A survey of public attitudes towards barking dogs in New Zealand.

AIMS: To investigate public attitudes towards barking dogs in New Zealand in order to quantify the extent to which people perceive barking dogs to be a problem, to compare tolerance of barking with that of other common suburban noises, to assess the level of public understanding about the function of barking, to determine risk factors for intolerance of barking and to assess knowledge of possible strategies for the investigation and management of problem barking. METHODS: A 12-page questionnaire was sent to 2,000 people throughout New Zealand randomly selected from the electoral roll. Risk factors for being bothered by barking were examined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1,750 questionnaires were successfully delivered; of these, 727 (42%) were returned. Among respondents, 356/727 (49.0%) indicated that frequent barking during the day would bother them while 545/727 (75.0%) would be bothered by barking at night. Barking and howling were ranked above other suburban noises as a cause of annoyance. Risk factors for being bothered by daytime barking were not being home during the day, not owning a dog, and considering a dog bite to be a serious health risk. Risk factors for being bothered by night-time barking were not being home during the day, marital status, considering dog bites to pose a serious health risk, and having been frightened by a dog. Overall, 510/699 (73%) respondents understood that barking was a form of communication. Action likely to be taken by 666 respondents hearing frequent barking included notifying and offering to help the owner (119; 17.8%), complaining to the owner (127; 19.1%) or the authorities (121; 18.2%), or doing nothing (299; 48%). Possible responses by 211 dog owners if they had a barking dog included seeking help from dog trainers (59; 28%) or behaviourists (54; 26%), buying an anti-barking device (33; 15%) or getting rid of the dog (20; 10%). CONCLUSIONS: Barking was considered to be potentially disturbing by respondents to this survey. Attitudes towards barking were most influenced by age, dog ownership, past experience with dogs and attitude towards dog bites. Public understanding of the possible reasons for barking and appropriate methods of managing the behaviour when it becomes a problem could be improved by better education and the provision of information through veterinary clinics and social media.

Characteristics of adult dog owners in New Zealand.

AIM: To investigate the characteristics of adult dog owners in New Zealand, and to identify factors that influence dog ownership. METHODS: A 12-page questionnaire comprising 48 questions was sent to 2,000 people throughout New Zealand randomly selected from the electoral roll. RESULTS: Seven hundred and twenty-seven completed questionnaires were received from 1,750 questionnaires successfully delivered, a response rate of 42%. Twenty-nine percent (211/727) of respondents currently owned dogs, and 32% (233/727) had never owned a dog; the remaining 39% (283/727) had some history of dog ownership. The level of dog ownership was influenced by the type of dwelling, region, age, marital status, presence and age of children, and type of personality. CONCLUSIONS: Dog owners in New Zealand are likely to be aged between 18 and 55 years, educated to secondary school level or above, live in a rural or suburban area, be married or in a de-facto relationship with children over the age of one year, and consider themselves to be of positive character.

A survey of adult victims of dog bites in New Zealand.

AIM: To describe the circumstances of dog bites to adults in New Zealand, in order to better understand factors associated with these bites. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 1,800 adults aged > or =16 years who had made claims to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) in 2002 as a result of dog bites. RESULTS: Five hundred and thirty-five questionnaires were returned; 50% of respondents were male, and 30% of bites were reported to local authorities. Most injuries were to the legs or hand. More people were bitten by male dogs than female dogs. A disproportionate number of bites took place in rural areas, but the most common locations for attacks were streets/walkways, and the victim's home. Protection of territory, accidental bites, fear, and pain were considered to be the most common reasons for dogs to bite. CONCLUSION: Many victims were bitten in situations that could have been avoided.

Live analysis of lagging chromosomes during anaphase and their effect on spindle elongation rate in fission yeast.

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is widely used as a model system for studies of the cell cycle and chromosome biology. To enhance these studies we have fused GFP to the chromodomain protein Swi6p, thus allowing nuclear and chromosome behaviour to be followed in living cells using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. Like endogenous Swi6p, GFP-Swi6p localises to the nucleus and is concentrated at the heterochromatic centromeres and telomeres. The nucleus is highly dynamic during interphase: the clustered centromeres, in particular, are highly mobile. By expressing GFP-(&agr;)2-tubulin and GFP-Swi6p in the same cells we observe that the clustered centromeres move in concert with the cytoplasmic microtubules, which is likely to reflect their association with the spindle pole body. Drug treatment indicates that this movement is dependent on intact cytoplasmic microtubules. We have also used GFP-Swi6p to investigate the properties of lagging chromosomes observed in mutants with defects in chromosome segregation. Lagging chromosomes display a variety of behaviours on anaphase spindles, most surprisingly, chromosomes appear to initiate microtubule interactions and move to the poles late in anaphase B. Interestingly, in cells displaying lagging chromosomes, the rate of spindle elongation is slowed by a factor of two. This suggests that cells are able to sense the presence of a lagging chromosome and slow anaphase B in order to allow it extra time to reach the pole. However, this mechanism is not dependent on the spindle checkpoint proteins Bub1p or Dma1p, raising the possibility that a novel checkpoint mechanism operates to retard spindle elongation if lagging chromosomes are detected. An alternative model is also discussed in which single defective kinetochores on lagging chromatids are able to interact simultaneously with microtubules emanating from both poles and affect spindle dynamics by counteracting the spindle elongation force.

