Experimental oral administration of pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus) to cattle results in an acute lethal gastrointestinal disease.

In the summer of 2023, ingestion of Astylus atromaculatus (pollen beetle) was linked to spontaneous fatal disease in grazing cattle and sheep in Argentina and Uruguay. While the disease was experimentally reproduced in sheep and guinea pigs in the 1970's, no experimental reproductions have been attempted in cattle, and controversy exists as to whether this insect is indeed noxious to cattle and at which dose. Here, we demonstrate that A. atromaculatus causes acute fatal disease in Hereford calves at single oral dosages of 2.5, 4.5, 10.0, and 15.0 g of insect/kg body weight. Death or severe disease necessitating euthanasia occurred at 38 to 48 hours postinoculation regardless of the dose, suggesting that the single fatal dosage is likely <2.5 g/kg body weight (this dose representing approximately 850 mL of intact beetles in a 100 kg calf). Clinically, the disease was characterized by acute anorexia, prolonged recumbency, reluctance to move, listlessness/apathy, depression, ruminal hypomotility and tympany, hypothermia, bruxism with frothing at the mouth, and mucoid diarrhea progressing to death. Hematologic and biochemical alterations included hemoconcentration, stress/acute inflammatory leukogram, negative energy balance, and ketosis. The pathological hallmark of this experimental disease is acute necrotizing omaso-reticulo-rumenitis, fibrinohemorrhagic enteritis, and exfoliative colitis with intralesional chitinous insect fragments. While A. atromaculatus might contain a gastrointestinal toxin or pathogen, extensive toxicological testing failed to identify a causative toxin. Other pathomechanisms such as direct physical damage caused by insect fragments on the alimentary tract seem plausible, although further studies are needed to elucidate the pathogenesis of A. atromaculatus-associated disease.

Infectious sporadic bovine abortions: retrospective analysis.

Infectious sporadic abortions in cattle are mainly caused by opportunistic bacteria and fungi usually present in environmental or gastrointestinal and reproductive microbiota of healthy animals. A retrospective analysis was carried out to evaluate the main opportunistic microorganisms involved in bovine abortions recorded at INTA Balcarce (Argentina) from 1997 to 2023, accounting for 2.2% of the total diagnosed etiologies of bovine abortion. The opportunistic agents identified as the cause of abortion in 29 fetuses were bacteria (90%) and fungi (10%). Escherichia coli (n = 8), Trueperella pyogenes (n = 5), and Histophilus somni (n = 4) were the bacterial species most often identified as causing infectious abortions, whereas Aspergillus spp. (n = 3) was implicated in all fungal abortions identified. Pure culture of bacteria or fungus was achieved from abomasal content and/or lung essential. Main microscopic findings were bronchopneumonia, myo- and epicarditis, meningitis, and portal hepatitis. Herein, we highlight the importance of detecting potential infectious bacteria in cultures to improve etiological diagnosis of bovine abortions associated with compatible microscopic findings to confirm the etiology.

Acute atrazine intoxication in heifers: Case report and toxicological studies.

Atrazine is a triazine organochloride herbicide, frequently used in different agricultural activities. Rare acute intoxication with atrazine is reported in production animals, and its metabolism in mammals is unknown. We report a spontaneous case of atrazine acute intoxication in 16.1% animals of a 168-beef heifer herd exposed to the herbicide at a farm located in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Affected heifers showed different neurological signs and died suddenly, similar to the previous natural atrazine intoxication report. During autopsy, no gross lesions were observed. Different body fluids and tissues samples were collected during postmortem examination. No relevant histopathological findings were observed. High levels of atrazine and its metabolites were detected in different fluids and tissues by ultra-liquid chromatography high performance coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. These findings suggest ruminal or hepatic metabolization of atrazine in the exposed cattle. This is the first report of quantification and distribution of atrazine and its metabolites in intoxicated mammals providing relevant information for diagnostic purposes.

Emotional State Measurement Trial (EMOPROEXE): A Protocol for Promoting Exercise in Adults and Children with Cerebral Palsy.

