Hypoadrenocorticism in an aged cat

A 13-year-old, female, neutered, domestic longhair cat was referred to the hospital with a two-month history of fluctuating weakness, lethargy, inappetence and intermittently soft stools. Physical examination noted variable mentation, mild tachycardia with poor pulse quality and a body condition score of 1/9. In-house haematology and biochemistry abnormalities included a mild neutrophilia, hyponatraemia, and decreased Na:K ratio of 24 and isosthenuric urine (1.012). The cat was admitted to the hospital for intravenous fluid therapy and management of its electrolyte abnormalities. A low basal cortisol (36 nmol/l) was found on analysis of a stored serum sample, and further investigations confirmed the diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism. Treatment was implemented initially with hydrocortisone and dexamethasone and continued long term with desoxycorticosterone pivalate and oral prednisolone. More than one year since diagnosis, the cat is clinically well and stable on treatment

A Historical Perspective of Bighorn Sheep Disease in Montana

A historical overview of bighorn sheep disease in the state of Montana will be discussed by summarizing causes of morbidity and mortality experienced by various Montana bighorn herds.  Changes in our understanding of bighorn sheep diseases, their impacts on herd health, and management strategies that may be directed at reducing risk of disease outbreaks in bighorn will be discussed.  Additional information and updates on current health testing protocols and a multi-state effort to standardize testing protocols for bighorn sheep will also be presented

The influence of shc proteins on the whole body energetic response to calorie restriction initiated in 3-month-old mice.

There is increasing evidence that Shc proteins play a role in energy metabolism, and we have previously reported that knockdown of Shc proteins influences the energetic response to acute (3 days) calorie restriction (CR) in 18-month-old mice. Whether Shc proteins play a role in the metabolic response to CR in younger mice has yet to be elucidated. Hence, we sought to determine the impact of 3 days and longer term (2 months) CR on energy expenditure (EE) and respiratory quotient (RQ) in 3 month-old Shc knockout (ShcKO) and wild-type (WT) mice. ShcKO mice decreased (P < 0.001) EE normalized for body weight (EEBW) by 3 days of CR, while no such change was observed in WT animals. However, both ShcKO and WT mice decreased (P < 0.001) EEBW at 2 months of CR and there were no differences in body weight between the ShcKO and WT mice at either 3 days or 2 months of CR. Consistent with increased fatty acid oxidation, only ShcKO mice maintained decreased (P < 0.001) 24 h RQ through 2 months of CR, suggesting that they were able to maintain increased fatty acid oxidation for a longer period of time than WT mice. These results indicate that Shc proteins may contribute to some of the acute energetic responses to CR

The influence of shc proteins and aging on whole body energy expenditure and substrate utilization in mice.

While it has been proposed that Shc family of adaptor proteins may influence aging by regulating insulin signaling and energy metabolism, the overall impact of Shc proteins on whole body energy metabolism has yet to be elucidated. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the influence of Shc proteins and aging on whole body energy metabolism in a mouse model under ambient conditions (22°C) and acute cold exposure (12°C for 24 hours). Using indirect respiration calorimetry, we investigated the impact of Shc proteins and aging on EE and substrate utilization (RQ) in p66 Shc-/- (ShcKO) and wild-type (WT) mice. Calorimetry measurements were completed in 3, 15, and 27 mo mice at 22°C and 12°C. At both temperatures and when analyzed across all age groups, ShcKO mice demonstrated lower 24 h total EE values than that of WT mice when EE data was expressed as either kJ per mouse, or adjusted by body weight or crude organ mass (ORGAN) (P≤0.01 for all). The ShcKO mice also had higher (P<0.05) fed state RQ values than WT animals at 22°C, consistent with an increase in glucose utilization. However, Shc proteins did not influence age-related changes in energy expenditure or RQ. Age had a significant impact on EE at 22°C, regardless of how EE data was expressed (P<0.05), demonstrating a pattern of increase in EE from age 3 to 15 mo, followed by a decrease in EE at 27 mo. These results indicate a decline in whole body EE with advanced age in mice, independent of changes in body weight (BW) or fat free mass (FFM). The results of this study indicate that both Shc proteins and aging should be considered as factors that influence energy expenditure in mice

