Bait avoidance and habitat use by the roof rat, Rattus rattus, in a piggery

The acceptance of four anticoagulant rodenticide baits was evaluated in a piggery. The bait bases were cracked wheat, wax block, pig feed, and Racumin Paste(R). Mean daily consumption of each bait was poor (< 5 g). Mean activity index measured with tracking plates did not change significantly throughout pre-baiting (3 days), baiting (37) or post-baiting (7), indicating that the baits had no impact on the population. The same baiting regime applied simultaneously in nearby stables with lower feed availability induced a significantly higher mean consumption of the cracked wheat based bait, and the activity index declined to zero at day 23, indicating that the rats were eradicated. The failure of the baits to control rats in the piggery was possibly due to the poor bait acceptance caused by the abundant feed supply. Results of live-trapping and radio- and spool-and-line tracking indicated that the population was confined within the piggery; lower windowsills were the most used above-ground structure for movements; and minimum home range span was 17 m. We suggest that rodent control should be implemented within the confines of the piggery to reduce the risk to non-target animals, and that mortality agents should be placed less than or equal to 17 in apart arboreally for the roof rat. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The comprehensive osteoarthritis test: a simple index for measurement of treatment effects in clinical trials

Objective. To assess the measurement properties of a simple index of symptom severity in osteoarthritis (OA) of the hips and knees. Methods. Both the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the proposed new Comprehensive Osteoarthritis Test (COAT) instrument were completed weekly by 125 subjects in the context of a randomized, 12-week, 3 parallel-arm clinical trial. The reliabilities of the various scales were assessed on a weekly basis by use of Cronbach's alpha coefficients. The validity of the COAT total scale was assessed by correlation with the WOMAC total scale on a weekly basis with correlation coefficients, and in terms of the correlations between subject-level intercepts and slopes over time. The relative responsiveness of the WOMAC and COAT total scales was assessed using a multilevel (longitudinal) multivariate (WOMAC, COAT) linear model. Results. The WOMAC and COAT total scales were highly reliable (mean over weeks: WOMAC alpha = 0.98; COAT alpha = 0.97). The correlations between the WOMAC and COAT scales were very high (mean over weeks = 0.92; subject-level intercepts = 0.91, slopes = 0.88). The COAT total scale was significantly more responsive than the WOMAC total scale in the active treatment (34.8% improvement vs 26.8%; p = 0.002). Conclusion. The COAT total scale is simple to administer, reliable, valid, and responsive to treatment effects.

Validation and patient acceptance of a computer touch screen version of the WOMAC 3.1 osteoarthritis index

Objectives: To validate the WOMAC 3.1 in a touch screen computer format, which applies each question as a cartoon in writing and in speech (QUALITOUCH method), and to assess patient acceptance of the computer touch screen version. Methods: The paper and computer formats of WOMAC 3.1 were applied in random order to 53 subjects with hip or knee osteoarthritis. The mean age of the subjects was 64 years ( range 45 to 83), 60% were male, 53% were 65 years or older, and 53% used computers at home or at work. Agreement between formats was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Preferences were assessed with a supplementary questionnaire. Results: ICCs between formats were 0.92 (95% confidence interval, 0.87 to 0.96) for pain; 0.94 (0.90 to 0.97) for stiffness, and 0.96 ( 0.94 to 0.98) for function. ICCs were similar in men and women, in subjects with or without previous computer experience, and in subjects below or above age 65. The computer format was found easier to use by 26% of the subjects, the paper format by 8%, and 66% were undecided. Overall, 53% of subjects preferred the computer format, while 9% preferred the paper format, and 38% were undecided. Conclusion: The computer format of the WOMAC 3.1 is a reliable assessment tool. Agreement between computer and paper formats was independent of computer experience, age, or sex. Thus the computer format may help improve patient follow up by meeting patients' preferences and providing immediate results.

Effect of body mass index changes between ages 5 and 14 on blood pressure at age 14 - Findings from a birth cohort study

Weight reduction in clinical populations of severely obese children has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood pressure, but little is known about the effect of weight gain among children in the general population. This study compares the mean blood pressure at 14 years of age with the change in overweight status between ages 5 and 14. Information from 2794 children born in Brisbane, Australia, and who were followed up since birth and had body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure measurements at ages 5 and 14 were used. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure at age 14 was the main outcomes and different patterns of change in BMI from age 5 to 14 were the main exposure. Those who changed from being overweight at age 5 to having normal BMI at age 14 had similar mean blood pressures to those who had a normal BMI at both time points: age- and sex-adjusted mean difference in systolic blood pressure 1.54 ( - 0.38, 3.45) mm Hg and in diastolic blood pressure 0.43 ( - 0.95, 1.81) mm Hg. In contrast, those who were overweight at both ages or who had a normal BMI at age 5 and were overweight at age 14 had higher blood pressure at age 14 than those who had a normal BMI at both times. These effects were independent of a range of potential confounding factors. Our findings suggest that programs that successfully result in children changing from overweight to normal-BMI status for their age may have important beneficial effects on subsequent blood pressure.

