Community Forums to Address Vaccine Hesitancy: A Useful Tool for Meeting the Needs of Diverse Communities.

Community forums are a valuable tool in engaging rural communities to address critical public health issues. Recognizing low levels of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in rural Minnesota communities and the critical public health threat that resulted, pharmacy faculty and Extension professionals from the University of Minnesota partnered with a diverse group of rural stakeholders to plan a series of six community forums to provide life-saving, evidence-based education about the COVID-19 vaccine. Each forum allowed trusted local community leaders, public health workers and healthcare providers to share information about the impact of COVID-19 in their communities.

Digital lamellar inflammatory signaling in an experimental model of equine preferential weight bearing.

Background: Supporting limb laminitis (SLL) is a complication of severe orthopedic disease in horses and is often life-limiting, yet the pathophysiology remains obscure.

Hypothesis/objectives: To investigate the role of digital lamellar inflammatory signaling in the pathophysiology of SLL using a model of unilateral weight bearing, hypothesizing that there would be evidence of lamellar inflammation in limbs subjected to the model.

Animals: Thirteen healthy adult Standardbred horses were used for this study (11 geldings, 2 mares; mean age 6.

Diagnostic evaluation of insulin and glucose dynamics in light-breed horses receiving dexamethasone.

Objective: Insulin dysregulation is a hallmark of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and increases the risk for development of laminitis. Accurate diagnosis of insulin dysregulation is crucial for implementation of preventative strategies in this population. The objective was to assess the effects of dexamethasone administration on insulin and glucose dynamics in light-breed horses and assess the agreement of various diagnostic tests for insulin dysregulation [basal [insulin] (BI), oral sugar test (OST), and combined glucose-insulin test (CGIT)].

Cryotherapy provides transient analgesia in an induced lameness model in horses.

The analgesic effect of cryotherapy in an induced lameness model was evaluated. Lameness was induced with solar pressure from a custom-made shoe in a 10-horse, cross-over study. The degree of lameness was recorded with a commercial non-invasive inertial sensor.

Plasma amino acid concentrations during experimental hyperinsulinemia in 2 laminitis models.

Background: Endocrinopathic laminitis develops in association with insulin dysregulation, but the role of insulin in the pathogenesis remains unclear. Hyperinsulinemia can cause hypoaminoacidemia, which is associated with integumentary lesions in other species and therefore warrants investigation as a potential mechanism in laminitis.

Objective: Evaluate plasma amino acid concentrations in the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC) and prolonged glucose infusion (PGI) laminitis models.

Lamellar perfusion and energy metabolism in a preferential weight bearing model.

Background: Supporting limb laminitis (SLL) is suspected to be caused by lamellar ischaemia as a consequence of increased mechanical load.

Objectives: Examine the effects of prolonged preferential weight bearing (PWB) on lamellar perfusion and metabolism.

Study Design: In vivo experiment.

Effect of digital hypothermia on lamellar inflammatory signaling in the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp laminitis model.

Background: Continuous digital hypothermia (CDH) prevents lamellar failure in the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC) model of laminitis, but the protective mechanisms are unclear.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine if CDH inhibits lamellar inflammatory signaling in the EHC model of laminitis.

Animals: Eight Standardbred horses.

Intrasinus bolstering of traumatic maxillary sinus fractures by using Foley catheter balloons in two foals.

Objective: To describe the repair of unstable facial fractures by using Foley catheter balloons as intrasinus bolsters.

Study Design: Case report ANIMALS: Two weanling foals with unilateral fractures of the sinus and orbit secondary to kick injuries. Preoperative imaging that included positive contrast dacrocystorhinography and computed tomography confirmed severe comminution of facial fractures and nasolacrimal duct disruption in both foals.

Lamellar energy metabolism and perfusion in the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp model of equine laminitis.

Background: Hyperinsulinaemia is associated with the development of endocrinopathic laminitis; however, the mechanisms remain unclear.

