Turkey ovarian tissue transplantation: effects of surgical technique on graft attachment and immunological status of the grafts, 6 days post-surgery.

Biobanked poultry ovaries can be revived via transplantation into a recipient female, which upon maturity will produce donor-derived progeny. Previously, a large portion of these recipients also produced recipient-derived progeny, making them gonadal chimeras. These were potentially created when portions of the recipient's ovary were inadvertently left behind. Completely removing the recipient ovary would solve this problem; however, leaving a portion of the recipient's ovary may have inadvertently increased the transplant attachment rate by providing a damaged area for attachment. To test this hypothesis in the turkey, we removed various portions (33-100%) of recipient ovarian tissue and determined the transplant attachment rate. Furthermore, the use of the abdominal air sac membrane as an additional anchoring point was tested. The overall attachment rate of transplants was 91% (27/30), while the average size of the transplants was 4.2 ± 0.6 mm2, 6 d postsurgery. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in the attachment rates, or transplant size between groups with varying amounts of recipent tissue removed, or by using the abdominal air sac membrane as an anchor. Finally, the immunological status of the grafts were evaluated by analyzing the presences of CD3 and MUM-1 (T and B cell markers). This showed that all transplants were infiltrated by large numbers of T and B cells. Shown by a high (P ≤ 0.001) percentage of CD3-positive immunostained cytoplasmic area (49.78 ± 3.90%) in transplants compared to remnant recipient tissue (0.30 ± 0.10%), as well as a high (P ≤ 0.001) percentage of MUM-1-positive immunostained nuclear area (9.85 ± 1.95%) in transplants over remnant recipient tissues (0.39 ± 0.12%). From this study we would recommend removing the entire recipient ovary, and not covering the transplants with the abdominal air sac membrane, to prevent gonadal chimeras. The high levels of lymphocytes within the grafts indicate possible tissue rejection, which could be overcome via immunosuppression with or without histocompatibility matching between donors and recipients.

In ovo culturing of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) ovarian tissue to assess graft viability and maturation of prefollicular germ cells and follicles.

Biobanking of turkey ovarian tissue appears to be the most cost-effective method for the long-term preservation of female genetics. However, to ensure the successful transplantation of biobanked ovarian tissue for breed or line revival, the transplantation and development of fresh ovarian tissue must be evaluated. To assess transplantability, ovaries from poults 1 to 15 days posthatch (dph) were cultured in ovo in chicken eggs for 6 d and compared with the equivalent fresh tissue. The viability of cultured ovarian tissue was evaluated visually, whereas the level of late-stage apoptosis was measured via the TUNEL assay. In addition, the diameter and density of prefollicular germ cells and follicles (primordial and primary) were measured to assess maturation. Results showed that all cultured grafts (74/74), on surviving chicken chorioallantoic membrane, were viable with low levels (0.8 ± 0.1%) of late-stage apoptosis. The diameter of prefollicular germ cells in cultured ovaries from poults at 5 and 7 dph were larger (P < 0.002) than that of their preculture counterparts but were not able to reach their in vivo size. No significant follicular growth was observed in ovaries cultured in ovo; however, prefollicular germ cell density was over 4-fold greater in ovaries cultured from 7 dph poults (81,030 ± 17,611/mm3) than in their in vivo counterpart (16,463 ± 6,805/mm3). Interestingly, cultured ovaries from all other ages displayed equal or lower (P ≤ 0.05) prefollicular germ cell densities than their in vivo counterparts. Cultured ovaries from poults at 5 and 7 dph also exhibited an increase (P ≤ 0.05) in follicle density compared with their preculture counterparts; whereas, cultured ovaries from 15 dph poults had decreased densities (P < 0.001) compared with their preculture counterparts. This study demonstrated that, although age of ovarian tissue cultured in ovo did not affect the overall viability, 7 dph ovaries appeared to have a better cellular morphology after culturing in ovo than other ages. In addition, we also demonstrated for the first time that avian follicles can form during tissue culturing in ovo.

