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The terminology used to describe reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) findings in both melanocytic and nonmelanocytic lesions has been standardized in English. We convened a panel of Spanish-speaking RCM experts and used the Delphi method to seek consensus on which Spanish terms best describe RCM findings in this setting. The experts agreed on 52 terms: 28 for melanocytic lesions and 24 for nonmelanocytic lesions. The resulting terminology will facilitate homogenization, leading to a better understanding of structures, more standardized descriptions in clinical registries, and easier interpretation of clinical reports exchanged between dermatologists.
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Melanoma , Neoplasias Cutáneas , Humanos , Neoplasias Cutáneas/patología , Melanoma/diagnóstico por imagen , Melanoma/patología , Técnica Delphi , Microscopía Confocal/métodos , Consenso , Dermoscopía/métodosRESUMEN
A substantial body of research focuses on racial disparity in the criminal justice system, with mixed results due to difficulty in disentangling differential offending from racial bias. Additionally, some research has demonstrated that victim characteristics can exacerbate racial disparity in outcomes for offenders, but little research has focused on the arrest stage. We use a quasi-experimental approach that examines incidents involving co-offending pairs to isolate the influence of offender race on arrest, beyond any characteristics of the incident itself, and we test for moderating effects of victim race and sex on racial disparities in arrest. Our findings reveal that, on average, when two offenders of different races commit the same offense together against the same victim, Black offenders are significantly more likely to be arrested than their White co-offending partners, especially for assault offenses. More importantly, this effect-for both assaults and homicides-is particularly strong when the victim is a White woman. Because these differences are between two offenders who commit the same offense together, we argue that the most plausible explanation for the differences is the presence of racial bias or discrimination.
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OBJECTIVE: Previous research has noted contradictory findings regarding race and police notification, such that Black people indicate higher levels of distrust in the police yet report victimization to the police at rates similar to or higher than others. We investigated the role of offense severity in accounting for these discrepancies. HYPOTHESES: We hypothesized that severity would moderate racial differences in reporting, such that Black victims would be less likely to report less severe victimization but more likely to report more severe victimization. We expected that these differences would be less pronounced for bias-motivated crime, regardless of other markers of severity. METHOD: We used data from the 2003-2016 National Crime Victimization Survey, including information on 21,510 victimization incidents, 1,105 of which were hate crimes. We conducted logistic regression analyses in which reporting was regressed on victim race, offense severity, hate crime status, and control variables. We also examined interactive effects to disentangle whether severity moderated racial differences in notification. RESULTS: We observed a three-way interaction of Black victims, offense severity, and hate crime status. Specifically, for nonbias incidents, Black victims were more likely than White victims to report severe incidents, but there was no racial difference in reporting nonsevere incidents. Additionally, for nonsevere incidents, Black victims were more likely than White victims to report hate crimes, but there was no racial difference in reporting nonhate crimes. CONCLUSIONS: Offense severity plays an important role in the victim decision-making process. These patterns are different, however, by race and for hate crime victims, suggesting that people perceive hate crimes as important to report, regardless of their severity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Víctimas de Crimen , Policia , Crimen , Odio , Humanos , Factores RacialesRESUMEN
Extradyadic sex (EDS) is a major relationship violation, yet it occurs in nearly a quarter of U.S. cohabiting and marital unions. While many relationships dissolve in the wake of EDS, a majority remain intact. Theories of social stress suggest that substantial psychological distress should result unless EDS is a symptom of stress caused by involvement in a relationship marked by other negative characteristics. This study investigates how one's own EDS, a partner's EDS, and mutual EDS are related to internalizing and externalizing behaviors: depressive symptoms and heavy alcohol use, respectively. Analyses of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health suggest that one's own EDS is associated with heavy alcohol use among cohabiters and spouses and with depressive symptoms among spouses, while partner EDS has no association with either outcome net of confounders. We discuss the implications of these findings in the study's conclusions.
