Comprehensive MR angiography of the lower limbs: a hybrid dual-bolus approach including the pedal arteries.

The purpose of this study was to include the pedal vasculature into the coverage of peripheral multistation magnetic resonance angiography (3DceMRA). A total of 216 patients suffering from peripheral vascular disease were examined with a modified hybrid dual-bolus technique. The cruropedal arteries were acquired first with two sagittal slabs and time-resolved 3D sequences. Then the aortofemoral vessels were visualized using the bolus-chase technique and a second contrast injection. Interventional procedures were performed in 104 patients, and in 69 of those, the cruropedal vessels were also examined with digital subtraction angiography (iaDSA). Using 3DceMRA, the cruropedal arteries were displayed with both excellent and good quality in 95% (205/216 cases), and without any venous overlay in 94% (203/216 cases). The aortofemoral vessels were not jeopardized by the first contrast injection. With iaDSA as the standard of reference, observed sensitivity of 3DceMRA was found in ranges from 80% (29%, 99%) to 100% (86%, 100%) for assessing significant stenoses, and observed specificity ranged between 93% [80%, 98%] and 100% (82%, 100%). In conclusion, hybrid dual-bolus 3DceMRA significantly reduces the limitations of standard single-bolus 3DceMRA in anatomic coverage and temporal resolution of the cruropedal arteries, thus providing high-quality images of the entire peripheral vasculature.

Allergic sensitisation and allergic rhinitis are associated with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet and in red blood cell membranes.

OBJECTIVE: Due to inconsistent results based on dietary intake data, unsaturated fatty acids in red blood cell (RBC) membranes and diet were used to investigate their association with allergic sensitisation and allergic rhinitis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, population-based study. SETTING: Bavarian Nutrition Survey II (2002-03), Germany. SUBJECTS: A total of 568 adult participants, 325 women and 243 men. METHODS: By means of logistic regression models, the relation of fatty acids to (i) allergic sensitisation as defined by means of specific serum immunoglobulin E analysis (CAPSX1 class > or = 2), and (ii) self-reported allergic rhinitis was examined. RESULTS: A high cell membrane level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) was inversely associated with allergic sensitisation, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 0.52 (0.30-0.90) for the highest (vs lowest) quartile. A similar effect was observed for allergic rhinitis with an OR (95% CI) of 0.50 (0.24-1.03; P = 0.027 for trend). A higher dietary intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3 n-3) was associated with a decreased risk of allergic sensitisation and allergic rhinitis with ORs (95% CIs) of 0.51 (0.28-0.93) and 0.43 (0.20-0.93), respectively, in the highest quartiles. No other dietary or cell membrane unsaturated fatty acid was significantly associated with the outcome variables, nor was the n-6/n-3 ratio. The strongest effects were observed among subjects under the age of 40 y. CONCLUSIONS: In this cross-sectional study among adults, a high content of n-3 fatty acids in RBC membranes (EPA) or in the diet (ALA) is associated with a decreased risk of allergic sensitisation and allergic rhinitis.

The effect of season and vaccination for Glässer's disease and post-weaning Colibacillosis in an outdoor pig unit endemically infected with virulent strain of Haemophilus Parasuis serotype 5 and pathogenic Escherichia coli.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this field trial was to determine if vaccination against Haemophilus parasuis serovar 5 (HPS 5) and pathogenic serotypes of Escherichia coli would improve nursery pig performance in an outdoor unit in different seasons. The unit was concurrently infected with HPS 5 and with different serotypes of E. coli. All piglets were born to HPS 5 vaccinated sows. The trial was carried out in four (two summer and two winter) groups. Group 1 (E. coli and HPS vaccinated, summer season) (n = 362): Piglets were vaccinated pre-weaning with inactivated E. coli-VT2e-toxin and post-weaning against HPS 5. Group 2 (non-vaccinated, summer season) (n = 349): Piglets were not vaccinated. Group 3 (E. coli and HPS vaccinated, winter season) (n = 358): The animals were analogously treated as Group 1. Group 4 (non-vaccinated, winter season) (n = 353): Piglets were not vaccinated. The following parameters were evaluated: A: average daily nursery weight gain (ADG), B: nursery mortality, C: feed efficiency (FE). No significant weight differences were detected within the vaccinated and non-vaccinated summer or winter raised groups of weaners. Summer raised weaners were significantly (P<0.05) heavier from day 35 on than winter raised animals. ADG and FE of summer raised pigs were significantly better (weeks 1-3 P<0.05; fourth week post-weaning P<0.01) during the nursery period than that of the winter raised groups. Winter raised vaccinated weaners showed during the last week of nursing significantly (P<0.05) better daily gain and feed efficiency compared with the non-vaccinated winter raised animals. Non-significant ADG and FE differences were detectable between the summer raised vaccinated or non-vaccinated groups of pig. Winter raised non-vaccinated animals suffered significantly (P<0.05) higher nursery mortality (10.63%) compared to the winter raised vaccinated animals. IMPLICATION: In cases of concurrent infections with HPS 5 and with different serotypes of E. coli, especially during winter season, vaccination against both diseases is suggested.

