Waiting time in the premilking holding pen and subsequent lying and walking behaviors of Holstein cows.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of waiting time (WT) in the premilking holding pen on the subsequent lying and walking behaviors of Holstein cows. A total of 108 cows (multiparous n = 95; primiparous n = 13), milked 3 times/d [AM (0700 h), PM (1500 h), and nighttime (2300 h)] were monitored for individual WT, which was defined as the time elapsed between the entrance of the first cow to the milking stall in a rotary milking system and the entrance of each subsequent cow housed in the same milking pen. Data for lying time (min), standing time (min), lying bouts (no.), and walking behavior (no. of steps) in 15-min intervals were collected using a commercial 3-dimensional accelerometer affixed on the hind left leg of each cow from early to mid lactation. Mean values (min/h, no./h) for each behavior calculated between consecutive milkings were compared among 3 WT categories: cows with WT ≤30 min (WT1), WT 30 to 60 min (WT2), and WT >60 min (WT3). The overall mean (SD) of WT during the study period was 31.2 (23.4) min, and the distribution of WT1, WT2, and WT3 in all cows through the monitoring period was 50.9, 43.3, and 5.7%, respectively. No significant effects were established for overall WT on any of the behaviors under analysis. However, subsequent analysis by milking shift indicated that, during the period following the night milking, cows in WT1 exhibited the shortest lying time, whereas cows in WT3 had the greatest number of lying bouts. No effect of WT category was observed on the number of steps after any of the milking shifts. Results of this study indicate a moderate effect of WT on lying behavior after the nighttime milking. Variables such as temperature-humidity index, parity, and time of day affected cow behavior and should be considered when evaluating the impact of routine management practices, such as milking, on commercial farms.

Effect of Ag Addition on the Electrochemical Performance of Cu10Al in Artificial Saliva.

In this work we proposed to evaluate the corrosion resistance of four different alloys by electrochemical techniques, a binary alloy Cu10Al, and three ternary alloys Cu10Al-xAg (x = 5, 10, and 15 wt.%) to be used like biomaterials in dental application. Biomaterials proposed were tested in artificial saliva at 37°C for 48 h. In addition, pure metals Cu, Al, Ag, and Ti as reference materials were evaluated. In general the short time tests indicated that the Ag addition increases the corrosion resistance and reduces the extent of localized attack of the binary alloy. Moreover, tests for 48 hours showed that the Ag addition increases the stability of the passive layer, thereby reducing the corrosion rate of the binary alloy. SEM analysis showed that Cu10Al alloy was preferably corroded by grain boundaries, and the Ag addition modified the form of attack of the binary alloy. Cu-rich phases reacted with SCN(-) anions forming a film of CuSCN, and the Ag-rich phase is prone to react with SCN(-) anions forming AgSCN. Thus, binary and ternary alloys are susceptible to tarnish in the presence of thiocyanate ions.

Paradoxical psoriasiform reactions to anti-TNFα drugs are associated with genetic polymorphisms in patients with psoriasis.

Paradoxical psoriasiform reactions to anti-tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) agents have been described. We aimed to study the association between these reactions and polymorphisms in genes previously associated with psoriasis or other autoimmune diseases. A total of 161 patients with plaque-type psoriasis treated with anti-TNFα drugs were genotyped for 173 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the Illumina Veracode genotyping platform. Among the 161 patients, 25 patients developed a paradoxical psoriasiform reaction consisting of a change in morphology, mostly to guttate psoriasis (88%). These lesions developed 9.20±13.52 months after initiating treatment, mainly with etanercept (72%). Psoriasis type and a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 response to treatment were not associated with lesions. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that five SNPs (rs11209026 in IL23R, rs10782001 in FBXL19, rs3087243 in CTLA4, rs651630 in SLC12A8 and rs1800453 in TAP1) were associated with paradoxical reactions. This is the first study to show an association between genetic polymorphisms and paradoxical reactions in patients with psoriasis treated with anti-TNFα drugs.The Pharmacogenomics Journal advance online publication, 21 July 2015; doi:10.1038/tpj.2015.53.

