Enhanced delivery of lipophilic nutrients to the infant brain via high density lipoprotein.

Lipoproteins are the primary carriers of lipophilic cognitive nutrients such as docosahexaenoic acid, lutein, and α-tocopherol within circulation. The critical roles these nutrients play in growth and development are well established, and as such, their efficient delivery to the infant brain is crucial. Given the selectivity of the blood brain barrier, the lipoprotein fraction primarily responsible for brain delivery of these nutrients must be determined so that efforts aimed at increasing brain nutrient uptake, via lipoprotein profile manipulation, can be appropriately focused. Based on the preclinical and clinical data reviewed here, we hypothesize that high density lipoprotein is the fraction chiefly responsible for delivery of docosahexaenoic acid, lutein, and α-tocopherol to the infant brain. As high density lipoprotein levels tend to be lower in preterm, formula-fed infants as compared to their full-term, breast-fed counterparts, efforts aimed at increasing circulating high density lipoprotein levels, and subsequent delivery of cognitive lipophilic nutrients to the brain via manipulation of formula composition, may be most effective if targeted to this group. These efforts include (1) limiting the polyunsaturated: saturated fatty acid ratio; (2) increasing the casein: whey ratio; (3) altering the proportion of saturated fatty acids found in the sn-2 position of the parent triglyceride; (4) cholesterol supplementation; and (5) nucleotide supplementation.

Risk of extrapyramidal syndrome in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotics: a population-based study.

To compare the prevalence of extrapyramidal syndrome (EPS) between the first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), the co-prescribing rate of anti-Parkinson drugs (APDs) of each antipsychotic drug was analyzed using population database. Fourteen antipsychotics had been prescribed during the 5-year study period. Among the SGAs, quetiapine had the lowest crude co-prescribing rate of APDs (27.09%), whereas risperidone had the highest rate (66.50%). Among the FGAs, thioridazine and loxapine had the lowest (60.99%) and highest rates (96.35%), respectively. The rankings of the co-prescribing rate of APDs among antipsychotics, in increasing order, were quetiapine, clozapine, olanzapine, thioridazine, zotepine, chlorpromazine, risperidone, sulpiride, clotiapine, flupentixol, haloperidol, zuclopentixol, trifluoperazine, and loxapine. The results indicate that the risk of EPS appears to be lower in SGAs than in FGAs; however, the considerably high rate of EPS in some of the newer generation of antipsychotics warrants clinical attention.

Sickness absence in a Singapore refinery, 1981-1992.

Sickness absence among the unionised staff of the largest petroleum refinery in Singapore was followed up from 1981 to 1992. The changes seen throughout these 12 years were related to national, organisational and personal factors. Initially because of increasing competitiveness in the industry, and later because of a national recession, manpower in the refinery was progressively reduced from 1981 to 1986. This however was not the main cause of the reduction in sickness absence rates from 8.4 working days in 1981 to 5.8 days in 1983. Organisational changes to medical leave entitlements and improved means of supervision of absence were responsible for the early fall in absence rates. Personal factors, such as the increasing age of the population, did not affect the amount of short-term absences, while shift work was associated with higher absences. From 1986 absence rates rose again, eventually to almost 1981 levels by 1992, a reflection of the tendency for sickness absence to increase with time, unless active measures are undertaken for its control.

Sickness absence in a Singapore refinery.

Most of the literature on sickness absenteeism is derived from western countries where absenteeism is high and has been rising over the years. Less is known of the situation in the newly developing countries of the east. This paper analyses sickness absenteeism in male industrial employees in a major oil refinery in Singapore in 1982. On average each worker had 5.1 spells and 7.0 working days of absence attributed to illness. Absenteeism increased with age, and shift workers were found to have twice as much sick leave as day workers. However more younger workers had longer durations of absence than older workers. This was because chronic medical conditions more commonly associated with increasing age did not contribute significantly to long spells of absence. A variety of surgical operations, followed by accidents, were the main causes of long absences. The absence rate of 7.0 days per worker was much lower than most of the published data from Europe, and was comparable to two shipyards in Singapore.