Motivation and treatment credibility predict alliance in cognitive behavioral treatment for youth with anxiety disorders in community clinics.

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether motivation and treatment credibility predicted alliance in a 10-session cognitive behavioral treatment delivered in community clinics for youth anxiety disorders. METHOD: Ninety-one clinic-referred youths (meanage  = 11.4 years, standard deviation = 2.1, range 8-15 years, 49.5% boys) with anxiety disorders-rated treatment motivation at pretreatment and perceived treatment credibility after session 1. Youths and therapists (YT) rated alliance after session 3 (early) and session 7 (late). Hierarchical linear models were applied to examine whether motivation and treatment credibility predicted YT early alliance, YT alliance change, and YT alliance agreement. RESULTS: Motivation predicted high early YT alliance, but not YT alliance change or alliance agreement. Youth-rated treatment credibility predicted high early youth alliance and high YT positive alliance change, but not early therapist alliance or alliance agreement. CONCLUSION: Conclusion Efforts to enhance youth motivation and treatment credibility early in treatment could facilitate the formation of a strong YT alliance.

Effectiveness of a community paramedic-led health assessment and education initiative in a seniors' residence building: the Community Health Assessment Program through Emergency Medical Services (CHAP-EMS).

BACKGROUND: Seniors living in subsidized housing have lower income, poorer health, and increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases and falls. Seniors also account for more than one third of calls to Emergency Medical Services (EMS). This study examines the effectiveness of the Community Health Assessment Program through EMS (CHAP-EMS) in reducing blood pressure, diabetes risk, and EMS calls. METHODS: Paramedics on modified duty (e.g. injured) conducted weekly, one-on-one drop-in sessions in a common area of one subsidized senior's apartment building in Hamilton, Ontario. Paramedics assessed cardiovascular, diabetes, and fall risk, provided health education, referred participants to local resources, and encouraged participants to return to CHAP-EMS for follow-up. Reports were faxed to the family physician regularly. Blood pressure was collected throughout the one year intervention, while diabetes risk was assessed at baseline and after 6-12 months. EMS call volumes were collected from the Hamilton Paramedic Service for two years pre-intervention and one year during the intervention. RESULTS: There were 79 participants (mean age = 72.2 years) and 1,365 participant visits to CHAP-EMS. The majority were female (68%), high school educated or less (53%), had a family doctor (90%), history of hypertension (58%), high waist circumference (64%), high body mass index (61%), and high stress (53%). Many had low physical activity (42%), high fat intake (33%), low fruit/vegetable intake (30%), and were current smokers (29%). At baseline, 42% of participants had elevated blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly by the participant's 3rd visit to CHAP-EMS and diastolic by the 5th visit (p < .05). At baseline, 19% of participants had diabetes; 67% of those undiagnosed had a moderate or high risk based on the Canadian Diabetes Risk (CANRISK) assessment. 15% of participants dropped one CANRISK category (e.g. high to moderate) during the intervention. EMS call volume decreased 25% during the intervention compared to the previous two years. CONCLUSIONS: CHAP-EMS was associated with a reduction in emergency calls and participant blood pressure and a tendency towards lowered diabetes risk after one year of implementation within a low income subsidized housing building with a history of high EMS calls. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered on May 12th 2016 with clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02772263.

Variations in epithelial Na(+) transport and epithelial sodium channel localisation in the vaginal cul-de-sac of the brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, during the oestrous cycle.

The fluid in the vaginal cul-de-sac of the brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, is copious at ovulation when it may be involved in sperm transport or maturation, but is rapidly reabsorbed following ovulation. We have used the Ussing short-circuit current (Isc) technique and measurements of transcript and protein expression of the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) to determine if variations in electrogenic Na(+) transport are associated with this fluid absorption. Spontaneous Isc (<20µAcm(-2) during anoestrus, 60-80µAcm(-2) in cycling animals) was inhibited by serosal ouabain. Mucosal amiloride (10µmolL(-1)), an inhibitor of ENaC, had little effect on follicular Isc but reduced luteal Isc by ~35%. This amiloride-sensitive Isc was dependent on mucosal Na(+) and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50)-amiloride (0.95µmolL(-1)) was consistent with ENaC-mediated Na(+) absorption. Results from polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription (RT-PCR) indicate that αENaC mRNA is expressed in anoestrous, follicular and luteal phases. However, in follicular animals αENaC immunoreactivity in epithelial cells was distributed throughout the cytoplasm, whereas immunoreactivity was restricted to the apical pole of cells from luteal animals. These data suggest that increased Na(+) absorption contributes to fluid absorption during the luteal phase and is regulated by insertion of ENaC into the apical membrane of cul-de-sac epithelial cells.

