Long term efficacy and safety of N-butylcyanoacrylate in endoscopic treatment of gastric varices.

Introduction: Endoscopic glue (N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) injection has emerged as promising therapy for bleeding gastric varices (GV). We evaluated safety and long term efficacy of this technique in patients with portal hypertension and large bleeding GV. Patient and Methods: 170 patients (mean age 40.9±14y; 132 male; 142 had cirrhosis, 40 Child A, 62 Child B, 40 Child C) underwent glue injection into GV (F3 140, F2 30; fundal 114) as emergency procedure for active bleeding in 62 and electively for prevention of rebleeding in 108. Glue was injected intra-variceally under endoscopic vision, 0.5-4ml/aliquot, repeated at 3 weeks till varices were eradicated/solidified. The efficacy was assessed by hemostasis at 48 h, primary, secondary, definitive success and treatment failure. Results: The overall hemostasis rate at 48h was 82.3% (51/62). Follow up was available in 158 patients for mean of 30.7 + 17.2 months. Repeat injections were performed in 76. The mean number of injections were 1.9±1.0 (1-4); total volume was 2.5±1.7 ml / patient. The status of GVs at last follow up was : disappeared in 32 (22.6%); F1 solidified in 46 (32.3%); F2 solidified in 64 (45.0%). Bleeding recurred in 14.5% (23/158); 60% within 2 weeks of injection. The primary, secondary and definitive success rates were 85.4% (135/158), 4.4% (7/158) and 89.9% (142/158) respectively and treatment failure rate was 10% (16/158). No significant complications were noticed except for injection site ulceration in 32. Twenty patients died on follow up (9 died of uncontrolled bleeding, 11 died of liver failure) Conclusion: Endoscopic glue injection into bleeding GVs was effective in achieving hemostasis in 82% with a definitive success rate of 90% and had a good safety profile on long term follow up.

Reproductive rates and performance traits in beef cattle infected by Bovine Herpesvirus

Reproductive rates and performance traits in beef cattle females infected by Herpesvirus Bovine-1 (BoHV-1) were evaluated in a farm at São Paulo state, Brazil. Gir, Guzerá, Nelore and Caracu purebred animals were examinated to BoHV-1 (ELISA) at the beginning of the breeding season and the occurrence of reactors was 54.2% (386/712). BoHV-1 did not interfere in the pregnancy rates of both reagent – 80.3% (310/386) and non-reagent - 74.5% (243/326) females. It did not reduce the parturition rate of both reagent - 97.7% (300/307) and non-reagent - 93.8% (225/240) females. Total rate of stillbirths in BoHV-1 reagent females - 1.3% (4/300) did not differ from non-reagent females - 2.2% (5/225). BoHV-1 did not affect performance traits for reagent and non-reagent females, respectivelly, to daily weight gain during the breeding season (459.90 ± 2.82g and 466.63 ± 2.87g), body condition score at the beginning of the breeding season (6.89 ± 0.08 and 6.99 ± 0.08), body condition score at the end of the breeding season (7.73 ± 0.06 and 7.71 ± 0.06), weight at parturition (419.17 ± 3.34kg and 425.97 ± 3.22kg). It was concluded that non-vaccinated beef cattle females infected by BoHV-1 and bred under adequate extensive management, with body condition scare over 5 and gain of weight during the breeding season presented good pregnancy, parturition and birth rates, no matter the breed, genetic group, age and seroconvertion.

Avaliou-se índices reprodutivos e características de desempenho em fêmeas bovinas de corte, infectadas pelo Herpesvírus Bovino-l (BoHV-1), em um rebanho no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Animais das raças Gir, Guzerá, Nelore e Caracu foram monitorados no início da estação de monta e a sororeatividade ao BoHV-1 pelo teste ELISA foi 54,2% (386/712). O BoHV-1 não interferiu no índice de prenhez de matrizes reagentes - 80,3% (310/386) e não reagentes - 74,5% (243/326) e nem reduziu a taxa de parição de matrizes reagentes - 97,7% (300/307) e não reagentes - 93,8% (225/240). O coeficiente de natimortalidade de matrizes reagentes ao BoHV-1 - 1,3% (4/300) não diferiu da encontrada para as não reagentes - 2,2% (5/225). O BoHV-1 não afetou a média de algumas características de desempenho de fêmeas reagentes e não reagentes, respectivamente, como ganho de peso médio diário durante a estação de monta (459,90 ± 2,82g e 466,63 ± 2,87g), condição corporal na entrada da estação de monta (6,89 ± 0,08 e 6,99 ± 0,08), condição corporal na saída da estação de monta (7,73 ± 0,06 e 7,71 ± 0,06) e peso à parição (419,17 ± 3,34kg e 425,97 ± 3,22kg). Concluiu-se que matrizes de corte infectadas pelo BoHV-1 e não vacinadas, criadas sob condições adequadas de manejo zootécnico extensivo e nutricional, como escore corporal acima de 5 e ganho de peso durante a estação de monta, apresentaram bons índices de prenhez, parição e natalidade, independente da raça, grupo genético, faixa etária e soroconversão.

Genetic analysis of the infestation of females of the Caracu cattle breed by Horn Fly (Haematobia irritans irritans) L. (Diptera, Muscidae)

The objective of this study was to evaluate environmental factors that affect infestation of Caracu cattle breed by horn fly (Haematobia irritans) and to estimate genetic parameters for level of infestation. Infestation was evaluated on females from two herds in two consecutive years. Total number of flies on animals (FC) was counted, an infestation score (FS: 1 to 5) was recorded according to the estimated number of flies on animals, and number of parasites in photographs (FF) taken when the animals were evaluated was also counted. On each animal from one to eight observations were taken. A total of 3,836, 2,751 and 3,754 records from 718 animals were obtained for FC, FF and FS, respectively. The incidence of flies was lower during winter and higher during summer, and the thicker the hair coat of the animal the greater the infestation. Heritabilities and repeatabilities were equal to 0.10 and 0.10, 0.08 and 0.12, and 0.06 and 0.08, for FC, FF and FS, respectively. Findings indicate that selection for FC will result in low genetic progress and that animals should be evaluated more than once for selection purposes.

k-casein, ß-lactoglobulin and growth hormone allele frequencies and genetic distances in Nelore, Gyr, Guzerá, Caracu, Charolais, Canchim and Santa Gertrudis cattle

Os genótipos de k-caseína (k-CN), ß-lactoglobulina (ß-LG) e hormônio de crescimento foram determinados por reaçäo em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) e digestäo com enzima de restriçäo em sete raças de bovinos (Nelore, Gir, Guzerá, Caracu, Charolesa, Canchim e Santa Gertrudis). A k-caseína apresentou dois alelos e as freqüências mais elevadas para o alelo A foram observadas em Bos indicus (0,93, 0,92 e 0,91 por cento para as raças Gir, Guzerá e Nelore, respectivamente). A ß-lactoglobulina apresentou dois alelos em todas as raças estudadas, sendo a freqüência do alelo A mais elevada nas raças européias. O loco de hormônio de crescimento apresentou dois alelos em Bos taurus e foi monomórfico (alelo L) em todas as raças zebuínas. A maior freqüência para o alelo V foi observado na raça Charolesa. Os marcadores investigados revelaram alta similaridade entre as raças, com a formaçäo de dois grupos principais: um composto de raças zebuínas e a raça Santa Gertrudis e outro composto das raças européias e a raça Canchim.