Ma ka hana ka 'ike: Implementing Culturally Responsive Educational Practices.

This study uses qualitative storytelling methodology to explore the culturally responsive practices of five educators in Hawai'i. Part of a larger study on a place-based resilience and sustainability graduate certificate program at The University of Hawai'i at Manoa, more broadly, we trace how their experiences as kumu both shape the program and are shaped by it. Their expertise and practices provide actionable examples of how responsive educational approaches, rooted in cultural practice, place, and community, can transform educational experiences for historically marginalized students and communities.

Treatment of fibroelastolytic papulosis with fractionated carbon dioxide laser.

Fibroelastolytic papulosis (FEP) is an acquired elastic tissue disorder that presents as white-to-yellow papules and plaques usually occurring on the neck. Although the lesions are often asymptomatic, their appearance may be distressing to patients. FEP has been treated with topical tretinoin in one case report ( 1 ). Other reports have not mentioned treatment for this rare disorder ( 1-6 ). We present a case of FEP successfully treated with a fractionated carbon dioxide (CO2) laser.

Effects of physiologic testosterone therapy on quality of life, self-esteem, and mood in women with primary ovarian insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: Women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) display low androgen levels, which could contribute to mood and behavioral symptoms observed in this condition. We examined the effects of physiologic testosterone therapy added to standard estrogen/progestin therapy on quality of life, self-esteem, and mood in women with POI. METHODS: One hundred twenty-eight women with 46,XX spontaneous POI participated in a 12-month randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-design investigation of the efficacy of testosterone augmentation of estrogen/progestin therapy. Quality of life, self-esteem, and mood symptoms were evaluated with standardized rating scales and a structured clinical interview. Differences in outcome measures between the testosterone and placebo treatments were analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum tests. RESULTS: No differences in baseline characteristics, including serum hormone levels (P > 0.05), were found. Baseline mean (SD) Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores were 10.7 (8.6) and 9.2 (7.8) for testosterone and placebo, respectively (P = 0.35). After 12 months of treatment, measures of quality of life, self-esteem, and mood symptoms did not differ between treatment groups. Serum testosterone levels achieved physiologic levels in the testosterone group and were significantly higher compared with placebo (P < 0.001). Baseline testosterone levels were not associated with either adverse or beneficial clinical effects. CONCLUSIONS: A 150-µg testosterone patch achieves physiologic hormone levels in women with POI. Our findings suggest that augmentation of standard estrogen/progestin therapy with physiologic testosterone therapy in young women with POI neither aggravates nor improves baseline reports of quality of life or self-esteem and had minimal effects on mood. Other mechanisms might play a role in the altered mood accompanying this disorder.

Anthelmintic efficacy of five tropical native Australian plants against Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in experimentally infected goats (Capra hircus).

The study of the anthelmintic properties of plants rich in plant secondary metabolites can provide ecologically sound methods for the treatment of parasites on grazing animals. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anthelmintic effect of five tropical native Australian plant species rich in plant secondary metabolites on adult Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in experimentally infected goats. Thirty young, nematode-free goats were infected with 2500 H. contortus and 5000 T. colubriformis infective larvae thrice weekly for a week (day 1-7 of the experiment). On day 27 after first infection, the goats were allocated into six groups of five animals per group. From day 28 to day 35, fresh leaves from Acacia salicina, Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus corymbia, Casuarina cunninghamiana and Eucalyptus drepanophylla were included in the goats diet. Five groups were offered leaves from one of these plant species and one group, the untreated control, received only the basal diet formulated with 20% Medicago sativa and 80% Avena sativa. Following plant material administration, the goats were monitored daily until day 40 and then slaughtered on day 41. Total faecal worm egg output, total production of larvae recovered from faecal cultures, total post-mortem worm burdens and the per capita fecundity of female worms were estimated. The toxicity of the plant species for the goats was measured by histopathological analyses of liver and kidney samples. Results showed that goats feeding on the plant material rich in plant secondary metabolites had significantly lower egg output compared to the control goats (P<0.05). A similar response was found for larval production in both H. contortus and T. colubriformis supporting that egg output was affected in both species. Although the total worm burdens were not affected by the plant material (P>0.05), the per capita fecundity was significantly reduced by E. corymbia, A. nilotica and A. salicina (P<0.05). No signs of toxicity were detected in the liver or kidney samples. It is concluded that goats can benefit from the short-term ingestion of plant secondary metabolites, which reduce the total faecal egg output and thus decrease the potential for re-infection from the pasture.

