SURVEILLANCE FOR HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA IN BUFFALO ( BUBALUS BUBALIS) AS AN AID TO RANGE EXPANSION OF THE JAVAN RHINOCEROS ( RHINOCEROS SONDAICUS) IN UJUNG KULON NATIONAL PARK, INDONESIA.

The Javan rhinoceros ( Rhinoceros sondaicus) of Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP) is the crown jewel of Indonesia's rich natural history. The park lies on a peninsula surrounded by coastline and agriculture-dominated landscapes. The invasion of water buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis) into the park carries a substantial health risk to the Javan rhinoceros and threatens plans to establish a new population outside of its only current range in UKNP. Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS), known locally as septicemia epizootica and caused by Pasteurella multocida B:2, could thwart Indonesia's efforts to expand the range of the Javan rhinoceros. Because HS was considered eradicated from Banten Province, few preventative programs have been available to farmers. During June 2012-July 2013, biologic samples were collected from 770 water buffalo in 19 villages. Deep nasal swabs ( n=85) were taken for bacterial culture and blood samples ( n=770) were collected for serologic testing. No animals were positive on culture. The prevalence of antibody to P. multocida in this population was 1.8% (14 of 770 animals). A structured questionnaire was used to gather information about possible risk factors. Husbandry practices associated with presence of antibody in water buffalo included lack of a permanent area to house buffalo at night, low body condition score (=2), high body temperature (≥40 C), a history of clinical signs or sudden death in the previous year, and a grazing system that utilized significant forage inside the park. Antibody was not associated with sex, age, vaccination status, or season. Understanding HS disease dynamics in the buffalo adjacent to UKNP may improve the livelihoods of people and health of endangered rhinoceroses in this ecosystem.

Analgesic Efficacy of Firocoxib, a Selective Inhibitor of Cyclooxygenase 2, in a Mouse Model of Incisional Pain.

Pain management in laboratory animals is generally accomplished by using opioids and NSAIDs. However, opioid use is hindered by controlled substance requirements and a relatively short duration of action. In this study, we compared the analgesic efficacy of firocoxib (a cyclooxygenase-2-selective NSAID) with that of buprenorphine in the mouse model of plantar incisional pain by objective measurement of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia using von Frey and Hargreaves equipment, respectively. Our experimental design included 5 treatment groups: firocoxib at 10 mg/kg IP every 24 h (F10 group); firocoxib at 20 mg/kg IP every 24 h (F20); buprenorphine at 0.2 mg/kg SC every 8 h; intraperitoneal normal saline every 24 h; and sham group (anesthesia, no incision) treated with firocoxib at 20 mg/kg IP every 24 h (sham+F20). All mice underwent nociceptive assays at 24 h before and 4, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. Buprenorphine alleviated allodynia at all time points after incision. The F10 treatment alleviated allodynia at 4, 24, and 48 h, whereas F20 alleviated allodynia at 24, 48, and 72 h. None of the treatments alleviated thermal hyperalgesia at 4h. Except for F10 and buprenorphine at 24 h, all treatments alleviated thermal hyperalgesia at 24, 48, and 72 h. No significant differences were noted between the 2 doses of firocoxib and buprenorphine regarding mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia at all time points. In conclusion, the analgesic efficacy of firocoxib is comparable to that of buprenorphine in this mouse pain model.

Pulmonary dead space in free-ranging immobilized black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) in Namibia.

It was observed previously that end-expired carbon dioxide (P(E)CO2) decreased when immobilized black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) were moved from sternal to lateral recumbency. These experiments were designed to test whether greater alveolar ventilation or greater pulmonary dead space in lateral recumbency explains this postural difference in P(E)CO2. Twenty-one (9 male, 12 female; 15 [3.5-26] yr old) wild black rhinoceroses were immobilized with etorphine and azaperone and positioned in either sternal or lateral recumbency. All rhinoceroses were hypoxemic and had lactic and respiratory acidemia. The animals in lateral recumbency were more acidemic, had higher lactate, and lower arterial oxygen that those in sternal recumbency; however, arterial carbon dioxide was similar between groups. Both P(E)CO2 and mixed expired carbon dioxide pressure were lower in lateral than sternal recumbency. Although there was no difference in tidal volume or arterial carbon dioxide, both the breathing rate and minute ventilation were greater in lateral recumbency. The physiologic dead space ratio and dead space volume were approximately two times larger in lateral recumbency; hence, the decrease in P(E)CO2 in lateral recumbency can be attributed to increased dead space ventilation not increased alveolar ventilation. Positioning immobilized rhinoceroses in lateral recumbency does not confer any advantage over sternal in terms of ventilation, and the increase in minute ventilation in lateral recumbency can be considered an energetic waste. Although arterial oxygen was superior in sternal recumbency, further studies that measure oxygen delivery (e.g., to the muscles of locomotion) are warranted before advice regarding the optimal position for immobilized rhinoceroses can be given with confidence.

