Inadequate Glucagon Suppression During OGTT in prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

CONTEXT: Glucagon plays a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, yet its role in prediabetes (preDM) remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate glucagon levels in fasting state and its response to glucose inhibition in preDM through meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic search across Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library identified studies assessing glucagon levels during 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in both preDM and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) cohorts. Data on glucagon, glucose and insulin were pooled using random-effect model. RESULTS: Although glucagon levels decreased in both preDM and NGT groups upon glucose challenge, glucagon levels at 0h, 0.5h, 1h and 1.5h in preDM were significantly higher compared to NGT, despite higher glucose levels at all time points and higher insulin levels at 0h, 1h, 1.5h and 2h during OGTT. Subgroup analysis revealed that in studies using the radioimmunoassay (RIA) method, glucagon levels in preDM were higher at 0.5h and 1h than NGT, while in studies using the Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, glucagon levels were similar to those of the NGT group despite higher glucose in preDM compared to NGT. Fasting glucagon level was inadequately suppressed in both impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Responsiveness to glucose inhibition was preserved in IFG, while glucagon level in IGT group at 0.5h after glucose intake was not suppressed and was higher than NGT. CONCLUSION: Glucagon was not adequately suppressed during OGTT in preDM. Glucagon dysregulation is a contributing mechanism underlying both IFG and IGT.

Unforeseen cascading effects of an inlet opening.

The opening of the Cacela Inlet (southern Portugal) in 2010 led to unforeseen effects observed after 2017, including an extreme acceleration of the retreat of the inland lagoon margin from about 0.2 to 2 m/year. This was a consequence of the development of a large flood delta in an area of limited accommodation space, forcing the main tidal channel to move inland. The coastal retreat currently affects a flat sandy area that separates the old and inactive Cacela cliff from the lagoon. Between 2025 and 2030, the currently inactive Cacela cliff is likely to become active again, posing a potential risk of damage to a medieval fortress and the existing settlement of Cacela Velha, an unforeseen cascading effect of the opening of the inlet. In order to prevent instability and damage to this legally protected area of national and public interest, several coastal management measures will be required.

Combined Use of Fatty Acid Profiles and Elemental Fingerprints to Trace the Geographic Origin of Live Baits for Sports Fishing: The Solitary Tube Worm (Diopatra neapolitana, Annelida, Onuphidae) as a Case Study.

Diopatra neapolitana Delle Chiaje, 1841 (Annelida, Onuphidae) is one of the most exploited polychaete species in European waters, particularly in Ria de Aveiro, a coastal lagoon in mainland Portugal, where the overexploitation of this resource has led to a generalized decline of local populations. In an attempt to reduce the impact of harvesting, several management actions were implemented, but illegal poaching still fuels a parallel economy that threatens the sustainable use of this marine resource. The present study evaluated the combination of fatty acid profiles and elemental fingerprints of the whole body and jaws, respectively, of D. neapolitana collected from four harvesting locations within Ria de Aveiro in order to determine if their geographic origin could be correctly assigned post-harvesting. Results showed that both fatty acid profiles and elemental fingerprints differ significantly among locations, discriminating the geographic origin with higher accuracy when combining these two natural barcodes than when employing each individually. The present work can, therefore, contribute to the implementation of an effective management plan for the sustainable use of this marine resource, making it possible to detect if D. neapolitana was sourced from no-take zones and if it was collected from the place of origin claimed by live bait traders.

Prenatal High-Sucrose Diet Induced Vascular Dysfunction of Renal Interlobar Arteries in the Offspring via PPARγ-RXRg-ROS/Akt Signaling.

