Status and challenges for sustainable billfish fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean

Billfish species (families Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae) are caught in artisanal, recreational, and commercial fisheries throughout the Western Indian Ocean region. However, data and information on the interactions among these fisheries and the ecology of billfish in the WIO are not well understood. Using an in-depth analysis of peer-reviewed articles, grey literature, observation studies, and authors' insider knowledge, we summarize the current state of knowledge on billfish fisheries in 10 countries. To describe historical and current trends, we examined fisheries statistics from governmental and non-governmental agencies, sportfishing clubs' reports, diaries of sportfishing captains, and the catch and effort databases of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. We highlight two key points. First, billfish fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean are highly diverse, comprising two distinct segments-coastal and oceanic. However, data are poor for most countries with significant gaps in information especially for sport and artisanal fisheries. Second, the evidence assembled showed that billfish species have immense social, cultural, and economic value. Swordfish are targeted by both large-scale and semi-industrial fisheries, while other billfish species, particularly marlin, are highly sought after by sport fisheries in most countries. Our paper provides a comprehensive review of billfish fisheries and available information in the context of the WIO underscoring the need to strengthen data collection and reporting, citizen science, and collaborative sustainable development and management of billfish.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11160-022-09725-8.

Influence of the Available Surface Area and Cell Elasticity on Bacterial Adhesion Forces on Highly Ordered Silicon Nanopillars

Initial bacterial adhesion to solid surfaces is influenced by a multitude of different factors, e.g., roughness and stiffness, topography on the micro- and nanolevel, as well as chemical composition and wettability. Understanding the specific influences and possible interactive effects of all of these factors individually could lead to guidance on bacterial adhesion and prevention of unfavorable consequences like medically relevant biofilm formation. On this way, the aim of the present study was to identify the specific influence of the available surface area on the adhesion of clinically relevant bacterial strains with different membrane properties: Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. As model surfaces, silicon nanopillar specimens with different spacings were fabricated using electron beam lithography and cryo-based reactive ion etching techniques. Characterization by scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurement revealed almost defect-free highly ordered nanotopographies only varying in the available surface area. Bacterial adhesion forces to these specimens were quantified by means of single-cell force spectroscopy exploiting an atomic force microscope connected to a microfluidic setup (FluidFM). The nanotopographical features reduced bacterial adhesion strength by reducing the available surface area. In addition, the strain-specific interaction in detail depended on the bacterial cell's elasticity and deformability as well. Analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, the obtained results on bacterial adhesion forces could be linked to the subsequent biofilm formation on the different topographies. By combining two cutting-edge technologies, it could be demonstrated that the overall bacterial adhesion strength is influenced by both the simple physical interaction with the underlying nanotopography and its available surface area as well as the deformability of the cell.

A modular microfluidic bioreactor to investigate plant cell-cell interactions

Plants produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites, which often are of interest to pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry. Plant-cell cultures allow producing these metabolites in a standardised manner, independently from various biotic and abiotic factors difficult to control during conventional cultivation. However, plant-cell fermentation proves to be very difficult, since these chemically complex compounds often result from the interaction of different biosynthetic pathways operating in different cell types. To simulate such interactions in cultured cells is a challenge. Here, we present a microfluidic bioreactor for plant-cell cultivation to mimic the cell-cell interactions occurring in real plant tissues. In a modular set-up of several microfluidic bioreactors, different cell types can connect through a flow that transports signals or metabolites from module to module. The fabrication of the chip includes hot embossing of a polycarbonate housing and subsequent integration of a porous membrane and in-plane tube fittings in a two-step ultrasonic welding process. The resulting microfluidic chip is biocompatible and transparent. Simulation of mass transfer for the nutrient sucrose predicts a sufficient nutrient supply through the membrane. We demonstrate the potential of this chip for plant cell biology in three proof-of-concept applications. First, we use the chip to show that tobacco BY-2 cells in suspension divide depending on a "quorum-sensing factor" secreted by proliferating cells. Second, we show that a combination of two Catharanthus roseus cell strains with complementary metabolic potency allows obtaining vindoline, a precursor of the anti-tumour compound vincristine. Third, we extend the approach to operationalise secretion of phytotoxins by the fungus Neofusicoccum parvum as a step towards systems to screen for interorganismal chemical signalling.

