Rapid changes in key ruminal microbial populations during the induction of and recovery from diet-induced milk fat depression in dairy cows.

The ruminant provides a powerful model for understanding the temporal dynamics of gastrointestinal microbial communities. Diet-induced milk fat depression (MFD) in the dairy cow is caused by rumen-derived bioactive fatty acids, and is commonly attributed to the changes in the microbial population. The aim of the present study was to determine the changes occurring in nine ruminal bacterial taxa with well-characterised functions, and abundance of total fungi, ciliate protozoa and bacteria during the induction of and recovery from MFD. Interactions between treatment and time were observed for ten of the twelve populations. The total number of both fungi and ciliate protozoa decreased rapidly (days 4 and 8, respectively) by more than 90% during the induction period and increased during the recovery period. The abundance of Streptococcus bovis (amylolytic) peaked at 350% of control levels on day 4 of induction and rapidly decreased during the recovery period. The abundance of Prevotella bryantii (amylolytic) decreased by 66% from day 8 to 20 of the induction period and increased to the control levels on day 12 of the recovery period. The abundance of Megasphaera elsdenii and Selenomonas ruminantium (lactate-utilising bacteria) increased progressively until day 12 of induction (>170%) and decreased during the recovery period. The abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes (fibrolytic) decreased by 97% on day 4 of induction and increased progressively to an equal extent during the recovery period, although smaller changes were observed for other fibrolytic bacteria. The abundance of the Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens/Pseudobutyrivibrio group decreased progressively during the induction period and increased during the recovery period, whereas the abundance of Butyrivibrio hungatei was not affected by treatment. Responsive taxa were modified rapidly, with the majority of changes occurring within 8 d and their time course was similar to the time course of the induction of MFD, demonstrating a strong correlation between changes in ruminal microbial populations and MFD.

Purulent vaginal and cervical discharge in the diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease.

In this structured review, we evaluated purulent vaginal and cervical discharge as diagnostic tests for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Using a pretest probability of PID (diagnosed clinically) of 50%, we used the odds-likelihood formulation of Bayes' theorem to calculate post-test probabilities of PID (proven by laparoscopy or endometrial biopsy). If abnormal discharge was present, the post-test probabilities of PID ranged from 50% to 73%, with a mean value of 57%. If abnormal discharge was absent, the post-test probabilities ranged from 24% to 52%, with a mean value of 39%. Therefore, the presence or absence of excess white blood cells in vaginal or cervical discharge was not particularly helpful in confirming or excluding PID in patients in whom the diagnosis was suspected from the clinical examination.

Relationship between heterosexual anal sex, injection drug use and HIV infection among black men and women.

US blacks carry a disproportionate risk of heterosexually transmitted HIV. This study aimed to evaluate the association between self-reported heterosexual anal intercourse and HIV. Using respondent-driven sampling (RDS), we recruited and interviewed 909 blacks from areas of high poverty and HIV prevalence in Houston, Texas, and who reported heterosexual sex in the last year. All individuals were tested for HIV. Weighted prevalence values were calculated to account for non-random recruitment associated with RDS. The weighted population prevalence of HIV infection was 2.4% and 2.5% among men and women, respectively. Education, employment status, income and crack cocaine use were not associated with HIV infection. Lifetime injection drug use (odds ratio [OR] 3.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-8.33%) and heterosexual anal intercourse (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.02-5.73%) were associated with HIV infection. Individuals who reported both injection drug use and heterosexual anal intercourse had 6.21 increased odds of HIV (95% CI 2.47-15.61%). Our results suggest that heterosexual anal sex may be a vector for HIV transmission, especially in the context of injection drug use. Prevention strategies directed at curbing the HIV epidemic among black heterosexuals require that we correctly identify the risks so that appropriate interventions can be developed.

Condom use among high-risk heterosexual women with concurrent sexual partnerships, Houston, Texas, USA.