Germ cell dynamics during nest breakdown and formation of the primordial follicle pool in the domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).

This study determined, for the first time, the different subpopulations of germ cells and stereological changes within the cortex of the functional left ovary during germ cell nest breakdown, and formation of the primordial follicle pool in the domestic turkey. This was accomplished by measuring the size, density, and count of prefollicular germ cells and primordial follicles in turkey poults between 1 and 35 days posthatch (dph). The percent volume (PV) of germ cells and follicles within the cortex was also calculated as a means of validating the counting technique. The total percent volume of germ cells and primordial follicles within the cortex ranged between 42 and 84%, suggesting that the counting technique was valid. Our findings show that before germ cell nest breakdown (5 dph), there were roughly 1,000,000 prefollicular germ cells within the cortex of the left ovary and that germ cell nest breakdown initiated between 5 and 7 dph, characterized by a decrease (P ≤ 0.001) in prefollicular germ cell density and the subsequent appearance of primordial follicles. Nest breakdown is followed on day 9 by the first increase (P ≤ 0.05) in size of prefollicular germ cells. These cells continue to grow throughout nest breakdown. The majority (>90%) of germ cell nest breakdowns concluded by 15 dph; although, the primordial follicle pool was not fully established until 35 dph, as determined by a total lack of prefollicular germ cells. At this point, the pool was comprised of an estimated 60,000 primordial follicles and shows that during nest breakdown and follicle pool formation, ∼94% of germ cells were lost. This 94% decrease in the number of germ cells during nest breakdown in the turkey is comparable to the domestic chicken but is greater than the average two-thirds which are lost in mammalian species.

Eye Tracking Effort Expenditure and Autonomic Arousal to Social and Circumscribed Interest Stimuli in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The social communicative deficits and repetitive behaviours seen in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may be affected by altered stimulus salience and reward attribution. The present study used eye tracking and a behavioural measure to index effort expenditure, arousal, and attention, during viewing of images depicting social scenes and subject-specific circumscribed interests in a group of 10 adults with ASD (mean age 25.4 years) and 19 typically-developing controls (mean age 20.7 years) Split-plot and one-way repeated measures ANOVAs were used to explore results. A significant difference between the ASD and control group was found in the amount of effort expended to view social and circumscribed images. The ASD group also displayed significant differences in pupillary response to social and circumscribed images, indicative of changes in autonomic arousal. Overall, the results support the social motivation hypothesis in ASD (Chevallier et al., Trends Cogn Sci 16(4):231-239, 2012) and suggest a role for autonomic arousal in the ASD symptom dyad.

Indices of repetitive behaviour are correlated with patterns of intrinsic functional connectivity in youth with autism spectrum disorder.

The purpose of the current study was to examine how repetitive behaviour in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is related to intrinsic functional connectivity patterns in a number of large-scale, neural networks. Resting-state fMRI scans from thirty subjects with ASD and thirty-two age-matched, typically developing control subjects were analysed. Seed-to-voxel and ROI-to-ROI functional connectivity analyses were used to examine resting-state connectivity in a number of cortical and subcortical neural networks. Bivariate correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between repetitive behaviour scores from the Repetitive Behaviour Scale - Revised and intrinsic functional connectivity in ASD subjects. Compared to control subjects, ASD subjects displayed marked over-connectivity of the thalamus with several cortical sensory processing areas, as well as over-connectivity of the basal ganglia with somatosensory and motor cortices. Within the ASD group, significant correlations were found between functional connectivity patterns and total RBS-R scores as well as one principal component analysis-derived score from the RBS-R. These results suggest that thalamocortical resting-state connectivity is altered in individuals with ASD, and that resting-state functional connectivity is associated with ASD symptomatology.

Cortical abnormalities in adults and adolescents with major depression based on brain scans from 20 cohorts worldwide in the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder Working Group.

