Preening cups increase apparent wet preening behaviors, but have no impact on other behaviors, body condition, growth, or body morphometrics of grow-out Pekin ducks.

Preening cups may be a form of open water that would allow ducks to express preening behaviors. We set out to test the hypothesis that preening cups would not have detrimental effects on ducks or their environment. Control pens (N = 6, 65 ducks/pen) had nipple lines while experimental pens (N = 6, 65 ducks/pen) had the same nipple line plus one preening cup (PC). Body weights of 30 ducks per pen, and body condition scores on 50 ducks per pen were recorded weekly. On d 18 and 43, 5 ducks per pen were euthanized and their spleens, Bursas, liver, and uropygial glands were weighed. Behavior data were collected using scan sampling with video being recorded for 72 continuous hours at 4 different ages: 25 d, 30 d, 36 d, and 40 d. Body morphometrics were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Body condition scoring was analyzed by Pearson's chi-square. The GLIMMIX procedure (SAS 9.4) was used for behavioral analyses to examine treatment differences in the proportion of ducks performing dry preening, wet preening, eating, drinking, standing, and laying down. Feather pecking, feather picking, preening conspecifics (also known as allopreening), dunking head, and drinking from preening cup were analyzed using PROC LOGISTIC with the Firth bias correction for quasi-complete separation and odds ratios were calculated. More PC ducks housed with PC performed wet preening compared to control ducks (25 d: F1,26 = 6.90, P = 0.0143; 30, 36, and 40 d; F1,78 = 24.53, P < 0.0001). Ducks in the PC group were also more likely to lay down compared to controls (25 d: F1,33 = 4.95, P = 0.0330). No differences were observed for any other behavior, body condition score, body weight or morphometrics at any age. Although ducks in the preening cup group showed an increase in wet preening, our data suggest that open water is not necessary to maintain feather condition or uropygial gland size.

Ketolysis is required for the proper development and function of the somatosensory nervous system.

Ketogenic diets are emerging as protective interventions in preclinical and clinical models of somatosensory nervous system disorders. Additionally, dysregulation of succinyl-CoA 3-oxoacid CoA-transferase 1 (SCOT, encoded by Oxct1), the fate-committing enzyme in mitochondrial ketolysis, has recently been described in Friedreich's ataxia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the contribution of ketone metabolism in the normal development and function of the somatosensory nervous system remains poorly characterized. We generated sensory neuron-specific, Advillin-Cre knockout of SCOT (Adv-KO-SCOT) mice and characterized the structure and function of their somatosensory system. We used histological techniques to assess sensory neuronal populations, myelination, and skin and spinal dorsal horn innervation. We also examined cutaneous and proprioceptive sensory behaviors with the von Frey test, radiant heat assay, rotarod, and grid-walk tests. Adv-KO-SCOT mice exhibited myelination deficits, altered morphology of putative Aδ soma from the dorsal root ganglion, reduced cutaneous innervation, and abnormal innervation of the spinal dorsal horn compared to wildtype mice. Synapsin 1-Cre-driven knockout of Oxct1 confirmed deficits in epidermal innervation following a loss of ketone oxidation. Loss of peripheral axonal ketolysis was further associated with proprioceptive deficits, yet Adv-KO-SCOT mice did not exhibit drastically altered cutaneous mechanical and thermal thresholds. Knockout of Oxct1 in peripheral sensory neurons resulted in histological abnormalities and severe proprioceptive deficits in mice. We conclude that ketone metabolism is essential for the development of the somatosensory nervous system. These findings also suggest that decreased ketone oxidation in the somatosensory nervous system may explain the neurological symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia.

Ketolysis is Required for the Proper Development and Function of the Somatosensory Nervous System.

