Copper, zinc, iron and manganese in sediments and in the rock oyster Saccostrea cucullata in Mumbai coast

Sediment and oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) samples were collected at Dhanda, a fishing village in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The samples were analysed for copper, zinc, iron and manganese contents. Metal concentrations in the sediments and bioaccumulated levels in oysters were correlated. There is no positive correlation between the total sedimentary levels of metals analysed and the bioaccumulated levels of respective metals in oyster. A positive correlation between the bioavailable fractions of zinc, iron and manganese, and the bioaccumulated levels exists. Copper, however, shows a negative correlation with respect to the bioaccumulated levels

Population dynamics and stock assessment of Delegoa threadfin bream, Nemipterus bipunctatus (Nemipteridae), from the Wadge Bank, South India

Fishery, population characteristics and stock estimates of Nemipterus bipunctatus were studied during June 2015 to May 2016 from Wadge Bank, South India. This region is characterised by rich biodiversity and has a conducive influence of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. The asymptotic length (L?), growth coefficient (K) and arbitrary origin of growth (t0) were estimated as 30.5 cm, 0.85/year and 0.18 respectively. The mortality parameters, total mortality rate (Z), fishing mortality rate and natural mortality rate (M) were estimated as 2.20, 0.95 and 1.25 respectively. Exploitation ratio (E) was found to be 0.57 which showed marginal over exploitation of the species at Wadge Bank. This species has two recruitment seasons, one major season from October to December and another minor season in August. The length structured Virtual population analysis revealed heavy fishing pressure on the length group 24 to 28 cm and hence the delegoa threadfin bream was not found to suffer due to recruitment overfishing in Wadge Bank. Estimated total stock, Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and annual catch were 5625.9348 tonnes, 1935.321t, 2419.152t respectively. Present level of Exploitation rate (U) and Exploitation ratio (F/Z) were estimated to be 0.43 and 0.57 respectively. The study infers the cod end mesh size of the trawls operated at Wadge Bank coast has to be increase from 10 to 25 mm to increase the yield per recruit, the effort could also be maintained as the exploitation ratio of 0.50 to have maximum yield per recruit. The study suggests reducing the present level of effort by 8 percent may be needed to sustain the stock of N. bipunctatus in Wadge Bank, South Indi

Evaluation of Organochlorine pesticides in edible seaweed Ulva lactuca Linnaeus, 1753 in the Gulf of Mannar, Southern India

1721-1728The level of residual organochlorine pesticide (OCP) toxicity in green seaweed, Ulva lactuca was examined in the present study. Samples were collected from Hare Island (site 1), Erwadi (site 2), Seeniyappa Dhargah (site 3), Mandapam (site 4) and from Rameswaram (site 5) of Gulf of Mannar coast during North-East Monsoon and the beginning of post-monsoon and were analyzed by the standard protocol of AOAC 2007.01 QuEChERS using GC-MS. The analysis revealed that the total OCPs were ranged from 49.61 ng g-1 to 123.68 ng g-1, respectively in sites 5 and site 1. The persistence of Hexachlorocyclohexane, endosulfan, endrin, and DDT was observed in this study. This study inferred that green seaweeds were found to contain high OCP residues immediately after the rainy season

New record of the starry flying gurnard, Dactyloptena peterseni (Scorpaeniformes; Dactylopteridae); from Wadge Bank, Southwest coast of India

Five specimens of dactylopterids measuring 220.5–320.0 mm standard length caught commercial trawler fishing in 80–120 m deep waters of Wadge Bank off Kanyakumari coast (8.02 N, 76.80 E) were collected from the landing centre at Jeppiaar fishing harbour, Muttom, Southwest coast of India. The specimens were identified as Dactyloptena peterseni (Nystrom, 1887) on the basis of morphometric measurements and the key identification character like absence of second free spine between the occipital and the first dorsal spine. The occurrence of the species suggests that the extended distribution of D. peterseni to Southwest coast of India. The detailed morphometric and meristic characters are described and discussed in this paper. Molecular identification was done by using partial sequence of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase sub-unit I gene for confirmation of the species

Efficiency of fresh fish and clam meat as a maturation diet in Sebae clownfish, Amphiprion sebae (Bleeker 1853)