Teacher Stress and Coping: A Qualitative Case Study

This study examines how stress affects the teacher participants in a rural school in Alabama and how those teachers cope with stress. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore the effects of teacher stress and the ways in which stress is dealt with through coping strategies. Thirteen teachers from one school in the district were invited to participate. Eight teachers of the thirteen agreed to be interviewed as part of the study, which included all the K–6 teachers (with the exception of fourth grade), the literacy coach, and the physical education teacher. The final finding is that increasing support, creating positive work environments within the school, and incorporating a mindset of effective communication can reduce the effects of stress and build coping strategies. Understanding sources of stress and how they affect teachers will be essential to help guide future research and best ways of coping. The study of teacher stress and coping suggest a need to recognize stress and understand its affects are important to the teacher interactions of implementing coping strategies. Researched-based methods and models for reducing the effects of teacher stress are needed and identifying coping strategies is as well using guide lines for such an agenda

A Matter of Time: The Relationship of Class Length and Demographics on the South Carolina Algebra I End-of-Course Test in South Carolina Middle Schools

For middle school students taking Algebra 1 as a high school credit, having sufficient instructional time to understand and explore the course content is crucial. While the focus of the literature review helps lend understanding to the study, there has been limited information concerning assessment scores in middle school math classes and the length of class time. This study investigated the differences in the End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) test scores of middle school students in Algebra 1 as influenced by schedules used in South Carolina public middle schools for each individual year in a 5-year span of the 2010-2015 academic years. Framing this study were previous investigations done by Lewis, Dugan, Winokur, and Cobb (2005); Farmer (2005); and Howard (2010). Using a nonexperimental quantitative research methodology with a factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine significance, this study analyzed the relationship between two types of schedules, block and traditional period. The interactive effects of demographic covariables of ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), special services, and gender on EOCEP scores were examined through an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), followed by a Bonferroni Post Hoc. Mean scores for each year demonstrated higher levels for block scheduling during the 2010-1011 and 2011-2012 school years. Traditional period scheduled students scored a higher mean during the 2013-2015 school years. Test results displayed significance between schedule type and Algebra 1 EOC test scores for the 2010-2011 and 2014-2015 academic years. Test results involving demographics found no significance for the 2010-2015 school years for gender. SES and special services were found to be significant in each academic year. Ethnicity was found to be significant in 2011-2012 and 2014-2015. Recommendations include considering SES and special services when determining schedule structure for middle school Algebra 1 courses. Ethnicity should be examined in closer detail before considering as a scheduling influence. Gender should not be considered as a factor when making schedule-option decisions

Fermionic Effective Operators and Higgs Production at a Linear Collider

We study the possible contributions of dimension six operators containing fermion fields to Higgs production at a 500 GeV or 1 TeV $e^+e^-$ linear collider. We show that -- depending on the production mechanism -- the effects of such operators can be kinematically enhanced relative to Standard Model (SM) contributions. We determine constraints on the operator coefficients implied by existing precision electroweak measurements and the scale of neutrino mass. We find that even in the presence of such constraints, substantial deviations from SM Higgs production cross-sections are possible. We compare the effects of fermionic operators with those associated with purely bosonic operators that have been previously discussed in the literature.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figures, fixed typo in author name

Periprosthetic Knee Infection after tumor excision complicated by Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Case: A 65 year old Caucasian man presented with acute right knee PJI with Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) two months after undergoing right knee intra-articular mass removal with endoprosthetic reconstruction. The periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) was treated with revision with 1-stage static spacer and IV meropenem. Conclusion: CRE is a relatively uncommon cause of PJI that will infect patients who are immunosuppressed or have specific risk factors. This case demonstrates the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of CRE joint infections and the need for a multidisciplinary approach that includes aggressive surgical intervention and tailored antimicrobial therapy

Wolf Disease Summary 2004-2014

Canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), canine adenovirus (CAV), canine herpesvirus (CHV), neosporosis, leptospirosis, Brucella abortus and B. canis are diseases that have wolf health or wildlife management implications. Blood serum samples from wolves captured and collared for management purposes between 2004-2014 were screened for these pathogens. Serologic tests for leptospirosis, B. abortus, and B. canis were completed by the Montana Department of Livestock Diagnostic Laboratory with the remaining tests performed by Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center (Cornell University, AHDC).  Samples were assigned as being collected in the Northwest or Southwest region of the state based on capture location and the region designation provided by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wolf specialists. We evaluated and compared pathogen presence and prevalence within Northwest and Southwest Montana.  Each disease and its potential implications in the Northwest and Southwest region is discussed