Search

BackgroundExisting diagnostic methods for the parasitic gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus, are time consuming and require specialised expertise, limiting their utility in the field. A practical, on-farm diagnostic tool could facilitate timely treatment decisions, thereby preventing losses in production and flock welfare. We previously demonstrated the ability of visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy to detect and quantify blood in sheep faeces with high accuracy. Here we report our investigation of whether variation in sheep type and environment affect the prediction accuracy of Vis-NIR spectroscopy in quantifying blood in faeces.MethodsVisible-NIR spectra were obtained from worm-free sheep faeces collected from different environments and sheep types in South Australia (SA) and New South Wales, Australia and spiked with various sheep blood concentrations. Spectra were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA), and calibration models were built around the haemoglobin (Hb) wavelength region (387-609 nm) using partial least squares regression. Models were used to predict Hb concentrations in spiked faeces from SA and naturally infected sheep faeces from Queensland (QLD). Samples from QLD were quantified using Hemastix® test strip and FAMACHA© diagnostic test scores.ResultsPrincipal component analysis showed that location, class of sheep and pooled versus individual samples were factors affecting the Hb predictions. The models successfully differentiated 'healthy' SA samples from those requiring anthelmintic treatment with moderate to good prediction accuracy (sensitivity 57-94%, specificity 44-79%). The models were not predictive for blood in the naturally infected QLD samples, which may be due in part to variability of faecal background and blood chemistry between samples, or the difference in validation methods used for blood quantification. PCA of the QLD samples, however, identified a difference between samples containing high and low quantities of blood.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the potential of Vis-NIR spectroscopy for estimating blood concentration in faeces from various types of sheep and environmental backgrounds. However, the calibration models developed here did not capture sufficient environmental variation to accurately predict Hb in faeces collected from environments different to those used in the calibration model. Consequently, it will be necessary to establish models that incorporate samples that are more representative of areas where H. contortus is endemic.

ObjectiveThis analysis examined whether specific social, physical, and financial factors were associated with diet quality among older, community-dwelling women.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis was conducted in a subset of 6,094 community-dwelling Women's Health Initiative participants who completed a food frequency questionnaire, administered from 2012 to 2013, and a self-administered supplemental questionnaire, administered approximately 1 year later. The supplemental questionnaire included five questions assessing social, physical, and financial factors related to eating. Diet quality was assessed with the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010; range of 0-100; higher score indicates a higher quality diet). The total HEI-2010 score was calculated by summing individual scores representing the intake of nine adequacy components (beneficial food groups) and three moderation components (food groups to limit). Associations of responses to the five questions on the supplemental questionnaire with HEI-2010 scores were examined with multiple linear regression, adjusting for relevant covariates.ResultsMean ± standard deviation age of participants was 78.8 ± 6.7 years. Reporting eating fewer than two meals per day, having dental or other mouth problems causing problems with eating, and not always being able to shop, cook, or feed oneself were associated with statistically significantly lower HEI-2010 scores, compared with those not reporting these issues, after multivariable adjustment: 5.37, 2.98, and 2.39 lower scores, respectively (all P values

Previous stable isotope research on Middle-to-Late Holocene (6600 cal BP-present) hunter-gatherers of Central California has documented significant regional variation in human paleodiets between the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Valley. In general, this geographically-patterned dietary variation tracks greater consumption of marine food resources in the Bay Area and greater consumption of freshwater and terrestrial food resources in the Central Valley. Using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen, stable carbon isotopes of bone bioapatite, and a large series of AMS dates (5420-2975 cal BP), we examine human paleodiets in 238 burials from CA-CCO-548 (Marsh Creek), located near the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, in Central California. Isotopic results support archaeofaunal and paleobotanical findings regarding the dietary importance of terrestrial C3-resources (e.g., artiodactyls, small seeds, acorns) and freshwater fish. The results further indicate that marine resources were of minor importance and could have been acquired from brackish areas near the mouth of the San Francisco Bay estuary located 9 km away or through trade. Although carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bone collagen suggest continuity in the sources of dietary protein over time. Carbon isotopes of bone bioapatite demonstrate a significant temporal shift toward greater consumption of C3 plant resources, such as acorns and small seeds, consistent with resource intensification models. The paleodiet of the CA-CCO-548 population is similar to contemporaneous groups located to the south and northwest, but is distinct from groups within the Delta and San Francisco Bay Area.

Objective: To compare glucose measurements from capillary and venous blood samples using a point‐of‐care (POC) glucometer with a standard laboratory (colorimetric, glucose oxidase) assay (LABGLU) in a population of hospitalized, neonatal foals. Design: Multicenter, prospective, experimental study, conducted between March 2019 and June 2020. Setting: Four university teaching hospitals and 1 private referral hospital. Animals: Fifty‐four hospitalized neonatal (≤30 days of age) foals. Interventions: Simultaneous capillary (muzzle, POCMUZ) and venous (jugular, POCJUG) blood samples were obtained to determine POC glucose concentrations. Venous samples were also analyzed by LABGLU. Each foal was sampled at the time of enrollment or admission to the hospital and at 1 subsequent point during hospitalization. Indirect mean arterial pressure and hematocrit were concurrently recorded. Measurements and Main Results: Bland–Altman analysis showed a mean bias (95% limits of agreement) of −28.0 (−88.6 to 32.6) mg/dL for comparison of POCJUG with LABGLU, −8.2 (−94.3 to 78.0) mg/dL for POCMUZ and LABGLU, and 18.8 (−44.4 to 82.0) mg/dL for POCMUZ and POCJUG. A total of 63.5% of the POCJUG and 45.2% of the POCMUZ samples exceeded the reference value by ±15 mg/dL (for LABGLU samples <75 mg/dL) or ±15% (for LABGLU samples ≥75mg/dL). Concordance correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval [CI]) indicated a fair agreement between POCJUG and LABGLU (0.75, 95% CI: 0.66–0.82) and between POCMUZ and LABGLU (0.71, 95% CI: 0.58–0.80). Fifty percent (14/28) of hypoglycemic foals on the reference method were incorrectly classified as euglycemic by POCJUG, and 5 of 28 were incorrectly classified by POCMUZ. Conclusions: In the sampled population, the chosen POC glucometer lacked agreement with the standard laboratory measurement. Limits of agreement were wide for both POCJUG and POCMUZ. Inaccuracies in POC results could impact decision‐making in the clinical management of glycemic control in hospitalized neonatal foals and, importantly, increase the risk of hypoglycemic events being underdiagnosed in critical patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphomatoid papulosis is often regarded as a low-grade variant of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). Given the excellent long-term prognosis, recent consensus guidelines indicate that patients can be monitored off therapy. We report a case of a 67-year-old man who presented with lymphomatoid papulosis, with necrotic papules that have been intermittently present for over forty years.