Microbial aetiology of acute clinical mastitis and agent-specific risk factors.

A nation wide study on the microbial aetiology of cases of acute clinical mastitis in Swedish dairy cows was conducted with the aim to investigate changes in the microbial panorama compared to a previous study performed 1994-1995. Another aim was to investigate some agent-specific environmental and individual risk factors. Milk samples were collected from 987 udder quarter cases from 829 cows during six 2-month periods from May 2002 to April 2003, and data on risk factors and demography were collected at sampling by means of a questionnaire. In total, 1056 bacteriological diagnoses were made. The most frequently isolated bacterial species was Staphylococcus aureus constituting 21.3% of the diagnoses, followed by Escherichia coli (15.9%), Streptococcus dysgalactiae (15.6%), Streptococcus uberis (11.1%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (6.2%), Arcanobacterium pyogenes (6.1%) and Klebsiella spp. (4.2%). Samples with no growth or contamination constituted 10.6% and 4.5% of the diagnoses, respectively. A major shift in the panorama of udder pathogens was not observed compared to the survey in 1994-1995. Isolation of Klebsiella spp. was strongly associated with the use of sawdust as bedding material. On the other hand, using sawdust as bedding reduced the risk of isolating S. uberis relative to using straw or peat. The risk of isolating E. coli increased with increasing milk yield and was higher in loose housing systems than in tie stalls. Isolation of S. aureus was associated with tie stalls, and A. pyogenes with low yielding cows and teat lesions. S. dysgalactiae infections were also associated with teat lesions.

Intestinal paracellular permeability is not affected in chronic congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND: In chronic heart failure (CHF) it has been proposed that a dysfunction of the gastrointestinal barrier could lead to translocation of endotoxin into the systemic circulation. A secondary inflammatory reaction, observed as increased levels of cytokines, could negatively affect cardiac function. The aims of this paper were therefore to determine whether patients with CHF have a disturbed mucosal barrier and whether it was possible to detect endotoxin in venous blood. METHODS: Nineteen stable patients with CHF (New York Heart Association II-III, EF40% and earlier hospitalisation for heart failure) were investigated. Twenty healthy subjects (HS group) and 25 patients, who were admitted for bone marrow transplantation (BMT group), served as controls. Gastrointestinal permeability was assessed by a (51)Cr-EDTA absorption test. RESULTS: Eleven patients with and eight without peripheral oedema were included. Median age was 76.5 years. Intestinal permeability was 1.82+/-1.96% in the CHF patients and 1.54+/-.59% and 1.9+/-.9% in HS and BMT groups, respectively (p=0.4 and p=0.7, CHF vs HS and BMT, respectively). No difference was found between patients with and without oedema and endotoxins were below the detection limit in all patients. DISCUSSION: This study does not support the hypothesis that patients with CHF have a dysfunctional gastrointestinal barrier, at least as assessed by the (51)Cr-EDTA resorbtion test.

Risk factors associated with the incidence of veterinary-treated clinical mastitis in Swedish dairy herds with a high milk yield and a low prevalence of subclinical mastitis.

We conducted a case-control study to investigate factors associated with the incidence rate of veterinary-treated clinical cases of mastitis (IRVTCM) in Swedish dairy herds with the overall objective to reduce the incidence of clinical mastitis (CM) and excessive use of antibiotics. Herds with documented high milk yield, low prevalence of subclinical mastitis and high (27.3-67.5 cases/100-cow years=case) or low (0.0-10.8 cases/100-cow years=control) IRVTCM were selected for this study. One hundred and fifty-eight herds participated. Logistic-regression models were used to assess statistically significant risk factors associated with a high or low IRVTCM. HI-herd farmers more often contacted a veterinarian for treatment of a cow with CM as soon as the milk appearance was altered, compared to LO-herd farmers that more often waited until the general condition of a cow was altered. HI-herd farmers also treated more cows due to high somatic-cell counts during lactation and/or at drying off. There were more high-yielding cows with dirty lower hind-legs, a higher percentage of first-parity cows and a higher incidence of veterinary-treated teat injuries in HI-herds. HI-herd farmers had their cows claw-trimmed more than once per year, compared to LO-herd farmers that had their cows claw-trimmed only once per year, and the condition of silage storage at HI-farms more often had one or more remarks. LO-herds consisted more often of cows of the Swedish Red and White breed, and their roughage diet was more often complemented with only commercial concentrates compared to HI-herds that more often fed grain in combination with commercial concentrates. The herds participating in this study were all well managed herds, and the attitude towards treatment and production seemed to influence the IRVTCM more than environmental factors.

