Evaluation of testicular echotexture with Ecotext as a diagnostic method of testicular dysfunction in stallions.

This study aimed to assess if Ecotext, a new software for evaluation of testicular echotexture, is a good method for diagnosis of stallions with testicular dysfunction (TD). Relationships between Ecotext parameters and sperm motility and production, testicular volume, and testicular blood flow were also studied. Ecotext provides a total of six echotexture parameters: Ecotext 1 (black pixels), 2 (white pixels) and 3 (grey pixels), and another 3 parameters related to hypoechogenic areas: Ecotext tubular density (ETD), Ecotext tubular diameter (ETd), and Ecotext tubular area (ETA). Stallions (n = 33) were assessed using proven diagnostic techniques (spermiogram, B-mode and Pulse Doppler ultrasound), and subsequent analysis with Ecotext. Animals were classified as "control stallions" (n:21, acceptable semen quality), and "stallions with TD" (n:12, poor semen quality (TM < 60%, PM < 45% and total nº of sperm with PM < 2000 × 106 spz), that were subdivided into "induced TD group" (immunized, anti-GnRH vaccine) and "acquired TD group". The acquired TD group showed differences in all Ecotext parameters in relation to controls (Ecotext 1:0.11 ± 0.17 vs 2.82 ± 2.52, Ecotext 2:1584.0 ± 575.8 vs 388 ± 368.2, Ecotext 3:134.2 ± 9.26; ETA: 2.14 ± 0.59 vs 5.40 ± 1.90; ETd: 65.66 ± 6.27 vs 86.93 ± 10.65 and ETD: 92.35 ± 11.24 vs 132.10 ± 16.35, p ≤ 0.001). Results suggest acquired TD stallions were suffering testicular degeneration with loss of architecture and function as all Ecotext parameters were altered in relation to controls. Induced TD horses only showed a reduction in ETD (116.2 ± 8.59 vs 132.10 ± 16.35, p ≤ 0.001), despite all sperm parameters being worse. These findings suggested immunized stallions probably only experience an acute loss of testicular functionality and parenchyma architecture is likely not affected since differences in Ecotext parameters with control stallions were not detected. ETD was the best parameter to identify animals with TD (AUC: 0.84, optimal cut-off value of 124.3 seminiferous tubules/cm2). Correlations were found between ETD and Doppler indices (PI: 0.60; RI: 0.47 p ≤ 0.001), total testicular volume (r: 0.48; p ≤ 0.05) and sperm motility (TM:0.51; and PM:0.54; p ≤ 0.001) and production (r:0.51; p ≤ 0.001). In summary, Ecotext could identify changes in testicular echotexture of stallions with TD. Results open the possibility for new research focused on establishing the relationship between Ecotext parameters and histomorphometry features in stallion testes.

Signo de McConnell en isquemia aguda de ventrículo derecho intraoperatoria: una etiología poco reconocida / McConnell's sign in intra-operative acute right ventricle ischaemia: an under-recognized aetiology

