A brief authoritative review focuses on specific clinical and biochemical indicators for the assessment of nutritional status of hospitalized patients. Attention is given to: (1) various anthropometric indices and their use as criteria in the diagnosis of malnutrition; and (2) laboratory markers of nutritional status (serum proteins; creatinine and 3-methyl histidine; prognostic indices based on nutritional measurements). The implications of the use of such data for clinically judging whether a patient is undernourished are discussed.

The productivity, net income level of living and level of satisfaction of integrated and non-integrated assisted swine farmers were compared. The Community Integrated Crops and Livestock Farming System (CICLFS) farmers employed integration as a strategy for agricultural development in Albay province [Philippines] particularly in livestock and feed grains production. Hence its concerns focus on integrator facilities and services such as feed mills, breeding and multiplication farms or stock farms, and a marketing network at the community level to benefit the livestock raisers and feed grain growers. The non-CICLFS farmers employed the non-intregrated or sectoral approach to livestock production. In determining program effectiveness among the CICLFS and non-CICLFS farmer respondents, fo1816ur indicators were analyzed: (1) production/productivity; (2) net income; (3) level of living; (4) level of satisfaction. Results revealed that on the whole the CICLFS program was more effective than the non-CICLFS based on those four indicators. After the implementation of their respective program, the average production of the CICLFS farmer-respondents increased by 102% compared to 22% for the non-CICLFS. In the net income category, the CICLFS farmer respondents earned 26% while the non-CICLFS earned 22% over their previous median net income. The CICLFS had an edge over the non-CICLFS respondents by 15% in the level of living category. All the CICLFS farmer-respondents were satisfied with their program, while only 79% of the non-CICLFS were satisfied with theirs. To sustain the gains in agricultural development its various components should, therefore, be integrated so that farmers can undertake income-generating projects, develop their own program and plans with technical and organizational assistance from government agencies, and thereby improve their production and become self-reli

Based on nematode populations and crop injury indicators, bush sitao, peanut, okra, mustard and pechay were susceptible to R. reniformis. Okra was highly susceptible to M. incognita, as indicated by significant yield reductions, high root gall and root necrosis ratings, and population at last harvest. Population fluctuations were influenced by the initial nematode density and the crops' growth stages. Competition for food by the nematode during the early stage of crops development influenced the change of the nematode populations in the succeeding crop stages. Phenamiphos applied at the rate of 10 kg a.i./ha was effective against nematodes throughout the entire crop growth stages. This was indicated by the relatively low nematode counts in treated sub-plots throughout the three cropping periods. Multiple regression analyses indicated positive relationship between nematode density and yield loss of bush sitao

The purpose of the act on the protection against dangerous substances (chemicals act) is no longer accounted for if there is only an unilateral research into the 'ecochemical behaviour' of a substance, if the selection of test organisms is only directed towards such aim, if only such tests are developed, introduced and stipulated by legislation which permit solety the establishment of acute damage from chemicals in individual animals of defined species in the laboratory, i.e. isolated from their biocoenotic associations. Based on the hypothesis that in the case of terrestric animals, the damaging influence of chemicals would results in a reduced metabolism within the natural cycle of a biocoenosis, there has been a search for methods permitting an early recognition of subacute damage in soil organismus which precedes acute disorders. These studies were aimed at finding indicators capable of showing the reduced performance of terrestric animals expressing subacute damage. The suitability of collemboles, larvae of diptera and Lumbricidae for use in tests to detect acute damages is discussed. The differences in sensitivity to one and the same chemical in the experiment has been shown for collembole species. Attention is drawn to the fact that a determination of the LD50 value is of no importance for the development of tests to detect acute damage. There should be no arbitrary limitation of the testing period. Process-dependent indicators should serve as yardsticks to evaluate a reduced performance of test organisms. It would be promising to develop a multiplication or feeding activity test for collemboles, a soil structure or plant growth test for Lumbricidae, e.g. L. rubellus, and a feeding activity test for soil Diptera. The latter has been demonstrated experimentally, using larvae of Neosciara modesta

This investigation is in part an extension of previous leaf cuticle observations made on 52 other taxa among 34 families. Dewaxed, chemically isolated, adaxial and abaxial cuticular membranes and transverse leaf sections of the wax-flower plant (Hoya carnosa R. Br.) were examined using ordinary staining techniques and light-microscopy methods. Evidence is presented for the existence of ubiquitous, discrete, naturally occurring cuticular pores, concomitant with anticlinally oriented trans-cuticular canals, distributed randomly throughout the cuticular matrix. The surface of the adaxial cuticular membrane contains approx. 6540 unclustered pores per mm2, the abaxial approx. 4680 pores per mm2. Pore and canal diameters range between 0.5 and 0.75 μm. The canals are often arcuate and their lengths are directly related to cuticle thickness. No correlations were found between cuticle thickness and either pore numbers or pore and canal diameters. Based upon experiments with various pH indicators, solutions, and stains, the dewaxed, dry cuticular membrane of H. carnosa appears to be both distinctly hydrophilic and selectively permeable through a myriad of microscopically visible pores and canals permeating its matrix. A de novo interpretation of gross cuticle morphology based solely upon light microscopy observations is presented by semi-diagrammatic illustrations.

