Prepartum behaviors as early indicators for postpartum energy associated biomarkers status in Holstein dairy cows.

Our main aim was to investigate the predictive value of prepartum behaviors such as total daily rumination (TDR), total daily activity (TDA) and dry matter intake (DMI) as early indicators to detect cows at risk for hyperketonemia (HYK), hypoglycemia (HYG) or high non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) status in the first (wk1) and second week (wk2) postpartum. In a case control study, 64 Holstein cows were enrolled 3 weeks before the expected time of calving and monitored until 15 days in milk (DIM). Postpartum blood samples were taken at D3 and D6 for wk1 and at D12 and D15 for wk2 to measure beta-hydroxybutyrate, NEFA and glucose concentration. Ear-mounted accelerometers were used to measure TDR and TDA. DMI and milk yield were obtained from farm records. Relationships between the average daily rate of change in prepartum TDR (ΔTDR), TDA (ΔTDA), and DMI (ΔDMI) with postpartum HYK, HYG and NEFA status in wk1 and wk2 post-partum were evaluated using linear regression models. Models were adjusted for potential confounding variables, and covariates retained in the final models were determined by backward selection. No evidence was found to support the premise that prepartum ΔTDR, ΔTDA or ΔDMI predicted postpartum HYK, HYG or NEFA status in wk1 or in wk2. Overall, prepartum ΔTDR, ΔTDA and ΔDMI were not effective predictors of HYK, HYG or NEFA status in the first 2 weeks postpartum.

Randomized clinical trial evaluating the effects of administering acidogenic boluses at dry-off on udder health, milk yield, and herd removal.

Acidogenic boluses can mitigate potential negative effects of high milk yield at dry-off on udder health. This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effect of administering acidogenic boluses at dry-off on dry period IMI dynamics and on milk production parameters, somatic cell count linear score (LSCC), clinical mastitis (CM), and herd removal in the next lactation. A total of 901 cows from 3 dairy farms were randomly allocated to a control (CON, n = 458; no administration of acidogenic boluses at dry-off) or treatment group (TRT, n = 443; administration of 2 acidogenic boluses at dry-off). Quarter milk samples were collected at dry-off and after calving and submitted for bacteriological milk culture. The effects of treatment on the presence of quarter-level postpartum IMI, cure of existing IMI, and acquisition of new IMI, and on the prevalence of cow-level high LSCC (LSCC ≥4) in the first 30 d in milk (DIM) were analyzed using mixed effects logistic regression. Mixed linear regression was used to analyze cow-level milk production parameters (i.e., milk yield, fat corrected milk, fat and protein yield, and LSCC) in the first 90 DIM and until 300 DIM. For CM and herd removal, Cox proportional hazard regression models were used. In addition to treatment group, lactation group at dry-off, presence of high LSCC in the last test-day, average milk yield in the week before dry-off, presence of CM in the lactation of enrollment, and biologically relevant interactions were offered in all models. There was no evidence of a difference in IMI dynamics or in milk, fat corrected milk, protein or fat yields in the subsequent lactation between groups. The TRT group had a lower LSCC in the first 2 mo postpartum compared with the CON group (2.58 ± 0.3 vs. 2.92 ± 0.3 and 2.42 ± 0.3 vs. 2.81 ± 0.3, for first and second month postpartum). The prevalence of high LSCC in the first 30 DIM was 9.1% lower in the TRT compared with the CON group (16.3% vs. 25.5%; risk difference: -9.2; 95% CI: -15.8, -2.5). Cows in the TRT group exhibited reduced hazards of CM in the subsequent lactation compared with cows in the CON group (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.89) as well as a reduced hazard of herd removal (HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.77, 0.88). The administration of acidogenic boluses as a component of dry-off management is a promising approach to maintain good udder health and reduce the hazard of CM and herd removal during the subsequent lactation.

A randomized clinical trial evaluating the effects of administration of acidogenic boluses at dry-off on rumination and activity behavior in the 14 subsequent days.

