How well do farmers know their badgers? Relating farmer knowledge to ecological survey data.

Knowledge of badger distribution is important for the management of bovine tuberculosis. At the farm level, typically the only information on badger activity available is from the farmers themselves. This study compares how well farmer perceptions of badger activity match data obtained from ecological surveys. Farmer estimates of numbers of badger setts (burrows) surrounding their farms were generally correlated with field survey results, but tended to be underestimates. Farmers correctly recorded 50 per cent of setts recorded in surveys, with larger setts and active setts more likely to be correctly recorded. Badger visits to farm buildings and yards were also monitored using surveillance cameras. The majority of farmers were aware of badger visits to their farm buildings, but in 22 per cent of cases farmers were not aware of badger visits. At the farm level, knowledge of badger activity will be useful in informing vets and animal health professionals of the potential risks of disease transmission, and hence directing management interventions. However, the tendency to underestimate activity, combined with a lack of detailed knowledge of sett locations, means that farmer estimates of badger activity should be interpreted with caution and in isolation may not be sufficient to inform management interventions.

The Exposure Experience: Ohio River Valley Residents Respond to Local Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Contamination.

This article explores the "exposure experience" of participants who received their personal results in a biomonitoring study for perfluorooctanoic acid. Exposure experience is the process of identifying, understanding, and responding to chemical contamination. When biomonitoring studies report results to participants, those participants generate an exposure experience that identifies hidden contaminants and helps level informational imbalances between polluters and affected communities. Participants welcomed the opportunity to learn their exposure results, reporting no psychological harm following report-back. They wove health, economic, and political considerations into their interpretation of results and their present views of past impact. Participants framed their experiences by a half-century of dependence on the chemical industry's economic benefits, leading them to considerable acceptance of chemical exposure as a tradeoff for jobs and the local economy. Our findings show that the exposure experience is an ongoing process that influences social action, with new activism being generated by exposure and health studies.

A review of risk factors for bovine tuberculosis infection in cattle in the UK and Ireland.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important disease of cattle caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis, a pathogen that may be extremely difficult to eradicate in the presence of a true wildlife reservoir. Our objective was to identify and review relevant literature and provide a succinct summary of current knowledge of risk factors for transmission of infection of cattle. Search strings were developed to identify publications from electronic databases to February 2015. Abstracts of 4255 papers identified were reviewed by three reviewers to determine whether the entire article was likely to contain relevant information. Risk factors could be broadly grouped as follows: animal (including nutrition and genetics), herd (including bTB and testing history), environment, wildlife and social factors. Many risk factors are inter-related and study designs often do not enable differentiation between cause and consequence of infection. Despite differences in study design and location, some risk factors are consistently identified, e.g. herd size, bTB history, presence of infected wildlife, whereas the evidence for others is less consistent and coherent, e.g. nutrition, local cattle movements. We have identified knowledge gaps where further research may result in an improved understanding of bTB transmission dynamics. The application of targeted, multifactorial disease control regimens that address a range of risk factors simultaneously is likely to be a key to effective, evidence-informed control strategies.

Ionizing radiation induces myofibroblast differentiation via lactate dehydrogenase.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a common and dose-limiting side-effect of ionizing radiation used to treat cancers of the thoracic region. Few effective therapies are available for this disease. Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by an accumulation of myofibroblasts and excess deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Although prior studies have reported that ionizing radiation induces fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation and collagen production, the mechanism remains unclear. Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) is a key profibrotic cytokine that drives myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix production. However, its activation and precise role in radiation-induced fibrosis are poorly understood. Recently, we reported that lactate activates latent TGF-ß through a pH-dependent mechanism. Here, we wanted to test the hypothesis that ionizing radiation leads to excessive lactate production via expression of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDHA) to promote myofibroblast differentiation. We found that LDHA expression is increased in human and animal lung tissue exposed to ionizing radiation. We demonstrate that ionizing radiation induces LDHA, lactate production, and extracellular acidification in primary human lung fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. We also demonstrate that genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of LDHA protects against radiation-induced myofibroblast differentiation. Furthermore, LDHA inhibition protects from radiation-induced activation of TGF-ß. We propose a profibrotic feed forward loop, in which radiation induces LDHA expression and lactate production, which can lead to further activation of TGF-ß to drive the fibrotic process. These studies support the concept of LDHA as an important therapeutic target in radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Long-term effects of intermittent androgen suppression therapy on lean and fat mass: a 33-month prospective study.

