Does movement behaviour predict population densities? A test with 25 butterfly species.

Diffusion, which approximates a correlated random walk, has been used by ecologists to describe movement, and forms the basis for many theoretical models. However, it is often criticized as too simple a model to describe animal movement in real populations. We test a key prediction of diffusion models, namely, that animals should be more abundant in land cover classes through which they move more slowly. This relationship between density and diffusion has rarely been tested across multiple species within a given landscape. We estimated diffusion rates and corresponding densities of 25 Israeli butterfly species from flight path data and visual surveys. The data were collected across 19 sites in heterogeneous landscapes with four land cover classes: semi-natural habitat, olive groves, wheat fields and field margins. As expected from theory, species tended to have higher densities in land cover classes through which they moved more slowly and lower densities in land cover classes through which they moved more quickly. Two components of movement (move length and turning angle) were not associated with density, nor was expected net squared displacement. Move time, however, was associated with density, and animals spent more time per move step in areas with higher density. The broad association we document between movement behaviour and density suggests that diffusion is a good first approximation of movement in butterflies. Moreover, our analyses demonstrate that dispersal is not a species-invariant trait, but rather one that depends on landscape context. Thus, land cover classes with high diffusion rates are likely to have low densities and be effective conduits for movement.

Takayasu's arteritis as the aetiology of unresolved fever in an adult patient with cystic fibrosis.

Vasculitis is an unusual complication of cystic fibrosis (CF), normally affecting patients with more severe lung disease. Typical presentation is with skin disease but other organ involvement has been reported. Systemic response to bacterial colonisation and immune complex deposition secondary to chronic airway inflammation is thought to be underlying mechanism of the disease. The authors describe a 28-year-old female Turkish patient with CF presented with fever and arthralgias. The patient was known to have chronic Pseudomonas infection; therefore, a respiratory tract infection was assumed and the patient was treated with imipenem and amikacin for 14 days. Following through investigations of fever of unknown origin, Takayasu's arteritis was identified and the patient responded well to immunosuppression with corticosteroid.

Measures of acute physiology, comorbidity and functional status to differentiate illness severity and length of stay among acute general medical admissions: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Simple measures of acute physiologic compromise, functional status and comorbidity may help clinicians to make decisions relating to clinical care and resource utilisation. AIMS: To explore the usefulness of common assessment tools in predicting outcomes of (i) death or intensive care unit (ICU) admission and (ii) length of hospital stay at a busy tertiary hospital in Singapore. METHODS: Three hundred and ninety-eight consecutive admissions to two general medicine teams were prospectively assessed during 2 months in 2011. Patients were followed until discharge or transfer to ICU/high dependency unit (HDU). Data collected included routine demographic data, final diagnosis, comorbid conditions including a weighted prognostic comorbidity index (the updated Charlson index) and the modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) at presentation to the emergency department. The admission modified Barthel Index was recorded for patients aged 65 and over. Death and total length of hospital stay were recorded in all cases. RESULTS: Of 398 patients, 16 (4 %) died or were transferred to ICU and 99 (25%) stayed for more than 7 days. Medical early warning (MEW) scores of ≥5 were significantly associated with death or ICU admission (hazard ratio 5.50, 95% confidence interval 1.77-17.07, P = 0.003). There was no independent association between this outcome and the Charlson score or admission Barthel Index. Excess length of stay was associated with a modified Barthel Index ≤17 and altered mental status at presentation. CONCLUSION: Among unselected general medical patients, MEW scores of ≥5 were significantly associated with death or ICU admissions and only functional status and altered mental status were independent predictors of excess length of stay.

Short communication: investigation of aflatoxin M1 levels in infant follow-on milks and infant formulas sold in the markets of Ankara, Turkey.

Aflatoxins are fungal toxins known to be carcinogenic and are classified as food contaminants. This study was performed to investigate aflatoxin (AF) M1 levels in baby foods sold in Ankara (Turkey) and to evaluate the obtained results according to the Turkish Food Codex (TFC). For this purpose, a total of 84 baby food samples (50 follow-on milks and 34 infant formulas) were obtained from different markets in Ankara and the presence of AFM1 in the samples was analyzed by ELISA. In 32 (38.1%) of 84 infant food samples, the presence of AFM1 was detected in concentrations ranging between 0.0055 and 0.0201 µg/kg. The mean level (± standard error) of AFM1 was found to be 0.0089 ± 0.0006 µg/kg in positive infant follow-on milks. Aflatoxin M1 was detected in only 1 infant formula sample (2.94%) at a concentration of 0.0061 µg/kg. The extrapolated levels of AFB1 contamination in feedstuffs were calculated based on levels of AFM1 in baby food samples. The data estimating AFB1 contamination in dairy cattle feedstuff indicate that contamination may range from 0.3410 to 1.2580 µg/kg, with the mean level (± standard error) being 0.5499 ± 0.0385 µg/kg, which is lower than the level set by the TFC and European Union regulations (5 µg/kg). According to the obtained results, the levels of AFM1 in analyzed samples were within the allowed limit (0.025 µg/kg) set in the TFC. Low levels of AFM1 in infant follow-on milks and infant formula samples obtained during the study do not pose a health risk to infants.

Association between "Malnutrition Inflammation Score" and airway obstruction in patients awaiting renal transplantation: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: A chronic inflammatory state is a prominent feature in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). "Malnutrition Inflammation Score" (MIS) is a comprehensive scoring system that measures nutrition and inflammation in MHD patients. Inflammation and malnutrition are important risk factors in ESRD patients with pulmonary diseases. The aim of the study was to determine if pulmonary dysfunction, as assessed by airway obstruction, was associated with malnutrition and inflammatory factors in ESRD patients awaiting renal transplantation (RT). METHODS: Patients with ESRD who were on MHD and had pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Patients' renal function tests, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, white blood cell count, and PFTs (forced expiratory flow rate in one second [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory flow at 25%-75% [FEF25%-75%], and peak expiratory flow [PEF]) were recorded. MIS was calculated for each patient. RESULTS: A total of 81 patients (male=54; mean age: 50.6±13 years) were recruited. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.5±4.4 kg/m2, mean MIS was 7.1±3.3, mean CRP level was 24.9±48.1 mg/L, mean FEV1% was 94±22, and mean FEF25%-75% was found to be 72.3±30.3. Mean duration of MHD was 10.5±5.2 years. There was a negative correlation between FEV1, FVC, FEF25%- 75%, PEF, and MIS (r=-0.3, P=.00; r=-0.32, P=.00; r=-0.22, P=.04; r=-0.30, P=.00, respectively). Nevertheless, FEV1 values significantly correlated with BMI (P=.03) and the MIS (P=.00). CONCLUSION: Impaired pulmonary function could be a marker of inflammation and malnutrition in ESRD patients awaiting RT. Prospective studies are needed to investigate the relationship between pulmonary function, inflammation, and malnutrition in larger populations of ESRD patients. Treatment geared towards malnutrition and inflammation markers may help maintain PFTs within normal range, which may prevent pulmonary complications following RT.