Concurrent notalgia paresthetica and brachioradial pruritus associated with cervical degenerative disc disease.

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a common, often refractory sensory neuropathic syndrome with the hallmark symptoms of localized pruritus and dysesthesia of the unilateral infrascapular region. Brachioradial pruritus (BRP) is similarly classified as a localized pruritus syndrome but of the upper extremities, typically one or both forearms. Notalgia paresthetica and BRP are both generally chronic, nonlethal, incurable conditions with intermittent remissions and exacerbation. Often described as dermatologic syndromes, both diseases are typically considered to be multifactorial in etiology with an uncertain etiology. However, recent literature suggests that it is highly probable that NP in many, if not nearly all cases, has an association with underlying cervical disease at the C5-C6 levels. This elucidation has resulted in a paradigm shift in evaluation and treatment of NP as cervical disease with referred skin manifestations to the mid back. Notalgia paresthetica and BRP may occur concurrently in the same patients. To determine possible underlying cervical spine disease, it is vital to examine the neck and consider radiographic studies of the spine. Collaborative multispecialty evaluation may be indicated in primary management of these two conditions. For cases of NP and BRP that are associated with cervical disease, the first-line therapy may include nondermatologic spinal treatments. Many cases of NP and BRP are most likely dermatologic signs of underlying degenerative spine, disc, and muscle disease.

Effect of early feed restriction on physiological responses, performance and ascites incidence in broiler chickens raised in normal or cold environment.

Intensive selection of broilers for faster growth and better feed efficiency resulted in greater susceptibility to metabolic disorders such as ascites syndrome, which is one of the major causes of mortality and economic loss in broiler industry. Whereas cool temperature is one of the primary triggers for ascites, early feed restriction (FDR) significantly alleviates its incidence and mortality. However, little is known about effects of FDR, cold environmental temperature and their interaction on physiological responses in broiler chickens. For this purpose, 320 one-day-old male broilers were divided into two treatment groups of Ad libitum (Ad) and feed restricted (FR) with eight pen replicates each. Chickens in FR group underwent feed access limitation from days 7 to 14 of age. On day 21 half of the birds (four pens) in each group exposed to the cold temperature (CT) and the other half (four pens) continued at normal temperature (NT). Average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured at days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42. At 39 and 46 days of age two chicks with a BW around the pen average were selected from each pen and slaughtered after collecting blood samples. Then, relative weight of internal organs and right ventricle weight per total ventricle weight (RV : TV) ratio were calculated. Compared with NT group, CT birds had higher daily feed intake and FCR (P<0.05) from day 28 to 42. Cumulative ascites mortality in CT chickens was higher (P<0.001) than NT chicks. Within the CT group, ascites mortality in FR chickens was reduced (P<0.001) to 1.25% compared with 8.75% in Ad chicks. Birds in CT group had significantly (P<0.05) thicker right ventricle and greater relative weight of heart, hematocrit and triiodothyronine concentration. However, none of these parameters were affected by FDR. Under cold stress conditions, FDR reduced activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (P<0.05). Serum triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and total protein were not influenced by either temperature or feeding regimen. In conclusion, these findings suggest that FDR reduces ascites incidence mainly by allowing better development of internal organs, which helps them to cope with the high metabolic pressure and suffer less damage.

Ethnic differences in composite indices of femoral neck strength.

UNLABELLED: Bone mineral density does not explain race/ethnicity differences in hip fracture risk. In this study, we demonstrated that race/ethnicity differences in composite hip strength indices were consistent with documented race/ethnicity differences in hip fracture risk, suggesting that unlike bone density, the composite indices may represent ethnicity-independent measures of bone strength. INTRODUCTION: African-American and Asian women have lower risks of hip fracture than Caucasian women, but such racial/ethnic variation in hip fracture risk cannot be explained by bone mineral density (BMD). The composite indices of femoral neck strength integrate femoral neck and body size with BMD and predict hip fracture risk in Caucasian women. We hypothesize that unlike race/ethnic differences in BMD, race/ethnic differences in the composite strength indices would be consistent with race/ethnic differences in hip fracture risk. METHODS: We studied a community-based sample of Caucasian (n = 968), African-American (n = 512), Chinese (n = 221), and Japanese (n = 239) women, premenopausal or in early perimenopause, from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. RESULTS: Unadjusted indices were similar in Caucasian and African-American women but higher in Asian women. After adjusting for age, body mass index, and menopause status, all three minority groups had higher composite strength indices than Caucasian women. Foreign-born Japanese women had higher unadjusted and adjusted composite strength indices than US-born Japanese women, but such differences by nativity were not observed in Chinese women. CONCLUSION: We concluded that composite strength indices have the potential to explain racial/ethnic differences in hip fracture risk, suggesting that composite strength indices may represent ethnicity-independent measures of bone strength. This contention needs to be verified by further research on the fracture predictive ability of composite strength indices in multi-ethnic longitudinal cohorts.

