The effects of different feeding strategies providing different levels of vitamin A on animal performance, carcass traits, and the conversion rate of subcutaneous fat color in cull-cows.

Cull cows represent a significant percentage of revenue received from the U.S. beef industry; however, cull cows are heavily price discounted at time of slaughter. This experiment's objective is to evaluate different feeding strategies and their effects on body condition score, subcutaneous fat color, and carcass yield and quality traits in cull cows. The central hypothesis is feeding a high-energy diet, with low levels of vitamin A, for 56 d will improve animal performance, carcass yield, and quality traits in addition to capturing the point (rate) of the conversion of yellow to white subcutaneous fat. In the present experiment 98 Angus crossbreed cows were utilized. Cows were fed either low vitamin A (LVA) diet consisting of whole shelled corn, soybean hulls, soybean meal, and a mineral-vitamin supplement or high vitamin A (HVA) diet, formulated using whole shelled corn, fescue hay, dry distiller grains with soluble, and a mineral-vitamin supplement for 56 d. During the 56 d feeding period, body weights and condition scores, and subcutaneous adipose samples were collected every 14 d. On day 56, cattle were slaughtered; 48 h postmortem carcass characteristics and objective color scores (subcutaneous adipose tissue) were recorded and a sample of the longissimus dorsi lumborum was collected. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were utilized to record subjective color scores and then ground to be analyzed for ß-carotene concentration. The longissimus dorsi lumborum samples (2.54 cm slices) were removed for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and pH testing. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Feeding cull cows LVA resulted in differences in subcutaneous carcass fat color (P = 0.01) as well as b* values (P < 0.01) on day 56 compared with HVA. Subjective fat color scores were not different (P > 0.10) on day 0 or 14 but were different (P ≤ 0.05) on days 28, 42, and 56. Additionally, 9-cis-ß-carotene concentration on day 56 were different (P = 0.05) between treatments. A trend was noticed for all-trans-ß-carotene concentration (P = 0.10) on day 56 as well. Cull cow body weights were greater (P ≤ 0.04) when fed the LVA diet starting on days 14, 28, and 42; and a trend was noticed on day 56 (P = 0.09). Overall, cows fed the LVA treatment for 56 d exhibited decreased adipose yellowness and ß-carotene concentrations as well as increased live weights.

[Impact of COVID-19s alarm states in the care of pediatric patients in Primary Care in a health area in northern Spain]. / Impacto de los estados de alarma por COVID-19 en la atención a pacientes pediátricos en Atención Primaria de un área sanitaria del norte de España.

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has meant a global change in the healthcare model, enhancing telematic assistance, specially at the Health Primary Care (PC). There are few studies that relate the attendance of children at the PC to the pandemic of COVID-19. The aim of our study is to describe the impact of the two Spanish states of alarm on the care of children at de PC level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study. The PC visits corresponding to pediatric patients (<14 years) from a health area in northern Spain during the first and second states of alarm were analyzed, and compared with their equivalent periods in 2019. RESULTS: During the first state of alarm, home lockdown and school closure were established, and a large decrease in pediatric visits to the health centres was observed (758 vs. 1381 in 2019) at the expense of health check-ups and infectious diseases. This decrease was not observed in the second state of alarm (1375 vs. 1233 in 2019). In both states of alarm, the percentage of telephone assistance increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of alarm states has meant a decrease on the demand of medical care, especially during the first state of alarm, may be owing to the fear of the families of going to the health center and the decrease in the transmissibility of viruses due to home lockdown. The increase of the telematic assistance has been on account of the need of reorganization of health care, wich has proven to be effective.

Pharmacodynamic evaluation of the activity of antibiotics against hemin- and menadione-dependent small-colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus in models of extracellular (broth) and intracellular (THP-1 monocytes) infections.

