2-, 5-and 6-L-[(8F] fluorodopa was used. The relative isomeric proportions were 35, 5 and 60% respectively. The radioactivity, 2-6 mCi, was associated with 8-10 mg L-fluorodopa. The estimated mean specific activity was 103-0 -+ 22-9 mCi/mmol. This mixture was injected intravenously in a volume of 10 ml over two minutes using a constant infusion Harvard pump.Construction of arterial curve A Teflon (gauge 21) cannula was inserted into one radial artery, and 3 ml blood samples were taken at 20 second intervals during the first three minutes following tracer injection, and then every 30 to 60 seconds for a further seven minutes. Arterial sampling times were then gradually spaced out via 5 and 10, to 20 minute intervals. Usually a total of 25 samples were taken. The samples were spun and the concentration of isotopes in plasma was measured in a well-counter cross calibrated with the tomograph.

There is a need for studies that assume a broader societal perspective (including out-of-pocket costs, costs to family and productivity losses) and longer-term costs (capture reoperations/complications, waiting, body contouring), and consequences (health-related quality-of-life). Full economic evaluation underpinned by reporting standards should inform prioritization of patients (e.g. type 2 diabetes mellitus with body mass index 30 to 34.9 kg/m(2) or long-term waitlisted) for surgery. © 2016 World Obesity.

The brain uptake of L-[18F]fluorodopa was measured by positron emission tomography in a healthy male volunteer both under fasting conditions and during intravenous amino acid loading. A significant reduction of tracer uptake into the brain was demonstrated with amino acid loading. This finding represents the first direct evidence for competition between L-dopa and other amino acids for uptake across the blood-brain barrier obtained in vivo in a human subject. It underlines the possible importance of interference by dietary amino acids with the therapeutic actions of L-dopa in Parkinson's disease.

The objective of this study was to investigate the experience of waiting for publicly funded bariatric surgery in an Australian tertiary healthcare setting. Focus groups and individual interviews involving people waiting for or who had undergone publicly funded bariatric surgery were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. A total of 11 women and 6 men engaged in one of six focus groups in 2014, and an additional 10 women and 9 men were interviewed in 2015. Mean age was 53 years (range 23-66); mean waiting time was 6 years (range 0-12), and mean time since surgery was 4 years (range 0-11). Waiting was commonly reported as emotionally challenging (e.g. frustrating, depressing, stressful) and often associated with weight gain (despite weight-loss attempts) and deteriorating physical health (e.g. development of new or worsening obesity-related comorbidity or decline in mobility) or psychological health (e.g. development of or worsening depression). Peer support, health and mental health counselling, integrated care and better communication about waitlist position and management (e.g. patient prioritization) were identified support needs. Even if wait times cannot be reduced, better peer and health professional supports, together with better communication from health departments, may improve the experience or outcomes of waiting and confer quality-of-life gains irrespective of weight loss.

No abstract

Heat-related extreme events, such as wildfires and heatwaves, have historically imposed a burden on Australian society, and according to rigorous and robust scientific literature, it is expected that there will be increases in frequency, intensity and duration of these types of natural hazards. Within Australia, wildfires and heatwaves are currently responsible for more than 60% of all direct fatalities related to natural hazards, and it is highly likely that this is an underestimation as some health impacts are not routinely quantified (e.g. premature death related to air pollution from wildfire smoke exposure). Deaths attributable to heatwaves and fire smoke pollution are more commonly due to exacerbations of pre-existing health conditions, than to specific direct impacts such as heat stroke. Some groups, such as the elderly, infants and those with pre-existing conditions, tend to be more vulnerable to these impacts. Furthermore, evidence suggests that there are synergistic additional impacts when exposed to high temperature and air pollution, and that probably health impacts are considerably underestimated in the case of some specific groups such as those with occupational chronic exposure to fire smoke. To avoid increases in public health effects, society at all levels needs to increase its adaptive capacity. Measures need to be taken from a planning and management perspective through to community response at a local level, adequately focusing resources to include vulnerable sectors and population groups.

No abstract

hypertensive patients.' In this study nifedipine plus diuretic lowered blood pressure more effectively than propranolol plus diuretic, which has previously been shown to be effective in black hypertensive patients.2 Although comparisons of fixed doses of drugs have limitations, the doses of propranolol and nifedipine used were in the middle of their therapeutic ranges. Experience in Kenyan hypertension clinics confirms reports that black hypertensive patients have lower plasma renin activities than white patients. Perhaps because of this, we found nifedipine plus diuretic to be an excellent combination for treating hypertension among black Kenyan patients.This study was sponsored by the Wellcome Trust. We thank Dr M Hills for his advice regarding analyses. Patient years of observation were measured from the first date of a prescription up to the patient's death or 31 October 1990. Mortalities from cancer (cancer given as the underlying cause of death) were calculated for each treatment and were adjusted for age by the direct method. We compared the risks between treatments with the Cox proportional hazards model, adjusting for age and smoking. We performed a nested case-control study of deaths from lung cancer, matching 79 cases (58 men and 21 women: 68 with lung cancer given as the underlying cause of death and 11 with any mention of lung cancer on the death certificate) with 154 controls. We also calculated standardised mortality ratios for all hypertensive patients.There was no evidence for an adverse relation between atenolol and all cancers or lung cancer (table). Adjustment of the relative risks for smoking made little difference. Women taking atenolol appeared to be at lower risk of lung cancer, but the number of deaths was small and confidence intervals wide. There was no evidence that treatment had different effects on men and women. Blood pressure (whether treated or untreated, systolic or diastolic) showed no relation with deaths from all cancers or lung cancer.A conditional multiple logistic regression analysis of our case-control study gave a relative risk from smoking of 4-2 (95% confidence interval 1 9 to 9 0, p < 0 0004) and from atenolol treatment of 0 9 (0 4 to 2-1, p=0 7). The only excess standardised mortality ratio was for renal cancer (ICD codes 1890-9) with a value of 196 (107 to 328, p=0 03) for men and women combined. CommentWe found no evidence to support previous suggestions of an excess of cancer in men treated with Death rates adjustedfor age and relative risksfrom cancerfor different antihypertensive treatments