The effect of exogenous glucose infusion on early embryonic development in lactating dairy cows

peer-reviewedThe objective of this study was to examine the effect of intravenous infusion of glucose on early embryonic development in lactating dairy cows. Nonpregnant, lactating dairy cows (n = 12) were enrolled in the study (276 ± 17 d in milk). On d 7 after a synchronized estrus, cows were randomly assigned to receive an intravenous infusion of either 750 g/d of exogenous glucose (GLUC; 78 mL/h of 40% glucose wt/vol) or saline (CTRL; 78 mL/h of 0.9% saline solution). The infusion period lasted 7 d and cows were confined to metabolism stalls for the duration of the study. Coincident with the commencement of the infusion on d 7 after estrus, 15 in vitro-produced grade 1 blastocysts were transferred into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum. All animals were slaughtered on d 14 to recover conceptuses, uterine fluid, and endometrial tissue. Glucose infusion increased circulating glucose concentrations (4.70 ± 0.12 vs. 4.15 ± 0.12 mmol/L) but did not affect milk production or dry matter intake. Circulating β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were decreased (0.51 ± 0.01 vs. 0.70 ± 0.01 mmol/L for GLUC vs. CTRL, respectively) but plasma fatty acids, progesterone, and insulin concentrations were unaffected by treatment. Treatment did not affect either uterine lumen fluid glucose concentration or the mRNA abundance of specific glucose transporters in the endometrium. Mean conceptus length, width, and area on d 14 were reduced in the GLUC treatment compared with the CTRL treatment. A greater proportion of embryos in the CTRL group had elongated to all length cut-off measurements between 11 and 20 mm (measured in 1-mm increments) compared with the GLUC treatment. In conclusion, infusion of glucose into lactating dairy cows from d 7 to d 14 post-estrus during the critical period of conceptus elongation had an adverse impact on early embryonic development

GeV-Scale Thermal WIMPs: Not Even Slightly Dead

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) have long reigned as one of the leading classes of dark matter candidates. The observed dark matter abundance can be naturally obtained by freezeout of weak-scale dark matter annihilations in the early universe. This "thermal WIMP" scenario makes direct predictions for the total annihilation cross section that can be tested in present-day experiments. While the dark matter mass constraint can be as high as $m_\chi\gtrsim100$ GeV for particular annihilation channels, the constraint on the total cross section has not been determined. We construct the first model-independent limit on the WIMP total annihilation cross section, showing that allowed combinations of the annihilation-channel branching ratios considerably weaken the sensitivity. For thermal WIMPs with s-wave $2\rightarrow2$ annihilation to visible final states, we find the dark matter mass is only known to be $m_\chi\gtrsim20$ GeV. This is the strongest largely model-independent lower limit on the mass of thermal-relic WIMPs, together with the upper limit on the mass from the unitarity bound ($m_\chi\lesssim 100$ TeV), it defines what we call the "WIMP window". To probe the remaining mass range, we outline ways forward.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, references added, accepted for publication in PR

Nutrition-Related Factors and the Progression of Metabolic Syndrome Characteristics over Time in Older Adults: Analysis of the TUDA Cohort

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus by an estimated two- and five-fold, respectively. Nutrition intervention could help to prevent the progression of MetS and associated pathologies with age, but the precise dietary components and related factors are not well understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of nutrition-related factors in MetS as well as the progression of MetS and its components over a 7-year follow-up period in older adults. This investigation involved the secondary analysis of data from the North–South of Ireland Trinity-Ulster-Department of Agriculture (TUDA) study of community-dwelling older adults (≥60 y), which were sampled at baseline (2008–2012; n = 5186) and follow-up (2015–2018; n = 953). Participants were deemed to have MetS if they met at least three of the following criteria: waist circumference (≥102 cm for males, ≥88 cm for females); HDL cholesterol (<1.0 mmol/L for males, <1.3 mmol/L for females); triglycerides (≥1.7 mmol/L); blood pressure (systolic ≥ 130 and/or diastolic ≥ 85 mmHg); and HbA1c (≥39 mmol/mol). The prevalence of MetS increased with advancing age (67% at baseline vs. 74% at follow-up). The factors at baseline that were predictive of a higher MetS risk at follow-up included waist circumference (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00–1.08; p = 0.038) and triglycerides (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.21–2.59; p = 0.003). In a detailed dietary analysis conducted at the follow-up time point, higher protein intake (g/kg body weight) was associated with a lower risk of MetS (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.02–0.20; p < 0.001), abdominal obesity (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.02–0.51; p = 0.006), and hypertension (OR 0.022, 95% CI 0.00–0.80; p = 0.037), and a higher MUFA intake (g/day) was associated with a lower risk of MetS (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78–1.00; p = 0.030). No other dietary factors were significantly associated with MetS. In terms of protein quality, participants with MetS compared to those without consumed fewer high-quality protein foods (p = 0.009) and consumed more low-quality protein foods (p < 0.001). Dietary intervention along with other strategies focusing on potentially modifiable risk factors may delay the progression of MetS in older adults. Efforts to enhance the quantity and quality of protein intake may be warranted to reduce MetS in certain at-risk groups

