The effect of inflammation on serum zinc concentrations and the prevalence estimates of population-level zinc status among Congolese children aged 6-59 months.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Zinc is a negative acute-phase reactant; hence, its concentration decreases in the presence of inflammation. There is no current consensus on how to control for the effect of inflammation on serum zinc, which has implications for accurate estimates of population-level zinc status. We aimed to measure the association between inflammation and serum zinc concentrations and to compare the means and the prevalence of zinc deficiency using unadjusted and inflammation-adjusted serum zinc concentrations among Congolese children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Non-fasting blood was collected in the afternoon in trace element-free vacutainers from 744 apparently healthy children aged 6-59 months in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Serum was analyzed for zinc, C-reactive protein (CRP) and α-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) for 665 children with complete data for all three biomarkers. Linear regression was used to generate correction factors (CFs) based on three stages of inflammation: incubation (CRP >5 mg/l and normal AGP), early convalescence (CRP >5 mg/l and AGP >1 g/l) and late convalescence (AGP >1 g/l and normal CRP), relative to no inflammation. RESULTS: Overall unadjusted mean±s.d. serum zinc concentration was 9.4±2.1 µmol/l. Study-generated CFs (95% confidence interval) for incubation, early and late convalescence were 1.01 (0.88, 1.14), 1.15 (1.11, 1.21) and 1.07 (1.03, 1.11), respectively. After applying the CFs, overall adjusted mean±s.d. serum zinc concentration was 10.1±2.2 µmol/l, and prevalence of zinc deficiency (<8.7 µmol/l) decreased from 35% (n=234/665) to 24% (n=160/665). CONCLUSIONS: Adjustment of zinc concentrations for inflammation is warranted when assessing population-level zinc status.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 23 August 2017; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2017.127.

A method comparison study between two hemoglobinometer models (Hemocue Hb 301 and Hb 201+) to measure hemoglobin concentrations and estimate anemia prevalence among women in Preah Vihear, Cambodia.

INTRODUCTION: Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration is often measured in global health and nutrition surveys to determine anemia prevalence using a portable hemoglobinometer such as the Hemocue® Hb 201+. More recently, a newer model was released (Hemocue Hb 301) utilizing slightly different methods to measure Hb as compared to the older model. The objective was to measure bias and concordance between Hb concentrations using the Hemocue Hb 301 and Hb 201+ models in a rural field setting. METHODS: Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was measured using one finger prick of blood (approximately 10 µL) from 175 Cambodian women (18-49 years) using three Hemocue Hb 201+ and three Hb 301 machines. Bias and concordance were measured and plotted. RESULTS: Overall, mean ± SD Hb concentration was 116 ± 13 g/L using the Hb 201+ and 118 ± 12 g/L using the Hb 301; and anemia prevalence (Hb < 120 g/L) was 58% (n = 102) and 58% (n = 101), respectively. Overall bias ± SD was 2.0 ± 10.5 g/L and concordance (95% CI) was 0.63 (0.54, 0.72). Despite the 2 g/L bias detected between models, anemia prevalence was very similar in both models. CONCLUSIONS: The two models measured anemia prevalence comparably in this population of women in rural Cambodia.

Household food insecurity and dietary diversity as correlates of maternal and child undernutrition in rural Cambodia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess household food insecurity and dietary diversity as correlates of maternal and child anthropometric status and anemia in rural Cambodia. METHODS: Trained interviewers administered a survey to 900 households in four rural districts of Prey Veng, Cambodia. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) were used to assess household food insecurity and dietary diversity. The height, weight and hemoglobin concentration of the mother and youngest child under 5 years in each household were measured. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity, and child stunting and wasting, maternal thinness, maternal and child anemia. RESULTS: The mean (s.d.) HFIAS and HDDS scores were 5.3 (3.9) and 4.7 (1.6), respectively. The respective prevalences of mild, moderate and severe food insecurity were 33, 37 and 12%. Maternal thinness, child stunting and child wasting were present in 14.6, 25.4 and 8.1% of respondents, respectively. The risk of maternal thinness, but not child stunting or wasting, increased as the severity of household food insecurity increased. Household food insecurity was also positively associated with maternal, but not child, anemia. Household dietary diversity status was not significantly associated with any of the outcomes we assessed. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to improve household food security are important as a means of promoting maternal nutritional status; however, additional research is needed to better understand the role of other factors that are driving the burden of child undernutrition in Cambodia.

