Two-dimensional echocardiographic measures of left ventricular dimensions agree with M-mode measurements in dogs.

INTRODUCTION: Clinicians measure left ventricular dimensions in dogs from both M-mode and two-dimensional images. Little information currently exists as to whether these two methods provide measurements similar enough to be interchangeable. ANIMALS: The animals included in this study are 206 client-owned dogs: 68 healthy, 105 with myxomatous mitral valve disease, 33 with other cardiac or extracardiac disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Investigators measured left ventricular diastolic and systolic dimensions from archived M-mode and two-dimensional images obtained from the right parasternal short-axis view. Agreement between the pairs of measurements was examined using limits of agreement (Bland-Altman) plots. RESULTS: Left ventricular diastolic dimensions showed no fixed or proportional bias but did show heteroscedasticity. Ninety-five percent limits of agreement for normalized differences approximated ±10%; 95% of the absolute differences for any pair of measurements were <3.9 mm regardless of bodyweight and <2.7 mm for dogs <15 kg. Left ventricular systolic dimensions showed slight proportional bias, with two-dimensional measurements being progressively larger than M-mode measurements as ventricular size increased. Ninety-five percent limits of agreement for normalized differences approximated ±20%; 95% of the absolute differences for any pair of measurements were <4.6 mm regardless of bodyweight and <3.5 mm for dogs <15 kg. Mitral valve disease did not appreciably affect these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular internal dimensions in dogs with and without cardiac disease measured from two-dimensional right parasternal short-axis images are interchangeable with those measured from M-mode images using the same view.

Gongylonema infection of wild mammals in Japan and Sardinia (Italy).

The gullet worms, classical Gongylonema pulchrum and newly differentiated Gongylonema nepalensis, are prevalent in various mammals in Japan and Sardinia, Italy, respectively. The former species is cosmopolitan in distribution, dwelling in the mucosa of the upper digestive tract of a variety of domestic and wild mammals, and also humans. At present, the geographical distribution of G. nepalensis is known in Nepal and Sardinia, with the nematode having been recorded from the oesophagus of water buffaloes (Nepal), cattle, sheep, goats and wild mouflon (Sardinia). To clarify their natural transmission cycles among domestic and wild mammals, the present study analysed the ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) of worms of various origins: G. pulchrum worms from sika deer, wild boars, Japanese macaques, and feral alien Reeves's muntjacs in Japan, and G. nepalensis worms from a red fox and a wild boar in Sardinia. Although the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA and partial cox1 nucleotide sequences of G. pulchrum from native wild mammals in Japan were distinct from those of the worms in cattle, the worms from feral alien Reeves's muntjacs showed the cattle-type ITS genotype and cox1 cattle-I and II haplotypes. The rDNA and cox1 nucleotide sequences of G. nepalensis from a red fox in Sardinia were almost identical to those of the worms from domestic and wild ruminants on the island. The ecological interaction between domestic and wild mammals and their susceptibility to different Gongylonema spp. must be considered when trying to elucidate this spirurid's transmission dynamics in nature.

Ultrasound as a monitoring tool for cystic echinococcosis in sheep.

An ultrasound-based survey for cystic echinococcosis (CE) in sheep was carried out in Sardinia in 2012. The study was done on three farms (A, B, C) which had been pre-selected for different CE prevalence levels (A: >80%, B: 50-80%, C: <50%). In total, 129 sheep were examined on the farms using portable ultrasound equipment (A: n=51, B: n=30, C: n=48). Within a period of 20 days after ultrasound examination, all sheep were slaughtered and underwent a parasitological post-mortem examination for cysts in the liver and lungs. With post-mortem as gold standard, ultrasonography gave a test sensitivity of 88.7% and a specificity of 75.9%, while the positive and negative predictive values were 81.8% and 84.6%, respectively. When only sheep with fertile cysts were considered, the sensitivity of the test increased to 100%. We conclude that the ultrasound examination of the liver in sheep - using state-of-the-art technology - is a sensitive and specific diagnostic tool, which is cost-effective, highly appropriate for field use and requires only moderate time (no shaving required). The method can also be applied to other livestock species and will be useful tool in epidemiological studies, monitoring schemes and vaccination/control trials.

