Evaluating digestibility and toxicity of native warm-season grasses for equines

Introduced cool-season grasses are dominant in Virginia’s grasslands, but their high digestible energy and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) levels pose a risk for horses prone to obesity and laminitis. Native warm-season grasses (NWSGs) have lower digestible energy and NSC levels that may be more suitable for horses susceptible to laminitis. Although NWSGs have desirable characteristics, they are novel forages for horses. Little is known about NWSG intake or potential toxicity to horses or how grazing by horses may affect NWSG swards. The overall objectives of this research were to 1) assess voluntary intake, toxicological response, and apparent digestibility of NWSG hays fed to horses; and 2) evaluate the characteristics of three NWSG species under equine grazing. For the first objective, a hay feeding trial using indiangrass (IG) (Sorghastrum nutans) and big bluestem (BB) (Andropogon gerardii) was conducted with nine Thoroughbred geldings in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Voluntary dry matter intake of IG and BB hays by horses were 1.3% and 1.1% of BW/d, lower than orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), an introduced cool-season grass, at 1.7% of BW/d (P = 0.0020). Biomarkers for hepatotoxicity remained within acceptable ranges for all treatments. Apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) did not differ among hays, ranging from 39% to 43%. NSC levels ranged from 4.4% to 5.4%, below maximum recommended concentrations for horses susceptible to laminitis. For the second objective, a grazing trial was conducted comparing IG, BB, and eastern gamagrass (EG) (Tripsacum dactyloides) yields, forage losses, changes in vegetative composition, and effects on equine bodyweight. Nine, 0.1-ha plots were seeded with one of the three native grass treatments, and each plot was grazed by one Thoroughbred gelding in two grazing bouts, one in July and another in September 2019. IG had the greatest available forage, at 4,340 kg/ha, compared with 3,590 kg/ha from BB (P < 0.0001). EG plots established poorly, and had only 650 kg/ha available forage during the experiment. Grazing reduced standing cover of native grasses in IG and BB treatments by about 30%. Horses lost 0.5–1.5 kg BW/d on all treatments. Findings suggest IG and BB merit further consideration as forages for horses susceptible to obesity and pasture-associated laminitis.

Restoration of spinal alignment and disk mechanics following polyetheretherketone wafer kyphoplasty with StaXx FX

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

EPFs sustained during VCFs degrade the disk's ability to develop IDP under load. This inability to develop pressure in combination with residual kyphotic deformity increases the risk for adjacent vertebral fractures. We tested the hypothesis that StaXx FX reduces kyphosis and endplate deformity following vertebral compression fracture, restoring disk mechanics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eight thoracolumbar, 5-vertebrae segments were tested. A void was selectively created in the middle vertebra. The specimens were compressed until EPF and to a grade I-II VCF. PEEK wafer kyphoplasty was then performed. The specimens were then tested in flexion-extension (±6 Nm) under 400-N preload intact, after EPF, VCF, and kyphoplasty. Endplate deformity, kyphosis, and IDP adjacent to the fractured body were measured.

RESULTS

Vertebral body height at the point of maximal endplate deformity decreased after EPF and VCF and was partially corrected after StaXx FX, remaining less than intact (P = .047). Anterior vertebral height decreased after VCF (P = .002) and was partially restored with StaXx FX, remaining less than intact (P = .015). Vertebral kyphosis increased after VCF (P < .001) and reduced after StaXx FX, remaining greater than intact (P = .03). EPF reduced IDP in the affected disk in compression-flexion loading (P < .001), which was restored after StaXx FX (P = 1.0). IDP in the unaffected disk did not change during testing (P > .3).

CONCLUSIONS

StaXx FX reduced endplate deformity and kyphosis, and significantly increased anterior height following VCF. Although height and kyphosis were not fully corrected, the disk's ability to pressurize under load was restored.

Long-term results of full-dose gemcitabine with radiation therapy compared to 5-fluorouracil with radiation therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer

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Background: To retrospectively compare the efficacy and toxicity of full-dose gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy (GemRT) vs. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemoradiotherapy (5FURT) for locally advanced pancreas cancer (LAPC).

