Possible Effects of Catfish Exploitation on Overwinter Body Condition of Double-Crested Cormorants

Concurrent with the rapid growth of the Mississippi catfish industry during the 1980’s, there was evidence of similar growth of double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) populations wintering in the delta region of Mississippi. Observational and food habits studies indicate that this expansive industry, incorporating more than 100,000 acres of ponds, provides an enormous food base for overwintering populations estimated in recent years to exceed 50,000 birds. As much as 75 percent of the diet in certain roosting areas of the Mississippi delta consisted of catfish, and according to bioenergetic models cormorants can exploit as much as 940 metric tons of catfish per winter. Despite these data, there has been little attempt to demonstrate whether exploitation of this food base has increased body condition and possibly survival of wintering cormorants that return primarily to the Great Lakes region to breed. To examine this possible effect, we analyzed monthly changes in body masses of wintering cormorants collected in the delta region of Mississippi and compared premigratory body masses and fat deposition of Mississippi cormorants with those from areas without extensive aquaculture production. With the exception of adult females, all sex and age groups of cormorants collected in the delta during the winters of 1989– 90 and 1990–91 increased (P \u3c 0.05) their body mass from November to April. Over all months, body masses of adult males and adult females were greater than that of subadults. Standardized by wing chord length, the premigratory body masses of Mississippi males and females differed (P \u3c 0.0004) from premigratory males and females collected from Alabama in areas remote from catfish production. Premigratory fat deposition appeared to be responsible for the body mass increases, and omental fat mass was highly correlated (R = 0.721, P \u3c 0.0001) with body mass and also differed (P = 0.0003) between Mississippi and Alabama birds. We hypothesize that the improved body condition of cormorants resulting from exploiting catfish has increased their survival and contributed to the population explosion of cormorants observed over the past decade. We suggest additional studies to substantiate our findings and to clarify the importance of southern aquaculture on improving body condition and survival of cormorants

Possible Effects of Catfish Exploitation on Overwinter Body Condition of Double-Crested Cormorants

Concurrent with the rapid growth of the Mississippi catfish industry during the 1980’s, there was evidence of similar growth of double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) populations wintering in the delta region of Mississippi. Observational and food habits studies indicate that this expansive industry, incorporating more than 100,000 acres of ponds, provides an enormous food base for overwintering populations estimated in recent years to exceed 50,000 birds. As much as 75 percent of the diet in certain roosting areas of the Mississippi delta consisted of catfish, and according to bioenergetic models cormorants can exploit as much as 940 metric tons of catfish per winter. Despite these data, there has been little attempt to demonstrate whether exploitation of this food base has increased body condition and possibly survival of wintering cormorants that return primarily to the Great Lakes region to breed. To examine this possible effect, we analyzed monthly changes in body masses of wintering cormorants collected in the delta region of Mississippi and compared premigratory body masses and fat deposition of Mississippi cormorants with those from areas without extensive aquaculture production. With the exception of adult females, all sex and age groups of cormorants collected in the delta during the winters of 1989– 90 and 1990–91 increased (P \u3c 0.05) their body mass from November to April. Over all months, body masses of adult males and adult females were greater than that of subadults. Standardized by wing chord length, the premigratory body masses of Mississippi males and females differed (P \u3c 0.0004) from premigratory males and females collected from Alabama in areas remote from catfish production. Premigratory fat deposition appeared to be responsible for the body mass increases, and omental fat mass was highly correlated (R = 0.721, P \u3c 0.0001) with body mass and also differed (P = 0.0003) between Mississippi and Alabama birds. We hypothesize that the improved body condition of cormorants resulting from exploiting catfish has increased their survival and contributed to the population explosion of cormorants observed over the past decade. We suggest additional studies to substantiate our findings and to clarify the importance of southern aquaculture on improving body condition and survival of cormorants

Minimally Invasive Periodontal Treatment Using the Er,Cr: YSGG Laser. A 2-year Retrospective Preliminary Clinical Study

