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Biomedical subjects

D A Moore

Publications and source records attributed to D A Moore.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Disposition of lead (Pb) in saliva and blood of Sprague-Dawley rats following a single or repeated oral exposure to Pb-acetate.

Biological monitoring for lead (Pb) is usually based upon a determination of blood Pb concentration; however, saliva has been suggested as a non-invasive biological matrix for assessing exposure. To further evaluate the potential utility of saliva for biomonitoring, the disposition of Pb was evaluated in whole blood (WB), red blood cells (RBC), plasma, parotid gland, bone, and saliva following either a single oral dose of 100mg Pb-acetate/kg body weight in rats or approximately 1-week after 5 sequential daily oral gavage doses of 1, 10, or 100mg Pb-acetate/kg/day. Saliva volume, pH, total saliva protein, and alpha-amylase activity were also determined. At specified times post-dosing groups of animals were anesthetized and administered pilocarpine to induce salivation. Saliva was collected, the animals were humanely sacrificed, and tissue samples were likewise collected, weighed, and processed for Pb analysis. Following a single dose exposure to Pb-acetate, Pb was detectable in all samples by 30 min post-dosing. For both the single and repeated dose treatments the concentration of Pb was highest in WB and RBC relative to plasma and saliva. However, the Pb rapidly redistributed (within 5-days post-treatment) from the blood into the bone compartment based on the substantial decrease in WB and RBC Pb concentration, and the concurrent increase in bone Pb following repeated exposure at all dose levels. Although there is clear variability in the observed Pb concentrations in plasma and saliva, there was a reasonable correlation (r(2)=0.922) between the average Pb concentrations in these biological matrices, which was consistent with previous observations. The single oral dose of Pb-acetate resulted in a decrease in salivary pH which recovered by 24h post-dosing and a decrease in alpha-amylase enzyme activity which did recover within 5-days of ceasing exposure. It is currently unclear what impact these slight functional changes may or may not have on Pb salivary clearance rates. These results demonstrate a feasibility to rapidly detect Pb in saliva and suggest that saliva may correlate best with plasma Pb concentration.

Animals↗

Technical note: Effects of adding shade and fans to a feedbunk sprinkler system for preparturient cows on health and performance.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of adding shades and fans to a feedbunk-mounted sprinkler system on preparturient Holstein cows during summer heat stress. Outcome variables included postpartum milk production, changes in body condition score, changes in serum concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and incidence of postparturient disorders. Four hundred and seventy-five prepartum multiparous cows, 250 to 257 d pregnant, were randomly allocated to 2 study pens. Treatments consisted of sprinklers over the feed bunk (n = 236); and sprinklers, fans, and shades over the feed bunk (n = 239). Data were used from cows spending a minimum of 14 d in their assigned pen. After parturition, all cows were housed and managed under identical conditions. Data recorders in each pen recorded environmental temperature and humidity every 30 min. Body condition scores were taken at study enrollment, parturition, and 60 d in lactation. Following parturition, the presence of retained placenta, metritis, milk fever, and displaced abomasum were recorded for the length of the study. Milk production was measured using twice-monthly Dairy Herd Improvement Association tests for the first 60 d in lactation. Blood was sampled twice weekly in 98 cows and analyzed for serum NEFA during the last 3 wk before parturition. Cows spent approximately 28 d in their respective treatments. Average daily environmental temperature (+/- SD) in the sprinkler only treatment was 26.4 +/- 7.2 vs. 25.1 +/- 8.6 degrees C in the shade, fans, and sprinkler treatment during the length of the trial. There was no difference in body condition score changes, incidence of postparturient disorders, or serum NEFA concentrations. There was a significant difference in total 60-d milk production, and an economic benefit over the preexisting cooling system.

Air Movements↗

A clinical trial evaluating prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotic use on health and performance of preweaned calves.