Methods: From January 1998 to December 2008, 93 patients with LAPC were treated either with 5FURT (n=38) or GemRT (n=55). 5FURT consisted of standard-field radiotherapy given concurrently with infusional 5-FU or capecitabine. GemRT consisted of involved-field radiotherapy given concurrently with full-dose gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 weekly) with or without erlotinib. The follow-up time was calculated from the time of diagnosis to the date of death or last contact.

Results: Eighty-eight of 93 patients have died, and only one was lost to follow-up after developing DM. The median OS was 11.2 months (range 1.5-96). Patient characteristics (including Zubrod score, age, tumor stage, nodal stage, tumor location, and grade) were not significantly different between treatment groups. The OS was significantly better for GemRT compared to 5FURT (median 12.5 months vs. 10.2 months; 51% vs. 34% at 1 year; 12% vs. 0% at 3 years; 7% vs. 0% at 5 years; respectively; p=0.04), although the two groups had same DM (34% at 1 year). GemRT cohort was more likely to receive gemcitabine before or after chemoradiotherapy than 5FURT cohort (85% vs. 37%, p<0.001). Of the subset who received gemcitabine either before or after chemoradiotherapy, OS was still significantly better for GemRT without concurrent erlotinib compared to 5FURT (median 15.1 months vs. 10.7 months; 70% vs. 36% at 1 year; 21% vs. 0% at 3 years; 11% vs. 0% at 5 years; respectively; p=0.005), as was the rate of DM (23% vs. 45%; respectively; p=0.04). The subsequent hospitalization, percent of survival time spend in the hospital, acute and late grade 3-5 gastrointestinal toxicities were not significantly different between the GemRT and 5FURT groups.

Conclusions: Full-dose GemRT was associated with improved OS compared to standard 5FURT. This approach yielded a moderate number of long-term survivors and was not associated with increased hospitalization or severe gastrointestinal toxicity.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with acute myocardial infarction in community hospitals. Michigan State University Inter-Institutional Collaborative Heart (MICH) Study Group

BACKGROUND

Previous studies documenting underutilization of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been limited to Medicare populations.

HYPOTHESIS

This study examines ACEI prescription rates and predictors in a community sample of hospitalized patients with AMI.

METHODS

The charts of 1163 community patients with AMI, prospectively identified at admission between January 1, 1994, and April 30, 1995, were reviewed.

RESULTS

Only 64 of 158 (40%) patients considered ideal candidates for ACEI prescription were discharged with a prescription for an ACEI. In a multivariate logistic regression model, prior ACEI utilization [adjusted odds ration (OR) = 3.26; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.05-5.20], presence of congestive heart failure (OR = 2.33; CI = 1.50-3.61) and black race (OR = 2.20; CI = 1.34-3.64) were identified as positive predictors of ACEI prescription. Conversely, lack of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measurement (OR = 0.46; CI = 0.28-0.75), LVEF > 40 ( OR = 0.27; CI = 0.18-0.40), and acute renal failure (OR = 0.08; CI = 0.01-0.44) were negative predictors. Women were also less likely to be discharged with an ACEI prescription (OR = 0.71; CI = 0.48-1.05). Furthermore, women were significantly less likely to have LVEF measured prior to discharge than were males (77 vs. 85%, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the need for improvement in the utilization of ACEI in eligible patients with AMI. It also identifies opportunities for improvement in prescription rates, especially in women.

Person-centred planning: factors associated with successful outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

Recent research in the USA and UK indicates that person-centred planning (PCP) can lead to improvements in lifestyle-related outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). It is clear, however, that the introduction of PCP does not have an equal impact for all participants. The aim of the present paper was to identify factors associated with the probability of delivering a plan and with improvements in outcomes for those who did receive a plan.

METHODS

Information on the life experiences of participants was collected over a period of approximately 2 years for a cohort of 93 adults with ID.