Ketogenic diets are emerging as protective interventions in preclinical and clinical models of somatosensory nervous system disorders. Additionally, dysregulation of succinyl-CoA 3-oxoacid CoA-transferase 1 (SCOT, encoded by Oxct1 ), the fate-committing enzyme in mitochondrial ketolysis, has recently been described in Friedreich's ataxia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the contribution of ketone metabolism in the normal development and function of the somatosensory nervous system remains poorly characterized. We generated sensory neuron-specific, Advillin-Cre knockout of SCOT (Adv-KO-SCOT) mice and characterized the structure and function of their somatosensory system. We used histological techniques to assess sensory neuronal populations, myelination, and skin and spinal dorsal horn innervation. We also examined cutaneous and proprioceptive sensory behaviors with the von Frey test, radiant heat assay, rotarod, and grid-walk tests. Adv-KO-SCOT mice exhibited myelination deficits, altered morphology of putative Aδ soma from the dorsal root ganglion, reduced cutaneous innervation, and abnormal innervation of the spinal dorsal horn compared to wildtype mice. Synapsin 1-Cre-driven knockout of Oxct1 confirmed deficits in epidermal innervation following a loss of ketone oxidation. Loss of peripheral axonal ketolysis was further associated with proprioceptive deficits, yet Adv-KO-SCOT mice did not exhibit drastically altered cutaneous mechanical and thermal thresholds. Knockout of Oxct1 in peripheral sensory neurons resulted in histological abnormalities and severe proprioceptive deficits in mice. We conclude that ketone metabolism is essential for the development of the somatosensory nervous system. These findings also suggest that decreased ketone oxidation in the somatosensory nervous system may explain the neurological symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia.

Infants later diagnosed with autism have lower canonical babbling ratios in the first year of life.

BACKGROUND: Canonical babbling-producing syllables with a mature consonant, full vowel, and smooth transition-is an important developmental milestone that typically occurs in the first year of life. Some studies indicate delayed or reduced canonical babbling in infants at high familial likelihood for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or who later receive an ASD diagnosis, but evidence is mixed. More refined characterization of babbling in the first year of life in infants with high likelihood for ASD is needed. METHODS: Vocalizations produced at 6 and 12 months by infants (n = 267) taking part in a longitudinal study were coded for canonical and non-canonical syllables. Infants were categorized as low familial likelihood (LL), high familial likelihood diagnosed with ASD at 24 months (HL-ASD) or not diagnosed (HL-Neg). Language delay was assessed based on 24-month expressive and receptive language scores. Canonical babble ratio (CBR) was calculated by dividing the number of canonical syllables by the number of total syllables. Generalized linear (mixed) models were used to assess the relationship between group membership and CBR, controlling for site, sex, and maternal education. Logistic regression was used to assess whether canonical babbling ratios at 6 and 12 months predict 24-month diagnostic outcome. RESULTS: No diagnostic group differences in CBR were detected at 6 months, but HL-ASD infants produced significantly lower CBR than both the HL-Neg and LL groups at 12 months. HL-Neg infants with language delay also showed reduced CBR at 12 months. Neither 6- nor 12-month CBR was significant predictors of 24-month diagnostic outcome (ASD versus no ASD) in logistic regression. LIMITATIONS: Small numbers of vocalizations produced by infants at 6 months may limit the reliability of CBR estimates. It is not known if results generalize to infants who are not at high familial likelihood, or infants from more diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS: Lower canonical babbling ratios are apparent by the end of the first year of life in ASD regardless of later language delay, but are also observed for infants with later language delay without ASD. Canonical babbling may lack specificity as an early marker when used on its own.

