Disorders of sexual development in the domestic horse, Equus caballus.

Abnormalities of sexual development causing infertility in horses have been investigated since the early 1970's. Conventional cytogenetic analysis by karyotyping has been the primary tool used to investigate these horses. Abnormalities have a broad range, from a phenotypically normal mare with gonadal dysgenesis to a horse with ambiguous external genitalia and internal male and female organs.

Probiotics for patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy is a disorder of brain function as a result of liver failure and/or portosystemic shunt. Both hepatic encephalopathy (clinically overt) and minimal hepatic encephalopathy (not clinically overt) significantly impair patient's quality of life and daily functioning and represent a significant burden on health care resources. Probiotics are live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts may confer a health benefit on the host.

Trial registration and declaration of registration by authors of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Trial registration was introduced to reduce research bias by promoting trial transparency and accountability. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of, and factors associated with, trial registration and declaration of trial registration.

Methods: We selected all randomized controlled trials in kidney transplantation published between October 2005 and December 2010 and determined whether a trial was registered and whether a trial declared their registration in subsequent trial reports.

Diagnostic test studies in nephrology: quantity, quality, and scope.

Background: Diagnostic errors represent an important cause of preventable harm in health care that may be reduced through evidence-based choice, use, and interpretation of diagnostic tests. We hypothesized that diagnostic errors are reduced through evidence-based choice, use, and interpretation of diagnostic tests.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Determining seasonal greenhouse gas emissions from ground-level area sources in a dairy operation in central Texas.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural production operations are recognized as an important air quality issue. A new technique following the U.S.

Adolescents' leisure activities, parental monitoring and cigarette smoking--a cross-sectional study.

Background: Adolescent participation in leisure activities is developmentally beneficial, but certain activities may increase health compromising behaviours, such as tobacco smoking. A limited range of leisure activities has been studied, with little research on out-of-school settings where parental supervision is a potential protective factor. Tobacco smoking is an important, potentially modifiable health determinant, so understanding associations between adolescent leisure activities, parental monitoring, demographic factors and daily smoking may inform preventive strategies.

The effect of CYP3A4 inhibition or induction on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of orally administered ruxolitinib (INCB018424 phosphate) in healthy volunteers.

Ruxolitinib, a selective Janus kinase (JAK) 1&2 inhibitor in development for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms, is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4. The effects of inhibition or induction of CYP3A4 on single oral dose ruxolitinib pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) were evaluated in healthy volunteers. Coadministration of ketoconazole (a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor) and erythromycin (a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor) increased total ruxolitinib plasma exposure (AUC(0-∞)) by 91% and 27%, respectively, and ruxolitinib PD, as measured by the inhibition of interleukin (IL)-6-stimulated STAT3 phosphorylation in whole blood, was generally consistent with the PK observed.

The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of orally dosed INCB018424 phosphate in healthy volunteers.

INCB018424 phosphate, a potent inhibitor of JAK enzymes with selectivity for JAK1&2, is in development for the treatment of myelofibrosis (MF). The oral dose pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of INCB018424 were evaluated in healthy volunteers in 2 double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled studies. The first study evaluated single ascending doses of 5 to 200 mg INCB018424 and the effect of food, whereas the second study evaluated multiple ascending doses, including both once- and twice-daily dosing for 10 days.

Growth and differentiation of adult hippocampal arctic ground squirrel neural stem cells.

Arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii, AGS) are unique in their ability to hibernate with a core body temperature near or below freezing. These animals also resist ischemic injury to the brain in vivo and oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro. These unique qualities provided the impetus to isolate AGS neurons to examine inherent neuronal characteristics that could account for the capacity of AGS neurons to resist injury and cell death caused by ischemia and extremely cold temperatures.

Equine disorders of sexual development in 17 mares including XX, SRY-negative, XY, SRY-negative and XY, SRY-positive genotypes.

We described the clinical, cytogenetic and molecular findings of 17 clinical equine cases presented for abnormal sexual development and infertility. Six horses with an enlarged clitoris had an XX, SRY-negative genotype, which displayed male-like behavior (adult individuals). Bilateral ovotestes were noted in 2 of those cases, while another case showed increased levels of circulating testosterone.

Smoking behaviours and contextual influences on adolescent nicotine dependence.

Objective: The objectives of the study were to analyse nicotine-dependence patterns among secondary school students in New Zealand (NZ), and identify factors associated with levels of nicotine dependence.