RESULTS

There were powerful inequalities in both access to and the efficacy of PCP in relation to participant characteristics, contextual factors and elements of the PCP process.

CONCLUSIONS

Results are discussed in relation to implications for policy and practice for increasing the effectiveness of PCP and reducing inequalities in the life experiences of people with ID.

Population structure and stock identification of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in coastal lakes in British Columbia, Canada

Population structure of sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum, 1792), from coastal lakes in British Columbia was determined from a survey of variation of 14 microsatellite loci, with approximately 6400 sockeye salmon analyzed from 40 populations. Populations from the Queen Charlotte Islands displayed fewer alleles per locus than did populations in other regions. Genetic differentiation among the populations surveyed was observed, with the mean FSTfor all loci being 0.077 (SD = 0.006). Differentiation among populations was approximately 13 times greater than annual variation within populations. Regional structuring of the populations surveyed was observed. The accuracy and precision of the estimated stock compositions generally increased as the number of observed alleles at the loci increased. Simulated mixed-stock samples generated from observed population frequencies in different regions suggested that variation at microsatellite loci provided reasonably accurate and precise estimates of stock composition for potential samples from marine or freshwater fisheries.

Strategic options for sustainable water management at new developments: the application of a simulation model to explore potential water savings

Research on appropriate technologies and infrastructures to support water reuse has progressed rapidly over recent decades and there are now a wide range of source--treatment--reuse options for planners to choose from. Although the economics of water reuse schemes favours application to new developments rather than retrofit projects, there are few studies which have sought to address strategic option selection issues for large developments. The potential advantages of using treatment and reuse systems in new developments require an understanding of the relationships between a wide variety of social, environmental, technological, and operational factors. The operational effectiveness and economic efficiency of specific technology choices will vary as a function of network configuration, wastewater characteristics, how different technologies respond to dynamic loading (variability of feed strength and flow) and potential spiking, as well as equipment reliability, climate and household behaviour. Using a commercially available software package, the study reports the design and implementation of a low resolution simulation tool to explore sustainable water management options for a live case study site in the south of England (a peri-urban development of 4,500 new homes) with particular reference to opportunities for rainwater harvesting, and water reuse.

Cardiac rehabilitation for community-based patients with myocardial infarction: factors predicting discharge recommendation and participation

Although there is substantial evidence that cardiac rehabilitation is beneficial for post myocardial infarction (MI) patients, such programs are currently under utilized. This study examined systematic criteria predicting physician referral to and patients' participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Patients discharged for MI were interviewed in-hospital and at 6-12 weeks post discharge to determine referral, participation, and completion. Stepwise logistic regression analyzed factors associated with rehabilitation. Factors associated with referral to rehab were catheterization (p < 0.001), bypass surgery (p < 0.01), cardiologist/cardiac surgeon appointment (p < 0.02), and age (p < 0.01). Participation was increased for those with bypass surgery (p < 0.001), and referral to cardiologist or cardiac surgeon (p < 0.001). Type of provider significantly influences referral to and participation in cardiac rehabilitation. This suggests that encouragement plays a strong role in attendance for rehabilitation. The same strong encouragement should be given to the broader range of MI patients who stand to benefit from cardiac rehabilitation.

How government policy decisions affect seniors' quality of life: findings from a participatory policy study carried out in Toronto, Canada

Toronto seniors explored how government policy decisions were influencing their health and well-being. In this participatory policy study, emphasis was upon the lay and critical knowledge of highly informed seniors. Focus groups and interviews revealed that all three levels of governments were seen as not listening to seniors' voices. In nine key policy areas identified as influencing seniors' quality of life--hearing seniors' voices, housing, acute illness care, long-term care, income supports, transportation and mobility, promoting healthy lifestyles, access to information, and hearing voices from cultural communities--many concerns were raised. The gap between government rhetoric and government action on seniors' issues merits public health attention.

