Managing chronic disease in the COVID-19 pandemic: an e-learning application to promote a healthy lifestyle for persons with multiple sclerosis.

E-health applications can support continuing care for persons with chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). We have developed a web-based mobile app called VIOLA to be used at home by persons with MS (pwMS) who previously participated in an innovative multidisciplinary rehab program. The purpose of VIOLA is to reinforce what participants have learned about a healthy lifestyle and to keep them motivated to adhere to rehabilitation programs. As the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has severely curtailed pwMS contact with their usual health providers, we quickly updated VIOLA to grant continuity of care to our home-bound patients.By monitoring pwMS subscriptions to individual modules, we found a definite increase after the national lockdown was declared. Subscribers rated the app very positively.Encouraged by the positive feedbacks, we are planning to extend the access to our app also to pwMS with no prior specific learning experience. This would limit the psychophysical consequences of the lockdown. Furthermore, VIOLA could be effective in maintaining a proper lifestyle, contributing to improve the quality of life of pwMS.VIOLA has the potential of increasing the adherence of pwMS to the rehabilitation confirming that digital communication tools are a valuable solution for those home-bound.].

Do different characteristics of two emasculators make a difference in equine castration?

BACKGROUND: The Serra and Reimer emasculators are frequently used in equine orchiectomy. They differ in jaw profile and the mechanism by which they achieve haemostasis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the haemostatic capacities of the Reimer and Serra emasculators in open and closed castration differ, to compare the haemostatic capacities of each emasculator in both open and closed castration, and to assess whether the tensile strength of the parietal tunic in closed castration differs according to whether a Reimer or Serra emasculator is used. STUDY DESIGN: Ex vivo randomised study. METHODS: Eighty equine cadaver testes were randomly assigned to two groups for, respectively, open and closed castration. Each group was divided into two subgroups for castration with a Serra or Reimer castrator, respectively. Testicular artery leaking pressure was measured by dye injection. In closed castration, the tensile strength of the parietal tunic was measured with a tensiometer. RESULTS: In open castration, the Reimer emasculator resisted significantly higher pressure (median: 706.1 mmHg; interquartile range [IQR]: 597.6-735.5 mmHg) than the Serra emasculator (median: 349.4 mmHg; IQR: 261.1-468.9 mmHg) (P<0.001), whereas no difference was found in closed castration (Serra emasculator, median: 382.5 mmHg [IQR: 294.2-568.2 mmHg]; Reimer emasculator, median: 419.2 mmHg [IQR: 294.2-616.0 mmHg]). The Reimer emasculator resisted significantly higher pressure in the open (median: 706.1 mmHg; IQR: 597.6-735.5 mmHg) compared with the closed (median: 419.2 mmHg; IQR: 294.2-616.0 mmHg) technique (P = 0.03). Parietal tunic tensile strength did not differ significantly by emasculator (mean ± s.d.: Serra, 12.65 ± 7.35; Reimer, 17.55 ± 11.76). MAIN LIMITATIONS: Limitations are inherent to the ex vivo study design. Post-surgery implications were investigated only in the short term and no account was taken of tissue inflammation and oedema, which may influence the integrity of the tissue. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest it may be preferable to use a Reimer emasculator in open castration. In this ex vivo model of closed castration, no differences between the emasculators were observed.

Antibacterial activities of Manuka and Honeydew honey-based membranes against bacteria that cause wound infections in animals.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, membranes composed of honey (Manuka or Honeydew) and pectin were developed, and the ISO 22196 method was used to evaluate their antibacterial activities against multidrug-resistant bacteria (i.e., Staphylococcus pseudointermedius, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) that cause wound infection in animals. The results demonstrated that both Manuka and Honeydew honey-based membranes had strong antibacterial activities against the strain of methicillin-resistant S. pseudointermedius tested. Specifically, membranes composed of Manuka honey were effective in inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative bacteria within 3 h, whereas those composed of Honeydew honey needed 24 h to neutralise bacterial growth. The antimicrobial activities of both membranes developed in this study suggest that they can be effectively used as wound dressing in veterinary clinical medicine.

Dans le cadre de cette étude, on a fabriqué des membranes à base de miel (miel de Manuka et miel de miellat) et de pectine et on a testé, selon le processus ISO 22196, leur activité antibactérienne sur des germes multirésistants provenant de blessures d'animaux (Staphylococcus pseudointermedius, E. coli, Proteus mirabilis und Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Les résultats montrent que les deux types de membranes ont une forte activité bactéricide sur les souches de Staphylococcus pseudointermedius résistantes à la méthicilline. Les membranes à base de miel de Manuka étaient également actives contre tous les germes gram négatifs ét réduisaient leur nombre en 3 heures, alors qu'un contact de 24 heures était nécessaire pour que les membranes à base de miel de miellat réduisent la croissance bactérienne. L'activité antibactérienne des membranes utilisées dans la présente étude justifie leur emploi dans la médecine vétérinaire clinique.

Laparoscopic single-port ovariectomy and gastropexy in dogs.

