Calcium,magnesium, and zinc status of young adult females on an adequate protein and calorie intake

Calcium, magnesium, and zinc balances were determined in eleven young adult college females (mean age, 24.9±2.35) during a 39-d metabolic study when the subjects were fed an adequate calorie and protein diet based on habitually consumed foods. Analysis showed that the dietary contribution of calcium, magnesium, and zinc to the RDA were 53.6, 26.4, and 57.9%, respectively. Mean fecal losses of calcium and magnesium were low, while fecal zinc losses were higher than the daily intake. Mean urinary excretion of calcium was within the normal range, but was low for magnesium whereas urinary zinc was higher than normal. Mean daily apparent retentions of calcium and magnesium were positive, whereas positive apparent retention for zinc were observed in four of the subjects. Plasma calcium and magnesium remained normal, but mean plasma zinc declined at the end of the study. Significant correlations were observed between the fecal losses of calcium and magnesium and calcium and zinc. Urinary calcium also correlated significantly (P<0.05) with urinary magnesium, but not with zinc. It appears that adequate protein and calorie intake in the presence of low dietary intake of calcium, magnesium, and zinc has no significant effect on calcium and magnesium status whereas a lowering effect on plasma zinc and apparent zinc retention was observed in the subjects studied.     

Valutazione dei dati aerosporologici ottenuti in due diverse stazioni di rilevamento di una stessa città

Riassunto Nel presente lavoro vengono riportati gli studi quantitativi e qualitativi delle spore micetiche presenti in due diverse zone della città di Cagliari. I rilevamenti sono stati effettuati nei mesi di Febbraio, Marzo ed Aprile del 1987 utilizzando capsule di Petri contenenti “Potato dextrose agar” più antibiotico. Sono state osservate differenze significative nella frequenza delle spore delle due zone considerate. Nel corso dell'intera ricerca abbiamo isolato 6702 colonie filamentose appartenenti a 15 generi diversi; 6 generi sono stati repertati costantemente. Sulla base della quantità e varietà delle specie micetiche identificate, gli Autori ritengono che le spore aerodiffuse possono costituire un fattore di rischio non trascurabile.      

Theoretical note: tests of synergy in sweetener mixtures

Some methods for examining the additivity of sweeteners, and their synergy in mixtures depend upon setting component concentrations on the basis of sweetness equivalence, usually to a sucrose reference. These methods may under- or over-predict the sweetness of a mixture, leading to spurious claims of synergy or mixture suppression. This paper points out one problem with one such popular method, in that the method can lead to a conclusion that a substance would synergize with itself. To the extent that self-synergy is an illogical conclusion for a mixture comparison, such a method should be avoided in tests of synergy. The sweetness equivalence approach is contrasted with a simpler approach based on concentrations that does not lead to conclusions of self- synergy.      

Evaluation of PENFAST – A fast Monte Carlo code for dose calculations in photon and electron radiotherapy treatment planning

The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the potential of accelerated dose calculations, using the fast Monte Carlo (MC) code referred to as PENFAST, rather than the conventional MC code PENELOPE, without losing accuracy in the computed dose. For this purpose, experimental measurements of dose distributions in homogeneous and inhomogeneous phantoms were compared with simulated results using both PENELOPE and PENFAST. The simulations and experiments were performed using a Saturne 43 linac operated at 12 MV (photons), and at 18 MeV (electrons). Pre-calculated phase space files (PSFs) were used as input data to both the PENELOPE and PENFAST dose simulations. Since depth–dose and dose profile comparisons between simulations and measurements in water were found to be in good agreement (within ±1% to 1 mm), the PSF calculation is considered to have been validated. In addition, measured dose distributions were compared to simulated results in a set of clinically relevant, inhomogeneous phantoms, consisting of lung and bone heterogeneities in a water tank. In general, the PENFAST results agree to within a 1% to 1 mm difference with those produced by PENELOPE, and to within a 2% to 2 mm difference with measured values. Our study thus provides a pre-clinical validation of the PENFAST code. It also demonstrates that PENFAST provides accurate results for both photon and electron beams, equivalent to those obtained with PENELOPE. CPU time comparisons between both MC codes show that PENFAST is generally about 9–21 times faster than PENELOPE.     

