Running away from stress: How regulatory modes prospectively affect athletes' stress through passion.

A prospective field study conducted with runners training for an upcoming marathon (Marathon of Rome 2013) examined the relation between regulatory modes, locomotion and assessment, and stress. Integrating regulatory mode theory and the dualistic model of passion, we hypothesized that the relation between regulatory modes (evaluated 3 months before the race) and the experience of stress approaching the marathon, is mediated by the type of passion (harmonious vs obsessive) athletes experience with regard to marathoning. Results revealed that (a) locomotion positively predicted harmonious passion, which in turn reduced athletes' experience of stress; and (b) assessment positively predicted obsessive passion, which in turn enhanced athletes' experience of stress. Overall, the present results suggest that proximal psychological mechanisms such as basic regulatory mode orientations can predict distal outcomes such as stress indirectly through their relation with motivational phenomena such as passion.

Ten inherited disorders in purebred dogs by functional breed groupings.

BACKGROUND: Analysis of 88,635 dogs seen at the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from 1995 to 2010 identified ten inherited conditions having greater prevalence within the purebred dog population as compared to the mixed-breed dog population: aortic stenosis, atopy/allergic dermatitis, gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), early onset cataracts, dilated cardiomyopathy, elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), and hepatic portosystemic shunt. The objective of the present study was to ascertain if disorders with higher prevalence in purebreds were restricted to particular breed group classifications within the purebred population, specifically the American Kennel Club breed grouping or groups with genomic similarities based upon allele sharing. For each disorder, healthy controls seen at the hospital during that same time period were matched for age, weight, and sex to each affected dog to determine risk of disease presentation in the purebred group as compared to that of the mixed-breed population. To enhance reliability of the analyses, sampling of matched healthy to affected dogs was repeated 50 times. For each comparison, the purebred subgroups to mixed-breed odds ratio was determined as was the mean P value used to test this ratio. RESULTS: For aortic stenosis, GDV, early onset cataracts, dilated cardiomyopathy, elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, and portosystemic shunt, most purebred groups were not statistically distinct from the mixed-breed population with higher prevalence in purebreds restricted to distinct subsets of purebred dogs. The conditions of atopy/allergic dermatitis, hypothyroidism, and IVDD were more pervasive across the purebred population with many groups having higher prevalence than the mixed-breed population. The prevalence of IVDD in purebred terrier groups was statistically lower than that observed for mixed-breed dogs. CONCLUSIONS: The results offer an assessment of the distribution of inherited disorders within purebred dogs and illustrate how mixed-breed and subpopulations of purebred dogs do not differ statistically in prevalence for certain disorders. Some disorders appear linked to common ancestors providing insight into disease allele origin whereas others may be due to selection for common structural morphology. Knowledge of the origin of a condition may aid in reducing its prevalence in the dog population as a whole.

The outcome and long-term follow-up of 94 patients with recurrent and refractory Clostridium difficile infection using single to multiple fecal microbiota transplantation via retention enema.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most frequent causes of healthcare-associated infections, and its rates are also increasing in the community. The management of CDI has become a major challenge, given growing rates of recurrences and failures with standard antibiotic therapy. Mounting evidence suggests that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be effective; however, as there is a paucity of data with regard to repeat FMT for primary non-response to this treatment, this study examined the outcome of multiple FMTs for recurrent CDI. Case records were reviewed for 94 patients who underwent FMT via retention enema for recurrent or refractory CDI during the period 2008-2012. Demographic information, treatment data, and clinical resolution rates were examined for single FMT and cumulative resolution was assessed for multiple FMTs in the context of ongoing symptoms. The cumulative clinical resolution following four or more FMTs was 86%. When antibiotic therapy was used between FMTs, the clinical resolution rate increased to 92%. There were no reported adverse events and no patients who were cured with FMT had further episodes of CDI at 6-24 months follow-up. Multiple FMTs administered through enemas is an effective, safe, and simple therapy for the management of recurrent or refractory CDI.

Bovine and murine tissue expression of insulin like growth factor-I.

The genomic architecture and expression of the Igf-1 gene are complex yielding multiple IGF-I transcript isoforms with putative functional contributions to growth and metabolism. Using RNA-seq on different tissues, physiological states, and species, the breadth of transcripts expressed was determined. Tissues from pre- and post-pubertal heifers and mature mice were collected and the transcript isoforms characterized. Three different IGF-I isoforms were detected in heifers with Class 1 transcripts most abundantly expressed. The pituitary reduced IGF-I expression post-pubertally whereas the uterus increased expression. Murine IGF-I transcript expression was more diverse utilizing multiple exons, start sites, and 3'UTRs. The RNA-seq methodology to characterize expression profiles permits assessment of the transcript isoforms yielding insight into functional roles of each transcript.