Early disturbance of microvascular function precedes chemotherapy-induced intestinal injury.

Intestinal injury 4-48 hr after cytotoxic therapy (etoposide phosphate, 100 mg/kg body weight [bw], intravenously [i.v.]) was studied in rats using ligated intestinal loops. Chromium-51 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ((51)Cr-EDTA) and rubidium-86 chloride ((86)RbCl) were deposited intraluminally to determine the extent of the increase in intestinal permeability and ion channel disruption. Evans Blue (EB) was used for detection of endothelial leakage. Intestinal morphology was documented. Endothelial dysfunction, as observed by an increased extravasation of EB, was evident already 4 hr after cytotoxic therapy. Intestinal epithelial injury, as observed by an increase in (51)Cr-EDTA permeation and a decrease in (86)Rb absorption, occurred after 48 hr. Finally, histology disclosed a reduced crypt cell proliferation, displayed as a decrease in Ki67-positive cells. The findings suggest that, in the development of intestinal injury after cytotoxic therapy, endothelial disruption is an early event, whereafter epithelial dysfunction and crypt stem cell arrest occur. This knowledge could be of importance in the design of future intervention trials.

Milk leakage--an increased risk in automatic milking systems.

Milk leakage (ML), or milk observed dripping or flowing from one or more teats between milkings, has been associated with increased risk of udder infections and mastitis in dairy cows. Preliminary observations indicate that ML might occur more often in automatic milking systems (AMS) than in conventional milking systems (CMS), but comparative data on the incidence of ML in AMS or in CMS are not available. Therefore, the occurrence of ML at various observation periods was studied in one AMS with cows housed in a free-stall barn in comparison to CMS with cows housed either in a free-stall barn or a tie-stall barn and milked at regular intervals in a herringbone milking parlor. Relationships between ML and other cow and management factors were also examined. In each of 2 yr, all cows (n = 230 total; 46 cows present both years) were observed at 2-h intervals during six 24-h periods. At least one ML occurred in 39.0 (AMS) vs. 11.2% (CMS) of individual cows and in 16.2 (AMS) vs. 2.9% (CMS) of 24-h cow days studied. Milk leakage was not related to milk production, parity, stage of lactation, or estrous status. However, in the AMS, 62% of primiparous and 28% of multiparous cows leaked milk at least once. Milk leakage occurred more often in rear than in forequarters. Cows were usually lying down when ML was observed, but intervals from previous milking varied, especially in AMS. In AMS, about one-fifth of the ML observations occurred < or = 4 h after milking, and half of those were associated with disturbances at the previous milking. Milk flow rate was higher in quarters leaking milk than in other quarters. Strategies to reduce milk leakage in AMS may be important to minimize potential risks of udder disease.

Gastric emptying after autologous haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation: a prospective trial.