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Plaque neovascularization is a hallmark of carotid plaque vulnerability. With contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) it is possible to visualize plaque neovessels in vivo. Our aim was to determine if CEUS-detected neovessels were associated with stroke recurrences in patients with a recent stroke and carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of consecutive patients with a recent stroke and at least one atherosclerotic plaque in the internal carotid artery on the side consistent with symptoms. All of our patients underwent a carotid ultrasound examination including a CEUS study. Neovascularization was graded into three categories according to the extent of neovessels. During the follow-up, we recorded stroke recurrences. A multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate predictors of recurrence. RESULTS: We included 78 patients whose mean age was 74.3 ± 10.4 years. There were 29 (37.2%) patients with a low-grade stenosis (<50%). The remainder presented moderate (50%-69%) or high-grade (≥70%) stenosis. CEUS was not interpretable in 35.9% of the patients, mainly due to calcium shadows. We detected neovascularization in 80% of the plaques. After a median follow-up of 14.1 (interquartile range, 9.5-19.6) months, there were 15 (19.2%) stroke recurrences. In the Cox regression analysis, CEUS-detected neovascularization was independently associated with the risk of stroke recurrence, even after adjusting for the degree of stenosis (hazard ratio, 6.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.66-26.01). CONCLUSION: In patients with an anterior circulation ischaemic stroke and carotid atherosclerosis, plaque neovascularization detected with CEUS was an independent predictor of stroke recurrence.
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Accidente Cerebrovascular Isquémico/complicaciones , Accidente Cerebrovascular Isquémico/diagnóstico , Neovascularización Patológica/complicaciones , Neovascularización Patológica/diagnóstico por imagen , Placa Aterosclerótica/complicaciones , Placa Aterosclerótica/diagnóstico , Anciano , Isquemia Encefálica/complicaciones , Isquemia Encefálica/diagnóstico , Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico por imagen , Estenosis Carotídea/complicaciones , Estenosis Carotídea/diagnóstico , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Estudios Prospectivos , Recurrencia , UltrasonografíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the involvement of EGFR signalling and HPV infection in a cohort of inverted sinonasal papilloma (ISP) and sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) and their value for prognosis and clinical treatment. METHODS: We analysed 55 ISP, 14 SNSCC associated with ISP (SNSCC-isp) and and 60 SNSCC not associated with ISP (SNSCC-novo) for EGFR gene mutation and copy number gain, protein expression of EGFR and phosporylated EGFR (pEGFR), and HPV-infection and KRAS mutation. Findings were correlated to clinico-pathological and follow-up data. RESULTS: We found EGFR exon 20 mutations in 38% (7/18) ISP, in 50% (6/12) SNSCC-isp and in 5% (1/19) SNSCC-novo. EGFR was expressed in 92% of ISP, while pEGFR was observed in 54% (21/39). SNSCC-isp and SNSCC-novo demonstrated comparable expression of EGFR (57% and 33%) and of pEGFR (44% and 38%). We observed an inverse relation between EGFR exon 20 mutation and pEGFR expression. Four of 39 (10%) ISP carried HPV-16. Oncogenic HPV was detected in 3/12 (25%) SNSSC-isp and in 1/8 (13%) SNSCC-novo. KRAS mutations were not detected in any of the samples. HPV infection was inversely correlated with pEGFR expression but not with EGFR mutation. ISP with EGFR activation by mutation or by phosphorylation had longer ISP-free survival, however, neither EGFR exon 20 mutation, pEGFR expression nor HPV infection demonstrated prognostic value in SNSCC. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR exon 20 mutation is frequent in ISP and SNSCC-isp, while activation of EGFR through phosphorylation also plays an important role. Our data indicate that a large proportion of SNSCC patients could benefit from therapy with modern EGFR inhibitors.