Language delay aggregates in toddler siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: Language delay is extremely common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet it is unclear whether measurable variation in early language is associated with genetic liability for ASD. Assessment of language development in unaffected siblings of children with ASD can inform whether decreased early language ability aggregates with inherited risk for ASD and serves as an ASD endophenotype. METHODS: We implemented two approaches: (1) a meta-analysis of studies comparing language delay, a categorical indicator of language function, and language scores, a continuous metric, in unaffected toddlers at high and low familial risk for ASD, and (2) a parallel analysis of 350 unaffected 24-month-olds in the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS), a prospective study of infants at high and low familial risk for ASD. An advantage of the former was its detection of group differences from pooled data across unique samples; an advantage of the latter was its sensitivity in quantifying early manifestations of language delay while accounting for covariates within a single large sample. RESULTS: Meta-analysis showed that high-risk siblings without ASD (HR-noASD) were three to four times more likely to exhibit language delay versus low-risk siblings without ASD (LR-noASD) and had lower mean receptive and expressive language scores. Analyses of IBIS data corroborated that language delay, specifically receptive language delay, was more frequent in the HR-noASD (n = 235) versus LR-noASD group (n = 115). IBIS language scores were continuously and unimodally distributed, with a pathological shift towards decreased language function in HR-noASD siblings. The elevated inherited risk for ASD was associated with lower receptive and expressive language scores when controlling for sociodemographic factors. For receptive but not expressive language, the effect of risk group remained significant even when controlling for nonverbal cognition. CONCLUSIONS: Greater frequency of language delay and a lower distribution of language scores in high-risk, unaffected toddler-aged siblings support decreased early language ability as an endophenotype for ASD, with a more pronounced effect for receptive versus expressive language. Further characterization of language development is warranted to refine genetic investigations of ASD and to elucidate factors influencing the progression of core autistic traits and related symptoms.

Parent coaching increases the parents' capacity for reflection and self-evaluation: results from a clinical trial in autism.

Family-centered parent coaching interventions in autism strive to encourage family engagement and support parent reflection and self-evaluation. This includes the parents' capacity to: (1) carefully observe the child's behavior; (2) reflect upon the child's thoughts, motives, and feelings; (3) consider links between the child's internal experiences and observable behavior; and (4) grapple with the complex interplay among the child's experiences and behaviors, contextual factors, parenting strategies, as well as parental goals and emotions. The current study reports data from a clinical trial of Focused Playtime Intervention (FPI), a parent coaching intervention targeting responsive parental behaviors and child communication. Seventy children with autism between 2 and 6 years and their parents were randomly assigned to participate in FPI for 12 weeks or an active control intervention. The Insightfulness Assessment was administered and used (a) to classify parents' baseline capacity for reflection and self-evaluation as either established (i.e., positively insightful) or emerging, and (b) to capture longitudinal change in the parents' capacity between baseline, exit (~5 months after baseline), and follow up (~14 months after exit) using a dimensional composite subscale score. Results revealed a significant treatment effect of FPI on growth in the parents' capacity for reflection and self-evaluation, conditional on the parents' classification at baseline. That is, parents whose capacity for reflection and self-evaluation was classified as emerging at baseline (n = 42) showed higher rates of growth when assigned to FPI, compared to the control condition. A similar treatment effect was not found for parents whose baseline capacity for reflection and self-evaluation was classified as established (i.e., positively insightful). This is the first study to show that a family-centered parent coaching intervention effectively increases the capacity for reflection and self-evaluation in parents of young children with autism. This capacity may enable parents to adapt and implement intervention strategies flexibly across contexts, daily routines, and interactions.

Design and biological effects of a vaginally administered gel containing the GnRH agonist, triptorelin, for synchronizing ovulation in swine.

A novel gel formulation was selected for intravaginal delivery of the GnRH agonist (triptorelin) for synchronizing ovulation in pigs. Studies with gilt models were used to assess LH response profiles. The lowest dose of triptorelin that induced the most gilts to show an LH surge was 100 µg in 1.2% methylcellulose gel. This formulation had a similar effect in weaned sows while also advancing ovulation. The timing of administration was evaluated in sows after weaning. Administration at 96 h induced more sows to ovulate (58%) by 48 h compared to treatment at estrus (45%) or for controls (34%), but the desired level of ovulation synchrony was not achieved. As a result, greater doses of triptorelin were tested and 200 µg given at 96 h after weaning, induced 81% of sows to ovulate within 48 h after treatment. The best synchrony of ovulation occurred when given at 96 h after weaning compared to earlier or later intervals. The optimum time to give a single fixed time AI (SFT-AI) after administration of 200 µg of triptorelin in 1.2% gel (OvuGel®) at 96 h after weaning was tested. A SFT-AI at 22 ± 2 h after OvuGel achieved the highest fertility and was practical for staff during the normal work day. In field trials, a SFT-AI 22 ± 2 h after all weaned sows were treated with OvuGel improved (P = 0.04) farrowing rate to 82.5% compared to control sows weaned (80.1%), with no effect on numbers of pigs born alive (12.1). Research continues for identifying the advantages for use of OvuGel in different production systems, and potential application for use in gilts.

