Maintenance of permanent sexual activity throughout the year in seasonal bucks using short photoperiodic cycles in open barns.

Seasonality of reproductive activity in rams and bucks is the major constraint in temperate and subtropical zones. Rapid alternation between 1 month of short days and 1 month of long days (LD) over three years in lightproof buildings eliminates this seasonality. We examined if this would also work in open barns, using only supplementary light. Over two years, one group of bucks (n = 7) was subjected to alternate 1 month of LD and 1 month of permanent light (LD-LL) and another group (n = 7) to alternate 1 month of LD and 1 month of natural light (LD-NL). A simultaneous control group, used for both experiments (CG1, n = 6; CG2, n = 6), remained under natural photoperiod. BW, testis weight (TW), plasma testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) were evaluated in all bucks. CG1 and CG2 bucks showed identical dramatic seasonal variations in BW (stable or decreasing in summer), TW (from 85 ± 12 g in February to 127 ± 7 g in July) and T (from 2.7 ± 1.2 ng/mL in January-April to 24.3 ± 3.2 ng/mL in June-October). By contrast, BW of LD-LL and LD-NL bucks increased regularly during the experiment. From 5 and 9 months after the experiment onset, LD-LL and LD-NL bucks, respectively, maintained constant TW of 115 ± 5 g until the experiment end. After the first 3 months <5 ng/mL, T of LD-LL bucks remained constant (5-10 ng/mL) until the experiment end. By contrast, T of LD-NL bucks showed four periods of low (<5 ng/mL) and two periods of high concentrations (18.1 ± 2.6 and 11.9 ± 3.4 ng/mL). Plasma C remained low (5-8 ng/mL) and did not change with group or light treatment. These results show for the first time in any seasonal photoperiodic species that it is possible to maintain the sexual activity of males all year round in open buildings using alternating periods of LD and LL. By contrast, return to NL instead of LL every other month does not prevent seasonality in T concentration. These results raise interesting questions about the photoperiodic control of neuroendocrine regulation of seasonal sexual activity and suggest that these treatments can be used to manage males in open barns in farms and in artificial insemination centres. (Spanish and French versions of the full text are available as Supplementary Materials S1 and S2).

Sexually active male goats stimulate the endocrine and sexual activities of other males in seasonal sexual rest through the "buck-to-buck effect".

Male goats rendered sexually active by exposure to a photoperiodic treatment are more efficient than untreated goats in stimulating LH secretion and ovulation in seasonally anestrous goats. This phenomenon is called the "male effect." Here, we determined whether sexually active bucks are able to stimulate the endocrine and sexual activities of other bucks in seasonal sexual rest through the phenomenon that we called the "buck-to-buck effect." We used bucks rendered sexually active (SA) during sexual rest by exposure to 2.5 mo of artificial long days (16 h of light per d) and untreated, sexually inactive (SI) bucks. In Experiment 1, we determined the short-term (21 d) LH and testosterone responses of sexually inactive bucks joined with a SA or SI buck. In Experiment 2, we determined the long-term (60 d) testosterone and sexual behavior responses of sexually inactive bucks joined with 2 SA or SI bucks. In Experiment 3, we determined the efficacy of bucks initially exposed to the buck-to-buck effect, the SABB bucks, to thereafter induce a "classical" male effect in seasonally anestrous goats. In Experiments 1 and 2, there was an interaction between time and groups in LH and testosterone plasma concentrations (P < 0.01). In Experiment 1, plasma LH concentrations were greater in bucks joined with a SA buck than in those joined with an SI buck (P < 0.05). In Experiments 1 and 2, testosterone concentrations were greater in bucks joined with SA bucks than in those joined with SI bucks (P < 0.05). In addition, in Experiment 2, the sexually inactive bucks joined with SA bucks displayed more nudging than those joined with SI bucks (P < 0.001). In Experiment 3, kidding rates did not differ between females joined with SA (34 of 40: 85%) or SABB bucks (32 of 40: 80%; P > 0.05). We concluded that the endocrine and sexual activities of bucks during sexual rest can be stimulated by SA bucks. In addition, SABB bucks are able to stimulate the reproductive activity of seasonally anestrous goats.