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Carcinoma de Células Escamosas , Papiloma Invertido , Infecciones por Papillomavirus , Receptores ErbB/genética , Humanos , Mutación , Papiloma Invertido/genética , Papiloma Invertido/virología , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/genéticaRESUMEN
Most research on communities and crime finds a positive association between economic inequality and crime. Various levels of analysis have been used, but much of this research has only analyzed associations at one level of analysis at a time, and most recent research has focused on neighborhoods and smaller levels of analysis. The current investigation measures inequality at three levels simultaneously to distinguish the independent effect of inequality on crime at each level. I combine demographic information from the American Community Survey with crime data from the NIJ Foreclosure and Crime Data Archive for 34 U.S. cities for the years 2005-2009, and use multilevel modeling to separate out effects of inequality at the census block-group, tract, and city level. Findings indicate that the association between income inequality and crime varies by level of analysis, and the association at each level depends on the amount of inequality at other levels.
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Background: The extent to and mechanisms by which agricultural biodiversity may influence diet diversity and quality among women are not well understood. Objectives: We aimed to 1) determine the association of farm-level agricultural biodiversity with diet diversity and quality among women of reproductive age in Peru and 2) determine the extent to which farm market orientation mediates or moderates this association. Methods: We surveyed 600 households with the use of stratified random sampling across 3 study landscapes in the Peruvian Andes with diverse agroecological and market conditions. Diet diversity and quality among women were assessed by using quantitative 24-h dietary recalls with repeat recalls among 100 randomly selected women. We calculated a 10-food group diet diversity score (DDS), the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) indicator, probability of adequacy (PA) of 9 micronutrients by using a measurement-error model approach, and mean PA (MPA; mean of PAs for all nutrients). Agricultural biodiversity was defined as a count of crop species cultivated by the household during the 2016-2017 agricultural season. Results: In regression analyses adjusting for sociodemographic and agricultural characteristics, farm-level agricultural biodiversity was associated with a higher DDS (incidence rate ratio from Poisson regression: 1.03; P < 0.05) and MPA (ordinary least-squares ß-coefficient: 0.65; P < 0.1) and higher odds of achieving a minimally diverse diet (MDD-W: OR from logistic regression: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.23) and a diet that met a minimum threshold for micronutrient adequacy (MPA >60%: OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.35). Farm market orientation did not consistently moderate these associations, and in path analyses we observed no consistent evidence of mediation of these associations by farm market orientation. Conclusions: Farm-level agricultural biodiversity was associated with moderately more diverse and more micronutrient-adequate diets among Peruvian women. This association was consistent across farms with varying levels of market orientation, although agricultural biodiversity likely contributed to diets principally through subsistence consumption.
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Agricultura , Biodiversidad , Productos Agrícolas , Dieta Saludable , Abastecimiento de Alimentos , Micronutrientes/administración & dosificación , Población Rural , Adolescente , Adulto , Comercio , Registros de Dieta , Encuestas sobre Dietas , Composición Familiar , Granjas , Femenino , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Evaluación Nutricional , Estado Nutricional , Oportunidad Relativa , Perú , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Multidrug-resistant (MR) Gram-negative (GN) pathogens pose a major and growing threat for healthcare systems, as therapy of infections is often limited due to the lack of available systemic antibiotics. Well-tolerated antiseptics, such as octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT), may be a very useful tool in infection control to reduce the dissemination of MRGN. This study aimed to investigate the bactericidal activity of OCT against international epidemic clones of MRGN. A set of five different species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was studied to prove OCT efficacy without organic load, under "clean conditions" (0.3 g/L albumin) and under "dirty conditions" (3 g/L albumin + 3 mL/L defibrinated sheep blood), according to an official test norm (EN13727). We used five clonally unrelated isolates per species, including a susceptible wild-type strain, and four MRGN isolates, corresponding to either the 3MRGN or 4MRGN definition of multidrug resistance. A contact time of 1 min was fully effective for all isolates by using different OCT concentrations (0.01% and 0.05%), with a bacterial reduction factor of >5 log10 systematically observed. Growth kinetics were determined with two different wild-type strains (A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae), proving a time-dependent efficacy of OCT. These results highlight that OCT may be extremely useful to eradicate emerging highly resistant Gram-negative pathogens associated with nosocomial infections.
