1063
These observations show that, besides groundnut, which is highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, other staple foodgrains can become sufficiently infected result in disease. These findings also point to the need for devising means of averting fungal contamination of foodgrains. to
We thank Dr S. G. Srikantia, Director, and Dr P. G. Tulpule, Deputy Director, National Institute of Nutrition, for their guidance and keen interest in this study; and the Directorates of Medical and Health Services of Gujarat and Rajasthan for their cooperation. REFERENCES
Detroy, R. W., Lillehoj, E. B., Ciegler, C. in Microbial Toxins: vol. VI, Fungal Toxins (edited by A. Ciegler, S. Kadis, and S. J. Ajl); p. 178. London, 1971. 2. Booth, C. Methods in Microbiology: vol. IV (edited by C. Booth); p. 49. London, 1971. 3. Nagarajan, V., Bhat, R. V. J. agric. Fd Chem. 1972, 20, 911. 4. Nagarajan, V., Bhat, R. V., Tulpule, P. G. Environ. Physiol. Biochem. 1973, 3, 13. 1.
SUNLIGHT AND HYPERCALCIURIA E. S. PARRY Leishman
Laboratory, Cambridge Military Hospital,
of investigating the effect of climate on calcium homoeostasis. We have investigated changes in urine calcium and magnesium excretion in soldiers moving from the United Kingdom to Bahrein in the Persian Gulf. The climate in the Gulf, though hot by U.K. standards, has,a striking seasonal variation, and it was, therefore, possible to study soldiers arriving during the " cool " and " hot " seasons. means
Method 134 soldiers took part as two separate groups. Group A arrived in the Gulf during the November " cool season ", and group B during the " hot season " in July. Group A initially numbered 74 men who collected their urine in the U.K. and at ten days and eight months after arrival in the Gulf. The 63 men of group B collected urine in the U.K. and again ten days after arrival in the
Gulf. On each occasion three consecutive twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected, and acidified and refrigerated at the end of each of the collection periods. Calcium and magnesium content were measured by atomic absorption in the same laboratory in the U.K. Environmental temperature, humidity, and average daily sunlight were measured on location or data were subsequently obtained from the Meteorological Office.
Aldershot
Results
I. S. LISTER
Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank, London SW1
calcium and magnesium was measured in two groups of soldiers leaving the temperate climate of the United Kingdom for service in the Persian Gulf. In one group urinary calcium levels and magnesium/calcium ratios were similar, ten days after arrival in the Gulf during the " cold season ", to those found in the U.K. The other group went to the Gulf in the "hot season", and calcium excretion rose immediately to levels comparable with those found in the first group after eight
Summary
Urinary
excretion
Mg/Ca ratios fell to levels seen in stoneformers, and 2 of 91 soldiers followed up for three years have had urinary calculi. Increased exposure to sunlight seems to be the most likely cause of the hypermonths.
calciuria. Introduction EPIDEMIOLOGICAL studies have revealed seasonal variations in the incidence of idiopathic urinary lithiasis and an increased incidence in the tropics 1-3 Calculi are very common in Service personnel serving in a tropical climate,4,5and most cases present within a few months of arrival.l,6 Soldiers moving from a to a climate temperate tropical provide a convenient
Table i shows the groups, times, places, and meteorological data during the five urine collection periods. 51 men from group A (mean age twenty-four years) and 40 from group B (mean age twenty-eight years) completed all collections. The remaining men failed to complete one or more collections mainly for military medical reasons. The results from group A were from 51 men who collected urine in the U.K. during October (group Al), in the Gulf during November (group A2), and again in the Gulf during late July of the following year (group A3). Group-B results were from 40 men who made collections in the U.K. in late June (group Bl) and early August (group B2). Although group A moved from an environmental temperature of 13-7°C to one of 25-7°C, a rise of 12°C, they were only exposed to an extra 1’73 hours of sunlight per day. Group B, however, were exposed to a rise of 19.5°C and an extra 5-22 hours per day of sunlight. It was not until group A had been in the Gulf for several months that they too were exposed to a similar increase in sunlight. The mean 24-hour excretion of calcium and magnesium and the mean magnesium/calcium X100 ratio are shown in table n. In group A there was a small but significant fall in the urine calcium excretion (p
These observations show that, besides groundnut, which is highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, other staple foodgrains can become sufficiently infected result in disease. These findings also point to the need for devising means of averting fungal contamination of foodgrains. to
We thank Dr S. G. Srikantia, Director, and Dr P. G. Tulpule, Deputy Director, National Institute of Nutrition, for their guidance and keen interest in this study; and the Directorates of Medical and Health Services of Gujarat and Rajasthan for their cooperation. REFERENCES
Detroy, R. W., Lillehoj, E. B., Ciegler, C. in Microbial Toxins: vol. VI, Fungal Toxins (edited by A. Ciegler, S. Kadis, and S. J. Ajl); p. 178. London, 1971. 2. Booth, C. Methods in Microbiology: vol. IV (edited by C. Booth); p. 49. London, 1971. 3. Nagarajan, V., Bhat, R. V. J. agric. Fd Chem. 1972, 20, 911. 4. Nagarajan, V., Bhat, R. V., Tulpule, P. G. Environ. Physiol. Biochem. 1973, 3, 13. 1.