Muir-Torre syndrome: case report and review of the literature.

Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS), a subtype of Lynch syndrome II, presents as at least one internal malignancy associated with at least one sebaceous skin tumor. This autosomal-dominant genetic disorder is thought to arise from microsatellite instability. Although not all patients with sebaceous tumors have MTS, even a single biopsy-proven sebaceous adenoma may warrant evaluation for MTS. We report the case of a 76-year-old man with a marked family history of colon cancer; a personal history of colon cancer status post-partial resection of the colon; and multiple cutaneous neoplasms including sebaceous adenomas, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, and basal and squamous cell carcinomas. We review the literature describing MTS and highlight the important role of dermatologists and dermatopathologists in the potential early detection and initial diagnosis of this familial or hereditary colon cancer in patients presenting with cutaneous sebaceous adenomas. Correct diagnosis may be lifesaving in patients with MTS and their at-risk relatives who would benefit from earlier colonoscopy, tumor surveillance, and potential early cancer detection. Muir-Torre syndrome represents yet another dermatologic symptom of an internal disease.

The reliability and validity of three non-radiological measures of thoracic kyphosis and their relations to the standing radiological Cobb angle.

UNLABELLED: Hyperkyphosis is implicated in a mounting list of negative outcomes, including higher mortality. Hyperkyphosis research is hindered due to difficulties inherent in its measurement. By showing that three clinical measures of kyphosis are suitable for use in large scale, longitudinal, hyperkyphosis studies, we will facilitate much needed research in this field. INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study is to describe the reliability of three non-radiological kyphosis measures (Debrunner kyphosis angle, flexicurve kyphosis index, and flexicurve kyphosis angle) and their validity compared to the Cobb angle and to approximate a Cobb angle from non-radiological kyphosis measures. METHODS: We analyzed data from 113 participants aged ≥ 60 years with kyphosis angle ≥ 40°. Cobb angle was measured on a standing lateral thoracolumbar radiograph using bounds at T4 and T12. Non-radiological measures of kyphosis were made three times by a single rater and a 4th time by a blinded second rater. RESULTS: Intra- and inter-rater reliabilities for non-radiological assessments were high (intra-class correlations of 0.96 to 0.98) and did not differ from each other. Pearson correlations, estimating validity, ranged from 0.62 to 0.69 and did not differ. The Debrunner angle was close to the Cobb angle, with scaling factor of 1.067 and an offset of 5°. The Flexicurve kyphosis angle had to be scaled by 1.53 to obtain the equivalent Cobb angle. The scaling factor for the Flexicurve kyphosis index to Cobb angle was 315, with an offset of 5°. Compared to the measured Cobb angle, Cobb angles predicted using the non-radiological measures had similar magnitude errors (standard deviations of the differences ranging between 10.24 and 11.26). CONCLUSIONS: Each non-radiological measurement had similar reliability and validity. Low cost, ease of use, and robustness to variations in spine contour argue for the Flexicurve in longitudinal kyphosis assessments. The approximate conversion factors provided will permit translation of non-radiological measures to Cobb angles.

Effect of Silicon Nutrition on Oxidative Stress Induced by Phytophthora melonis Infection in Cucumber.

The effect of silicon nutrition on root rot of cucumber caused by Phytophthora melonis was studied in a greenhouse experiment. Two cucumber cultivars (Cucumis sativus 'Dominus' and 'Super Dominus') fertilized with three concentrations of Si (0.0, 1.0, and 1.7 mM Si in the form of sodium silicate) were not inoculated or were inoculated with P. melonis. The P. melonis isolate significantly decreased root dry weights, although the magnitude of growth reduction varied with cultivar and Si concentration. Silicon nutrition at either concentration significantly reduced disease severity relative to the treatment that received no silicon. There was a significant negative correlation between the extent of root rot caused by P. melonis and the extent of electrolyte leakage of roots. Roots infected with P. melonis had greater root catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. There was a positive correlation between silicon concentrations and CAT and APX activities in plants inoculated with P. melonis. Silicon improved activity of antioxidant enzymes, resulting in enhanced crop resistance to oxidative stress induced by P. melonis infection and improved cucumber growth.

Notalgia paresthetica associated with cervical spinal stenosis and cervicothoracic disk disease at C4 through C7.

