Search

Background: Prescribing cascades can lead to unnecessary medication use, healthcare costs, and patient harm. Pharmacists oversee prescriptions from multiple prescribers and are well positioned to identify such cascades, making pharmacists key stakeholders to address them., Objectives: To evaluate community pharmacists' awareness, identification, and management of prescribing cascades and to assess behavioural determinants that may be targeted in future strategies to minimise inappropriate prescribing cascades., Methods: An online survey was developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and emailed to all registered community pharmacists in Ireland (n = 3775) in November 2021. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Free-text sections were given to capture reasons for non-resolution of identified prescribing cascades and suggestions to aid prescribing cascade identification and management; this text underwent content analysis., Results: Of the 220 respondents, 51% were aware of the term 'prescribing cascade' before the survey, whilst 69% had identified a potentially inappropriate prescribing cascade in practice. Over one third were either slightly confident (26.4%) or not confident at all (10%) in their ability to identify potentially inappropriate prescribing cascades in patients' prescriptions before the survey, whilst 55.2% were concerned that patients were receiving prescribing cascades they had not identified. Most respondents wanted further information/training to help prescribing cascade identification (88.3%) and management (86.1%). Four predominant TDF domains identified were common to both i) influencing non-resolution of identified prescribing cascades and ii) in the suggestions to help identify and manage prescribing cascades: 'Environmental Context and Resources', 'Social/Professional Role and Identity', 'Social Influences' and 'Memory, Attention and Decision Processes'., Conclusions: There is a clear need to provide additional resources to help community pharmacists identify and manage prescribing cascades. These findings will support the development of theory-informed behaviour change strategies to aid the minimisation of inappropriate prescribing cascades and decrease the risk of medication-related harm for patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: We aimed to quantify aerosol concentrations produced during different dental procedures under different mitigation processes., Method: Aerosol concentrations were measured by the Optical Particle Sensor (OPS) and Wideband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor (WIBS) during routine, time-recorded dental procedures on a manikin head in a partitioned enclosure. Four different, standardised dental procedures were repeated in triplicate for three different mitigation measures., Result: Both high-volume evacuation (HVE) and HVE plus local exhaust ventilation (LEV) eradicated all procedure-related aerosols, and the enclosure stopped procedure-related aerosols escaping. Aerosols recorded by the OPS and WIBS were 84 and 16-fold higher than background levels during tooth 16 FDI notation (UR6) drilling, and 11 and 24-fold higher during tooth 46 FDI notation (LR6) drilling, respectively. Ultrasonic scaling around the full lower arch (CL) or the full upper arch (CU) did not generate detectable aerosols with mitigation applied. Without mitigation the largest concentration of inhalable particles during procedures observed by the WIBS and OPS was during LR6 (139/cm 3 ) and UR6 (28/cm 3 ) drilling, respectively. Brief aerosol bursts were recorded during drilling procedures with HVE, these did not occur with LEV, suggesting LEV provides protection against operator errors. Variation was observed in necessary fallow times (49 - 280 minutes) without mitigation, while no particles remained airborne when mitigation was utilised., Conclusion: This data demonstrates that correctly positioned HVE or LEV is effective in preventing airborne spread and persistence of inhalable particles originating from dental AGPs. Additionally, a simple enclosure restricts the spread of aerosols outside of the operating area., Clinical Significance: Employing correctly positioned HVE and LEV in non-mechanically ventilated clinics can prevent the dispersal and persistence of inhalable airborne particles during dental AGPs. Moreover, using enclosures have the additive effect of restricting aerosol spread outside of an operating area., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Despite well-known benefits of physical activity, in Ireland only 38 % of older adults are sufficiently active. Behavioural interventions are rarely developed systematically and, when reported, inadequate description often becomes a barrier for subsequent replication and scalability. In this article, we describe the development and characteristics of Move for Life, an intervention to reach and help inactive adults aged 50 years and older increase their physical activity. It was designed to fit within existing group-based structured physical activity programmes run by Local Sports Partnerships, thus maximising the likelihood of translation into policy and practice. Constructs from social cognitive theory, self-determination theory, and the conceptual model of group cohesion in exercise informed the conceptual model and the development of behavioural skills, social support, and group cohesion intervention strategies. Physical activity instructors supported by peer mentors, who also contributed to sustaining the intervention, implemented these strategies. Moving away from accounts of intervention development as a relatively simple linear process, we illustrate the complex interplay of theory, evidence, practice, and real-world contextual circumstances that shaped the development of Move for Life. Against this backdrop, we discuss issues relevant to the planning and reporting of behavioural and physical activity interventions in public health., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Blood gas and biochemistry reference intervals were established for 3 genetically distinct commercial varieties (CVs) of Hy-Line laying hens: 2 brown-egg layers (Hy-Line Brown, Hy-Line Silver Brown) and a tint-egg layer (Hy-Line Sonia) utilizing the i-STAT1 analyzer. Each respective variety of laying hen was sampled on a replicate cycle of 2 wk for a total of 6 replicates (35 to 46 wk of age). Blood samples were obtained in the production house from the brachial vein, and subsequently analyzed by the i-STAT1 portable device. i-STAT1 clinical analyzer reports blood gas and biochemistry values for the following parameters: pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pvCO2, mm Hg), partial pressure of oxygen (pvO2, mm Hg), bicarbonate (HCO3, mmol/L), base excess (BE, mmol/L), saturation of oxygen on hemoglobin (sO2%), glucose (Glu, mg/dL), sodium (Na, mmol/L), potassium (K, mmol/L), total concentration of carbon dioxide (TCO2, mmol/L), ionized calcium (iCa, mmol/L), hematocrit (Hct % packed cell volume [PCV]), hemoglobin (Hb, g/dL). A total of 1,800 individual hen i-STAT1 records were utilized in the establishment of reference interval values for the 13 parameters between the 3 CVs. Statistical analysis via ANOVA and Tukey's test revealed significant line differences for all 13 blood gas and chemistry parameters measured, with particularly interesting results in iCa. The blood gas and chemistry parameters collected in this study will serve as reference intervals to set the framework for potential future correlations to genetic markers, physiological abnormalities, and production performance., (© 2019 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