How optimal are computer-calculated optimal diets?

OBJECTIVE: This paper aims at clarifying the meaning of 'optimal diets'. DESIGN: Two different optimization approaches are considered. Both depart from people's actual diets which in general do not meet all their nutrient requirements. In the first case (non fuzzy approach) the actual diets are modified such that all nutrient intake recommendations are met and the resulting changes in the persons' food habits are as little as possible. In the second case (fuzzy approach) the actual diets are modified such that the persons' food habits undergo little change and the nutrient intake recommendations are met as well as possible. Both approaches are evaluated using data on the actual diets of three randomly chosen participants of the Bavarian Food Intake Survey. RESULTS: With both approaches feasible solutions can be found. The optimal diets computed with the non fuzzy approach satisfy all the persons' nutrient requirements, but make it necessary to change the persons' food habits considerably. When compared to the subjects' actual diets, the optimal diets computed with the fuzzy approach yield improvements for the intake of many nutrients, but in some cases deteriorations also occur (for example, concerning folate, calcium and iodine). So, the process and the results of the fuzzy approach are not 'Pareto efficient'. But it has the advantage that the corresponding optimal diets deviate from the actual diets by no more than about 3-5 kitchen units per day. CONCLUSIONS: The term 'optimal' does not have a general meaning. An 'optimal diet' does not necessarily meet all the nutrient requirements of a person. Optimality only depends on the respective conditions any optimization is based on.

Sucrose intake in Germany.

The present investigation reevaluated the German National Food Consumption Survey in order to obtain data on sucrose intake and food sources of sucrose intake in Germany. Moreover, it focused on the effect of sucrose intake on nutrient intake. By means of the food composition data base Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel, version II.2, 7-days dietary records of a representative sample of 15,838 persons aged 4 years and older were analyzed. The relation between sucrose and nutrients intake was investigated by variance and regression analyses. Low, moderate, and high sucrose intake categories were defined by means of sucrose density quartiles and comparisons were made for the percentages of persons meeting the German nutrient intake recommendations. Mean daily sucrose intake ranges between 43.2 g/d (f, 51-64 years) and 82.3 g/d (m, 13-14 years). The mean contribution of sucrose to total energy intake is highest with 14% in young age (4-6 years) and decreases to 9% and 7% in 51-64 year old women and men, respectively. The food groups "table sugar", "confectionery and ice cream", "biscuits, cake and pastries", "preserves", "dairy products", and "non-alcoholic beverages" are the main sucrose sources with varying importance in different age groups. The average amount of naturally occurring sucrose in the Germans' diet is estimated to 15-25% of total sucrose intake. Sucrose contributes 80-90% to total disaccharides intake in Germany. With each gram of sucrose the intake of energy rises on the average by 12.5 kcal (52.4 kJ), of protein by 0.3 g (9% of the energy increase), of fat by 0.5 g (34%), and of carbohydrates by 1.8 g (57%). Consequently, the higher the sucrose content of a diet, the lower is the contribution of fat to total energy intake. In contrast, the energy-adjusted effect of sucrose was found to be negative for energy-providing nutrients (except mono- and disaccharides) as well as for all the selected micronutrients, except calcium, vitamin E, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. Accordingly, the comparison between moderate and high sucrose consumers revealed a lower percentage of persons meeting nutrient intake recommendations in the high sucrose category under the condition of a comparable energy intake. This unfavorable effect of high sucrose intake is most prominent in 4-6 year old boys and girls as the groups with the highest sucrose intake. Since from the present data no exact figure for a sucrose or sugars intake recommendation can be deduced, it is suggested to keep on the WHO recommendation for a moderate sugar intake of 10% of energy intake.

