Establishing a yard specific normal rectal temperature reference range for horses

Previously published equine temperature ranges often fail to state the population of animals or the method of temperature measurement used to establish the range. An inappropriate reference range can negatively affect the interpretation of measurements, resulting in animals being misdiagnosed. A yard specific equine rectal temperature reference range was therefore calculated. 652 rectal temperatures were collected from a population of 41 healthy adult horses, including a range of breeds aged 2-23 years old. Rectal temperature was measured at a depth of 5cm, using lubricated digital predictive thermometers. The normal rectal temperature range of horses on this yard was 36.0 – 38.0°C (90% confidence interval [CI] = 35.97–36.03°C at the lower limit, CI = 37.97–38.03°C at the upper limit). A Mann Whitney test showed significant difference between geldings and mares (Z = -1.389, p = 0.165). Spearman’s correlation showed no significant correlations between rectal temperature and ambient temperature (Rs = 0.137, p = 0.052), or rectal temperature and horse height (Rs = -0.047, p = 0.791). The upper limit of the range is lower than most previously suggested temperature ranges, which may reflect the low stress environment in which temperatures were measured; horses were housed in a familiar environment and examined and handled by familiar equine technicians. The findings of this study suggest that establishing yard specific normal temperature ranges could improve early detection of fever, and support biosecurity protocols in the face of infectious disease outbreaks. Additionally, the results suggest that existing equine temperature ranges may need reviewing

Host Sexual Dimorphism and Parasite Adaptation

Disease expression and prevalence often vary in the different sexes of the host. This is typically attributed to innate differences of the two sexes but specific adaptations by the parasite to one or other host sex may also contribute to these observations

ISSN exercise & sport nutrition review: research & recommendations

Sports nutrition is a constantly evolving field with hundreds of research papers published annually. For this reason, keeping up to date with the literature is often difficult. This paper is a five year update of the sports nutrition review article published as the lead paper to launch the JISSN in 2004 and presents a well-referenced overview of the current state of the science related to how to optimize training and athletic performance through nutrition. More specifically, this paper provides an overview of: 1.) The definitional category of ergogenic aids and dietary supplements; 2.) How dietary supplements are legally regulated; 3.) How to evaluate the scientific merit of nutritional supplements; 4.) General nutritional strategies to optimize performance and enhance recovery; and, 5.) An overview of our current understanding of the ergogenic value of nutrition and dietary supplementation in regards to weight gain, weight loss, and performance enhancement. Our hope is that ISSN members and individuals interested in sports nutrition find this review useful in their daily practice and consultation with their clients

Using activity based costing to track resource use in group practices

Research shows that understanding how resources are consumed can help group practices control costs. An American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons study used an activity-based costing (ABC) system to measure how resources are consumed in providing medical services. Teams of accounting professors observed 18 diverse orthopedic surgery practices. The researchers identified 17 resource-consuming business processes performed by nonphysician office staff. They measured resource consumption by assigning costs to each process according to how much time is spent on related work activities. When group practices understand how their resources are being consumed, they can reduce costs and optimize revenues by maing adjustments in how administrative and clinical staff work.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Early effects of short-term aerobic training : physiological responses to graded exercise

Effets cardiorespiratoires (fréquence et débit cardiaque, lactate sanguin, consommation d'oxygène) et musculaires (EMG des muscles des jambes) d'un programme de trois semaines d'entraînement d'endurance sur bicyclette ergométrique chez des jeunes adultes sédentaire

Effects of 3 day bed rest on physiological responses to graded exercise in athletes and sedentary men

32 sujets répartis en trois groupes (12 sujets sédentaires, 10 athlètes entrainés en endurance et 10 autres entrainés à la force) sont restés couchés durant trois jours et ont réalisé progressivement un exercice-test jusqu'à l'épuisement volontaire. Mesure des réponses métaboliques, cardiorespiratoires et neurohormonales. Analyse des résultats et comparison entre les groupe

Adverse effects of occupational stress on health state in patients with chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases

Stres w pracy zawodowej jest czynnikiem ryzyka nadciśnienia tętniczego i choroby niedokrwiennej serca. Sprzyja też rozwojowi cukrzycy i otyłości. Słabo znany jest wpływ obciążeń psychospołecznych na stan zdrowia systematycznie leczonych pacjentów z przewlekłymi chorobami układu krążenia i przemiany materii. W badaniach własnych, którymi objęto pacjentów wykonujących zawodowo pracę wymagającą podejmowania odpowiedzialnych decyzji, koncentracji uwagi i powodującą napięcie emocjonalne, wykazano (na podstawie 24-godzinnych zapisów EKG i ciśnienia tętniczego) występowania znacznych wzrostów ciśnienia tętniczego, arytmii serca i epizodów niedokrwienia mięśnia sercowego, pomimo regularnego przyjmowania leków. Zmiany występowały częściej w czasie dni pracy określanych przez badanych jako stresogenne. U chorych na cukrzycę stwierdzono podwyższone stężenie glukozy we krwi w godzinach największej aktywności zawodowej.Job strain is a risk factor for hypertension and coronary heart disease. It can also contribute to the development of diabetes and obesity. Little is known about the effect of psycho-social factors and especially occupational stress on the health status of regularly medicated patients with chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. An analysis of 24-hour registration of ECG and blood pressure in patients engaged in jobs with high mental demands and extensive responsibility showed that during „stressful” days in many of them large increases in blood pressure, ischemic changes in ECG, cardiac arrhythmias occurred in spite of pharmacological treatment. Some diabetic patients also showed high levels blood glucose during the most active part of the working day