The Eyewitness Community Survey: An Engaging Citizen Science Tool to Capture Reliable Data while Improving Community Participants' Environmental Health Knowledge and Attitudes.

Many youths and young adults have variable environmental health knowledge, limited understanding of their local environment's impact on their health, and poor environmentally friendly behaviors. We sought to develop and test a tool to reliably capture data, increase environmental health knowledge, and engage youths as citizen scientists to examine and take action on their community's challenges. The Eyewitness Community Survey (ECS) was developed through several iterations of co-design. Herein, we tested its performance. In Phase I, seven youths audited five 360° photographs. In Phase II, 27 participants works as pairs/trios and audited five locations, typically 7 days apart. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were determined. Changes in participants' knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and self-efficacy were surveyed. Feedback was obtained via focus groups. Intra-rater reliability was in the substantial/near-perfect range, with Phase II having greater consistency. Inter-rater reliability was high, with 42% and 63% of Phase I and II Kappa, respectively, in the substantial/near-perfect range. Knowledge scores improved after making observations (p ≤ 0.032). Participants (85%) reported the tool to be easy/very easy to use, with 70% willing to use it again. Thus, the ECS is a mutually beneficial citizen science tool that rigorously captures environmental data and provides engaging experiential learning opportunities.

Environmental Health Knowledge Does Not Necessarily Translate to Action in Youth.

Environmental challenges pose serious health problems, especially for children, and lay public action is lacking. This study sought to characterize the relationship between environmental health knowledge and behavior in youth. A cross-sectional, descriptive survey with quantitative and qualitative questions was conducted. Open-ended questions were coded to generate themes/subthemes. Subscales' scores were presented as mean ± SD or median and interquartile range (IQR). T- and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare groups, and correlations were used to evaluate covariation. A total of 452 children were surveyed. Youth verbalized concerns about their environments and their impact on health. Air pollution was the most concerning issue. Participants had moderate knowledge scores. Few described the three health domains; even fewer included environment. Behavior scores were low and weakly correlated with knowledge, but were moderately correlated with attitude and self-efficacy. Participation in environmental classes, activities, and clubs was associated with higher scores. We found variable environmental health knowledge, limited understanding of the local environment's impact on health, and a weak association between youth's knowledge and behavior. Focused formal and non-formal educational experiences were associated with improved scores, indicating the value of targeted youth educational programming to increase environmental health knowledge and action.

Nasal DNA methylation is associated with childhood asthma.

AIM: We aim to study DNA methylation (DNAm) variations associated with childhood asthma. METHODS: Nasal DNAm was compared between sibling pairs discordant for asthma, 29 sib pairs for genome-wide association studies and 54 sib pairs for verification by pyrosequencing. Associations of methylation with asthma symptoms, allergy and environmental exposures were evaluated. In vitro experiments and functional genomic analyses were performed to explore biologic relevance. RESULTS: Three CpGs were associated with asthma. cg14830002 was associated with allergies in nonasthmatics. cg23602092 was associated with asthma symptoms. cg14830002 and cg23602092 were associated with traffic-related air pollution exposure. Nearby genes were transcriptionally regulated by diesel exhaust, house dust mite and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Active chromatin marks and transcription factor binding were found around these sites. CONCLUSION: We identified novel DNAm variations associated with childhood asthma and suggested new disease-contributing epigenetic mechanisms.

Detection of articular pathology of the distal aspect of the third metacarpal bone in thoroughbred racehorses: comparison of radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To compare digital radiography (DR), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detection of pathology of the distal aspect of the third metacarpal bone (MC3) and to assess whether arthrography would improve detection of articular cartilage or subchondral bone cracking. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Limb specimens from 17 Thoroughbred horses after catastrophic injury and 4 age-matched control horses. METHODS: Standard DR, CT, and MRI images of the metacarpophalangeal joint were acquired before and after iohexol injection. Pathologic features detected with imaging and on visual inspection of cartilage and subchondral bone of the distal aspect of MC3 were graded. Imaging observations were compared with pathologic abnormalities. RESULTS: Inspection revealed obvious changes in the cartilage and subchondral bone surfaces in Thoroughbreds. Both CT and MRI were superior to DR for detection of subchondral bone pathology. Cracking of cartilage was not detected by any imaging modality. Signal changes associated with cartilage loss and development of repair tissue were evident on MRI in 9/19 cases. There was significant correlation (P < .05) between subchondral bone pathology detected on both CT and MRI, and cartilage pathology on gross examination. Contrast arthrography did not improve the detection of articular cartilage or subchondral plate cracking. CONCLUSION: Both CT and MRI are superior to DR for detection of subchondral bone pathology, but underestimate the extent of joint adaptation and pathologic damage. MRI was able to detect cartilage degeneration.

