Lifestyle behaviour and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors - a pilot study comparing Kiribati and European seafarers.

BACKGROUND: According to internal observations within a German shipping company, obvious risk-behaviour persists among the crew members coming from the Pacific Island State of Kiribati and representing a large part of the crew aboard merchant vessels of this company. These observations were related to excessive eating habits. This study aims to assess the cardiovascular risk among seafarers and to compare lifestyle factors between Kiribati and European crew members. METHODS: In the present maritime field study 81 sailors (48 Kiribati, 33 European, average age at 38.9 and 36.8 years respectively) were examined from April until August 2014 aboard four container ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean (participation rate of 90.9%). RESULTS: Based on the number of established risk factors, 35.4% of the Kiribati and 16.7% of the European crew members were regarded as a high risk group for cardiovascular diseases. The HDL-values of Kiribati were found to be considerably lower (34.9 mg/dl) than the references values given by the WHO and in comparison to the European crew members (44.8 mg/dl) (p = 0.002). 91.7% of Kiribati and 51.5% of European participants were found to be overweight according to WHO-criteria - with a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.3 kg/m2 and 25.6 kg/m2 (p <  0.001). Regarding lifestyle factors Kiribati often claimed to eat significantly larger amounts of food aboard while most European sailors stated to eat less or about the same during their shipboard stay (p = 0.017). Daily sleeping hours were slight on both sides; however with a mean of 5.2 h a day Kiribati crew members had significant fewer sleep (p = 0.038). The examined Kiribati sailors had a mean increase in weight of 6 kg over a 12 months period of observation. CONCLUSIONS: In total the compiled data points towards a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases particularly due to alimentary habits within the Kiribati crew members. The distinct weight-gain measured among the Kiribati in spite of higher energy consumption levels at sea is alarming. Thus, the results of this study confirm the necessity of health-improving interventions aboard cargo vessels.

Burnout syndrome in seafarers in the merchant marine service.

PURPOSE: As seafarers face a wide range of psychosocial stressors on board, they may be endangered to develop burnout syndrome. This study aims to investigate respective indicators. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 251 seafarers were asked about demographic data and job-related stressors. Particularly, the subscale emotional exhaustion (EE) of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were used to assess the respective risks of job-related burnout and daytime sleepiness among seafarers. The statistical analysis was carried out using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Within the whole study group, the EE score was elevated in 10.8 %. A higher EE score was found in 10.7 % of officers, in 4.5 % of lower crew ranks and in 25.0 % of the galley staff (p = 0.05). Furthermore, long working days were associated with an elevated EE score [OR 3.83 (CI 1.46-10.03)]. Emotional exhaustion was associated with a subjective perception of enough sleep on board [OR 3.33 (CI 1.17-9.46)], lack of care taken by the shipboard superiors and/or the shipping company [OR 1.19 (CI 1.04-1.36)], with high responsibility for work organisation of those involved in leadership [OR 1.46 (CI 1.20-1.78)] and with social problems due to the long periods of separation from their families [OR 1.19 (CI 1.02-1.39)], taking into account relevant demographic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the majority of on-shore occupations, the burnout risk in seafaring seems to be moderate. To reduce the EE among seafarers, it is recommended to extend the sleeping time, to avoid long working hours, to improve the superiors' communication and leadership skills, to diminish the superiors' stress load caused by organisational duties and to support low-price telecommunication possibilities at home.

Systematic review of maritime field studies about stress and strain in seafaring.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to summarize and evaluate the current scientific literature on stress and strain on seafarers on board as defined by maritime field surveys. METHODS: Using a systematic review, 109 studies on the stress and strain experienced by seafarers were identified for the period January 1990 to January 2012. RESULTS: Only 13 of the identified maritime studies were conducted as field studies, and in 10 of these studies, the focus was on the watch system and/or on fatigue. According to the study results, sleepiness tends to be stronger in the 2-watch system than in the 3-watch system (particularly between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m.). Occasional short sleep episodes appear to provide adequate recovery. Fatigue does not appear to depend on the seafarers' age and is often associated with poor sleep quality; noise and night shifts are also considered to contribute to fatigue. Stress among the seafarers was primarily recorded in sleep diaries (9 times) and with devices for measuring physical activity (4 times). As a rule, a questionnaire was used to assess the strain on the crew on board; 7 studies also additionally recorded biometrical parameters. Only in 6 cases were several groups with different ranks on board investigated. CONCLUSION: The conducted literature review makes it clear that most maritime field studies have focused on fatigue and watch systems in the shipping industry--in each case as univariate parameters. Thus, scientific field studies with comprehensive multivariate stress and strain analyses on board are required.

