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Introduction Upper GI (UGI) cancer patients are at high risk of malnutrition increasing risk of complications post-operatively. Surgeons and Oncologists at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee funded an UGI Oncology Dietitian who oversaw nutritional care of patients through neoadjuvant chemotherapy, preparation for surgery and into follow-up. Previously at Ninewells, dietetic care of patients was ad-hoc resulting in reduced nutritional status during chemotherapy, admissions for feeding and delays to surgery. Once the post-holder joined the MDT it was important to show value for money and clinical effectiveness so data were gathered on outcomes for patients who had undergone UGI cancer surgery in the year before the post-holder started (n=49) and for 1 year afterwards (n=22). Methods A literature search was performed using MEDLINE in order to compare results against other centres but no similar studies were found. Subsequently the MDT decided on clinical standards based on current evidence and acceptable limits including: Patients will be referred to the Upper GI Oncology Dietitian prior to surgery. Patients will maintain their weight during chemotherapy and surgical admissions within 5%. All patients will have a jejunostomy tube placed at the time of surgery. Data were gathered from medical and dietetic notes for each group on; whether patient was referred before surgery, weight (kg) at start and end of chemotherapy and on admission and discharge from surgery, whether jejunostomy placed at time of surgery, length of stay (LOS). Results Conclusion Results showed the positive and cost saving impact of a dedicated dietitian on standards measured especially during chemotherapy and on LOS. The number of feeding tubes inserted fell in the group with dietetic input reflecting the types of surgery performed. Improved communication and leadership between the dietitian and the MDT helped to prevent admissions for pre-operative feeding and reduce delays. Further large studies are required, particularly in the peri-operative period, to further promote dedicated dietetic input. Competing interests None declared.

Fifteen herbicidal treatments were evaluated for weed control effectiveness in peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL.) culture at three locations in the peanut production area of eastern North Carolina during 1964 and 1965. Delayed preemergence treatments of 4,6-dinitro-o-sec-butylphenol (DNBP) alone and in combination withO-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)O-methyl isopropylphosphoroamidothioate (DMPA) were superior to conventional herbicidal and non-herbicidal control methods as were single and multiple incorporated treatments ofS-propyl dipropylthiocarbamate (vernolate). A single postplant vernolate treatment incorporated 1 in deep provided weed control superior to that obtained for single preplant vernolate treatments incorporated 1 in or 3 in deep. Increased weed control and increased peanut safety were obtained from 2.5 lb/A of vernolate by incorporating treatments at 0, 7, and 14 days after planting rather than by using a single application. This multiple treatment was the optimum one evaluated and provided 53 days of control and required 10 hr/A of hoeing time.

Relatively pure stands of eight weed species were maintained under field conditions on a Goldsboro loamy sand at Lewiston, North Carolina, for all or part of a 6-year period. Herbicides evaluated as preemergence surface treatments for these species were 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol (dinoseb), isopropyl m-chlorocarbanilate (chloropropham), 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl-urea (diuron), 2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine (simazine), and 3-amino-2,5-dichlorobenzoic acid (amiben). S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) and a,a,a-trifluro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine (trifluralin) were evaluated as preemergence incorporated treatments. The first four herbicides were evaluated in 1961, 1964, and 1966 while the last three were evaluated in 1962, 1963, and 1965. A series of rates was used for each chemical with three replications. With the exception of diuron which failed to control goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.), all of the herbicides provided at least a moderate degree of control of goosegrass, smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb.) Muhl.), and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) at the respective typical field use rates. In general, trifluralin and amiben gave the best grass control and dinoseb the poorest. None of the herbicides effectively controlled common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum Wallr.) or ivyleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq.). Trifluralin and EPTC did not control Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum L.), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.). Chloropropham was ineffective on common ragweed. Simazine, chloropropham, and amiben controlled Pennsylvania smartweed while diuron, simazine, dinoseb, and amiben were especially effective on common lambsquarters. Distinctive patterns of nematode infestations were observed as a function of weed species.

A comprehensive equipment system is described that induces, collects, and analyzes sweat as a diagnostic procedure for cystic fibrosis. The safety and convenience of the iontophoretic induction phase have been improved by specially designed circuitry and electrodes. The problem of potentially serious error as a result of condensation within sweat-collection cups has been eliminated by use of a thermostatically controlled heated cup. The osmolality of the collected sweat is measured with a vapor-pressure osmometer. Data are presented to support the validity of osmolality as an alternative to electrolyte assay or electrical conductivity measurement and normal and abnormal ranges are provided. The complete system was tested in a pediatric hospital and data are presented to illustrate the relative advantages of the system with respect to safety, convenience, diagnostic reliability, and decreased potential for human error.

A comprehensive equipment system is described that induces, collects, and analyzes sweat as a diagnostic procedure for cystic fibrosis. The safety and convenience of the iontophoretic induction phase have been improved by specially designed circuitry and electrodes. The problem of potentially serious error as a result of condensation within sweat-collection cups has been eliminated by use of a thermostatically controlled heated cup. The osmolality of the collected sweat is measured with a vapor-pressure osmometer. Data are presented to support the validity of osmolality as an alternative to electrolyte assay or electrical conductivity measurement and normal and abnormal ranges are provided. The complete system was tested in a pediatric hospital and data are presented to illustrate the relative advantages of the system with respect to safety, convenience, diagnostic reliability, and decreased potential for human error.

THERE have been several reports of gel electrophoretic separations of leaf proteins. Four components were reported for cabbage leaf1, seven bands for rice leaf2, and about six bands for bean leaf3. Bean leaf proteins have also been studied by Racusen and Calvanico4 using preparative gel electrophoresis. Steward and Barber3 obtained good electrophoretic fractionation of the soluble proteins of Neurospora crassa, but observed that extracts from tissues of higher plants yielded bands which were less discrete against a diffuse background. The present paper describes the electrophoresis of the soluble proteins of wheat leaf on 7.5 per cent polyacrylamide gel using a discontinuous tris chloride–tris glycinate buffer system. The method used gave a well-defined pattern and separated more components than reported previously for leaf tissues.

Although associations of apparently disparate diseases are worthy of reporting, the possibility of chance associations warrants examination. The report of Moroz et al. (Pediatrics 57:232, February 1976) of an association between α1-antitrypsin (α1AT) deficiency and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is such a situation. Levels of α1AT were measured by radial immunodiffusion in eight patients with MPGN. Seven patients, including two with partial lipodystrophy, are persistently hypocomplementemic. Five have "dense deposit disease," two have subendothelial deposits with mesangial interposition, and one has not had electron microscopy study.