Methylene blue-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy can be a novel non-antibiotic platform for bovine digital dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is one of the most important diseases that effect dairy cows. Methylene blue-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (MB-APDT) emerges as a promising technique to treat superficial infections in bovines. METHODS: Twenty BDD lesions located at the skin horn transition of the claw of pelvic limbs of 16 cows were treated by MB-APDT, using a red LED cluster (λ = 660 nm, irradiance =60 mW/cm2, exposure time = 40 s) combined with topical application of MB at 0.01 %; or by topical application of OXY (500 mg in 20 % solution). Each lesion was treated twice with an interval of 14 days. Lesions were weekly evaluated until day 28 by clinical analysis and by histological examination on days 0 and 28. RESULTS: Both treatments led to a similar reduction of lesions area. At day 28, three lesions treated by OXY did not present completely recovery, whereas no lesions were observed in MB-APDT group. OXY resulted in a slight increase in type I and III collagen levels, while MB-APDT led to a significant increase in the total area of both collagen types. An abundant number of spirochetes were histologically observed in all lesions before treatments. On the 28th day, five lesions treated by OXY still presented a slight number of spirochetes, whereas in MB-APDT group no spirochetes were evidenced. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that MB-APDT is more effective than OXY and could be used in Veterinary practice to fight BDD.

One-step laparoscopic abomasopexy versus abomasopexy via right paralumbar fossa to treat left abomasal displacement in dairy cows / Abomasopexia por laparoscopia em um passo em comparação à abomasopexia via laparotomia pelo flanco direito no tratamento do deslocamento de abomaso à esquerda em vacas leiteiras

This study aimed to compare the clinical and metabolic results obtained by use of one-step laparoscopic abomasopexy and right paralumbar fossa abomasopexy for the treatment of left displaced abomasum in dairy cows. Thirty Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were randomly placed in two groups: G1, with 15 animals treated by one-step laparoscopic abomasopexy; and G2, with 15 animals treated by right paralumbar fossa ventral abomasopexy. Concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, base excess (BE), pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) strong ion difference (SID), anion gap (AG), glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were measured before (M0) and 24 (M1), 48 (M2) and 72 (M3) hours following surgery. Laparotomy was statistically faster than laparoscopy. Hypochloremia was observed only in G2 at M0. Hypokalemia and hypocalcemia were observed in both groups at M0, increasing after surgery. Metabolic alkalosis in both groups before surgery was characterized by high bicarbonate, pCO2, and BE, which decreased in subsequent time points, as well as blood pH. Glucose was statistically increased and NEFA and BHBA were statistically decreased in G2 compared to G1. In G1, NEFA and BHBA decreased significantly following surgery. Both surgical techniques restored abomasal flow and feed intake in both groups. Based in acid-base status, one-step laparoscopy showed no additional advantage in comparison with abomasopexy via right paralumbar fossa.(AU)

Este estudo objetivou comparar as técnicas de abomasopexia por laparoscopia em um passo e abomasopexia por laparotomia pelo flanco direito, no tratamento do deslocamento de abomaso à esquerda (DAE) em vacas leiteiras quanto a recuperação clínica no pós-operatório, utilizando parâmetros clínicos, metabólicos e eletrolíticos. Trinta vacas Holandesas preto e brancas foram distribuídas de forma aleatória em dois grupos: G1 com 15 animais tratados pela técnica de abomasopexia em um passo; e G2, com 15 animais tratados pela abomasopexia por laparotomia pelo flanco direito. Foram mensuradas as concentrações séricas de sódio, potássio, cloro, bicarbonato, excesso de base (BE), pH sanguíneo, pressão parcial de gás carbônico (pCO2), diferença de íons fortes (SID), ânion gap AG), glicose, β-hidroxibutirato (BHBA) e ácidos graxos não esterificados (NEFA). As variáveis foram mensuradas antes da operação e 24, 48 e 72 horas após operação. A laparotomia foi estatisticamente mais rápida do que a laparoscopia no tratamento do DAE. Hipocloremia foi observada somente nas vacas do G2 antes da cirurgia. Alcalose metabólica em ambos os grupos antes da operação foi caracterizada pelo aumento do bicarbonato, pCO2 e BE, os quais diminuíram significativamente nos momentos subsequentes, assim como o pH sanguíneo. A concentração de glicose apresentou aumento significativo no G2 em comparação ao G1, enquanto o BHBA e o NEFA estavam estatisticamente diminuídos. Ambas as técnicas restauraram o fluxo abomasal e o consumo de alimentos em ambos os grupos. Baseado no equilíbrio ácido-base, a técnica de laparoscopia não demonstrou vantagens sobre a técnica cirúrgica tradicional.(AU)

