A UK community-based survey on the prevalence of rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVES: There is limited information about the prevalence of rhinosinusitis in the UK community. This study aimed to identify its prevalence and investigate any association with demographic variables. The secondary aims were to determine the degree of impairment, impact on quality of life and any costs incurred by patients. DESIGN: We used a modified version (MSNOT-20) of a quality-of-life instrument, the sinonasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20), in a small and successful pilot project. It was then used in a community-based survey and a second phase 6 months later to test repeatability. Nasal examination and comparison of its quality-of-life section with other health-related quality-of-life tools occurred in the second phase. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The questionnaire was administered by post to 2000 Farnborough (UK) residents, selected through stratified randomisation. The relation of an abnormal MSNOT-20 score with hay fever, asthma, smoking, food allergy, work productivity and social limitation was also analysed. MAIN OUTCOME AND RESULTS: The response rate was 79.8%; over thirty per cent of the community suffer from upper respiratory tract symptoms with impact on multiple domains of quality of life including emotional, financial costs and loss of days at work. The MSNOT-20 provided a more sensitive assessment of health-related quality of life than the Short Form 36 questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Rhinosinusitis is prevalent in the Farnborough community and associated with significant morbidity and impairment on quality of life. The MSNOT-20 is a useful disease-specific quality-of-life tool in rhinosinusitis.

Rhinosinusitis in secondary school children-part 1: pilot study of the MSNOT-20 Young Person Questionnaire (MSYPQ).

BACKGROUND: The SNOT-20 questionnaire, a valid disease related quality of life instrument for rhinosinusitis, was modified for use in secondary school children and became the Modified Sino Nasal Outcome Test -20 Young Person Questionnaire, MSYPQ. METHODODOLOGY: MSYPQ was evaluated in a pilot study of disease (rhinosinusitis) and non-disease according to criteria in the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal polyposis (EPOS). RESULTS: Those children who were suffering from rhinosinusitis according to the EPOS criteria showed significantly high scores on MSYPQ, whereas those who did not have rhinosinusitis had very low to zero scores on the MSYPQ. CONCLUSION: This pilot study confirmed that the MSYPQ recognises rhinosinusitis symptoms in the 11-16 year age group with its effect on quality of life and is a suitable instrument to investigate the prevalence and impact of this problem in young people.

Rhinosinusitis in secondary school children-part 2: main project analysis of MSNOT-20 Young Persons Questionnaire (MSYPQ).

BACKGROUND: There is little data on rhinosinusitis in adolescent schoolchildren. We have employed a validated, disease specific quality of life questionnaire to determine the extent of this problem and its effects on their lives. METHODOLOGY: The MSYPQ, a disease specific quality of life questionnaire, previously evaluated in a pilot study of adolescent sino-nasal disease, was used in secondary school children in East London to identify the prevalence of rhinosinusitis plus its effects on quality of life. One group of the secondary school children completed ARIA based questions for comparison with MSYPQ rhinitis sub-scores. RESULTS: 71% scored an abnormal value on the MSYPQ for at least one symptom, 32% of those assessed suffered from symptoms compatible with rhinitis, similar to the prevalence of 30% previously found in adults. Unlike adults cough was one of the most significant symptoms. Over 21% of secondary school students had their quality of life affected and 11% took time off school due to their symptoms. The ARIA assessment group showed that symptoms were intermittent in 44% and confirmed significant impairment of sleep and daily activities. CONCLUSION: The MSYPQ demonstrates a high prevalence and impact on quality of life of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis symptoms in the 11-16 age group, with levels comparable to the results from an adult population. The MSYPQ rhinitis sub group of questions was concordant with ARIA based questions.

Chemical composition and structural characteristics of Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) m. longissimus thoracis.

Saudi Arabian camels of four breeds (6 animals per breed) were used to evaluate characteristics and quality of their meat. Chemical composition, fibre cross sectional area, collagen content, muscle metabolism, cooking loss, pH at 24 h post mortem, colour values (except redness) and shear force of Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle did not differ between the breeds. Elevated pH values and short sarcomeres reduced overall tenderisation, with a difference between myofibril fragmentation index (P<0.001) and sarcomere length (P<0.05) between breeds. A positive correlation was observed between the activities of the mitochondrial enzymes (r>0.49), between the glycolytic activities (PFK and LDH) (r=0.61) and between Myosin Heavy Chain IIa and LDH activity. The intramuscular fat content was positively associated with redness and muscle oxidative metabolism, whereas shear force had a slight positive association with collagen content and muscle glycolytic metabolism and a negative association with muscle oxidative metabolism and muscle fibre area.

Performance, carcass characteristics and chemical composition of beef affected by lupine seed, rapeseed meal and soybean meal.

