An Investigation of the Relationship between Indices of Body Composition and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adult Females.

Background: According to the World Health Organisation [1] obesity is now a “global epidemic”, ranking as the fifth most common cause of death worldwide. Obesity prevalence has more than doubled over the past two decades [2], with particularly high levels in Scotland [3]. Obesity shows strong associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the largest single cause of death in the UK [4]; accounting for one in three deaths. Currently NICE [5] recommend using body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) for obesity assessment. Recently Krakauer and Krakauer [6] proposed the novel “a body shape index” (ABSI) for better predicting mortality hazard. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between BMI, WC, percentage body fat (%BF), ABSI and various cardiovascular risk factors in adult females. Methods: The study was granted university ethical approval had an observational crosssectional design and recruited through convenience sampling. International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry methodologies were used to measure height, weight and WC. Single frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis enabled estimation of %BF. BMI (kg/m2) was calculated by dividing weight (kg) by height squared (m2). ABSI (m11/6 kg-2/3) was calculated by dividing WC (m) by BMI2/3 (kg/m2) height½ (m) using an online calculator. Physical activity levels (PAL) and sitting time were estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and self-reports of alcohol intake and alcoholic binges were also obtained. Vascular health was determined via: blood pressure (BP); carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the augmentation index (AIx) using a Vicorder™ device. SPSS v.19 was used to determine Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients for normally distributed data (WC, ABSI, sitting time, systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean BP) and Spearman’s correlation coefficients for all other data. Results: 29 healthy females aged 27±8years were recruited from Queen Margaret University. The average BMI was 23.3±4.2kg/m2, %BF 23.4±7.4%, WC 73.8±8.7cm and ABSI 0.07±0.004m11/6kg-2/3. ABSI correlated weakly (r=0.1-0.3) and non-significantly (p>0.05) with all CVD risk factors. Established body composition indices revealed significant moderate-strength correlations (r=0.36-0.67), including: alcohol intake with BMI (p=0.04, r2=0.15), %BF (p=0.04, r2=0.14) and WC (p=0.02, r2=0.20); alcoholic binges with BMI (p=0.03, r2=0.16) and WC (p=0.01, r2=0.24); sitting time with BMI (p=0.02, r2=0.19); systolic BP with BMI (p=0.03, r2=0.17); diastolic BP with WC (p=0.02, r2=0.20); and mean BP with both BMI (p=0.04, r2=0.15) and WC (p=0.02, r2=0.19). Discussion: In this small-scale study no evidence of a significant correlation was found between ABSI and the CVD risk factors investigated. Furthermore, several limitations were apparent: The sample was small and consisted of a particularly young healthy population, thus suggesting insufficient external validity and it is debatable whether all participants fully complied with the pre-test protocol, which may have influenced the results. Conclusion: Findings corroborate current recommendations for using established indices of body composition, particularly BMI and/or WC for identifying early risks of CVD. However, definitive conclusions regarding whether or not ABSI can be used as a predictor for CVD risk cannot be made. Further work in a larger more diverse population involving multiple regressions is warranted.

A Study of Grey Literature in the Field of Nutrition, Health and Food Safety.

Aims: Grey literature covers all reports from public research institutes, which are not peerreviewed scientific papers. The aim of this article is to explore the amount and extent of grey literature in the field of nutrition, health and food safety, the retrievability and the view of several scientists on this matter. Study Design: An explorative descriptive, semi-quantitative study. Methodology: During a three week survey in June 2013, a questionnaire was sent to 97 scientists in the field of nutrition, health and food safety, of which 44 were returned. Most of the scientists were working in European governmental, academic or research institutes. Questions included an estimation of the quantity and retrievability of the grey literature at that institute, as well as questions about better ways to make grey literature more accessible. To compare the current needs for grey literature and its accessibility with future needs, a questionnaire was also designed and distributed via email and social media among students in the Netherlands; in total 134 replies were received of which 96 were included in the analysis. Outcomes of the research were compared with literature. Results: Scientists were aware of the existence of grey literature, but had mostly no idea about the amount and extent of it within their own institutes, which was an important drawback in this study. Also, the reported number by scientists did not match the number found on websites of the institutes, which may be due to language barriers, costs and the use of passwords. Although there are various repositories especially for the storage of grey literature, most scientists are not aware of them. The results also gave some insight in the perceived needs and problems with retrievability. Conclusion: This study should be considered as a first attempt to explore the grey literature in the field of nutrition, health and food safety. The main finding was that the quantity and impact of grey literature is not to be underestimated. Scientists indicated that they want to improve retrievability of the documentation since they are considered often very valuable to the scientific community and the general public. Increasing the awareness of the amount grey literature and ways to improve the accessibility are points of attention for further research.