La ecocardiografía transesofágica (ETE) es parte de la monitorización en anestesia cardiotorácica y constituye una herramienta fundamental. Posee un papel indiscutible en cirugía valvular y de revascularización coronaria con deterioro severo de la función ventricular. Permite realizar diagnósticos que pueden optimizar la estrategia quirúrgica y monitorizar de manera dinámica y mínimamente invasiva la volemia y la función cardíaca durante el perioperatorio, detectando complicaciones no evidenciables por otros métodos. La ETE es beneficiosa en pacientes con inestabilidad hemodinámica intraoperatoria inexplicable. Numerosas publicaciones han reportado cambios en la estrategia quirúrgica como consecuencia del resultado del análisis perioperatorio de ETE, en un 27% antes de bypass, y en el periodo posterior a la salida de circulación extracorpórea, alteraciones en el plan quirúrgico que van de un 2,2% a un 14,7% de los pacientes. El signo de McConnell, visualizado mediante ETE como una acinesia de la pared libre del ventrículo derecho (VD), con una motilidad normal del ápex y agrandamiento de las cavidades derechas, es característico de disfunción del VD. El signo tiene 77% de sensibilidad y 94% de especificidad para el diagnóstico de embolia pulmonar aguda (EPA). Sin embargo, Casazza et al. demostraron que el signo de McConnell puede verse en caso de infarto, y de esta manera no es considerado un signo patognomónico de EPA. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de sexo masculino de 53 años, con antecedentes de estenosis aórtica severa y aneurisma de aorta ascendente con arterias coronarias normales, programado para cirugía de Bentall (reemplazo de aorta ascendente con injerto valvulado con válvula mecánica y reimplante de arterias coronarias), que tras el bypass presenta inestabilidad hemodinámica. La ETE mostró una imagen típica de signo de McConnell, sin hipertensión pulmonar, permitiendo un diagnóstico precoz de isquemia aguda de VD que originó cambios en el plan quirúrgico, la realización de una cirugía de revascularización coronaria. En consecuencia, el signo de McConnell, que describe características de disfunción del VD, obliga a un diagnóstico diferencial entre EPA, infarto de VD e isquemia miocárdica aguda (AU)

Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become a fundamental tool in modern cardiothoracic anaesthesia. It has an indisputable role in coronary valve surgery and revascularisations with severe impairment of ventricle function. It helps in making diagnoses that can optimise the surgical strategy and to minimal invasively dynamically monitor volaemia and cardiac function during the post-operative period, detecting complications unobservable by other methods. The McConnell sign, visualised using TEE as an akinesis of the right ventricular free wall, with a normal apex motility and enlargement of the right cavities, is characteristic of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. This sign has a 77% sensitivity and 94% specificity for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). The case is presented of a 53-year-old man scheduled for aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement surgery, with a history of severe valve aortic stenosis, aortic root and arch aneurysm, and with normal coronary arteries. Post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP), the patient presented with haemodynamic instability, with the TEE showing a typical image of the McConnell sign, with no pulmonary hypertension. This enabled making an early diagnosis of acute RV ischaemia, that led to a change in the surgical plan, the performing of coronary revascularisation surgery. As a result, the McConnell sign, which describes the characteristics of RV dysfunction, led to making a differential diagnosis between APE, RV infarction and acute myocardial ischaemia (AU)

McConnell's sign in intra-operative acute right ventricle ischaemia: An under-recognized aetiology. / Signo de McConnell en isquemia aguda de ventrículo derecho intraoperatoria: una etiología poco reconocida.

Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become a fundamental tool in modern cardiothoracic anaesthesia. It has an indisputable role in coronary valve surgery and revascularisations with severe impairment of ventricle function. It helps in making diagnoses that can optimise the surgical strategy and to minimal invasively dynamically monitor volaemia and cardiac function during the post-operative period, detecting complications unobservable by other methods. The McConnell sign, visualised using TEE as an akinesis of the right ventricular free wall, with a normal apex motility and enlargement of the right cavities, is characteristic of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. This sign has a 77% sensitivity and 94% specificity for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). The case is presented of a 53-year-old man scheduled for aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement surgery, with a history of severe valve aortic stenosis, aortic root and arch aneurysm, and with normal coronary arteries. Post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP), the patient presented with haemodynamic instability, with the TEE showing a typical image of the McConnell sign, with no pulmonary hypertension. This enabled making an early diagnosis of acute RV ischaemia, that led to a change in the surgical plan, the performing of coronary revascularisation surgery. As a result, the McConnell sign, which describes the characteristics of RV dysfunction, led to making a differential diagnosis between APE, RV infarction and acute myocardial ischaemia.

Seminal freezing in pure breed andalusian horse: difference in individual stallions and correlation between pre and post-freezing sperm parameters.