Efficacy of leflunomide for treatment of immune-mediated polyarthritis in dogs: 14 cases (2006-2008).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and adverse effects of leflunomide for the treatment of naturally occurring immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA) in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 14 dogs with cytologically confirmed IMPA. PROCEDURES: Medical records were used to identify dogs with a diagnosis of IMPA that were treated with leflunomide. Signalment, radiographic findings, laboratory data, dosage of leflunomide, treatment duration, treatment response, and occurrence of adverse effects were determined from medical records. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD initial dosage of leflunomide was 3.0 +/- 0.5 mg/kg (1.4 +/- 0.2 mg/lb) PO once daily. Treatment duration for the initial starting dosage ranged from 1 to 6 weeks. Of the 14 dogs treated with leflunomide, 8 had complete resolution of clinical signs of IMPA initially, 5 had partial response to treatment, and 1 had minimal response to treatment. Adverse effects from treatment with leflunomide were not observed during the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral administration of leflunomide was a safe and effective alternative to oral administration of corticosteroids for treatment of IMPA in dogs. On the basis of findings in this study, a starting dosage for leflunomide of 3 to 4 mg/kg (1.4 to 1.8 mg/lb) PO once daily for at least 6 weeks before making dose adjustments is recommended. Dose adjustments should be based on cytologic evaluation of synovial fluid and clinical signs of IMPA. Hematologic variables, serum biochemical analysis results, and clinical signs of IMPA should be monitored for evidence of adverse effects to treatment with leflunomide.

Seasonal variation in detection of bacterial DNA in arthritic stifle joints of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture using PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene.

An underappreciated cause and effect relationship between environmental bacteria and arthritis may exist. Previously, we found that stifle arthritis in dogs was associated with the presence of environmental bacteria within synovium. Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) is often associated with stifle arthritis in dogs. We now wished to determine whether seasonal variation in detection of bacterial material may exist in affected dogs, and to also conduct analyses of both synovium and synovial fluid. We also wished to analyze a larger clone library of the 16S rRNA gene to further understanding of the microbial population in the canine stifle. Synovial biopsies were obtained from 117 affected dogs from January to December 2006. Using PCR, synovium and synovial fluid were tested for Borrelia burgdorferi and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia DNA. Broad-ranging 16S rRNA primers were also used and PCR products were cloned and sequenced for bacterial identification. Overall, 41% of arthritic canine stifle joints contained bacterial DNA. Detection of bacterial DNA in synovial fluid samples was increased, when compared with synovium (p<0.01). Detection rates were highest in the winter and spring and lowest in the summer period, suggesting environmental factors influence the risk of translocation to the stifle. Organisms detected were predominately Gram's negative Proteobacteria, particularly the orders Rhizobiales (32.8% of clones) and Burkholderiales (20.0% of clones), usually as part of a polymicrobial population. PCR-positivity was inversely correlated with severity of arthritis assessed radiographically and with dog age. Bacterial translocation to the canine stifle may be associated with changes to the indoor environment.

Mechanical loading of a long bone induces plasticity in sensory input to the central nervous system.

Although the skeleton is extensively innervated by sensory nerves, the importance of this innervation to skeletal physiology is unclear. Neuronal connectivity between limbs is little studied and likely underestimated. In this study, we examined the effect of bone loading on spinal plasticity in young male Sprague-Dawley rats, using end-loading of the ulna and transynaptic tracing with the Bartha pseudorabies virus (PRV). PRV was inoculated onto the periosteum of the right ulna after 10 days of adaptation to a single period of cyclic loading of the right ulna (1,500 cycles of load at 4 Hz, initial peak strain of -3,750 micro epsilon). We found that neuronal circuits connect the sensory innervation of right thoracic limb to all other limbs, as PRV was detectable in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of left and right brachial and lumbosacral intumescences. We also found that mechanical loading of the right ulna induced plasticity in the spinal cord, with significant augmentation of the connectivity between limbs, as measured by PRV translocation. Within the spinal cord, PRV was predominantly found adjacent to the central canal and in the dorsal horns, suggesting that plasticity in cross-talk between limbs is likely a consequence of dendritic growth, and enhanced connectivity of propriospinal interneurons. In conclusion, the data clearly demonstrate that the innervation of the skeleton exhibits plasticity in response to loading events, suggesting the existence of a dynamic control system that may be of regulatory importance during functional skeletal adaptation.