Audubon Nature Institute

This cross-sectional survey study evaluates the influence of international observerships organised by the coalition of healthcare professionals from academic institutions-the Ukrainian Alliance for Medical Exchange and Development (UA-MED)-on the professional development, knowledge transfer and clinical practice improvement of Ukrainian healthcare professionals during the war. A total of 263 international observerships were facilitated for 204 Ukrainian medical professionals across the institutions in the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia during 2022-2024. To assess the impact of these observerships, a survey was administered focusing on overall satisfaction, procedural knowledge gained and challenges faced when implementing new techniques on return. The primary outcome was the success score, defined as a composite score of implementing new procedures, initiating quality improvement projects and knowledge dissemination efforts. A total of 128 medical professionals from 45 Ukrainian institutions who completed 138 observerships in 27 institutions abroad participated in the survey (response rate of 62.7%). Observers varied by profession: surgeons (32.8%), radiation oncologists (14.8%), medical oncologists (11.7%), anaesthesiologists (11.7%) and others. Observerships lasted a median of 4 weeks; 74.1% included conference attendance. The average success and satisfaction scores were 6.5/10 and 9.3/10, respectively.The majority (92.7%) reported a shift in perception of how to practise medicine and 75.5% implemented new procedures on returning to Ukraine. Encouraged to disseminate knowledge, participants provided informal training to colleagues (67.3%), prepared presentations for their institutions (65.5%) and national conferences (32.7%), incorporated learnt materials into educational lectures (39.1%) and engaged in all the activities above (15.5%). The international observerships played an important role in enhancing the reported skills and knowledge of Ukrainian healthcare professionals during the war. Improvements were reported in clinical practice, medical education and the implementation of new procedures. The success of these observerships underscores the potential for similar programmes in other low-income and middle-income countries/upper-middle-income countries.

Understanding the origin and spread of invasive species is critical for predicting when and where new introductions will establish, and impact native species. However, due to the complexity of contributing factors such as multiple introductions, dispersal method, genetic admixture in founding populations, and variable propagule pressure, genetic patterns observed in invasive species may not always conform to a single theoretical expectation. Cuban treefrogs ( Osteopilus septentrionalis ) are invasive in peninsular Florida and sporadically in the Florida panhandle. Though O. septentrionalis has been occasionally reported in Louisiana since the 1990s, established populations were not present until the discovery of a breeding population in New Orleans in 2017. In this study we investigated the source of this novel population using existing and newly generated cytochrome B (cyt-b) mitochondrial gene sequences from the native and invasive range of O. septentrionalis . We recovered a total of 14 cyt-b haplotypes, nine novel and five previously published. Within the 95 Louisiana invasion samples, we recovered seven haplotypes including five novel haplotypes. The haplotypes most common in Louisiana were shared exclusively with west and east Florida localities in central Florida, indicating a possible source population. The presence of haplotypes private to the Louisiana locality suggests other unsampled localities may also be contributing to the Louisiana settlement. Metrics of genetic diversity across native and invasive localities did not significantly differ. Furthermore, the Louisiana samples had higher genetic diversity than any single location sampled within Florida. Thus, genetic diversity and our haplotype connectivity suggest the Louisiana population is derived from multiple introductions from Florida. Our study highlights how demographic and genetic analyses can be utilized to understand the source and future expansion potential of invasive populations.

Abstract Several Elaeagnus species (autumn olive [Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.], Russian olive [Elaeagnus angustifolia L.], and thorny olive [Elaeagnus pungens Thunb.]) are invasive in North America. Elaeagnus pungens is prevalent throughout much of the southeastern United States, commonly overtaking wooded and natural areas, bottomlands, and roadsides. While many management methods, including several herbicide treatments, have been evaluated, the efficacy of these methods can vary based on the size and density of the target plants. Further, personal communication with land managers revealed a lack of information that incorporated application effort, duration, and associated cost into treatment efficacy and usefulness. We evaluated three herbicide application methods using the free acid formulation of triclopyr in an E. pungens–infested forest in South Carolina, USA, to determine the effectiveness of each application method. We estimated pretreatment E. pungens biomass and destructively harvested all live material posttreatment to obtain actual biomass values. Foliar herbicide application was ineffective, but both cut stump and basal bark application nearly eliminated E. pungens in the treatment plots. The basal bark application took slightly more time to complete than cut stump treatments but was described as less physically demanding by applicators. Based on treatment efficacy and time required, the basal bark application method seems most prudent for controlling E. pungens in these areas. These results will help land managers more effectively use their resources for invasive woody plant control.

A geometrical analysis describes the orientation of target features in the image plane of a rotationally symmetric lens given only its radial distortion function. Simulations illustrate application to a wide-angle camera resolution test.