High environmental temperature is a serious stress affecting economic and biological efficiency of poultry production in tropical and subtropical countries that is expected to become more prominent with global climate change. Iowa experienced 3 acute heat waves of 11, 3, and 4 d of heat index above 38°C in the summer of 2012, which led to production losses and increased bird mortality. For the current study, the proportion of daughters that died from heat stress during this period was calculated for 118 sire families of an elite White Leghorn layer line. The number of daughters per sire ranged from 25 to 111 and averaged 68. Average mortality due to heat stress was 8.2%, ranging from 0 to 24.6%. All sires were genotyped using a 600 K Affymetrix chip. After stringent quality filtering (clustering quality, parentage, missing genotypes, MAF) 113,344 SNPs were retained for the analysis. Method BayesB with π equal to 0.999, for the number of markers fitted not to exceed the number of observations, was applied. Markers explained 8% of the phenotypic variance. One 1-Mb window on chromosome 5 explained 1.2% of genetic variance. When the number of daughters was fitted as a weight in the analysis, the proportion of variance explained by markers dropped to 1%, but 9 1-Mb windows explained more than 1% of genetic variance on chromosomes 1, 3, 5 (the same top window as in the unweighted analysis), 9, 17, and 18. Although the support of the genomic regions associated with heat stress resistance identified in this study was not very strong, they overlapped with previously reported quantitative trait loci regions for immune response and physiological traits in chickens and contained genes that have been associated with response to heat stress in other studies. Further research is needed to validate the results.

Clutch traits were proposed as a more detailed description of egg-laying patterns than simple total egg production. In this study, egg production of 23,809 Rhode Island Red (RIR) and 22,210 White Leghorn (WL) hens was described in terms of number of clutches, average and maximum clutch size, age at first egg, total saleable egg production, and percentage of egg defects. Genetic parameters were estimated using a six-trait animal model. Of the phenotyped birds, 1433 RIR hens and 1515 WL hens were genotyped with line specific 50K Affymetrix Axiom single nucleotide polymorphism chips to perform genome-wide association analyses. Moderate heritabilities were estimated for clutch traits of 0.20 to 0.42 in the RIR line and 0.29 to 0.41 in the WL line. Average and maximum clutch size was positively genetically correlated with total saleable egg number in both lines. Genome-wide association analysis identified seven regions that were associated with egg production in the RIR line and 12 regions in the WL line. The regions identified were line and trait specific, except for one region on chromosome 6 from 28 to 29 Mb that influenced number of clutches and maximum and average clutch size in WL hens. Regions associated with egg production identified here overlapped with 260 genes, with some strong positional candidates based on gene ontology including WASH1, which is involved in oocyte maturation, NPVF, involved in regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion, and FOXO3, involved in oocyte maturation and ovulation from the ovarian follicle. Confirmation of the role of these genes in regulation of egg production pattern will require further studies.

