicate that the bacterial population was modified to the extent of about 80%. Total acid concentrations were initially depressed but appeared to be greater than those in control animals at the termination of the experiment. Deletion of tylosin from the ration resulted in a rapid decrease in protozoal concentrations, whereas changes in the bacterial population did not occur for a further 30 days.