THE COLLECTION AND EXTRACTION OF P. RADIATA SEED AT MT. BURR,SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Most new attacks on host trees by the mahogany shoot borer occurred in September, October and November, coinciding with the rainy season and the flush of new growth on the trees. Adult moths were active throughout the year but few were caught in light traps from late December to late August. Progressive attack on new shoots produced a typical “bushy-top” condition, but severe damage was related to both age and size of trees. Larvae demonstrated a distinct preference for Swietenia macrophylla in two-way choice systems over Khaya anthotlieca and Toona sureni. Albizia falcataria, a non-host (not a natural food-plant of H. robusta), was not attacked when a food-plant was available.     

Objectively assessed physical activity,sedentary time and waist circumference among prostate cancer survivors: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003–2006)

LYNCH B.M., DUNSTAN D.W., WINKLER E., HEALY G.N., EAKIN E. & OWEN N. (2010) European Journal of Cancer Care
Objectively assessed physical activity, sedentary time and waist circumference among prostate cancer survivors: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003–2006) Physical activity is well‐established on the cancer survivorship research agenda, but prostate cancer survivors remain an understudied population. Additionally, the unique relationships between sedentary time and health outcomes have not yet been considered in this group. We examined the associations of accelerometer‐assessed physical activity and sedentary time with waist circumference in 103 prostate cancer survivors from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2004 and 2005–2006. Participants wore an Actigraph accelerometer for 7 days, and activity levels were summarised as moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity activity (accelerometer counts/minute ≥1952), light‐intensity activity (counts/minute 100–1951) and sedentary time (counts/minute < 100). Moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity physical activity was inversely associated with waist circumference (β=?6.728, 95% CI: ?12.267, ?1.190, P= 0.020), equating to a top versus bottom quartile difference of 13.7 cm. No discernable relationship existed between light‐intensity activity or sedentary time and adiposity. This is the first study to objectively measure the activity levels of prostate cancer survivors. Increasing moderate‐to‐vigorous activity may assist this population with weight management. More research into the relationships of light‐intensity physical activity and sedentary behaviour with health outcomes among prostate cancer survivors is warranted, given the strong relationships seen in the broader population.     

FRESH GAS REQUIREMENTS OF AN ENCLOSED AFFERENT RESERVOIR BREATHING SYSTEM DURING CONTROLLED VENTILATION IN CHILDREN

An enclosed afferent reservoir breathing system (EAR) designedby Ohmeda was evaluated during anaesthesia with controlled ventilationin 104 healthy children. Carbon dioxide production and arterialcarbon dioxide tension were measured in 12 children in orderto determine the proportion of fresh gas (VF) involved in gasexchange. When the ratio of minute volume ventilation to freshgas flow (VE:VF) exceeded 1.5, fractional utilization of freshgas with the EAR was 0.92. This value and values of carbon dioxideproduction obtained from 43 children were used to derive a simpleformula relating fresh gas flow requirements to body weight.The formula, VF =0.6 x weight ^0.5, was assessed in 49 childrenweighing 10–70 kg. The mean end-tidal partial pressureof carbon dioxide in these patients was 4.5 kPa (range 3.8–5.2kPa). We conclude that the EAR has an efficiency of 92% in theuse of fresh gas during controlled ventilation in healthy children,provided the VE:VF ratio is greater than 1.5. Under these conditions,normocapnia to mild hypocapnia was produced accurately usingthe formula VF=0.6 x weight ^0.5.     

The analgesic effect of a low dose of alfentanil

The effect of a single small dose of alfentanil (6 micrograms/kg) on postoperative pain was compared with saline using a double blind study. Pain was assessed using a linear analogue scale and shown to decrease at 2, 5 and 10 minutes after injection of alfentanil (p less than 0.01). The PE'CO2 was increased at 2 and 15 minutes (p less than 0.05) and 5 and 10 minutes (p less than 0.01) after injection of alfentanil. There were no changes in pain or PE'CO2 in the control group throughout the study. Intravenous alfentanil given to patients in pain provides quick effective analgesia for a short period of time, but respiratory depression may occur.