SCOPE: Prenatal nutrition imbalance correlates with developmental origin of cardiovascular diseases; however whether maternal high-sucrose diet (HS) during pregnancy causes vascular damage in renal interlobar arteries (RIA) from offspring still keeps unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pregnant rats are fed with normal drinking water or 20% high-sucrose solution during the whole gestational period. Swollen mitochondria and distributed myofilaments are observed in vascular smooth muscle cells of RIA exposed to prenatal HS. Maternal HS increases phenylephrine (PE)-induced vasoconstriction in the RIA from adult offspring. NG-Nitro-l-arginine (L-Name) causes obvious vascular tension in response to PE in offspring from control group, not in HS. RNA-Seq of RIA is performed to reveal that the gene retinoid X receptor g (RXRg) is significantly decreased in the HS group, which could affect vascular function via interacting with PPARγ pathway. By preincubation of RIA with apocynin (NADPH inhibitor) or capivasertib (Akt inhibitor), the results indicate that ROS and Akt are the vital important factors to affect the vascular function of RIA exposure to prenatal HS. CONCLUSION: Maternal HS during the pregnancy increases PE-mediated vasoconstriction of RIA from adult offspring, which is mainly related to the enhanced Akt and ROS regulated by the weakened PPARγ-RXRg.

Inter-laboratory comparison of routine autoantibody detection methods for autoimmune neuropathies and myasthenia gravis.

Serological tests are important to detect autoantibodies (autoAbs) in patients with autoimmune neuropathies (AN) and myasthenia gravis (MG) as they are biomarkers for diagnosis, stratification, treatment selection, and monitoring. However, tests to detect autoAbs frequently lack proper standardization and results differ across diagnostic laboratories. We compared results for tests routinely performed in Spanish diagnostic laboratories to detect AN and MG autoAbs. In the Spanish Society of Immunology Autoimmunity Group national workshop, serum samples from 13 patients with AN or MG were tested for anti-ganglioside, anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), anti-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), and anti-muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) autoAbs using reference methods and were distributed for analysis to 27 participating laboratories using their routine methods. Overserved were inter-laboratory variability and worryingly low sensitivity, especially for anti-ganglioside immunoglobulin G and anti-MAG autoAb detection. This pilot study reflects autoAbs detection state of the art in AN and MG testing in leading diagnostic laboratories in Spain, highlighting the need for standardization prior to clinical use.

Evolution of methods to detect paraneoplastic antibodies.

An adaptive immune response in less than 1% of people who develop cancer produces antibodies against neuronal proteins. These antibodies can be associated with paraneoplastic syndromes, and their accurate detection should instigate a search for a specific cancer. Over the years, multiple systems, from indirect immunofluorescence to live cell-based assays, have been developed to identify these antibodies. As the specific antigens were identified, high throughput, multi-antigen substrates such as line blots and ELISAs were developed for clinical laboratories. However, the evolution of assays required to identify antibodies to membrane targets has shone a light on the importance of antigen conformation for antibody detection. This chapter discusses the early antibody assays used to detect antibodies to nuclear and cytosolic targets and how new approaches are required to detect antibodies to membrane targets. The chapter presents recent data that support international recommendations against the sole use of line blots for antibody detection and highlights a new antigen-specific approach that appears promising for the detection of submembrane targets.

Reamer irrigator aspirator (RIA) reduces risk of fat embolism in bilateral pediatric femur shaft fractures: a case report.

A 14-year-old male patient was successfully treated with the reamer irrigator aspirator for femur intramedullary rod preparation after sustaining right and left closed femur fractures because of an all-terrain vehicle accident. In patients already categorized as high risk for fat embolism syndrome, such as those with bilateral femur fractures, reaming both femora greatly increases the likelihood of this complication. The reamer irrigator aspirator provides an effective tool that potentially mitigates the risk of fat embolism syndrome in pediatric patients with this type of orthopedic trauma.

Impact of wildfire ash on bacterioplankton abundance and community composition in a coastal embayment (Ría de Vigo, NW Spain).

