What if the reward is not as yummy? Study of the effects of Successive Negative Contrast in domestic dogs in two different tasks.

Successive Negative Contrast (SNC) occurs when there is a reduction in the quantity or quality of a reward that is expected according to the presence of contextual cues. This induces an emotional response of frustration that is similar to stress. While this phenomenon has been observed in several mammal species, findings in domestic dogs have been inconsistent, although this issue has strong relevance in dog training. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Successive Negative Contrast in two responses that had already been studied in this species, but with an increase in the methodological rigor and variations in the experimental conditions to examine the generalizability of the phenomenon. To this end, experimental dogs experienced a pre-shift phase in which they received a high-value reward (liver), followed by a post-shift phase in which they obtained a low-value reward (dry dog food), and then a re-shift phase in which the high-value reward was available again. Control dogs received dry food in all phases. The results show a contrast effect on the behavior of following human pointing to obtain food (Study 1). On the contrary, there were no differences in problem solving behavior after the de- and re-evaluation of the reward during a non-social task (Study 2). The results support that Successive Negative Contrast is not a consistent phenomenon in pet dogs. It is possible that certain characteristics of dogs such as the great availability of high-value rewards in their daily lives could attenuate the effects of a reduction in incentive value.

Showing behavior in Animal Assisted Intervention and pet dogs.

A dog's behavior can indicate the location of hidden food to a human who is unaware of its position. These behavioral patterns are known as showing behavior, which comprise gazing towards the target location and gaze alternation between the human and the target (i.e., hidden food). Although this ability has been extensively studied in pet dogs, research has not yet focused on dogs with other kinds of life experiences, such as dogs working in Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI). These dogs are exposed to novel environments under the guidance of their handlers and previous studies have highlighted the importance of gazing behavior in this population. Therefore, we evaluated AAI and pet dogs on a showing task. Results indicate that dogs overall engaged in showing behavior as they gazed more towards the baited pot and alternated their gaze more on showing trials than control ones. Contrary to our expectations, differences between AAI and pet dogs were minimal. However, owners of AAI dogs were more successful than owners of pet dogs in finding the hidden food in showing trials. This suggests they may be more skillful in reading their dogs' behavior, which can be crucial to ensure their welfare during AAI sessions.

Gazing as a help requesting behavior: a comparison of dogs participating in animal-assisted interventions and pet dogs.

Dogs tend to gaze at humans when they are confronted with inaccessible food during an unsolvable task, which is often interpreted as a help requesting behavior. Dogs who participate in animal-assisted interventions (AAI) interact with many people during their lives and prior studies have emphasized the importance of gazing in their communication. We compared the behavior of AAI (n = 15) and pet (n = 16) dogs during an unsolvable task, using a container fixed to a wooden board with inaccessible food inside, while the owner and an unfamiliar woman stood facing each other at the sides of the board ignoring the dog. Results showed that AAI dogs spent significantly more time gazing and alternated their gaze more frequently between the container and the people than pet dogs. In addition, they spent more time in contact with the unfamiliar person. However, no significant differences were found in the time dogs of either group gazed towards the owner compared to the unfamiliar person, in the frequency of gaze alternation or in the time spent interacting with the apparatus. In line with prior studies, these results suggest that gazing may be a significant communicative response in AAI dogs, which could probably contribute to having a better coordination with their handler. A greater understanding of the characteristics of this population may aid the selection and training of AAI dogs, which is particularly relevant given the increased popularity of AAI nowadays.

Correction to: Recommendations for follow­up of colorectal cancer survivors.

In the published article, the following information was missing.

Recommendations for follow-up of colorectal cancer survivors.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the tumours with the highest incidence and mortality in the Spanish population. Nevertheless, the advances in prevention and treatment have contributed to an increased number of patients who survive for prolonged periods of time. In addition, despite recurrences, improved survival following metastasis resection is likewise on the rise. This underscores the importance of carrying out follow-up programmes even in low-risk patients for the early detection of recurrence. The main objective of this article is to provide a set of recommendations for optimising the follow-up of CRC survivors as well as for managing the sequelae that result from either pharmacological or surgical treatment.

Biosimilares: sí, pero con conocimiento de causa / Biosimilars: Yes, but with cause knowledge

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Is previous experience important for inhibitory control? A comparison between shelter and pet dogs in A-not-B and cylinder tasks.