Concurrent sexual partnerships allow for enhanced transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condom use dynamics in this context may be an important factor for transmission of HIV. We conducted a cross-sectional study to describe the frequency of concurrency among high-risk heterosexual women in Houston, Texas and determine the factors associated with condom use. A total of 553 participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling and completed an anonymous questionnaire; 256 (49%) were identified as having a concurrent partnership. The prevalence of condom use at last sexual encounter was 26%. Women were significantly more likely to use condoms if their sexual encounter was with a casual partner and if alcohol and/or drugs were not used. The high prevalence of concurrent partnerships suggests the presence of a dense sexual network which may enable the rapid spread of STIs and HIV. The risk of transmission may be additionally increased due to the low prevalence of condom use.

The incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease in untreated women infected with Chlamydia trachomatis: a structured review.

Because of the long-term consequences of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), the cost-effectiveness of Chlamydia trachomatis screening depends in part on the incidence of PID in untreated, chlamydia-infected women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the original research assessing the incidence of PID following C. trachomatis infection. We conducted a thorough search of the literature and selected all available prospective cohort studies. Six studies had original data: the incidence of PID varied from 0% (97.5% confidence interval [CI] 0-12%) during one year of follow-up of 30 women to 30% (95% CI 12-54%) during 50 days of follow-up of 20 women. Studies that included asymptomatic women in other settings reported a lower incidence than those that evaluated women in sexually transmitted disease clinics. In conclusion, no study was of a size or quality to answer our research question definitively. Investigators and clinicians planning chlamydia-screening programmes need to be cognizant of the inconclusive incidence data.

Incidence of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome in adolescents who have pelvic inflammatory disease.

PURPOSE: We determined the incidence of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS) in adolescents who had mild to moderately severe pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Harris County Juvenile Detention Center, April 2000-April 2006. PARTICIPANTS: Incarcerated female adolescents. INTERVENTION: In patients who met accepted criteria for the diagnosis of PID, we determined the proportion that had right upper quadrant pain that responded to therapy for PID. They were diagnosed as having FHCS. RESULTS: The 117 subjects' mean age (SD) was 15.6 (1.8) years; 37% were Hispanic, 34% black, and 26% white. 5/117 (4.3%, 95% confidence interval 1.4-9.7%) had symptomatic FHCS. Fifteen (13%) of all subjects, including 1 with FHCS, had fever and/or nausea and vomiting (moderately severe PID): none had generalized peritonitis or tubo-ovarian abscess (severe PID). Thirty-four had chlamydial, 4 gonorrheal, and 9 combined infections. All improved with standard outpatient PID therapy. CONCLUSION: FHCS was uncommon (4%) in adolescents who had mild to moderate PID and chlamydia as the most common pathogen.

Grating visual acuity in eyes with retinal residua of retinopathy of prematurity. The Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group.

OBJECTIVES: To compare grating visual acuity of eyes with varying severity of retinal residua of retinopathy of prematurity to grating visual acuity of eyes that did not have acute-phase retinopathy of prematurity, showed no ocular abnormalities on follow-up, and were from patients who passed neurodevelopmental screening questions. DESIGN: Monocular grating visual acuity was measured by means of the Teller acuity card procedure when children reached 1, 2, 3 1/2, and 4 1/2 years of age. PATIENTS: A total of 1398 children with birth weights less than 1251 g whose acute-phase retinopathy of prematurity was documented as part of the Multicenter Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study and who participated in follow-up visual acuity testing. RESULTS: Eyes with no or mild residua of retinopathy of prematurity showed a mean visual acuity similar to that of the comparison group. Eyes in a subgroup with abnormally straightened temporal retinal vessels showed a mean visual acuity approximately 1 octave below that of the comparison group. Mean visual acuity scores from eyes with macular heterotopia ranged from 1 octave (at 1 year) to more than 2 octaves (at 4 1/2 years) below the mean visual acuity of the comparison group. Mean visual acuity scores for the few eyes in the retinal fold or partial detachment group that had quantifiable visual acuity were well below the means for the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Acute-phase retinopathy of prematurity that regresses without retinal residua produces no deficit in grating visual acuity between 1 and 4 1/2 years of age. In contrast, eyes with macular heterotopia show a visual acuity deficit, and the deficit is greater at older than at younger ages. Eyes with retinal fold or partial detachment that have measurable visual acuity show large visual acuity deficits at all ages.

Influence of the D-2 dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole on the odor detection performance of rats before and after spiperone administration.