Imposed running exercise does not alter cell proliferation in the neurogenic niches of young lambs.

Neurogenesis, the process by which neurons are generated in the brain from progenitor cells, occurs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the subgranular zone (SGZ) in the adult human brain. Recently, rodent studies have demonstrated that exercise can increase neurogenesis in the SGZ; however, it is unclear if exercise also has this effect in more complex mammalian brains. The overarching aim of this study was to explore whether exercised-induced neurogenesis occurs in larger mammalian brains more representative of human brains and to explore the use of a model for exercising large animals such as sheep. For these studies, 6 male twin lambs had a structured exercise regime for 4 wk and 6 other twin male lambs were kept in an open field pen. All lambs were injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a thymidine analog that is incorporated into the DNA of proliferating cells. Immunoperoxidase was used to visualize and quantify BrdU-positive cells in the SVZ and SGZ. Overall, no significant change in the number or distribution of BrdU-positive cells was observed in the lamb SVZ and SGZ with exercise or colabeling of BrdU with mature neuronal or glial markers in the exercised and nonexercised lamb SVZ and SGZ. Overall, this study provides a novel methodology to investigate the effects of imposed exercise on large animals and exercise-induced neurogenesis in animals with gyrencephalic brains.

Effects of estrus synchronization using Matrix® followed by treatment with the GnRH agonist triptorelin to control ovulation in mature gilts.

Estrus and ovulation responses in Matrix-treated gilts may affect ovulation synchrony in response to triptorelin. In experiment 1, estrus and ovulation measures at 12h intervals after last Matrix feeding (LMF) were analyzed. For the 398 gilts that displayed estrus, 87.4% were detected on Days 6-8 after LMF. Duration of estrus was 24-60h for 85.6% of gilts and negatively correlated with interval from LMF to estrus (r=-0.53, P<0.0001). The estrus to ovulation interval was positively correlated with duration of estrus (r=0.61, P<0.0001). In experiment 2, gilts (n=96) received intravaginal treatment with 2mL of gel containing placebo (Control) at 96h, 200µg of triptorelin at 96h (TRP96), 120h (TRP120) or 144h (TRP144) after LMF. Estrus measures did not differ (P>0.10) among treatments. The proportion of gilts ovulating 32-56h after treatment was greater for TRP120 and TRP144 (P<0.01) compared to other treatments. The treatment to ovulation intervals for all triptorelin treatments were shorter (P<0.001) than Control. In experiment 3, gilts (n=86) received placebo (Control), 100µg (TRP100), 200µg (TRP200), or 400µg (TRP400) of triptorelin at 120h after LMF. There was no effect of treatment (P>0.10) on estrus or on interval from LMF to estrus. The proportion of gilts ovulating by 40, 48 and 56h after treatment increased (P<0.05) with triptorelin compared to Control. Our results indicate that gilts receiving 100-400µg of triptorelin at 120h after LMF had the greatest ovulation synchrony 24-48h following treatment. These studies provide important information for developing a procedure for a single insemination in synchronized gilts.

Population-based evaluation of the 'LiveLighter' healthy weight and lifestyle mass media campaign.