Rapid Prototyping of Moulds for PDMS-based Microfluidic Chips

To shorten the production time for PDMS-moulds by additive manufacturing (AM) several 3D printers have been investigated in comparison to standard micro-milling by producing benchmark structures. These are evaluated regarding their shape accuracy, the transparency of the casted PDMS which is linked to the surface quality of the mould, and the production time until the moulds are ready to use. Even though the additively manufactured moulds showed significantly better surface quality and shorter production time, the necessary shape accuracy for non-square-structures or structures with < 250 μm edge length could not be achieved due to limiting factors like nozzle diameter, size of the digital micromirror device or spot size of the LCD-panel.

Enhancing the soft-tissue integration of dental implant abutments-in vitro study to reveal an optimized microgroove surface design to maximize spreading and alignment of human gingival fibroblasts

Within this work, we demonstrate the influences of different microgrooved surface topographies on the alignment and spreading of human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells and present the optimal parameters for an improved soft-tissue integration design for dental implant abutments for the first time. Microgrooves with lateral widths from 2.5 to 75 μm were fabricated by UV-lithography and wet etching on bulk Ti6Al4V ELI material. The microstructured surfaces were compared to polished and ground surfaces as current state of the art. The resulting microtopographies were analyzed using vertical scanning interferometry and scanning electron microscopy. Samples loaded with HGF cells were incubated for 8 and 72 hr and cell orientation, spreading, resulting area, and relative gene expression were analyzed. The effect of contact guidance occurred on all microstructured surfaces yet there is a clear preferable range for the lateral widths of the microgrooves between approx. 11.5 and 13.9 μm and depths between 1.6 and 2.4 μm for an abutment surface design, where cell orientation and spreading maximizes. For structures larger than 30 μm, cell orientation, spreading and even gene expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and yes-associated protein decrease.

Numerical simulation and in vitro examination of the flow behaviour within coronary stents

This paper discusses the influence of different design parameters of stents by mathematical flow simulations and flow measurements using micro-particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV). A stent strut may cause recirculation areas, which are considered to be the source of thrombosis and the process of in-stent restenosis. The simulations showed that a reduced strut height and a chamfering of the struts reduce these recirculation zones. The numerically determined results were compared with experimental investigations. For this purpose metallic stent structures were transferred into transparent channel systems made of PDMS. The experimental investigations confirm the results of numerical simulations.

Initial Bacterial Adhesion Properties of Anodically Oxidized Ti6Al4V

This paper reports about the initial interaction of bacteria with anodically oxidized Ti6Al4V for the use as dental implant abutment surfaces. Ti6Al4V samples are anodically oxidized in hydrofluoric acid using different voltages. The resulting nanotopographies are characterized by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurements. The topographies reach from micro-porous structures with small nanoporosities on top to fully hexagonally aligned nanotubes. For initial bacterial adhesion tests, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are used. Samples are incubated for 2 h and afterwards non-adherent cells are washed off. The results of live/dead staining and cell counts are presented. Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains show different behavior in respect to total number of initially adherent cells on different micro/nanotopographies. The observed reduction of adhered microorganisms is mainly based on underlying microporous topographies.

Integration of digital microfluidics with whispering-gallery mode sensors for label-free detection of biomolecules

We present a multi-sensor chip comprising an array of whispering-gallery mode (WGM) micro-goblet lasers integrated into a digital microfluidic (DMF) system. In contrast to earlier demonstrations, the lasers are fabricated from dye-doped poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) at low cost using spin-coating, mask-based optical lithography, wet chemical etching, and thermal reflow techniques. Pumping and read-out of the devices is accomplished via simple free-space optics, thereby allowing large-scale sensor arrays to be addressed. We demonstrate the viability of the system by bulk refractive index-sensing and by measuring the specific binding of streptavidin to a biotinylated sensor surface. This is the first time that optical cavities are used for label-free detection of biomolecules in a DMF system. This approach can be extended to a versatile detector platform that targets a wide range of clinically relevant biomolecules.

