Synchronization treatments previous to natural breeding anticipate and improve the pregnancy rate of postpartum primiparous beef cows.

Timed AI has become a potential tool to bypass postpartum acyclicity, yet only a small percentage of the world bovine herd is inseminated. Most females are still subjected to bull mating; therefore, the frequent occurrence of postpartum anestrus may compromise their reproductive efficiency. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop an approach that allows the early conception of postpartum primiparous beef cows that are exposed to natural breeding (NB). For this purpose, 350 primiparous Nelore cows 35-65 d postpartum were allocated into three groups: Control (no hormonal treatment), TNB (hormonal protocol for timed-NB without equine chorionic gonadotropin; eCG) and TNB + eCG (hormonal protocol for TNB with eCG) groups. The protocol for TNB consisted of the insertion of a 1-g progesterone device and the intramuscular (IM) administration of 2 mg estradiol benzoate on D-9 (nine days before bull exposure), followed by device removal and the administration of 1 mg estradiol cypionate IM on D0. An additional 300 IU of eCG was given only to TNB + eCG cows. All cows were exposed to bull mating from D0 to D105. Pregnancy was checked by ultrasonography every 50 d, gestational age was estimated, and the number of new gestations every 21-d cycle (P21, P42, P63, P84 and P105) was predicted. Control cows had lower pregnancy at P21 (5.7%c, 7/123) than TNB (30.4%b, 35/115) and TNB + eCG (51.8%a, 58/112; P = 0.001) cows. Pregnancy rate increased across P42, P63 and P84 (P = 0.001) but remained higher for TNB + eCG cows. Regarding time to conception, the TNB + eCG cows achieved a greater than 50% pregnancy rate within the first days after bull exposure, while the TNB and Control cows took more than 40 d and 90 d to achieve 50% pregnancy rates, respectively. At the end of the breeding season (BS), TNB + eCG cows had a 21% higher pregnancy rate than the Control cows and a 16% higher rate than the TNB cows. The probability of conceiving increased 1.5-fold for cows treated with TNB (P = 0.0079) and 2.2-fold for cows additionally treated with eCG (P < 0.0001). The average interval between the onset of the BS and conception was reduced (P < 0.0001) for the TNB + eCG cows (26.5 ± 3.8c) compared to the TNB (35.7 ±â€¯4.1b) and Control (64.7 ±â€¯3.9a days) cows. Thus, the use of TNB, especially when associated with eCG, efficiently improved the early conception of postpartum primiparous beef cows after exposure to NB. The increased number of cows conceiving early in the BS is crucial to improve reproductive efficiency by reducing the interval between parturitions and improving the number of pregnant cows at the end of BS, thus resulting in greater farm income.

[Monoclonal antibodies in immunohematology. Evaluation in the ABH and Lewis systems]. / Gli anticorpi monoclonali in immunoematologia. Valutazione nei sistemi ABH e Lewis.

Titration, avidity and specificity tests using anti-A, anti-B, anti-AB, anti-H, anti-Lewis a and anti-Lewis b mouse monoclonal antibodies were studied, in comparison with polyclonal sera. Monoclonal antibodies results were comparable to those obtained with polyclonal sera, any aspecific reactions have not been observed.

The diagnostic challenge of infective endocarditis: cutaneous vasculitis leading to the diagnosis of infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Signs and symptoms of infectious endocarditis are protean. They result from destruction of cardiac endothelium, metastatic embolization, hematogenous seeding, and immune complex deposition. Embolic manifestations of infectious endocarditis can mimic several other pathologic conditions and make the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis difficult. METHODS: We describe a case of cutaneous vasculitis leading to the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis. A review of the literature highlights the variable clinical presentations and key diagnostic strategies in the evaluation of infectious endocarditis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Infective endocarditis has protean clinical symptoms and signs and can be a challenging diagnosis. Being alert to the condition is crucial, and where a high clinical probability exists despite a negative transthoracic echocardiogram, diagnostic evaluation with transesophageal echocardiograph is required.

Potassium nutrition and translocation in sugar beet.

