Different methods of assessing udder temperature through thermography and their relation with rectal temperature.

Infrared thermography of the lateral side portion of the udder was taken from 38 lactating cows in a 6-day experiment. Thermograms were analyzed using specific software with the use of eight different methods. The experiment was aimed at correlating the different methods with each other and with rectal temperature (RT), in order to suggest a method to assess udder side temperature, and also at creating regression equations to enable RT calculation through the use of thermographic data. All methods of analyzing thermograms were highly correlated; correlations between thermograms and RT were significant (P < 0.01) and above 0.840. The highest correlation was between RT and the maximum temperature obtained using a horizontal rectangle placed within the lateral (side) portion of the udder (maximum temperature in a horizontal rectangle (MHR), 0.897). With the exception of the average temperature of a horizontal rectangle, linear regression coefficients were significant (P < 0.05) and coefficients of determination were higher than 75.51%. We suggest the use of MHR to evaluate udder side temperature. The ease of accessing the side of the udder, the welfare advantages of non-invasive observations, and the high correlation with RT suggest the use of thermograms in the lateral portion of the udder to assess animals' temperature.

International validation of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-BRECON23 quality-of-life questionnaire for women undergoing breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to carry out phase 4 international field-testing of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) breast reconstruction (BRECON) module. The primary objective was finalization of its scale structure. Secondary objectives were evaluation of its reliability, validity, responsiveness, acceptability and interpretability in patients with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy and reconstruction. METHODS: The EORTC module development guidelines were followed. Patients were recruited from 28 centres in seven countries. A prospective cohort completed the QLQ-BRECON15 before mastectomy and the QLQ-BRECON24 at 4-8 months after reconstruction. The cross-sectional cohort completed the QLQ-BRECON24 at 1-5 years after reconstruction, and repeated this 2-8 weeks later (test-retest reliability). All participants completed debriefing questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 438 patients were recruited, 234 in the prospective cohort and 204 in the cross-sectional cohort. A total of 414 reconstructions were immediate, with a comparable number of implants (176) and donor-site flaps (166). Control groups comprised patients who underwent two-stage implant procedures (72, 75 per cent) or delayed reconstruction (24, 25 per cent). Psychometric scale validity was supported by moderate to high item-own scale and item-total correlations (over 0·5). Questionnaire validity was confirmed by good scale-to-sample targeting, and computable scale scores exceeding 50 per cent, except nipple cosmesis (over 40 per cent). In known-group comparisons, QLQ-BRECON24 scales and items differentiated between patient groups defined by clinical criteria, such as type and timing of reconstruction, postmastectomy radiotherapy and surgical complications, with moderate effect sizes. Prospectively, sexuality and surgical side-effects scales showed significant responsiveness over time (P < 0·001). Scale reliability was supported by high Cronbach's α coefficients (over 0·7) and test-retest (intraclass correlation more than 0·8). One item (finding a well fitting bra) was excluded based on high floor/ceiling effects, poor test-retest and weak correlations in factor analysis (below 0·3), thus generating the QLQ-BRECON23 questionnaire. CONCLUSION: The QLQ-BRECON23 is an internationally validated tool to be used alongside the EORTC QLQ-C30 (cancer) and QLQ-BR23 (breast cancer) questionnaires for evaluating quality of life and satisfaction after breast reconstruction.

Selection index based on the relative importance of traits and possibilities in breeding popcorn.

One of the major difficulties faced by popcorn breeders is the negative correlation between popping expansion (PE) and grain yield (GY). It is necessary to overcome this difficulty to obtain promising genotypes. One helpful tool in this process is a selection index because it allows multiple features of interest to be selected. Thus, the present study proposes a new and comprehensive selection index applied in 169 half-sib families in UEM-Co1 and UEM-Co2 composites during two cycles of recurrent selection. An experiment was conducted in a 13 x 13 lattice square in the 2004/2005 and 2006/2007 crop years in Maringá, Paraná State, and PE and GY were evaluated. To calculate Fi statistics, the following relative importance (RI) assignments were used: 0.5 for both PE and GY, and 0.70 and 0.30 for PE and GY, respectively. Families were classified according to Fi values such that Fi = 0 indicated that genotypes met the average of those selected by direct selection, Fi < 0 indicated that genotypes fell below the average of those selected, and Fi > 0 indicated that genotypes exceeded the average of those selected. Thus, desirable values of Fi were positive, indicating that the selected families were higher than those families that would be selected by direct selection for both traits. Therefore, we concluded that the novel Fi statistic was satisfactory for family selection because simultaneous and higher gains for both traits in both composites were obtained.

