It is unknown whether joint inflammation precedes other articular tissue damage in osteoarthritis. Therefore, this study aims to determine if synovitis precedes the development of radiographic knee ...osteoarthritis (ROA).
The participants in this nested case-control study were selected from persons in the Osteoarthritis Initiative with knees that had a Kellgren Lawrence grading (KLG)=0 at baseline (BL). These knees were evaluated annually with radiography and non-contrast-enhanced MRI over 4 years. MRIs were assessed for effusion-synovitis and Hoffa-synovitis. Case knees were defined by ROA (KLG≥2) on the postero-anterior knee radiographs at any assessment after BL. Radiographs were assessed at P0 (time of onset of ROA), 1 year prior to P0 (P-1) and at BL. Controls were participants who did not develop incident ROA (iROA) from BL to 48 months).
133 knees of 120 persons with ROA (83 women) were matched to 133 control knees (83 women). ORs for occurrence of iROA associated with the presence of effusion-synovitis at BL, P-1 and P0 were 1.56 (95% CI 0.86 to 2.81), 3.23 (1.72 to 6.06) and 4.7 (1.10 to 2.95), respectively. The ORs for the occurrence of iROA associated with the presence of Hoffa-synovitis at BL, P-1 and P0 were 1.80 (1.1 to 2.95), 2.47 (1.45 to 4.23) and 2.40 (1.43 to 4.04), respectively.
Effusion-synovitis and Hoffa-synovitis strongly predicted the development of iROA.
Hunters in Europe gather non-survey game species population estimates to inform wildlife management, however, the quality of such estimates remains unclear. We compared estimates of game density, ...realized annual intrinsic growth rates, and period mean growth rates between hunter obtained data and data obtained by targeted survey methods for four species in Poland from 1960 to 2014. Raw hunter estimates were strongly positively correlated to spotlight counts of red fox (18 years of monitoring), strip counts of brown hare (21 years) and grey partridge (25 years), male call counts of partridge (24 years), and complete counts of roe deer (49 years), and not related to spotlight counts of brown hare (15 years). Realized annual intrinsic growth rates derived from hunter estimates were strongly positively related to annual intrinsic growth rates derived from strip counts of grey partridge and complete counts of roe deer, but only weakly or not related to strip counts of brown hare, spotlight counts of red fox and brown hare, and male call counts of grey partridge. The period length at which the period mean growth rates derived from hunter estimates and estimates from other methods were strongly correlated was largely variable among methods and species. In the roe deer, correlation between these variables was strong across all years, while in smaller game species the period mean growth rates based on hunter estimates and other methods had the strongest association in period lengths of 6 to 11 years. We conclude that raw hunter estimates convey largely similar information to that provided by other targeted survey methods. Hunter estimates provide a source of population data for both the retrospective and prospective analysis of game population development when more robust estimates are unavailable.
Background. In community-dwelling older adults, global cognitive function predicts longitudinal gait speed decline. Few prospective studies have evaluated whether specific executive cognitive ...deficits in aging may account for gait slowing over time. Methods. Multiple cognitive tasks were administered at baseline in 909 participants in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study Cognitive Vitality Substudy (mean age 75.2 ± 2.8 years, 50.6% women, 48.4% black). Usual gait speed (m/s) over 20 minutes was assessed at baseline and over a 5-year follow-up. Results. Poorer performance in each cognitive task was cross-sectionally associated with slower gait independent of demographic and health characteristics. In longitudinal analyses, each 1 SD poorer performance in global function, verbal memory, and executive function was associated with 0.003–0.004 m/s greater gait speed decline per year (p =.03–.05) after adjustment for baseline gait speed, demographic, and health characteristics. Conclusions. In this well-functioning cohort, several cognitive tasks were associated with gait speed cross-sectionally and predicted longitudinal gait speed decline. These data are consistent with a shared pathology underlying cognitive and motor declines but do not suggest that specific executive cognitive deficits account for slowing of usual gait in aging.
