Colostrum yield and litter performance in multiparous sows subjected to farrowing induction.

The consumption of colostrum at a low level can compromise the survival and growth of piglets. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of farrowing induction on colostrum yield, IgG concentration and the survival and performance of piglets until the weaning. Sows of parity 3 to 7 were assigned into two groups: Control (n = 48), sows with spontaneous farrowing; and induction (n = 48), sows induced to farrow on day 114 of gestation with a PGF2 analogue. Colostrum and blood samples were collected from the sows, at farrowing and 24 hr later. Blood samples from the piglets were collected at 24 hr after birth. The performance of the piglets was evaluated in a subsample of 28 litters from each group. All piglets were weighed at 7, 14 and 20 days of age. The farrowing length, the number of piglets born alive, stillborn piglets, weight at birth, litter weight at birth and colostrum yield were not significantly affected (p > .05) by farrowing induction. There was no difference between the groups (p > .05) in the percentage of sows with obstetric interventions. Serum IgG concentration, in both sows and piglets, and colostrum IgG concentration were similar between the groups (p > .05). Furthermore, survival rate, piglet weight and litter weight at 7, 14 and 20 days of age were also similar between the groups (p > .05). Therefore, it can be concluded that the farrowing induction performed on day 114 of gestation does not affect the colostrum yield, the IgG concentration in colostrum and serum of piglets, and the litter performance until the weaning.

Revisiting amniotic band sequence: a wide spectrum of manifestations.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the spectrum of clinical deformities related to amniotic band sequence (ABS), ranging from mild to severe. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of 9 cases of ABS managed during a 4-year period (February 2006 to April 2010) in a tertiary hospital. RESULTS: The median gestational age at prenatal diagnosis was 15 weeks (range 11-26). Only 2 patients had clinical prenatal evidence of amnion rupture. In the other 5 cases the diagnosis of ABS was established prenatally based on fetal structural abnormalities. These abnormalities included: (1) upper limb defects: syndactyly, amputation at the level of phalanges or first metacarpal or forearm; (2) inferior extremities defects: tallus equinovarus and flexed knee, and constriction ring; (3) umbilical cord strangulation, and (4) acrania. CONCLUSION: ABS is a polymorphous syndrome and recognizing its various manifestations can be of help in prenatal identification.

Concordance for bilateral congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a monozygotic dichorionic twin pair - first clinical report.

The authors present a clinical case of concordance for bilateral congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a monozygotic twin pair diagnosed in the early second trimester.

Life cycle assessment of wastewater treatment options for small and decentralized communities.

Sustainability has strong implications on the practice of engineering. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an appropriate methodology for assessing the sustainability of a wastewater treatment plant design. The present study used a LCA approach for comparing alternative wastewater treatment processes for small and decentralised rural communities. The assessment was focused on two energy-saving systems (constructed wetland and slow rate infiltration) and a conventional one (activated sludge process). The low environmental impact of the energy-saving wastewater treatment plants was demonstrated, the most relevant being the global warming indicator. Options for reduction of life cycle impacts were assessed including materials used in construction and operational lifetime of the systems. A 10% extension of operation lifetime of constructed wetland and slow rate infiltration systems led to a 1% decrease in CO2 emissions, in both systems. The decrease in the abiotic depletion was 5 and 7%, respectively. Also, replacing steel with HDPE in the activated sludge tank resulted in a 1% reduction in CO2 emission and 1% in the abiotic depletion indicator. In the case of the Imhoff tank a 1% reduction in CO2 emissions and 5% in the abiotic depletion indicator were observed when concrete was replaced by HDPE.

[Nitric oxide-dependent endogenous and exogenous vasodilators. The mechanism of action of nitrates]. / Vasodilatadores endógenos e exógenos dependentes do óxido nítrico. Mecanismo de acção dos nitratos.

The concept of endothelium-dependent vasodilation was developed after the discovery in 1980 of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) by Furchtgott and Zawadzki. In 1987 Furchgott and Ignarro identified the EDRF with nitric oxide. In the same year Moncada and coworkers demonstrated that the liberation of nitric oxide by endothelial cells was responsible by the biologic activity of EDRF. Nitric oxide is the endogenous mediator responsible by the endothelium-dependent vasodilation and can be considered the endogenous nitrovasodilator. But nitric oxide has a more complex spectrum of action, because it participates in the regulation of platelet activity and preservation of the normal structure of the vessel wall. Nitric oxide is also the terminal product of the biotransformation of therapeutic nitrates responsible by guanylate cyclase activation. Nitrates can be classified as endothelium non dependent vasodilators because some of them release spontaneously nitric oxide from their metabolites, and others are biotransformed to nitric oxide in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Insights into the role of thromboxane A2 and serotonin in the pathogenesis of unstable angina.