The neuro-anatomical substrates of major depressive disorder (MDD) are still not well understood, despite many neuroimaging studies over the past few decades. Here we present the largest ever worldwide study by the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Major Depressive Disorder Working Group on cortical structural alterations in MDD. Structural T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 2148 MDD patients and 7957 healthy controls were analysed with harmonized protocols at 20 sites around the world. To detect consistent effects of MDD and its modulators on cortical thickness and surface area estimates derived from MRI, statistical effects from sites were meta-analysed separately for adults and adolescents. Adults with MDD had thinner cortical gray matter than controls in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), anterior and posterior cingulate, insula and temporal lobes (Cohen's d effect sizes: -0.10 to -0.14). These effects were most pronounced in first episode and adult-onset patients (>21 years). Compared to matched controls, adolescents with MDD had lower total surface area (but no differences in cortical thickness) and regional reductions in frontal regions (medial OFC and superior frontal gyrus) and primary and higher-order visual, somatosensory and motor areas (d: -0.26 to -0.57). The strongest effects were found in recurrent adolescent patients. This highly powered global effort to identify consistent brain abnormalities showed widespread cortical alterations in MDD patients as compared to controls and suggests that MDD may impact brain structure in a highly dynamic way, with different patterns of alterations at different stages of life.

Subcortical brain alterations in major depressive disorder: findings from the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder working group.

The pattern of structural brain alterations associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unresolved. This is in part due to small sample sizes of neuroimaging studies resulting in limited statistical power, disease heterogeneity and the complex interactions between clinical characteristics and brain morphology. To address this, we meta-analyzed three-dimensional brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 1728 MDD patients and 7199 controls from 15 research samples worldwide, to identify subcortical brain volumes that robustly discriminate MDD patients from healthy controls. Relative to controls, patients had significantly lower hippocampal volumes (Cohen's d=-0.14, % difference=-1.24). This effect was driven by patients with recurrent MDD (Cohen's d=-0.17, % difference=-1.44), and we detected no differences between first episode patients and controls. Age of onset ⩽21 was associated with a smaller hippocampus (Cohen's d=-0.20, % difference=-1.85) and a trend toward smaller amygdala (Cohen's d=-0.11, % difference=-1.23) and larger lateral ventricles (Cohen's d=0.12, % difference=5.11). Symptom severity at study inclusion was not associated with any regional brain volumes. Sample characteristics such as mean age, proportion of antidepressant users and proportion of remitted patients, and methodological characteristics did not significantly moderate alterations in brain volumes in MDD. Samples with a higher proportion of antipsychotic medication users showed larger caudate volumes in MDD patients compared with controls. This currently largest worldwide effort to identify subcortical brain alterations showed robust smaller hippocampal volumes in MDD patients, moderated by age of onset and first episode versus recurrent episode status.

Heightened central affective response to visceral sensations of pain and discomfort in IBS.

BACKGROUND Typically, conventional functional imaging methods involve repeated exposures to sensory stimulation. In rectal distension (RD) studies that involve multiple distensions, however, it is difficult to disambiguate the central response to RD from pathological alterations in peripheral neural responses associated with relaxation and accommodation of the rectum. METHODS This study addressed potential confounders found in previous imaging studies by collecting functional magnetic resonance imaging studies (fMRI) data during a single slow ramp-tonic distension paradigm and analysing fMRI signal changes using independent component analysis. KEY RESULTS Compared with controls, IBS participants showed increased activation of the anterior cingulate cortices, insula and ventral medial prefrontal regions suggesting heightened affective responses to painful visceral stimuli. In addition, the failure by IBS patients to down-regulate activity within ventral medial prefrontal and the posterior cingulate/precuneus regions was suggestive of reduced sensitivity to somatic changes and delayed shifts away from rest in ;default network' activity patterns. Controls showed heightened activation of the thalamus, striatal regions and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex suggesting greater arousal and salience-driven sustained attention reactions and greater modulation of affective responses to discomfort and pain. CONCLUSION&INFERENCES This work points to alterations in the central response to visceral pain and discomfort in IBS, highlighting diminished modulation and heightened internalization of affective reactions.

Assessment of ambulance response performance using a geographic information system.