Method: This study uses data from the 2004 Youth Lifestyle Study, a survey of Year 10 and 12 students from randomly selected schools in NZ. The analysis included 625 current adolescent smokers.

Characterization of organic particulates present in milk factory process waters used for reuse along with aerobically digested effluent wastewater.

Wastewater from a dairy processor is being reused and recycled both within the plant and for irrigation. Flash pyrolysis GC-MS was used to examine nitrogen and phenol containing compounds (M.W.

Meta-analysis: erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Previous meta-analyses suggest that treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the risk for death. Additional randomized trials have been recently completed.

Purpose: To summarize the effects of ESA treatment on clinical outcomes in patients with anemia and CKD.

Adolescent screen time and attachment to parents and peers.

Objective: To examine associations between screen time (television, video or DVD, gaming, and computer use) and attachment to parents and peers in 2 cohorts of adolescents 16 years apart.

Design: Cross-sectional data regarding screen time and attachment to parents and peers were collected for 2 cohorts of adolescents, one in 1987-1988 (the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study [DMHDS] cohort) and the other in 2004 (the Youth Lifestyle Study [YLS] cohort).

Setting: Members of the DMHDS cohort were interviewed as part of a full day of assessment, and members of the YLS cohort completed a self-report questionnaire in a supervised classroom setting.

College students' readiness to reduce binge drinking: criterion validity of a brief measure.

We assessed the criterion-related validity of a contemplation ladder used to determine college students' readiness to reduce binge drinking. 1356 students in halls of residence in Dunedin, New Zealand completed a self-report survey including the contemplation ladder, AUDIT questionnaire, and other alcohol-related measures. Two groups of binge drinkers were identified, one reporting bingeing more than twice per week (n=645), and one bingeing 1-2 times per week (n=237).

Interleukin 2 receptor antagonists for kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Interleukin 2 receptor antagonists (IL2Ra) are used as induction therapy for prophylaxis against acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients. Use of IL2Ra has increased steadily since their introduction, but the proportion of new transplant recipients receiving IL2Ra differs around the globe, with 27% of new kidney transplant recipients in the United States, and 70% in Australasia receiving IL2Ra in 2007.

Objectives: To systematically identify and summarise the effects of using an IL2Ra, as an addition to standard therapy, or as an alternative to another immunosuppressive induction strategy.

Brief report: Text bullying and traditional bullying among New Zealand secondary school students.

This descriptive study examined text and traditional bullying in New Zealand (NZ), and the relationship between text bullying and traditional bullying, and feeling unsafe at school. A self-report online survey assessed the frequency of bullying among 1169 15 year old secondary students, for five categories of bullying: text messages, rumors, exclusion, teasing, and physical bullying. Results show that in the school year assessed 47% reported having been bullied sometimes or often and 37% reported bullying others; 11% reported being text bullied, while 7% reported text bullying others.

Soluble, semivolatile phenol and nitrogen compounds in milk-processing wastewaters.

Potable water is an essential and major input in processing our food supplies, and the continued growth in food manufacturing is placing increased pressure on this limited resource. Recycling and reuse of factory wastewater can lessen potable water use but requires a detailed understanding of wastewater properties. This study uses solid-phase extraction techniques with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis to investigate trace-level semivolatile organic species in various waste and reference waters associated with the Burra Foods milk-processing plant located in Southeastern Australia.

The addition of hormone therapy to tamoxifen does not prevent hot flashes in women at high risk for developing breast cancer.

Tamoxifen significantly reduces the risk of developing breast cancer in women at increased-risk. The usefulness of tamoxifen has been limited by its side effect profile, especially its propensity to worsen vasomotor symptoms. Hormone therapy (HT) has long been utilized to reduce vasomotor symptoms in peri- and post-menopausal women.

Consistent Quantitative Trait Loci in Pea for Partial Resistance to Aphanomyces euteiches Isolates from the United States and France.

ABSTRACT Development of pea cultivars resistant to Aphanomyces root rot, the most destructive root disease of pea worldwide, is a major disease management objective. In a previous study of a mapping population of 127 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross 'Puget' (susceptible) x '90-2079' (partially resistant), we identified seven genomic regions, including a major quantitative trait locus (QTL), Aph1, associated with partial resistance to Aphanomyces root rot in U.S.