The influence of five doses of the D-2 receptor agonist quinpirole (0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.10, and 0.20 mg/kg IP) on the odor detection performance of 21 adult male Long Evans rats was assessed using high precision olfactometry and a go/no-go operant task. Additionally, ten rats were pre-treated with the D-2 receptor antagonist spiperone (0.62 mg/kg IP) and their performance monitored following quinpirole administration. Treatments were administered every third day in a counterbalanced order, with the quinpirole injections occurring 15 min before, and the spiperone injections 35 min before, the 260-trial test sessions. Quinpirole injection resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in odor detection performance, as measured by the percentage of correct trials and by the non-parametric signal detection sensitivity index SI. Prior treatment with spiperone eliminated these effects. Dose-related influences of quinpirole on (a) the average latency to initiate a detection response (i.e., the S + response latency), (b) the total session duration, and (c) the number of aborted trials were also eliminated or greatly attenuated by prior spiperone injection. These results suggest that D-2 receptors may be involved in the modulation of odor detection performance and related behaviors.

SKF 38393 enhances odor detection performance.

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the D1-selective partial agonist SKF 38393 on the odor detection performance of rats using high precision olfactometry and a go/no-go operant task. Previous studies have found that the D2 receptor partial agonist quinpirole decreases such performance, but the influences of D1 receptor activation are unknown. In experiment 1, such detection performance to the odorant ethyl acetate was enhanced by SKF 38393, relative to saline, in male rats at 7.5 and 10.0 mg/kg i.p. dose levels, but not at the lower doses of 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg. In experiment 2, this enhancement was replicated at the 7.5 and 10.0 mg/kg doses and was shown to occur at the 12.5 mg/kg dose as well. In experiment 3, similar enhancement was shown for the odorant eugenol in female rats at the 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 mg/kg doses, suggesting this effect is neither sex-specific nor confined to the odorant ethyl acetate. In experiment 4, a 0.025 mg/kg dose of the D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 depressed the enhancement produced to ethyl acetate by 7.5 mg/kg SKF 38393 to control levels. Overall, these data demonstrate that, in contrast to quinpirole, SKF 38393 improves odor detection performance in the rat and that this phenomenon can be attenuated by the D1 receptor blocker SCH 23390.

Odor memory and odor learning in rats with lesions of the lateral olfactory tract and mediodorsal thalamic nucleus.

Rats with posterior transection of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT), lesions of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD), or with combined lesions of these structures were tested for retention of a preoperatively learned multiple odor discrimination task, acquisition of 3 simple 2-odor discrimination problems, and reversal of the last problem of the series. Compared to controls, rats with transection of the LOT had no deficits in any task. Those with MD lesions had no deficits in retention but moderate deficits in acquisition of novel odor discriminations and a severe deficit in reversal learning. Rats with combined LOT and MD lesions had no retention of the preoperatively learned task but their performance on the remaining problems was similar to that of rats with only MD lesions. These results suggest that neither the olfactory thalamocortical projections nor those to the periamygdaloid or entorhinal cortex are essential for storage and/or recall of an olfactory procedural memory task. Performance on the postoperative acquisition tests indicate that the thalamocortical but not the limbic olfactory projections play an important role in olfactory discrimination learning.

Suckling behavior in rat pups with lesions which destroy the modified glomerular complex.

Seven-day-old sham operated rats and those with lesions of the rostral medial, lateral, or posterior medial olfactory bulbs were tested postoperatively for nipple attachment behavior and weighed daily. The posterior medial lesions included the area of the modified glomerular complex (MGC), a region of the bulb that has been implicated in suckling behavior. There were no significant differences among groups in nipple attachment latency or weight gain. These results do not support the notion that the MGC is essential for suckling in neonatal rats.

Nipple attachment and survival in neonatal olfactory bulbectomized rats.