The Western Australian (WA) 'LiveLighter' (LL) mass media campaign ran during June-August and September-October 2012. The principal campaign ad graphically depicts visceral fat of an overweight individual ('why' change message), whereas supporting ads demonstrate simple changes to increase activity and eat healthier ('how' to change message). Cross-sectional surveys among population samples aged 25-49 were undertaken pre-campaign (N= 2012) and following the two media waves (N= 2005 and N= 2009) in the intervention (WA) and comparison state (Victoria) to estimate the population impact of LL. Campaign awareness was 54% after the first media wave and overweight adults were more likely to recall LL and perceive it as personally relevant. Recall was also higher among parents, but equal between socio-economic groups. The 'why' message about health-harms of overweight rated higher than 'how' messages about lifestyle change, on perceived message effectiveness which is predictive of health-related intention and behaviour change. State-by-time interactions showed population-level increases in self-referent thoughts about the health-harms of overweight (P < 0.05) and physical activity intentions (P < 0.05). Endorsement of stereotypes of overweight individuals did not increase after LL aired. LL was associated with some population-level improvements in proximal and intermediate markers of campaign impact. However, sustained campaign activity will be needed to impact behaviour.

Effects of altering the dose and timing of triptorelin when given as an intravaginal gel for advancing and synchronizing ovulation in weaned sows.

Previous studies have shown that triptorelin gel (TG) given intravaginally in gel form is effective for advancing the time of ovulation in weaned sows. Three experiments were performed to determine the effects of altering the dose and timing of administration of intravaginal TG for advancing and synchronizing ovulation in weaned sows. In all experiments, estrus was detected twice or three times daily and ultrasound was performed to determine ovulation at 8-hour intervals. In experiment 1, sows (n = 131) received intravaginal gel containing 0 (Placebo), 25, 100, or 200 µg of TG at 96 hours after weaning and sows were inseminated on each day of standing estrus. Wean-to-estrus interval and duration of estrus were correlated (P < 0.0001) with estrus duration longer in TG (P < 0.05) compared with Placebo. More sows ovulated (P < 0.001) by 48 hours after treatment with 200 (81%), 100 (64%), and 25 µg (63%) of TG compared with Placebo (42%). The farrowing rate and total pigs born did not differ (P > 0.10). In experiment 2, sows (n = 126) received 200 µg of TG at 72, 84, or 96 hours after weaning or were untreated (Control-96). Sows receiving TG were inseminated once 24 to 28 hours after treatment. Control-96 sows were inseminated on each day of standing estrus. Wean-to-estrus interval was not affected by treatment, but wean-to-ovulation interval was reduced (P < 0.05) by TG-72 and TG-84 compared with TG-96 and Control-96. More sows ovulated 40 hours after treatment (P < 0.001) with TG-72 (56.5%) and TG-84 (32.2%) compared with TG-96 and Control-96 (13%) and for all TG treatments 48 hours after treatment (64%) compared with Control-96 (34%, P < 0.05). The farrowing rate was lower (P < 0.05) for sows assigned to TG-72 and TG-84 compared with TG-96 and Control-96, whereas the number of liveborn pigs did not differ (P > 0.10). In experiment 3, sows (n = 113) were assigned to receive no treatment (Control), intravaginal gel alone (Placebo), or 200 µg of TG given intravaginally (OvuGel) at 96 hours after weaning. Wean-to-estrus interval did not differ, but the duration of estrus tended (P < 0.10) to be reduced with OvuGel compared with the other treatments. More sows ovulated (P < 0.001) by 48 hours after OvuGel treatment (79.1%) compared with Control (46.4%) and Placebo (37.9%) and by 56 hours (P < 0.05). The farrowing rate and the number of liveborn pigs did not differ among treatments. The results of these studies indicate that 200 µg of TG given intravaginally at 96 hours after weaning (OvuGel) synchronizes ovulation and results in fertility similar to Controls.