The objective of this clinical trial was to evaluate the influence of prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotics on health and performance in preweaned dairy calves on a calf ranch. One hundred twenty 1-d-old calves were enrolled into 3 management systems for antibiotic use and raised until 4 wk of age. Sixty calves were not eligible to receive prophylactic or therapeutic antibiotics. Thirty calves were eligible to receive individual antibiotic treatment for disease, but no prophylactic antibiotics in milk replacer. The remaining 30 calves received milk replacer medicated with neomycin and tetracycline HCl, and could be treated with antibiotics. Health status and treatments were monitored and recorded daily. The primary study outcomes were weight gain, morbidity, and mortality. The most important factor associated with morbidity and mortality was passive immune transfer through colostrum. In-feed antibiotics delayed onset of morbidity, decreased overall morbidity, and increased weight gain. Nonantibiotic therapies for clinical disease were associated with increased mortality and morbidity compared with antibiotic treatments. The study has shown that minimizing or eliminating the use of antibiotics in the feed requires measures to ensure adequate passive transfer of immunity, but that in the face of inadequate passive transfer of immunity, animal welfare may be endangered by replacing medicated milk replacer with nonmedicated milk replacer, and therapeutic antibiotics with nonantibiotic alternatives.

Animals↗

DairyBeef: maximizing quality and profits--a consistent food safety message.

To respond to meat safety and quality issues in dairy market cattle, a collaborative project team for 7 western states was established to develop educational resources providing a consistent meat safety and quality message to dairy producers, farm advisors, and veterinarians. The team produced an educational website and CD-ROM course that included videos, narrated slide sets, and on-farm tools. The objectives of this course were: 1) to help producers and their advisors understand market cattle food safety and quality issues, 2) help maintain markets for these cows, and 3) help producers identify ways to improve the quality of dairy cattle going to slaughter. DairyBeef. Maximizing Quality & Profits consists of 6 sections, including 4 core segments. Successful completion of quizzes following each core segment is required for participants to receive a certificate of completion. A formative evaluation of the program revealed the necessity for minor content and technological changes with the web-based course. All evaluators considered the materials relevant to dairy producers. After editing, course availability was enabled in February, 2003. Between February and May, 2003, 21 individuals received certificates of completion.

Animals↗

Using time-lapse video photography to assess dairy cattle lying behavior in a free-stall barn.

The objectives of this observational study were to use time-lapse video photography to document dairy cow behavioral patterns, examine factors affecting lying behavior, and to develop guidelines for visual assessment of free-stall usage during summer conditions in a high producing dairy. Four video cameras were placed in a free-stall pen containing 144 stalls and 129 high producing cows. The videos were recorded over a 6-d period in July 1999 and then were reviewed using 60-min scan sampling techniques. Cows were counted as lying, standing in alley without eating, standing in free stalls, or eating in each of the four sections of the pen. Temperature probes were placed on the feedline, free stalls, on both ends of the pen, and at an outside location. Relationships between proportion eligible lying and ambient temperature, feeding time, and time since milking were examined. Proportion eligible lying was equal to number of cows lying divided by total number of cows lying or standing but not eating. Cattle showed a significant pattern of temporal cyclicity in their lying behavior, with the highest average proportion of eligible cows lying at 6:00 a.m. (85%) and the lowest at 9:00 p.m. (53%). Increasing environmental temperatures and time elapsed since milking negatively impacted proportion of eligible cows observed lying when evaluated using 60-min scan sampling techniques.

Animals↗

Efficacy of a nonantimicrobial cream administered topically for treatment of digital dermatitis in dairy cattle.

