Hospital admissions before and after shipyard closure.

To determine the effect of job loss on health an investigation was made of admissions to hospitals in 887 men five years before and three years after the closure of a Danish shipyard. The control group comprised 441 men from another shipyard. The information on hospital admissions was obtained from the Danish national register of patients. The relative risk of admission in the control group dropped significantly in terms of the number of men admitted from the study group from 1.29 four to five years before closure to 0.74 in the three years after closure. This was especially true of admissions due to accidents (1.33 to 0.46) and diseases of the digestive system (4.53 to 1.03). For diseases of the circulatory system, particularly cardiovascular diseases, the relative risk increased from 0.8 to 1.60, and from 1.0 to 2.6 respectively. These changes in risk of illness after redundancy are probably a consequence of a change from the effects of a high risk work environment to the effects of psychosocial stresses such as job insecurity and unemployment.     

A comparison of the properties of renin isolated from pig and rat kidney.

Pancreatic RNAase (ribonuclease) from the pike whale (lesser rorqual, Balaenoptera acutorostrata) was isolated by affinity chromatography. The protein was digested with different proteolytic enzymes. Peptides were isolated by gel filtration, preparative high-voltage paper electrophoresis and paper chromatography. The amino acid sequence of peptides was determined by the dansyl-Edman method. Although we do not have an amino acid composition for the whole protein, all peptide bonds were overlapped by one or more peptides. Residues 85-96 are bridged by a peptide of unstaisfactory composition and the sequence here depends, at least in part, on homology for its confirmation. Another region in which a similar situation obtains is residues 39-40. This pancreatic RNAase differs at 24-33% of the positions from all other mammalian pancreatic RNAases sequenced to date, except for pig RNAase, from which it differs by 19%. This indicates that whale RNAase has evolved independently during the larger part of the evolution of the mammals. Lesser-rorqual pancreatic RNAase is partially glycosidated (30%) at asparagine-76 in an Asn-Ser-Thr sequence (residues 76-78). Pig RNAase also has carbohydrate attached to asparagine-76 and is identical with lesser-rorqual RNAase in residues 76-98. Detailed evidence for the sequence has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50066 (11 pages) at the British Library Lending Division, Boston Spa, Wetherby, W. Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies may be obtained on the terms ginen in Biochem. J. (1976) 135, 5.     

Kinematic analysis of over-determinate biomechanical systems

In this paper, we introduce a new general method for kinematic analysis of rigid multi body systems subject to holonomic constraints. The method extends the standard analysis of kinematically determinate rigid multi body systems to the over-determinate case. This is accomplished by introducing a constrained optimisation problem with the objective function given as a function of the set of system equations that are allowed to be violated while the remaining equations define the feasible set.

We show that exact velocity and acceleration analysis can also be performed by solving linear sets of equations, originating from differentiation of the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker optimality conditions.

The method is applied to the analysis of an 18 degrees-of-freedom gait model where the kinematical drivers are prescribed with data from a motion capture experiment.

The results show that significant differences are obtained between applying standard kinematic analysis or minimising the least-square errors on the two fully equivalent 3D gait models with only the way the experimental data is processed being different.     

The modulation rate transfer function of a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

During echolocation, toothed whales produce ultrasonic clicks at extremely rapid rates and listen for the returning echoes. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) duration was evaluated in terms of latency between single peaks: 5.5 ms (from peak I to VII), 3.4 ms (I–VI), and 1.4 ms (II–IV). In comparison to the killer whale and the bottlenose dolphin, the ABR of the harbour porpoise has shorter intervals between the peaks and consequently a shorter ABR duration. This indicates that the ABR duration and peak latencies are possibly related to the relative size of the auditory structures of the central nervous system and thus to the animal’s size. The ABR to a sinusoidal amplitude modulated stimulus at 125 kHz (sensitivity threshold 63 dB re 1 μPa rms) was evaluated to determine the modulation rate transfer function of a harbour porpoise. The ABR showed distinct envelope following responses up to a modulation rate of 1,900 Hz. The corresponding calculated equivalent rectangular duration of 263 μs indicates a good temporal resolution in the harbour porpoise auditory system similar to the one for the bottlenose dolphin. The results explain how the harbour porpoise can follow clicks and echoes during echolocation with very short inter click intervals.     

Immunohistochemical localisation and developmental aspects of epidermal growth factor in the rat

Summary The tissue localisation and time of first appearance of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in the developing rat were investigated by means of immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay. In this study we were able to show, that EGF appears prenatally in the lung and the kidney from gestational day 19. Postnatally EGF was found also in the gastrointestinal tract, first in Brunner's glands of the duodenum (at birth), next in the Paneth cells (day 7), and finally in the submandibular glands (day 25). The immunohistochemical and radioreceptor results are consistent, whereas the radioimmunoassay detects EGF later and in smaller quantities, than does the radioreceptor assay. These differences will be discussed.     