Search engine as a diagnostic tool in difficult immunological and allergologic cases: is Google useful?

BACKGROUND: Web search engines are an important tool in communication and diffusion of knowledge. Among these, Google appears to be the most popular one: in August 2008, it accounted for 87% of all web searches in the UK, compared with Yahoo's 3.3%. Google's value as a diagnostic guide in general medicine was recently reported. The aim of this comparative cross-sectional study was to evaluate whether searching Google with disease-related terms was effective in the identification and diagnosis of complex immunological and allergic cases. METHODS: Forty-five case reports were randomly selected by an independent observer from peer-reviewed medical journals. Clinical data were presented separately to three investigators, blinded to the final diagnoses. Investigator A was a Consultant with an expert knowledge in Internal Medicine and Allergy (IM&A) and basic computing skills. Investigator B was a Registrar in IM&A. Investigator C was a Research Nurse. Both Investigators B and C were familiar with computers and search engines. For every clinical case presented, each investigator independently carried out an Internet search using Google to provide a final diagnosis. Their results were then compared with the published diagnoses. RESULTS: Correct diagnoses were provided in 30/45 (66%) cases, 39/45 (86%) cases, and in 29/45 (64%) cases by investigator A, B, and C, respectively. All of the three investigators achieved the correct diagnosis in 19 cases (42%), and all of them failed in two cases. CONCLUSION: This Google-based search was useful to identify an appropriate diagnosis in complex immunological and allergic cases. Computing skills may help to get better results.

Efficacy of multi-stage sous-vide cooking on tenderness of low value beef muscles.

The efficacy of thermal activation of residual proteolytic enzymes on shear force and deformation of 72 beef supraspinatus (SS) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles was tested using multi-stage sous-vide cooking (M-SV; 1 h at 39 °C, 1 h at 49 °C, 4 h at 59 °C), single-stage sous-vide cooking (S-SV; 4 h at 59 °C), and waterbath cooking (22 min at 70 °C, to 59 °C). Two storage conditions (1 week at 2 °C; 2 weeks at -1.5 °C) followed, then meat was reheated to and tested at 55 °C. Shear force decreased by 17-21% with S-SV (P < 0.001) and appeared to affect both myofibrillar and collagen components, likely through heat activation of cathepsin B & L and 20S proteasome. A further 5-6% increase was realized with M-SV (P: SS = 0.006, RF = 0.12) affecting primarily the myofibrillar component, likely from calpain-2 activation. The degree of deformation increased with sous-vide cooking in general (P < 0.001). No meaningful effects of post-cooking storage were found (P > 0.05).

Enhancing absorption of fluorescein and LHRH across hindgut epithelia in a marsupial, the common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula.

We have identified differences in transport properties of intestinal epithelia in the marsupial brushtail possum, compared to eutherian mammals. To determine whether differences in its permeability to hydrophilic compounds also occur, the absorption of sodium fluorescein and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) was assessed in vitro and the ability of chemical enhancers and a metabolic inhibitor to promote their absorption investigated. The apparent permeability of colonic and caecal tissues to fluorescein and LHRH and transepithelial resistance (Rt) in the absence or presence of ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), sodium deoxycholic acid (SDA), dithiothreitol (DTT), polyacrylic acids (PAA), or the inhibitor bacitracin were determined. The effects of SDA and/or DTT on adherent mucus and the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also assessed. In the absence of treatment, both tissues had comparable amounts of adherent mucus, Rt and low permeabilities to fluorescein and LHRH. All chemical enhancers increased fluorescein permeability, but SDA at concentrations >0.5 mM also induced LDH release. DTT alone and in combination with SDA reduced the amount of adherent mucus. Bacitracin inhibited LHRH metabolism and increased LHRH permeability. These data indicate that the possum hindgut epithelium represents a significant barrier to the uptake of hydrophilic compounds, similar to that in eutherians.

