Factors associated with recent HIV testing among men who have sex with men in New York City.

Understanding factors associated with recent HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) is important for designing interventions to increase testing rates and link cases to care. A cross-sectional study of MSM was conducted in NYC in 2011 using venue-based sampling. Associations between HIV testing in the past 12 months and relevant variables were examined through the estimation of prevalence ratios (PR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Of 448 participants, 107 (23.9 %) had not been tested in the past 12 months. Factors independently associated with not testing in the previous 12 months were: lack of a visit to a healthcare provider in the past 12 months (aPR: 2.5; 95 % CI: 1.9, 3.2); age ≥30 (adjusted PR: 1.9; 95 % CI: 1.4, 2.7); not having completed a bachelor's degree (aPR: 1.6; 95 % CI: 1.0, 2.4); and non-gay sexual identity (aPR: 1.4; 95 % CI: 1.0, 1.8); such MSM may be less aware of the need for frequent HIV testing.

Use of the radial forearm flap for deep, central, midfacial defects.

Six cases that required soft-tissue replacement in the central midface are presented. The greatest number of flaps were used for large defects in patients with cleft palates who had undergone multiple previous operations. Several were for palatal defects attributable to cocaine abuse, and one was used for lining in a nasal reconstruction. There were no flap losses and, on the basis of these experiences, it is concluded that this is an excellent method for providing soft tissue in these difficult situations.

Overgrowth of fat autotransplanted for correction of localized steroid-induced atrophy.

A case is presented in which regional subcutaneous atrophy in the lateral thigh after steroid injection was treated with autologous fat grafting. More than 1 year after treatment, an increase in the volume of the transplanted site necessitated a secondary procedure to debulk the area. We believe that this is a case in which the transplanted adipocytes (or preadipocytes) survived and subsequently (for an unclear reason) increased significantly in volume. This case report supports the cell survival theory of fat autotransplantation. Animal studies using radioisotope-labeled lipocytes might provide further understanding of the mechanisms of fat graft "survival."

Abdominal wall closure after intestinal transplantation.

Successful surgical closure of the abdominal wall after either combined or isolated intestinal transplantation may present a challenging dilemma for the plastic and reconstructive surgeon because of the following factors: restricted volume of the recipient abdominal cavity; donor-recipient size discrepancies as expressed by the donor to recipient weight ratio; and significant intraoperative edema. The purpose of this investigation is to present clinical experience with 51 consecutive patients who underwent a total of 57 sequential intestinal transplantations at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital. A retrospective chart review of 36 pediatric (63 percent) and 21 adult (37 percent) transplantations was performed. Age of the pediatric population ranged from 1 month to 13 years (mean, 2.4 years) and of the adult population from 22 to 55 years (mean, 33.5 years). Several diagnostic classifications necessitated organ transplantation. Because of insufficient donor graft size for the recipient abdominal cavity in 19 transplantations (33 percent), several technical modifications were used to achieve anatomic and functional abdominal wall closure in all patients. In summary, the plastic and reconstructive surgeon should have a significant role in the comprehensive planning and management of abdominal wall closure in this challenging group of patients.

Comparison of sire breed solutions for growth traits adjusted by mean expected progeny differences to a 1993 base.

Records on growth traits were obtained from five Midwestern agricultural experiment stations as part of a beef cattle crossbreeding project (NC-196). Records on birth weight (BWT, n =3,490), weaning weight (WWT, n = 3,237), and yearling weight (YWT, n = 1,372) were analyzed within locations and pooled across locations to obtain estimates of breed of sire differences. Solutions for breed of sire differences were adjusted to the common base year of 1993. Then, factors to use with within-breed expected progeny differences (EPD) to obtain across-breed EPD were calculated. These factors were compared with factors obtained from similar analyses of records from the U. S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC). Progeny of Brahman sires mated to Bos taurus cows were heaviest at birth and among the lightest at weaning. Simmental and Gelbvieh sires produced the heaviest progeny at weaning. Estimates of heritability pooled across locations were .34, .19, and .07 for BWT, WWT, and YWT, respectively. Regression coefficients of progeny performance on EPD of sire were 1.25+/-.09, .98+/-.13, and .62+/-.18 for BWT, WWT, and YWT, respectively. Rankings of breeds of sire generally did not change when adjusted for sire sampling. Rankings were generally similar to those previously reported for MARC data, except for Limousin and Charolais sires, which ranked lower for BWT and WWT at NC-196 locations than at MARC. Adjustment factors used to obtain across-breed EPD were largest for Brahman for BWT and for Gelbvieh for WWT. The data for YWT allow only comparison of Angus with Simmental and of Gelbvieh with Limousin.

