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D E Danford

Publications and source records attributed to D E Danford.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Detecting potential teratogenic alkaloids from blue cohosh rhizomes using an in vitro rat embryo culture.

The novel alkaloid thalictroidine (1), as well as the known alkaloids taspine (2), magnoflorine (3), anagyrine (4), baptifoline (5), 5,6-dehydro-alpha-isolupanine (6), alpha-isolupanine (7), lupanine (8), N-methylcytisine (9), and sparteine (10), were identified from an extract of Caulophyllum thalictroides rhizomes. N-Methylcytisine exhibited teratogenic activity in the rat embryo culture (REC), an in vitro method to detect potential teratogens. The structure of 1 was elucidated using various spectroscopic methods, primarily by NMR techniques. Thalictroidine, anagyrine, and alpha-isolupanine were not teratogenic in the REC at tested concentrations. Taspine (2) showed high embryotoxicity, but no teratogenic activity, in the REC.

Alkaloids↗

Report on the Fourth Conference for Federally Supported Human Nutrition Research Units and Centers.

The Fourth Conference for Federally Supported Human Nutrition Research Units and Centers, sponsored by the Interagency Committee on Human Nutrition Research, addressed two topics: nutrition and function, and nutrient interactions and toxicities. This article summarizes the conference's introductory remarks and the contents of the 34 papers presented. Future meetings of federally supported nutrition research units and centers will focus on other human nutrition research topics and will be held biennially.

Humans↗

Analysis and evaluation of zinc and copper in human plasma and serum.

Recommendations for daily dietary intakes of copper and zinc have been made by the National Academy of Sciences during the last decade. As a result there is increasing interest in analytic techniques for accurate and precise assessment of these trace elements in human tissues, including blood. In addition, the importance of standardizing techniques for the collection, preparation, and analysis of biologic samples is now recognized. The necessity for preventing contamination or losses requires careful monitoring at each step, from collection to analysis. Likewise, precision and accuracy must be established for techniques and certified reference standards employed. The selection of an ideal anticoagulant for preparing plasma for copper and zinc analyses is receiving increased attention. The discrepancy observed regarding higher concentrations (10-15%) of zinc and copper in serum than citrated plasma remains to be resolved. Following analysis and summary of the data, interpretation of the results is of paramount importance. It must be remembered that abnormal plasma or serum zinc or copper concentrations do not necessarily reflect true aberrations in metabolism, since several conditions (disease and nondisease) can also influence these indices of trace element nutriture. Immediate attention must be given to advancing the concept that trace element analysis of biological materials requires special collection, storage, and analysis precautions.

Adolescent↗

Pica and zinc.

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Adolescent↗

Pica and mineral status in the mentally retarded.

A study population consisting of 66 mentally retarded individuals, 60 with and six without pica, was evaluated for iron status, and for plasma and hair zinc, copper, and magnesium levels within a month of known dietary intake. The parameters were all within the normal range for individuals without pica. In contrast, subjects practicing pica had low plasma zinc and elevated plasma copper values as compared to those without pica. Plasma magnesium was in the low normal range for all individuals in the study population. Among the indicators of iron status measured, Hb, hematocrit, plasma iron, total iron-binding capacity, iron saturation, and plasma ferritin, several values were low (p less than 0.001). Depression in plasma zinc level was related to the type and severity of the pica. In plasma, zinc was positively correlated with iron and negatively correlated with copper. No relationships were found between dietary intakes and plasma levels of these minerals. The data suggest that malabsorption of zinc and iron were associated with some types of pica although the individuals received adequate dietary intake of minerals. Zinc, copper, and magnesium concentrations in hair were within normal ranges. Hair was a less sensitive indicator than plasma of trace element status.

Adolescent↗

Pica among mentally retarded adults.

Pica was recognized in 25.8 percent of a population of 991 institutionalized mentally retarded adults. Food pica accounted for 5.4 percent, nonfood pica for 16.7 percent, and combination food and nonfood pica for 3.7 percent of the population. Pica became less frequent with increasing age, related to a reduction in the incidence of nonfood pica. Food pica was not age-related. Low IQ was associated with a high frequency of nonfood pica. The items consumed were classed into 29 nonfood and 7 food categories. Some medical complications such as intestinal obstruction and surgery secondary to foreign body ingestion occurred only in those with pica. Gastrointestinal parasites occurred more frequently in individuals with pica.

Adolescent↗

Computer applications to medical nutrition problems.

The uses and abuses of computers in relation to nutritional management of patients is reviewed. A standardized computer program is presented which can be applied to measuring nutrient intake for various age groups, for the control of outpatient intake, for intensive care units employing defined formulas for oral and parenteral nutrient intakes, for dietary management of chronic disease such as renal cases, and as an educational tool for instructing the operator in checking nutrient intakes. A single day's diet was submitted to 11 different computer programs for calculation of nutrient content. The wide range of values reported by different programs for certain nutrients in this menu (eg, copper, vitamin E, magnesium) warrants consideration by those using these values in research and for prescribing patient care. The system of dietary analysis provided in this publication offers advantages over more traditional coding systems with regard to ease of use, freedom from error, flexibility, and usable point-out, all being related to the use of English words for entering and reading of data.

Child↗