Hematology and serum biochemistry of Sumatran rhinoceroses (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) in a rainforest sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia.

There is a paucity of basic biological information for the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). This information is fundamental to husbandry and management practices for captive animals and for support of in situ conservation efforts. Serial blood samples were collected over an 8-yr period to evaluate patterns in hematology and serum biochemistry values among five Sumatran rhinoceroses housed at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park, Lampung, Indonesia. Understanding the basis for variance in analytes both within and between subjects can allow use of more sensitive subject-based reference values, and is particularly suitable for small populations of endangered animals. Both intra- and intersubject variability was computed for each analyte and the associated index of individuality was determined. Previously published cutoff points for index of individuality indicate where population-based reference intervals can be used with confidence (index > 1.4) or with caution (0.6 < index < 1.4). Interrhino variability was small for the majority of analytes, with 12 of 19 analytes having an index of individuality greater than 1.4 and none having an index of individuality less than 0.6. With the high within-individual variability of most anayltes in the Sumatran rhinoceroses at the sanctuary, subject-based reference intervals offer little advantage over standard population-based reference intervals for monitoring the health of these endangered animals. Differences were noted (but not tested for statistical significance) in serum urea, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and cholesterol between young and old rhinoceroses, and in hematocrit, AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), LDH, and glucose between male and female rhinoceroses. Husbandry practices, animal management, nutrition and habitat factors may also impact hematology and biochemistry results, and these relationships deserve more careful investigation. This study represents the most comprehensive hematology and serum biochemistry comparison of Sumatran rhinoceroses held in natural rainforest conditions outside a traditional zoological setting.

Couples' groups for parents of preschoolers: ten-year outcomes of a randomized trial.

This paper reports the results of a 10-year follow-up of two variations of a couples' group preventive intervention offered to couples in the year before their oldest child made the transition to kindergarten. One hundred couples were randomly assigned to (1) a low-dose control condition, (2) a couples' group meeting for 16 weeks that focused more on couple relationship issues among other family topics, or (3) a couples' group meeting for 16 weeks that focused more on parenting issues among other family issues, with an identical curriculum to condition (2). Earlier papers reported that both variations of the intervention produced positive results on parent-child relationships and on the children's adaptation to kindergarten and first grade, and that the groups emphasizing couple relationships also had additional positive effects on couple interaction quality. The present paper uses growth curve analyses to examine intervention effects extending from the children's transition to kindergarten to the transition to high school-10 years after the couples groups ended. There were 6-year positive effects of the pre-kindergarten interventions on observed couple interaction and 10-year positive effects on both parents' marital satisfaction and the children's adaptation (hyperactivity and aggression). Discussion includes a focus on the implications of these results for family policy, clinical practice, and the need to include a couples focus in preventive interventions to strengthen family relationships and enhance children's adaptation to school.

Shoulder MRI accuracy in the community setting.