Wildfire ash can have an impact on coastal prokaryotic plankton. To understand the extent to which community composition and abundance of coastal prokaryotes are affected by ash, two ash addition experiments were performed. Ash from a massive wildfire that took place in the Ría de Vigo watershed in October 2017 was added to natural surface water samples collected in the middle sector of the ría during the summer of 2019 and winter of 2020, and incubated for 72 h, under natural water temperature and irradiance conditions. Plankton responses were assessed through chlorophyll a and bacterial abundance measurements. Prokaryotic DNA was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene partial sequencing. In summer, when nutrient concentrations were low in the ría, the addition of ash led to an increase in phytoplankton and bacterial abundance, increasing the proportions of Alteromonadales, Flavobacteriales, and the potentially pathogenic Vibrio, among other taxa. After the winter runoff events, nutrient concentrations in the Ría de Vigo were high, and only minor changes in bacterial abundance were detected. Our findings suggest that the compounds associated with wildfire ash can alter the composition of bacterioplanktonic communities, which is relevant information for the management of coastal ecosystems in fire-prone areas.

Hipofisitis primaria: diagnóstico y tratamiento. estudio multicéntrico / Primary hypophysitis: diagnosis and treatment multi-center study

Resumen Introducción : La hipofisitis es una enfermedad in frecuente que plantea un desafío en el diagnóstico y tratamiento. El objetivo de este estudio multicéntrico y retrospectivo fue describir: a) características de pa cientes con hipofisitis primaria (HP), b) métodos diag nósticos, y c) tratamientos realizados. Además, evaluar: a) presentación clínica, b) bioquímica, c) radiológica, d) oftalmológica al diagnóstico y evolución según el tratamiento recibido. Métodos : Estudio retrospectivo donde se estudiaron 28 pacientes (23 mujeres/5 varones) con HP, edad pro medio de 38±11.1 años. Resultados . Los síntomas fueron: cefalea: 68%, po liuria-polidipsia: 50% y alteraciones visuales: 48%. El examen de laboratorio inicial informó disfunción ade nohipofisaria en 71% de los pacientes, siendo el eje gonadal el más afectado. Los hallazgos radiológicos más frecuentes fueron: lesión simétrica:78.5%, aumento homogéneo post contraste: 78.5% y engrosamiento de tallo:70%. En 4/23 mujeres (17%) se relacionó con em barazos o puerperio La conducta inicial fue expectante (CE) en 14 pacientes, cirugía de resección/descompresión en 8 y tratamiento con inmunosupresores en 6. Quince pacientes tuvieron confirmación histológica, 9 resulta ron hipofisitis linfocitaria, 5 hipofisitis por IgG4 y una xantomatosa. Trece fueron diagnosticados por criterios clínicos establecidos. El tamaño de la lesión disminuyó en 43% de pacientes con CE, 62.5% con cirugía y 50% con inmunosupresores. Los síntomas compresivos mejora ron en los 3 grupos, con escaso efecto sobre la función adenohipofisaria, sin resolución de la diabetes insípida. Discusión : En pacientes sin síntomas compresivos adoptamos CE. En aquellos pacientes sin certeza diag nóstica o con síntomas compresivos graves, se optó por cirugía transesfenoidal.

Abstract Introduction : Primary hypophysitis (PH) is a rare disease that represents a challenge among differential diagnosis and management. Our aim was to describe clinical characteristics, diagnostic criteria and different treatment outcomes in patients with PH. Multicentric, retrospective study. Clinical presentation, endocrine function, magnetic resonance imaging findings, visual field defects at diagnosis and treatment outcomes were recorded. Methods : Twenty-eight patients (23 women), with PH were included. Median age: 37. Results : The most frequent symptoms: headache: 68%, polyuria-polydipsia: 50% and visual disturbances: 48%. At diagnosis, anterior pituitary deficiency was present in 71%, being hypogonadotrophic hypogonad ism the most frequent manifestation. The radiological findings: symmetric lesion: 78.5%, homogeneous en hancement: 78.5% and pituitary stalk thickening: 70%. Association with pregnancy or puerperium was found in 4/23 women (17%). Fourteen patients did not receive any treatment ("wait and see" group), 8 underwent surgery for mass reduction or resection and 6 were treated with immunosuppression therapy. Among 15 patients with histopathological diagnosis, 9 were lymphocytic hypophysitis, 5 IgG4 related hypophysitis and 1 xanthomatous hypophysitis. Thirteen were di agnosed by established clinical criteria. Mass reduction was observed in 43% of "wait and see group" patients, 62.5% of operated patients and 50% with immuno suppression therapy. Compressive symptoms showed improvement in the 3 groups, with modest effect on anterior pituitary function, diabetes insipidus did not resolve in any patients. Discussion : In patients without severe compressive symptoms, we adopted a "wait and see" approach. In patients with uncertain diagnosis of PH or severe com pressive symptoms, transsphenoidal surgery was the best option.

