Body adiposity index (BAI) correlates with BMI and body fat pre- and post-bariatric surgery but is not an adequate substitute for BMI in severely obese women.

OBJECTIVE: Body Adiposity Index (BAI), a new surrogate measure of body fat (hip circumference/[height 1.5-18]), has been proposed as a more accurate alternative to BMI. We compared BAI with BMI and their correlations with measures of body fat, waist circumference (WC), and indirect indices of fat pre- and post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). METHODS: Sixteen clinically severe obese (CSO) non-diabetic women (age = 33.9± 7.9 SD; BMI = 46.5±9.5 kg/m(2)) were assessed pre-surgery, and at 2 (n=9) and 5 mo (n=8) post-surgery. Body fat percentage (% fat) was estimated with bioimpedance analysis (BIA), air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). WC, an indicator of central fat, and both plasma leptin (ng/ml) and insulin (mU/l) concentrations were measured as indirect body fat indices. Pre- and post-surgery values were analyzed with Pearson correlations and linear regressions. RESULTS: BAI and BMI correlated significantly with each other pre-surgery and at each time point post surgery. BAI and BMI also correlated significantly with % fat from BIA and ADP; however, only BMI correlated significantly with % fat from DXA pre- and post-RYGB. BMI was the single best predictor of WC and leptin at 2 and 5 mo post-surgery and had significant longitudinal changes correlating with % fat from BIA and DXA as well as with leptin. DISCUSSION: Both BAI and BMI were good surrogates of % fat as estimated from BIA and ADP, but only BMI was a good surrogate of % fat from DXA in CSO women. Thus, BAI may not be a better alternative to BMI.

Randomized pilot study of cabergoline, a dopamine receptor agonist: effects on body weight and glucose tolerance in obese adults.

AIM: Dopaminergic hypofunction and hyperprolactinaemia have been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and glucose intolerance. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the efficacy of cabergoline, a dopamine receptor agonist, on body weight and glucose tolerance in obese non-diabetic persons with normal plasma prolactin levels. METHODS: This 16-week double blind, placebo-controlled pilot study randomized non-diabetic obese adults (body mass index 30-42 kg/m(2) ) to placebo or cabergoline (0.25 mg twice weekly for 4 weeks followed by 0.5 mg twice weekly for the next 12 weeks). Of 40 subjects enrolled, 29 completed 16 weeks: 16 randomized to placebo and 13 to cabergoline. All subjects were counselled on a 500 kcal/day calorie deficit diet. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed at baseline and at 16 weeks. RESULTS: As expected, prolactin levels decreased after cabergoline (p < 0.001). Weight loss was similar after placebo compared with cabergoline treatment: 1.0 vs. 1.2% body weight, respectively. Fasting glucose levels did not differ between groups after treatment, however, 90-min postprandial glucose and insulin decreased in the cabergoline group only (p = 0.029). HOMA-IR (homeostasis model of assessment) increased by 40% after placebo and 1.5% after cabergoline treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that cabergoline therapy may improve glucose tolerance independent of weight loss, however, a larger, longer term study of dopamine receptor agonist therapy in obese individuals is warranted to confirm this finding.

Neuroimaging, gut peptides and obesity: novel studies of the neurobiology of appetite.

Two major biological players in the regulation of body weight are the gut and the brain. Peptides released from the gut convey information about energy needs to areas of the brain involved in homeostatic control of food intake. There is emerging evidence that human food intake is also under the control of cortical and subcortical areas related to reward and cognition. The extent to which gut hormones influence these brain areas is not fully understood. Novel methods combining the study of neural activity and hormonal signalling promise to advance our understanding of gut-brain interactions. Here, we review a growing number of animal and human studies using neuroimaging methods (functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography) to measure brain activation in relation to nutrient loads and infusion of gut peptides. Implications for current and future pharmacological treatments for obesity are discussed.

Eliminating language barriers for non-English-speaking patients.

