Longitudinal trends and gender differences in physical fitness and lifestyle factors in career U.S. Navy personnel (1983-1994)

This study examines long-term health and physical readiness trends in the U.S. Navy. We mailed lifestyle questionnaires to all participants in baseline studies between 1983 and 1989 who were still on active duty in 1994. Commands provided body composition and physical readiness test scores for the participants. Two longitudinal cohorts were created: an 8-year sample (N = 640) with matched data from 1986, 1989, and 1994; and an 11-year sample (N = 1,576), with data from 1983 and 1994. Analyses of both cohorts revealed significant improvements in cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, exercise, lean body mass, dietary habits, and sleep, as well as significant decreases in tobacco and alcohol use and job stress. However, hypertension rates, percentage of body fat, and body mass index increased over time. Women's scores were significantly better than men's on a number of factors. Overall, these findings suggest that the Navy's health promotion efforts have had a significant positive effect on the fitness and health behaviors of career Navy men and women.     

Neonate and infant heart transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of anticoagulant (AC) treatment, the indications, and the quality of care in primary health care. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study, in which patients on AC treatment were identified from laboratory records. The main and second indications for AC treatment and the last value of the AC-test were taken from medical records. SETTING: Eight Finnish health centres with a total population of 182091 inhabitants. RESULTS: A total of 1255 patients on AC treatment were identified, 48% of them men. The mean age was 68.9 years. The age-adjusted prevalence of AC treatment was 0.65%. The commonest main indication was atrial fibrillation (38%). It was the main or second indication in 591 patients (age-adjusted prevalence 0.30%). The next commonest main indication was deep vein thrombosis (15%), followed by pulmonary embolism (8%). A total of 274 (22%) patients were anticoagulated for cerebral circulatory disturbances. 86% of the latest prothrombin time values fell within recommended ranges. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AC treatment in Finland seems to be high. The proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation is high, differing from the results in other countries. The monitoring of AC-treatment as the general practitioner's responsibility functions well. The quality of care is good, even in older age groups.     

Long-term maintenance of weight loss: do people who lose weight through various weight loss methods use different behaviors to maintain their weight?

Obtaining high-quality radiographs of the proximal aspect of equine limbs is difficult because of the large muscles in these regions. The use of scintigraphy may provide further information. Abnormal bone scan findings of the ischial tuberosity or the third trochanter were found in 29 adult horses with obscure hind limb lameness between 1986 and 1996 at the Large Animal Clinic of the University of Bern. Each had abnormal radiopharmaceutical uptake but not all had radiographic changes. Radiopharmaceutical uptake ratios between the ischial tuberosity and the greater trochanter were calculated. The uptake ratio in a control group of 11 clinically sound horses was lower than in 11 lame horses with subjectively enhanced radiopharmaceutical uptake.     

Software and systems engineering process capability in the South Australian defence industry

It is well recognised that that there is a correlation between process maturity in large organisations and project success. In response to this, a number of process models and standards have been developed for the large-project environment. The Australian defence industry, unlike many overseas countries, relies to a much greater extent on small and medium-sized enterprises to supply equipment and services. Hence, the question has arisen about the scalability of overseas concepts to the Australian defence industry situation. To address this question, a research project has been undertaken to identify the current baseline of process capability for the South Australian defence software and systems engineering industry. This paper presents findings from the research project, including a general characterisation of the industry process capability and a discussion of the common perceived strengths and challenges of organisations within the industry. The project’s objectives, research design and findings are then compared and contrasted with similar research activities conducted in different parts of the world. Finally, the paper draws conclusions based on the body of work presented and suggests areas for future research and development to address industry needs.     