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy of a topically administered nonantimicrobial cream with that of lincomycin for treatment of digital dermatitis in dairy cattle. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. ANIMALS: 98 cows from a commercial Holstein dairy herd. PROCEDURE: Cows with active lesions of digital dermatitis identified on a single observation day were randomly assigned to receive a nonantimicrobial cream, lincomycin paste, or no treatment. Cows were examined approximately every 4 weeks for 130 days after treatment for lesion maturity score, score for signs of pain, lesion size, and lesion activity. RESULTS: 29 days after a single treatment, both treated groups had significantly reduced scores for signs of pain, lesion activity, lesion size, and the decision to retreat, compared with findings in the untreated group. Efficacy of the 2 treatments was not significantly different for decreasing pain score or lesion activity or for increasing lesion maturity score, but lincomycin was significantly more efficacious in decreasing lesion size and avoiding retreatment. By use of multivariate logistic regression, lactation number was a significant treatment effect modifier on the outcome of a healed lesion after treatment. Cows with > or = 3 lactations were more likely to have a healed lesion at 29 days, compared with first- and second-lactation cows. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Because antimicrobial treatments for digital dermatitis in cows require a veterinarian's prescription, the nonantimicrobial cream could serve as a viable but less consistently effective alternative to antimicrobials and could be applied by veterinarians, hoof trimmers, and others.

Administration, Topical↗

Etiology and natural history of neutropenia in human immunodeficiency virus disease: a prospective study.

The objective of this prospective, observational study was to define the natural history of neutropenia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Eighty-seven consecutive patients developing neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC], <1000 cells/mm(3)) were recruited and closely followed for the duration of the episode. Episodes lasted a median of 13 days, with a mean ANC nadir of 660 cells/mm(3). Presumed or proven infection occurred in 12 (17%) of 71 evaluable subjects, and culture-proven infection occurred only in 6 (8%) of 71. Most of the episodes of neutropenia were brief, mild to moderate in nadir, and self-limiting without complications. Myelosuppressive therapies were implicated in almost all episodes. Serious infections occurred infrequently and were associated with low ANC nadirs but not with duration of the neutropenic episode. Low CD4(+) cell counts also increased the risk of infection complicating an episode of neutropenia.

Adult↗

Development and evaluation of a leadership program for veterinary students.

Leadership skills are important for many facets of professional life, but no known leadership training programs exist in North American veterinary schools. It was the purpose of this project to develop, deliver, and evaluate a leadership program for first-year veterinary students. Leadership attributes emphasized in the course included effective communication, openness to learning from others, self-awareness, commitment beyond self-interest, motivation, decision making, understanding issue complexity, and team building. The five-day course was delivered to 21 new veterinary students randomly selected just prior to their first-year orientation in the fall of 2000. Participants ranked themselves higher than non-participants in a post-course evaluation on their ability to be effective leaders. Participants reported an increase in self-confidence and a clearer understanding of their leadership roles. Participants also noted new support systems among co-participants and expressed a new ability to consider complex issues more broadly. Most reported that they frequently used enhanced skills in giving and receiving feedback and team building. Other leadership tools identified as valuable included negotiation, group dynamics, a structured approach to problem solving, time management, and an awareness of personal learning style preferences as a means to improve communication.

Female↗

Motivations for and barriers to engaging in continuing veterinary medical education.

OBJECTIVE: To identify reasons for engagement in continuing veterinary medical education (CVME) activities, obstacles to participation, ways to provide more effective programs, and ideas to improve participation in CVME. DESIGN: Focus group interviews. SAMPLE POPULATION: Selected practicing veterinarians from a state that did mandate continuing education for relicensure. PROCEDURE: 12 focus group interviews were held throughout the state of California between May and September 1998. Practitioners were asked to respond to questions about where they obtain information to improve their practice, what value they see in CVME, what motivates them to participate, what obstacles to CVME participation exist, and ways CVME providers and practitioners could overcome those obstacles. RESULTS: 84 practitioners participated in the focus group interviews. In addition to the educational value of CVME, participation was used to rejuvenate practice life and prevent feelings of isolation. Continuing education activities ranged from problem-oriented chats with colleagues to formal educational programs. Timing of events, distance, money, solo practice, stage of career, and family demands were identified as barriers to participation. Designing and marketing CVME with specific learning objectives and for specific career stages and using new educational delivery technologies were suggested to overcome some of these barriers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: If CVME is to improve practice and patient care, it should be integrated into a practice's strategic planning and considered a legitimate business expense. Decisions about CVME participation are made easier if program objectives are clearly outlined.

