Omega-3 fatty acids in the gravid pig uterus as affected by maternal supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids.

Two experiments evaluated the ability of maternal fatty acid supplementation to alter conceptus and endometrial fatty acid composition. In Exp. 1, treatments were 1) the control, a corn-soybean meal diet; 2) flax, the control diet plus ground flax (3.75% of diet); and 3) protected fatty acids (PFA), the control plus a protected fish oil source rich in n-3 PUFA (Gromega, JBS United Inc., Sheridan, IN; 1.5% of diet). Supplements replaced equal parts of corn and soybean meal. When gilts reached 170 d of age, PG600 (PMSG and hCG, Intervet USA, Millsboro, DE) was injected to induce puberty, and dietary treatments (n = 8/treatment) were initiated. When detected in estrus, gilts were artificially inseminated. On d 40 to 43 of gestation, 7 gilts in the control treatment, 8 gilts in the PFA treatment, and 5 gilts in the flax treatment were pregnant and were slaughtered. Compared with the control treatment, the flax treatment tended to increase eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA: C20:5n-3) in fetuses (0.14 vs. 0.25 +/- 0.03 mg/g of dry tissue; P = 0.055), whereas gilts receiving PFA had more (P < 0.05) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA: C22:6n-3) in their fetuses (5.23 vs. 4.04 +/- 0.078 mg/g) compared with gilts fed the control diet. Both the flax and PFA diets increased (P < 0.05) DHA (0.60, 0.82, and 0.85 +/- 0.078 mg/g for the control, flax, and PFA diet, respectively) in the chorioallantois. In the endometrium, EPA and docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5n-3) were increased by the flax diet (P < 0.001; P < 0.05), whereas gilts receiving PFA had increased DHA (P < 0.001). The flax diet selectively increased EPA, and the PFA diet selectively increased DHA in the fetus and endometrium. In Exp. 2, gilts were fed diets containing PFA (1.5%) or a control diet beginning at approximately 170 of age (n = 13/treatment). A blood sample was collected after 30 d of treatment, and gilts were artificially inseminated when they were approximately 205 d old. Conceptus and endometrial samples were collected on d 11 to 19 of pregnancy. Plasma samples indicated that PFA increased (P < 0.005) circulating concentrations of EPA and DHA. Endometrial EPA was increased (P < 0.001) for gilts fed the PFA diet. In extraembryonic tissues, PFA more than doubled (P < 0.001) the EPA (0.13 vs. 0.32 +/- 0.013 mg/g) and DHA (0.39 vs. 0.85 +/- 0.05 mg/g). In embryonic tissue on d 19, DHA was increased (P < 0.05) by PFA (0.20 vs. 0.30 +/- 0.023 mg/g). Supplementing n-3 PUFA, beginning 30 d before breeding, affected endometrial, conceptus, and fetal fatty acid composition in early pregnancy. Dynamic day effects in fatty acid composition indicate this may be a critical period for maternal fatty acid resources to affect conceptus development and survival.

Where theories of mind meet magic: the development of children's beliefs about wishing.

In two studies, we probed children's beliefs about wishing. In Study 1, we gathered initial data on 50 3- to 6-year-old children's concepts of wishing and beliefs about its efficacy, with both a semistructured interview and a variety of tasks. Results revealed considerable knowledge about wishing in young children, along with an age-related decrease in beliefs about its efficacy. Parents were not found to encourage differently the beliefs of children at different ages, nor were they found to begin actively discouraging such beliefs at any particular age. A moderate relation was found between environmental supports for wishing and children's beliefs in its efficacy. In Study 2, we continued to probe these issues and also address the nature of the broader conceptual context in which children situate their beliefs about wishing. Participants were 92 3- to 6-year-old children. Results of this study suggest that children may reconcile beliefs in the efficacy of wishing with knowledge about everyday mental-physical relations by situating these beliefs more within their emerging beliefs about magic than within their theories of mind.

Blood and nerves revisited: menopause and the privatization of the body in a Newfoundland postindustrial fishery.