Objectives: Evaluate the effects of hyperinsulinaemia on lamellar energy metabolism and perfusion during laminitis development.

Study Design: In vivo experiment.

The effect of continuous digital hypothermia on lamellar energy metabolism and perfusion during laminitis development in two experimental models.

Background: Continuous digital hypothermia (CDH) prevents lamellar failure in the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp (EHC) and oligofructose (OF) laminitis models, but the mechanisms remain unclear.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of CDH on lamellar energy metabolism and perfusion in healthy horses and during EHC and OF laminitis models.

Study Design: In vivo experiment.

Influence of digital hypothermia on lamellar events related to IL-6/gp130 signalling in equine sepsis-related laminitis.

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is consistently increased in the digital lamellae in different studies of sepsis-related laminitis (SRL). IL-6 signalling through the gp130 receptor activates similar signalling (i.e.

Association of sustained supraphysiologic hyperinsulinemia and inflammatory signaling within the digital lamellae in light-breed horses.

Background: Hyperinsulinemia is associated with equine laminitis, and digital lamellar inflammation in equine metabolic syndrome-associated laminitis (EMSAL) is modest when compared with sepsis-associated laminitis.

Objectives: To characterize digital lamellar inflammation in horses in a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC) model of laminitis.

Animals: Sixteen healthy adult Standardbred horses.

Continuous digital hypothermia prevents lamellar failure in the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp model of equine laminitis.

Background: Continuous digital hypothermia can prevent the development and progression of laminitis associated with sepsis but its effects on laminitis due to hyperinsulinaemia are unknown.

Objectives: To determine the effects of continuous digital hypothermia on laminitis development in the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp model.

Study Design: Randomised, controlled (within subject), blinded, experiment.

Space Radiation Alters Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in Fear Learning and Memory Tests.

Behavioral and cognitive traits have a genetic component even though contributions from individual genes and genomic loci are in many cases modest. Changes in the environment can alter genotype-phenotype relationships. Space travel, which includes exposure to ionizing radiation, constitutes environmental challenges and is expected to induce not only dramatic behavioral and cognitive changes but also has the potential to induce physical DNA damage.

Case-control study of risk factors for pasture-and endocrinopathy-associated laminitis in North American horses.

OBJECTIVE To investigate risk factors for the development of pasture- and endocrinopathy-associated laminitis (PEAL) in horses and ponies in North America. DESIGN Case-control study. ANIMALS 199 horses with incident cases of PEAL and 351 horses from 2 control populations (healthy horses [n = 198] and horses with lameness not caused by laminitis [153]) that were evaluated in North America between January 2012 and December 2015 by veterinarian members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Ex vivo effects of insulin on the structural integrity of equine digital lamellae.

Background: Laminitis has a considerable impact on the equine industry. Endocrinopathic laminitis is the most common form and affected horses often have hyperinsulinaemia due to an underlying metabolic disorder.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if insulin weakens the structural integrity of digital lamellae and to develop an ex vivo model for the study of hyperinsulinaemia-induced lamellar failure.

Effect of Continuous Digital Hypothermia on Lamellar Inflammatory Signaling When Applied at a Clinically-Relevant Timepoint in the Oligofructose Laminitis Model.

Background: Although continuous digital hypothermia (CDH) protects lamellae from injury in the oligofructose (OF) model of sepsis-related laminitis (SRL), conflicting results exist from these studies regarding effects of CDH on lamellar inflammatory events.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine the effect of CDH on lamellar inflammatory events in normal and OF-treated horses when instituted at a clinically relevant time point (onset of clinical signs of sepsis in this model).

Animals: Standardbred geldings (n = 15) aged 3-11 years were used.

A novel model to assess lamellar signaling relevant to preferential weight bearing in the horse.

