A new class of potent, selective, nonsteroidal inhibitors of aromatase have been discovered. The most potent member of this series is fadrozole hydrochloride, CGS 16949 A, 4-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[1,5-alpha]pyridin-5-yl)benzonitrile monohydrochloride, 26a. In addition, the 6,7-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole (21a) and the 6,7,8,9-tetrahydroimidazo[1,5-alpha]azepine (21b) analogues were synthesized and evaluated. CGS 16949 A's ability to selectively inhibit aromatase (IC50 = 4.5 nM) over other cytochrome P-450 enzymes and suppress estrogen production when administered orally make it a suitable candidate to test the potential of an aromatase inhibitor in estrogen-dependent diseases including breast cancer.

This laparoscopic-sutured gastropexy provides adhesion strength comparable with other gastropexy techniques tested at 10 weeks postoperatively. Only minor changes in gastric emptying were observed 10 weeks after surgery.

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Worldwide recognition of the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas was triggered by an unexplained increase in the frequency of microcephaly. While severe microcephaly is readily identifiable at birth, diagnosing less severe cases requires comparison of head circumference (HC) measurement to a growth chart. We examine measured values of HC and digit preference in those values, and, by extension, the prevalence of microcephaly at birth in two data sources: a research study in Honduras and routine surveillance data in Uruguay. The Zika in Pregnancy in Honduras study enrolled pregnant women prenatally and followed them until delivery. Head circumference was measured with insertion tapes (SECA 212), and instructions including consistent placement of the tape and a request to record HC to the millimeter were posted where newborns were examined. Three indicators of microcephaly were calculated: (1) HC more than 2 standard deviations (SD) below the mean, (2) HC more than 3 SD below the mean (referred to as “severe microcephaly”) and (3) HC less than the 3rd percentile for sex and gestational age, using the INTERGROWTH-21st growth standards. We compared these results from those from a previous analysis of surveillance HC data from the Uruguay Perinatal Information System (Sistema Informático Perinatal (SIP). Valid data on HC were available on 579 infants, 578 with gestational age data. Nine babies (1.56%, 95% CI 0.71–2.93) had HC < 2SD, including two (0.35%, 95% CI 0.04–1.24) with HC < 3SD, and 11 (1.9%, 95% CI, 0.79–3.02) were below the 3rd percentile. The distribution of HC showed strong digit preference: 72% of measures were to the whole centimeter (cm) and 19% to the half-cm. Training and use of insertion tapes had little effect on digit preference, nor were overall HC curves sufficient to detect an increase in microcephaly during the Zika epidemic in Honduras. When microcephaly prevalence needs to be carefully analyzed, such as during the Zika epidemic, researchers may need to interpret HC data with caution.

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The aim of the study was to determine the effects of 3 feeding dose programs of the β-adrenergic agonists (β-AA) ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) or zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) for the final 30 d before slaughter on growth performance and carcass and meat characteristics of feedlot ram lambs. Eighty-four Dorper × Katahdin ram lambs (30.0 ± 1.6 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to pens (4 lambs per pen and 3 pens per treatment). Pens within a block were assigned randomly to 1 of 7 dietary treatments: 1) control (CTL) = diet without β-AA; 2) RH constant (RHC) = 20.0 mg/kg of RH, d 1 to 30; 3) RH increasing (RHI) = 10.0 mg/kg, d 1 to 10; 20.0 mg/kg, d 11 to 20; and 30.0 mg/kg, d 21 to 30; 4) RH decreasing (RHD) = 30.0 mg/kg, d 1 to 10; 20.0 mg/kg, d 11 to 20; and 10.0 mg/kg, d 21 to 30; 5) ZH constant (ZHC) = 6.0 mg/kg of ZH, d 1 to 30; 6) ZH increasing (ZHI) = 3.0 mg/kg, d 1 to 10; 6.0 mg/kg, d 11 to 20; and 9.0 mg/kg d 21 to 30; and 7) ZH decreasing (ZHD) = 9.0 mg/kg, d 1 to 10; 6.0 mg/kg, d 11 to 20; and 3.0 mg/kg, d 21 to 30. Overall, β-AA supplementation reduced DMI (P < 0.001) compared with CTL lambs, but lambs fed RHI and ZHI programs had greater (P < 0.05) total BW gain, ADG, and G:F. Carcass weight was improved (P < 0.05) by RHI and ZHI programs, but dressing percentage was enhanced (P < 0.05) by only ZHC or ZHI treatments. Fat thickness and yield grade were reduced (P < 0.05) by ZH or RH regardless of feeding program. Most LM characteristics (pH, moisture loss, and chemical composition) were not different among treatments (P > 0.05), with the exception of fat content that was reduced (P < 0.001) in lambs fed β-AA, and diameter of muscle fibers that was increased (P < 0.05) by ZHI treatment. Constant and increasing doses of ZH reduced (P < 0.05) the a* value of LM and semitendinosus muscles, with no effects on L* or b* values. The mass of liver was reduced (P < 0.05) in ZHI-treated lambs compared with CTL lambs, and plasma urea concentration was reduced (P < 0.05) by RH or ZH administration regardless of feeding program, although there were no other differences in organ mass weight (P ≥ 0.35) or blood metabolites (P ≥ 0.16). Increasing doses of RH or ZH augmented the growth performance response without negative effects on organ mass weight or blood metabolites. Although a ZHI program improved carcass characteristics, the increased LM fiber diameter of lambs fed ZHI program could be unfavorable because of the potential negative effect on tenderness.