Staphylococcus aureus small-colony variants (SCVs) persist intracellularly, which may contribute to persistence/recurrence of infections and antibiotic failure. We have studied the intracellular fate of menD and hemB mutants (corresponding to menadione- and hemin-dependent SCVs, respectively) of the COL methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain and the antibiotic pharmacodynamic profile against extracellular (broth) and intracellular (human THP-1 monocytes) bacteria. Compared to the parental strain, SCVs showed slower extracellular growth (restored upon medium supplementation with menadione or hemin), reduced phagocytosis, and, for the menD SCV, lower intracellular counts at 24 h postinfection. Against extracellular bacteria, daptomycin, gentamicin, rifampin, moxifloxacin, and oritavancin showed similar profiles of activity against all strains, with a static effect obtained at concentrations close to their MICs and complete eradication as maximal effect. In contrast, vancomycin was not bactericidal against SCVs. Against intracellular bacteria, concentration-effect curves fitted sigmoidal regressions for vancomycin, daptomycin, gentamicin, and rifampin (with maximal effects lower than a 2-log decrease in CFU) but biphasic regressions (with a maximal effect greater than a 3-log decrease in CFU) for moxifloxacin and oritavancin, suggesting a dual mode of action against intracellular bacteria. For all antibiotics, these curves were indistinguishable between the strains investigated, except for the menD mutant, which systematically showed a lower amplitude of the concentration-effect response, with markedly reduced minimal efficacy (due to slower growth) but no change in maximal efficacy. The data therefore show that the maximal efficacies of antibiotics are similar against normal-phenotype and menadione- and hemin-dependent strains despite their different intracellular fates, with oritavancin, and to some extent moxifloxacin, being the most effective.

National Beef Quality Audit-2005: survey of targeted cattle and carcass characteristics related to quality, quantity, and value of fed steers and heifers.

The National Beef Quality Audit-2005 assessed the current status of quality and consistency of US fed steers and heifers. Hide colors or breed type were black (56.3%), red (18.6%), Holstein (7.9%), gray (6.0%), yellow (4.9%), brown (3.0%), white (2.3%), and brindle (1.0%). Identification method and frequency were lot visual tags (63.2%), individual visual tags (38.7%), metal-clip tags (11.8%), electronic tags (3.5%), bar-coded tags (0.3%), by other means (2.5%), and without identification (9.7%). Brand frequencies were no (61.3%), 1 (35.1%), and 2 or more (3.6%), and brands were located on the butt (26.5%), side (7.4%), and shoulder (1.2%). There were 22.3% of cattle without horns, and the majority of those with horns (52.2%) were between 2.54 and 12.7 cm in length. Percentages of animals with mud or manure on specific body locations were none (25.8%), legs (61.4%), belly (55.9%), side (22.6%), and top-line (10.0%). Permanent incisor number and occurrence were zero (82.2%), 1 (5.2%), 2 (9.9%), 3 (0.4%), 4 (1.2%), 5 (0.1%), 6 (0.3%), 7 (0.0%), and 8 (0.7%). Most carcasses (64.8%) were not bruised, 25.8% had one bruise, and 9.4% had multiple bruises. Bruise location and incidence were round (10.6%), loin (32.6%), rib (19.5%), chuck (27.0%), and brisket, flank, and plate (10.3%). Condemnation item and incidence were liver (24.7%), lungs (11.5%), tripe (11.6%), heads (6.0%), tongues (9.7%), and carcasses (0.0%). Carcass evaluation revealed these traits and frequencies: steer (63.7%), heifer (36.2%), bullock (0.05%), and cow (0.04%) sex classes; dark-cutters (1.9%); A (97.1%), B (1.7%), and C or older (1.2%) overall maturities; and native (90.9%), dairy-type (8.3%), and Bos indicus (0.8%) estimated breed types. Mean USDA yield grade (YG) traits were USDA YG (2.9), HCW (359.9 kg), adjusted fat thickness (1.3 cm), LM area (86.4 cm(2)), and KPH (2.3%). The USDA YG were YG 1 (16.5%), YG 2 (36.3%), YG 3 (33.1%), YG 4 (11.8%), and YG 5 (2.3%). Mean USDA quality grade traits were USDA quality grade (Select(90)), marbling score (Small(32)), overall maturity (A(64)), lean maturity (A(57)), and skeletal maturity (A(68)). Marbling score distribution was Slightly Abundant or greater (2.7%), Moderate (4.3%), Modest (14.4%), Small (34.5%), Slight (41.2%), and Traces or less (2.9%). This information helps the beef industry measure progress and provides a benchmark for future educational and research activities.

