Factors affecting N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase as an indicator for mastitis detection in dairy sheep.

The study of new indirect methods for mastitis detection is of great relevance both at the economic level of the farm and dairies, and in terms of consumer health, and animal welfare. These methods help us to monitor the disease and speed up the decision-making process on treatment of the affected animal and the destination of the milk. The main aim of this work was to study the effect of intramammary infection and other non-infectious factors on the activity of the enzyme N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) in milk, in order to evaluate its use as an indicator for the early diagnosis of mastitis in sheep that could be less expensive, easier to measure and a better marker of inflammation or complementary to existing methods such as somatic cell count (SCC). Seven biweekly samplings were carried out, in which NAGase activity, SCC and milk were analyzed. Glands were classified according to their sanitary status based on the results of the SCC and bacteriological analysis. Non-infectious factors such as lactation stage, parity number and milking session had a statistically significant effect on NAGase values, finding the highest NAGase values at the onset and end of the study, in infectious mastitic glands of multiparous females and at morning milking. However, among the NAGase variation factors studied, the health status of the gland was the factor that caused the highest variation in enzyme levels, with infectious mastitic glands showing higher values than healthy glands. The predictive ability of NAGase was also studied by means of several logistic regression models, with the one that included NAGase together with lactation stage and parity obtaining the best results if sensitivity is to be prioritized, or the model that included NAGase, lactation stage, parity, milking and production if specificity is to be prioritized. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the use of NAGase as an intramammary infection detection method in sheep can be useful when non-infectious factors that cause changes in the concentration of the enzyme are also considered.

Use of a mobile application for self-management of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is associated with improved gastro-intestinal related quality of life in children with Cystic Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) suffer from pancreatic insufficiency (PI), leading to fat malabsorption, malnutrition, abdominal discomfort and impaired growth. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is effective, but evidence based guidelines for dose adjustment are lacking. A mobile app for self-management of PERT was developed in the context of the HORIZON 2020 project MyCyFAPP. It contains an algorithm to calculate individual PERT-doses for optimal fat digestion, based on in vitro and in vivo studies carried out in the same project. In addition, the app includes a symptoms diary, educational material, and it is linked to a web tool allowing health care professionals to evaluate patient's data and provide feedback. METHODS: A 6-month open label prospective multicenter interventional clinical trial was performed to assess effects of using the app on gastro-intestinal related quality of life (GI QOL), measured by the CF-PedsQL-GI (shortened, CF specific version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Gastrointestinal Symptoms Module). RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-one patients with CF and PI between 2 and 18 years were recruited at 6 European CF centers. Self-reported CF-PedsQL-GI improved significantly from month 0 (M0) (84.3, 76.4-90.3) to month 6 (M6) (89.4, 80.35-93.5) (p< 0.0001). Similar improvements were reported by parents. Lower baseline CF-PedsQL-GI was associated with a greater improvement at M6 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the MyCyFAPP may improve GI QOL for children with CF. This tool may help patients to improve self-management of PERT, especially those with considerable GI symptoms.

Risk factors for anastomotic leakage after colorectal resection in ovarian cancer surgery: A multi-centre study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine pre-/intraoperative risk factors for anastomotic leak after modified posterior pelvic exenteration (MPE) or colorectal resection in ovarian cancer and to create a practical instrument for predicting anastomotic leak risk. BACKGROUND: In advanced ovarian cancer surgery, there is rather limited published evidence, drawn from a small sample, providing information about risk factors for anastomotic leak. METHODS: Eight hospitals participated in this retrospective study. Data on 695 patients operated for ovarian cancer with primary anastomosis were included (January 2010-June 2018). Twelve pre-/intraoperative variables were analysed as potential independent risk factors for anastomotic leak. A predictive model was created to stablish the risk of anastomotic leak for a given patient. RESULTS: The anastomotic leak rate was 6.6% (46/695; range 1.7%-12.5%). A total of 457 patients were included in the final multivariate analysis. The following variables were found to be independently associated with anastomotic leakage: age at surgery (OR 1.046, 95% CI 1.013-1.080, p = 0.005), serum albumin level (OR 0.621, 95% CI 0.407-0.948, p = 0.027), one or more additional small bowel resections (OR 3.544, 95% CI 1.228-10.23, p = 0.019), manual anastomosis (OR 8.356, 95% CI 1.777-39.301, p = 0.007) and distance of the anastomosis from the anal verge (OR 0.839, 95% CI 0.726-0.971, p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Due to the low incidence of AL in ovarian cancer patients, a restrictive stoma policy based on the presence of risk factors should be the actual recommendation. Hand-sewn anastomosis should be avoided.

First molecular switch encapsulated within the cavities of a zeolite. A dramatic lifetime increase of the charge-separated state.

A [2]-catenane consisting of a bipyridinium cyclophane and a dioxybenzene macrocyclic polyether has been encapsulated within the supercages of zeolite Y by ship-in-a-bottle synthesis; laser flash photolysis reveals that the charge-separated species decays in hundreds of microseconds in contrast to the few picoseconds previously reported for the same transient in acetonitrile.

UV-vis and IR spectral characterization of persistent carbenium ions, generated upon incorporation of cinnamyl alcohols in the acid zeolites HZSM-5 and HMor

Cinnamyl alcohol (1) and two derivatives 2 and 3 have been incorporated in dehydrated HMor and HZSM-5 zeolites with the aim to characterize spectroscopically the corresponding carbocations generated within the solids. Product studies of the supernatant liquid phase combined with diffuse reflectance UV-vis and IR spectroscopy provide unequivocal evidence for the carbocations. Thus, cinnamyl alcohol (1) affords the 1,5-diphenylpentadienyl cation in HMor and HZSM-5 as a persistent species. In the case of HMor with larger pore dimensions the bulkier 1-(2'-cinnamyl)-3-phenylpropenyl cation was also spectroscopically detected. No persistent carbocation was observed when the alpha-methylcinnamyl alcohol (2) was incorporated in the acid zeolites, wherein a complete cyclization to 2-methylindene takes place. Finally, incorporation of 2-methyl-4-tolyl-3-buten-2-ol (3) in HZSM-5 allowed detection of the gem-dimethyl-subsituted p-methylcinnamyl cation, with a lifetime of hours. This cation is not persistent enough in HMor to be characterized. The present study illustrates how structurally related allylic substrates may give distinct carbenium ions whose persistence depends on the host-guest fit in the interior of the acid zeolites.

Solid-state NMR study of ultrastable zeolite Y modified with orthophosphoric acid.

29Si, 27Al and 31P solid-state NMR under magic-angle spinning was used for the study of ultrastable zeolite Y modified with H3PO4. The material is a potential candidate for a new generation of oil-cracking catalysts. Bloch decay and cross-polarization spectra were compared. It was found that amorphous aluminium phosphate is formed during the P-impregnation and the following activation, and that it occupies the zeolite surface and internal voids. For a high P-content under steaming conditions, aluminium phosphate is converted into a crystalline form. No evidence has been found for incorporation of P atoms into the zeolite framework.