Cloning and characterization of a novel human histone deacetylase, HDAC8

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a growing family of enzymes implicated in transcriptional regulation by affecting the acetylation state of core histones in the nucleus of cells. HDACs are known to have key roles in the regulation of cell proliferation [Brehm, Miska, McCance, Reid, Bannister and Kouzarides (1998) Nature (London) 391, 597-600], and aberrant recruitment of an HDAC complex has been shown to be a key step in the mechanism of cell transformation in acute promyelocytic leukaemia [Grignani, De Matteis, Nervi, Tomassoni, Gelmetti, Cioce, Fanelli, Ruthardt, Ferrara, Zamir et al. (1998) Nature (London) 391, 815-818; Lin, Nagy, Inoue, Shao, Miller and Evans (1998), Nature (London) 391, 811-814]. Here we present the complete nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone, termed HDAC8, that encodes a protein product with similarity to the RPD3 class (I) of HDACs. The predicted 377-residue HDAC8 product contains a shorter C-terminal extension relative to other members of its class. After expression in two cell systems, immunopurified HDAC8 is shown to possess trichostatin A- and sodium butyrate-inhibitable HDAC activity on histone H4 peptide substrates as well as on core histones. Expression profiling reveals the expression of HDAC8 to various degrees in every tissue tested and also in several tumour lines. Mutation of two adjacent histidine residues within the predicted active site severely decreases activity, confirming these residues as important for HDAC8 enzyme activity. Finally, linkage analysis after radiation hybrid mapping has localized HDAC8 to chromosomal position Xq21.2-Xq21.3. These results confirm HDAC8 as a new member of the HDAC family.

Initiation of protein synthesis with fluorophore-Met-tRNA(f) and the involvement of IF-2

The complicity of initiation factor 2 (IF-2) in causing the observed low incorporation of N-terminal fluorophore from fluorophore-methionyl-tRNA(f) during protein synthesis in an in vitro coupled transcription/translation system was investigated. The low incorporation in comparison to formyl-methionine was not due to the lack of interaction of fluorophore-Met-tRNA(f) with IF-2. Fluorescence measurements of cascade yellow-, eosin-, pyrene-, or coumarin-Met-tRNA(f) determined that all were capable of binding IF-2 at 4 mM Mg(2+) and 37 degrees C. Filter binding assays conducted in the absence of magnesium ions on fMet-tRNA(f), eosin-Met-tRNA(f), and cascade yellow-Met-tRNA(f) confirmed the previously reported value for the dissociation constant of fMet-tRNA(f) of about 1 microM and placed the binding constants for the two fluorophore derivatives about three-fold higher. Binding of the fluorophore-Met-tRNA(f) species to salt-washed ribosomes showed a more significant decrease compared to fMet-tRNA(f). Stimulation in the amount of tRNA bound to the ribosomes upon the addition of IF-2 was observed in each case. All ribosome-bound cascade yellow-Met-tRNA(f) and eosin-Met-tRNA(f) were as puromycin-reactive as fMet-tRNA(f). Cumulatively, the effects observed for the fluorophore-Met-tRNA species in partial reactions of initiation may account for the reduced incorporation of these probes at the N terminus of polypeptides.

Surgical decompression of ductal obstruction in patients with chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Recurrent acute pancreatitis often leads to chronic obstructive ductal disease requiring operative decompression.

METHODS

From 1983 through 1998, 124 patients with ductal obstruction underwent lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (78 patients), distal pancreatectomy with end-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy (27 patients), distal pancreatectomy with placement of a pancreas with a filleted duct within a jejunal limb (15 patients), or pancreaticoduodenectomy (4 patients). Preoperative symptoms included abdominal and back pain (99%), nausea with vomiting (99%), and diarrhea with weight loss (11%). Associated conditions included hypertension (20%) and diabetes mellitus (12%). Endoscopy in 106 patients demonstrated distal stricture (37%), proximal stricture (36%), pseudocyst (30%), chain of lakes (15%), calcification and debris (19%), and bile duct stricture (8%).

