Comparison of shortened and conventional dry period management strategies.

The aim of this study was to compare 2 dry-cow management strategies and evaluate the effect of shortened dry period strategy on feed intake, metabolism, and postpartum performance of dairy cows in early lactation. Twenty-nine high-yielding dairy cows were divided into 2 groups. The control (CON) group (n=14) was assigned to a traditional dry period of approximately 60 d (57±5.9 d) and was fed a far-off dry cow ration from dry-off to -21 d relative to expected parturition. From d -21 relative to expected parturition, the cows were switched to a precalving ration containing an additional 3kg of concentrates. The cows of the experimental group (n=15) were assigned to a shortened dry period (SDP; 35±6.3 d) and were continuously fed a late-lactation diet from d -60 d relative to expected parturition until calving. After calving, both groups were fed the same lactation diet corresponding to their lactation requirements and cows were followed for 100 d of lactation. Prepartum dry matter intake of the cows assigned to an SDP and fed a late-lactation diet was approximately 4.11kg/cow per day greater compared with the CON group during the 60 d. However, no effect of dry period strategy on postpartum dry matter intake was detected. The cows with an SDP produced approximately 2.78kg/d (6.9%) less milk in the first 100 d of lactation than CON cows; the difference was not statistically significant. No differences were observed in live body weight, body condition score, or back-fat thickness between the treatments. Similarly, no differences existed in concentrations of plasma metabolites. The cows of the SDP group showed lower pH and increased concentrations of lactic acid and volatile fatty acids prepartum than the CON cows. Postpartum concentrations of lactic acid, volatile fatty acids, and NH3 and pH in rumen fluid did not differ between the treatments. Shortening of the dry period did not affect the colostrum quality or birth weights of the calves. Based on the results of this study, a traditional dry period management strategy appeared to be more favorable, considering the dry matter intake and milk production, compared with an SDP and feeding a late-lactation diet throughout the dry period.

Serum procalcitonin concentrations in transplant patients with acute rejection and bacterial infections.

Procalcitonin (PCT) represents a new marker of systemic inflammatory reactions of the body to infections. PCT is selectively induced by severe bacterial infections leading to sepsis or multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. The aim of our study was to test PCT as a postoperative infection marker in heart and kidney transplant patients compared with healthy subjects and patients with localized lung-inflammatory processes without a manifest systemic response. PCT concentrations were measured by an immunoluminometric assay (ILMA) in a total of 419 serum samples. Normal serum levels were in the range of 0.08-0.6 ng/ml. Operative trauma associated with heart (not kidney) transplantation induced a transient increase in PCT levels to 7-10 ng/ml with a decline to normal levels within 2-3 days in most patients. Severe bacterial infections dramatically augmented serum PCT concentrations reaching values of 46-297 ng/ml in the most critical periods. Good response to antibiotic therapy was associated with a decline in serum PCT concentrations. Acute rejection or cytomegalovirus infections did not significantly increase the serum PCT levels. Localized pulmonary infections showed either no, or only a limited increase, in the serum PCT levels (max. 7 ng/ml). We conclude from our data that PCT can be used as a sensitive marker to differentiate systemic bacterial infections from other complications in organ transplantation.

[CD5-positive B lymphocytes and antinuclear antibodies]. / CD5 pozitivní B lymfocyty a antinukleární protilátky.

BACKGROUND: The production of natural autoantibodies incl. antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is ascribed to lymphocytes which have a CD5 molecule on their surface. The role of CD5 positive B lymphocytes in the induction of autoimmunity is obscure so far. The authors focused their attention on the incidence of antinuclear antibodies (AA) in subjects with different diseases and sought a relationship with the ratio of CD5 positive B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood stream. METHODS AND RESULTS: CD5 positive lymphocytes were assessed on a flow cytometer using monoclonal anti CD5 and anti CD19 antibodies. Antinuclear antibodies are detected by indirect fluorescence on a substrate of human leucocytes and HEP-2 cells. In a group of 134 subjects the authors did not provide evidence of a direct relationship between the relative number of CD5 positive B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood stream and the presence of ANA (IgG, IgA, IgM), not even in 33 patients with autoimmune diseases. In 86 patients the authors revealed that antinuclear antibodies type IgM predominate in patients with repeated respiratory infections. In systemic diseases the isotype IgG predominates (p = 0.01). After immunosuppressive treatment with a favourable clinical effect the ANA isotype IgG disappears and isotype IgM is found more frequently. The incidence of the ANA isotype IgM is significantly higher in healthy subjects aged over 60 years than in younger subjects (12.5%/6.1%, p = 0.06), and more frequent in women (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of antinuclear antibodies is not associated with the amount of CD5 positive B lymphocyte in the peripheral blood stream.