Elevated milk production at dry-off can lead to increased udder pressure and, in turn, increased stress due to pain and discomfort, affecting natural behaviors. Administering acidogenic boluses at dry-off acts by inducing temporary and mild decreases in blood pH. This decreases dry matter intake, reduces milk yield, and increases cow comfort by lessening udder pressure. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of oral administration of acidogenic boluses at dry-off on total daily activity (TDA) and total daily rumination (TDR) behaviors in the first 2 wk of the dry period. This randomized clinical trial was conducted on a single farm and cows were randomly assigned to either treatment (TRT; n = 30) or control (CON; n = 34). The TRT group received 2 acidogenic boluses at dry-off and the CON group received no intervention. All cows received dry-cow therapy (intramammary antibiotic and internal teat sealant). The TDA and TDR data from 7 d before to 14 d after dry-off were measured using ear-mounted activity monitors. Analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects models with repeated measures. We observed a similar TDA in both groups throughout the study follow-up period. Overall, cows in the TRT group spent 17 min/d less time active than cows in the CON group in the first 2 wk after dry-off with the greatest difference observed on the second day of the dry period (TRT = 395 min/d; 95% CI: 370 to 420 vs. CON = 428 min/d; 95% CI: 404 to 451). The TRT group had lower TDR in the first 24 h after bolus administration (TRT = 437 min/d; 95% CI: 414 to 461 vs. CON = 488 min/d; 95% CI: 466 to 510) when compared with the CON group, but no differences were observed when comparing both groups in the 13 subsequent days. Our results indicate that administering acidogenic boluses at dry-off slightly decreased TDA during the first 2 wk of the dry period and decreased TDR on the first day after administration.

Influence of forage source and forage inclusion level on growth performance, feeding behavior, and carcass characteristics in finishing steers.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of forage source (Exp. 1) and forage inclusion level (Exp. 2) in finishing diets on growth performance and feeding behavior. In Exp. 1, sixty-four steers (394 ± 3.6 kg BW) were allotted by BW to 3 pens. Within each pen, steers were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 dietary treatments containing different forage sources: 1) alfalfa hay, 2) corn silage, 3) wheat straw, and 4) corn stover. Alfalfa hay was provided at 10% of the diet DM and the other forage sources were offered to provide the same percentage of NDF from forage. In Exp. 2, forty-four steers (451 ± 4.6 kg BW) were used in a completely randomized design and were fed dry-rolled corn-based diets containing a mixture of hay and corn silage as the forage source at 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% forage (DM basis). Intake and feeding behavior traits were calculated from data generated by the Insentec feeding system. In Exp. 1, final BW, ADG, and G:F did not differ between treatments. Dry matter intake and feeding behavior traits responded differently depending on week (interaction ≤ 0.04) of the experiment with DMI generally greater in steers fed alfalfa or corn silage early in the experiment and time per meal generally greater and eating rate slower in steers fed diets containing wheat straw or corn stover. In Exp. 2, ADG and G:F decreased linearly ( < 0.001) with increasing forage inclusion. Quadratic effects ( ≤ 0.002) were observed for eating time (per visit, meal, and d) and DMI (per visit, meal, and min) with eating time greatest in the 10% forage treatment and DMI the least in the 20% forage treatment. Dry matter intake per d responded differently depending on week (interaction = 0.01) with some weeks exhibiting linear and other quadratic effects that were primarily the result of the largest decrease in DMI in the 20% forage inclusion treatment. These data indicate that growth performance was not influenced by forage source, when fed at a similar NDF inclusion level, but was negatively impacted by increasing forage inclusion in high-concentrate finishing diets. However, both forage source and inclusion level impacted feeding behavior as cattle consuming bulkier forages (wheat straw or corn stover) or at greater inclusion levels typically had a slower eating rate and took longer to consume a meal. Additionally, DMI may decrease at greater forage inclusion levels (> 15%).

Do structural changes in the tumour bed after intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) of breast cancer complicate the evaluation of mammograms in a long-term follow-up?

The purpose of the study was to assess whether postoperative changes in the tumour bed after intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with low-energy X-rays complicate the mammographic evaluation. 54 patients receiving breast-conserving surgery and IORT were compared to a control group of 48 patients with conventional breast-conserving treatment. All patients were included in routine follow-ups (≥3 years) with mammography accompanied by ultrasound. By retrospective consensus reading the mammographic changes in the tumour bed were classified as absent, low or distinct. Using the same grading it was classified whether mammographic evaluation was complicated due to postoperative changes. Focusing the yearly follow-ups within a period of four years, distinct changes were found significantly more often after IORT (52-62% vs. 7-30%). After IORT the evaluation was significantly more often distinctly complicated in each follow-up, except for year 1 (16-21% vs. 0-8%). In the IORT group the distribution of findings was nearly stable over time. In the control group it changed over time and a distinctly complicated evaluation was no longer seen in the follow-ups of years 3 and 4. Overall, further non-routine diagnostic procedures due to unclear findings in the tumour bed became necessary in 7% (IORT) vs. 8% (control group) of the patients (p=0.86). Evaluation of mammograms is complicated after IORT. In contrast to conventionally treated patients postoperative changes and difficulties of evaluation do not decrease over time. Overall, after IORT the diagnostic uncertainty does not seem to be increased in ultrasound supported mammographic follow-ups. The topic needs further evaluation with larger study samples.

