In a population-based historic cohort study, we assessed the possible association of fetal growth retardation, preterm birth and pregnancy-induced hypertension in the immediately preceding pregnancy with placental abruption in the current pregnancy, which would suggest a shared aetiological factor. We also assessed whether chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus and a history of Caesarean section are associated with placental abruption. Preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) in the immediately preceding delivery were associated with an increased risk of placental abruption with unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 2.1 [95% CI = 1.9, 2.4] and 1.6 [95% CI = 1.5, 1.8] respectively. Women with a history of an SGA preterm birth in the immediately preceding delivery and an appropriate-for-gestational-age infant in the current had an adjusted OR of 3.2 [95% CI = 2.3, 4.5]. The adjusted odds ratio of placental abruption in women who had pregnancy-induced hypertension in the previous pregnancy, but not in the current, was 1.4 [95% CI = 1.2, 1.7]. Women who delivered a preterm or SGA infant in the previous delivery and had chronic hypertension or diabetes mellitus in the current had adjusted ORs of 2.3-5.7 and 2.5-6.0 respectively. Caesarean section in the previous delivery increased the risk of placental abruption by 40%. These results suggest that pregnancy-induced hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, preterm delivery and placental abruption share an aetiological factor or represent different clinical expressions of recurring placental dysfunction. Chronic hypertension and diabetes mellitus may cause or aggravate such dysfunction thus causing placental abruption. A history of Caesarean section is associated with an increased risk of placental abruption.

The effect of dietary lipid level upon various quality parameters of smoked rainbow trout were examined. Fish were fed four experimental diets differing in lipid content (18.8–31.4%). Groups received either a lipid‐rich diet throughout the trial (101 days), a lipid‐rich feed for 46 days followed by a lower fat diet for 55 days and vice versa, or a low fat diet throughout. A fifth group (controls), consisting of commercially reared animals, was employed for comparative purposes. The visceral fraction of experimental fish increased with increasing lipid ingestion, whereas final process yield decreased. Chemical analyses following salting and hot‐smoking revealed that fillet lipid and ash was higher (P < 0.05) and moisture lower (P < 0.05) for fish fed the high‐lipid diet throughout and during the last 55 days of trial. No differences were recorded with respect to sensory attributes between treatment groups, although differences were observed between tank‐reared and control fish. In experimental animals, fillet protein content was negatively correlated with juiciness and fibreness, while dry matter was correlated with juiciness, fresh oily taste and rose flesh colour. The present study indicates that high lipid feeds can be employed without negatively influencing sensory characteristics or yield provided that lean finishing diets are fed prior to slaughter. Fasting of fish for 61 days improved slaughter yields without affecting relative yields among dietary groups.

Seven phenylketonuria (PKU) patients aged 15-24 years were allowed unrestricted diet for 3 weeks. Three of these patients performed well on unrestricted diet according to visual reaction time variability (RTv 50-100 ms) and did not show significant changes when returning to the phenylalanine-restricted diet (RTv 70-100 ms). Neither did the concentrations of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) change significantly. Four of the patients, however, performed rather poorly (RTv 120-220 ms) on unrestricted diet and improved significantly (P less than 0.03) when the diet was restored (RTv 70-150 ms). The improvements were accompanied by significant (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.02) increases (mean 52% and 109%) in CSF levels of HVA and 5-HIAA. Five PKU patients aged 15-23 years were allowed unrestricted diet or unrestricted diet supplemented with various amounts of tyrosine (106-194 mg/kg per 24 h). Two of these patients performed very well on unrestricted diet (RTv 60 ms) and showed little change when the unrestricted diet was supplemented with tyrosine (RTv 70 ms and 80 ms). The three other patients, who performed rather poorly (RTv 120-220 ms), improved significantly (P less than 0.03) when the unrestricted diet was supplemented with tyrosine (RTv 70-140 ms). HVA in CSF increased significantly (P less than 0.01) with the tyrosine supplement when the amount exceeded a threshold of approximately 80 mg/kg per 24 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PDB Reference: BHA±nonasaccharide complex, 1w9x, r1w9xsf.The enzymatic digestion of starch by -amylases is one of the key biotechnological reactions of recent times. In the search for industrial biocatalysts, the family GH13 -amylase BHA from Bacillus halmapalus has been cloned and expressed. The three-dimensional structure at 2.1 A Ê resolution has been determined in complex with the (pseudo)tetrasaccharide inhibitor acarbose. Acarbose is found bound as a nonasaccharide transglycosylation product spanning the À6 to +3 subsites. Careful inspection of electron density suggests that the bound ligand could not have been formed through successive transglycosylations of acarbose and must also have featured maltose or maltooligosaccharides as an acceptor.