Eight-week Intervals Research Articles

Examining the Relationship Between Yo-Yo Intermittent Rest Test Results and Performance in Football Players

The purpose of your study; The aim is to determine the relationship between aerobic endurance and the performance of football players. 30 licensed football players (age 18,33±0,47 years, height 179,5±10,6 cm, body weight 76,6±11,5 kg) playing in the Turkish Football Federation U-19 Development League voluntarily participated in the research. Football players' Yo-Yo IRT1 test was measured twice at eight-week intervals on an artificial football field. During the test, Heart rate (HR) (beats/min) and afterwards Maximal Aerobic Power (VO2max) values were measured and calculated. Paried T-test, one of the parametric tests, was used to determine whether there was a difference in terms of Yo-Yo IRT 1 test, VO2max values and pulse values. All analyzes were processed at the 0.05 significance level. In conclusion; There is no statistically significant difference p>0.005 between the first and last values of the distances traveled by the football players who were subjected to the Yo-Yo IR1 test first and last measurement test, their HR and their measured VO2max values.

Impact of acute stress on the canine gut microbiota

There is growing evidence that a relationship exists between mental and emotional wellbeing and the gut microbiota. Little is known regarding how the microbiota reacts to repeated acute stress events in dogs, and whether it is a predictor of stress response. In this study, we explored the impact on the gut microbiota and digestive health with two common events many pet dogs find stressful. Twenty healthy adult dogs, living within a colony, were exposed to either car travel or separation three times across eight-week intervals. Faecal samples were collected 24 h before, within 24 h, and 24–48 h after. Faecal quality and pH, and microbiota diversity and composition were analysed in context with wider published work on physiological stress measures. No significant changes were observed in faecal quality or pH with either stress event at any timepoint, indicating all pets remained in good digestive health. Microbiota analysis demonstrated no significant impact on alpha or beta diversity with either stressor. Microbial signatures previously linked to stress were not identified in these dogs and no changes were observed in the functional gut composition. Irrespective of whether the pet was considered “stressed” (i.e., exhibited an increase in serum cortisol), there was no effect on the microbiota and no taxa were predictive of stress response. Collectively, this work demonstrates, for this population, certain acute stress events have no meaningful impact on the canine gut microbiota, and it has no impact on the associated stress response.

Phase II study evaluating the efficacy of PDS0301 in combination with hepatic artery infusion pump (HAIP) and systemic therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

TPS586 Background: Treatment of advanced liver tumors continues to pose significant challenges. Despite advances in immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint blockade, responses in colorectal liver metastases and biliary tract cancers remain suboptimal. The lack of robust clinical efficacy is likely myriad, including immunosuppression by the tumor microenvironment and poor susceptibility of these tumors to immune infiltration and surveillance. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with extensive anti-tumor properties, but therapeutic development of recombinant human IL-12 (rhIL-12) was halted due to significant systemic toxicities. PDS0301 (formerly M9241) is a novel human monoclonal antibody (NHS76) fused to two IL-12 heterodimers. The NHS76 antibody specifically targets histone/DNA complexes in regions of cellular necrosis resulting in accumulation within tumors. Importantly, recent Phase I trials have shown PDS0301 monotherapy to be well tolerated. We hypothesize that synchronization of PDS0301 administration with tumor cell death induced by locoregional and systemic chemotherapies will demonstrate increased efficacy over standard of care therapy. Methods: This is a single center, non-randomized Phase II study to determine the safety and efficacy of PDS0301 in combination with floxuridine (FUDR) administered by hepatic artery infusion pump (HAIP) and systemic chemotherapies in patients with either unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Eligibility criteria include histologically or cytologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the liver (Cohort 1) or unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with no evidence of extrahepatic metastases (Cohort 2). Patients will receive HAIP-administered (FUDR) plus PDS0301 at a starting dose of 12mcg/kg in 28-day cycles. Beginning in cycle 2, systemic chemotherapy with FOLFOX (Leucovorin, 5-Fluorouracil [5-FU], and Oxaliplatin) or FOLFIRI (Leucovorin, 5-FU and Irinotecan) for mCRC or GemOx (Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin) for ICC will be introduced. Patients will be evaluated for response at eight-week intervals. The primary endpoint is overall response rates to PDS0301 and HAIP/systemic combination therapy. Secondary objectives include hepatic progression-free survival (PFS), extra-hepatic PFS, overall survival, and safety. Scientific objectives include determination of microenvironment alterations through pre-and post-treatment biopsies as well as evaluation of peripheral immune subsets and cytokines. To date, we have enrolled 8 of 23 patients in Cohort 1. Clinical trial information: NCT05286814 .

