The effect of ketamine on the MACBAR of sevoflurane in dogs

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of intravenous ketamine on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane needed to block autonomic response (MAC_BAR) to a noxious stimulus in dogs.Study designRandomized, crossover, prospective design.AnimalsEight, healthy, adult male, mixed-breed dogs, weighing 11.2–16.1 kg.MethodsDogs were anesthetized with sevoflurane on two occasions, 1 week apart, and baseline MAC_BAR (B-MAC_BAR) was determined on each occasion. MAC_BAR was defined as the mean of the end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations that prevented and allowed an increase (≥15%) in heart rate or invasive mean arterial pressure in response to a noxious electrical stimulus (50 V, 50 Hz, 10 ms). Dogs then randomly received either a low-dose (LDS) or high-dose series (HDS) of ketamine, and treatment MAC_BAR (T-MAC_BAR) was determined. The LDS had an initial loading dose (LD) of 0.5 mg kg^?1 and constant rate infusion (CRI) at 6.25 μg kg^?1 minute^?1, followed, after T-MAC_BAR determination, by a second LD (1 mg kg^?1) and CRI (12.5 μg kg^?1 minute^?1). The HDS had an initial LD (2 mg kg^?1) and CRI (25 μg kg^?1 minute^?1) followed by a second LD (3 mg kg^?1) and CRI (50 μg kg^?1 minute^?1). Data were analyzed with a mixed-model anova and are presented as LSM ± SEM.ResultsThe B-MAC_BAR was not significantly different between treatments. Ketamine at 12.5, 25, and 50 μg kg^?1 minute^?1 decreased sevoflurane MAC_BAR, and the maximal decrease (22%) occurred at 12.5 μg kg^?1 minute^?1. The percentage change in MAC_BAR was not correlated with either the log plasma ketamine or norketamine concentration.Conclusions and clinical relevanceKetamine at clinically relevant doses of 12.5, 25, and 50 μg kg^?1 minute^?1 decreased sevoflurane MAC_BAR, although the reduction was neither dose-dependent nor linear.     

Effect of three anthocyaninless genes on germination in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) II. Seed germination under stress conditions

Seeds from four pairs of tomato isogenic/near-isogenic lines (IL/NIL) differing for anthocyaninless of Hoffmann (ah), three pairs of IL/NILs differing for anthocyaninwithout (aw) and six pairs of IL/NILs differing for baby lea syndrome (bls) were evaluated for their germination ability under stress conditions: low and high temperature, salt and osmotic stress. Mutant genes affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis enhanced tomato germination capacity under all above mentioned treatments, except for the aw gene under a PEG-6000 treatment. Testa removal accelerated germination under stress conditions, but differences in time to 50% germination between the wild type lines and their ah-, aw- and bls-IL/NILs although diminished, were not eliminated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of three anthocyaninless genes on germination in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) I. Seed germination under optimal conditions

The effect of three mutant genes affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis – anthocyaninless of Hoffmann (ah), anthocyaninwithout (aw) and baby lea syndrome (bls) – on tomato germination capacities at 24 ° C was investigated. The study was performed on nine anthocyanin containing lines – Apedice, Apeca, Ailsa Craig, Monfavet 167, Monfavet 168, Por, Piernita, VF 36 and VFNT cherry and 13 isogenic/near isogenic lines (IL/NIL) from them: 4 differing for gene ah, 3 differing for gene aw and 6 differing for gene bls). In the majority of the anthocyaninless IL/NILs germination began earlier than that in the wild type lines. Significant differences were observed in the time to 50% germination between the anthocyanin-containing and the anthocyaninless IL/NILs except for the most rapidly germinating line VFNT cherry. Seed weight, water uptake, effect of testa removal and presence or absence of maternal effects in F1 germination responses were investigated in order to elucidate the causes of the more rapid germination in the anthocyaninless IL/NILs. The increased amount of water uptake by the anthocyaninless lines, the shorter treatment time necessary for their testa removal, the important maternal effects in the genetic variability of the time to 50% germination and the differences in germination capacities between the wild type and the mutant IL/NILs after testa removal, indicated that the seed coat and the endosperm had to be affected by the effects of the three genes in a way that caused enhanced germination. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

'The bigger the better'--mothers' social networks and child nutrition in Andhra Pradesh

OBJECTIVE: It is hypothesised that mothers' social networks can positively affect child nutrition through the sharing of health knowledge and other resources. The present study describes the composition of mothers' networks, examines their association with child nutrition, and assesses whether health knowledge is shared within networks. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional data for mothers of young children from Andhra Pradesh (south India) were combined with existing data from the Young Lives study, in which the mothers were participating (n = 282). RESULTS: The composition of social networks varied between urban and rural areas, with urban networks being larger, more female, more literate and with a greater proportion of members living outside the household and being non-family. There was a positive association between child's height-for-age Z-score and mother's network size and network literacy rate. The association with network literacy was stronger among the poorest households. Women commonly reported seeking or receiving health advice from network members.CONCLUSION: Big and literate social networks are associated with better child nutrition, especially among the poor. The dissemination of health knowledge between network members is a plausible way in which social networks benefit child nutrition in India. Further research into the underlying mechanisms is necessary to inform the development of interventions that channel health information through word of mouth to the most excluded and vulnerable families.     