OBJECTIVES: More than 31 million persons living in the United States do not speak English, therefore language discordance between the clinician and patient may hinder delivery of cost-effective medical care. A new language service was developed in which interpreters are trained in the skills of simultaneous interpretation commonly used at international conferences. The interpreters are linked from a remote site to headsets worn by the clinician and patient through standard communication wires. The service is called "remote-simultaneous interpretation," to contrast it with a traditional method of an interpreter being physically present at the interview and interpreting consecutively "proximate-consecutive interpretation." The aim of this study is to assess in a randomized protocol the quality of communication, interpretation, and level of patient, interpreter, and physician satisfaction with these two language services. METHODS: The first postpartum visit with each of 49 mothers and their new born babies was assigned randomly to proximate-consecutive interpretation (control) or to remote-simultaneous interpretation (experimental). Main outcome measures included (1) the number of physician and mother utterances in the visit, (2) the quality of the interpretation, and (3) physician, interpreter, and mother preferences between the two services. RESULTS: The remote-simultaneous interpreter service averaged 8.3 (10%) more physician utterances (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.3, 12.4) and 9.1 (28%) more mother utterances (95% CI 6.1, 12.1). On average, there were 2.8 (12%) fewer inaccuracies of physician utterances in experimental visits compared with control visits (95% CI -5.9, 0.4) and 3.0 (13%) fewer inaccuracies of mother utterances in experimental visits compared with control visits (95% CI -5.4, -0.6). Mothers and physicians significantly preferred the remote-simultaneous service to proximate-consecutive interpretation service. Interpreters stated that they thought mothers and physicians better understood each other using the remote-simultaneous service, although the interpreters preferred to work with the proximate-consecutive service. CONCLUSIONS: Using remote-simultaneous interpretation to improve the quality of communication in discordant-language encounters promises to enhance delivery of medical care for the millions of non-English-speaking patients in the United States.

Adjusted 200-day scrotal size as a predictor of 365-day scrotal circumference.

Data collected from 264 bulls of 13 beef breeds at the Michigan Bull Test Station was evaluated to determine if scrotal circumference (SC) adjusted to 200 d of age could be used to predict scrotal circumference at 1 yr of age. Scrotal circumference of each bull was recorded on arrival at the test station and at the time of breeding soundness examination (BSE) and was adjusted to 200 and 365 d of age, respectively. Bulls with adjusted SC>34.0 cm by 365 d of age averaged a larger SC at 200 d (P < 0.0001) and faster scrotal growth (P < 0.0001) than bulls with a 365 d adjusted SC /= 23.0 cm had a 95% probability of achieving SC > 34.0 cm by one year of age. Calves measuring < 23 cm at 200 d had a 54% probability of achieving > 34.0 cm scrotal size by one year. This information can contribute to the selection of breeding bulls that will achieve desirable scrotal size by one year of age.

Cost of mastitis and its prevention in four dairy cattle herds on St Croix, US Virgin Islands.

Nonclinical mastitis in the dairy herds on St Croix, US Virgin Islands, represents a prevalent (97%) and severe problem (44% of quarters had California Mastitis Test results of 2 or 3). Streptococcus agalactiae (26%) and Staphylococcus aureus (22%) were the most prevalent pathogens. More than half (54%) of all organisms isolated and tested for resistance were resistant to ampicillin and benzyl penicillin; 29% were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfadiazine. Estimates of the loss of milk production suggested that there was a loss of 4.40 to 13.33 lb/cow/day. The yearly economic cost of prevention was estimated for each cow ($22.07); yearly income loss attributable to mastitis was estimated to be from $339 to $1,022/cow/yr. Suggestions for the prevention and control of mastitis are included.

The use of embryo collection techniques in Holstein heifers: A model to study early embryonic death.

Twenty-three cyclic Holstein heifers were purchased for use as embryo donors to study the effect of intrauterine exposure to Haemophilus somnus on the number, quality, and viability of embryos produced. Few problems were encountered using standard superovulation and nonsurgical embryo collection techniques on virgin heifers. Based on three or more ovulations, as determined by palpation per rectum of the ovaries at the time of embryo recovery, 28 of 30 heifers responded to the superovulation regimen. Of 29 nonsurgical recoveries, 27 produced one or more embryos. One hundred and seventy-six embryos and ova were collected from heifers synchronized, superovulated, and flushed 7 to 8 d after insemination.

The role of Haemophilus somnus in bovine early embryonic death. III. The effect of the organism on embryos by day 21 postbreeding.