The aim of this study was the optimization of the sperm freezing protocols for the Pure Breed Andalusian Horse (AH) stallions. The study was performed in 84 ejaculates from 14 stallions (6 ejaculates per stallion). We examined the effect of individual stallion, centrifugal force and centrifugation extender on post-thaw sperm quality. Neither centrifugal force nor centrifugal extender had any significant effect on post-centrifugation or post-thawing sperm quality. Stallion was the principal source of variation in our experiments, showing individual significant differences (p < 0.05) in all parameters. Individual differences were more extreme prior to freezing than after freezing-thawing. There are significant positive correlations (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) between all post-centrifugation and post-thawing parameters.

Effect of the extender supplement Equex-STM on cryopreserved semen in the Assaf sheep.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of adding the detergent Equex-STM to the extender used to dilute semen for cryopreservation on several indicators of sperm preservation. Two consecutive ejaculates per day were obtained from 5 Assaf sheep on two days out of every week over three alternate months. The freezing protocol involved diluting the semen in Fiser's extender, to which 0.7 percent Equex-STM was added or omitted before cryopreserving the semen in straws by exposure to nitrogen vapor. Equex-STM supplementation gave rise to significantly (p=0.05) improved sperm quality variables after different periods of freezing (0 hours, 1 week and 1 month). The variables examined were: individual motility, viability, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity (HOS test) and morphological anomalies. This improvement was independent of the ram and month of testing. In a second experiment in which we incubated the semen (0 and 6 hours) at 37 degree C after thawing, Equex-STM also showed a beneficial effect on sperm quality.

Effect of mare's age and recovery methods on the recovery rate of equine follicular oocytes for IVM procedures.

Mares (n = 39) were classified according to age as young (less than 1.5 yr, n = 17) or old (more than 1.5 yr, n = 22) and sacrificed. Ovaries were measured and weighed, and the number of follicles and CL were counted. Follicle size and distribution were recorded (external: > 20 mm, < 20 mm; internal: > 5 mm, < 5 mm). External follicles were aspirated while internal follicles were sliced. The number and Type of oocytes recovered using each method were recorded. Oocyte recovery rates (oocytes/ovary) resulted in a mean of 0.92 oocytes by aspiration and 1.36 oocytes by additional slicing. The mean numbers of available follicles (8.11 and 5.02) oocytes recovered (4.94 and 3.02) and oocytes selected per ovary (3.29 and 2.32) were not significantly different in the young or old mares, respectively.

Sarcoma de Kaposi: características epidemiológicas / Sarcoma of Kaposí: characteristic epidemic

Objetivo: Reconocer las características epidemiológicas de Sarcoma de Kaposi (SK) y la influencia de estos en la respuesta a tratamiento. Material y métodos: revisión retrospectiva descriptiva de las historias clínicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de SK (1949-1994). Se registraron 81 pacientes, 62 con SK clásico y 19 con SK epidémico. Promedio de edad SKC 64.1 años y 36.9 años para el SKE. Razón H:M de 3:1 en el SKC y 19:O SKE. Antecedentes de enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS) y hepatitis 58 por ciento en SKE y 5 por ciento en SKC. Estadío clínico I-II 88 por ciento en el SKC, 9 por ciento. Sintomatología: dolor y edema de miebros inferiores 55 por ciento en el SKC y 5 por ciento SKE, mal estado general 8 por ciento SKC1 y 69 por ciento SKE, Karnofsky menor 70:93 por ciento SKC y 63 por ciento SKE. Síntomas B:26 por ciento SKC y 74 por ciento en el SKE. Los 19 pacientes con SKE no recibieron tratamiento específico para las lesiones dérmicas. Los tratamientos para SKC más comunes fueron RT para lesiones únicas y RT + QT para lesiones múltiples. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias significativas con p menor 0.01 entre las características clínico-epidemiológicas de los pacientes con SKC y SKE. El pequeño tamaño muestra así como el tratamiento casi individualizado de los pacientes no permitieron una comparación en lo referente a respuesta y estadio clínico. Adicionalmente el elevado porcentaje de perdidos de vista (mayor 50 por ciento) impido evaluar la sobrevida. Conclusiones: Sarcoma de Kaposi Clásico es una entidad clínicamente diferente al Sarcoma de Kaposi asociado al sindrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida siendo este último de carácter más agresivo.