Survey of aflatoxins in California tree nuts

Surveys of the California walnut and almond crops to determine incidence of aflatoxins are reported. Average proportions of contaminated nuts from the field were one in 28,250 for walnuts and one in 26,500 for almonds. It was shown that there is a high correlation of contamination with damaged nuts which are removed by standard sorting procedures. Statistical treatment of data from the surveys indicates some of the problems in sampling tree nuts for analysis.     

Narcolepsy in seven dogs

Narcolepsy in 7 dogs was tentatively diagnosed on the onset of cataplexy, before or during young adulthood. Confirmatory polygraphic sleep recordings were done in 3 of the dogs. In 2 dogs, treatment with neostigmine did not cause the signs to disappear, thus ruling out myasthenia gravis; trials with imipramine reduced catapletic attacks. Data from case histories, polygraphic recordings, drug trials, and clinical tests were used to compare and contrast the disease in man and in the dog.     

The anatomic basis and clinical applications of flaps based on the posterior tibial vessels

The vascular anatomy of the posterior tibial vessels has been studied in 20 legs of 10 cadavers. The number, size and distribution of the direct cutaneous and direct muscle branches of the posterior tibial vessels were recorded. For analysis, the leg was divided into four equal segments, Zone I being the most distal and Zone IV the most proximal. The direct cutaneous branches were found to cluster mainly around Zone II. The direct muscle branches to the soleus and flexor digitorum longus muscles arose chiefly in Zones II and III. Based on this knowledge, we performed fasciocutaneous, island soleus muscle, musculo-fasciocutaneous and flexor digitorum longus muscle flaps based on the posterior tibial vessels in 12 patients. Four were free fasciocutaneous flaps and eight were pedicled flaps. All flaps survived and there were no major complications. Delayed wound healing was encountered in three patients.     

Regeneration of a transplanted liver after right hepatic lobectomy

Liver regeneration has been described after heterotopic liver transplantation, small-for-size orthotopic liver transplantation and reduced-size liver transplantation. In this report, we document the regenerative response of a whole liver transplant to major resection for the first time. A right hepatic lobectomy for liver ischemia was performed in a 30-year-old female after transplantation for autoimmune disease of the liver. Volumetric analysis of computed tomography (CT) scans revealed a preoperative liver volume of 1,961 mL, whereas analysis of the 6-week posthepatectomy CT scan showed a volume of 1,820 mL. Factors influencing regeneration in the setting of a liver transplant include rejection, ischemia/thrombosis, infection, or cyclosporine hepatotrophic/hepatotoxic effects. These factors, balanced with the intrinsic ability of hepatocytes to achieve a standard liver volume, determine the extent of regeneration.     

The impact of asthma and asthma-like illness in Seattle school children

The impact of asthma and asthma-like illness was measured in a population of 5-9-year-old Seattle public school children. Child health information was obtained from a survey of 1665 parents of first and second grade students to assess medical services use and impaired physical functioning among diagnosed asthmatics and those with current wheezing, defined as wheezing in the past 12 months without a diagnosis of asthma, relative to an asymptomatic population with neither condition. Relative to the asymptomatic population, the prevalence of respiratory-related activity limitation, and perception of poorer child health was larger among diagnosed asthmatics than children with current wheezing. However, the prevalence of sleep disturbances, school absences, medical services use, and parental concern over their child's health was similar for both the asthmatic and wheezing groups relative to the asymptomatic group. Also, in both symptomatic groups, a history of moderate or severe wheezing was associated with an increased prevalence of respiratory-related sleep disturbances and activity limitation. The similarity between the impact of diagnosed asthma and undiagnosed asthma-like illness suggests that the overall social and economic burden of asthma may be higher than previously estimated.     

The effect of incubation temperature and inoculum size on growth of salmonellae in minced beef

Growth rates and lag times of Salmonella organisms were determined in minced beef at temperatures between 10 and 35 degrees C. A mixture of serotypes containing antibiotic-resistance markers was used to allow small numbers of salmonellae to be counted in the presence of an excess of competing organisms. Maximum growth rates and lag times of salmonellae were unaffected by inoculum size. The effect of temperature on growth rate could be described by the simple square root relationship of Ratkowsky et al. (J. Bacteriol. 149, 1-5, 1982).     

Postprandial glucose, insulin, free fatty acid and growth hormone responses in children consuming all the day's protein in one meal

BLOOD GLUCOSE, INSULIN (IRI), growth hormone, and plasma free fatty acids (FFA) were determined in six children consuming a diet of uneven distribution of protein relative to energy (study period). Preprandial and postprandial samples surrounding the 8 AM protein-free feeding and the 3 PM feeding containing all the day's protein were compared with values obtained in the same children similarly sampled while consuming an isonitrogenous isoenergetic diet of even protein distribution (control period). After the 8 AM feeding during the study period there was a mean maximal rise of blood glucose at 30 min of 51 mg/dl compared with a rise of 16 mg/dl during the control period. Glucose remained significantly elevated above fasting values at 120 min during the study but not the control period. IRI response after the 8 AM feeding was significantly greater and suppression of FFA was more marked during the study than during the control period. Glucose concentration 30 min after the 3 PM feeding was significantly lower during the study period than during the control period. A peak value occurred at 60 min during the study period which was equal to the 30 min peak control value. Despite the slower elevation of blood glucose during the study period, IRI rose at 30 min, possibly related to a larger influx of amino acids from the protein-containing meal. FFA rose at 30 and 60 min and were then suppressed by the slowly rising blood glucose. Growth hormone after both meals while consuming both diets was variable but considered normal. The qualitative changes in glucose-IRI-FFA responses were for the most part attributable to differences in the test meals and suggested little long-term adaptation to the uneven protein distribution diet.