What are the odds of being an organic or local food shopper? Multivariate analysis of US food shopper lifestyle segments

The growth in organic and local foods consumption has been examined using two different approaches to identify characteristics and motivations of food shoppers: market segmentation and economic models using multivariate analysis. The former approach, based on Means-end Chain theory, examines how intrinsic characteristics of foods affect food choices. The latter microeconomic approach examines economic constraints and extrinsic factors. This study demonstrates value in combining the two approaches to generate better empirical predictions of who buys organic and local food. It also supports a broader theoretical framework to explain behavior in terms of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Using US data, an adaptation of the Food Related Lifestyle model yields four consumer lifestyles segmented by intrinsic motivations related to food. Each consumer segment exhibits distinct organic and local foods consumption behaviors. A multinomial logit model is estimated to examine the probability of being in one of these four groups as a function of extrinsic variables and economic constraints. In support of Alphabet theory and Regulatory Focus theory, we find that inclusion of extrinsic factors improves prediction of behavior and the ability to explain why they buy organic and local foods. The extrinsic variables that significantly increase the probability of being in a particular consumer food lifestyle segment include: environmental concerns, health practices, race, the presence of a farmers’ market, and to a lesser degree, family composition and income. We also find regulatory focus is most pronounced among the most active organic and local food shoppers.     

Effect of altering the steric hindrance of the nitrogen atom in 2,5-bis(pyridin-n-yl)-1,3,4 thiadiazole isomers on their ability to elicit tomato defense responses against Verticillium wilt and crown gall diseases

Three isomers of the ligand 2,5-bis(pyridinyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole, with the N atom of pyridine group in position 2, 3 or 4, named respectively, L2, L3 and L4 were compared for their use as plant defense activators. They were examined for their ability to protect tomato plants from Verticillium dahliae and Agrobacterium tumefaciens in the greenhouse, to induce reactive oxygen species and to activate plant defenses, including antioxidant enzymes. The three ligand isomers exhibited in vitro only slight inhibition of radial growth of V. dahliae, while no significant inhibition was observed for phytopathogenic bacteria. In the greenhouse, the three ligand isomers statistically reduced the severity of Verticillium wilt and crown gall on tomato plants, and the isomers L3 and L4 were the most efficient to control Verticillium wilt. This superiority was reflected in their differential ability to activate H₂O₂ accumulation, antioxidant enzymes including catalase and ascorbate peroxidase and other defense-related enzymes such as guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. These results demonstrated that the presence of the N atom within the two pyridinyl groups in the position 3 or 4 highly enhanced the activity of plant defense and antioxidant responses as well as their ability to reduce the severity of symptoms caused by V. dahliae on tomato.     

Hiding hunger: food insecurity in middle America

This is a community based research project using a case study of 20 people living in middle America who are food insecure, but do not use food pantries. The participants’ rate of actual hunger is twice that of food insecure community members who use food pantries. Since most of the participants are not poor, the Asset Vulnerability Framework (AVF) is used to classify causes of food insecurity. The purpose of the study is to identify why participants are food insecure and why they do not use food pantries. Findings reveal that the participants restrict the quality and quantity of food eaten as a strategy to manage their budget. Following AVF, this strategy allows them to offset lower returns to labor assets, cover rising costs of human capital investment, protect their two most important productive assets of housing and transportation, and compensate for household relationships that increase their vulnerability. In addition, food insecurity itself inhibited social capital formation, further increasing vulnerability. The main reasons the participants do not use food pantries is to protect their social capital assets: almost all of the participants hid their hunger from colleagues, friends, relatives, and even the people they lived with. The participants described fear of societal shaming and blaming as motivations for hiding their hunger. However, using food pantries could reduce their food insecurity. Therefore, there was a feedback loop between food insecurity and social capital: food insecurity reduced social capital and efforts to protect social capital prevented participants from improving food security by using food pantries.     

Innovative millennial snails: the story of Slow Food University of Wisconsin

This is the story of Slow Food University of Wisconsin (SFUW), a student organization that grew from one woman’s idea to a community of over 3200 people dedicated to making sustainable, fairly produced, delicious food accessible in a small city, with a big university, in the heart of the United States. Along the way SFUW has fostered new ideas, developed skills, and built relationships through conscious food procurement, cooking and eating. This essay describes the evolution of the organization and its four projects: Family Dinner Night, South Madison, Outreach and the Café. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s always been delicious.     

Effect of pimobendan on the clinical outcome and survival of cats with non-taurine responsive dilated cardiomyopathy

This retrospective study was designed to assess the effect of pimobendan on the median survival time (MST) of cats with non-taurine responsive dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Thirty-two client-owned cats with a left ventricular internal dimension at end systole (LVIDs) >14 mm, a fractional shortening (FS) <28% and a lack of response to taurine therapy were included over a 9-year period (2001-2010). These cats were divided into pimobendan (n=16) and non-pimobendan (n=16) treatment groups. All cats received standard treatment with frusemide, taurine and benazepril or enalapril. Nine cats in the non-pimobendan group also received digoxin. The MST of the pimobendan group (49 days; range 1 to >502 days) was four times that of the non-pimobendan group (12 days; 1 to 244 days). The difference in survival between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.048). Hypothermia and FS <20% were associated with a poor prognosis. No adverse effects to pimobendan were noted.