Atypical play experiences in the juvenile period has an impact on the development of the medial prefrontal cortex in both male and female rats.

In rats reared without play, or with limited access to play during the juvenile period, the dendrites of pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) exhibit more branching than rats reared with more typical levels of play. This suggests that play is critical for pruning the dendritic arbor of these neurons. However, the rearing paradigms typically used to limit play involve physical separation from a peer or sharing a cage with an adult, causing stress that may disrupt pruning. To limit this potentially confounding source of stress, we used an alternative approach in this study: pairing playful Long Evans rats (LE) with low playing Fischer 344 (F344) rats throughout the juvenile period. We then examined the morphology of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurons, predicting that pruning should be reduced. LE rats reared with another LE rat had significantly greater pruning of mPFC pyramidal neurons compared to LE rats reared with a F344 partner. Furthermore, in previous studies, only one sex or the other was used, whereas in the present rearing paradigm, both sexes were tested, showing that play influences neuronal pruning in both. The neurons of the play deficient LE rats not only occupied more space, as determined by convex hull analyses, but the dendrites were also longer than in rats with more typical play experiences. Unlike studies using more stressful rearing paradigms, the present effects were limited to the apical dendritic projections, suggesting that the previously reported effects on the basilar dendrites may have resulted from developmental disruptions caused by stress. If correct, the present findings indicate that play experienced over the juvenile period affects how mPFC neurons develop and function.

Measuring Play Fighting in Rats: A Multilayered Approach.

Rough-and-tumble play or play fighting is an important experience in the juvenile period of many species of mammals, as it facilitates the development of social skills, and for some species, play fighting is retained into adulthood as a tool for assessing and managing social relationships. Laboratory rats have been a model species for studying the neurobiology of play fighting and its key developmental and social functions. However, play fighting interactions are complex, involving competition and cooperation; therefore, no single measure to quantify this behavior is able to capture all its facets. Therefore, in this paper, we present a multilayered framework for scoring all the relevant facets of play that can be affected by experimental manipulations and the logic of how to match what is measured with the question being asked. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Comparison of four laboratory tests for lupus anticoagulant.

The lupus anticoagulant (LA) phenomenon created world-wide interest recently. Various tests have been devised to identify LA in plasma, but none of these methods have been universally accepted. In this study 16 cases labelled LA positive by a prior kaolin clotting time (KCT) test were reassessed by four other methods, namely delta KCT (delta kaolin clotting time), APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time), PNP (platelet neutralization procedure), and DRVVT (dilute Russell viper venom time). Anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACL) were also looked for. In our hands the delta KCT proved to be a simple, sensitive test, not influenced by oral anticoagulant therapy, and we recommend it as a screening test. Where the presence of LA is strongly suspected on clinical and other groups, more than one method may be necessary for the diagnosis.

The evaluation of group education for patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes at Hollywood Repatriation Hospital in Western Australia.

OBJECTIVES: To enable effective use of hospital resources in relation to staff time and diabetes education; to ensure that all patients have access to a standard level of education; and to maintain and/or improve diabetes control. METHOD: Multiple choice questionnaire to test knowledge; check of individual biochemical status. RESULTS: Diabetes knowledge and control were assessed in 51 persons with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) attending diabetes group education sessions at Hollywood Repatriation Hospital in Western Australia. The programme comprising three 2.5 hour sessions at weekly intervals, was conducted by the physician, dietitian, nurse educator, podiatrist and physio-therapist. Groups consisted of 7-14 patients, with partners encouraged to attend, and aimed to promote and stimulate discussion on diabetes self-care among participants. After group education there was a significant improvement in knowledge of diabetes, blood sugar control and energy balance. This was achieved with a reduction in staff time, when compared with individual education, and a more efficient use of hospital resources. Thus, the objectives were realized. It is concluded that diabetes group education is useful in patients with NIDDM attending Hollywood Repatriation Hospital.

Blind oral tracheal intubation of rats.

Tracheal intubation is often necessary for experiments involving anesthetized rats. Previously described methods for endotracheal intubation have required either a tracheostomy or intubation under direct vision. These techniques require considerable time and skill. Therefore we dissected rats to evaluate the anatomy of the airway. Using these data, we originated a technique for blind oral tracheal intubation using a modified 16-gauge intravenous catheter. The technique has a reasonable success rate and can be performed much more rapidly than conventional methods.

A high molecular weight antifertility factor from human seminal plasma.

The presence of a high molecular weight antifertility factor in human seminal plasma was established. The factor can be precipitated by centrifugation at 104 000 g. Its activity is maximal when the protein concentration reaches 150 micrograms/10(5) spermatozoa using the mouse in-vitro fertilization assay as the test system. The factor is heat labile but its activity is not affected by dialysis. It prevents the penetration of the spermatozoa through the layers surrounding the egg but has no effect on the fusion of the spermatozoa with the vitelline membrane. The factor is only partly removed from spermatozoa by washing but is completely dispersed when the spermatozoa are incubated in capacitation medium. The pellet that is precipitated from the seminal plasma does not contain any particles or vesicles. However, it is significantly contaminated with low molecular weight material. This material includes the acrosin inhibitor which is present in large enough quantities to hinder fertilization. Washing the pellet twice with H2O removes these low molecular weight compounds, as indicated by the absence of the acrosin inhibitor, but has no effect on the antifertility properties of the pellet. Therefore, before further study or purification of the factor, it is essential that the pellet is washed such low molecular weight material. The washed pellet consists of at least 7 components as judged by disc gel electrophoresis.

The prophylactic use--or misuse--of antibiotics in transurethral prostatectomy.

One hundred non-infected patients undergoing transurethral prostatectomy were randomized prospectively into a controlled study to determine the influence of a prophylactic aminoglycoside (kanamycin) on the clinical course. In the non-risk patient prophylactic kanamycin had no beneficial influence on the incidence of bacteriuria, fever or length of hospitalization. Its use was associated with the development of a resistant Pseudomonas super infection in 1 patient. Prophylactic kanamycin did not protect the patient with carcinoma of the prostate from bacteriuria. There was no identifiable advantage in the use of routine prophylactic kanamycin in the uninfected, non-risk patient who was undergoing elective transurethral prostatectomy.