Pregnancy rates in hair sheep after Ovsynch synchronization and a combined intracervical fixed-time artificial insemination and 10-day mating period.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the pregnancy rates in hair ewes using an Ovsynch synchronization protocol under a breeding system that combines fixed-time insemination plus a 10-day mating period as an alternative. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through an experimental study (n=27), ewes were randomly located into one of three treatments: (1) Pre-synch (n=9): Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α)+Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)+PGF2α+GnRH; (2) Ovsynch (n=9): GnRH+PGF2α+GnRH; and (3) control: Ewes bred by natural mating (NM) (n=9). Ewes were fixed-time inseminated (fixed-time artificial insemination [FTAI]) with fresh semen, collected just before the insemination time through vaginoscopy at 16 h after the second GnRH (gonadorelin) injection. Each experimental group was placed separately during 15 days and, after this time, fertile rams were allowed back with ewes for a 10-day mating period. Control group ewes remained with the rest of the herd suitable for breeding and were bred under NM. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasound at 28-, 56-, and 84-day post-breeding to differentiate between FTAI and NM pregnancies. Total (FTAI±NM) pregnancy rates at 56-day post-breeding were used to compared Pre-synch, Ovsynch, and control. For this purpose, two-tailed proportions comparison z-test was used with a 95% confidence level, for testing as the null hypothesis whether two proportions were equal. RESULTS: Pregnancy rates were higher in control ewes (66.4%) than FTAI (46.6%). When pregnancy rates after a 10-day mating period (40%) were added, the final rate (86.6%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Ovsynch-based protocols. The pregnancy rate was significantly lower in FTAI ewes compared to FTAI +10-day mating group (p<0.05). The overall pregnancy rate was 88.0, 85.7, and 67.0 (p>0.05) for Pre-synch, Ovsynch, and control ewes, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence on the benefits of combined FTAI protocols for improving the reproductive efficiency of sheep.

Pediatric hepatic hemangiosarcoma in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta).

BACKGROUND: Pediatric hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare condition in children with poor prognosis. Microscopically this neoplasm has a particular 'Kaposi-form' arrangement. Hemangiosarcoma in non-human primates is a rare finding. METHODS: Gross and microscopic examination of a 3-year-old rhesus were performed. Immunohistochemistry was used to characterize the hepatic hemangiosarcoma. RESULTS: The gross necropsy revealed hemoabdomen and a 4 x 3 x 3 cm mass in the liver with multiple smaller masses throughout the hepatic parenchyma. Histopathology confirmed a poorly differentiated hemangiosarcoma. Other organs submitted were free of metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Hemangiosarcoma in non-human primates has been rarely reported. Diagnosis was confirmed by expression of endothelial-specific markers CD31 and vWF by immunohistochemistry. Due to the young age of this monkey and the particular solid pattern throughout the mass this neoplasm resembles pediatric hepatic angiosarcoma in humans.

Extensión de la linfadenectomía para el tratamiento quirúrgico del adenocarcinoma gástrico en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio: cohorte prospectiva con análisis de supervivencia / Extension of lymphadenectomy in the surgical treatment of adecarcinoma of the stomach

Introduccion: en 1992 se creo el Protocolo de Betania, para el diagnostico y tratamiento del cancer gastrico en Colombia. A partir de ese momenta, en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, el manejo de esta patologia se ha realizado siguiendo los parámetros de dicho protocolo. El siguiente estudio presenta los resultados de una cohorte prospectiva que incluyo todos los pacientes operados por cancer gastrico entre 1992 y 1998 en esta institucion. Materiales y metodos: cohorte prospectiva, observacional y descriptiva con analisis de supervivencia. Se incluyen todos los pacientes con diagnostico endoscopico e histologico de adenocarcinoma gastrico, operados en este hospital entre marzo de 1992 y diciembre de 1998. Se excluyeron del analisis los pacientes con tumores irresecables. Se analizaron entre otras las siguientes variables: demográficas, diagnostico endoscopico e histologico, estadificacion tumoral (TNM), tipo de cirugia, complicaciones posoperatorias y supervivencia. Resultados: entre marzo de 1992 y diciembre de 1998 se realizaron 137 procedimientos quirurgicos con diagnostico de cancer gastrico. 86 operaciones fueron consideradas con intencion curativa, 18 fueron paliativas y las 33 restantes laparotomias no terapeuticas. Estos ultimas 33 pacientes fueron excluidos del estudio. La supervivencia global actuarial fue de 54 por ciento a 5 anos. Las principales variables que determinaron la supervivencia fueron el numero de ganglios comprometidos y el estado tumoral. El nivel de diseccion ganglionar no tuvo impacto en la supervivencia y aumento significativamente la morbilidad. El tratamiento adyuvante con quimioterapia tampoco afecto la supervivencia. Conclusiones: los resultados del tratamiento quirurgico del cancer gastrico dependen del diagnostico temprano de la enfermedad, del compromiso ganglionar y no de la extension de la linfadenectomia.