Maternal Steller Sea Lion Diets Elevate Fetal Mercury Concentrations in an Area of Population Decline.

Maternal Steller sea lion diets elevate fetal mercury concentrations in an area of population decline.

Sci Total Environ. 2013 Mar 29; 454-455C: 277-282
Rea LD, Castellini JM, Correa L, Fadely BS, O’Hara TM

Total mercury concentrations ([THg]) measured in western Aleutian Island Steller sea lion pup hair were the highest maximum [THg] documented in this endangered species to date. Some pups exceeded concentrations at which other fish-eating mammals can exhibit adverse neurological and reproductive effects (21% and 15% pups above 20 and 30?g/g in hair, respectively). Of particular concern is fetal exposure to mercury during a particularly vulnerable stage of neurological development in late gestation. Hair and blood [THg] were highly correlated and 20% of pups sampled in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska exceeded mammalian risk thresholds established for each of these tissues. Higher nitrogen isotope ratios suggested that pups accumulated the highest [THg] when their dams fed on higher trophic level prey during late gestation. HubMed – eating

Low-dose Spinal Morphine for Post-thoracotomy Pain: A Prospective Randomized Study.

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2013 Mar 29;
Suksompong S, Pongpayuha P, Lertpaitoonpan W, von Bormann B, Phanchaipetch T, Sanansilp V

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of 0.2mg and 0.3mg of spinal morphine in patients with post-thoracotomy pain. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: A university hospital and a tertiary referral center. PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients undergoing thoracotomy for lung resection. INTERVENTIONS: Spinal morphine: 0.2mg or 0.3mg. METHODS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 0.2mg or 0.3mg of spinal morphine for post-thoracotomy pain prior to general anesthesia. Cumulative 24- and 48-hour intravenous patient-controlled analgesia meperidine consumption and numeric rating scale score for pain were recorded. The severity score (4-point scale) of sedation, nausea, vomiting, and pruritus was assessed for interval during the postoperative period. The times to first drinking/eating/sitting/walking were recorded. There was no statistically significant difference in 24-hour postoperative meperidine usages between the 2 groups, which were 110 (interquartile range 90-180) and 95 (interquartile range 57.5-175)mg, respectively. The median pain free times, time to first drinking, eating, sitting, and walking showed no differences between the 2 groups. The numeric rating scale score for pain and incidences of side effects were not different between the 2 groups. One patient who received 0.3mg of spinal morphine developed respiratory acidosis with a respiratory rate of 10 per minute at 44 minutes after extubation. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who underwent elective thoracotomy, 0.2mg of spinal morphine was as effective as 0.3mg. Increasing the dosage of spinal morphine does not decrease postoperative meperidine consumption, but may lead to respiratory depression in rare cases. HubMed – eating

[CASERIA Program (Healthy Habits in Primary School Questionnaire). Responses of 6 to 10 year-old children].

Semergen. 2012 Jul-Aug; 38(5): 265-77
Rodríguez Huertas E, Solana Moreno MI, Rodríguez Espinosa F, Rodríguez Moreno MJ, Aguirre Rodríguez JC, Alonso Ródenas M

In schoolchildren examinations, carried out periodically, we detect a continuous increase in obesity and sedentarism in our schoolchildren. In this study we attempt to compare, with objective data, the real situation of the childhood population in our area, as regards their eating habits, physical activity and hygiene.Questionnaires on eating habits, preferences as regards diet, doing exercise, and dental hygiene, were handed out to 430 schoolchildren between 6 and 10 years-old. A total of 366 were valid for the study.The majority (85.8%) of those surveyed lived within a “traditional” family; 22% had family members who were overweight; 96.7% had breakfast before going to school, with milk products being the most consumed; the cake and pastry industry was well used, both at breakfast (7.4%) and at playtime (16.9%). The favourite food was pasta in 29.8% of cases, followed by potatoes, particularly fried (10.4%). The least liked foods were vegetables (26.2%) and fish (8.2%). Television was watched for more than 2hours by 70%; 34% exceeded 2hours or more per day playing with video consoles or similar. On the other hand, homework and studying took up more than 2hours daily for 50% of pupils. A majority (55%) of those surveyed ate sweets 2 or more time a day, and to eat and watch television at the same time was an almost constant habit in more than 60%. Of the participants in the study, 9.29% never brushed their teeth.The theoretical knowledge of what should be a correct diet seems adequate, but its putting into practice is not. The population studies had fairly sedentary habits, with little fruit and they did not like pulses or vegetables or fish. All these factors decrease the cardiovascular protection associated with its practice and consumption. We have shown that they are already present since childhood in our population, which without a doubt will have repercussions in their future health status and well-being, if it is not changed. HubMed – eating

A typical day in the Eating Disorders Unit: Madi O’Dell’s story – Madi O’Dell, describes a typical day during treatment for bulimia in Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Eating Disorders Unit. Madi’s eating disorder developed w…