Comparison of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the serum of hypothyroxinemic and euthyroid dogs.

ObjectiveTo determine the profile of 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 23 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in serum of domestic canines and whether this was predictive of thyroid hormone status.SamplesSerum samples were collected from 51 client-owned dogs visiting the University of California Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital during 2012 to 2016 for routine appointments. Fifteen dogs were diagnosed with hypothyroxinemia while 36 were euthyroid.ProceduresConcentrations of PBDEs and PCBs in canine serum samples were measured by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between the presence/absence of canine hypothyroxinemia and the serum concentration of individual PBDE or PCB congeners.ResultsThe median concentrations of total PBDE and PCB congeners in the hypothyroxinemic group were 660 and 1,371 ng/g lipid, respectively, which were higher than concentrations detected in the control group. However, logistic regression analysis determined that current concentrations of PBDEs and PCBs in canines were not significantly associated with hypothyroxinemia. BDE 183 was the only congener showing near significance (p = 0.068).ConclusionsPBDE and PCB congeners were detected in all canine samples confirming ongoing exposure to these pollutants. Because household dogs share the human environment, they may serve as biosentinels of human exposure to these contaminants

On approximate cores of non-convex economies

Grodal B, Trockel W, Weber S. On approximate cores of non-convex economies. Economics letters. 1984;15(3-4):197-202.In this note we investigate, for non-convex finite economies, the relationship between the existence of approximate core allocations and the size of an economy

Oberflächen EMG-Untersuchungen zum Kontraktionsverhalten der Skelettmuskulatur unter Ausdauerbedingungen bei Anwendung lokal applizierter Kälte

Die Studie untersucht die Wirkung lokal applizierter Kälte auf das elektromyographische Amplituden u.- Frquenzverhalten der Skelettmuskulatur bei isometrischer Muskelaktivität. Es wurden hierzu 30 muskelgesunde Probanden dazu aufgefordert unter Anwendung einer kliniküblichen Kältepackung mit individuell ermittelter 30%-Maximalkraft bis zur muskulären Ermüdung gegen einen Widerstand zu drücken. Untersucht wurden die Mm. extensores carpi rad. longus et brevis. Ergebnis: Die Kälteapplikation steigert die muskuläre Ausdauer bei isometrischer Muskelarbeit. Es ist anzunehmen, dass dies über eine Herabsetzung der Empfindlichkeit des Gamma-Systems des Muskels geschieht. Über einen Regelkreismechanismus kommt es zur Reduktion der Feuerungsrate der Alpha-Motoneuronen, was zusätzlich durch eine zunehmende Membranträgheit, Abnahme der Acetylcholinhydrolyserate und eine Ph-Wert-Abnahme, die durch die kälteinduzierte Vasokonstriktion und dem damit verbundenen verzögerten Abtransport saurer Valenzen bedingt ist, verstärkt zu einer Abnahme der Entladungsfrequenz an der Muskulatur führt. Daher ist es nötig Kompensationsmechanismen wie Synchronisation und Rekrutierung weiterer Muskelfasern intensiver als unter Standardbedingungen anzustossen. Kompensation kann jedoch auch als Ökonomisierung der Muskelarbeit mir erhöhter Ausdauerleistung als Optimierung durch den Faktor Kälte betrachtet werden

Comparison of tools for assessing the methodological quality of primary and secondary studies in health technology assessment reports in Germany

Health care policy background: Findings from scientific studies form the basis for evidence-based health policy decisions. Scientific background: Quality assessments to evaluate the credibility of study results are an essential part of health technology assessment reports and systematic reviews. Quality assessment tools (QAT) for assessing the study quality examine to what extent study results are systematically distorted by confounding or bias (internal validity). The tools can be divided into checklists, scales and component ratings. Research questions: What QAT are available to assess the quality of interventional studies or studies in the field of health economics, how do they differ from each other and what conclusions can be drawn from these results for quality assessments? Methods: A systematic search of relevant databases from 1988 onwards is done, supplemented by screening of the references, of the HTA reports of the German Agency for Health Technology Assessment (DAHTA) and an internet search. The selection of relevant literature, the data extraction and the quality assessment are carried out by two independent reviewers. The substantive elements of the QAT are extracted using a modified criteria list consisting of items and domains specific to randomized trials, observational studies, diagnostic studies, systematic reviews and health economic studies. Based on the number of covered items and domains, more and less comprehensive QAT are distinguished. In order to exchange experiences regarding problems in the practical application of tools, a workshop is hosted. Results: A total of eight systematic methodological reviews is identified as well as 147 QAT: 15 for systematic reviews, 80 for randomized trials, 30 for observational studies, 17 for diagnostic studies and 22 for health economic studies. The tools vary considerably with regard to the content, the performance and quality of operationalisation. Some tools do not only include the items of internal validity but also the items of quality of reporting and external validity. No tool covers all elements or domains. Design-specific generic tools are presented, which cover most of the content criteria. Discussion: The evaluation of QAT by using content criteria is difficult, because there is no scientific consensus on the necessary elements of internal validity, and not all of the generally accepted elements are based on empirical evidence. Comparing QAT with regard to contents neglects the operationalisation of the respective parameters, for which the quality and precision are important for transparency, replicability, the correct assessment and interrater reliability. QAT, which mix items on the quality of reporting and internal validity, should be avoided. Conclusions: There are different, design-specific tools available which can be preferred for quality assessment, because of its wider coverage of substantive elements of internal validity. To minimise the subjectivity of the assessment, tools with a detailed and precise operationalisation of the individual elements should be applied. For health economic studies, tools should be developed and complemented with instructions, which define the appropriateness of the criteria. Further research is needed to identify study characteristics that influence the internal validity of studies