Determining the heritable component of dairy cattle foot lesions.

Lameness and hoof health affect dairy cows as an animal welfare issue, in decreased milk production, and in premature culling. Selection schemes for dairy cattle focus on sire contribution to milk production, with little consideration of the cow's physical structure or disease probability. On 3 commercial California dairies, 6 phenotypic binary hoof traits that contribute to lameness were recorded: white line disease, sole ulcer, other claw horn lesions, foot rot (interdigital phlegmon), foot warts (digital dermatitis), and other lesions. Monthly lactation records were collected from December 2006 to April 2009 with weekly observations of hoof lesions for lame and dry cows. In addition to hoof lesion information, data on cows (n=5,043) included parentage, birth date, freshening date, lactation number, and date of lameness diagnosis. The prevalence of hoof lesions ranged from a low of 2.2% (foot rot) to a high of 17.1% (foot warts). The farm environment increased the odds ratio depending upon the lesion. Lameness was more common in early lactation and as lactation number increased. Using a threshold model, heritabilities and repeatabilities were estimated for each binary trait. The heritability for risk varied by lesion, with the higher estimates being 0.40 (95% confidence interval: 0.20-0.67) for digital dermatitis and 0.30 (95% confidence interval: 0.08-0.63) for sole ulcer. Including terms to account for cow productivity on either a 305-d mature-equivalent basis or a per-lactation basis had minimal effect on the heritability estimates, suggesting that selection for hoof health is not correlated with response to selection for greater milk production and that improvement could be made for both traits. The genetic component lends support for further genetic studies to identify loci contributing to some of the lesion phenotypes such as foot warts or sole ulcers, 2 of the top 3 causes of lameness in dairy cattle.

Energy expenditure in US automotive technicians and occupation-specific cardiac rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: The standard exercise protocol for patients in a traditional cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) programme may not be adequate for preparing manual workers for a safe return to work, as these activities bear little resemblance to the physical movements and force exertion required in most industrial jobs. AIMS: To measure the energy expenditure as metabolic equivalents (METs) required for automotive technicians, to compare this MET level with that normally attained in traditional cardiac rehab programmes and to suggest cardiac rehab exercises for automotive technicians based on specificity of training. METHODS: Automotive technicians who volunteered to participate had their MET levels measured while they performed a defined series of work tasks in the service department of an automobile dealership. Their daily walking distance was also determined. RESULTS: Thirty-six of 95 eligible subjects participated; a response rate of 38%. Mean peak MET level was 7.1, less than the 8 METs target training goal often used in traditional cardiac rehab programmes. However, patients' outcome MET levels in cardiac rehab are usually measured by a treadmill stress test, whereas the subjects reached 7.1 METs while performing work tasks. The subjects walked an average of 5 km during a normal workday. CONCLUSIONS: Because MET level measurements are work specific, automotive technicians in a cardiac rehab programme should strive to reach and maintain a level of >7 METs while performing specific training exercises that mimic the work tasks they must do throughout the day. They can also benefit from traditional endurance training such as treadmill walking.

Muscular anatomy of the legs of the forward walking crab, Libinia emarginata (Decapoda, Brachyura, Majoidea).

Decapod crustaceans have been the focus of neuroethological studies for decades. With few exceptions, however, their musculature remains scarcely described. We study the neuroethology of legged locomotion in the portly spider crab, Libinia emarginata (Brachyura, Majoidea), which preferentially walks forward. Majoid crabs are thought to be among the first to have adopted the crab form (carcinification) from lobster-like ancestors, making them interesting subjects for comparative and phylogenetic studies. The radial arrangement of the legs around the thorax, coupled with its unidirectional walking modality makes L. emarginata a good candidate for the presence of anterior and posterior limb specializations. Here we describe the complete muscular anatomy of all the pereopods of L. emarginata and compare our findings with other decapods described in the literature. The number of proximal muscle bundles differs between the anterior and posterior pereopods of L. emarginata. We describe an intersegmental bundle of the flexor muscle similar to the one present in distantly related, forward walking macruran species. The behavioral repertoire, amenability to experimental investigations, and phylogenetic position make spider crabs useful species for the study of the neural control of legged locomotion. To our knowledge, this is the first instance of a complete description and comparison of the musculature in all the locomotor appendages of one species.

Skeletal adaptations for forwards and sideways walking in three species of decapod crustaceans.