Analysis of serum free light chains by crossed immunoelectrophoresis: comparison with urinary light chains in light chain disease.

We investigated the relationship between serum free light chain levels measured by crossed immunoelectrophoresis in ten patients with light chain disease and traditional 24-hour urinary light chains in the same patients. The crossed immunoelectrophoresis test requires only a venipuncture for specimen acquisition, can be completed within 24 hours, and has a reproducibility (+/- 14%) comparable with that of other immunoprecipitin techniques. Twenty-eight serum-urine pairs, representing 18 discrete intervals, were analyzed. There was a close relationship between changes in serum and urine light chain levels, with a correlation coefficient of .77 or .93, depending on the method of calculation. This suggests that serum light chain levels measured by crossed immunoelectrophoresis would be equivalent to urinary light chain levels as indicators of tumor burden. Monitoring serum levels would have the advantage of greatly simplified specimen acquisition. In patients with renal failure, serum light chain levels should be a superior indicator of light chain synthesis.

Treatment of metastatic breast cancer with a split-course high-dose chemotherapy regimen and autologous bone marrow transplantation.

PURPOSE: We investigated the role of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) as the initial systemic treatment in patients with hormone-unresponsive metastatic breast cancer. We studied a regimen involving a split-course schedule using sequential administration of two pairs of alkylating agents separated by 5 days of rest. The rest period was intended to provide time for recovery from the treatment-immediate adverse effects, thereby allowing further dose escalation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The treatment consisted of thiotepa 225 to 300 mg/m2/d (days - 11 to -9), cisplatin 50 to 100 mg/m2/d (days - 11 and -3), and cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg/d (days - 3 and -2). Dose escalation was performed in the initial 15 patients before reaching dose-limiting toxicities. When feasible, responding patients received posttransplant irradiation to sites of residual or prior bulky disease. Patients with bone marrow or CNS involvement, prior pelvic irradiation, or age greater than 55 years were excluded. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with measurable or assessable tumor were enrolled: 23 with visceral metastases, 11 with only soft tissue disease, and five with skeletal involvement. Twenty-five patients had received no chemotherapy for metastatic disease before transplantation. The dose-limiting toxicities of this therapy were renal and gastrointestinal. Six patients died from complications: four of a fungal infection and two of hemorrhage. A complete response was achieved in 14 patients (36%), three of whom are free of disease at 79+, 55+, and 40+ months after transplantation. Ten of 25 patients not treated with standard-dose chemotherapy for metastatic disease achieved a complete response (40%). The three patients in continuous remission were in the untreated relapse group. CONCLUSION: This single high-dose treatment achieved a relatively high complete response rate in patients with metastatic breast cancer and may have cured some of them. On the other hand, the split-course dose schedule as tested here did not permit significant dose-intensification.

Gastrointestinal transit in the common brushtail possum measured by gamma scintigraphy.

This paper reports an example of the application of pharmaceutical technology to wildlife management, specifically the design of an oral delivery system for the common brushtail possum in New Zealand. Designing an oral delivery system requires a knowledge of the time taken for particulates to reach target sites within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The transit time for fluid and indigestible particles of two different size ranges was determined in the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Technetium-labelled (99mTc) anion exchange resin particles (75-125 or 500-700 microm diameter) or solution (99mTc-labelled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, 99mTc-DTPA) was administered orally. At predetermined times after dosing (3, 6, 12, 24 or 32 h), the distribution of radioactivity throughout excised gastrointestinal tracts was determined by gamma scintigraphy. The transit profile was similar for the three formulations investigated. Unlike other closely related hindgut fermenting marsupials, there was no evidence to support the presence of a colonic separating mechanism in the common brushtail possum. Gastrointestinal transit was independent of body mass, gender and time of day that the dose is given. To target the hindgut for oral delivery of protein and peptide biocontrol agents, the formulation would need to protect the bioactive for approximately 12 h prior to release.

