Dietary sources of nutrients among US adults, 1994 to 1996

OBJECTIVE: To identify major food sources of 30 nutrients and dietary constituents among US adults during 1994 to 1996, and to compare them with those identified for 1989 to 1991. DESIGN: A total of 6419 foods were assigned to 112 food groups based on similarities in nutrient content or use. These foods included 3778 food mixtures disaggregated by the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) FoodLink computerized research tool, so ingredients could be assigned to the appropriate groups and nutrient values ascribed accordingly.Subjects/setting Single 24-hour dietary recalls from a nationally representative sample of 10019 adults aged 19 years or older in USDA's 1994 to 1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals were used. Statistical analyses performed The population proportion formula was used to determine weighted nutrient intakes by food groups. Results were tabulated in descending rank order for food groups providing at least 1% of total nutrient intake. RESULTS: Dietary food sources found for 1994 to 1996 were fairly consistent with 1989 to 1991 results for the rank order and proportion these sources made to total nutrient intakes. Remarkable changes were seen in the higher proportion of energy from alcoholic beverages, in the shifts in the proportion of total fat and fatty acids from oil (higher ranked) and margarine (lower ranked), and in the lower proportion of vitamins and minerals from ready-to-eat cereals. CONCLUSIONS: Despite changes in survey methodology, the food supply, and eating patterns, food sources of nutrients among US adults in 1994 to 1996 and 1989 to 1991 were similar. The 1994 to 1996 data are the first known national population estimates for dietary sources of vitamin A (retinol equivalents), selenium, caffeine, and theobromine among US adults.     

Annoyance and irritation by passive smoking

The acute irritating and annoying effects of smoke have been investigated in field and laboratory studies by examining the concentration of some smoke components in air. In the workplace, 30 to 70% of the indoor carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate concentrations are due to tobacco smoke; 25-40% of the employees are disturbed and/or annoyed by smoke and 25% suffer from eye irritation at work. Subjective eye, nose, and throat irritations and eye blink rate increase with increasing smoke concentration and increasing exposure duration. Irritation is due mainly to the particulate phase of environmental tobacco smoke, whereas the gas phase is, to a large extent, responsible for annoyance. It is concluded that healthy individuals can tolerate an environmental tobacco smoke level that corresponds to a carbon monoxide concentration of 1.5 to 2.0 ppm. Above these limits, countermeasures to protect passive smokers are necessary. In order not to exceed the upper tolerable threshold limit of 2.0 ppm carbon monoxide, it is necessary to have a fresh air supply of 33 m3 per hour per cigarette smoked. Special attention should be paid to groups of people with increased sensitivity to environmental tobacco smoke, e.g., asthmatics, allergic individuals, chronic bronchitis sufferers, and children.     

La pollution de l'air par la fumée de cigarettes: effets physiologiques et irritations

We assessed the effects on the judgement of air quality, eye blinking rate, and lung functions of air pollution due to cigarette smoke. At the same time, subjective irritations were recorded. The measured effects were brought into relationship with the concentration of some pollutants in the air.     

Quantitative bestimmung verschiedener gasphasenkomponenten des nebenstromrauches von zigaretten in der raumluft als beitrag zum problem des passivrauchens