Gastroparesis may be involved in the pathophysiology of prolonged nausea and vomiting after haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), but this has not been prospectively investigated. Gastric emptying (GE) was investigated in 20 patients before and 2 months after autologous HSCT. Gastrointestinal symptoms were graded prospectively and oral energy intake was recorded in parallel. Before transplant, all patients were asymptomatic and GE was within the reference range. Post transplant GE was delayed in three patients and three patients reported nausea and/or vomiting. Neither gastrointestinal symptoms nor oral energy intake post transplant discriminated between patients with or without delayed GE. Oral energy intake before transplant was lower (P=0.05), and there was a greater need for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) among patients who developed gastroparesis post transplant (P<0.05). Delayed GE after HSCT was found to be less common than had been believed from retrospective studies. Gastroparesis may be involved in some cases of prolonged nausea and vomiting after autologous HSCT but alternative explanations should be considered. Symptoms consistent with gastroparesis did not correlate with GE. Patients at risk of developing gastroparesis may be found among those with nutritional difficulties before and during the transplant course.

Health of cows, calves and young stock on 26 organic dairy herds in Sweden.

The health and housing of the stock on 26 organic dairy herds in four counties in eastern Sweden were studied for one year. The herds ranged in size from 12 to 64 cows, and their milk production from 3772 to 10,334 kg per cow per year. A large-animal practitioner visited the farms three times during the year, and a random sample of a third of the cows in each herd were examined. The calves and young stock and their housing were also studied. The calves were in good condition in all but four herds; their serum immunoglobulins varied from almost none to high levels. The young stock were in good condition and in good housing in 20 herds. No cows with clinical signs of metabolic disorders were found. Body condition scores were adequate or good except in two herds. Acetone was analysed in milk samples from individual cows three to six weeks postpartum, and only sporadic cases with high levels were found. The incidence of diseases treated by a veterinarian was lower in the organic herds than the average for the conventional herds in the local dairy association. The findings at the farm visits supported these data, and it is evident that a good standard of health and welfare can be achieved in organic dairy herds.

Disturbance of purine nucleotide metabolism: a possible early key event in development of intestinal damage induced by chemotherapy.

Protective strategies to minimize the hematological toxicity in connection with bone marrow transplantation (BMT) have been successful, but toxicity to the gastrointestinal tract prevents further dose escalation and therefore limits the application of the treatment. As it is known that chemotherapy leads to disruption of the intestinal barrier and morphological changes of mitochondria in enterocytes, this study was conducted in order to investigate intestinal energy metabolism and permeability after intensive cytotoxic therapy in rats. Intestinal damage was produced by intraperitoneal administration of the cytostatic etoposide. Intestinal permeability was assessed by a [51Cr]EDTA absorption test and intestinal purine nucleotide content by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. Four hours after the administration of etoposide, and the next 48 hr, there was a significant increase in the intestinal permeability (P < 0.05) and a significant reduction of the purine nucleotide content in the intestinal epithelial cells (P < 0.01) as compared to control animals. This early disturbance in enterocyte energy metabolism may be a key event in the development of the intestinal damage, induced by chemotherapy, and an explanation for the early disruption of the intestinal barrier demonstrable before morphological changes are evident.

The gut mucosa barrier is preserved during allogeneic, haemopoietic stem cell transplantation with reduced intensity conditioning.

The efficacy of allogeneic, haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is limited by concomitant toxicity. This has led to the development of less toxic, reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) protocols, whose therapeutic benefit is largely related to an associated, immunity-mediated graft-versus-malignancy effect rather than by the cytotoxic treatment itself. Murine HSCT models suggests that acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) increases with the intensification of the conditioning regimen mediated by loss of integrity of the gut mucosa barrier. The present study was undertaken to investigate gastro-intestinal (GI) permeability during allogeneic HSCT with RIC. In 17 patients (myeloablative conditioning in nine, RIC in eight), intestinal permeability was assessed by a (51)Cr-EDTA absorption test before the start of cytotoxic treatment the day before stem cell infusion (day -1) and 4, 7 and 14 days after stem cell infusion. Patients receiving RIC did not develop any significant increase in intestinal permeability during the transplantation course but in myeloablatively conditioned patients there was a significant increase in intestinal permeability the day before the stem cell infusion (P < 0.005), on day 4 (P < 0.005), on day 7 (P < 0.01) and on day 14 (P < 0.005) after stem cell infusion, compared with the baseline. Myeloablative conditioning also revealed increased intestinal permeability on day 7 compared with the RIC (P < 0.05). The finding of preserved intestinal-barrier function during allogeneic HSCT with RIC is discussed, with reference to the hypothesis that GI tract damage may be an important initiating event of GVHD.

