Folic acid in prevention of neural tube defects.
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Female↗
Biomedical subjects
W Doyle
Publications and source records attributed to W Doyle.
Ictus emeticus: further evidence of nondominant temporal involvement.
We report two cases of ictal vomiting in patients who had left temporal lobe epilepsy. In one patient, vomiting developed when the discharge spread to the right temporal lobe as seen during depth electrode recording. In the second patient, ictal vomiting occurred with a restricted left temporal discharge, but the patient was left-handed and had right-hemisphere language dominance. These cases provide additional evidence of the involvement of the nondominant temporal lobe in ictus emeticus.
Adolescent↗
Gait initiation of persons with below-knee amputation: the characterization and comparison of force profiles.
The purpose of this study was to characterize gait initiation of persons with leg amputation and determine whether prosthetic alignment was a critical parameter in the initiation process. Gait initiation was chosen for study because of the difficult neuromuscular demands placed on the body in negotiating the transition from stance to ambulation. In this investigation, ground reaction force data were collected on seven persons with below-knee amputation. These subjects underwent a series of gait initiation trials while varying prosthetic alignment. An analysis of the data demonstrated key elements in the gait initiation process, including the motion of the center of gravity in preparation for steady-state walking. Significant asymmetries in the force profiles of the residual and nonamputated limbs were also found; gait initiation forces were consistently higher for the prosthetic limb and the timings of maxima and minima were indicative of an intact limb preference. Relatively small changes in prosthesis alignment proved not to have statistically significant effects on generalized force parameters. This result is consistent with the findings of other studies that gait initiation is a motor program with certain invariant characteristics.
Aged↗
Nutritional status of schoolchildren in an inner city area.
Data were collected on the seven day weighed food intakes of 65 schoolchildren, aged 12-13 years, living in an inner city, socially deprived area in east London. Blood samples were collected during the week and analysed for cholesterol, serum ferritin, vitamins A, E, B-12, beta carotene, and folic acid. Boys generally fared better than girls with almost a quarter of the girls having intakes of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, and riboflavin less than the lower reference nutrient intake, an amount which, by definition, is enough for only the few people in a group who have low needs. Although the mean energy intake was close to the estimated average requirement for both boys and girls, 74% did not meet the recommended intake for fibre and a high proportion of children consumed more than 11% of their energy from saturated fat (85%) and added sugar (88%). Thirty seven per cent of the children ate no fresh fruit during the week they kept a diary and only 19% had vegetables (fresh or frozen), other than potatoes, on a daily basis. Their main sources of energy were chips, bread, and confectionery. No association was found between fat intakes and plasma cholesterol concentrations. Girls had significantly lower blood concentrations of folic acid, ferritin, and beta carotene. The findings of this study confirm the anxieties often expressed that many schoolchildren, particularly in less affluent areas, are eating diets which are unhealthy according to government recommendations.
Adolescent↗
The association of maternal social class with maternal diet and the dimensions of babies in a population of London women.
Records of the diets of 513 London mothers towards the end of the first trimester of pregnancy have been reported previously to show the maternal nutritional intakes associated with birthweight in the optimum range, which may be assumed to approximate to basic maternal needs for reproduction. The diets associated with low birthweight and small head size were also recorded and were found to be inferior. The present paper shows social class gradients for baby size and 35 essential dietary components, providing an indication of which basic maternal nutritional needs were not always met. There was no social class gradient for intake of total energy, or the energy carriers carbohydrate and fat. There were, however, statistically highly significant social class gradients for intake of protein, seven minerals and six B-vitamins, all of which were also highly significantly correlated with birthweight. Maternal intake of these 14 components of diet fell progressively as birthweight fell, but only for the mothers of smaller babies below 3270g, the median for the study. Further increase of maternal intakes of any nutrient by mothers whose babies were above median did not apparently further increase birthweight. The social and medical problem presented by maternal nutrition is that of a minority of women who enter pregnancy with qualitatively inadequate nutritional status. This minority is found in all social classes but increases from social class I to V, and further still among single mothers. The women comprising this minority eat foods not meeting basic maternal needs for a range of nutrients characteristic of whole grains, vegetables and fruit and dairy produce, which may partly be explained by their high cost.
Alcohol Drinking↗
Nutrition and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Since the 1960s the structural requirements for the growth, development and function of the brain have become better understood due to the recognition of the prodigious energy needs for brain development and its structural requirements for lipids. The most vulnerable period of neural development is during embryonic and fetal growth. There is now both retrospective and prospective evidence that maternal nutrition prior to conception is most important to pregnancy outcome. Our studies on maternal nutrition in pregnancy again illustrate the relationship of maternal nutrition to birthweight and head circumference. In a study of 513 pregnancies we found that nutrient intakes in mothers of low birthweight babies were well below those of mothers whose babies were in the 3.5-4.5 Kg range at which morbidity is at its lowest. Nutrient intakes tracked with birthweight, independent of smoking and alcohol up to, but not above 3,270 g. The closest correlations were obtained with the diet of the mother at or about the time of conception rather than later in the pregnancy. Our studies also reveal that premature and intrauterine growth retarded babies were born with deficits of the types of essential fatty acids (arachidonic AA, docosahexaenoic DHA acids) known to be required for brain development. Deficits of brain DHA have been found experimentally to impair visual and cognitive development and also to cause haemorrhage, not unlike peri-ventricular haemorrhage in low birthweight babies, the above evidence is suggestive of a route to test the prevention and treatment of these types of membrane related disorders.
