Prevalence of digital dermatitis in first lactation cows assessed at breeding cattle auctions.

The prevalence of digital dermatitis (DD) in first lactation cows (FLCs) presented at 10 breeding cattle auctions was determined in a single auction centre in Austria over a period of 14 months. At each auction, FLCs were selected randomly for claw examination from the monthly auction catalogue. After obtaining owner consent, the hindclaws were examined in a walk-in crush. The type of lesion (M1-M4) and the diameter of DD lesions together with claw horn lesions and the trimming status of the claws were evaluated. From a total of 1110 FLCs registered for the ten auctions, 399 (36%) were randomly chosen for examination and 199 FLCs (17.9%) could be defined. In 63 cows (15.7%), the owners refused consent. A total of 24 FLCs were found to have DD lesions on one or both hindlimbs, resulting in a DD prevalence of 12.1%. The size of lesions ranged from 0.5-3 cm in diameter. No influence of environmental factors (such as season or housing) on the prevalence of DD could be found. In 30/199 (15.1%) of FLCs examined, claw horn lesions such as double sole, white line disease and sole ulcer were observed, but both claw horn and DD lesions were seen in only three cows. Potential buyers at auctions should be aware of both conditions, as the 12.1% prevalence of DD and the 15.1% prevalence of claw horn lesions in FLCs are considerable. Critical evaluation of claw health and DD is essential when purchasing breeding cattle.

Progressive posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus leads to changes of amplitude-integrated EEG activity in preterm infants.

AIM: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is the most common cause of brain lesions in preterm infants. Among infants with IVH about 35% develop posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PPH) which may lead to secondary injury. Therapeutic interventions to reduce the increased intracranial pressure are invasive and carry a high risk of complications. Amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) allows continuous neurophysiological surveillance and may help in defining the optimal timing for intervention in infants with progressive PHH. In this report we show, for the first time, a change in aEEG activity in two preterm infants with PHH. METHODS: Cerebral activity was continuously monitored by aEEG provided by the Cerebral Function Monitor (Lectromed, UK) in two preterm infants with PPH. RESULTS: With increasing ventricular width, aEEG showed an increased discontinuity without distinguishable sleep-wake cycling in both infants. One infant showed an abrupt onset of a nearly isoelectric pattern without any change in clinical condition. Clinical signs of increased intracranial pressure developed 6-12 h later in both children. In one patient, aEEG activity returned to normal after successful shunting and reduction of intracranial pressure. CONCLUSION: Continuous neurophysiological monitoring by aEEG may be of value in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of preterm infants with progressive PHH.

Sleep-wake cycles in preterm infants below 30 weeks of gestational age. Preliminary results of a prospective amplitude-integrated EEG study.

In the newborn, presence of sleep-wake cycles indicates integrity and maturity of the central nervous system. By spectral EEG analysis and polygraphic recordings subtle variations of EEG background activity and behavioural patterns corresponding to early sleep-wake cycles have been found in preterm infants as young as 27 weeks of gestation. The emergence of sleep-wake cycles at early gestational ages may have a positive predictive value for long-term neurological outcome. Sleep-wake cycles and their significance for later outcome have not been studied in very preterm infants so far. Accordingly, we prospectively investigated maturational changes of EEG activity and sleep-wake cycles in preterm infants below 30 weeks of gestational age using the Cerebral Function Monitor, an amplitude-integrated EEG. We present preliminary data on the emergence of sleep-wake cycles in preterm infants from this ongoing study. Of 100 infants enrolled during a 1-year period, 38 infants without neurological complications were included in the reference group. In this group (mean gestational age 27 weeks), we observed cyclical variations of EEG background activity resembling early sleep-wake cycles at a mean gestational age of 28 weeks and a median postnatal age of 6 days. It is hypothesised that these cyclical variations of EEG background activity may represent switches between thalamo-cortical and neo-cortical pattern generators and indicate integrity of central nervous system function. Amplitude-integrated EEG may thus serve as a useful noninvasive test for brain function in preterm infants.

[Large mucocele of the appendix imitating an ovarian cyst]. / Grosse Mukozele der Appendix imitiert eine Ovarialzyste.

Mukokela appendix--described by Rokitansky in 1842 for the first time--appears in 0,2% of appendectomy at Bulovka-Hospital Prague. Great mukokela appendix (12,5 x 5,5 cm), which resembled ovarial cyst on the right hand side, had been found for the first time in 20 years. The patient was a 63 old woman; she was cured in 9 days after appendectomy. The authors describe etiology, clinic and the case itself.