Adaptations for administering the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised to individuals with severe communication and motor dysfunctions.

A method for administering the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised to individuals unable to make oral or fine-motor responses was presented. The method involved binary communication and active interrogation by the examiner utilizing a random strategy. The test was administered in both standard and adapted forms to a group of 25 individuals with a wide range of physical and intellectual disabilities. Results from the two versions were correlated at a level comparable to that reported in the test manual between alternate forms. Viability of the binary format administration was discussed in terms of its use in evaluating cognitive ability of those with the most severe communication and physical limitations.

Advantages of environmental scanning electron microscopy in studies of microorganisms.

Microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and microalgae, are composed predominantly of water which prohibits direct observation in a traditional scanning electron microscope (SEM). Preparation for SEM requires that microorganisms be fixed, frozen or dehydrated, and coated with a conductive film before observation in a high vacuum environment. Sample preparation may mechanically disturb delicate samples, compromise morphological information, and introduce other artifacts. The environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) provides a technology for imaging hydrated or dehydrated biological samples with minimal manipulation and without the need for conductive coatings. Sporulating cultures of three fungi, Aspergillus sp., Cunninghamella sp., and Mucor sp., were imaged in the ESEM to assess usefulness of the instrument in the direct observation of delicate, uncoated, biological specimens. Asexual sporophores showed no evidence of conidial displacement or disruption of sporangia. Uncoated algal cells of Euglena gracilis and Spirogyra sp. were examined using the backscatter electron detector (BSE) and the environmental secondary electron detector (ESD) of the ESEM. BSE images had more clearly defined intracellular structures, whereas ESD gave a clearer view of the surface E. gracilis cells fixed with potassium permanganate, Spirogyra sp. stained with Lugol's solution, and Saprolegnia sp. fixed with osmium tetroxide were compared using BSE and ESD to demonstrate that cellular details could be enhanced by the introduction of heavy metals. The effect of cellular water on signal quality was evaluated by comparing hydrated to critical point dried specimens.

Serum zinc concentrations in adolescents as related to sexual maturation.

Zinc status and sexual maturity rating (SMR) were evaluated in 108 male and 97 female adolescents. Each subject was assigned an SMR number according to Tanner's classification (SMR 1, prepubertal development; SMR 2, first visible signs of pubertal change; SMR 3, onset of growth spurt; SMR 4, period of rapid, but lessening development; SMR 5, adult development). Males at SMR 5 had higher (P less than 0.05) serum Zn levels than those at less mature stages; females at SMR 5 had higher (P less than 0.05) serum Zn levels than those at SMR 1 and 2. Serum Zn concentrations in post-menarcheal females were greater (P less than 0.05) than in premenarcheal females. The results suggest that level of sexual maturation should be evaluated as a factor in the assessment of adolescent serum Zn concentrations.

Zinc nutriture in the elderly.

Emerging national attention to problems of aging in the mid-to-late 1970s stimulated research to better define zinc status and requirements of the older population. The commercial exploitation of hair analysis as a way to diagnose trace element deficiencies is unfortunate. Although hair zinc levels have been useful in comparing zinc status of population groups, usefulness of this technique with respect to assessment of the individual is extremely limited.

Food frequency related to folacin status in adolescents.

Food frequency data for 372 adolescents from urban and rural low-income households were evaluated. The urban group consisted of blacks (N = 161) and Hispanics (N = 32); blacks (N = 58) and whites (N = 121) composed the rural group. A food frequency questionnaire with 24 food groups categorized according to nutrient contribution was completed for each subject by a trained interviewer. Urban blacks selected folacin-dense foods more frequently than urban Hispanics or rural blacks. This difference corresponded with a higher prevalence of poor folacin status in urban Hispanics vs. urban blacks and in rural blacks vs. urban blacks. Rural whites also consumed a higher frequency of folacin-dense food groups than rural blacks, which, again, corresponded with differences in folacin status. The infrequent consumption of vegetables and fruits, particularly by rural black and urban Hispanic adolescents, provides an explanation for the poor folacin status of the adolescents.

Folacin and iron status and hematological findings in black and Spanish-American adolescents from urban low-income households.

