First report of anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep from costa rica.

As the prevalence and severity of anthelmintic resistance continue to rise, nematode infections in sheep correspondingly reduce the profitability of the sheep industry. In Costa Rica, sheep production systems are increasing in both number and importance. A field trial study was carried out to detect the level of anthelmintic resistance to albendazole and ivermectin in gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of sheep from seven farms in Costa Rica. Resistance was determined using the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). Three treatment groups were assessed on each farm: control, albendazole, and ivermectin. Haemonchus spp. (71%), Strongyloides sp. (57%), and Trichostrongylus spp. (43%) presented resistance levels to albendazole, whereas Strongyloides sp. (43%), Haemonchus spp. (29%), and Trichostrongylus spp. (29%) were resistant to ivermectin. Haemonchus spp., Strongyloides sp., and Trichostrongylus spp. were the most resistant GIN to both products. This study suggests that frequency of treatment, exclusive chemical control, and visual estimation of animal weight to calculate dosage may contribute to the high levels of anthelmintic resistance that were observed on the farms analyzed herein.

Elevation of prostate specific antigen in cardiac surgery with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary circulation.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the correlation of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and cardiac surgery in a group of patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia operated on with or without extracorporeal cardiopulmonary circulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 men 54 to 72 years old (mean age 62 years) undergoing cardiac surgery had PSA measured preoperatively and postoperatively. To provide the baseline PSA value a first serum sample was obtained before surgery, and PSA measurements were repeated 12 hours and 7 days postoperatively. Cardiac surgery was performed with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary circulation in 20 cases and without cardiopulmonary bypass in 10, constituted the control group. An 18F Foley catheter was left indwelling for the first 24 hours in both groups. RESULTS: In the study group there was a significant increase in PSA postoperatively (p = 0.01). However, in the control group the PSA was not statistically different before or after surgery (p = 0.16). These results indicate that there was a physiological relationship between the extracorporeal cardiopulmonary circulation and PSA. CONCLUSIONS: Although the etiology of this elevation is unknown, based on our data we conclude that extracorporeal cardiopulmonary circulation can cause an alteration in serum PSA unrelated to cardiac operation without extracorporeal bypass.

[The dilatation of the residual stenosis due to a Blalock-Taussig anastomosis by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty]. / Dilatação de estenose residual da anastomose Blalock-Taussig modificada pela angioplastia transluminal percutânea.

A ten-months-old white infant had undergone surgical modified Blalock-Taussig anastomosis at 2 months of age. An interposition of bovine mammary artery was anastomosed with the right subclavian artery. A satisfactory clinical follow-up after surgery was achieved, until the last three months when cyanotic spells were observed. A new angiographic study showed tricuspid and pulmonary atresia and severe stenosis (+/- 80%) at the anastomosis between the subclavian artery and the bovine mammary tissue. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was successfully performed. An immediate improvement of cyanosis and oxygen saturation were observed.

A simplified method of quantitating organ uptake using a gamma camera.

A simplified method of absolute quantitation of activity in any region of the body is presented utilizing a series of views acquired with a scintillation camera linked to a computer. An accuracy of +/- 6% may be achieved. No additional programming needs to be added to the standard nuclear medicine computer software and a knowledge of the attenuation coefficients involved and the shape or position of the organs examined is not presupposed or estimated. Attention correction is performed using a transmission image as one of the sequence of camera. The phantom measurements used to evaluate the technique are described and some clinical results presented.