Antibacterial activities of lactic acid bacteria isolated from selected vegetables grown in nigeria: a preliminary report

Members of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known probiotics and have been reported to have antimicrobial properties. Although various researchers have documented the isolation of these bacteria from fruits and vegetables; studies on LAB associated with lettuce; cucumber and cabbage are limited and non-existing in Nigeria. This study was designed to assess lettuce; cucumber and cabbage as potential sources of LAB and investigate the actions of their bacterial cell supernatants (BCS) on some pathogenic bacteria. Using standard microbiological methods; isolated LAB were identified to species level with API 50 CH kits (Biomerieux; France). Cell free supernatants (CFS) from de Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth cultures of the LAB strains were used to challenge Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853; Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212; Escherichia coli ATCC 12900 and Proteus penneri ATCC 13315 by agar well diffusion method. The control consisted of the sterile MRS broth subjected to the same growth conditions as LAB broth cultures. A total of four lactic acid bacteria were isolated as follows: Pediococcus pentosaceus 2 from cucumber; Lactobacillus cellobiosus from cabbage; Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus plantarum 1 from lettuce. Pediococcus pentosaceus 2 and L. salivarius showed inhibitory effects on all the standard strains tested while L. plantarum 1 showed no inhibitory activity against E. faecalis and E. coli. Lactobacillus cellobiosus showed inhibition against all except P. penneri. Although; the molecular characterisation and probiotic potentials of these LAB strains are being investigated in an on-going study; we presumed these vegetables are prospective sources of the bacteria in Nigeria and therefore the need to extensively investigate the vegetables and other related vegetables becomes imperative

Occurrence of Campylobacter species in poultry forms in Lagos area of Nigeria.

Samples of poultry droppings were collected from fifty poultry farms in Lagos area of Nigeria. Campylobacter species were isolated from serially diluted samples using Bolton selective enrichment medium under microaerophilic condition at 42 degrees C. Samples of water, both treated and untreated used in the farms were also analysed in the same manner. Fifteen Campylobacter strains were isolated from the droppings. All the strains were identified using biochemical characteristics differentiating Campylobacter species. They were identified as hippurate positive (C. jejuni) and negative species (C. coli). They were biotype' using the extended scheme described by Lior (1984). Campylobacter coli biotype 'I was the most prevalent (66.66%) followed by C. jejuni biotype 1 (20.00%). The biotype ii of the two species accounted for 6.67% each. The C. jejuni biotype III and IV were not isolated during the study. The preponderance of C. coli indicates that poultry can be a major reservoir for the spread of human campylobacteriosis. Poultry farmers, therefore, must ensure prompt and adequate means of disposal of waste materials as well as maintaining good sanitary conditions.

Traqueobroncomalacia en pacientes pediátricos: experiencia clínica / Tracheobronchomalacia in pediatric patients: clinical experience