This study compares the performance of two groups of dogs with different levels of social interaction with humans, shelter and pet dogs, in two inhibitory control tasks. (1) In the A-not-B task, dogs were required to resist searching for food in a previously rewarded location, and (2) in the cylinder task, dogs were required to resist approaching visible food directly in favor of a detour reaching response. Our first aim was to evaluate the importance of learning and ontogeny in performing inhibitory tasks. Also, we assessed whether there is a correlation between the two tasks by comparing performance in the same subjects. Results showed significant differences between shelter and pet dogs in the A-not-B task, with poorer performance in shelter dogs. However, no differences were found in the cylinder task. The poorer performance of shelter dogs might be related to their infrequent interaction with humans, which reduces the chances to learn to inhibit certain behaviors. This result would highlight the importance of ontogeny in developing that ability. On the other hand, no correlations were found between the two tasks, which contributes information to the debate about the context specificity of inhibitory control in dogs.

Tolerance to delayed reward tasks in social and non-social contexts.

Domestic dogs have demonstrated striking social skills towards humans, however, there are few studies investigating impulsivity with delay-choice tasks in communicative contexts. In Study 1 we introduced a novel social delay-choice task in which subjects had to choose between one human cueing an immediate, low quality reward and another human signaling a delayed, high quality reward. In Study 2 we evaluated the tolerance to increasing delays using social and non-social cues. We also explored if more self-controlled dogs show any distinct behaviours during delays. Finally, we correlated all results with the Dog Impulsivity Assessment Scale (Wright et al., 2011). In Study 1 dogs reached an average maximum delay of 11.55s. In Study 2 that average was 52.14s with social cues and 40.2s with non-social, but differences were not significant. Tolerance to delays showed high interindividual variation. Dogs remained mostly standing and near the delayed experimenter in the social tasks although we could not to find any distinct coping strategies. No significant correlations were found between the delay reached and behaviours, neither with the scale. These results show the relevance of the parameters and methods used to investigate tolerance to delay of reinforcements. More investigations are required, especially an assessment of the same subjects performing the same tasks using different contexts.

Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms in inflammatory bowel disease.

Anti-inflammatory cytokines have an important role in disease, tumour and transplant processes. Alterations in the regulation of several cytokines have been implicated in a variety of inflammatory disorders, including IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) [Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)]. Cytokine polymorphisms are also known to affect the level of gene expression. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between cytokine polymorphisms and the IBD pathologies in a Spanish population. Polymorphisms analysis was performed using PCR-SSOP using a microbeads luminex assay. The following polymorphisms were determined: TNFα [-238G/A (rs361525) and -308G/A (rs1800629)], IFNγ [+874A/T (rs62559044)], TGFß [+869C/T (rs1982073) and +915G/C (rs1800471)], IL10 [-1082A/A (rs1800896), -592A/C (rs1800872), -819C/T (rs1800871)], IL6 [-174C/G (rs1800795)], IL12p40 [3'UTR -1188A/C (rs3212227)], IL1α [-889C/T (rs1800587)], IL1ß [-511C/T (rs1143634) and +3962C/T (rs1143633)], IL1R [Pst-1 1970C/T] and IL1RA [Mspa-1 11100C/T]. No statistical differences in TNFα, IFNγ, TGFß, IL10, IL6, IL1α, IL1ß, IL1R and IL1Ra genotypes and allele distributions between the IBD groups and healthy controls were found. However, we observed significant differences in the 3'UTR -1188A/C polymorphism of IL12p40. So -1188A allele was increased in patients with UC and the -1188C allele (high IL12p40 production) was increased in patients with CD with respect to controls. These data are in concordance with the fact that CD has been shown to be associated with a Th1 T-cell-mediated inflammation model and high IL12/IFNγ production at histological affected sites. These data suggest that cytokine polymorphisms in TNFα, IFNγ, TGFß, IL10, IL6 and IL1α, IL1ß, IL1R and IL1Ra cytokine gene do not seem to be relevant in IBD susceptibility and IL12p40 3'UTR -1188A/C polymorphism seems to be associated with a differential IBD development.

