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Biomedical subjects

R G Bursey

Publications and source records attributed to R G Bursey.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Non-significance of plasma total cholesterol in the occurrence of occupational accidents.

A recent review of cholesterol lowering intervention trials has demonstrated an increased mortality from non-illness events, including accidents. This study examines 410 middle-aged men with regards to plasma total cholesterol levels and the occurrence of minor factory accidents. There was no significant difference in mean cholesterol concentrations between those who had reported a factory accident, and those who had not, over a 2 year period; 5.7 mmol/l (SD, 0.98 mmol/l) and 5.73 mmol/l (SD, 1.06 mmol/l) respectively. The 19 men who had sustained an occupational injury of significant severity to result in absence from work did not have a mean plasma total cholesterol level which differed appreciably from any of the other subjects, their mean being 5.66 mmol/l (SD, 1:18 mmol/l). Plasma total cholesterol in itself is not participating in the occurrence of accidents in this occupational group.

Accident Proneness↗

A cardiovascular study of shift workers with respect to coronary artery disease risk factor prevalence.

Fifty-seven shift workers were matched for age, cigarette smoking and blue-collar/white-collar status against day worker controls. The recognised coronary heart disease risk factors, blood pressure, body mass index, random plasma cholesterol and resting electrocardiograms were compared between both groups. None of these investigations gave a statistically significant difference between the two groups. The study supports the conclusion of previous morbidity and mortality studies which have failed to show any conclusive evidence of an adverse effect of shift working on the cardiovascular system.

Coronary Disease↗

The effect of sodium restriction during gestation of offspring brain development in rats.

Sodium restrictive diets are today often recommended to women experiencing the normal edema of pregnancy. This study explores some effects of dietary sodium restriction, imposed during pregnancy, on reproductive performance and brain development in resultant offspring. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing either 0.173, 0.067, 0.040, or 0.022% sodium throughout gestation. All other nutrients in the diet were fed at levels in excess of NAS-NRC requirements. At parturition, litters were trimmed to four offspring and mothers fed Purina Rat Chow throughout lactation. Twenty-one days postpartum, offspring were killed and analyses of selected parameters of brain composition made. Rats fed the 0.040 and 0.022% were killed and analyses of selected parameters of brain composition made. Rats fed the 0.040 and 0.022% sodium containing diets during pregnancy consumed less feed, gained less weight, and exhibited altered fluid consumption patterns to rats ingesting the 0.173% sodium control diet. Mothers fed the two diets containing the lowest levels of sodium also had smaller litters, fewer live births, and more stillbirths per litter than control mothers. Birth weights and the number of offspring surviving the lactation period were less in the 0.040 and 0.022% sodium treatment groups. No offspring in the 0.022% sodium diet group survived the lactation period. Brain wet weight, dry weight, cholesterol, protein, and RNA content were decreased in offspring in the 0.040% sodium diet group.

Animals↗

Diet modification and the development of new food products.

The development of new food products to meet the needs of the 20th century American consumer offers a greater challenge to the innovativeness of the food industry scientist than ever before. The sequence of activities that leads to the introduction of a successful new food product into today's highly competitive marketplace has its beginnings and foundation in extensive and ongoing market research. This research elicits and defines the changing consumer needs and wants. The relation of diet to health is but one of many factors that influence food purchase decisions and, thus, the stimulus for developing new food products. In addition, the extent to which existing food products may be modified or new foods developed to meet dietary goals is subject to technologic and regulatory constraints. A commitment to ethical and responsible marketing strategies is essential to the evolution of food products for special dietary needs. Despite these complex restraints, many food products with altered nutrient or ingredient composition are currently available to consumers and others enter the marketplace each year.

Attitude to Health↗

Influence of dietary fat upon rats during gestation and lactation.

A comparison was made between rats fed purified rations containing different fats during gestation and lactation and rats fed a commercial ration during similar periods. The purified ration containign 20% cocoa butter did not result in appreciable differences in the mothers (body weight, behavior, litter production, and brain chemistry) or in the 1-day-old neonates (brain chemistry). The purified ration containing 20% safflower oil resulted in fewer completed gestation, in poorer maternal behavior during lactation, and in neonates with small brains. A fat-free purified ration resulted in low brain concentrations of RNA and low RNA-DNA ratios in the mothers.

Animals↗

Influence of maternal dietary fat upon rat pups.

Mother rats were fed purified rations containing different fats during gestation and lactation and at 1 day after parturition. Litter sizes were reduced to 2 male and 2 female pups. The behavior and the brain chemical composition of these selected pups were compared with similarly selected pups from dams fed a commercial ration. All offspring were fed a commercial ration after weaning. Pups from dams fed 20% safflower oil were similar to controls. Feeding 20% cocoa butter to dams resulted in pups with reduced exploratory activity and with a rapid learning performance in a T-maze, employing the aversive stimulation of an electrical shock. Feeding dams a fat-free ration produced pups which had reduced rates of growth, small brains at 2 months of age, and low brain concentrations of cholesterol, DNA, and RNA.

Animals↗