Non-destructive evaluation of carcass and ham traits and meat quality assessment applied to early and late immunocastrated Iberian pigs.

Castration is a common practice in Iberian pigs due to their advanced age and high weight at slaughter. Immunocastration (IC) is an alternative to surgical castration that influences carcass and cut fatness. These traits need to be evaluated in vivo and postmortem. The aims of the present work were (a) to determine the relationship between ham composition measured with computed tomography (CT) and in vivo ultrasound (US) and carcass fat thickness measurements, (b) to apply these technologies to early (EIP) and late (LIP) immunocastrated Iberian pigs in order to evaluate carcass fatness and ham tissue composition and (c) to assess meat quality on these animals and to find the relationships between meat quality traits (namely, intramuscular fat (IMF)) and fat depot thicknesses. For this purpose, 20 purebred Iberian pigs were immunocastrated with three doses of Improvac ®, at either 4.5, 5.5 and 9 or 11, 12 and 14 months of age (EIP or LIP; respectively; n = 10 each) and slaughtered at 17 months of age. Fat depots were evaluated in vivo by US, in carcass with a ruler and in hams by CT. Carcass and cut yields, loin meat quality and loin acceptability by consumers were determined. Also, IMF was determined in the loin and three muscles of the ham. Carcass weight was 14.9 kg heavier in EIP vs LIP, and loin backfat thickness (US- and ruler-measured) was also greater in EIP. Similarly, CT-evaluated ham bone and fat contents were greater and smaller for EIP vs LIP, respectively. Loin and ham IMF were also greater in EIP, but the other meat quality parameters were similar. The acceptability of meat by consumers was high and it did not differ between IC protocols. Correlations between several fat depots measured with the different technologies were high. In conclusion, all these technologies allowed fat depot measurements, which were highly correlated despite being obtained at different anatomical locations.

[Forearm diaphyseal fractures in pediatric patients. Review of treatment results]. / Fracturas diafisarias radiocubitales en pacientes pediátricos. Revisión de resultados de tratamiento.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the most common types of fractures in patients under 16 years of age at the forearm level, and to evaluate depending on the level of the fracture, the treatment with better results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We perform a retrospective analysis to determine the frequency of forearm fractures in patients under 16 years, in the period from January 2013-July 2017. The following diagnoses were entered into the system: forearm fracture, radius fracture, ulnar fracture and bilateral fracture. RESULTS: We included 573 patients: 413 male, 160 females; right affected side: 230, left: 338, bilateral 5. Affected level: 438 distal, 102 mid-shaft and 33 proximal. The peak age of presentation was eight years. The initial treatment was conservative in 92%, followed by closed reduction and percutaneous fixation with 4.71 and 2.4% for open reduction and internal fixation with plates. There was a failed initial treatment at 3.83% when an inadequate reduction was found. DISCUSSION: We found that the treatment of this fractures in our institution is conservative in 92%, closed reduction and percutaneous fixation in 4.71% and open reduction and internal fixation in a 2.4% being The highest prevalence in patients older than 12 years with bilateral mid-shaft fractures.

OBJETIVO: Describir los tipos de fracturas más comunes en pacientes menores de 16 años de edad a nivel de antebrazo y evaluar, dependiendo del nivel de la fractura, el tratamiento con mejores resultados. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Realizamos un análisis retrospectivo para determinar frecuencia de las fracturas de antebrazo en menores de 16 años, en el período de Enero 2013-Julio 2017. Se ingresó en sistema los siguientes diagnósticos: fractura de antebrazo, fractura de radio, fractura de cúbito y fractura radiocubital. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 573 pacientes: 413 hombres, 160 mujeres; lado afectado derecho: 230, izquierdo 338, bilateral 5; nivel afectado: 438 distales, 102 medias y 33 proximales. La edad pico de presentación fue a los ocho años. El tratamiento inicial fue conservador en 92%, seguido de reducción cerrada y fijación percutánea con 4.71% y se tuvo 2.4% para reducción abierta y fijación interna con placas. Se tuvo un tratamiento inicial fallido en 3.83% al encontrarse una reducción inadecuada. DISCUSIÓN: Encontramos que el tratamiento de las fracturas en nuestra institución es conservador en 92%, se usa la reducción cerrada y fijación percutánea sólo en 4.71% y sólo se realiza de primera intención la reducción abierta y fijación interna en 2.4% siendo la mayor prevalencia en pacientes mayores de 12 años con fracturas diafisarias medias radiocubitales.