Three wavelengths integrated: Efficacy and safety of a novel combination for hair removal.

Laser hair removal is one of the most popular aesthetic procedures. The study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel applicator combining three wavelengths (1064nm, 810nm, and 755nm) for hair removal. This prospective study included a four-session hair removal treatment with three wavelengths combined and emitted simultaneously using an in-motion technique. Patients were treated in eight-week intervals between each session and a follow-up of 3months. Twenty-two men (mean age 41.5years, SD=6.1) were included: two (9.1%) Fitzpatrick skin type II, 19 (86.4%) type III, and one (4.5%) type IV. Treated areas were two abdomens (14%), fourteen backs (64%), and five thoraxes (23%). Hair characteristics were evaluated with a dermatoscopic imaging system. Three months after the last session, the mean decrease in the hair count was of 75.6% (SD 5.9) (p<0.0001), in hair density of 75.6% (SD 5.9) (p<0.0001), in the terminal hair number of 60.1% (SD 55.0) (p<0.0001), and in the vellus hair number of 39.7% (SD 72.9) (p=0.0001). The combined three different wavelengths in a single device provided a wide range of absorption and penetration, allowing for a safe and effective treatment.

No Observed Adverse Effects on Health Were Detected in Adult Beagle Dogs When Fed a High-Calcium Diet for 40 Weeks.

Simple SummaryCalcium (Ca) is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in many bodily functions. There is evidence that high levels of dietary Ca for puppies and growing dogs can result in adverse growth and health effects, with certain breeds and dog size categories being most susceptible, for example, large breed sizes or beagles. Until recently, little was known about the health consequences of high Ca diets to adult dog, however, a study in the large sized breed Labrador retriever found no adverse health consequences when feeding diets containing levels of Ca near maximum levels set by pet food regulators (2.5 g per 100 g dry matter) for 40 weeks. This current study fed a similar high Ca diet to adult beagles, a medium sized breed for 40 weeks and monitored the dogs’ health using an extensive suite of health parameters. All dogs remained healthy and did not display any clinically relevant signs of adverse health relating to diet at any point during or following completion of the study.The implications of long-term high calcium (Ca) intake are well documented in growing dogs and in adult dogs of large breed size, however, the consequences on other breeds and breed sizes are yet to be determined. Eighteen neutered adult beagles, nine males and nine females aged 1.4–4.4 years, were randomized to control or test diets providing in g∙4184 kJ−1 (1000 kcal−1): 1.44 and 7.19 total Ca balanced with 1.05 and 4.25 total phosphorus, respectively, for 40 weeks. Health parameters, ultrasound scans, radiographs, glomerular filtration rate, and mineral balance were measured at eight-week intervals. All dogs remained healthy with no measured evidence of orthopedic, urinary, or renal disease. The test diet resulted in a 5.2 fold increase in fecal Ca excretion. Apparent Ca digestibility (%) and Ca balance (g/d) did not significantly (p > 0.05) change from baseline in the test diet group, although dogs displayed a positive Ca balance (maximum at week 8, 1.11 g/d with 95% CI (0.41, 1.80)) before a neutral Ca balance was restored at week 32. Despite an initial positive Ca balance, we can conclude that no measurable adverse health effects were observed as a result of the test diet fed in this study in beagles over a period of 40 weeks.