Using seagrass as a nature-based solution: Short-term effects of Zostera noltei transplant in benthic communities of a European Atlantic coastal lagoon.

Seagrass meadows provide several ecological functions that improve the overall ecological health of coastal systems and therefore, it is urgent to promote the restoration of such habitats. In Ria de Aveiro, a coastal lagoon in the Atlantic Coast of Portugal, a restoration initiative was responsible for transplanting the dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltei into a highly degraded area. This eelgrass was used as a nature-based solution (NbS) to mitigate some of the impacts of historical mercury contamination. Comparisons of key-species features (density and biomass), and some community-derived indicators (total density and biomass, species richness and Shannon-Wiener index) between the transplanted seagrass patch, their bare vicinities, and their counterpart habitats on the source area, provided signs of the effectiveness of the restoration action on the benthic communities' recovery. Indicators were higher within the restored meadow, and biomass derived indicators of the restored meadow were similar to the source meadow.

Melhores práticas de enfermagem para a pessoa idosa em Unidades de Estratégia Saúde da Família em um município do Sul do país

Compreender as melhores práticas de enfermagem desempenhadas na Atenção Primária à Saúde em unidades de Estratégia Saúde da família em um município da região Norte do Estado de Santa Catarina. Método: pesquisa qualitativa realizada no município de Joinville­SC por meio de entrevistas semiabertas e individuais. Resultados: Participaram da pesquisa 30 enfermeiros atuantes na atenção primária. Descrevem as melhores práticas de enfermagem voltadas à pessoa idosa, com destaque para a resolubilidade das práticas, a priorização do acesso da pessoa idosa, o cuidado ampliado para os familiares, a atuação do enfermeiro frente a situações de negligência e violência contra a pessoa idosa e, ainda, as barreiras para a efetivação das melhores práticas. Conclusão: a qualificação das ações oferecidas as pessoas idosas na atenção primária perpassa questões administrativas, sociais e resolutivas, e exigem que o enfermeiro esteja inserido no território, conhecendo potencialidades e limitações que interferem no planejamento do cuidado. Contudo, somente enfermeiros com autonomia e segurança no saber científico, aliado ao apoio institucional e ambiente adequado, desenvolvem melhores práticas.

A case report of membrane induction combined with RIA technique for the repair of distal humerus segmentary bone defect.

Bone nonunion and bone defect are common postoperative complications in clinic. Membrane induction or Ilizarov technique is often used to repair bone defect. Autologous bone is often used for bone defect repair and reconstruction, and the anterior superior iliac spine, posterior superior iliac spine or fibula bone is used as the donor area for bone extraction, but there are problems of donor area complications. In recent years, the development of bone marrow aspiration (RIA) has provided a new alternative way for the source of autogenous bone. We report a 48-year-old female patient with a comminuted supracondylar intercondylar fracture of the left humerus due to a car accident. After 8 months of emergency debridement and suture with Kirschner wire internal fixation, the fracture was found to be unhealed with extensive bone defects. We used membrane induction combined with RIA technology to repair and reconstruct the patients, and found good osteogenesis through late follow-up. In theory, membrane induction technique can realize the reconstruction of large segmental bone defects, but the scope of repair is often limited by the lack of autologous bone source. The emergence and development of RIA technology provides us with a new autologous bone donor area for bone repair and reconstruction surgery. It can provide a large amount of high-quality cancellar bone mud through minimally invasive means. Meanwhile, it can reduce patients' pain, infection, fracture, aesthetics and other problems caused by iliac bone extraction, and shorten patients' bed time. Maximize the preservation of the patient's autologous bone source. For the first time in the world, we reported the combination of membrane induction technology and RIA technology in the treatment of segmental bone defects, providing a new idea for the treatment of bone defects.