BACKGROUND: To examine changes to whole body and regional lean mass (LM) and fat mass (FM) over 33 months of intermittent androgen suppression therapy (IAST). METHODS: Phase II cohort study of 72 prostate cancer patients without metastatic bone disease. Patients received flutamide 250 mg tid and leuprolide 22.5 mg three monthly depot for the 9-month initial treatment phase (iTREAT), at which point patients ceased therapy providing PSA <4 ng ml(-1) with continued monitoring for further 2 years (POST). AST was recommenced when PSA exceeded pretreatment level or ≥ 20 ng ml(-1). Body composition was assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline, completion of treatment phase, and 1 and 2 years post treatment phase (months 21 and 33). RESULTS: LM decreased by 1.3 kg and FM increased by 2.3 kg (P<0.001) following iTREAT. During the POST period, there were no further adverse effects on LM or FM, but also no recovery to pretreatment levels. Patients who failed to recover testosterone by month 33 experienced a significant increase in FM compared with those who recovered eugonadal levels of testosterone (10 nmol ml(-1); P = 0.019). Change in testosterone was moderately correlated to changes in % FM (r = -0.314, P<0.028) and LM (r = 0.300, P<0.036) during POST phase. Waist circumference progressively increased over time and by 2 years, POST had not recovered to baseline levels. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of LM and gain in FM during the 9-month iTREAT was not reversed during 2-year POST, although further deterioration was not observed. Subgroup analysis identified those recovering testosterone showed some body composition improvements. These findings suggest potential benefits of IAST, where testosterone levels are able to recover, to reduce the ongoing adverse effects on body composition, such as the acceleration of sarcopenia and risks associated with metabolic disease.

Farm husbandry and badger behaviour: opportunities to manage badger to cattle transmission of Mycobacterium bovis?

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a serious disease of cattle in the UK in terms of the economic impact on the farming industry. The disease has proven difficult to control in the cattle population and the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) is a source of infection. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the potential to employ farm husbandry and biosecurity practices to reduce bTB transmission risks. Here we review the potential routes of bTB transmission between badgers and cattle and explore the options for managing cattle and badger behaviour with a view to reducing the risks of inter-species transmission at pasture and within farm buildings. We discuss the relative merits of different cattle grazing regimes, habitat manipulations and badger latrine management in reducing the potential for badger-cattle contact at pasture. The physical exclusion of badgers from farm buildings is suggested as the simplest, and potentially most effective, method of reducing contact and opportunities for disease transmission between badgers and cattle. However, more research is required on the effectiveness, practicalities and costs of implementing such measures before specific guidance can be developed.

An investigation of three physical parameters of PTO entanglements.

The PTO driveline is the most common means of transferring power from a tractor to towed machinery and stationary equipment. While equipment manufacturers install shielding to protect operators and bystanders from coming in contact with operating PTO components (particularly around the knuckle), entanglement is still a cause of some of the most catastrophic agricultural work-related injuries. This study investigated the influence of material type, material length, and angle of material introduction on entanglements with a spinning PTO shaft knuckle. These variables were tested using a laboratory PTO apparatus where 165 entanglements were recorded during the 720 trials conducted. The results indicate that lighter materials, such as cotton thread, have a significantly higher probability of becoming entangled than heavier materials, such as leather bootlaces. Materials that were longer (i.e., extend further below the midline of the PTO knuckle) have higher probabilities of becoming entangled than do shorter materials. The horizontal path that the material traveled across the centerline of the PTO shaft impacted the probability of entanglement. When the angle of intersection of the horizontal path of travel relative to the centerline of the PTO shaft is 90 degrees, or close to 90 degrees, a higher probability of entanglement occurs. All 165 entanglements occurred on the downward rotational side of the PTO knuckle regardless of which side the horizontal path of travel started from. The results of this study provide the first look at understanding the physical phenomena associated with the initial stages of PTO entanglements and set the stage for future research.

