Adrenocortical responses in Japanese quail classified by their permanence in proximity to either low or high density of conspecifics.

The density-related permanence test (DRP) is used to classify young birds (while in groups) according to their individual permanence in proximity to either a high or low density of conspecifics (HD or LD, respectively). The birds' performance in DRP was associated with underlying differences in the social responses of their individuals. Quails in homogeneous groups of LD residents responded with less compact groups and higher levels of agonistic interactions to the presence of an intruder, and showed higher levels of agonistic interactions among cagemates than the homogeneous groups of HD birds. This study deepen the characterization of DRP evaluating whether contrasting behavior during test is associated with birds' stress responses to challenging situations during rearing. Plasma corticosterone responses were individually assessed after submitting DRP categorized birds to a brief (10 min) partial restraint (mechanical stressor; experiment 1), or after introducing them during 5 min as intruders in homogeneous groups of 6 unknown same category (HD or LD) conspecifics (social stressor; experiment 2). Experiment 1 showed that basal corticosterone levels were similar in all groups and the partial mechanical restraint induced an increase in plasma corticosterone concentration also in all groups. However, the increase induced by the stressor was higher in the LD birds than in their HD counterparts. In experiment 2, compared to controls, social stressor showed no plasma corticosterone changes in the intruders that were introduced in an unfamiliar group of HD conspecifics. However, intruders (both HD and LD) that were visiting the LD residents showed an increased corticosterone response compared to their control counterparts. Results suggest that categorization of birds in the DRP test could have relevance for selection programs oriented to obtain birds better suited to intensive rearing conditions that includes high density of animals and exposure to unavoidable stressors.

Effects of diet, time since defecation, and drying process of the droppings on corticosterone metabolite measurements in Japanese quail.

The use of noninvasive methods for measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites is a useful tool for endocrine assessment particularly in studies where animals cannot be captured, when they should be sampled without disturbing their activities, and/or when welfare needs to be maximized. However, still no complete standardization exists for the methodology, and some confounding variables may play an important role affecting measurements and interpretation of results. The present study focused on whether two different diets (laying feed or seed mixture), the time since defecation (0, 4, 24, or 48 h) and the drying method of those samples (oven-dried or naturally nonoven-dried) may affect concentrations of corticosterone metabolites (CM) measured in male Japanese quail. Half of the birds were provided with plain water (control) and the other half received a corticosterone solution. Birds fed with a seed mixture exhibited higher values of CM (nanogram/gram) in droppings than quail that received a laying feed diet suggesting that diet should be carefully considered as a potential source of variation. As expected both groups exhibited higher CM concentration after corticosterone treatment. While CM concentrations increased significantly in nonoven-dried samples over time (0 < 4 < 24 = 48 h), oven-dried samples exhibited similar high CM values. At 24 and 48 h postdefecation, nonoven-dried samples had similar CM concentrations as all oven-dried samples. Drying of samples may be considered a reliable method to reduce variations due to water loss over time, facilitating comparisons up to 48 h postdefecation. This finding would allow to enhance the range of application of this noninvasive and welfare friendly method to situations where samples cannot be collected or frozen shortly after defecation.

Influence of breeding season on fecal glucocorticoid levels in captive Greater Rhea (Rhea americana).

Sex hormones and stress-related changes can be seasonally influenced. We investigate whether fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels can differ between male and female captive Greater Rheas during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Over a 3-year-period, fresh fecal samples from 10 individuals (five of each sex) were collected during the breeding months (October, November, and December) and non-breeding months (April and June). A total of 960 samples were assayed using a commercial radioimmunoassay. Results showed that FGM levels (mean ± SE) were affected by the breeding season in a sex-dependent way. Male Greater Rheas showed significantly higher FGM levels in the breeding months than in the non-breeding months (13.44 ± 0.37 vs. 7.92 ± 0.1 ng/g feces, respectively). By contrast, females did not show FGM seasonal changes throughout the same sampling periods (7.55 ± 0.14 vs. 7.26 ± 0.73 ng/g feces). Moreover, during the breeding season months, males showed higher average FGM levels than females (13.44 ± 0.37 vs. 7.55 ± 0.14 ng/g feces, respectively), and no differences were found between sexes during the non-breeding season (7.92 ± 0.1 vs. 7.26 ± 0.73 ng/g feces, respectively). Our findings suggest that male Greater Rheas have a higher adrenocortical activity during the breeding season, which is probably indirectly related to the increased testosterone levels and agonist interactions that are also observed during that phase. Studies aimed to determine the appropriate sex ratio for captive rearing should be developed to minimize male agonist encounters and therefore improve welfare of the captive group.

Behavioral responses to short-term transport in male and female Greater Rheas (Rhea americana) reared in captivity.

