Uneven declines between corals and cryptobenthic fish symbionts from multiple disturbances

With the onset and increasing frequency of multiple disturbances, the recovery potential of critical ecosystem-building species and their mutual symbionts is threatened. Similar effects to both hosts and their symbionts following disturbances have been assumed. However, we report unequal declines between hosts and symbionts throughout multiple climate-driven disturbances in reef-building Acropora corals and cryptobenthic coral-dwelling Gobiodon gobies. Communities were surveyed before and after consecutive cyclones (2014, 2015) and heatwaves (2016, 2017). After cyclones, coral diameter and goby group size (i.e., the number of gobies within each coral) decreased similarly by 28-30%. After heatwave-induced bleaching, coral diameter decreased substantially (47%) and gobies mostly inhabited corals singly. Despite several coral species persisting after bleaching, all goby species declined, leaving 78% of corals uninhabited. These findings suggest that gobies, which are important mutual symbionts for corals, are unable to cope with consecutive disturbances. This disproportionate decline could lead to ecosystem-level disruptions through loss of key symbiont services to corals

Effectiveness of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation in the treatment of cough in uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection: a randomised double-blinded placebo-control trial

BACKGROUND: Rigorous scientific and well-designed clinical trials to evaluate the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is lacking. We, therefore, designed this study to evaluate the effectiveness of a commonly used TCM preparation in treating acute cough of uncomplicated URTI in adults and to search for a safe, effective and affordable alternative treatment for this common condition. METHODS: A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-control study comparing this TCM preparation with a placebo was conducted in 82 patients who attended the Family Medicine Training Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong between November and December, 2003. The TCM herbal preparation includes nine commonly used TCM herbs for cough such as chuanbei, fangfeng, jiegeng, gancao and baibu (see Table 1) The treatment lasted for 5 days and patients were followed-up for another 6 days. Patients were asked to fill in a cough score and validated Leicester cough questionnaire (LCQ). RESULTS: 62 patients (75.6%) had completed the trial and no adverse effects were reported. Both intervened and control groups had improved in cough score and LCQ in the follow-up period, despite no overall statistical significance was observed in the differences of scores between the two groups. Women taking TCM had significantly fewer problems with sputum production (p = 0.03) and older subjects (>35 years of age) reported a significant improvement in hoarseness (p = 0.05) when compared to those using placebo. CONCLUSION: TCM was well-tolerated and received among the Hong Kong Chinese population. This TCM preparation appeared to have some benefits in the treatment of cough. Future research on TCM should concentrate more on commonly encountered conditions such as UTRI and cough. Our experience on the sensitivity of assessment tools used in detecting subtle differences in an otherwise self-limiting illness and clinical trial methodology when applying the underlying theory of how TCM works in disease management was invaluable

Stature prediction from knee height in Chinese elderly subjects

Knee height (KH) measurement is a recumbent anthropometric technique for the estimation of stature in nonambulatory elders. Based on the estimated stature, body mass index (BMI) could be derived for nutritional status assessment. The objective of this study was to verify the KH equations of Chumlea et al. (J Am Geriatr Soc 33:116-120, 1985) and if necessary develop population specific equations. Knee height calipers (Ross Laboratory) and a stadiometer were used to measure KH and stature in a group of institutionalized elders (26 males and 21 females) Differences between measured stature and calculated estimates using the Chumlea equation were -1.7 cm for females (t=2.43, P<0.025) and 0.8 cm for males (t=0.89, ns). In view of the significant deviations found in females, another study was initiated to generate population specific knee height equations. The age range of these newly recruited elders was 60 to 97 years old. Only elders who can stand fully erect are included (62 females and 89 males). Age and KH were independent variables in the stepwise regression analyses. When the first group of elders were used to verify the current gender specific equations, the mean differences were 0.5 cm for females (t=0.8, ns) and - 0.3 cm for males (t= 0.53, ns). Similar effects were obtained when BMI was calculated based on estimated stature. It is concluded that the Chumlea equation gives good stature estimates on Chinese males. The new knee height equation will better predict stature in Chinese female elders.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Habitat health, size and saturation do not alter movement decisions in a social coral reef fish

While habitat is often a limiting resource for group-living animals, we have yet to understand what aspects of habitat are particularly important for the maintenance of sociality. As anthropogenic disturbances rapidly degrade the quality of many habitats, site-associated animals are facing additional stressors that may alter the trade-offs of moving or remaining philopatric. Here we examined how habitat health, size and saturation affect movement decisions of a coral-dwelling goby, the five-lined coral goby, Gobiodon quinquestrigatus, that resides within bleaching-susceptible Acropora coral hosts. To assess effects of habitat health, we translocated individuals far from their home corals into dead corals with the choice of adjacent healthy corals. To assess effects of habitat size and saturation, we manipulated coral sizes and the number of residents in healthy corals. Remarkably, 55% of gobies returned home regardless of treatment, 7% stayed in the new coral, and the rest were not found. Unlike other coral reef fishes, habitat factors did not affect how costs of movement influence group-living decisions in this species. These obligate coral-dwelling fishes preferred to home instead of choosing alternative habitat, which suggests a surprising awareness of their ecological surroundings. However, disregarding alternative high-quality habitat is concerning as it may affect population persistence under conditions of rapid habitat degradation

Malnutrition in hospitalized geriatric patients

The incidence of hospital malnutrition has not been systematically studied in Hong Kong hospitals. This study was initiated to determine if malnutrition in geriatric patients is being under reported and to evaluate the efficacy of a modified monitoring and reporting procedure. Subjects (>65 yr) on congee or enteral diet were medically stable. In the control phase (3 months), newly admitted patients received standard hospital care and 9 out of 67 (13%) were identified as malnourished (CM). The study phase started one month after the last control subject was recruited. Plasma albumin (ALB) <28 g/l and the presence of diarrhea were used as criteria in identifying the malnourished (SM). 16 out of 51 (31%) newly admitted patients were SM. At identification, ALB levels were low (19.5 g/l) but similar between CM & SM. Prealbumin (PA) levels of the SM, however, were higher than that of the CM (0.117 vs 0.087 g/l, p<0.05). A similar trend was observed for plasma transferrin (TRF) (1.34 vs 1.03 g/l, p=0.07). Upon three weeks of nutritional intervention, PA levels were increased by 56% and 66% in the CM and SM, respectively. TRF levels were also increased significantly by 32% and 19%. These data suggest that malnutrition in geriatric patients is a serious problem. A routine but effective procedure should be enforced for early detection and intervention.link_to_subscribed_fulltex