[Reynold's syndrome. A case report (author's transl)]. / Cirrósis biliar primaria y escleroderma (síndrome de Reynolds).

One case of the association of primary biliar cirrhosis and systemic sclerosis progressive (SSP) is described (Reynold's syndrome). This association has been reported in 21 patients. In our case the signs of liver disease precede two years the appearence of SSP. A review of the patients with Reynold's syndrome reported is done and compared with the present case. Diagnostic approach and management of this association is also discussed.

[Serum factors inhibiting cellular immunity in systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Factores séricos inhibidores de la immunidad celular en lupus eritematoso sistémico.

Forty three patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were divided into three groups, inactive, active without treatment and active on treatment with steroids. T lymphocytes from peripheral blood were determined and the results compared with those of twenty five normal individuals. In further experiments, the mitogenic capacity of SLE lymphocytes to Con A and the serum's activity of these patients upon normal lymphocytes were analized. Decreased T lymphocytes were found in all groups of patients with SLE. There were no difference between the mitogenic response of SLE patients and controls when the lymphocytes were incubated with normal human AB serum. When normal lymphocytes were incubated with serum from SLE patients with active disease, and inhibition of mitogenic response to Con A was observed. These results suggests that the decrease cellular immunity observed in SLE is due to serum factors rather than to intrinsic T cell abnormality.

[Polyarteritis nodosa with renal agenesis and immunosuppressive treatment]. / Poliarterítis nodosa con agenesia renal y tratamiento inmunosupresor

A case of a 44 years old man with the unique combination of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and the congenital absence of a kidney is presented. The clinical picture consisted of fever, general symptoms, hypertermia, peripheric neuropathy, subcutaneous nodules and renal damage. Laboratory findings included increased WBC, telescoped urinary sediment, renal insufficiency, positive rheumatoid factor, policlonal gammopathy and positive Australia antigen. A review of the pertinent literature and the etiopathogenic role of Australia antigen in PAN is discussed. Efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy was evident in this case.

[Systemic lupus erythematosus in pediatrics]. / Lupus eritematoso sistémico en edad pediátrica.

Herein we present our experience with 16 children in whom the diagnosis of SLE was established between May 1974 and April 1978. In eleven of them renal biopsy was performed. Five had family history of immunologic disease. Only one patient had history of anticonvulsant drug intake. The clinical picture resembles adult SLE, where the most frequent symptoms were arthritis, fever and dermatosis. Three patients showed focal proliferative glomerulonephritis; another 3, increased mesangial cellularity; 3 more presented diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis and another one had membranous glomerulonephritis. LE cells, antinuclear antibodies, anti-DNA were present in various combinations in all patients. Treatment with an average dose of 22.8 mg/day of prednisone, plus immunosuppressive therapy in 9 patients, has allowed a 36 months survival in 13 patients. Progressive renal involvement and tuberculosis were the cause of death in 3 cases. Our results are compared with those in the literature.

Mixed connective tissue disease in childhood. Relationship Sjögren's syndrome.

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) seems to be a distinct entity that has some manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyositis, and Sjögren's syndrome and is serologically characterized by the presence of an antibody to ribonucleoprotein. We report the cases of three children with MCTD with high titers of antibody to ribonucleoprotein. Two fulfilled criteria of lupus erythematosus, two had polymyosis; all three had suggestive features of scleroderma, fulfilled criteria for the diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and had Sjögren's syndrome. Additional superimposed features of another connective tissue disease should arouse suspicion of MCTD. All three of our patients responded adequately to corticosteroid treatment that makes recognition of this entity by the pediatrician all the more important.