In-person vs telephone-administered multiple-pass 24-hour recalls in women: validation with doubly labeled water

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of energy intakes estimated with the multiple-pass 24-hour recall method in women by conducting in-person and telephone interviews. Doubly labeled water measurements of total energy expenditure were used for validation. SUBJECTS: Thirty-five weight-stable women (mean age = 30 years, range = 19 to 46 years) participated. DESIGN: Total energy expenditure was measured over a 14-day period using the doubly labeled water method. During this time, 4 multiple-pass 24-hour recalls were obtained from the women (2 in-person, 2 by telephone) who were provided 2-dimensional food models to estimate portion sizes. The Food Intake Analysis System was used to analyze recall data. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Paired t tests were conducted to examine differences between energy intake estimated from the telephone and in-person interviews. Agreement between the energy intake estimates from the telephone recalls and the in-person recalls was assessed using the technique of Bland and Altman. Paired t tests were used to compare energy intake estimated from the telephone and in-person recalls to total energy expenditure. RESULTS: No significant difference in mean daily energy intake was found between the telephone (2,253 +/- 688 kcal) and in-person (2,173 +/- 656 kcal) interviews (P = .36). However, the mean energy intake from each interview method was significantly lower than total energy expenditure (2,644 +/- 503 kcal) (P = .006 and .001, respectively). APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Underreporting of energy intake was widespread in the sample. Although the multiple-pass 24-hour recall method did not generate a group measure of energy intake that was accurate or unbiased, the telephone-administered multiple-pass 24-hour recall was just as effective in estimating energy intake as the recall administered in-person. Dietetics professionals should be aware of the pervasive and serious problem of under-reporting of self-reported food intakes.     

CeReS-18, a novel cell surface sialoglycopeptide, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a calcium-sensitive manner

Very few growth inhibitors have been identified whichcan inhibit the proliferation of a broad spectrumof human breast cancer cell lines. CeReS-18, anovel cell surface sialoglycopeptide growth inhibitor, can reversiblyinhibit the proliferation of both estrogen receptor positive(MCF-7) and negative (BT-20) human breast cancer celllines. In addition, at concentrations above those requiredfor the reversible inhibition of cell proliferation, CeReS-18can also induce cell death in MCF-7 cells.Changes in nuclear and cytoplasmic morphology, characteristic ofapoptosis, were detected in MCF-7 cells treated witha cytotoxic concentration of CeReS-18, and internucleosomal DNAcleavage was also observed. The sensitivity of MCF-7and BT-20 cells to the biological properties ofCeReS-18 could be influenced by altering the calciumconcentration in the extracellular growth medium, such thatwhen the calcium concentration in the environment wasdecreased, an increased sensitivity to CeReS-18-induced growth inhibitionand cytotoxicity were observed. The addition of thecalcium chelating agent EGTA to MCF-7 cells, culturedin a normal calcium environment, could mimic theincreased sensitivity to the biological effects of CeReS-18observed under reduced calcium conditions.     

Heating and pain sensation produced in human skin by millimeter waves: comparison to a simple thermal model

Cutaneous thresholds for thermal pain were measured in 10 human subjects during 3-s exposures at 94 GHz continuous wave microwave energy at intensities up to approximately 1.8 W cm(-2). During each exposure, the temperature increase at the skin's surface was measured by infrared thermography. The mean (+/- s.e.m.) baseline temperature of the skin was 34.0+/-0.2 degrees C. The threshold for pricking pain was 43.9+/-0.7 degrees C, which corresponded to an increase in surface temperature of approximately 9.9 degrees C (from 34.0 degrees C to 43.9 degrees C). The measured increases in surface temperature were in good agreement with a simple thermal model that accounted for heat conduction and for the penetration depth of the microwave energy into tissue. Taken together, these results support the use of the model for predicting thresholds of thermal pain at other millimeter wave (length) frequencies.     

Screening for medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency using electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry

OBJECTIVE: To establish criteria for the diagnosis of medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency in the UK population using a method in which carnitine species eluted from blood spots are butylated and analysed by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). DESIGN: Four groups were studied: (1) 35 children, aged 4 days to 16.2 years, with proven MCAD deficiency (mostly homozygous for the A985G mutation, none receiving carnitine supplements); (2) 2168 control children; (3) 482 neonates; and (4) 15 MCAD heterozygotes. RESULTS: All patients with MCAD deficiency had an octanoylcarnitine concentration ([C8-Cn]) > 0.38 microM and no accumulation of carnitine species > C10 or < C6. Among the patients with MCAD deficiency, the [C8-Cn] was significantly lower in children > 10 weeks old and in children with carnitine depletion (free carnitine < 20 microM). Neonatal blood spots from patients with MCAD deficiency had a [C8-Cn] > 1.5 microM, whereas in heterozygotes and other normal neonates the [C8-Cn] was < 1.0 microM. In contrast, the blood spot [C8-Cn] in eight of 27 patients with MCAD deficiency > 10 weeks old fell within the same range as five of 15 MCAD heterozygotes (0.38-1.0 microM). However, the free carnitine concentrations were reduced (< 20 microM) in the patients with MCAD deficiency but normal in the heterozygotes. CONCLUSIONS: Criteria for the diagnosis of MCAD deficiency using ESI-MS/MS must take account of age and carnitine depletion. If screening is undertaken at 7-10 days, the number of false positive and negative results should be negligible. Because there have been no instances of death or neurological damage following diagnosis of MCAD deficiency in our patient group, a strong case can be made for neonatal screening for MCAD deficiency in the UK.     