Defective meiosis in telomere-silencing mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

During meiotic prophase, chromosomes frequently adopt a bouquet-like arrangement, with their telomeres clustered close to the nuclear periphery. A dramatic example of this occurs in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, where all telomeres aggregate adjacent to the spindle pole body (SPB). Nuclei then undergo rapid traverses of the cell, known as 'horsetail' movement, which is led by the SPB dragging telomeres and chromosomes behind. This process may initiate or facilitate chromosome pairing before recombination and meiosis. With the aim of identifying components involved in telomere structure and function, we report here the isolation of S. pombe mutants defective in the ability to impose transcriptional silencing on genes placed near telomeres. Two of these mutants, lot2-s17 and lot3-uv3, also display a dramatic lengthening of telomeric repeats. lot3-uv3 carries a mutation in Taz1, a telomere-binding protein containing a Myb-like motif similar to two human telomere-binding proteins. Meiosis is aberrant in these mutant yeast strains, and our analysis demonstrates a decreased association of telomeres with the SPB in meiotic prophase. This results in defective 'horsetail' movement, a significant reduction in recombination, low spore viability and chromosome missegregation through meiosis.

Dynamic digital traction for unstable comminuted intra-articular fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint.

Unstable intra-articular fracture-dislocations about the proximal interphalangeal joint present a formidable management dilemma. Fourteen patients with comminuted injuries of the proximal interphalangeal joint were treated with dynamic digital traction and followed for an average of 24 months. Dorsal fracture-dislocation and pilon-type injuries made up the majority of cases. Average proximal interphalangeal joint articular surface involvement was 80%. Immediate motion was instituted after traction application. The device was applied in the office with readily available materials. At final follow-up examination, active arc of motion averaged 89 degrees at the proximal interphalangeal joint and 95 degrees for patients sustaining isolated injuries. X-ray films revealed fracture union, joint remodeling, and preservation of joint space. Patient satisfaction was high, with return to previous levels of activity and excellent functional joint restoration. Dynamic digital traction is recommended for unstable proximal interphalangeal joint fractures with comminution, including those associated with subluxation or dislocation.

Micronuclei in neonatal lymphocytes treated with the topoisomerase II inhibitors amsacrine and etoposide.

It has been suggested that the enzyme topoisomerase II may be important in chromosome segregation due to the role played by the enzyme in decatenating the intertwined DNA molecules that result from DNA replication. Inhibition of the enzyme has been found by some workers to inhibit chromatid separation in mammalian cells, while others have reported that the passage of cells through mitosis is unaffected. Inhibition of the enzyme with topoisomerase II inhibiting drugs also results in the formation of micronuclei as a consequence of DNA damage. We have used the micronucleus assay with CREST staining to investigate whether the micronuclei formed in neonatal lymphocytes after inhibition of topoisomerase II are formed from whole chromosomes, implying non-disjunction, or acentric fragments. We found that treatment with both amasacrine and etoposide caused a dose-related increase in the number of CREST negative micronuclei, with only a very small increase in the number of CREST positive micronuclei at high concentrations of the compounds. Although we cannot conclude from our experiments that treatment with topoisomerase II inhibitors does not affect the segregation of neonatal lymphocytes, the production of CREST negative micronuclei suggests that segregation abnormalities are less important than other mechanisms which may cause cytotoxicity from exposure to these compounds.

The identification of micronucleated chromosomes: a possible assay for aneuploidy.

A technique is presented for establishing the presence of kinetochores in micronuclei (mn) using CREST antikinetochore antibodies and immunofluorescence. In cultured lymphocytes blocked in their second cycle by cytochalasin-B 61% baseline mn possess kinetochores, and thus originated from whole chromosomes. Mn-inducing agents with different modes of action were compared to determine the proportion of mn with kinetochores: virtually all X-ray- and mitomycin-C-induced mn were derived from acentric fragments as shown by the absence of kinetochore immunofluorescence, whereas the majority (79%) of colcemid-induced mn were CREST positive, reflecting the formation of mn through failure of attachment of chromosomes to the spindle. The proportion of mn without kinetochore fluorescence in the control (39%) and colcemid-treated (21%) cultures was greater than expected and possible reasons for this are discussed.

