Physiological and metabolic responses in newborn piglets associated with the birth order.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of birth order on the physiological and metabolic responses of the newborn piglet the first hours after birth. A total of 281 randomly selected newborn piglets were included, classified according to birth order in 12 groups (L1-L12). The expulsion interval, neonatal vitality, latency in connecting to the maternal teat and physiological profile were recorded for each piglet. The number of piglets born alive and dead was also recorded. The blood gases, electrolytes and glucose levels of the neonates were obtained by means of an automatic blood gas and electrolyte analyzer. Groups L1, L2, L11, and L12 had the least score on the vitality scale, the longest expulsion intervals, and longest latency to connect with the maternal teat, as well as greater physiological alterations (hyperglycemia, hyperlactatemia and hypercapnia) compared to groups L4 to L9. Likewise, type-II stillbirths only occurred in the first and last quarter of the birth order of the litter. In conclusion, piglets born in the first and last quarter of the birth order of the litter had a greater risk of having physiological and behavioral alterations during farrowing.

Seasonal distribution and evolving forms of multiple sclerosis patients diagnosed from April 2004 to November 2007

Multiple sclerosis (MS) was first reported in Cuba in 1965. The most frequent appearance is observed in the first six months of the year. Objetive: To determine the seasonal distribution and evolving forms of MS patients diagnosed with the disease between April 2004 and November 2007. Twenty-one patients with suspected MS and 42 outbreaks were studied. Patients were classified according to Lublin and Revingold's criteria for clinical forms and according to McDonald. Most patients were classified in outbreak and remission and only two patients classified as primary-progressive multiple sclerosis. The higher number of outbreaks occurred in the first two quarters of the year. It is recommended to study further weather variables that may be related to the emergence of these outbreaks in our environment(AU)

La esclerosis múltiple (EM) fue reportada en Cuba por primera vez en 1965. Se ha venido observando la aparición más frecuente en los primeros seis meses del año. Objetivo: Determinar la distribución estacional y formas evolutivas de EM en pacientes con diagnóstico de esta enfermedad entre abril 2004 y noviembre 2007. Se estudiaron 21 pacientes con sospecha de EM y un total de 42 brotes. Los pacientes fueron clasificados según los criterios de Lublin y Revingold para las formas evolutivas y según los criterios de McDonald. Solo dos pacientes clasificaron en la forma evolutiva progresiva primaria; los primeros dos trimestres del año fueron los de mayor número de brotes. Se recomienda profundizar en las variables climatológicas que pudieran tener vínculo con la aparición de estos brotes en nuestro medio(AU)

Relevancia clínica del índice haptoglobina/IgG y la escala de Boyer en el diagnóstico diferencialde las meningoencefalitis bacterianas y víricas / Clinical relevance of haptoglobin/IgG index and Boyer's score to the differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis

ntroducción. Las meningoencefalitis son una de las enfermedades más temidas en la infancia, tanto por su mortalidadcomo por sus posibles secuelas. Sin embargo, conocer tempranamente si su origen es bacteriano o vírico e instauraruna terapéutica adecuada resulta muy beneficioso para el paciente y el médico de asistencia. El índice haptoglobina/IgG y la escala de Boyer se han utilizado con estos fines. Pacientes y métodos. Se estudiaron 39 pacientes en edad pediátrica con eldiagnóstico de meningoencefalitis: 14 que sufrían meningoencefalitis bacterianas y 25 meningoencefalitis víricas. Se calculó el índice haptoglobina/IgG y se le aplicó la escala de Boyer para conocer su utilidad en el diagnóstico diferencial de las meningoencefalitis. La relevancia clínica del índice haptoglobina/IgG y la escala de Boyer se compararon a través de las curvas ROC. Resultados. La escala de Boyer no presentó asociación estadísticamente significativa con el origen de las meningoencefalitis.La sensibilidad y especificidad del índice haptoglobina/IgG fueron del 71,4 y el 64 por ciento, respectivamente, para iguales parámetros en la escala de Boyer del 28 y el 100 por ciento. El índice haptoglobina/IgG presentó mayor precisión para el diagnósticodiferencial de las meningitis bacterianas y víricas que la escala de Boyer a través del área bajo la curvas ROC. Conclusiones. El índice haptoglobina/IgG mostró su superioridad diagnóstica con relación a la escala de Boyer para establecer el origen de las meningoencefalitis(AU)

INTRODUCTION: The meningitis is one of the most severe diseases in children due to its mortality or sequels. However, timely knowledge of whether the infection is bacterial or viral in origin and applied a specific therapeutic would be beneficial for the patients and clinician. The haptoglobin/IgG index and Boyer's score have been use in this purpose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 39 pediatric patients, 14 suffering from viral meningoencephalitis and 25 from bacterial meningoencephalitis were study. Boyer's score and Hp/IgG index were applied in order to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy. The clinical relevance of haptoglobin/IgG index and Boyer's score were compared by the analysis of the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: There were no association between Boyer's score and the cause of the meningitis. The sensitivity and specificity of haptoglobin/IgG index were de 71.4 and 64 percent, respectively. The same parametric to Boyer's score were de 28 and 100 percent. Increased haptoglobin/IgG index presents bigger precision for the differential diagnostic of the bacterial and viral meningitis than the scale of Boyer according to the curves ROC. CONCLUSION: The index haptoglobin/IgG showed its diagnostic superiority with relationship to the scale of Boyer to establish the origin of the meningoencephalitis(AU)

[Haptoglobin in cerebrospinal fluid as a marker of infectious process in central nervous system]. / Haptoglobina en líquido cefalorraquídeo como marcador de procesos infecciosos en el sistema nervioso central.

INTRODUCTION: Haptoglobin is a transport protein and protects organism against iron loss and it should be involved in central nervous system infectious process. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Simultaneous serum and cerebrospinal fluid were obtained of 39 pediatric patients, 14 suffering from viral meningoencephalitis and 25 from bacterial meningoencephalitis. Five control cases were examined too. Haptoglobin, IgG and albumin were quantified in both fluids by radial immunodiffusion. Haptoglobin cerebrospinal fluid/serum ratio, haptoglobin index and haptoglobin/IgG index were calculated. Local IgG intrathecal synthesis was determined by reibergram. RESULTS: Haptoglobin index was higher not statistically significant in viral meningoencephalitis in comparison with bacterial disease but both were statistically significant with respect to control group. Increased haptoglobin/IgG index were statistically significant in bacterial meningoencephalitis in relation with viral meningoencephalitis. There were no association between haptoglobin and polymorphonuclear cells count and globular sediment speed. CONCLUSION: Haptoglobin should be considered a relevant marker of central nervous system infectious process.