Ethnographic data from a longitudinal, interpretive study of women's changing social and cultural constructions of menopause in a postindustrial, Newfoundland fishing village indicate that three major changes have taken place in the way women conceptualize female, reproductive life-cycle events and processes. First, folk idioms of nerves and blood that once linked soma, psyche, place, and tradition are now trivialized and have been superseded by biomedical models of menopause. Second, physicians, television, magazines, and school teachers have replaced the community's middle-aged women and the mutual communication of shared experience as major sources of information and advice on reproduction and aging. Third, women's bodies have become privatized, and bodily metaphors that once linked women in complex individual and collective assessments of shared, highly valued traditions and mutual judgment of moral character have lost their dominance in village life.

Molecular genetics and pathophysiology of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 deficiency.

Autosomal recessive mutations in the 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 gene impair the formation of testosterone in the fetal testis and give rise to genetic males with female external genitalia. Such individuals are usually raised as females, but virilize at the time of expected puberty as the result of increases in serum testosterone. Here we describe mutations in 12 additional subjects/families with this disorder. The 14 mutations characterized to date include 10 missense mutations, 3 splice junction abnormalities, and 1 small deletion that results in a frame shift. Three of these mutations have occurred in more than 1 family. Complementary DNAs incorporating 9 of the 10 missense mutations have been constructed and expressed in reporter cells; 8 of the 9 missense mutations cause almost complete loss of enzymatic activity. In 2 subjects with loss of function, missense mutations testosterone levels in testicular venous blood were very low. Considered together, these findings strongly suggest that the common mechanism for testosterone formation in postpubertal subjects with this disorder is the conversion of circulating androstenedione to testosterone by one or more of the unaffected 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoenzymes.

Male pseudohermaphroditism caused by mutations of testicular 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3.

Defects in the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone in the fetal testes by the enzyme 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) give rise to genetic males with female external genitalia. We have used expression cloning to isolate cDNAs encoding a microsomal 17 beta-HSD type 3 isozyme that shares 23% sequence identity with other 17 beta-HSD enzymes, uses NADPh as a cofactor, and is expressed predominantly in the testes. The 17 beta HSD3 gene on chromosome 9q22 contains 11 exons. Four substitution and two splice junction mutations were identified in the 17 beta HSD3 genes of five unrelated male pseudohermaphrodites. The substitution mutations severely compromised the activity of the 17 beta-HSD type 3 isozyme.

Failure of dietary amino acid supplementation at weaning to influence reproductive traits of sows.

Primiparous and multiparous sows received a single dietary supplement of either L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine, or L-glutamate in their feed on the day after weaning and effects on various reproductive traits were evaluated in three experiments. In Exp. 1 and 2, sows received either 0 (control; n = 22 and 64, respectively) or 100 mg of L-tyrosine/kg BW (n = 24 and 62, respectively) on the day after weaning. In Exp. 1, days from weaning to estrus (5.5 +/- .3 vs 5.3 +/- .3 d) and ovulation rate (15.6 +/- .9 vs 15.6 +/- 1) were similar in control and tyrosine-supplemented sows. In Exp. 2, interval from weaning to estrus was extended (P < .01) in tyrosine-supplemented sows (6.4 +/- .5 d) compared with controls (4.5 +/- .5 d), but this was due to long return intervals in 7 of 62 tyrosine-supplemented sows. Total number of pigs born (10.2 +/- .4 vs 10.0 +/- .4) was similar in control and tyrosine-supplemented sows. In Exp. 3, sows received either no supplemental amino acids (n = 31) or their diet was supplemented with 100 mg/kg BW of either L-tyrosine (n = 31), L-phenylalanine (n = 33), or L-glutamate (n = 32). Neither days from weaning to estrus nor subsequent farrowing traits were altered in sows that received supplemental amino acids on the day after weaning. In conclusion, a single dietary supplementation of either tyrosine, phenylalanine, or glutamate to sows on the day after weaning failed to improve interval from weaning to estrus, ovulation rate, or litter traits at subsequent farrowing.

