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Frank Beach award winner: Neuroendocrinology of group living.

ABSTRACT: Why do members of some species live in groups while others are solitary? Group living (sociality) has often been studied from an evolutionary perspective, but less is known about the neurobiology of affiliation outside the realms of mating and parenting. Colonial species offer a valuable opportunity to study nonsexual affiliative behavior between adult peers. Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) display environmentally induced variation in social behavior, maintaining exclusive territories in summer months, but living in social groups in winter. Research on peer relationships in female meadow voles demonstrates that these selective preferences are mediated differently than mate relationships in socially monogamous prairie voles, but are also impacted by oxytocin and HPA axis signaling. This review addresses day-length dependent variation in physiology and behavior, and presents the current understanding of the mechanisms supporting selective social relationships in meadow voles, with connections to lessons from other species.

SUBMITTER: Beery AK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6371784 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Frank Beach award winner: Neuroendocrinology of group living.

Beery Annaliese K AK

Hormones and behavior 20181217

Why do members of some species live in groups while others are solitary? Group living (sociality) has often been studied from an evolutionary perspective, but less is known about the neurobiology of affiliation outside the realms of mating and parenting. Colonial species offer a valuable opportunity to study nonsexual affiliative behavior between adult peers. Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) display environmentally induced variation in social behavior, maintaining exclusive territories in ...[more]

PMID: 30439353

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Project description:Background/Objective People with spinal cord injury (SCI) access educational resources during their inpatient rehabilitation, but they can be overwhelmed by the amount of information they need to assimilate during ever-shorter stays. This project created e-learning courses to fill the knowledge needs of SCI consumers and evaluated user satisfaction and knowledge transfer. Methods/Overview A needs assessment of 83 consumers and 99 staff identified information needs for people with SCI (Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – UHN and CPAO, 2008). Key topics were selected for the creation of 10 online patient education courses, collectively called Spinal Cord Injury – University (SCI-U), and housed on the Spinal Cord Connections website (www.spinalcordconnections.ca/sci-u). Course content was developed collaboratively by over 100 consumers and professionals, from healthcare and community service organizations across Canada. Each course uses adult learning principles and presents key information on healthy living with SCI, in an accessible and engaging way. A team of professionals created multimedia courses using Articulate software, incorporating video, animation and interactivity. The courses show the positive faces of SCI, each one featuring 3 video presenters (all people with SCI), and video testimonials where consumers talk about their experience living with SCI and managing their health. Users are encouraged to complete course quizzes to reinforce their learning. A pilot study enrolled consumers and clinicians (n = 25) and evaluated knowledge acquisition and retention, as well as perceived utility and satisfaction with the first 3 courses in the series: SCI and You, Bladder and Bowel. Results Knowledge acquisition and retention: across-group mean pre-course, post-course and 1-month post-course scores were “SCI & You” (score/14) 8.19, 10.67, 10.75; “Bladder” (score/13) 5.73, 8.69, 7.09; and “Bowel” (score/12) 6.68, 9.23, 9.00. Perceived utility and satisfaction: across-group mean global satisfaction scores (/5) were “SCI & You” 4.25, “Bladder” 3.89, and “Bowel” 3.94. Across-group mean global effectiveness scores (/5) were “SCI & You”? 4.16, “Bladder” 4.36, and “Bowel” 4.28. Visits to the SCI-U home page were 773 (2010), 2084 (2011) and 803 (as of March 2012). Conclusions SCI-U is an effective tool for patient education, and integrating e-learning into SCI rehabilitation programs has the potential to improve the effectiveness of knowledge transfer. Acknowledgements Rick Hansen Institute Grant Number: 2010-77.

Project description:Over the last years, evidence has accumulated in support of bracing as an effective treatment option in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Yet, little information is available on the impact of compliance on the outcome of conservative treatment in scoliotic subjects. The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the association between compliance to brace treatment and the progression of scoliotic curve in patients with idiopathic adolescent (AIS) or juvenile scoliosis (JIS).Among 1.424 patients treated for idiopathic scoliosis, 645 were eligible for inclusion criteria. Three outcomes were distinguished in agreement with the SRS criteria: curve correction, curve stabilization and curve progression. Brace wearing was assessed by one orthopaedic surgeon (LA) and scored on a standardized form. Compliance to treatment was categorized as complete (brace worn as prescribed), incomplete A (brace removed for 1 month), incomplete B (brace removed for 2 months), incomplete C (brace removed during school hours), and incomplete D (brace worn overnight only). Chi square test, T test or ANOVA and ANOVA for repeated measures tests were used as statistical tests.The results from our study showed that at follow-up the compliance was: Complete 61.1%; Incomplete A 5.2%; Incomplete B 10.7%; Incomplete C 14.2%; Incomplete D 8.8%. Curve correction was accomplished in 301/319 of Complete, 19/27 Incomplete A, 25/56 Incomplete B, 52/74 Incomplete C, 27/46 Incomplete D. Cobb mean value was 29.8?±?7.5 SD at beginning and 17.1?±?10.9 SD at follow-up. Both Cobb and Perdriolle degree amelioration was significantly higher in patients with complete compliance over all other groups, both in juvenile, both in adolescent scoliosis. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the rate of surgical treatment was 2.1% among patients with definite outcome and 12.1% among those with drop-out. Treatment compliance showed significant interactions with time.Curve progression and referral to surgery are lower in patients with high brace compliance. Bracing discontinuation up to 1 month does not impact on the treatment outcome. Conversely, wearing the brace only overnight is associated with a high rate of curve progression.