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Antiinfecciosos/farmacología , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple/efectos de los fármacos , Bacterias Gramnegativas/efectos de los fármacos , Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas/microbiología , Piridinas/farmacología , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Bacterias Gramnegativas/genética , Humanos , Iminas , Pruebas de Sensibilidad MicrobianaRESUMEN
Today, at the frontier of biomedical research, the need has been clearly established for integrating disease detection and therapeutic function in one single theranostic system. Light-emitting nanoparticles are being intensively investigated to fulfil this demand, by continuously developing nanoparticle systems simultaneously emitting in both the UV/visible (light-triggered release and activation of drugs) and the near-infrared (imaging and tracking) spectral regions. In this work, rare-earth (RE) doped nanoparticles (RENPs) were synthesized via a thermal decomposition process and spectroscopically investigated as potential candidates as all-in-one optical imaging, diagnostic and therapeutic agents. These core/shell/shell nanoparticles (NaGdF4:Er3+,Ho3+,Yb3+/NaGdF4:Nd3+,Yb3+/NaGdF4) are optically excited by heating-free 806 nm light that, aside from minimizing the local thermal load, also allows to obtain a deeper sub-tissue penetration with respect to the still widely used 980 nm light. Moreover, these water-dispersed nanoplatforms offer interesting assets as triggers/probes for biomedical applications, by virtue of a plethora of emission bands (spanning the 380-1600 nm range). Our results pave the way to use these RENPs for UV/visible-triggered photodynamic therapy/drug release, while simultaneously tracking the nanoparticle biodistribution and monitoring their therapeutic action through the near-infrared signal that overlaps with biological transparency windows.
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Tecnología Biomédica/métodos , Gadolinio/química , Metales de Tierras Raras/química , Nanopartículas/química , Análisis EspectralRESUMEN
This study investigates extradyadic sex (EDS) among contemporary opposite-sex married and cohabiting young adults and examines how EDS is associated with union dissolution. By analyzing data from 8301 opposite-sex spouses and cohabiters in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we estimate the prevalence of self-reported EDS, reports of partners' EDS, and reports of mutual EDS (i.e., both partners' engagement in EDS). Roughly 1 in 4 respondents reported that either they, their partner or both engaged in EDS. Young men were more likely than women to self-report EDS, while young women were more likely to report partners' EDS. Relative to no EDS, partners' EDS was associated with union dissolution, but self-reported EDS and mutual EDS were not. A partner's EDS was also associated with union dissolution relative to self-reported EDS. Associations between a partner's EDS and dissolution were consistent among spouses and cohabiters and among men and women.
