The effect of increased chewing strokes on the DeMeester score.

Saliva is known to be protective for esophageal mucosa. Increased chewing strokes result in a quantitative and qualitative enhancement of saliva. Reduction in the amount of saliva produced results in an increased incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can be objectively measured by the DeMeester score. The impact of increased chewing strokes on the DeMeester score remains largely unknown, thus this study aimed to find out their impact on the value of the DeMeester score and its individual components.The effect of increased chewing strokes on the DeMeester score was investigated in 12 subjects (5 male and 7 female) who were diagnosed with GERD. All subjects underwent a 48-hour pH monitoring using the Bravo® pH capsule. All the patients chewed their food 20 times more on Day 2 as compared to Day 1. The data were analyzed for change in the DeMeester score and its individual components in 2 days.In patients with GERD (DeMeester score > 14.72 on Day 1), the number of long refluxes (>5 minutes) on Day 2 (mean = 3.2, SD = 2.3) was significantly lower than on Day 1 (mean = 6.4, SD = 2.7); Z = -2.032, p = 0.04. Though, the DeMeester score and its other individual parameters decreased on Day 2, they were not statistically significant.In patients with GERD, increased chewing strokes lead to a decrease in the number of long reflux episodes. Though there is a decrease in the DeMeester score and its other individual components, larger randomized controlled studies are required to reach statistical significance.

Use of vaginal electrical resistance (VER) to predict estrus and ovarian activity, its relationship with plasma progesterone and its use for insemination in buffaloes.

In three experiments we studied the baseline and changes in VER during different natural estrous cycle stages (n=146) in ovarian structures and in plasma progesterone during estrus induced by prostaglandin injection (n=16) and the VER at insemination (n=90) in an attempt to predict estrus, ovulation and the best VER range for inseminating buffaloes for optimum conception. The baseline VER was classified on the basis of ovarian findings and estrous cycle stages. The mean VER during estrus, metestrus, diestrus, proestrus and anestrus was 32.68 +/- 0.46, 41.26 +/- 1.17, 50.23 +/- 0.55, 43.20 +/- 0.64 and 55.86 +/- 0.57 ohms, respectively. There was a significant difference (P<0.01) between the VER except those between metestrus and proestrus. The ANOVA for VER over estrous cycle stages showed a highly significant (P<0.01) effect of stage of estrous cycle on VER in buffaloes. The percent decrease in VER was more pronounced from diestrus to estrus. In the second part of the study plasma progesterone profiles and the appearance of estrus in buffaloes induced to estrus using two dose schedules and routes of PGF2alpha administration showed that luteolysis and estrus induction was slower in the 10 mg i.v.s.m. route (Intra Vulvo Submucosal) (only 60% animals evinced estrus in 48 to 72 hours) as compared to the 25 mg i.m. route (83.33% evidenced estrus in 48 to 72 hrs). Fall in plasma progesterone was synchronous to a fall in VER, the correlation (0.65) between them being positive and significant (P<0.01). After ovulation the VER started rising, showing a distinct relationship between VER and ovulation. By using VER, an additional 36.6% of the buffaloes could be detected in estrus. In the third part of the study, insemination of buffaloes induced to estrus (n=11) and normal-estrus buffaloes (n=79) showed that the overall conception rates to single insemination when the buffaloes were inseminated at the VER range of 26 to 30, 31 to 35 and 36 to 40 ohms were 81.48, 58.97 and 16.66%, respectively. Buffaloes showing VER from 31 to 35 ohms and 36 to 40 ohms also evidenced atypical and Null fern pattern in the cervicovaginal mucus. The study proved that VER can be used successfully to predict the stage of estrous cycle, ovarian status and ovulation; and insemination at a low VER distinctly improves the conception rates in buffaloes.