Defining Interaction between Electroantennogram Responses of Epiphyas postvittana (lepidoptera: Tortricidae) to Pheromone and Other Volatiles.

The potential for electroantennograms (EAGs) to assist in the measurement of atmospheric pheromone concentrations was examined in laboratory and field experiments by using multiple stimuli, the main component of the pheromone of Epiphyas postvittana, (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, its Z-isomer (a behavioral antagonist), and alpha-terpineol (a representative host-plant odor) were presented to the antenna simultaneously to simulate field conditions. The EAG results were compared with predictions from two models describing responses to combined stimuli. Responses are defined as log-additive if they can be described with the equation [EAG((total)) =a (log ([P(x)]+[B(y)])+c] and as linear-additive if the EAG follows the equation [EAG((total)) =a (log [P(x)])+c+a'(log [B(y)])+c'] where [B(y)] is the concentration of the stimulant background odor and [P(x)] is the concentration of an additional odor stimulus. The EAGs elicited by the added stimuli were inversely related to the concentration of the volatile in the background. EAGs elicited by all combined stimuli followed the log-additive model. Our laboratory results were validated in field tests; alpha-terpineol represents the volatiles present in orchard air. In spite of this interaction between the perception of pheromone and plant volatiles, the field EAG can be used for the measurement of atmospheric pheromone concentrations, where background odor concentrations are relatively constant.

Behavioral observations and measurements of aerial pheromone in a mating disruption trial against pea mothCydia nigricana F. (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae).

Synthetic sex pheromone of the pea mothCydia nigricana. (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-yl acetate (E8,E10-12 : Ac), was applied in a 3-ha pea field at a rate of 17 g/ha, in two different dispenser formulations. Aerial concentrations within pea canopy, as determined by a field electroantennogram (EAG) apparatus, were 2 and 3 ng/m(3) in the two dispenser treatments. The validity of the EAG measurements was corroborated by sampling of field air, followed by gas chromatographic quantification ofE8,E10-12 : Ac. Males were attracted to fresh dispensers releasingE8,E10-12 : Ac plus less than 2% of the antagonisticE, Z; Z, E; andZ, Z isomers. Two days after placement, the proportion of these isomers had increased to 6%. Males were then no longer attracted to the dispensers, but were observed to fly out of the treated field. Male attraction to calling females was almost entirely suppressed, and attraction to traps baited with synthetic pheromone was significantly reduced. Larval infestation in the pheromone-treated field was 2%, compared to 36% in a control field.

Apple foliage enhances mating disruption of light-brown apple moth.

Uptake and release of pheromone and behavioral inhibitor ofEpiphyas postvittanna by apple leaves was tested using field electroantennograms (EAG), trap catches to synthetic lures and virgin females, and chemical analysis. Trap catches in single apple trees (N=3) were monitored for six cycles of six days' duration, using delta traps baited with synthetic pheromone. Polyethylene dispensers (0, 1, 10 per tree) releasing pheromone and inhibitor were present for only the first three days of each cycle. Application of 10 dispensers per tree resulted in complete disruption of trapping, which continued for one day after dispensers were removed. Over the three nights following the removal of the dispensers (days 4-6), trap catch was 0, 10, and 15% of the control catch. In contrast, the presence of only one dispenser per tree led to 0-20% of control catches, but on the three nights following dispenser removal catches were 35, 40, and 80% of the control catch. Field EAGs indicated significantly higher relative pheromone concentrations in the trees with 10 dispensers present, compared to trees with single dispensers, but removal of dispensers produced no detectable treatment effect compared to the control trees one day after dispenser removal. In a second experiment, releases of marked male moths into apple orchard plots following the removal of polyethylene dispensers (1 hr earlier that day) resulted in significantly lower catches in traps baited with virgin females in blocks that had been treated, compared to controls. Recovery of pheromone by solvent washing of leaves loaded with 50 µg of the main component of the sex pheromone (1.26 µg/cm(2)) was low (2.5%). Leaves held in a pheromone-saturated atmosphere were loaded with 0.045±0.007 µg pheromone/cm(2). Analysis of apple leaves taken from a pheromone-treated tree at different distances from the pheromone dispenser showed a decay of the pheromone load per square centimeter with increasing distance from the dispenser, as previously indicated by EAG.