Blastocystis tropism in the pig intestine.

Blastocystis has been reported in pig feces but the sites of development in the gastrointestinal tract are unknown. The present study was undertaken to determine predilection sites of Blastocystis in 11 naturally infected pigs examined at 20 weeks of age. At necropsy, feces and contents of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum were examined by immunofluorescence (IFA) microscopy and PCR and tissues from these sites as well as the proximal and distal colon were processed for histology from pigs 1 to 5. Feces were examined by IFA microscopy, and segments from the jejunum and ileum were processed for histology from pigs 6 to 11. Multiple sections were cut from each tissue segment, and each was stained with the following: hematoxylin and eosin, polyclonal rabbit antibody to Blastocystis, and ParaFlor B monoclonal antibody to Blastocystis. Blastocystis was detected in feces of all 11 pigs by IFA microscopy and determined by PCR and gene sequencing to be subtype 5 for pigs 1-5. Blastocystis was also detected in the lumen contents removed from the cecum of pigs 1-5 examined by IFA microscopy and in the cecum of pigs 4 and 5 by PCR. Blastocystis was also observed in tissue sections from the jejunum of 7 of the 11 pigs, in the proximal and distal colon of pigs 1-5, and in the cecum of 4 of these 5 pigs but was not detected in the duodenum or ileum of any pigs. In tissue sections, Blastocystis was found primarily in the lumen usually associated with digested food debris, sometimes in close proximity or appearing to adhere to the epithelium, but no stages were found to penetrate the epithelium or the lamina propria.

Embolizacion de miomas uterinos / Embolization of uterine myomas

Tratamos 132 mujeres con miomas uterinos durante los últimos 40 meses. Evaluando escala de dolor pélvico, dismenorrea, sangrado anormal, dispareunia y síntomas compresivos. Cuantificamos el volumen inicial del útero. En todas se realizó angiografía hipogástrica y de arterias uterinas (130 bilateral, 2 izquierda), embolización con PVA de 500 micras. Seguimiento clínico y ecográfico mensual los primeros 6 meses y luego cada 3 meses. Se descartó neoplasia cervical e infección silente antes de la embolización. La intervención fue ambulatoria. RESULTADOS. Rango de edades entre 23 y 45 años, paridad promedio 1,6 hijos, 29 por ciento nuliparas, 84 por ciento sufrían algún grado de dolor pélvico crónico, 81 por ciento dismenorrea, 56 por ciento hemorragias anormales, 43 por ciento síntomas compresivos. Después de la embolización mejoró el dolor pélvico en 91 por ciento los primeros 60 días, también mejoría del sangrado anormal den 88 por ciento y de los síntomas compresivos en 95 por ciento los primeros 6 meses. Tres presentaron infección uterina tardía, hasta 4 meses postembolización, una de ellas histerectomizada en otra institución, las otras tratadas por nuestro grupo conservando el útero. 5 pacientes abortaron miomas. Estancia ambulatoria promedio de 4 horas, ninguna permaneció más de 1 día. En 35 por ciento hubo miomectomías previas. Registramos disminución del volumen uterino en 53 por ciento a los 6 meses y 66 por ciento a los 12 meses. CONCLUSIONES. La embolización de miomas uterinos es efectiva y bien tolerada, con baja tasa de complicaciones . Útil para controlar el dolor crónico, hemorragia y dismenorrea

Materiales de sutura: principios que determinan su escogencia / Suture materials, how to choose

