Litter Type and Number of Flocks Affect Sex Hormones in Broiler Litter.

Broiler litter contains 17ß-estradiol, estrone, and testosterone, which can contaminate surface waters when surface applied to grasslands and no-till fields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of litter type (full or cake cleanout), litter treatment (none or sodium bisulfate), and number of flocks raised on the litter (1-5) on sex hormone concentrations. Our results showed that in untreated broiler litter, cake cleanout had greater concentrations of 17ß-estradiol, estrone, and testosterone than full cleanout, whereas in litter treated with sodium bisulfate, only the concentration of 17ß-estradiol was greater in cake than in full cleanout. The concentrations of 17ß-estradiol and estrone in untreated broiler litter increased as the number of flocks increased from one to three, with the largest increase observed for estrone in cake cleanout. We also sampled three broiler houses in brooding and nonbrooding sections during the growout period. We found no differences in hormone concentrations between sections of each house, but changes in hormone concentrations during growout varied depending on broiler litter water content. Water contents corresponding to ∼60% water-filled porosity favored a decrease in hormone concentrations with time, whereas a water-filled porosity of 44% was associated with increases in hormone concentration, probably due to slow decomposition rates. Our results suggest that cake cleanout of untreated litter, as well as all cleanouts from houses that have raised several flocks on the same bedding, may be good targets for treatments that can reduce hormone concentrations before the litter is surface applied to fields.

The relationship between family and child weight status by household structure in South Korea: 2007-2010.

OBJECTIVE: Parental obesity has been identified as a predominant risk factor for childhood overweight and obesity. We investigated the relationship between parent and child obesity in South Korea, particularly linked with varying family structures. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data for households with children aged 2-18 years were taken from the pooled data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007-2010 conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The sample consisted of 17 453 individuals (7879 children and 9574 adults) from 5048 households with children for this study. Children's overweight and obesity prevalence was compared using both International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF) and KCDC cutoff points according to parental weight status and household structure. Logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Significantly greater odds of overweight and obesity existed among children living with both parents (odds ratio (OR)=3.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.71, 4.65) or one parent (mother: OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.12; father: OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.37, 1.99). The adjusted ORs for overweight and obesity among children living with overweight mother only or overweight grandparent only were approximately double that of children living with normal-weight mother (OR=2.2, 95% CI: 1.22-3.82) or normal-weight grandparent (OR=2.1, 95% CI: 1.06-4.05). CONCLUSION: Children living with overweight parent(s) or grandparent(s) were positively correlated with the risk for childhood overweight and obesity. Socioeconomic status did not affect the observed relationships in this population, whereas the role of genetic, dietary and activity patterns requires further exploration.

Prevalence and energy intake from snacking in Brazil: analysis of the first nationwide individual survey.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Snacking has increased globally. We examine snacking patterns and common snack foods in Brazil. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data from the first of two non-consecutive food diaries from 34,003 individuals (aged ≥ 10 years) in the first Brazillian nationally representative dietary survey (2008-2009) were used. Meals were defined as the largest (kcal) eating event reported during select times of the day (Breakfast, 0600-1000 hours; Lunch, 1200-1500 hours; Dinner, 1800-2100 hours); all other eating occasions were considered snacks. We estimate daily energy intake, percentage of persons consuming snacks, number of daily snacks and per capita and per consumer energy from snacks (kcal/day, kcal/snack and % of daily energy from snacks). RESULTS: In all, 74% of Brazilians (≥ 10 years) snacked, reporting an average 1.6 snacks/day. Also, 23% of the sample were heavy snackers (≥ 3 snacks/day). Snacking accounted for 21% of daily energy intake in the full sample but 35.5% among heavy snackers. Compared with non-snackers (1548 kcal/day), light (1-2 snacks/day) and heavy snackers consumed more daily energy (1929 and 2334 kcal/day, respectively). Taking into account time of day, the largest percentage of persons reported afternoon/early evening snacking (1501-1759 hours, 47.7%). Sweetened coffee and tea, sweets and desserts, fruit, sugar-sweetened beverages, and high-calorie salgados (fried/baked dough with meat/cheese/vegetable) were the top five most commonly consumed snacks. Differences were observed by age groups. Trends in commercial sales were observed, especially for sugar-sweetened beverages. CONCLUSIONS: Many commonly consumed snack foods in Brazil are classified, in the US, as being high in solid fats and added sugars. The public health impact of snacking in Brazil requires further exploration.

Sodium and potassium intake patterns and trends in South Korea.

We examined major trends and patterns regarding sodium and potassium intake and the ratio of sodium and potassium in the diets of South Koreans. We used data from 24-h dietary recall data from 10,267, 8819 and 9264 subjects ages > or =2 years in the 1998, 2005 and 2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, respectively. Mean sodium intake did not change significantly between 1998 and 2009 (4.6 vs. 4.7 g per day), while potassium intake increased significantly (2.6 vs. 2.9 g per day (P<0.001)). The major dietary sodium sources were kimchi, salt, soy sauce and soybean paste, and most potassium came from unprocessed foods (white rice, vegetables, kimchi and fruits). About 50% of the participants consumed > or =4 g of sodium per capita per day. The proportion of respondents consuming four to six grams of potassium per capita per day increased from 10.3% in 1998 to 14.3% in 2009 (P<0.001), and the sodium-potassium ratio decreased from 1.88 to 1.71 (P<0.001). One major implication is that efforts to reduce sodium in processed foods will be ineffective and future efforts must focus on both education to reduce use of sodium in food preparation and sodium replacement in salt, possibly with potassium.

