The effects of a sleeve knee brace during stair negotiation in patients with symptomatic patellofemoral osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The patellofemoral joint is an important source of pain in knee osteoarthritis. Most biomechanical research in knee osteoarthritis has focused on the tibiofemoral joint during level walking. It is unknown what happens during stair negotiation in patients with patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis, a task commonly increasing pain. Conservative therapy for patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis includes the use of a sleeve knee brace. We aimed to examine the effect of a sleeve knee brace on knee biomechanics during stair negotiation in patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis patients. METHODS: 30 patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis patients (40-70 years) ascended and descended an instrumented staircase with force plates under two conditions - wearing a Lycra flexible knee support (Bioskin Patellar Tracking Q Brace) and no brace (control condition). Knee joint kinematics (VICON) and kinetics were recorded. FINDINGS: During stair ascent, at the knee, the brace significantly reduced the maximal flexion angle (2.70, P = 0.002), maximal adduction angle (2.00, P = 0.044), total sagittal range of motion (2.00, P = 0.008), total frontal range of motion (1.70, P = 0.023) and sagittal peak extension moment (0.05 Nm/kg, P = 0.043) compared to control. During stair descent, at the knee, the brace significantly reduced the maximal flexion angle (1.80, P = 0.039) and total sagittal range of motion (1.50, P = 0.045) compared to control. INTERPRETATION: The small changes in knee joint biomechanics during stair negotiation observed in our study need to be investigated further to help explain mechanisms behind the potential benefits of a sleeve knee brace for painful patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis.

Probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57 ameliorates subclinical necrotic enteritis in broiler chicks by maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity and improving feed efficiency.

Subclinical necrotic enteritis (NE) was induced in broiler chicks using a high dose of Eimeria spp. vaccine in the drinking water on day 9, and Clostridium perfringens (Cp) culture mixed in the feed on days 14 and 15. The aim was to evaluate the effects of probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain H57 (H57) in preventing NE in chicks. Day-old Ross 308, male broilers were weighed and randomly assigned to 6 treatment groups (6 replicate cages/treatment and 8 birds/cage). Birds in group 1 (control) were fed the basal wheat-soybean diet without H57 or NE infection; in group 2 (Eimeria) were treated with Eimeria alone; in group 3 (Cp) were treated with Cp alone; in group 4 (NE) received both Eimeria and Cp; in group 5 (NE-H57) received NE infection and H57; and group 6 (H57) received H57. The basal diet of chicks in groups 5 and 6 was supplemented with H57 at a density of 2 × 108 spores/g feed from 1 D of age. On day 21, there were no significant treatment effects on BW and feed intake between control and H57 birds. However, on day 21, the feed conversion ratio of NE-H57 birds was significantly improved when compared with NE birds (1.28 vs. 1.36; P < 0.001). Birds challenged with NE had a higher occurrence of pasty vent than birds infected with either Eimeria, Cp, or NE-H57 (41 vs. 27 vs. 29 vs. 19%, respectively; P < 0.001). Intestinal lesion scores of NE birds were also higher than those of Eimeria, Cp, and NE-H57 birds (5.67 vs. 2.56 vs. 2.78 vs. 2.10, respectively; P < 0.001) and correlated with pasty vent (Pearson's r = 0.56; P < 0.001). Microscopic evaluation showed mucosal damage and necrosis in NE birds. In contrast, villi from NE-H57 birds were normal, with no damage or infiltration with Eimeria or Cp. H57 appears to be effective in challenged birds, as it maintained epithelial barrier integrity and improved feed efficiency.

Supplementation of rangeland primiparous Bos indicus x Bos taurus beef heifers during lactation. 1. Effects on dam milk production and liveweight, bull calf growth, live carcass characteristics and metabolic hormone concentrations.

