Respiratory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.

Respiratory dysfunction has been associated with Parkinson's disease since it was first described in 1817. The respiratory symptoms observed in Parkinson's disease patients vary greatly. Most patients remain asymptomatic, whereas others present with acute shortness of breath and even stridor. In August 2016, an electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Results were screened and studies reporting on respiratory dysfunction associated with Parkinson's disease were included. Respiratory dysfunction is due to a combination of factors including restrictive changes, upper airway obstruction, abnormal ventilatory drive and response to medications. Much debate surrounds the mechanism underlying respiratory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, its prevalence and the effect of levodopa on respiration. It is clear from this review that larger studies, comparing patients of similar disease duration and severity using the same pulmonary function parameters, are required to provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology underlying respiratory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.

Levels of total mercury in predatory fish sold in Canada in 2005.

Total mercury was analysed in 188 samples of predatory fish purchased at the retail level in Canada in 2005. The average concentrations (ng g(-1), range) were: sea bass 329 (38-1367), red snapper 148 (36-431), orange roughy 543 (279-974), fresh water trout 55 (20-430), grouper 360 (8-1060), black cod 284 (71-651), Arctic char 37 (28-54), king fish 440 (42-923), tilefish 601 (79-1164) and marlin 854 (125-2346). The Canadian standard for maximum total mercury allowed in the edible portions of fish sold at the retail level is 1000 ng g(-1) for shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy, escolar and both fresh and frozen tuna. The standard is 500 ng g(-1) for all other types of fish. In this study, despite the small number of samples of each species, the 1000 ng g(-1) maximum was exceeded in five samples of marlin (28%). The 500 ng g(-1) maximum was exceeded by six samples of sea bass (20%), four of tilefish (50%), five of grouper (24%), six of king fish (40%) and one of black cod (13%).

Determination of perchlorate in infant formula by isotope dilution ion chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and selective isotope dilution ion chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (ID IC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of perchlorate in infant formula. The perchlorate was extracted from infant formula by using 20 ml of methanol and 5 ml of 1% acetic acid. All samples were spiked with (18)O(4) isotope-labelled perchlorate internal standard prior to extraction. After purification on a graphitised carbon solid-phase extraction column, the extracts were injected into an ion chromatography system equipped with an Ionpac AS20 column for separation of perchlorate from other anions. The presence of perchlorate in samples was quantified by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Analysis of both perchlorate and its isotope-labelled internal standard was carried out on a Waters Quattro Ultima triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) negative ionisation mode. The method was validated for linearity and range, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and matrix effects. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.4 µg l(-1) for liquid infant formula and 0.95 µg kg(-1) for powdered infant formula. The recovery ranged from 94% to 110% with an average of 98%. This method was used to analyse 39 infant formula, and perchlorate concentrations ranging from

How should Malaysia respond to its ageing society?

As Malaysia ages its health and social care systems will have to adapt to a changing pattern of disease and dependency. Improved public health measures extend life expectancy at the relative expense of increased prevalence of currently incurable conditions such as dementia and Parkinson's disease. In this article we discuss how these demographic changes will impact and suggest possible means of coping with the altered epidemiology of disease and disability. Malaysia will need to swiftly develop sufficient expertise in acute Geriatric Medicine, rehabilitation of older people; the management of long-term conditions in older people with multiple complex problems within Primary Care; as well as an infrastructure for home and institutional care.

A sea-floor spreading event captured by seismometers.

Two-thirds of Earth's surface is formed at mid-ocean ridges, yet sea-floor spreading events are poorly understood because they occur far beneath the ocean surface. At 9 degrees 50'N on the East Pacific Rise, ocean-bottom seismometers recently recorded the microearthquake character of a mid-ocean ridge eruption, including precursory activity. A gradual ramp-up in activity rates since seismic monitoring began at this site in October 2003 suggests that eruptions may be forecast in the fast-spreading environment. The pattern culminates in an intense but brief (approximately 6-hour) inferred diking event on 22 January 2006, followed by rapid tapering to markedly decreased levels of seismicity.

Thomas Hastie Bryce (1862-1946)--a lesson in the power of observation.