Two highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks have affected commercial egg production flocks in the American continent in recent years; a H7N3 outbreak in Mexico in 2012 that caused 70% to 85% mortality and a H5N2 outbreak in the United States in 2015 with over 99% mortality. Blood samples were obtained from survivors of each outbreak and from age and genetics matched non-affected controls. A total of 485 individuals (survivors and controls) were genotyped with a 600 k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array to detect genomic regions that influenced the outcome of highly pathogenic influenza infection in the two outbreaks. A total of 420458 high quality, segregating SNPs were identified across all samples. Genetic differences between survivors and controls were analyzed using a logistic model, mixed models and a Bayesian variable selection approach. Several genomic regions potentially associated with resistance to HPAI were identified, after performing multidimensional scaling and adjustment for multiple testing. Analysis conducted within each outbreak identified different genomic regions for resistance to the two virus strains. The strongest signals for the Iowa H5N2 survivor samples were detected on chromosomes 1, 7, 9 and 15. Positional candidate genes were mainly coding for plasma membrane proteins with receptor activity and were also involved in immune response. Three regions with the strongest signal for the Mexico H7N3 samples were located on chromosomes 1 and 5. Neuronal cell surface, signal transduction and immune response proteins coding genes were located in the close proximity of these regions.

Background: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a potentially useful outcome measure for clinical trials in children with CF but its use is limited by variations in approach internationally. We sought to determine if pooling adversely affected the diagnostic properties of BAL., Methods: Children undergoing bronchoscopy for clinical reasons were included. A multi-step study protocol ensured BAL was collected and analysed both separately and as a pooled fluid., Results: Eighty-five children (53 CF, 32 control) were recruited. There was a high level of concordance between pooled and non-pooled samples in terms of organism identification (76%). There was good agreement (Bland Altman) between the two methods in terms of detection of inflammation independent of centre, microbiological concordance or disease status. Bi-directional variability in IL-8 levels between pooled and non-pooled samples was seen. Free neutrophil elastase (NE) was detected in 4 cases in pooled lavage when absent in non-pooled lavage. Levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) were similar between the two groups with pooled samples showing a greater spread of values., Conclusions: Pooling of BAL in children does not negatively impact on either the detection of pulmonary infection or inflammation or the observed relationship between infection and inflammation. Intra-patient variability in BAL IL-8 levels suggests regional differences in inflammation., (Copyright © 2017 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is an isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology that provides rapid and robust infectious disease pathogen detection, ideal for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics in disease-prevalent low-resource countries. We have developed and evaluated three duplex RPA assays incorporating competitive internal controls for the detection of leading bacterial meningitis pathogens. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae singleplex RPA assays were initially developed and evaluated, demonstrating 100% specificity with limits of detection of 4.1, 8.5 and 3.9 genome copies per reaction, respectively. Each assay was further developed into internally controlled duplex RPA assays via the incorporation of internal amplification control templates. Clinical performance of each internally controlled duplex RPA assay was evaluated by testing 64 archived PCR-positive clinical samples. Compared to real-time PCR, all duplex RPA assays demonstrated 100% diagnostic specificity, with diagnostic sensitivities of 100%, 86.3% and 100% for the S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis and H. influenzae assays, respectively. This study details the first report of internally controlled duplex RPA assays for the detection of bacterial meningitis pathogens: S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis and H. influenzae. We have successfully demonstrated the clinical diagnostic utility of each duplex RPA assay, introducing effective diagnostic technology for POC bacterial meningitis identification in disease-prevalent developing countries., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Reducing the incidence of egg shell breakage is an important selection goal in egg layer hens breeding. Breaking strength provides an indicator of static shell resistance correlated with shell thickness. Acoustic egg tests combine shell's resonance profile with egg mass to calculate dynamic stiffness (KDyn) a quantitative indicator of integral shell resistance, and a novel direct detection of both cracks and micro-cracks (MCr) making it possible for use in selection programs aiming improvement of shell quality. A shell quality bio-complex was defined to improve overall shell quality, including: breaking strength at equator (BSe) and poles (BSp), KDyn, and MCr, on multiple eggs/hen-age. A total of 81,667; 101,113; and 72,462 records from 4 generations of three pure lines were evaluated. Two models were tested in the brown-egg line: I) four-trait linear repeatability model and II) three-trait linear (BS, KDyn)-threshold (MCr) in the three lines. Models were implemented with AIREMLF90 and THRGIBBS1F90. Heritability and repeatability (Model I) estimates were: h 2 = 0.14, 0.18, 0.33, and 0.02; r = 0.16, 0.28, 0.43, and 0.03 for BSe, BSp, KDyn, and MCr, respectively. Corresponding values in White Plymouth Rock were h 2 = 0.14, 0.17, 0.33, and 0.02; r = 0.21, 0.33, 0.44, and 0.04, and in White Leghorn were h 2 = 0.14, 0.23, 0.36, and 0.02; r = 0.24, 0.38, 0.52, and 0.02. Genetic correlations between BSe and BSp were between 0.51 and 0.68. The BS traits were moderately correlated with KDyn (+0.23 to +0.51), and tended to be negatively correlated with MCr. KDyn, and MCr (-0.46 to -0.62). Model II had similar results; except for increased h 2 = 0.06 and r = 0.09 for MCr. Results indicate that BSe and BSp are different traits; while incidence of MCr is low in heritable but showed negative genetic correlations with the other traits. This makes MCr unsuitable for direct selection; but favors indirect selection against MCr via BSe, BSp, and KDyn for a holistic selection to improve shell quality, in particular to achieve the ultimate goal, reduction of egg breakage., (© 2016 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Venous blood gas and chemistry reference ranges were determined for commercial Hy-Line W-36 pullets and laying hens utilizing the portable i-STAT®1 analyzer and CG8+ cartridges. A total of 632 samples were analyzed from birds between 4 and 110 wk of age. Reference ranges were established for pullets (4 to 15 wk), first cycle laying hens (20 to 68 wk), and second cycle (post molt) laying hens (70 to 110 wk) for the following traits: sodium (Na mmol/L), potassium (K mmol/L), ionized calcium (iCa mmol/L), glucose (Glu mg/dl), hematocrit (Hct% Packed Cell Volume [PCV]), pH, partial pressure carbon dioxide (PCO2 mm Hg), partial pressure oxygen (PO2 mm Hg), total concentration carbon dioxide (TCO2 mmol/L), bicarbonate (HCO3 mmol/L), base excess (BE mmol/L), oxygen saturation (sO2%), and hemoglobin (Hb g/dl). Data were analyzed using ANOVA to investigate the effect of production status as categorized by bird age. Trait relationships were evaluated by linear correlation and their spectral decomposition. All traits differed significantly among pullets and mature laying hens in both first and second lay cycles. Levels for K, iCa, Hct, pH, TCO2, HCO3, BE, sO2, and Hb differed significantly between first cycle and second cycle laying hens. Many venous blood gas and chemistry parameters were significantly correlated. The first 3 eigenvalues explained ∼2/3 of total variation. The first 2 principal components (PC) explained 51% of the total variation and indicated acid-balance and relationship between blood O2 and CO2. The third PC explained 16% of variation and seems to be related to blood iCa. Establishing reference ranges for pullet and laying hen blood gas and chemistry with the i-STAT®1 handheld unit provides a mechanism to further investigate pullet and layer physiology, evaluate metabolic disturbances, and may potentially serve as a means to select breeder candidates with optimal blood gas or chemistry levels on-farm., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Poultry Science Association.)