Animal transport is an indispensable practice in species that need to be moved for management or commercial purposes. However, transport may have negative effects on individuals' welfare. The aims of the present work were to determine if the behavioral responses of adult Greater Rheas (Rhea americana) bred in captivity are sensitive to short-term transport and if males and females differ in their posttransport behavioral activity and recovery. Eight males and 8 females were placed in individual pens and allowed 6 d to habituate (d 1 to 6) before transport procedure. On the transport day (d 7), half of the birds (4 males and 4 females) were randomly assigned to a transport group that was captured and handled to be placed into the crates, exposed to a 30-min transport stressor, and immediately returned to their pens. Four transports with 1 different male and female each time were performed. The other half remained undisturbed and were used as controls. Behavior of all individuals was video-recorded during habituation days, after transport on d 7, and on the 2 following days (d 8 and 9) to evaluate pre- and posttransport behavioral activity for 2 h per day. No significant behavioral changes were observed during the last 2 d of the habituation period (d 5 and 6), suggesting that Greater Rheas were adapted to the housing conditions before transport. After transportation, several behaviors were affected: transported males and females showed null resting, transported females also showed reduced preening and increased vigilance (P < 0.05), whereas transported males showed increased drinking (P < 0.05) compared with their respective control groups. The results suggest that behavioral responses of captive-bred Greater Rheas are sensitive to short-term transport (which includes handling) and that males and females differ in their posttransport behavioral activity, recovering their overall basal levels on the third day posttransportation.

Corticosterone stress response of Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) during short-term road transport.

The effect of transport stress on blood corticosterone levels in captive Greater Rheas was investigated. Twelve adult individuals (7 males; 5 females) were loaded in pairs inside wooden crates and transported along a paved road for 30 min. Blood samples were taken before the individuals were introduced into the crate (baseline value) and immediately after they were unloaded (30 min after capture). To assess whether corticosterone levels were affected by the blood sampling procedure per se, another 6 (nontransport) control birds (3 males; 3 females) were also captured and sampled at the same times as their transported counterparts. Plasma corticosterone concentrations were measured using a commercially available corticosterone (125)I radio-immunoassay kit. Baseline corticosterone levels were similar in the control and transported birds (9.0 ± 1.6 and 10.4 ± 0.8 ng/mL, respectively). Transportation induced a highly significant (P < 0.001), more than 40-fold increase in the corticosterone levels (433.6 ± 35.4 ng/mL) that was about 5 times higher (P < 0.001) than in their nontransported counterparts (88.4 ± 14.8 ng/mL). The present findings suggest that Greater Rhea is a species highly sensitive to stressful manipulations. Both blood sampling and transportation induced highly significant adrenocortical responses. Considering that transportation is one of the unavoidable common practices in the management of Greater Rheas and, as shown in the present study, that it induces a significant 40-fold corticosterone stress response, efforts should focus on helping to generate management transport standards for optimization of the welfare of this ratite.

Efficiency of the cloacal sexing technique in greater rhea chicks (Rhea americana).

1. The feasibility and accuracy of the cloacal sexing technique in greater rhea chicks was assessed using chicks of two captive populations of greater rhea in Córdoba, Argentina. 2. A total of 46 greater rhea chicks of 2 to 3 months of age were randomly arranged into three groups and the members of each group were sexed by a different operator. 3. A feather of each chick was plucked for sexing through a molecular method and results were used as controls. 4. Sex was correctly assigned by cloacal inspection in 98% of the cases. Chick manipulation was easily performed and no infections or traumatic lesions were observed a posteriori. 5. Cloacal sexing of rhea chicks up to 3 months of age does not affect animal welfare and should be considered an efficient alternative to molecular methods.

Clinical application of two computerized diabetes management systems: comparison with the log-book method.

In two consecutive studies the clinical application and suitability of two computer-assisted data management systems (Camit and Cadmo) were evaluated in a prospective manner. In each study nineteen long-standing, stable insulin-dependent patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In study I assessment of metabolic control and insulin dose adjustments were based either on the Camit S1 data analysis or on the conventional log-book method, whereas in study II the Camit S2 and the Cadmo simulation programs were evaluated. HbA1c values decreased significantly in both studies (p < 0.05). A clear decline in hypoglycemic events as well as a significant reduction of the percentage of glucose values below 4.0 mmol/l (p < 0.005) and a marked increase (p < 0.05) in the percentage of glucose levels in the target range (4.0-10.0 mmol/l) were observed. We found both computerized assessment systems to be reliable and suitable for the assessment of blood glucose control and for insulin dose finding. The graphical and statistical presentation of the numerous glucose and insulin data allowed a better summary of blood glucose control and metabolic trends. More time could be spent for problem solving, which proved to be much less exhausting with the computer for the attending physician. Further studies should address the educational potential of computerized systems for the patient as well as for the physician.

[Carbimazole therapy in Basedow's disease: therapy results in individual dosage adjustment]. / Carbimazol-Therapie beim Morbus Basedow: Therapieerfolg bei individueller Dosisanpassung.

