Occupational Health Record Systems--An Ideal Approach

A modular system of occupational health records specificallydesigned for companies with centralized computer facilitiesis presented to suit the companies requiring to keep such recordsfor operational and/or legal reasons. The type of informationto be kept is given with brief explanations of their value.Such a record system can be tailored to suit the requirementsof any organization. Requests for reprints should be addressed to: F. S. Gill, MSC, CENG. FIOH. Institute of Occupational Health. University Road West, P.O. Box 363, Birmingham B15 2TT.     

ETOMIDATE SHORTENS THE ONSET TIME OF NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCK

We have studied 30 healthy patients allocated randomly to receivethiopentone, propofol or etomidate in equipotent doses followedby vecu-ronium 0.1 mg kg^–1. Haemodynamic variables andtime to 100% neuromuscular block were measured. The patientsreceiving etomidate had a significantly shorter onset time ofneuromuscular block compared with those receiving the two otheri.v. induction agents. There was a significant negative correlationbetween onset time of neuromuscular block and the maximum percentchange in mean arterial pressure. (Br. J. Anaesth. 1992; 69:444–446) ^*Present address: Critical Care Programme, University Hospital,University of W. Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.     

Genetic control of acquired resistance to haemonchosis in Merino lambs

Parasitological and immunological responses of genetically resistant and random-bred lambs to primary and secondary infection with H. contortus were studied. Resistant lambs had higher faecal egg counts and total worm burdens than the random-bred lambs following the primary infection. As there were no significant differences in serum and antibody levels, mucosal mast cells, circulating and tissue eosinophils between the two groups, it is inferred that what ever the underlying mechanism it was an innate characteristic. In contrast to primary infection, resistant lambs had significantly lower faecal egg counts and worm burdens than the random-bred lambs on secondary infection. Resistant lambs also exhibited significantly higher antibody levels, mucosal mast cell hyperplasia and mucosal eosinophilia in response to a challenge infection than the random-bred lambs. Furthermore, levels of mast cell hyperplasia and anti-Haemonchus antibodies correlated positively with the resistance status of the host. Taken together these results suggest that the genetic resistance of sheep to H. contortus results from the expression of an acquired immune response, and that anti-parasite antibodies and mast cell-derived mediators may play an important role in genetically determined resistance of sheep to haemonchosis.     

DEVELOPMENT OF A CYTOCHEMICAL ASSAY FOR PLASMA VASOPRESSIN: APPLICATION TO STUDIES ON WATER LOADING NORMAL MAN

A cytochemical assay has been developed to measure human plasma arginine vasopressin. It is based on the stimulation of Na+-K+, ATPase activity located in the outer medulla of the rat kidney, and is capable of detecting very low plasma arginine vasopressin concentrations, limit of detection 0.01 pmol/l. Specificity for vasopressin stimulation of the enzyme is conferred on the assay by the use of specific vasopressin antiserum. Index of precision of the assay is 0.21. Degradation of arginine vasopressin in plasma in inhibited by phenanthroline. Samples may be stored up to 8 weeks at -70 degrees C. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 22% (n = 8) and 104% (n = 12), respectively. A sustained water load in eight healthy male adults caused a fall in plasma osmolality from a basal of 286.5 +/- 2.0 (mean +/- SEM) to 279.2 +/- 2.4 mmol/kg after the load (P less than 0.001), which was associated with a reduction in urine osmolality from 867 +/- 54 to 69 +/- 3 mmol/kg. Plasma immunoreactive arginine vasopressin fell from 1.3 +/- 0.3 pmol/l to become undetectable (less than 0.3 pmol/l), but plasma cytochemical arginine vasopressin decreased from 0.96 +/- 0.14 to 0.07 +/- 0.02 pmol/l. There was a curvilinear relationship between plasma osmolality and plasma cytochemical arginine vasopressin, which militated against the concept of an osmotic threshold for vasopressin release.     

Assessment of typical food portion sizes consumed among Australian adults

Aim: To document the typical portion sizes of commonly consumed foods as reported by adults in the 1995 National Nutrition Survey, and to compare these data with existing information on serving sizes used in Australia. Methods: Portion sizes of foods were defined as total amounts of food consumed per eating occasion, using estimated food portion weight data from the 1995 National Nutrition Survey. Age‐ and sex‐specific median (typical) and interquartile ranges were produced for the most commonly consumed foods for Australian adults. These were compared with other data on weighed food records, sample servings as used in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and ‘unspecified’ serves as used in nutritional analysis software. Results: Typical portion sizes for many commonly consumed foods varied significantly by age and sex of the consumer, with larger portion sizes being consumed by men, and by younger adults. Portion size differences between sex were not consistent across food types; therefore, a fixed ratio cannot be applied to all food types. Typical portion sizes estimated from the National Nutrition Survey were similar to median portion sizes obtained from weighed food records for many foods but were not similar to the generic sample servings and ‘unspecified’ serves. Conclusions: The significant age and sex differences in portion sizes consumed indicate the need for age‐ and sex‐specific portion sizes in dietary analysis. Portion size research has particular relevance to the current revision of the dietary guidelines, core food groups and the development of a new food guide in Australia.