Consequences of arthropod community structure for an at-risk insectivorous bird.

Global declines in bird and arthropod abundance highlights the importance of understanding the role of food limitation and arthropod community composition for the performance of insectivorous birds. In this study, we link data on nestling diet, arthropod availability and nesting performance for the Coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis), an at-risk insectivorous bird native to coastal southern California and Baja Mexico. We used DNA metabarcoding to characterize nestling diets and monitored 8 bird territories over two years to assess the relationship between arthropod and vegetation community composition and bird reproductive success.

Perception of genetically engineered crops in Paraguay.

Paraguay is integrated into the world mainly through its agricultural activity. The population's perception of genetically engineered crops is relevant to design communication strategies that convey the advantages and limitations of the various technologies used in the country. We aimed to know the perception of the population of four Departments of the country where such crops are grown through a survey, which revealed a low level of knowledge about genetically engineered crops in general, and specifically about the effects of genetically engineered crops on production, nutrition, and the environment.

Vascular Forum: collective intelligence in the resolution of vascular clinical cases.

Background: Collective intelligence is extremely important in collective groups that discuss clinical medical cases, assisting professionals in their decision-making processes, and consequently, helping their patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the rate of resolution and characteristics of the clinical discussions carried out in a private instant messaging group and its clinical applicability.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical discussions and events on the Vascular Forum, an open group for specialists accessed with mobile devices.

An advanced case of indium lung disease with progressive emphysema.

Objectives: To report the occurrence of an advanced case of indium lung disease with severely progressive emphysema in an indium-exposed worker.

Case Report: A healthy 42-year-old male smoker was employed to primarily grind indium-tin oxide (ITO) target plates, exposing him to indium for 9 years (1998-2008). In 2004, an epidemiological study was conducted on indium-exposed workers at the factory in which he worked.

Effect of blonanserin on cognitive and social function in acute phase Japanese schizophrenia compared with risperidone.

Background: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of blonanserin (BNS) on the cognitive and social functions of patients with schizophrenia compared with risperidone (RIS) during acute-phase (8-week) treatment.

Methods: A total of 39 schizophrenia inpatients were included in this study. The subjects received either BNS (N=20) or RIS (N=19), and the clinical responses were evaluated periodically.

Effect of local neutralization of basic fibroblast growth factor or vascular endothelial growth factor by a specific antibody on the development of the corpus luteum in the cow.

Active angiogenesis and progesterone (P) synthesis occur in parallel during development of the corpus luteum (CL). Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are known to stimulate angiogenesis and P synthesis in vitro. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of bFGF or VEGF on the CL development in the cow by using a specific antibody against bFGF or VEGF.

Predictors of loss of asthma control induced by corticosteroid withdrawal.

Background: Asthma guidelines recommend reducing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids after establishing control.

Objective: To identify predictors of loss of control and the kinetics of symptoms, and inflammatory and physiological measurements when inhaled corticosteroids are reduced in patients with stable asthma.

Patients And Methods: In a single-blind study, the daily dose of inhaled corticosteroid was reduced by one-half at intervals of 20+/-2 days in 17 adults with controlled asthma until loss of asthma control occurred or until the corticosteroid was replaced with placebo for 20 days.

A potential use of color ultrasound as a tool for reproductive management: New observations using color ultrasound scanning that were not possible with imaging only in black and white.

Ultrasonography (US) has been applied to the ovary and the uterus of domestic animals from the late 1980s, and established in 1990s as a practical tool for animal production. US made it possible to detect pregnancy at a very early stage and, most importantly, to observe the real-time dynamics of follicular development and hence the discovery of follicular waves. This has greatly contributed to our understanding of ovarian physiology and helped us to develop several "pin-point" protocols for hormonal treatment.

Failure of montelukast to reduce sputum eosinophilia in high-dose corticosteroid-dependent asthma.

Sputum eosinophilia is a sensitive predictor of benefit from corticosteroid treatment. Montelukast is a cysteinyl leukotriene antagonist, which also reduces sputum and blood eosinophils. The present study examined the possibility that montelukast has an added eosinophil-lowering effect in subjects with asthma who are corticosteroid responsive but relatively corticosteroid resistant.

Smoking, season, and detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in clinically stable COPD patients.

Background: The prevalence and role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unclear, and molecular methods of detection may help clarify this relationship.

Methods: Consecutive clinically stable patients with smoking-related COPD attending a tertiary care outpatient clinic were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 100 patients, and induced sputum was obtained in 62 patients.

Beta2-agonist tolerance and exercise-induced bronchospasm.

The effect of regular inhaled beta-agonist on the treatment of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction was studied. Eight subjects with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction took 1 week each of salbutamol 200 microg qid or placebo in a random-order, double-blind, crossover study. They then withheld this treatment for 8 hours before performing a dry-air, sub-maximal exercise challenge at a work-rate previously shown to induce a 15% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).

Sputum cell counts and exhaled nitric oxide in patients with gastroesophageal reflux, and cough or asthma.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is commonly associated with chronic cough and asthma, but there is little or no information on the nature of any associated airway inflammation.

Objective: To observe whether the association with GER worsens airway inflammation in patients with chronic cough or asthma.

Patients And Methods: The airway inflammatory indexes in induced sputum and exhaled air were examined in a cross-sectional study of 11 patients with cough and GER, nine patients with mildly symptomatic asthma and GER, nine patients with mildly symptomatic asthma without GER and nine normal, healthy control subjects.

Lipid-laden macrophages in induced sputum are a marker of oropharyngeal reflux and possible gastric aspiration.

The diagnostic properties of a "lipid index" of macrophages in induced sputum as a noninvasive marker of aspiration of acidic gastric contents were evaluated. In a cross-sectional study, 33 subjects (17 with symptoms suggestive of gastrooesophageal reflux) with normal chest radiographs and no symptoms of aspiration or sinus disease, underwent dual-channel 24-h ambulatory oesophageal pH recording and sputum induction. Oropharyngeal reflux, defined as at least one episode of a fall in pH to <4 at the upper oesophageal electrode, was considered indicative of aspiration of acidic gastric contents ("gold standard").

A comparison of exhaled nitric oxide and induced sputum as markers of airway inflammation.

Background: Exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) has been proposed as a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma.

Objective: We investigated the relationships among ENO, eosinophilic airway inflammation as measured by induced sputum, and physiologic parameters of disease severity (spirometry and methacholine PC(20)). We also examined the effect of corticosteroid treatment and atopy on ENO levels and eosinophil counts in induced sputum.

Induced sputum examination: diagnosis of pulmonary involvement in Fabry's disease.

Fabry's disease is a rare inherited metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. It can affect almost every organ, including the lungs. Confirmation of lung involvement has depended on invasive bronchial biopsy specimens or brushings to confirm the presence of typical lamellar inclusion bodies within bronchial epithelial cells.