Effect of injectable vitamin E on incidence of retained fetal membranes and reproductive performance of dairy cows.

The objectives were to evaluate the effects of injectable vitamin E during the last 3 wk prepartum on the incidence of retained fetal membranes (RFM) and reproductive performance. Dairy cows (n=890), 390 Holsteins (132 nulliparous and 258 parous) and 500 crossbred Holstein × Gyr (199 nulliparous and 301 parous), from 3 dairy farms in Brazil were assigned to the study. In all 3 farms, from October to March, prepartum cows grazed tropical grasses and received 2 kg/d of a mixture of finely ground corn, soybean meal, and minerals and vitamins. From April to September prepartum cows received a total mixed ration composed of corn silage, finely ground corn, soybean meal, and minerals and vitamins. During the prepartum period, cows were fed 280 (farm 1), 390 (farm 2), and 480 IU (farm 3) of supplemental vitamin E per day, and throughout postpartum, cows were fed 370 (farm 1), 500 (farm 2), and 600 (farm 3) IU of supplemental vitamin E. Within each farm, cows were randomly assigned to remain as untreated controls or to receive 3 i.m. injections of 1,000 IU each of dl-α-tocopherol administered at 19.2 ± 4.3, 12.9 ± 3.3, and 6.2 ± 2.9 d before calving (VitE). Blood was sampled from 141 cows immediately before enrollment to determine the α-tocopherol and cholesterol statuses. Blood was also sampled and analyzed for concentrations of cortisol and nonesterified fatty acids in the last 3 wk of gestation. The serum concentration of α-tocopherol or α-tocopherol:cholesterol ratio did not differ between treatments and averaged 2.97 ± 0.10 µg/mL and 4.46 ± 0.16 × 10(-3), respectively. In total, 53.2% of the cows had an inadequate concentration of serum α-tocopherol based on the 3.0 µg/mL cut-off for adequacy. The risk of RFM decreased as serum α-tocopherol increased. Milk production did not differ between controls and VitE cows. Treatment with injectable α-tocopherol decreased RFM from 20.1 to 13.5%, decreased incidence of stillbirth from 14.9 to 6.8%, and tended to decrease death by 200 d postpartum. VitE cows tended to have improved pregnancy per insemination at first AI (36.7 vs. 30.1%) because of decreased pregnancy loss from 31 to 62 d of gestation (12.5 vs. 20.5%). Despite a similar insemination rate, VitE cows had 22% greater pregnancy rate than control cows. Cows receiving vitamin E had decreased circulating cortisol and nonesterified fatty acids around calving. In summary, when cows were fed limited amounts of supplemental vitamin E, 28 to 48% of the recommendations, prepartum supplementation with injectable α-tocopherol decreased incidence of RFM and improved reproduction.

Assessment of pubovisceral muscle defects and levator hiatal dimensions in women with faecal incontinence after vaginal delivery: is there a correlation with severity of symptoms?

AIM: We assessed pubovisceral muscle (PVM) defects, levator hiatal dimensions and anal sphincter defects using three-dimensional (3D) endovaginal and anorectal ultrasonography in women with previous vaginal delivery and faecal incontinence to determine the relationship between anatomic/functional findings and severity of faecal incontinence symptoms. METHOD: This was a prospective, observational study including 52 women with faecal incontinence symptoms who had undergone vaginal delivery. Asymptomatic nulliparous women (n = 17) served as controls to provide reference values for pelvic floor measurements. All participants underwent 3D endovaginal and anorectal ultrasonography. We used an ultrasound score to identify and quantify the extent of PVM defects and sphincter damage and to measure levator hiatal dimensions. Incontinence was assessed using the Cleveland Clinic Florida Incontinence Scoring System. RESULTS: Defects of the PVM were identified with 3D endovaginal ultrasonography in 27% of women with faecal incontinence who had undergone vaginal delivery. The incontinence score and the ultrasound score were significantly higher in women with a PVM defect. A significant, positive correlation was found between the incontinence score and the ultrasound score. The levator hiatal dimensions were significantly greater, and the positions of the anorectal junction and bladder neck were lower, in women who had undergone vaginal delivery than in nulliparous women. CONCLUSION: As determined by the 3D ultrasound score, severity of incontinence is related to the extent of damage of the PVM, as well as of the anal sphincters. Additionally, vaginal delivery results in enlargement of the levator hiatus and a lower position of the anorectal junction and bladder neck compared with nulliparous women.