An optimized radioimmunoassay for quantification of total serum thyroxine (T4) in fetal, neonatal, and pregnant rats.

Identifying xenobiotics that interrupt the thyroid axis has significant public health implications, given that thyroid hormones are required for brain development. As such, some developmental and reproductive toxicology (DART) studies now require or recommend serum total thyroxine (T4) measurements in pregnant, lactating, and developing rats. However, serum T4 concentrations are normally low in the fetus and pup which makes quantification difficult. These challenges can be circumvented by technologies like mass spectrometry, but these approaches are expensive and not always widely available. To demonstrate the feasibility of measuring T4 using a commercially available assay, we examine technical replicates of rat serum samples measured both by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). These samples were obtained from rats on gestational day 20 (dams and fetuses) or postnatal day 5 (pups), following maternal exposure to the goitrogen propylthiouracil (0-3 ppm) to incrementally decrease T4. We show that with assay modification, it is possible to measure serum T4 using low sample volumes (25-50 µL) by an RIA, including in the GD20 fetus exposed to propylthiouracil. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the technical feasibility of measuring serum T4 in DART studies.

Acute toxic shock syndrome associated with intra-operative debridement and instrumentation removal for chronic osteomyelitis: A report of two cases.

Gram-positive organisms are known causative agents in toxic shock syndrome (TSS), an acute disease caused by bacterial exotoxins. During routine instrumentation removal for chronic osteomyelitis, intraoperative debridement, reaming, and irrigation can lead to cell lysis and subsequent dissemination of the bacterium exotoxin, which can result in acute cardiovascular compromise. We present two cases of chronic osteomyelitis in healed long-bone fractures that were treated with deep instrumentation removal and surgical debridement using a reamer-irrigator-aspirator (RIA) system. Both patients had positive Streptococcus agalactiae wound cultures and both developed acute intraoperative hypotension during the reaming/irrigation portion of the procedure. Case 1 experienced cardiac arrest and was resuscitated for several days in the ICU. Case 2 underwent intra-operative hypotension and was resuscitated appropriately. The RIA or standard reaming systems must be used with caution during debridement of osteomyelitis in the presence of known toxin producing bacteria. The risk of iatrogenic spread of infection or extravasation of intramedullary contents is present; a high index of suspicion with any change in vital signs and prompt response can help mitigate the effect of adverse outcomes associated with acute and severe intraoperative hypotension.

A food-web model as a tool for the ecosystem-level management of bivalves in an Atlantic coastal lagoon.

The Ria de Aveiro is an important coastal lagoon for wildlife in Portugal, where the production of bivalves reaches approximately 2700 tons annually. However, the illegal overfishing of bivalves is frequent in this lagoon, which causes critical changes in the ecosystem. In this study, using a developed food-web model (Ecopath model), the ecological carrying capacity (ECC) and maximum sustained yield (MSY) of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum were estimated, and the effects of further increases in clam biomass on other species were investigated. The results showed that 1) the current biomass and legal catch of R. philippinarum do not yet exceed the ECC (172.40 tons km-2) or the MSY (86.20 tons km-2 year-1) in Ria de Aveiro; 2) the harvested Manila clams of the MSY represent removing from the ecosystem âˆ¼ 581 tons carbon (C) and ∼83 tons nitrogen (N) annually, with substantial ecological and economic implications; and 3) a further increase in the biomass levels of this species may cause the ecotrophic efficiency of other groups to become unrealistic, potentially leading to decreases in ecosystem transfer efficiency, biodiversity and health. The results here are expected to guide the sustainable development and management of bivalve aquaculture in Ria de Aveiro and the protection of the local environment.