107-114The influence of different combinations of fresh fish and clam meat as feed on gonadal development and maturation in Amphiprion sebae was evaluated in a 60-day study. The study used four different combinations of diet viz. control diet (C: commercial feed with 50 % protein (C)), Treatment 1 (T1: fresh fish alone (F)), Treatment 2 (T2: fresh fish in combination with squid meat (FSQ)) and Treatment 3 (T3: fresh fish in combination with clam meat (FCM)). The experiment was conducted in triplicate, with Clown fish (mean weight: 15 g) stocked in tanks of 200 L capacity. The stocked fish were fed on alternate days with the respective assigned diets. On completion of the 60 days study period, maturation of the fish was assessed based on gonado-somatic index (GSI), fecundity and histology. The present study found highest GSI in fish fed with a diet of fresh fish and clam meat on alternate days (0.493 %), followed by fish fed with a diet of fresh fish and squid meat in alternate days (0.349 %) while the lowest GSI was observed in the group fed with the control diet (0.100 %). Average fecundity observed for A. sebae during the present study was 2204±137.4 eggs. Among the different diets, fish fed fresh fish and clam meat (T3) on alternate days had better gonadal development. On 60th day, the ovary of T3 showed late vitellogenic oocytes with an appearance of yolk vesicles. Thus, it could be concluded that fresh fish in combination with clam meat can be used as maturation diet for marine ornamental fish A. sebae to attain early maturation in captivity

Cancer survivor rehabilitation and recovery: Protocol for the Veterans Cancer Rehabilitation Study (Vet-CaRes)

Background: Cancer survivors are a rapidly growing and aging population in the U.S., but there are many challenges associated with the survivorship experience such as functional disabilities and psychosocial distress. When viewed next to the general population, Veterans are especially at risk for these challenges as they are older and have a high incidence of co-morbid conditions. While the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has called for further cancer survivorship research to address these challenges, we still know little about this experience from the perspective of aging Veterans. Methods/design We conducted a longitudinal, mixed-methods study over the course of three and a half years at the Boston and Houston VA Medical Centers. We recruited 170 Veterans diagnosed with head and neck, colorectal and esophageal/gastric cancers that were identified from the VA tumor registry. Veterans completed three in-depth interviews, conducted at 6, 12 and 18 months after pathology confirmation, measuring the physical, social and psychological factors related to cancer survivorship. The longitudinal design allowed us to assess any changes in cancer related disability and distress over time. Discussion Weekly teleconference study team meetings were a key aspect to the research process. Issues related to recruitment, data management and analysis, and the dissemination of research results was discussed. Interviewers presented detailed case reports of completed interviews that allowed us to refine our interview protocols. We also discussed issues relevant to the Veteran population of which we were previously unaware and some of the challenges of the research process itself. This novel study produced a robust data set that documents the functional and psychosocial cancer survivorship experiences of aging Veterans. The longitudinal design will help us more fully understand the recovery patterns for this specific population, and identify the unique needs and gaps in health services

What Is the Additive Value of Nutritional Deficiency to Va-Fi in the Risk Assessment For Heart Failure Patients?

OBJECTIVES: to assess the impact of adding the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) to the U.S. Veterans Health Administration frailty index (VA-FI) for the prediction of time-to-death and other clinical outcomes in Veterans hospitalized with Heart Failure. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of veterans hospitalized for heart failure (HF) from October 2015 to October 2018. Veterans ≥50 years with albumin and lymphocyte counts, needed to calculate the PNI, in the year prior to hospitalization were included. We defined malnutrition as PNI ≤43.6, based on the Youden index. VA-FI was calculated from the year prior to the hospitalization and identified three groups: robust (≤0.1), prefrail (0.1-0.2), and frail (\u3e0.2). Malnutrition was added to the VA-FI (VA-FI-Nutrition) as a 32 RESULTS: We identified 37,601 Veterans hospitalized for HF (mean age: 73.4 ± 10.3 years, BMI: 31.3 ± 7.4 kg/m CONCLUSION: Adding PNI to VA-FI provides a more accurate and comprehensive assessment among Veterans hospitalized for HF. Clinicians should consider adding a specific nutrition algorithm to automated frailty tools to improve the validity of risk prediction in patients hospitalized with HF

AGS Position Statement: Making Medical Treatment Decisions for Unbefriended Older Adults

