WA State Research Articles

Release of Autumn‐Sown Pea Germplasm PS03101269 with Food‐Quality Seed Characteristics

PS03101269 (Reg. No. GP‐107, PI 663943) pea (Pisum sativum L.) germplasm was developed by the USDA‐ARS in cooperation with the Washington Agricultural Research Center, Pullman, WA and North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. PS03101269 is an autumn‐sown pea with green cotyledons and a clear seed coat. It was bred specifically for high‐value, food‐quality seed characteristics and adaptation to harsh winter conditions. It was jointly released by the USDA‐ARS and North Dakota State University as a breeding line in 2011. PS03101269 was developed using a modified bulk pedigree system. It was identified as an F6 selection from the cross CAH‐61/‘Granger’ (cross number X98P096). PS03101269 was evaluated in autumn‐sown yield trials for a total of 12 location‐ years in Washington. Across all locations, the grain yield of PS03101269 averaged 2354 kg ha−1, and the plants reached maturity in approximately 250 d. PS03101269 is semileafless and has long internodes and white, unpigmented flowers. The average 100‐seed weight is 15.4 g. Due to its relatively small seed size, it is anticipated that the primary use of PS03101269 will be by breeders in the development of autumn‐sown food‐quality pea cultivars. Secondarily, it is expected that this germplasm will be used as a forage or cover crop variety.

Sleep Problems in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Sleep problems in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are reportedly common but not well characterized. Objectives were to: (1) assess sleep concerns in children with FASD using a caregiver-report survey, the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ); (2) compare CSHQ results with those of previously reported community sample; and (3) describe pilot polysomnography findings in children with FASD. Children with FASD were recruited from a behavioral intervention study, and participating caregivers completed the CSHQ. CSHQ results were compared with the original data from a previously published community sample of similar age. Participants with FASD and elevated CSHQ scores were offered overnight polysomnography. Thirty-three children with FASD (4.1-12.1 years) were enrolled; 85% of children with FASD scored above the clinical cutoff Total Score of 41, reflecting marked sleep disturbance. Elevated subdomain scores occurred primarily in areas concerning for pediatric insomnia. Those with comorbid ADHD had elevated CSHQ on additional subdomains with no difference in Total Scores. Compared with the community sample, children with FASD had higher Total Scores on the CSHQ (52 vs. 39, p < 0.001). Polysomnography, completed in 5 subjects, revealed mild sleep disordered breathing and fragmented sleep with elevated non-respiratory arousal indices. Clinically significant sleep problems are present in children with FASD on both subjective and objective measures. Further investigation is needed to better describe these sleep disturbances and their impact on overall health and daytime neurobehavioral problems in this clinical population.

P5-S5.06 Population-based partner services for men who have sex with men (MSM) with gonorrhoea or chlamydial infection: a missed HIV prevention opportunity

BackgroundFew US health departments provide partner service (PS) to persons with gonorrhoea (GC) or chlamydia (CT). We sought to define the potential utility of providing PS to MSM with GC...

Perceived usefulness of a distributed community-based syndromic surveillance system: a pilot qualitative evaluation study

BackgroundWe conducted a pilot utility evaluation and information needs assessment of the Distribute Project at the 2010 Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA) Joint Conference. Distribute is a distributed community-based syndromic surveillance system and network for detection of influenza-like illness (ILI). Using qualitative methods, we assessed the perceived usefulness of the Distribute system and explored areas for improvement. Nine state and local public health professionals participated in a focus group (n = 6) and in semi-structured interviews (n = 3). Field notes were taken, summarized and analyzed.FindingsSeveral emergent themes that contribute to the perceived usefulness of system data and the Distribute system were identified: 1) Standardization: a common ILI syndrome definition; 2) Regional Comparability: views that support county-by-county comparisons of syndromic surveillance data; 3) Completeness: complete data for all expected data at a given time; 4) Coverage: data coverage of all jurisdictions in WA state; 5) Context: metadata incorporated into the views to provide context for graphed data; 6) Trusted Data: verification that information is valid and timely; and 7) Customization: the ability to customize views as necessary. As a result of the focus group, a new county level health jurisdiction expressed interest in contributing data to the Distribute system.ConclusionThe resulting themes from this study can be used to guide future information design efforts for the Distribute system and other syndromic surveillance systems. In addition, this study demonstrates the benefits of conducting a low cost, qualitative evaluation at a professional conference.