Cephalometry↗
Re: Automated Fabrication of Mobility Aids (AFMA): below-knee CASD/CAM testing and evaluation program results.
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Amputation, Surgical↗
Nutrition of women in anticipation of pregnancy.
A causal connection between maternal nutrient intake and birth outcome is not universally accepted. In this paper further empirical support is provided, particularly in relation to the impact of maternal nutrition around the time of conception or very early in pregnancy. It is argued that the hypothesis that maternal nutrition has no connection with birthweight is very easily refuted. It is suggested that there should be a new category of recommended dietary allowances; "women in anticipation of pregnancy". The diet of 513 pregnant London women were recorded for 7 days during the first trimester of their pregnancy. Birthweight and nutrient intakes were found to be significantly correlated but only over the lower half of the birthweight range. The optimum birthweight range with the lowest perinatal and infant mortalities is 3,500-4,500 g and it is suggested that the nutrient intake of th 165 women who had babies in this optimum weight range provide tentative values for nutrient intake recommendations in anticipation of pregnancy, but are not claimed to be representative. The need for adjustments of recommendations for the individual, for example for a low body mass index, is discussed. A body mass index of 24 kg/m2 is recommended based on the median of the 165 women.
Adult↗
Potential diagnostic value of the umbilical artery as a definition of neural fatty acid status of the fetus during its growth: the umbilical artery as a diagnostic tool.
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Adult↗
Ocular toxicity of vitreal pluronic polyol F-127.
To evaluate pluronic polyol F-127 (PF-127) as a vitreous substitute and an intraocular drug delivery system, a total vitrectomy was performed on 18 New Zealand rabbits (18 eyes). The vitreous was replaced with either PF-127 (9 eyes) or balanced salt solution (9 eyes). There was little difference clinically between the eyes containing PF-127 and the control eyes. Both groups showed mild postoperative inflammation, with no differences in intraocular pressures. Histopathologic findings for the control group showed no significant retinal alteration, and serial ERG findings were within normal limits. In contrast, the eyes containing PF-127 showed marked destruction of the retina by 2 weeks after surgery. The ERG amplitudes decreased dramatically to a flat tracing by 24 hours after surgery. Although it is attractive as a potential vitreous substitute, PF-127 is not safe for human use, at least at the concentration used.
Animals↗
n-6 and n-3 fatty acids during early human development.
The food intakes of pregnant women were analysed from two contrasting socio-economic areas in London. There were significant differences in mean calorie and EFA intakes. Analysis of maternal and cord blood essential fatty acids (EFAs) in relation to birth weight, placental weight and head circumference were consistent with the dietary data. To assess the EFA tissue status of the low birth weight babies, the umbilical arteries from 14 separate babies of different birth weights were studied. Surprisingly high levels of the Mead acid (20:3 n-9) were found, with the highest appearing in the artery from the baby with the lowest birth weight. This data may not necessarily imply an EFA deficiency, but at the least it probably indicates a remarkable thirst for long chain n-6 and n-3 fatty acids for fetal brain development.
Anthropometry↗
Maternal magnesium intake and pregnancy outcome.
The magnesium intakes of 513 women towards the end of the first trimester of pregnancy were calculated from a record of food consumption for one week. Magnesium intake was found to be correlated with weight, length, and head circumference at birth as well as length of gestation up to a threshold of around 3200 g birthweight. Of the seven elements found to be significantly associated with these outcomes of pregnancy, magnesium was third in order of significance, after sodium and chloride. A subsample of mothers were given a supplement which provided 100 mg/day of magnesium during the second and third trimester: there was no effect on the outcome of pregnancy, suggesting that any influence of magnesium was confined to the first trimester or before. A maternal magnesium intake of 300 mg/day was compatible with observed optimum birthweight, length and head circumference.
Birth Weight↗
Field evaluation of the Copal UA-231 automatic sphygmomanometer.
Automated sphygmomanometers should be evaluated in field studies before being recommended for epidemiological use. In this study an automated sphygmomanometer, the Copal UA-231, was evaluated on the basis of duplicate blood pressure measurements, one with this machine and one with a Hawksley random zero machine, taken on 1536 participants in a health survey. The Copal-random zero differences had a mean of 2.3 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure and 1.9 mm Hg for diastolic pressure, the Copal reading higher than the random zero. The standard deviations of these differences were similar to the standard deviations of the differences between two random zero measurements taken on subjects in a separate survey. However, Copal-random zero differences varied systemically with blood pressure levels. In this study a 10 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure was associated with a 1.22 mm Hg increase in the Copal-random zero difference and a 10 mm Hg increase in diastolic blood pressure was associated with a 1.15 mm Hg increase in the Copal-random zero difference. The Copal UA-231 is recommended for use in field surveys, but it should be recognised that a small systematic increase in Copal-random zero difference with increasing blood pressure may complicate interpretation of epidemiological associations.