Impaired fasting glucose and recurrent cardiovascular disease among survivors of a first acute myocardial infarction: evidence of a sex difference? The Western New York experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is little epidemiological evidence regarding the association of impaired glucose metabolism with recurrent cardiovascular events. We therefore examined potential sex differences in the effect of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) on recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a community-based study of survivors of a first acute myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS AND RESULTS: This report focuses on 1226 incident MI cases (28.4% women) discharged alive from area hospitals in the Western New York Acute MI Study (1996-2004). Deaths and underlying cause of death were determined via query of the National Death Index (Plus) Retrieval Program with follow-up through December 31, 2004. Outcomes reported included fatal or non-fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) or coronary revascularization surgery and total stroke. Traditional CHD risk factors and other explanatory variables were determined by clinical examination after the first acute event. Impaired fasting glucose was defined as fasting blood glucose between 100 and 125mg/dl. During a mean follow-up of 4.5 years, there were 91 recurrent events (26.1%) in women and 173 recurrent events (19.7%) in men. After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratios for recurrent cardiovascular events were 1.96 (95% CI: 1.15-3.16) and 2.59 (1.56-4.30) in women with IFG and with diabetes, respectively, compared to normoglycemic women. Among men, neither IFG nor diabetes was independently related to risk of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, IFG was a strong risk factor for recurrent cardiovascular events only among women. These results suggest that increased cardiovascular risk in MI survivors begins at lower glucose levels in women than men.

Synchronization of ovulation and fertility in weaned sows treated with intravaginal triptorelin is influenced by timing of administration and follicle size.

A 100 µg dose of triptorelin was tested for synchronizing ovulation in sows. In Experiment 1, conducted in April through June, sows (n = 125) were assigned to Control (untreated), TG-96 (Triptorelin Gel (TG) given intravaginally at 96 h post-weaning), or TG-E (given intravaginally at estrus). To optimize AI timing, sows were inseminated at 2 and 26 h after estrus for Control and TG-E and at 8 and 32 h following TG-96. Ovulation by 48 h post-treatment tended to be affected by treatment (P = 0.08) and more (P < 0.05) TG-96 sows ovulated (57.9%) compared to Controls (34.2%), but TG-E (45.1%) did not differ (P > 0.10). Duration of estrus was reduced (P < 0.005) in TG-96 (51 h) and TG-E (58 h) compared to Controls (65 h). There was no treatment effect on farrowing rate (71%) or total born (10.4). Average follicle size <6.5 mm at 96 h after weaning was associated with reduced (P < 0.01) estrus, ovulation and farrowing rate. Experiment 2 was conducted in August through September using 503 weaned sows. The TG-96 treatment reduced duration of estrus (P = 0.03), but treatment did not affect estrus expression, farrowing rate or total pigs born. In conclusion, use of a 100 µg dose of triptorelin intravaginally at 96 h or at estrus advanced ovulation and when used with timed insemination, resulted in similar farrowing rates and litter sizes comparable to sows mated based on estrus. However, ovulation induction and timed AI success may benefit from an approach that ensures sows have adequate follicle development at time of treatment.

Endocrine, ovulatory and reproductive characteristics of sows treated with an intravaginal GnRH agonist.

The present study examined the effectiveness of intravaginal administration of a GnRH agonist, triptorelin, on the induction of the preovulatory LH surge; synchronization of time of ovulation; and reproductive characteristics in weaned sows. Sows were given 100microg of triptorelin in 0.9, 1.2, or 1.5% methylcellulose gel intravaginally 96h after weaning and then bred at 8 and 32h post-treatment. Untreated sows inseminated once each day of estrus served as the positive controls, while females treated with only the methyl cellulose gel and also bred once each day of estrus were negative controls. Sows treated intravaginally with triptorelin exhibited preovulatory LH surges with magnitudes comparable to those that occurred spontaneously in the negative controls. Preovulatory LH surges were initiated over a narrow and well-defined time interval that occurred 4-12h after treatment in sows receiving triptorelin in 1.2 or 1.5% methyl cellulose gel. As a result, the majority of the sows in these two treatments had ovulations within a 12h time frame 36-48h after treatment. In contrast, both the LH surge and ovulation occurred over extended periods of time after weaning in negative controls and sows given triptorelin in 0.9% methylcellulose gel. Farrowing rates and litter size were similar between untreated controls and triptorelin-treated sows that were bred with two fixed timed inseminations. Insemination of sows induced to have ovulations and bred at least once while not in estrus did not have any overt negative effects on reproductive characteristics. These results demonstrate that 100microg of triptorelin administered intravaginally in a least 1.2% methyl cellulose gel induced a normal preovulatory LH surge and synchronized time of ovulation in weaned sows. Furthermore, there were no obvious changes in reproductive performance when these sows were bred with two fixed time inseminations regardless of whether they exhibited a standing reflex.