The executive summary of an evaluation report of progress in achieving the U.S. Public Health Service Objectives for Improved Nutrition by 1990 is presented. The ad hoc panel that prepared the report recommended that none of the 15 objectives be deleted and that two objectives remain unchanged. Based on a progress evaluation since 1980 and a desire to identify quantifiable indicators and attainable endpoints, the panel recommended language changes and/or modifications for the remaining 13 objectives. Restated objectives are presented. The panel also recommended establishing two additional objectives in the areas of nutrition and cancer, and nutrition and skeletal integrity. The report concluded that efforts should be initiated in 1986 to develop Objectives for the Nation in 2000. Suggested topics for additional Objectives for Improved Nutrition in 2000 include dietary claims and health fraud, hypervitaminosis, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, nutrition in pregnancy, and nutrition in the elderly.(aje).

The executive summary of an evaluation report of progress in achieving the U.S. Public Health Service Objectives for Improved Nutrition by 1990 is presented. The ad hoc panel that prepared the report recommended that none of the 15 objectives be deleted and that two objectives remain unchanged. Based on a progress evaluation since 1980 and a desire to identify quantifiable indicators and attainable endpoints, the panel recommended language changes and/or modifications for the remaining 13 objectives. Restated objectives are presented. The panel also recommended establishing two additional objectives in the areas of nutrition and cancer, and nutrition and skeletal integrity. The report concluded that efforts should be initiated in 1986 to develop Objectives for the Nation in 2000. Suggested topics for additional Objectives for Improved Nutrition in 2000 include dietary claims and health fraud, hypervitaminosis, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, nutrition in pregnancy, and nutrition in the elderly.(aje)

The 'Plant growth test using fly larvae' being a three-component system (diptera, larvae, nutrient substrate + soil and plants) based on the principle of recognizing by the growth of plants as indicator of substances the reduction in performance of fly larvae in the metabolism in soil due to chemicals. Larvae of Musca domestica served as test organisms. As plants, Lepidium sativum, Triticum sativum, Avena sativa, Secale cereale, Phaseolus aureus, Sinapis alba and Medicago sativa were investigated for their suitability as indicators. This is the first time that the possibility is pointed out to recognize by experiments subacute damages within symbioses of a biotope which are due to foreign substances in the environment, at a time far preceding acute disturbances of biocenosis. As part of an updating of the Chemicals Act, the development of sucht test procedures may balance the lack of test results for terrestrial ecosystems which would provide sufficient evidence and can be extrapolated to natural conditions in a biotope

Extract: As part of a case-control study of breast cancer in Hawaii, self-reported data on height, weight at various ages, breast size, shoe size, and triceps skinfold thickness were collected from 138 Japanese postmenopausal cases, 134 Caucasian postmenopausal cases, 154 Japanese neighborhood controls, and 142 Caucasian neighborhood controls. In a multiple covariance analysis, cases of both ethnic groups were slightly heavier (at all ages) and more obese (based on a weight-corrected-for-height index) than were controls, although none of the differences was statistically significant. Among the Japanese only, cases were also taller, had a greater body surface area (computed from the height and weight data), and had a larger shoe size than did the controls. The latter finding was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Odds ratios were computed by multiple logistic regression analysis and revealed no additional relationships; however, there were suggested dose-response gradients for height, weight at age 20, and body surface area in the Japanese women and for breast size in the Caucasian women. A further analysis of risks based on changes in relative body weight between young adult life (age 20) and current age was also negative. Overall, these findings offer only weak support for an association between weight or obesity and breast cancer risk and suggest that anthropometric indices are at best very indirect indicators of true etiologic factors for breast cancer.(author)

Water is one of the most important environmental resources for all life. Yet, it is very susceptible to interference by man, and can be easily polluted. One of the pollutants or pollution indicators is excessive growth of aquatic weeds. The weeds may function appropriately by diversifying and stabilizing the community, or they may be detrimental depending on the use, purpose and management of the water. In most cases, the overwhelming detrimental impact may result in effective control methods by destroying the biomass. The more recent approach is to manage the weed biomass as a wasted resource and optimize its potentials to be utilized for various purposes. These include its use as a food source for fish by the introduction of appropriate herbivorous fish in absorbing pollutants from the water; and harvesting the biomass for compost, biogas, domestic animal feed, mushroom culture, pulp for carton and paper, and for handicrafts. The methods should be used in conjunction with other conventional control methods, e.g., the use of herbicides to convert the biomass into detritus or to stimulate plankton growth. This will diversify the productivity of the entire water resource. Aquatic vegetation management must be developed as part of the overall aquatic resource management based on the amenity fresh water system which refers mainly to the social and environmental function of the water. The system must be managed properly based on social agreeableness, social pleasures and other agreeable pursuits.