Capture stress and post-release mortality of blacktip sharks in recreational charter fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico.

Understanding the stress responses of sharks to recreational catch and release fishing has important management and conservation implications. The blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus is a popular recreational species targeted throughout the western, central and eastern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) yet it is unclear what levels of physiological stress result from catch-release fishing practices with hook and line gear and if the stress levels result in post-release mortality. This study correlates physiological response to stress through blood chemistry analysis and examines post-release behaviour of adult blacktip sharks caught to determine post-release mortality rates. Release behaviour was determined by pop-up satellite archival transmitting (PSAT) tags that record temperature, depth and light level data. To quantify physiological stress levels, blood samples were collected from 52 blacktip sharks and a suite of metabolic and osmotic markers were measured. Thirty-six of those blacktip sharks were also outfitted with a PSAT tag yielding time-at-large from 3 to 180 days. Of the 36 tags, 22 (61%) provided sufficient data to confirm post-release fate and 11 (31%) were recovered providing high-resolution data. Tag data suggests a post-release morality rate of 22.7% (95% confidence interval 7.8-45.4%), with mortality occurring within minutes (immediate mortality) to over 12 h post-release (delayed mortality). Compared to survivors, immediate mortalities exhibited significantly higher lactate (median 2.8 mmol/Lsurvivor vs 5.9 mmol/Limmediate mortality) and significantly lower hematocrit (median 24.4% survivor vs 14% immediate mortality) levels, but no difference was detected between survivors and delayed mortalities. Higher mortality in the western (30%) compared to the central (20%) Gulf may be due to shark handling. All PSATs from mortalities (N = 5) were recovered, and archived data revealed evidence of tag ingestion by predators. Results suggest reduced fight time, decreased handling time and limited air exposure provide blacktip sharks the best survival chances after release by recreational anglers.

Amnestic and non-amnestic symptoms of dementia: An international study of Alzheimer's disease in people with Down's syndrome.

The presence of age-related neuropathology characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in people with Down syndrome (DS) is well-established. However, the early symptoms of dementia may be atypical and appear related to dysfunction of prefrontal circuitry. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the initial informant reported age-related neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in people with DS, and their relationship to AD and frontal lobe function. METHODS: Non-amnestic informant reported symptoms (disinhibition, apathy, and executive dysfunction) and amnestic symptoms from the CAMDEX-DS informant interview were analyzed in a cross-sectional cohort of 162 participants with DS over 30 years of age, divided into three groups: stable cognition, prodromal dementia, and AD. To investigate age-related symptoms prior to evidence of prodromal dementia we stratified the stable cognition group by age. RESULTS: Amnestic and non-amnestic symptoms were present before evidence of informant-reported cognitive decline. In those who received the diagnosis of AD, symptoms tended to be more marked. Memory impairments were more marked in the prodromal dementia than the stable cognition group (OR = 35.07; P < .001), as was executive dysfunction (OR = 7.16; P < .001). Disinhibition was greater in the AD than in the prodromal dementia group (OR = 3.54; P = .04). Apathy was more pronounced in the AD than in the stable cognition group (OR = 34.18; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Premorbid amnestic and non-amnestic symptoms as reported by informants increase with the progression to AD. For the formal diagnosis of AD in DS this progression of symptoms needs to be taken into account. An understanding of the unique clinical presentation of DS in AD should inform treatment options.

Natural and vaccine-mediated immunity to Salmonella Typhimurium is impaired by the helminth Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.

