Dietary transition stages based on eating patterns and diet quality among Haitians of Montreal, Canada

OBJECTIVES: To identify dietary transition stages based on dietary patterns of adult Haitians having lived in Montreal for various lengths of time, and to assess associated dietary quality. SUBJECTS: One hundred and eighty-one Haitians aged 25-60 years were recruited by the modified random digit dialling method. DESIGN: Socio-economic, diet and lifestyle variables were documented by questionnaire. Three non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls were conducted over a 3-month period. Dietary patterns were studied using cluster analysis, and their association with proportion of lifetime in Canada and with socio-economic status (SES) was examined. Diet quality criteria were micronutrient adequacy and healthfulness based on dietary recommendations of the World Health Organization. RESULTS: Four dietary phenotypes were identified which could roughly represent stages of dietary transition or acculturation (Traditional, Pre-Western, Western and Modern). Subjects in the 'Traditional' cluster were older and had lived for a significantly lower proportion of their lifetime in Canada; they also tended to be of lower SES. Diet quality was significantly higher in the 'Traditional' than the 'Western' type, particularly with respect to healthfulness. A significantly lower proportion of subjects complying with limited intake of total fat ( < 30%) and cholesterol ( < 45%) was observed in the 'Western' compared with other diet phenotypes. Less than 15% of all subjects consumed enough dietary fibre, irrespective of diet type. CONCLUSION: Dietary transition stages could be identified on the basis of food patterns of Haitians according to the proportion of their lifetime in Canada. Encouraging the youth to retain the traditional food culture in its positive aspects would appear relevant     

Star gazing in a dog: Atypical manifestation of upper gastrointestinal disease

A Yorkshire terrier dog was presented for episodes of “star gazing” behavior expressed as upward raising of the head and neck extension with subsequent staring at the ceiling or sky. Erosive gastritis with reflux esophagitis was diagnosed. Treatment of these conditions was associated with resolution of the behavior, suggesting a causal link.     

Clinical leptospirosis in three cats (2001-2009)

Based on previous research, cats were thought to have been resistant to the development of clinical signs following infection with Leptospira spp. This case report presents three confirmed, naturally infected clinical cases of feline leptospirosis. The cases presented were all indoor/outdoor cats that were known to hunt. They were also all presented at different stages of renal insufficiency; however, they did not show any liver involvement. The authors suggest that there may be a longer incubation period in cats than dogs and recommend further research in the form of a large, clinical study.     

Decreasing photosynthesis at different spatial scales during the late growing season on a boreal cutover

The relationship between photosynthesis and accumulated cold degree days (CDD) over the late growing season was examined at the shoot, ecosystem and landscape scales in a boreal cutover in eastern Canada predominated by black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. BSP), lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) and sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia L.). We calculated CDD as the sum of minimum daily temperatures below a 5 degrees C threshold. Light-saturated photosynthesis at the shoot level (A(max)) of black spruce and V. angustifolium decreased steadily with increasing CDD once temperatures below the CDD threshold value became frequent in mid-September, whereas K. angustifolia showed a more irregular pattern. Tissue acclimation played an important role in the decrease in A(max) as the season progressed, but only V. angustifolium showed decreasing foliar nitrogen concentrations. Based on eddy covariance flux tower data, maximum daily gross primary productivity (GPP(max)-tower) at the ecosystem level was more strongly related to CDD (r(2) = 0.59) than was maximum daily net ecosystem exchange (r(2) = 0.32). The GPP(max) was likely influenced by both tissue acclimation and the direct effects of changing temperatures and irradiances on physiological rates. Mean daily GPP, calculated for consecutive 8-day periods for a 25 km(2) area around the tower by the MODIS MOD17A2 Collection 4 satellite algorithm (GPP- MODIS), decreased more rapidly with increasing CDD than did GPP(max)-tower. Although GPP-MODIS was closely correlated with mean daily GPP from the tower (GPP(daily)-tower, r(2) = 0.95) over the late growing season, the former was about twice as high. Although MODIS estimates of air temperature closely tracked the ground data, the maximum light-use efficiency parameter used by the MODIS algorithm was much higher than that indicated by the tower measurements. There was a 3% decline in GPP(max)-tower with an increase of 10 CDD, corresponding to the percent decline in branch-level A(max) of black spruce and V. angustifolium.     