Time-resolved NMR metabolomics of plant cells based on a microfluidic chip

The plant secondary metabolism generates numerous compounds harbouring pharmaceutical activity. In plants, these compounds are typically formed by different and specialised cell types that have to interact constituting a metabolic process chain. This interactivity impedes biotechnological production of secondary compounds, because cell differentiation is suppressed under the conditions of a batch bio-fermenter. We present a novel strategy to address this limitation using a biomimetic approach, where we simulate the situation in a real tissue by a microfluidic chamber system, where plant cells can be integrated into a process flow. We show that walled cells of the plant model tobacco BY-2 can be successfully cultivated in this system and that physiological parameters (such as cell viability, mitotic index and division synchrony) can be preserved over several days. The microfluidic design allows to resolve dynamic changes of specific metabolites over different stages of culture development. These results serve as proof-of-principle that a microfluidic organisation of cultivated plant cells can mimic the metabolic flows in a real plant tissue.

Islet amyloid inhibitors improve glucose homeostasis in a transgenic mouse model of type 2 diabetes

Increasing evidence points to the cytotoxicity of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) aggregates as a major contributor to the loss of β-cell mass in type 2 diabetes. Prevention of IAPP formation represents a potential treatment to increase β-cell survival and function. The IAPP inhibitory peptide, D-ANFLVH, has been previously shown to prevent islet amyloid accumulation in cultured human islets. To assess its activity in vivo, D-ANFLVH was administered by intraperitoneal injection into a human IAPP transgenic mouse model, which replicates type 2 diabetes islet amyloid pathology. The peptide was a potent inhibitor of islet amyloid deposition, resulting in reduced islet cell apoptosis and preservation of β-cell area leading to improved glucose tolerance. These findings provide support for a key role of islet amyloid in β-cell survival and validate the application of anti-amyloid compounds as therapeutic strategies to maintain normal insulin secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Investigation of endothelial growth using a sensors-integrated microfluidic system to simulate physiological barriers

In this paper we present a microfluidic system based on transparent biocompatible polymers with a porous membrane as substrate for various cell types which allows the simulation of various physiological barriers under continuous laminar flow conditions at distinct tunable shear rates. Besides live cell and fluorescence microscopy, integrated electrodes enable the investigation of the permeability and barrier function of the cell layer as well as their interaction with external manipulations using the Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) method.

Consequences of insecurity in emergency telephone consultations: an experimental study in medical students

QUESTION UNDER STUDY

Handling emergency telephone consultations (ETCs) is a challenging and very important task for doctors. The aims of the study were to document insecurity in medical students during ETCs and to identify the reasons for that insecurity. We hypothesised that insecurity is associated with advising more urgent action (e.g. advice to call for an ambulance) in ETCs.

METHODS

We used ETCs with simulated patients (SPs), with each student randomly allocated two of four possible cases. After the training, 137 students reported on any insecurity that they had in the various ETC phases. We analysed the reasons for insecurity using descriptive statistics. The association between the students' advice that urgent action was needed and their insecurity was analysed with Spearman rank correlation.

RESULTS

Overall, 95% of the students felt insecure in at least one phase of their ETC. History taking was the phase in which students felt most insecure (63.1%), followed by the phase of analysing the information given by the patient (44.9%). Perceived insecurity was associated with more urgent advice in one case scenario (abdominal pain; correlation r = 0.46; p <0.01). The other two cases (child with fever; chest pain) also had a positive, but not statistically significant, correlation trend (p <0.12; p <0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Insecurity is highly prevalent among medical students in their ETC decision-making. ETC training in medical schools, with a focus on structured history taking and formulating discriminating questions, might help decrease insecurity in ETCs. Medical education should also teach management of insecurity.

Fabrication of polymeric microfluidic devices with tunable wetting behavior for biomedical applications

We demonstrate the fabrication of microchannels with specific fluidic behavior due to micro- and/or nanostructures on the surfaces. With a combination of hot embossing and microthermoforming it is possible to produce microchannels with specific surface properties. These surface properties are highly dependent on the micro- and nanostructures embossed into the material. Different structure sizes and geometries where examined by contact angle measurements. Here the dependency of diameter and pitch of the structures on the contact angle is examined as well as the material impact. These results enable the fabrication of highly specific surfaces tunable to an application.

Diffusion- and convection-based activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in a gradient generating microfluidic chip

Stem cells and developing tissues respond to long-range signaling molecules (morphogens), by starting different nuclear programs that decide about the cell fate. Cells sense the local morphogen concentration and the shape of the gradient. We developed a two-chambered microfluidic chip to reproduce the in vivo situation under shear stress free conditions. The gradient is generated in the lower part of our device and recognized by cells grown in the upper part in the microchamber. We tested our device by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in HeLa cells as proven by nuclear β-catenin accumulation in response to the Wnt pathway activator 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (BIO). Applying the same readout system to a recombinant Wnt3a and Dkk-1 bipolar gradient we demonstrate that our microfluidic chip is suitable for morphogens as well as small molecules. More interestingly, our microfluidic device is highly flexible. While the generated gradients are stable for several hours and reproducible, we can change the kind and the shape of the gradient actively on demand. We also can switch from diffusion- to convection-based transport, thus applying the morphogen gradient either in a polarized or non-polarized manner.