Synthesis of prostaglandins by pig blastocysts cultured in medium containing estradiol or catechol estrogen.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of 2-hydroxy-estradiol-17 beta (2-OH-E2; 0, 50 and 100 microM) and estradiol-17 beta (E2; 0, 25 and 50 microM) on prostaglandin (PG) E and PGF2 alpha synthesis by day-10 pig blastocysts (day 0 is first day of estrus). Blastocysts were incubated in a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium, supplemented with bovine serum albumin (4 mg/ml) and the vitamins and amino acids (essential and nonessential) in Minimum Essential Medium (without phenol red or antibiotics). The incubations were conducted at 39 degrees C for three 2-h periods; the second and third periods included an E2 or catechol estrogen treatment. Release of PGF2 alpha into the culture medium decreased (p less than 0.001) linearly with increasing concentrations of 2-OH-E2 in both periods. Release of PGE was not affected by 2-OH-E2, therefore 2-OH-E2 increased (p less than 0.06) the PGE:PGF2 alpha. When E2 was added to the medium, release of PGE was decreased (p less than 0.01) during the second and third periods. Release of PGF2 alpha also was decreased (p less than 0.05) by E2 during period 2, but E2 did not alter the PGE:PGF2 alpha. Content of PGs in blastocysts at recovery was less than 10% of the PGs released in vitro. Therefore, these studies demonstrate effects of both the primary and catechol forms of E2 on the synthesis of PGE and PGF2 alpha. Catechol estrogens and E2 may inhibit PG synthesis and modify the PGE:PGF2 alpha during the establishment of pregnancy in pigs.

Sound localization and sensitivity to interaural time differences in human infants.

The role of interaural time differences in infants' sound localization was investigated. One experiment on free-field sound localization corroborated previous findings that the minimum audible angle changes substantially toward the end of the first half year after birth, and 3 experiments explored interaural time discrimination in that age range. The first of these 3 experiments used an adaptive psychophysical procedure, showing that infants responded appropriately in a sound lateralization task that provides a direct measure of interaural time discrimination. The other 2 experiments improved on the psychophysical procedure by taking into account the ceiling level on performance in the task. Infants aged 16, 20, and 28 weeks had thresholds in the range of 50 to 75 microsec, with no apparent age difference. These thresholds were much lower than would be predicted from studies of free-field sound localization, indicating that sensitivity to interaural time differences is not a limiting factor for the precision of sound localization in this age range. Instead, age-related changes in free-field sound localization may reflect the need to integrate across different localization cues and to calibrate the changing values of cues due to head growth.

Pig blastocyst development in vitro is affected by amino acids.

Pig embryos were removed 5 d after onset of estrus and cultured in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (mKRB) medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA; 1 mg/ml). Media in Exp. 1 and 2, but not in Exp. 3, contained 10% heat-inactivated lamb serum (LS). In Exp. 1, embryos were cultured in 1) mKRB + LS or mKRB + LS supplemented with 2) glutamine (2 mM); 3) phenylalanine (.1 mM), methionine (.05 mM) and isoleucine (.2 mM); or 4) phenylalanine, methionine, isoleucine and glutamine. Embryos cultured in media with supplemental phenylalanine, methionine and isoleucine attained larger (P less than .05) volumes during culture and initiated hatching at an increased (P less than .05) frequency compared with embryos cultured without additional amino acids. In contrast, adding glutamine depressed (P less than .05) the maximum volumes observed during culture. In Exp. 2 mKRB + LS was compared with mKRB + LS plus phenylalanine (.1 mM), methionine (.05 mM) and isoleucine (.2 mM); methionine and isoleucine; phenylalanine and isoleucine, or phenylalanine and methionine. Embryos cultured in media supplemented with phenylalanine and methionine attained larger (P less than .05) volumes than embryos cultured in either media without added methionine. Fewer (P less than .05) embryos cultured without methionine initiated hatching (56%) compared with embryos provided methionine (89%). In Exp. 3, we evaluated the addition of glutamine (1 mM) with or without phenylalanine (.1 mM), methionine (.05 mM) and isoleucine (.2 mM) to serum-free mKRB. Adding glutamine alone, but not in combination, increased (P less than .05) blastocyst volumes on d 3 and maximum volume attained during culture compared with embryos cultured in mKRB alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The variable character of nerves in a Newfoundland fishing village.