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a common refractory, sensory, neuropathic syndrome with the hallmark symptom of localized pruritus of the unilateral infrascapular back. It generally is a chronic noncurable condition with periodic remissions and exacerbations. While the dermatologic syndrome may be multifactorial in etiology, a possible association with underlying cervical spine disease should be evaluated for proper treatment. Collaborative multispecialty evaluation by dermatology, radiology, orthopedic surgery, and neurology may be indicated for primary management of this condition. First-line therapy for NP with associated cervical disease may include nondermatologic noninvasive treatments such as spinal manipulation, physical therapy, massage, cervical traction, cervical muscle strengthening, and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. Notalgia paresthetica may in fact be a cutaneous sign of an underlying degenerative cervical spine disease. We report a case of a patient with cervical spinal stenosis that corresponded directly with the clinical findings of NP.

Effects of dietary egg yolk antibody powder on growth performance, intestinal Escherichia coli colonization, and immunocompetence of challenged broiler chicks.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of different levels of specific IgY (sIgY) and nonspecific IgY (nsIgY) egg yolk antibody powder on growth performance, immune functions, and intestinal morphology of Escherichia coli O78:K80-challenged broiler chicks. Lyophilized antibody isolated by the water-dilution method was obtained from the eggs of laying hens hyperimmunized with E. coli O78:K80. A total of 392 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 7 dietary treatments with 4 replicates of 14 chicks (7 males and 7 females) each. Before offering the experimental diets, 7-d-old broiler chicks (except the negative control) were challenged orally with 0.5 mL (10(9) cfu/mL) of E. coli O78:K80 suspension. The challenge was continued for an additional 7 d from d 14 to 21 with 1.0 mL of a late log phase culture (10(9) cfu/mL) until the level of E. coli in feces reached 10(5) cfu/g. The 6 challenged groups received a basal diet supplemented with 0 (as positive control), 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4% (wt/wt) sIgY from eggs of immunized hens or levels of 0.2 or 0.4% (wt/wt) nsIgY from eggs laid by the nonimmunized hens. The negative control group was fed with the same unsupplemented diet. Oral infection caused an increase in ileal E. coli enumeration, total blood leukocytes, heterophil:lymphocyte ratio, the concentration of serum and intestinal secretory IgA, and the numbers of jejunal goblet cells and lamina propria lymphatic follicles. After 3 wk of feeding, the levels of 0.2 and 0.4% sIgY and 0.4% nsIgY had the most suppressive effects (P < 0.01) on the ileal E. coli enumeration and secretory IgA concentration. However, serum IgA concentration was slightly decreased only at the presence of 0.4% sIgY and nsIgY. Dietary supplementation with at least 0.2% sIgY decreased (P < 0.05) the circulating heterophil:lymphocyte ratio. Inclusion of both sIgY and nsIgY increased the villus height:crypt depth ratio and decreased the jejunal goblet cells and lamina propria lymphatic follicle numbers, with the most pronounced effects assigned to sIgY-supplemented groups. The best feed conversion ratio was obtained when the dietary inclusion of at least 0.2% sIgY continued for 3 wk. The present results indicate that dietary administration of at least 0.2% sIgY for 3 wk improved the intestinal health indices and immunological responses of broiler chicks orally challenged by E. coli O78:K80.

In vitro comparison of egg yolk-based and soybean lecithin-based extenders for cryopreservation of ram semen.

Substitution of egg yolk with soybean lecithin may reduce hygienic risks in extenders. Though a few studies have been performed on the effect of soybean lecithin in bull, to date evaluation of ram semen in vitro fertility after cryopreservation with use of soybean lecithin has not been studied. This study assessed the effect of 1% or 2% (wt/vol) soybean lecithin (L1 or L2) or 15% or 20% (vol/vol) egg yolk (E15 or E20) supplemented with 5% or 7% glycerol (G5 or G7) in a Tris-based medium for cryopreservation of ram (Oviss arries) semen. Although no significant difference was observed in pattern of capacitation, the best results in terms of sperm motility, viability postthaw, and cleavage rates were observed with L1G7 (51.9+/-4.8%, 48.1+/-3.5%, and 79.6+/-3.9%, respectively) and E20G7 (51.8+/-2.9%, 46.7+/-4.0%, and 72.9+/-6.4%, respectively). Our results also showed that 1% lecithin and 20% egg yolk was superior to 2% lecithin and 15% egg yolk. In terms of cleavage rate, 7% glycerol was superior to 5% glycerol. No significant difference was obtained between groups in terms of blastocysts rate per cleaved embryo. Therefore, we concluded that the optimal concentration of lecithin and egg yolk is 1% and 20%, respectively, along with 7% glycerol. In addition, our results suggest that lecithin can be used as a substitute for egg yolk.

Administration of exogenous endothelin-1 following vascular balloon injury: early and late effects on intimal hyperplasia.