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumours in Ibadan, Nigeria

Only a few reports of adenomatoid odontogenic tumour (AOT) in Africans have been published. Clinical, histological and radiographic features as well as treatment results of thirteen new cases of AOT seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan were reviewed. This lesion constituted 12.1% of odontogenic tumours. This study shows a male: female ratio of 1.2:1. This contrasts with the reported male: female ratio of 1:3 in the United States, Britain, Sri Lanka and Japan. The higher male incidence may be peculiar to Nigeria. Although the peak incidence was in the second decade of life, four patients were over 20 years of age. The mean age was 23.2 years for all patients. None of the patients presented with recurrence on follow up.     

Multiple forms of complement C3 in trout that differ in binding to complement activators

In all other species analyzed to date, the functionally active form of complement component C3 exists as the product of a single gene. We have now identified and characterized three functional C3 proteins (C3-1, C3-3, and C3-4) in trout that are the products of at least two distinct C3 genes. All three proteins are composed of an alpha-and a beta-chain and contain a thioester bond in the alpha-chain. However, they differ in their electrophoretic mobility, glycosylation, reactivity with monospecific C3 antibodies, and relative ability to bind to various surfaces (zymosan, Escherichia coli, erythrocytes). A comparison of the partial amino acid sequences of the three proteins showed that the amino acid sequence identity/similarity of C3-3 to C3-4 is 87/91%, while that of C3-3 and C3-4 to C3-1 is 51.5/65.5% and 60/73% respectively. Thus, trout possess multiple forms of functional C3 that represent the products of several distinct genes and differ in their ability to bind covalently to various complement activators.     

Distinct exocytotic responses of intact and permeabilised chromaffin cells after cleavage of the 25-kDa synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP-25) or synaptobrevin by botulinum toxin A or B

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) types A and B are Zn2+-requiring endoproteases which potently block neurotransmitter release by cleavage of a 25-kDa synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP-25) and synaptobrevin, respectively. Synaptobrevin is important for the exocystosis of catecholamines from dense-core granules and evidence is presented here for the involvement of SNAP-25 in this process in neuroendocrine cells. The effects of BoNT/A and BoNT/B on regulated secretion were compared in intact bovine chromaffin cells to investigate the consequences of cleavage of the different targets. Catecholamine secretion elicited by Ba2+, by elevated K+ concentrations or by nicotine was prevented by each toxin. A very good correlation was observed between the extents of SNAP-25 cleavage or synaptobrevin cleavage and inhibition of secretion by BoNT/A or BoNT/B, respectively, which indicates the importance of SNAP-25 and synaptobrevin in regulated exocytosis. Despite truncation of almost the entire SNAP-25 pool by exposure of the cells to BoNT/A, a residual fraction of secretion persisted that was induced by 20microM Ca2+ (and to a lesser extent by 1 mM Ba2+) following permeabilisation. Addition of more BoNT/A failed to reduce this level of secretion. Inclusion of Mg.ATP, which greatly enhanced secretion from permeabilised cells, was required for Ca2+-stimulated or Ba2+-stimulated BoNT/A-resistant secretion. Furthermore, synaptobrevin is essential for this response because the response was not observed in BoNT/B treated cells. In view of the ability of BoNT/E to abolish secretion from permeabilised cells and to delete 26 amino acids from the C-terminus of SNAP-25, it can be deduced that cleavage of only nine residues by BoNT/A does not prevent the resultant truncated form exhibiting attenuated activity under the conditions created by permeabilisation. This identification of a novel component of secretion from permeabilised cells should facilitate investigation of the functional interaction of SNAP-25 with other proteins involved in regulated exocytosis.     

Spontaneous esophageal perforation in an acute burn patient

Spontaneous perforation of the esophagus is an uncommon and catastrophic event accompanied by extremely high morbidity and mortality. In a burn patient, diagnosis may be delayed because of painful burns that may mask the underlying problem. Diagnosis is dependent on a high index of suspicion and by inclusion of this entity in the differential diagnosis of chest pain. The authors report on a 45-year-old male who developed a spontaneous perforation of the esophagus while hospitalized for treatment of an 11% total body surface area burn. Diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment resulted in salvage of this patient. The pathophysiology of this disease and a review of the literature are presented.