Crustaceans have been successfully employed to study legged locomotion for decades. Most studies have focused on either forwards-walking macrurans, or sideways-walking brachyurans. Libinia emarginata is a Majoid crab (Brachyura) and as such belongs to the earliest group to have evolved the crab form from homoloid ancestors. Unlike most brachyurans, Libinia walks forwards 80% of the time. We employed standard anatomical techniques and motion analysis to compare the skeleton, stance, and the range of motion of the legs of Libinia to the sideways-walking green shore crab (Carcinus maenas), and to the forwards-walking crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). We found animals tended to have greater ranges of motion for joints articulating in the preferred direction of locomotion. Leg segments proximal to such joints were comparatively longer. Thorax elongation, leg length and placement at rest also reflected walking preference. Comparative studies of walking in Libinia and other brachyurans may shed light on the neuroethology of legged locomotion, and on the anatomical and physiological changes necessary for sideways-walking in crustaceans.

Genetic evaluation of Addison's disease in the Portuguese Water Dog.

BACKGROUND: Addison's disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism, has been reported in many individual dogs, although some breeds exhibit a greater incidence than the population as a whole. Addison's is presumed to be an autoimmune mediated hereditary defect but the mode of inheritance remains unclear. In particular, the heritability and mode of inheritance have not been defined for the Portuguese Water Dog although Addison's is known to be prevalent in the breed. RESULTS: The analyses present clear evidence that establishes Addison's disease as an inherited disorder in the Portuguese Water Dog with an estimate of heritability of 0.49 (+/- 0.16); there were no differences in risk for disease across sexes (p > 0.49). Further, the complex segregation analysis provides suggestive evidence that Addison's disease in the Portuguese Water Dog is inherited under the control of a single, autosomal recessive locus. CONCLUSION: The high heritability and mode of inheritance of Addison's disease in the Portuguese Water Dog should enable the detection of segregating markers in a genome-wide scan and the identification of a locus linked to Addison's. Though the confirmation of Addison's disease as an autosomal recessive disorder must wait until the gene is identified, breeders of these dogs may wish to keep the present findings in mind as they plan their breeding programs to select against producing affected dogs.

Alternatives to blood as a source of DNA for large-scale scanning studies of canine genome linkages.

Participation and compliance are critical to the success of any large-scale study of canine disease using DNA markers. Most canine genetic studies rely upon DNA extracted from peripheral blood samples. We assessed the utility of buccal swab epithelial cells and toe nails as a source of DNA for use in genomic screening studies. Using eight multiplexed canine microsatellite markers, amplified DNA obtained from peripheral blood, and from freshly extracted buccal epithelial cells, and buccal swab DNA extracted and stored at 20 degrees C for 27 months or extracted from toe nails were compared for three dogs. The accuracy of the genotyping at each locus was identical for each preparation. Buccal swab DNA samples were readily and uniformly amplified and could be stored for years without loss of integrity. Each buccal swab provided sufficient DNA for more than 200 individual PCR reactions. Toe nails provided ample DNA for thousands of PCR reactions and had the added advantage of ease of storage of the original tissues. These studies demonstrate the potential utility of DNA derived from buccal swabs or nails in large-scale genomic scanning and marker linkage studies.

Heritability and complex segregation analysis of hypoadrenocorticism in the standard poodle.

The heritability of hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease) was evaluated in 778 standard poodles with known Addisonian phenotypes. Addisonian status was confirmed clinically by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge and 8.6 per cent of the poodles enrolled in the study were classified as being Addisonian. Hypoadrenocorticism affected both sexes with equal probability (P > 0.1). The most common coat colours had a negligible effect on the incidence of hypoadrenocorticism (P > 0.09), although red coat colour had a significant impact on the disease, probably due to the relatively small numbers of dogs with that coat colour. The heritability of hypoadrenocorticism in the standard poodle was estimated to be 0.75. Complex segregation analyses suggested that hypoadrenocorticism in the breed is influenced by an autosomal recessive locus. Clarification of both the heritability and mode of inheritance of hypoadrenocorticism in the standard poodle allows for better-informed breeding decisions.

Influence of operating parameters on the use of the microwave-assisted process (MAP) for the extraction of azadirachtin-related limonoids from neem (Azadirachta indica) under atmospheric pressure conditions.

The use of the microwave-assisted process (MAP) for the extraction of azadirachtin-related limonoids (AZRL) from various parts of the neem tree was investigated under different operating conditions. The influence of microwave power, solvent, and irradiation time on the recovery of AZRL was studied. The efficiency of the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of the seed kernel, the seed shell, the leaf, and the leaf stem was compared to that of conventional extraction methods. The content of AZRL in the extracts was estimated with a vanillin-based colorimetric assay and a multivariate calibration technique. The results showed that the MAE technique can enhance the extraction of AZRL from different parts of neem possessing microstructures. Investigation of the influence of the solvent also indicted that the solvent used not only influences the efficiency but also affects the selectivity of the MAE.