BACKGROUND: The impact of exposure to multiple pathogens concurrently or consecutively on immune function is unclear. Here, immune responses induced by combinations of the bacterium Salmonella Typhimurium (STm) and the helminth Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb), which causes a murine hookworm infection and an experimental porin protein vaccine against STm, were examined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Mice infected with both STm and Nb induced similar numbers of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes compared with singly infected mice, as determined by flow cytometry, although lower levels of secreted Th2, but not Th1 cytokines were detected by ELISA after re-stimulation of splenocytes. Furthermore, the density of FoxP3+ T cells in the T zone of co-infected mice was lower compared to mice that only received Nb, but was greater than those that received STm. This reflected the intermediate levels of IL-10 detected from splenocytes. Co-infection compromised clearance of both pathogens, with worms still detectable in mice weeks after they were cleared in the control group. Despite altered control of bacterial and helminth colonization in co-infected mice, robust extrafollicular Th1 and Th2-reflecting immunoglobulin-switching profiles were detected, with IgG2a, IgG1 and IgE plasma cells all detected in parallel. Whilst extrafollicular antibody responses were maintained in the first weeks after co-infection, the GC response was less than that in mice infected with Nb only. Nb infection resulted in some abrogation of the longer-term development of anti-STm IgG responses. This suggested that prior Nb infection may modulate the induction of protective antibody responses to vaccination. To assess this we immunized mice with porins, which confer protection in an antibody-dependent manner, before challenging with STm. Mice that had resolved a Nb infection prior to immunization induced less anti-porin IgG and had compromised protection against infection. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that co-infection can radically alter the development of protective immunity during natural infection and in response to immunization.

A comparative analysis of early child health and development services and outcomes in countries with different redistributive policies.

BACKGROUND: The social environment is a fundamental determinant of early child development and, in turn, early child development is a determinant of health, well-being, and learning skills across the life course. Redistributive policies aimed at reducing social inequalities, such as a welfare state and labour market policies, have shown a positive association with selected health indicators. In this study, we investigated the influence of redistributive policies specifically on the social environment of early child development in five countries with different political traditions. The objective of this analysis was to highlight similarities and differences in social and health services between the countries and their associations with other health outcomes that can inform better global early child development policies and improve early child health and development. METHODS: Four social determinants of early child development were selected to provide a cross-section of key time periods in a child's life from prenatal to kindergarten. They included: 1) prenatal care, 2) maternal leave, 3) child health care, and 4) child care and early childhood education. We searched international databases and reports (e.g. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Bank, and UNICEF) to obtain information about early child development policies, services and outcomes. RESULTS: Although a comparative analysis cannot claim causation, our analysis suggests that redistributive policies aimed at reducing social inequalities are associated with a positive influence on the social determinants of early child development. Generous redistributive policies are associated with a higher maternal leave allowance and pay and more preventive child healthcare visits. A decreasing trend in infant mortality, low birth weight rate, and under five mortality rate were observed with an increase in redistributive policies. No clear influence of redistributive policies was observed on breastfeeding and immunization rates. In the analysis of child care and early education, the lack of uniform measures of early child development outcomes was apparent. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides further support for an association between redistributive policies and early child health and development outcomes, along with the organization of early child health and development services.

Prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity from four to 16 years old children living in the Mexico-USA border.

The prevalence of obesity among Mexicans is alarming in both the child and adult populations. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity in pre-school (PS), elementary (ES), and middle high (MHS) public school children from Tijuana. From February to April of 2011, a bietapic random sample was selected by cluster method of 30 PS, 30 ES, and 30 MHS children. And a sample of 30 groups for each level was chosen. Twenty elementary teachers and eight graduate students were trained at one central location on how to take anthropometric measurements using a portable scale, a stadiometer, and a measuring tape to determine weight, height, and waist circumference. Body Mass Index values were computed and compared to age/gender BMI percentiles according to WHO criteria. Waist circumference for-age at the 90th percentile from NHANES III (Mexican-American) was used to define abdominal obesity. The sample was composed of 646 PS children, 961 ES children, and 1,095 MHS children. Their ages ranged from 4- 16 years. Results showed an overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in younger than 5y preschool children (> 2 SD) of 23.1%, in ≥ 5 y PS (> 1 SD) of 33.8%, in ES children of 46.3%, and in MHS children of 41.9%. Abdominal obesity in PS children was 18%, in ES children was 16.7%, and in MHS children was 15.2%. These results warrant immediate and comprehensive actions to prevent a critical public health problem in Mexico.