Occupational asthma and allergy in snow crab processing in Newfoundland and Labrador.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors and prevalence of occupational asthma (OA) and occupational allergy (OAl) in the snow crab-processing industry have been poorly studied. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of OA and OAl in snow crab-processing workers and determine their relationship with exposure to snow crab allergens and other potential risk factors. METHODS: A total of 215 workers (120 female/95 male) were recruited from four plants in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in 2001-2002. Results from questionnaires, skin-prick tests to snow crab meat and cooking water, specific IgEs against the latter, spirometry and peak flow monitoring were used to develop a diagnostic algorithm. An index based on work history and exposure measurements of snow crab aeroallergens was developed to estimate the cumulative exposure for each worker. RESULTS: The prevalences of almost certain or highly probable OA and OAl were 15.8% and 14.9%, respectively. A high cumulative exposure to crab allergens, in jobs mostly held by women, was associated with OA (odds ratio (OR) = 14.0, 95% CI 3.0 to 65.8) (highest vs lowest Cumulative Exposure Index) and with OAl (OR = 7.1, 95% CI 1.9 to 29.0); job held when symptoms started (cleaning, packing, freezing) also predicted OA (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.6 to 8.7) and OAl (OR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.4 to 7.5). Atopy (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.8), female gender (OR = 10.7, 95% CI 3.6 to 32.1) and smoking were significant determinants for OA (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 7.4). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalences of OA and OAl are high in snow crab-processing workers of Canada's East Coast. Cumulative exposure to snow crab allergens was related to the prevalences of OA and OAl in a dose-response manner taking into account atopy, gender and smoking.

Semi-automated segmentation to assess the lateral meniscus in normal and osteoarthritic knees.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to develop an algorithm to semi-automatically segment the meniscus in a series of magnetic resonance (MR) images to use for normal knees and those with moderate osteoarthritis (OA). METHOD: The segmentation method was developed then evaluated on 10 baseline MR images obtained from subjects with no evidence, symptoms, or risk factors of knee (OA), and 14 from subjects with established knee OA enrolled in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). After manually choosing a seed point within the meniscus, a threshold level was calculated through a Gaussian fit model. Under anatomical, intensity, and range constraints, a threshold operation was completed followed by conditional dilation and post-processing. The post-processing operation reevaluates the pixels included and excluded in the area surrounding the meniscus to improve accuracy. The developed method was evaluated for both normal and degenerative menisci by comparing the segmentation algorithm results with manual segmentations from five human readers. RESULTS: The semi-automated segmentation method produces results similar to those of trained observers, with an average similarity index over 0.80 for normal participants and 0.75, 0.67, and 0.64 for participants with established knee OA with Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) joint space narrowing (JSN) scores of 0, one, and two respectively. CONCLUSION: The semi-automatic segmentation method produced accurate and consistent segmentations of the meniscus when compared to manual segmentations in the assessment of normal menisci in mild to moderate OA. Future studies will examine the change in volume, thickness, and intensity characteristics at different stages of OA.

Spin-wave instabilities and noncollinear magnetic phases of a geometrically frustrated triangular-lattice antiferromagnet.

This Letter examines the relation between the spin-wave instabilities of collinear magnetic phases and the resulting noncollinear phases for a geometrically frustrated triangular-lattice antiferromagnet in the high-spin limit. Using a combination of phenomenological and Monte Carlo techniques, we demonstrate that the instability wave vector with the strongest intensity in the collinear phase determines the wave vector of a cycloid or the dominant elastic peak of a more complex noncollinear phase. Our results are related to the observed multiferroic phase of Al-doped CuFeO2.

Immunoquantitative measurement of soybean aeroallergen emissions at industrial sites.