The folacin and iron status of 193 adolescents from urban low-income households was evaluated. Red blood cell folacin concentrations were less than 140 ng/ml in 42% of the subjects and 140 to 159 ng/ml in 13%. Of the serum folacin values, 45% were less than 6 ng/ml, and 15% were below 3 ng/ml. Serum folacin levels decreased with increasing age (p less than 0.01) and sexual maturity (p less than 0.05). Transferrin saturation was low (less than 16%) in 12% of the females and 2% of the males. Transferrin saturation levels for females declined as age increased in contrast to an increase over age in males (p less than 0.01). Eleven percent of the females and 3% of the males were classified as anemic (less than 12 g/dl). Mean cell Hb concentration was low (less than 32%) in 24% of the females and 7% of the males. Of all subjects, 17% had low mean cell volumes (less than 81 mum 3). These findings demonstrate folacin and iron status is less than adequate in a significant proportion of this adolescent population group.

Zinc status of elderly black Americans from urban low-income households.

The zinc status of 135 elderly blacks, aged 60 to 87 years, from urban low-income households was evaluated based on the zinc content of hair and/or serum. The mean (+/- SD) hair zinc concentration was 142 +/- 77 microgram/g and the mean (+/- SD) serum zinc concentration was 93 +/- 15 microgram/dl. Of the study population 39% had a hair zinc concentration less than or equal to 100 microgram/g and/or a serum zinc concentration less than or equal to 80 microgram/dl. Eleven percent had a hair zinc concentration less than or equal to 70 microgram/g and/or a serum zinc concentration less than or equal to 70 microgram/dl. These findings suggest that the zinc status of this elderly population may be less than ideal.

Vitamin B12 status of elderly persons from urban low-income households.

Vitamin B12 status was evaluated in 111 noninstitutional elderly persons (age range, 60-87 years) living in an urban poverty area. The sample was predominantly black (90 subjects); the rest were Spanish Americans. Serum vitamin B12 levels were all normal (greater than 200 pg/ml) and ranged from 226 to 1200 pg/ml (mean +/- SD = 700 +/- 191 pg/ml). The findings indicate that vitamin B12 deficiency was not a problem in this elderly population.

Folacin and iron status and hematological findings in predominately black elderly persons from urban low-income households.

The folacin and iron status and hemotological parameters of 193 persons 60 years of age and older from urban low-income households were evaluated. Of the serum folacin values 30% were between 3 and 6 ng/ml and 8% were below 3 ng/ml. Of these subjects 60% could be classified as "high risk" (less than 140 ng/ml) and 11% as "medium risk" (140 to 160 ng/ml) based on red blood cell folacin concentrations. Serum iron was normal (greater than 50 micrograms/dl) for all subjects as was transferrin saturation (greater than 15%). Hematological indices showed a 14% incidence of anemia (hemaglobin less than 12 g/dl), and 32% incidence of leukopenia (leukocytes less than 4.8 X 10(3)). These findings demonstrate widespread folacin deficiency and no evidence of iron deficiency in these elderly people.

Alleviation of silver toxicity by selenite in the rat in relation to tissue glutathione peroxidase.

Dietary Se (0.5 ppm Se supplied as sodium selenite to a casein-based diet containing 0.02 ppm Se and lacking in vitamin E) prevented the growth depression observed in rats receiving 76 ppm Ag in the water supply and markedly improved growth and survival of those given 751 ppm Ag. The Ag concentration of liver and possibly of kidney was increased by Se. Liver glutathione peroxidase activities from rats fed 0.5 ppm Se and given 76 and 751 ppm Ag for 52 days in their water were, respectively, 30% and 4% of those from control rats fed 0.5 ppmSe without Ag. In rats fed a diet, adequate in vitamin E (100 IU/kg) and Se (0.5 ppm as sodium selenite), administration of 751 ppm Ag in the water for 15 wk reduced liver GSH-Px activity to 5% of that from control rats receiving no Ag. GSH-Px activity of erythrocytes and kidney was decreased by Ag to 37% and 38%, respectively, of control values. It is concluded that in vivo administration of Ag dramatically decreased liver GSH-Px in rats fed Se-supplemented diets with or without vitamin E. Furthermore, supplemental Se (0.5 ppm) prevented the growth depression and mortality caused by Ag in rats fed a diet lacking vitamin E, while increasing the Ag concentration of liver and kidney.