Antiretroviral drug resistance testing in adult HIV-1 infection: recommendations of an International AIDS Society-USA Panel

Martin S. Hirsch, MD; Françoise Brun-Vézinet, MD; Richard T. D'Aquila, MD; Scott M. Hammer, MD; Victoria A. Johnson, MD; Daniel R. Kuritzkes, MD; Clive Loveday, MD, PhD; John W. Mellors, MD; Bonaventura Clotet, MD, PhD; Brian Conway, MD; Lisa M. Demeter, MD; Stefano Vella, MD; Donna M. Jacobsen; Douglas D. Richman, MD

JAMA. 2000;283:2417-2426.

Objective  Assays for drug resistance testing in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are now available and clinical studies suggest that viral drug resistance is correlated with poor virologic response to new therapy. The International AIDS Society–USA sought to update prior recommendations to provide guidance for clinicians regarding indications for HIV-1 resistance testing.

Participants  An International AIDS Society–USA 13-member physician panel with expertise in basic science, clinical research, and patient care involving HIV resistance to antiretroviral drugs was reconvened to provide recommendations for the clinical use of drug resistance testing.

Evidence and Consensus Process  The full panel met regularly between January and October 1999. Resistance and resistance testing data appearing in the last decade through April 2000 and presentations at national and international research conferences were reviewed. Recommendations and considerations were developed by 100% group consensus, acknowledging that definitive data to support final recommendations are not yet available.

Conclusions  Emerging data indicate that despite limitations, resistance testing should be incorporated into patient management in some settings. Resistance testing is recommended to help guide the choice of new regimens after treatment failure and for guiding therapy for pregnant women. It should be considered in treatment-naive patients with established infection, but cannot be firmly recommended in this setting. Testing also should be considered prior to initiating therapy in patients with acute HIV infection, although therapy should not be delayed pending the results. Expert interpretation is recommended given the complexity of results and assay limitations.

     

Radiologic percutaneous gastrostomy: Results in 56 patients with head and neck cancer

Objective: The establishment of a direct enteral feeding route is critical in the overall treatment of many patients with head and neck cancer. Use of radiologic percutaneous gastrostomy (RPG), the newest technique for gaining enteral access, has not been studied in such patients extensively. This study evaluated the indications, technique, success rate, and complications associated with RPG in patients with head and neck cancer. Study Design: Retrospective. Methods: A comprehensive chart review was undertaken of 56 patients with head and neck cancer treated at a tertiary care institution who had undergone successful or attempted RPG at some point during their treatment course. Results: Most study patients had advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The most frequent indications for RPG were dysphagia/aspiration following tumor resection (n = 26) and dysphagia following completion of single- or combined-modality therapy (n = 22). The success rate of attempted RPGs was 98.2%. The overall complication rate for RPG was 12.7% (10.9% minor and 1.8% major). Conclusions: RPG is a valuable tool for establishing enteral nutrition in patients with head and neck cancer. Advantages of RPG include high success rate despite obstructing lesions, low complication rate, time efficiency and scheduling ease compared with intraoperative percutaneous gastrostomy (PEG) by a second team, no reported tumor seeding of the tube site, and the fact that postoperative RPG allows for more accurate selection of patients who require a gastrostomy tube.     

Epidemiology of cerebral palsy in England and Scotland, 1984-9

AIMS—To report on the epidemiology of cerebral palsy in England and Scotland, to provide information on the prevalence of cerebral palsy and the severity of the disability or any co-morbidity.METHODS—Cerebral palsy registers were compiled from multiple sources of ascertainment covering all of Scotland and the counties of Merseyside, Cheshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire in England. All cases of cerebral palsy born in 1984 to 1989, to mothers resident in the area, were included. Denominator number of live births and neonatal deaths for determining birthweight specific prevalence were obtained from birth and death registrations. Learning, manual, and ambulatory disabilities were graded for severity. Any co-existing sensory (hearing or visual) morbidity was also graded for severity.RESULTS—There were 789 411 live births in 1984-9, with 3651 neonatal deaths (neonatal mortality 4.6 per 1000 live births) and 1649cases of cerebral palsy—a cerebral palsy prevalence of 2.1 per 1000 neonatal survivors. The birthweight specific cerebral palsy prevalence ranged from 1.1 per 1000 neonatal survivors in infants weighing ?2500 g to 78.1 in infants weighing <1000 g. There was no significant time trend in prevalence of cerebral palsy in any of the birthweight groups, in contrast to the fall in neonatal mortality observed in all birthweight groups. Of the 1649 cases of cerebral palsy, 550 (33.4%) had severe ambulatory disability (no independent walking), 390 (23.7%) had severe manual disability (incapable of feeding or dressing unaided), 381 (23.1%) had severe learning disability (IQ <50), 146 (8.9%) had severe visual disability (vision <6/60 in the better eye) and 12 had severe hearing disability (>70 dB loss).CONCLUSIONS—Registers fill an important gap left by the lack of routine data on the prevalence of disability in children. The ability to record trends in the prevalence and the severity of the disability should inform those who have responsibility for providing services for children with disabilities.