Kinematic analysis of over-determinate biomechanical systems

In this paper, we introduce a new general method for kinematic analysis of rigid multi body systems subject to holonomic constraints. The method extends the standard analysis of kinematically determinate rigid multi body systems to the over-determinate case. This is accomplished by introducing a constrained optimisation problem with the objective function given as a function of the set of system equations that are allowed to be violated while the remaining equations define the feasible set. We show that exact velocity and acceleration analysis can also be performed by solving linear sets of equations, originating from differentiation of the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker optimality conditions. The method is applied to the analysis of an 18 degrees-of-freedom gait model where the kinematical drivers are prescribed with data from a motion capture experiment. The results show that significant differences are obtained between applying standard kinematic analysis or minimising the least-square errors on the two fully equivalent 3D gait models with only the way the experimental data is processed being different.     

Recovery of blood gases and haematological parameters upon anaesthesia with benzocaine,MS-222 or Aqui-S in the air-breathing catfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pangasianodon hypophthalmus</Emphasis>

Fish anaesthesia is used to minimize handling stress and damage during harvesting, transportation, and surgical procedures. Through depression of cardiovascular and respiratory functions, it causes significant changes in blood gases and pH. Here, we present the effects of benzocaine (100 mg l^?1), MS-222 (100 mg l^?1), and Aqui-S (30 mg l^?1) on blood gases and haematological parameters of commercial-sized (≈1 kg) striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and the time course of recovery. Blood was taken through a dorsal aorta catheter immediately after catheterization, and regularly during the following 72 h recovery in aerated water. All anaesthetics caused increases in PCO₂ and lactate resulting in a decrease in pH_e, closely mirrored by RBC pH_i, as well as a marked rise in Hct, associated with elevated [cortisol] and [glucose] and increased RBC counts but no change in RBC volume, as confirmed by the lack of an adrenergic response of RBC in vitro. All anaesthetics showed similar efficacy and blood parameters were normalized within 24 to 48 h.     

Effects on metabolic markers are modified by PPARG2 and COX2 polymorphisms in infants randomized to fish oil

Long-chain n-3 fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) improve blood pressure (BP) and lipid profile in adults and improve insulin sensitivity in rodents. We have previously shown that n-3 LCPUFA reduces BP and plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) in infants. Few studies have found effects on glucose homeostasis in humans. We explored possible effect modification by FADS, PPARG2, and COX2 genotypes to support potential effects of n-3 LCPUFA on metabolic markers in infants. Danish infants (133) were randomly allocated to daily supplementation with a teaspoon (~5 mL/day) of fish oil (FO) or sunflower oil (SO) from 9 to 18 months of age. Before and after the intervention, we assessed BP, erythrocyte n-3 LCPUFA, plasma lipid profile, insulin, and glucose in addition to functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in FADS, PPARG2, and COX2. At 18 months, plasma TAG was lower in the FO compared with SO group (p = 0.014). This effect was modified by PPARG2-Pro12Ala, as TAG only decreased among heterozygotes. FO supplemented PPARG2 Pro12Ala heterozygotes also had decreased plasma glucose compared with the SO group (p = 0.043). The effect of FO on mean arterial BP at 18 months was gender dependent (p = 0.020) and reduced in boys only (p = 0.028). Diastolic BP was, however, lower among all FO supplemented homozygous COX2-T8473C variant allele carriers compared with the SO group (p = 0.001). In conclusion, our results confirm that FO supplementation in late infancy reduces TAG and BP and indicates that the effects are mediated via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and cyclooxygenase-2. Furthermore, FO reduced plasma glucose only in PPARG2 heterozygotes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12263-014-0396-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Immunohistochemical localisation and developmental aspects of epidermal growth factor in the rat

The tissue localisation and time of first appearance of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in the developing rat were investigated by means of immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay. In this study we were able to show, that EGF appears prenatally in the lung and the kidney from gestational day 19. Postnatally EGF was found also in the gastrointestinal tract, first in Brunner's glands of the duodenum (at birth), next in the Paneth cells (day 7), and finally in the submandibular glands (day 25). The immunohistochemical and radioreceptor results are consistent, whereas the radioimmunoassay detects EGF later and in smaller quantities, than does the radioreceptor assay. These differences will be discussed.     

Microalbuminuria as predictor of increased mortality in elderly people.

OBJECTIVE--Correlation of the urinary albumin excretion rate and the risk of death among elderly subjects. DESIGN--216 Subjects aged 60-74 whose urinary albumin excretion rate had been determined were followed up 62-83 months later. SETTING--Municipality of Fredericia, Denmark. SUBJECTS--223 People who had been selected as control subjects for diabetics found during a systematic screening for diabetes of all people aged 60-74 living in the municipality of Fredericia, Denmark. Of these subjects, 216 had an extensive clinical and biochemical examination within a few weeks of selection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Death. RESULTS--The median urinary albumin excretion rate was 7.52 micrograms/min. Eight of those with a rate below the median died compared with 23 with a rate equal to or greater than the median (p = 0.0078). The median albumin excretion rate in the 31 who died was 15.00 micrograms/min. Cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death in both groups. A multivariate regression analysis of survival data was performed using the proportional hazards model. Besides albumin excretion rate, male sex, serum creatinine concentration, and hypertension were found to be of prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS--The association between the albumin excretion rate and mortality that has been described in recent years in patients with diabetes mellitus may be present in elderly people in general, even when other known risk factors are taken into account.