Immunogold labeling of metaphase cells.

A method is presented for the phenotypic identification of metaphase cells stained for chromosome aberration and SCE analysis. The cells are labeled in suspension with antibodies conjugated with colloidal gold, and then chromosome preparations are made using a cytocentrifuge. A silver development (IGSS) procedure is used to enhance the gold labeling for light microscopy. A variety of fixatives may be employed, permitting various cytogenetic and cytochemical staining procedures to be used.

The effect of fluoride on chromosome aberration and sister-chromatid exchange frequencies in cultured human lymphocytes.

Sodium fluoride, at concentrations of up to 60 times the level normally used in drinking water for the prevention of dental decay, was compared with 2 other inorganic salts for its ability to induce chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) in cultured human lymphocytes. No significant increases in the frequencies of aberrations of SCEs were found.

An automated image analysis system for the detection of rare autoradiographically labelled cells in the human lymphocyte HGPRT variant assay.

This paper describes a fast and accurate method for the identification of autoradiographically labelled human hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) variant lymphocytes on slide preparations using a high-speed computer image analysis system--the Fast Interval Processor (FIP). The system has been developed primarily for the analysis of cultured human peripheral blood lymphocyte populations in which the frequency of labelled cells may vary from less than one to more than 2,000 in every 10,000 cells. Evaluation experiments have demonstrated the excellent performance of FIP in the counting of labelled and total cells over this frequency range.

Contraceptive knowledge, contraceptive use, and pregnancy risk experience among young Manawatu women.

The contraceptive knowledge, use, and desire for information of never-married Manawatu women aged 16-19 years were examined, distinguishing between respondents with and without pregnancy risk (coital) experience. Overall, 45.7% of the women had ever been at risk, the percentage varying positively with age. Awareness of contraceptive methods (especially the pill and condom) was widespread, particularly among the sexually experienced, a higher percentage of whom had also ever wanted and sought contraceptive information. Women who had never been at risk were less knowledgeable, fewer had ever wanted information (19.3%) and about one-third knew of no source of contraceptive information. Few (7.9%) of the sexually experienced had never used any contraceptive methods but others (19.9%) had not yet employed an effective female method. These results, akin to previous studies, indicate a need for school-based sex education.

PIP: The contraceptive knowledge, use, and desire for information of never married Manawatu women ages 16-19 were examined, distinguishing between respondents with and without pregnancy risk (coital) experience. Overall, 45.7% of the women had ever been at risk, the percentage varying positively with age. Awareness of contraceptive methods (especially the pill and condom) was widespread, particularly among the sexually experienced, a higher percentage of whom had also ever wanted and sought contraceptive information. Women who had never been at risk were less knowledgeable, fewer had ever wanted information (19.3%), and about 1/3 knew of no source of contraceptive information. Few (7.9%) of the sexually experienced had never used any contraceptive methods but others (19.9%) had not yet employed an effective female method. These results, similar to previous studies, indicate a need for school-based sex education.

Induction of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) by thymidine and the potentiation of mutagen-induced SCEs in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

The effect of nucleosides, a group of naturally occurring cell constituents, on the frequency of sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells has been studied. Addition of thymidine (TdR) to the culture medium causes a dose-dependent increase and at 100 microM concentration, the SCE frequency is approximately doubled. This effect is totally reversed by 200 microM deoxycytidine (dCdR) suggesting that deoxycytidine starvation is responsible for this enhancing effect. Neither dCdR by itself nor deoxyadenosine (dAdR) or deoxyguanosine (dGdR) up to 300 microM concentrations had any effect on the incidence of SCE. The frequency of SCE induced by 10(-7) M N-methyl-N-nitro-nitrosoguanine (MNNG) is increased 2-fold by the addition of 100 microM TdR and this effect is also cancelled by 200 microM dCdR. These results point to the importance of the balance in DNA-precursor pools for normal DNA synthesis, infidelity of replication and errors in the replication of alkylated DNA increasing when the precursor pools become unbalanced.

Induction of SCE by opium pyrolysates in CHO cells and human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The induction of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) by opium pipe scrapings (sukhteh, Su) and the pyrolysis products of opium (Op) and of its major alkaloids, morphine (Mo), have been compared with that of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC). All pyrolysates induced SCE and the frequency was further increased by the inclusion of S9-mix in the protocol. The pyrolysates of Op induced considerably more SCE than CSC when the same concentrations were compared on a weight basis, and the rank in order of potency in CHO cells was MO greater than Op greater than CSC greater than Su. The Op pyrolysates may therefore contribute a significant risk factor to the observed high incidence of oesophageal cancer in areas of Iran where heavy Op usage occurs.