Seven-day-old rat pups were olfactory bulbectomized, cortical lesioned, or sham lesioned, tested for nipple attachment 24 hr after surgery, then housed with their dam and weighed daily for the next 7 days. On the basis of histological findings the bulbectomized animals were divided into two subgroups: Those with removal of all olfactory bulb tissue (n = 9) and those in which some cellular elements remained in the lesioned area (n = 7). There were no differences between sham and cortical lesioned groups for nipple attachment behavior or weight gain. The completely bulbectomized pups did not show nipple attachment, lost weight each day, became moribund and had to be sacrificed by the fifth postoperative day. Deficits in incompletely bulbectomized pups were somewhat less severe and each of these survived and maintained or gained weight in the latter part of the test period. These results suggest that suckling may be critically dependent upon olfaction in 8 day or older pups and that significant savings in this behavior may be mediated by small remnants of olfactory bulb tissue.

No influence of adrenalectomy on measures of taste sensitivity in the rat.

The influence of adrenalectomy on the taste sensitivity and responsivity of Long-Evans rats to sodium chloride and sucrose tastants presented separately and in mixtures was examined using high precision gustometry, computer-controlled go/no-go operant procedures, and nonparametric signal detection measures. Relative to baseline levels, adrenalectomized rats' plasma corticosterone levels decreased by 328% while sodium chloride and water consumption increased by 548% and 165%, respectively. The same measures remained unchanged in sham-operated animals. Taste sensitivity and responsivity to sodium chloride and sucrose did not differ between adrenalectomized and sham-operated animals and discrimination performance remained the same between the groups as well. The present results support and extend previous findings that adrenalectomy and the resultant corticosteroid deficiency does not influence taste sensitivity or responsivity in the rat.

Influence of adrenalectomy on the odor detection performance of rats.

The influence of adrenalectomy (ADX) on the odor detection performance of male Long-Evans rats was assessed using high-precision olfactometry and a go/no-go operant signal detection task. Nonparametric signal detection measures of sensitivity and responsivity, as well as measures of S+ response latency, the number of aborted trials, and session time, were obtained in daily 250-trial test sessions prior to and after adrenalectomy. Four ADX animals were tested using the odorant pyridine, three using the odorant eugenol, and two using the odorant ethyl acetate. Nine other rats served as sham-operated controls. Neither odor detection nor related nonsensory performance measures were influenced by adrenalectomy or sham-operation procedures. These results imply that adrenalectomy has little or no influence on the odor detection performance of the rat.

Odor detection performance in hypothyroid and euthyroid rats.

The influence of hypothyroidism on the odor detection ability of male Long-Evans rats was determined using high-precision olfactometry and a go/no-go operant task. Nonparametric signal detection measures of sensitivity and responsitivity, as well as measures of S+ response latency, the number of aborted trials, and session time were obtained in daily 200-trial test sessions prior to, during, and after 50 days of maintenance on 0.1% propylthiouracil (PTU). Similar determinations were made in control animals. Neither odor detection nor associated nonsensory performance measures were influenced by hypothyroidism. These results suggest that PTU-induced hypothyroidism does not affect the odor detection performance of rats.

Quality-specific differences in rat taste detection performance as a function of stimulus volume.

Taste detection performance for representatives of the four taste qualities as a function of stimulus volume (5 x 10(-4) to 1 x 1(-1) ml) was examined in rats using high-precision gustometry, computer-controlled operant procedures, nonparametric signal detection measures of sensitivity and responsivity, and blind control procedures. The overall sensitivity index was positively related to stimulus volume (rs = .60), with optimal detection performance attained with a 5 x 10(-3) ml stimulus volume for salty tastants and a 1 x 10(-2) ml stimulus volume for the other taste qualities. The overall responsivity index was inversely related to stimulus volume (rs = -.47), especially for sour and bitter tastants. These results are consistent with prior observations and demonstrate that operant methods using small tastant samples produce sensitive estimates of the rat's taste detection performance and response bias.

A randomized controlled trial evaluating nutrition counseling with or without oral supplementation in malnourished HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of nutrition counseling with or without oral supplementation in malnourished patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: HIV-infected men (n=118) who were less than 90% of usual weight for height or who had lost more than 10% of body weight. INTERVENTION: Nutrition counseling alone (control group) vs nutrition counseling plus enteral supplementation (supplement group) for 6 weeks. All patients were instructed to consume a diet that exceeded estimated total energy expenditure by 960 kcal/day. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weight, skinfold thickness, fat-free mass, grip strength, quality of life, and cognitive function (Buschke test). STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Differences in baseline variables and outcomes were evaluated using analysis of variance or the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: Ninety-nine men completed at least 4 weeks of treatment, 49 in the supplement group and 50 in the control group. Half the patients in each treatment group achieved at least 80% of their energy target. No differences in weight, skinfold thickness measurements, or quality of life were observed. Compared with the control group, the supplement group had larger increases in fat-free mass and grip strength, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. APPLICATIONS: In the short term, nutrition counseling with or without oral supplementation can achieve a substantial increase in energy intake in about 50% of malnourished HIV-infected patients. Although further study is needed to evaluate long-term effects, these findings suggest that nutrition counseling has an important role in the management of malnourished HIV-infected patients.