Field evaluation of hermetic and synthetic pesticide-based technologies in smallholder sorghum grain storage in hot and arid climates

Field evaluation of six grain storage technologies under hot and arid conditions (32–42 °C; rainfall < 450 mm/year) in two locations in Zimbabwe were conducted over two storage seasons. The treatments included three hermetic technologies (Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags, GrainPro Super Grainbags, metal silos); three synthetic pesticide-based treatments; and an untreated control, all using threshed sorghum grain. Sampling was at eight-week intervals for 32 weeks. Highly significant differences (p < 0.01) occurred between hermetic and non-hermetic treatments regarding grain damage, weight loss, insect pest populations, and grain moisture content; with the hermetic containers exhibiting superior grain protection. Weight losses were low (< 3%) in hermetic treatments compared to pesticide-based treatments (3.7 to 14.2%). Tribolium castaneum developed in metal silos, deltamethrin-incorporated polypropylene bags and a pesticide treatment containing deltamethrin 0.13% and fenitrothion 1% while Sitotroga cerealella developed in a pesticide treatment containing pirimiphos-methyl 0.16% + thiamethoxam 0.036%. Mechanisms of survival and development of these pests in the tested treatments and under similar climatic conditions need further elucidation. These hermetic technologies can be successfully used by smallholder farmers in developing countries as alternatives to synthetic pesticides for protecting stored-sorghum grain under hot and arid climatic conditions to attain household food security. To our knowledge, this is the first published study on modern hermetic storage of sorghum grain under typical smallholder storage conditions and involving stakeholders.

Response assessment of somatostatin receptor targeted radioligand therapies for progressive intracranial meningioma.

In somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expressing progressive meningioma, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has shown effect in small clinical series. However, standardized treatment and response assessment protocols are lacking. We present our experience on PPRT with 177Lu-DOTATATE in progressive meningioma with a special emphasis on state-of-the-art response assessment. Retrospective analysis on PRRT with 177Lu-DOTATATE from 2015 to 2019. Pre- and post-therapy imaging was performed using MRI and 68Ga-DOTATATE-PET for standard bidimensional and volumetric analyses, respectively, following novel RANO guidelines. Seven patients with progressive intracranial meningioma (median age 73 years, interquartile range 60-76; 5WHO II, 2 WHO I; 5 multifocal) received a median of 4 cycles 2 3 4 of PRRT with 177Lu-DOTATATE in eight-week intervals. Three patients did not undergo post-therapy 68Ga-DOTATATE-PET due to early symptomatic progression and subsequent cessation of PRRT. After completion of 4 PRRT cycles volumetric PET imaging showed stable disease in two of four patients. According to bidimensional MRI response assessment, only one patient was stable. Progression free survival at six months was 42.9 %. In this heterogeneous collective of seven patients with progressive meningioma, 177Lu-DOTATATE therapies showed heterogeneous effectiveness. PET-based volumetric assessment should be used for response assessment in PRRT additionally to bidimensional imaging.

SCIDOT-35. A NOVEL MODEL FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF DRUG-DEVICE COMBINATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF BRAIN TUMORS