Carcass quality in certified organic production compared with conventional livestock production.

By studying carcass quality, expressed as affection, pathological findings, slaughter-weight and evaluation, a picture of an animal's health and potential as high quality food is achieved. This study compares the carcass quality in Swedish certified organic meat production with that of conventional meat production slaughtered during 1997. The study involves 3.9 million pigs, about 570,000 cattle and 190,000 sheep, all reared conventionally and 3483 pigs 4949 cattle and 4997 sheep reared according to organic standards. Pathological and additional findings are registered by meat inspectors from the Swedish National Food Administration at the post-mortem inspection. There was a significant difference at the post-mortem inspection of growing-fattening pigs; 28% of conventionally and 17% of the organically reared pigs had one or more registered lesion. The carcass evaluation of swine shows a higher meat percentage in conventional swine production. The total rate of registered abnormalities in cattle was systems around 28% from organic and 27% from conventionally reared herds. Carcass evaluation of cattle from organic herds gave higher classification in the EUROP system, whereas the fat content was lower than that of conventionally reared cattle. Sheep, reared both organically and conventionally, showed a lower rate of registered abnormalities than swine and cattle.

Remission inversion and no transplant-related mortality--a single centre experience of autologous stem cell transplantation in malignant lymphoma.

Between 1989 and 1998 93 patients with malignant lymphoma were treated, in our centre, with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Diagnosis according to the REAL-classification were: 38 patients with high-grade lymphoma (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL) (n = 26), anaplastic T-cell (n = 5), lymfoblastic (n = 3) and others (n = 4)), 31 patients with low-grade lymphoma (follicular (n = 18), mantle cell (n = 4), B-CLL (n = 3) and others (n = 6)) and, finally, 24 patients with Hodgkin's disease. The source of stem cells was bone marrow (14 patients), peripheral blood stem cells (64 patients) or a combination of both sources (15 patients). There was no early ( < 100 days) transplant-related mortality. One patient died 11 months post-transplant in unexplained liver failure and all other causes of death were related to relapse of lymphoma. So far, no case of myelodysplastic syndromes or secondary acute leukacmia's has occurred. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) are: (a) DLCL (26 patients, 4-year probability) OS 40%. PFS 33%; (b) follicular (18 patients, 3-year probability) OS 79%, PFS 52%; (c) Hodgkin's lymphoma (24 patients, 5-year probability) OS 65%, PFS 55%. Out of 52 evaluable patients, 34 (65%) have reached remission inversion. The most important findings are no early transplantation-related mortality, remission inversion in a majority of patients, and so far no cases of secondary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) acute myelogenous leukaemias (AML). Concerning OS and PFS, our results seem to be in accordance with other centres.

Treatment outcome in patients younger than 60 years with advanced stages (IIB-IV) of Hodgkin's disease: the Swedish National Health Care Programme experience.