Development, acceptability and construct validity of the Aboriginal Women's Experiences of Partner Violence Scale (AEPVS): a co-designed, multiphase study nested within an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander birth cohort

OBJECTIVE: Few studies employ culturally safe approaches to understanding Indigenous women's experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). The aim of this study was to develop a brief, culturally safe, self-report measure of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's experiences of different types of IPV. DESIGN: Multistage process to select, adapt and test a modified version of the Australian Composite Abuse Scale using community discussion groups and pretesting. Revised draft measure tested in Wave 2 follow-up of an existing cohort of Aboriginal families. Psychometric testing and revision included assessment of the factor structure, construct validity, scale reliability and acceptability to create the Aboriginal Women's Experiences of Partner Violence Scale (AEPVS). SETTING: South Australia, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 14 Aboriginal women participated in discussion groups, 58 women participated in pretesting of the draft version of the AEPVS and 216 women participating in the Aboriginal Families Study completed the revised draft version of the adapted measure. RESULTS: The initial version of the AEPVS based on item review and adaptation by the study's Aboriginal Advisory Group comprised 31 items measuring physical, emotional and financial IPV. After feedback from community discussion groups and two rounds of testing, the 18-item AEPVS consists of three subscales representing physical, emotional and financial IPV. All subscales had excellent construct validity and internal consistency. The AEPVS had high acceptability among Aboriginal women participating in the Aboriginal Families Study. CONCLUSIONS: The AEPVS is the first co-designed, multidimensional measure of Aboriginal women's experience of physical, emotional and financial IPV. The measure demonstrated cultural acceptability and construct validity within the setting of an Aboriginal-led, community-based research project. Validation in other settings (eg, primary care) and populations (eg, other Indigenous populations) will need to incorporate processes for community governance and tailoring of research processes to local community contexts.Karen Glover, Deirdre Gartland, Cathy Leane, Arwen Nikolof, Donna Weetra, Yvonne Clark, Rebecca Giallo, Stephanie J Brow

Engaging with Indigenous Australian communities for a human papilloma virus and oropharyngeal cancer project; use of the CONSIDER statement

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of oral HPV infection and HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) among Indigenous Australians is unknown. This paper outlines the engagement, consultation and recruitment strategies for a study involving investigation of HPV and OPSCC among Indigenous South Australians, based on the consolidated criteria for strengthening the reporting of health research involving Indigenous Peoples (CONSIDER) statement. METHODS: Initial consultations with all interested Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) were done throughout 2014 and 2015. This resulted in a funding application submitted that reflected Indigenous community views and inputs in study design and methodology, and which included nine Indigenous investigators. Once funding was received, community consultation was again undertaken, with six ACCHOs providing structures, strategies and recommendations for how recruitment for participants taking part in the study should be undertaken. Staff were hired (n = 6), with non-Indigenous staff (n = 3) undertaking extensive cultural competency training. An Indigenous Reference Group was established to provide oversight and cultural guidance. Recruitment of Indigenous participants by trained field officers occurred between Feb 2018 and Dec 2018, with n = 1011 recruited. Qualitative records summarising research staff contact with ACCHOs and participants were documented. These records, together with field trip notes, key ACCHO stakeholder reflections and research staff comments, were reviewed to summarise the culturally sensitive strategies that appeared to work most successfully to facilitate ACCHO and participant buy-in. RESULTS: Findings were documented against the CONSIDER statement's research reporting framework of governance: relationships, prioritization, methodologies, participation, capacity, analysis and findings, and dissemination. The apparent success of the community engagement processes were then conceptualised into five domains: (1) engaging with ACCHOs as equal partners very early in the research process; (2) having an Indigenous Reference Group; (3) ACCHOs actively promoting the study; (4) having a flexible agenda responsive to broader environment demands and; (5) including Indigenous capacity building. CONCLUSIONS: Consultation and engagement with all sectors of the Indigenous community are essential in any research, especially a project involving HPV and OPSCC. Enabling local Indigenous staff to provide cultural guidance throughout the research process is helpful. Research that is culturally respectful and in partnership with Indigenous groups can be embraced when the research is collaborative and has clear translational benefits. The CONSIDER statement is a useful checklist against which to assess Indigenous health research processes. In future, the findings may be useful to yield important Aboriginal population estimates for both oral HPV infection and OPSCC. This may serve to convince funding bodies to provide health promotion personnel in the field of oral health, specifically OPSCC, in ACCHOs.Joanne Hedges, Gail Garvey, Zell Dodd, Warren Miller, Terry Dunbar ... Lisa Jamieson ... et al