The effect of increased net foliar K(+) accumulation on translocation of carbon was studied in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris, L. var. Klein E and US H20) plants. Net accumulation of recently absorbed K(+) was studied by observing arrival of (42)K(+) per unit area of leaf. Labeled K(+) was added to give an initial concentration at 2 or 10 millimolar K(+) in mineral nutrient solution. Because the newly arrived K(+) constitutes a small part of the total leaf K(+) in plants raised in 10 millimolar K(+), export of (42)K(+) by phloem was negligible over the 2- to 3-day period; consequently, accumulation is a measure of arrival in the xylem. In leaves from plants in 2 millimolar K(+), export by the phloem was estimated to be of the same order as import by the xylem; K(+) per area was observed to remain at a steady-state level. Increasing the supply of K(+) to 10 millimolar caused arrival in the xylem to increase 2- to 3-fold; K(+) per area increased gradually in the mature leaves. Neither net carbon exchange nor translocation of sugar increased in response to a faster rate of arrival of K(+) over a 6- to 8-hour period. In the absence of short-term effects, it is suggested that K(+)-promoted increase in synthetic metabolism may be the basis of the increased carbon assimilation and translocation in plants supplied with an above-minimal level of K(+).

Relation of increased potassium nutrition to photosynthesis and translocation of carbon.

Effects of supplying K(+) at 2 or 10 millimolarity concentration on net carbon exchange and translocation of products of photosynthesis were studied in plants of Beta vulgaris L. (var. Klein E). Transport of K(+) into and out of leaves was studied with (42)K over a 3-day period. Increasing the K(+) supplied to the roots from 2 millimolarity, a level just sufficient to overcome obvious deficiency symptoms, to 10 millimolarity resulted in a gradual accumulation of K(+) per unit area and an increased export of K(+) to sink regions. No significant increase in net carbon exchange was observed in leaves that had accumulated a high level of K(+) per unit area. Initiation rate, total area, and total fresh weight of leaves of plants with K(+) supplied at 10 millimolarity was similar to that for leaves from plants at a 2 millimolarity level. Shoot/root ratio and dry weight accumulation, which are indicative of translocation and partitioning over the long term, were independent of K(+) supply in the 2 to 10 millimolarity range. Accumulation of K(+) by exporting leaves and its subsequent recirculation to sinks increased when K(+) supply was increased in this range but did not appear to affect carbon nutrition even after a long period.

The jejunal secretory response to Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin is prolonged in malnourished rats.

Undernutrition in human infants is associated with more prolonged episodes of diarrheal disease. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that malnutrition prolongs the duration of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin-induced rat jejunal secretion. At weaning, rats were separated into two groups: malnourished rats were fed 50% of the previous day's intake of the fully fed control group. After approximately 2 wk of pair feeding, when malnourished rats weighed less than or equal to 60% of the full fed control group, we measured the secretory response to heat-stable enterotoxin in ligated jejunal loops. Toxin-induced secretion was equal in both groups until 30 min incubation time, after which net secretion continued to increase in the malnourished group but decreased in the fully fed group. Jejunal brush border membranes prepared from malnourished and fully fed rats demonstrated similar heat-stable enterotoxin receptor density, avidity of binding and guanyl cyclase activation. In both groups, radiolabeled toxin injected into in situ jejunal loops was converted into an altered radioligand unable to bind to brush border membranes. However, in malnourished rats, there was both increased appearance of two additional radioligands that still retained their ability to bind to brush border membranes and persistence of biologically active unlabeled toxin as measured in the suckling mouse bioassay. Our studies demonstrate that reduced or delayed inactivation of heat-stable enterotoxin, with continued presence of active toxin species, may contribute to prolonged secretion in the jejunum of malnourished rats.

[Correlations between RIA and ELISA methods in the determination of total IgE]. / Studio di correlazione tra metodo RIA e metodi ELISA nella determinazione delle IgE totali.

Two ELISA methods for total IgE determination are examined comparatively to the PRIST method. The microELISA methods showed a high sensibility comparable to that of the PRIST in the range of normal values.

Tricobezoar gástrico e intestinal en adolescente femenina de 15 años: a propósito de un caso clínico IVSS "Dr. Tulio Carnevali Salvatierra" Mérida-Venezuela / Gastric and intestinal trichobezoar female teenager about 15 years: a purpose of case clinical in IVSS Dr. Tulio Carnevali Salvatierra

Los tricobezoar son recolecciones de material ingerido (pelos, fibras) que se acumulasn en estómago e intestino. Se originan de la tricotilomanía más tricofagia, cuando el tricobezoar se acumula en duodeno recibe el nombre de Sídrome de Rapunzel, más frecuente en el sexo femenino. Adolescente de 15 años, quien presentó dolor abdominal de aparición insidiosa acompañada de naúseas y vómitos incontables que se irradian a hipocondrio y fosa iliaca izquierda, su evolución fue torpida presentando signos de irritación peritoneal. Se realiza laparatomía exploradora hallándose tumor de contenido de pelo a nivel del Ángulo de Treitz, y cámara gástrica. Siendo egresada y referida al servicio de psiquiatría infanto-juvenil.