HYPOTHESIS/BACKGROUND: Evaluate the accuracy for shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) interpretations of typical community radiologists and compare this to selected fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologists. METHODS: The MRIs of 104 shoulders of 100 consecutive different patients who had undergone shoulder arthroscopy by a single surgeon were included in this prospective study. The 104 typed MRI reports of community radiologists were examined, and the positive or negative findings were recorded for the anterior, superior, and posterior labra, and the long head biceps tendon and rotator cuff. The 104 MRIs were then interpreted by 2 fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologists who were blinded to the nature of this study. They were asked to specifically comment on the same shoulder pathologies and to subjectively rate the quality of each MRI study using a visual analogue score (VAS). RESULTS: The shoulder pathologies documented by arthroscopy included rotator cuff tears (55 full, 10 partial), labral tears (12 anterior, 17 posterior, 29 superior), and 31 biceps abnormalities. There were 69 noncontrast MRIs and 35 MRI arthrograms. Comparing the community radiologists' accuracies with the 2 selected musculoskeletal radiologists' accuracies, there were no significant differences for any of the shoulder pathologies studied. There was a significant positive correlation between VAS and accuracies for both musculoskeletal radiologists in diagnosing posterior labral tears only. The use of contrast in these MRIs only significantly improved both of the musculoskeletal radiologists' accuracies in diagnosing biceps lesions. CONCLUSION: The accuracies for shoulder MRI in this community setting were not improved by having the MRIs interpreted by selected fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologists.

Implementation of California state school competitive food and beverage standards.

BACKGROUND: Competitive foods and beverages are available on most US school campuses. States and school districts are adopting nutrition standards to regulate these products, but few studies have reported on the extent to which schools are able to adhere to competitive regulations. The purpose of this study was to describe the extent to which schools in disadvantaged communities were able to implement California competitive food and beverage standards. METHODS: Data on the competitive foods (n = 1019) and beverages (n = 572) offered for sale on 19 school campuses were collected in 2005 and 2008. Descriptive statistics were generated on overall adherence rates to school nutrition standards and adherence rates by venue and school level. Logistic regression models tested predictors of adherence by continuous and categorical variables (eg, venue, item selling price). RESULTS: Data show an increase from 2005 to 2008 in average adherence to the California standards. Several predictors had statistically significant associations with adherence or nonadherence. Adherence was higher for competitive foods sold in school stores than foods sold in vending machines. Higher selling price was associated with lower adherence. Competitive foods classified as entrees were more likely to adhere than snack items, and larger total size (in fluid ounces) beverages were associated with higher adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Schools have begun to implement competitive food and beverage policies. However, school environments, particularly in secondary schools, are not 100% compliant with school nutrition standards. These findings can inform policymakers and school officials about the feasibility of implementing competitive food standards in schools.

Food and beverage environment analysis and monitoring system: a reliability study in the school food and beverage environment.

States and school districts around the country are developing policies that set nutrition standards for competitive foods and beverages sold outside of the US Department of Agriculture's reimbursable school lunch program. However, few tools exist for monitoring the implementation of these new policies. The objective of this research was to develop a computerized assessment tool, the Food and Beverage Environment Analysis and Monitoring System (FoodBEAMS), to collect data on the competitive school food environment and to test the inter-rater reliability of the tool among research and nonresearch professionals. FoodBEAMS was used to collect data in spring 2007 on the competitive foods and beverages sold in 21 California high schools. Adherence of the foods and beverages to California's competitive food and beverage nutrition policies for schools (Senate Bills 12 and 965) was determined using the data collected by both research and nonresearch professionals. The inter-rater reliability between the data collectors was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Researcher vs researcher and researcher vs nonresearcher inter-rater reliability was high for both foods and beverages, with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from .972 to .987. Results of this study provide evidence that FoodBEAMS is a promising tool for assessing and monitoring adherence to nutrition standards for competitive foods sold on school campuses and can be used reliably by both research and nonresearch professionals.

Cartilage-retaining wafer resection osteotomy of the distal ulna.

UNLABELLED: Ulnar-sided wrist pain resulting from ulnar impaction is common. We describe a new cartilage-retaining wafer resection osteotomy designed to keep the cartilage intact and decompress the ulnocarpal articulation without requiring internal fixation. We retrospectively reviewed seven patients with ulnar impaction who had the procedure. The minimum followup was 14 months (mean, 30 months; range, 14-38 months). The mean change in ulnar variance was -1.29 mm. Patients showed radiographic healing by a mean of 11 weeks. Our preliminary results suggest the cartilage-retaining wafer resection osteotomy may be an effective way to unload the ulnocarpal joint without requiring internal fixation or destruction of the distal ulna cartilage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.