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135987/1/jgs14586_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135987/2/jgs14586.pd

Comparison of Collaborative Goal Setting With Enhanced Education for Managing Diabetes-Associated Distress and Hemoglobin A1c Levels: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE: Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent and morbid condition. Poor engagement with self-management can contribute to diabetes-associated distress and hinder diabetes control. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of Empowering Patients in Chronic Care (EPICC), an evidence-based intervention to improve diabetes-associated distress and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels after the intervention and after 6-month maintenance. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This hybrid (implementation-effectiveness) randomized clinical trial was performed in Veterans Affairs clinics across Illinois, Indiana, and Texas from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2017. Participants included adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (HbA1c level \u3e8.0%) who received primary care during the prior year in participating clinics. Data collection was completed on November 30, 2018, and data analysis was completed on June 30, 2020. All analyses were based on intention to treat. INTERVENTIONS: Participants in EPICC attended 6 group sessions based on a collaborative goal-setting theory led by health care professionals. Clinicians conducted individual motivational interviewing sessions after each group. Usual care was enhanced (EUC) with diabetes education. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome consisted of changes in HbA1c levels after the intervention and during maintenance. Secondary outcomes included the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and Lorig Self-efficacy Scale. Secondary implementation outcomes included reach, adoption, and implementation (number of sessions attended per patient). RESULTS: A total of 280 participants with type 2 diabetes (mean [SD] age, 67.2 [8.4] years; 264 men [94.3]; 134 non-Hispanic White individuals [47.9%]) were equally randomized to EPICC or EUC. Participants receiving EPICC had significant postintervention improvements in HbA1c levels (F1, 252 = 9.12, Cohen d = 0.36 [95% CI, 0.12-0.59]; P = .003) and DDS (F1, 245 = 9.06, Cohen d = 0.37 [95% CI, 0.13-0.60]; P = .003) compared with EUC. During maintenance, differences between the EUC and EPICC groups remained significant for DDS score (F1, 245 = 8.94, Cohen d = 0.36 [95% CI, 0.12-0.59]; P = .003) but not for HbA1c levels (F1, 252 = 0.29, Cohen d = 0.06 [95% CI, -0.17 to 0.30]; P = .60). Improvements in DDS scores were modest. There were no differences between EPICC and EUC in improvements after intervention or maintenance for either adherence or self-efficacy. Among all 4002 eligible patients, 280 (7.0%) enrolled in the study (reach). Each clinic conducted all planned EPICC sessions and cohorts (100% adoption). The EPICC group participants attended a mean (SD) of 4.34 (1.98) sessions, with 54 (38.6%) receiving all 6 sessions. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A patient-empowerment approach using longitudinal collaborative goal setting and motivational interviewing is feasible in primary care. Improvements in HbA1c levels after the intervention were not sustained after maintenance. Modest improvements in diabetes-associated distress after the intervention were sustained after maintenance. Innovations to expand reach (eg, telemedicine-enabled shared appointments) and sustainability are needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01876485

Quantifying the Implementation and Cost of a Multisite Antibiotic Stewardship Intervention for Asymptomatic Bacteriuria

OBJECTIVE: The intensity of an antibiotic stewardship intervention to achieve clinical impact is not known. We conducted a multisite dissemination project of an intervention to reduce treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and studied: (1) the association between implementation metrics and clinical outcomes and (2) the cost of implementation. DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A central site facilitated a multimodality intervention to decrease unnecessary urine cultures and antibiotic treatment in patients with ASB at 4 Veterans Affairs medical centers. METHODS: The intervention consisted of a decision support aid algorithm and interactive teaching cases that provided in the moment audit and feedback on how to manage ASB. Implementation outcomes included minutes spent in intervention delivery, number of healthcare professionals reached, and number of sessions delivered. Clinical outcomes included days of antibiotic therapy (DOT), length of antibiotic therapy (LOT), and number of urine cultures ordered per 1000 bed days. Personnel reported weekly time logs. RESULTS: Minutes spent in intervention delivery were inversely correlated with two clinical outcomes, DOT ( CONCLUSIONS: The amount of time local teams spent in delivery of an antibiotic stewardship intervention was correlated with the desired decrease in antibiotic use. Implementing this successful antibiotic stewardship intervention required minimal time