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Fruits and vegetables are essential for healthy life. We examined the fruits and vegetables consumption by 240 caregivers and their children aged 1-17 years in peri-urban Lima, and the ways that they were incorporated into local cuisine. A randomized cross-sectional household survey collected information on the weight of all foods eaten the previous day (24 h) including fruits and vegetables, their preparation and serving sizes. Fruit and vegetable consumption was low and very variable: fruit intake was mean 185.2 ± 171.5 g day-1 , median 138 g day-1 for caregivers and 203.6 ± 190.6 g day-1 and 159 g day-1 for children, vegetable intake was mean 116.9 ± 94.0 g day-1 median 92 g day-1 for caregivers, mean 89.3 ± 84.7 g day-1 median 60 g day-1 for children. Only 23.8% of children and 26.2% of caregivers met the recommended ≥400 g of fruit or vegetable/day. Vegetables were mainly eaten either as ingredients of the main course recipe, eaten by about 80% of caregivers and children, or as salads eaten by 47% of caregivers and 42% of children. Fruits were most commonly eaten as whole fresh fruits eaten by 68% of caregivers and 75% of children. In multivariate analysis of the extent to which different presentations contributed to daily fruit and vegetable consumption, main courses contributed most to determining vegetable intake for caregivers, and for children, main course and salads had similar contributions. For fruit intake, the amount eaten as whole fruit determined total fruit and total fruit plus vegetable intake for both caregivers and children. Local cuisine should be considered in interventions to promote fruit and vegetable consumption. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Dieta , Frutas , Verduras , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Estudios Transversales , Composición Familiar , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Recuerdo Mental , Encuestas Nutricionales , Perú , Ingesta Diaria Recomendada , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Cd(2+) has been associated with decreased sperm motility in individuals exposed to this element, such as smokers. Among other factors, this lowered motility could be the result of inhibition exerted by Cd(2+) on the activity of the sperm ATPases associated with sperm motility. In this study, we evaluated the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase and the axonemal dynein-ATPase activities as well as sperm motility, in the presence of different free Cd(2+) concentrations in the assay media. It was found that spermatozoa incubated for 5 h in a medium containing 25 nm free Cd(2+) showed a significant inhibition of progressive motility, reaching values even lower at higher Cd(2+) concentrations. In addition, it was found that the activity of the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase reached maximal inhibition at 50 nm free Cd(2+), with a K50% inhibition of 18.3 nm free Cd(2+). The dynein-ATPase activity was maximally inhibited by 25 nm free Cd(2+) in the assay medium, with a K50% inhibition of 11.3 nm Cd(2+). Our results indicate that the decreased activity of the sperm ATPases might have a critical importance in the biochemical mechanisms underlying the decreased sperm motility of individuals exposed to Cd(2+).
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Dineínas Axonemales/metabolismo , Cadmio/toxicidad , ATPasas Transportadoras de Calcio/metabolismo , Motilidad Espermática/efectos de los fármacos , Espermatozoides/efectos de los fármacos , Cadmio/administración & dosificación , Cadmio/farmacocinética , Membrana Celular/enzimología , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Pruebas de Enzimas , Voluntarios Sanos , Humanos , Masculino , Espermatozoides/enzimologíaRESUMEN
Since their discovery in different human tissues by Zimmermann in 1898, primary cilia have been found in the vast majority of cell types in vertebrates. Primary cilia are considered to be cellular antennae that occupy an ideal cellular location for the interpretation of information both from the environment and from other cells. To date, in mammalian thyroid gland, primary cilia have been found in the thyrocytes of humans and dogs (fetuses and adults) and in rat embryos. The present study investigated whether the existence of this organelle in follicular cells is a general event in the postnatal thyroid gland of different mammals, using both immunolabeling by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Furthermore, we aimed to analyse the presence of primary cilia in various thyroid cell lines. According to our results, primary cilia are present in the adult thyroid gland of most mammal species we studied (human, pig, guinea pig and rabbit), usually as a single copy per follicular cell. Strikingly, they were not found in rat or mouse thyroid tissues. Similarly, cilia were also observed in all human thyroid cell lines tested, both normal and neoplastic follicular cells, but not in cultured thyrocytes of rat origin. We hypothesize that primary cilia could be involved in the regulation of normal thyroid function through specific signaling pathways. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to shed light on the permanence of these organelles in the thyroid gland of most species during postnatal life.