Molecular detection of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance pattern in clinical Enterococcus faecalis strains in Sardinia.

In this study, the antibiotic resistance pattern and the presence of genes encoding several virulence factors in 91 Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from different human clinical sources in Sardinia were investigated. Genotypic determination of virulence genes (gelE, esp, agg, ace, cylA,B,M,L(L),L(S), efaA, fsrB) was carried out by PCR. The production of gelatinase and haemolytic activity were also determined. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by an automated microdilution test (Vitek). The strains examined in this study contained at least one and up to as many as all virulence genes investigated. Examining the distribution of these factors in the different groups of clinical strains, we found that all but one virulence determinant were detected more frequently among urinary isolates. The detection of some factors by PCR did not always correlate with its phenotypic expression. Antibiotic susceptibilities among the Enterococcus faecalis strains investigated in our study were typical for the species, with expected levels of acquired resistance. Faecal isolates had the highest percentage of resistance, especially to high level-gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. In summary, a wide variety of genes encoding virulence factors have been detected among our clinical Enterococcus faecalis strains, and those isolated from UTI were characterized by a higher virulence potency compared with strains from other clinical sources. Silent virulence genes (cyl or gelE) were frequently detected, therefore both the genotypic and phenotypic assays seem necessary for a better characterization of the strains. Our results may serve as a basis for additional surveillance studies of infections caused by this microorganism.

[Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Candida species in ICU]. / Caratterizzazione fenotipica e molecolare di Candida isolate in un reparto di Terapia Intensiva.

Two hundred sixty three Candida isolates were obtained from specimens of patients hospitalized in a Intensive Care Unit. Candida albicans was the predominant species, followed by C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. glabrata e C. parapsilosis. For C. albicans isolates, amphotericin B was the more efficient antifungal (2.3% of resistant strains), while voriconazole was the more efficient for C. krusei and C. glabrata, known for their lower susceptibility to fluconazole. RAPD-PCR technique with CDU primer was used for the molecular characterization of 48 C. albicans strains isolated from 10 patients. Genetic similarity at 90% level was observed for some Candida strains isolated from the same patient, indicating a possible colonization from the original strain. Moreover the high similarity coefficient observed between isolates from different patients may indicate an exogenous colonization originating from hospital-endemic strains or inadequate manipulation by health care workers.

Cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome: early sonographic prenatal diagnosis.

In this case report the sonographic appearance of cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome is described. Increased fetal nuchal translucency (at 11 weeks), micrognathia (at 12 weeks) and failure to ultrasound to identify the ribs (at 18 weeks) were revealed with serial scanning. These cardinal findings allowed the prenatal diagnosis of cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome to be made at 18 weeks' gestation.

Cylindrical optical backplane.

A cylindrical optical backplane using Plexiglas stacked disks, light-emitting diodes, and p-i-n photodiodes is described. The main advantage of the design is its simplicity and lack of both precision optics and critical alignment requirements.

[Ethics committees: international experience and of the National Institute for cancer research of Genoa]. / Comitati etici: esperienze internazionali e dell'Istituto Nazionale per la ricerca sul cancro di Genova.

The aim of the present study is to describe the constitutions and functions of Ethics Committees and Institutional Review Boards. In particular, the experience of the National Institute for Cancer Research of Genoa in which the Authors carry out their activity is presented.

[Scientific institutions for treatment and care: purpose, characteristics and specific role in the oncologic sector]. / Istituti di ricovero e cura a carattere scientifico: finalità, caratteristiche e ruolo specifico nel settore oncologico.

The qualities of Comprehensive Health Care Institutes facilities established to foster, carry out and coordinate activities of scientific research and assistance in the field of biomedicine are described. At present there are 23 centers, their activity being based on two fundamental features: 1) topical research in specific themes characterizing the role these Institutes continuously play; 2) specialized research concerning subjects of particular interest and/or urgency suggested by the Ministry of Health.