Given climate change threats to ecosystems, it is critical to understand the responses of species to warming. This is especially important in the case of apex predators since they exhibit relatively ...high extinction risk, and changes to their distribution could impact predator–prey interactions that can initiate trophic cascades. Here we used a combined analysis of animal tracking, remotely sensed environmental data, habitat modeling, and capture data to evaluate the effects of climate variability and change on the distributional range and migratory phenology of an ectothermic apex predator, the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Tiger sharks satellite tracked in the western North Atlantic between 2010 and 2019 revealed significant annual variability in the geographic extent and timing of their migrations to northern latitudes from ocean warming. Specifically, tiger shark migrations have extended farther poleward and arrival times to northern latitudes have occurred earlier in the year during periods with anomalously high sea‐surface temperatures. A complementary analysis of nearly 40 years of tiger shark captures in the region revealed decadal‐scale changes in the distribution and timing of shark captures in parallel with long‐term ocean warming. Specifically, areas of highest catch densities have progressively increased poleward and catches have occurred earlier in the year off the North American shelf. During periods of anomalously high sea‐surface temperatures, movements of tracked sharks shifted beyond spatial management zones that had been affording them protection from commercial fishing and bycatch. Taken together, these study results have implications for fisheries management, human–wildlife conflict, and ecosystem functioning.
We used multiple approaches to evaluate the effects of ocean warming on tiger shark movements in the western North Atlantic. Over the past ~40 years, shark distributions have expanded poleward, paralleling rising temperatures. Moreover, satellite tracking of sharks over the past decade has revealed their annual migrations have extended farther poleward and arrival times to northern areas have also occurred earlier in the year during extremely warm periods, which has subsequently decreased their protections from fishing. Potential consequences of these climate‐driven alterations include increasing shark vulnerability to fishing, disruption of predator–prey interactions, and changes in encounter rates with human water users.
Summary
Our aim was to evaluate the associations between the individual components of sarcopenia and fracture types. In this cohort, the risk of experiencing any clinical, hip, or major osteoporotic ...fracture is greater in men with slow walking speed in comparison to normal walking speed.
Introduction
The association between the components of sarcopenia and fractures has not been clearly elucidated and has hindered the development of appropriate therapeutic interventions. Our aim was to evaluate the associations between the individual components of sarcopenia, specifically lean mass, strength, and physical performance and fracture (any fracture, hip fracture, major osteoporotic fracture) in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study.
Methods
The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men study (MrOS) recruited 5995 men ≥ 65 years of age. We measured appendicular lean mass (ALM) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (low as residual value < 20th percentile for the cohort), walking speed (fastest trial of usual pace, values < 0.8 m/s were low), and grip strength (max score of 2 trials, values < 30 kg were low). Information on fractures was assessed tri-annually over an average follow-up of 12 years and centrally adjudicated. Cox proportional hazard models estimated the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence intervals) for slow walking speed, low grip strength, and low lean mass.
Results
Overall, 1413 men had a fracture during follow-up. Slow walking speed was associated with an increased risk for any HR = 1.39, 1.05–1.84; hip HR = 2.37, 1.54–3.63; and major osteoporotic, HR = 1.89, 1.34–2.67 in multi-variate-adjusted models. Low lean mass and low grip strength were not significantly associated with fracture.
Conclusions
In this cohort of older adult men, the risk of experiencing any, hip, or major osteoporotic fracture is greater in men with slow walking speed in comparison to men with normal walking speed, but low grip strength and low lean mass were not associated with fracture.
Small bait traps are beginning to emerge in forensic entomology as a new approach to sample early-colonizing necrophagous Diptera species while reducing the investment in time and energy in obtaining ...information. To test the hypothesis conveyed by the literature that these traps can be a substitute for whole carcasses, we simultaneously documented the Diptera assemblages visiting and colonizing domestic pig carcasses and small traps baited with pork liver. Results indicated that Diptera species occurrence and assemblage composition in the small bait traps and on the carcasses differed, while they were similar when comparing only the pig carcasses. These results are in agreement with the literature that examined insect colonization of other decaying substrates. Although small bait traps can be useful tools to document the communities of necrophagous Diptera in a given area, we stress that caution must be exercised when extending the data obtained by these traps to courtroom proceedings.