Isolation, cloning, and sequencing of porcine agouti exon 2 (PorAex2).

In order to isolate, clone, and sequence agouti exon 2 of the pig (Yorkshire), we used an interspecific hybridization strategy. Primers from the 5' and 3' borders of the known human agouti exon 2 sequence were used to amplify (PCR) pig agouti exon 2. Following Southern blotting using a human exon 2 internal primer to authenticate that our PCR amplified product was truly pig exon 2 (PorAex2), the fragment was cloned and sequenced. PorAex2 exhibits 79.1 and 75.7% DNA sequence and 85 and 74% deduced amino acid sequence homologies with human and mouse agouti exon 2 and agouti protein, respectively. With the isolation of PorAex2, we can now map, sequence, and clarify the modus operandi of the porcine agouti gene. The GenBank Accession number of PorAex 2 is AF018166.

Graft-related complications after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: reassurance from a 36-year population-based experience.

PURPOSE: Graft-related complications must be factored into the long-term morbidity and mortality rates of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. However, the true incidence may be underestimated because some patients do not return to the original surgical center when a problem arises. METHODS: To minimize referral bias and loss to follow-up, we studied all patients who underwent AAA repair between 1957 and 1990 in a geographically defined community where all AAA operations were performed and followed by a single surgical practice. All patients who remained alive were asked to have their aortic grafts imaged. RESULTS: Among 307 patients who underwent AAA repair, 29 patients (9.4%) had a graft-related complication. At a mean follow-up of 5.8 years (range, < 30 days to 36 years), the most common complication was anastomotic pseudoaneurysm (3.0%), followed by graft thrombosis (2.0%), graft-enteric erosion/fistula (1.6%), graft infection (1.3%), anastomotic hemorrhage (1.3%), colon ischemia (0.7%), and atheroembolism (0.3%). Complications were recognized within 30 days after surgery in eight patients (2.6%) and at late follow-up in 21 patients (6.8%). These complications were observed at a median follow-up of 6.1 years for anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, 4.3 years for graft-enteric erosion, and 0.15 years for graft infection. Kaplan-Meier 5- and 10-year survival free estimates were 98% and 96% for anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, 98% and 95% for combined graft-enteric erosion/infection, and 98% and 97% for graft thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: This 36-year population-based study confirms that the vast majority of patients who undergo standard surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm remain free of any significant graft-related complication during their remaining lifetime.

Anterior SMAS plication for the treatment of prominent nasomandibular folds and restoration of normal cheek contour.

Prominent nasomandibular folds and cheek concavities are common sequelae of the aging process. The difficulty in achieving initial and long-lasting correction has been well documented. Anterior SMAS plication as an adjunct to subcutaneous rhytidectomy has proven to be an effective, straightforward method of flattening and rejuvinating the nasomandibular folds. Ptotic cheek fat is returned to the cheek hollow, and the end result is a more youthful, symmetrical flattening of the nasomandibular folds and jowls. The anterior SMAS is plicated vertically with a row of permanent sutures placed just lateral to the nasomandibular fold. Less tension is required on the skin flaps at closure, and this permits precise control of anterior SMAS vectors without the time, expense, and potential morbidity of more extensive dissections. The additional cost is that of two sutures and an extra 10 to 15 minutes of operative time. This technique has been performed on 226 patients of both sexes, and there have been no complications, including nerve injuries, infections, or dehiscences. The longest follow-up has been 2.2 years, and there have been no asymmetries, contour irregularities, or early recurrences.

Breed differences and genetic parameters for body composition traits in beef cattle.