'Hypocryoglobulins'. Enhanced cryoprecipitation from hypotonic serum in patients with vasculitis.

Three patients with cutaneous vasculitis and one patient with digital gangrene had a negative or equivocal test for cryoglobulins but a positive result in a modified assay for cryoproteins ( hypocryoglobulins [ HGs ]) in which serum is rendered hypotonic by dilution with an equal volume of distilled water before incubation in the cold. Each cryoprecipitate contained a mixture of immunoglobulins, and in two instances, a monoclonal component was demonstrated. Rheumatoid factor activity was found in two precipitates. All four patients improved with plasmapheresis, and two subsequently responded to alkylating agents. Seven patients with conventional cryoglobulins had precipitation from diluted serum as well, but none had a substantial increase in precipitation in the HG assay. Only two of five patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis had abnormal levels of HG. Hypocryoglobulins are a new category of abnormally insoluble serum proteins, probably closely related to conventional cryoglobulins, which are readily detected in a simple precipitation assay.

Plasmapheresis in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Two patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) were treated with plasmapheresis procedures in which the replacement fluid included normal plasma. In both cases, the platelet count rose, hemolysis decreased, and neurologic symptoms improved promptly after this therapy. Unfortunately, both patients eventually died, one of complications of end-organ damage and the other of complications of maintenance therapy with prednisone. Plasmapheresis may be an effective treatment for TTP, either by removing a toxic factor or supplying a deficient factor.

Successful induction of oestrus, ovulation and pregnancy in adult ewes and ewe lambs out of the breeding season using a GnRH+progesterone oestrus synchronisation protocol.

A series of experiments was designed to assess the effect of a treatment protocol (U-synch) for inducing oestrus and ovulation out of the breeding season in adult ewes and ewe lambs. The protocol consisted of a 7-day treatment with an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (IPRD), administration of GnRH at IPRD insertion on Day 0, and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and prostaglandin F2α at IPRD removal on Day 7. In Experiment 1, 50 or 100 µg GnRH were sufficient to induce ovulation at the beginning of the protocol in 3/9 and 4/9 ewes, respectively; while the resulting proportion of sheep ovulating after the treatment protocol was 88.9% and 77.8% in ewes initially treated with 50 or 100 µg GnRH, respectively. In Experiment 2, the proportion of Romney-cross ewe lambs ovulating was greater (P<0.0001) in the U-synch group (95.4%) than in the untreated Control group (3.2%). In Experiment 3, pregnancy rates of Dorset-cross sheep in the U-synch (60.7%) and Standard (12-day IPRD and eCG treatment; 56.5%) groups were greater (P=0.01) than in the untreated Control group (43.4%). The incidence of twin pregnancies was greater (P=0.005) in the U-synch group than in the Control group. A 7-day IPRD treatment including GnRH treatment at device insertion and eCG treatment at device removal induced oestrus and ovulation during the non-breeding season in a high proportion of mature ewes and ewe lambs. High pregnancy rates to natural mating, with a low rate of triplet pregnancies, were also observed.

Nifedipine is an antagonist to cyclotron resonance enhancement of 45Ca incorporation in human lymphocytes.

The incorporation of 45Ca in mixed human lymphocytes was measured following one-hour exposures of the cells to combined steady and periodic magnetic fields designed to probe for cyclotron resonance response in calcium incorporation. Measurements were made as a function of magnetic field frequency, up to 30 Hz, and as a function of magnetic field amplitude, up to 1.5 x 10(-4) Trms. The amplitude measurements demonstrated that the relative 45Ca uptake at resonance follows different mechanisms of interaction above and below 0.2 x 10(-4) Trms. After adjusting the magnetic field configuration for maximum incorporation, we then determined the effects of the calcium influx blocker nifedipine on 45Ca incorporation, with and without simultaneous exposure to this specific magnetic field combination. The presence of nifedipine in both unexposed and exposed cell suspensions resulted in decreased 45Ca uptake, presumably through the slow inward calcium channels. Evidence was found suggesting that nifedipine acts antagonistically to the 45Ca cyclotron resonance tuning signal.

Plasmapheresis decreases neuroelectric blocking activity in multiple sclerosis.