Supporting limb laminitis (SLL) is a devastating sequela to severe unilateral lameness in equine patients. The manifestation of SLL, which usually only affects one limb, is unpredictable and the etiology is unknown. A novel, non-painful preferential weight bearing model designed to mimic the effects of severe unilateral forelimb lameness was developed to assess lamellar signaling events in the supporting limb (SL).

Effect of Delayed Digital Hypothermia on Lamellar Inflammatory Signaling in the Oligofructose Laminitis Model.

Background: In the oligofructose (OF) model of sepsis-related laminitis (SRL), digital hypothermia ("cryotherapy") initiated before the onset of clinical signs is reported not only to limit lamellar injury, but also to cause marked inhibition of lamellar inflammatory signaling.

Hypothesis/objectives: Because hypothermia also has been reported to be protective when not initiated until the onset of lameness in the OF model of SRL, we hypothesized that the lamellar protection conferred by hypothermia is caused by local lamellar inhibition of inflammatory signaling as described when hypothermia was initiated earlier in the disease process.

Animals: Eight Standardbred geldings aged 3-11 years with no lameness and no abnormalities of the feet detectable by gross or radiographic examination.

Lamellar events related to insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor signalling in two models relevant to endocrinopathic laminitis.

Background: Insulin dysregulation, obesity, and exposure to high-nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) forage are risk factors for equine metabolic syndrome-associated laminitis (EMSAL); high systemic insulin concentrations in EMSAL are proposed to induce cellular dysregulation in the digital lamellae through activation of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor.

Objectives: To use a dietary challenge model (DCM) and a euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp (EHC) model to assess lamellar growth factor-related signalling.

Study Design: Lamellar phospho (P)-protein concentrations of signalling proteins important in growth factor-related signalling were assessed in 2 models: 1) lean and obese ponies on a low- or high-NSC diet; and 2) EHC model using Standardbred horses.

The effect of hypothermia on influx of leukocytes in the digital lamellae of horses with oligofructose-induced laminitis.

Sepsis-related laminitis (SRL) is a common complication in the septic/endotoxemic critically-ill equine patient, in which lamellar injury and failure commonly lead to crippling distal displacement of the distal phalanx. Similar to organ injury in human sepsis, lamellar injury in SRL has been associated with inflammatory events, including the influx of leukocytes into the lamellar tissue and markedly increased expression of a wide array of inflammatory mediators at the onset of Obel grade 1 (OG1) laminitis. The only treatment reported both clinically and experimentally to protect the lamellae in SRL, local hypothermia ("cryotherapy"), has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit lamellar expression of multiple inflammatory mediators when initiated at the time of administration of a carbohydrate overload in experimental models of SRL.

Mechanical nociceptive thresholds of dorsal laminae in horses after local anaesthesia of the palmar digital nerves or dorsal branches of the digital nerve.

We examined the hypothesis that the palmar digital nerves (PDNs), but not the dorsal branches (DBs) of the digital nerves, innervate the sensitive dorsal laminae of the equine foot by evaluating the effects of perineural anaesthesia of the PDNs and DBs separately on pain sensation evoked via mechanical stimulation of the dorsal laminae and other regions of the equine foot. Six clinically normal mares were used in a crossover design. A portable dynamometer was used to evaluate mechanical nociceptive thresholds at different points on the dorsal laminae, bulbs of the heel, coronary band and sole before and after the horses underwent perineural injection of PDNs or DBs with a local anaesthetic solution (treated group) or an isotonic saline solution (control group).

Trauma experiences and mental health among incarcerated women.

Objective: Female offenders have different risk factors for offending than do male offenders, and elevated rates of interpersonal victimization such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and family and community violence, are common in histories of incarcerated women. We used factor analysis to examine patterns of traumatic events experienced by women in jail and explored how these patterns were associated with 4 psychiatric disorders (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], major depression, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder) observed in this sample.

Method: A total of 464 women from 9 jails in 4 geographic regions in the United States comprised the sample.