The practice of feeding replacement-breeding bulls on high energy diets after weaning to meet liveweight (LW) and carcass expectations between 18 and 24 months of age negatively affects reproductive potential. This experiment reports upon the effects of an alternative management strategy aimed at improving calfhood nutrition in rangeland-reared bulls to enhance LW and live carcass characteristics at 2 years. Following artificial insemination (AI cohort; n = 26), or natural mating, subsequent to the addition of bulls at 39 d post-AI (NM cohort; n = 36), primiparous Santa Gertrudis heifers grazing rangeland pastures with bull calf progeny were allocated at parturition to receive either nil supplement (control; CON) or provided with unrestricted access to a pelleted vegetable protein meal-based supplement containing 35% CP (SUPP) until weaning at 199 ± (SD) 26 d. The mean estimated pellet consumption by SUPP heifers during lactation was 2.6 ± (SEM) 0.5 kg DM daily. Grazing diet quality measurements indicated nutritional restriction of CON heifers until at least 115 d of lactation. This was confirmed by lower blood urea nitrogen concentrations at 88 d (P < 0.001) and greater mean NEFA (P < 0.001) concentrations. Rainfall during mid-lactation subsequently improved grazing diet quality; thus the CON heifers experienced moderate nutritional restriction across lactation, but sufficient to reduce milk yield by 1.6 kg/d (P < 0.001) and maternal LW at weaning by 18.4 kg (P < 0.001). Bulls reared by SUPP heifers were 17.5 kg heavier at weaning (P = 0.001) and had elevated IGF-I and leptin concentrations between 4 and 4.5 months of age (P < 0.05). Effects on metabolic hormones during calfhood were cohort specific, with greater concentrations of IGF-I confined to AISUPP bulls and NMSUPP bulls demonstrating greater concentrations of leptin. Bulls were amalgamated at weaning and grazed common pastures without supplementation until the experiment concluded at 675 d. Pre-weaning plane of nutrition did not affect the LW, carcass fat depth, IGF-I or leptin concentrations of bulls after weaning. Mean eye muscle area (EMA) was greater in SUPP compared to CON bulls (68.5 ± 0.9 cm2vs 65.2 ± 0.9 cm2; P < 0.05) and AISUPP bulls tended to have greater EMA (P = 0.06) than AICON bulls from 495 d of age. Thus when primiparous heifers experience moderate nutritional restriction during lactation, supplementation may have persistent effects upon increasing carcass muscle characteristics of bull progeny.

Supplementation of rangeland primiparous Bos indicus x Bos taurus beef heifers during lactation. 2. Effects upon the reproductive development of bull calf progeny.

This experiment evaluated the effect of pre-weaning plane of nutrition of dams upon reproductive development in Bos indicus x Bos taurus bull offspring reared under extensively managed conditions in the northern Australia rangelands. Following artificial insemination (AI cohort; n = 26), or natural mating (NM cohort; n = 36), grazing primiparous heifers received either nil supplement (Control; CON), thereby experiencing a moderate nutritional restriction, or were provided a protein supplement (SUPP) between parturition and weaning at mean age 199 ± (SD) 26 d. Bull progeny grazed rangeland pastures without supplementation from weaning until the experiment concluded at 675 d. At 120 ± 3 d and 140 d ± 10 d age, within the AI and NM cohort, respectively, bull calves were subjected to a GnRH challenge (1.5 µg/kg of body weight i.m.). Jugular blood samples collected immediately before and at 60 min after administration of GnRH were analysed for LH, FSH, testosterone and inhibin concentrations. Overall mean concentrations of testosterone in SUPP bulls were greater in both the AI cohort (P = 0.05) and the NM cohort (P = 0.06). At 60 d intervals during the post-weaning period, scrotal circumference (SC) was measured and semen collected to assess concentration, progressive motility and morphology of sperm. Bulls reared by SUPP heifers had greater (P = 0.05) SC at 375 d and tended to have greater (P = 0.09) mean percentage of morphologically normal sperm (PNS). Within the NM cohort, NMSUPP bulls had greater (P = 0.04) overall mean SC and tended (P = 0.07) to demonstrate both greater progressive motility and PNS. A greater incidence of sperm morphological abnormalities, associated with sexual immaturity, were observed in CON bulls. Consequently, NMCON bulls demonstrated delayed (P = 0.03) age of sexual maturity as compared to NMSUPP bulls. In summary, improving the plane of nutrition supplied to Bos indicus x Bos taurus bulls between parturition and weaning via moderate supplementation of grazing dams reduces age at sexual maturity with consequent economic advantages to the producer.

Peri-conception and first trimester diet modifies reproductive development in bulls.