[Comparison of dietary surveys in Germany and Great Britain regarding objectives, methodology and results]. / Vergleich von Verzehrserhebungen in Deutschland und Grossbritannien nach Zielen, Methodik und Ergebnissen.

Referring to the data of the National Food Consumption Study in Germany and the Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults, this article compares the food intake of German and British adults. Such a comparison is possible because both studies have mainly the same methodology. The comparison of the food intake of German and British adults points out food groups which Germans consume in higher amounts than British people do. To this category belong meat products and sausages, eggs, cheese and cottage cheese, butter, fat for cooking and salad oil, bread and pastries, vegetables, fruit, preserves and soft drinks. The Germans consume less meat, fish and fish products, milk and milk products, pasta, rice and miscellaneous cereals, potatoes, sugar, sweets and tea than the British people do. The consumption of fruit products, alcoholic beverages and coffee is nearly the same in Germany and Great Britain.

[An approach for planning hospital menus using a knowledge-based system]. / Ein Ansatz zur Planung einer Krankenhausverpflegung mit Hilfe eines wissensbasierten Systems.

Menu planning in hospitals is a complex decision problem. Patients expect the menu plan to be healthful and in accordance with their nutritional habits. Furthermore, the menu plan must conform to capacity limits of the kitchen. In this paper we present an approach to computerized food selection and menu composition. The model is based on nutritional knowledge, which is represented in the computer and used for problem solving.

Spatial distribution of pheromone in vineyards treated for mating disruption of the grape vine mothLobesia botrana measured with electroantennograms.

The spatial distribution of the pheromone of the grape vine moth.Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), was measured in vineyards treated for mating disruption by using an electroantennogram technique (EAG). Five hundred dispensers per hectare, each containing 0.1 g of the main component of the sex pheromone (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate (E7,Z9-12: Ac) were evenly distributed in the experimental vineyards. The EAG amplitudes measured in the experimental plots were transformed into relative pheromone concentrations by means of a calibration curve. Mean relative pheromone concentrations in the center of a treated plot reached 2.31 × 10(-4) relative units. No significant differences in the mean relative pheromone concentrations were found between replicate plots (P > 0.01). The mean relative pheromone concentrations measured within one plot along a transect at 5-m intervals also showed no significant differences between the sites. These results indicate that inside the borders of treated areas the pheromone was evenly distributed. No sites with significantly lower pheromone concentrations, frequently assumed to be the cause for higher trap catches in some areas, were found. However, the mean relative pheromone concentration rapidly declined more than 100-fold outside the border of the treated plot. At 10 m from the treated area, the EAGs showed no significant difference compared to the EAGs recorded in an untreated area. A rapid drop in the mean relative pheromone concentration was also found on a vertical transect through the canopy of the vineyard. Measurements in an untreated control block gave a mean antennal response approximately 1000-fold lower than in a nearby pheromone treated plot. The significance of the variation in the pheromone distribution for the success of the mating-disruption method is discussed.

A temperature-dependent model for predicting release rates of pheromone from a polyethylene tubing dispenser.

A model was developed to describe release of two formulations of tetradecenyl acetates in Shin Etsu polyethylene tubing pheromone dispensers. Change in pheromone column length in the polyethylene tubing was modeled bydl/dt=l ... (a+bT)/dt (wherel is column length,t is time interval, andT is average temperature for that time interval). Regression of the natural log of relative change in liquid length against time interval and accumulated day degrees in orchards produced the coefficientsa andb. The model was validated by comparing predicted and actual liquid length remaining in field-aged dispensers, as well as measuring release rates by using gas chromatography. Mean daily orchard temperatures and measurement of column length of dispensers on a single date were used to accurately predict column length within 15%, after six months. Predictions of instantaneous release rate were also made from this model, and other possible model uses and limitations are discussed.

Mating disruption of pea mothCydia nigricana F. (lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by a repellent blend of sex pheromone and attraction inhibitors.