Velocity training induces power-specific adaptations in highly functioning older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of high-velocity training in healthy older persons. DESIGN: A 12-week randomized trial, with subjects blocked for gender and residence, comparing high-velocity resistance training with a self-paced walking program. SETTING: Retirement community. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-three volunteers over the age of 70 years. INTERVENTION: Power group: high-velocity leg exercises 3 times weekly with weekly increases in resistance combined with 45 minutes of moderate, nonresistance exercise weekly. Walking group: moderate intensity exercise 30 minutes daily, 6 days weekly. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Variables measured included leg press peak power and leg extensor strength. Functional performance outcomes included: 6-minute walk distance, Short Physical Performance Battery, Physical Performance Test, and Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey. RESULTS: Peak power improved 22% (p =.004) in the power group (3.7 +/- 1.0 W/kg to 4.5 +/- 1.4 W/kg) but did not change in the walking group (3.99 +/-.76 W/kg to 3.65 +/-.94 W/kg). Leg extensor power at resistance of 50%, 60%, and 70% of body weight increased 50%, 77%, and 141%, respectively, in the power group (p <.0001, repeated-measures analysis of variance). Strength improved 22% in the power-trained individuals and 12% in the walkers (p <.0001). Training did not improve functional task performance in either group. One subject developed a radiculopathy during training. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance training focusing on speed of movement improved leg power and maximal strength substantially, but did not improve functional performance in healthy high-functioning older volunteers.

Preferences for CPR among the elderly: the influence of attitudes and values.

OBJECTIVES: While many older individuals wish to forgo cardiopulmonary resuscitation regardless of potential positive outcomes, others desire this intervention despite low chances of survival. This study examines the extent to which health, function, attitudes, and values influence preferences for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. DESIGN: An in-person, physician-administered survey. SETTING: Three clinical sites affiliated with a university-based geriatrics program. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred three individuals age 65 or older with ability to speak, read, and write English. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic, health and functional status, social involvement, religiosity, attitudes, and values were assessed. A standard description of cardiopulmonary resuscitation was followed by open-ended questions regarding treatment preferences. RESULTS: Mean age was 81 (+/- 7), 66% were women and 78% had an advance directive. The majority (75%) declined cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Women were more likely to decline cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Attitudes toward life were the strongest predictors for the cardiopulmonary resuscitation decision. Family issues were important, especially the prospect of becoming a burden, as well as the outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CONCLUSION: Attitudes toward life, perceived outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and family issues play a significant role in end-of-life treatment decision-making.

Reliability and responsiveness of two physical performance measures examined in the context of a functional training intervention.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The reliability and responsiveness of 2 physical performance measures were assessed in this nonrandomized, controlled pilot exercise intervention. SUBJECTS: Forty-five older individuals with mobility impairment (mean age=77.9 years, SD=5.9, range=70-92) were sequentially assigned to participate in an exercise program (intervention group) or to a control group. METHODS: The intervention group performed exercise 3 times a week for 12 weeks that targeted muscle force, endurance, balance, and flexibility. Outcome measures were the 8-item Physical Performance Test (PPT-8) and the 6-minute walk test. Test-retest reliability and responsiveness indexes were determined for both tests; interrater reliability was measured for the PPT-8. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient for interrater reliability for the PPT-8 was. 96. Intraclass correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability were.88 for the PPT-8 and.93 for the 6-minute walk test. The intervention group improved 2.4 points and the control group improved 0.7 point on the PPT-8, as compared with baseline measurements. There was no change in 6-minute walk test distance in the intervention group when compared with the control group. The responsiveness index was.8 for the PPT-8 and.6 for the 6-minute walk test. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: Measurements for both the PPT-8 and the 6-minute walk test appeared to be highly reliable. The PPT-8 was more responsive than the 6-minute walk test to change in performance expected with this functional training intervention.

A photovoltaic detection system for flow injection and liquid chromatography.