Nutritional perturbation during gestation alters male reproductive development in rodents and sheep. In cattle both the developmental trajectory of the feto-placental unit and its response to dietary perturbations is dissimilar to that of these species. This study examined the effects of dietary protein perturbation during the peri-conception and first trimester periods upon reproductive development in bulls. Nulliparous heifers (n=360) were individually fed a high- or low-protein diet (HPeri and LPeri) from 60 days before conception. From 24 until 98 days post conception, half of each treatment group changed to the alternative post-conception high- or low-protein diet (HPost and LPost) yielding four treatment groups in a 2×2 factorial design. A subset of male fetuses (n=25) was excised at 98 days post conception and fetal testis development was assessed. Reproductive development of singleton male progeny (n=40) was assessed until slaughter at 598 days of age, when adult testicular cytology was evaluated. Low peri-conception diet delayed reproductive development: sperm quality was lowered during pubertal development with a concomitant delay in reaching puberty. These effects were subsequent to lower FSH concentrations at 330 and 438 days of age. In the fetus, the low peri-conception diet increased the proportion of seminiferous tubules and decreased blood vessel area in the testis, whereas low first trimester diet increased blood vessel number in the adult testis. We conclude that maternal dietary protein perturbation during conception and early gestation may alter male testis development and delay puberty in bulls.

Subacute ruminal acidosis reduces sperm quality in beef bulls.

Breeding bulls are commonly fed high-energy diets, which may induce subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). In this experiment, 8 Santa Gertrudis bulls (age 20 ± 6 mo) were used to evaluate the extent and duration of effects of SARA on semen quality and the associated changes in circulating hormones and metabolites. The bulls were relocated and fed in yards with unrestricted access to hay and daily individual concentrate feeding for 125 d before SARA challenge. Semen was collected and assessed at 14-d intervals before the challenge to ensure acclimatization and the attainment of a stable spermiogram. The challenge treatments consisted of either a single oral dose of oligofructose (OFF; 6.5 g/kg BW) or an equivalent sham dose of water (Control). Locomotion, behavior, respiratory rate, and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function were intensively monitored during the 24-h challenge period. Rumen fluid samples were retained for VFA, ammonia, and lactate analysis. After the challenge, semen was then collected every third day for a period of 7 wk and then once weekly until 12 wk, with associated blood collection for FSH, testosterone, inhibin, and cortisol assay. Percent normal sperm decreased in bulls dosed with OFF after the challenge period ( < 0.05) and continued to remain lower on completion of the study at 88 d after challenge. There was a corresponding increase in sperm defects commencing from 16 d after challenge. These included proximal cytoplasmic droplets ( < 0.001), distal reflex midpieces ( = 0.01), and vacuole and teratoid heads ( < 0.001). Changes in semen quality after challenge were associated with lower serum testosterone ( < 0.001) and FSH ( < 0.05). Serum cortisol in OFF bulls tended to be greater ( = 0.07) at 7 d after challenge. This study shows that SARA challenge causes a reduction in sperm quality sufficient to preclude bulls from sale as single sire breeding animals 3 mo after the event occurred.

A knee brace alters patella position in patellofemoral osteoarthritis: a study using weight bearing magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To assess using weight bearing magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), whether a patellar brace altered patellar position and alignment in patellofemoral joint (PFJ) osteoarthritis (OA). DESIGN: Subjects age 40-70 years old with symptomatic and a radiographic Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) evidence of PFJOA. Weight bearing knee MRIs with and without a patellar brace were obtained using an upright open 0.25 T scanner (G-Scan, Easote Biomedica, Italy). Five aspects of patellar position were measured: mediolateral alignment by the bisect offset index, angulation by patellar tilt, patellar height by patellar height ratio (patellar length/patellar tendon length), lateral patellofemoral (PF) contact area and finally a measurement of PF bony separation of the lateral patellar facet and the adjacent surface on the femoral trochlea (Fig. 1). RESULTS: Thirty participants were recruited (mean age 57 SD 27.8; body mass index (BMI) 27.8 SD 4.2); 17 were females. Four patients had non-usable data. Main analysis used paired t tests comparing within subject patellar position with and without brace. For bisect offset index, patellar tilt and patellar height ratio there were no significant differences between the brace and no brace conditions. However, the brace increased lateral facet contact area (P = .04) and decreased lateral PF separation (P = .03). CONCLUSION: A patellar brace alters patellar position and increases contact area between the patella and femoral trochlea. These changes would lower contact stress at the PFJ. Such changes in patella position in weight bearing provide a possible biomechanical explanation for the success of the PFJ brace in clinical trials on PFJOA.

