Prevalence and correlates of adult overweight in the Muslim world: analysis of 46 countries.

The primary objectives of the study were to calculate overweight prevalence (body mass index ≥ 25.0) and simple correlations between 10 demographic, social welfare and behavioural variables and overweight prevalence for Muslim countries (populations >50% Muslim; N = 46). Overweight data for a country's total, male and female populations were extracted from the World Health Organization's (WHO) STEPwise country reports and relevant publications. Country-level data for potential correlates were extracted from multiple sources: Central Intelligence Agency (literacy), Gallup Poll (religiosity), United Nations (agricultural employment, food supply, gender inequality, human development), World Bank (automobile ownership, Internet, labour force) and WHO (physical inactivity). The overall, male and female overweight prevalence was 37.4, 33.0 and 42.1%, respectively. Prevalence estimates significantly differed by economic classification, gender and ethnicity. Middle- and upper income countries were 1.54-7.76 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49-8.07) times more likely overweight than low-income countries, females were 1.48 (CI: 1.45-1.50) times more likely overweight than males and Arab countries were 2.92 (CI: 2.86-2.97) times more likely overweight than non-Arab countries. All 10 of the potential correlates were significantly associated with overweight for at least one permutation (total, economic classification, gender, ethnicity). The greater percentage of poorer countries among non-Arab Muslim countries, which compared with Arab countries have not as rapidly been transformed by globalization, nutrition transition and urbanization, may partially explain prevalence differences. Evaluation of correlational data generally followed associations seen in non-Muslim countries but more complex analysis of subnational data is needed. Arab women are a particularly vulnerable subgroup and governments should act within religious and cultural parameters to provide environments that are conducive to negative energy balance.

[Double kidney transplantation--a method to increase the donor pool]. / Kettos vese átiltetés--egy lehetoség a transzplantációk számának növelésére.

The patients number on the transplant waiting lists are continuously increasing. The number of donors and transplantations can not reach this acceleration. To increase the number of organs we can use living donor organs or carefully selected extended criteria organs. To achieve appropriate function with marginal donor kidneys we need to transplant both kidneys into the same recipient. At the Transplant Division of University of Texas during a two years period we performed 5 double kidney transplantations with organs refused by the local transplant services. We placed both kidneys to the same side, retroperitoneally. The recipients mean age was 44.4 years and two of them belonged to the immunological risk ethnic group. After the transplantation all kidneys showed immediate function. During the patients mean hospital stay (6.25 days) the serum creatinine level decreased from 1000 micromol/l to 350 micromol/l. The Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) increased from 7 ml/min to 41 ml/min. Two patients suffered acute rejection which influenced their kidney function. During our two year follow up all patients avoided haemodyalsis. Double kidney transplantation is an acceptable solution for expanding the donor pool. After consistent and cautious selection previously rejected kidneys can be used.

Responses of freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii, to chemical attractants.

Chemoreception in the adults of the freshwater prawnMacrobrachium rosenbergii was investigated under controlled laboratory conditions, using behavioral assays. Tests were carried out on groups, as well as on individuals, all at their intermolt stages of the molt cycle, and prestarved for three to four days. Of 28 different substances tested, the amino acids taurine, glycine, arginine, and betaine, as well as trimethylamine, elicited a positive behavioral response in at least 50% of the test animals when applied at a threshold concentration of 10(-5)-10(-8) M. A positive response comprises enhanced antennular flicking and food search motion. Of the various nucleotides tested for chemoattraction, only adenosine monophosphate elicited a response similar to that of the above amino acids, although at a concentration of 10(-4) M, whereas adenosine diphosphate required a dosage of 10(-1) M.

Fine structure of the cell surface and Golgi apparatus of Ochromonas.

Ochromonas danica has an unusually flexible cell surface capable of producing projections of varying sizes and shapes: large projections, 340-360 nm long, and small projections, 50-110 nm long. These projections have been demonstrated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy; some of them may break off into the medium and be the source of extracellular membranes and vesicles reported in the cell-free O. danica growth medium. Ruthernium red stained the acid mucopolysaccharide layer just outside the cell surface as well as small blebs at the cell surface. The Golgi complex of O. danica, Ochromonas malhamensis, Ochromonas sociabilis and Ochromonas sp. produced small coated vesicles which may move toward and fuse with the plasma membrane. The role of the several vesicles is unknown but possible functions are discussed.

Comparative study on hydrolases in five species of Ochromonas (chrysomonadina).

Acid phosphatase and beta-glucosidase were shown to be present in five species of Ochromonas grown in organic media (O. danica, O. malhanesis, O. munuta, O. sociabilis and Ochromonas sp. 933/4). Acid phosphatase was found to have a pH optimum at 4.0 in O. danica, and at 5.1 in the four other species. No alkaline phosphatase was found in any of the above mentioned species. Beta-glucosidase in the species studied has a pH optimum at 4.6. Low alpha-glucosidase activity was found only in O. danica. Acid phosphatase in all the five species shows an increase in activity during the logarithmic phase of growth and a decrease during the early stationary phase. Beta-glucosidase shows a similar behavior only in O. danica.

The NBS Alloy Data Center: Description of Index to the Literature.

Computerized listings of 10,000 research papers, indexed at the Alloy Data Center, are now being made available in two forms. In the first, the Permuted Materials Index, all records are arranged alphabetically by chemical symbol. Records referring to alloys or compounds are listed under each of the constituent elements. In the second, the Author Index, all papers are listed alphabetically by first author in three groupings: the first, the NMR papers; the second, the soft x-ray papers; and the third, a broad group of papers that have been of general interest to the Alloy Physics Section. The magnetic tape on which the indexed file is stored will be made available at a future date.