Eyes Toward Tomorrow Program Enhancing Collaboration, Connections, and Community Using Bioinspired Design.

The goal of our Eyes Toward Tomorrow Program is to enrich the future workforce with STEM by providing students with an early, inspirational, interdisciplinary experience fostering inclusive excellence. We attempt to open the eyes of students who never realized how much their voice is urgently needed by providing an opportunity for involvement, imagination, invention, and innovation. Students see how what they are learning, designing, and building matters to their own life, community, and society. Our program embodies convergence by obliterating artificially created, disciplinary boundaries to go far beyond STEM or even STEAM by including artists, designers, social scientists, and entrepreneurs collaborating in diverse teams using scientific discoveries to create inventions that could shape our future. Our program connects two recent revolutions by amplifying Bioinspired Design with the Maker Movement and its democratizing effects empowering anyone to innovate and change the world. Our course is founded in original discovery. We explain the process of biological discovery and the importance of scaling, constraints, and complexity in selecting systems for bioinspired design. By spotlighting scientific writing and publishing, students become more science literate, learn how to decompose a biology research paper, extract the principles, and then propose a novel design by analogy. Using careful, early scaffolding of individual design efforts, students build the confidence to interact in teams. Team building exercises increase self-efficacy and reveal the advantages of a diverse set of minds. Final team video and poster project designs are presented in a public showcase. Our program forms a student-centered creative action community comprised of a large-scale course, student-led classes, and a student-created university organization. The program structure facilitates a community of learners that shifts the students' role from passive knowledge recipients to active co-constructors of knowledge being responsible for their own learning, discovery, and inventions. Students build their own shared database of discoveries, classes, organizations, research openings, internships, and public service options. Students find next step opportunities so they can see future careers. Description of our program here provides the necessary context for our future publications on assessment that examine 21st century skills, persistence in STEM, and creativity.

Nutritional supplementation improves the sexual response of bucks exposed to long days in semi-extensive management and their ability to stimulate reproduction in goats.

In confined management systems, well-nourished bucks rendered sexually active by exposure to long days are efficient in fertilizing out-of-season goats. However, underfeeding is common in semi-extensive management systems and may reduce the reproductive efficiency of bucks. The objective of the present study was to determine whether nutritional supplementation improved the sexual activity of bucks submitted to long days in semi-extensive management systems and their ability to stimulate the reproduction of goats in semi-extensive or confined conditions. In experiment 1, three groups of bucks were placed in different flocks and grazed daily with females for 7 h. Each day after grazing, males were separated from females and moved into open pens. One group did not receive any treatment (control group; n = 6). Two other groups were submitted to artificially long days from 15 November to 15 January. From 16 January, one group did not receive nutritional supplementation (long-day group; n = 5), whereas bucks from the other group each received 600 g of a commercial concentrate (long-day+supplementation group; n = 5). The fourth group was kept in confined conditions, exposed to long days and fed alfalfa hay (long-day confined group; n = 6). On 26 March, anovulatory goats from other flocks were assigned to four groups (n = 27 each) and confined separately in open pens. Three bucks of each group were housed with the females. Pregnancy rates were greater in the goats housed with the long-day group than those housed with the control group (P < 0.01). However, pregnancy rates did not differ between the long-day confined group (89%) and long-day+supplementation group (70%; P = 0.09), but these rates were greater than those from the long-day (37%) and control groups (0%; P < 0.05). In experiment 2, two groups of males (n = 3 each) were incorporated into two flocks under semi-extensive management and grazed daily with females for 7 h. One group of males did not receive any treatment (control group). The other group was submitted to long days and nutritional supplementation as in experiment 1 (long-day+supplementation group). Males remained with females during the whole study. The pregnancy rate was greater in the goats joined by males of the long-day+supplementation group (78%) than in those from the control group (0%; P < 0.001). We conclude that long days and nutritional supplementation improve the ability of bucks kept in semi-extensive management to stimulate reproduction of out-of-season goats in confined or semi-extensive management systems.

Male effect using photostimulated bucks and nutritional supplementation advance puberty in goats under semi-extensive management.