INTRODUCTION: In this study single-port percutaneous laparoscopic gastropexy in dogs using barbed suture material in combination with ovariectomy is described. A single port preventive gastropexy was performed in 6 female German shepherds in combination with ovariectomy using a laparoscope. Surgery time, intraoperative, postoperative and follow up complications were recorded. In this study median surgery time in clinical cases was 73 minutes (range 66-79). The only difficulty reported was visualization of a proper site for gastropexy on the stomach. No complications and/or episodes of gastric volvulus were detected at a 3-month minimum follow-up. The proposed technique provides an effective and minimally invasive approach to ovariectomy and preventive gastropexy in dogs.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Italian honey for wound healing application in veterinary medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Honey as a topical treatment for infected wounds dates back to ancient times. However, few studies have been reported concerning the medical properties of Italian honey. In this study, the microbial contamination, the antimicrobial activity and the antibiotic residues of 6 different varieties of Piedmont honeys were evaluated. The antimicrobial activity of honeys was tested by agar well diffusion method and 1 honey for each variety has been selected and tested by broth micro-dilution test to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and evaluated by Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs). The honeys with a high level of antibacterial activity were analyzed for the presence of tetracyclines, sulfonamides and macrolide residues. The agar well diffusion method showed the greatest antimicrobial activity for honeydew, chestnut and lime tree honeys. The MICs and MBCs identified the close similarity to the medical manuka honey of honeydew, polyfloral and chestnut honey. The levels of antibiotic residues on these honeys were below the limit of quantification. Based on our results the Italian variety of honeydew showed the best antimicrobial activity and can be considered for the treatment of infected wounds in animals.

INTRODUCTION: L'utilisation du miel pour le traitement des plaies infectées remonte à loin dans l'antiquité. Dans le présent travail, on étudie les contaminations microbiennes, l'activité antimicrobienne et les résidus d'antibiotiques dans 6 sortes de miels différentes provenant du Piémont. L'activité antimicrobienne a été mesurée au moyen d'une méthode de diffusion sur gel d'agar et un échantillon de chaque sorte de miel a été examiné quant à sa concentration minimale inhibitrice (CMI) et sa concentration minimale bactéricide (CMB) au moyen d'un test de micro-dilution. Les échantillons présentant une haute activité antibactérienne ont été analysés quant à la présence de tétracycline, de sulfamidés et de macrolides. Au test de diffusion sur agar, le miel de miellat ainsi que ceux de châtaignier et de tilleul ont démontré la plus grande activité antimicrobienne. Les CIM et CBM permettent de reconnaitre une grande similitude entre les miels de miellat, de nectar et de tilleul avec le miel de Manuka utilisé à des fins thérapeutiques. Les résidus d'antibiotiques de ces échantillons se situaient en dessous des limites de détection. Sur la base de ces constatations, les divers miels de miellat italiens présentent la plus grande activité antimicrobienne et peuvent être utilisés pour le traitement de plaies infectées chez les animaux.

Ex vivo comparison of the giant and transfixing knot in equine open and closed castration.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: In equine castration, application of a ligature on the spermatic cord to prevent complications such as haemorrhage and evisceration has been reported with controversial results. Characteristics of commonly used knots have not been studied. OBJECTIVES: To compare the modified transfixing and giant knots and the emasculator in open and closed equine castration techniques. STUDY DESIGN: Ex vivo experiment. METHODS: A total of 144 testicles were randomly assigned to 2 groups for open or closed castration. Both groups were divided into 3 subgroups of 18 specimens each: emasculator only, emasculator plus giant knot and emasculator plus transfixing knot and the open castration group also contained 2 further subgroups of 18 testicles each: giant knot only and transfixing knot only. The length of suture material used was measured for each knot and the leaking pressure of the testicular artery measured using dye injection. In the closed castration group, parietal tunic tensile strength was measured with a tensiometer. RESULTS: Leaking pressure was higher in open compared with closed castration, with no significant difference among subgroups. In the closed castration group, minimum leaking pressure for the emasculator plus transfixing knot and emasculator only subgroups were close to standard physiological arterial pressures. The giant knot required less suture material than the transfixing knot. Parietal tunic tensile strength was higher when ligatures were applied. CONCLUSIONS: The giant and transfixing knot techniques have comparable haemostatic capability and parietal tunic tensile strength, but the giant knot requires less suture material. In open castration, using the emasculator alone may produce adequate haemostasis. In closed castration, using the giant knot in combination with the emasculator increases the bursting pressure and possibly reduces the incidence of haemorrhage. In closed castration, application of a ligature may reduce the risk of evisceration.

A general role for surface membrane proteins in attachment to chitin particles and copepods of environmental and clinical vibrios.

AIMS: To investigate the role of surface membrane proteins (MP) to promote attachment to chitin particles and copepods of different environmental and clinical vibrios. METHOD AND RESULTS: The role of surface MP to promote attachment to chitin particles and the copepod Tigriopus fulvus was investigated in several environmental and clinical Vibrio strains by inhibition test methods. Attachment to both substrates was significantly inhibited by homologous MP treatment in all strains and percentages of inhibition were comparable with the ones observed with N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc). Sarkosyl-insoluble MP extracted from tested strains were added to chitin particles either in the presence or in the absence of GlcNAc and the fraction bound to chitin in both conditions was visualized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Chitin-binding proteins (CBP) defined as Sarkosyl-insoluble MP that bound chitin in the absence of GlcNAc but did not in the presence of the sugar were isolated in all strains. CONCLUSION: CBP are common in both environmental and clinical Vibrio strains and they have an important general role in mediating cell interactions with chitin-containing surfaces. SIGNIFICANT AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The role of CBP should be taken into account when investigating environmental persistence of aquatic vibrios.