Securing lethal means for suicide: a focus group study exploring perceptions and barriers among practicing veterinarians.

OBJECTIVE: Veterinarians are at higher risk for suicide than the general population, and 1 reason for this may be veterinarians' access to and knowledge of pentobarbital-a common suicide method in this population. One possible approach to reducing suicide risk is means safety. This study examined the acceptability and feasibility of means safety protocols in the veterinary workplace. SAMPLE: 43 veterinarians from a mix of specialty areas aged 26 to 53 years, currently practicing in the United States, recruited via social media and listservs. METHODS: Participants completed a 60- to 90-minute focus group with pre- and post-test surveys. Focus group content was qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS: Survey responses indicated that that 30% (n = 13) of veteriarians reported storing their pentobarbital unlocked at least part of the time. During focus group discussion, participants perceived work/life balance or being overwhelmed as the most common suicide risk factor in veterinarians, with normalizing mental health emerging as a primary way to improve mental health in veterinarians. Additionally, adding an extra lockbox for pentobarbital/firearms emerged as the most acceptable and feasible means safety method. Finally, at post-test, veterinarians increased in willingness to implement storage protocol changes (P = .02) and were more likely to endorse concern about a coworker's suicide risk than concern about their own suicide risk (P < .01) as a reason to change pentobarbital storage methods. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results from this study will inform public messaging campaigns and policy changes for pentobarbital storage and suicide prevention efforts in the veterinary workplace at the individual and organizational level.

The Rise of Heatstroke as a Method of Depopulating Pigs and Poultry: Implications for the US Veterinary Profession.

Depopulation of food-producing animals is becoming increasingly common in response to both disease outbreaks and supply chain disruptions. In 2019, the American Veterinary Medical Association released depopulation guidelines classifying certain heatstroke-based killing methods as "permitted in constrained circumstances", when circumstances of the emergency constrain reasonable implementation of "preferred" methods. Since then, tens of millions of birds and pigs have been killed by such methods, termed ventilation shutdown (VSD) Plus Heat and VSD Plus High Temperature and Humidity. While no research using validated measures of animal welfare assessment has been performed on these methods, their pathophysiology suggests that animals are likely to experience pain, anxiety, nausea, and heat distress prior to loss of consciousness. Heatstroke-based methods may result in prolonged suffering and often do not achieve 100% mortality. Potential and available alternative depopulation methods are briefly reviewed. The veterinary profession's ethical obligation to protect animal welfare in the context of depopulations is discussed.

Association between mustard oil consumption and BMI in India.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between predominant vegetable oil consumed and BMI of adult women and men in India, with emphasis on predominant consumption of mustard oil. DESIGN: Two nationally representative data, the consumer expenditure survey of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)-68th round (2011-2012) for food consumption and National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-2016) for weight status, were analysed. Data from both surveys were combined by matching households through common matching variables ('family size', 'religion', etc.) using Nearest-Neighbour Hot-Deck matching. The association of overweight/obesity with predominant mustard oil consumption in the household was examined using logistic regression adjusted for confounders. The NSSO reports household consumption of mustard, groundnut, coconut, refined oils (sunflower, safflower, soyabean) and all other edible oils. SETTING: Two nationally representative surveys from India. PARTICIPANTS: Total of 638 445 women and 92 312 men, respectively. RESULTS: Mustard oil was the most predominantly consumed oil (51 %) followed by refined oils (32·4 %). Prevalence of overweight/obesity in women and men was lower in households with predominant mustard oil consumption (17 and 15 %) v. all other refined and other oils combined (27 and 26 %). The adjusted OR for predominant mustard oil use was 0·88 (95 % CI 0·86, 0·87) for women and 0·80 (95 % CI 0·76, 0·83) for men. A similar analysis with predominant groundnut oil consumption showed no association with overweight/obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The data from a large national level survey suggest an inverse association between mustard oil consumption and overweight/obesity which needs to be explored with further research studies.

Plasma Fatty Acid Composition and Estimated Desaturase Activities Reflect Dietary Patterns in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome.

