Rumination time around calving: an early signal to detect cows at greater risk of disease.

The main objective of this experiment was to evaluate the use of rumination time (RT) during the peripartum period as a tool for early disease detection. The study was carried out in an experimental freestall barn and involved 23 Italian Friesian cows (9 primiparous and 14 multiparous). The RT was continuously recorded by using an automatic system (Hr-Tag, SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel), and data were summarized in 2-h intervals. Blood samples were collected from 30 d before calving to 42 d in milk (DIM) to assess biochemical indicators related to energy, protein, and mineral metabolism, as well as markers of inflammation and some enzyme activities. The liver functionality index, which includes some negative acute-phase proteins and related parameters (albumin, cholesterol, and bilirubin), was used to evaluate the severity of inflammatory conditions occurring around calving. The cows were retrospectively categorized according to RT observed between 3 and 6 DIM into those with the lowest (L) and highest (H) RT. The average RT before calving (-20 to -2d) was 479 min/d (range 264 to 599), reached a minimum value at calving (30% of RT before calving), and was nearly stable after 15 DIM (on average 452 min/d). Milk yield in early lactation (on average 26.8 kg/d) was positively correlated with RT (r = 0.33). After calving, compared with H cows, the L cows had higher values of haptoglobin (0.61 and 0.34 g/L at 10 DIM in L and H, respectively) for a longer time, had a greater increase in total bilirubin (9.5 and 5.7 µmol/L at 5 DIM in L and H), had greater reductions of albumin (31.2 and 33.5 g/L at 10 DIM in L and H) and paraoxonase (54 and 76 U/ml at 10 DIM in L and H), and had a slower increase of total cholesterol (2.7 and 3.2 mmol/L at 20 DIM in L and H). Furthermore, a lower average value of liver functionality index was observed in L (-6.97) compared with H (-1.91) cows. These results suggest that severe inflammation around parturition is associated with a slower increase of RT after calving. Furthermore, more than 90% of the cows in the L group had clinical diseases in early lactation compared with 42% of the H cows. Overall, our results demonstrate the utility of monitoring RT around calving, and in particular during the first week of lactation, as a way to identify in a timely fashion those cows at a greater risk of developing a disease in early lactation.

Rumination time during the summer season and its relationships with metabolic conditions and milk production.

The main objective of this experiment was to monitor the rumination pattern during the summer season in lactating dairy cows and to investigate its relationships with metabolic conditions and physiological markers of heat stress. The study was carried out in an experimental freestall barn located near Piacenza, Italy (45°01'N, 9°40'E; 68 m above sea level), and involved 21 Italian Friesian cows (11 primiparous and 10 multiparous) during the summer season. Rumination time (RT) was recorded by using an automatic system and data were calculated and summarized in 2-h intervals. Microclimatic conditions (temperature and relative humidity) inside the barn were recorded during the trial, and the temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated. Breathing rates and rectal temperatures were recorded following stable meteorological periods characterized by lower and higher temperatures. At the same times, blood samples were collected to assess biochemical variables related to energy, protein, and mineral metabolism, as well as markers of inflammatory conditions and enzyme activity. Daily milk yield, body weight, nutritional condition, and health status were also recorded. The average RT was 501 min/d, with no significant differences between primiparous and multiparous cows. According to the microclimatic conditions and physiological markers of heat stress, the cows suffered mild to moderate heat stress during the summer. A negative relationship between daily maximum THI and RT was observed (r=-0.32), with a reduction of 2.2 min of RT for every daily maximum THI unit over the threshold of daily maximum THI of 76. Most of the rumination occurred during the night (on average the nighttime RT was 63.2% of daytime and nighttime RT); moreover, the proportion of nighttime RT slightly but significantly increased as THI increased. Rumination time throughout the trial was negatively related to breathing rate and positively related to milk yield. Daily maximum THI was negatively correlated with plasma glucose (r=-0.52) and positively correlated with plasma ß-hydroxybutyric acid (r=0.26). Values of plasma ß-hydroxybutyric acid were positively related to RT through the trial. Our results indicate that hot conditions negatively affect RT and modify its daily pattern. The relationship between RT and the physiological markers used in our trial support the use of RT as a marker of heat stress.

Fish otoliths: daily growth layers and periodical patterns.

The early-stage annual rings in otoliths from some cold-temperate fish consist of thin growth bands, the number of which corresponds to that of the days in a year. This indicates that growth takes place by daily increments. Other recurrent patterns show a fortnightly and monthly periodicity. Spawning rings are microscopically distinguishable from winter rings.

YAP/TAZ mechano-transduction as the underlying mechanism of neuronal differentiation induced by reduced graphene oxide.

AIM: The aim of this work is the dissection of the molecular pathways underlying the differentiation effect of reduced graphene oxide (GO) materials in the absence of differentiation agents. MATERIALS & METHODS: Reduced GO is obtained either by drop casting method and heat-treated or biological reduction by the interaction between GO and wtPrxI. Cells were grown on both materials and the differentiation process studied by immunological and morphological detection. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: The results obtained indicate that both reduction methods of GO can determine the modulation of pathway involved in mechano-transduction and differentiation, by affecting YAP/TAZ localization outside the nuclei and increasing neuronal differentiation markers. This suggests that the mechano-transduction pathways are responsible for the differentiation process.

An unusual thoracic localizations of Erdheim- Chester disease: A case report.

Erdheim- Chester disease is a rare non- Langerhans cell histiocytosis that usually involves the bones, heart, central nervous system, retroperitoneum, eyes, kidneys, skin and adrenals. Lungs are affected in up to one-half cases; at CT scan various patterns are described: interstitial disease, consolidations, micronodules and microcysts, with or without pleural involvement. We presented a case of a 59 year-old man with unusual intrathoracic manifestation of Erdheim- Chester disease. Singularities of our report are the lonely thoracic involvement at the onset of the disease and a histiocytic lesion in the posterior mediastinum.

Is it possible to predict the success of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in acute respiratory failure due to COPD?

There is now sufficient evidence that non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in selected patients with severe hypercapnic acute respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more effective than pharmacological therapy alone. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors to predict the success of this technique. Fifty-nine consecutive patients with COPD admitted to a respiratory ward for 75 episodes of acute respiratory failure treated with NIPPV were analysed: success (77%) or failure (23%) were evaluated by survival and the need for endotracheal intubation. There were no significant differences in age, sex, cause of relapse and lung function tests between the two groups. Patients in whom NIPPV was unsuccessful were significantly underweight, had an higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, and a lower serum level of albumin in comparison with those in whom NIPPV was successful. They demonstrated significantly greater abnormalities in pH and PaCO2 at baseline and after 2h of NIPPV. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that, when all the variables were tested together, a high APACHE II score and a low albumin level continued to have a significant predictive effect. This analysis could predict the outcome in 82% of patients. In conclusion, our study suggests that low albumin serum levels and a high APACHE II score may be important indices in predicting the success of NIPPV.

An unusual case of congenital short trachea with very long bronchi mimicking bronchial asthma.

Case reports of a short trachea with early branching of the main bronchi are uncommon. The case is presented of a 64 year old woman with upper airway obstruction due to this anatomical abnormality which caused breathlessness and wheezing that was misdiagnosed (and treated) as bronchial asthma for many years.