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) using the erbium, chromium: yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser (Waterlase MD, Biolase, Irvine, CA) to treat moderate to advanced periodontal disease is presented as an alternative to conventional therapies. To date, there are few short- or long-term studies to demonstrate the effects of this laser in treating and maintaining periodontal health. Electronic clinical records from 16 patients – total of 126 teeth, with pocket depths ranging from 4 mm to 9 mm – were treated with the same protocol using the Er,Cr:YSGG laser. The mean baseline probing depths (PD) were 5 mm and clinical attachment levels (CAL) were 5 mm in the 4 - 6 mm pretreated laser group. The mean baseline probing depths were 7.5 and 7.6 mm for PD and CAL respectfully in the 7 – 9 mm pretreatment laser group. At the 2 year mark, the average PD was 3.2 ± 1.1 mm for the 4-6 mm pocket group and the 7-9 mm pocket group had a mean PD of 3.7 ± 1.2 mm. mean CAL was 3.1 ± 1.1 mm for the 4-6 mm group and 3.6 ± 1.2 for the 7-9 mm group with an overall reduction of 1.9 mm and 4.0 mm respectively. At one and two years, both groups remained stable with PD comparable to the three-month gains. The CAL measurements at one and two years were also comparable to the three-month gains

Comparison of transcriptional responses in liver tissue and primary hepatocyte cell cultures after exposure to hexahydro-1, 3, 5-trinitro-1, 3, 5-triazine

BACKGROUND: Cell culture systems are useful in studying toxicological effects of chemicals such as Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), however little is known as to how accurately isolated cells reflect responses of intact organs. In this work, we compare transcriptional responses in livers of Sprague-Dawley rats and primary hepatocyte cells after exposure to RDX to determine how faithfully the in vitro model system reflects in vivo responses. RESULTS: Expression patterns were found to be markedly different between liver tissue and primary cell cultures before exposure to RDX. Liver gene expression was enriched in processes important in toxicology such as metabolism of amino acids, lipids, aromatic compounds, and drugs when compared to cells. Transcriptional responses in cells exposed to 7.5, 15, or 30 mg/L RDX for 24 and 48 hours were different from those of livers isolated from rats 24 hours after exposure to 12, 24, or 48 mg/Kg RDX. Most of the differentially expressed genes identified across conditions and treatments could be attributed to differences between cells and tissue. Some similarity was observed in RDX effects on gene expression between tissue and cells, but also significant differences that appear to reflect the state of the cell or tissue examined. CONCLUSION: Liver tissue and primary cells express different suites of genes that suggest they have fundamental differences in their cell physiology. Expression effects related to RDX exposure in cells reflected a fraction of liver responses indicating that care must be taken in extrapolating from primary cells to whole animal organ toxicity effects

Criteria for the selective use of chest computed tomography in blunt trauma patients

Item does not contain fulltextPURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to derive parameters that predict which high-energy blunt trauma patients should undergo computed tomography (CT) for detection of chest injury. METHODS: This observational study prospectively included consecutive patients (>or=16 years old) who underwent multidetector CT of the chest after a high-energy mechanism of blunt trauma in one trauma centre. RESULTS: We included 1,047 patients (median age, 37; 70% male), of whom 508 had chest injuries identified by CT. Using logistic regression, we identified nine predictors of chest injury presence on CT (age >or=55 years, abnormal chest physical examination, altered sensorium, abnormal thoracic spine physical examination, abnormal chest conventional radiography (CR), abnormal thoracic spine CR, abnormal pelvic CR or abdominal ultrasound, base excess or=1 positive predictors, 484 had injury on CT (95% of all 508 patients with injury). Of all 192 patients with no positive predictor, 24 (13%) had chest injury, of whom 4 (2%) had injuries that were considered clinically relevant. CONCLUSION: Omission of CT in patients without any positive predictor could reduce imaging frequency by 18%, while most clinically relevant chest injuries remain adequately detected.1 april 201