Thomas Hastie Bryce was Regius Professor of Anatomy at the University of Glasgow from 1909 to 1935. In Anatomy, he is remembered as an embryologist and as an editor of the 11th edition of Quain's Elements of Anatomy. His most-lasting scientific contribution, however, was in archaeology where he defined the Clyde Group of Neolithic cairns in south-west Scotland. He showed that the Neolithic people of Arran were of short stature and were dolichocephalic, distinct from those of the Bronze Age. Also, Bryce was the first to appreciate the importance of pottery in analyzing the movement of ancient peoples across Europe, and defined Beacharra ware, a class of Neolithic pottery unique to the west of Scotland. As in anatomy, archaeological discoveries are made by study of morphology and relationships with careful attention to detail and a sound knowledge of the literature.

Development and validation of a headspace method for determination of furan in food.

In the past furan had been found to form in foods during thermal processing. These findings and a recent classification of furan as a possible human carcinogen prompted us to develop a simple isotope dilution method for its determination in foods. We also investigated effects of furan volatility, sample matrix and partitioning of furan between water and fat constituents of sample on the analytical determination of furan. The method is based on headspace sampling of a 2 ml vial containing 1 g of sample. For analysis, samples were spiked with d(4)-furan, homogenized in a blender at 0 degree C, with water if required, and sub-sampled to vials containing sodium sulphate. After equilibration at 30 degrees C, 50 microl of headspace was injected into the split/splitless injection port of a GC/MS (EI, SIM). The method is linear in the 0.4-1000 ng/g range with a limit of detection of 0.1 ng/g.

Pulsed discharge detector: theory and applications.

The pulsed discharge detector (PDD) is a significant advancement in gas chromatography (GC) detector design which can be operated in three different modes: pulsed discharge helium ionization (He-PDPID), pulsed discharge electron capture (PDECD) and helium ionization emission (PDED). The He-PDPID can detect permanent gases, volatile inorganics and other compounds which give little or no response with the flame ionization detector (FID) and has significantly better limits of detection (minimum detectable quantities (MDQs) in low picogram range) than can be achieved with a thermal conductivity detector (typically not lower than 1 ng). The PDECD has similar or better sensitivity (MDQs of 10(-15) to 10(-12) g) than radioactive source ECD but does not require licensing, wipe tests and other administrative or safety requirements which have increased over security concerns. The PDED shows promise as an extremely selective and sensitive elemental detector but a commercial unit is not presently available. In this report, the theory of operation, applications of the PDD and the practical aspects of using this novel detector are presented.

Developing quality indicators for older adults: transfer from the USA to the UK is feasible.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of the quality of health care is essential for quality improvement, and patients are an underused source of data about quality of care. We describe the adaptation of a set of USA quality indicators for use in patient interview surveys in England, to measure the extent to which older patients receive a broad range of effective health care interventions in both primary and secondary care. METHOD: One hundred and nineteen quality indicators covering 16 clinical areas, based on a set of indicators for the care of vulnerable elderly patients in the USA, were reviewed by a panel of 10 clinical experts in England. A modified version of the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method was used and panel members were supplied with literature reviews summarising the evidence base for each quality indicator. The indicators were sent for comment before the panel meeting to UK charitable organisations for older people. RESULTS: The panel rated 102 of the 119 indicators (86%) as valid for use in England; 17 (14%) were rejected as invalid. All 58 indicators about treatment or continuity and follow up were rated as valid compared with just over half (13 of 24) of the indicators about screening. CONCLUSIONS: These 102 indicators are suitable for use in patient interview surveys, including the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). The systematic measurement of quality of care at the population level and identification of gaps in quality is essential for quality improvement. There is potential for transfer of quality indicators between countries, at least for the health care of older people.

Survey of total mercury in some edible fish and shellfish species collected in Canada in 2002.

Total mercury was measured in the edible portions of 244 selected fish and shellfish purchased in Canada at the retail level. By species, average mercury concentrations ranged from 0.011 microg g(-1) for oysters to 1.82 microg g(-1) for swordfish. The predatory fish contained the highest concentrations of mercury: swordfish (mean 1.82 microg g(-1), range 0.40-3.85 microg g(-1)), marlin (1.43, 0.34-3.19 microg g(-1)), shark (1.26, 0.087-2.73 microg g(-1)), and canned, fresh and frozen tuna (0.35, 0.020-2.12 microg g(-1)). Levels of mercury in the fresh and frozen tuna contained a mean of 0.93 microg g(-1) (range 0.077-2.12 microg g(-1)) and were substantially higher than in the canned tuna (0.15, 0.02-0.59 microg g(-1)). In the canned tuna, mercury concentrations varied with subspecies, with the highest average concentrations being found in Albacore tuna (mean 0.26 microg g(-1), range 0.19-0.38 microg g(-1)) and the lowest (0.047, 0.025-0.069 microg g(-1)) in five samples for which the subspecies of tuna were not identified. Mean concentrations of mercury in swordfish and fresh and frozen tuna were up to three times higher than reported for the USA. Dietary intake estimations found that provided fresh and frozen tuna, marlin, swordfish or shark are consumed once a month or less, the dietary intakes of total mercury by women of child-bearing age, averaged over 1 month, would fall below the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives provisional tolerable weekly intake for total mercury. The current Canadian advisory to children and women of child-bearing age is to limit their consumption of fresh and frozen tuna, swordfish and shark to no more than one meal per month.

