Humanising and dehumanising pigs in genomic and transplantation research

Biologists who work on the pig (Sus scrofa) take advantage of its similarity to humans by constructing the inferential and material means to traffic data, information and knowledge across the species barrier. Their research has been funded due to its perceived value for agriculture and medicine. Improving selective breeding practices, for instance, has been a driver of genomics research. The pig is also an animal model for biomedical research and practice, and is proposed as a source of organs for cross-species transplantation: xenotransplantation. Genomics research has informed transplantation biology, which has itself motivated developments in genomics. Both have generated models of correspondences between the genomes of pigs and humans. Concerning genomics, I detail how researchers traverse species boundaries to develop representations of the pig genome, alongside ensuring that such representations are sufficiently porcine. In transplantation biology, the representations of the genomes of humans and pigs are used to detect and investigate immunologically-pertinent differences between the two species. These key differences can then be removed, to ‘humanise’ donor pigs so that they can become a safe and effective source of organs. In both of these endeavours, there is a tension between practices that ‘humanise’ the pig (or representations thereof) through using resources from human genomics, and the need to ‘dehumanise’ the pig to maintain distinctions for legal, ethical and scientific reasons. This paper assesses the ways in which this tension has been managed, observing the differences between its realisations across comparative pig genomics and transplantation biology, and considering the consequences of this

Feasibility and tolerability of whole-body, low-intensity vibration and its effects on muscle function and bone in patients with dystrophinopathies: a pilot study.

IntroductionDystrophinopathies are X-linked muscle degenerative disorders that result in progressive muscle weakness complicated by bone loss. This study's goal was to evaluate feasibility and tolerability of whole-body, low-intensity vibration (WBLIV) and its potential effects on muscle and bone in patients with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy.MethodsThis 12-month pilot study included 5 patients (age 5.9-21.7 years) who used a low-intensity Marodyne LivMD plate vibrating at 30-90 Hz for 10 min/day for the first 6 months. Timed motor function tests, myometry, and peripheral quantitative computed tomography were performed at baseline and at 6 and 12 months.ResultsMotor function and lower extremity muscle strength remained either unchanged or improved during the intervention phase, followed by deterioration after WBLIV discontinuation. Indices of bone density and geometry remained stable in the tibia.ConclusionsWBLIV was well tolerated and appeared to have a stabilizing effect on lower extremity muscle function and bone measures. Muscle Nerve 55: 875-883, 2017

Cultural Consensus on Salmon Fisheries and Ecology in the Copper River, Alaska

This study assessed levels of agreement in knowledge and opinions about salmon fisheries and ecology of the Copper River, Alaska, in three user groups: the Ahtna, an Alaska Native people indigenous to the upper river; commercial fishers who fish at the mouth of the river; and fishery managers and biologists with jurisdiction over the entire watershed. We anticipated that cultural background, academic training, long-term experience on the water, and spatial focus would be reflected in each group’s knowledge and opinions. Cultural consensus analysis showed agreement within each group, similar opinions between commercial fishers and managers and biologists, and distinct Ahtna opinions. Managers and biologists were the most cohesive group; they related to the entire watershed and relied on quantitative information as the basis for fisheries management. Ahtna focused on the upper river and incorporated observed long-term sociocultural, economic, and environmental changes into their opinions about the fisheries. Commercial fishers focused on the lower river and had strong familiarity with scientific principles of fisheries management. The similar views of commercial fishers and managers and biologists may result from the fact that commercial fishers’ economic success also depends on their understanding of fisheries management. To respond to socioeconomic and ecological sustainability issues, fisheries management would benefit from recognizing these perspectives and promoting participation of all stakeholder groups and effective communication among them.Cette étude a permis d’évaluer les degrés d’accord en matière de connaissances et d’opinions sur l’écologie et la pêche au saumon de la rivière Copper, en Alaska, chez trois groupes d’utilisateurs : les Ahtna, peuple autochtone de l’Alaska natif du haut de la rivière; les pêcheurs commerciaux qui pêchent à l’embouchure de la rivière; et les gestionnaires et biologistes des pêches qui ont compétence sur l’ensemble du bassin versant. Nous nous attendions à ce que les connaissances et les opinions de chaque groupe soient rattachées aux antécédents culturels, à l’expérience académique, à l’expérience à long terme de la pêche et l’orientation spatiale. L’analyse du consensus culturel a permis de démontrer un accord au sein de chaque groupe, des opinions similaires entre les pêcheurs commerciaux et les biologistes-gestionnaires, et des opinions distinctes chez les Ahtna. Les biologistes-gestionnaires ont constitué le groupe le plus cohérent. Ils comprenaient l’ensemble du bassin versant et s’appuyaient sur des données quantitatives pour gérer les pêches. Pour leur part, les Ahtna se concentraient sur le haut de la rivière et tenaient compte, dans leurs opinions au sujet des pêches, des changements socioculturels, économiques et environnementaux observés à long terme. Les pêcheurs commerciaux se concentraient sur le bas de la rivière et connaissaient bien les principes scientifiques de la gestion des pêches. Les points de vue similaires des pêcheurs commerciaux et des biologistes-gestionnaires peuvent découler du fait que la réussite financière des pêcheurs commerciaux dépend aussi de leur compréhension de la gestion des pêches. Pour répondre aux questions de durabilité écologique et socioéconomique, la gestion des pêches pourrait bénéficier de la reconnaissance de ces perspectives, puis promouvoir la participation de tous les groupes d’intervenants de même que des communications efficaces entre eux