Effect of PGX, a novel functional fibre supplement, on subjective ratings of appetite in overweight and obese women consuming a 3-day structured, low-calorie diet.

INTRODUCTION: Dietary factors that help control perceived hunger might improve adherence to calorie-reduced diets. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of supplementing a three-day, low-calorie diet with PolyGlycopleX (PGX), a highly viscous fibre, on subjective ratings of appetite compared with a placebo. METHODS: In a double-blind crossover design with a 3-week washout, 45 women (aged 38±9 years, body mass index 29.9±2.8 kg m(-2)) were randomised to consume a 1000-kcal per day diet for 3 days, supplemented with 5 g of PGX or placebo at each of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Subjective appetite was assessed using 100 mm visual analogue scales that were completed daily before, between and after consumption of meals. RESULTS: Thirty-five women completed the study. Consumption of PGX compared with placebo led to significantly lower mean area under the curve for hunger on day 3 (440.4 versus 375.4; P=0.048), prospective consumption on day 3 (471.0 versus 401.8; P=0.017) and the overall 3-day average (468.6 versus 420.2; P=0.026). More specifically, on day 3 PGX significantly reduced total appetite, hunger, desire to eat and prospective consumption for 2.5 and 4.5 h after lunch and before dinner times, with hunger also being reduced 2.5 h after dinner (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results show that adding 5 g of PGX to meals during consumption of a low-calorie diet reduces subjective ratings of prospective consumption and increases the feelings of satiety, especially during afternoon and evening. This highly viscous polysaccharide may be a useful adjunct to weight-loss interventions involving significant caloric reductions.

Maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a group at high risk for pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine in a group of pregnant women if vitamin D status, based on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration, was associated with a subsequent risk of pre-eclampsia or adverse pregnancy outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (49°N). POPULATION: Women attending a specialist antenatal clinic because of clinical or biochemical risk factors for pre-eclampsia (n = 221). METHODS: Serum 25OHD concentration measured between 10 and 20 weeks of gestation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre-eclampsia and composite adverse pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: Of the women, 78% were vitamin D insufficient (25OHD <75 nmol/l) and 53% were vitamin D deficient (25OHD <50 nmol/l). There was no difference in the rates of pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, preterm birth or composite adverse pregnancy outcomes by 25OHD concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were common in a group of women at high risk of pre-eclampsia; however, it was not associated with subsequent risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome.

Bacterial diversity of the digestive gland of Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata infected with the paramyxean parasite, Marteilia sydneyi.

AIMS: To determine whether the infestation by the protozoan paramyxean parasite, Marteilia sydneyi, changes the bacterial community of the digestive gland of Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six 16S rDNA clone libraries were established from three M. sydneyi-infected and three un-infected oysters. Restriction enzyme analysis followed by sequencing representative clones revealed a total of 23 different operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in un-infected oysters, comprising the major phyla: Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Spirocheates, where the clone distribution was 44, 36, 7 and 5%, respectively. Close to half of the OTUs are not closely related to any other hitherto determined sequence. In contrast, S. glomerata infected by M. sydneyi had only one OTU present in the digestive gland. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence reveals that this dominant OTU, belonging to the alpha-Proteobacteria, is closely related to a Rickettsiales-like prokaryote (RLP). CONCLUSIONS: The microbiota of the digestive gland of Sydney rock oysters is changed by infection by M. sydneyi, becoming dominated by a RLP, and generally less diverse. The bacterial community of un-infected S. glomerata differs from previous studies in that we identified the dominant taxa as Firmicutes and alpha-Proteobacteria, rather than heterotrophic gamma-Proteobacteria. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first culture-independent study of the microbiota of the digestive glands of edible oysters to the species level. The commercial viability of the Sydney rock oyster industry in Australia is currently threatened by Queensland Unknown disease and the changes in the bacterial community of S. glomerata corresponding with infection by M. sydneyi sheds further light on the link between parasite infection and mortality in this economically damaging disease.

The effect of the fat and carbohydrate contents in the evening meal preceding GI testing on GI.