Gastrointestinal disorders in dogs with excessive licking of surfaces

Excessive licking of surfaces (ELS) refers to licking of objects and surfaces in excess of duration, frequency, or intensity as compared with that required for exploration. This behavior is a nonspecific sign and may be the consequence of several conditions. The objectives of our prospective clinical study were to characterize ELS behavior in dogs and to examine the extent to which it may be a sign of an underlying gastrointestinal (GI) pathology as opposed to a primarily behavioral concern. Nineteen dogs presented with ELS were included in the licking group and 10 healthy dogs were assigned to a control group. Behavioral, physical, and neurological examinations were performed before a complete evaluation of the GI system. Treatment was recommended on the basis of diagnostic findings. Following initialization of treatment, dogs were then monitored for 90 days during which their licking behavior was recorded. GI abnormalities were identified in 14 of 19 dogs in the licking group. These abnormalities included eosinophilic and/or lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the GI tract, delayed gastric emptying, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pancreatitis, gastric foreign body, and giardiasis. Significant improvement in both frequency and duration of the basal ELS behavior was observed in 10 of 17 dogs (59%). Resolution of ELS occurred in 9 of 17 dogs (53%). Based on video analysis, it was found that ELS dogs were not significantly more anxious than the dogs in control group in the veterinary context. In conclusion, GI disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis of canine ELS.     

Oocyte Development and Induced Spawning of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieui) in Response to Photoperiod and Temperature Manipulation: Preliminary Results

Smallmouth bass ( Micropierus dolomieui ) in Quebec spawn between the end of May and mid-June. Wild broodstock (4 to 8 years old) and laboratory-reared ones (0+ years old) reared in a water recycling system were submitted to different temperature and photoperiod regimes to extend their natural spawning period. Oocyte maturation followed in vivo showed that oocytes developed to stage III in both cases but final maturation and ovulation was limited to the laboratory-reared bass and this, a month before the normal spawning period, at 20.5 cm TL. Exogenous factors are examined, specifically duration of long photoperiod and vital space related to non-spawning of wild broodstock.     

Analysis of theaflavins and thearubigins from black tea extract by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Black tea contains two major groups of pigments, theaflavins (TFs) and thearubigins (TRs). TFs contain a bis-flavan substituted 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-benzotropolone moiety. Unlike the TFs, TRs have not yet been characterized. The chemical structure of the TRs remains a mystery. The present paper reports our effort to study the structure of TFs and TRs using delayed pulsed ion extraction of ions generated via the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) technique, on line with a Linear time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. Spectra of standard TFs show not only pseudomolecular ions but also ions resulting from fragmentation. The analysis of MALDI-TOF spectra of black tea fractions shows the structure of some TRs, which are similar to those of TFs because the same loss of mass is observed.     

Immunogenic and protective properties of GP5 and M structural proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus expressed from replicating but nondisseminating adenovectors

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is responsible for significant economic losses in the porcine industry. Currently available commercial vaccines do not allow optimal and safe protection. In this study, replicating but nondisseminating adenovectors (rAdV) were used for the first time in pigs for vaccinal purposes. They were expressing the PRRSV matrix M protein in fusion with either the envelope GP5 wild-type protein (M-GP5) which carries the major neutralizing antibody (NAb)-inducing epitope or a mutant form of GP5 (M-GP5m) developed to theoretically increase the NAb immune response. Three groups of fourteen piglets were immunized both intramuscularly and intranasally at 3-week intervals with rAdV expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP, used as a negative control), M-GP5 or M-GP5m. Two additional groups of pigs were primed with M-GP5m-expressing rAdV followed by a boost with bacterially-expressed recombinant wild-type GP5 or were immunized twice with a PRRSV inactivated commercial vaccine. The results show that the rAdV expressing the fusion proteins of interest induced systemic and mucosal PRRSV GP5-specific antibody response as determined in an ELISA. Moreover the prime with M-GP5m-expressing rAdV and boost with recombinant GP5 showed the highest antibody response against GP5. Following PRRSV experimental challenge, pigs immunized twice with rAdV expressing either M-GP5 or M-GP5m developed partial protection as shown by a decrease in viremia overtime. The lowest viremia levels and/or percentages of macroscopic lung lesions were obtained in pigs immunized twice with either the rAdV expressing M-GP5m or the PRRSV inactivated commercial vaccine.     

A simple stem taper model with mixed effects for boreal black spruce

We simplified Kozak’s taper model by setting the inflection point at 1.3 m (dbh) without losing accuracy and precision. The simplification was required to facilitate the estimation of the covariance parameters when using a mixed-effects method. This method was necessary to take into account the correlation among multiple diameter measurements on an individual stem. The simple stem taper model was fitted to an extended data set collected across the province of Quebec, Canada. Comparison of the predicted stem taper and the derived stem volume with those obtained using existing models showed a comparable predictive power for the simple model. Including a prediction of the tree random effects based on supplementary diameter measurements of the bole improves the predictive ability of the model around the extra diameter observation. This model offers welcome simplicity as a means of predicting tree taper at coarse resolution for planning tree harvesting.