Orthodontic treatment in traumatized permanent teeth: a systematic review / Tratamento ortodôntico em dentes permanentes traumatizados: uma revisão sistemática

Objective: to analyze, through literature review, the available literature on orthodontic treatment in traumatized permanent teeth. Methods: A literature search was performed in electronic databases (PubMed and SciELO) using the descriptors [tooth injuries] OR [injuries, teeth] OR [injury, teeth] OR [teeth injury] OR [injuries, tooth] OR [injury, tooth] OR [tooth injury] OR [teeth injuries] AND [orthodontics]. Observational studies and clinical trials were included, narrative reviews, laboratory and in vitro studies, case reports and series as well as articles that presented abstracts written in languages other than Portuguese, English and Spanish were excluded from the study. Two reviewers considered the eligibility, the risk of bias of the analyzed data and the qualitative synthesis of the studies included. A total of 1,322 references were found and 4 articles met all inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis. Some consequences like pulp necrosis and root resorption have been highlighted and trauma severity should be considered when orthodontically intervening in previously traumatized teeth. Final considerations: The traumatized teeth can be orthodontically treated as long as the time of tissue reorganization is respected, and the pull and periodontal conditions are followed up.(AU)

Objetivos: analisar, por meio de revisão de literatura, a respeito do tratamento ortodôntico em dentes permanentes traumatizados. Metodologia: Uma pesquisa bibliográfica foi realizada em bancos de dados eletrônicos (PubMed e SciELO) usando os descritores [tooth injuries] ou [injuries, teeth] ou [injury, teeth] ou [teeth injury] ou [injuries, tooth] ou [injury, tooth] ou [tooth injury] ou [teeth injuries] e [orthodontics]. Foram incluídos estudos observacionais e ensaios clínicos, revisões narrativas, estudos laboratoriais e in vitro, relatos de casos e séries, bem como artigos que apresentassem resumos redigidos em idiomas diferentes do português, inglês e espanhol foram excluídos do estudo. Dois revisores consideraram a elegibilidade, o risco de viés dos dados analisados e a síntese qualitativa dos estudos incluídos. Foram encontradas 1.322 referências e 4 artigos atenderam a todos os critérios de inclusão e foram incluídos na análise qualitativa. Algumas consequências como necrose pulpar e reabsorção radicular têm sido destacadas e a gravidade do trauma deve ser considerada na intervenção ortodôntica em dentes previamente traumatizados. Considerações finais: Os estudos incluídos nesta revisão sugerem que dentes traumatizados podem ser tratados ortodônticamente desde que respeitado o tempo de reorganização tecidual e acompanhadas as condições pulpares e periodontais.(AU)

Fate of microbial contamination in a South European Coastal Lagoon (Ria Formosa) under the influence of treated effluents dispersal.

AIM: Assessment of the fate of microbial contamination driven from treated wastewater disposal at a highly productive zone on a South European coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa). METHODS AND RESULTS: Microbial indicators of contamination (Total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Enterococci) were evaluated monthly during September 2018-September 2020 at three study areas (Faro, Olhão, and Tavira) under different wastewater discharge flows and hydrodynamic conditions. Additional data on E. coli monitoring in bivalves, available from the national institution responsible for their surveillance was also considered. The maximum microbial contamination was found at Faro, the highest-load and less-flushed study area, contrasting the lowest contamination at Olhão, a lower-load and strongly flushed area. The wastewater impact decreased along the spatial dispersal gradients and during high water, particularly at Faro and Tavira study areas, due to a considerable dilution effect. Microbial contamination at Olhão increased during the summer, while at the other study areas seasonal evidence was not clear. Data also indicate that E. coli in bivalves from bivalve production zones next to the three study areas reflected the differentiated impact of the wastewater treatment plants effluents on the water quality of those areas. CONCLUSIONS: Effluent loads together with local hydrodynamics, water temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, and land runoff as well as seabirds populations and environmentally adapted faecal or renaturelized bacterial communities, contributed to microbial contamination of the study areas.

Radio Immune Assay (RIA) Enabled Total Triiodothyronine (TT3) and Total Thyroxine (TT4) in Canine Trypanosomiasis: First Case Report from Maharashtra (India).

