Stress and its influence on reproduction in pigs: a review

The manifestations of stress, defined as a biological response to an event that the individual perceives as a threat to its homeostasis, are commonly linked to enhanced activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the activation of the sympathetic adreno-medullary (SA) system. Activation of the HPA system results in the secretion of peptides from the hypothalamus, principally corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and beta-endorphin. ACTH induces the secretion of corticosteroids from the adrenal cortex, which can be seen in pigs exposed to acute physical and/or psychological stressors. The present paper is a review of studies on the influence of stressors on reproduction in pigs. The effects of stress on reproduction depend on the critical timing of stress, the genetic predisposition to stress, and the type of stress. The effect of stress on reproduction is also influenced by the duration of the responses induced by various stressors. Prolonged or chronic stress usually results in inhibition of reproduction, while the effects of transient or acute stress in certain cases is stimulatory (e.g. anoestrus), but in most cases is of impairment for reproduction. Most sensitive of the reproductive process are ovulation, expression of sexual behaviour and implantation of the embryo, since they are directly controlled by the neuroendocrine system

Skeletal Muscle PGC-1α Is Required for Maintaining an Acute LPS-Induced TNFα Response

Many lifestyle-related diseases are associated with low-grade inflammation and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC)-1α has been suggested to be protective against low-grade inflammation. However, whether these anti-inflammatory properties affect acute inflammation is not known. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the role of muscle PGC-1α in acute inflammation. Quadriceps muscles were removed from 10-week old whole body PGC-1α knockout (KO), muscle specific PGC-1α KO (MKO) and muscle-specific PGC-1α overexpression mice (TG), 2 hours after an intraperitoneal injection of either 0.8 µg LPS/g body weight or saline. Basal TNFα mRNA content was lower in skeletal muscle of whole body PGC-1α KO mice and in accordance TG mice showed increased TNFα mRNA and protein level relative to WT, indicating a possible PGC-1α mediated regulation of TNFα. Basal p65 phosphorylation was increased in TG mice possibly explaining the elevated TNFα expression in these mice. Systemically, TG mice had reduced basal plasma TNFα levels compared with WT suggesting a protective effect against systemic low-grade inflammation in these animals. While TG mice reached similar TNFα levels as WT and showed more marked induction in plasma TNFα than WT after LPS injection, MKO PGC-1α mice had a reduced plasma TNFα and skeletal muscle TNFα mRNA response to LPS. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that PGC-1α enhances basal TNFα expression in skeletal muscle and indicate that PGC-1α does not exert anti-inflammatory effects during acute inflammation. Lack of skeletal muscle PGC-1α seems however to impair the acute TNFα response, which may reflect a phenotype more susceptible to infections as also observed in type 2 diabetes patients

The effect of ACTH during oestrus on the reproduction in the sow

Regrouping of weaned sows gives rise to stressful situations during the critical time when the sows must resume oestrous activity after lactation. The aim of these studies was to simulate the social stress seen after regrouping through repeated injections of synthetic ACTH during oestrus in the sow. The period of treatment lasted for about 48 h from the onset of standing oestrus. The following reproductive events were studied and compared between the ACTH-treated sows (ACTH group) and the control sows (C group): duration of standing oestrus, time of ovulation, hormonal patterns, the number of spermatozoa and their morphology as well as the intraluminal environment of the uterine tubal junction (UTJ) and of isthmus shortly after ovulation, oocyte/embryo transport in the oviduct, and embryo development at 48 or 60 h after ovulation. The sows in the ACTH group stopped displaying signs of standing oestrus sooner after ovulation than the C group, but no effect was found on the time of ovulation. Cortisol and progesterone concentrations were elevated significantly in jugular blood samples taken after the ACTH injections. There were minor differences in oestradiol and LH concentrations between the groups. Overall, inhibin α concentrations were significantly higher during the treatment period in the ACTH group than in the C group. There was a tendency towards a larger number of spermatozoa in the UTJ and oviduct among the sows in the ACTH group. A majority of sows in the ACTH group had moderately to exaggerated amounts of mucus in the intraluminal environment of the sperm reservoir. The ACTH injections had no effect on embryo development. However, fewer oocytes/embryos were retrieved from the ACTH group than from the C group and there was a tendency towards faster embryo transportation to the uterus. In conclusion, simulated stress caused significant loss of oocytes and embryos, shortened the duration of standing oestrus and changed the hormonal pattern of progesterone, and possibly of inhibin α, oestradiol and LH. There were also tendencies towards an altered intraluminal environment in the oviduct and UTJ and augmented transportation of spermatozoa and embryos through the female genital tract in the ACTH-treated sows

Men vad ska jag göra för ett A? : Vad kan idrottslärare göra för att konkretisera kunskapskravet "goda rörelsekvaliteteter" i realisationsarenan?

