Application of the World Café method to discuss the efficiency of African swine fever control strategies in European wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations.

In the current epidemic of African swine fever (ASF) in Europe, the maintenance and spread of the disease among wild boar populations remains the most important epidemiological challenge. Affected and at-risk countries have addressed this situation using a diversity of wild boar management methods with varying levels of success. The methods applied range from conventional animal disease intervention measures (zoning, stakeholder awareness campaigns, increased surveillance and biosecurity measures) to measures aimed at reducing wild boar population movements (fencing and baiting/feeding) or population numbers (intensive hunting). To assess the perceived efficiency and acceptance of such measures in the context of a focal introduction of ASF, the authors organised a participatory workshop inviting experts from the fields of wildlife management, wild boar ecology, sociology, epidemiology and animal disease management to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various control approaches. The discussions between professionals from different countries took place using the World Café method. This paper documents the World Café method as a tool for increasing the level of participation in multi-stakeholder group discussions, and describes the outputs of the workshop pertaining to the control measures. In summary, the World Café method was perceived as an efficient tool for quickly grasping comprehensive perspectives from the professionals involved in managing ASF and wild boar populations, while promoting engagement in multi-disciplinary discussions. The exercise achieved a good overview of the perceived efficiency and applicability of the different control methods and generated useful recommendations for ASF control in wild boar populations in Europe.

A case of generalized Wegener's granulomatosis in childhood: successful therapy with cyclophosphamide.

An 11-year-old white boy had Wegener's granulomatosis, a rare condition in the pediatric age group. The clinical course, pathological findings, and mode of treatment are outlined. The disease is in remission on a regimen of cyclophosphamide therapy as judged by both clinical and pathological criteria. This syndrome with protein manifestations should be considered in children with symptoms of repeated upper respiratory tract infections along with pulmonary and renal involvement. Early renal biopsy helps to establish the diagnosis of generalized involvement and to guide the course of treatment. Follow-up renal biopsies may serve as an indication for the continuation of treatment. Cytotoxic agents, especially cyclophosphamide, dramatically alter the course of the disease.

DNA damage and apoptosis in the aged canine brain: relationship to Abeta deposition in the absence of neuritic pathology.

1. In addition to beta-amyloid (Abeta) deposition and cytoskeletal neuropathology, both the Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down's syndrome (DS) human brain exhibit marked evidence of DNA damage, however, it is difficult to separate events that occur in conjunction with neurofibrillary pathology versus Abeta pathology in these systems. 2. In contrast, the aged canine brain exhibits the accumulation of Abeta into diffuse deposits similar to those found in early AD and DS in the absence of neurofibrillary pathology. Furthermore, Abeta deposition in canine brain is correlated with cognitive deficits. 3. In order to test the hypothesis that TUNEL labeling for DNA damage in AD is not simply a consequence of agonal artifacts, postmortem artifacts, or neurofibrillary pathology, and may be directly related to Abeta deposition, we examined Abeta immunoreactivity, PHF-1 immunoreactivity, and TUNEL labeling in this animal model. 4. These experiments reveal a relationship between the amount of DNA damage detected by TUNEL labeling and levels of Abeta deposition. Further, in animals with no TUNEL labeling, we detected no Abeta immunoreactivity. 5. These data support the hypothesis that TUNEL labeling in AD ans DS is not a consequence of agonal artifact, postmortem artifact, or tau pathology, and may be directly related to Abeta deposition and perhaps AD pathogenesis.

Reflux nephropathy.

This article reviews current concepts of reflux nephropathy, including the pathophysiology, diagnosis, relationship to infection, role in causing end-stage renal disease, and appropriate treatment and management. The condition is defined from a epidemiologic point of view herein, and attention also is given to possible progressions this condition can take.

Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on postnatal renal function and structure in the rat.

Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on postnatal renal function and structure in the rat. Renal function and morphology were studied in 90-day-old offspring of ethanol-fed (E) rats and were compared to pair-fed control (C) animals. Compared to C rats, E rats were smaller at birth, had higher fractional sodium excretion (p less than 0.01) and lower fractional potassium excretion (p less than 0.01). In E rats, sodium (Na) restriction resulted in a significant increase in urine flow and Na wastage, whereas C rats remained in Na balance. E rats developed hyperkalemia, when potassium (K) intake was increased from 2.8 to 14 mEq/day. Baseline creatinine clearance, urine and blood osmolalities and pH, plasma electrolytes and aldosterone concentrations were similar in both groups. There was no significant difference in wet or dry kidney weight, renal water content, or renal tissue concentrations of Na or K between the two groups. No difference was found in gross morphology or light microscopic appearances of the kidneys between E and C rats. Thus rats exposed to ethanol during fetal life have a defect in urine concentration and Na conservation when fed a low Na diet and a defect in K excretion when given a K load without evidence of any gross or light microscopic renal structural abnormalities at 90 days of age.

Escherichia coli cellulitis in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Although Streptococcus pneumoniae is traditionally considered the preponderant bacterial pathogen in children with nephrotic syndrome, recent data suggest an increase of infections with encapsulated gram-negative organisms. We report two children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in relapse who developed spontaneous Escherichia coli cellulitis. The organism was recovered from the cellulitis tissue aspirate of one, and from the blood of the other. Both patients responded to appropriate antibiotic therapy. Initial treatment of sepsis, peritonitis or spontaneous cellulitis in nephrotic patients should include broad spectrum antibiotic coverage pending results of appropriate cultures.

The effect of aggressive nutrition on infection rates in patients maintained on peritoneal dialysis.

Aggressive nutrition has been reported to improve growth parameters in children undergoing peritoneal dialysis. The current study reports the effect of a program of aggressive nutrition, started in 1/1988, on catheter-related infection rates in children undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis. A combination of high calorie foods, supplements, "candy bar diets", and, when necessary, modular gastrostomy feedings, to provide 3-4 gm/kg/d and 100-120 kcal/kg/d was used. Peritonitis and catheter infection rates were assessed. A total of 37 pediatric patients underwent peritoneal dialysis from 1/1986-7/1990, with a total cumulative experience of 596 patient months. The peritonitis rate decreased from 1 episode/5.53 patient-month in 1987 to 1 episode per 46 patient-month in 1990. There was no significant effect on the catheter infections or the number of admissions/patient month. However, there was a 55% decline in the number of hospitalization days/patient month (p less than 0.01). The decrease in the peritonitis rate was independent of the modality of peritoneal dialysis or the usage of ultraviolet connecting devices. In 10 patients followed sequentially, the peritonitis rate was less (1 episode/23.5 patient months) after gastrostomy tube placement and feedings than before gastrostomy tube placement (1 episode/8.28 patient months) (p less than 0.01). There were no significant differences in serum albumin or total protein levels between the two observation periods. We conclude that adequate nutrition may play a role in decreasing the peritonitis rate in children maintained on peritoneal dialysis and speculate improved white cell function as a possible underlying mechanism.

Management of hypertensive crisis in children.

The availability and rapidity of onset of pharmacologic agents for the treatment of hypertensive crisis allow the pediatrician to treat nearly every case effectively. Diazoxide seems to be the agent of choice as a first drug for the patient with encephalopathy. Failure of the blood pressure to respond to this agent should lead to consideration of the use of sodium nitroprusside. The possibility of the presence of a cathecholamine-secreting tumor should also be considered in these rare patients. In less severe cases, reserpine and hydralazine--alone or in combination--offer sufficiently rapid and prolonged action to prevent the development of encephalopathy in patients with acute elevations of blood pressure.

[Metabolic aspects of parsalmide in the cat (author's transl)]. / Untersuchungen uber den Stoffwechsel von Parsalmid bei der Katze.

2-Proparglyoxy-5-amino-N-(n-butyl)-benzamide(parsalmide, My 41-6) given s.c. to the cat and excreted in the urine, was present partly as unchanged parsalmide (25-62% of total excreted compounds), partly as unstably conjugated compounds (17-36%, mainly N-glucuronilparsalmide), and partly as stably conjugated compounds (11-36%, mainly N-acetylparsalmide). Urinary excretion of parsalmide and its metabolites continued for some days, indicating a slow excretion from the body, contrasting with other species, man included, previously examined. Summarizing, there are some 5-6 metabolites of parsalmide in the urine of treated cats, apart from unchanged parsalmide.