Using the Small Ruminant Nutrition System to develop and evaluate an alternative approach to estimating the dry matter intake of goats when accounting for ruminal fiber stratification.

The first objective of this research was to assess the ability of the Small Ruminant Nutrition System (SRNS) mechanistic model to predict metabolizable energy intake (MEI) and milk yield (MY) when using a heterogeneous fiber pool scenario (GnG1), compared with a traditional, homogeneous scenario (G1). The second objective was to evaluate an alternative approach to estimating the dry matter intake (DMI) of goats to be used in the SRNS model. The GnG1 scenario considers an age-dependent fractional transference rate for fiber particles from the first ruminal fiber pool (raft) to an escapable pool (λr), and that this second ruminal fiber pool (i.e., escapable pool) follows an age-independent fractional escape rate for fiber particles (ke). Scenario G1 adopted only a single fractional passage rate (kp). All parameters were estimated individually by using equations published in the literature, except for 2 passage rate equations in the G1 scenario: 1 developed with sheep data (G1-S) and another developed with goat data (G1-G). The alternative approach to estimating DMI was based on an optimization process using a series of dietary constraints. The DMI, MEI, and MY estimated for the GnG1 and G1 scenarios were compared with the results of an independent dataset (n=327) that contained information regarding DMI, MEI, MY, and milk and dietary compositions. The evaluation of the scenarios was performed using the coefficient of determination (R(2)) between the observed and predicted values, mean bias (MB), bias correction factor (Cb), and concordance correlation coefficient. The MEI estimated by the GnG1 scenario yielded precise and accurate values (R(2) = 082; MB = 0.21 Mcal/d; Cb = 0.98) similar to those of the G1-S (R(2) = 0.85; MB = 0.10 Mcal/d; Cb=0.99) and G1-G (R(2) = 0.84; MB = 0.18 Mcal/d; Cb = 0.98) scenarios. The results were also similar for the MY, but a substantial MB was found as follows: GnG1 (R(2) = 0.74; MB = 0.70 kg/d; Cb = 0.79), G1-S (R(2) = 0.71; MB = 0.58 kg/d(1); Cb = 0.85) and G1-G (R(2) = 0.71; MB = 0.65 kg/d; Cb = 0.82). The alternative approach for DMI prediction provided better results with the G1-G scenario (R(2)=0.88; MB = -71.67 g/d; Cb = 0.98). We concluded that the GnG1 scenario is valid within mechanistic models such as the SRNS and that the alternative approach for estimating DMI is reasonable and can be used in diet formulations for goats.

Metabolic Syndrome and Positive Frailty Screening: A Cross-Sectional Study with Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome is a set of disorders that characterized by the association of three or more risk factors, like the obesity central, dyslipidemia, borderline blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and the increase of triglycerides. However, these factors also can be associated with pathophysiology of frailty. Objectives: verifying whether the metabolic syndrome is associated to the positive frailty screening in the older people. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: 443 older people living in Rio Branco, Brazil. Setting: Data collection was carried out in two stages: a personal interview and blood collection. Measurements: The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the criteria of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. The frailty screening was performed using subjective questions validated in a previous study. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were used for data analyses. Results: There was a predominance of female older people (69.07%), aged between 60 and 79 years (87.13%), with an income greater than or equal to one minimum wage (72.09%), no cognitive decline (75.94%) and depressive symptoms (63.31%), independent for BADL (86.46%) and dependent for IADL (51.69%). From the total sample, 56.88% of the older people were identified as frail, 34.09% pre-frail and 9.03% non frail. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 51.69%. After adjusting by the independent variables, an association between metabolic syndrome and pre-frailty was observed, and older people with metabolic syndrome were more likely to be prefrail (RRR=2.36; 95%CI=1.08-5.18). Conclusion: The metabolic syndrome was associated to the increase chance of screening for prefrailty in the older people evaluated, which reinforces the needy to establish preventive measures in relation to the metabolic syndrome to avoid frailty in the older people.

Valine needs in starting and growing Cobb (500) broilers.