A novel three-dimensional dynamic anorectal ultrasonography technique for the assessment of perineal descent, compared with defaecography.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to describe a novel three-dimensional dynamic anorectal ultrasonography technique (dynamic 3-DAUS) for assessment of perineal descent (PD) and establishment of normal range values, comparing it with defaecography. Secondarily, the study compares the ability of the two techniques to identify various pelvic floor dysfunctions. METHOD: A prospective study was undertaken in 29 women (mean age 43 years) with obstructed defecation disorder. All patients underwent defaecography and dynamic 3-DAUS and the results were compared. Lee kappa coefficients (K) were used. RESULTS: On defaecography, PD > 3 cm was detected in 12 patients. On dynamic 3-DAUS, 10 of these patients had PD > 2.5 cm. Seventeen had normal PD on defaecography and PD ≤ 2.5 cm on dynamic 3-DAUS (K 0.85). Normal relaxation was observed in 10 patients and anismus in 14 with both techniques (K 0.65). Both techniques identified five patients without rectocele, two with grade I rectocele (K 0.89 and 1.00, respectively) and 10 with grade II and nine with grade III (K 0.72 and 0.77, respectively). Rectal intussusception was identified in six patients on defaecography. These were confirmed on dynamic 3-DAUS in addition to the identification of another seven cases indicating moderate agreement (K 0.46). Enterocele/sigmoidocele grade III was identified in one patient with both techniques, indicating substantial agreement (K 0.65). CONCLUSION: Dynamic 3-DAUS was shown to be a reliable technique for the assessment of PD and pelvic floor dysfunctions, identifying all disorders and confirming findings from defaecography.

Effect of vaginal delivery and ageing on the anatomy of the female anal canal assessed by three-dimensional anorectal ultrasound.

AIM: The effect of vaginal delivery and ageing on the anatomy of the anal canal was assessed using three-dimensional anorectal ultrasound to determine the interobserver reliability. METHOD: One-hundred and eighteen asymptomatic women without sphincter damage were grouped according to parity and mode of delivery. They were then stratified by age (≤50 years vs >50 years). Group I consisted of 35 nulliparous women, of mean ages 36 years (n = 20) and 62 years (n = 15), Group II consisted of multiparous women, having one or more vaginal deliveries (n = 43), of mean ages 43 years (n = 20) and 60 years (n = 23) and Group III consisted of women who had a Caesarean section (n = 40) of mean ages 41 years (n = 20) and 56 years (n = 20). The groups were compared with regard to the length and the thickness of the external anal sphincter, the internal anal sphincter, the posterior external sphincter and the puborectalis in all quadrants and the anterior gap. Interobserver variability was assessed. RESULTS: In women having vaginal delivery the length of the anterior external sphincter was shorter (P = 0.0004) and the gap was longer (P = 0.0306). The external sphincter tended to be thinner in individuals having vaginal delivery (P = 0.0677) and in those subjects over 50 years of age having had a vaginal delivery (P = 0.0164). In nulliparous women, the internal sphincter was thicker in subjects over 50 years of age (P = 0.0229). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.755-0.916 for sphincter muscle and gap length and 0.446-0.769 for muscle thickness. CONCLUSION: Vaginal delivery was associated with a shorter anterior external sphincter, a longer gap and a thinner anterior external sphincter in asymptomatic women. Age was correlated with sphincter thickness, and nulliparous women >50 years of age had a thicker internal sphincter. Three-dimensional ultrasound was found to be a reliable method for measuring anal structures.

Criteria for three-dimensional anorectal ultrasound assessment of response to chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients.

AIM: The aim of this study was to identify criteria for three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography (3D-AUS) to assess the response of rectal cancer to chemoradiotherapy; the 3D-AUS results were compared with the histopathological findings of the resected specimen. METHOD: Thirty-five patients underwent 3D-AUS and were grouped according to the presence (GI; n = 19) or absence (GII; n = 16) of anal canal invasion. All patients received chemoradiotherapy, then underwent a second 3D-AUS. The response (complete, partial or insignificant and lymph node metastasis) was evaluated. Tumour length (cm) and volume (cm(3) ), length and volume regression percentage (%), distal length regression, and distance between the distal tumour edge and the proximal border of the internal anal sphincter were measured before and after chemoradiotherapy. All patients underwent surgery, and the 3D-AUS image was compared with the histopathological findings. RESULTS: Before chemoradiotherapy, the average tumour length was similar in G1 and GII, but the volume differed significantly (P = 0.0408). The response was insignificant in seven (37%) patients, partial in 10 (53%) patients and complete in two (10%) patients in GI. The corresponding figures for GII were one (6%) patient, 12 (75%) patients and three (19%) patients (P = 0.0318). The agreement between pathological and post-chemoratherapy 3D-AUS findings was almost identical for the identification of residual tumour or complete response (κ = 1.0) and substantial for lymph node metastases (κ = 0.74). The mean distance to the internal anal sphincter was greater in GII. A sphincter-saving resection was performed in 2/19 patients in GI and in 14/16 patients in GII (P < 0.0001). The histopathological examination revealed a free distal margin. CONCLUSION: 3D-AUS was shown to evaluate accurately the response to chemoradiotherapy, helping in the selection of patients for a sphincter-saving resection. The distance between the tumour and the internal anal sphincter was the most important parameter in this respect.