Los materiales de sutura, antiguos como la humanidad, han evolucionado desde las agujas oseas utilizadas en la prehistoria hasta nuestros días. Aunque no se ha logrado obtener la sutura ideal, existe una variada gama de ellas; su indicacion es precisa y su efectividad depende de varies factores tales como su manejo dentro del quirofano, la experiencia y el buen juicio del cirujano. Es potestad del cirujano escoger el tipo de material de sutura que conviene utilizar en una cirugia determinada; en muchas ocasiones se observa que esta escogencia depende más de la costumbre que de patrones establecidos; podriamos decir que el cirujano es ®producto de su adiestramiento¼, siendo la escuela en donde se formo y el tutor más cercano a el, quienes ejercen una influencia duradera que marcará su preferencia en materiales de sutura. Se realiza una revision y análisis de los aspectos más preponderantes de este interesante tema, brindando una guía de gran ayuda al medico residente del area quirurgica, al cirujano especialista y al personal que de una u otra forma tiene relacion con esta disciplina.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and Haemophilus parasuis antigen distribution in dually infected pigs.

Immunohistochemical, viral and bacterial isolation techniques were used to study the distribution and localization of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Haemophilus (H.) parasuis in experimentally infected pigs. Thirty pigs seronegative to PRRSV and H. parasuis were divided into four groups. Group A pigs (10 animals) were inoculated with both virus and bacteria; group B pigs (10 animals) were inoculated with bacteria, group C pigs (five animals) were inoculated with virus and group D pigs (five animals) were kept as negative controls. All pigs of groups A and C became infected with PRRSV, according to virological techniques used (immunohistochemistry, virus isolation and virus serology). Lung, heart and tonsils were the most frequently immunolabeled tissues, and monocyte/macrophage lineage cells were the target for PRRSV in all tissues. All pigs in groups A and B also became infected with H. parasuis based on immunohistochemical and bacterial isolation results. Serosal surfaces, lung and tonsils were the most frequently immunolabeled tissues, and bacteria were found in monocyte/macrophage lineage cells as well as within neutrophil cytoplasm. No differences in terms of bacterial distribution or localization in tissues of pigs of groups A and B were detected. These results suggest that there is no influence of the previous infection with PRRSV in the occurrence of H. parasuis infection.

Development of an oligonucleotide-specific capture plate hybridization assay for detection of Haemophilus parasuis.

An oligonucleotide-specific capture plate hybridization assay has been developed to rapidly, specifically, and sensitively detect Haemophilus parasuis from nasal swabs. Several in vitro studies have been performed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the test, and in vivo studies have validated this technique in pigs. Results suggest that the assay detects <100 colony-forming units/ml in a pure culture and gives a positive result when H. parasuis is present in a ratio of 1:10(3)-10(4) in a mixed culture, and the probe does not hybridize with other related species found in the upper respiratory tract. This assay is more sensitive than culture for detection of the microorganism from nasal swabs and lesions.

Effect of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection on the clearance of Haemophilus parasuis by porcine alveolar macrophages.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection in young piglets is frequently associated with secondary infection due to various pathogens, especially those of the respiratory tract. One of the most important mechanisms in respiratory diseases is related to the alteration of function of porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). The objective of this study was to determine how PRRS virus infection affects the capabilities of PAMs in the phagocytosis and destruction of Haemophilus parasuis. Phagocytosis percentages were determined in vitro and ex vivo, after collected PAMs were directly exposed to the virus of if PAMs were collected from piglets previously infected with PRRSV. In vitro experiments demonstrated that H. parasuis uptake by PAMs is only increased in the early stages of PRRSV infection (2 h post-infection). In contrast, in the ex vivo experiments it was shown that PAMs from PRRSV-infected piglets do not seem to change in their phagocytic rate until the later stages of infection. Together with a decrease in the phagocytic rate, a marked decrease in the functional ability of PAMs to kill bacteria was observed 7 d post-infection. It is hypothesized that when animals are exposed to PRRSV, there is a marked decrease in the functional ability of PAMs to kill bacteria through the release of superoxide anion, indicating a possible negative effect of the virus, at least at the macrophage level.

Ultrastructural study of porcine alveolar macrophages infected in vitro with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus, with and without Haemophilus parasuis.