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feeding 5 different energy and nutrient dense diets to Hy-Line W-36 hens on long-term performance and economics. A total of 480 19 wk old Hy-Line W-36 Single Comb White Leghorn hens were weighed and randomly allocated to 6 replicate groups of 16 hens each (2 adjacent cages containing 8 hens per cage, 60.9×58.4 cm) per dietary treatment in a randomized complete block design. The hens were fed 5 treatment diets formulated to contain 85, 90, 95, 100, and 105% of the energy and nutrient recommendations stated in the 2009 Hy-Line Variety W-36 Commercial Management Guide. Production performance was measured for 52 wk from 19 to 70 wk age. Over the course of the trial, a significant increasing linear response to increasing energy and nutrient density was seen for hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed efficiency, energy intake, and body weight (BW). Feed intake showed no significant linear level response to increasing energy and nutrient density except during the early production cycle. No consistent responses were noted for egg quality, percent yolk, and percent egg solids throughout the study. Significant linear responses due to energy and nutrient density were seen for egg income, feed cost, and income minus feed cost. In general, as energy and nutrient density increased, egg income and feed cost per hen increased, but income minus feed cost decreased. Overall, these results indicate that feeding Hy-Line W-36 hens increasing energy and nutrient-dense diets will increase egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed efficiency, energy intake, BW, egg income, and feed cost, but decrease egg income minus feed cost. However, these benefits do not take effect in early production and seem to be most effective in later stages of the production cycle, perhaps "priming" the birds for better egg-production persistency with age., (© 2015 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Random regression models allow for analysis of longitudinal data, which together with the use of genomic information are expected to increase accuracy of selection, when compared with analyzing average or total production with pedigree information. The objective of this study was to estimate variance components for egg production over time in a commercial brown egg layer population using genomic relationship information. A random regression reduced animal model with a marker-based relationship matrix was used to estimate genomic breeding values of 3,908 genotyped animals from 6 generations. The first 5 generations were used for training, and predictions were validated in generation 6. Daily egg production up to 46 wk in lay was accumulated into 85,462 biweekly (every 2 wk) records for training, of which 17,570 were recorded on genotyped hens and the remaining on their nongenotyped progeny. The effect of adding additional egg production data of 2,167 nongenotyped sibs of selection candidates [16,037 biweekly (every 2 wk) records] to the training data was also investigated. The model included a 5th order Legendre polynomial nested within hatch-week as fixed effects and random terms for coefficients of quadratic polynomials for genetic and permanent environmental components. Residual variance was assumed heterogeneous among 2-wk periods. Models using pedigree and genomic relationships were compared. Estimates of residual variance were very similar under both models, but the model with genomic relationships resulted in a larger estimate of genetic variance. Heritability estimates increased with age up to mid production and decreased afterward, resulting in an average heritability of 0.20 and 0.33 for pedigree and genomic models. Prediction of total egg number was more accurate with the genomic than with the pedigree-based random regression model (correlation in validation 0.26 vs. 0.16). The genomic model outperformed the pedigree model in most of the 2-wk periods. Thus, results of this study show that random regression reduced animal models can be used in breeding programs using genomic information and can result in substantial improvements in the accuracy of selection for trajectory traits.