Serum neuroelectric blocking factor activity diminished after plasmapheresis in five of seven patients with MS but returned to baseline levels in 2 to 3 weeks. In the other two patients changes were insignificant. All patients studied had progressing symptoms. Five plasma exchanges of 2 liters were performed in 10 days. Two patients improved clinically, whereas five did not. There was no correlation between the level of neuroelectric blocking activity and changes in clinical status.

Treatment of ovariectomized heifers with bovine follicular fluid specifically suppresses pituitary levels of FSH-beta mRNA.

To investigate the inhibin-induced suppression of FSH secretion by the anterior pituitary, chronically ovariectomized heifers (three per group) were treated for 56-58 h with either steroid-free bovine follicular fluid (bFF; 8 ml i.v. every 8 h) or 0.9% (w/v) NaCl (8 ml i.v. every 8 h). Blood was withdrawn at 8-h intervals for analysis of plasma concentrations of FSH and LH by radioimmunoassay. At the end of the treatment period, heifers were slaughtered and pituitary glands recovered for determination of gonadotrophin contents and levels of mRNA encoding FSH-beta, LH-beta, TSH-beta and common alpha glycoprotein hormone subunits using [32P]cDNA probes in total RNA dot and Northern blot assays. Treatment with bFF markedly suppressed plasma FSH by 85% (P less than 0.001 compared with pretreatment period), but did not affect plasma LH concentrations. Plasma FSH and LH concentrations did not vary significantly in the saline-injected control heifers. The level of FSH-beta subunit mRNA was reduced by 60% (P less than 0.001) in heifers treated with bFF, whereas no significant differences between control and bFF-treated heifers were observed in the levels of mRNA encoding LH-beta, TSH-beta or common alpha subunits. Treatments with bFF, however, did not affect pituitary content of either FSH or LH. These results support the conclusion that inhibin exerts its selective suppressive effect on the secretion of FSH by the bovine pituitary, at least in part, by directly inhibiting expression of the gene encoding the FSH-beta subunit.

Therapeutic trial of cryofiltration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Cryofiltration, a new technique for on-line plasma separation and its treatment by cold filtration, enables the selective removal of immune complexes and eliminates the need for replacement proteins. Fifteen patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated for nine to 10 consecutive sessions over a three- to five-week period. Circulating immune complexes decreased by an average of 78 percent and rheumatoid factor by 32 percent. This was accompanied by significant clinical improvement in morning stiffness, articular index, 50-foot walking time, grip strength, and target joint circumference. Cryofiltration might thus be beneficial for a subgroup of rheumatoid arthritis patients in whom conventional therapy has failed.

Plasma LH concentrations in the ewe in response to repeated injections of low doses of gonadotrophin releasing hormone during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle.

Oestrus was synchronized in 15 naturally cyclic ewes by the administration of a prostaglandin F2 alpha analogue. Groups of five ewes were then treated i.v. with either small doses of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH; 125 or 250 ng/injection) or saline, at 2-h intervals from day 14 of the subsequent cycle until 24 h after the onset of oestrus. Treatment with GnRH induced episodic LH release which continued until the onset of a preovulatory LH surge. Mean plasma LH concentrations over this period were significantly (P less than 0.001) higher in animals receiving 250 ng GnRH (2.44 +/- 0.11 microgram/1) than in those receiving either 125 ng GnRH (1.17 +/- 0.06 microgram/1) or saline (1.14 +/- 0.05 microgram/1). However, GnRH treatment did not influence the timing of oestrus or mean ovulation rates.

Comparison of the effects of crude and highly purified bovine inhibin (Mr 32,000) on plasma concentrations of FSH and LH in chronically ovariectomized prepubertal heifers.