A crossover study was designed to determine whether the fat and carbohydrate contents of evening meals consumed the night preceding glycaemic index (GI) testing had an effect on the GI. Twenty participants consumed two different evening meals in which the energy contributions from fat, carbohydrate and protein were in the ratio 50:30:15 and 25:60:15, respectively. Each participant completed eight tests that involved two evening meals with different macronutrient compositions followed the next morning by two treatments, glucose beverage or fruit bread, all carried out in duplicate. The GI of fruit bread was determined on the mornings following each of the evening meals. The GIs (95% CI) were 68 (60, 76) and 59 (52, 67) after the high-carbohydrate and high-fat meals, respectively, and were not different (P=0.11). Thus, varying the fat and carbohydrate contents of the evening meal before GI testing the next morning did not affect the GI.

Sensitivity of papilledema as a sign of shunt failure in children.

PURPOSE: Papilledema is considered one of the cardinal ophthalmologic signs of shunt failure. However, the prevalence of papilledema in children with shunt malfunction has not been systematically investigated. The purpose of this study is to determine the sensitivity of papilledema as a sign of shunt failure in children. METHODS: A prospective evaluation was undertaken of all children (n = 29; <19 years of age) with surgically confirmed shunt malfunction who were treated at Arkansas Children's Hospital between July 2007 and April 2008. Each child had a dilated fundus examination and/or RetCam photograph while under anesthesia immediately before shunt repair. The optic disk was evaluated for the presence of papilledema and pallor. Intracranial pressure was measured during surgical shunt repair at the discretion of the neurosurgeon. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients had surgically confirmed shunt failure. Patient's age ranged from 36 days to 18 years, 8 months. Four patients (14%) had papilledema, and 1 patient had severe optic disk pallor. The remaining 24 patients had flat optic disks. Five patients had flat optic disks despite an intracranial pressure >/=300 mm H(2)O. CONCLUSIONS: Papilledema is not a sensitive sign of shunt failure. Even children with severe elevations in intracranial pressure from shunt malfunction may have flat optic disks. Therefore, physicians that evaluate children with shunts should be aware that a normal optic disk does not preclude shunt malfunction.

Moderate alcohol consumption the night before glycaemic index testing has no effect on glycaemic response.

A randomized crossover study was carried out to determine whether moderate alcohol consumption the night preceding glycaemic index testing has an effect on glycaemic response. Test foods consisted of two glucose beverages and two bread samples, containing 50 g of available carbohydrate. Each test food was consumed with and without alcohol the night preceding testing. Glucose concentration was measured over 2 h and area under the curve (AUC) determined. The AUC for bread and glucose without and with alcohol did not differ for either the glucose drink (ratio (95% confidence intervals): 1.00 (0.8, 1.1)) or bread (0.9; (0.8, 1.1)). Further, there was no difference in the glycaemic index (GI) of the bread with and without alcohol (64 (6) vs 67 (2)%; P=0.78). Moderate alcohol consumption the evening before GI testing does not affect glycaemic response or GI determination.

Association between quantitative measures of skin color and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

UNLABELLED: We examined the relationship between vitamin D and skin color measured by reflectance colorimetry at an exposed and un-exposed site in 321 people. Exposed but not unexposed skin color was associated with better vitamin D status. Sun-exposure was more important than natural skin color in determining vitamin D status in our population. INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D is obtained through UV synthesis in the skin where melanin limits its synthesis. Ethnicity is often used as a proxy for skin color, but skin color varies considerably. The relation between quantitative measures of skin color and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration has not been well described. METHODS: The aim of this study was to determine the association between constitutive (natural) and sun-induced skin color and 25OHD in a group of Pacific People (n = 87) and Europeans (n = 255) living in NZ (46 degrees S) in summer. Plasma 25OHD was determined and sun-induced (outer fore-arm) and constitutive (upper inner-arm) measured by reflectance colorimetry. RESULTS: Mean (SD) 25OHD was significantly higher in Europeans than Pacific People, 88 (31) nmol/L vs. 75 (34) nmol/L, respectively. Based on constitutive skin color, 35% of participants were very light, 45% light, 16% intermediate, 4% tanned, and 0% brown or dark. Skin color at the forearm but not constitutive skin color was a significant predictor of 25OHD. Each 10 degrees lower skin color value at the forearm (more tanning) was associated with a 5 nmol/L higher 25OHD (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Tanning but not natural skin color was an important determinant of 25OHD. Further study is needed in a population with a higher proportion of darker skin people.