Optical gain of single mode short Er/Yb doped fiber

Optical gain and output power as a function of pump power has been calculated for short Er/Yb doped single mode fibers for various fiber parameters. The calculation shows that long fiber lengths provide both higher small signal gain and higher output power. Gain of 14 dB has been observed in a 30 mm long fiber at 400 mW of input pump power. The observed small signal gain is found to be linearly proportional to the length of the fiber with a slope of 0.44 dB/mm at 400 mW of pump power.

A comparison of the efficacy and tolerance of pancrelipase and placebo in the treatment of steatorrhea in cystic fibrosis patients with clinical exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

OBJECTIVE

The safety and efficacy of Minimicrospheres, which are enteric-coated, delayed-release pancrelipase capsules, on fat absorption in pediatric/adolescent and adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients was assessed. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, common in CF patients, causes steatorrhea due to insufficient release of pancreatic enzymes.

METHODS

In the open-label phase, 97 CF patients with pancreatic insufficiency and steatorrhea were stabilized on a high-fat diet and administered pancrelipase. Seventy-four patients with >80% coefficient of fat absorption received placebo or pancrelipase in the double-blind phase. Fat intake and excretion, stool frequency and consistency, and clinical global improvement were recorded.

RESULTS

Average daily fat intake was comparable between treatment groups within each age group (adults vs pediatric/adolescent), but placebo patients had a significant (p < 0.001) mean decrease in coefficient of fat absorption (adult, 36.9 percentage points; pediatric/adolescent, 34.9 percentage points) from open-label to double-blind treatment compared to pancrelipase patients (adult, 2 percentage points; pediatric/adolescent, 3.25 percentage points); this difference was caused by a greater (p < or = 0.001) increase in mean fecal fat excretion (grams per day) in the placebo groups compared to pancrelipase groups (adult: 61.9 vs 2.3; pediatric/adolescent: 45.4 vs 4.1). Change in mean stool frequency from open-label to double-blind phases was significantly different (p < or = 0.002) between treatment groups, with increases in placebo groups and no difference (adult) or decrease (pediatric/adolescent) in pancrelipase groups. Pancrelipase patients' stool consistency remained about the same from open-label to double-blind. Placebo patients' stool consistency decreased (became softer) from open-label pancrelipase to double-blind placebo. Clinical global improvement data showed that > or =83% of pancrelipase patients improved or remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Enteric-coated, delayed-release (Minimicrospheres) pancrelipase capsules are an effective treatment for steatorrhea associated with pancreatic insufficiency in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Clinical comparability of albuterol delivered by the breath-actuated inhaler (Spiros) and albuterol by MDI in patients with asthma

STUDY OBJECTIVE

This study compares the efficacy and safety of one and two actuations of albuterol sulfate powder delivered via a breath-actuated, effort-assisted, investigational inhaler (Spiros, Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc) and albuterol delivered via a conventional propellant-driven metered dose inhaler (Ventolin, Glaxo, Inc).

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 5-way crossover study.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty patients with mild-to-moderate asthma (FEV1 59% predicted) were enrolled and 44 completed the study.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

FEV1 values over 6 hours were analyzed by ANCOVA and the Finney relative potency model. The relative potency of the inhalers (albuterol MDI: albuterol DPI) was 1.132 (90% CI, 0.680 to 2.252) indicating 1.132 actuations of albuterol MDI provided the same bronchodilation as one actuation of albuterol DPI. ANCOVA analyses further indicated that there were no significant differences between the two delivery systems with respect to FEV1, FVC, FEF25-75%, or PEF. Both inhalers had similar effects on serum potassium levels, QTc interval, blood pressure, and heart rate.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with mild-to-moderate asthma in this study, the albuterol DPI was determined to be therapeutically comparable to albuterol MDI in the delivery of one and two actuations of albuterol.