The recent scientific literature was reviewed to summarize breed differences and genetic parameters for carcass traits in beef cattle. Heritability estimates were generally moderate to large, suggesting good potential for accurate genetic selection for a given individual carcass characteristic. However, effectiveness of multiple-trait selection for some trait combinations could be slowed by genetic antagonisms between traits, suggesting the use of terminal breeding systems with complementary sire and dam genetic types. Individual and maternal heterosis estimates from age-constant analyses were numerically positive for most carcass traits, although estimates from weight-constant analyses were generally nonsignificant. Potential contributions to improved carcass composition from crossbreeding would primarily result from genetic complementarity rather than heterosis. Considerable variation exists between breeds for body composition, and breed rankings vary across different traits. Studies have consistently indicated reduced meat tenderness for Bos indicus compared with Bos taurus breeds. Some differences in breed rankings for marbling vs tenderness were noted. If the U.S. beef industry shifts toward a more value-based marketing system, some genetic concerns will include 1) an apparent antagonistic relationship between marbling and cutability across breeds and within some breeds, 2) inconsistency of beef tenderness, particularly in Bos indicus cattle, 3) the effect of increased leanness on female reproductive performance, and 4) the extent to which terminal breeding systems can be used.

Relationship of beef sire expected progeny difference to maternal performance of crossbred daughters.

Cumulative milk production of crossbred daughters of sires of several breeds was estimated using weigh-suckle-weigh procedures. Pooled-across-breed analyses were conducted to determine, in retrospect, relationships of sire EPD values for milk and total maternal value to daughter milk yield and daughter's offspring weaning weight. The pooled coefficient for regression of daughter 214-d milk yield on sire milk EPD was 13.4 kg/kg (residual correlation was .14). The overall mean estimated milk yield was 1,262 kg, suggesting that a difference in sire milk EPD of 1 kg corresponded to a difference of approximately 1% in cumulative daughter milk yield. The pooled coefficient for regression of daughter's offspring 214-d weight on sire total maternal EPD was 1.18 kg/kg (residual correlation was .17). All regression and correlation coefficient stated above were significantly greater than zero. Breeders who use sire milk and total maternal EPD values as selection tools should expect such selection to be effective, on average, but should also expect that a substantial proportion of individuals or small groups may not rank as predicted.

The relationship of the maintenance energy requirement to heifer production efficiency.

Thirty-three Hereford x Angus first-calf heifers were used to determine the relationship between production efficiency (PE = calf weaning weight/[12-mo dam+calf ME intake]) and nonlactating dam maintenance ME requirement/BW.75 (MEm) and its components, the efficiency of ME use for maintenance (km), and fasting heat production/BW.75 (FHP). Each heifer was kept in drylot from 19 mo of age until weaning of its first calf, during which time individual feed intakes were measured. After the PE phase, heifers were moved to the metabolism facility and indirect respiration calorimetry was used to determine maintenance energy metabolism. Maintenance metabolism of the dam, determined in controlled conditions, contributed little to explaining PE variation (r2 < or = .04). This may have been due to the high plane of nutrition provided and (or) to the physiological state of the heifers during metabolism measurements. Selection for lower MEm, as determined by the procedures used in this study, is unlikely to improve heifer PE if nutrition is not limited relative to requirements. Additionally, MEm was closely related to FHP (r2 = .73), suggesting that it could be used as an indicator of fed maintenance requirements when determined within defined conditions.

Interrelationships of heifer milk production and other biological traits with production efficiency to weaning.

Interrelationships among milk production, dam-calf feed efficiency to weaning, and other biological traits were evaluated on 411 first-calf heifers and their calves. Individual feed intakes were measured in a drylot environment for a 1-yr period until weaning of the first calf. Heifer breed types included crossbred Angus-Hereford, Simmental-Hereford, and Tarentaise-Hereford produced in two-breed rotational crossbreeding systems, F1 Salers-Hereford and straightbred Hereford. Production efficiency was defined as cumulative feed ME consumed by the dam-calf pair during the year divided by calf weaning weight. Milk production potential seemed to be unrelated to cow size, adjusted for breed-group effects. Lactational feed energy was increased for dams of increased milk production potential but not enough to offset the increased production of calf weaning weight in terms of production efficiency. Results indicated that increased levels of milk production of heifers were associated with improved production efficiency to weaning. However, the incremental improvement in efficiency per unit of increased milk was less for each additional unit of milk, within the range evaluated. These results are applicable to first-calf heifers that have not yet reached peak age for maximum milk production.

