Seasonal changes in circulating gonadal steroid levels and physiological evidence for the presence of intrinsic circannual reproductive cycles in captive finless porpoises Neophocaena asiaeorientalis from the western Inland Sea, Japan.

We monitored annual fluctuations of gonadal steroid levels in three sexually mature captive finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis; two males and one female) from two different facilities over 56-91 months. Two animals (one male and one female) were held in an indoor tank with a sunroof (facility A) and the other male was held in an indoor tank without a sunroof (facility B). Water temperatures in both facilities reflected seasonal changes during the study period with a minor difference in the fluctuation pattern. Testosterone levels of the male in facility A were higher from spring to summer every year and exhibited a 12-month cycle. The female showed estrus cycles in 1-month intervals from summer to winter, excluding 2 anestrus years. In contrast, the period of higher testosterone levels of the male in facility B gradually initiated earlier over the years under a constant photoperiod (11.5L:12.5D) and exhibited a 9-month cycle during the first 52 months. After changing the light conditions to a natural photoperiod, its testosterone levels were high from early spring to summer for 3 consecutive years and exhibited a 12-month cycle. Our results showed that under a constant artificial photoperiod, the male in facility B failed to recognize the seasonal changes of a natural external environment, resulting in a 9-month, free-running hormone cycle.

Revised version of the ability for basic movement scale (ABMS II) as an early predictor of functioning related to activities of daily living in patients after stroke.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to test the predictive validity of a new scale, the Revised Version of the Ability for Basic Movement Scale (ABMS II). METHODS: A total of 71 patients after stroke participated in this prospective study. In addition to the ABMS II score, age, limb paresis as measured by the Brunnström stage, and functional ability as measured by the Barthel Index were also selected as predictor variables. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis showed that the state of functional ability according to the 4-week Barthel Index had significant positive correlations with total scores of ABMS II and Brunnström stage at all data collection time-points. The results of linear stepwise regression analysis indicated that the 'turn over from supine position' at the start of rehabilitation and 'remain sitting' items of ABMS II at 2 weeks after onset of the stroke, in addition to the 2-week Barthel Index and 2-week Brunnström stage, were significant predictors (88.9%) of functional ability at 4 weeks after onset of stroke. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for the predictive value of the ABMS II with regard to functional ability in patients after stroke.