Zussammenfassung In einer unbelüfteten Klimakammer von 30 m³ Rauminhalt wurden maschinell gleichzeitig 30 Zigaretten abgeraucht und mittels der Capillarsäulen-Gaschromatographie 6 aromatische Kohlenwasserstoffe (Benzol, Toluol, o-Xylol, m-Xylol, p-Xylol, Styrol), 5 Ketone (Aceton, 2-Butanon, 2-Pentanon, Methyl-Vinyl-Keton, 2,3-Butandion), 5 Nitrile (Acetonitril, Propionitril, Butyronitril, Isovaleronitril, Valeronitril) und neben Acrolein noch 3 weitere Gasphasenkomponente des Nebenstromrauches (2-Methyl-Furan, 2,5-Dimethylfuran, Limonen) identifiziert und quantitativ ausgewertet. Ferner wurde in einer Plexiglaskammer von 272 1 Inhalt unter identischen Bedingungen 1 Zigarette abgeraucht und die mit dieser Methode erhaltenen Werte der einzelnen Gasphasenkomponenten auf die Dimensionen der Klimakammer umgerechnet.Obwohl wir in diesen beiden Versuchsserien mit hohen Rauchkonzentrationen arbeiteten, warden einzig für Acrolein, das allerdings als sehr starkes Irritans bekannt ist, die MIK_D– (0,005 ppm), die MIK_K– (0,01 ppm) und die MAK-Werte (0,1 ppm) überschritten, erreichten doch die Konzentrationen 0,37 ppm in der Klimakammer bzw. 0,38 ppm in der Plexiglaskammer.Mit substanzspezifischen Monitor-Systemen bestimmten wir überdies bei einer variablen Anzahl Zigaretten die Kohlenmonoxid-, Formaldehyd- und Stickoxid-Konzentrationen in der Klimakammer. Die MIK_D– (9 ppm), MIK_K–(16 ppm) and MAK-Werte (50 ppm) von Kohlenmonoxid wurden dabei mit etwa 4 bzw. 7 bzw. 20 Zigaretten überschritten. Bei Formaldehyd lagen bereits die Nulluft-Konzentrationen (Mittelwert aus 10 Messungen: 0,036 ppm) oberhalb des MIK_D Wertes (0,02 ppm), und zur Erreichung der MIK_K- Schwelle (0,06 ppm) mußte lediglich etwas mehr als 1 Zigarette abgeraucht warden.Die Stickoxid-Bestimmungen zeigten, daß der Nebenstromrauch der von uns verwendeten Zigaretten nur Stickstoffoxid enthielt.     

A coprological survey of parasites of wild carnivores in Ireland

The increasing movement of people to wilderness areas, shrinking of wildlife habitats and the resulting urbanisation of wildlife has led to growing concerns about the transfer of parasitic diseases, particularly from contaminated faeces. Faecal samples from wild carnivores in Ireland were examined for the presence of protozoan and nematode parasites. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) samples (n?=?91) were positive for Uncinaria stenocephala (38 %), Eucoleus aerophilus (26 %), Toxocara canis (20 %), Trichuris vulpis (4 %) and Isospora-like oocysts (9 %). Badger (Meles meles) samples (n?=?50) were positive for Uncinaria criniformis (40 %), E. aerophilus (6 %) and Isospora-like oocysts (16 %). No parasites were observed in pine marten (n?=?48; Martes martes) faeces. Approximately 5 % of American mink (Mustela vison) samples were positive for Cryptosporidium by polymerase chain reaction (identified as Cryptosporidium andersoni (n?=?3) and ‘mink’ genotype (n?=?1)). The results suggest that wild carnivores in Ireland have a range of parasites, although it is unclear from the present study to what extent these infections are associated with morbidity. While it can be expected that, via their faeces, wild carnivores contribute to the spread of these parasites, they are unlikely the primary source of environmental contamination. Therefore, they should not always be the principal target of control measures.     

Unusual presentation of leptospirosis in the late stage of pregnancy

Here we report a case of leptospirosis without fever during the late stage of pregnancy in which the initial clinical presentation was more suggestive of a pregnancy-related liver dysfunction rather than an infectious disease. A 32-year-old primipara at 37 week of gestation was hospitalised with a 10-day history of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain without fever. Initial routine blood tests showed hyperbilirubinemia, a moderate increase in transaminase levels, severe coagulopathy and an increased creatinine level. On clinical suspicion of pregnancy-related liver dysfunction such as HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, low platelet count) or acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP), emergency caesarean section was performed and a healthy baby was delivered. Postoperatively, the patient was stable, but 5 days later she developed clouding of consciousness, severe jaundice and respiratory failure. At this time, an infectious disease was considered and leptospirosis was confirmed by serological tests. In conjunction with intensive care management, antibiotic therapy was given; the patient was discharged in good condition and her baby did not develop signs of active leptospirosis. While leptospirosis is rare in pregnancy, this is the first report of acute infection without fever mimicking the clinical pattern of HELLP syndrome or AFLP