BACKGROUND: The protocol described in this paper is part of a research project coordinated between three Spanish universities, where a technology aimed at improving the quality of life of people with cerebral palsy will be developed. Part of the proposed technology will consist of an interface and a series of applications to increase motivation for daily physical activity. The basis of these developments is the measurement of the emotional state of the subjects. METHODS: The experimental protocol is designed with two research objectives, on the one hand to identify the emotional state through physiological signals, and on the other to determine whether music can be a motivating factor to promote physical activity. It is specifically designed for subjects with cerebral palsy, taking into account the special characteristics of this population. These are people with whom it is difficult to use questionnaires to have a basis to contrast with the measured physiological signals, so measurements must be taken in carefully chosen daily-life situations. DISCUSSION: We hope our findings show which physiological parameters are the most robust to measure the emotional state and how to design rehabilitation and physical activity promotion routines that are motivating, in addition to being able to avoid risk factors during the performance of these routines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05621057.

Analysis of the structure and factorial invariance of the multidimensional environmental concern scale (mecs) / Análisis de la estructura e invarianza factorial de la Escala Multidimensional de Ambientalismo (EMA)

BACKGROUND: Most studies focused on measuring environmental attitudes consider a one-dimension measure of pro/anti-environmentalism, such as NEP scale. Nevertheless, more recent research has shown that it seems more adequate to use a multidimensional approach when assessing complex relations among people and the natural environment, particularly on cultural basis. This paper aims to test the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Environmental Concern Scale (MECS) and, in particular, its factorial invariance. METHOD: Two studies were conducted. The first one assessed factorial invariance using two different approaches (multiple group confirmatory factor analysis - MGCFA, and alignment method) in a sample of 907 undergraduate students from Argentina, India, and Spain. A second study was conducted with 557 adults from Mexico and Spain, which also evaluated the criterion validity of the MECS' scores. RESULTS: The results obtained allowed to assure an acceptable degree of invariance of the MECS among all countries, and in terms of gender (Studies 1 and 2), age and education level (Study 2). CONCLUSIONS: Results provide support for a multidimensional approach when studying the environmental concern, showing that the environmentalism presents different associations depending on the analysed country. A deep analysis on different conceptualization of environmentalism will be promoted

ANTECEDENTES: la mayoría de los estudios que miden actitudes ambientales utilizan una medida unidimensional de pro/anti-ambientalismo como la escala NPE. Sin embargo, investigaciones recientes han mostrado la adecuación de enfoques multidimensionales al medir las relaciones complejas entre las personas y el entorno natural, particularmente sobre una base cultural. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo probar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala Multidimensional de Ambientalismo (EMA) y, en particular, su invarianza factorial. MÉTODO: se realizaron dos estudios. El primero evaluó la invarianza a través de dos enfoques diferentes (análisis factorial confirmatorio multigrupo y método de alineamiento) en una muestra de 907 estudiantes universitarios de Argentina, India y España. El segundo estudio, llevado a cabo en México y España con 557 adultos de la población general, evaluó además la validez de criterio sobre las puntuaciones obtenidas con la EMA. RESULTADOS: se obtiene un nivel de invarianza aceptable de la EMA entre los países considerados y según género (estudios 1 y 2), edad y nivel educativo (estudio 2). CONCLUSIONES: los resultados apoyan un enfoque multidimensional de las actitudes ambientales, mostrando que el interés ambiental presenta distintas asociaciones según el país analizado. Ello permitirá estudiar en profundidad las diferentes conceptualizaciones del ambientalismo

Retos para afrontar el cambio climático: análisis de la percepción del riesgo de inundación ante riadas / Challenges to deal with climate change: analysis of flash flood risk perception

El cambio climático requiere en la actualidad del diseño de estrategias que mitiguen los daños en la vida cotidiana de las personas. Una de sus consecuencias más visibles en la península ibérica son las inundaciones, cuya frecuencia e impacto social y económico han aumentado en las últimas décadas. Ello ha llevado a un cambio de paradigma en la gestión del riesgo de inundación en el que la dimensión social adquiere mayor relevancia. En este trabajo se revisan los desarrollos teóricos y empíricos sobre los principales procesos psicológicos relacionados con el riesgo de inundación, enfatizando las aportaciones realizadas desde la Psicología Ambiental, con un objetivo doble. Por un lado, construir un marco conceptual apropiado para el análisis de este riesgo y, por otro, dotar a los profesionales de los recursos prácticos necesarios para hacer frente a problemas que requieran de una intervención psicosocio-ambiental

Climate change requires the designing of strategies that mitigate the damage to people's daily life. One of the most notable consequences of climate change in the Iberian Peninsula is flooding, the frequency and social and economic impact of which have increased in recent decades. As a result, a change of paradigm in flood risk management has been identified, with the social dimension of the disasters acquiring more importance. This paper presents a review of the theoretical and empirical approaches in relation to flood risk, emphasizing the contributions made in the field of environmental psychology. Two main objectives are pursued: to build an appropriate conceptual framework for the analysis of flood risk and to provide professionals in this field with the necessary practical resources to face problems that require psycho-socioenvironmental intervention

