Skin surface lipids and skin and hair coat condition in dogs fed increased total fat diets containing polyunsaturated fatty acids.

It is generally believed that diets containing increased amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) result in improved canine skin and hair coat (SHC). However, the extent to which dietary fat amount and type play a role remains to be systematically investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of both increased dietary fat amount and type on SHC assessments of dogs. Improvements of SHC conditions were investigated after feeding three diets containing increased total dietary fat (i.e. 13% total fat) for 12 weeks in relation to a lower fat acclimation diet (i.e. 9% total fat). The higher fat diets varied in polyunsaturated and saturated fat types and amounts but total fat was kept constant. Skin and hair coat assessments were performed at selected intervals by a trained group of veterinarians and graduate students. In addition, hair lipids were fractionated by thin layer chromatography after extraction of plucked hair samples. Significant improvements were found in hair coat glossiness and softness in all dogs fed the higher fat diets in relation to the acclimation diet. Improvements as a result of fat type were also seen but only at 12 weeks. A parallel finding was a marked increase in hair cholesteryl ester content determined at the end of the study at which time SHC scores were significantly improved. Skin and hair coat condition improvements may thus be related to increased cholesteryl ester deposited on the hair shaft surface when high fat diets are fed. Whereas this finding is preliminary, hair lipid analysis may be a useful, non-invasive technique with which to help assess dietary effects on canine SHC.

Hosing instability in the blow-out regime for plasma-wakefield acceleration.

The electron hosing instability in the blow-out regime of plasma-wakefield acceleration is investigated using a linear perturbation theory about the electron blow-out trajectory in Lu et al. [in Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 165002 (2006)10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.165002]. The growth of the instability is found to be affected by the beam parameters unlike in the standard theory Whittum et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 67, 991 (1991)10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.991] which is strictly valid for preformed channels. Particle-in-cell simulations agree with this new theory, which predicts less hosing growth than found by the hosing theory of Whittum et al.

The individual with high quadriplegia.

Persons with quadriplegia resulting from disease or trauma have an array of disabling impairments that involve virtually every body system. During the rehabilitation process, each impairment is addressed. This article presents alternatives in three areas: respiration, communication, and environmental control. The importance of tailoring strategies to the individual is emphasized throughout. Appropriate rehabilitation of the person with high quadriplegia goes beyond maintenance of life and health. An interdisciplinary team that includes the patient unites dreams, knowledge, skills, and technology so that the patient has the possibility of noninstitutional living, major control over his or her own destiny, some autonomy, and participation in a full spectrum of life activities. As Maddox noted: "Life is a fragile, fleeting thing, under any circumstances, and living it can be comic or tragic, weird or wonderful--regardless of one's motor limitations."

Achondroplasia: effectiveness of an orthosis in reducing deformity of the spine.

Deformity of the spine and its complications have long been accepted as characteristics of achondroplasia. We have sought to prevent these with a spinal orthosis. This report includes a description of the orthosis and an analysis of its use in achondroplastic children and adults. Nineteen dwarfs between 11 and 52 months of age were fitted with a light truncal polyform orthosis. The effect on the thoracolumbar (TL) and lumbosacral curves (LS) in the seated and standing child were compared by measurements made from lateral roentgenograms with and without the orthosis. The group mean reduction in TL curve of the seated dwarfs was 23 degrees (range 2 degrees to 73 degrees) and the reduction in the LS curve in the standing position was 15 degrees (range 1 degree to 44 degrees). Seventeen older children aged 4-1/2 to 11-2/3 years were equipped with an aluminum version of the orthosis. Their TL curve sitting was reduced by a mean of 31 degrees (range 6 degrees to 45 degrees) and their LS curve standing was decreased by 16 degrees (range 6 degrees to 30 degrees). Thirty-one achondroplastic children and adults were braced for back pain and/or neurologic deficits. Most were relieved of their symptoms to some degree. These and other data lead us to conclude that this form of treatment reduces deformity and alleviates symptoms.

Curves of the achondroplastic spine: a new hypothesis.

The profile of the achondroplastic dwarf reflects abnormalities in the shape of the spine, particularly in the lumbosacral area. We hypothesize that these abnormalities and the resultant symptoms are secondary and avoidable rather than heritable and inevitable. Because the heads of achondroplastic children are enlarged (n = 50), loading of the vertical spine is increased. Unusually lax ligaments and misshapen vertebrae predispose the spine to yielding under vertical stress. Children and adults uniformly have hip flexion contractures (n 105); these are hypothesized to be the result of uncorrected lumbosacral lordosis. The volume of the spinal canal, reduced by the spinal stenosis of achondroplasia, is decreased additionally by lordosis; some neurologic deficits of achondroplasia are caused by this abnormal curvature. This hypothesis bears practically on treating this common form of dwarfism.