Noninvasive, In-pen Approach Test for Laboratory-housed Pigs.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) incidences have increased in both civilian and military populations, and many researchers are adopting a porcine model for TBI. Unlike rodent models for TBI, there are few behavioral tests that have been standardized. A larger animal requires more invasive handling in test areas than rodents, which potentially adds stress and variation to the animals' responses. Here, the human approach test (HAT) is described, which was developed to be performed in front of laboratory pigs' home pen. It is noninvasive, but flexible enough that it allows for differences in housing set-ups. During the HAT, three behavioral ethograms were developed and then a formula was applied to create an approach index (AI). Results indicate that the HAT and its index, AI, are sensitive enough to detect mild and temporary alterations in pigs' behavior after a mild TBI (mTBI). In addition, although specific behavior outcomes are housing-dependent, the use of an AI reduces variation and allows for consistent measurements across laboratories. This test is reliable and valid; HAT can be used across many laboratories and for various types of porcine models of injury, sickness, and distress. This test was developed for an optimized manual timestamping method such that the observer consistently spends no more than 9 min on each sample.

Innovative non-invasive model for screening reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate in a working population.

AIM: Most of the existing risk scores for identifying people with reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) involve laboratory-based factors, which are not convenient and cost-effective to use in a large population-based screening programme. We aimed at using non-invasive variables to identify subjects with reduced eGFR in a Chinese working population. METHODS: Two study populations were recruited in 2012 and 2015, respectively. The 2012 study population (n = 14 374) was randomly separated as the training dataset (n = 9621) or the internal testing dataset (n = 4753) at a ratio of 2:1, and the 2015 study population (n = 4371) was used as the external testing dataset. Stepwise logistic regression analysis with age, gender, hypertension and body mass index (BMI) status were first performed in the training dataset and then validated in both internal and external testing dataset. A nomogram was further developed based on the final model. RESULTS: Results showed that older females with higher BMI status were more likely to have reduced eGFR. The model had excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.887 [95%CI: 0.865, 0.909] in the internal validation and 0.880 [95%CI: 0.829, 0.931] in the external validation) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P = 0.798 and 0.397 for internal and external dataset, respectively). The probability of having reduced eGFR increased gradually from <0.1% at a total score of 0 to 26% at a total score of 58 shown in the nomogram. CONCLUSION: Non-invasive variables could help identify individuals at high risk of reduced eGFR for further kidney function testing or intervention, aiding in decision-making and resource allocation in large population screening.

[Analysis of androgen receptor gene mutation in complete androgen insensitivity syndrome in a Uygur family].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the mutation of androgen receptor (AR) gene in a Uygur family with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome and elucidate its pathogenesis. METHODS: Two males with pseudohermaphroditism in this family were clinically diagnosed complete androgen insensitivity syndrome and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing, we checked possible mutation of all exons and its splice site in AR gene. Two males with pseudohermaphroditism in this family were clinically diagnosed as complete androgen insensitivity syndrome and confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. And the possible mutations of all exons and splice sites in AR gene were examined. RESULTS: A proband and another family member had c.2157G > A, p.W719X nonsense mutation of AR gene and their mother was a mutation carrier of AR gene. Substitution (G- > A) at position 2 157 of exon 4 of AR resulted in mutation (TGG- > TGA) at codon 719 (termination codon). The nonsense mutation led to a truncation of 202 amino acids in AR protein. The mutations were absent in other family members. CONCLUSION: The nonsense mutation at AR gene W719X, a confirmed cause of disease, is first-ever found in Chinese, especially Uygur population.