Effectiveness of slow motion video compared to real time video in improving the accuracy and consistency of subjective gait analysis in dogs.

Objective measures of canine gait quality via force plates, pressure mats or kinematic analysis are considered superior to subjective gait assessment (SGA). Despite research demonstrating that SGA does not accurately detect subtle lameness, it remains the most commonly performed diagnostic test for detecting lameness in dogs. This is largely because the financial, temporal and spatial requirements for existing objective gait analysis equipment makes this technology impractical for use in general practice. The utility of slow motion video as a potential tool to augment SGA is currently untested. To evaluate a more accessible way to overcome the limitations of SGA, a slow motion video study was undertaken. Three experienced veterinarians reviewed video footage of 30 dogs, 15 with a diagnosis of primary limb lameness based on history and physical examination, and 15 with no indication of limb lameness based on history and physical examination. Four different videos were made for each dog, demonstrating each dog walking and trotting in real time, and then again walking and trotting in 50% slow motion. For each video, the veterinary raters assessed both the degree of lameness, and which limb(s) they felt represented the source of the lameness. Spearman's rho, Cramer's V, and t-tests were performed to determine if slow motion video increased either the accuracy or consistency of raters' SGA relative to real time video. Raters demonstrated no significant increase in consistency or accuracy in their SGA of slow motion video relative to real time video. Based on these findings, slow motion video does not increase the consistency or accuracy of SGA values. Further research is required to determine if slow motion video will benefit SGA in other ways.

Cord serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in preterm infants with the neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of birth weight on cord serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in preterm infants with and without respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). METHODS: Cord serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels were evaluated in preterm infants (39 with RDS and 68 controls without RDS). Based on morbidity and mortality risk, RDS and non-RDS infants were separated into four birth weight groups (2,000-2,499 g, 1,500-1,999 g, 1,000-1,499 g, < 1,000 g) and evaluated for effects of birth weight on cord serum levels. RESULTS: RDS infants with birth weight of 2,000-2,499 g had significantly higher levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, total fatty acids and apolipoprotein A-I, but not arachidonic acid, than controls. RDS infants weighing 1,000-1,999 g had lower total fatty acids and apolipoprotein B levels, including arachidonic acid, than non-RDS infants. Cord serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels were significantly elevated in large (2,000-2,499 g) RDS infants, but lower levels were found in smaller (1,000-1,999 g) RDS infants. CONCLUSIONS: Cord serum arachidonic acid and apolipoprotein levels found in RDS infants suggest that lipid transport across the placenta may be abnormal. Inadequate total fatty acid supplies in utero could interfere with normal fetal growth and maturation, leading to development of neonatal RDS as one manifestation of risk for postnatal morbidity and mortality.

The application of magnetic resonance microimaging to the visible light curing of dental resins. 3. Stray-field nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (STRAFI).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application of stray-field nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (STRAFI) to the visible light curing of dental restorative materials. STRAFI can overcome peak broadening associated with the conventional magnetic resonance microimaging (MRM) of glassy polymers, and has the potential to image dental restorative resins at both low and high degrees of conversion. METHODS: Cylindrical composite specimens were light-cured from one end to produce some that were fully cured throughout their length and others that were fully cured at one end and uncured at the other. A one-dimensional probe was used to measure the magnetisation in 40 microm thick slices at 100 microm intervals along the length of the specimen. A quadrature pulse sequence was applied and the magnetisation decay recorded in a train of eight echoes. RESULTS: A value for T(2) could be obtained only for the polymer (59+/-16 microms), therefore the echoes were summed to give an approximate indication of the degree of conversion. The echo sum for the monomer was significantly higher than that for the polymer. Differences in composite shade and cure time produced changes in the cure profiles. SIGNIFICANCE: STRAFI produced measurements for both monomer and polymer in all stages of conversion that allowed cure profiles to be produced. Summing the decay echoes produced a qualitative measure of the condition of the material in the selected slice. The same data can be used to calculate T(2), a quantitative parameter. This first investigation has demonstrated that STRAFI is well suited to polymerisation studies.