Folding simulations of a three-dimensional protein model with a nonspecific hydrophobic energy function.

We show that a nonspecific hydrophobic energy function can produce protein-like folding behavior of a three-dimensional protein model of 40 monomers in the cubic lattice when the native conformation is chosen judiciously. We confirm that monomer inside/outside segregation is a powerful criterion for the selection of appropriate structures, an idea that was recently proposed with basis on a general theoretical analysis and simulations of much simpler two-dimensional models.

Nasolacrimal stents in the management of epiphora: medium-term results of a multicenter prospective study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate in a prospective multicenter setting the clinical utility of polyurethane stents in the percutaneous management of epiphora. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (N = 163; age range = 22-85 y, mean = 52 y; 29 men, 134 women) with severe epiphora had stents (n = 183) inserted under fluoroscopic guidance in 180 lacrimal systems (unilateral = 146; bilateral = 17) to treat complete (n = 172) or partial (n = 8) obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct or sac. The junction between sac and duct was the most frequent location (n = 102), followed by the sac alone (n = 48), and the duct alone (n = 30). The etiology of the obstruction was idiopathic in 113 cases (63%) and chronic dacryocystitis in 67 (37%). The set designed by Song was used in all patients and the original technique was slightly modified by the authors. All patients were treated on an outpatient basis. Average time of the procedure was 14 minutes (range = 3-70 min). RESULTS: Initial technical success rate of stent placement was 97%. Resolution of epiphora was complete in 175 eyes and partial in five. On follow-up (mean = 450 d; range = 8-730 d), 157 of 183 stents remained patent (85.8%). Of the 24 obstructed, 19 were easily withdrawn and 17 of these patients remained asymptomatic for a mean of 15 months (secondary patency rate = 89.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The procedure is simple and safe. It can be performed on an outpatient basis and the original technique could be improved with some technical modifications. It is well tolerated by patients and may be considered as a valid alternative technique for the resolution of epiphora.

Rehospitalization because of respiratory syncytial virus infection in premature infants younger than 33 weeks of gestation: a prospective study. IRIS Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To collect data on hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections and presumptive risk factors for rehospitalization among premature infants in Spain. DESIGN: Observational, prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study. SETTING: Fourteen Spanish neonatal units with an annual birth cohort of 57,000 infants. PATIENTS: All children (n = 680) born < or =32 weeks of gestational age between April 1, 1998, and March 31, 1999, and discharged from the hospital before March 31, 1999, were included in the study. A total of 96 were excluded because of administration of prophylactic treatment (n = 55) or were lost to follow-up (n = 41). Five children died during the study period, but death was related to RSV in only 1 case. METHODS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neonatal and demographic data were recorded at the initial visit. Infants were prospectively followed at monthly intervals up to March 31, 1999. In patients rehospitalized for respiratory disorders, further data about RSV status and morbidity were collected. A comparison was made between children rehospitalized for RSV infection and those who were not. The influence of factors on the probability of rehospitalization for RSV infection was assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 584 evaluable patients 118 (20.2%) were rehospitalized for respiratory disease during the study period. The causative pathogen was identified in 89 (75.4%) hospital admissions. Of these 59 (66.3%) were a result of RSV infection in 53 children; 6 were reinfections. In a logistic regression model significant independent prognostic variables included: lower risk of RSV hospitalization with increase gestational age [odds ratio (OR), 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.72 to 0.99; P < 0.047]; higher risk with chronic lung disease (OR = 3.1; 95% CI 1.22 to 7.91; P < 0.016); and living with school age siblings (OR = 1.86; 95% CI 1.01 to 3.4; P < 0.048). CONCLUSION: This large descriptive study has enabled us to define the influence of specific risk factors that increase the risk of rehospitalization for RSV infection in preterm infants. Such studies help to define the appropriate role of available prophylactic interventions and establish treatment guidelines.