The popular complaint nerves has complex and variable meanings in the tiny, coastal fishing village of Grey Rock Harbour, Newfoundland. In everyday life, the term is distinct from mental and physical disease and is instead used to communicate a wide-range of minor psychosomatic complaints as well as emotions, moral standards and world view. The term is so frequently used that in some respects it has become a cliché. Analysis of the variable character of nerves focuses on reconciling the contradictory with the more coherent facets of nerves as a folk idiom. Special attention is paid to the affective character of nerves, especially nerves as "anxiety," which has been hypercognized into a culture-specific and highly elaborated concept of worry.

Development of pig blastocysts in vitro is altered by serum, bovine serum albumin and amino acids and vitamins.

We tested the effects of the amino acids and vitamins in minimum essential medium (MEM) and Eagle's medium (BME) on pig blastocyst development and nuclei number. Embryos were recovered either 5 or 6 d after first detected estrus and were cultured for 96 h in U-bottomed wells (0.2 ml). In Experiment 1, addition of MEM amino acids and vitamins to modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (MKRB) medium containing either bovine serum albumin (BSA, 4 mg/ml) or lamb serum (10%, v/v) resulted in fewer (P<0.001) nuclei and smaller (P<0.05) embryo volumes at the end of culture as compared to embryos cultured in MKRB without MEM-supplements. Addition of MEM-amino acids without glutamine (Experiment II) depressed blastocyst volume and rate of hatching, but glutamine (2 mM) had no effect on embryo development. Dialysis (molecular weight > 12,000 retained) of fetal bovine serum (Experiment III) did not affect blastocyst expansion but reduced (P<0.05) the number of nuclei/blastocyst at the end of the culture. Embryos cultured in MKRB with dialyzed serum and the amino acids and vitamins in BME were smaller (P<0.05) and had fewer (P<0.05) nuclei than embryos cultured in MKRB with dialyzed serum but without the BME-supplements. We conclude that, under our culture conditions, MEM and BME amino acids and vitamins are detrimental to the development of early pig blastocysts and that this effect is not due to glutamine. Also, dialysis of fetal bovine serum removes some component(s) that are important for cell division by pig embryos, but it does not affect blastocyst expansion.

Women's status and experience of the menopause in a Newfoundland fishing village.

Recent studies attribute cross-cultural variations in the experience of the climacteric to changes in female status at middle age. An analysis of women's life cycles in a Newfoundland fishing village, where there is no dramatic change in status at middle age, contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of interaction between female and climacteric symptoms. Newfoundland concepts of bio-social self are examined in terms of folk notions of nerves and blood. Conclusions are drawn about the relative importance of somatic components, folk notions and female status in the experience of the climacteric.

Spastic eversion of the upper eyelids.

A 2-year-old black Nigerian infant presented with eversion of the upper eyelids which followed an episode of presumed measles conjunctivitis. Eversion recurred despite patching and taping, but was terminated by facial akinesia and placement of lid sutures. Orbicularis spasm undoubtedly plays a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder, acting together with other etiologic factors.

The history and sociology of the scientific study of acupuncture.

Although known to the medical community in some form since the 19th century, acupuncture is only recently receiving concerted research attention from the conventional medical and scientific community. The overall amount of scientific acupuncture research has doubled since the mid 1960's. Employing the approaches of the science, history, sociology and social relations of science, this article explores factors which explain why the present time is conducive to acupuncture research by the scientific and medical community. Perhaps this study of scientific acupuncture research will provide the basis for a later theory of scientific development.