New research about platelet and endothelial functions is allowing us to better understand the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemic episodes in patients with unstable angina, creating new perspectives for the rational utilization of therapies. In patients with unstable angina, the episodes of symptomatic and silent ischemia are caused by repeated reductions of coronary blood flow. They are the result of the mechanical effect of the growing thrombus, which causes intermittent episodes of partial obstruction of the arterial lumen, in association with vasoconstriction at the stenotic site and dependent coronary arterial bed, produced by the cyclic release of platelet derived vasoactive products, namely thromboxane A2 and serotonin. Several studies, many of them in animal models of thrombosis, suggest that serotonin and thromboxane A2 are mediators of platelet aggregation, adynamic obstruction and coronary artery thrombosis. Because they cause coronary cyclic flow reductions, they are implicated in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemic episodes during unstable angina. Drugs that interfere with the arachidonate pathway, and the 5-HT2-receptor antagonists, have been proven to decrease or abolish coronary cyclic flow variations in animal models and man. However, further studies should be done to test the hypothesis that the association of a 5-HT2-receptor antagonist with aspirin may contribute to decrease myocardial ischemia and prevent coronary occlusion in patients with unstable angina. Continuous Holter monitoring during the first week after admission in the hospital should be a good method to evaluate the eventual efficacy of this new class of drugs in abolishing or decreasing the frequency, intensity and duration of myocardial ischemic episodes in patients with unstable angina. The central role of serotonin in the pathogenesis of thrombotic events, and the presumed preventive effect of ketanserin, were the bases of a national multicenter pilot controlled study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ketanserin plus aspirin in the secondary prevention of patients with unstable angina and non-Q wave myocardial infarction (KATUA Trial).

[Comparison of Holter electrocardiography and thallium 201 scintigraphy in the detection of myocardial ischemia]. / Comparação entre a electrocardiografia de Holter e a cintigrafia com tálio 201 na detecção de isquemia miocárdica.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: To compare ischemic changes (I) detected by Holter ECG (H ECG) to the myocardial perfusion defects found in 201 TI myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. DESIGN: 201 TI exercise test was made during the performance of a 24 hours H ECG. The validation of ST segment changes detected by H ECG during the exercise test was made on basis of reversible myocardial perfusion defects (RPD) detected on 201 TL and a relation between ST segment changes detected during the remaining 24 hours recording period and 201 TI (TI) RPD was established. SETTING: The patients (pt) included in the study have come from Cardiology and Heart Surgery Clinics of a Central teaching hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 20 pt with a high coronary artery disease prevalence have been submitted to a two lead (V5 and aVF) 24 hour H ECG during which they have performed a symptom limited bicycle exercise test followed by an injection of 201 TI with acquisition 5 minutes later. Ischemic episodes detected on H ECG were quantified and their relation with heart rate and symptoms was established. As far as 201 TI studies are concerned the fixed and reversible perfusion defects as well as their location were evaluated. RESULTS: 1. H ECG: 6 pt (30%) presented ST changes on H ECG during the exercise test and a total of 9 pt (45%) had ST changes during exercise and during the remaining period of H ECG. 2. TI: 19 pt presented perfusion defects images (fixed in 7, reversible in 14, both kinds of defects in 7). 3. H ECG validation: H ECG during exercise presented I in 6 out of 14 pt with RPD on TI (sensitivity = 43%). Six of these 8 pt, with negative H and positive TI, had a chronic myocardial infarction. All the 6 pt with negative TI had negative H ECG (specificity = 100%). 4. H ECG TI comparison: 7 (50%) of the 14 pt with RPD had ST changes on 24 hrs H ECG. Seven of 11 pt with negative H ECG had RPD in TI. Two pt with negative TI had positive H ECG. These 2 pt had during H ECG a higher heart rate (HR) than the HR recorded during the exercise test. CONCLUSIONS: 1. In pt with known CAD, TI has a high sensitivity and specificity to show perfusion defects. 2. Considering TI as gold standard, H ECG showed to be a useful method to detect I in the studied population (sens. = 43%; spec. = 100%). 3. H ECG revealed to be an important diagnostic tool in detecting additional I episodes beyond the ones recorded during TI exercise test.

[Mother-child transmission of immunoglobulins G]. / Transmissão mãe-filho de imunoglobulinas G.