Project description:BackgroundMany patients undergo both THA and spinal arthrodesis, and those patients may not fare as well as those who undergo one procedure but not the other. The mechanisms of how spinal arthrodesis affects patient function after THA remain unclear.Questions/purposesThe aims of our study were to (1) determine how patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), including the Oxford hip score as well as dislocations and complications compare after THA between patients with and without spinal arthrodesis; (2) characterize sagittal pelvic changes in these patients that occur when moving between different functional positions and test for differences between patients with and without spinal arthrodesis; and (3) assess whether differences in sagittal pelvic dynamics are associated with PROMs, complications, and dislocations after THA.MethodsIn this case-control study, we identified 42 patients (60 hips) who had undergone both THA and spinal arthrodesis between 2002 and 2016 and who were available for followup at a minimum of 12 months (mean, 6 ± 5 years) after the later of the two procedures. These cases were case-control-matched for age, gender, and body mass index with 42 patients (60 hips) who underwent only THA and had no known spinal pathology. All patients completed PROMs, including the Oxford hip score, and underwent four radiographs of the pelvis and spinopelvic complex in three positions (supine, standing, and deep-seated). Cup orientation and various spinopelvic parameters, including pelvic tilt and pelvic-femoral angle, were measured. The difference in pelvic tilt between standing and seated allowed for patient classification based on spinopelvic mobility into normal (± 10°-30°), stiff (< ± 10°) or hypermobile (> ± 30°) groups.ResultsCompared with the THA-only group, the THA-spinal arthrodesis group had inferior PROMs (Oxford hip score, 33 ± 10 versus 43 ± 6; p < 0.001) and more surgery-related complications (such as dislocation, loosening, periprosthetic fracture or infection, psoas irritation) (12 versus 3; p = 0.013), especially dislocation (5 versus 0; p = 0.023). We detected no difference in change of pelvic tilt between supine and standing positions between the groups. When standing, patients undergoing THA-spinal arthrodesis had greater pelvic tilt (25° ± 11° versus 17° ± 8°; p < 0.001) and the hip was more extended (193° ± 22° versus 185° ± 30°; p = 0.012). We found that patients undergoing THA-spinal arthrodesis were more likely to have spinopelvic hypermobility (12 of 42 versus three of 42; odds ratio, 5.2; p = 0.02) with anterior tilting of the pelvis. Of all biomechanical parameters, only spinopelvic hypermobility was associated with inferior PROMs (Oxford hip score, 35 ± 9 versus 40 ± 7 in normal mobility; p = 0.049) and was also present in dislocating hips that underwent revision despite acceptable cup orientation.ConclusionsIn patients with spinal arthrodesis who have undergone THA, spinopelvic hypermobility is associated with inferior outcomes, including hip instability. Spinopelvic hypermobility should be routinely assessed because these patients may have a narrow zone of optimum cup orientation that would require new technology to define and assist the surgeon in obtaining it.Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study.

Project description:Study designRetrospective hospital-registry study.ObjectiveTo characterize the microbial epidemiology of surgical site infection (SSI) in spinal fusion surgery and the burden of resistance to standard surgical antibiotic prophylaxis.Summary of background dataSSI persists as a leading complication of spinal fusion surgery despite the growth of enhanced recovery programs and improvements in other measures of surgical quality. Improved understandings of SSI microbiology and common mechanisms of failure for current prevention strategies are required to inform the development of novel approaches to prevention relevant to modern surgical practice.MethodsSpinal fusion cases performed at a single referral center between January 2011 and June 2019 were reviewed and SSI cases meeting National Healthcare Safety Network criteria were identified. Using microbiologic and procedural data from each case, we analyzed the anatomic distribution of pathogens, their differential time to presentation, and correlation with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening results. Susceptibility of isolates cultured from each infection were compared with the spectrum of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis administered during the index procedure on a per-case basis. Susceptibility to alternate prophylactic agents was also modeled.ResultsAmong 6727 cases, 351 infections occurred within 90 days. An anatomic gradient in the microbiology of SSI was observed across the length of the back, transitioning from cutaneous (gram-positive) flora in the cervical spine to enteric (gram-negative/anaerobic) flora in the lumbosacral region (correlation coefficient 0.94, P < 0.001). The majority (57.5%) of infections were resistant to the prophylaxis administered during the procedure. Cephalosporin-resistant gram-negative infection was common at lumbosacral levels and undetected methicillin-resistance was common at cervical levels.ConclusionIndividualized infection prevention strategies tailored to operative level are needed in spine surgery. Endogenous wound contamination with enteric flora may be a common mechanism of infection in lumbosacral fusion. Novel approaches to prophylaxis and prevention should be prioritized in this population.Level of Evidence: 3.

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Frank Beach award winner: Neuroendocrinology of group living.

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Frank Beach award winner: Neuroendocrinology of group living.

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