Vitamin D status and its association with parathyroid hormone concentrations in women of child-bearing age living in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the vitamin D status of women living in two Asian cities,--Jakarta (6 degrees S) and Kuala-Lumpur (2 degrees N), to examine the association between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations, and to determine a threshold for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D above which there is no further suppression of PTH. Also, to determine whether dietary calcium intake influences the relationship between PTH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Jakarta, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 504 non-pregnant women 18-40 years. MAIN MEASURES: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and PTH. RESULTS: The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 48 nmol/l. Less than 1% of women had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration indicative of vitamin D deficiency (<17.5 nmol/l); whereas, over 60% of women had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration indicative of insufficiency (<50 nmol/l). We estimate that 52 nmol/l was the threshold concentration for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D above which no further suppression of PTH occurred. Below and above this concentration the slopes of the regression lines were -0.18 (different from 0; P=0.003) and -0.01 (P=0.775), respectively. The relation between vitamin D status and parathyroid hormone concentration did not differ between women with low, medium or high calcium intakes (P=0.611); however, even in the highest tertile of calcium intake, mean calcium intake was only 657 mg/d. CONCLUSION: On the basis of maximal suppression of PTH we estimate an optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of approximately 50 nmol/l. Many women had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D below this concentration and may benefit from improved vitamin D status.

Glycemic index and glycemic load: measurement issues and their effect on diet-disease relationships.

Glycemic index (GI) describes the blood glucose response after consumption of a carbohydrate containing test food relative to a carbohydrate containing reference food, typically glucose or white bread. GI was originally designed for people with diabetes as a guide to food selection, advice being given to select foods with a low GI. The amount of food consumed is a major determinant of postprandial hyperglycemia, and the concept of glycemic load (GL) takes account of the GI of a food and the amount eaten. More recent recommendations regarding the potential of low GI and GL diets to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and to treat conditions other than diabetes, should be interpreted in the light of the individual variation in blood glucose levels and other methodological issues relating to measurement of GI and GL. Several factors explain the large inter- and intra-individual variation in glycemic response to foods. More reliable measurements of GI and GL of individual foods than are currently available can be obtained by studying, under standard conditions, a larger number of subjects than has typically been the case in the past. Meta-analyses suggest that foods with a low GI or GL may confer benefit in terms of glycemic control in diabetes and lipid management. However, low GI and GL foods can be energy dense and contain substantial amounts of sugars or undesirable fats that contribute to a diminished glycemic response. Therefore, functionality in terms of a low glycemic response alone does not necessarily justify a health claim. Most studies, which have demonstrated health benefits of low GI or GL involved naturally occurring and minimally processed carbohydrate containing cereals, vegetables and fruit. These foods have qualities other than their immediate impact on postprandial glycemia as a basis to recommend their consumption. When the GI or GL concepts are used to guide food choice, this should be done in the context of other nutritional indicators and when values have been reliably measured in a large group of individuals.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of New Zealanders aged 15 years and older.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D plays an important role in bone health. Our purpose was to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and their determinants in a national sample (n=2,946) of New Zealanders aged 15 years and over. FINDINGS: Mean (99% CI) serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were 47 (45-50) nmol/l in women and 52 (49-55) nmol/l in men. Mean concentrations in New Zealand European and Others (NZEO, n=2,440), Maori (n=370), and Pacific (n=136) were 51 (49-53), 42 (38-46) and 37 (33-42) nmol/l, respectively. Three percent of New Zealanders had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations indicative of deficiency (

A comparison of the effects of A1 and A2 beta-casein protein variants on blood cholesterol concentrations in New Zealand adults.

Beta-casein is a cow's milk protein that occurs predominantly in two forms, A1 and A2. Epidemiological evidence suggests that per capita consumption of beta-casein A1 is associated with national mortality rates from ischaemic heart disease. A biological mechanism was proposed after rabbits fed diets containing beta-casein A2 had lower serum cholesterol concentrations and less aortic intimal thickening than rabbits fed beta-casein A1. We tested whether beta-casein A1 and A2 variants differentially affect plasma cholesterol concentrations in humans. In a randomised crossover trial of two four-and-a-half week periods without washout, 62 participants replaced all dairy products in their diet with 500 mL of low-fat milk and 28 g of full-fat cheese that differed in the proportion of beta-casein A1 and A2 variants. Duplicate blood samples were taken on non-consecutive days at the end of each treatment period from 55 people who completed the study. Mean (S.D.) plasma total, low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were 5.60 (0.77), 3.73 (0.70) and 1.26 (0.34) mmol/L after the A1 diet and 5.63 (0.81), 3.75 (0.75) and 1.27 (0.37) mmol/L after the A2 diets. We found no evidence that dairy products containing beta-casein A1 or A2 exerted differential effects (P > 0.05) on plasma cholesterol concentrations in humans.

