A Monte Carlo investigation of homogeneity tests of the odds ratio under various sample size configurations

Epidemiologic data for case-control studies are often summarized into K 2 x 2 tables. Given a fixed number of cases and controls, the degree of sparseness in the data depends on the number of strata, K. The effect of increasing stratification on size and power of seven tests of homogeneity of the odds ratio is studied using Monte Carlo methods. In all the designs considered here, the numbers of cases and controls per stratum are the same. Considering both size and power in non-sparse-data settings, we recommend the Breslow-Day statistic (1980, Statistical Methods in Cancer Research, 1. The Analysis of Case-Control Studies, p. 142; Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer) for general use. In sparse-data settings the T4 statistic of Liang and Self (1985, Biometrika 72, 353-358) performs the best when all tables, regardless of sample size, have odds ratios generated from the same distribution. In sparse-data settings characterized by a large table with an odds ratio of 1 and many small tables with odds ratios greater than 1, the T5 statistic of Liang and Self (1985) performs the best. One of the most important results of this study is the generally low power for all homogeneity tests especially when the data are sparse.     

Effect of fatty acid composition of dietary fat on energy balance and expenditure in hamsters

The comparative effects of feeding diets containing corn, olive, coconut, or menhaden fish oil on efficiency of energy deposition and on short term energy expenditure were examined in growing hamsters. Diets comprising oils mixed with laboratory diets at 10% oil w/w were fed ad libitum for 3 weeks. Animals fed laboratory diets were used as controls. Body composition was determined before and after the feeding period using 3H2O distribution space. Oxygen consumption was measured in each animal during the final week. Weight gains of groups fed corn and olive oil diets exceeded those of the group fed laboratory diet alone (p less than 0.05), although metabolizable energy intakes were similar across groups. Corn oil fed animals demonstrated higher carcass energy gains as fat compared with laboratory diet fed or menhaden oil fed groups. This was reflected in an increased fractional deposition of metabolizable energy intake in the group fed corn oil diet compared with the latter two groups. Fecal energy losses were lower in the group fed corn oil diet, and higher in the group fed laboratory diet alone, compared with other groups. Oxygen consumption did not differ between groups. These findings indicate that feeding dietary fish oil, compared with corn oil, favours energy substrate oxidation reducing the fraction of metabolizable energy partitioned for storage.     

Cloning and expression of alpha-amylase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in a stable plasmid vector in Lactobacillus plantarum

Lactobacillus plantarum is used in a wide range of agricultural and food fermentations. In this paper we report the introduction of alpha-amylase into the organism from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens on a stable recombinant plasmid. The genetically manipulated organism grew on MRSB medium supplemented with starch and it may be a prototype for the development of lactobacilli able to use an increased range of substrates in commercial fermentations.     

3H]prostaglandin uptake in vivo by rabbit uterine tissues and blastocysts

Day-6 pregnant rabbits were anesthetized and subjected to a mid-ventral laparotomy. [3H] Prostaglandin F2alpha) (PGF2alpha) [3H]PGE2, [14C]Urea or [14C]Sucrose were instilled into the uterine lumen via the uterotubal junction. The amounts instilled/uterine horn were respectively 3.7 +/- 0.3, 3.5 +/- 0.3, 5.7 +/- 1.3 and 2.7 +/- 1.6 muCi in 20mul of buffer. Animals were killed at 1, 2, 9, 19 or 21 h after radioactive instillation, and the amounts of radioactivity in blastocysts, uterine tissue, peritoneal cavity washings and urine evaluated by liquid scintillation spectrometry. A gradient of radioactivity was observed from the uterotubal junction to the cervical end of the uterus. Large amounts of [3H]PG were found in the injected horn and associated blastocysts with a considerable crossover to the non-injected horn, but little in the associated blastocysts. Much of the blastocysts associated- [3H]PG remained unmetabolized. Large amounts of metabolized [3 H] were found in urine. [14C]Urea was taken up by uterine tissue in the injected horn, but there was little cross over to the non-injected horn. Urea was also found in urine. Much of the [14C]Sucrose remained in the injected horn, and little was recovered from the urine. It was found that at 9 h, but not at 19 h, after [3 H]PG instillation, the PG was localized at the site of the blastocysts in the injected but not in the contralateral horn. Significantly more [3H]PGF2alpha than [3H]PGE2 was localized in this situation. [14C]Urea was not localized at the site of the blastocysts in urea injected horns. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A new species of land planarian preying on termites in Kenya (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria: Tricladida: Terricola)

A new species of land planarian is described from Kenya. Microplana rermirophaga sp. nov. preys on termites by capturing them at the openings to their nest. The pharynx is unusually far forwards for a land planarian and this is probably related to the active nature of the prey. There is an anterior depression caused by the termination of parenchymal longitudinal muscle bundles which might act as a sucker. All specimens are immature which leads to some difficulty in assigning the species to a genus.     

Caseload or workload? Scoring complexity of operative procedures as a means of analysing workload.

OBJECTIVE--To present a more realistic assessment of surgical workload than that provided by a case count. DESIGN--Prospective study of all the operative procedures performed in one year, classified according to the British United Provident Association''s schedule of procedures and scored by the "intermediate equivalent" value (taking the recommended fee value of an intermediate operation as 1.0) compared with the number of operations performed. SETTING--General surgical unit of Taunton and Somerset Hospital, comparing four consultant surgeons and their teams. PATIENTS--Inpatients and day patients admitted under the care of general surgeons during 1989. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Difference between the apparent workload represented by simple case counting (caseload) and the actual workload represented by calculation of the total "intermediate equivalent" value. RESULTS--The workload assessed in terms of intermediate equivalent values was greater than that suggested by case counting for complex operations (12% v 4%), operations at the district hospital (82% v 74%), and operations performed by consultants (53% v 35%) and was lower for minor operations (20% v 42%), operations at the community hospitals (18% v 26%), and operations performed by surgeons in training grades and clinical assistants (47% v 66%). CONCLUSIONS--The use of the intermediate equivalent values as an indicator of complexity allows a more realistic assessment of the operative workload than a simple case count of the number of different operations and is recommended for comparing workload in different hospitals and departments.