The placental transfer of immunoglobulins is made by active transport and only IgG class of immunoglobulins is transferred. In a full-term gestation IgG concentration is usually higher in the cord serum than in the mother serum. It has been shown that the ratio of cord/maternal IgG is higher when maternal IgG values are low. A series of 44 mother-child pairs from the north of Portugal were studied. Quantitative determination of IgG in all sera was made by single radial immunodiffusion and results were expressed in milligrams/deciliter (mg/dl). In the first 48 hours after delivery, mothers were interviewed and clinical, social and demographic data were collected. In 35 pairs, cord IgG exceeded the corresponding maternal concentration. The ratio of cord/maternal IgG ranged from 0.75 to 2.86 (mean 1.27). From all studied variables only maternal IgG concentration and age were correlated with that ratio. Transplacental concentration (ratio of cord/maternal IgG) was higher for lower levels of maternal IgG. Significant contribution of maternal age did not stand when a woman with extreme values of IgG and age was withdrawn from the analysis. Values found for this series of Portuguese mother-child pairs were similar to those found for other caucasian populations and are in agreement with current proposed models for placental transfer of IgG.

Factors influencing colostrum yield by sows / Fatores que influenciam a produção de colostro em porcas

An adequate colostrum intake, in order to ensure the survival and weight gain of piglets, depends on the sow's ability to produce enough colostrum for the whole litter. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors involved in colostrum yield (CY) variability related to the sow, the litter and the farrowing process. The experiment was conducted with 96 Camborough 25(r) sows of parities one to seven, whose farrowing was spontaneous. Colostrum production of each sow was estimated by summing up the colostrum intake of each piglet in the litter, estimated by an equation that takes into account the birth weight and weight gain during the first 24h of life. The multiple regression model explained 28% of variation in CY, with 24% and 4% respectively of variation being explained by the litter birth weight and the width of the first mammary glands. Litter birth weight was positively correlated with the number of total born (r= 0.73) and born alive piglets (r= 0.83). When categorised into two groups of colostrum yield (LOWCY; ≤3.4kg; n= 46 vs HIGHCY; >3.4kg; n= 50), LOWCY sows had fewer total born and born alive piglets and lighter litters (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that sows from parities 1, 2 and >3 had greater odds (P≤0.05) of belonging to the LOWCY group than parity 3 sows. Sows with two or more obstetrical interventions had higher odds (P<0.05) of belonging to the LOWCY group than sows without interventions during farrowing. The higher colostrum yield observed in sows of parity 3 and sows with less than two obstetrical interventions during farrowing was associated with a greater number of nursed piglets. This study showed that total birth weight of born alive piglets is the most important factor involved in colostrum yield variability, indirectly representing the number of piglets nursed by the sow.(AU)

Um consumo adequado de colostro, para assegurar a sobrevivência e o ganho de peso, dos leitões, depende da capacidade da porca em produzir colostro suficiente para toda a leitegada. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar fatores relacionados com a porca, com a leitegada ou com o parto que possam influenciar a produção de colostro (PC). O experimento foi conduzido com 96 porcas Camborough 25, de ordem de parto (OP) 1 a 7, cujo parto foi espontâneo. A produção de colostro das porcas foi estimada pela soma do consumo individual de colostro pelos leitões, o qual foi estimado por equação que considera o peso ao nascimento e o ganho de peso nas primeiras 24h de vida. Por meio de modelo de regressão múltipla, 28% da variação na PC foi explicada pelo peso da leitegada (24%) e pela largura do primeiro par de glândulas mamárias (4%). O peso da leitegada foi positivamente correlacionado com o número total de leitões nascidos (r= 0.73) e com o número de leitões nascidos vivos (r= 0.83). Quando separadas em dois grupos de PC (BAIXAPC; ≤3.4kg; n=46 e ALTAPC; >3.4kg; n=50), as porcas do grupo BAIXAPC tiveram menor número total de leitões nascidos, menor número de leitões nascidos vivos e leitegadas mais leves (P<0.05). Por regressão logística, foi observado que porcas da OP 1, 2 e >3 tiveram maior chance (P≤0.05) de pertencer ao grupo BAIXAPC do que porcas de OP 3. Porcas com duas ou mais intervenções obstétricas tiveram maior chance (P<0.05) de pertencer ao grupo BAIXAPC do que as porcas sem intervenção durante o parto. A maior PC observada nas porcas de OP 3 e nas porcas com menos intervenções obstétricas foi associada com um maior número de leitões amamentados. Foi mostrado, neste estudo, que o peso total da leitegada viva, o qual indiretamente representa o número de leitões amamentados pela porca, é o fator mais importante envolvido na produção de colostro.(AU)

Bacillus subtilis induces morphological changes in Fonsecaea pedrosoi in vitro resulting in more resistant fungal forms in vivo

