Genetic analyses of live weight and carcass composition traits in purebred Texel, Suffolk and Charollais lambs.

Lamb live weight is one of the key drivers of profitability on sheep farms. Previous studies in Ireland have estimated genetic parameters for live weight and carcass composition traits using a multi-breed population rather than on an individual breed basis. The objective of the present study was to undertake genetic analyses of three lamb live weight and two carcass composition traits pertaining to purebred Texel, Suffolk and Charollais lambs born in the Republic of Ireland between 2010 and 2017, inclusive. Traits (with lamb age range in parenthesis) considered in the analyses were: pre-weaning weight (20 to 65 days), weaning weight (66 to 120 days), post-weaning weight (121 to 180 days), muscle depth (121 to 180 days) and fat depth (121 to 180 days). After data edits, 137 402 records from 50 372 lambs across 416 flocks were analysed. Variance components were derived using animal linear mixed models separately for each breed. Fixed effects included for all traits were contemporary group, age at first lambing of the dam, parity of the dam, a gender by age of the lamb interaction and a birth type by rearing type of the lamb interaction. Random effects investigated in the pre-weaning and weaning weight analyses included animal direct additive genetic, dam maternal genetic, litter common environment, dam permanent environment and residual variances. The model of analysis for post-weaning, muscle and fat depth included an animal direct additive genetic and litter common environment effect only. Significant direct additive genetic variation existed in all cases. Direct heritability for pre-weaning weight ranged from 0.14 to 0.30 across the three breeds. Weaning weight had a direct heritability ranging from 0.17 to 0.27 and post-weaning weight had a direct heritability ranging from 0.15 to 0.27. Muscle and fat depth heritability estimates ranged from 0.21 to 0.31 and 0.15 to 0.20, respectively. Positive direct correlations were evident for all traits. Results revealed ample genetic variation among animals for the studied traits and significant differences between breeds to suggest that genetic evaluations could be conducted on a per-breed basis.

Antioxidant therapies for wound healing: a clinical guide to currently commercially available products.

Many facets of wound healing under redox control require a delicate balance between oxidative stress and antioxidants. While the normal physiology of wound healing depends on low levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress, an overexposure to oxidative stress leads to impaired wound healing. Antioxidants are postulated to help control wound oxidative stress and thereby accelerate wound healing. Many antioxidants are available over the counter or by prescription, but only one, Medihoney®, has been specifically FDA approved for wound healing. Here we review the existing evidence for the use of antioxidants for wound healing, with a review of the pertinent animal and clinical studies. Natural products and naturally derived antioxidants are becoming more popular, and we specifically review the evidence for the use of naturally derived antioxidants in wound healing. Antioxidant therapy for wound healing is promising, but only few animal studies and even fewer clinical studies are available. Because only few products have undergone FDA approval, the consumer is advised to scrutinize them for purity and contaminants prior to use, and this may require direct contact with the companies that sell them. As a field of science, the use of antioxidants for wound healing is in its infancy, and future studies will better elucidate the role of antioxidants in wound healing.