Adolescent↗
A nutritional analysis of food provided to Royal Naval personnel at sea.
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Adult↗
Gender differences at birth and differences in fetal growth.
The discrepancy between the number of boys and girls born has been interpreted as a natural selection response to differential survival prospects. There also exists a discrepancy in birth weight, length, head circumference at birth of boys and girls; on the other hand, placental weights were not so strongly biased by the sex of the fetus. Metabolic differences between the sexes are clearly recognized in adults. It is therefore argued that the anthropometric differences at birth, examples of which are presented in this paper, can only be achieved if the products of conception are also expressing a sexual bias in metabolism and physiology. It would then be this bias which would determine the efficiency of the implantation and growth processes and lead to rates of survival to birth. The speculation arising from this and the experimental manipulation of the sex ratio is that the physiological component most likely to be involved would be the lipid compartment with its strong sex difference.
Adolescent↗
Food intakes of children, the DHSS, and the prevention of heart disease.
The DHSS recently reported on school children's food intakes (1). Although the type of fat eaten is clearly an important issue, the DHSS study did not analyse the fat intake for its saturated and essential fatty acid content. We have explored the intakes of the children for fibre, sugar and saturated fats as well as additional vitamins and trace elements, not reported by the DHSS. The data from the DHSS survey was presented as a summary of the main food types eaten. They aggregated some food groups e.g. meat and meat products, fish and fish products, cakes and biscuits. While this approach might make little difference to protein intakes, it may be expected to make a difference to fat and essential fatty acid intakes. We have re-analyzed the childrens food intakes keeping within the confines of the food groups reported. We had to rely on certain assumptions about the nature of an 'average' diet; we therefore explored the possibility that our assumption of an average diet was incorrect and examined a worse and a better situation to define how much the nutrient intake varied. The result of the analyses illustrate an important principle in the context of the present concern for food and health. The only way in which we could satisfy NACNE and COMA recommendations for fat, saturated fat, fibre and sugar, without a radical change in eating habits, was by simply replacing half the 'junk' foods by an isocaloric amount of fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition there was a marked improvement in the intakes fo beta-carotene, vitamin C, B6 and folic acid. These improvements in diet are of particular importance to children as it is well known that the period most vulnerable to nutritional distortions is during growth and development. No matter which way we looked at the data is clear that not only are the school children's diets unsatisfactory from the view point of prevention of cardiovascular disease in later life but they also leave much to be desired from the view point of the wide range of nutrients known to be important for general health, growth and development. If this is true for the mean values obtained, it will be even more true for the 'high risk groups'.
Child↗
A primate model for the evaluation of antihistamines.
Studies of the efficacy of antihistamines in treating human upper airway pathology are difficult to design and conduct. In part, this is the result of a lack of objective measures of the nasal response. The purpose of this study was to develop a monkey model for the objective evaluation of antihistamine effectiveness and, using this model, to study the efficacy of cetirizine. Computer-assisted active anterior rhinomanometry was used to assess nasal airway resistance (NAR) before and after a nasal histamine provocation in conscious rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). To establish dose-response relationships for oral antihistamines in monkeys, we measured the suppression of wheal-and-flare reactions by two such agents, oral cetirizine (CET) 0.1 to 1 mg/kg and chlorpheniramine (CHL) 0.07 to 0.2 mg/kg. The decreases in wheal sizes were maximal 60 to 120 minutes after CET 1.0 mg/kg (90%), and after CHL 0.2 mg/kg (70%). The four monkeys were challenged intranasally with increasing histamine doses (0.5, 1, 5, and 10 mg). The NAR was measured 15 minutes after each dose. At least three days later and 90 minutes after oral pretreatment with either CET 1 mg/kg or CHL 0.2 mg/kg, the intranasal challenges were repeated. Postchallenge NAR data are given as the percent increase from the baseline NAR values. The four monkeys studied had coefficients of variation of 13%, 15%, 16%, and 26% respectively for baseline studies. Mean percent increases in NAR +/- standard deviation were 14% +/- 0.4%, 47% +/- 10.0%, 45% +/- 3.0%, and 72% +/- 6.0% after intranasal challenge with 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 mg of histamine, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Administration, Oral↗
A nutritional analysis of food provided to Royal Naval personnel at sea.
The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional content of the foods provided to, and the confectionary purchased by, personnel serving at sea in British warships. Data were collected from the stores accounts of six ships over a period of 32,354 man-victualling-days. Analysis was carried out at the Nuffield Laboratories of Comparative Medicine. The food from the ships' gallies provided mean daily intakes of 3750 kcal, of which 42 per cent were derived from fats (17 per cent from saturated fats) and 9 per cent from added sugars. In taking account of confectionary purchased from NAAFI sources the total energy intake was raised to 4200 kcal of which 40 per cent were derived from fats (15 per cent saturated fats) and 12 per cent from added sugars. The results do not compare favourably with the recommendations of the reports of expert committees.
Adult↗