Retrospective analysis of cattle poisoning in Argentina (2000-2013)

A retrospective analysis (2000 to 2013) of cattle poisoning caused by toxic plants and other compounds was carried out in the Pampas region of Argentina by the Animal Health Group of INTA-EEA, Balcarce. During this period, 1263 reports of diseases of different etiologies (infectious, parasitic, toxic, metabolic and miscellaneous) were recorded in cattle, by collecting anamnestic, clinical and pathological information. A toxic etiology was diagnosed in 21.1% of these reports. Iatrogenic poisoning caused by ionophores was the most frequently recorded etiology. Consumption of toxic plants (Wedelia glauca, Solanum glaucophyllum, among others), mycotoxins (Claviceps purpurea, Claviceps paspali, Epichloë coenophiala, among others), and plants producing cyanide and nitrates/nitrites were also commonly diagnosed. The high frequency of toxic episodes and the difficulties in their diagnosis by practitioners in our livestock production systems emphasizes the importance of this report.(AU)

Bio-psycho-social correlates of the perceived crowding in different contexts / Correlatos bio-psico-sociales del hacinamiento percibido en diferentes contextos

BACKGROUND: This paper analyzes the experience of crowding through a biopsychosocial approach to human behavior which empirically joins different dimensions that the literature has analyzed separately. The main aim consists of identifying factors involved in perceived crowding from (a) the emotional response and affective meaning (BIO dimension); (b) the perception of psychological well-being and personality traits (PSYCHO dimension), and (c) sociodemographic characteristics (SOCIO dimension). METHOD: 761 adults completed an online questionnaire that included an assessment of images representing four high- and low-density functional and residential contexts. The data were analyzed through four hierarchical regressions, one for each spatial context. RESULTS: Although the results vary depending on the contexts analyzed, the prevalence of the variables from the BIO dimension in functional contexts, as opposed to residential contexts, is highlighted. The latter spaces show greater heterogeneity regarding the explanatory power of the experience of crowding. CONCLUSIONS: The response to crowding experienced in residential environments shows a greater range of variables involved, supporting the idea of these spaces' greater complexity, insofar as they are psychologically adaptive

ANTECEDENTES: esta investigación analiza la experiencia de hacinamiento mediante una perspectiva bio-psico-social del comportamiento humano que contemple distintas dimensiones que la literatura ha analizado empíricamente de forma independiente. El objetivo principal consiste en identificar factores implicados en el hacinamiento percibido provenientes de: a) la respuesta emocional y el significado afectivo (dimensión BIO); b) la percepción del bienestar psicológico y los rasgos de personalidad (dimensión PSICO); y c) las características sociodemográficas (dimensión SOCIO). MÉTODO: 761 adultos respondieron a un cuestionario online que incluía la evaluación de imágenes representativas de cuatro contextos funcionales y residenciales de alta y baja densidad. Los datos fueron analizados a través de cuatro regresiones jerárquicas, una por cada contexto espacial. RESULTADOS: aunque los resultados varían en función de los contextos analizados, cabe destacar la prevalencia de variables provenientes de la dimensión BIO en contextos funcionales frente a los residenciales. Estos últimos muestran mayor heterogeneidad en la capacidad explicativa de la experiencia de hacinamiento. CONCLUSIONES: la respuesta a la experiencia del ambiente en los espacios residenciales muestra una mayor amplitud de variables implicadas en la vivencia, percepción y adaptación a estos entornos, reforzando la idea de una mayor complejidad de estos espacios, en tanto que psicológicamente adaptativos

Neosporosis epidémica y endémica: descripción de dos eventos en bovinos para cría / Endemic and epidemic bovine neosporosis: description of two events in beef cattle

El objetivo de este trabajo es describir dos eventos producidos en la provincia de Buenos Aires en los cuales Neospora caninum estuvo asociado a la ocurrencia de abortos en bovinos de cría para carne. En uno de ellos se registraron 11 abortos en 57 vaquillonas durante 45 días, en este evento fue 5 veces más probable que una vaquillona que sufrió un aborto fuera seropositiva a N. caninum que una que no lo sufrió (odds ratio [OR] = 4,9 IC 1,2­19,9) (p<0,05). En el otro evento se registraron 14 abortos en 140 vacas, y no se observó asociación significativa entre los abortos y la seropositividad frente a N. caninum OR = 0,69 (0,06­7,31) (p>0,05). Se analizaron dos fetos de cada evento: estos resultaron negativos a otros patógenos de la reproducción, aunque presentaron anticuerpos específicos y lesiones histopatológicas compatibles con infecciones por N. caninum. Estos resultados sugieren dos posibles modalidades de presentación de abortos en bovinos causados por N. caninum: una epidémica, como la del primer evento aquí referido, y una endémica, como la del segundo