The oral contraceptive pill: use, user satisfaction, side effects and fears among Manawatu women.

The 1978 Manawatu Family Growth Study included questions on the oral contraceptive pill to gauge aspects of its use, user satisfaction and the experience of side effects and fears. Of the 1390 women aged 16-44 interviewed, 1085 (78 percent) had ever used the pill--411 and 674 were current and previous users, respectively. Among the current users 45.2 percent stated they sometimes forgot to take the pill and 50 percent reported they were not entirely happy about using the pill. For dissatisfied current users and all previous users it was found that: (a) various side effects were experienced by substantial percentages in each group, the most common being weight gain or swelling; and (b) a fear of permanent damage to health was acknowledged by more than half of each group. Concern caused by publicity on side effects was reported by 46.9 percent of those who had ever used the pill. These and other results, and their implications, indicate a need for instruction, guidance and counselling for oral contraceptive users.

PIP: The study is based on data from the 1978 Manawatu Family Growth Study concerning use, user satisfaction, and experience of side effects and fears among oral contraceptive (OC) users. 1085 (78%) of the 1390 women aged 16-44 interviewed had ever used OCs, 411 were current users. The proportion ever using OCs varied by age from 48.3% of women 16-19 to around 90% for those 25-34, 75.9% of current and 43.3% of former users were aged 16-29. 21.5% of previous users discontinued to become pregnant, and 65.6% switched to another method. 45.2% of current users admitted to sometimes forgetting to take the pill. 50% reported they were not entirely happy with the pill, with dissatisfaction lowest among current users aged 16-19 and 35-39 and greatest among those 25-34. Substantial proportions of dissatisfied current users and of previous users reported various side effects, among which swelling or weight gain, dizziness, headache, or feeling weak were among the most common; nausea, bleeding, and changes in skin or hair were reported also by many. Fears of permanent damage to their health were reported by over 1/2 of dissatisfied current users and of previous users, and 46.9% of ever users reported that publicity about possible side effects had caused them concern. Subgroup variation was found in use and experience, as illustrated by greater incidence among Maori women of both forgetting and satisfaction among current users. Study findings suggest a need for instruction, guidance, and counseling for OC users.

Breast feeding trends among Manawatu women: a cohort approach.

The breast feeding trends for first, second and third parity births for four successive birth cohorts of Manawatu mothers were examined. Two recent phases in breast feeding behaviour were identified; an initial period of decline, represented by the two oldest cohorts, and a subsequent resurgence among women in the two younger cohorts. This basic pattern was clearly evident in the incidence of breast feeding for each parity and for the mean duration of feeding for first parity births. Reflecting public and professional attitudes, it was found that these trends were paralleled by a change in the discussion and encouragement of breast feeding. A relationship between the discussion, encouragement and practice of breast feeding is suggested by these results.

Cultured mouse embryos metabolize benzo[a]pyrene during early gestation: genetic differences detectable by sister chromatid exchange.

Mouse embryos explanted at 7 1/2 or 8 1/2 days of gestation were cultured in medium containing benzo[a]pyrene and supplemented with 5-bromodeoxyuridine to allow detection of sister chromatid exchanges. The murine Ah locus regulates the inducible metabolism of polycyclic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene. A high frequency of sister chromatid exchange was induced by benzo[a]pyrene in embryos from three Ah-"responsive" inbred strains (BALB/cDub, C3H/AnfCum, and C57BL/6N); there was little or no increase in two Ah-"nonresponsive" inbred strains (AKR/J and DBA/2J). Benzo[a]pyrene also induced sister chromatid exchanges in the Ah-responsive recombinant inbred line B6NXAKN-12 but not in the Ah-nonresponsive recombinant inbred line B6NXAKN-3. Sister chromatid exchange in cultured Ah-responsive mouse embryos was thus shown to be a sensitive assay. These data provide direct evidence that genetically responsive mouse embryos (early postimplantation stage) possess the subcellular processes necessary for induction of enzymes that metabolize benzo[a]pyrene to its chemically active forms(s). Both the Ah regulatory gene product (a cytoslic receptor) and the structural gene product (inducible cytochrome P1-450) therefore appear to be functional at an early embryonic age. Furthermore, this metabolic capacity may play an important role in the damage to embryonic cells by polycyclic hydracarbons.

Evaluation of the dorsalis pedis free flap donor site by angiography.

Six patients were evaluated by angiography for dorsalis pedis free flap transfer because the course of the dorsalis pedis artery could not be traced by palpation. Two were subsequently excluded because they showed vascular occlusions. Successful transfer depends on the dorsalis pedis artery and its branches being intact, while healing of the donor site depends on the function of the posterior tibial artery. Angiography was found to be helpful in determining both of these factors.