Localization of exercise- and denervation-responsive elements in the mouse GLUT4 gene.

Exercise training increases the expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle. Previous studies demonstrated that the exercise-responsive element(s) of the murine GLUT4 gene are located between bases -1001 and -442 relative to the transcription start site. To further characterize the regulatory elements in the GLUT4 gene, the regulation of GLUT4 minigenes containing -701, -551, -442, or -423 bp of the 5'-flanking region was studied in transgenic mice. All minigenes studied showed significant expression in skeletal muscle and heart, including the -423 GLUT4 minigene that lacked the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2)-binding domain (-CTAAAAATAG-) located between bases -437 and -428. The -701- and -551-bp constructs were expressed in brown adipose tissues while the -442 and -423 constructs were not. In skeletal muscle, either swimming or treadmill running up-regulated GLUT4 minigene mRNA levels in -701 and -551 transgenic mice, but not in the -442 and -423 transgenic mice. Denervation of the gastrocnemius muscle by sectioning of the sciatic nerve down-regulated minigene and endogenous GLUT4 mRNAs in all -701, -551, -442, and -423 transgenic mice. These data indicate that exercise-responsive element(s) and brown adipocyte specific element(s) are located within 109 bp between bases -551 and -442 of the GLUT4 gene, but that the cis-element for denervation-induced down-regulation of the GLUT4 gene is located downstream of base -423. Finally, the MEF2 binding site between bases -437 and -428 is not necessary for expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscles and heart; the cis-element mediating this effect is also located downstream of base -423.

The Rice Virtual Lab in Statistics.

The Rice Virtual Laboratory in Statistics is an integrated combination of an electronic textbook, simulations/demonstrations, and case studies. The electronic textbook covers basic concepts in statistics and data analysis and contains links to data analysis tools, instructional demonstrations/simulations, and other on-line texts. The simulations and demonstrations help make abstract concepts concrete and allow students to investigate various aspects of statistical tests and distributions. Case studies demonstrate the real-world applicability of statistical methods. Materials are available on the World-Wide Web.

Solid state spatially resolved 1H and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of dental materials by stray-field imaging.

As part of a program to evaluate the use of stray-field magnetic resonance microimaging (STRAFI) in dental materials research spatially resolved nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for solid dental cements has been investigated. By applying a quadrature echo pulse sequence to a specimen positioned in the stray-field of a NMR spectrometer superconducting magnet the magnetic resonance within a thin slice was obtained. The specimen was stepped through the field in 500 microm increments to record 1H and 19F profiles and T2 values at each point. The specimens were fully cured cylinders made from four types of restorative material (glass ionomer, resin modified glass ionomer, compomer, composite). The values for 1H T2 varied with material type and reflected the nature of the matrix structure. For all materials containing 19F in the glass two values were calculated for 19F T2, one short and one long. These were relatively invariant. Solid state magic angle spinning (MAS)-NMR showed that they came from the glass. This suggests that a proportion of the element is relatively mobile (in a glass phase) and the remainder is more tightly bound (in a compound dispersed in the glass). This demonstration, that NMR microimaging of both 1H and 19F in solid dental cements is possible, opens up exciting new possibilities for investigating the distribution of these elements (in particular fluorine) in solid dental materials.

Early detection of melanoma metastases with radioiodinated methylene blue.