Well-nourished spring-born female goats reach puberty in the autumn of the same year. Contrastingly, undernourished spring-born females reach puberty in the autumn of the following year. Therefore, in this study, we reared female goats (undernourished) under semi-extensive management and determined whether the introduction of photostimulated, sexually active males, advances puberty in these females, and whether nutritional supplementation increases the proportion of kidding females. Goats were born on March 30 and weaned at 2 months of age. Then, they grazed natural vegetation from 10:00 to 18:00 each day. Starting in December, two groups did not receive feed supplementation after grazing, whereas two other groups received 600 g daily supplements of a commercial concentrate. In April, one non-supplemented (n = 10) and other supplemented groups (n = 11) were moved indoors and kept in separate pens, where they were joined with sexually active bucks (n = 1 per group). Males were rotated daily between groups for 7 days. Other non-supplemented (n = 8) and supplemented groups (n = 11) were not joined with males. Most of the female goats under study reached puberty (70-100%). However, in supplemented and non-supplemented groups joined with males, puberty commenced much earlier (April) than in those non-exposed to males (September) (P < 0.001). The proportion of pregnant goats did not differ between groups joined with males (P > 0.05), but the proportion of goats that kidded was higher in supplemented (7/11) than in non-supplemented goats (2/10) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in spring-born goats, the male effect using sexually active males advanced puberty, and nutritional supplementation increased the proportion of kidding goats in females reared under semi-extensive management.

Progesterone doses of 5, 3 or 1 mg do not prevent short ovulatory cycles in goats exposed to photo-stimulated bucks.

The aim of this study was to determine whether lower doses than 25 mg of progesterone reduce the frequency of short ovulatory cycles in seasonal anestrous goats exposed to sexually active bucks. Females from the control group were given an im dose of 2 mL olive oil (n = 9). Females from the experimental groups were given an im dose of 1 mg (n = 15), 3 mg (n = 16), 5 mg (n = 15) or 25 mg (n = 16) of progesterone diluted in 2 mL olive oil, 48 h prior exposition to bucks (n = 1 per group). Males were daily switched among groups, and they remained with goats during 21 days. The proportion of goats that ovulated was high (≥87%), and was not different among groups (P > 0.05). In contrast, the proportion of goats that displayed short ovulatory cycles differed among groups (P < 0.05). Indeed, the proportion of goats displaying short ovulatory cycles was lower in those treated with 25 mg (12%) than in those from the control (78%), 1 mg (85%), 3 mg (50%), or 5 mg (71%) groups (P < 0.05), but there were no differences among these last four groups (P > 0.05). Finally, the percentage of kidding females (≥40%) and the number of kids born per female (≥1.4) did not differ among groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, an im dose of 25 mg of progesterone was more effective than 5, 3 or 1 mg to avoid the short ovulatory cycles in seasonal anestrous goats exposed to the male effect.

Extensive management conditions do not modify the frequency of short ovulatory cycles in progesterone-treated does exposed to sexually active males.

Most goats exposed to males in confined conditions have short ovulatory cycles. The frequency of these cycles can be reduced with a progesterone treatment prior to the introduction of males. The objective of this study was to determine whether extensive management conditions modify the frequency of short ovulatory cycles in progesterone-treated does exposed to photostimulated males. One group of does remained in extensive management conditions and grazed daily from 10:00 to 18:00 h; two other groups were confined separately in shaded pens, and fed alfalfa hay. In March, females from the grazing group (n = 45; grazing-P4 group) and those from one confined group (n = 45; confined-P4 group) were treated with 25 mg of progesterone by intra-muscular injections 48 h before joining with photostimulated males (n = 3 per group). The other confined group did not receive the progesterone treatment and was exposed to two photostimulated males (n = 25; confined-control group). Does were exposed to males for 45 consecutive days. Determination of whether ovulations occurre were made by quantifying plasma progesterone concentrations after introduction of males. The proportion of does that had ovulations at least once was not different between groups (≥98%; P > 0.05). The proportion of does that had short ovulatory cycles differed between groups (P < 0.001), and this proportion was greater in the confined-control group (76%) than in confined-P4 (27%) and grazing-P4 groups (25%; P < 0.001). It is concluded that extensive management conditions do not modify the frequency of short ovulatory cycles in progesterone-treated does exposed to the photostimulated males.

