Amine metabolites in human cerebrospinal fluid: effects of cord transection and spinal fluid block.

Patients with spinal cord transection had normal concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and low concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid. The presence or absence of spinal fluid block in these patients did not affect concentrations of either amine metabolite. However, the concentration of homovanillic acid was lower in patients with spinal fluid block than in those without block. The results suggest that the spinal cord contributes to concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol and possibly 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, but contributes little to that of homovanillic acid in the lumbar spinal fluid of man.

Logical bases for action in nutrition and aging.

Logical bases (five of which are outlined) underlie action in nutrition and aging. First, nutrition, health, and aging form an integral triad affecting all. This basis has been applied to the conceptualization of the Nutrition Program for Older Americans (NPOA). Second, in North America, malnutrition is a sequitur of disease, whether physical, metabolic, emotional, or attitudinal. This basis is being applied by NPOA and other programs in an effort of cope with the pathologic conditions that bar proper nutrition. Third, since aging is a lifelong process, good nutrition and health practices must be applies throughout life. This basis will become effective only when the present image of the aged improves to the point that younger persons will strive for effective longevity. Fourth, changes in lifestyle to avoid risks have positive value. This basis requires professional and political leadership if it is to become widely adopted. Fifth, acute illnesses and accidents require immediate attention to nutritional and other factors if needless morbidity and mortality are to be avoided. This basis requires far more education of health professionals and lay persons to obviate such tragedies. All these bases are the infastructure for other actions directed at improving the image of today's aged and thereby diminishing the fatalism of younger persons and augumenting their determination to adopt lifestyles compatible with long, active, happy and productive lives.

Aging, nutrition, and the continuum of health care.

The interrelations of aging, nutrition, and the continuum of health care have been discussed in terms of four issues, all of which focus on how to convince modern societies that meaningful attention to the triad is not only desirable but, in the light of the alternative, practically mandatory. The action steps required consist by and large of convincing societal leadership who in turn can convince their followers that meaningful attention to the aging-nutrition-health triad can produce better lives for all. The attention must be directed at all human life from conception to death. Properly applied throughout life, the attention can dramatically decrease the misery and waste currently imposed by life-style diseases and disabilities. To highlight the tangible and appeal to the pecuniary qualities of mankind, attention has been focused particuarly on the cost-effectiveness of such attention. The fractionation of the triad's components into individual units each furthered by its own proponents is not only wasteful of scarce resources but dangerous to individuals and their societies. Professionally trained scientists concerned with nutrition are keys to the catalysis of societal comprehension of the triad's interrelations. They have the education, training, experience and contacts at all levels to lead the leaders who in turn will convince societies worldwide that integration of aging, nutrition, and the continuum of health care at all phases of the life cycle is desirable, mandatory, effective, and economically sound.

Goal: "rectangularize" survival; objective: change behavior.

With the technical life span of humans (TLSh) as a foundation, a taxonomy consonant with modern medical science is presented which redefines the chronology of the terms middle-aged, aging, elderly, and aged. This redefinition is one inducer of behavioral change preceding attitudinal change needed to reach the goal: rectangularity of the survival curve. The indivisible triad of nutrition, health, and aging is the principal target for behavioral change at which health professionals can aim their resources during all phases of the life cycle.

Cardio-respiratory response to submaximal work as a function of protein-calorie intake

As a result of experimental studies performed in student volunteers it was postulated that the combination of strenous work and limited protein intake impairs myocardial efficiency. The resemblance of the cardiac rhythm changes to those noted in nutritional cardiomyopathy in Africa was noted (AU)

Anaemia in pregnancy

At the Trinidad Nutrition Centre hemoglobin levels were determined in 555 pregnant women and a third of these were found to be less than 10 gm percent. Serum iron levels were diminished and total iron binding capacity increased wile the present saturation of TIBC was decreased in this anemic group. Serum folic acid levels were low but serum Vit. B12 levels normal. Average total protein intake was 56 gm (49 percent of animal and 51 percent of vegetable sources), representing a deficit of 26.8 percent in total protein intake. Average iron intake was 10.3 mg (20 percent of animal and 80 percent of vegetable sources), representing a 31.3 percent deficiency. In 84 percent of the patients anemia was of the hypochromic microcytic type. The authors intend to investigate further whether the high proportion of iron intake from vegetable sources plays any part in the production of anemia (AU)