Interactions among microorganisms may be the cause of morphological modifications, particularly in fungal cells. The aim of this work was to examine the changes that occur in cells of the fungus Fonsecaea pedrosoi after in vitro co-culturing with Bacillus subtilis and to explore the results of this interaction in vivo in an experimental murine infection. B. subtilis strain was inoculated into a 15-day pure culture of F. pedrosoi. In vitro, after 48 hours of co-culturing, the fungal cells were roundish. The secretion of fungal dark pigments and production of terminal chlamydoconidia were observed in hyphae after one week. In the in vivo study, two animal groups of 30 BALB/c mice each were employed. One group was inoculated intraperitoneally with hyphal fragments from the co-culture of bacteria and fungi; the other group was infected only with F. pedrosoi hyphae. After seven days of infection, both animal groups developed neutrophilic abscesses. Phagocytosis of bacilli by macrophages occurred at three days. At later periods, generally after 25 days, only roundish cells similar to sclerotic bodies remained in the tissues while hyphae were eliminated by 15 to 20 days. These fungal forms originated mainly from terminal chlamydoconidia. The co-culturing between bacteria and fungi may constitute a mechanism to rapidly obtain resistant fungal forms for host defenses, especially for chromoblastomycosis (CBM) experimental infections.

Tobacco smoking among Portuguese high-school students.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, behavioural patterns, and determinants of smoking among a large sample of high-school students from Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, information on sociodemographic characteristics and personal history of tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and illicit drug use was obtained from 2974 students, aged 12-19 years (48.7% female, 51.3% male), using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated by logistic regression analysis to estimate the association between smoking and the characteristics evaluated. Overall, 35.8% students had never smoked, 39.4% had tried it ("experimental" smokers) but were not smokers, 3.3% were former smokers, 6.6% occasional smokers, and 14.9% regular smokers. The mean age for starting smoking was 13.4 +/- 2.1 years for males and 13.4 +/- 1.6 years for females. The prevalence of current smoking was higher among males than females, but the difference was not significant. Male students were significantly more likely to smoke more cigarettes per day than were females. The prevalence of smoking was significantly associated with the following variables: being aged > 12 years; having parents who had attended school for < 4 years; having a mother (OR = 1.88), siblings (OR = 1.96) or friends (OR = 1.75) who smoked; low academic performance (OR = 1.74 for one or two failures and OR = 2.27 for more than two failures at school); and consumption of coffee (OR = 2.90), alcohol (OR = 3.53), or illicit drugs (OR = 6.69). The prevalence of smoking among adolescents increased with age. There is therefore a need for school-based tobacco prevention programmes which also deal with family influences on smoking.

Experimental murine chromoblastomycosis obtained from Fonsecaea pedrosoi isolate cultured for a long periodt

The present study aimed to describe F. pedrosoi propagules capable of causing chronic murine disease. Several changes in F. pedrosoi hyphae were identified in fungal cells cultured for a long period. Optical microscopy found many rounded cells with double-rigid melanin-rich walls. Terminal and intercalary chlamydoconidia were also frequently observed. Analyses of images from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed several cells with walls composed of at least three layers and an outer layer enriched with melanin. Two groups of twenty BALB/c mice were subcutaneously infected in their footpads with F. pedrosoi cells at an inoculum concentration of approximately 1 x 10(4) cells/mL. In one group, long-term cultured F. pedrosoi cells were inoculated in one footpad, whereas in the other group, both footpads were infected. Active lesions were observed up to seven months post-infection, particularly in mice inoculated at two sites. After this period, animals were killed. Histological sections revealed characteristics bearing a strong resemblance to the human form of the disease such as tissue hyperplasia, granulomas with microabscesses and sclerotic cells. Based on this study, we identified fungal cells from old cultures capable of provoking chronic chromoblastomycosis under experimental conditions, especially when more than one site is infected.

Fungi in bottled water: a case study of a production plant

A one-year fungal survey of a water bottling plant was conducted in order to evaluate the incidence and fluctuations of the mycobiota. The dominant fungal genera in order of highest numbers isolated were Penicillium, Cladosporium and Trichoderma followed by Aspergillus, Paecilomyces, and others. As expected, the highest number of isolates were collected during the warmer months, particularly May and June. Indeed during these two months there were more fungi present in the water, indicating that during those times of the year when fungal contamination is high, 0.4 mm filters should be changed on a more regular basis. In order to assess whether contamination was single or multi-loci, molecular methods based on the PCR were used for Penicillium brevicompactum. Overall, fungal contamination arose from multiple sources. Some P. brevicompactum strains were very "alike" and were detected during different sampling times, indicating that they were endemic to the plant. There was no evidence to suggest that fungi detected in the source water passed through to other parts of the plant. However, there was evidence that fungal strains isolated from the water filter were detected elsewhere in the factory, confirming the need to change filters more regularly during periods of high fungal contamination. In order to improve quality control a HACCP programme was implemented and Best Practice Guidelines introduced(AU)