Sintomas, complicaçöes e alteraçöes hemodinâmicas associadas a ecocardiografia de estresse com dobutamina / Symptoms, complications and hemodynamic effects related to dobutamine stress echocardiography

OBJETIVO - Avaliar a segurança e efeitos hemodinâmicos da ecocardiografia de estresse com dobutamina. MÉTODOS - Estudo prospectivo de 735 pacientes consecutivos, submetidos a ecocardiografia de estresse com dobutamina, para avaliar doença coronária e ou miocardiopatia. Inicialmente, a dobutamina foi administrada via endovenosa com doses progressivas de 5, 10, 20, 30µg/ kg/min a intervalos de 3min. O protocolo foi modificado para atingir a dose máxima de 40µg/kg/min, e, finalmente, até o limite de 50µg/kg/min. RESULTADOS - A dobutamina aumentou significantemente a frequência cardíaca (FC) (de 72ñ12bpm para 117ñ23bpm, p<0,0005) a pressão sistólica (133ñ21pbm para 157ñ29mmHg, p<0,0005) e o duplo produto (de 9,635ñ2,100 para 18,400ñ4,050, p<0,0001) do estado basal para o pico de infusão, respectivamente. Observou-se aumento significativo (p<0,05) da FC em cada estágio de infusão de dobutamina até dose de 40µg/kg/min, além do qual se mantém inalterado. Não ocorreram morte, infarto do miocárdio ou episódios de taquicardia ventricular. Os efeitos colaterais mais comuns foram náusea, ansiedade, tremor, apreensão e cefaléia em 55 (7,4 por cento) pacientes. Angina de peito ocorreu em 10 (1,4 por cento). As arritmias mais comuns foram extra-sístoles ventriculares em 138 (18,7 por cento) pacientes e extra-sistolia supraventricular 36 (4,9 por cento). Houve 4 pacientes que apresentaram taquicardia ventricular não sustentada, sem repercussão hemodinâmica. CONCLUSÄO - Ecocardiografia de estresse com dobutamina é um método seguro e bem tolerado.Doses de infusão de dobutamina > 40µg/kg/min não provocam resposta cronotrópica adicional, o que torna questionável a validade do protocolo de ecocardiografia de estresse com doses de dobutamina > 40µg/kg/min.

BCG specificity of an inhibitory seric factor from tuberculosis anergic patients that acts on non-adherent PPD reactive cells.

The effect of tuberculosis anergic immune sera adsorbed with BCG was studied on cocultures of adherent and non-adherent cells from PPD+ tuberculosis patient (TBP PPD+). This effect on the cocultures was quantified by lymphocyte transformation (LT) test using PPD as antigen. Only those cocultures with non-adherent cells from TBP PPD+ patients treated with anergic sera, inhibited the LT response induced by PPD, whereas sera adsorption with BCG eliminated the inhibitory effect.

[Symptoms, complications and hemodynamic changes related to dobutamine stress echocardiography]. / Sintomas, complicações e alterações hemodinâmicas associadas a ecocardiografia de estresse com dobutamina.