Genetic parameters were estimated for egg defects, egg production, and egg quality traits. Eggs from 11,738 purebred brown-egg laying hens were classified as salable or as having one of the following defects: bloody, broken, calcium deposit, dirty, double yolk, misshapen, pee-wee, shell-less, and soft shelled. Egg quality included albumen height, egg weight, yolk weight, and puncture score. Body weight, age at sexual maturity, and egg production were also recorded. Heritability estimates of liability to defects using a threshold animal model were less than 0.1 for bloody and dirty; between 0.1 and 0.2 for pee-wee, broken, misshapen, soft shelled, and shell-less; and above 0.2 for calcium deposit and double yolk. Quality and production traits were more heritable, with estimates ranging from 0.29 (puncture score) to 0.74 (egg weight). High-producing hens had a lower frequency of egg defects. High egg weight and BW were associated with an increased frequency of double yolks, and to a lesser extent, with more shell quality defects. Estimates of genetic correlations among defect traits that were related to shell quality were positive and moderate to strong (0.24-0.73), suggesting that these could be grouped into one category or selection could be based on the trait with the highest heritability or that is easiest to measure. Selection against defective eggs would be more efficient by including egg defect traits in the selection criterion, along with egg production rate of salable eggs and egg quality traits.

Background: Hypomania is associated with impulsive decision making and risk taking, characteristics that may arise from hypersensitivity to reward. To date, the neural dynamics underlying intertemporal reward processing have neither been characterized clinically nor in the general population. Taking vulnerability to hypomania as a surrogate model of impulsivity, we utilized event-related potentials to study the neural mechanisms of delay discounting., Methods: In the first experiment, 32 participants completed an established Two Choice Impulsivity Paradigm in which free choice between immediate and delayed rewards was used to quantify impulsivity behaviorally. In the second experiment, electroencephalography was recorded while 32 separately recruited participants completed a speeded response task involving gains and losses of monetary incentives to be paid at three different delays after the experiment., Results: In the first experiment, the hypomania-prone group made significantly more immediate choices than the control group. In the second experiment, the hypomania-prone group evidenced greater differentiation between delayed and immediate outcomes in early attention-sensitive (N1) and later reward-sensitive (feedback-related negativity) components. Proneness to hypomania was also associated with greater N1 amplitude to rewards per se., Conclusions: These results indicate steeper delay discounting in hypomania at multiple stages of information processing. The N1 modulation by valence and delay suggests an attentional bias to immediate rewards, which may drive subsequent cognitive appraisal of outcomes (feedback-related negativity). These results highlight the early influence of attention on reward processing and provide support for reward dysregulation accounts of bipolar disorder. Potential implications for mindfulness training and other therapeutic interventions are highlighted., (Copyright © 2012 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Egg-laying strains of chickens are highly susceptible to osteoporosis, a noninfectious disease characterized by a decrease in structural bone as hens age. To minimize the onset of osteoporosis, it was hypothesized that a delay in sexual maturity may allow a pullet to develop a stronger skeletal frame before egg laying, leading to improved skeletal mineralization at end of lay. One management tool that can easily be implemented by pullet growers to delay sexual maturity is length of photoperiod. The objective of the current study was to determine whether lighting programs used during the pullet phase of egg-laying strains of chickens can be manipulated to allow for improved skeletal mineralization in laying hens at end of lay. Two experiments were conducted in which 1,000 pullets/experiment were exposed to 1 of 3 varying step-down lighting programs (2 to 17 wk of age), referred to as rapid, moderate, and slow. For both experiments, 2 strains of chickens were used. Experiment 1 compared the Hy-Line W-36 with the Hy-Line W-98, and experiment 2 compared the Hy-Line Brown with the Hy-Line W-98. At 66 wk of age, all hens remaining in the study were weighed individually and the drum stick and wing were retrieved for determination of bone mineralization and bone size traits. Bone data were analyzed using an analysis of covariance with BW as the covariant, and BW was analyzed as an ANOVA. Skeletal frame development was affected by lighting regimen. Pullets exposed to the slow lighting photoperiod had longer bones and more bone area (experiment 2) than those exposed to the rapid photoperiod, most likely because of a delay in bone growth plate closure, which occurs at sexual maturity. However, this delay in sexual maturity, as indicated by longer bones, did not improve bone mineralization at 66 wk of age. It was concluded that pullet lighting regimen had little effect on bone mineralization at end of lay.