Oral (gavage), in utero and postnatal exposure of Sprague-Dawley rats to low doses of tributyltin chloride. Part 1: Toxicology, histopathology and clinical chemistry.

Tributyltin (TBT) is a biocide that contaminates foods, especially shellfish. TBT is an endocrine disrupter in several marine species and is neurotoxic and immunotoxic in mammals. We have examined the effects of exposure to low doses of tributyltin chloride (TBTC) from day 8 of gestation until adulthood. Pregnant rats were gavaged daily with 0, 0.025, 0.25 or 2.5 mg TBTC/kg body weight from day 8 of gestation until weaning. Stomach contents of suckling pups contained undetectable levels of TBT and dibutyltin (DBT) levels were detectable only in the highest TBTC dose used, indicating negligible lactational transfer to pups. Post weaning, pups were gavaged daily with the same dose of TBTC administered to their mothers and sacrificed on post-natal days (PND) 30 (males and females), 60 (females) and 90 (males). TBTC had no effects on dams' body weights, food consumption, litter size, sex ratio or survival of pups to weaning. However, all doses of TBTC significantly affected parameters of the growth profile of the pups (mean body weights, average slope, curvature) and the ratio of weekly food consumption to weekly body weight gain indicated enhanced food conversion to body mass in females but a decreased conversion in males. Liver, spleen and thymus weights were also affected by TBTC. In male pups dosed at 2.5 mg/kg/day, reduced serum thyroxine levels were evident, indicating that the thyroid is a target for TBTC toxicity. No histopathological lesions were seen in the liver but elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and amylase indicated hepatotoxicity. Significant decreases in liver weights in female pups exposed to 0.025 mg/kg/day TBTC were observed at PND 60. Decreases in spleen and thymus weights also pointed towards toxic effects of TBTC on the immune system. The 0.025 mg/kg/day TBTC should have been a no affect dose and yet this dose caused significant effects on growth profiles, decreased liver weights and elevated serum GGT levels in females.

Butyltin compounds in retail mollusc products.

Butyltin was found in 62 of 74 mollusc products purchased from major supermarket outlets in seven cities across Canada. Tribuyltin was detected in 41 samples, with levels up to 233 ng g(-1). Dibutyltin and monobutyltin levels ranged up to 88 and 53 ng g(-1), respectively. Products originating from East and South East Asia generally contained the highest levels. Gastropods contained lower levels than other molluscs. Enzymatically hydrolysed samples were extracted with 0.05% tropolone in hexane-diethyl ether (1 : 1). Ethyl derivatives were made by Grignard reaction and analysed by gas chromatography coupled to an atomic emission detector. Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of butyltins in the mollusc samples.

Conformation and configuration of tertiary amines via GIAO-derived (13)C NMR chemical shifts and a multiple independent variable regression analysis.

The (13)C chemical shifts of six tertiary amines of unambiguous conformational structure are compared to predicted (13)C NMR chemical shifts obtained via empirically scaled GIAO shieldings for geometries from MM3 molecular mechanics calculations. An average deviation, absolute value of Deltadelta(av), of 0.8 ppm and a maximum deviation, absolute value of Deltadelta(max), of 2.8 ppm between predicted and experimental (13)C shifts of the six tertiary amines of unambiguous structure are found. In several cases of tertiary amines subject to rapid exchange, where experimental (13)C shifts at room temperature are weighted averages of multiple conformers, a comparison of calculated (13)C shifts of all reasonable MM3 predicted conformers with experimental (13)C shifts via a multiple independent variable regression analysis provides an efficient method of determining the major and minor conformers. The examples presented are 2-methyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and 1,6-diazabicyclo[4.3.1]decane, which each have two expected contributing structures, and 2-(diethylamino)propane and 1,8-diazabicyclo[6.3.1]dodecane, where ten and seven low-energy conformers, respectively, are predicted by MM3 calculations.