Astatinated trastuzumab, a putative agent for radionuclide immunotherapy of ErbB2-expressing tumours.

The anti-ErbB2 antibody trastuzumab is used for the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer, resulting in a response rate of 40-60%. Coupling with a cytotoxic nuclide, e.g. alpha-emitting 211At, may further increase tumour response. The tumour-targeting properties of trastuzumab, astatinated using N-succinimidyl-para-(tri-n-methylstannyl)-benzoate, were evaluated and compared with those of radioiodinated trastuzumab in this study. We found that astatinated trastuzumab retains high specificity towards ErbB2. While the immunoreactive fraction of radioiodinated trastuzumab was higher than that of astatinated trastuzumab (76+/-9% versus 54+/-28%), both radioconjugates showed high affinity (KD 0.75+/-0.16 nM versus 1.8+/-0.3 nM). A growth inhibition study indicated a dose-dependent cell deactivation, in which approximately 74 cell-associated astatine decays per cell gave a survival fraction of 4.5+/-0.8x10(-4). Results of a comparative animal study on normal mice gave no indication that astatination would have any adverse effects on the biodistribution of the antibody. In conclusion, the results of the study suggest that astatinated trastuzumab is a promising candidate for treating ErbB2-expressing tumours.

A new mouse mutant with progressive motor neuronopathy.

A new autosomal-recessive mouse mutant with progressive motor neuronopathy (pmn) is described. Homozygotes develop paralysis of the hindlimbs during the third week of life. Soon thereafter the forelimbs also become weak, and all mice die six to seven weeks after birth. Heterozygotes are normal. Skeletal muscles show neurogenic atrophy without histological signs of reinnervation. Axonal degeneration apparently starts at the endplates and is prominent in the sciatic nerve and its branches and the phrenic nerve. Axonal sprouts are abundant. There is no evidence of demyelination, and unaffected nerve fibers are normally myelinated. Sensory axons are spared. Almost all distal motor axons have disappeared in four to five weeks after birth. Ventral nerve roots show a reduced diameter of the largest fibers but no fiber deficits. The ventral horn cells show slight chromatolysis. The corticospinal tract is normal, but in terminally ill animals the fasciculus gracilis, the rubrospinal tract and possibly also reticulospinal fibers degenerate. The brain is histologically normal. The disease manifests itself in a dying-back fashion in the distal portion of the motor neurons and may represent an animal model of hereditary motor neuron diseases in man.

On the critical behaviour of simple epidemics.

We show how ideas and models which were originally introduced to gain an understanding of critical phenomena can be used to interpret the dynamics of epidemics of communicable disease in real populations. Specifically, we present an analysis of the dynamics of disease outbreaks for three common communicable infections from a small isolated island population. The strongly fluctuating nature of the temporal incidence of disease is captured by the model, and comparisons between exponents calculated from the data and from simulations are made. A forest-fire model with sparks is used to classify the observed scaling dynamics of the epidemics and provides a unified picture of the epidemiology which conventional epidemiological analysis is unable to reproduce. This study suggests that power-law scaling can emerge in natural systems when they are driven on widely separated time-scales, in accordance with recent analytic renormalization group calculations.

Diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancy in mice: correlations between maternal weight, fetal and placental mass and the maternal serum levels of progesterone, pregnancy-associated murine protein-2 and alpha-fetoprotein.

Outbred Bom:NMRI mice were weighed daily for 18 days from observation of a vaginal plug. In a separate experiment, fetuses and placentae were weighed on each day of pregnancy. Pregnancy can be determined with 99% certainty on day 12 of gestation by the maternal body weight increase from day 1. The pregnancy-specific proteins alpha-fetoprotein (m-AFP) and pregnancy-associated murine protein-2 (PAMP-2), of fetal and placental origin respectively, were detectable on days 8 and 10 in the maternal circulation. Significant correlations were observed between m-AFP and fetal weight and PAMP-2 and placental weight. These markers may therefore be useful in the monitoring of fetal growth and placental growth respectively.

A serological indication of the existence of a guineapig poliovirus.