[Results of the Salters osteotomy as a definitive treatment for the developmental dysplasia of the hip]. / Resultados de la osteotomía tipo Salter como tratamiento definitivo en displasia del desarrollo de la cadera.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the results of open reduction associated to a Salter osteotomy at nine months of age for treatment of the developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Case- series of unilateral Developmental Dysplasia of the hip treated between July 2004- December 2008 with follow-up at 3, 6 and 9 months postop. RESULTS: 16 patients, 13 females (81%) 3 males (19%). we did an open reduction and Salters osteotomy at 9 months on average (8- 10 months); the most effected side were the left hip on 75%. at 9 months of follow up 15 patients had a McKay score excellent and 1 good. Only one patient was followed up at one year with no pain, full range of motion and stable. CONCLUSION: open reduction and salter osteotomy without preoperative traction is an effective treatment in the short-term; the range of motion could be affected. It is important that the spica cast were applied in a staged manner and in secured position.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar los resultados de la reducción abierta asociada a una osteotomía tipo Salter a los nueve meses de edad como tratamiento en la displasia del desarrollo de la cadera. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Serie de casos con pacientes con diagnóstico de displasia del desarrollo de cadera unilateral en un período comprendido de Julio de 2004 a Diciembre de 2008 y seguimiento a los tres, seis y nueve meses del postquirúrgico. RESULTADOS: 16 pacientes, 13 del sexo femenino (81%) y tres del sexo masculino (19%). Se les realizó reducción abierta con osteotomía tipo Salter a los nueve meses de edad (de ocho a 10 meses) en promedio. El lado afectado más frecuente fue en cadera izquierda en 75% y cadera derecha en 25%. A los nueve meses de evolución 15 pacientes presentaron un puntaje de McKay excelente y sólo un paciente mostró McKay bueno. Sólo un paciente fue valorado al año de la última cirugía con cadera estable, sin dolor y disminución del rango de movilidad tanto en flexión y abducción en relación con la cadera contralateral. CONCLUSIÓN: La reducción abierta con una osteotomía de tipo Salter sin una tracción preoperatoria es un tratamiento efectivo en el corto plazo. Puede haber restricciones en la movilidad. Es importante el uso del aparato de yeso en forma pausada y en una posición de reducción segura.

Automated peritoneal dialysis as a lifesaving therapy in an emergency room: report of four cases.

The present article describes four cases of patients with chronic kidney disease who arrived at the emergency room in critical condition, needing acute dialysis for severe hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis. These four patients were treated acutely with automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) using a Tenckhoff catheter placed percutaneously at the bedside in the emergency room. All patients were discharged in good condition and with APD as their chronic renal replacement therapy (RRT). APD is a RRT, that may be considered a frontline acute therapy option for renal failure patients in an emergency room. Coordinated teamwork between emergency and nephrology medical and nursing staff is the key to a successful outcome in these life threatening situations.

Pólipos gástricos epiteliales. Estudio retrospectivo 1995-2000 / Gastric epithelial polyps. A retrospective study 1995-2000

Objetivo. Analizar las características endoscópicas e histológicas de todos los pólipos gástricos epiteliales diagnosticados por endoscopia en nuestro servicio durante un período de 5 años y evaluar la utilidad del seguimiento endoscópico tras la polipectomía. Pacientes y métodos. Entre enero de 1995 y enero de 2000 hemos realizado 5.314 endoscopias altas en el servicio de Aparato Digestivo del Hospital Santa María Madre. Se han detectado 64 pólipos gástricos epiteliales en 18 pacientes, 10 hombres y 8 mujeres, cuya edad media ha sido de 61,7 años. Resultados. Sesenta y tres pólipos fueron extirpados mediante polipectomía endoscópica y uno fue biopsiado debido a su tamaño (5 cm), 30 (46,87 por ciento) fueron hiperplásicos, 24 (37,5 por ciento) presentaron una histología normal, 8 (12,5 por ciento) fueron adenomas y 2 (3,12 por ciento) adenocarcinomas polipoideos. El 56,2 por ciento medía menos de 6 mm y solamente el 6,2 por ciento medía más de 11 mm. Ningún paciente presentó adenocarcinoma gástrico acompañante. Ocurrió una complicación tras la polipectomía y una hemorragia tratada con éxito mediante la inyección local de adrenalina. Durante el seguimiento no hemos detectado ningún caso de cáncer y han recurrido 2 pólipos en 2 de los 8 pacientes con adenoma. Conclusiones. Los pólipos gástricos epiteliales son infrecuentes (0,33 por ciento de las gastroscopias), la mayoría (93,75 por ciento) mide menos de 1 cm y pueden ser extirpados endoscópicamente con seguridad. En nuestra serie, el tipo histológico más frecuente es el hiperplásico (43,75 por ciento), representando el adenocarcinoma polipoideo el 3,12 por ciento de los casos, uno de menos de 6 mm. Tras la polipectomía, el seguimiento endoscópico es obligado, principalmente para el adenoma (AU)