BACKGROUND: Asthma attacks and mortality due to inhalation of soybean antigens in Barcelona, Spain have been well documented. A new control scheme was adopted in the city to avoid the emission and dispersion of soybean dust into the atmosphere during unloading. We studied soybean allergen emission during unloading and at 3 industrial sites and compared the results obtained. METHODS: Over a period of 31 months, 628 paired air samples from 3 plants (A, B, C) involved in soybean manipulation in Barcelona harbor were collected. Samples were analyzed by a radiometric competitive inhibition assay (RCIA) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A Bland-Altman plot was used to compare the soybean concentrations measured by each assay. RESULTS: The median values for the 628 samples were 5535 U/m3 (range, 370-18,416,751) for the RCIA and 9955 U/m3 (range, 400-22,349,059) for the ELISA. Plant A had the lowest emission levels and the lowest Spearman rank correlation coefficient (0.409). The correlation coefficients were 0.747 and 0.794 for plants B and C. Soybean aeroallergen concentrations differed by plant. The highest variability in values was seen for plant A, which had the lowest allergen concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The competitive assays described are useful tools for the measurement of soybean allergen emission levels at industrial sites. These methods may be used to monitor unloading and the impact of environmental interventions.

Developmental toxicity and genotoxicity studies of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexachloropropane (HCC-230fa) in rats.

The potential developmental toxicity and the in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity of HCC-230fa were assessed. In the developmental toxicity study, groups of 25 mated Crl:CD(R)(SD)BR rats were exposed (whole body) by inhalation to HCC-230fa over days 7-21 of gestation; the day of confirmed mating was designated as gestation day 1 (GD1). Exposures were 6 h per day at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 2.5, or 25 ppm. Body weight, food consumption, and clinical observation data were collected during the study. On day 22 of gestation, the dams were euthanized and examined grossly. The fetuses were removed and subsequently weighed, sexed, and examined for external, visceral, head, and skeletal alterations. Evidence of maternal and developmental toxicity was observed at 25 ppm and was noted as significant, compound-related reductions in mean maternal body weight, weight change, and food consumption. Significant fetal effects also were observed at 25 ppm as compound-related reductions in mean fetal weight and increased fetal malformations (filamentous tail, situs inversus, absent vertebrae) and variations (rudimentary cervical ribs, delayed sternebral ossification). There was no evidence of either maternal or developmental toxicity at 0.5 or 2.5 ppm. The genotoxicity of HCC-230fa was examined in a bacterial reversion assay and in erythrocyte micronucleus studies in two species by different routes of administration. No increases in the number of revertants were observed in the bacterial reversion assay. In one micronucleus study, HCC-230fa was administered by inhalation to rats as part of a 90-day study at doses indicated above. For the second study, ICR mice were given a single ip dose at 0, 166, 330, or 660 mg/kg. In both micronucleus studies, a significant increase in micronucleated erythrocytes was observed. The results of these studies suggest that HCC-230fa affects rapidly dividing cells and may have long-term consequences for occupational exposures.

Dualband spectral-spatial RF pulses for prostate MR spectroscopic imaging.

Although MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) of the prostate has demonstrated clinical utility for the staging and monitoring of cancer extent, current acquisition methods are often inadequate in several aspects. Conventional 180 degrees pulses can suffer from chemical shift misregistration, and have high peak-power requirements that can exceed hardware limits in many prostate MRSI studies. Optimal water and lipid suppression are also critical to obtain interpretable spectra. While complete suppression of the periprostatic lipid resonance is desired, controlled partial suppression of water can provide a valuable phase and frequency reference for data analysis and an assessment of experimental success in cases in which all other resonances are undetectable following treatment. In this study, new spectral-spatial RF pulses were developed to negate chemical shift misregistration errors and to provide dualband excitation with partial excitation of the water resonance and full excitation of the metabolites of interest. Optimal phase modulation was also included in the pulse design to provide 40% reduction in peak RF power. Patient studies using the new pulses demonstrated both feasibility and clear benefits in the reliability and applicability of prostate cancer MRSI.