Nutrition survey of schoolchildren in greater Winnipeg. II. Dietary intake and biochemical assessment.

The total dietary intake of energy and of individual nutrients of 99 grades 3 and 6 children from 10 greater Winnipeg shcools were generally comparable to those reported by Nutrition Canada for the Manitoba and national samples, although the percentile distributions of total caloric intake and dietary intake of vitamin A for the Winnipeg children tended to be lower. The median daily intake of protein was 212% of the Canadian Dietary Standard and most came from animal sources. Dietary fat was largely from animal sources as well. Hemoglobin concentrations were marginally low in four children, and urinary riboflavin:creatinine ratios were low in six children. There was no biochemical evidence of thiamin deficiency. The results suggest a need for change in dietary patterns and for education in nutrition, including relative nutrient/cost benefits. A well planned school snack program with an education component is a medium by which change could be introduced. This should preferable be part of a total school health program.     

Reproductive performance of farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) in New Zealand. I. Descriptive data.

A longitudinal observational study of 15 red deer (Cervus elaphus) farms was carried out in New Zealand for 2 years from Mar 1992. Management of hind mobs and their composition during mating, calving, and weaning were recorded. About 2700 hinds were individually monitored for live weight, body condition score and reproductive success. All hinds were pregnancy tested in June by ultrasound and classified as having conceived before May 1, after May 1, or as being not pregnant. Calving dates and dam-offspring pairs were recorded on four farms. The lactational status of hinds and live weight of calves were recorded at weaning. Mean pre-mating live weights of yearling hinds were 81.3-82.8 kg and of adult hinds 98.0-98.7 kg, respectively, for each year of study. The percentage of yearling and adult hinds conceiving before May ranged from 8.3 to 95.0% and from 77.6 to 98.4%, respectively, between farms. Overall, the proportion of yearling and adult hinds not pregnant was 15.3% and 3.2%, respectively. Pregnancy rates at scanning of adult hinds within mating mobs were generally over 90%, and 41.7% of mating mobs had 100% pregnancy rates. In contrast, the pregnancy rates of yearling hind mobs were more variable, with five mobs below 50%, and 34.1% of mating mobs achieving 100% pregnancy rate. Estimated in utero loss rates from pregnancy diagnosis to calving were 0.66 and 0.79% for yearling and adult hinds, respectively. From four farms, median calving dates of yearling and adult hinds were Dec 13 and Nov 30, respectively. Overall, calf survival rates to weaning of yearling and adult offspring were 84.1 and 91.6%, respectively, while the reproductive efficiencies (number of calves weaned per hind mated) were 70 and 83.6%, respectively. Farm mean weaner live weights standardised on Apr 1 ranged from 42-59 kg and 39-51 kg for stags and hinds, respectively. These data are currently the best estimates of reproductive parameters of New Zealand red deer herds, and highlight a wide variability in reproductive indices between farms.     

Granuloma formation to Capillaria hepatica eggs. I. Descriptive definition

The course of the cellular response in the liver to nonembryonated Capillaria hepatica (Bancroft, 1893) eggs given by intravenous injection into the portal circulation of unsensitized and sensitized mice was studied qualitatively and quantitatively. A gradual infiltration of predominantly mononuclear cells occurred around the eggs in the liver, leading to the formation of distinct granulomatous lesions characterized by macrophages and lymphocytes. This was followed by an infiltration of eosinophils. Previous intraperitoneal sensitization led to an earlier and an enhanced reaction to an intravenous challenge with eggs. Specificity of the cellular response was suggested by the lack of an enhanced reaction to presensitization with eggs of a closely related species, Trichuris muris. These studies indicate that granuloma formation to C. hepatica eggs has an immunological basis and furthermore the cell composition of the granuloma would suggest that a cell-mediated component may be involved as part of the specific response.     

Variation among North Amerindians: analysis of Boas's anthropometric data.

In the late nineteenth century Franz Boas was responsible for assembling anthropometric data from North Amerindians. Approximately 15,000 subjects were measured, but the data have never been systematically analyzed. Here we describe our efforts to develop a computerized database from Boas's data and present the first systematic analysis of these data. In addition to a general analysis of North Amerindian anthropometric variation, we also present a more detailed analysis of anthropometric variation among tribes located in the American Northwest. In the general analysis we find that anthropometric variation is strongly patterned along geographic lines. We examine geographic and language patterning by grouping tribes by culture area and language phylum. Both have high explanatory power, culture area being the higher. The Northwest analysis shows that both language and geographic location are important in explaining anthropometric variation.     

Principal-components analysis of Brazilian Indian anthropometric data

Analysis of nine characteristics on 1,205 males and 932 females from 12 tribes or groups of tribes indicated a poor relationship between morphology and language, as well as moderate agreement with the variability expected considering geography only. Two samples in the Xingu area studied during an interval of half a century (1897-1947) showed remarkable similarity. The conformity of the Caingang morphology with those of other tribes and the distinctiveness of the Xavante and Tenetehara has been amply confirmed.     

BCG immunisation in England and Wales: a survey of policy and practice in schoolchildren and neonates.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the policy and practice of district health authorities in England and Wales for BCG immunisation in schoolchildren and neonates. DESIGN--Self completion postal questionnaire survey. PARTICIPANTS--District immunisation coordinators. SETTING--199 district health authorities in England and Wales. RESULTS--Questionnaires were received from 186 districts, a response rate of 94%. Considerable uniformity was observed in many aspects of BCG immunisation policy and practice but some important variations were found. 15 districts no longer carry out a routine schools programme. 148 districts offer BCG to selected groups of neonates and five to all neonates, but 31 districts do not offer BCG to this age group. The recommended action in response to different levels of tuberculin sensitivity in schoolchildren and neonates varied among districts. CONCLUSIONS--Despite the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation some districts do not offer BCG immunisation to neonates at high risk of tuberculosis and there are important variations in other aspects of BCG policy.     

Proposal for a nutritional study using a survey of anthropometric data on school-age children from the Molise countryside]

The present work is a preliminary study, preceding a larger one in the Molise countryside ; its aim is to set out methodological and operative basis to estimate the nutrition state of children aged 6-10 years, through a survey of anthropometric data. The list of considered parameters is here related. From the analysis of the different parameters it comes out that the tested population shows a trend to have a body weight too high compared to its height. That involves a more thick-set and less long-limbed body structure. Although the sample is small in number, the results enable us to believe that carrying on the study on a vast scale is suitable.     

Brucellosis in elk I. Serologic and bacteriologic survey in Wyoming.

Incidence of brucellosis in elk (Cervus canadensis) on two winter feedgrounds in Wyoming was examined over a 5-year period by testing serum samples using the standard plate agglutination (SPT) buffered Brucella antigen (BBA), rivanol (Riv) and complement fixation (CFT) tests. Thirty-one percent of 1,165 elk were positive by defined criteria. Considering each test individually, only 29% (106) of 370 positive sera would have been classified as reactors by the SPT, 83% (307) by the BBA test and 86% (314) by the Riv test. The CFT would have identified 85% (267) of 332 positive samples on which it was used. Brucella abortus, type 1, was isolated from 17 of 45 elk necropsied. The SPT identified 59% (10) of these as reactors, the BBA test 94% (16) and the Riv test 88% (15). The CFT identified nine of nine (100%) on which it was used. Prevalence of sero-positive animals increased with age. Brucellosis has been present in one of the two elk herds since at least 1930, and the incidence of infection among mature females in both herds was approximately 50% during this study. No single serologic test should be relied upon to diagnose brucellosis in elk.