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L Mowatt

Publications and source records attributed to L Mowatt.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

A provisional database for the silicon content of foods in the United Kingdom.

Si may play an important role in bone formation and connective tissue metabolism. Although biological interest in this element has recently increased, limited literature exists on the Si content of foods. To further our knowledge and understanding of the relationship between dietary Si and human health, a reliable food composition database, relevant for the UK population, is required. A total of 207 foods and beverages, commonly consumed in the UK, were analysed for Si content. Composite samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry following microwave-assisted digestion with nitric acid and H(2)O(2). The highest concentrations of Si were found in cereals and cereal products, especially less refined cereals and oat-based products. Fruit and vegetables were highly variable sources of Si with substantial amounts present in Kenyan beans, French beans, runner beans, spinach, dried fruit, bananas and red lentils, but undetectable amounts in tomatoes, oranges and onions. Of the beverages, beer, a macerated whole-grain cereal product, contained the greatest level of Si, whilst drinking water was a variable source with some mineral waters relatively high in Si. The present study provides a provisional database for the Si content of UK foods, which will allow the estimation of dietary intakes of Si in the UK population and investigation into the role of dietary Si in human health.

Beverages↗
PubMed2003

Ethnic differences in the demand incidence of retinal detachments in two districts in the West Midlands.

AIM: To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) in two defined populations in the West Midlands of England. METHODS: A 5-year retrospective study of patients who underwent surgical repair of their RRD between April 1994 and March 1999. Statistical analysis was done by the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10.0. RESULTS: The total demand incidence of RRD was 11.3 and 6.3 per 100,000 in Wolverhampton and Walsall, respectively. The Asian subgroup had a low demand incidence of 4.6 and 2.0 per 100,000 in each area, respectively. In Wolverhampton the highest age-specific demand incidence was in the 70 to 79-year age group at 29.1 per 100,000, whereas in Walsall it was 98.6 per 100,000 in the 85+ age group. Nontraumatic phakic detachments had the highest demand incidence of 9.7 per 100,000, whereas nontraumatic pseudophakic and aphakic R/D were much lower at 1.2 and 0.3 per 100,000, respectively. There was a 1 : 1.5 female-to-male ratio, with a mean age of 57.8 years (95% CI 54.7-61.0) in females and 55.5 years (95% CI 53.1-57.9) for males. A total of 41.6% (142) of patients presented initially to the Wolverhampton Eye Infirmary Accident and Emergency Department (A&E). CONCLUSION: This is the first UK-based study. The demand incidence in Caucasians is similar to worldwide figures. Asians have a three times lower incidence of retinal detachments. The demand incidence increases with age. Females have a higher mean age than males. Males (89.5%) were more likely to suffer from traumatic detachments. Younger patients were more likely to present to the optometrist initially. Less than half of the patients will present initially to the eye A&E.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Macula off retinal detachments. How long can they wait before it is too late?

PURPOSE: To determine the association between the duration of macula off detachment and the visual outcome following corrective surgery. METHODS: Retrospective review of the medical records of patients who underwent surgery for macula off detachment over a 5 year period (April 1994- March 1999). RESULTS: There were 104 patients in the study. Patients with macula off detachments wait a mean of 2.6 weeks (+/-0.3 SE mean) before presentation and 1.8 weeks (+/-0.2 SE of mean) thereafter before surgery. The mean duration of detachment prior to surgical repair was 4.2 weeks (+/-0.3 SE mean). 78% of patients achieved a postoperative improvement in visual acuity. 36.5% achieved functional visual success of 6/12 at 3 months, which increased to 51% at final discharge. There was no significant difference in visual outcomes for patient undergoing internal vs external procedures (p=0.188). The preoperative visual acuity was the most significant predictor of post operative visual acuity (p<0.0005). Less than 40% of macula off detachments of > or =6 weeks duration will achieve a vision of 6/12 or better compared with 68.2% of patients with macula off detachments of < or =1 week. CONCLUSIONS: The best mean postoperative vision (LogMAR 0.35) was seen in patients with detachment of <1 week duration. Patients <60 years are more likely to achieve visual improvement despite the duration of the detachment. Macula off detachments of >6 weeks duration have a significantly poor postoperative visual prognosis. Awareness of this visual prognosis can assist in planning the timing of surgery to ensure an acceptable result.

Adolescent↗