Farm lending practices and services provided for Missouri farmers by selected credit sources

Title from JPEG cover page (University of Missouri Digital Library, viewed Aug. 27, 2009).Includes bibliographical references

Key Components of Human Myofibre Denervation and Neuromuscular Junction Stability are Modulated by Age and Exercise

The decline in muscle mass and function with age is partly caused by a loss of muscle fibres through denervation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of exercise to influence molecular targets involved in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) stability in healthy elderly individuals. Participants from two studies (one group of 12 young and 12 elderly females and another group of 25 elderly males) performed a unilateral bout of resistance exercise. Muscle biopsies were collected at 4.5 h and up to 7 days post exercise for tissue analysis and cell culture. Molecular targets related to denervation and NMJ stability were analysed by immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In addition to a greater presence of denervated fibres, the muscle samples and cultured myotubes from the elderly individuals displayed altered gene expression levels of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunits. A single bout of exercise induced general changes in AChR subunit gene expression within the biopsy sampling timeframe, suggesting a sustained plasticity of the NMJ in elderly individuals. These data support the role of exercise in maintaining NMJ stability, even in elderly inactive individuals. Furthermore, the cell culture findings suggest that the transcriptional capacity of satellite cells for AChR subunit genes is negatively affected by ageing

Incidence of uterine post abortion infection at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Is prophylactic antibiotic necessary?

Objetivo: Identificar a incidência de infecção pélvica após aborto espontâneo submetido a esvaziamento uterino num hospital terciário do sul do Brasil e comparar com a literatura internacional. Métodos: Os prontuários eletrônicos do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre de todas as pacientes que foram submetidas ao esvaziamento uterino por abortamento entre agosto de 2008 e Janeiro de 2012 foram revisados. Foram incluídas no estudo todas as pacientes submetidas à curetagem uterina por abortamento e que tiveram consultas ambulatoriais de revisão após o procedimento. Os dados demográficos e laboratoriais da população estudada, number needed for treatment (NNT) e o number needed to harm (NNH) foram calculados. Resultados: Dos 857 prontuários eletrônicos revistos, 377 pacientes foram submetidas ao esvaziamento uterino por abortamento; 55 casos foram perdidos no seguimento, restando 322 casos que foram classificados como aborto não infectado na admissão. A maioria da população era da raça branca (79%); a prevalência de HIV e VDRL positivos foi de 0,3 e 2%, respectivamente. No seguimento desses 322 casos, num período mínimo de 7 dias, verificou-se que a incidência de infecção pós-procedimento foi de 1,8% (IC95%0,8 a 4). O NNT e o NNH calculado para 42 meses foi de 63 e 39, respectivamente. Conclusão: A incidência de infecção pós-aborto entre agosto de 2008 a janeiro de 2012 foi de 1,8% (0,8 a 4).Objective: To identify the incidence of infection post-uterine evacuation for miscarriage at a tertiary teaching hospital in southern Brazil. Methods: Electronic records of all patients admitted for uterine evacuation for miscarriage between August 2008 and January 2012 were revised. All patients submitted to uterine curettage for miscarriage and had outpatient follow-up were included. Demographic, laboratorial data of the sampled population, the number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH) were calculated. Results: From 857 reviewed electronic records, 377 underwent uterine evacuation for miscarriage. 55 cases were lost to follow-up, remaining 322 cases classified as non-infected miscarriage at admission. The majority of the population was white (79%); prevalence of positive HIV and VDRL was 0.3 and 2%, respectively. From 322 cases, within a week of follow-up, the incidence of post-miscarriage infection was 1.8% (95%CI 0.8 to 4). In a period of 42 months, the NNT and NNH were 63 and 39, respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of infection after miscarriage between August 2008 and January 2012 was 1.8% (0.8 to 4)

Reproductive tract infections in women seeking abortion in Vietnam

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Women requesting abortion are at increased risk of developing RTI complications. However, RTI control in many resource-poor countries including Vietnam have been faced with logistical and methodological problems due to lack of standardized definitions of RTIs, lack of well-validated diagnostic criteria, lack of accurate laboratory tests, and lack of diagnostic equipment and skills. This article investigates the prevalence of RTIs among Vietnamese abortion-seeking women, to evaluate the available diagnostic techniques, and to assess antibiotic resistance among aetiological agents of RTI.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>The study was conducted in Phu-San hospital (PSH) from December 2003 through April 2004 among 748 abortion clients. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-economic and reproductive characteristics. Specimens were collected for laboratory analyses of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, vaginal candidiasis (VC), bacterial vaginosis (BV) and syphilis. To assess the validity of the obtained results, the study was repeated among 100 women and the duplicate samples were analysed at PSH and Copenhagen University Hospital (CUH).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In all 54% of the women were diagnosed as having an RTI, including 3.3% with sexually transmitted infections. Endogenous infections were most prevalent (VC 34% and BV 12%) followed by chlamydia (1.3%) and trichomoniasis (0.7%). The sensitivity of culture for VC and BV was 30% and 88%, respectively, when tests in PSH were measured against tests in CUH. Antibiotic resistance was common among bacterial isolates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>RTIs are common among women seeking abortion. The presence of RTIs is associated with an increased risk of developing iatrogenic infections, routine administration of prophylactic antibiotic to all women undergoing abortion should be considered. However, the choice of routine prophylactic antibiotics should be based on relevant surveillance data of antibiotic resistance. Moreover, since the accuracy of diagnosis is doubtful and to address the problem of under-diagnosed and treated RTIs new investment in diagnostic facilities with simple performed microscopy or improved rapid tests should also be taken into consideration.</p

FIELD TRIAL OF A CPT-AVICIDE AERIAL SPRAY

A 2.2 ha-cedar and mixed deciduous tree woodlot in Crawford, Mississippi, harboring 330,000 blackbirds (Icterinae) and European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) was aerially sprayed by helicopter the night of 1 March 1989 with 1050 1 of a CPT-avicide formulation at a rate of 49 kg CPT/ha. Most mortality occurred within 36 h of treatment. Mortality in the roost was 3% of the pretreatment population. No reliable technique to estimate out-of-roost mortality was identified. Pilot misapplication and probable CPT volatilization of the spray formulation contributed to the low mortality. Only 1 of 37 radiotagged blackbirds using the roost the night of the spray was verified as a CPT-related mortality. Pre- and posttreatment numbers of hawks and owls in and near the roost did not differ (P \u3e 0.05). Dead nontarget animals found in and near the roost included 10 cardinals (Richmondena cardinalis), 1 robin (Turdus migratorius), and 1 least shrew (Cryptotis parva). Additional research is needed to develop methodologies for evaluating the efficacy of slow-acting toxicants