Two experiments were designed to study ultrastructural changes in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAM) inoculated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus (experiment 1) and with PRRS virus and Haemophilus parasuis (experiment 2). In both experiments, the viral infectious dose represented a "multiplicity of infection" of 1. Viral infection alone induced minimal ultrastructural changes at this dose, consisting only of an increase in lysosome numbers. Mixed viral and bacterial infection induced the production of greatly increased numbers of phagosomes and phagolysosomes. The PAM were of low efficacy in phagocytizing H. parasuis. PRRS virus infection had only a minimal effect on the phagocytosis of H. parasuis by PAM. It is suggested that the virus induces PAM activation rather than PAM destruction.

Immunohistochemical detection of Haemophilus parasuis serovar 5 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of experimentally infected swine.

An avidin-biotin complex immunohistochemistry technique was developed to detect Haemophilus parasuis serovar 5 in experimentally infected 18-21-day-old conventional pigs, using a rabbit polyclonal antiserum. Seven of 10 intratracheally inoculated animals developed a low to medium degree of fibrinous polyserositis; meninges and pleura were the most severely affected areas. Haemophilus parasuis was recovered from 9 of 10 pigs; in 2 of them H. parasuis was isolated from tracheal swabs only. Positive immunohistochemistry results, mainly observed as free bacteria or bacteria within inflammatory cell cytoplasm in the fibrinopurulent exudate, were observed in 8 of 10 animals. Cross-reactivity with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae was detected but not with other gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria tested. This immunohistochemistry technique seemed to be at least as sensitive as microbiologic cultures and could be useful in studies of pathogenesis and retrospective diagnosis. However, cross-reactivity with A. pleuropneumoniae means that positive immunohistochemistry results in lung tissue from field cases would be dubious.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) interaction with Haemophilus parasuis.

The interaction of bacteria and virus has been well demonstrated in the pathogenesis of respiratory disease in swine. The interaction between porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSv) and Haemophilus parasuis has not been studied. We initiated studies to evaluate a possible effect of the PRRSv on the pathogenesis of polyserositis caused by H. parasuis. A group of 30 three week old piglets were distributed in 4 groups. Group I (10 pigs) was inoculated with PRRSv and H. parasuis. Group II (10 pigs) was inoculated with H. parasuis alone. Group III (5 pigs) was inoculated with virus alone and group IV (5 pigs) was inoculated with culture media. Lesions consisted of a severe fibrinous polyserositis affecting 7 of 10 animals in group II and a mild fibrinous pleuritis in 1 of 10 animals of group I. Three of ten animals dually infected with the two agents died during the course of the study. These animals had pulmonary congestion and focal lung hemorrhages. No other animals died from other groups. Group III and IV had no macroscopic lesions. Microscopically group III had interstitial pneumonia. Immunomodulating virus effect may explain the differences in terms of lesions severity between groups I and II. Septic shock was suspected as cause of sudden death.

Vólvulo gástrico: informe de 2 casos y revisión de literatura / Gastric volvulus: report of two cases and review of the literature

El volvulo gastrico es una entidad clinica de observacion extremadamente rara por cuanto se encuentran en la literatura mundial no más de 500 casos; de ahi que habitualmente no se piense en esta patologia y la demora diagnostica puede ser de consecuencias fatales. Se presentan 2 casos diagnosticados e intervenidos en el Hospital Universitario de Cartagena; ambos, adultos jovenes: mujer de 23 y hombre de 30 años, los cuales consultaron por dolor epigástrico, vomitos y distension abdominal, en uno de ellos. La radiografia del torax en la mujer evidencio neumoperitoneo masivo; la del abdomen simple mostro marcada dilatacion gástrica con imagen sugestiva de volvulo gastrico. En el hombre, la radiografia del torax sugirio alteracion diafragmatica que, sumada al antecedente de trauma torácico 1 año atrás, llevo a la práctica de una serie gastroduodenal con bario, que mostro una imagen compatible con dicho diagnostico. En ambos pacientes se uso la via de acceso por la linea media, comprobándose el volvulo organoaxial, asociado en la mujer a relajacion de los ligamentos de sosten del estomago y a una hernia diafragmatica izquierda en el hombre, de la cual formaban parte el fondo y un segmento del cuerpo gastrico que se hallaban intratorácicos; en los 2 casos se produjo perforacion gástrica sobre la curvatura menor. La tecnica quirurgica, además de la destorsion del volvulo, incluyo rafia de la perforacion gástrica, gastropexia y correccion del defecto diafragmático en el caso que se comprobo. Los pacientes fueron dados de alta a los 10 dias bajo controles posteriores, sin alteraciones. Se realizó una revision de los aspectos clinicos, diagnosticos y terapeuticos más notables.