The aim of this study was to describe two events in which Neospora caninum was involved in bovine abortions in beef cattle. In the first event, 11 abortions in 57 heifers were recorded in 45 days. One aborted heifer was 5 times more likely to be seropositive than a non-aborted heifer (OR=4.9; IC 1.2­19.9) (p<0.05). In the second event, no association between serological results and abortions were observed (OR= 0,69; 0,06­7,31) (p>0.05). Neither antibodies nor isolation of other pathogens were achieved in any case. On the contrary, antibodies and pathognomonic histopathological lesions were observed in the four fetuses from both cases. Interestingly, the findings in the first event suggest the epidemic behavior of the disease. In contrast, in the second event it appears that few abortions were due to N. caninum, suggesting the presence of endemic neosporosis

Actitudes y comportamiento hacia el medio ambiente natural. Salud medioambiental y bienestar emocional / Attitudes and Behavior towards Natural Environment. Environmental Health and Psychological Well-Being

La naturaleza ha sido un elemento ampliamente omitido en la literatura sobre bienestar emocional. La escasa investigación al respecto ha estado centrada en los efectos beneficiosos del contacto con la naturaleza, pero no en cómo las actitudes y conductas hacia el medio ambiente se asocian a un mayor o menor bienestar emocional. La presente investigación tiene el objetivo de llenar este vacío, analizando las relaciones entre las actitudes ambientales y la conducta proambiental autoinformada con el bienestar emocional. Los resultados obtenidos con una muestra de 320 estudiantes universitarios, ponen de manifiesto que pensar y comportarse proambientalmente no solo favorece al medio ambiente, sino que redunda en un mayor bienestar emocional. Se discuten algunas implicaciones en las actitudes antropocéntricas y sus relaciones con medidas de bienestar emocional.

The natural environment has largely been overlooked by research into subjective well-being. The few studies to have addressed the issue have focused on the beneficial effects of contact with nature, but have not looked at how attitudes and behaviours towards the natural environment are related to subjective well-being. The present paper seeks to fill this gap through the analysis of the relationships between environmental attitudes and self-reported ecological behaviours, and subjective well-being. The results obtained from a sample of 320 university students show that to think and behave pro environmentally is not only good for the natural environment but also leads directly to higher levels of subjective well-being. Some implications regarding anthropocentric attitudes and how they relate to subjective well-being are discussed.

Raquitismo hipofosfatémico hereditario con hipercalciuria: a propósito de un caso / Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria: Case report

Presentamos el caso clínico de un varón de 50 años de edad que consulta por presentar una enfermedad renal litiásica recidivante y una nefrocalcinosis. En la exploración clínica destacó una talla baja y un genu varo bilateral importante. Entre los datos bioquímicos se apreciaba una pérdida renal de fosfatos intensa con hipofosfatemia, una 25 OH vitamina D3 normal, una 1,25 OH2 vitamina D3 elevada y una hipercalciuria. La hormona paratiroidea (PTHi) se encontraba disminuida y en la ecografía renal se confirmó la existencia de una nefrocalcinosis bilateral grave, localizada en la médula renal. Además, se constató una insuficiencia renal crónica incipiente y una acidosis tubular renal incompleta, ambas secundarias a la nefrocalcinosis y no directamente relacionadas con la enfermedad basal. En el estudio molecular se encontró un cambio en homocigosis en el intrón 5 del gen SLC34A3 (NM_080877.2:c[448+5G>A]+[448+ 5G>A]). Sus tres hijos eran portadores de esta misma variante en heterocigosis y, aunque clínicamente estaban asintomáticos, dos de ellos tenían una hipercalciuria. Todos estos datos parecían (..) (AU)