Is Forensic Entomology Lost in Space? Boudreau, Denis R; Moreau, Gaétan
Insects (Basel, Switzerland),
12/2021, Letnik:
13, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Spatial and scale effects have barely been considered in forensic entomology, despite their pervasive influence on most of the parameters affecting the development of insect larval stages and the ...progression of insect succession on cadavers. Here, we used smoothing/interpolation techniques and semivariograms to document the spatial dynamics of sarcosaprophageous
, an important forensic taxon, in the Greater Moncton area in New Brunswick, Canada. Results indicated that the spatial dynamics of
differed between species, some species showing strong patterns of regional aggregation while others did not. Multivariate spatial correlations indicated that interspecific relationships in space varied widely, ranging from local and large-scale aggregation to spatial anticorrelation between species. Overall, this study suggested that even within a restricted timescale, the spatial dynamics of
can operate at many scales, manifest in different patterns, and be attributed to multiple different causes. We stress that forensic entomology has much to benefit from the use of spatial analysis because many important forensic questions, both at the fundamental and practical levels, require a spatial solution.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Obesity exacerbates age-related physical disability; however, observational studies show that any weight loss in old age is associated with greater risk of mortality. ...Conversely, randomized controlled trials in older adults show that weight loss is beneficial. The discrepancy may be due to weight loss intention and differential changes to regional body composition. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the independent role of regional body composition remodeling in improving physical function. DESIGN: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. SETTING: Community based research center. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six community dwelling, overweight to moderately obese (BMI 28.0–39.9 kg/m²) older adults (age 70.6±6.1 yrs). INTERVENTION: Physical activity plus weight loss (PA+WL, n=21) or PA plus successful aging (SA) education. PA consisted primary of treadmill walking supplemented with lower extremity resistance and balance training. The WL program was based on the Diabetes Prevention Project and aimed at achieving a 7% weight loss by cutting calories, specifically those from fat. MEASUREMENTS: At baseline, 6- and 12-months, body composition was measured using computerized tomography and dual x-ray absorptiometry. Abdominal visceral (VAT) and thigh intermuscular (IMAT) adipose tissue were quantified. Physical function was assessed using the short physical performance battery (SPPB). RESULTS: Separate multivariable linear regression models with both groups combined demonstrated that decreases in IMAT and VAT were significantly associated with improvements in SPPB (P<0.05) independent of change in total fat mass. PA+WL improved SPPB scores from baseline (0.8±1.4, P<0.05), whereas PA+SA did not; however no intergroup difference was detected. Of note, these effects were mainly achieved during the intensive intervention phase. CONCLUSION: Decreases in IMAT and VAT are important mechanisms underlying improved function following intentional weight loss plus physical activity.
Feeding interactions with invaders have powerful impacts on native biota. Recently, a trophic interaction among invasive green crabs (
Carcinus maenas
) and native dogwhelks (
Nucella lapillus
) ...foraging on mussels (
Mytilus
spp.) in Atlantic Canada was reported, in which a mussel initially attacked by a dogwhelk was then eaten by a crab. This was interpreted as kleptoparasitism, but alternatively could be scavenging of abandoned mussel prey. In this paper, mathematical models of kleptoparasitism and scavenging among these species were developed and used to generate predicted feeding rates, which were then compared to observations from previous work. The available evidence for kleptoparasitism by green crabs on dogwhelks was also considered and compared to hypothesized outcomes of these different foraging modes. The evidence considered does not definitively suggest that scavenging was previously misidentified as kleptoparasitism; in fact, model simulations were only able to match observed foraging when they included kleptoparasitism. Effects of crab kleptoparasitism on whelks were shown to be negative, while crab scavenging had effectively no impact on whelks; therefore, while these two foraging interactions appear superficially similar, they have very different implications and should be carefully distinguished in future studies.
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