Efectividad de la calcitonina para detener la reabsorción externa posterior a un reimplante / Effectiveness of calcitonin to arrest external root resorption after reimplantation

La capacidad de detener el desarrollo de la reabsorción radicular externa por medio de la calcitonina (Ct) fue evaluada histopatológicamente en 53 incisivos laterales superiores e inferiores de perros, en los culaes se simuló una avulsión y una subsecuente reimplantación, con obturación de los conductos, a las 5 semanas. El período de observación fue de treinta días, y se concluyó que la Ct, tenía éxito en detener la reabsorción inflamatoria, cuando se comparó con el grupo control, y que su aplicación en dientes avulsionados disminuye la probabilidad de ocurrencia de reabsorción por reemplazo activa

[The disease of beta 2-amyloid deposition in the differential diagnosis of juxta-articular subchondral geode lesions]. / La malattia da depositi di beta-2 amiloide nella diagnosi differenziale delle lesioni geodiche subcondrali iuxta-articolari.

Beta-2 amyloidosis deposition is a new type of amyloidosis recently observed in long-term hemodialysis patients. One of the major osteoarticular complications of this disease is the appearance of subchondral bone cysts. In this paper the radiologic features of such radiolucencies are described and the criteria are outlined of the differential diagnosis from the geodes found in other arthropathies or para-physiologic conditions. The importance of the status of the joint space is stressed: on the basis of its patterns, arthropathies may be grouped as follows: inhomogeneous space narrowing in degenerative arthritis; homogeneous space narrowing in inflammatory arthritis; normal or nearly normal joint space if there is no/not-prevalent involvement of articular cartilage.

Zoonotic filaria in a subcutaneous artery of a child in Costa Rica.

A 2-year-old boy from a rural community of Costa Rica was admitted to hospital with a rash of increasing severity over an area of the flank about 8 cm in diameter. Sections of a biopsy from the center of the affected area revealed a necrotic mature, infertile, female filaria about 120 microns in diameter in a subcutaneous artery, surrounded by a layer of dense eosinophilic granulomatous reaction which at one point, along with the worm, extended into the dermis. The worm, readily distinguished from Dirofilaria, Onchocerca, Wuchereria and Brugia, was unidentified.

Tumores hepaticos primarios en ninos. / Primary liver tumors in children

En un periodo de 17 anos, en el Hospital Nacional de Ninos de Costa Rica han sido tratados 24 pacientes con tumores hepaticos. Trece casos correspondieron a tumores malignos: ocho hepatocarcinomas, uno de ellos asociado a cirrosis y cinco hepatoblastomas, uno de los cuales se presento en un paciente con ataxia telangiectasia.El tratamiento de este grupo fue variable y unicamente un paciente esta vivo.Hubo 11 casos de tumores benignos: siete hamartomas mesenquimaticos y cuatro tumores vasculares. Seis de los del primer grupo se encuentran curados despues de extirpacion quirurgica del tumor y uno fallecio durante la operacion. De los cuatro tumores vasculares, tres correspondieron a hemangiomas cavernosos y uno a hemangioendotelioma juvenil; dos pacientes fallecieron por sangrado y a consecuencia del tratamiento, uno tiene complicaciones severas y uno se encuentra en buen estado. Se hace un analisis de la frecuencia de este tipo de tumores, comparada con otros paises