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Cilios/ultraestructura , Glándula Tiroides/citología , Animales , Células Cultivadas , Perros , Cobayas , Humanos , Ratones , Microscopía Electrónica , Conejos , Ratas , Transducción de Señal , Porcinos , Glándula Tiroides/metabolismoRESUMEN
This study evaluated whether phenotypic appearance (PA) alteration during two developmental phases in laying hens, reared in two different group sizes, affects stress and immune responses. After hatching, 750 chicks were randomly assigned to 30 pens at a group size of either 10 or 40 birds. Then, the appearance of 0, 30, 50, 70 or 100% of the chicks in each pen was altered by blackdyeing their head feathers (marked); remaining chicks were unmarked. At 32 weeks, basal and postacute stress plasma corticosterone concentration, leukocyte counts, phytohemagglutinin-p lymphoproliferative and primary antibody responses were measured in six birds/pen. Analysis of variances (ANOVAs) showed no differences among treatment combinations. In a second phase, birds within initially homogeneous pens were sequentially either marked or had dye bleached to alter PA of 70% of hens in each flock (= group in a pen). Hens within initially heterogeneous pens remained unaltered as controls. The above variables were remeasured. Hens in phenotypically manipulated pens showed modified leukocyte counts compared to hens in control pens, indicating a chronic stress reaction in all penmates (whether individual PA was altered or not). Social isolation increased plasma corticosterone concentration. However, within groups of n = 40, phenotypically unaltered hens had lower responses than their altered penmate counterparts, suggesting that remaining in a stable PA group aids better coping with challenges. Although all hens in manipulated pens showed modified leukocyte counts, their antibody and lymphoproliferative responses did not differ from controls suggesting that all groupmates were able to immunologically cope with the challenges presented, within the timeframe evaluated.
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Pollos/fisiología , Corticosterona/sangre , Vivienda para Animales , Fenotipo , Fitohemaglutininas/inmunología , Animales , Color , FemeninoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: ApoA-I can undergo oxidative changes that reduce anti-atherogenic role of HDL. The aim of this study was to seek any significant differences in methionine sulfoxide (MetO) content in the ApoA-I of HDL isolated from young patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), type 2 diabetics and healthy subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated the lipid profile of 21 type 2 diabetic patients, 23 young patients with premature MI and 21 healthy volunteers; we determined in all patients the MetO content of ApoA-I in by MALDI/TOF/TOF technique. The typical MALDI spectra of the tryptic digest obtained from HDL plasma fractions all patients showed a relative abundance of peptides containing Met(112)O in ApoA-I in type 2 diabetic and CHD patients. This relative abundance is given as percentages of oxidized ApoA-I (OxApoA-I). OxApoA-I showed no significant correlations with lipoproteins in all patients studied, while a strong correlation emerged between the duration of diabetic disease and OxApoA-I levels in type 2 diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The most remarkable finding of our study lies in the evidence it produced of an increased HDL oxidation in patients highly susceptible to CHD. Levels of MetO residues in plasma ApoA-I, measured using an accurate, specific method, should be investigated and considered in prospective future studies to assess their role in CHD.
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HDL-Colesterol/sangre , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangre , Infarto del Miocardio/sangre , Adulto , Apolipoproteína A-I/sangre , LDL-Colesterol/sangre , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Voluntarios Sanos , Humanos , Masculino , Metionina/análogos & derivados , Metionina/metabolismo , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estrés Oxidativo , Factores de Riesgo , Espectrometría de Masa por Láser de Matriz Asistida de Ionización DesorciónRESUMEN
UNLABELLED: Faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and harmful algal blooms (HABs) threaten the health and the economy of coastal communities worldwide. Emerging automated sampling technologies combined with molecular analytical techniques could enable rapid detection of micro-organisms in-situ, thereby improving resource management and public health decision-making. We evaluated this concept using a robotic device, the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP). The ESP automates in-situ sample collection, nucleic acid extraction and molecular analyses. Here, the ESP measured and reported concentrations of FIB (Enterococcus spp.), a microbial source-tracking marker (human-specific Bacteriodales) and a HAB species (Psuedo-nitzschia spp.) over a 45-day deployment on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf (Santa Cruz, CA, USA). Both FIB and HABs were enumerated from single in-situ collected water samples. The in-situ qPCR efficiencies ranged from 86% to 105%, while the limit of quantifications during the deployment was 10 copies reaction(-1) . No differences were observed in the concentrations of enterococci, the human-specific marker in Bacteroidales spp., and P. australis between in-situ collected sample and traditional hand sampling methods (P > 0·05). Analytical results were Internet-accessible within hours of sample collection, demonstrating the feasibility of same-day public notification of current water quality conditions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study presents the first report of in-situ qPCR enumeration of both faecal indicators and harmful algal species in coastal marine waters. We utilize a robotic device for in-situ quantification of enterococci, the human-specific marker in Bacteriodales and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. from the same water samples collected and processed in-situ. The results demonstrate that rapid, in-situ monitoring can be utilized to identify and quantify multiple health-relevant micro-organisms important in water quality monitoring and that this monitoring can be used to inform same-day notifications.