Fractional excretion of electrolytes and paradoxical aciduria in dairy cows with left displaced abomasum / Excreção fracionada de eletrólitos em acidúria paradoxal em vacas leiteiras com deslocamento de abomaso à esquerda

The fractional excretion of electrolytes is used to assess renal function and interpret electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. Left displaced abomasum is a common disorder in dairy cows, which causes hypokalemic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis. There is limited information on fractional excretion of electrolytes in cows with displaced abomasum. This study aimed to measure the fractional excretion of sodium, potassium, and chloride and paradoxical aciduria in dairy cows with displaced abomasum. Blood and urine samples were collected from 30 dairy cows before and 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. The cows were divided into two groups (G1: laparoscopy and G2: laparotomy) with 15 cows each. The concentrations of chloride, sodium, potassium, and creatinine were measured in serum and urine. Urinary pH and packed cell volume were measured. Fractional excretion of sodium, potassium, and chloride and urinary strong ion difference [SID]urine were calculated using published formulas. Cows in both groups showed hypokalemic, metabolic alkalosis before surgery; however, hypochloremia was observed only in G2. Potassium concentration significantly increased 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery in G1 and 48 and 72 h after surgery in G2. There were no significant changes in fractional excretion of sodium, chloride, and potassium and urinary pH and [SID]urine between treatments and time points. Paradoxical aciduria was observed before and 24 h following surgery in G1. Fractional excretion and urinary SID are valuable tools to understand hypochloremic, hypokalemic alkalosis in dairy cows with displaced abomasum, as well as paradoxical aciduria and return of abomasal flux.(AU)

A excreção fracionada de eletrólitos é calculada para verificar a função renal e auxiliar na interpretação de distúrbios eletrolíticos e ácido-base. O deslocamento de abomaso à esquerda é frequente em vacas leiteiras, ocasionado alcalose hipoclorêmica e hipocalêmica. Há pouca informação na literatura sobre excreção fracionada de eletrólitos em vacas com deslocamento de abomaso. Este estudo objetivou mensurar a excreção fracionada de sódio, potássio e cloro e a acidúria paradoxal em vacas leiteiras com deslocamento abomasal. Amostras sanguíneas e urinárias foram coletadas de 30 vacas antes e 24, 48 e 72 horas após operação. As vacas foram divididas em dois grupos (G1: laparoscopia e G2: laparotomia) com 15 animais cada. As concentrações de cloro, sódio, potássio e creatinina foram dosadas no soro e urina. Mensurou-se pH urinário e o hematócrito. A excreção fracionada e diferença de íons fortes urinário [SID]urina foram calculados utilizando fórmulas publicadas. Vacas de ambos os grupos apresentaram alcalose hipocalêmica antes da operação. Não houve alterações significativas na excreção fracionada de sódio, potássio e cloro, no pH urinário e na [SID]urina entre os tratamentos e momentos. Acidúria paradoxal foi observada no G1 antes e 24h após operação. A excreção fracionada e [SID]urina são ferramentas importantes para interpretar a alcalose hipoclorêmica e hipocalêmica em vacas leiteiras com deslocamento de abomaso, como também a acidúria paradoxal e o retorno do fluxo abomasal.(AU)

[Obesity treatment in rehabilitation clinics--explanations and remarks on implementing clinical practice guideline]. / Adipositastherapie in Reha-Kliniken -- Erläuterungen zur Umsetzung der Leitlinie.

