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Cognitive dysfunction is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and has been associated with MRI measures of lesion burden and atrophy. Little is known about the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with early MS. The associations between cognitive impairment and MRI measures of disease severity early in the disease course are also unclear. This study used a brief battery of cognitive tests to determine the prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairment in patients with clinically isolated syndromes or newly diagnosed MS. The associations between cognitive impairment and MRI measures of disease severity early in the disease course were also examined. Ninety-two patients with clinically isolated syndromes or the diagnosis of MS within the last 3 years participating in the CLIMB study underwent a neurologic examination, neuropsychological evaluation and MRI at 1.5T. Forty-nine percent of patients were impaired on one or more cognitive measures. There were no significant correlations between cognitive scores and MRI measures of disease severity including total T2 lesion volume, normal appearing white matter volume, grey matter volume, and brain parenchymal fraction. These findings suggest that cognitive impairment may predate the appearance of gross structural abnormalities on MRI and serve as an early marker of disease activity in MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article addresses the challenges facing gynecological oncologists in Great Britain on the high rate of mortality in women with ovarian cancer. It cites a translational study, which found that different level of interleukin gene polymorphisms suggests different levels of cervical cancer susceptibility, and emphasizes its importance in gynecological oncology. The author believes on the subject should have clearly defined hypothesis and be embedded within clinical trial protocol.

The Southeast Women's Cattle Handling program was designed to promote self-confidence for women by providing hands-on educational opportunities and cattle handling skills implementing Beef Quality Assurance methods and promoting farm safety. The two-day, hands-on workshop was conducted by Alabama Cooperative Extension educators, local veterinarians, and producers. Participation was limited to 20 females in order to allow time for participants to practice the techniques taught by instructors. Applicants were asked to indicate the reason they would like to attend the workshop via an electronic questionnaire. Of the 26 applicants, 20 responded and indicated that they had either found themselves involved in the family farm through marriage (15%) or as the sole operator through inheritance (20%), the death of a spouse (20%), or chose to purchase their own operation (45%). Topics included 1) keeping reproductive/vaccination records, 2) vaccination techniques, 3) truck & trailer safety/hauling, 4) BQA certification training, 5) tractor & equipment safety, 6) forage species, 7) forage analysis & interpretation, 8) forage pests & management, 9) reproduction & dystocia, and 10) supplementing the cow herd. A pre and post-test was administered to participants (n =19) in order to compare participants' knowledge before and after the workshop. Comparison of answers using paired t-test showed an increase (P < 0.01) from pre-test (63.5%) to post-test (88.5%) knowledge. A BQA certification pre and posttest was administered to participants (n = 19), which showed an increase (P < 0.01) in passing scores from pre-test (83.2%) to post-test (93.7%). Participants completed an impact evaluation at the conclusion of the workshop where they indicated the probability of implementing the following concepts learned (mean values ± standard deviation) as a result of this program (1 = no; 2 = maybe; 3 = yes; 4 = already doing): keep vaccination/reproductive records (3.6 ± 0.51), use proper vaccination techniques (3.6 ± 0.51), assess truck and trailer before hauling (3.2 ± 0.94), apply low stress handling techniques (3.4 ± 0.51), maintain BQA certification (2.8 ± 0.55), manage forage for quality & pests (3.2 ± 0.43), assess your cow herd using 7 quality checks (3.1 ± 0.24), and forage test (2.9 ± 0.58). The total number of hectares of pasture owned and total number of cattle owned was 1014.5 ha and 1128 hd, respectively. In total, 100% of the participants stated the workshop met their expectations and would recommend this workshop to others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-yr study was conducted to determine effects of N fertilization level on fiber digestion kinetics and protein degradability characteristics of stockpiled Tifton 85 bermudagrass (T85). Six 0.76-ha pastures of stockpiled T85 were cut to a 10-cm stubble height on August 1 of each yr and fertilized with 56 (56N), 112 (112N), or 168 (168N) kg N/ha (2 pastures/treatment). Fiber digestion kinetics included the 72-hr potential extent of NDF digestion (PED), rate of NDF digestion, and lag time. In yr 1 and 2, PED decreased over the stockpile season. Rates of NDF digestion did not differ (P > 0.05) among N fertilization treatments in either yr. In yr 1, rate of NDF digestion was greatest (P < 0.05) in October/November, and decreased beginning in December. In yr 2, rate of NDF digestion decreased (P < 0.05) in January compared with November, but digestion rates were similar for November and January 21 sampling dates. Lag time was greater (P < 0.05) for the 112N than 56N and 168N treatments, and increased (P < 0.05) across sampling dates in yr 1. In yr 2, lag time increased (P < 0.05) from 9.0 to 17.7 h across the season. In yr 1 and 2, a negative correlation (P < 0.05) between forage lignin concentration and both PED (r = -0.91 and -0.87 in yr 1 and 2, respectively) and rate of NDF digestion (r = -0.60 and -0.25 in yr 1 and 2, respectively) was observed. There was a trend (P = 0.06) for lignin concentration to be positively correlated with lag time (r = 0.39) in yr 1, and a strong relationship was observed in yr 2 (r = 0.91; P < 0.05). The RDP fraction as a % of CP was ≥ 90% throughout both years. Concentration of RDP (% of total DM) decreased across the stockpiling season through January in yr 1 and 2. Results suggest that kinetic parameters of NDF digestion in stockpiled T85 were influenced more by temporal changes over the stockpile season than by N fertilization level. Supplement formulations based on kinetic parameters of fiber digestion may require periodic adjustment to insure that energy-yielding components of NDF are sufficient to meet animal requirements throughout the stockpile season. The CP fraction in stockpiled T85 contains sufficient RDP to support fibrolytic activity and growth of ruminal microorganisms throughout the stockpile season. Toward the latter end of the season, supplementation with sources of digestible fiber and RDP could be expected to increase MP supply to the host animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, VEGF-D and their receptor VEGFR-3 by immunohistochemistry in 59 epithelial ovarian carcinomas, 11 borderline tumours and 20 benign cystadenomas. VEGF-C and VEGF-D were generally expressed in tumour cells and also in endothelia adjacent to tumour nests which showed a strong staining for them. VEGFR-3 was expressed in lymphatic and vascular endothelial cells adjacent to tumour nests. Immunoreactivity was significantly more frequent as lesions progressed from a benign tumour to advanced carcinoma. A strong correlation was found between VEGF-C and VEGF-D detected in carcinoma and VEGFR-3 detected in neighbouring endothelial cells. Increased expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and peritoneal metastasis outside the pelvis. There was a significant correlation between the high levels of VEGF-C and VEGF-D proteins, and poor survival. The presence of VEGF-D was an independent prognostic indicator by multivariate analysis. We conclude that VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 play an important role in lymphatic spread and intraperitoneal tumour development in ovarian carcinoma. Since VEGF-D was found to be an independent predictor of poor outcome, its measurement, together with other prognostic markers may improve prospective identification of patients with a poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]