Publications (165) View all
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Article: Getting a leg up on the competition: the importance of osteology in elite athletics.
The American journal of bioethics: AJOB 07/2012; 12(7):25-7. · 4.00 Impact Factor -
Article: Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: recommendations to improve patient and partner quality of life.
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ABSTRACT: Because of improved prostate cancer detection, more patients begin androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) earlier and remain on it longer than before. Patients now may be androgen deprived for over a decade, even when they are otherwise free of cancer symptoms. An ADT Survivorship Working Group was formed to develop and evaluate interventions to limit the physiological and emotional trauma patients and their partners experience from this treatment. The multidisciplinary Working Group met for 2 days to define the challenges couples face when patients commence ADT. A writing sub-group was formed. It compiled the meeting's proceedings, reviewed the literature and, in consultation with the other members of the working group, wrote the manuscript. Expert opinion of the side effects of ADT that affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients and their partners and the recommendations for managing ADT to optimize QOL were based on the best available literature, clinical experience, and widespread internal discussions among Working Group members. Side effects identified as particularly challenging include: (i) body feminization; (ii) changes in sexual performance; (iii) relationship changes; (iv) cognitive and affective symptoms; and (v) fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression. Recommendations for managing ADT include providing information about ADT side effects before administration of ADT, and, where appropriate, providing referrals for psychosocial support. Sexual rehabilitation principles for persons with chronic illness may prove useful. Psychological interventions for sexual sequelae need to be offered and individualized to patients, regardless of their age or partnership. Support should also be offered to partners. Our hope is that this plan will serve as a guide for optimizing how ADT is carried out and improve the lives of androgen-deprived men and their intimate partners.Journal of Sexual Medicine 09/2010; 7(9):2996-3010. · 3.55 Impact Factor -
Article: Skeletal advance and arrest in giant non-metamorphosing African clawed frog tadpoles (Xenopus laevis: Daudin).
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ABSTRACT: This study examines the skeletons of giant non-metamorphosing (GNM) Xenopus laevis tadpoles, which arrest their development indefinitely before metamorphosis, and grow to excessively large sizes in the absence of detectable thyroid glands. Cartilage growth is isometric; however, chondrocyte size is smaller in GNM tadpoles than in controls. Most cartilages stain weakly with alcian blue, and several cartilages are calcified (unlike controls). However, cartilages subjacent to periosteum-derived bone retain strong affinities for alcian blue, indicating a role for periosteum-derived bone in the retention of glycosaminoglycans during protracted larval growth. Bone formation in the head, limb, and axial skeletons is advanced in comparison with stage-matched controls, but arrests at various mid-metamorphic states. Both dermal and periosteum-derived bones grow to disproportionately large sizes in comparison to controls. Additionally, mature monocuspid teeth form in several GNM tadpoles. Advances in skeletal development are attributable to the old ages and large sizes of these tadpoles, and reveal unexpected developmental potentials of the pre-metamorphic skeleton.Journal of Anatomy 01/2010; 216(1):132-43. · 2.37 Impact Factor -
Article: Factors influencing the emergence of a northern population of Eastern Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis sauritus) from artificial hibernacula
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ABSTRACT: We investigated whether Eastern Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis sauritus (L., 1766)) use a rise in water level as a cue for emergence from hibernation. We also examined the hypotheses that snakes use temperature gradients or endogenous signals as emergence cues. Twelve artificial hibernacula were used to house 15 Ribbon Snakes. Water level and temperature were regulated. Four Ribbon Snakes emerged from hibernation without any manipulation of water level or temperature. Eight snakes emerged after thermal conditions in their hibernacula changed. Of these, one emerged after the hibernaculum was made warmer on the surface than at depth, four emerged after the room temperature was increased to 9 °C, and three emerged after incandescent lights were shone on the surface of each hibernaculum. Three snakes died during hibernation. Eight snakes chose to hibernate fully submerged in water. Although the sample size is too small to draw conclusions that are statistically significant at α = 0.05, our observations collectively suggest that Ribbon Snakes do not use a rise in water level as a cue to emerge. While water-level rise does not appear to be an emergence cue, hibernation below the water table may lead to increased survivorship by decreased metabolism and elimination of the risk of desiccation. Nous cherchons à savoir si les couleuvres minces (Thamnophis sauritus (L., 1766)) utilisent l'élévation du niveau d'eau comme signal pour l'émergence de l'hibernation. Nous examinons aussi les hypothèses selon lesquelles les couleuvres utilisent des gradients thermiques ou des repères endogènes comme signaux d'émergence. Douze hibernacles artificiels ont servi à loger 15 couleuvres minces. Le niveau d'eau et la température y étaient contrôlés. Quatre couleuvres minces sont sorties d'hibernation sans aucune manipulation du niveau d'eau ni de la température. Huit couleuvres ont émergé après que les conditions thermiques de leur hibernacle eurent changé. Parmi celles-ci, une a émergé après que son hibernacle ait été réchauffé plus en surface qu'en profondeur, quatre après que la température de la pièce ait été élevée à 9 °C et trois après que la surface de leur habitacle ait été éclairé par des ampoules lumineuses incandescentes. Trois couleuvres sont mortes durant l'hibernation. Huit couleuvres ont choisi d'hiberner complètement submergées dans l'eau. Bien que l'échantillon soit trop petit pour en tirer des conclusions statistiquement significatives à α = 0,05, nos observations globales laissent croire que les couleuvres minces n'utilisent pas le niveau d'eau comme signal de l'émergence. Même si l'augmentation du niveau de l'eau ne semble pas être un signal pour l'émergence, l'hibernation sous le niveau de la nappe phréatique peut augmenter la survie en diminuant le métabolisme et en éliminant le risque de dessiccation.Canadian Journal of Zoology 12/2009; 87(12):1221-1226. · 1.21 Impact Factor -
Article: Effects of spaceflight and cage design on abdominal muscles of male rodents.
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ABSTRACT: We examined the effects of a 16-day spaceflight mission on the size of muscle fibers in the rectus abdominis, external oblique and transversus abdominis muscles of adult male Fisher rats. The rats were individually housed in orbit, in contrast to the one previous spaceflight investigation of the same muscles, where the rats were group-housed pregnant females. The cross-sectional area of the muscle fibers was used as a measure of muscle atrophy or hypertrophy. The transversus, which is presumed to be the primary expiratory muscle and consequently works against internal hydrostatic pressures that are not likely to change much between 1 G and weightlessness, did not change in size. However, both the rectus abdominis (a spinal flexor) and the external oblique (a rotator of the torso), which resist gravity in the 1 G environment, showed significant signs of atrophy after extended exposure to microgravity. The atrophy of the external oblique was diametrically opposite to hypertrophy of the same muscle observed in group-housed rodents previously exposed to spaceflight. Although the two missions differed in several factors, such as the gender of the rats and mission duration, we believe that housing of the animals was the key factor that accounted for the different responses of the external oblique. Previous research has shown that group-housed rats in spaceflight exhibited seven times more rotations of their torsos than matched ground controls. Thus unloading of the musculoskeletal system may not be achieved in weightlessness when animals have the freedom to interact with each other.Journal of Experimental Zoology 05/2001; 289(5):330-4.
