The proximate composition of three marine pelagic fish: blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), boarfish (Capros aper) and Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus)

peer reviewedThis study presents data from an in-depth proximate compositional analysis of three marine fish species: blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), boarfish (Capros aper) and Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus). These fish contained significant amounts of protein (16–17%), lipids (4–11%) and minerals (2–6% ash). The proteins, particularly from boarfish, had close to optimum amino acid profiles for human and fish nutrition. They compared favourably with other fish species in terms of total lipids and relative concentration of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (11.8–13.3% and 5.9–8.1% in triacylglycerols [TG] and 24.6–35.4% and 5.8–12.0% in phospholipids [PL]). Atlantic herring had the highest lipid content among the three fish and was found to contain high levels of PL poly-unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids. Minerals detected in the fish included calcium (272–1,520 mg/100 g), phosphorus (363–789 mg/100 g), iron (1.07–2.83 mg/100 g), magnesium (40.70–62.10 mg/100 g), potassium (112.00–267.00 mg/100 g), selenium (0.04–0.06 mg/100 g), sodium (218.00–282.00 mg/100 g) and zinc (1.29–5.57 mg/100 g). Boarfish had the highest ash fraction and also the highest levels of all the minerals, except potassium. Atlantic herring had considerably lower mineral content compared with the other two species and, levels detected were also lower than those reported in previously published studies. Heavy metals contents were quantified, and levels were significantly below the maximum allowable limits for all elements except arsenic, which ranged from 1.34 to 2.44 mg/kg in the three fish species. Data outlined here will be useful for guiding product development. Future studies would benefit from considering catch season, sex and developmental stage of the fish

Severe osteomalacia in a patient with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis

We report a 30-year-old woman who was confined to a wheelchair because of severe myopatly. She was first seen by a neurologist because of a convulsive syndrome of unknown etiology when she was nine. She was started on anticonvulsive drugs but the drug was stopped when her serum calcium level was found to be very low. She had a history from childhood of steatorrhea and abdominal pain after a fatty meal and became vegetarian at age five years. She worked in a hospital as a nurse and at home her living room received no direct sunlight. As a result of these conditions osteomalacia progressed. We believe an awareness of chronic pancreatitis (CP) during childhood could have prevented the consequences of the disease in this case

Fatty acid composition of 19 species of fish from the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea

Evidence suggests that differences in fatty acid composition among various fish species may be due to differences in diet or to environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, and depth at which the fish are caught. The beneficial effects of a diet containing fish on cardiovascular or other diseases have been associated with their high content of eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) acids. In this study we analyzed the fatty acid composition of the flesh of 18 different species of marine fish and of cultured rainbow trout. The fish were obtained from the Black and the Marmara Seas, both of which have unique biological and ecological systems as well as eutrophication and pollution. The contents of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in the marine fish ranged from 4.2 to 13.3 wt% of total fatty acids, and from 6.6 to 40.8 wt%, respectively. The most important differences from other studies on oceanic fish were the tendencies toward higher percentages of 16:0 and 22:6n-3. The n-3 series of polyunsaturated fatty acids were present as 32.4 +/- 1.9% of the total fatty acids. The present study suggests that mature and immature Pomatomus saltator as well as Engraulis encrasicolus, Mullus surmuletus, Sardina pilchardus, Mugil cephalus, and Sarda sarda may be preferred for the Turkish diet as a result of their high 20:5 n-3 and 22:6 n-3 contents. The cultured rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss is not as good a source of n-3 fatty acids as are the marine fish

Leukemia in a patient treated with growth hormone

It is well known that growth hormone (GH) therapy is associated with increased risk of development of malignant tumors, especially leukemia. In the case presented, growth hormone treatment was initiated in a 25-year-old patient with hypopituitarism. After 4 months of therapy with thrice a week injections of rhGH, acute It was thought that no clearcut evidence existed to establish a relationship between the growth hormone treatment and development of acute leukemia

Concomitant association of thyroid sarcoidosis and Graves' disease

Objective: Graves' disease (GD) with sarcoid involvement of the thyroid gland has rarely been reported. Method. We report a case of GD with thyroid sarcoidosis in a 28-year-old woman. Thyroid function was assessed by triiodothyronine (T-3), thyroxine (T-4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and TSH receptor antibodies (TSH-R Ab). Thyroid scintigraphy, ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration biopsy were performed. The patient underwent surgery. Result. The patient had a nodular goiter. Serum T-3, T-4 and TSH-R Ab levels were elevated with suppressed TSH level. Scintigraphy showed diffuse activity as seen in GD, and ultrasound revealed that parenchyma was heterogenous. Sarcoidosis was discovered on routine chest X-ray. Although no sarcoid involvement was found on specimen, the thyroid gland showed noncaseating granulomas on histology. Conclusion: Since sarcoid involvement of the thyroid gland can cause hypofunction, we report the uncommon infiltration of sarcoidosis with hyperthyroidism. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel

CONCURRENT HYPERTHYROIDISM AND THYROID-CARCINOMA

Between 1986 and 1991, thyroidectomy was performed on 138 patients with hyperthyroidism. Thyroid carcinoma was found in eight patients (5.8 per cent). Eighty (58-0 per cent) of the 138 patients had toxic nodular goitre, 33 (23.9 per cent) toxic diffuse goitre and 25 (18.1 per cent) toxic adenoma. Concurrent carcinoma was more frequent in patients with toxic adenoma (8 per cent) than in those with Graves' disease (6 per cent) and toxic nodular goitre (5 per cent). Papillary carcinoma was found in seven patients and follicular carcinoma in one. Three papillary carcinomas were occult with a diameter less than 1.5 cm. Five patients received 100 mCi I-131 after operation. There was no morbidity. During follow-up of 10-45 months, there was neither death nor recurrence