Animals↗

Continuing education needs assessment for on-farm food safety services.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the perceived market or client demand for dairy on-farm food safety services by veterinarians, the need for a food safety continuing education program, and the educational issues that might be addressed in an on-farm food safety curriculum. DESIGN: Survey. STUDY POPULATION: Consulting dairy veterinarians, government veterinarians located in California, and meat packers slaughtering cull dairy cows in California. PROCEDURE: Results of a questionnaire supplied to veterinarians and telephone interviews with meat packer representatives were analyzed by use of univariate and multivariate logistic regression procedures. RESULTS: Some meat packers considered the quality of incoming cull dairy cattle as a control point for food safety hazards. More than 50% of dairy and government-employed veterinarians believed that a current market for on-farm food safety services exists; > 85% believed that a potential market exists. Duration since graduation was negatively correlated with belief in a current market. Government-employed veterinarians were more likely to believe in a current market. Veterinarians were more likely to express a strong interest in offering on-farm food safety services if they believed a current market exists, indicated that they already offer such services, or listed residues and pathogens as the most important issues facing the dairy industry. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although a potential market for on-farm food safety services is perceived, veterinarians are unsure of their role in this area. new demands of meat packers slaughtering cull dairy cows may be the motivation practitioners need to broach the subject of food safety with clients.

Animals↗

Animal bite epidemiology and surveillance for rabies postexposure prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the epidemiology of animal bites and exposure, evaluate the animal exposure reporting system for surveillance of rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), and identify opportunities to reduce PEP. DESIGN: Period prevalence survey. STUDY POPULATION: Pennsylvania residents in 1995. PROCEDURE: Data from animal bite reports from Pennsylvania county health offices were summarized for 1995. Animal bite incidences for the state, counties, various age groups, and various population densities were calculated. Animal species, treatment, location of wounds, and PEP recommendations were evaluated for exposures. RESULTS: More than 16,000 animal-related potential rabies exposures were reported from 65 of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The highest incidence was in children less than 5 years old (324/100,000). Of the 75% of victims requiring wound treatment, 50% received antimicrobials, 29% received a tetanus toxoid, and 19% had wounds sutured, were admitted to hospitals, or were referred for plastic surgery. Although 75% of exposures were to dogs, victims exposed to cats were 6 times as likely to receive PEP (relative risk, 6.1; 95% confidence interval, 5.1 to 7.4). Thirty percent of 556 PEP were given for exposures to dogs, 44% for cats, 7% for raccoons, 4% for bats, 2.5% for squirrels, 2.1% for groundhogs, 2% for foxes, and 8% for exposures to other species. Fifty-nine percent of owned dogs were up-to-date on rabies vaccinations compared with 41% of owned cats. CONCLUSION: Interventions, such as dog bite prevention education, vaccination of pets against rabies, appropriate use of PEP, and reduction of feral cat populations, should be instituted, enhanced, or better enforced in communities.

Adolescent↗

How generalizable are the results of large randomized controlled trials of antiretroviral therapy?

OBJECTIVES: To examine the generalizability of two large randomized controlled clinical trials of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected individuals. METHODS: The demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of HIV-infected participants in two antiretroviral trials (Concorde and Delta) at three study sites were compared with those of two other groups of patients to whom the trial results would be applicable: eligible patients who were screened for the trials but who did not enrol, and eligible patients who were not approached or screened for the trials. RESULTS: Among enrolled participants in the Concorde and Delta trials there was an under-representation of patients who had acquired HIV infection heterosexually (P = 0.014) or through injecting drug use (P = 0.03), and a greater representation of homosexual men (P < 0.001) compared to non-enrolled participants. Trial participants in Concorde had significantly less advanced immunosuppression compared to non-trial participants (P = 0.0001), while in Delta the converse was true. Concorde participants were also much less likely to be lost to follow-up for more than a year (9%) compared to eligible but unscreened patients (40%) (P < 0.001), and screened but unenrolled patients (22%) (P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: In applying the findings of large randomized clinical trials, it is important to establish whether there are systematic differences between the characteristics of trial participants and eligible non-participants, which might affect the generalizability of the study results. A log of the characteristics of enrolled as well as eligible but non-enrolled patients should be maintained so that the representativeness of the trial population can be evaluated.