Effect of oral anticoagulants on the outcome of faecal immunochemical test.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate whether oral anticoagulants (OACs) alter faecal immunochemical test (FIT) performance in average-risk colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. METHODS: Individuals aged 50-69 years were invited to receive one FIT sample (cutoff 75 ng ml(-1)) between November 2008 and June 2011. RESULTS: Faecal immunochemical test was positive in 9.3% (21 out of 224) of users of OAC and 6.2% (365 out of 5821) of non-users (P-trend=0.07). The positive predictive value (PPV) for advanced neoplasia (AN) in non-users was 50.4% vs 47.6% in users (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.3-1.8; P=0.5). The PPV for AN in OAC more antiplatelets (aspirin or clopidogrel) was 75% (odds ratio, 2; 95% CI, 0.4-10.8; P=0.4). CONCLUSIONS: Oral anticoagulant did not significantly modify the PPV for AN in this population-based colorectal screening program. The detection rate of advanced adenoma was higher in the combination OAC more antiplatelets.

Genetic polymorphisms of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) promoter gene and response to TNF-α inhibitors in Spanish patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) has an important role in inflammatory response. Alterations in the regulation of TNF-α have been implicated in a variety of inflammatory disorders, including Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Indeed, a common treatment for IBD is the use of TNF-α inhibitors. Polymorphisms in the TNF-α promoter region are known to affect the level of gene expression. Our aim was to investigate the influence of these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNF-α promoter gene play in the risk of IBD in a Spanish population and their individual response to anti-TNF-α treatment. DNA samples from patients with IBD and controls were screened for TNF-α -238G/A (rs361525) and -308G/A (rs1800629) SNPs by PCR-SSOP using a microbeads luminex assay and compared with response to TNF-α inhibitors. There were not statistical differences in -238G/A and -308G/A allele and genotype frequencies between patients. However, we found an increased frequency of -308A allele and -308GA genotype in these nonresponders patients to TNF-α inhibitors with respect to responders patients (Pc < 0.05). This -308GA genotype has been classified as high producer of this cytokine. This fact could actually be interesting to explain the different response of patients with IBD with respect to TNF-α inhibitors. TNF-α promoter gene polymorphism does not seem to play a role in IBD susceptibility, but particular TNF-α genotypes may be involved in the different responses to TNF-α inhibitor treatment in Spanish patients with IBD.

Prevention or cure in times of crisis: the case of screening for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a serious health problem in which screening is capable of reducing both the mortality and the incidence of the disorder. Colonoscopy, the mainstay of this type of screening, allows to establish an early diagnosis and also to eliminate malignant precursor lesions. The screening test which is performed in Spanish programs is the determination of fecal occult blood using the immunochemical method which gives around 70% of positive values for colonoscopy for any type of neoplasia. As a result, in 2009 the National Health System set as an objective that these programs cover 50% of the population by 2015. It is well known that colon screening is highly cost effective with a ratio of around 2500€ per QALY, much lower than ratios of other programs. Only the direct costs of colon and rectal cancer in Spain can be estimated at more than one thousand million euros per year. Early diagnosis and the cancers avoided thanks to screening can reduce these costs by 40%. The impact that the introduction of this screening has on health services can be lessened if the indications for colonoscopy are followed adequately. In conclusion, there is no justification for not acting to prevent CRC and this is especially so in times of crisis as there is no better social cost invested than that which saves suffering, deathsand even money.

Cirugía mayor ambulatoria en urología. Cinco años de historia en Cuba / No disponible

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Técnica quirúrgica modificada en la Enfermedad de La Peyronie: nuestra experiencia / Modified surgical technique in peyronies diseases: our experience

Introducción: La enfermedad de La Peyronie consiste en la formación de una o varias placas fibrosas,que además de afectar la túnica albugínea y alrededor del tejido cavernoso restringen no sólo la expansión del pene durante la tumescencia, sino la de ese segmento del conducto peneano, con lo cual generan unaerección curva. Se conocen varias modalidades terapéuticas. El objetivo de este trabajo es proponer en estapatología una modificación a la técnica quirúrgica de Essed y precisar la evolución de estos pacientes.Método: Se llevó a efecto un estudio descriptivo y transversal entre el 2003 y el 2005 con el propósito demodificar una técnica quirúrgica en sujetos con enfermedad de La Peyronie. Se incluyeron en esta investigación210 pacientes con edades entre los 30 y 70 años con diagnóstico clínico y ecográfico de esta patología.Cada sujeto firmó previamente un documento (consentimiento informado de participación). Se midió lacurvatura peneana previa cirugía y se valoró la función sexual según el índice internacional de función eréctil(IIFE). Resultados: Predominó el grupo etáreo de 45 a 60 años con el 62 por ciento y aquellos pacientes con síntomasde más de un año de evolución para el 52,4 por ciento. La hipertensión arterial, diabetes Mellitus y el síndromeKelami se señalan como los antecedentes personales más frecuentes, con el 35,2; 19,7; y 7,2 por ciento respectivamente El 98,6 por ciento de los pacientes tuvieron solución quirúrgica definitiva a los 6 meses post cirugía y el resto a los 9 meses. Conclusiones: El examen ecográfico constituyó un medio eficaz para una mejor definición de la localización,cuantificación y tamaño de las placas. La modificación quirúrgica propuesta, evita las complicacionesde la operación original y tiene un extraordinario impacto económico al disminuir costos por ser una cirugíaambulatoria, con anestesia local y sin complicaciones(AU)