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Enterococcus/aislamiento & purificación , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Heces/microbiología , Floraciones de Algas Nocivas , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa/métodos , Enterococcus/genética , Humanos , Robótica , Calidad del AguaRESUMEN
The use of noninvasive methods for measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites is a useful tool for endocrine assessment particularly in studies where animals cannot be captured, when they should be sampled without disturbing their activities, and/or when welfare needs to be maximized. However, still no complete standardization exists for the methodology, and some confounding variables may play an important role affecting measurements and interpretation of results. The present study focused on whether two different diets (laying feed or seed mixture), the time since defecation (0, 4, 24, or 48 h) and the drying method of those samples (oven-dried or naturally nonoven-dried) may affect concentrations of corticosterone metabolites (CM) measured in male Japanese quail. Half of the birds were provided with plain water (control) and the other half received a corticosterone solution. Birds fed with a seed mixture exhibited higher values of CM (nanogram/gram) in droppings than quail that received a laying feed diet suggesting that diet should be carefully considered as a potential source of variation. As expected both groups exhibited higher CM concentration after corticosterone treatment. While CM concentrations increased significantly in nonoven-dried samples over time (0 < 4 < 24 = 48 h), oven-dried samples exhibited similar high CM values. At 24 and 48 h postdefecation, nonoven-dried samples had similar CM concentrations as all oven-dried samples. Drying of samples may be considered a reliable method to reduce variations due to water loss over time, facilitating comparisons up to 48 h postdefecation. This finding would allow to enhance the range of application of this noninvasive and welfare friendly method to situations where samples cannot be collected or frozen shortly after defecation.
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Alimentación Animal/análisis , Corticosterona/química , Coturnix/fisiología , Defecación/fisiología , Dieta/veterinaria , Heces/química , Animales , Corticosterona/metabolismo , Masculino , Agua/químicaRESUMEN
Social interactions have been extensively studied in poultry in a variety of environmental situations. Many studies allow full social contacts between birds, but there are others in which the interactions are tested through barriers (wire mesh or glass). Thus a situation where, according to their needs, some birds can get access to physical contact with conspecifics while others cannot, would be useful to expand the testing options for social interaction studies. We developed an individual physical barrier device (IPB) that is fitted on the birds to delimit their ambulation areas by preventing them from passing across metal mesh boundaries that IPB free counterparts can easily overcome. The prototypes showing greater efficacy consisted of a small metal bar placed in the bird's back perpendicular to the sagittal plane that slightly exceeds body width, held with a harness fitted by 2 elastic fabric bands around the wings' base. To be useful, the IPB should allow natural movements and not affect the expression of behaviors (non-invasive). This study assessed whether the IPB may alter adult Japanese quail behavioral responses using 4 classical test situations: Open-Field, Runway, Time Budget in Home Box, and Mating Interactions. Open-field ambulatory behaviors were affected 1 h, but not 7 d, after IPB was fitted, suggesting that 7 d (or less) are required to habituate to the device. After that time period, IPB fitted birds showed no differences in any of the behaviors registered in the other 3 tests situations when compared to non IPB fitted birds. Findings suggest that after habituation, the IPB does not affect main behaviors in adult quail. Its application could be expanded if an IPB device is also found suitable for other poultry species.