PURPOSE: This study focuses on the safety and hemodynamic effects of dobutamine stress echocardiography. METHODS: Seven hundred and thirty five consecutive patients underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease and or cardiomyopathy. Dobutamine was administered intravenously at incremental doses of 5, 10, 20, 30 micrograms/kg/min, at 3 min intervals. The maximal dose was 40 or 50 micrograms/kg/min. RESULTS: Dobutamine significantly (p < 0.0005) increased the heart rate (from 72 +/- 12 bpm to 117 +/- 23 bpm), systolic blood pressure (from 133 +/- 21 to 157 +/- 29 mmHg) and the rate-pressure product (from 9.635 +/- 2.100 to 18.400 +/- 4.050, p < 0.0001) from baseline to peak infusion rate, respectively. There was a significant increase in heart rate (p < 0.05) at each infusion step, except for the 50 micrograms/kg/min dose, when the heart became stable. There were no deaths myocardial infarctions, or episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia. Common non cardiac side effects included nausea, anxiety, headache, tremors and urgency in 55 (7.4%) of the patients. Angina pectoris occurred in 10 (1.4%) of the patients. The most common arrhythmias were usually mild. CONCLUSION: Dobutamine stress echocardiography is safe, and well tolerated. In this study complications such as myocardial infarction, death, ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation did not occur. There was no additional increase in heart rate with doses greater than 40 micrograms/kg/min. The advantage of stress echocardiography protocol with peak doses of 50 micrograms/kg/min is questionable.

Characterization of an inhibitory seric factor from tuberculosis anergic patients that acts on non-adherent PPD reactive cells.

Non-adherent cells from PPD+ tuberculosis patients (TBP PPD+) and from healthy individuals treated with whole tuberculosis anergic immune sera or with its protein A-Sepharose IgG fraction, or with sera fraction separated by PPD-Sepharose chromatography, were submitted to immunofluorescence assays. Anti-human IgG or IgM FITC-conjugate were used to reveal the assays, and results were expressed by a fluorescence percentage or fluorescence index. The presence of IgG over the surface of PPD+ non-adherent cells was detected. High fluorescence percentages were observed only in those PPD+ cells treated with whole anergic serum or with its IgG fraction. Positive fluorescence index values were obtained only in those PPD+ cells treated with anergic serum, meanwhile fluorescence index was always negative when non-bound fractions from PPD-Sepharose were used. Results suggest that non-adherent population are the cell targets for the serum inhibitory factor, which previously has been detected to inhibit antigen response in PPD reactive cells and, point out the specific behavior of this factor, since it was eliminate by PPD-Sepharose chromatography. The IgG nature of the factor was demonstrated by SDS-PAGE and immunoelectrophoresis.

Colecistectomía minitraumática: hospitalización de corta estancia / Minimally traumatic cholecystectomy: reduced hospital stay

Se presenta una serie de 35 pacientes consecutivos, 34 con colelitiasis y uno con colico biliar debido a ascaridiasis del coledoco, operados por incisiones transversas cortas (promedio 7.8 cm, rango 4.5 a 10 cm) sobre el hipocondrio derecho. El procedimiento, diseñado para producir el menor trauma posible y una hospitalizacion muy corta, ha sido denominado "colecistectomia minitraumatica". La revision retrospectiva de las 35 colecistectomias previas realizadas por el autor senior, revelo que las incisiones utilizadas fueron considerablemente mas largas (promedio 18 cm, rango 14 a 25 cm). La "colecistectomia minitraumatica" puede ser realizada en forma segura, con una menor incomodidad para el paciente y una mas breve hospitalización. Pero la verdadera colecistectomia minitraumatica es la colecistectomia laparoscópica, un procedimiento que gana creciente popularidad.

Dengue epidemics on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

Dengue epidemics in three Mexican cities were investigated with retrospective surveys and virus isolations from acute cases. These epidemics were part of the continuing extension of dengue in Mexico since 1978 after 15 years without transmission. Serotype 1 dengue infection predominated in all epidemics, but in one city, type 2 strains were also isolated. The following findings were consistent in all three cities: 1) illness history provided evidence of presence of infection months before the epidemic became evident, 2) there was a very sharp and progressive increase of dengue illness attack rates by age, 3) there were no interpretable relationships between illness and the presence of different types of breeding sights in the home, 4) socioeconomic status was strongly negatively related to illness, and 5) geographical factors not related to the other measured variables had a strong effect on illness rates reflecting the focality of transmission. In addition, there was evidence of a strong protective effect against illness by the use of mosquito netting or the presence of screens on houses, but these relationships were not universal to all three cities.