A photoionization system has been developed for flow injection and liquid chromatographic applications that employs photovoltaic rather than traditional photoconductive detection. This detection system utilizes an excimer laser at 248 nm (5.0 eV) to achieve one-photon excitation in alcoholic, aqueous, and ionic solutions. The photovoltaic response is reported for a variety of solutes including aliphatic and aromatic amines, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and halogenated compounds. The photovoltaic method is characterized with respect to solute concentration and flow rate. The detection limit is 5 × 10(-)(6) M (2.3 ng) for aniline in methanol with a linear dynamic range greater than 2 orders of magnitude, which compares favorably to UV-visible absorbance detection. Photovoltaic detection is demonstrated for a series of substituted anilines and aldehydes separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Exercise at midlife: how and why to prescribe it for sedentary patients.

Moderate exercise for middle-aged and older adults is emerging as an important adjuvant to the treatment of many diseases. These include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, insomnia, deconditioning, and (to a degree) obesity. A recent report from the United States Surgeon General recommends that most adults exercise most if not all days of the week, accumulating 180 minutes of moderate intensity exercise weekly. If your patients have been previously sedentary, encourage them to start a slow, stepwise exercise program. Ongoing support, encouragement, and follow-up can help them commit to and maintain a program of regular exercise.

A putative poststreptococcal case of OCD with chronic tic disorder, not otherwise specified.

A 12-year-old girl presented with an atypical, recurrent, increasingly treatment-resistant case of obsessive-compulsive disorder and chronic tic disorder associated with profound separation anxiety, learning difficulty, and intermittent upper respiratory symptoms. In addition to detailed reviews of history and findings from many clinical caretakers from the prior 7 years, current pediatric, psychiatric, neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and clinical laboratory data were also available. Treatment options were considered from multiple perspectives: psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy, conventional pharmacotherapy, family interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and learning-supportive strategies. Psychological, neuropsychiatric, and neuroimmunological formulations of etiology were considered. Subsequent treatments included supportive psychotherapy, neuroleptic augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, prophylactic penicillin, and a course of six sessions of plasmapheresis over a 2-week period. The case raises questions for ongoing consideration that juxtapose dynamic, neuropsychiatric, and neuroimmunological perspectives.

Effects of age on the biomechanics and physiology of gait.

There are significant changes in gait across the life span, but particularly after the age of 70 years. This article reviews the physiology of gait and the motor control challenges during gait. The kinematics (motion) and the kinetics (moment and power) of normal gait of a database of healthy young and older adults are compared. Older subjects generate significantly lower peak ankle plantar flexor power during gait. The clinical significance of the reduction in ankle plantar flexion power is discussed.

Step length reductions in advanced age: the role of ankle and hip kinetics.

BACKGROUND: Aging is associated with a reduction in gait velocity, which is due to a shortened step length. This study investigated the relationship between joint kinetics and step length. METHODS: Three-dimensional gait kinematics and kinetics were measured during usual pace gait in 26 older subjects (average age 79) and in 32 young subjects (average age 26). Gait measures were obtained at maximal velocity in five older subjects. Lower extremity strength was measured in the older subjects on an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: Older persons had a 10% shorter step length during usual gait, when corrected for leg length (.65 +/- .07, .74 +/- .04/leg length, respectively, p < .001). Older persons had reduced ankle plantarflexion during late stance (13 +/- 5 degrees, 17 +/- 5 degrees, p = .02) and lower ankle plantarflexor power (2.9 +/- 0.9 W kg-1, 3.5 +/- 0.9 W kg-1, respectively, p = .007). Ankle strength was associated with plantarflexor power developed during late stance (r = .49, p < .001). When gait kinetics were corrected for step length, the older subjects developed 16% greater hip flexor power during late stance than younger subjects (estimate of effect: .15 W kg-1, p = .002). Older subjects were unable to increase ankle plantarflexor power at maximal pace, but increased hip flexor power 72% (1.1 +/- 0.3 W kg-1 to 1.9 +/- 1.0 W kg-1, p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Older subjects had lower ankle plantarflexor power during the late stance phase of gait and appeared to compensate for reductions in plantarflexor power by increasing hip flexor power. Appropriate training of ankle plantarflexor muscles may be important in maintaining step length in advanced age.