We analyzed the results of 85 treatments with carbimazol in 71 patients with Graves' disease. The initial dose ranged from 45 to 60 mg/day, which was gradually reduced to the lowest possible maintenance dose; the mean treatment period was 17 months. All patients achieved euthyroid function after 12 weeks at the latest. Normalization of the pituitary TSH-reserve occurred late (after 6-12 months in most cases). 60% of the patients treated for the first time (n = 58) and 59% of the whole group remained in remission. The maintenance dose of carbimazol had no effect on the rate of remission. It is interesting to note that in 66% of the patients a very low dose (less than or equal to 5 mg/day) was fully effective and resulted in a remission rate of 54%. Therefore, the dose should always be reduced individually. Relapses occurred within the first year after the end of treatment in 77% of the cases, but were also observed after 2-3 years. Hence follow-up should be continued after cessation of therapy.

LDL/HDL-changes in subclinical hypothyroidism: possible risk factors for coronary heart disease.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and the electrophoretic low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins) in patients with subclinical (n = 52) and overt hypothyroidism (n = 18) in comparison to normal controls (28 and 18, respectively), matched for age, sex and body mass index. Subclinical hypothyroidism was defined as a syndrome with normal free thyroxine and total thyroxine but elevated basal thyrotrophin levels and/or an exaggerated TSH response to oral thyrotrophin releasing hormone. In subclinical hypothyroidism there was an elevated LDL concentration (P less than 0.01), a diminished HDL fraction (P less than 0.05) and a borderline elevated LDL-C (not reaching the limit of significance, P = 0.07). Total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations remained unaltered. For the whole group of patients and controls significant negative correlations were found between LDL-C and T4 (P less than 0.04), total cholesterol and free thyroxine-index (P less than 0.01); positive correlations could be demonstrated between LDL-C and basal TSH (P less than 0.03), the ratio total cholesterol/HDL-C and basal TSH (P less than 0.03), and triglycerides and basal TSH (P less than 0.01). Our data provide a possible explanation for the higher prevalence of coronary heart disease reported in subclinical hypothyroidism. There may well be a case for the detection and early treatment of such individuals.

Thyroglobulin production by malignant thyroid tumors. An immunocytochemical and radioimmunoassay study.

Four hundred thirty surgical and biopsy specimens of malignant thyroid tumors of 323 patients were analyzed by histologic and immunocytochemical examination for their thyroglobulin (TG) content. Almost 95% of the differentiated thyroid carcinomas of follicular origin contained immunoreactive TG. The authors could not demonstrate TG in anaplastic carcinomas. Postoperative follow-up and serum TG determinations were available for 111 athyroid patients. Serum TG was elevated in five patients with metastatic or recurrent moderately differentiated follicular carcinoma, in two patients with metastasizing papillary, and in one patient with anaplastic carcinoma. Four patients had detectable serum TG levels without clinical and radiologic evidence of recurrence or metastases. In addition to conventional histologic examination, immunocytochemical demonstration of TG is a reliable and valuable aid in the diagnosis, classification, and determination of the grade of differentiation of malignant thyroid tumors. From this the pathologist can provide a pathologic basis for postoperative patient management.

[Intranasal TRH for the stimulation of hypophyseal and thyroid reserves. Preliminary report]. / Intranasales TRH zur Stimulation der hypophysären und thyreoidalen Reserven. Vorläufige Mitteilung.

Intranasal, intravenous and oral TRH have been compared in 9 healthy volunteers. Intranasal administration of TRH leads to excellent stimulation of pituitary TSH secretion. Serum TSH levels are significantly higher than after intravenous TRH (p less than 0.005) and lower than after oral TRH (p less than 0.005). As with intravenous TRH, peak TSH response is reached at 20-30 minutes, but the stimulatory effect is prolonged and elevated TSH levels can be measured for up to 3 hours. Stimulation of T3 and free T4 at 3 hours is comparable in all three administration forms of TRH. The practical advantages of the intranasal route are that no intravenous injection is necessary, overnight fasting is not required and the duration of the test is short (30 minutes, in contrast to 3 hours in the oral test).

[The problem of hypertension in Switzerland. Analysis of a blood pressure study in 21,589 persons]. / Das Hypertonieproblem in der Schweiz Analyse einer Blutdruckuntersuchung an 21 589 Personen

Blood pressure measurements (Phyiometrics SR1) were performed on 21 589 persons visiting the Swiss Trade Fair in Basel in 1974. Diastolic pressures were found to be greater than or equal 110 mm Hg in 3%, greater than or equal 100 mm Hg in 7% and greater than or equal 95 mm Hg in 12% of the screened population. Including those under antihypertensive treatment, the prevalence of high blood pressure (diastolic pressure greater than or equal 95 mm Hg) amounted to 19% of the adult population. In 68% of the hypertensive screenees the condition was already known, 49% were under treatment and 35% were controlled (i.e. diastolic pressure less than 95 mm Hg). In other words - and here lies the unsolved problem - 32% of hypertensives are as yet undetected, 19% of the known cases are not treated, and 14% are inadequately treated. Of the hypertensive population 35% are adequately treated and 30% have mild hypertension. The remaining 35%, with diastolic pressure greater than or equal 100 mm Hg, require urgent attention and action. In Switzerland this problem can be tackled and solved by the general practitioner, who already play the major role in detection and treatment.