Two independent experiments were conducted with male Cobb × Cobb 500 broilers to determine the optimal valine-to-digestible-lysine ratio for broiler development. We conducted a randomized block experiment with 7 treatments, each with 8 replicates of 25 starter birds (8 to 21 d of age) and 20 finisher (30 to 43 d of age) birds. To prevent any excess of digestible lysine, 93% of the recommended level of digestible lysine was used to evaluate the valine-to-lysine ratio. The utilized levels of dietary digestible lysine were 10.7 and 9.40 g/kg for the starting and growing phases, respectively. A control diet with 100% of the recommended level of lysine and an adequate valine-to-lysine ratio was also used. The feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and carcass parameters were evaluated. The treatments had no significant effect on the feed intakes or carcass parameters in the starter and finisher phases. However, during both of the studied phases, we observed a quadratic effect on weight gain and the feed conversion ratio. The broilers of both phases that were fed test diets with the lower valine-to-lysine (Val/Lys) ratio had poorer performance compared with those broilers fed control diets. However, when higher Val/Lys ratios were used for the starting and growing broilers that were fed test diets, the 2 groups had similar performance. During the starting phase, in broilers that were fed a higher Val/Lys ratio, weight gain, and the feed conversion ratio improved by 5.5% compared with broilers fed the basal diets. The broilers in the growing phase also had improved performance (by 7 to 8%) when the test diets had higher Val/Lys ratios. Based on the analysis of the starter phase data, we concluded that the optimal digestible Val/Lys ratio for Cobb × Cobb 500 broilers is 77%, whereas for birds in the finisher phase (30 to 43 d of age), a digestible Val/Lys ratio of 76% is suggested.

Combining ability of tropical and temperate inbred lines of popcorn.

In Brazil, using combining ability of popcorn genotypes to achieve superior hybrids has been unsuccessful because the local genotypes are all members of the same heterotic group. To overcome this constraint, 10 lines (P(1) to P(10)) with different adaptations to tropical or temperate edaphoclimatic environments were used to obtain 45 F(1) hybrids in a complete diallel. These hybrids and three controls were evaluated in two environments in Rio de Janeiro State. Grain yield (GY), popping expansion (PE), plant height (PH), ear height (EH), and days to silking (FL) were evaluated in randomized complete blocks with three replications. Significant differences between genotypes (P

Diallel analysis of leaf disease resistance in inbred Brazilian popcorn cultivars.

We estimated general and specific combining abilities and examined resistance to northern leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum) and to gray leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis) in a set of nine inbred popcorn lines. These inbreds were crossed in a complete diallel scheme without reciprocals, which produced 36 F(1) hybrids. Two experiments with a square lattice design and three replications were conducted during the 2008/2009 crop season, in Maringá, PR, Brazil. The severity of northern leaf blight and gray leaf spot was assessed under natural infestation conditions. Data were examined by individual and joint analysis of variance. Individual and joint Griffing's diallel analyses were carried out for adjusted means. General combining ability and specific combining ability were significant (P < 0.10) by the F-test for northern leaf blight and gray leaf spot infestation levels. This denotes that additive and non-additive gene effects both contributed to resistance to these diseases, but that the additive gene effects were more important. Among the inbred lines, P(8) and P(9) gave the highest resistance to northern leaf blight, and P(3) and P(4.3) gave the highest resistance to gray leaf spot. The hybrids P(7.4) x P(8) and P(4.3) x P(9) could be exploited by reciprocal recurrent selection to provide genotypes with both northern leaf blight and gray leaf spot resistance. Significant interaction between general combining ability and crop season (P < 0.10) denotes the importance of environment, even though the disease levels in the hybrids were quite consistent.

The ontogenetic allometry of body morphology and chemical composition in dairy goat wethers.