The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for egg production over the age trajectory in 3 layer lines, which represent different biotypes for egg production, and to validate the use of breeding values for slope as a measure of persistency to be used in the selection program. Egg production of more than 26,000 layers per line from 6 consecutive generations were analyzed with a random regression model with a within-hatch-nested fifth-order fixed-regression polynomial and linear polynomials for random additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. Daily records were cumulated into biweekly periods. In all lines, a nonzero genetic variance for mean and slope and a positive genetic correlation between mean and slope were estimated. Genetic variance of egg production by 2-wk period was low at the beginning of lay and increased as the birds aged for all 3 lines, which resulted in heritability estimates increasing with age. Breeding values for slope reflected the shape of the egg production curve well and can be used to directly select for persistency of egg production.

Egg production systems have become subject to heightened levels of scrutiny. Multiple factors such as disease, skeletal and foot health, pest and parasite load, behavior, stress, affective states, nutrition, and genetics influence the level of welfare hens experience. Although the need to evaluate the influence of these factors on welfare is recognized, research is still in the early stages. We compared conventional cages, furnished cages, noncage systems, and outdoor systems. Specific attributes of each system are shown to affect welfare, and systems that have similar attributes are affected similarly. For instance, environments in which hens are exposed to litter and soil, such as noncage and outdoor systems, provide a greater opportunity for disease and parasites. The more complex the environment, the more difficult it is to clean, and the larger the group size, the more easily disease and parasites are able to spread. Environments such as conventional cages, which limit movement, can lead to osteoporosis, but environments that have increased complexity, such as noncage systems, expose hens to an increased incidence of bone fractures. More space allows for hens to perform a greater repertoire of behaviors, although some deleterious behaviors such as cannibalism and piling, which results in smothering, can occur in large groups. Less is understood about the stress that each system imposes on the hen, but it appears that each system has its unique challenges. Selective breeding for desired traits such as improved bone strength and decreased feather pecking and cannibalism may help to improve welfare. It appears that no single housing system is ideal from a hen welfare perspective. Although environmental complexity increases behavioral opportunities, it also introduces difficulties in terms of disease and pest control. In addition, environmental complexity can create opportunities for the hens to express behaviors that may be detrimental to their welfare. As a result, any attempt to evaluate the sustainability of a switch to an alternative housing system requires careful consideration of the merits and shortcomings of each housing system.

The fertility rates of cryopreserved poultry semen are highly variable and not reliable for use in preservation of commercial genetic stocks. Our objective was to evaluate the cryosurvival of semen from 8 pedigreed layer lines at 2 different ages: the onset and end of commercial production. Semen from 160 roosters (20/line) was frozen individually with 11% glycerol at 6 and 12 mo of age. Glycerol was removed from thawed semen by Accudenz gradient centrifugation. The viability of thawed sperm from each male was determined using fluorescent live-dead staining and flow cytometry; sperm velocity parameters were measured using computerized motion analysis. The fertilizing ability of thawed sperm was evaluated in vitro by assessing hydrolysis of the inner perivitelline membrane. The postthaw function of sperm from the elite lines varied widely, despite the fact that fresh semen from all of these lines typically yielded high fertility rates. The percentage of thawed sperm with intact plasma membranes ranged from 27.8 + or - 2.1 to 49.6 + or - 1.9 and varied among lines and between age groups. Thawed sperm from 2 lines consistently demonstrated the highest and lowest motility parameters, whereas the velocity parameters of the remaining 6 lines varied widely. The mean number of hydrolysis points per square millimeter of inner perivitelline membrane ranged from 12.5 + or - 4.1 (line 2) to 103.3 + or - 30.2 (line 6). Age effects were observed for 4 out of 8 lines; however, improved postthaw sperm function at 12 mo of age was not consistent for all 3 assays. These results demonstrate variability among pedigreed lines in withstanding glycerol-based semen cryopreservation and provide a model for delineating genotypic and phenotypic factors affecting sperm cryosurvival.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the early surgical excision of periorbital haemangiomas with an ultrasonic scalpel in infants at risk of visual impairment., Study: A retrospective analysis of 67 infants diagnosed to be at risk of amblyopia from periorbital haemangiomas, treated consecutively with the Dissectron between 1994 and 2005. Ophthalmic outcome parameters included the pre- and postoperative measurement of visual axis occlusion, strabismus, astigmatism, and degree of amblyopia., Results: Visual performance showed an overall improvement of 30% following treatment. Seventy-six patients were found to have abnormal ophthalmic examinations preoperatively, compared to 46 following surgery. After surgery, visual axis occlusion decreased from 73 to 6%; amblyopia decreased from 67 to 22%, strabismus decreased from 26 to 18% and astigmatism (>onedioptre) decreased from 66 to 31%. Mean astigmatism values decreased from 3.5 to 1.9 dioptres. No new cases of astigmatism, strabismus or amblyopia were diagnosed postoperatively. Three minor complications resolved with conservative treatment. All patients were satisfied with the outcome of their surgery., Conclusion: Early surgical excision of periorbital haemangiomas using the Dissectron in infants with an established risk of visual impairment is a safe and effective alternative to pharmacological therapy. The use of the Dissectron is associated with reduced operative times and a shorter hospital stay.

