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Proper methods for euthanasia are critical for research with birds. Training in these methods is generally required by institutional animal care and use committees for any research that involves handling of birds, even if the intent is for birds to be released into the wild. Rapid cardiac compression (RCC) remains a preferred method for quick euthanasia in field settings but has not been described adequately in the literature. We describe proper application of RCC for euthanasia of small birds. We also provide external cues for a bird as it progresses toward death as well as other considerations when using RCC. Note that RCC is also known as “thoracic compression,” but that term is not biologically accurate and should be abandoned.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the standing long jump (SLJ) and the single-leg hop (SLH) tests to discriminate lower quadrant (low back and lower extremities) injury occurrence in female collegiate soccer players. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine associations between injury and off-season training habits or anthropometric measures. SLJ, SLH, and anthropometric measures were collected during a preseason screening clinic. Each subject completed a questionnaire providing demographic information and off-season training habits. Each athlete performed three SLJ and three SLH per leg. SLJ and SLH scores were not associated with an increased risk of a noncontact time-loss lower quadrant (LQ) injury. Athletes with a higher BMI or who reported less time training during the off-season were two times more likely to sustain an injury. Athletes who had both a higher body mass index (BMI) and lower off-season training habits were three times (relative risk = 3.1 (95% CI: 1.7, 5.5) p-value = 0.0001) more likely to sustain a noncontact time-loss lower quadrant injury. Preseason SLJ and SLH scores do not discriminate injury risk in female collegiate soccer players. Higher BMI and lower off-season training habits are associated with an increased risk of LQ injury.

Introduction: The incidence of time-loss injury in male collegiate soccer players in the United States (US) is 6.4 per 1000 athletic exposures. With thousands of male athletes competing in soccer a...

OBJECTIVE To compare intraosseous pentobarbital treatment (IPT) and thoracic compression (TC) on time to circulatory arrest and an isoelectric electroencephalogram (EEG) in anesthetized passerine birds. ANIMALS 30 wild-caught adult birds (17 house sparrows [Passer domesticus] and 13 European starlings [Sturnus vulgaris]). PROCEDURES Birds were assigned to receive IPT or TC (n = 6/species/group). Birds were anesthetized, and carotid arterial pulses were monitored by Doppler methodology. Five subdermal braided-wire electrodes were used for EEG. Anesthetic depth was adjusted until a continuous EEG pattern was maintained, then euthanasia was performed. Times from initiation of euthanasia to cessation of carotid pulse and irreversible isoelectric EEG (indicators of death) were measured. Data (medians and first to third quartiles) were summarized and compared between groups within species. Necropsies were performed for all birds included in experiments and for another 6 birds euthanized under anesthesia by TC (4 sparrows and 1 starling) or IPT (1 sparrow). RESULTS Median time to isoelectric EEG did not differ significantly between treatment groups for sparrows (19.0 and 6.0 seconds for TC and IPT, respectively) or starlings (88.5 and 77.5 seconds for TC and IPT, respectively). Median times to cessation of pulse were significantly shorter for TC than for IPT in sparrows (0.0 vs 18.5 seconds) and starlings (9.5 vs 151.0 seconds). On necropsy, most (14/17) birds that underwent TC had grossly visible coelomic, pericardial, or perihepatic hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that TC might be an efficient euthanasia method for small birds. Digital pressure directly over the heart during TC obstructed venous return, causing rapid circulatory arrest, with rupture of the atria or vena cava in several birds. The authors propose that cardiac compression is a more accurate description than TC for this procedure.

Background Male collegiate basketball (BB) players are at risk for musculoskeletal injury. The rate of time-loss injury in men's collegiate BB, for all levels of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition, ranges from 2.8 to 4.3 per 1000 athletic exposures (AE) during practices and 4.56 to 9.9 per 1000 AE during games. The aforementioned injury rates provide valuable information for sports medicine professionals and coaching staffs. However, many of the aforementioned studies do not provide injury rates based on injury mechanism, region of the body, or player demographics. Hypothesis/ purpose The purpose of this study is two-fold. The first purpose of this study was to report lower quadrant (LQ = lower extremities and low back region) injury rates, per contact and non-contact mechanism of injury, for a cohort of male collegiate basketball (BB) players. The second purpose was to report injury risk based on prior history of injury, player position, and starter status. Study design Prospective, descriptive, observational cohort. Methods A total of 95 male collegiate BB players (mean age 20.02 ± 1.68 years) from 7 teams (NCAA Division II = 14, NCAA Division III = 43, NAIA = 21, community college = 17) from the Portland, Oregon region were recruited during the 2016-2017 season to participate in this study. Each athlete was asked to complete an injury history questionnaire. The primary investigator collected the following information each week from each team's athletic trainer: athletic exposures (AE; 1 AE = game or practice) and injury updates. Results Thirty-three time-loss LQ injuries occurred during the study period. The overall time-loss injury rate was 3.4 per 1000 AE. Division III BB players had the highest rates of injury. There was no difference in injury rates between those with or without prior injury history. Guards had a significantly greater rate of non-contact time-loss injuries (p = 0.04). Conclusions Guards experienced a greater rate of LQ injury than their forward/center counterparts. Starters and athletes with a prior history of injury were no more likely to experience a non-contact time-loss injury than nonstarters or those without a prior history of injury. These preliminary results are a novel presentation of injury rates and risk for this population and warrant continued investigation. Level of evidence 2.

Objectives The risk of a subsequent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprain is greater in high school aged female athletes with prior history of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) than in age-matched controls. The risk of a subsequent ACL injury in female collegiate athletes with prior ACLR is unknown. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relative risk of a subsequent ACL injury in female collegiate athletes with prior ACLR when compared to age-matched controls. The secondary purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of jump and hop tests to discriminate ACL injury risk. Design Prospective cohort. Methods Three hundred and sixty female collegiate athletes (mean age 19.3 ± 1.4 years) representing the following sports: volleyball, soccer, and basketball were recruited. Subjects reported prior history of ACLR and standing long jump (SLJ) and single-leg hop (SLH) scores were collected during the preseason. Noncontact time-loss ACL and lower quadrant (i.e., low back and lower extremities) injuries were tracked by university athletic trainers. Results Female collegiate athletes with a prior history of ACLR were 6 times (RR = 6.8 [95% CI: 1.4, 32.9] p-value = 0.007) more likely to experience an ACL injury than controls. Suboptimal performance on a battery of tests (SLJ ≤ 79% height, (B) SLH ≤ 69% height) was associated with a greater risk of lower quadrant injury (RR = 1.6 [95% CI: 1.1, 2.4] p-value = 0.028); however performance on these tests was not associated with ACL injury. Conclusions Female collegiate athletes should be screened for history of ACLR.

The species composition of the Chilean avifauna is well-defined taxonomically but is not well known ecologically. We sampled avian communities at a biosphere reserve in coastal north-central Chile in three seasons over six years (18 surveys total) and characterized them in terms of community structure and composition. The avifauna (S = 56 species) was dominated by insectivores (S = 20), carnivores (S = 14), and granivores (S = 13), with lesser contributions by omnivores (S = 5), nectarivores (S = 2), folivores (S = 1), and one vagrant piscivore. The fauna varied greatly between summer and winter, and in most years the breeding season also was distinct. Eighteen species constituted a core group of residents observed in nearly all surveys, but at least 15 species were nomadic or migratory. Our site supported more insectivorous species in winter but more granivores and omnivores in the breeding season, although this observation may be confounded by species' detectability. The structure of the set o...