Administration of exogenous endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been shown to stimulate neointimal hyperplasia following arterial balloon angioplasty (BA). However, the specific effects of ET-1 on the cellular and extracellular matrix response of the vessel wall after balloon injury and the persistence of these ET-1 effects have not been studied. The objectives of this study were to determine the acute (1 week) and long term (10 weeks) effects of administering exogenous ET-1 after arterial BA on neointimal hyperplasia, collagen synthesis and content, cellular proliferation, and ET(A) and ET(B) receptor expression. Thirty-one rabbits were randomized to receive subcutaneous ET-1 (500 pmol/kg/day for 1 week) or placebo time-release pellets and sacrificed at either 1 or 10 weeks after BA. At 1 week, there was a significant two-fold increase in intimal cross-sectional area (CSA) in ET-1 treated animals compared with placebo. ET-1 treated animals showed significant increases in collagen synthesis (ten-fold) and collagen content (three-fold) compared to placebo treated animals. ET-1 treated animals also had a significant increase (two-fold) in proliferation rates. In addition, ET(A) and ET(B) receptor expression were significantly upregulated in ET-1 treated animals. By 10 weeks these stimulatory effects on intimal CSA and collagen content were no longer evident with a 'catch up' phenomenon observed in the placebo treated animals. Similarly, ET(A) and ET(B) mRNA levels had declined significantly in both groups. Therefore, exogenous ET-1 acutely stimulates extracellular and cellular processes including increased expression of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors contributing to intimal hyperplasia. However, these effects are transient and not maintained long term after withdrawal of exogenous ET-1 stimulation.

Arterial elastase activity after balloon angioplasty and effects of elafin, an elastase inhibitor.

Increased proteolytic activity may be a factor in intimal hyperplasia after balloon angioplasty (BA). The objectives of this study were to assess elastase activity after BA in a rabbit arterial double-injury model and the effects of elastase inhibition. Elastase activity increased immediately after BA, reached an 8-fold peak at 1 week, and declined to baseline levels by 4 weeks. Elastin zymography showed that the elastase activity was associated predominantly with a molecular mass of 25 kDa. Elastase activity was significantly inhibited in vitro by elafin and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, selective inhibitors of serine elastases. A second group of animals was transfected after BA with a plasmid containing the cDNA for either elafin or a control (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, CAT) construct by using a hemagglutinating virus of Japan-liposome transfection technique. Arterial segments were obtained at 48 hours, 1 week, and 4 weeks to assess transgene expression, arterial wall elastase activity, and intimal cross-sectional area, respectively. Elafin transgene expression was evident at 48 hours and resulted in a significant (80%) inhibition of elastase activity compared with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase-transfected arteries. There was a 43% reduction in intimal cross-sectional area in elafin-transfected arteries (0.28+/-0.22 versus 0.16+/-0.07 mm(2) for CAT-transfected versus elafin-transfected arteries, respectively; P<0.05). These data suggest that an early increase in serine elastase activity after BA contributes to intimal hyperplasia. Serine elastase inhibition may be a potential therapeutic approach to inhibit intimal hyperplasia.

A defined medium for rumen bacteria and identification of strains impaired in de novo biosynthesis of certain amino acids.

A completely defined growth medium has been developed to determine the nitrogen requirements for several species of ruminal bacteria, and has revealed two strains which are impaired in de novo biosynthesis of certain amino acids. Using NH4Cl as a sole nitrogen source, the medium supported growth of Butyrivibrio, Selenomonas, Prevotella and Streptococcus species. One strain of B. fibrisolvens (E14) and one strain of P. ruminicola (GA33) did not grow in the presence of NH4Cl until the medium was supplemented with amino acids or peptides. For B. fibrisolvens strain E14, methionine was identified as the specific growth-limiting amino acid although methionine alone did not support growth in the absence of NH4Cl. For P. ruminicola strain GA33, any individual amino acid other than methionine or cysteine could supplement the medium and support growth. Enzyme assays confirmed a lack of NADH and NADPH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities in this strain.

Relationship of plasma calcium and phosphorus to the shell quality of laying hens receiving saline drinking water.

1. From 36 to 43 weeks of age 210 White Leghorn laying hens were used to study the relationship of plasma calcium and phosphorus concentrations to egg-shell quality when saline drinking water was given. 2. Seven experimental treatments in which different amounts of sodium chloride were supplied by the food and/or the drinking water were compared. 3. Increasing salt intake through the drinking water or the food reduced shell thickness and shell calcium, and increased the numbers of damaged eggs. Sodium chloride given in the drinking water was more effective in reducing shell quality and increasing plasma calcium and phosphorus than sodium chloride given in the food.