The authors conducted a study from 2003 to 2005 with the purpose of modifing a surgical technique insubjects with Peyronie´s disease. Each subject filled out and signed an informed consent form establishedfor use by the Hospital Provincial Universitario Saturnino Lora Torres, in Santiago de Cuba, that includeda description of the variables of the investigation. The study confirmed that Peyronie´s disease affecting predominatlymales between the ages of 30 to 70 years. Dorso lateral incurvation was the most comon. Theecogram is an effective method for locating and measuring plaque.Results: Total correction of the curvature in 98,6 percentil. High grade of satisfaction in 200 patients .Conclusion: Essed operation is an easy and effective surgical technique in the Peyronie´s disease for curvaturecorrection. The proposed surgical technique avoided the complications found in original operationsand has an economic impact of reducing costs by providing an ambulatory surgery using local anesthesic(AU)

Técnica quirúrgica modificada en la Enfermedad de La Peyronie. Nuestra experiencia / Modified surgical technique in Peyronie´s disease. Our experience

Introducción: La enfermedad de La Peyronie consiste en la formación de una o varias placas fibrosas, que además de afectar la túnica albugínea y alrededor del tejido cavernoso restringen no sólo la expansión del pene durante la tumescencia, sino la de ese segmento del conducto peneano, con lo cual generan una erección curva. Se conocen varias modalidades terapéuticas. El objetivo de este trabajo es proponer en esta patología una modificación a la técnica quirúrgica de Essed y precisar la evolución de estos pacientes. Método: Se llevó a efecto un estudio descriptivo y transversal entre el 2003 y el 2005 con el propósito de modificar una técnica quirúrgica en sujetos con enfermedad de La Peyronie. Se incluyeron en esta investigación 210 pacientes con edades entre los 30 y 70 años con diagnóstico clínico y ecográfico de esta patología. Cada sujeto firmó previamente un documento (consentimiento informado de participación). Se midió la curvatura peneana previa cirugía y se valoró la función sexual según el índice internacional de función eréctil (IIFE). Resultados: Predominó el grupo etáreo de 45 a 60 años con el 62 % y aquellos pacientes con síntomas de más de un año de evolución para el 52,4 %. La hipertensión arterial, diabetes Mellitus y el síndrome Kelami se señalan como los antecedentes personales más frecuentes, con el 35,2; 19,7; y 7,2% respectivamente El 98,6 % de los pacientes tuvieron solución quirúrgica definitiva a los 6 meses post cirugía y el resto a los 9 meses. Conclusiones: El examen ecográfico constituyó un medio eficaz para una mejor definición de la localización, cuantificación y tamaño de las placas. La modificación quirúrgica propuesta, evita las complicaciones de la operación original y tiene un extraordinario impacto económico al disminuir costos por ser una cirugía ambulatoria, con anestesia local y sin complicaciones (AU)

The authors conducted a study from 2003 to 2005 with the purpose of modifing a surgical technique in subjects with Peyronie´s disease. Each subject filled out and signed an informed consent form establishedfor use by the Hospital Provincial Universitario 'Saturnino Lora Torres', in Santiago de Cuba, that included a description of the variables of the investigation. The study confirmed that Peyronie´s disease affecting predominatly males between the ages of 30 to 70 years. Dorso lateral in curvation was the most comon. The ecogram is an effective method for locating and measuring plaque. Results: Total correction of the curvature in 98,6%. High grade of satisfaction in 200 patients .Conclusion: Essed operation is an easy and effective surgical technique in the Peyronie´s disease for curvature correction. The proposed surgical technique avoided the complications found in original operations and has an economic impact of reducing costs by providing an ambulatory surgery using local anesthesic (AU)