Propagule size and the relative success of exotic ungulate and bird introductions to New Zealand.

We investigated factors affecting the success of 14 species of ungulates introduced to New Zealand around 1851-1926. The 11 successful species had a shorter maximum life span and were introduced in greater numbers than the three unsuccessful species. Because introduction effort was confounded with other life-history traits, we examined whether independent introductions of the same species were more likely to succeed when a greater number of individuals were introduced. For the six species with introductions that both succeeded and failed, successful introductions always involved an equal or greater number of individuals than unsuccessful introductions of the same species. For all independent introductions, there was a highly significant relationship between the number of individuals introduced and introduction success. When data for ungulate and bird introductions to New Zealand were combined, a variable categorizing species as ungulate or bird was a highly significant predictor of introduction success, after variation in introduction effort was controlled. For a given number of individuals introduced, ungulates were much more likely to succeed than birds.

Conformational studies on (17alpha,20Z)-21-(X-Phenyl)-19-norpregna-1, 3,5(10),20-tetraene-3,17beta-diols using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and GIAO calculations of (13)C shieldings.

Differences in agonist responses of the novel estrogen receptor ligands (17alpha,20Z)-(p-methoxyphenyl)vinyl estradiol (1), (17alpha, 20Z)-(o-alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoromethylphenyl)vinyl estradiol (2), and (17alpha,20Z)-(o-hydroxymethylphenyl)vinyl estradiol (3) led us to investigate their solution conformation. In competitive binding assay studies, we observed that several phenyl-substituted (17alpha, 20E/Z)-(X-phenyl)vinyl estradiols exhibited significant estrogen receptor binding, but with variation (RBA (1) = 20; RBA (2) = 23; RBA (3) = 140 where estradiol RBA = 100) depending on the phenyl substitution pattern. Because the 17alpha-phenylvinyl substituent interacts with the key helix-12 of the ligand binding domain, we considered that differences in the preferred conformation of 1-3 could account for their varying binding affinity. 2D NMR experiments at 500 MHz allowed the complete assignment of the (13)C and (1)H spectra of 1-3. The conformations of these compounds in solution were established by 2D and 1D NOESY spectroscopy. A statistical approach of evaluating contributing conformers of 1-3 from predicted (13)C shifts correlated quite well with the NOE data. The 17alpha substituents of 1 and 2 exist in similar conformational equilibria with some differences in relative populations of conformers. In contrast, the 17alpha substituent of 3 exists in a different conformational equilibrium. The similarity in solution conformations of 1 and 2 suggests they occupy a similar receptor volume, consistent with similar RBA values of 20 and 23. Conversely, the different conformational equilibria of 3 may contribute to the significant binding affinity (RBA = 140) of this ligand.

The role of entacapone in the management of Parkinson's disease.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibition is an important advance in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. This consensus statement provides guidelines for the optimal use of the only currently available COMT inhibitor, entacapone (Comtess, Orion Pharma (UK) Ltd, Newbury, Berkshire).

Evidence by spectral karyotyping that 8q11.2 is nonrandomly involved in lipoblastoma.

We report two cases of lipoblastoma with chromosome 8-related aberrations, ie, a 92,XXYY,t(7;8Xp22;q11.2)x2 [8]/46,XY[16] in Case 1 and a 46,XY,-8,-13,add(16) (q22),+mar, +r [cp13]/46,XY[7] in Case 2. Using spectral karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques, the karyotype of Case 2 was redesignated as 46,XY, r(8), del(13)(q12), der(16)ins(16;8)(q22; q24q11.2)[cp13]/46,XY[7]. This report delineates a new chromosome rearrangement, ie, der(16)ins(16;8)(q22; q24q11.2) in lipoblastoma, and also confirms the t(7; 8)(p22;q11.2), reported only once previously, as a recurrent translocation involved in such a tumor. These findings provide valuable information for clinical molecular cytogenetic diagnosis of lipoblastoma. Furthermore, this report highlights the value of cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analysis in differential diagnosis of childhood adipose tissue tumors and adds to the number of lipoblastomas reported with chromosomal abnormalities at 8q11.2.