The objective of the current study was to identify QTL conferring resistance to Marek's disease (MD) in commercial layer chickens. To generate the resource population, 2 partially inbred lines that differed in MD-caused mortality were intermated to produce 5 backcross families. Vaccinated chicks were challenged with very virulent plus (vv+) MD virus strain 648A at 6 d and monitored for MD symptoms. A recent field isolate of the MD virus was used because the lines were resistant to commonly used older laboratory strains. Selective genotyping was employed using 81 microsatellites selected based on prior results with selective DNA pooling. Linear regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to detect associations between marker genotypes and survival. Significance thresholds were validated by simulation. Seven and 6 markers were significant based on proportion of false positive and false discovery rate thresholds less than 0.2, respectively. Seventeen markers were associated with MD survival considering a comparison-wise error rate of 0.10, which is about twice the number expected by chance, indicating that at least some of the associations represent true effects. Thus, the present study shows that loci affecting MD resistance can be mapped in commercial layer lines. More comprehensive studies are under way to confirm and extend these results.

Salivary immune responses depend on localization of immunocytes in salivary glands. We tested effects of anti-adhesion molecule antibodies and several ligand analogs on in vitro adherence of rat thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) to parotid and submandibular gland sections. While TDL adherence to both tissues was markedly decreased by anti-L-selectin mAbs, binding ability after removal of L-selectin by chymotrypsin or PMA suggested that other adhesion systems were involved. Integrin involvement in parotid interactions was indicated by inhibitory effects of anti-HEBF(PP), LFA-1, ICAM-1, and alpha4 integrin antibodies as well as by the PMA-enhanced adherence. Anti-Thy-1 partially inhibited TDL binding to parotid gland, and anti-CD44 partially inhibited submandibular binding. The majority of salivary gland-bound TDL were sIg+ B cells. FACS analysis showed differences in parotid and submandibular endogenous lymphocyte adhesion molecule expression with greater percentages of L-selectin, HEBF(PP), alpha4 integrin, LFA-1, ICAM-1, CD44, and Thy-1-positive cells present in parotid gland. While precise roles of known or novel adhesion molecules in salivary gland lymphocyte retention are not clear, these data suggest that selectins (parotid, submandibular), integrins (parotid), Thy-1 (parotid), and CD-44 (submandibular), as well as other unidentified molecules, are involved.

Mature circulating lymphocyte populations specifically bind to lacrimal gland acinar epithelium in vitro and this adherence is thought to contribute to the accumulation of lymphoid subsets within lacrimal tissue in vivo. The regulatory role of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in this adherence process was examined using an in vitro binding assay. Pretreatment of thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDLs) with increasing concentrations of IL-4 or TGF-beta for 1 hr resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of lymphocyte binding to lacrimal gland acinar epithelium. In contrast, the binding of TDLs to high endothelial venules of cervical lymph node was not inhibited by either cytokine. Further, IL-4 and TGF-beta pretreatment did not alter the expression of lymph node or Peyer's patch homing receptors as well as the LFA-1, VLA-4, or CD44 adhesion molecules on TDLs. These results suggest that the interaction of lymphocytes with lacrimal gland acinar epithelium may be regulated by a receptor-mediated mechanism that differs from those governing HEV recognition.