Syfte Denna kvalitativa studies syfte är att undersöka hur de delar av kunskapskraven som innefattar rörelsekvaliteter och kroppslig förmåga konkretiseras. Studien svarar på huvudfrågan: Vad kan lärare göra för att konkretisera Lgy 11: s kunskapskrav om rörelse  i realiseringsarenan? Metod Datainsamlingen har främst varit kvalitativa, semistrukturerade intervjuer, men även observationer. 12 erfarna, behöriga idrottslärare har intervjuats och fem av dessa har också  observerats. Det transkriberade materialet analyserades enligt Ad hoc metoden och presenteras i enighet med studiens underfrågor samt de erfarenheter och reflektioner som utkristalliserades. Resultat De intervjuade lärarna förefaller finna det svårt att konkretisera både vad och hur  de gör för att belysa för eleven vad som ska läras och utvecklas för högre betyg. Dock används filmer som stöd och referenser till avstämningar. Tendensen finns att ett mer reflekterande arbetssätt kan underlätta för elevens förståelse för vad som bedöms; därmed också en konkretare bild av vad som kan förbättras för progression. Läroplanens utformning, förväntningar på ämnet samt elevers självbild och tidigare erfarenheter nämns som hindrande aspekter. De intervjuade lärarna föreföll dock säkrare i sin bedömning än vad tidigare forskning visat. Studiens lärare utgår mer från fakta än känsla. De kan identifiera rörelsekvaliteter, men ifrågasätter kvalitetsmarkörer. Intervjuerna har analyserats utifrån både PCK (Pedagogical Content Knowledge) och Läroplansteori som teoretiska ramverk. Slutsatsen är att lärare trots bedömningsstöd, kollegialt samarbete, god ämneskunskap och en undervisning anpassad efter Lgr 11 finner det svårt att konkretisera för enskild elev vad som kan göras för kravuppfyllning gällande rörelsekvalitet. Studien indikerar dock att en konkretiserad, mer objektiv bedömningssituation kan underlätta. Fler variabler än prestation och otydliga värdeord påverkar vad som kan göras för att öka elevers måluppfyllelse. Därmed kan det hävdas att diskrepansen mellan realiseringsarenan och transformeringsarenan kan hävdas vara för stor

Key perceptions associated with attitudes towards water reuse in a Swedish town

As climate change and urbanization affect current water management systems, new solutions and approaches rooted in public acceptance are needed to ensure future water supply. In this study, we examine public attitudes to reuse of recycled water and associated worldviews, values, and perceptions in a site without historical water issues. A survey of 143 randomly sampled residents in the municipality of the growing Swedish town Knivsta revealed that 81.4% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards using recycled water in general. The results did not indicate any differences in attitudes between those living in and outside the municipality's urban areas. Perceived benefits and risks were found to be significantly related to both attitudes towards using recycled water in general and to the extreme case of using it for drinking purposes. Additionally, trust in public authorities was highly predictive of attitudes towards drinking recycled water. Furthermore, attitudes were found to be related to an environmental worldview and underlying biospheric, altruistic, and hedonic values. This indicates a need to consider the intended purpose as well as engaging with underlying values as part of the technology legitimation process for improving the chances of successful implementation of water recycling technologies

Risk of Delayed Discharge and Reoperation of Gastric Bypass Patients with Psychiatric Comorbidity : a Nationwide Cohort Study

Background Gastric bypass (GBP) surgery is considered a safe and effective treatment for obesity. However, there is uncertainty regarding the impact of preexisting psychiatric comorbidity on GBP complications. We have investigated whether a psychiatric diagnosis before GBP surgery is associated with delayed discharge (the odds of being in the 90th percentile of length of stay) and rate of reoperation in a nationwide Swedish cohort. Methods Patients undergoing GBP surgery during 2008–2012 were identified and followed up through the National Patient Register and the Prescribed Drug Register. Logistic regression models were fitted to the studied outcomes. Results Among the 22,539 patients identified, a prior diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, neurotic disorders, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), substance use disorder, eating disorder, personality disorder, or self-harm since 1997 (n = 9480) was found to be associated with delayed discharge after GBP surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 1.47, confidence interval [CI] 1.34–1.62), especially in patients with psychiatric hospitalization exceeding 1 week in the 2 years preceding GBP surgery (OR = 2.06, CI 1.30–3.28), compared with those not hospitalized within psychiatry. Likewise, patients with a prior psychiatric diagnosis were more likely to be reoperated within 30 days (OR = 1.25, CI 1.11–1.41), with twice the likelihood OR 2.23 (CI 1.26–3.92) for patients with psychiatric hospitalization of up to a week in the 2 years preceding GBP surgery, compared with patients who had not been hospitalized within psychiatry. Conclusions A psychiatric diagnosis before GBP surgery was associated with delayed discharge and increased likelihood of reoperation within 30 days. Patients with a prior psychiatric diagnosis may, therefore, need additional attention and support

Womens Satisfaction with and Reasons to Seek Bariatric Surgerya Prospective Study in Sweden with 1-Year Follow-up

Background/Objectives Despite profound weight loss after bariatric surgery, some patients are dissatisfied with the results. Pre-surgery expectations, as well as post-surgery items of satisfaction, need to be clarified. The main objective in this study was to investigate the primary reasons to seek bariatric surgery and assess items of satisfaction 1-year post-surgery. Subjects/Methods This is a prospective cohort study of women (n = 50) undergoing bariatric surgery in Stockholm, Sweden. Presurgery assessment included reasons to seek surgery, expected weight loss, co-morbidities, and quality of life. Post-surgery assessment included items of satisfaction, weight loss, co-morbidities, and quality of life. In total, two women did not undergo surgery, and 40 women had complete data from all pre- and post-surgery assessments. Results Mean change in body mass index (BMI) pre- and post-surgery was -12.9 (3.7) kg/m(2). At 1-year post-surgery, the mean percent of excess weight loss (% EWL) was 86.9 (26.3). Pre-surgery, the most reported reason to seek surgery was "weight loss" (47.9%), while the most reported item of satisfaction post-surgery was "improved self-esteem" (55.6%). Satisfaction with the result 1-year post-surgery was associated with the extent of % EWL. Satisfied patients (n = 32) had a mean % EWL of 94.6 (22.9), while those not satisfied (n = 8) had a mean % EWL of 59.9 (17.6). Conclusions The primary reason to seek bariatric surgery was weight loss. However, despite profound weight loss, improved self-esteem was the item of most satisfaction post-surgery. Our findings may be useful in the clinical setting when informing patients pre- surgery about what to expect as well as when meeting a patient post-surgery to discuss results