Syringohydromyelia in Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

Syringohydromyelia secondary to foramen magnum overcrowding is described in seven Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Clinical signs were consistent with a central spinal cord lesion. The most common signs were persistent scratching at the shoulder region with apparent neck, thoracic limb, or ear pain and thoracic limb lower motor neuron deficits. The diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging. The syringohydromyelia is postulated to be a consequence of an occipital bone malformation resulting in a small caudal fossa and cerebellar herniation. Clinical signs improved but did not completely resolve when the dogs received treatment with corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Hepatitis C viral infection in liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the outcomes of patients who underwent liver transplantation for the primary diagnosis of chronic active hepatitis secondary to hepatitis C virus (HCV). DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective review within a university medical center. PATIENTS: Seventy-four adult recipients who received 78 orthotopic liver allografts for the primary diagnosis of chronic active hepatitis secondary to HCV between January 1990 and December 1994. Sixty-seven patients (91%) survived more than 2 months and were analyzed further for recurrent HCV infection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Recurrence of HCV infection, hepatitis, or cirrhosis and survival rates for patients who were undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation for chronic active hepatitis secondary to HCV. RESULTS: Actuarial survival rates for the entire group were 79.3%, 70.9%, and 64.5% at 1,2, and 3 years, respectively. Four patients (5% underwent retransplantation with an actuarial survival rate of 14.3% at 1 year (P<.05). Thirty-eight patients (57%) had evidence of posttransplant HCV infection, 31 patients (46%) showed histologic evidence of viral hepatitis, and 11 patients (16%) experienced portal fibrosis or cirrhosis. Seven (33%) of the deaths and all retransplantations were secondary to recurrent HCV infection. There were no significant differences in age, sex, United Network of Organ Sharing status, associated diagnoses, intraoperative packed red blood cell requirements, OKT3 use, or 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates in the recurrent vs nonrecurrent HCV infection groups. A higher incidence of posttransplant cirrhosis was observed in patients who were treated with tacrolimus (FK 506) (31.8% vs 8.9%, P<.05). Twenty-one patients (70%) received interferon alfa antiviral therapy with a significant benefit in the liver function test results during therapy (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Despite recurrence of HCV infection in most patients after transplantation, survival following primary orthotopic liver transplantation for chronic active hepatitis secondary to HCV infection remains favorable, and these patients should continue to be candidates for liver transplantation. In contrast, survival following retransplantation for HCV infection is poor and should be reconsidered. There is an apparent association between the intensity of immunosuppression and recurrent HCV infection and cirrhosis that warrants continued evaluation. Interferon therapy appears to afford benefit to patients in whom recurrent HCV hepatitis develops after transplantation.

Voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy.

Unfortunately, laryngeal cancer commonly presents at a stage necessitating total laryngectomy. Voice rehabilitation in the past has primarily been with the electrolarynx or esophageal speech. Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) is a technique that has replaced the other two methods as the rehabilitative procedure of choice in most total laryngectomy patients. This report details this technique, as well as a brief discussion of the etiology and treatment of laryngeal cancer.

Is the transjugular intrahepatic portocaval shunt procedure beneficial for liver transplant recipients?

Recent reports document the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portocaval shunts (TIPS) for the prevention of portal hypertensive bleeding and have advocated its use as a bridge to liver transplantation. There are no reports, however, analyzing liver transplant results for patients with indwelling TIPS. We reviewed the records of all adult primary recipients with a history of portal hypertensive bleeding or unmanageable ascites transplanted since the TIPS procedure became available in our institution in July 1991. Seven of 20 recipients underwent TIPS before transplant. There were no significant differences between patients with or without TIPS in age, United Network for Organ Sharing status, Child-Pugh score, preoperative prothrombin time, operative time, operative blood product requirement, overall length of stay, and 6-month patient survival after transplant. We noted a trend toward less operative red cell (26.0 +/- 26.2 vs. 31.8 +/- 38.1 U, mean +/- SD) and autologous blood (4,762 +/- 3,335 vs. 13,355 [corrected] +/- 20,460 ml) transfusion and improved patient survival for those with a TIPS. Patients with a TIPS in place waited significantly longer for their transplant (282 +/- 113 vs. 149 +/- 113 days, P = 0.014). There were 2 technical complications related to the TIPS, 1 in a patient who died after rupture of the suprahepatic vena caval anastomosis where the device had traversed the caval/hepatic vein junction and weakened the tissues, and the other in a survivor in whom the device extended into the right atrium and was extracted during the transplant procedure. Three patients with TIPS in place died of sepsis while waiting for a donor organ. We conclude that while the TIPS offers benefits for the liver transplant recipient, placement of the device in small shrunken cirrhotic livers must be precise. Immediate benefits for the transplant candidate may be offset by increased waiting time and technical complications at the transplant operation.

Naloxone-responsive encephalopathy in end-stage renal disease.

We report the case of a 61-year-old diabetic woman with end-stage renal disease who was on hemodialysis and who developed an encephalopathy and episodes of hypotension and hypoventilation, all of which showed rapid and dramatic responses on multiple occasions to the administration of the opiate antagonist naloxone. Improvement in encephalopathy was confirmed by electroencephalography. The patient had received no exogenous opiates and had a normal beta-endorphin level. She subsequently developed myoclonus and was treated for possible aluminum overload that was of borderline magnitude. We conclude that this patient had an encephalopathy that responded to opiate receptor blockade. Because of cerebrovascular disease, episodes of diminished blood pressure due to a state of increased opiate receptor stimulation may have unmasked this underlying encephalopathy. These effects may have been secondary to increased opiate-binding sites or to elevated central nervous system levels of endogenous opiates.