Background: Tracheobronchomalacia is characterized by a deficiency in the cartilaginous support of the trachea and bronchi and hypotony in the myoelastic elements, that lead to different levels of airway obstruction. Aim: To report our experience in the treatment of traqueobronchomalacia. Material and methods: Retrospective review of 24 patients with tracheomalacia of different levels (3 tracheobronchomalacia, 3 laryngotracheomalacia) and 8 patients with bronchomalacia. Results: The age at diagnosis ranged from 9 days to 9 years. Clinical presentation was recurrent wheezing in 19 patients, stridor in 6 and atelectasis in 4. The associated factors were neurological impairment in 8, congenital heart disease in 10 and prolonged mechanical ventilation in 4. The diagnosis was done by flexible bronchoscopy in all patients, using sedation and allowing spontaneous breathing. At the moment of diagnosis, treatment consisted in oxygen supply in 14 patients, physiotherapy in 21, õ2 adrenergic agonists in 27, racemic epinephrine in 8, mechanical ventilation in 12, ipratropium bromide in 5 and inhaled steroids in 13. After diagnosis, 24 patients received bronchodilator therapy with ipratropium bromide, 15 received racemic epinephrine and 22 received inhaled steroids. In 21, õ2 adrenergic agonists were discontinued. Thirteen patients required ventilation support and home oxygen. Twenty two patients showed a satisfactory clinical evolution and 6 patients died. Conclusions: The clinical presentation of tracheobronchomalacia is varied and diagnosis is done by flexible bronchoscopy. Treatment will depend on the severity of the disease, but õ2 adrenergic agonists should be excluded

Epidemiology of shigellosis in Lagos, Nigeria: trends in antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Shigella spp. and Escherichia coli, isolated from diarrhoeal patients in Lagos, was studied from March 1999 to February 2000. Four hundred fifty-nine isolates were identified as shigellae (62) and E. coli (397). Shigella flexneri, S. dysenteriae, S. boydii, and S. sonnei accounted, respectively, for 51.6%, 17.7%, 17.7%, and 13% of the total number of shigellae isolated. Eleven cases of shigellosis occurred in the age group of 0-9 years, 22 cases in the age group of 10-19 years, and 29 cases in the age group of > or = 20 years. Of the 397 E. coli isolates, 11 were enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and 7 of these strains were isolated with shigellae from stools of patients aged 0-9 year(s) (71.4%) and 10-19 years (28.6%). Over 70% of the Shigella isolates were resistant to two or more drugs, including ampicillin and tetracycline. Twenty-one distinct multidrug resistance patterns were observed in these isolates. During 1990-2000, resistance to ampicillin increased from 70% to 90%, co-trimoxazole from 77% to 85%, chloramphenicol from 71% to 77%, streptomycin from 71% to 79%, and nalidixic acid from 0% to 11.3%. Resistance to tetracycline decreased from 89% to 79% but with MIC50 and MIC90 values outside the susceptible range. While resistance to ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin remained nil with MIC50 and MIC90 values of 0.008 and 0.0016 microgram/mL respectively. The results of this study revealed the endemicity of shigellosis with S. flexneri as the predominant serogroup in Lagos. Children and young adults were at a higher risk of severe shigellosis. The results also suggest that ampicillin, tetracycline, co-trimoxazole, and streptomycin should not be used as the first-line drugs in the treatment of shigellosis. Nalidixic acid should still be selectively used for treatment, while ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin can be ideal alternatives.

Lesiones premalignas de la vesicula biliar. / Premalignant lesions of the gallbladder

Al estudiar 80 vesiculas obtenidas por colecistectomias consecutivas com diagnostico de colelitiasis y colecistitis se encontro que los datos clinicos y los hallazgos operatorios no permiten el diagnostico diferencial entre proceso inflamatorio y/o displasia y carcinoma. El patologo debe tener estas lesiones en mente y buscarlas con mayor diligencia en las vesiculas pequenas, gruesas y de mucosa despulida. La incidencia de la displasia leve fue de 49%, la moderada de 20%, la severa de 5% y la carcinoma de 5%.La diferencia de 17 anos en la edad promedio de la displasia leve y del carcinoma sugiere um proceso de evolucion lenta. Ante el pronostico tan sombrio del carcinoma infiltrante de vesicula biliar se hace imperativa la busqueda de metodos que permitan al patologo el diagnostico citologico de las lesiones percursoras para que el paciente pueda ser tratado en estados curables de la enfermedad

Isoniazid inactivation in Burmese subjects

Serum isoniazid concentrations have been determined chemically six hours after drug ingestion in 121 Burmese subjects. The gene frequency for rapid inactivation is 0.3884 and for slow inactivation, 0.6116 indicating that approximately 37per cent of the Burmese population treated with isoniazid carry the risk of suffering from polyneuropathy. The gene frequency is compared with that of other racial populations.