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Use of individually ventilated caging (IVC) systems for mouse-based laboratory investigation has dramatically increased. We found that without mice present, intra-cage oxygen concentration was comparable (21%) between IVC housing and ambient environment caging (AEC) that used wire top lids. However, when mice were housed 4-to-a-cage for 1 week, intra-cage oxygen dropped to 20.5% in IVC housing as compared to 21% for AEC housing. IVC intra-cage humidity was also elevated relative to AEC housing. Mice raised in IVC housing as compared to mice raised in AEC housing had higher RBC mass, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations. They also had elevated platelet counts but lower white blood cell counts. IVC mice relative to AEC mice had increased saccharin preference and increased fluid consumption but similar locomotion, food intake, social exploration and novel object recognition when tested in an AEC environment. Taken together, these data indicate that ventilated caging systems can have a 0.5% reduction from ambient oxygen concentration that is coupled to mouse red blood cell indices indicative of chronic exposure to a hypoxia. Importantly, IVC housing can impact behavioral testing for depressive-like behavior.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the direct influences of age, ethnicity, education, and number of children and the indirect influences of codependency and binge eating on increased body mass index (BMI). In this secondary analysis, data were collected from a convenience sample of 511 nurses who completed a codependency instrument and a personal inventory profile assessing the predictors included in the current path analysis study. The five predictors retained in the final BMI model demonstrated that binge eating, age, and Black ethnicity were positively correlated with BMI and that Asian ethnicity was negatively correlated with BMI. The relationship between binge eating and BMI was augmented by codependency but reduced by Black ethnicity. It was concluded that the path analysis supported hypotheses that Black nurses were overweight for reasons other than binge eating and that participants who scored high on the codependency instrument were more likely to binge eat.

The veterinary profession continually strives to address wellness issues such as compassion fatigue, burnout, stress, anxiety, and depression. Wellness issues may begin during the professional curriculum when students experience intense academic, clinical, social, and personal demands on their time. The purpose of this article was to assess the use of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) as a simple, non-invasive stress reduction technique for first-year veterinary students ( n = 101) at a US veterinary college. Students completed a 38-item questionnaire, the Smith Relaxation States Inventory 3 (SRSI3), both before and after performing PMR. Scores for the categories of basic relaxation, mindfulness, positive energy, transcendence, and stress were assessed. Female students ( n = 92) had significant ( p < .05) improvement in basic relaxation, mindfulness, and stress after completing PMR. Male students ( n = 9) had significant ( p < .05) improvement in basic relaxation and stress after completing PMR. When grouped according to age, all students had significant ( p < .05) improvement in the categories of basic relaxation and stress. Students in the 22-year-old ( n = 31), 23-year-old ( n = 29), 24-year-old ( n = 15), and 25-year-old or greater ( n = 17) groups also had significant improvement ( p < .05) in mindfulness. Additionally, students in the 23-year-old group had significant ( p < .05) improvement in positive energy. These results support the use of PMR as a potential self-care strategy for students to implement during their academic and professional careers.

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