Perioperative morbidity and mortality after transmyocardial laser revascularization: incidence and risk factors for adverse events

AbstractOBJECTIVESThe purpose of this study was to describe the incidence and spectrum of perioperative cardiac and noncardiac morbidity and mortality after transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR) and to identify predictors of these adverse clinical events.BACKGROUNDClinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of TMR for relieving angina pectoris, although no study to date has specifically addressed the associated perioperative morbidity and mortality.METHODSBetween October 1995 and August 1997, 34 consecutive patients with end-stage coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent isolated TMR. The majority of patients (94%) had class III or IV angina pectoris, and two patients (6%) had unstable symptoms preoperatively. Patient records were reviewed for fatal and nonfatal adverse cardiac and noncardiac events.RESULTSPerioperative death occurred in two patients (5.9%) due to cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction. Perioperative cardiac morbidity occurred in 16 patients (47.1%); noncardiac morbidity was seen in 12 patients (35.3%). Preoperative unstable angina was the only variable predictive of perioperative death (p = 0.005). Cardiac (p = 0.005) and noncardiac (p < 0.001) morbidity rates were significantly higher for the initial 15 patients undergoing the procedure. Other predictors of perioperative complications included lack of postoperative treatment with a furosemide infusion (p ≤ 0.04) and preoperative unstable angina (p = 0.05).CONCLUSIONSPerioperative mortality in patients undergoing isolated TMR is low. Transmyocardial laser revascularization patients are at higher risk for adverse perioperative cardiac and noncardiac events, likely reflecting the lack of immediate benefit from the procedure in the setting of severe CAD. These patients merit vigilant surveillance for adverse events and aggressive medical management in the perioperative period

Evidence-based implementation practices applied to the intensive treatment of eating disorders: Summary of research and illustration of principles using a case example

Implementation of evidence‐based practices (EBPs) in intensive treatment settings poses a major challenge in the field of psychology. This is particularly true for eating disorder (ED) treatment, where multidisciplinary care is provided to a severe and complex patient population; almost no data exist concerning best practices in these settings. We summarize the research on EBP implementation science organized by existing frameworks and illustrate how these practices may be applied using a case example. We describe the recent successful implementation of EBPs in a community‐based intensive ED treatment network, which recently adapted and implemented transdiagnostic, empirically supported treatment for emotional disorders across its system of residential and day‐hospital programs. The research summary, implementation frameworks, and case example may inform future efforts to implement evidence‐based practice in intensive treatment settings.Published versio

The Arclight Ophthalmoscope: A Reliable Low-Cost Alternative to the Standard Direct Ophthalmoscope.

Background. The Arclight ophthalmoscope is a low-cost alternative to standard direct ophthalmoscopes. This study compared the Arclight ophthalmoscope with the Heine K180 direct ophthalmoscope to evaluate its reliability in assessing the vertical cup disc ratio (VCDR) and its ease of use (EOU). Methods. Eight medical students used both the Arclight and the Heine ophthalmoscopes to examine the optic disc in 9 subjects. An EOU score was provided after every examination (a higher score indicating that the ophthalmoscope is easier to use). A consultant ophthalmologist provided the reference standard VCDR. Results. 288 examinations were performed. The number of examinations that yielded an estimation of the VCDR was significantly higher for the Arclight ophthalmoscope (125/144, 85%) compared to the Heine ophthalmoscope (88/144, 61%) (p < 0.001). The mean difference from the reference standard VCDR was similar for both instruments, with a mean of -0.078 (95% CI: -0.10 to -0.056) for the Arclight and -0.072 (95% CI: -0.097 to -0.046) for Heine (p = 0.69). The overall EOU score was significantly higher for the Arclight ophthalmoscope (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The Arclight ophthalmoscope performs as well as, and is easier to use than, a standard direct ophthalmoscope, suggesting it is a reliable, low-cost alternative

Correction: Identification of specific calcitonin-like receptor residues important for calcitonin gene-related peptide high affinity binding

This is a correction article. After publication of this work [1], we became aware of the fact that Robert C. Speth was not included as an author. Dr. Speth put a considerable amount of time and effort into developing and preparing the radiopeptide used to carry out the radioligand binding studies reported in this manuscript and therefore should have originally been included as an author. We apologize to Dr. Speth for any inconvenience that this oversight might have caused and thank him for his invaluable contribution to this project