A study using 11 healthy, mature Holstein-Friesian heifers was designed to determine whether 1) H. somnus induces gross and/or histopathological changes of the uterine tract and embryos, 2) H. somnus has a short and/or long-term effect on the ovarian activity, 3) prior exposure to H. somnus would modulate the effect of a second exposure to the organism. Superovulated heifers were artificially iseminated 12 and 24 h after standing estrus using high-quality, Haemophilus-free semen from a single ejaculate of one bull. Control heifers (Group 1, n = 2) were infused by intrauterine route, 12 h after the second insemination, with 10 ml of 0.85% sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as a placebo. The treatment heifers were exposed by intrauterine infusion, 12 h after the second insemination, to approximately 1.5 x 10(9)H. somnus organisms (Iowa strain 1229) suspended in 10 ml of 0.85% sterile PBS. Group 2 (n = 2) treatment heifers were exposed 21 d prior to embryo recovery; Group 3 treatment heifers (n = 3) were exposed 5 mo prior to embryo collection; and Group 4 treatment heifers were exposed twice, 5 mo apart with the second exposure 21 d prior to embryo recovery. All animals were slaughtered and the whole genital tract was removed for pathological examination and embryo recovery. There were minimal pathological changes in the uterus. However, H. somnus significantly affected (P

The role of Haemophilus somnus in early embryonic death. I. The effect of the organism on embryos by day 8 postbreeding.

A study using 23 healthy, mature, virgin Holstein-Friesian heifers was designed to determine if H. somnus caused detrimental effects in early bovine embryos and the mechanism(s) that induced these effects. Superovulated heifers were artificially inseminated 12 and 24 h after standing estrus using highquality, Haemophilus-free semen from a single ejaculate of one bull. Treatment heifers (n=12) were exposed by intrauterine infusion 12 h after the second insemination to approximately 1.5 x 10(9)H. somnus organisms (Iowa strain 1229) suspended in 10 ml of sterile 0.85% phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Control heifers (n=11) were inseminated and the infused with sterile PBS. Embryos were recovered 8 d after the second insemination using non-surgical technique and evaluated microscopically and graded on their estimated survivability. Representative embryos were also examined for in vitro culture survival time, histopathological changes, vital stain uptake and bacterial contamination. Following embryo recovery, uterine flush solution was centrifuged at 10,000 x G. Sediment was submitted for bacteriologic examination and supernatant preserved for quantitation of H. somnus immunoglobulins. Results to date indicate that H. somnus had a detrimental effect on early bovine embryos. H. somnus was recovered from the tissues of one treated animal. Significantly more (P

Anthelmintic activity of ivermectin in pigs naturally infected with Ascaris and Trichuris.

The anthelmintic efficacy of ivermectin administered by subcutaneous (SC) injection or orally via the drinking water was investigated in feeder pigs naturally infected with Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis. Group 1 pigs (n = 5) were given drinking water as a placebo, group 2 pigs (n = 5) were given ivermectin by SC injection (300 micrograms/kg of body weight), and group 3 pigs (n = 5) were given ivermectin in water also at a dosage rate of 300 micrograms/kg of body weight. At necropsy 11 days later, the mean worm counts in group 1 pigs were 4 for Ascaris and 50.2 for Trichuris. All adult and juvenile ascarids were removed from the intestine in groups 2 and 3 pigs. Compared with the number of Trichuris in group 1 pigs, the number of Trichuris was reduced by 91.2% and 78.1%, respectively, for the orally and SC treated pigs.

Use of prostaglandin F2 alpha in the treatment of unobserved estrus in lactating dairy cattle.

A field trial was conducted to evaluate the use of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) (lutalyse)a in lactating dairy cattle with unobserved estrus in the presence of a functional corpus luteum (CL) and clinically normal reproductive tract. Seventy-three Holstein and 9 Jersey cows, weighing between 340.0 and 772.7 kg, were allotted to treatment and control groups. All treated cows were inseminated within 80 hours after treatment as assigned by this trial. Control cows were inseminated at the first observed estrus. Of the treated cows, 50% showed estrus within 80 hours after treatment. In this trial, 96% of the treated cows and 92% of the control cows were determined to have at least 1 functional CL on the day of treatment. For the treatment group and the control group, mean serum progesterone concentrations were 4.1 ng and 3.5 ng (P less than 0.2, by Student's t test), respectively, on day of treatment and were 0.4 ng and 5.0 ng (P less than 0.005, by Student' t test) on day 5 after treatment. Pregnancy rates were 57% for treated and 47% for control cows (P = 0.5, by X2). Days from treatment to first-observed estrus, treatment to first service, and treatment to conception were significantly reduced in the treatment group compared with these criteria for the control group (P less than 0.05, 0.005, and 0.01 respectively). It was concluded that induction of luteolysis with PGF2 alpha in lactating dairy cattle with unobserved estrus and a palpable functional CL will be an effective addition to reproductive health programs.