Prevalência da campilobacteriose e da tricomonose genitais bovinas no Distrito Federal e em seu entorno / Prevalence of bovine genital Campylobacteriosis and Trichomoniasis in the Federal District and its surroundings

Objetivou-se estudar a prevalência da campilobacteriose genital bovina (CGB) e da tricomonose genital bovina (TGB) no Distrito Federal e em seu entorno. A estimativa da prevalência de cada doença foi realizada com base no exame de útero e vagina ou prepúcio de 385 animais abatidos em frigoríficos no DF e em seu entorno. O diagnóstico de C. fetus foi feito por imunofluorescência direta (IFD). Para diagnóstico de T. foetus, swabs de útero e vagina ou prepúcio foram lavados em meio de Diamond, mantidos em temperatura ambiente e protegidos da luz até a incubação a 37ºC por até oito dias e examinados diariamente ao microscópio utilizando-se objetiva de 40X. Dos 398 animais testados (258 fêmeas e 140 machos), 44 foram positivos ao teste de IFD, o que corresponde a uma prevalência de 11,1% de animais positivos para CGB, com intervalo de confiança (95%) de 7,97 a 14,14%. Não foi isolado T. foetus de nenhuma das amostras. Os resultados confirmam a presença da infecção por C. fetus em rebanhos bovinos do Distrito Federal e de seu entorno.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) and bovine genital trichomoniasis (TGB) in Federal District and surroundings. The estimated prevalence of each disease was based on examination of the uterus and vagina or prepuce of 385 animals at slaughterhouses in Federal District and its surroundings. The diagnosis of C. fetus was done by direct immunofluorescence (DIF). For diagnosis of T. fetus swabs from vagina and uterus/prepuce were washed in Diamond’s medium, kept at room temperature and protected from light until incubation at 37°C for 8 days and examined daily by microscopy using a 40x objective. Of the 398 animals tested (258 females and 140 males), 44 were positive by DIF test, corresponding to a prevalence of 11.1% of animals positive for CGB, (95% probability interval: 7.97 - 14.14%). T. fetus was not isolated from any of the samples. The results confirm the presence of infection by C. fetus in cattle herds in the Federal District and surrounding areas.

Prevalência da campilobacteriose e da tricomonose genitais bovinas no Distrito Federal e em seu entorno / Prevalence of bovine genital Campylobacteriosis and Trichomoniasis in the Federal District and its surroundings

Objetivou-se estudar a prevalência da campilobacteriose genital bovina (CGB) e da tricomonose genital bovina (TGB) no Distrito Federal e em seu entorno. A estimativa da prevalência de cada doença foi realizada com base no exame de útero e vagina ou prepúcio de 385 animais abatidos em frigoríficos no DF e em seu entorno. O diagnóstico de C. fetus foi feito por imunofluorescência direta (IFD). Para diagnóstico de T. foetus, swabs de útero e vagina ou prepúcio foram lavados em meio de Diamond, mantidos em temperatura ambiente e protegidos da luz até a incubação a 37ºC por até oito dias e examinados diariamente ao microscópio utilizando-se objetiva de 40X. Dos 398 animais testados (258 fêmeas e 140 machos), 44 foram positivos ao teste de IFD, o que corresponde a uma prevalência de 11,1% de animais positivos para CGB, com intervalo de confiança (95%) de 7,97 a 14,14%. Não foi isolado T. foetus de nenhuma das amostras. Os resultados confirmam a presença da infecção por C. fetus em rebanhos bovinos do Distrito Federal e de seu entorno.(AU)

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) and bovine genital trichomoniasis (TGB) in Federal District and surroundings. The estimated prevalence of each disease was based on examination of the uterus and vagina or prepuce of 385 animals at slaughterhouses in Federal District and its surroundings. The diagnosis of C. fetus was done by direct immunofluorescence (DIF). For diagnosis of T. fetus swabs from vagina and uterus/prepuce were washed in Diamonds medium, kept at room temperature and protected from light until incubation at 37°C for 8 days and examined daily by microscopy using a 40x objective. Of the 398 animals tested (258 females and 140 males), 44 were positive by DIF test, corresponding to a prevalence of 11.1% of animals positive for CGB, (95% probability interval: 7.97 - 14.14%). T. fetus was not isolated from any of the samples. The results confirm the presence of infection by C. fetus in cattle herds in the Federal District and surrounding areas. (AU)