Changes in plasma fatty acid (FA) composition and desaturase activities are observed in metabolic syndrome (MS). However, whether these changes are a reflection of dietary intakes of fats and FAs is not well established. The current study was aimed at assessing plasma FA composition and desaturase enzyme activities as biomarkers of dietary intakes in subjects with MS. Case control study was done on 41 MS patients and was compared with age matched 45 controls. Dietary intakes, anthropometric and clinical parameters were measured. FA composition was analysed using gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector and desaturase enzyme activities were estimated as ratios of product to precursor FAs. Higher levels of 14:0, 16:0, 16:1, 18:1, D9D-18 activity and lower levels of 18:0 and 18:2 n-6 were seen in MS group when compared to controls (p < 0.05). Strong positive correlations were seen between plasma triglyceride (TG) levels and 14:0, 16:0, 16:1, 18:1, total saturated fatty acid, total monounsaturated fatty acid, and D9D activities, while 18:0, 18:2 n-6 and total polyunsaturated fatty acid were negatively correlated with TG. Positive correlations were seen between plasma 14:0, 18:1 and D9D-18 activity with total energy intake and carbohydrate (CHO) intakes but not with fat intake. Plasma FA profile appears to be a better index of total energy intake and CHO intake than fat intake, suggesting it might be a good reflection of endogenous FA metabolism. Changes in FA composition may therefore serve as an early index of dysregulation of FA metabolism, resulting in increased risk of MS.

Oxidative stress during early pregnancy and birth outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Routine high-dose Fe supplementation in non-anaemic pregnant women may induce oxidative stress and eventually affect birth outcomes. The aim of the present study was to measure oxidative stress markers in pregnant women with low/normal and high Hb values in trimester 1 (Hb1) and to relate these to birth weight. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study where selected oxidative stress markers were analysed in both maternal (trimester 1; T1) and cord blood samples and correlated with birth weight. SETTING: A tertiary hospital in urban South India. SUBJECTS: One hundred women were chosen based on their Hb1 values (forty women with low/normal Hb1 (<110 g/l) and sixty women with high Hb1 (≥120 g/l)). RESULTS: In T1, women with high Hb1 values were found to have lower paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity (424·7 (sd 163·7) v. 532·9 (sd 144·7) pmol p-nitrophenol formed/min per ml plasma, P=0·002) and higher lipid peroxides compared with women with low/normal Hb1. Routine supplementation of Fe to these women resulted in persistent lower PON-1 activity in cord blood (P=0·02) and directionally lower (P=0·142) birth weights. Furthermore, women with high Hb1 who delivered low-birth-weight babies were observed to have lowest PON-1 activity in T1. No changes were observed in other markers (myeloperoxidase activity and total antioxidant levels). CONCLUSIONS: Routine Fe supplementation in pregnant women with high Hb1 associated with increased oxidative stress, as reflected by low PON-1 activity in T1, could potentially lead to deleterious effects on birth weight.

Maternal fat and fatty acid intake and birth outcomes in a South Indian population.

BACKGROUND: The quantity and quality of dietary fat during pregnancy play a key role in the growth and development of the fetus. The aim of this study was to examine the association between fat and fatty acid intakes in early pregnancy and birth outcomes in an apparent healthy normal South Indian population. METHODS: The study was a prospective observational cohort of 1838 pregnant women, conducted in South India. Intakes of total fat, saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) were assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire, and correlated with birthweight and incidence of small for gestational age (SGA) infants. RESULTS: This is a population that traditionally consumes diets that are low in SFA and n-3 PUFA, but high in linoleic acid (LA, 18:2 n-6). The data show that consumption of low SFA was associated with decreased birthweight and an increased risk of SGA [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 2.1). Similar results were seen with n-3 PUFA: low intakes of alpha linolenic acid (ALNA, 18:3 n-3) as well as low intakes of long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFA were associated with increased risk of SGA (AOR 1.70; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.6, and AOR 1.27; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.1, respectively). Increased intakes of SFA and ALNA were predominantly associated with lower intakes of cereals and higher intakes of milk and milk products. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that higher intakes of SFA and n-3 PUFA in early stages of pregnancy are associated with increased birthweight and reduced incidence of SGA in a South Indian population.

Fats & fatty acids in Indian diets: Time for serious introspection.

Recommended dietary allowances for fat and fatty acid (FA) intakes are set on global standards aimed at prevention of lifestyle diseases. Yet, the fat composition of a diet is both ethnic/region specific as well as income dependent. Indian diets are predominantly vegetarian and relatively low in fat. Furthermore, the main sources of fat are of plant origin rather than animal origin. This results in a diet that is relatively low in saturated FA, high in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and very low in n-3 PUFA. Though this appears as a good dietary composition as per global standards, the undeniable increase in the incidence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in India begs for an explanation. In this context, the current article is aimed at reopening the debate on fat intakes in Indian diets, with a focus on a balance between fats, carbohydrates and proteins, rather than an emphasis on individual macronutrients.

Effect of Curcumin in Experimental Peritonitis.