Abstract BACKGROUND Failure of many brain tumor treatments has been attributed to the inability of a compound to cross the blood-brain barrier. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) offers a method to administer drugs directly to the tumor site, thereby mitigating this limitation. CED has been used in several preclinical and clinical studies, though an approved treatment is yet to come to fruition. A medical device suitable for repeated intraparenchymal delivery is valuable for brain tumor treatment strategies, but a lack of appropriate preclinical models capable of infusing clinically relevant volumes has hindered progress in clinical translation. Currently utilized preclinical models include porcine, which have limited use due to their growth rates and canine and non-human primates, which are restricted by ethical considerations. This study investigates the functional characteristics and stability of the Renishaw clinical Neuroinfuse™ drug delivery system in an ovine model. METHODS A head fixation frame was refined for ovine stereotactic surgery. Eight Romney ewes were implanted with the drug delivery system, comprising of four catheters and a transcutaneous port allowing chronic re-access infusions without repeated surgery. A maximum of four infusions were performed per subject, at four to eight-week intervals. RESULTS The implantation of the Neuroinfuse™ drug delivery system was well-tolerated in all subjects, without serious device related adverse events. Artificial CSF/gadolinium infusions were performed on five subjects. Three subjects were maintained for a follow-up study. Putaminal and thalamic distribution volumes remained stable over the re-access period of up to six months post-implantation. CONCLUSION Romney ewes are suitable for the stereotactic implantation of the Neuroinfuse™ chronic drug delivery system. Transcutaneous ports remained integrated for the study duration, allowing repeated intraparenchymal delivery. This novel preclinical model provides a stable platform for infusion regime optimization of drug-device combinations for chronic CED, which will undoubtably de-risk clinical translation in the neuro-oncology CED field.

Effects of repeated transection and coaptation of peripheral nerves on axonal regeneration and motoneuron survival

Background and purposeSalvage procedures for facial reanimation can involve a second neurorrhaphy operation. It remains unclear whether reuse of the original donor nerve in the salvage procedure remains likely to produce successful outcome. This study aimed to investigate the effect of repeated transection and coaptation of a nerve on axonal regrowth and motoneuron survival. Materials and methodsThe sciatic nerves of Sprague Dawley rats were transected and microsutured once (the one-time group) or repeatedly at eight-week intervals (the repeated group), and the animals remained alive for eight weeks before sacrifice. The gastrocnemius muscle was weighed, and muscle fiber diameter was measured with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Axonal count of the distal nerve stump was calculated by toluidine blue staining. Myelin thickness and axonal diameter were analyzed by transmission electronic microscopy. Finally, motoneurons were retrogradely traced to the spinal cord using Fluoro-Gold. ResultsRepeated coaptation of nerves resulted in significant decreases of the wet weight ratio of gastrocnemius and muscle fiber diameter. The axonal counts and myelin thicknesses of the distal stumps were comparable between the groups, whereas axonal diameter was significantly smaller after repeated injury. Additionally, retrograde tracing demonstrated significantly less motoneurons in the L4–L6 spinal segments of the repeatedly injured animals than that of the one-time group. ConclusionsCompared with one-time nerve injury, repetitive transection and coaptation of nerves resulted in compromised axonal regeneration, motoneuron survival, and target muscle recovery. It is possible that the final functional outcome could also be compromised, and the patients should be counseled accordingly.

Evaluate Efficacy of Desensitizing Toothpaste Containing Zinc-carbonate Hydroxyapatite Nanocrystals: Non-comparative Eight-week Clinical Study.

Objective:The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of desensitizing toothpaste in reducing the dentine hypersensitivity (DH).Materials and Methods:The study was a before and after clinical trial conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a desensitizing toothpaste containing zinc-carbonate hydroxyapatite nanocrystals (Zn-CHA) for controlling DH. The trial involved 72 patients with DH who were evaluated four and eight weeks after using Zn-CHA toothpaste. The sensitivity was assessed by airblast method using Schiff Sensitivity Scale.Results:Repeated measures analysis of variance test was used to compare baseline score with fourth and eighth week. Statistically significant differences were observed between sensitivity scores at baseline and those at four- and eight-week intervals (P < 0.001).Conclusion:The results suggested that the use of Zn-CHA nanocrystals dentifrice might become an effective therapy to reduce DH.