Beverage consumption among European adolescents in the HELENA study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to describe the fluid and energy consumption of beverages in a large sample of European adolescents. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We used data from 2741 European adolescents residing in 8 countries participating in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS). We averaged two 24-h recalls, collected using the HELENA-dietary assessment tool. By gender and age subgroup (12.5-14.9 years and 15-17.5 years), we examined per capita and per consumer fluid (milliliters (ml)) and energy (kilojoules (kJ)) intake from beverages and percentage consuming 10 different beverage groups. RESULTS: Mean beverage consumption was 1611 ml/day in boys and 1316 ml/day in girls. Energy intake from beverages was about 1966 kJ/day and 1289 kJ/day in European boys and girls, respectively, with sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) (carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, including soft drinks, fruit drinks and powders/concentrates) contributing to daily energy intake more than other groups of beverages. Boys and older adolescents consumed the most amount of per capita total energy from beverages. Among all age and gender subgroups, SSBs, sweetened milk (including chocolate milk and flavored yogurt drinks all with added sugar), low-fat milk and fruit juice provided the highest amount of per capita energy. Water was consumed by the largest percentage of adolescents followed by SSBs, fruit juice and sweetened milk. Among consumers, water provided the greatest fluid intake and sweetened milk accounted for the largest amount of energy intake followed by SSBs. Patterns of energy intake from each beverage varied between countries. CONCLUSIONS: European adolescents consume an average of 1455 ml/day of beverages, with the largest proportion of consumers and the largest fluid amount coming from water. Beverages provide 1609 kJ/day, of which 30.4%, 20.7% and 18.1% comes from SSBs, sweetened milk and fruit juice, respectively.

The failure to demonstrate avoidance of ventral gland odors in male gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

The gerbil's ventral gland secretion has been assumed to play a role in territorial defense. The odor of this secretion should be avoided by males which have recently lost a dominance contest to a male which deposited the odor mark. In two experiments, male gerbils were randomly paired and dichotomized on the basis of dominance status. Twenty-four hours later, they were presented either with the odor of the dominant member of the pair in an otherwise clean open-field, or with the odors of the dominant, a novel male, the subject or an unscented area. There was no indication that the animals differentiated the dominants' odors from the others. In neither case was an odor avoided. Areas containing the odor of conspecifics were marked less frequently than the clean area. These data indicate that conspecific odors were detected, but there was no evidence of a differential response to any of the odors employed.

A novel structure in the stomach and intestine of two species of Australian marsupial mice.

A tubular or sac-like structure with a well defined lumen which occasionally contained parasites was found in the outer muscle wall of the small and large intestine in 32 out of 40 male and 35 of 40 female marsupial mice of the two species, Antechinus swainsonii and Antechinus stuartii (Macleay). A similar structure was also found in the muscle layers of the stomach in 5 marsupial mice of both species. The cellular matrix of the structure appeared to be composed of randomly organized macrophage-like cells and in one case there was evidence of an inflammatory reaction to parasites within the lumen. The origin of this tube is either vestigial or the result of reactive changes.

Stress related involution of lymphoid tissues in Australian marsupial mice.

Involution of the thoracic thymus in two species of marsupial mouse, Antechinus swainsonii (Waterhouse) and Antechinus stuartii (Macleay) was shown to be unrelated to corticosteroid action and to be complete before puberty. A stress response in male marsupial mice is caused by an androgen related drop in the plasma corticosteroid binding globulin concentration which gives rise to an increase in the plasma free glucocorticoid concentration. The high concentrations of free glucocorticoids in the plasma just prior to the breeding season causes a rapid involution of the spleen and lymph nodes while the gut associated lymphoid tissues remain unaffected. The concentration of free glucocorticoids also rises in females, but it never attains the high concentrations observed in males. Nevertheless, the spleen and lymph nodes do involute to some extent in some females and the degree of involution appears to be related to the relative concentration of plasma free glucocorticoids. At the conclusion of the breeding season, there is a complete mortality in males of the population, due to a stress response in which the compromised immune system clearly plays a role.

The gut-associated lymphoid system of two species of Australian marsupial mice, Antechinus swainsonii and Antechinus stuartii. Distribution, frequency and structure of Peyer's patches and lymphoid follicles in the small and large intestine.

The distribution and number of Peyer's patches (5) in two species of marsupial mice, Antechinus swainsonii and Antechinus stuartii was found to be the same even though the length of the intestine in the latter species was half that of the former. Both species lack a caecum and appendix. The position of the Peyer's patches is unusual in that the first three Peyer's patches are on the right side of the small intestine whereas the penultimate and ultimate Peyer's patches are large, contain many lymphoid follicles and are in an anti-mesenteric position in the small intestine and sometimes in the large intestine (ultimate Peyer's patch). The number of Peyer's patches in eutherian mice of similar size, and intestinal length is greater (13) although the number of Peyer's patch lymphoid follicles per centimeter intestine is less (1.8) than in A. swainsonii (4) and A. stuartii (4.4). Marsupial mice have most of their lymphoid follicles confined to a few large Peyer's patches, whereas eutherian mice have fewer lymphoid follicles per unit intestinal length, more Peyer's patches (with fewer lymphoid follicles) evenly distributed along the intestine and more single lymphoid follicles interspersed between them.

Emergency medical care and care systems in California. Motor vehicle accidents.

Emergency Medical Care and Emergency Medical Care Systems are defined. The need for a distinction between the two is given. Motor vehicle accidents in 58 California counties are analyzed. The status of hospitals serving traffic trauma in California is given with respect to quality of care. The location of California hospitals with respect to the percent of motor vehicle trauma is shown. The importance of time lapse in emergency medical care systems and the reasons for time lapse errors is explored. The need for data processing and systems analysis in California emergency medical care systems is pointed out.