Observed Changes in Risk during Naturopathic Treatment of Hypertension

Few outcome assessments are published from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices. We aimed to describe patient and practice characteristics of ND care for hypertension (HTN), quantify changes in blood pressure (BP), and evaluate the proportion achieving control of HTN during care. A retrospective, observational study of ND practice in HTN was performed in an outpatient clinic in WA State. Eighty-five charts were abstracted for the final analysis. At initiation of care, the mean patient age was 61 years, with 51% having stage 2 HTN, despite common use of anti-hypertensive medications (47%). Patients with both stage 1 and stage 2 HTN appeared to improve during care, with stage 2 patients achieving mean reductions of −26 mmHg (P < .0001) and −11 mmHg (P < .0001) in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), respectively. The proportion of patients achieving control (<140/90 mmHg) in both SBP and DBP was increased significantly from 14 to 44% (P < .033), although the statistical significance was not maintained upon correction for multiple comparisons. BP appears to improve during ND care for HTN, in a high-risk population. Randomized trials are warranted.

Making a difference – Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program

The author describes the aptly-named Better Beginnings early childhood literacy project. Conducted by the State Library of Western Australia, sponsored by the WA State Government and Rio Tinto Limited, and closely monitored by Edith Cowan University, Better Beginnings has been successful from the outset, with proven beneficial impacts on participating mothers and children. It could easily be a national program, delivered through public libraries and other local government agencies.

Improved perinatal and very low birth weight infant outcomes following neonatal and perinatal regionalization in a rural setting

Objective: To evaluate the changes in outcome that occurred during implementation of a comprehensive outreach program to five level I newborn care facilities, by one level III neonatal intensive care unit in rural WA State. Study design: Standardized outreach educational programs were provided. Outcome measures were assessed by collecting monthly perinatal and postnatal data on 61,551 births. Three six-year periods were defined. Period I (1988-1994) was compared with period II (1994-2000) and period III (2000-2006). Results: Comparing the averages for the three periods, there was a statistically significant increase in maternal transports from level I hospitals, and significant decreases in early-onset sepsis, meconium aspiration syndrome, low Apgar scores, major congenital malformations, neonatal and perinatal mortality rates, very low birth weight (VLBW) infant mortality, chronic lung disease and duration of hospital stay (all p< 0.001). Conclusion: A successful regionalization of perinatal service in rural areas can be accomplished by establishing extensive outreach programs. This model can be utilized to improve perinatal, neonatal and VLBW infant outcomes.

The Rise of Agrarian Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics: Agricultural Modernization, Agribusiness and Collective Land Rights

In what forms are agribusinesses entering agriculture and interacting with farmers? How are land, labor and capital now controlled by corporate and individual actors, and then organized into agricultural production? How does such control and organization shape the relationships between the actors? In this article we argue that agrarian capitalism is expanding in China. The means of production, such as capital and land, are increasingly controlled by agribusiness, while direct producers increasingly sell their labor for a living. We document various forms in which agribusiness companies are conducting transactions with individual agricultural producers. We also argue that China's unique system of land rights featuring collective ownership but individualized usage rights has acted as a powerful force in shaping interactions between agribusiness and direct producers. It provides farmers with a source of economic income and political bargaining power, and restricts corporate actors from dispossessing farmers of their land. We find strong norms protecting farmers' collective land rights in the agricultural sector, contrary to the received wisdom about weak protection of land rights in China. In the rest of the paper, we first review the policy context in which this transformation has taken place. Next we introduce our method of data collection, summarize the five forms of agribusiness-farmer interaction found in our study, and analyze each of the five forms in depth. We conclude with a discussion of the causes and characteristics of the rise of agrarian capitalism, with a focus on the role of the land rights system.