Melanin synthesised in melanoma cells presents a unique target to which the treatment can be selectively addressed, provided the pigment is recognised by a suitable drug. Methylene blue (MTB) possesses a high affinity for melanin and, therefore, accumulates preferentially in melanoma cells. Since not directly toxic to the tumour, MTB serves as a carrier for radioisotopes and, once taken up by melanoma cells, acts as a selectively localised source of radiation. Hence, radioderivatives of the compound can be used for both diagnosis and therapy of disseminated melanoma. Eleven patients with confirmed metastatic melanoma and one with a recent local recurrence were studied using radioiodinated (iodine-123 or iodine-131) MTB and a gamma camera. Biopsies of cutaneous lesions were taken to determine directly the compound uptake in tumours. This first clinical investigation concerning the diagnostic potential of radioiodinated MTB in patients with disseminated melanoma confirmed the existence of approximately 80% of internal lesions previously identified by routine methods and, additionally, enabled detection of unknown secondaries in 6 of 12 patients studied. There were no false-positive gamma camera images regardless of whether 123I or 131I was used. 131I proved to be more suitable than 123I for detecting melanoma metastases with radioiodinated MTB. Hazy images of the lesions treated with external beam radiation and/or some drugs suggest that initial radio- and chemotherapy might affect MTB uptake in melanoma metastases and reduce the clarity of the scintigrams obtained from a gamma camera. However, small, untreated internal lesions that cannot be visualised easily with the standard diagnostic methods are revealed with 131I-MTB regardless of their localisation. It is concluded that use of radioiodinated MTB in conjunction with gamma camera or positron emission tomographic imaging might prove to be a useful and accessible tool for the detection of early melanoma dissemination.

Changes in plasma lipid and apolipoprotein levels between heparin-induced extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein precipitation (HELP) treatments.

Heparin-induced extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) precipitation (HELP) treatments selectively remove LDL with minimal effects on high-density lipoproteins (HDL), but limited data are available on effects between treatments. The levels of factors associated with increased coronary artery disease risk (atherogenic) among treatments may have therapeutic significance, especially for combined HELP and lipid-lowering drug therapy. Hypercholesterolemic and combined hyperlipidemic patients resistant to diet/drug therapy were treated with biweekly HELP therapy. Hypercholesterolemic patients received either lovastatin or no drug, whereas combined hyperlipidemic patients received gemfibrozil. Plasma lipid (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol) and apolipoprotein A-I, A-II, B, C-III, and E levels were measured before treatment, then immediately, and 2, 4, 7, and 14 days after treatments (n = 28). Atherogenic factor (LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B) levels decreased > 50% with treatment, gradually increasing over 14 days to pretreatment levels. Factors associated with reduced coronary artery disease risk (HDL cholesterol and apolipoproteins A-I and A-II) decreased 8% to 16% but recovered by 2 days. Components of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (triglycerides and apolipoproteins C-III and E) decreased 38% to 55% with variable post-treatment recoveries. Lovastatin reduced pretreatment levels of atherogenic and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein components and slowed post-treatment increases compared with no drug therapy. Gemfibrozil produced changes similar to lovastatin. Drug therapy had little effect on factors associated with reduced coronary artery disease risk. HELP apheresis produced large reductions in plasma atherogenic factor levels with gradual return to pretreatment levels over 14 days, whereas antiatherogenic factors were minimally reduced and recovered rapidly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serum lipids and apolipoproteins in women with breast masses.

BACKGROUND: Human mammary tissue metabolizes lipids from plasma, a process affected by female gonadal hormones. Both benign and malignant proliferation of breast tissue in women have been associated with changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels. METHODS: One hundred consecutive women with breast masses (50 malignant, 50 benign) had diagnostic biopsies followed by axillary node dissection in those with cancer. Fasting serum samples were taken just prior to biopsy and analyzed for lipid fatty acid and lipoprotein levels. Malignant breast tissue was analyzed for hormone receptor binding. RESULTS: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) components (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B) were increased, but not significantly, in cancer patients compared to those with benign masses. Decreased levels of LDL-associated components were found in women with cancer recurrence by 3 years. Three apolipoproteins of high-density lipoprotein (apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II, apolipoprotein D) were more affected by the presence of breast masses than the lipids were. Fibrocystic disease, type of hormone binding, and recurrence within 3 years were significantly related to apolipoprotein changes, especially apolipoprotein D levels with hormone receptor binding and the apolipoprotein A-I/apolipoprotein B ratio with breast cancer recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Prior to diagnostic biopsy, serum lipid and apolipoprotein components of low-density lipoproteins were increased in women with fibrocystic disease and early stage cancer but decreased in women with early recurrence. However, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II, and apolipoprotein D, of the high-density lipoproteins, were more affected than serum lipids. The ratio of apolipoprotein A-I to apolipoprotein B serum levels at time of biopsy was the best predictor of cancer recurrence.