Factors associated with arthrogenous muscle inhibition in patellofemoral osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Arthrogenous muscle inhibition (AMI) is thought to contribute to quadriceps weakness in knee osteoarthritis (OA), but its relationship with structural changes of bone marrow lesions (BMLs), capsular distension and pain is unclear. This study's objective was to investigate the factors associated with AMI in subjects with symptomatic patellofemoral joint OA (PFJOA). DESIGN: 126 Subjects with predominant PFJOA were assessed for pain by the visual analogue scale (VAS) for a nominated aggravating activity. Their more symptomatic knee underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan which was used to assess BMLs and synovitis which were scored using the Whole Organ MRI score (WORMS). Quadriceps AMI was measured by calculating the activation deficit and quadriceps strength assessed by isometric maximum voluntary contraction. Multiple linear regressions were used to assess factors associated with AMI. RESULTS: We studied 124 subjects [mean age 55.5 (SD 7.5); 57.14% female]. In regression analyses, higher levels of AMI were significantly associated with more severe knee pain and with lower BML score. CONCLUSION: Quadriceps AMI in knee OA is associated with severity of knee pain and surprisingly with lower BML scores.

D-amphetamine and antipsychotic drug effects on latent inhibition in mice lacking dopamine D2 receptors.

Drugs that induce psychosis, such as D-amphetamine (AMP), and those that alleviate it, such as antipsychotics, are suggested to exert behavioral effects via dopamine receptor D2 (D2). All antipsychotic drugs are D2 antagonists, but D2 antagonism underlies the severe and debilitating side effects of these drugs; it is therefore important to know whether D2 is necessary for their behavioral effects. Using D2-null mice (Drd2-/-), we first investigated whether D2 is required for AMP disruption of latent inhibition (LI). LI is a process of learning to ignore irrelevant stimuli. Disruption of LI by AMP models impaired attention and abnormal salience allocation consequent to dysregulated dopamine relevant to schizophrenia. AMP disruption of LI was seen in both wild-type (WT) and Drd2-/-. This was in contrast to AMP-induced locomotor hyperactivity, which was reduced in Drd2-/-. AMP disruption of LI was attenuated in mice lacking dopamine receptor D1 (Drd1-/-), suggesting that D1 may play a role in AMP disruption of LI. Further supporting this possibility, we found that D1 antagonist SKF83566 attenuated AMP disruption of LI in WT. Remarkably, both haloperidol and clozapine attenuated AMP disruption of LI in Drd2-/-. This demonstrates that antipsychotic drugs can attenuate AMP disruption of learning to ignore irrelevant stimuli in the absence of D2 receptors. Data suggest that D2 is not essential either for AMP to disrupt or for antipsychotic drugs to reverse AMP disruption of learning to ignore irrelevant stimuli and further that D1 merits investigation in the mediation of AMP disruption of these processes.

Adolescents bullying and young adults body mass index and obesity: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether adolescent males and females who were victims of bullying were at greater risk of a higher body mass index (BMI) and obesity by young adulthood. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from a community-based cohort study. SUBJECTS: A sub-sample of 1694 offspring (50% males) who were participants in the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP), Brisbane, and who provided bullying information at 14 years and physical assessment at 21 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BMI and its categories as normal, overweight or obese at 21 years. RESULTS: One in two adolescent males and one in three adolescent females reported that they had been bullied at school by others. We found that adolescent males and females who were bullied were at a significantly greater risk of a higher BMI and obesity by young adulthood. Fourteen-year-old males who were occasionally/often bullied at school had 0.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.02, 1.27) kg m(2) greater mean BMI by 21 years compared with males who were never bullied by 14 years. This mean difference in BMI was 1.52, (95% CI: 0.75, 2.29) kg m(2) for females. Similarly, the odds of being obese were 2.54 (95% CI: 1.58, 4.09) times at 21 years for those males who were bullied occasionally/often compared with adolescent males who were never bullied. For females, this was 2.18 (95% CI: 1.40, 3.39). Overweight adolescents who experienced bullying had the greatest increase in BMI by young adulthood. Adjusting for potential confounding or mediating factors, the associations remain strong for males but are attenuated for females. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that both male and female adolescents who were bullied often/sometimes by their peer group at 14 years were at greater risk of higher BMI and obesity by young adulthood.