SUMMER SEED MORTALITY OF THE PACIFIC OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA GIGAS THUNBERG GROWN IN TOMALES BAY, CALIFORNIA, USA: THE INFLUENCE OF OYSTER STOCK, PLANTING TIME, PATHOGENS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS

Summer seed mortality (SSM) has occurred yearly in Tomales Bay, California since 1993. SSM has resulted in up to 90% cumulative losses, and has been associated with extreme temperature, phytoplankton blooms, and an oyster herpesvirus. In this study, three stocks of Pacific oysters were planted at three sites in California (Inner Tomales Bay, Outer Tomales Bay, and Bodega Harbor) in October of 2000 (Fall) and April of 2001 (Spring) and monitored for mortality, growth, and health status. In April of 2001, a similar study was conducted in Totten Inlet, WA state using cohorts of oysters planted in California; animals were monitored for mortality and growth. Temperature data were collected at all sites; phytoplankton abundance data were collected at the California sites. Mortality occurred only at the Inner Tomales Bay site where losses were correlated with maximum temperatures (r = 0.949) and preferentially affected faster growing oysters (r = 0.916). Significant differences in cumulative mortality were identified among oysters stocks and two of the three oysters stocks planted in the fall outperformed their cohorts planted in the spring (P < 0.0001). Microscopic changes in connective tissue and digestive tubules are consistent with previous observations of herpesvirus infections in oysters including: diffuse to multifocal pertibular hemocyte infiltration, diapedesis, dilation of the digestive tubules, nuclear hypertrophy, and chromatin margination. Nuclear hypertrophy and chromatin margination, in particular, are suggestive of herpesvirus infections; these histological changes were rare indicating the need to use multiple diagnostic methods when oyster herpesviruses are suspected to cause SSM. Temperature maxima (∼25°C) experienced at the Inner Tomales Bay site are not considered extreme for Pacific oyster survival; the association between oyster herpesviruses and temperature in Tomales Bay, California is discussed.

EVALUATION OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF VARIOUS RESPONSE OPTIONS USING MODELING OF FATE, EFFECTS AND NRDA COSTS OF OIL SPILLS INTO WASHINGTON WATERS

ABSTRACT Oil spill fate and effects modeling and analysis were performed to evaluate the implications of spill response options being considered by the Washington State Department of Ecology in their rulemaking related to oil spill preparedness (WA State Contingency Plan Rule). The impacts of potential spills in Washington's outer coast, sound and river environments were modeled varying response options and operational timing, including use of conventional mechanical containment and recovery operations; dispersant application with concurrent mechanical containment and recovery; and in-situ burning with concurrent mechanical containment and recovery. US Coast Guard federal response capability standards, current Washington State standards, and potential theoretical higher response capability standards were simulated for scenarios involving spills of crude oil, bunker fuel and diesel into Washington waters (in the Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca, outer coast, and lower and upper Columbia River). The modeling was performed in probabilistic mode, i.e., by randomly varying location along tanker routes, spill date, and time, and so environmental conditions during and after the release among potential conditions that would occur. The model results were analyzed to estimate mean, standard deviation (SD), and 5th, 50th and 95th percentile results for surface water and shoreline oiling, water column and sediment contamination, biological impacts, and natural resource damages (NRD). NRD costs were based on the Washington Compensation Schedule and Oil Pollution Act (OPA) NRD procedures involving compensatory restoration scaling and associated costs. Response costs and socioeconomic damages were evaluated in a companion study by D.S. Etkin (Environmental Research Consulting). The fates, impacts and NRD cost results for two scenarios are presented here: those for the outer coast spills assuming (1) only protective booming and (2) protective booming plus the mechanical removal up to Washington State standards. The results of these and other scenarios are being incorporated into a rulemaking process and cost-benefit analysis by the Department of Ecology.