We studied the ontogenetic growth of goat wethers (castrated male goats) of the Saanen and Swiss Alpine breeds based on a large range of intraspecific body mass (BM). The body parts and the chemical constituents of the empty body were described by the allometric function by using BM and the empty body mass (EBM) as the predictors for morphological traits and chemical composition, respectively. We fitted the allometric scaling function by applying the SAS NLMIXED procedure, but to evaluate assumptions regarding variances in morphological and compositional traits, we combined the scaling function with homoscedastic (MOD1), and the heteroscedastic exponential (MOD2) and power-of-the-mean (MOD3) variance functions. We also predicted the ontogenetic growth by using the traditional log-log transformation and back-transformed results into the arithmetic scale (MOD4). We obtained predictions from MOD4 in the arithmetic scale by a two-step process, and evaluated MOD1, MOD2 and MOD3 by a model selection framework, and compared MOD4 with MOD1, MOD2 and MOD3 based on goodness-of-fit measures. Based on information criteria for model selection, heterogeneous variance functions were more likely to describe 10 over 36 traits with a low level of model selection uncertainty. One trait was predicted by averaging the MOD1 and MOD2 variance functions; and nine traits were better described by averaging the MOD2 and MOD3 variance functions. The predictions for other 16 traits were averaged from MOD1, MOD2 and MOD3. However, MOD4 better described 11 traits according to the goodness-of-fit measures. Depending on the variable being analyzed, the body parts and the chemical amounts exhibited the three types of allometric behavior with respect to BM and EBM, that is, positive, negative and isometric ontogenetic growth. Reference BMs, that is, 20, 27, 35 and 45 kg, were used to compute the net protein and energy requirements based on the first derivative of the scaling function, and the results were presented in reference to the EBM and EBM0.75. Both the net protein and energy requirements scaled to EBM0.75 increased from 20 to 45 kg of BM.

Energia metabolizável e aminoácidos digestíveis de coprodutos de trigo e de farinhas de origem animal em dietas para frangos de corte / [Metabolizable energy and digestible amino acids of wheat co-products and animal origin meals in broiler diets]

The objective of this study was to determine the metabolizable energy, standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) and digestible amino acid values of wheat meal (WM), wheat gluten meal (WGM), meat bone meal (MBM) and poultry-by-product meal (PPM) in diets for broilers. In the first experiment, the total excreta collection method was used, with 180 chicks with 14 days, distributed in a completely randomized design, with 4 feeds + reference diet with 6 replicates and 6 broilers each. In the second experiment, 180 broilers from 24 to 28 days old were used, distributed in a completely randomized design, with 4 feeds + one protein free diet with 6 replicates and 6 broilers each. The AMEn values of WM, WGM, MBM and PPM were 3052, 3174, 1556 and 3200 (kcal/kg), respectively. The average SIAAD of the essential and non-essential amino acids of WM, WGM, MBM and PPM were 74.21, 97.50, 69.28 and 83.08; 76.32, 96.42, 63.93 and 77.66, respectively. The values of the main digestible limiting amino acids were 0.18, 1.42, 0.41 and 0.94 for methionine; 0.20, 1.48, 1.73 and 2.73 for lysine; 0.23, 1.67, 0.72 and 1.89 for threonine; and 0.35, 3.22, 1.38 and 2.47 for valine, respectively for the feedstuffs in study.(AU)

Clinical and laboratory study of newborns with lower respiratory tract infection due to respiratory viruses.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of lower respiratory tract infection due to respiratory viruses in the neonatal period at admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and to compare the clinical, laboratory and radiological aspects of the clinical course, according to the etiological agent, in the neonatal period. METHODS: Ninety newborns were studied, from January 1999 to January 2001, with bronchiolitis and/or pneumonia. The newborns were classified into three groups, according to the etiological agent identified initially: viral infection (group A), mixed viral-bacterial infection (group B), and bacterial infection (group C). RESULTS: The virus was identified in 72 newborns (80.0%); the most prevalent was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (44.4%), followed by influenza A virus (22.2%). Coughing, wheezing and an interstitial infiltrate were significantly more frequent in newborns with viral infection. Mixed infection was more associated with sepsis. There was a correlation between viral infection and low values of initial and subsequent white blood cell count and C-reactive protein. RSV was the most important virus in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that, although the majority of viral respiratory infections had a favorable course, some patients presented a serious and prolonged clinical manifestation, especially when there was concomitant bacterial infection.

Intestinal paracoccidioidomycosis simulating colon cancer.

We report a case of intestinal involvement of Paracoccidioidomycosis, in a patient considered to have colonic cancer. The diagnosis of this mycosis should be considered when an abdominal mass associated with intra-lesional calcifications on X-ray is observed. CT scans increase the findings.

Anal paracoccidioidomycosis: an unusual presentation of disseminated disease.

We report a patient with an unusual anal ulceration. The biopsy of an anal lesion and subsequent studies revealed a disseminated form of paracoccidioidomycosis, observed in the lungs, small and large bowel. The anorectal disease frequently represents a secondary site of disease, and the patient must be better evaluated.

Brain abscess by citrobacter diversus in infancy: case report.

Citrobacter diversus is closely related to brain abscess in newborn infants. We describe a case of brain abscess by this bacteria in a newborn infant and his clinical and cranial computed tomographic evaluation until the fourth month of life and discuss therapeutic management of this patient.