Young children's use of syntactic cues to learn proper names and count nouns.

In 6 experiments, 144 toddlers were tested in groups ranging in mean age from 20 to 37 months. In all experiments, children learned a novel label for a doll or a stuffed animal. The label was modeled syntactically as either a count noun (e.g., "This is a ZAV") or a proper name (e.g., "This is ZAV"). The object was then moved to a new location in front of the child, and a second identical-looking object was placed nearby. The children's task was to choose 1 of the 2 objects as a referent for the novel word. By 24 months, both girls (Experiment 2) and boys (Experiment 5) were significantly more likely to select the labeled object if they heard a proper name than if they heard a count noun. At 20 months, neither girls (Experiments 1 and 6) nor boys (Experiment 1) demonstrated this effect. By their 2nd birthdays, children can use syntactic information to distinguish appropriately between labels for individual objects and those for object categories.

MAP: microwave-assisted extraction of fatty acids and Py/GC/MS analysis of selected insects.

A Microwave-Assisted Process (MAP) solvent extraction procedure was used in conjunction with GC/MS analysis to investigate the chemical composition of dried silkworm, dried earthworm, silkworm droppings, and cicada nymph skin. Selected insect samples were also analyzed by pyrolysis-GC-MS. Silkworm and earthworm generated fatty acids, sterols and phenol derivatives. Cicada nymph skin was analyzed by pyrolysis/GC/MS and generated mainly heterocyclic compounds. The data indicated that insects can retain environmental contaminants such as 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl phenol (BHT) and as such could be used as biological indicators. In addition, some of the therapeutic characteristics associated with insects could be attributed to the chemicals ingested from plant sources.

Microwave-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from grape seed.

A microwave-assisted extraction technique was developed to optimize the extraction of phenolic compounds from grape seeds. The microwave power (300-150W) and time of extraction (20-200s) were varied during the optimization process. The polyphenol content of the resulting extracts were measured as mg of tannic acid equivalent per gram of crude extract (mg TAE/g of crude extract), using a Folin-Ciocalteau reagent. In general, neither the time nor the power had a significant effect on the overall % yield (average of 13.5%) and on the polyphenol content (392 mg TAE/g of crude extract) of the extracts. However, when the solvent polarity was changed by the addition of 10% water, the yield increased to 15.2% and the polyphenol content increased to 429 mg TAE/g of crude extract.

Intravenous propofol: unique effectiveness in treating intractable migraine.

OBJECTIVE: To report the unique effectiveness of propofol, an intravenous anesthetic agent, in treating refractory migraines and other headaches in the setting of an outpatient headache center. BACKGROUND: We initially observed the dramatic abolition of ongoing migraine in patients (n=6) being treated with propofol in preparation for epidural and other nerve blocks in the headache and pain clinic. The reduction of headache severity was virtually 100%. We decided to treat an additional cohort of patients with intravenous propofol in the headache clinic; these patients had intractable migraines that were refractory to the usual abortive treatments. Subanesthetic doses of propofol were employed in this study. This is the first known report of the utility of this agent specifically for the treatment of intractable headache. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients were treated for intractable headache in the clinic with intravenous propofol, for both migraine and nonmigrainous headache refractory to the usual methods of abortive treatment. RESULTS: The average reduction in headache intensity was 95.4% after an average of 20 to 30 minutes of intravenous propofol treatment, using a patient-rated visual analog scale of 0 to 10. Sixty-three of 77 patients reported complete abolition of their headache. The average dose of propofol was 110 mg, which is well within the usual range of preanesthetic doses and is clearly subanesthetic. Moreover, only three of the treated patients reported a return of the headache on the day following treatment. The neuropharmacology of propofol and the putative multiple mechanisms of action upon various neurotransmitter systems in the brain, particularly gamma aminobutyric acid A receptor subtypes, are discussed to explain the results in our patients. CONCLUSIONS: The use of intravenous propofol may represent a new, rapid, and highly effective form of abortive headache treatment in the headache clinic or emergency room setting and may offer an alternative to other treatment modalities for acute migraine and other severe intractable headaches. The effectiveness of propofol raises many new questions about the pathophysiology of migraine and other headaches.

Combined kinematic and electromyographic analyses of proleg function during crawling by the caterpillar Manduca sexta.