[Gastric epithelial polyps. A retrospective study 1995-2000]. / Pólipos gástricos epiteliales. Estudio retrospectivo 1995-2000.

OBJECTIVE: The analysis of the endoscopic and histological characteristics of all the gastric epithelial polyps diagnosed through endoscopy in our service during a period of 5 years, and the evaluation of the usefulness of the endoscopic monitoring after polypectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and January 2000 5,314 high digestive system endoscopies were carried out in the Gastroenterology Service of the Santa María Madre Hospital. Sixty-four gastric epithelial polyps were detected in 18 patients (10 men and 8 women) with a median age of 61.7 years. RESULTS: Sixty-three polyps were removed through endoscopic polypectomy, and one was biopsied because of its size (5 cm), 30 (46.87%) were hyperplastic polyps, 24 (37.5%) presented normal histological characteristics, 8 (12.5%) were adenomas and 2 (3.12%) were polypoid adenocarcinomas. 56.2% measured less than 6 mm and only 6.2% measured more than 11 mm. No patient presented simultaenous gastric adenocarcinoma. Only one complication was observed after the polypectomy, a hemorrhage that was treated successfully with local injection of adrenaline. During the follow-up no case of cancer was detected and the recurrence of the polyp was observed in 2/8 patients with adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric epithelial polyps are infrequent (0.33% gastroscopies); most of them (93.75%) measure less than 1 cm and they can be removed through endoscopy with safety. In our series, the most frequent histological type was the hyperplastic polyp (43.75%); polypoid adenocarcinoma constituted 3.12% of the cases, one of them with less than 6 mm. Endoscopic follow-up is considered absolutely essential after the polypectomy, especially in adenomatous polyps.

The reality of palliative care in Spain.

With the sponsorship of the Spanish Society of Palliative Care (SECPAL), two nation-wide studies from the University of Valladolid were carried out in 1996 and 1998 into the state of palliative care teams in Spain. This report is based on those studies and is the first overall analysis of the current situation of palliative care in Spain. A total of 143 programmes were identified and data were collected from 128 teams (89%): 53 were programmes with hospitalised patients, 75 for home-based patients and 15 were mixed programmes. From the activity data, provided by 75% of the teams, it may be estimated that each year 22,638 terminally ill patients receive palliative care attention. Of these, 18,021 (79.6%) are cancer sufferers. Of the patients who die from cancer each year in our country, 21.2% receive palliative care during the final weeks of life. More than 10 years have passed since the first teams in Spain started their work. The time has now come to recognize the reality of palliative care in our society and to adopt a national policy for terminally ill patients, in line with World Health Organization recommendations formulated in 1989.

The stability of intertrochanteric fractures treated with a sliding screw-plate.

Failure of fixation is a major complication of the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures. A retrospective review was performed of 54 such fractures treated with a sliding screw-plate device. Linear and angular displacements were calculated from radiographs taken at operation and serially until healing was complete. Linear displacement was related to fracture instability, but the neck-shaft angle was relatively constant during healing. Complications were often due to failure of the sliding mechanism of the implant. We conclude that a sliding screw-plate allows controlled collapse of the major fragments but maintains the neck-shaft angle even in unstable fractures.