Assessment of the heterogeneous ruminal fiber pool and development of a mathematical approach for predicting the mean retention time of feeds in goats.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate ruminal fiber stratification and to develop a mathematical approach for predicting the mean retention time (MRT) of forage and concentrates in goats. A dataset from 3 studies was used that contained information regarding fiber and lignin intake as well as ruminal content and the kinetics of fiber passage for forage and concentrates. The kinetic information was obtained through pulse dose and the fecal concentration measurement of forage and concentrate markers in the same animals that were used to measure ruminal content. The evaluation of heterogeneous fiber pools in the rumen was performed using the Lucas' test assumptions, and the marker excretion profiles were interpreted using a model known in the literature as GNG1. The GNG1 model assumes an age-dependent fractional rate for the transfer of particles from the raft to the escapable pool in the rumen (λ(r); h(-1)) and an age-independent fractional rate for the escape of particles from the escapable pool to the remaining parts of the stomach (k(e); h(-1)). The equations used to predict the MRT for forage and concentrate fiber were developed using stepwise regression. A sensitivity analysis was conducted using a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the relationships between the dependent and independent variables and between forage and concentrate passage rates. The Lucas' test yields goodness-of-fit estimates for NDF analysis; however, the homogeneous fiber pool approach could not be applied because a positive intercept (P < 0.05) was identified for lignin ruminal content. The stepwise regression model for MRT estimation had an approximate coefficient of determination and a root mean square error (RMSE) for forage of 0.53 and 9.78 h, respectively, and for concentrate of 0.49 and 5.86 h, respectively. The sensitivity analysis yielded a mean rate of passage (k(p)) value for forage of 0.0322 h(-1) (0.0158 to 0.0556 h(-1)) with 99% confidence interval. For the concentrate, the mean k(p) value was of 0.0334 h(-1) (0.0146 to 0.0570 h(-1)). A heterogeneous ruminal fiber pool should be assumed for goats fed diets with considerable fiber contents. The results of the sensitivity analysis indicated that both λ(r) and k(e) are of similar importance to the rate of passage in goats. The rates of passage of forage and concentrates in goats present a high degree of overlap and are closely related.

Oral manifestations of secondary syphilis in the elderly - a timely reminder for dentists.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum. Cases of syphilis have increased in frequency and are challenging when affecting the elderly. The main causes of increased prevalence of syphilis are sexual promiscuity, lack of knowledge about the disease and decreasing use of barrier protection. Clinically, the oral manifestation of syphilis may resemble other entities, which hampers the correct diagnosis. We report a case of a 79-year-old male with weight loss and feeding difficulties. In the oral cavity there were ulcerative lesions in the hard palate and bilaterally in the buccal mucosa. The incisional biopsy revealed only a non-specific ulceration of the oral mucosa. After 20 days, the patient was re-evaluated and presented maculopapular lesions in the palmar and plantar areas. Positive serological venereal disease reference laboratory (VDRL) tests confirmed the diagnosis of secondary syphilis. The patient was treated with Benzathine penicillin G. After two weeks of treatment the oral lesion disappeared and the patient returned to normal feeding and gained weight. This case report reinforces the need to alert physicians and dentists to include sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis in the differential diagnosis of oral ulcerative lesions in elderly sexually active patients.

Assessing the impact of menopause on salivary flow and xerostomia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the symptoms of dry mouth and salivary flow in menarche and menopausal women. METHODS: Objective and subjective assessment of salivary function were analysed by Xerostomia Inventory and Visual Analogue Scale questionnaire in menopausal and menarche women (control group). Salivary flow was evaluated by a chemical absorption stimulation test. Each subject provided three saliva samples: S1, non-stimulated saliva; S2, saliva initially stimulated with two drops of citric acid 2.5%; and S3, saliva super-stimulated with two drops of citric acid 2.5% every 30 seconds for two minutes. RESULTS: No intergroup association was observed between Xerostomia Inventory and Visual Analogue Scale questionnaire. In both groups, the salivary flow was greatest at S3, followed by S2 and finally S1. Salivary flow was lower in the menopausal group compared to the control group only in S2 and S3. CONCLUSIONS: In the menopausal group, the salivary flow showed reduction but without clinical symptoms of dry mouth. It is important to normalize salivary flow to prevent oral abnormalities and maintain oral health.