A sister's risk: Family history as a predictor of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

OF PREGNANCY DARCY CARR, MEIRA EPPLEIN, CATHERINE JOHNSON, THOMAS EASTERLING, CATHY CRITCHLOW, University of Washington, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seattle, Washington, University of Washington, Epidemiology, Seattle, Washington OBJECTIVE: To determine if women with gestational hypertension (gHTN) or preeclampsia (PE) are more likely to have a sister with a history of hypertension in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A population-based case-control study was performed using data from WA State birth certificates linked to maternal and infant discharge records from the birth hospitalization. 10,723 nulliparous women (gHTN, N = 1611; PE, N = 1071; normotensive, N = 8041) who delivered their first child between 1987 and 2002 and had a sister with a prior delivery in WA State during the same time period were studied. Stratified analyses with MantelHaenszel procedures were used to obtain odds ratio (OR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: Women with any hypertensive condition in pregnancy were 1.7 times (95% CI 1.5-2.0) more likely to have a sister who was hypertensive during pregnancy. Women who had gHTN were 1.6 times (95% CI 1.3-2.0) more likely to have a sister who had a history of gHTN and were 1.5 times (95% CI 1.2-2.0) more likely to have a sister who had PE. Women with PE were 1.8 times (95% CI 1.4-2.3) more likely to have a sister with a history of gHTN and 2.3 times (95% CI 1.8-2.9) more likely to have a sister with PE. Similar results were obtained following stratification by the sisterś degree of relation (full sisters, N = 9513: gHTN OR 1.6, 95%CI 1.2-2.0; PE OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8-3.1; half sisters, N = 794: gHTN OR 2.1, 95% CI 0.9-4.8; PE OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.9-4.8). None of these associations were significantly altered after adjusting for age, race, smoking status or body mass index. CONCLUSION: The greater likelihood of a hypertensive pregnancy among sisters of women with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia supports a pathophysiologic role for genetic and/or behavioral factors that cluster in families. SMFM Abstracts S121

A TECHNICAL APPRAISAL OF STORAGE OF GORGON CO2 AT BARROW ISLAND, NORTH WEST SHELF

The Gorgon gas field lies 70 km west of Barrow Island in 200 m of water. The field is jointly owned by ChevronTexaco Australia, Shell Development Australia and Mobil Exploration and Producing Australia and has certified proven hydrocarbon gas reserves of 272.69 Giga cubic metres (Gm3) (9.63 trillion cubic feet (Tcf)). Carbon dioxide (CO2) comprises about 14 mole % of the raw gas resource.The Gorgon joint venture is committed to the responsible management of greenhouse gas emissions and this ongoing commitment is reflected in the plan to inject Gorgon CO2 into the Dupuy Formation beneath Barrow Island, unless it is cost prohibitive or technically unfeasible.This paper summarises the Phase 1 assessment made by the Western Australian Department of Industry and Resources (DoIR) into the technical feasibility of the Gorgon CO2 storage project. Technical feasibility is defined as the ability to inject CO2 in a manner that has acceptable safety, environmental and reservoir risks based on assessments made by both the Gorgon joint venture and regulatory bodies.DoIR and ChevronTexaco Australia agreed to regularly review the technical work for due diligence purposes. To assist in the assessment, DoIR engaged the services of Curtin University. The Phase 1 review was completed in June 2003 and provided technical assurance on the feasibility of CO2 storage beneath Barrow Island. This provided one of the criteria for the WA State Government’s decision to grant in-principle access to Barrow Island for the project.The Phase 1 review provided a comparative risk analysis and recommendations related to improving the sub-surface definition of the earth model, further assessment of seal and fault integrity, injectivity, near-well bore reactions and CO2 surveillance and monitoring technologies. Key DoIR recommendations included the need for additional geological data and a long-term monitoring strategy for reservoir management and contingency planning. The second Phase of due diligence commenced in February 2004.