Serum vitamin B12 concentrations and atrophic gastritis in older New Zealanders.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the serum vitamin B(12) status of older New Zealanders and to assess the impact of atrophic gastritis on vitamin B(12) status. DESIGN: A cross-sectional nationally representative population-based survey. METHOD: Serum vitamin B(12) concentrations were used to assess vitamin B(12) status. The presence and severity of atrophic gastritis was classified using serum pepsinogen I and II. SUBJECTS: A total of 466 noninstitutionalized urban and rural dwelling New Zealanders aged 65 y or older who participated in the 1997 National Nutrition Survey. RESULTS: The prevalence of deficient (<148 pmol/l) and marginal (148-221 pmol/l) serum vitamin B(12) concentrations was 12 and 28%, respectively. The prevalence of atrophic gastritis was 6.7% (severe 3.1%, mild-moderate 3.6%). While atrophic gastritis increased the relative risk (RR, 95% CI) of having a deficient or marginal serum vitamin B(12) concentration by 21-fold (6-67) and five-fold (1-17), respectively, those who had atrophic gastritis made up only 33 and 6% of the participants with deficient or marginal serum vitamin B(12) concentrations. An intake of vitamin B(12) from food that exceeded the recommended dietary allowance (2.4 mug/day) did not protect against deficient (RR 0.5; 95% CI: 0.2, 1.2) or marginal (RR 0.9; 95% CI: 0.5, 1.7) serum vitamin B(12) status. Vitamin B(12) supplement users had a reduced risk of having deficient and marginal vitamin B(12) status (RR 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: There is a relatively high prevalence of deficient and marginal serum vitamin B(12) concentrations among older New Zealanders. However, the prevalence of atrophic gastritis was low in the New Zealand elderly compared with other surveys. Although atrophic gastritis was a risk factor for low vitamin B(12) status, it did not fully explain the prevalence of low serum vitamin B(12).

Effects of once-a-week or daily folic acid supplementation on red blood cell folate concentrations in women.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine if a once-a-week folic acid supplement increases women's red blood cell folate to concentrations (>905 nmol/l) that are associated with a low risk of bearing a child with a neural tube defect. DESIGN: Randomized control trial. SETTING: General community. SUBJECTS: In total, 114 nonpregnant women (18-40 y) volunteers, with red blood cell folate concentrations between 295 and 905 nmol/l at screening. INTERVENTION: Women were randomized to receive a once-a-week 2800 microg folic acid supplement, a daily 400 microg folic acid supplement or a daily placebo for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The mean (95% CI) red blood cell folate concentrations increased during the 12-week intervention from 608 (553-668) to 900 (828-978) in the weekly folic acid group (P<0.05) and from 615 (560-677) to 1053 (957-1158) nmol/l in the daily group (P<0.05) during the trial. At week 12, 49% of women ingesting the weekly folic acid supplement had red blood cell folate concentrations greater than 905 nmol/l compared to 74% of women ingesting the daily supplement. CONCLUSION: A once-a-week 2800 microg folic acid supplement can increase women's red blood cell folate to concentrations associated with a reduced risk of bearing a child with a neural tube defect, but is less effective than a 400 microg daily supplement. Use of a weekly folic acid supplement over at least 12 weeks before conception by women of child-bearing age may prevent neural tube defects. FUNDING: The Otago Medical Research Foundation (Laurenson Award). Healtheries (New Zealand) provided the supplements.

Pathophysiology of apolipoprotein E deficiency in mice: relevance to apo E-related disorders in humans.

