The study results support the use of the KOOS subscales among patients with articular cartilage lesions.

The production performance of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus) and freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in periphyton‐based systems were studied in farmers' ponds at Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Fifteen ponds (200–300 m2 area and 1.0–1.5 m in depth) were used to compare five stocking ratios in triplicate: 100% GIFT, 75% GIFT plus 25% prawn, 50% GIFT plus 50% prawn, 25% GIFT plus 75% prawn and 100% prawn. Ponds were stocked at a total density of 20 000 GIFT and/or prawn ha−1. Bamboo poles (mean diameter 6.2 cm and 5.5 pole m−2) were posted in pond bottoms vertically as periphyton substrate. Periphyton biomass in terms of dry matter (DM), ash‐free DM and chlorophyll a were significantly higher in ponds stocked with prawn alone than in ponds with different combinations of GIFT and prawn. Survival of GIFT was significantly lower in ponds stocked with 100% GIFT (monoculture) whereas, that of prawn was significantly higher in its monoculture ponds indicating detrimental effects of GIFT on prawn's survival. Individual weight gains for both species were significantly higher in polyculture than in monoculture. The highest total fish and prawn yield (1623 kg GIFT and 30 kg prawn ha−1) over 125–140 days culture period was recorded in ponds with 75% GIFT and 25% prawn followed by 100% GIFT alone (1549 kg ha−1), 50% GIFT plus 50% prawn (1114 kg GIFT and 68 kg prawn ha−1), 25% GIFT plus 75% prawn (574 kg GIFT and 129 kg prawn ha−1) and 100% prawn alone (157 kg ha−1). This combination also gave the highest economic return. Therefore, a stocking ratio of 75% GIFT plus 25% prawn at a total density of 20 000 ha−1 appeared to be the best stocking ratio in terms of fish production as well as economics for a periphyton‐based polyculture system.

Objective Prednisolone is used as glucocorticoid replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency (AI). Recent data indicate that its use in AI is associated with low bone mineral density. Data on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with AI treated with prednisolone are scarce, despite this condition being the predominant cause of excess mortality. We aimed to address this question using real-world data from the European Adrenal Insufficiency Registry (EU-AIR). Design/methods EU-AIR, comprising of 19 centres across Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, commenced enrolling patients with AI in August 2012. Patients receiving prednisolone (3–6 mg/day, n = 50) or hydrocortisone (15–30 mg/day, n = 909) were identified and grouped at a ratio of 1:3 (prednisolone:hydrocortisone) by matching for gender, age, duration and type of disease. Data from baseline and follow-up visits were analysed. Data from patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia were excluded. Results Significantly higher mean ± s.d. total (6.3 ± 1.6 vs 5.4 ± 1.1 mmol/L; P = 0.003) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (3.9 ± 1.4 vs 3.2 ± 1.0 mmol/L; P = 0.013) were identified in 47 patients on prednisolone vs 141 receiving hydrocortisone at baseline and at follow-up (P = 0.005 and P = 0.006, respectively). HbA1c, high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and waist circumference were not significantly different. Conclusions This is the first matched analysis of its kind. Significantly higher LDL levels in patients receiving prednisolone relative to hydrocortisone could predict a higher relative risk of cardiovascular disease in the former group.

SummaryContext and objective Treatment for adrenal insufficiency (AI) remains suboptimal. Despite glucocorticoid replacement, patients with AI have reduced life expectancy and quality of life. This study aimed to describe the spectrum of management of glucocorticoid replacement in patients with AI enrolled in the European Adrenal Insufficiency Registry (EU-AIR). Design, setting and patients EU-AIR is a prospective, multinational, multicentre, observational study initiated in August 2012 to monitor the long-term safety of glucocorticoid replacement in routine clinical practice in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01661387). This analysis included 1166 patients with primary and secondary AI (mean disease duration 16Á1 AE 11Á6 years) receiving longterm glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Main outcome measure Glucocorticoid type, dose, frequency and treatment regimen were examined. Results Most patients (87Á4%) were receiving hydrocortisone. The most common dose range, taken by 42Á2% of patients, was 20 to <25 mg/day; however, 12Á6% were receiving doses of ≥30 mg/day. Hydrocortisone was being taken once daily by 5Á5%, twice daily by 48Á7%, three times daily by 43Á6% and four times daily by 2Á1%. Patients with primary AI received higher replacement doses than those with secondary AI (23Á4 AE 8Á9 and 19Á6 AE 5Á9 mg/day, respectively). Twenty-five different regimens were being used to deliver a daily hydrocortisone dose of 20 mg. ConclusionsWe have shown significant heterogeneity in the type, dose, frequency and timing of glucocorticoid replacement in real-world clinical practice. This reflects dose individualization based on patient symptoms and lifestyle in the absence of data supporting the optimal regimen.

Population parameters of Harpadon nehereus were estimated using FiSAT-II. length-frequency data collected from different landing centers along the coast of Bangladesh. The Von Bertalanffy growth parameters L and K for the species were 45.05 cm and 1.30/year, respectively. The annual rate of natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were found to be 1.86 and 2.58, respectively. The estimated value of the exploitation rate (E) using the lengthconverted catch curve was 0.58 and E max was found to be 0.582. The recruitment pattern of this species was continuous and two peaks per year. The present investigation clearly showed the over fishing (E > 0.50) condition for H. nehereus in Bangladesh. The estimated length-weight relationship for the combined sex was found to be W = 0.003199 L 3 .