Can AMP induce sputum eosinophils,even in subjects with complete asthma remission?

Background

The definition of "clinical asthma remission" is based on absence of symptoms and use of medication. However, in the majority of these subjects airway inflammation is still present when measured. In the present study we investigated whether "complete asthma remission", additionally defined by the absence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and the presence of a normal lung function, is associated with the absence of airway inflammation.

Methods

Patients with a former diagnosis of asthma and a positive histamine provocation test were re-examined to identify subjects with complete asthma remission (no asthma symptoms or medication, PC₂₀ histamine > 32 mg/ml, FEV₁ > 90% predicted). Patients with PC₂₀ histamine ≤ 32 mg/ml were defined as current asthmatics and were divided in two groups, i.e. asthmatics with and without BHR to adenosine 5''monophoshate (AMP). Sputum induction was performed 1 week before and 1 hour after AMP provocation. Sputum induction and AMP provocation were previously shown to be sensitive markers of airway inflammation.

Results

Seven patients met criteria for complete asthma remission. Twenty-three were current asthmatics, including twelve without hyperresponsiveness to AMP. Subjects with complete asthma remission showed no AMP-induced sputum eosinophilia (median (range) 0.2 (0 - 4.6)% at baseline and 0.2 (0 - 2.6)% after AMP). After AMP, current asthmatics had a significant increase in sputum eosinophils (0.5 (0 - 26.0)% at baseline and 2.6 (0 - 32.0) % after AMP), as had the subgroup of current asthmatics without hyperresponsiveness to AMP (0.2 (0 - 1.8)% at baseline and 1.3 (0 - 6.3)% after AMP).

Conclusions

Subjects with complete asthma remission, in contrast to subjects with current asthma, do not respond with eosinophilic inflammation in sputum after AMP provocations. These data lend support to the usefulness of the definition of complete asthma remission.     

PD-1 expression in acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with HCV-specific CD8 exhaustion

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8 cell exhaustion may represent a mechanism of HCV persistence. The inhibitory receptor PD-1 has been reported to be up-regulated in exhausted CD8 cells. Therefore, we studied PD-1 expression longitudinally during acute HCV infection. Most HCV-specific CD8 cells expressed PD-1 at the time of acute illness, irrespective of the final outcome. PD-1 expression declined with the acquisition of a memory phenotype and recovery of an efficient CD8 cell function in resolving HCV infections, whereas high levels were maintained when HCV persisted and HCV-specific CD8 cells remained dysfunctional. Blocking PD-1/PDL-1 interaction with an anti-PDL-1 antibody improved the capacity of expansion of virus-specific CD8 cells.     

Amino acid requirement of growing pigs depending on amino acid efficiency and level of protein deposition. 2nd communication: threonine

Forty Swiss Large White pigs (barrows with 31.7 kg initial to 103.7 kg final BW) were equally and randomly assigned to one of four treatments (H0, H200, L0, L200) involving a combination of chromium supplementation (0 or 200 μg/kg) and glycemic index (high GI (H) or low GI (L)). Growth performance, energy and protein digestibility, carcass composition, and some plasma traits were investigated.

The data indicated, that the substitution of dietary carbohydrates with fat and crude fibre (low GI) resulted in lower growth performance due to impaired energy digestibility. Moreover, the strong stimulation of insulin secretion due to the high and rapid availability of carbohydrates of the diets HO and H200 caused increased carcass fat deposition. Chromium supplementation also affected plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations. Depending on glycemic index, chromium affected the growth performance. Daily gain was reduced in pigs of the L200 treatment compared to the L0 group. This finding indicated that the energy availability expressed as GI is one of several nutritional factors, which determine the efficacy of dietary chromium. We could not corroborate evidences that dietary chromium modifies the chemical composition of the whole carcass, but depending on GI, chemical composition of the longissimus muscle was affected.