Efficacy of bi-monthly hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Even though the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system is widely accepted, controversies on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still exist. We evaluated the efficacy of an approach with repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) given at eight-week intervals for the treatment of advanced HCC. Of the 66 compensated cirrhotic patients with advanced HCC refractory to transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) enrolled in our study, 21 were treated by bi-monthly hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (B-HAIC) and the rest by sorafenib. The overall survival periods, curative responses, and adverse events in each group were retrospectively analyzed. The efficacy rate was significantly higher in the B-HAIC group (38%, 11%, P<0.05). The median survival time and the survival rate at 12 months in the B-HAIC group were 567 days and 70.8%, and those in the sorafenib group were 366 days and 47.6%, respectively. Thus, our data suggests that the B-HAIC treatment is not inferior to sorafenib for the treatment of advanced HCC in compensated cirrhotic patients. Furthermore, the occurrence of serious adverse events leading to discontinuation of treatment was less frequent in the B-HAIC group. Given the hepatic function reserve preservation afforded by the B-HAIC treatment in our experience, we suggest that B-HAIC should be considered an alternative strategy for advanced HCC patients who do not respond to TACE.

Abstract 3617: Prediction of irinotecan and flurouracil efficacy in metastatic colorectal cancer by early measurement of circulating tumor DNA

Abstract Background: Chemotherapy resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is a major challenge, and development of biomarkers for determining therapy efficacy is vital to ensure optimal palliative treatment. Recently, quantification of changes in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels has attracted substantial attention as a predictive marker. Here, we provide evidence that ctDNA has the potential to be used as an early marker of therapeutic efficacy of irinotecan and fluorouracil (FOLFIRI). Experimental Procedures: Patients diagnosed with mCRC, and with indication for first-line combination chemotherapy, were prospectively enrolled in this phase II study. Blood was drawn at baseline, day 7, 14, 21, 40 and then monthly until progression. Response evaluation was done at eight-week intervals by CT scanning using RECIST criteria. Chemotherapy was administered at day one and two every two weeks. The levels of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and ctDNA were determined using sensitive digital droplet PCR assays. ctDNA assays were designed either to mutations identified by targeted sequencing or on basis of known tumor mutations detected in primary or metastatic lesions using a panel of mutation-specific qPCR based assays (KRAS, NRAS, BRAF). Results: Twenty-four patients were enrolled. A KRAS, NRAS or BRAF mutation was observed in tumor tissue of 16 patients. In 12 of these the mutations were confirmed in baseline samples and used for assessing ctDNA. For the remaining 12 patients, a mutation for ctDNA quantification was identified by targeted tumor sequencing. Patients with high baseline ctDNA levels (75th centile) had significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS) than patients with low baseline ctDNA levels. After first treatment cycle all patients experienced a decline in ctDNA levels demonstrating initial response to treatment; however, the reduction in ctDNA was not associated with prolonged PFS or overall survival (OS). Conversely, change in ctDNA levels from first to second cycle of treatment (three weeks after treatment start) predicted FOLFIRI efficacy. Patients with increasing ctDNA levels at this time point had a significantly shorter PFS and a shorter OS than patients with stable or decreasing ctDNA levels. Conclusion: In agreement with the literature, we show that baseline tumor DNA levels predicted PFS. The initial observed decline in ctDNA levels upon administration of FOLFIRI indicates that all tumors had cancer cells sensitive to treatment; however, after elimination of these, resistant clones expanded, leading to treatment resistance. Importantly, our study demonstrates that FOLFIRI efficacy can be evaluated as early as three weeks after treatment initiation by measurement of ctDNA levels. This enables early detection of treatment failure and allows for rapid adaptation of the treatment strategy. Citation Format: Iben Lyskjær, Camilla J. Kronborg, Mads H. Rasmussen, Boe S. Sørensen, Mona Rosenkilde, Michael Knudsen, Søren R. Krag, Karen-Lise G. Spindler, Claus L. Andersen. Prediction of irinotecan and flurouracil efficacy in metastatic colorectal cancer by early measurement of circulating tumor DNA [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3617.