A physiotherapy perspective of musculoskeletal imaging in sport.

This paper presents a physiotherapy perspective on the role that imaging is now playing in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal and sporting injuries. Although the Royal College of Radiologists and the UK Chartered Society of Physiotherapy were founded in the latter part of the nineteenth century, it is 100 years later that developments in the UK NHS have led to increased roles for non-medical healthcare professionals and allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists, in an extended clinical role. Physiotherapists, perhaps because of their knowledge of clinical and applied anatomy, have keenly taken up the opportunities offered to request and interpret imaging in its various forms; the most commonly available are plain radiography, musculoskeletal ultrasound and MRI. This has meant taking formal courses under the auspices of universities with mentorship and tutoring within the clinical setting, which are part of a continuing professional development. The ability to request several forms of imaging has enhanced physiotherapy practice and has increased the appreciation of the responsibilities which accompany this new role.

Potential of recombinant opa proteins as vaccine candidates against hyperinvasive meningococci.

Neisseria meningitidis causes half a million cases of septicemia and meningitis globally each year. The opacity (Opa) integral outer membrane proteins from N. meningitidis are polymorphic and highly immunogenic. Particular combinations of Opa proteins are associated with the hyperinvasive meningococcal lineages that have caused the majority of serogroup B and C meningococcal disease in industrialized countries over the last 60 years. For the first time, this genetic structuring of a diverse outer membrane protein family has been used to select a novel combination of representative antigens for immunogenicity testing. Fourteen recombinant Opa variants were produced and used in murine immunizations inducing an increase in specific antimeningococcal total IgG levels. All 14 Opa proteins elicited bactericidal antibodies against at least one hyperinvasive meningococcal isolate, and most isolates from each hyperinvasive lineage were killed by at least one Opa antiserum at a titer of 1:16 or greater. Cross-reactive bactericidal antibody responses were observed among clonal complexes. A theoretical coverage of 90% can be achieved by using a particular combination of 6 Opa proteins against an isolate collection of 227 recent United Kingdom disease cases. This study indicates the potential of Opa proteins to provide broad coverage against multiple meningococcal hyperinvasive lineages.

Family food behaviours and adolescents' overweight status: a mother-offspring link study.

BACKGROUND: The role of family food behaviours on weight status of family members is not well understood. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of some aspects of family food behaviours on adolescents overweight. METHOD: In a cross-sectional mother-child-linked study design, participants were a subsample of 3862 adolescents (51.9% boys) from the Mater hospital-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP), a longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 7,223 women and their offspring. Information on aspects of family food behaviours (family meal patterns and influences, frequency of family food consumption, and influences on family food selection) was collected by self reported questionnaires from mothers in a 14 years follow up (in 1994-1997) and other covariates at different stages of follow-ups. Body Mass Index of the adolescents was calculated using measured height and weight. RESULTS: Being overweight at 14 years had significant negative associations with mothers' report on the importance of family meals (OR=1.28), frequency of eating cake/biscuits (OR=1.71), and significant positive association with mothers' report on frequency of consumption of cooked vegetables (OR=1.32), soft drinks (OR=1.60) and importance of fattening of foods (OR=1.27). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed the importance of the family and some family food behaviours in shaping risk of being overweight amongst adolescents. Because of the cross-sectional nature of this study, we could not conclude that they had casual correlations. Comparison with the literature suggests that some of these effects may be specific to particular contexts, potentially affected by cultural and socio-economic differences.

Analysis of threshold-type behaviour in mathematical models of the intrusion of a novel macroparasite in a host colony.

Macroparasites include worms, ticks, mites, bugs and fleas. These parasites are well known to induce morbidity effects including a reduction in the hosts' reproductive output and survival. An important scenario is the introduction of a new macroparasite into an established host population which may be caused by the climate change and by the transport of domestic animals. The aim of the article is to demonstrate an interesting feature of this scenario using a mathematical model with four dimensionless parameters. Six possible scenarios of introducing a new macroparasite into a host colony, ranging from the elimination of the new pathogen, through guaranteed host and parasite coexistence, to the collapse of the host colony are distinguished. The threshold surfaces in the space of parameters which separate the different scenarios are found. Some special limit cases are discussed.