Bone density in eumenorrheic female college athletes.

Information is limited on the effect of exercise on bone density in young eumenorrheic athletes. We studied 12 Caucasian intercollegiate volleyball players (V), nine basketball players (B), ten swimmers (S), and 13 non-athletes (N) with bone density measurements by photon absorptiometry of their calcaneus and lumbar spine (L2-L4). The effect of athletic status on bone density was analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance, with height and weight as covariates. The bone densities reported below are mean +/- SE, adjusted for the covariates; units = g.cm-2, P less than 0.005. The swimmers had a significantly lower mean density in the lumbar spine than all other groups; the non-athletes' mean density was also lower than that of volleyball players (V = 1.31 +/- 0.03, B = 1.26 +/- 0.04, N = 1.18 +/- 0.03, S = 1.05 +/- 0.03). The volleyball and basketball players' mean calcaneal densities were greater than those of the swimmers and non-athletes (V = 0.530 +/- 0.017, B = 0.564 +/- 0.023, N = 0.438 +/- 0.018, S = 0.375 +/- 0.019). The higher bone densities for athletes in vertical weight-bearing activities are consistent with some but not all published data. The swimmers' low bone density in the lumbar spine, less than published values for amenorrheic runners, was unexpected.

Iron deficiency in female athletes: its prevalence and impact on performance.

The prevalence of iron deficiency and its impact on performance have not been adequately investigated in non-endurance athletes. This study evaluated these factors in 100 female intercollegiate athletes in various sports, and in 66 non-athletes. All subjects had determinations of hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin saturation. Athletes reported on diet, menses, and symptoms. Athletes and coaches described mood and performance. Iron-deficient athletes were treated with iron; others received placebo. The same data were collected at season's end. Initially 31/100 (31%) athletes had iron deficiency (ferritin less than 12 ng.ml-1; transferrin saturation less than 16%, or both) compared to 30/66 (45.5%) controls (not statistically significant). Compared to normal athletes, iron-deficient athletes did not have more symptoms of iron deficiency or differences in mood state, but they considered their performance to be worse (P less than 0.05). Their total iron intakes were similar, as were menstrual blood losses. At re-evaluation, 7/45 (15.6%) initially normal athletes were iron-deficient; 14/22 (63.6%) initially iron-deficient athletes were normal. Athletes receiving an iron supplement and their coaches did not report a greater improvement in performance or mood than athletes receiving a placebo. Female college athletes frequently had iron deficiency that could be successfully treated during the season, while some untreated normal athletes became iron-deficient. Iron deficiency and its treatment had no significant impact on symptoms or mood, but affected subjective assessment of performance.

Fluprazine hydrochloride: no influence on the odor detection performance of male rats.

Fluprazine hydrochloride (DU 27716) decreases copulatory and offensive attack behaviors of male rats and increases their latency to locate buried food in an open field. Since such behaviors are mediated to some degree by the olfactory system, several investigators have hypothesized that this drug may produce an overall impairment in olfactory sensitivity. To test this hypothesis, the influences of five doses of fluprazine hydrochloride (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mg/kg IP) on the odor detection performance of 12 adult male Long Evans rats was assessed, relative to saline, using high precision olfactometry and a go/no-go operant odor detection task. Treatments were administered every 3rd day in counterbalanced order, with the drug or saline injections occurring 30 minutes before the 260-trial test sessions. No significant influence of fluprazine was observed on odor detection performance, as measured by the nonparametric signal detection sensitivity index SI and the percentage of correct trials. These results indicate that fluprazine does not induce generalized olfactory impairment.