A survey of the studies published in two leading fisheries journals revealed that the analysis and measurement of condition, based on length-weight data, has been performed using a wide variety of indices and statistical procedures. Eight forms of index were identified which can be categorized into those which measure thecondition of individual fish, i.e. 'condition factors '.and those which measure the condition of subpopulations as a whole, i.e. regressions of log,,, weight on log,, length and the parameters of such regressions. Analysis of a test data set indicated that both the form of index and properties of the data set size can dictate the patterns of condition observed. The various indices were reviewed in terms of appropriateness, simplicity and statistical correctness. It was concluded that an index should be selected only after a detailed examination of both the underlying assumptions of the index and the properties of the data set.

We analysed the morbidity, mortality and outcome of cervical spine injuries in patients over the age of 65 years. This study was a retrospective review of 107 elderly patients admitted to our tertiary referral spinal injuries unit with cervical spine injuries between 1994 and 2002. The data was acquired by analysis of the national spinal unit database, hospital inpatient enquiry system, chart and radiographic review. Mean age was 74 years (range 66-93 years). The male to female ratio was 2.1:1 (M = 72, F = 35). The mean follow-up was 4.4 years (1-9 years) and mean in-hospital stay was 10 days (2-90 days). The mechanism of injury was a fall in 75 and road traffic accident in the remaining 32 patients. The level involved was atlanto-axial in 44 cases, sub-axial in 52 cases and the remaining 11 had no bony injury. Multilevel involvement occurred in 48 patients. C2 dominated the single level injury and most of them were type II odontoid fractures. Four patients had complete neurology, 27 had incomplete neurology, and the remaining 76 had no neurological deficit. Treatment included cervical orthosis in 67 cases, halo immobilization in 25, posterior stabilization in 12 patients and anterior cervical fusion in three patients. The overall complication rate was 18.6% with an associated in-hospital mortality of 11.2%. The complications included loss of reduction due to halo and Minerva loosening, non-union and delayed union among conservatively treated patients, pin site and wound infection, gastrointestinal bleeding and complication due to associated injuries. Among the 28.9% patients with neurological involvement, 37.7% had significant neurological recovery. Outcome was assessed using a cervical spine outcome questionnaire from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Sixty-seven patients (70%) completed the form, 20 patients (19%) were deceased at review and 8 patients (7%) were uncontactable. Functional disability was more marked in the patients with neurologically deficit at time of injury. Outcome of the injury was related to increasing age, co-morbidity and the severity of neurological deficit. Injuries of the cervical spine are not infrequent occurrence in the elderly and occur with relatively minor trauma. Neck pain in the elderly patients should be thoroughly evaluated to exclude C2 injuries. Most patients can be managed in an orthosis but unstable injuries require rigid external immobilization or surgical stabilization.

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Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0025315401005008 How to cite this article: M.W. Clarke, P.L. Connolly and J.J. Bracken (2001). Aspects of reproduction of the deep water sharks Centroscymnus coelolepis and Centrophorus squamosus from west of Ireland and Scotland.

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It has been generally stated that fish exploited by deepwater fisheries cannot sustain high levels of exploitation because of their characteristic slow growth, longevity and low reproductive output. Irish surveys (19932000) allowed for studies of age, growth, fecundity and maturity of several deepwater teleosts and elasmobranchs. These data show that the teleost roundnose grenadier Coryphaenoides rupestris is slow growing and has low fecundity. Other teleosts also displayed rather conservative life-history characteristics. The birdbeak dogfish shark Deania calceus was slower growing than the teleosts and leafscale gulper shark Centrophorus squamosus attained ages of up to 70 years. The implications of these life-history parameters for sustainable exploitation are discussed by way of comparison with continental shelf species from this region. These data allowed for the estimation of the rate of potential population increase that supports the view that deepwater species are more vulnerable to exploitation. Whilst there may be scope for compensatory changes in fecundity such scope is likely to be limited, especially for sharks. Fisheries management plans should consider these differing life-history traits. The very different life history strategies exhibited by shelf and deepwater species suggests that different management systems will be required for deepwater fisheries to those prosecuted on the shelf.