BACKGROUND: Despite improved treatment results achieved in Hodgkin's disease (HD), only about 70% of patients with advanced stages are cured. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of advanced stages (IIB-IVB) of HD in younger patients in an unselected population-based group of patients. The patients were recommended individualized treatment with respect to number of chemotherapy (CT) courses and post-CT radiotherapy (RT) based on pretreatment characteristics and tumour response. Secondly, we investigated if variables of prognostic importance could be detected. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1985-92, 307 patients between 17-59 yr of age (median 36) were diagnosed with HD in stages IIB-IVB in 5/6 health care regions in Sweden. Median follow-up time was 7.8 yr (1.3-13). Retrospectively, laboratory parameters were collected. RESULTS: In total, 267 (87%) patients had a complete response (CR). The overall and disease-free 10-yr survivals in the whole cohort were 76% and 67%, respectively. There was no difference in survival between the groups of patients who received 6 or 8 cycles of CT. Survival was not higher for patients in CR after CT when RT was added. For those in PR after CT, additional RT raised the frequencies of CR. A selected group of pathologically staged patients was successfully treated with a short course (2 cycles) of CT + RT. In univariate analyses survival was affected by age, stage IVB, bone-marrow involvement, B-symptoms, S-LDH, S-Alb and reaching CR or not after 2, 4 and 6 cycles of CT. In a multivariate analysis, age and reaching CR after 6 cycles of CT remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of difference in survival between the groups of patients who received 6 versus 8 cycles of CT indicates a successful selection of patients for the shorter treatment. Reaching a rapid CR significantly affected outcome. Whether some patients need less CT than the generally recommended 8 courses can properly only be evaluated in a randomised study. Additional RT may play a role in successful outcome, particularly if residual tumours are present, but its precise role can also only be defined in prospectively randomised studies. Reaching CR after CT was the most important variable affecting survival besides age.

Gut mucosa barrier preservation by orally administered IgA-IgG to patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation: a randomised pilot study.

Intensive cytotoxic therapy with bone-marrow transplantation (BMT) allows a potential cure for haematological malignancies. Protective strategies to minimise haematological toxicities have been successful and currently toxicity to the gastro-intestinal tract is the major cause of treatment-related morbidity and the dose-limiting factor that prevents further dose escalation. In a randomised, placebo-controlled trial we investigated whether an oral immunoglobulin preparation (IgA-IgG) can diminish intestinal toxicity with autologous BMT. IgA-IgG (n = 6) and placebo (n = 7) were orally administered from 1 day prior to the start until 1 week after the termination of the cytotoxic treatment (a total of 14 days). Intestinal toxicity was assessed by a 51Cr-EDTA absorption test for intestinal permeability and by the clinical criteria laid down by the WHO for the period before the start of the cytotoxic treatment, 1 day prior to stem-cell infusion and 4, 7, 10 and 14 days after stem-cell infusion. In the placebo group there was a significant increase in intestinal permeability on day 4 (P < 0.005) and on day 7 (P < 0.05) after stem-cell infusion, compared with the baseline, which was not seen for IgA-IgG. In addition, patients receiving IgA-IgG had significantly less intestinal permeability on day 4 (P < 0.05) and on day 7 (P < 0.05), compared with the placebo group. No significant, positive effect as regards clinical toxicity was observed. Oral administration of IgA-IgG to patients undergoing intensive cytotoxic therapy prior to BMT seems to have a protective effect on the gut mucosa barrier which is normally disrupted by this therapy.

A qualitative study to explore the experience of fatigue in cancer patients.

Fatigue--which is a complex, multicausal, and multidimensional subjective experience--is today the most frequently reported symptom from patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of fatigue in cancer patients and to describe the categories and dimensions of the symptoms. A qualitative method--grounded theory--was used. Unstructured, tape-recorded interviews with 15 cancer patients were used for data collection. The categories found in this study illustrate fatigue as a process. Three major categories were found: (1) experiences (of loss, need, malaise, psychological stress, emotional affection, abnormal weakness, difficulties in taking the initiative); (2) consequences (social limitation, affected self-esteem, affected quality of life); and (3) actions (coping). The categories were constructed on the basis of dimensions with subordinated qualities. Knowledge concerning the different expressions of fatigue is important in caring for patients with cancer. The results from this study may contribute to a better understanding of how a cancer patient can experience and express fatigue and how the symptoms may affect the patient.

Gastro-intestinal toxicity related to bone marrow transplantation: disruption of the intestinal barrier precedes clinical findings.