Correlated responses for growth, feed intake, and feed utilization were measured in female chickens from lines after 32 generations of divergent selection for 56-day body weight and in sublines in which selection had been relaxed for five generations. The diet used in the present experiment was that under which selection had been practiced (20% crude protein and 2,685 kcal of ME/kg). Feed intake between each selected line and its relaxed subline was equalized by paired-feeding. Ad libitum-fed controls were also maintained. At 21 days of age, differences between the selected lines for ad libitum-fed chickens were 404% for body weight, 279% for feed intake, and 138% for feed conversion ratio (FCR). Respective percentages for the high and low relaxed lines under ad libitum feeding were 267, 223, and 121%. When pair-fed, the growth of the line selected for high weight was unimpeded and FCR improved. When chicks of the low-weight relaxed line were pair-fed, FCR also improved, but growth was reduced and appetite development inhibited. Hyperphagic behavior was observed in the line selected for high weight. In the low-weight selected line, the chicks exhibited hypophagia. Although residual feed consumption was unchanged by selection for 56-day body weight, variation was present for this trait, with lower values under restricted than ad libitum feeding.

Growth of organs relative to body weight and cellular protein, RNA, DNA, and cell unit size of breast muscle, liver, and small intestinal tissue were measured in females from four lines of chickens. Two lines had undergone 32 generations of divergent selection for 56-day body weight, and the other two lines were derived by sampling the first two lines at Generation 28 and relaxing selection for the next five generations. The diet used in the present experiment was the same diet under which selection was practiced (20% crude protein and 2,685 kcal of ME/kg). Comparisons at common chronological ages and a common body weight revealed that supply organ weights, especially that of the small intestine, were associated with subsequent growth of demand organs. Although the upper gastrointestinal tract was also important in this respect, it was more susceptible to influences such as feed intake. Selection for juvenile body weight resulted in correlated changes in cell size of breast muscle but not liver and small intestine. Muscle increased posthatch as cells underwent hypertrophy but liver and small intestine grew chiefly by hyperplasia.

Levels of amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and lipase in the pancreas and small intestinal chyme were measured in females from four lines of chickens. Two of the lines had undergone 32 generations of divergent selection for 56-day body weight, and in the other two lines selection for high or low weight had been relaxed for 5 generations. The diet used in the present experiment was that under which selection had been practiced (20% crude protein and 2,685 kcal of ME/kg). Comparisons between divergently selected lines at common ages revealed higher enzyme levels for high- than low-weight lines. When comparisons were made at a common body weight (80 +/- 5 g) there were no differences between lines. These results suggested that correlated responses in feed intake were mediating the regulation of digestive enzyme levels in the pancreas and in intestinal chyme of growth-selected lines of chickens. Chicks from high-weight lines had elevated enzyme levels after a mild feed restriction compared with those provided ad libitum access to feed. It was hypothesized that hyperphagia associated with the high-weight lines in combination with a mild feed restriction and the associated meal feeding stimulated synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes.

Fertility, hatchability, and their relationships to age of dam, egg components, embryo growth, and embryo lipid transfer were studied in a broiler breeder line segregating at the sex-linked feathering locus. Early-season increases in hatchability of eggs were due to a reduction in embryo deaths between Day 1 and 7 of incubation. No late seasonal declines in either fertility or hatchability were observed. Although less proficient in young dams, embryo lipid transfer was not directly associated with the lower hatchability of their eggs. Egg weight, weights of 18-day embryos, and embryo:egg ratios increased with parental age. Also with age, there were increases in shell, albumen, and yolk weights. Heavier albumen weight was due to increased moisture content, and those for shell and yolk were due to dry matter accumulation. Changes in yolk:albumen ratios reflected large increases in relative yolk weight, on a wet and dry weight basis, that were associated with age of dam. Eggs from late-feathering dams were heavier than those from early-feathering ones. Heavier embryos by 18 days of incubation were attributed to the transfer of albumen from the egg to the embryo.

Several fitness traits were measured in males from two meat lines fed diets differing in nutrient density ad libitum daily or on alternate days. Criteria of evaluation were antibody response to SRBC, blood heterophil:lymphocyte ratios, incidence of leg deformities, and resistance to Escherichia coli inoculation. Males from the heavier line had lower antibody titers to SRBC inoculation than those of the lighter line. Diets, feeding regimens, and interactions among them did not influence response to SRBC. Lines, diets, feeding regimens, and interactions among them were not significant for heterophil:lymphocyte ratios. Chicks fed daily had a higher incidence of leg deformities than those fed on alternate days. There were no differences between lines or diets, nor were interactions significant. Interactions were present between main variables for response to E. coli inoculation whether the measure was initial weight loss, recovery, or lesion scores, demonstrating the complexity of genotype-environmental relationships in resistance to this infectious agent.