Effects of nutrient availability on the amphicarpic traits of Persicaria thunbergii

Environmental factors affecting the expression of amphicarpic traits in Persicaria thunbergii are not well studied. We thus performed to investigate the effects of nutrients on the amphicarpic traits of P. thunbergii in a mesocosm experiment. Three nutrient levels were applied using different intervals between fertilization: no fertilization (low nutrient), fertilization at eight-week intervals (medium), and at four-week intervals (high). We compared the relative stem length growth rates (RGRST) and biomass allocation of seedlings from aerial seeds (SA) and subterranean seeds (SS), and then investigated the flowering time and the seed production traits of P. thunbergii according to nutrient level. The results showed that RGRST, biomass allocation and total biomass were not different between SA and SS at all levels. Aerial flowering started earlier than subterranean flowering, in contrast to other amphicarpic plants. Subterranean seed allocation and the number of subterranean seeds were stable regardless of nutrient levels whereas aerial seed allocation decreased with increasing nutrient level. The number of aerial seeds per biomass with low nutrient was significantly higher than that at other levels. P. thunbergii showed a different trait of seed production: subterranean seeds appeared to play a role in retaining the mother-site while aerial seeds can escape the site conditions at low nutrient levels. In conclusion, the reproductive strategy of P. thunbergii on aerial propagule was changeable but not subterranean propagule under various nutrient conditions. SA and SS were similar about growth responses. Those characteristics would increase survivability of P. thunbergii. Evolutionary drivers might explain the differences of life-history strategies in flowering time between the aquatic P. thunbergii and other arid amphicarpic plants.

Indoor rock climbing (bouldering) as a new treatment for depression: study design of a waitlist-controlled randomized group pilot study and the first results.

BackgroundDepression is one of the most common diseases in industrialised nations. Physical activity is regarded as an important part of therapeutic intervention. Rock climbing or bouldering (rock climbing to moderate heights without rope) comprises many aspects that are considered useful, but until now, there has been hardly any research on the effects of a bouldering group intervention on people with depression. The purpose of this controlled pilot study was twofold: first, to develop a manual for an eight-week interventional program that integrates psychotherapeutic interventions in a bouldering group setting and second, to assess the effects of a bouldering intervention on people with depression.MethodsThe intervention took place once a week for three hours across a period of eight weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to the two groups (intervention vs. waitlist). The intervention group began the bouldering therapy immediately after a baseline measurement was taken; the waitlist participants began after an eight-week period of treatment as usual. On four measurement dates at eight-week intervals, participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), the symptom checklist-90-R (SCL-90), the questionnaire on resources and self-management skills (FERUS), and the attention test d2-R. A total of 47 participants completed the study, and the data were analysed with descriptive statistics. Cohen’s d was calculated as a measure of the effect size. For the primary hypothesis, a regression analysis and the Number Needed to Treat (NNT) (improvement of at least 6 points on the BDI-II) were calculated.ResultsAfter eight weeks of intervention, results indicated positive effects on the measures of depression (primary hypothesis: BDI-II: Cohen’s d = 0.77), this was supported by the regression analysis with “group” as the only significant predictor of a change in depression (p = .007). The NNT was four.ConclusionsThese findings provide the first evidence that therapeutic bouldering may offer an effective treatment for depression. Further research is required.Trial registrationCurrent controlled trials, ISRCTN17623318, registered on July 15th 2015.

Rule-based learning of regular past tense in children with specific language impairment

The treatment of children with specific language impairment was used as a means to investigate whether a single- or dual-mechanism theory best conceptualizes the acquisition of English past tense. The dual-mechanism theory proposes that regular English past-tense forms are produced via a rule-based process whereas past-tense forms of irregular verbs are stored in the lexicon. Single-mechanism theories propose that both regular and irregular past-tense verbs are stored in the lexicon. Five 5-year-olds with specific language impairment received treatment for regular past tense. The children were tested on regular past-tense production and third-person singular “s” twice before treatment and once after treatment, at eight-week intervals. Treatment consisted of one-hour play-based sessions, once weekly, for eight weeks. Crucially, treatment focused on different lexical items from those in the test. Each child demonstrated significant improvement on the untreated past-tense test items after treatment, but no improvement on the untreated third-person singular “s”. Generalization to untreated past-tense verbs could not be attributed to a frequency effect or to phonological similarity of trained and tested items. It is argued that the results are consistent with a dual-mechanism theory of past-tense inflection.

