Modulatory effects of pheromone on olfactory learning and memory in moths.

Pheromones are chemical communication signals known to elicit stereotyped behaviours and/or physiological processes in individuals of the same species, generally in relation to a specific function (e.g. mate finding in moths). However, recent research suggests that pheromones can modulate behaviours, which are not directly related to their usual function and thus potentially affect behavioural plasticity. To test this hypothesis, we studied the possible modulatory effects of pheromones on olfactory learning and memory in Agrotis ipsilon moths, which are well-established models to study sex-pheromones. To achieve this, sexually mature male moths were trained to associate an odour with either a reward (appetitive learning) or punishment (aversive learning) and olfactory memory was tested at medium- and long-term (1 h or 1.5 h, and 24 h). Our results show that male moths can learn to associate an odour with a sucrose reward, as well as a mild electric shock, and that olfactory memory persists over medium- and long-term range. Pheromones facilitated both appetitive and aversive olfactory learning: exposure to the conspecific sex-pheromone before conditioning enhanced appetitive but not aversive learning, while exposure to a sex-pheromone component of a heterospecific species (repellent) facilitated aversive but not appetitive learning. However, this effect was short-term, as medium- and long-term memory were not improved. Thus, in moths, pheromones can modulate olfactory learning and memory, indicating that they contribute to behavioural plasticity allowing optimization of the animal's behaviour under natural conditions. This might occur through an alteration of sensitization.

Anterior Urethroplasty Has Transitioned to an Outpatient Procedure Without Serious Rise in Complications: Data From the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the trend in inpatient vs outpatient performance of anterior urethroplasty and examine outcomes using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. METHODS: A retrospective cross sectional analysis was performed using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Cases of single-stage anterior urethroplasty from 2006 to 2013 were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, procedure code 53410. Univariate analysis was performed to compare 30-day complication rates for inpatient and outpatient cases. A linear regression model was created for all years with greater than 50 reported cases. RESULTS: A total of 326 anterior urethroplasties were reported; 222 (68.1%) were inpatient procedures, and 104 (31.9%) were outpatient procedures. The most common complication, urinary tract infection, was consistent between inpatient (2.7%) and outpatient (2.9%) procedures. The rate of wound dehiscence was significantly higher among outpatient cases (1.92% vs 0%, P = .03). There were no significant differences in the rates of wound infection, bleeding, graft failure, deep vein thrombosis, pneumonia, or sepsis. The linear regression model shows a significant increase in outpatient procedures (R2 = 0.91) and equivalent decrease in inpatient procedures (R2 = 0.91) for the last 3 years of the study period. Resident involvement was associated with a decreased rate of reoperation (0% vs 8.3% P <.001). CONCLUSION: There has been a shift in the performance of anterior urethroplasty toward outpatient management. Overall, complication rates appear low. Future research is necessary to determine how to decrease overall cost of single-stage urethroplasty without compromising quality of care.