Attempts were made to clarify whether laboratory guineapigs may harbour a poliovirus which, in 1911, was described as the cause of a disease called guineapig lameness. By the use of ELISA for antibodies against the poliovirus, Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), it was shown that two pet shop guineapigs suffering from lameness had extremely high titres against poliovirus, while healthy guineapigs from the same pet shop were negative. Clearly positive results were also found in 35 out of 152 laboratory guineapig sera. Positive results were found in only two out of six breeding centres, but in three out of three experimental units, all of which purchased guineapigs from one of the seropositive breeding colonies. The diseased guineapigs recovered fully after treatment with vitamins in the drinking water, a treatment used for guineapig lameness by small animal practitioners. A theory that vitamin C deficient guineapigs are, due to an impaired steroid secretion, predisposed to succumbing to infection and develop demyelinating disease similar to that in TMEV infected mice is discussed briefly. Guineapig sera were also tested serologically for other infections. Antibodies against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Clostridium piliforme and Toxoplasma gondii were not found, but one breeding colony was infected with adenovirus, pneumonia virus of mice, reovirus type 3, Sendai virus, parainfluenza (simian) virus type 5 and Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Two other breeding colonies were infected with both reovirus type 3 and E. cuniculi. In all three experimental units infection with adenovirus was observed, and in two of these Sendai virus and E. cuniculi antibodies were also found. The pet shop guineapigs were infected with adenovirus, reovirus type 3 and E. cuniculi.

Dry-distillation of astatine-211 from irradiated bismuth targets: a time-saving procedure with high recovery yields.

Astatine-211 was produced via the 209Bi(alpha,2n) 211At reaction. The radionuclide was isolated with a novel procedure employing dry-distillation of the irradiated target material. The astatine was condensed as a dry residue in a PEEK-capillary cryotrap. Distillation was completed within 1-2 min with isolation yields of 92 +/- 3%. Subsequent work-up of the nuclide resulted in final recovery yields of 79 +/- 3%.

Determination of the excitation function for the 10B(p,n)10C reaction with implications for the production of [10C]carbon dioxide for use as a PET tracer.

To evaluate the possibilities of producing useful amounts of 10C (T1/2 = 19 s) for use as an on-line, steady state positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, the excitation function and the thick target yield for the 10B(p,n)10C reaction up to 30 MeV were measured using an adapted version of the stacked-foil technique. The radionuclidic purity of the produced 10C versus the inevitable 11C contamination was evaluated as function of target thickness and incident proton beam energy.

Influence of Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood, 1949 on Development and Establishment of Heterodera schachtii Schmidt, 1871 on Beta vulgaris L.

Influence of Meloidogyne hapla on estahlishnrent and maturity of Heterodera schachtii in sugarbeet was studied. Results indicated that when the majority of M. hapla were in second, third, or fourth larval stages within plants prior to H. schachtii inoculation, growth and development of the latter was retarded. However, when M. hapla reached the young female stage prior to inoculation of H. schachtii, establishment and development of the latter was greatly enhanced. As M. hapla reached maturity before and after egg production prior to H. schachtii inoculation, establishment and growth of the latter was progressively decreased. In each instance, M. hapla developed independently and matured at the same rate as in plants inoculated with only M. hapla. Usually ratios of total soluble carbohydrates to reducing carbohydrates were lower, but not significantly different, in plants receiving both nematodes as compared to other treatments.

Self-interactions of Meloidogyne hapla and of Heterodera schachtii on beta vulgaris.

Double inoculations of sugar beet with larvae of Meloidogyne hapla resulted in a higher galling incidence in only one treatment than did a single inoculation using the same number of larvae. Double inoculations with larvae of Heterodera schachtii, however, resulted in three- to five-fold more cysts in most cases than did single inoculations using the same number of larvae. In general, plants died more quickly after double inoculations than after single inoculations of the same total number of either nematode. Ratios of total soluble carbohydrates to reducing carbohydrates were lower in multiple inoculated treatments than in other treatments. Plants infected with M. hapla had lower quantities of B, K, and P in leaf tissue than noninoculated plants, but no differences were correlated with type of inoculation. Plants inoculated with H. schachtii had lower quantities of B, K, and Mg than noninoculated plants. Also, quantities of Mn, Cu, and Zn were much lower in plants inoculated twice with H. schachtii larvae than in plants inoculated with the same total number of larvae in a single dose.

Parasitism of Beta vulgaris by Meloidogyne hapla and Heterodera schachtii alone and in combination.