Apolipoprotein E (apo E) deficiency (or its abnormalities in humans) is associated with a series of pathological conditions including dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and shorter life span. The purpose of this study was to characterize these conditions in apo E-deficient C57BL/6J mice and relate them to human disorders. Deletion of apo E gene in mice is associated with changes in lipoprotein metabolism [plasma total cholesterol (TC) (>+400%), HDL cholesterol (-80%), HDL/TC, and HDL/LDL ratios (-93% and -96%, respectively), esterification rate in apo B-depleted plasma (+100%), plasma triglyceride (+200%), hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity (-50%), hepatic cholesterol content (+30%)], decreased plasma homocyst(e)ine and glucose levels, and severe atherosclerosis and cutaneous xanthomatosis. Hepatic and lipoprotein lipase activities, hepatic LDL receptor function, and organ antioxidant capacity remain unchanged. Several histological/immunohistological stainings failed to detect potential markers for neurodegenerative disease in the brain of 37-wk-old male apo E-KO mice. Apo E-KO mice may have normal growth and development, but advanced atherosclerosis and xanthomatosis may indirectly reduce their life span. Apo E plays a crucial role in regulation of lipid metabolism and atherogenesis without affecting lipase activities, endogenous antioxidant capacity, or appearance of neurodegenerative markers in 37-wk-old male mice.

Capture of attention in selective frequency listening.

Four signal-detection experiments demonstrated robust stimulus-driven, or exogenous, attentional processes in selective frequency listening. Detection of just-above-threshold signal tones was consistently better when the, signal matched the frequency of an uninformative cue tone, even with relatively long cue-signal delays (Experiment 1) or when as few as 1 in 8 signals were at the cued frequency (Experiment 2). Experiments 3 and 4 compared performance with informative and uninformative cues. The involvement of intentional, or endogenous, processes was found to only slightly increase the size of the cuing effect beyond that evident with solely exogenous processes, although the attention band, a measure of how narrowly attention is focused, was found to be wider when cues were informative. The implications for models of auditory attention are discussed.

Selenium and zinc status are suboptimal in a sample of older New Zealand women in a community-based study.

The importance of selenium and zinc in the immune functioning of the aged is widely recognized. Seniors in New Zealand are at particularly high risk of low selenium status because of the low selenium soil environment. The zinc status of the New Zealand elderly has never been assessed. In this cross-sectional study, the biochemical selenium, zinc and lipid levels, physical functional capacity and dietary intakes of 103 randomly selected free-living New Zealand women (mean age +/- SD, 75 +/- 3 y) were assessed. Among nonusers of selenium supplements (n = 80), 80% [95% confidence interval (CI): 70; 88%] had plasma selenium levels (0.85 +/- 0.23 micromol/L) below 1.00 micromol/L [ approximately 10% below mean plasma selenium necessary for full expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in New Zealand subjects]. Plasma selenium was strongly correlated with GPx: r = 0.56; P < 0.0001. For nonusers of zinc supplements (n = 88), serum zinc concentrations were 12.4 +/- 1.4 micromol/L, with 12% (95% CI: 6; 21%) having levels below the cut-off value (10.7 micromol/L). Estimated mean daily selenium and zinc intakes were 34 +/- 10 microg and 8.7 +/- 2.0 mg, respectively. Subjects in the highest tertile of a functional capacity index had higher biochemical zinc and selenium values than those in the lowest tertile (P < 0.05). The correlation between plasma selenium and GPx indicates that selenium intake in these women is still insufficient for full expression of GPx activity. Lower serum zinc levels also appear to be prevalent. Because a suboptimal trace element status may be more common among those with a poor physical functioning, promotion of the consumption of nutrient dense foods or supplements to improve selenium and zinc status of elderly women in New Zealand may be beneficial.

Potential for cross-transmission of Dictyocaulus viviparus between cattle and white-tailed deer.

Development of an in vitro culture system for infectious Dictyocaulus viviparus larvae made it possible to study the potential cross-transmission of D. viviparus between white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and cattle (Bos taurus). Between 26 September 1995-29 February 1996, six parasite-free bull calves were individually inoculated with 15 to 50 infective third stage larvae (L3)/kg of body weight cultured from adult D. viviparus collected from white-tailed deer. Three bull calves were simultaneously inoculated with 45 L3/kg of body weight recovered from cattle either by the Baermann technique or by in vitro culture as above. All three calves inoculated with the homologous cattle strain became patently infected while all six calves inoculated with the heterologous deer strain remained negative for the presence of D. viviparus in the feces and in the lungs upon necropsy.