The relationship between infection and inflammation in the early stages of lung disease from cystic fibrosis

We examined the relationship of pulmonary infection and inflammation in cystic fibrosis (CF) by performing 31 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) in 14 young children with minimal lung disease from CF. While 10 of the 14 patients had elevated polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) counts initially, only 4 had bacteria generally regarded as pathogenic in the recovered BAL fluid. Three of these 4 and 6 of the others had follow-up bronchoscopies at 6 months intervals. PMN counts remained normal for only one patient. However, pathogenic bacteria were recovered during the repeat BALs only in those patients who were colonized initially. Proinflammatory cytokines and proteinases were generally elevated, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentration correlated inversely with oxygen saturation (SaO2). No complications of the procedure occurred. We conclude that BAL identifies inflammation and the presence of bacteria in the lower airway at an early stage of the disease. This information may be used to guide therapy in patients too young or otherwise unable to produce sputum. These data also suggest that inflammation is present early in the course of CF lung disease before colonization and infection of the lungs with potentially pathogenic bacteria occurs. Since inflammation appears to be the earliest detectable evidence of lung disease in CF, monitoring of inflammation with BAL may serve as a useful marker of clinical benefits from new treatments in patients with minimal lung disease.

A bioassay for topical and systemic effect of three inhaled corticosteroids

BACKGROUND

Comparisons of relative potency for the three inhaled corticosteroids in the United States are limited to assessment of skin blanching.

OBJECTIVE

Development of a method for comparing relative potencies of inhaled corticosteroids for topical effect on human airway and systemic effect.

METHODS

With use of partial suppression of immediate response to inhaled allergen and 24-hour urinary free cortisol output, three-point dose-response curves were constructed for beclomethasone dipropionate (50 micrograms/puff), triamcinolone acetonide (100 micrograms/puff), and flunisolide (250 micrograms/puff). A randomized, parallel, single-blind study design was used. Dosing began with one puff four times a day for flunisolide and two puffs four times a day for the others. Doses were doubled after 1 week and again after a second week.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients completed the study. Dose-response relationships were shown for each inhaled corticosteroid for both topical and systemic effect. Dose-response curves for the three preparations were similar when response was plotted against delivered dose in micrograms.

CONCLUSION

Within the limits of the assays, relative potencies of the three preparations appeared to be approximately equivalent for both topical and systemic effect when dose was expressed in micrograms. Relative potency per puff is therefore approximately proportional to the dose delivered. This method has potential for evaluation of relative potency of newer inhaled corticosteroids and the relative advantage of alternative delivery systems.

Genetic analysis of the gene cluster encoding nonfimbrial adhesin I from an Escherichia coli uropathogen

The chromosomally encoded nonfimbrial adhesion I (NFA-I) from Escherichia coli urinary tract isolate 827 (O83:K1:H4) mediates agglutination of human erythrocytes. Subclones were constructed from an NFA-I-expressing recombinant E. coli K-12 clone, derived from a genomic library of E. coli 827. Minicell analysis and nucleotide sequencing revealed that proteins of 30.5, 9, 80, 15, and 19 kDa encoded on a stretch of approximately 6 kb are involved in the expression of NFA-I. NFA-I exhibits a polymeric structure, which disintegrates with elevated temperature into a 19-kDa monomer but with some relatively stable dimers. By using gold-conjugated monoclonal antibodies directed against NFA-I in electron microscopy, the adhesin could be localized on the outer surface of the recombinant E. coli K-12 bacteria. The nucleotide sequence of the nfaA gene encoding the monomeric structural subunit of the adhesin was determined. An open reading frame of 184 amino acids encoding the NfaA precursor, which is processed to the mature protein, was found; it consisted of 156 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 16,000. Peptide sequencing of the NFA-I subunit protein confirmed that this open reading frame corresponds to the NfaA coding locus. Furthermore, the nucleotide sequence of the open reading frame termed NfaE, located at the proximal part of the DNA stretch responsible for NFA-I expression, was elaborated. NfaE consists of 247 amino acids, including a presumptive 29-amino-acid signal peptide, leading to a molecular weight of 24,000 for the mature protein. The nfaE sequence shares homology with the 27-kDa CS3 protein, which is involved in the assembly of CS3 fibrillae, and might encode the 30.5-kDa protein, detected in minicells.

The cold war against RSV

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) can cause substantial morbidity and mortality in high risk patients. The authors discuss prevention and treatment of this virus.