Performance of Hereford and two-breed rotational crosses of Hereford with Angus and Simmental cattle: I. Calf production through weaning.

Cow size, reproductive traits and calf performance through weaning were evaluated in a range environment for Simmental (S) x Hereford (H) and Angus (A) x H crosses in two-breed rotations and straightbred H. Data were grouped into seven dam breed categories: straightbred Hereford (H), crossbred F1 S x H cows (SH), S x H cows of low percentage H (SHS), S x H cows of high percentage H (HSH), F1 A x H cows (AH), A x H cows of low percentage H (AHA) and A x H cows of high percentage H (HAH). Straightbred H, SH, AH, SHS and AHA cows were mated to H bulls, HSH cows were mated to S bulls and HAH cows were mated to A bulls. Cows in the SHS and AHA groups ranged from 1/4 to 3/8 H and their calves from 5/8 to 11/16 H. Cows within the HSH and HAH groups ranged from 5/8 to 3/4 H and their calves from 5/16 to 3/8 H. Cow age ranged from 3 to 10 yr. Simmental-cross cows were heavier and taller and produced heavier calves at birth and weaning than A-cross. Pregnancy rate, calf birth date and percentage of difficult births did not vary significantly among dam breed groups. Within the A x H and S x H rotations, dam breed group rankings for calf birth weight were inverse to rankings for proportion of H in the breed makeup of the calf.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Performance of Hereford and two-breed rotational crosses of Hereford with Angus and Simmental cattle: II. Carcass traits of steers.

Calf carcass traits were evaluated for Simmental (S) x Hereford (H) and Angus (A) x H crosses in two-breed rotations and for straightbred H. Data were grouped into seven dam breed categories: straightbred Hereford (H), F1 S x H cows (SH), S x H cows of low percentage H (SHS), S x H cows of high percentage H (HSH), F1 A x H cows (AH), A x H cows of low percentage H (AHA) and A x H cows of high percentage H (HAH). Straightbred H and crossbred SH, AH, SHS and AHA cows were mated to H bulls, HSH cows were mated to S bulls and HAH cows were mated to A bulls. Calves from the S x H rotation produced heavier carcasses with less fat, lower quality grade, larger longissimus area and increased estimated cutability compared to A x H calves. Some significant intergenerational differences were observed within rotations, particularly within S x H. Calves from HSH cows mated to S bulls produced carcasses with less fat cover, lower quality grade, larger longissimus muscle area and higher estimated cutability compared to calves from SHS dams mated to H bulls. Within both rotations, evaluation of carcass weight per day of age indicated that postweaning ADG was lower for generations for which H was the sire breed. Carcass traits of calves from SHS, HSH, AHA and HAH dam breed groups from the last 3 yr of the study when calves were fed under two different postweaning management systems were evaluated in a separate analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relative calving date of first-calf heifers as related to production efficiency and subsequent reproductive performance.

Relative date of first calving of beef heifers was studied in relation to production efficiency and subsequent reproductive performance. Crossbred heifers were managed in a drylot environment for 1 yr with feed intake measured through weaning of the first calf. Mean heifer age at entry into drylot was 572 d. Production traits were evaluated by calving group (CG), where CG1 included records of heifers calving (and calves born) in the first 21 d of the calving season for a particular year, CG2 included those calving from 22 through 42 d and CG3 included those calving after 42 d. Calving groups did not differ significantly for preweaning calf ADG, but weaning age differences resulted in heavier weaning weights for CG1 compared with CG2 and CG3. An earlier relative calving date was associated with increased cumulative feed energy intake of heifers and their calves during the 1-yr test period. In terms of production efficiency, the weaning weight advantage of earlier calving was offset only partly by the increased feed energy intake of the dam-calf unit, resulting in 6.3 Mcal (12.4%) less ME per kg calf weaning weight for CG1 vs CG3 for the 1-yr period. Within a limited calving season, earlier calving dams tended to be biologically and economically more efficient because a greater proportion of their annual production cycle was in a productive (lactating) mode, diluting maintenance costs as a fraction of all costs. Heifers in CG1 also tended to calve earlier than CG3 heifers for the second calf. Calving interval was a biased measure under the management conditions of a limited breeding season and culling of open cows.