Anthropometry profiles of elite rugby players: quantifying changes in lean mass

Objective: To demonstrate the utility of a practical measure of lean mass for monitoring changes in the body composition of athletes. Methods: Between 1999 and 2003 body mass and sum of seven skinfolds were recorded for 40 forwards and 32 backs from one Super 12 rugby union franchise. Players were assessed on 13 (7) occasions ( mean (SD)) over 1.9 (1.3) years. Mixed modelling of log transformed variables provided a lean mass index (LMI) of the form mass/skinfolds(x), for monitoring changes in mass controlled for changes in skinfold thickness. Mean effects of phase of season and time in programme were modelled as percentage changes. Effects were standardised for interpretation of magnitudes. Results: The exponent x was 0.13 for forwards and 0.14 for backs ( 90% confidence limits +/- 0.03). The forwards had a small decrease in skinfolds ( 5.3%, 90% confidence limits +/- 2.2%) between preseason and competition phases, and a small increase ( 7.8%, 90% confidence limits +/- 3.1%) during the club season. A small decrease in LMI (similar to 1.5%) occurred after one year in the programme for forwards and backs, whereas increases in skinfolds for forwards became substantial (4.3%, 90% confidence limits +/- 2.2%) after three years. Individual variation in body composition was small within a season (within subject SD: body mass, 1.6%; skinfolds, 6.8%; LMI, 1.1%) and somewhat greater for body mass (2.1%) and LMI (1.7%) between seasons. Conclusions: Despite a lack of substantial mean changes, there was substantial individual variation in lean mass within and between seasons. An index of lean mass based

Use of drought response index for identification of drought tolerant genotypes in rainfed lowland rice

Drought is a major constraint for rice production in the rainfed lowlands in Southeast Asia and Eastern India. The breeding programs for tainted lowland rice in these regions focus on adaptation to a range of drought conditions. However, a method of selection of drought tolerant genotypes has not been established and is considered to be one of the constraints faced by rice breeders. Drought response index (DRI) is based on grain yield adjusted for variation in potential yield and flowering date, and has been used recently, but its consistency among drought environments and hence its usefulness is not certain. In order to establish a selection method and subsequently to identify donor parents for drought resistance breeding, a series of experiments with 15 contrasting genotypes was conducted under well-watered and managed drought conditions at two sites for 5 years in Cambodia. Water level in the field was recorded and used to estimate the relative water level (WLREL) around flowering as an index of the severity of water deficit at the time of flowering for each entry. This was used to determine if DRI or yield reduction was due to drought tolerance or related to the amount of available water at flowering, i.e. drought escape. Grain yield reduction due to drought ranged from 12 to 46%. The drought occurred mainly during the reproductive phase, while four experiments had water stress from the early vegetative stage. There was significant variation for water availability around flowering among the nine experiments and this was associated with variation in mean yield reduction. Genotypic variation in DRI was consistent among most experiments, and genotypic mean DRI ranged from -0.54 to 0.47 (LSD 5% = 0.47). Genotypic variation in DRI was not related to WLREL around flowering in the nine environments. It is concluded that selection for DRI under drought conditions would allow breeders to identify donor lines with high drought tolerance as an important component of breeding better adapted varieties for the rainfed lowlands; two genotypes were identified with high DRI and low yield reduction and were subsequently used in the breeding program in Cambodia. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Association of subclinical right ventricular dysfunction with obesity

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this research was to identify the determinants of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in overweight and obese subjects. BACKGROUND Right ventricular dysfunction in obese subjects is usually ascribed to comorbid diseases, especially obstructive sleep apnea. We used tissue Doppler imaging to identify the determinants of RV dysfunction in overweight and obese subjects. METHODS Standard and tissue Doppler echocardiography was performed in 112 overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25 to 29.9 kg/m(2)) or obese (BMI >30 kg/m(1)) subjects and 36 referents (BMI 35 kg/m(2) had reduced RV function compared with referent subjects, evidenced by reduced s(m) (6.5 +/- 2.4 cm/s vs. 10.2 +/- 1.5 cm/s, p < 0.001), peak strain (-21 +/- 4% vs. -28 +/- 4%, p < 0.001), peak strain rate (-1.4 +/- 0.4 s(-1) vs. -2.0 +/- 0.5 s(-1), p < 0.001), and e(m) (6.8 +/- 2.4 cm/s vs. -10.3 +/- 2.5 cm/s, p < 0.001), irrespective of the presence of sleep apnea. Similar but lesser degrees of reduced systolic function (p < 0.05) were present in overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/m(2)) and mildly obese (BMI 30 to 35 kg/m(2)) groups. Differences in RV e(m), s(m), and strain indexes were demonstrated between the severely versus overweight and mildly obese groups (p < 0.05). Body mass index remained independently related to RV changes after adjusting for age, log insulin, and mean arterial pressures. In obese patients, these changes were associated with reduced exercise capacity but not the duration of obesity and presence of sleep apnea or its severity. CONCLUSIONS Increasing BMI is associated with increasing severity of RV dysfunction in overweight and obese subjects without overt heart disease, independent of sleep apnea.