Poblaciones de lombrices bajo seis estrategias de manejo de malezas en una plantación de banano.

Six weed managementstrategies were established in with banana plantation; in SanPablo, a farm located in the Atlantic region of Costa Rica.Since then, earthworm counts have been performed at regularintervals. Weed management strategies consisted of: 1-unweeded control. 2- Hand weeded control at monthlyintervals. 3- Glyphosate (Ranger Plus-680 g/kg; at 0.687%w/v) applications at eight week intervals. 4- Paraquat(Gramoxone-200 g/l, at 0.75% v/v) at monthly intervals. 5-Glufosinate (Finale-150 g/l, at 1% v/v) applications at eightweek intervals. 6- Monitored treatment, depending ondetected weeds, only in the area of maximum weed-cropinterference. Earthworms were counted, at each samplingtime, from four 15625 cm3 soil samples of each plot. Sampleswere taken from different microhabitats, including soilcovered with Paspalum conjugatum; soil covered withPanicum zizanoides; soil covered with banana residues(leaves, pseudo-stems) and bare soil. Soil samples from sitescovered with banana residues or Paspalum conjugatumshowed the highest earthworm counts, followed by soilcovered with Panicum zizanoides and bare soil. A directeffect of weed management strategies on earthworm numberhas not been detected.

Differential effects of depression and mania symptoms on social adjustment: prospective study in bipolar disorder

Previous studies of social adjustment in bipolar disorder have been cross-sectional and small in sample size, have examined a limited number of roles, or were not controlled for baseline mood and other clinical, social, or treatment confounders. We aimed to prospectively explore the strength and stability of correlations between depression and mania-type symptoms and impairment in a broad range of social adjustment roles and domains. Multilevel modeling analysis of correlation coefficients between depression and mania-type symptoms with roles and domains of the modified social adjustment scale (overall, work, social/leisure, extended family, marital, parental social adjustment roles, performance, interpersonal behavior, friction, dependency, overactivity domains) was used. Interview assessments were made at eight-week intervals beginning at eight weeks and continuing through 72 weeks after baseline in 253 patients in a multicenter randomized controlled trial. After controlling for baseline mood episodes, and other clinical, social, and treatment variables, depression symptoms showed strong and stable correlations over time with performance, overall social adjustment, and the work role; and a moderate but stable relationship with interpersonal behavior. The relationships of depression symptoms with the other roles were weak, non-significant, or not stable. For mania-type symptoms, only the correlation with interpersonal friction was moderately strong and reasonably stable over time. Mood episodes, substance use disorder, and borderline/antisocial personality disorder increased role impairment, while employment and marriage mildly decreased it. Depression and mania-type symptoms have specific effects on social adjustment in bipolar I disorder. Depression symptoms are correlated strongly with performance and moderately with interpersonal behavior, while mania-type symptoms are correlated moderately with interpersonal friction.

Effects of Adjunct Low-Dose Vitamin D on Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Progression: Preliminary Findings of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the effect of low-dose oral vitamin D in combination with current disease-modifying therapy on the prevention of progression of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). A phase II double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial conducted between October 2007 and October 2008 included 50 patients with confirmed RRMS aged 25 to 57 years and normal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. They were randomly allocated to receive 12 months of treatment with either escalating calcitriol doses up to 0.5 μg/day or placebo combined with disease-modifying therapy. Response to treatment was assessed at eight-week intervals. In both groups, the mean relapse rate decreased significantly (P < 0.001). In the 25 patients treated with placebo, the mean (SD) Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) increased from 1.70 (1.21) at baseline to 1.94 (1.41) at the end of study period (P < 0.01). Average EDSS and relapse rate at the end of trial did not differ between groups. Adding low-dose vitamin D to routine disease-modifying therapy had no significant effect on the EDSS score or relapse rate. A larger phase III multicenter study of vitamin D in RRMS is warranted to more assess the efficacy of this intervention.