Despite medical advancements, the inflammatory cascade and oxidative stress worsen the prognosis in most cases of peritonitis. Curcumin has emerged as a potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in few of the acute inflammatory and infective conditions. We examined the effect of intraperitoneal injection of curcumin in endotoxin-induced peritonitis in rats. The blood and peritoneal fluid samples were collected at 3 and 24 h following the induction of peritonitis. Animals were sacrificed at 24 h and the organs preserved. The histopathological report of lung, liver, and intestines in the curcumin-treated rats showed maintenance of tissue architecture to a large extent compared to the control group which showed massive congestion, hemorrhage, and necrosis. The blood and peritoneal fluid total count and differential neutrophil counts were significantly higher at 24 h of induction of peritonitis. Serum amyloid assay and lipid peroxidation were significantly lower, and myeloperoxidase assay was higher in the curcumin-treated group at the end of 24 h; thus, curcumin probably demonstrated a neutrophil-mediated immunopotentiation and anti-inflammatory action thereby protecting the animal from endotoxemia-induced multi-organ damage.

Small animal zoonoses and immuncompromised pet owners.

This review is a general discussion of common zoonotic infections of companion animals in the United States. Microbes, routes of transmission, and risks to immunocompromised persons are discussed. The primary focus of this article is dogs and cats, although zoonoses of avian, rodent, and rabbit companion animals are discussed in brief. An awareness of zoonoses will allow veterinarians and physicians to collaboratively prevent transmission and treat clinical disease in both human and veterinary patients.

Intrapatient diversity and its correlation with viral setpoint in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 CRF02_A/G-IbNG infection.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral setpoint during the disease-free interval has been strongly associated with future risk of disease progression. An awareness of the correlation between viral setpoint and HIV-1 genetic evolution over time is important in the understanding of viral dynamics and infection. We examined genetic diversity in HIV-1 CRF02_A/G-IbNG-infected seroincident women in Dakar, Senegal; determined whether a viral setpoint kinetic pattern existed for CRF02_A/G-IbNG during the disease-free interval; and correlated viral load level and diversity. Samples were drawn during the disease-free interval from consenting CRF02_A/G-IbNG-infected, antiretroviral therapy-naïve female commercial sex workers in Dakar, Senegal. Based on sequential plasma RNA values, low and high viral setpoint groups were established. Intrapatient diversity and divergence over time was determined from earlier and later time point DNA samples from each person. Most individuals followed the viral setpoint paradigm. For each 1/-/log(10) copy/ml of plasma increase in viral load, intrapatient diversity increased by 1.4% (P = 0.028). A greater diversification rate was observed in the high viral setpoint group than in the low viral setpoint group (P = 0.01). Greater nucleotide (P = 0.015) and amino acid (P = 0.048) divergences and a greater nucleotide divergence rate (P = 0.03) were found in the high viral setpoint group. There was no difference between the groups in the ratio of the number of nonsynonymous substitutions per nonsynonymous site to the number of synonymous substitutions per synonymous site. The greater intrapatient diversity, divergence, and diversification rates observed in the high viral setpoint group supports the notion that diversity is driven by cycles of viral replication resulting in accumulated mutations. Recognizing diversity potential based on viral load levels in individuals may inform the design of vaccines and therapies.

Biological significance of essential fatty acids/prostanoids/lipoxygenase-derived monohydroxy fatty acids in the skin.

The skin displays a highly active metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Dietary deficiency of linoleic acid (LA), an 18-carbon (n-6) PUFA, results in characteristic scaly skin disorder and excessive epidermal water loss. Although arachidonic acid (AA), a 20-carbon (n-6) PUFA, is metabolized via cyclooxygenase pathway into predominantly prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGF2alpha, the metabolism of AA via the 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) pathway, which is very active in skin epidermis and catalyzes the transformation of AA into predominantly 15S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15S-HETE). Additionally, the 15-LOX also metabolizes the 18-carbon LA into 13S-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13S-HODE), respectively. Interestingly, 15-LOX catalyzes the transformation of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), derived from dietary gamma-linolenic acid, to 15S-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (15S-HETrE). These monohydroxy fatty acids are incorporated into the membrane inositol phospholipids which undergo hydrolytic cleavage to yield substituted-diacylglycerols such as 13S-HODE-DAG from 13S-HODE and 15S-HETrE-DAG from 15S-HETrE. These substituted-monohydroxy fatty acids seemingly exert anti-inflammatory/antiproliferative effects via the modulation of selective protein kinase C as well as on the upstream/down-stream nuclear MAP-kinase/AP-1/apoptotic signaling events.