Longitudinal correlates of the persistence of irregular eating from age 5 to 14 years.

AIM: To report the stability of parent-perceived child irregular eating from 6 months to 14 years of age and to investigate a predictive model inclusive of child and parent factors. METHODS: Of the 7223 singleton children in a birth cohort, 5122 children were re-interviewed at 5 years and 4554 for the 14-year analysis. Information was obtained from structured interviews including questions answered by parents of the child at birth, 6 months, 5 years and 14 years; and by teenagers at age 14 years and from physical measures of the child. The mother's perception that the child was an irregular eater at age 14 years was the major outcome variable of interest. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of irregular eaters at age 5 will still be irregular eaters at age 14 years. This was not related to maternal education or socio-economic class. Significant at multivariate analysis were infant feeding problems and the children's ability to regulate their sleep and mood. Significant maternal factors were greater age, not feeling positive about the baby and persistent maternal anxiety during the child's early years. CONCLUSION: Irregular eating behaviour displays considerable continuity from childhood to mid-adolescence. Independent contributions to this behavioural phenotype include child biological and psychological factors and maternal anxiety during the child's early years.

Maternal smoking during and after pregnancy and lung function in early adulthood: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is a paucity of evidence about whether exposure to antenatal smoking impacts on offspring's lung function in early adulthood. This study aimed to examine whether (1) in utero exposure to maternal smoking is related to poorer respiratory functioning in early adulthood; (2) the impact of prenatal smoking is independent of postnatal maternal smoking; and (3) the link between prenatal smoking and a young adult's lung function is explained by the child's birth weight, smoking or history of asthma. METHODS: Data were from a 21-year follow-up of mothers and their children recruited into the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy, a longitudinal prebirth cohort. The study is based on 2409 young adults (1185 males and 1224 females) who had prospective data available on respiratory function at 21 years and maternal smoking during and after pregnancy. A Spirobank G spirometer system was used to measure forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF(25-75)). RESULTS: In utero exposure to maternal smoking was associated with a reduction in FEV(1) and FEF(25-75) in males (regression coefficient, -0.16; 95% CI, -0.30 to -0.02), after accounting for maternal smoking after pregnancy. At least part of the effect of in utero smoking on young adults' lung function was explained by the child's birth weight and subsequent asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse effects of antenatal smoking on development of airway growth may persist into early adulthood. Gender differences noted in this longitudinal cohort need to be explored further.

Selective increases in regional brain glucocorticoid: a novel effect of chronic alcohol.

The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis shows functional changes in alcoholics, with raised glucocorticoid release during alcohol intake and during the initial phase of alcohol withdrawal. Raised glucocorticoid concentrations are known to cause neuronal damage after withdrawal from chronic alcohol consumption and in other conditions. The hypothesis for these studies was that chronic alcohol treatment would have differential effects on corticosterone concentrations in plasma and in brain regions. Effects of chronic alcohol and withdrawal on regional brain corticosterone concentrations were examined using a range of standard chronic alcohol treatments in two strains of mice and in rats. Corticosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay and the identity of the corticosterone extracted from brain was verified by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Withdrawal from long term (3 weeks to 8 months) alcohol consumption induced prolonged increases in glucocorticoid concentrations in specific regions of rodent brain, while plasma concentrations remained unchanged. This effect was seen after alcohol administration via drinking fluid or by liquid diet, in both mice and rats and in both genders. Shorter alcohol treatments did not show the selective effect on brain glucocorticoid levels. During the alcohol consumption the regional brain corticosterone concentrations paralleled the plasma concentrations. Type II glucocorticoid receptor availability in prefrontal cortex was decreased after withdrawal from chronic alcohol consumption and nuclear localization of glucocorticoid receptors was increased, a pattern that would be predicted from enhanced glucocorticoid type II receptor activation. This novel observation of prolonged selective increases in brain glucocorticoid activity could explain important consequences of long term alcohol consumption, including memory loss, dependence and lack of hypothalamo-pituitary responsiveness. Local changes in brain glucocorticoid levels may also need to be considered in the genesis of other mental disorders and could form a potential new therapeutic target.