Structure of the K74 antigen from Escherichia coli O44:K74:H18, a capsular polysaccharide containing furanosidic beta-KDO residues

The structure of the capsular K74 antigen of E. coli H702c (O44:K74:H18) was elucidated by determination of the composition, 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. and c.d. spectroscopy, periodate oxidation, and methylation analysis of the polysaccharide and of a trisaccharide obtained by mild acid hydrolysis. The K74 antigen has the repeating unit----3)-beta-D-Ribf-(1----2)-beta-D-Ribf-(1----6)-beta-++ +KDOf-(2----. Of the repeating units, approximately 65% are O-acetylated, most probably at C-2 of the 3-linked ribose.

Dose response of inhaled gallopamil (D600), a calcium channel blocker, in attenuating airway reactivity to methacholine and exercise

To determine if there is a dose-response relationship for calcium channel blockers in preventing experimentally induced bronchoconstriction, we evaluated the effects of inhaled gallopamil (D600), a potent methoxy derivative of verapamil, on airway reactivity to methacholine and exercise in volunteers with mild asthma. Methacholine challenges were completed by 11 subjects 2 hours before and 20 minutes after placebo, and 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 mg of inhaled gallopamil administered in a single-blind, randomized manner on different days. Gallopamil did not significantly alter FVC, FEV1, or forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of FVC, but increased the dose of methacholine required to produce a 20% decrease in FEV1 from baseline (p less than 0.0001). The mean +/- SEM fold increase in the dose of methacholine required to produce a 20% decrease in FEV1 from baseline was 1.0 +/- 0.1 after placebo, 2.4 +/- 0.2 after 1 mg, 2.2 +/- 0.2 after 2 mg, 2.5 +/- 0.2 after 5 mg, 2.5 +/- 0.3 after 10 mg, and 2.3 +/- 0.2 after 20 mg. Thirty minutes before a standardized exercise challenge, 10 subjects inhaled 1 and 10 mg of gallopamil or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, crossover manner. The mean +/- SEM maximum decrease in FEV1 after exercise was 25.1 +/- 5% after 10 mg of gallopamil (p less than 0.01), 34.4 +/- 5% after 1 mg (p greater than 0.05), and 39.0 +/- 6% after placebo. We conclude that inhaled gallopamil only modestly alters airway reactivity to methacholine; increasing the dose greater than 1 mg did not provide greater benefit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Obligatory urinary and fecal nitrogen losses in young women, older men, and young men and the factorial estimation of adult human protein requirements

Obligatory urinary and fecal nitrogen losses and urinary urea nitrogen and creatinine excretion levels were determined in 11 young women (four of whom used oral contraceptives), eight older men, and five young men. Values for obligatory nitrogen losses in the young women who did not use oral contraceptives were similar to those observed previously in young women and lower than those reported for young men. Our values for older men were lower than previously reported values for obligatory losses observed in young and elderly men, but similar to previously reported values for young women and to values for our women who did not use oral contraceptives. The four oral contraceptive users had significantly higher levels of total urinary and fecal obligatory nitrogen losses than the nonusers in our study. When values from our study and values from other recent studies are considered, variations in obligatory nitrogen losses appear to be larger among individuals within an age-sex group than the observed differences between groups. When the intakes of protein recommended as safe by the Food aculated from obligatory nitrogen losses per se, the recommended levels appear to be only marginally adequate.

[Disturbances of word finding of compound nouns (nomina composita) in aphasics (author's transl)]

The faulty use of compound nouns by aphasics is of practical and theoretical significance. Defects in the finding and using of compound nouns were investigated with respect to the following parameters: the importance of the frequency with which compounds and compound parts are used in normal speech, the influence of grammatical and psycholinguistic peculiarities on aphasic dysfunction, and the handling of compounds in individual aphasic syndromes. The distinctly poorer recall of compound nouns compared with simple nouns was found to be due mainly to their less frequent use in normal speech. In word-finding the grammatical unit of the compound noun was not very stable patholinguistically. If one part of the compound noun was commoner and more usual in normal speech than the other it was usually better recalled. However, some remarkable deviations from this were due to semantic functional value, vividness, morphologic peculiarities, and linguistic form. The wider meaning-range of the second part of the compound noun had no positive mnemonic effect, despite the propensity of the aphasic for the general. In naming tests the first part of the compound noun was preferred on average. Certain differences in the defective use of compound nouns were observed between the individual aphasic syndromes.