Cirugía mayor ambulatoria en urología: cinco años de historia en Cuba

Las unidades de cirugía mayor ambulatoria (UCMA) en nuestro país son estructuradas, en todo su concepto, a partir de 1959 con el triunfo revolucionario, si bien ya anteriormente se realizaba esta modalidad quirúrgica de forma aislada. Tienen como ubicación habitual el mismo edificio hospitalario u ocasionalmente en una edificación anexa al mismo. horas) si hay dolor.Las unidades de cirugía mayor ambulatoria (UCMA) han logrado la optimización de los recursos sanitarios disponibles, al proporcionar mayor comodidad a los pacientes intervenidos, disminuir o eliminar la estancia hospitalaria y agilizar las listas de espera quirúrgica (1). Se tiene referencia de que el concepto de cirugía ambulatoria no es algo nuevo, si nos remontamos al antiguo Egipto (3.000 años a.C.) (2,3). Esto ha evolucionado en el tiempo hasta la actualidad, con el desarrollo de procedimientos quirúrgicos más seguros y menos invasivos. En Cuba esta modalidad operatoria se ha generalizado, al tener como experiencia el alta precoz y mínimas complicaciones

Double-balloon enteroscopy in two dogs.

It is difficult to insert a flexible endoscope deep into the small intestine. A new method, double-balloon enteroscopy, has been developed to improve access to the small intestine, and the aim of this study was to evaluate its usefulness for examination of the small intestine of dogs. The method uses two balloons, one attached to the tip of the endoscope and another attached to the tip of an overtube. The double-balloon endoscope is advanced through the intestine by being held alternately by the balloon on the endoscope and the balloon on the overtube. The technique was applied in two dogs of medium size, using both oral and anal approaches, and it was possible to examine the whole surface of the mucosa of their small intestines.

Clinical evolution in the first 3 months of patients after liver transplantation in maintenance phase converted from mycophenolate mofetil to mycophenolate sodium due to gastrointestinal complications.

The enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) is a new formulation of mycophenolic acid with a gastro-resistant enteric coating, which releases the drug in the intestine, reducing the incidence of the gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects. The present work provided a summary of 20 patients with liver transplantation and more than a 1 year of treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) who, after presentation of GI complications, were converted to EC-MPS. The patients were followed over a 3-month period after beginning EC-MPS treatment. The mean age of the cohort was 53 +/- 10 years and included 75% men. The reasons for transplantation were ethanol cirrhosis (70%), hepatitis C cirrhosis (30%), hepatocarcinoma (5%), and Wilson's disease (5%). At baseline, all patients were being treated with cyclosporine (CsA). CsA doses and levels were reduced during follow-up: baseline dose 179 mg/day versus 143 mg/day at 3 months; levels: 90.4 ng/mL versus 85.8 ng/mL, respectively (P = .017). The administered dose of EC-MPS was 720 mg/day in all cases. The GI complications at baseline were: diarrhea 60% (92% moderate-severe), abdominal discomfort 60% (58% moderate), abdominal pain 45% (44% moderate-severe), gas 40% (38% moderate-severe), nausea 20% (25% moderate), and dyspepsia 20% (mild). After 3 months of EC-MPS treatment, only two patients (10%) displayed moderate diarrhea. The renal evolution was favorable, serum creatinine was reduced, and 24-hour creatinine clearance significantly increased (creatinine: 1.78 +/- 1.6 mg/dL at baseline versus 1.30 +/- 0.3 mg/dL at 3 months, P = .002; creatinine clearance: 72.8 +/- 18 mL/min versus 79.6 +/- 13 mL/min, P = .001). Conversion of MMF to EC-MPS in liver transplant recipients solved the GI tolerability problems and improved renal function during the first 3 months, probably due to the concomitant reduction of anticalcineurinic dose.

[Gastrointestinal bleeding caused by small bowel leiomyosarcoma]. / Hemorragia digestiva por leiomiosarcoma de intestino delgado.

The small bowel leiomyosarcoma is a infrequent tumour in the clinical practice. We report the case of a 50 year old male admitted to the hospital on two occasions for gastrointestinal bleeding. On the second occasion a push enteroscopy located in jejunum a tumour. The pathologic diagnosis was a low grade jejunal leiomyosarcoma. The patient required a surgical intervention with resection of the affected portion of the jejunum.