To test the effects of different protein sources and levels on performance, carcass characteristics and beef chemical composition, concentrates with three protein sources [Lupine seed (L), Rapeseed meal (R) and Soybean meal (S)] and two protein levels ['normal protein' (NP) or 'high protein' (HP)] were fed to 36 Simmental calves. Calves initially weighed 276 +/- 3.9 kg and averaged 6 months of age and were randomly allocated to the six treatments. Maize silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with increasing amounts of concentrates (wheat, maize grain, protein sources, vitamin-mineral mix). Normal protein and HP diets were formulated to contain 12.4% and 14.0% crude protein (CP) dry matter (DM) respectively. At the end of the fattening period of 278 days, the final live weight averaged 683 +/- 14.7 kg. Neither level of protein nor its interaction with protein sources had any effects on most of the traits studied. Feeding the R diet significantly increased final weight, average daily gain (ADG), DM intake and CP intake in relation to the L diet; no differences were observed between the L and S diets for these measures. No differences were observed between the R and S groups in final weight or ADG, but the calves fed the R diet consumed more DM and CP than the calves fed the S diet. Bulls fed R diet had higher carcass weight and dressing percentage than the L groups, and no significant differences were detected between the S and L groups. Chemical composition of the Musculus longissimus dorsi was not significantly affected by source of protein. Also, the major saturated fatty acid (SFA) (C16:0 and C18:0) did not significantly differ among the three treatments. Samples from R group had significantly higher proportions of C16:1 t9, C18:1 c11, C18:2 c9 t11, C18:3 c9, 12, 15 and SigmaC18:1 t fatty acids in relation to L and S groups. Although polyunsaturated fatty acid/SFA ratio was similar for the three dietary groups, n-6/n-3 ratio and Sigman-3 fatty acids content were significantly greater for bulls fed R diet in relation to those fed L and S diets.

Effect of feeding intensity and time on feed on intramuscular fatty acid composition of Simmental bulls.

Seventy-two Simmental bulls, weighing 489 kg initially and approximately 15 months old, were divided into four groups to determine the effects of feeding intensity and time on feed on intramuscular fatty acid (FA) composition. Two groups of 18 bulls each were extensively (E) or intensively (I) fed on maize silage and concentrates with a daily gain of 943 g (E) or 1371 g (I). Half of each group were slaughtered after 100 days (S) or 138 days (L) on feed. In addition to carcass fatness parameters, intramuscular FA composition was also measured. Only small differences in the sum of saturated FA (SFA) percentages were found with 47.7 and 47.5% FA methyl esters (FAME) for SE and LE, respectively, and 48.7% FAME for each of SI and LI. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) significantly increased with longer, and higher feeding intensity to 44.2% FAME (LI), whereas the other groups had similar contents of 41.9, 42.2 and 42.0% FAME (SE, LE and SI respectively). Polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) decreased with higher feeding intensity to 8.39% (SI) and 6.71% (LI) FAME (p < 0.05) in comparison with 9.48% (SE) and 9.54% (LE). Intensive feeding decreased the ratio of PUFA : SFA to 0.17 (SI) and 0.14 (LI, p < 0.05) in comparison with 0.20 (SE and LE). The mean conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentration was 0.41% FAME. Time on feed had only a small effect on the FA composition compared with feeding intensity. No significant relationships were detected between meat quality attributes and the pattern of FA.

Effects of feeding intensity and time on feed on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Simmental bulls.

Seventy two Simmental bulls, weighing 489 kg and approximately 15 months old fed extensively or intensively on maize silage and concentrate mixture for 100 or 138 days, were divided into four groups to assess the effect of time on feed and feeding intensity on the performance, carcass and meat quality traits. Bulls intensively fed for 138 days before slaughter had higher final body weight (673.7 kg) compared with the other three groups (610.6 kg, as overall mean). Intensive feeding significantly increased the average daily gain (1371 g/day) and improved the feed efficiency (6.95 kg DM/kg gain) compared with extensive feeding (943 g/day and 7.97 kg DM/kg gain). No significant differences were detected by time on feed. Hot carcass and kidney fat weights were significantly higher for intensively fed bulls compared with extensive ones. Dressing percentage significantly increased for 138 day groups compared with 100 day groups. Carcass conformation and fatness scores significantly improved by intensive feeding. L and b(*) values were not affected by time on feed or feeding intensity. Slaughtering after 138 days on feed significantly elevated the meat redness value (a(*)). Intensive feeding significantly decreased moisture and increased fat content of the longissimus dorsi muscle. Shear force, collagen content, juiciness, flavour and sarcomere length did not differ by time on feed or feeding intensity, while inconsistent effects were observed on tenderness and solubility of collagen.

Breast cancer risk among the survivors of atomic bomb and patients exposed to therapeutic ionising radiation.

Radiation induced breast cancer is a highly complex phenomenon, which most likely involves the accumulation of several genetic and epigenetic events. Studies of atomic bomb survivors, patients who underwent multiple fluoroscopic examinations during treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, those who received therapeutic radiation for benign breast disease, such as acute post-partum mastitis, or those with an enlarged thymus or skin haemangioma and patients with Hodgkin's disease treated by mantle radiotherapy established that the risk of breast cancer increases with exposure to ionising radiation. The carcinogenic effect of therapeutic or accidental radiation is highest when exposure occurs during childhood and exposure after age 40 imparts low or minimal risk. The risk of bilateral breast cancer is not significantly increased in the survivors of atomic bomb and therapeutic radiations. Fractionated exposures for therapeutic radiation are similar to a single exposure of the same total dose in their ability to induce breast cancer; this risk remains high for many years after exposure. Younger age at first full term pregnancy confers a protective effect against the risk of breast cancer in the survivors of atomic bomb but long-term data on this beneficial effect after therapeutic radiation is not available.