This paper focuses on the improvement of obesity treatment during in-patient rehabilitation. ASSIGNMENT: The diagnosis of obesity rarely is in the foreground of assignment to rehabilitation. Obesity is the primary diagnosis in only about 1 % of all adipose patients; the term is also non-specific with respect to the causal role in the Metabolic Syndrome. The effects of obesity (diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, arthrosis) are treated but not the underlying cause. THERAPY: Treatment of obesity can be the primary focus or take place as an adjunct to the treatment of other diseases; it therefore requires different structures and a sufficient number of patients. Life style change is an essential aspect of obesity-specific behavior therapy and requires closed groups. Different modular therapeutic offerings are more suitable in physiotherapy and sports. In general, 85 - 90 % of all patients meet the prerequisites for group settings (i. e., ability to communicate, discipline). A generally accepted uniform pattern of motivational assessment appears to be important to treatment success but has to be postulated as yet. Pre-assessment interviews and subjects' response to proposed therapy settings are useful means of identifying motivated patients. QUALITY: Setting down rehabilitative goals in writing facilitates patients' achieving therapeutic targets. Medical discharge summaries should reflect the process state (motivation, therapeutic modules, concomitant illnesses, target agreements, subjective and somatic changes in quality of life). Ongoing ambulatory care seems important but can rarely be implemented. Accepted indicators of the quality of rehabilitative obesity treatment need to be determined.

Rapid expression cloning of receptors using epitope-tagged ligands and high-speed cell sorting.

BACKGROUND: In this study we describe a new approach for expression cloning of receptors. METHODS: Our approach was based on highly efficient transfer of retroviral cDNA libraries into target cells and detection of receptor-ligand interaction with the use of an antibody directed against an epitope tag on recombinant ligands. Detection of the complex and isolation of receptor-transduced cells were achieved by flow cytometry and rare event high-speed cell sorting. Recovery of the cDNA coding for the receptor(s) was achieved by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: As a proof-of-concept study we set out to clone the receptor for B-lymphocyte stimulator protein (BlyS), not known at the start of the project but reported while this work was in progress. First, we detected binding of epitope-tagged BlyS to IM9 cells. Second, human T-lymphoblasts (CEM cells), which do not bind BlyS, were transduced with a retroviral cDNA library generated from IM9 cells. Transduced CEM cells binding epitope-tagged BlyS protein were identified by flow cytometry. After three sequential rounds of cell sorting, transduced CEM cell populations with high binding capacity for BlyS were identified. To determine the cDNAs conferring binding to the transduced CEM cells, the integrated proviral DNAs were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by DNA sequencing. Rescued cDNAs contained Transmembrane Activator and calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand (CAML) Interactor (TACI) and B-Cell Maturation factor (BCMA) sequences, representing two published receptors of BlyS. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated that flow cytometry and high-speed cell sorting combined with transduction of retroviral cDNA libraries and binding of epitope-tagged orphan ligands as a selectable phenotype can be used efficiently for expression cloning of receptors. Of particular interest was our finding that apparently it is not necessary to purify the ligand but that conditioned medium containing the ligand can be used instead. Thus we concluded that our approach shortens the time to identify receptors for many orphan ligands and helps to exploit these receptors as drug targets.

[Metabolic syndroma long term results]. / Metabolisches Syndrom und Rehabilitation:Gibt es vorzeigbare Langzeitresultate aus psychologischer Sicht?

Several studies in obesity verify more effectiveness in weight-loss if diet and exercise were combined with behavioral modification. The main problem with all obesity treatments is a return to baseline weight after treatment ends. We have some evidence, that long-term behavioral methods may be successful to induce long-term weight-loss maintenance. Strategies for improving weight-loss maintenance in rehabilitation are discussed

[Change in the income status of the disabled after introduction of long-term care insurance]. / Veränderung der Einkommenssituation von Pflegebedürftigen nach Einführung einer Pflegeversicherung.

Up to the present time, long-term-care needs in the Federal Republic of Germany have only been covered to a limited extent through health insurance. The needs of the majority of those requiring long-term care must be covered from their pension funds or acquired wealth. This often does not suffice, which results in those needing long-term care becoming recipients of social assistance. The introduction of a long-term-care insurance should bring an end to this situation, which is considered unacceptable. At present, two competing schemes for covering the social risk of long-term care are being discussed: a social security insurance and a private insurance. When comparing the planned benefits under consideration, the social security insurance is more favorable in regards to nursing-home treatment, as well as with at-home care and benefits in kind. The private insurance is more favorable when considering nursing-home treatment and monetary benefits. If the private insurance is adopted, over 31% of those formerly relying on nursing-home care would no longer need social assistance. In the case of social security insurance, almost 46% would no longer require social assistance. Most of the remaining individuals requiring social assistance would be women.