Identification and characterization of dairy cows with different backfat thickness antepartum in relation to postpartum loss of backfat thickness: A cluster analytic approach.

The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize the interindividual variation in the relationship between antepartum (ap) backfat thickness (BFT) and subsequent BFT loss during early lactation in a large dairy herd using cluster analysis; (2) to compare the serum concentrations of metabolites (nonesterified fatty acids, ß-hydroxybutyrate), metabolic hormones (leptin and adiponectin), and an inflammatory marker (haptoglobin) among the respective clusters; and (3) to compare lactation performance and uterine health status in the different clusters. An additional objective was (4) to investigate differences in these serum variables and in milk yield of overconditioned (OC) cows that differed in the extent of BFT loss. Using data from a large study of 1,709 multiparous Holstein cows, we first selected those animals from which serum samples and BFT results (mm) were available at d 25 (±10) ap and d 31 (±3 d) postpartum (pp). The remaining 713 cows (parity of 2 to 7) were then subjected to cluster analysis: different approaches based on the BFT of the cows were performed. K-means (unsupervised machine learning algorithm) clustering based on BFT-ap alone identified 5 clusters: lean (5-8 mm BFT, n = 50), normal (9-12 mm, n = 206), slightly fat (SF; 13-16 mm, n = 203), just fat (JF; 16-22 mm, n = 193), and very fat (VF; 23-43 mm, n = 61). Clustering by difference between BFT-ap and BFT-pp (ΔBFT) also revealed 5 clusters: extreme loss (17-23 mm ΔBFT, n = 16), moderate loss (9-15 mm, n = 119), little loss (4-8 mm, n = 326), no loss (0-3 mm, n = 203), and gain (-8 to -1 mm, n = 51). Based on the blood variables measured, our results confirm that cows with greater BFT losses had higher lipid mobilization and ketogenesis than cows with less BFT loss. The serum variables of cows that gained BFT did not differ from normal cows. Milk yield was affected by the BFT-ap cluster, but not by the ΔBFT cluster. Cows categorized as VF had lesser milk yield than other clusters. We further compared the OC cows that had little or no BFT loss (i.e., 2% of VF, 12% of JF, and 31% of SF, OC-no loss, n = 85) with the OC cows that lost BFT (OC-loss, n = 135). Both NEFA and BHB pp concentrations and milk yield were greater in OC-loss cows compared with the OC-no loss cows. The serum concentration of leptin ap was greater in OC-loss than in the OC-no loss cows. Overall, OC cows lost more BFT than normal or lean cows. However, those OC cows with a smaller loss of BFT produced less milk than OC cows with greater losses.

[Diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis: rapid clinical response to treatment with steroids]. / Emangiomatosi neonatale diffusa: rapida risposta clinica al trattamento steroideo.

A case of diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis is reported with efficacy of steroid treatment and favourable outcome.

[Diagnosis of allergy to cow's milk proteins]. / Diagnosi di allergia alle proteine del latte vaccino (APLV).

The diagnosis of cow's milk proteins allergy can only be established if the symptoms disappear with an elimination diet and if a later controlled challenge leads either to a recurrence of symptoms or to some other clearly identified changes. At the moment there is not a specific immunological test surely effective in all cases. Anyway the three Gooldmann's tests are not necessary. In fact a single challenge with a cow's milk meal will be sufficient when clinical observation is accompanied by monitoring some simple laboratory tests (serum and nasal eosinophils, steathorrea, coproleucocytes, hemoccult, xylosemia and leucocytes PMN). The challenge must be tested in a double-blind trial only in patients with non specific symptoms (such as tension fatigue syndrome, hyperactivity, ecc...). The double-blind challenge is not necessary generally for the diagnosis of cow's milk proteins allergy in childhood, because at this time of life not only the symptoms are very clear (diarrhea, vomiting, skin symptoms) but also there is a prevalence of non reaginic reactions: this kind of reactions are usually delayed and they generally occur after a relatively high dose of food allergens. In the group of patients with specific anti-cow's milk IgE (RAST and prick tests) and severe reactions (anaphylaxis), the challenge is not necessary to confirm the diagnosis, but is usefully to verify the acquired tolerance, generally after the first year of life.

[Therapy of intolerance and allergy to cow's milk proteins]. / Terapia dell'intolleranza e allergia alle proteine del latte vaccino.

The authors report the main acquisitions from literature and their own experience concerning therapy of intolerance and allergy to cow's milk proteins, particularly referring to clinical gastrointestinal features. These points have been underlined: elimination diet is the most important step in therapy, even if intolerances to new aliments frequently arise (30% of cases), either when soy milk or hydrolysate formulas are used; pharmacologic agents inhibiting mediator release from the mast-cells thereby reducing gut permeability to macro-molecules (such as disodium cromoglycate) can be used as a "support" for a short period of time, but the drug can not replace the diet in the therapy; anyway, even if milk allergy may last for a long time, it is useful to test the possible acquired tolerance, beginning from the first year of life.