En población infantil y adulta, la prevalencia de obesidad entre mexicanos es alarmante. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron determinar los niveles de sobrepeso, obesidad y obesidad abdominal, en pre-escolares (PE), primaria (P), y secundaria (S) de Tijuana. De febrero a abril de 2011, se realizó una muestra aleatoria bietápica por el método de conglomerados, que incluyeron 30 escuelas de PE, 30 de P, y 30 de S. Posteriormente se seleccionó una muestra de 30 grupos de cada nivel educativo. Veinte maestros, y ochos estudiantes de postgrado participaron como encuestadores. Se les entrenó en un lugar central para homogeneizar las mediciones antropométricas para valorar el peso, la estatura, la circunferencia de cintura. Se calculó el IMC y se comparó con las tablas de la OMS para edad y sexo. Como punto de corte para valorar la obesidad abdominal se utilizó la percentile 90 para edad y sexo, del NHANES III para México-americanos. La muestra comprendió 646 niños PE, 961 de P, y 1.095 de S. Las edades oscilaron de 4 a 16 AÑOs. Se observó un prevalencia total de sobrepeso y obesidad en menores de 5 AÑOs, con DE > 2 de 23,1%, en PE = 5 AÑOs, con DE > 1 de 33,8%, en niños de P, de 46,3%, y en niños de S de 41,9%. La obesidad abdominal en niños PE fue de 18%, en niños de P de 16,7%, y en los de S fue de 15,2%. Estos resultados requieren acciones integrales para prevenir un problema crítico de salud pública.

Predictors of death in infants hospitalized with pertussis: a case-control study of 16 pertussis deaths in Canada.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical course of fatal cases of pertussis and identify predictors of death at the time of presentation for medical care. METHODS: Case-control study of 16 deaths from pertussis identified by the Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT) surveillance network (January 1991-December 2001) matched with 32 nonfatal cases by age, date, and geography. Differences were compared by Fisher exact test and logistic regression. A multivariate model was developed using stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: All 16 fatal cases were < or =6 months old; 13 were <2 months old. Fatal cases were less likely to have had cough complications during pregnancy (48% vs 14%; P=.046) and more likely to have pneumonia (63% vs 16%; P=.0024) before hospital admission and more likely to have seizures, pneumonia, leukocytosis, and hypoxemia after admission (P<.001 for all comparisons). White blood cell count and pneumonia were independent predictors of fatal outcome in the multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: Infants too young to have begun their immunizations are at highest risk of fatal pertussis infection. Leukocytosis and pneumonia are predictors of a poor outcome; however, rapid progression of the disease may make interventions difficult.

Consumption of fruits, vegetables, soft drinks, and high-fat-containing snacks among Mexican children on the Mexico-U.S. border.

BACKGROUND: The recommended diet for children would promote health, support growth, and prevent risk of disease. Diets high in fruits and vegetables demonstrate a strong and consistent pattern for decreasing the risk for many cancers and providing benefits against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and stroke. The purpose of this study was to assess fruit, vegetable, soft drink, and high-fat-containing snack consumption among fifth- and ninth-grade children attending public schools in the northeastern Mexican state of Baja California. METHODS: A randomized design was used to select 20 schools with fifth-grade students and 20 schools with ninth-grade students in each of the five Baja California counties. A randomized sample of 20 classes of fifth- and ninth-grade students was then selected. The food frequency questionnaire used contained 36 items. Foods were grouped in the five main food categories, plus soft drinks, sweets, and high-fat-containing snacks. Means, standard deviations (SDs), and frequencies were calculated using SPSS, while chi square was employed to test the association between food consumption and selected variables. RESULTS: Mean daily intake of fruits was 1.5 by children from both grades, while daily mean intake of vegetables was 2.5 for fifth-grade students. The percentage of children with intakes lower than the standard (Apple of Health) was 77 and 80% for fifth and ninth graders for fruits and 62 and 53% for vegetables, respectively. At least 92% of fifth graders reported consuming one soft drink, and 85% consumed one portion of high-fat-containing snacks daily. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated overall low intake of fruits and vegetables and excessive consumption of soft drinks and high-fat-containing snacks, leading to the possibility of costly health complications later in life.