We report a case of a male aged 50 years who consulted for renal disease recurrent lithiasis and nephrocalcinosis. The clinical examination showed external signs of rickets/osteomalacia and biochemical data as well as a severe loss of renal phosphate with hypophosphatemia, normal 25 OH vitamin D, high 1,25 OH vitamin D and hypercalciuria. Parathyroid hormone was low and renal ultrasound confirmed the existence of severe bilateral medullary nephrocalcinosis. They also found incipient chronic renal failure and incomplete renal tubular acidosis, both secondary to nephrocalcinosis and unrelated to the underlying disease. The molecular study found a change in homozygosity in intron 5 of gene SLC34A3 (NM_080877.2:c[ 448 +5G>A] + [ 448 +5G>A] ). His three children were carriers of the same variant in heterozygosis and although they were clinically asymptomatic two of them had hypercalciuria. All these data suggest that the patient had hereditary hypophosphataemic rickets with hypercalciuria (HHRH) secondary to an alteration in the sodium dependent phosphate cotransporter located in proximal tubule (NaPi-IIc). The HHRH is transmitted by autosomal recessive inheritance and is an extremely rare form of hypophosphatemic rickets. The diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent bone sequelae of rickets and nephrocalcinosis. A correct differential diagnosis with other forms of hypophosphatemic rickets has implications on the treatment, as the management based only on phosphorus supplementation usually corrects all clinical and biochemical abnormalities, except for the loss of phosphorus in the urine. The exogenous supply of calcitriol, as advised in other hypophosphatemic rickets, may induce renal calcium deposits and nephrocalcinosis and worsens the prognosis (AU)

Feocromocitoma extraadrenal: actualización de los aspectos más controvertidos. A propósito de dos casos / Extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma: update of the most controversial features. A propos of two cases

Los feocromocitomas son tumores neuroendocrinospoco frecuentes, habitualmente sintomáticos y en la mayoría de los casos esporádicos, que se suelen localizar en la médula suprarrenal. Presentamos 2 casos de feocromocitoma extraadrenal no funcionan-te localizados en el retroperitoneo, aparentemente benignos, esporádicos y no asociados con otras neoplasias endocrinas ni enfermedades hereditarias. Empleamos ecografía, tomografía computarizada y resonancia magnética antes de la escisión completa del tumor por vía abdominal abierta, así como diversas técnicas inmunohistoquímicas para llegar al diagnóstico definitivo. Tras 8 y 14 meses de seguimiento no hay evidencia de recidiva de la enfermedad ni de aparición de otros síndromes. Como consecuencia de estos casos, llevamos a cabo una revisión bibliográfica centrándonos en los puntos más controvertidos (AU)

Pheochromocytomas are uncommon neuroendocrine tumors. They are usually symptomatic and sporadic and are generally located in the adrenal medulla. We present two cases of extra-adrenal nonfunctional pheochromocytomas located in the retro peritoneum. The tumors were apparently benign and sporadic and were not associated with other neoplasms or hereditary diseases. Ultrasonography, computed axial tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed before complete excision of the tumors using open abdominal surgery. Several immunohistochemical techniques were performed to reach the definitive diagnosis. After 8 and 14 months of follow-up, there is no evidence of recurrence or other syndromes. As a consequence of these two cases, we performed review of the literature on the topic, focussing on the most controversial areas (AU)

Arteria coronaria única naciendo del seno de Valsalva derecho. A propósito de un caso / Single coronary artery from right Valsalva sinus. Apropos of a case

Las anomalías coronarias son una malformación poco frecuente, que según las series llega hasta 1,5 por ciento de los cateterismos cardíacos. Dentro de este grupo, la presencia de una arteria coronara única es extremadamente infrecuente, situándose en nuestra casuística en dos pacientes en 30.600 cateterismos cardíacos (0,066 por ciento). Uno de los principales problemas que plantea esta distribución es el elevado porcentaje de muerte súbita, que se asocia a los trayectos de la descendente anterior entre la aorta y la arteria pulmonar. Reportamos el caso de un paciente de 62 años, con coronaria única naciendo del seno derecho, con trayecto extremadamente infrecuente y la descendente anterior con curso entre los grandes vasos

Cateterismo cardíaco por vía transradial. Experiencia inicial en 1000 pacientes / Transradial cardiac catheterization. Initial experience in 1000 patients

La vía de acceso femoral es utilizada desde hace muchos años para realizar cateterismos cardíacos y angioplastias coronarias con excelentes resultados. Si bien este acceso tiene ventajas en su utilización, las complicaciones vasculares representan un riesgo potencial cuya incidencia se aproxima a 4 por ciento, requiriendo en ciertos casos reparación quirúrgica. La vía transradial ha sido propuesta recientemente como una alternativa técnica para evitar dichas complicaciones. Presentamos nuestra experiencia inicial con los primeros 1.000 procedimientos por esta vía de acceso