SUNLIGHT AND HYPERCALCIURIA E. S. PARRY Leishman
Laboratory, Cambridge Military Hospital,
of investigating the effect of climate on calcium homoeostasis. We have investigated changes in urine calcium and magnesium excretion in soldiers moving from the United Kingdom to Bahrein in the Persian Gulf. The climate in the Gulf, though hot by U.K. standards, has,a striking seasonal variation, and it was, therefore, possible to study soldiers arriving during the " cool " and " hot " seasons. means
Method 134 soldiers took part as two separate groups. Group A arrived in the Gulf during the November " cool season ", and group B during the " hot season " in July. Group A initially numbered 74 men who collected their urine in the U.K. and at ten days and eight months after arrival in the Gulf. The 63 men of group B collected urine in the U.K. and again ten days after arrival in the
Gulf. On each occasion three consecutive twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected, and acidified and refrigerated at the end of each of the collection periods. Calcium and magnesium content were measured by atomic absorption in the same laboratory in the U.K. Environmental temperature, humidity, and average daily sunlight were measured on location or data were subsequently obtained from the Meteorological Office.
Aldershot
Results
I. S. LISTER
Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank, London SW1
calcium and magnesium was measured in two groups of soldiers leaving the temperate climate of the United Kingdom for service in the Persian Gulf. In one group urinary calcium levels and magnesium/calcium ratios were similar, ten days after arrival in the Gulf during the " cold season ", to those found in the U.K. The other group went to the Gulf in the "hot season", and calcium excretion rose immediately to levels comparable with those found in the first group after eight
Summary
Urinary
excretion
Mg/Ca ratios fell to levels seen in stoneformers, and 2 of 91 soldiers followed up for three years have had urinary calculi. Increased exposure to sunlight seems to be the most likely cause of the hypermonths.
calciuria. Introduction EPIDEMIOLOGICAL studies have revealed seasonal variations in the incidence of idiopathic urinary lithiasis and an increased incidence in the tropics 1-3 Calculi are very common in Service personnel serving in a tropical climate,4,5and most cases present within a few months of arrival.l,6 Soldiers moving from a to a climate temperate tropical provide a convenient
Table i shows the groups, times, places, and meteorological data during the five urine collection periods. 51 men from group A (mean age twenty-four years) and 40 from group B (mean age twenty-eight years) completed all collections. The remaining men failed to complete one or more collections mainly for military medical reasons. The results from group A were from 51 men who collected urine in the U.K. during October (group Al), in the Gulf during November (group A2), and again in the Gulf during late July of the following year (group A3). Group-B results were from 40 men who made collections in the U.K. in late June (group Bl) and early August (group B2). Although group A moved from an environmental temperature of 13-7°C to one of 25-7°C, a rise of 12°C, they were only exposed to an extra 1’73 hours of sunlight per day. Group B, however, were exposed to a rise of 19.5°C and an extra 5-22 hours per day of sunlight. It was not until group A had been in the Gulf for several months that they too were exposed to a similar increase in sunlight. The mean 24-hour excretion of calcium and magnesium and the mean magnesium/calcium X100 ratio are shown in table n. In group A there was a small but significant fall in the urine calcium excretion (p