RESULTS

Two patients died, one of an unrecognized esophageal perforation during intubation and the other of leakage of a 1-layer pancreaticojejunostomy. Thirty-six patients developed 53 complications including intra-abdominal abscess (7 patients) and bleeding requiring reoperation in 1 patient. Pain relief was complete in 61 patients, substantial in 39 patients, moderate in 11 patients, minimal in 8 patients, and nonexistent in 3 patients with multiple stones and narrow duct. Ten patients died, with 6 deaths as a result of pancreatic cancer Two other patients may have died of pancreatic cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Lateral pancreaticojejunostomy is the procedure of choice in most patients. Recurrent pancreatitis usually follows alcoholic binges. Long-term follow-up must assess for pancreatic cancer.

Shyness and sociotropy: additive and interactive relations in predicting interpersonal concerns

Sociotropy (an aspect of interpersonal dependence) and sociability (affiliative need) were examined as moderator variables of the relationship between shyness and interpersonal concerns in two studies. In Study 1, sociotropy, but not sociability, predicted unique variance in three indices of interpersonal concerns through both direct and interactive relations with shyness. An initial analysis in Study 2 showed that sociotropy, but not sociability, was predictive of participants' perceived competence in situations that involved initiation of conversations and assertion. In the second part of Study 2, sociotropy accounted for significant increments in variance when predicting cognitive and affective manifestations of distress related to simulated conversation and assertion situations, while sociability did not. Study 2 results suggest that sociotropy operates primarily in an additive manner with shyness in predicting interpersonal concerns, rather than moderating the relation between shyness and interpersonal concerns. Differences in the results of the two studies and implications for future research are discussed.

Sensitivity to grammatical morphemes in children with specific language impairment

Grammatical morphemes, such as articles and auxiliary verbs, provide potentially useful information to language learners. However, children with specific language impairment (SLI) frequently fail to produce grammatical morphemes, raising questions about their sensitivity to them. To address this issue, two experiments were conducted in which 3- to 5-year-old children with SLI and with normally developing language (NL) heard sentences asking them to identify a picture corresponding to a named target word. The target occurred in either a grammatical sentence or one with an incorrectly used grammatical morpheme. In Experiment 1, the picture representing the target occurred with three unrelated distractor pictures. In Experiment 2, distractor sets included pictures that were semantically related to the target. In both studies, the SLI group chose fewer correct pictures when the target followed an incorrectly used morpheme. In Experiment 2, the SLI group chose more semantically related than unrelated distractors. These results suggest that children with SLI are sensitive to grammatical morphemes and that their incorrect picture choices may reflect a failure to maintain the target in memory.

Injury patterns in recreational rock climbers

We studied 39 recreational rock climbers to determine the incidence and pattern of injuries sustained in the sport at their level. Eleven climbers (26%), who climbed beyond the sport level, had sustained a major injury from a fall. Thirty-five climbers (89%) sustained at least one significant injury. Fifty percent of the injuries involved the hand or wrist. Only seven climbers (19%) had evidence of a digital pulley injury (climber's finger). Four climbers (11%) had evidence of a carpal tunnel syndrome. Twenty climbers (50%) had tendinitis in an upper extremity on physical examination.

The effect of testing time on students' performance for the subject examination for internal medicine

The authors tested the hypothesis that increasing the allotted testing time from two to four hours for the National Board of Medical Examiners medicine subject examination would increase the score on this examination when given as part of the clerkship evaluation. One-hundred six students who completed their medicine clerkships between September 1991 and August 1992 (group 1) were compared with 96 students who completed their clerkships between September 1992 and August 1993 (group 2). The mean medicine subject examination score for group 1 was 462 +/- 86, vs 518 +/- 108 for group 2 (p = 0.0003). Regression analysis using the medicine subject examination score as the dependent variable and all baseline characteristics, group assignment, and time of year the test was taken as independent variables demonstrated significant interactions only for United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 score (R2 = 0.48, beta weight = 0.68, p = 0.0000) and group assignment (R2 = 0.05, beta weight = 0.18, p = 0.002). The authors conclude that increased testing time for the medicine subject examination from two to four hours is associated with a significant increase in scores; however, scores on the preclinical USMLE Step 1 showed a stronger association.