Environmental factors and river network position allow prediction of benthic community assemblies: A model of nematode metacommunities

Gansfort B, Traunspurger W. Environmental factors and river network position allow prediction of benthic community assemblies: A model of nematode metacommunities. Scientific Reports. 2019;9(1): 14716.The field of metacommunity studies is growing rapidly, including recent applications to river networks. Most of these studies have targeted a single river network but whether their findings are relevant to other river systems is unknown. This study investigated the influence of environmental, spatial and temporal parameters on the community structure of nematodes in the river networks of the Elbe and Rhine. We asked whether the variance in community structure was better explained by spatial variables representing the watercourse than by overland distances. After determining the patterns in the Elbe river network, we tested whether they also explained the Rhine data. The Elbe data were evaluated using a boosted regression tree analysis. The predictive ability of the model was then assessed using the Rhine data. In addition to strong temporal dynamics, environmental factors were more important than spatial factors in structuring riverine nematode communities. Community structure was more strongly influenced by watercourse than by Euclidean distances. Application of the model’s predictions to the Rhine data correlated significantly with field observations. Our model shows that the consequences of changes in environmental factors or habitat connectivity for aquatic communities across different river networks are quantifiable

Net-mapping for low-emission food system development: Workshop on stakeholder mapping in Kapsabet, Kenya

The CGIAR Initiative on Low-Emission Food Systems focuses on reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while transforming food systems. It intends to work closely with key actors in the target countries, supporting them with new knowledge, information and tools to make robust evidence-based decisions as they confront challenges in food system transformation discourses, policy development and the reduction of GHG emissions. In Kenya, Nandi County has been selected as a site for a Living Lab for People (LL4P) on low-emission food system development

Brief reports Heat stability of the antimicrobial activity of sixty-two antibacterial agents

Sixty-two antimicrobial agents, including several combinations, were examined for stability at 56°C for 30min and 121°C for 15min, respectively. A microtiter broth dilution MIC test and an agar disk diffusion test served to test each chemo-agent for residual antimicrobial activity. Eleven drugs were partially heat-labile (MICs raised four-to eight-fold after autoclaving) and 26 drugs were heat-labile (MICs raised > 16-fold following autoclaving); the remainder proved heat-stable (MICs raised < two-fold after autoclaving). Surprisingly, the /?-lactams, azlocillin, aztreonam, mezlocillin, and oxacillin, were remarkably heat-stable

Five-year mortality and related prognostic factors after inpatient stroke rehabilitation : A European multi-centre study

Objective: To determine 5-year mortality and its association with baseline characteristics and functional status 6 months post-stroke for patients who received inpatient rehabilitation. Design: A prospective rehabilitation-based cohort study. Subjects: A total of 532 consecutive stroke patients from 4 European rehabilitation centres. Methods: Predictors were recorded on admission. Barthel Index was assessed at 6 months (BI6mths) and patients were followed for 5 years post-stroke. Survival probability was computed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared across 3 BI6mths-classes (0-60, 65-90, 95-100) (log-rank test). Significant independent predictors were determined using multivariate Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio (HR)). Results: Five-year cumulative risk of death was 29.12% (95% confidence interval (CI): 22.86-35.38). Age (HR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04-1.09), cognitive impairment (HR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.21-2.57), diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.16- 2.41) and atrial fibrillation (HR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.08-2.14) were independent predictors of increased mortality. Hyperlipidaemia (HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46-0.94), and higher BI6mths (HR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-0.99) were independent predictors of decreased mortality. Five-year survival probability was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.80-0.89) for patients in BI6mthsclass: 95-100, 0.72 (95% CI: 0.63-0.79) in BI6mths-class: 65-90 and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.40-0.60) in BI6mths-class: 0-60 (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Nearly one-third of rehabilitation patients died during the first 5 years following stroke. Functional status at 6 months was a powerful predictor of long-term mortality. Maximum functional independence at 6 months post-stroke should be promoted through medical interventions and rehabilitation. Future studies are recommended to evaluate the direct effect of rehabilitation on long-term survival