Radio Immune Assay (RIA) is an extremely sensitive in vitro assay technique to measure concentrations of antigen viz. hormones in biological fluids using antibodies. The present study reports the status of total triiodothyronine (TT3) and total thyroxine (TT4) in Trypanosoma evansi infection in a dog, year 2022. An adult, non-descript, male dog was referred to the Department of Veterinary Nuclear Medicine, Mumbai Veterinary College, (MAFSU), Parel, Mumbai (India) with a history of inappetence, weakness, and ataxia of the hind limbs. Inspection revealed cachexia, anemia, bedsores, and mild mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharge. Clinical examination revealed pyrexia, polypnoea and tachycardia. There was an enlargement of popliteal, prescapular, and submandibular lymph nodes. The blood smear examination revealed severe infection of extracellular T. evansi. Laboratory investigations showed an altered haemato-biochemical profile. RIA-enabled thyroid hormone profile revealed a reduced concentration of TT3 (0.57 nmol/l) and TT4 (22.52 nmol/l). The present study reports a reduction in the concentration of TT3 and TT4 in a dog suffering from trypanosomiasis. The drop in TT4 concentration was within the normal limit, this could be a cause for the non-appearance of usual clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism in the present case.

Different Crystallization Behavior of Amorphous ITO Film by Rapid Infrared Annealing and Conventional Furnace Annealing Technology.

An amorphous indium tin oxide (ITO) film (Ar/O2 = 80:0.5) was heated to 400 °C and maintained for 1-9 min using rapid infrared annealing (RIA) technology and conventional furnace annealing (CFA) technology. The effect of holding time on the structure, optical and electrical properties, and crystallization kinetics of ITO films, and on the mechanical properties of the chemically strengthened glass substrates, were revealed. The results show that the nucleation rate of ITO films produced by RIA is higher and the grain size is smaller than for CFA. When the RIA holding time exceeds 5 min, the sheet resistance of the ITO film is basically stable (8.75 Ω/sq). The effect of holding time on the mechanical properties of chemically strengthened glass substrates annealed using RIA technology is less than that of CFA technology. The percentage of compressive-stress decline of the strengthened glass after annealing using RIA technology is only 12-15% of that using CFA technology. For improving the optical and electrical properties of the amorphous ITO thin films, and the mechanical properties of the chemically strengthened glass substrates, RIA technology is more efficient than CFA technology.

Evaluation of a rapid immunoassay for bacteriuria in dogs.

BACKGROUND: The ability to detect bacteriuria in dogs with a point-of-care test might improve medical care and antimicrobial stewardship. HYPOTHESIS AND OBJECTIVE: A rapid immunoassay (RIA; RapidBac) will provide acceptable sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of bacteriuria. ANIMALS: Forty-four client-owned dogs with a clinical indication for urinalysis and aerobic bacterial urine culture. METHODS: Prospective study. Urine, collected by cystocentesis, was submitted for urinalysis and culture at a diagnostic laboratory. Owners completed an enrollment questionnaire regarding their dogs' clinical signs. The RIA was performed according to the manufacturer's guidelines. Results were compared to culture. RESULTS: Forty-four urine specimens were evaluated from 44 dogs. The sensitivity and specificity of the RIA test to detect bacteriuria compared to urine culture were 81.8% (95% CI, 65.7%-97.9%) and 95.5% (95% CI, 86.8%-99.9%), respectively. For cultures yielding ≥103  CFU/mL, sensitivity increased to 90.0% (95% CI, 76.9%-100%) and specificity was similar at 95.2% (95% CI, 86.1%-99.9%). Malodorous urine, bacteriuria, and pyuria were more likely to be present in dogs with positive RIA or urine culture results compared to dogs with negative results. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The RIA was easy to perform and had good sensitivity and excellent specificity in this group of dogs. The RIA might be a useful screening test for decision-making regarding antimicrobial therapy in dogs with a clinical indication for urine culture. Consideration could be given to amending the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Disease definition of bacterial cystitis as the presence of signs of lower urinary tract disease together with positive culture or a positive RIA.