The asymptomatic and slow progressive nature of cardiopathies represents a risk to the welfare of avian species in human care. Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease in birds pose a challenge due to unique anatomic and physiologic characteristics. Comprehensive cardiac assessments with diagnostic tools such as echocardiography, color-Doppler, the biomarker cardiac troponin I (cTn1), and cholesterol serum concentrations have been utilized in different bird species with varying success. Saddle-billed storks (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) have been maintained in human care for over 80 yrs and several institutions have noted heart murmurs and cardiomegaly. Despite these findings, peer-reviewed literature describing cardiopathies is lacking for this species. This case series documents the identification of mitral valve regurgitation in saddle-billed storks in a breeding center. Transcoelomic echocardiography using a ventromedial approach with a two-chambered view and color Doppler was utilized. Echocardiographic measurements were taken and compared 1 yr later in most of the birds. There was left atrial enlargement and worsened mitral regurgitation in one geriatric patient, and no progression of the disease in two young birds. Serum samples showed that cTn1 had different concentrations depending on the severity of the disease, whereas cholesterol was within reference range for all birds. Treatment with digoxin and pimobendan was recommended in one bird, serum concentrations of digoxin were tested in a 6-mon span, results were within therapeutic range, and there were no overt adverse effects. There was a suspected genetic component in this population, as four of the five birds with confirmed mitral regurgitation were related.

To assess intraocular pressure (IOP) development in cranes and determine the impact of age, weight, species, head position, and sex. Whooping cranes (WC) (Grus americana), and Mississippi-sandhill cranes (MSC) (Grus canadensis pulla). Chicks were manually restrained on days 1-3, 7, 21, 35, 60, 75, and 120 for routine examinations. IOP was opportunistically measured utilizing the Tonovet Plus® in D setting with the head above the heart (AH) and below the heart (BH). Values were also obtained longitudinally in adults (>120 days old) upon presentation in 1 year. Intraocular pressure was highly correlated with age and weight in chicks. For every kilogram gained, IOP increased 2.46 ± 0.08 mmHg in WC and 2.66 ± 0.11 mmHg in MSC. Once hatched, IOP increased 1.13 ± 0.04 mmHg in WC and 0.87 ± 0.04 mmHg in MSC every 10 days. IOP was similar to adults at 120 days of age. In adult WC, mean IOP AH was 24.0 ± 0.4 mmHg, and BH was 27.9 ± 0.4 mmHg, there was a significant difference regarding head positioning and sex, females (25.3 ± 0.4 mm Hg) had lower IOP than males (26.5 ± 0.4 mmHg). In adult MSC, mean IOP AH was 20.7 ± 0.4 mmHg, and BH was 24.6 ± 0.4 mmHg. The difference between head positioning was significant. This study documents the correlation between IOP and weight or age during early development in cranes, as well as the importance of head positioning.

The current study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of Sculptra injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA-SCA) treatment in correcting cheek wrinkles compared with a no-treatment control. Male/female immune-competent adults (aged >21 years) with moderate/severe cheek wrinkles, graded using the Galderma Cheek Wrinkle Scale (GCWS) at rest, were randomized 2:1 to receive PLLA-SCA injections (150 mg; 8 mL reconstitution in sterile water for injection) + 1 mL lidocaine hydrochloride (2%), administered immediately after reconstitution, or no treatment (control). Up to 3 additional treatments were allowed at monthly intervals, and follow-up was at months 7, 9, and 12. The primary endpoint was 1-grade or greater improvement in GCWS at rest for both cheeks at month 12. GCWS at rest responder rate was significantly higher with PLLA-SCA treatment versus the no-treatment control at months 7 (66.2% versus 38.6%; P=0.0043), 9 (70.6% versus 31.1%; P<0.0001), and 12 (71.6% versus 26.1%; P<0.0001). Treating investigators reported improvements in skin radiance (>95%), tighter appearance (>88%), and jawline contour (>85%). PLLA-SCA recipients reported high satisfaction levels regarding improvements in skin radiance (90% or greater), sagging (84% or greater), and firmness (91% or greater) as well as natural-looking results (85% or greater) and a desire for repeat treatment (84% or greater). Treatment-related adverse events were mostly mild in severity with no serious events related to PLLA-SCA injections. Injectable PLLA-SCA treatments were well tolerated and significantly reduced the severity of moderate/severe cheek lines and wrinkles, while improving skin quality. Effectiveness was durable over the 12-month study period with high subject-reported satisfaction, natural-looking appearance, and enthusiasm for repeat treatments. gov registry number: NCT04124692J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(1):1297-1305.        doi:10.36849/JDD.7729.

Protective antibody titers against core vaccines have not been standardized for cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) under human care. Vaccine-induced disease has been suspected after administration of modified live virus vaccine (MLVV), but it has not been confirmed as the causative agent. MLVV and killed virus vaccines (KVV) elicit humoral response in cheetahs; however, the use of both vaccines for initial immunization in cheetah cubs <6 months old within the same population has not been reported. The current case series describes viral disease presentation in two cheetah litters after using both vaccines and presents results for serum neutralization titers against feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) and hemagglutination inhibition titers against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). For Litter 1, MLVV was administered at 6 and 9 wk old. On week 11, one male developed ocular, oral, and dermal lesions. Viral isolation recovered FCV. Because of suspected vaccine-induced FCV, KVV was administered on weeks 13 and 16. Litter 2 was vaccinated with KVV via the same vaccination schedule. Fifty-three days after the last booster, two cubs presented with ocular, respiratory, and oral clinical signs; both were PCR positive for FHV-1. Serology reported a better anamnestic response and protective titers against FCV and FPV with the protocol used with Litter 1. In Litter 2, FCV and FHV-1 titer measurement failed in three of four cubs, limiting comparison of titers between litters. In spite of limited measurements, absence of a statistical evaluation, and presence of infection, serology showed a better humoral response when MLVV was used.