The planta retractor muscles in the prolegs of Manduca sexta caterpillars are a frequently-used model system for investigating a number of problems in neurobiology. We have combined kinematic and electromyogram analysis of proleg movements during crawling to examine the roles of these muscles during normal behavior. We found that retractor muscle activity is highly stereotyped, and that the primary function of these muscles is to disengage the crochets at the tip of the proleg for the swing phase of crawling. The duration of activity of the muscles was tightly coupled to the phasing of crawling behavior. The stepping patterns of animals changed to accommodate variations in the substrate, but the relative timing of retractor muscle activity was unaffected. There were no clear correlations between the various properties of motoneuronal input to the muscle (duration of activity, number of spikes, peak frequency of spikes) and the resulting muscle length change. Perhaps because it functions partially as a hydrostat, this may represent a neuromuscular system in which a significant part of the control algorithm is embedded in its morphology.

Context dependency of a limb withdrawal reflex in the caterpillar Manduca sexta.

The proleg withdrawal reflex in the caterpillar Manduca sexta is a robust, well-characterized system for investigating the integration of sensory information with centrally patterned behavior. The reflex is evoked by stimulating mechanosensory hairs--planta hairs--located at the tip of each proleg. We studied the expression of this reflex by combining video recordings and electromyographic recordings from the main retractor muscles of the proleg, the principal and accessory planta retractor muscles. In intact animals, the nature of the response depended on the motor context of the animal. Animals which were standing quietly showed great variability in both the kinematic properties of proleg withdrawal, and the corresponding muscle electrical activity. Animals which were hanging upside down from a wooden dowel exhibited a much faster reflex, with retraction of the proleg occurring slightly faster than in standing animals, but re-extension of the proleg to the substrate being considerably faster. In crawling animals, expression of the reflex depended on the phase of the crawling cycle during which stimulation occurred. The reflex in a given proleg was suppressed during stance phase of that proleg. During swing phase, however, planta hair stimulation evoked proleg withdrawal, resulting in an assistance reflex. In contrast. isolated abdomens showed much less variability in the reflex. A comparison of the relationship between retractor muscle activity and the resulting proleg movement showed significant correlations between both the duration of activity and the number of muscle spikes, and the size of the associated proleg withdrawal. This is a promising system in which to investigate how central neuronal circuits accomplish context-dependency of motor behavior.

Pituitary response to steroid replacement therapy in fertile, subfertile and infertile stallions after castration.

Recent studies in our laboratory investigating plasma gonadotrophin concentrations before and after castration indicate that the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is not the original site of dysfunction in stallions with idiopathic infertility. In the present study, fertile, subfertile and infertile stallions were subjected to replacement therapy with oestradiol and testosterone 1 year after castration to investigate hypothalamic-pituitary axis function further. Fertile (n=5), subfertile (n=3) and infertile (n=2) castrated stallions of Light horse breeds, aged 11-23 years, were given either oestradiol cypionate or testosterone propionate for 28 days during the breeding season. Oestradiol cypionate in cottonseed oil (30 mg; 6 mg ml(-1)) was administered i.m. at 2 day intervals starting in May for 28 days. Eight weeks after the last oestradiol cypionate injection, testosterone propionate in vegetable oil (85 mg; 8.5 mg ml(-1)) was administered i.m. at 2 day intervals for 28 days. Heparinized blood samples were taken from the jugular vein three times a week from 3 weeks before the start of oestradiol cypionate treatment until 4 weeks after the last testosterone propionate injection. Saline or 25 microg GnRH in 1 ml saline were administered to the stallions on days 24 and 25, respectively, of the 28 day steroid treatments. Jugular blood samples were collected periodically through a catheter from 60 min before saline or GnRH injection until 420 min after injection. The plasma samples were stored at -20 degrees C until analysed for plasma LH, FSH, oestradiol and testosterone concentrations by validated radioimmunoassay. Exogenous steroid treatment increased plasma oestradiol and testosterone concentrations to concentrations close to normal circulating values (oestradiol: 49 pg ml(-1); testosterone: 1.3 ng ml(-1)) in all the groups. There were no significant differences in plasma LH or FSH concentrations among the groups during any of the treatment periods. Oestradiol treatment significantly increased (P < 0.05) LH concentrations, whereas testosterone treatment decreased LH concentrations, although the difference was not significant. Oestradiol treatment significantly decreased FSH concentrations (P < 0.05), whereas testosterone treatment significantly increased FSH concentrations (P < 0.05). There were no differences in LH and FSH responses to GnRH challenge among the three groups of stallions. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that the hypothalamic-pituitary axes in these subfertile and infertile stallions were not the original sites of dysfunction. Further studies at the testicular level are required.