Serologic survey for toxoplasmosis in river otters.

The prevalence of antibody titers to Toxoplasma gondii in river otters (Lutra canadensis) from eastern North Carolina (USA) was investigated in a cross sectional study. Sera from 103 live trapped river otters were tested for antibodies to T. gondii using a commercially available latex agglutination kit. Forty-six (45%) of the sera were positive with titers ranging from 1:16 to > 1:2,048. Adult otters (n = 78) had a seroprevalence of 47% and juvenile otters (n = 25) had a seroprevalence of 39%. Significant differences were not found between the sexes within either maturity class. The high prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii indicates that many animals in this population were exposed to the organism. This suggests handling of otters may be a zoonotic concern for fur trappers.

Postanesthetic monitoring of core body temperature using telemetry in North American river otters (Lutra canadensis).

Remote thermal telemetry was performed on North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) during the 1995 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Otter Restoration Project. Otters were anesthetized with either ketamine-midazolam (n = 11) or tiletamine-zolazepam (n = 9) combinations. Based upon initial rectal temperatures, mild to moderate hyperthermia (39.4-40.5 degrees C) developed in five otters given ketamine-midazolam and three otters given tiletamine-zolazepam. Following anesthetic induction, each otter received an ingestible temperature transmitter. Dependent upon gastrointestinal transit time and transmitter battery life, core body temperature was monitored for up to 13.75 hr postanesthesia. Thermal telemetry revealed a gradual decline in core temperature in all otters after anesthetic recovery (30-60 min). Median core temperature stabilized subsequently within 0.3 degrees C of resting temperature (38.4 degrees C) 1.75 hr after initial injection in otters given tiletamine-zolazepam and 2.75 hr in otters given ketamine-midazolam. Minor fluctuations in body temperature (less than 1 degree C) occurred in most otters from 6 to 13.75 hr and were attributed to variations in physical activity.

Tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia in North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) and its partial antagonism with flumazenil.

North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) were anesthetized with tiletamine-zolazepam or tiletamine-zolazepam-flumazenil combinations in cooperation with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Otter Restoration Project for evaluation of physiologic changes during anesthesia. Sixteen otters received tiletamine-zolazepam (4 mg/kg combined, i.m.) in 1994. Induction and recovery times were recorded and physiologic data (heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, relative oxyhemoglobin saturation, and mean arterial blood pressure) were collected at 5-min intervals. Respiratory depression developed initially in all otters, and median relative oxyhemoglobin saturation remained below 90% for the first 15 min of anesthesia. Anesthetic induction with tiletamine-zolazepam was rapid and smooth, but recovery was prolonged (median = 89 min) and characterized by persistent head motion. In 1995, flumazenil was evaluated as a partial antagonist for tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia in otters. Sixteen otters were anesthetized with tiletamine-zolazepam (4 mg/kg combined, i.m.) and given flumazenil (1 mg per 25 mg of zolazepam) after 20 min. Flumazenil markedly shortened recovery time in all otters anesthetized with tiletamine-zolazepam (median = 65 min) with no adverse effects.

Determination of impurities in oxidation hair dyes as raw materials by liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Synopsis Oxidation hair dyes as raw materials may present toxic impurities from synthesis or degradation pathways, which are responsible for allergic phenomena. In the present study selective and sensitive HPLC methods are proposed for the determination of Bandrowski base, 4-chloroaniline, 1,2-phenylenediamine and 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene in 1,4-phenylenediamine as well as 2,4-diaminoanisole in N-hydroxyethyl-4-methoxy-1,3-phenylenediamine. The proposed methods, based on reversed phase mode separation using 1,8-diaminooctane as amine modifier and photodiode array detection, proved to be suitable for the purity assessment of these widely used hair dyes; in particular the cited potential impurities were determined at ppm level.