Sequence analysis of a cDNA clone encoding the C-terminal end of human complement factor H

Peptide sequencing of the complement system regulatory protein, factor H, permitted the synthesis of a mixed sequence oligonucleotide probe. Human liver cDNA libraries were screened and factor H-specific clones selected. No full-length clone was obtained, but the largest available clone, R2a, was found to encode the C-terminal 657 amino acids of factor H. The derived amino acid sequence consists of 10 contiguous internally homologous segments, each about 60 amino acids long. Sequences homologous to these are found in several other complement and non-complement proteins. Such sequences are likely to represent a particular type of tertiary structure subunit.

The cloning and nucleotide sequence of cDNA for an amplified glutamine synthetase gene from the Chinese hamster

The nucleotide sequence for a glutamine synthetase (GS) mRNA from gene-amplified Chinese hamster (CHO) cells was determined from recombinant cDNA clones obtained from both pBR322 and lambda gt10 libraries and by primer extension. The sequence obtained contains about 1400 bp corresponding to a minor species of mRNA terminated by a poly A sequence. The mRNA contains 146 nucleotides of 5'-noncoding region, 1119 bp of coding sequence, and 108 bp of 3'-noncoding sequence with a 32 bp poly(A) tail. The polyadenylation site used shows little homology with efficient polyadenylation sites, but has considerable complementarity with U4 RNA. The predicted amino acid sequence, starting from an initiation codon with the preferred sequence surrounding it, indicates that Chinese hamster GS has high homology with published bovine brain GS peptides and enabled an ordering of these peptides. There is homology between the mammalian GS enzymes and glutamine synthetases obtained from plants and cyanobacteria but no obvious homology between the CHO cell GS sequence and that of other ATP hydrolysing enzymes.

Mianserin kinetics in depressed patients

We studied mianserin kinetics after a single (60 mg) dose in eight inpatients suffering from depression. There was a considerable interpatient variability in plasma levels. Mean peak plasma levels (+/- SEM) were 114 +/- 26 ng/ml and were reached between 1 and 3 hr. The decline of mianserin levels in plasma was biphasic. The mean elimination t 1/2 was 21.6 +/- 3.1 hr and ranged from 10.7 to 40.8 hr. The estimated first-pass loss ranged from 26% to 48% (mean, 37%) and was lower than that reported for tertiary amine tricyclic antidepressants. The mean apparent volume of distribution (15.7 +/- 2.2 l/kg; 9.7 to 28.8 l/kg) was in the range of that for imipramine but somewhat lower than for maprotiline. Apparent total body clearance ranged from 0.33 to 0.81 l/hr/kg (mean +/- SEM, 0.52 +/- 0.05 l/hr/kg) and was of the order of that after maprotiline. Our results indicate that mianserin kinetics are in most respects similar to those of tertiary amine tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., imipramine) and the tetracyclic maprotiline.

Handling of highly infectious material in a clinical pathology laboratory and in a viral diagnostic unit

The handling of potentially lethal and highly infective material in a routine clinical pathology laboratory and in a viral diagnostic unit is detailed. Extensive precautions were taken at each step of the receiving, processing and disposal cycle. Disposable protective clothing and apparatus were used whenever possible. Laboratory tests were limited to those essential for the clinical management and diagnosis. Technologists who handled infective material were limited to minimal numbers of experienced, non-pregnant, informed volunteers. They wore special protective clothing, including gloves, caps, gowns and masks. When possible, specimens were handled under special protective hoods. Potentially infective material was processed through automated apparatus, and care was taken to prevent contamination of its exterior. The effluent from the machines was collected into viricidal agents (glutaraldehyde, sodium hypochlorite). After processing, the machines were flushed extensively with viricidal solution. This procedure has caused no damage to the automated equipment and has been adopted as a routine laboratory safety measure. The protective procedures adopted were successful in that there was no outbreak of the viral infection among the associated laboratory workers.