Irrigation and Nitrogen Impact on Bermudagrass Yield Response in the Southeastern Coastal Plain

In the southeastern region of the U.S., the cattle industry has a critical need for sustainable hay production. Yet this production is threatened by frequent short-term regional drought. This drought threat can be mitigated by properly managed irrigation. In this study on Tifton 85 bermudagrass, irrigation management, nitrogen fertility levels, and harvest interval were evaluated for their impact on hay quality and yield. The experimental treatments were arrayed in a split-plot design with harvest interval as the main treatment; irrigation by nitrogen (N) levels were the subplots. Treatments had four replicates and were repeated for two years. The optimal irrigation rate was set to maintain soil water potentials below -30 kPa. When needed, the full irrigation treatment received a 12.5 mm irrigation application. The reduced irrigation treatments received water at rates of 0%, 33%, and 66% of the full irrigation rate. In addition, each irrigation treatment had nitrogen rates of 168, 336, and 504 kg N ha-1. The irrigation and nitrogen treatments were harvested at four-week or eight-week intervals. Total harvests per year ranged from three to six. Over both years and for all harvests, there was no irrigation-nitrogen interaction for hay yield. Over all harvests, nitrogen significantly increased bermudagrass hay yield, nutrient concentrations, and forage quality. Forage quality was higher for the four-week harvest interval. Throughout the study, forage quality was maintained within desired industry standards. When irrigation was required, it significantly increased hay yield. During these periods, the four-week and eight-week 100% irrigation treatments yielded 612 and 1600 kg ha-1 greater, respectively, than the non-irrigated treatments. The four-week harvest interval was more sensitive to irrigation. Additionally, we observed a linear relationship between non-irrigated bermudagrass hay yields and average soil water potential. As soil water was depleted, non-irrigated hay yields decreased 31 kg ha-1 per kPa. Timely supplemental irrigation to maintain soil water potentials above -30 kPa can increase bermudagrass yields. Thus, irrigation management should be critically assessed for its potential role in sustaining hay production in the southeastern Coastal Plain.

Medical management of inflammatory bowel disease among Canadian gastroenterologists.

Little is known about physician perceptions of and practices in using infliximab - a biological agent that was approved in Canada for the treatment of Crohn's disease in 2001, and for ulcerative colitis in 2006. To describe Canadian gastroenterologists' use and perceptions of infliximab in the treatment of refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to identify factors that may influence a gastroenterologist's decision to initiate infliximab therapy. A postal questionnaire was distributed to all practicing clinicians captured in the 2007 membership of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. Each physician was contacted up to a maximum of three times. Of 466 questionnaires mailed out, responses were received from 336 (72%), with 292 respondents (63%) returning fully completed surveys. For 80% of respondents, IBD patients comprised less than 30% of their clinical practice. Most prescribed infliximab at an initial dose of 5 mg⁄kg (97%), prescribed loading doses at 0, 2 and 6 weeks (88%), premedicated with corticosteroids (74%), administered maintenance infusions at eight-week intervals (89%), co-administered immunosuppressive agents (81%) and continued infliximab 'indefinitely' as long as it was effective and well tolerated (76%). Most gastroenterologists (>70%) identified lack of drug insurance coverage and provincial funding criteria as important barriers to prescribing infliximab. Most Canadian gastroenterologists exhibited similar practice patterns with respect to the use of infliximab for induction and maintenance therapy of IBD. Common barriers to the initiation of infliximab therapy were identified.