Synthetic sex pheromone of the pea mothCydia nigricana, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-yl acetate (E8,E10-12: Ac), was applied in polyethylene dispensers at a rate of 30 g/ha and 600 dispensers/ha in a 0.6-ha pea field. The release rate ofE8,E10-12: Ac was 140 mg/ha/day after six days, and 82 mg/ha/day after 20 days. Aerial concentrations ofE8,E10-12: Ac, as measured by a portable EAG apparatus, ranged from 2 ± 2 to 7 ± 3 ng/m(3). The antennal signal was high and rather constant within pea canopy, but was lower and fluctuated strongly above canopy. Initially, >99% isomerically pureE8,E10-12: Ac was released, and male moths were attracted to dispensers. After nine days, isomeric blend composition had equilibrated to approx. 92%E8,E10-12: Ac and 8% of the inhibitory isomersE,Z-,Z,E-, andZ8,Z10-12: Ac. Males were then repelled from the pheromone-permeated field. Traps baited with 100 µgE8,E10-12: Ac caught 258 ± 133C. nigricana males/trap in the control, but no males at all in the disruption field.

Absorption and release of pheromone ofEpiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by apple leaves.

The absorption and release of the pheromone ofEpiphyas postvititana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae),E 11-14: OAc andE,E 9, 11-14: OAc (95:5) by apple leaves was studied using electroantennograms (EAG) and sticky traps baited with pheromone-treated leaves. Leaves exposed to an airstream containing pheromone reached a constant level of pheromone release within 3 min. Release occurred over a period greater than 24 hr, following removal of leaves from the pheromone-saturated environment. Pheromone-treated leaves were effective as lures in sticky traps for at least three nights, although the average catch per night decrease logarithmically with time. In the field, pheromone was detected by EAG on leaves harvested from up to 25 cm away from a central point source of pheromone. The shape of a surface representing equal pheromone re-release from leaves around a central point source was defined by interpolation from a three-dimensional transect. Leaves harvested from 5 cm under the dispensers showed the highest pheromone release rate. Leaves downwind of the dispensers also had higher release of pheromone. In a treated orchard, significantly higher EAG measurements were recorded in the rows of trees that contained dispensers, compared to grass interrows or untreated trees. The implications of foliar pheromone adsorption and release on atmospheric concentrations and insect behavior require further investigation.

An improved system for single unit isolation from multiunit nerve recordings by velocity analysis.

A system for recording and decomposition of complex extracellular spike trains by analog computing is presented. Unlike other systems, it is not necessary to establish templates for the analysis. Rather by adjustments of a single knob, the velocity band can be adjusted. The velocity measurement can be made to a precision of better than 1%, where the velocity jitter in individual spikes of a unit becomes apparent. Spike trains on the connective of a stick insect are analyzed which occur during an intersegmental reflex, the CLP reflex.

[Subchronic toxicity of gamma-Falisan-Universal dry dressing agent to rats]. / Beitrag zur subchronischen Toxizität von gamma-Falisan-Universal-Trockenbeize bei Ratten.

Doses of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg of Gamma-Falisan-Universal dry dressing agent (active ingredients including 20 per cent of Lindan and 2.5 per cent of phenyl-mercury acetate) were administered in agar suspension by stomach intubation to rats over 13 weeks, with five applications weekly. The following changes were produced: retardation in body weight, lymphopenia and leucopenia, rise of segment-nuclear neutrophils in peripheral blood, decrease of haematocrit and haemoglobin, as well as rise in activities of leucine aminopeptidase and serum glutamate oxalo-acetate transaminase. The males proved to be more sensitive in the context of their haematological parameters, while the females displayed higher sensitivity in terms of clinico-chemical values. Absolute weight increases were recorded from kidneys and liver of both males and females and from the adrenal gland of females, while weight loss was recorded from the pituitary gland of males. Changes of the same kind were expressed even more strongly, in the context of relative weights of organs. Histopathological changes were recorded from liver, kidneys, and adrenal gland of either sex, and they were histometrically confirmed. Retardation in body weight, rise in activity of leucine aminopeptidase, and weight changes of various organs were significant up to first dosage group. Analogous findings were obtained with regard to microscopic changes in kidneys. Hence, no-effect levels did not occur at all throughout the experiment.