The intensive cytotoxic treatment given in connection with bone marrow transplantations induces severe injury to the gut consistent with an increase in intestinal permeability. Currently, extent of the gut injury is assessed by inspecting the mouth and recording symptoms deriving from the gastro-intestinal tract. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether changes in permeability correlate with clinical assessment of gut toxicity, according to the WHO criteria, and also to examine the duration of intestinal permeability after high-dose chemotherapy. In 18 consecutive patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation, gastrointestinal permeability was assessed by a 51Cr-EDTA absorption test before the start of cytotoxic treatment, and 4, 7, 10 and 14 days after stem-cell infusion. In another seven patients, permeability was assessed 2 days after the start of cytotoxic treatment, and 1, 7 and 14 days after stem cell infusion. During the same period, oral- and non-oral clinical toxicity according to the WHO criteria were recorded. Permeability increased significantly 2 days after the start of cytotoxic treatment (P < 0.05), on day 1 (P < 0.05), on day 4 (P < 0.0005), on day 7 (P < 0.0005) and on day 10 (P < 0.005) after stem cell infusion, compared with pre-treatment permeability. Despite significant barrier dysfunction, clinical toxicity was very moderate in the early transplantation course. Gastro-intestinal, but not oral clinical toxicity requiring therapy, was consistent with a significant increase in permeability compared with no clinical toxicity or toxicity not requiring therapy. Similarly, cumulative gastro-intestinal, but not oral toxicity correlated positively with the increase in permeability. The permeability test was unable to predict the severity of the clinical gastro-intestinal toxicity.

Ascorbate preserves gastric mucosal metabolism and microcirculation after hemorrhagic shock and retransfusion in rats.

The gastric mucosal microcirculation and purine nucleotide metabolism were studied in rats after hemorrhagic shock and retransfusion. The mucosal surface density of perfused vessels (SDPV) and the mucosal levels of ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, hypoxanthine and uric acid were measured following 15 min of hemorrhagic shock and 10 and 30 min after retransfusion, and the effects of pretreatment with allopurinol or ascorbate were studied. During shock there was a dephosphorylation of nucleotides and a decline in the SDPV. Retransfusion led to an additional reduction in the SDPV, but a complete restoration of preshock nucleotide levels 30 min after retransfusion. Allopurinol accelerated early rephosphorylation of nucleotides without effects upon SDPV while ascorbate completely preserved the mucosal level of energy-rich nucleotides 15 min after hemorrhagic shock and increased SDPV during early reperfusion. The results showed that there was a renewal of energy stores in gastric mucosa after hemorrhagic shock and retransfusion although parts of the vascular bed were not reperfused. The mucosal energy depletion after 15 min of hemorrhagic shock and part of the mucosal vessel injury after retransfusion were prevented by pretreatment with ascorbate.

Ultrasonography of the bovine postpartum uterus with retained fetal membranes.

The aim of this study was to describe the potential application of ultrasound in combination with the rectal palpation method and to compare the results to determine the involution period in 11 Swedish dairy cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM). The animals were examined three times a week during the first 8-week postpartum (PP) period. Significant quantity of abnormal vaginal discharges with concomitant accumulation of snowy fluid and thickening of the endometrial and uterine walls were interpreted as evidence of endometritis. The discharges decreased most markedly during the third week PP concomitantly with a marked decrease in the cervical and uterine size. Resumption of cyclical ovarian activity occurred within a month in 7 animals. Five of these cows had 2 ovulations and two animals had 1 and 3 ovulations, respectively. A slight increase of the cervix and uterine size was observed in all ovulating animals in relation to the oestrous periods. Several different calculation methods of the ultrasonographic results were evaluated to describe the completion of uterine involution and compared with findings at rectal palpation. The best congruency with rectal palpation was found to use a 0.5 cm difference for comparison of the previous pregnant and non-pregnant uterine horns in singleton cows and an 80% reduction of the uterine size in all studied animals.