The accessibility, distribution and utilisation of emergency medical services are important components of health care delivery. The impact of these services on well-being is heightened by the fact that ambulance resources must respond in a reliable and timely manner to emergency calls from demand areas. However, many factors, such as the unavailability of an ambulance at a center closest to a call, can adversely influence response time. This paper discusses the design and implementation of a framework developed in a Geographic Information System for assessing ambulance response performance. A case study of ambulance response in three communities in Southern Ontario, Canada is presented that allows easy and rapid identification of anomalous calls that may adversely affect overall operating performance evaluation. Extensions of the framework into a fully fledged service deployment and planning decision support system are discussed.

The relationship between housing characteristics, emotional well-being and the personal empowerment of psychiatric consumer/survivors.

In this research, we examine the relationships between the housing characteristics and dimensions of community adaptation for 107 psychiatric consumer/survivors. Hypotheses about which housing characteristics best predict which dimensions of adaptation were made based on previous research and theory. Using a longitudinal research design, we found, after controlling for demographic variables and prior adaptation, that the number of living companions, housing concerns, and having a private room all significantly predicted different dimensions of community adaptation. The findings partially support our theoretical expectations and illuminate the relationship between physical, social and organizational aspects of community-based housing and the adaptation of psychiatric consumer/survivors. We discuss the implications of the results for policy and practice in providing housing for this population.

Social networks, social support, personal empowerment, and the adaptation of psychiatric consumers/survivors: path analytic models.

In this paper, we examine the relationships between social network characteristics, personal empowerment, social support, and adaptation of psychiatric consumer/survivors. Using path model analyses, we found that: (1) personal empowerment had statistically significant direct effects on positive affect, meaningful activity, and negative affect; (2) positive social support mediated the relationship between the proportion of women in consumer/survivors' networks and positive affect and meaningful activity; and (3) negative social interaction mediated the relationship between consumer/survivors' gender and negative affect. The results point out the importance of gender effects in social support processes, the differential association between type of social interaction (positive vs negative) and adaptation indices (positive vs negative), and the importance of personal empowerment for consumer/survivors' adaptation. We discuss the findings in terms of their implications for further research and community-based housing programmes for psychiatric consumer/survivors.

Social network transactions of psychiatric patients.

In this research we examine self-reported social network transactions of former psychiatric inpatients residing in different types of housing in the community. Unlike earlier research, we found considerable reciprocity in network transactions with family and friends. Only professionals provided more support than they received from patients. Providing emotional support to others was positively correlated with positive affect, community integration, and mastery. Respondents reported more supportive than unsupportive transactions with network members and more supportive transactions with friends than with family or professionals. Finally, residents of supportive apartments and group homes provided and received support more frequently than residents of board-and-care homes. We discuss the results in terms of their implications for policy and future research.

Monitoring and predicting community mental health centre utilization in Auckland, New Zealand.

Deinstitutionalization of mental health care has been in progress in many countries for over a quarter of a century. A comprehensive and detailed literature has evolved focussing on this process and its implications for alternative forms of combatting the incidence of mental illness. Most notably, literature has concentrated on the need for community-based mental health services both to prevent hospitalization in the first place and to ease the return of the hospital patient into the outside environment. In this paper the evolution of such a community-based system in metropolitan Auckland, New Zealand is discussed. More specifically, the focus is on the utilization of four community-based centres, with a view to plan better growth or reduction of service provision. Two dimensions of centre use, spatial and sociodemographic, are analysed and incorporated into four predictive models that, with appropriate refinement, can be used to determine the likely level of centre use in unserviced parts of the metropolitan area. Distance of individuals from centre locations is shown to be a significant factor in affecting use for three suburban primary prevention and intervention centres, whilst distance is non-significant for an inner-city aftercare facility. Also, various combinations of socio-demographic variables, reflecting service-specific needs for specific groups in the population, are shown to contribute significantly to predicting centre use. The paper presents the results against a policy backdrop in New Zealand where community mental health services are very much experimental in nature. The results reaffirm the importance of community mental health care in fulfilling an important need in society that health care administrators should take seriously in future policy developments.