Adult↗

Negotiation.

The first part of this paper traces a short history of the psychological study of negotiation. Although negotiation was an active research topic within social psychology in the 1960s and 1970s, in the 1980s, the behavioral decision perspective dominated. The 1990s has witnessed a rebirth of social factors in the psychological study of negotiation, including social relationships, egocentrism, motivated illusions, and emotion. The second part of this paper reviews five emerging research areas, each of which provides useful insight into how negotiators subjectively understand the negotiation: (a) mental models in negotiation; (b) how concerns of ethics, fairness, and values define the rules of the game being played; (c) how the selection of a communication medium impacts the way the game is played; (d) how cross-cultural issues in perception and behavior affect the negotiation game; and (e) how negotiators organize and simplify their understandings of the negotiation game when more than two actors are involved.

Collective Bargaining↗

A retrospective study of neutropenia in HIV disease.

In aiming to define the characteristics of HIV-infected subjects developing neutropenia and describe the causes, features and effects of neutropenia we undertook a retrospective study in a dedicated HIV unit in London, UK. Two hundred and forty-four patients with documented neutropenia, defined as absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1,000/mm3, during a 12-month period were studied. First neutropenia occurred at a median CD4 count of 30 cells/mm3. Low CD4 count was associated with longer episodes of neutropenia with a more profound nadir. Two-thirds of episodes lasted less than 2 weeks. ANC nadir was < 500 cells/mm3 in 45% of episodes. Infections were most frequent in patients with profound but brief neutropenic episodes. Neutropenia was generally mild, short-lived and associated with late-stage disease. However, profound neutropenia did develop suddenly in some patients with no prior history of neutropenia (in 13% first neutropenic ANC recorded was < or =500 cells/mm3), and at CD4 count > 200 cells/mm3. Most patients were receiving multiple myelosuppressive therapies. Infection was associated with brief, profound neutropenia.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Spatial diffusion of raccoon rabies in Pennsylvania, USA.

Identification of the geographic pattern of diffusion of a wildlife disease could lead to information regarding its control. The objective of this study was to model raccoon-rabies diffusion in Pennsylvania to identify geographic constraints on the diffusion pattern for potential use in bait-vaccination strategies. A trend-surface analysis (TSA) was used as a spatial filter for month to first report by county location. A cubic polynomial model was fitted (R2 = 0.80). Velocity vectors were calculated from the partial derivatives of the model and mapped to demonstrate the instantaneous speed of diffusion at each location. A main corridor of diffusion through the ridge and valley section of the state was evident early in the outbreak. Once the disease reached the northern counties, the disease moved west toward Ohio. I believe that TSA was useful in identifying the pattern of raccoon-rabies diffusion across the stage from the inherent noise of disease-reporting data.

Animals↗

Upper respiratory tract infections.

In reviewing recent advances in upper respiratory tract infections, we focus on five key topics. First, the use of ribavirin in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection has been limited to the immunosuppressed. Prophylaxis in high-risk patients with specific immunoglobulin is effective and a new monoclonal antibody shows promise. Second, the efficacy of neuraminidase inhibitors in the treatment of influenza has become established. There are unresolved concerns about early implementation of therapy without a firm diagnosis; resource implications are enormous. Third, an outbreak of influenza due to avian influenza virus (H5N1) raised the possibility of a new pandemic. However, there was minimal person-to-person spread although much was learned about pathogenesis of infection. Fourth, evidence favoring the use of ciprofloxacin rather than rifampicin for meningococcal chemoprophylaxis is reviewed. Efficacy in eradicating nasopharyngeal carriage is excellent. Finally, the management of sore throat has been considered. This remains controversial but evidence supporting antibiotic therapy in adults is lacking. If treatment is indicated in childhood, shorter courses of antibiotics may be effective.

Adult↗