Chronically ovariectomized prepubertal heifers were used for a comparison of the effects of highly purified bovine inhibin (Mr 32,000) and steroid-free bovine follicular fluid (bFF) on the secretion of FSH and LH. In view of the limited availability of highly purified inhibin, an initial study was undertaken to establish the optimal method for administration of bFF inhibin activity. In comparison with the FSH response to a single large i.v. bolus injection of bFF (50 ml; 3250 mg protein), a far more effective suppression of plasma FSH concentrations was achieved when considerably less bFF (6.3 ml; 410 mg protein) was administered gradually over an extended time-period (2 days) either as a continuous i.v. infusion or as a series of 2-hourly i.v. injections. Following a single i.v. bolus injection of bFF, immunoreactive inhibin was cleared rapidly from the circulation (half-life 51 +/- 8 (S.E.M.) min, n = 5), presumably accounting for its limited ability to suppress FSH secretion when administered in this manner. In a second experiment, treatment of ovariectomized heifers (three per group) with highly purified Mr 32,000 bovine inhibin at a dose rate of 15 micrograms/2 h for 2 days significantly (P less than 0.05) suppressed plasma FSH concentrations, which reached their minimum values (40% suppression) during day 2 of treatment. At a lower dose rate (5 micrograms/2 h), inhibin did not significantly affect plasma FSH levels. Administration of bFF was also associated with a dose-dependent suppression of FSH secretion. For each of three dose rates tested (three heifers per group), plasma FSH concentrations were maximally suppressed during day 2 of treatment (65 mg/2 h, 86% suppression, P less than 0.001; 21.7 mg/2 h, 66% suppression, P less than 0.001; 7.2 mg/2 h, 15% suppression, P greater than 0.05). Neither highly purified inhibin nor bFF significantly affected mean plasma LH concentrations, LH pulse frequency or LH pulse amplitude. Thus we have shown for the first time that highly purified Mr 32,000 bovine inhibin does possess in-vivo biological activity in cattle, promoting a selective suppression of plasma FSH concentrations qualitatively similar to that evoked by steroid-free bFF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibin immunoneutralization by antibodies raised against synthetic peptide sequences of inhibin alpha subunit: effects on gonadotrophin concentrations and ovulation rate in sheep.

Two experiments were conducted to explore the effectiveness of synthetic peptide-based vaccines for active and passive autoimmunization of sheep against inhibin. In the first experiment, adult Romney ewes (n = 20) were actively immunized against a synthetically produced peptide that corresponded to the N-terminus of the alpha-subunit of bovine inhibin (bI alpha(1-29)-Tyr30). This peptide was conjugated to tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) to increase its antigenic properties. Control groups comprised non-immunized (n = 10) and PPD-immunized (n = 10) ewes. Primary immunization (400 micrograms conjugate/ewe) was followed by two booster immunizations (200 micrograms conjugate/ewe), given 5 and 8 weeks later. Following synchronization of oestrus using progestagen sponges, ovulation rates were assessed by laparoscopy. Weekly blood samples were taken throughout the experiment. All inhibin-immunized ewes produced antibodies which bound 125I-labelled bovine inhibin (Mr 32,000), and ovulation rate in inhibin-immunized ewes (2.15 +/- 0.22; mean +/- S.E.M.) was significantly (P less than 0.01) greater than in both non-immunized (0.90 +/- 0.23) and PPD-immunized (1.20 +/- 0.13) control groups. Immunization against the peptide, but not against PPD alone, resulted in a modest rise in plasma FSH, with mean levels after the second boost being significantly (P less than 0.025) higher (22%) than those before immunization. Moreover, when blood samples were taken (2-h intervals) from randomly selected groups of control (n = 7) and inhibin-immunized (n = 7) ewes for an 84-h period following withdrawal of progestagen sponges, the mean plasma concentration of FSH during the 48 h immediately before the preovulatory LH surge was 37% greater (P less than 0.025) in immunized than in control animals. However, more frequent blood sampling (every 15 min for 12 h) during follicular and mid-luteal phases of the oestrous cycle revealed no significant differences between treatment groups in mean plasma concentrations of FSH. In addition, neither mean concentrations of LH nor the frequency and amplitude of LH episodes differed between immunized and control ewes. However, the mean response of LH to a 2 micrograms bolus of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, given during the luteal phase, was significantly (P less than 0.05) less in immunized than in control ewes. These findings indicate that active immunization of Romney ewes against a synthetic fragment of inhibin can promote a controlled increase in ovulation rate, but this response cannot be unequivocally related to an increase in plasma levels of FSH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)