Evaluation of non-genetic factors affecting calf growth, reproductive performance and milk yield of traditionally managed Sheko cattle in southwest Ethiopia.

The study was conducted to estimate calf growth, reproductive performance and milk yield of Ethiopia Sheko cattle and to assess non-genetic factors affecting their performance in their home tract as a step towards designing sustainable cattle conservation and improvement strategy. All the growth traits considered in the study were significantly affected by all non-genetic factors considered except for the fixed effects of Agro ecological zones (AEZs) and season of birth which were not significant for post weaning daily gain. Calving interval (CI) and days open (DO) were significantly influenced by AEZs, season and dam parity. Cows that calved in lowland had shorter CI and DO than cows which calved in midland. Cows that calved in short rainy season had Short CI and DO than those calved during dry season or long rainy season. Cows which calved for the first time had the longest CI and DO from the other parities whereas cows on their fifth parity had the shortest CI and DO. AEZ significantly affected lactation milk yield (LMY) and lactation length (LL), but not significant on daily milk yield (DMY) and 305 days yield (305DY). Season was significant on all milk traits considered except DMY. Parity effect was significant on LMY and 305DY, whereas DMY and LL were not affected. The non-genetic factors had significant effects for all of the reproductive; and many of the growth and milk performance traits considered and hence will need to be considered in cattle breed improvement program.

Breast elasticity: principles, technique, results: an update and overview of commercially available software.

Breast ultrasound elasticity evaluation has become a routine tool in addition to diagnostic ultrasound during the last five years. Two elasticity evaluation modes are currently available: free-hand elastography and shear-wave elastography (SWE). Most of the commercially available elastography scanners have specific procedures which must be understood by the users. Free-hand elastography usually displays qualitative imaging such as an elastogram, but most of the companies now use it to quantify the relative stiffness between a lesion and the surrounding breast tissue. SWE is a new mode theoretically independent of the sonographer which displays more quantitative information, and can be useful for characterizing breast lesions. Recent studies on elastography suggest that elasticity imaging can increase B-mode accuracy and specificity in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions. This functional imaging mode could help reduce the number of biopsies performed for benign breast lesions. This review gives a detailed description of the main commercially available systems and the results of current applications in the evaluation of breast elasticity.

Bartonella henselae infection mimicking a splenic lymphoma.

We report a Bartonella henselae infection in a 40-y-old patient who presented with fever, weight loss, night sweats, elevated lactate dehydrogenase and multinodular splenomegaly with multiple abdominal lymphadenopathies. Splenic cat-scratch disease is an exceptional diagnosis in adults and can easily be mistaken for a splenic lymphoma, thereby leading to an unnecessary splenectomy.

[Imaging-guided needle puncture, infiltration and lavage of rotator cuff calcifications. Retrospective evaluation of 50 cases of treated periarthritis]. / Ponction-lavage-infiltration radioguidée des calcifications de coiffe des rotateurs. Evaluation rétrospective de 50 périarthrites traitées.

PURPOSE: To evaluate mid term efficiency of imaging-guided needle puncture trituration and lavage (RPTL) in rotator cuff calcifications after failure of medical treatment. Materials and Methods. Fifty shoulders with rotator cuff calcifications (supra and infra-spinatus: 97%) from 42 patients, mean of 50.2 year old (M/F=10/32), were treated by RPTL. To establish a satisfaction score and potential undesirable effects, the follow-up was obtained by a telephone questionnaire after a median interval of 29.2 months. RESULTS: Eighty-eight percent of patients had excellent or very good results (cured: 62%, very improved: 26%). Four percent felt partially better and 8% failed but did not undergo surgery. No complication was noted. 41% suffered acute pain in the 24 hours following the procedure even though they were on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy (NSAID). CONCLUSION: These good results after more than two years support the promotion of this economical ambulatory treatment.