Interrelationships of Meloidogyne hapla and Heterodera schachtii in combinations of several population levels and different inoculation periods were studied. Results indicated suppression of gall development of M. hapla in any treatment in which inoculations of H. schachtii preceded those of M. hapla by 10 days. This interrelationship was characterized by amensalism with M. hapla serving as an amensat and H. schachtii serving as an inhibitor. Conversely, when inoculations of M. hapla preceded H. schachtii inoculations by 10 days, there were increases in cyst development. This relationship was characterized by commensalism with H. schachtii serving as a commensal. In both interactions, the preinvading parasites acted independently and established populations equal to treatments receiving either parasite alone. When both nematodes were inoculated simultaneously, there were no effects on populations of either. Relationships of this nature were characterized by neutralism. Ratios of total soluble/reducing carbohydrates were lower in treatments when M. hapla inoculations preceded those of H. schachtii. Plants inoculated with both nematodes died earlier than those inoculated with either parasite alone. High concentrations of Al and Fe occurred in treatments wherein M. hapla or H. schachtii inoculations preceded each other by 10 days. Generally, noninoculated control plants exhibited higher concentrations of K, P, Mg, and B than other treatments.

Histopathology of Beta vulgaris to individual and concomitant infections by Meloidogyne hapla and Heterodera schachtii.

Histological changes in roots of Beta vulgaris cultivar 'USH9A' resulting from infection of Meloidogyne hapla alone, Heterodera schachtii alone, or infection by both species on one feeding site were studied. Anatomical changes caused by M. hapla infection were characterized by regions of hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Giant cells were formed within the stele and varied in numbers from 4-7/feeding site; hyperplasia occurred in the form of a large number of relatively small compacted cells generally surrounding the hypertrophied region. H. schachtii-induced syncytia became dense and muhinucleate. Syncytia were formed in the stele and were limited on the side toward the nematode by endodermis or in part by cortical tissue. Histological changes due to the presence of both parasites on one feeding site were characterized by formation of two distinctive pathological tissues typical of both nematodes. In most infections, xylem elements separated the two pathological tissues. In some sections, a single wall separated the two pathological tissues, and no dissolution of separating wall was noted in any sections. Each nematode developed normally and produced its own characteristic pathological tissue independently.

Survival of chlorophyceae ingested by saprozoic nematodes.

The saprozoic nematode, Pristionchus lheritieri ingested cells of four species of unicellular Chlorophyceae (grass-green algae) including Chlamydomonas reinhardi and unidentified species of Ankistrodesmus, Chlamydornonas and Scenedesmus. Additional tests with Ankistrodesmus sp. and Chlamydomonas sp., indicated cells of Ankistrodesmus survived passage through the alimentary canal and were subsequently cultured, while viable cells of Chlarnydomonas were only occasionally recovered.

Protection of Fusarium and Verticillium Propagules from Selected Biocides Following Ingestion by Pristionchus lheritieri.

Spores of Fusarium oxysporum f. lycopersici or Verticillium dahliae (potato strain) ingested by Pristionchus Iheritieri (a saprozoic nematode) survived exposure to otherwise lethal solutions of free chlorine, thiabendazole or the methyl ester of l-butylcarbamoyl-2-bendimidazole carbamic acid. Viability of mechanically-freed or defecated spores were the same.

Transmission of an Agrobacterium tumefaciens Phage by Pristionchus Iheriteiri.

Pristionchus lheriteiri (Maupas) Paramonov, a saprozoic nematode, served as a carrier of an unnamed phage of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith and Townsend) Conn. Viable phage particles passed through the nematode, caused lysis and formed typical plaques on agar plates seeded to A. tumefaciens. Phage retention by carrier nematodes was extended several hr by restricting food intake. Female nematodes accumulated phage in greater quantities and more rapidly than male nematodes.

Saprozoic nematodes as carriers and disseminators of plant pathogenic bacteria.

The plant pathogenic bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith and Townsend) Conn. (strain 5-14 Deep), Erwinia amylovora (Burill) Winslow et al., E. carotovora (Jones) Holland and Pseudornonas phaseolicola (Burk.) Dows. (ICPB-PM3) and the red-pigmented non-pathogen Serratia marcescens Bizio were hosts for the saprozoic nematode Pristionchus Iheritieri (Maupas, 1919) Paramonov. Viable bacteria survived passage through the nematode and produced typical colonies on nutrient agar plates. Female nematodes ingested more bacterial cells and retained them longer than did males. It was hypothesized saprozoic nematodes may disseminate pathogenic bacteria to new infection courts.