Long-term follow-up-findings in mammography and ultrasound after intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for breast cancer.

The purpose of this study was to assess mammographic and sonographic findings in a long-term follow-up (>or=3 years) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and IORT, either applied as boost or exclusively. Follow-up-findings of 54 patients were retrospectively evaluated and compared to a control group of 48 patients, treated with BCS and whole-breast radiotherapy. After IORT patients had a higher incidence of fat necroses manifesting as oil cysts in the late follow-up mammograms (n = 31 vs n = 8); furthermore, oil cysts were larger in the IORT group (median 4.5 vs 1.4 cm(2)). In 25 IORT patients the oil cysts arose from partially organized hematomas/seromas, which in this group were generally more frequent (n = 38 vs n = 9) and larger (median 3.6 vs 1.8 cm(2)). After IORT a decreasing incidence of hematomas/seromas was reciprocal to an increasing incidence of oil cysts, and the size of both entities correlated with each other. Liquid lesions with polypoid inner wall thickening on ultrasound, attributed to organized hematomas/seromas or fat necroses, appear more frequently after IORT (n = 15 vs n = 1). In conclusion, IORT is associated with a high incidence of large oil cysts, which arise from likewise large partially organized wound cavities. On ultrasound pronounced partial organization with polypoid inner wall thickening is a frequent finding in those cavities.

Characterization of nine microsatellite loci in the sea star Astropecten aranciacus and cross-species amplification for related taxa.

So far, only few microsatellite markers have been developed and extensively tested for echinoderms. To study the population genetic structure of the sea star Astropecten aranciacus, we developed primers for nine polymorphic microsatellite loci and tested them on two populations from Faro in Portugal (N = 25) and from La Herradura in Spain (N = 20). Within populations, allele numbers varied from four to 20, while expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.593 to 0.936 and from 0.222 to 0.900, respectively. Additional cross-species amplifications were polymorphic at some loci, indicating their potential usefulness for related taxa.

Probable transmission of HIV from an orthopedic surgeon to a patient in France.

BACKGROUND: Transmission of HIV from infected health care workers to patients has been documented in only one cluster involving 6 patients of a dentist in Florida. In October 1995, the French Ministry of Health offered HIV testing to patients who had been operated on by an orthopedic surgeon in whom AIDS was recently diagnosed. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the surgeon transmitted HIV to patients during operations. DESIGN: Epidemiologic investigation. SETTING: The practice of an orthopedic surgeon in a French public hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 1 surgeon and 983 of his former patients. MEASUREMENTS: 3004 patients who had undergone invasive procedures were contacted by mail for counseling and HIV testing. One HIV-positive patient was interviewed, and DNA sequence analysis was performed to compare the genetic relation of the patient's and the surgeon's viruses. Infection-control precautions and the surgeon's practices were assessed. RESULTS: Of 983 patients in whom serologic status was ascertained, 982 were HIV negative and 1 was HIV positive. The HIV-positive patient, a woman born in 1925, tested negative for HIV before placement of a total hip prosthesis with bone graft (a prolonged operation) performed by the surgeon in 1992. She had no identified risk for HIV exposure. Molecular analysis indicated that the viral sequences obtained from the surgeon and the HIV-infected woman were closely related. Infection-control precautions were in accordance with recommendations, but blood contact between the surgeon and his patients occurred commonly during surgical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: An HIV-infected surgeon may have transmitted HIV to one of his patients during surgery.

[Familial deficiency of thyroxine-binding globulin]. / Familiärer Mangel des thyroxinbindenden Globulins.

A family with congenital athyropexinemia is reported. By reconstruction of the family tree over seven generations, a heterozygous woman born in 1842 was identified as the first carrier of the anomaly who introduced the disorder into two family branches by marrying twice. 24 descendants examined included 6 heterozygous females and 8 hemizygous males. All were euthyroid. The mode of inheritance was obviously linked to the X-chromosome. An interesting fact was that in one family thyroxine binding globulin was absent or measured only in traces in hemizygous patients.