Predictors of maternal misclassifications of their offspring's weight status: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Very little is known about the factors influencing parental misclassifications of a child's weight status. The aim of this study is to examine the predictors of maternal misclassifications of their adolescent offspring's weight status. METHODS: A mother-child linked analysis was carried out using 14-year follow-up data from a population-based prospective birth cohort of 2650 children (52% males) who were participants in the Mater-University Study of Pregnancy in Brisbane (Australia) in 1981. Offspring's observed height and weight and maternal perception of offspring weight were reported when they were 14 years old and predictors were prospectively recorded either at first clinical visit of mothers or at 5 or 14 years follow-up. Maternal misclassifications were defined combining observed body mass index (BMI) categories and maternal perceptions of their offspring's weight status. RESULTS: We found that maternal misclassification of child's weight status was common and included misclassifications both to higher and lower weight categories. Forty percent of mothers of overweight children misclassified their child as normal or underweight, more so in males than females. Fifteen percent of mothers of normal weight children misclassified their child as underweight, again more so in males than females. The main independent predictors of maternal misclassifications of child weight status were gender, child dissatisfaction with appearance, shape, size and weight, dieting to lose weight, general health status, maternal BMI and family meals. Gender, child dissatisfaction, dieting and maternal overweight were especially associated with misclassifications of overweight children. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a number of maternal, child and family factors associated with maternal misclassifications of child weight status. Although relevant for clinical practice, further study is needed, however, to evaluate the benefits and harms of promoting increasing parental and child awareness of the child's weight status at a population level.

Haplotypic diversity in human CEACAM genes: effects on susceptibility to meningococcal disease.

Adhesion between the opacity-associated adhesin (Opa) proteins of Neisseria meningitidis and human carcino-embryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) proteins is an important stage in the pathogenesis of meningococcal disease, a globally important bacterial infection. Most disease is caused by a small number of meningococcal genotypes known as hyperinvasive lineages. As these are also carried asymptomatically, acquisition of them alone cannot explain why only some hosts develop meningococcal disease. Our aim was to determine whether genetic diversity in CEACAM is associated with susceptibility to meningococcal disease. Frequency distributions of alleles, genotypes and haplotypes were compared in four CEACAM genes in 384 case samples and 190 controls. Linkage disequilibrium among polymorphic sites, haplotype structures and relationships were also analysed. A number of polymorphisms were observed in CEACAM genes but the diversity of CEACAM1, to which most Opa proteins bind, was lower, and a small number of high-frequency haplotypes were detected. Dose-dependent associations of three CEACAM haplotypes with meningococcal disease were observed, with the effect of carrying these haplotypes amplified in homozygous individuals. Two haplotypes were protective while one haplotype in CEACAM6 was associated with a twofold increase in disease susceptibility. These data imply that human CEACAM may be one determinant of human susceptibility to meningococcal disease.

Increasing body mass index from age 5 to 14 years predicts asthma among adolescents: evidence from a birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and asthma are common disorders, and the prevalence of both has increased in recent decades. It has been suggested that increases in the prevalence of obesity might in part explain the increase in asthma prevalence. This study aims to examine the prospective association between change in body mass index (BMI) z-score between ages 5 and 14 years and asthma symptoms at 14 years. METHODS: Data was taken from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes (MUSP), a birth cohort of 7223 mothers and children started in Brisbane (Australia) in 1981. BMI was measured at age 5 and 14 years. Asthma was assessed from maternal reports of symptoms at age 5 and 14 years. In this study analyses were conducted on 2911 participants who had information on BMI and asthma at both ages. RESULTS: BMI z-score at age 14 and the change in BMI z-score from age 5 to 14-years were positively associated with asthma symptoms at age 14 years, whereas BMI z-score at age 5 was not associated with asthma at age 14. Adjustment for a range of early-life exposures did not substantially alter these findings. The association between change in BMI z-score with asthma symptoms at 14 years appeared stronger for male subjects compared with female subjects but there was no statistical evidence for a sex difference (P=0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Increase in BMI z-score between age 5 and 14 years is associated with increased risk of asthma symptoms in adolescence.