The effect of tobacco exposure on birth outcomes in diabetic pregnancies

DIABETIC PREGNANCIES SAMEER GOPALANI, MICHELLE WILLIAMS, University of Washington, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Seattle, WA University of Washington, Epidemiology, Seattle, WA OBJECTIVE: Smoking increases insulin resistance (IR) and contributes independently to microvascular disease. Microvascular injury in the placenta is implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE) and other adverse outcomes. We sought to determine if joint exposure to tobacco and diabetes (DM) increases the risk of these outcomes beyond that expected from each exposure alone. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based cohort study using computerized records in WA State. Singleton births from 1992-2001 to diabetic women (gestational [GDM] and preexisting [PDM]) were selected, with nonDM subjects as controls. The cohort was stratified in order of hypothesized increasing risk of adverse outcome into six groups, with the first as the reference group: non-smoking non-diabetics (n = 78,071); non-DM smokers (n = 13,862); GDM non-smokers (n = 17,587); GDM smokers (n = 2896); PDM non-smokers (n = 2176); and PDM smokers (n = 391). Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated using a multivariable generalized linear model. All reported IRR were statistically significant (P < .05). RESULTS: Smoking increased the risk of preterm delivery (PTD) (IRR 1.4) and fetal/infant death (IRR 1.7) but was associated with reduced risk of PE (IRR 0.7). The IRR for PE in nonsmokers and smokers with GDM were 1.8 and 1.5, respectively. The corresponding IRR for nonsmokers and smokers with PDM were 2.6 and 2.3. This pattern of PDM subjects experiencing the highest risks was also evident for PTD and fetal/infant death. CONCLUSION: Tobacco and DM act independently on adverse outcomes in subjects with joint exposure. The reduced risk of PE in diabetic smokers compared to non-smokers suggests that the increased incidence of PE in DM may not be solely attributable to insulin resistance (IR).

Identifying persons with chronic conditions in a managed care setting: A comparison of methods

PURPOSE: Together, the sophisticated computerized information systems and defined, stable populations within Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) can reduce imprecision associated with modeling disease incidence and prevalence. Such data are useful for resource allocation, intervention planning, epidemiological study and surveillance. Identifying all cases of illness within such a defined population is vital to these aims, yet detailed diagnostic information is lacking in many pre-paid plans. In this presentation, diagnostic and prescription data are compared for their ability to assess the treatment prevalence for 28 chronic medical conditions.METHODS: Group Health Cooperative is a mixed model HMO in Western WA state. Automated records for calendar year 1999 were examined for 182,174 commercially insured patients age 20–64. Prescription drug data and International Classification of Disease—9th Clinical Modification codes (ICD-9CM) were used to identify 28 chronic medical conditions among patients. Chi square tests were performed to compare results produced by the two methods.RESULTS: The diagnostic method worked best for conditions with no clear pharmacologic treatment. However, the pharmacy-based method better identified patients with chronic illnesses initially diagnosed prior to 1999, and with disorders for which standard diagnostic codes are inconsistently utilized, such as mental health conditions.CONCLUSIONS: While both diagnostic and pharmacy-based methods perform well in identifying a limited set of conditions, each performs poorly under certain circumstances. A hybrid method utilizing both diagnostic and pharmacy data may be more appropriate for an HMO setting. Additional research is needed to develop and refine such a method.

205 THE WASHINGTON STATE CRANBERRY VARIETY `MCFARLIN': YIELD AND COMPONENTS OF YIELD VARIATION

WA State bogs of the cultivar `McFarlin' exhibit highly variable productivity. Yield and various fruiting characteristics were sampled in 14 WA `McFarlin' bogs, representing two growing areas. Significant differences were found for yield, fruit number/area, percent fruit set, flowers/upright, fruit/upright, fruit weight and seed number/fruit. The variable, flowers/upright, accounted for 69% and 75% of the observed variation for yield and fruit number/area, respectively. A multivariate analysis model accounted for 93% of the variation for yield with 3 variables: flowers/upright (69%), fruit weight (20%), and seed number (4%). Principal component analysis identified three `groups' based on fruiting characteristics. DNA fingerprinting suggests, that variability in yield and fruiting characteristics, has a genetic component.