Sutureless nerve repair at the fascicular level using a nerve coupler.

Peripheral nerves are transected in many traumatic injuries of the extremities. Satisfactory functional regeneration of such nerves often fails to occur after repair with sutures. Possible reasons for these failures include poor alignment of nerves or fascicles, intrusion of scar tissue into the nerve junction, and outgrowth of nerve tissue from the repair site. This animal study describes an experimental method of sutureless, monofascicular peripheral nerve repair using a resorbable nerve coupler in the rat model. The first version of this coupler shows approximately equal performance to suture repair. Histology and electrophysiology assessments after regeneration showed that the polyglycolic acid (PGA) tube repairs were functionally equal to monofascicular suture junctions as well as being quicker and simpler to perform. Modified coupler designs based on this and other work show greater promise. Collateral studies are using similar versions of the nerve coupler as a vehicle for the insertion of chemical and neuro-electronic factors that may enhance nerve regeneration.

Comparison of Charolais and Limousin as terminal cross sire breeds.

Birth, weaning, feedlot and carcass traits were evaluated on 1,181 calves sired by Charolais and Limousin bulls out of eight crossbred dam groups (Hereford X Angus, Angus X Hereford, Simmental X Angus, Simmental X Hereford, Brown Swiss X Angus, Brown Swiss X Hereford, Jersey X Angus, Jersey X Hereford). Calves were born in the spring over a 4-yr period during which dams ranged from 3 to 8 yr of age. Charolais-cross calves were 2.7 kg heavier (P less than .01) at birth and had a 9.9% higher (P less than .01) incidence of difficult calvings and 4.6% greater (P less than .05) preweaning death loss than did Limousin crosses. Charolais-sired calves out-gained Limousin-sired calves by 31 g/d (P less than .01) from birth to weaning and were 9 kg heavier (P less than .01) at weaning. After weaning, calves were self-fed a finishing diet and slaughtered as each animal attained an estimated carcass grade of low Choice. Charolais-cross calves gained 60 g/d faster (P less than .01) than Limousin crosses, were fed 6.8 fewer d and were 17.3 kg heavier (P less than .01) at slaughter. Feed efficiency was similar for both sire breeds. On a grade-equivalent basis, Charolais crosses produced 7 kg heavier (P less than .01) carcass and had 22 g more carcass weight per day of age (P less than .01). Charolais crosses had slightly less internal and external fat. Dressing percentage was higher for Limousin cross calves (64.6 vs 63.9%, P less than .01). Longissimus muscle area and carcass cutability were similar for crosses of both sire breeds.

Nutrient intake and efficiency of calf production by two-breed cross cows.

Individual consumption of total digestible nutrients (TDN) was measured on 105 two-breed cross cows (Hereford X Angus reciprocal crosses, HA; Simmental X Angus, SA; Simmental X Hereford, SH; Brown Swiss X Angus, BA; Brown Swiss X Hereford BH; Jersey X Angus, JA and Jersey X Hereford, JH) and their three-breed cross calves managed in drylot. Cows were 4 to 6 yr of age and mated to Charolais or Limousin bulls. Cows remained in the drylot for a period of approximately 1 yr (from weaning one year to weaning the next year). Ad libitum consumption of corn silage was allowed for about 4 h each day and fixed amounts of grain and protein supplement were fed as needed. Calf creep feed was provided during the latter portion of lactation. Compared with the average weight of HA cows (454 kg), SA cows were 7% heavier, SH, BA and BH cows were similar, while JH and JA cows were 15 and 22% lighter in weight, respectively. Total intake of TDN by cow and calf for the 365-d drylot period was greatest for the SA group (2,309 kg), exceeding that of the HA group by 11.2%. The JA group consumed 7.2% less than HA, while other groups were similar to HA in TDN intake. Daily intake of TDN for the 365-d period, expressed as a percentage of cow weight and cow weight .75, was highest for the smaller J crosses. The ratio of 365-d TDN intake to 205-d calf weight, a measure of weaning efficiency, averaged 10.0 kg/kg for JH, BH and SH, 10.5 kg/kg for HA and BA and 10.9 kg/kg for JA and SA. When TDN intake was adjusted for cow weight change, crossbred cow group was not a significant source of variation for kg TDN/205-d calf weight.