Intrauterine bacterial findings in postpartum cows with retained fetal membranes.

Eleven Swedish postpartum cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM) were studied to determine the intrauterine bacterial flora. Bacteriological examination was performed from twice weekly uterine biopsies. A total of 161 biopsies were collected during the first 8 weeks postpartum of which 82 (50.9%) were found with bacterial growth. Seventy-one of the 82 bacteria-positive biopsies (86.6%) showed mixed infections whereas the remaining 11 (13.4%) were pure cultures. Generally, a total of 322 isolates belonging to 12 different genera of bacteria, 6 facultative and 6 obligate anaerobic pathogens were identified. Mixed infections were most frequent for Actinomyces pyogenes together with obligate anaerobic bacteria, especially Bacteroides levii/spp. and Fusobacterium necrophorum. All of the studied cows had an infection that involved the first two genera of bacteria, whereas F. necrophorum was found in 8 of the 11 animals. The present work suggests that a possible pathogenic synergism between A. pyogenes and the two main Gram-negative anaerobes might have caused early endometritis and/or persistent infection.

Blocking of endothelial-leukocyte interaction (rolling) does not improve reflow in the rat gastric mucosa after hemorrhagic shock and retransfusion.

The polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocyte (PMN) has been implicated as one possible cause of the no-reflow phenomenon seen upon reperfusion after ischemia, by, for instance, the release of toxic substances and/or microvascular flow obstruction. In the present study we studied the effects of ascorbate (an antioxidant) and fucoidin (an inhibitor of leukocyte rolling in microvessels) on the rat gastric mucosal and submucosal PMN content and vascular patency (the latter assessed as the surface density of perfused vessels) in connection with hemorrhagic shock (15 min) and retransfusion (5 or 10 min). The effect of fucoidin on the leukocyte rolling in small venules was studied separately with vital microscopy in the rat mesentery. As found in earlier studies, shock and retransfusion led to a decrease in the surface density of perfused vessels, whereas the number of PMNs in the mucosa or the submucosa was not affected by shock and retransfusion. Ascorbate improved vascular patency without affecting the PMN content. In the mesentery, fucoidin caused a 76% reduction in the number of rolling PMNs and it reduced significantly the number of PMNs in the mucosa, but not in the submucosa, after 10 min of retransfusion. Fucoidin had no effect on the vascular patency at that or any other time point. On the basis of these experiments it is concluded that PMN accumulation cannot be singled out as the cause of no-reflow in the rat gastric mucosa after shock and retransfusion of the degree and duration analyzed in this investigation.

Measures taken by veterinarians in Sweden in cases of bovine mastitis.

A questionnaire concerning the diagnosis and treatment of bovine mastitis was sent to all 350 Swedish food animal practitioners. 287 (82%) of the questionnaires were returned. One of the main aims was to establish if Swedish food animal practitioners used a common therapeutic regime that could be used as a control treatment in future clinical trials. It was found that many factors of importance for the clinical diagnosis of mastitis such as body temperature, duration of the symptoms etc. often were not considered. On the other hand 60-70% of the practitioners regularly took milk samples to obtain a bacteriological diagnosis. Approximately 40% of the veterinarians cultured the milk samples in their home laboratory. Basic measures like frequent emptying of the udder were recommended by only 40-50% of the veterinarians. All responding field veterinarians used the systemic route for administering antibiotics when treating cases of acute, clinical bovine mastitis. The drug of choice, initially, in these cases was benzylpenicillinprocain, which was used by 65-75% of the veterinarians. Twenty-five percent used a broad-spectrum antibiotic, most commonly a combination of penicillin and streptomycin. A minority (5%) directed their initial therapy towards gram-negative bacteria. About 30-40% supported the systemic therapy with intra-mammaries. Other drugs such as NSAID, corticosteroids and oxytocin was used, on a regular basis, by only about 10% of the practitioners.