ABSTRACT
Immunoglobulin transfusion is employed in the management of the failure of passive transfer (FPT). The aim of this study was to investigate the dose of immunoglobulin G (IgG) needed to reach a protective concentration (>10 g/L) in colostrum-deprived dairy calves. Twenty-eight Holstein Friesian newborn male calves were randomly assigned to either a control group (CG) or a treatment group (PG). Calves in the CG received 4 L of high quality colostrum within 12 h of birth. Calves in the PG received 62.7 ± 3.1 g of IgG IV in 2.6 ± 0.3 L of plasma within 6 h after birth. Serum immunoglobulin G (sIgG) and serum total protein (sTP) concentrations were assayed before and after (24 h, 72 h and 1 week after birth) plasma transfusion or colostrum ingestion. Serum (s) IgG and sTP concentrations increased in both groups throughout the period of observation. Mean sIgG and sTP concentrations after colostrum ingestion or plasma transfusion were higher in the CG than in the PG (P <0.01). Nine treated calves developed diarrhoea during the study and four were humanely euthanased due to progressive clinical deterioration. None of the calves in the CG showed signs of disease or died during the study. The dose of IgG used in this trial effectively provided an adequate sIgG concentration in colostrum-deprived calves (>10 g/L). Calves in the CG had significantly lower morbidity and mortality rates compared to those in the PG, suggesting that plasma transfusion alone is ineffective in providing complete protection against neonatal disease.
Subject(s)
Cattle/immunology , Colostrum/metabolism , Immunity, Maternally-Acquired , Immunoglobulin G/metabolism , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/metabolism , Infusions, Intravenous/veterinary , Animals , Animals, Newborn/immunology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Male , Random AllocationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The latest developments in Lewy Body Dementia (DLB) raise some controversies on clinical features, neuroimaging and therapy. The aim of our study is to determine clinical, neuropsychological, neuroimaging and EEG profile of DLB through retrospective and prospective data of 102 patients. METHODS: data were collected with an analytical form that was developed by an expertise of neurologists. RESULTS: DLB represented 4.8% of the dementia population, with no sex difference. Family history of dementia was common (24.5%), while familiarity for parkinsonism was rare (4.9%). Cognitive disturbances were the predominant clinical presentation at onset (49%), followed by behavioral symptoms (29.4%) and parkinsonism (21.6%). Clinical features at consultation were: memory disturbances (almost all cases), symmetrical (68.6%) or asymmetrical (18.6%) parkinsonism, cognitive fluctuations (49%), visuospatial deficits (53.9%), and visual hallucinations (44.1%). Autonomic signs were present in a third of the cases, while sleep disorders were present in 44.1%. Some clinical response to antiparkinsonian drugs was evident in half of the cases. MRI, SPET, EEG and Neuropsychiatric Inventory data were available in a subgroup of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most of our data were in accordance with the previous literature. However, some data underline the relationship between DLB, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Subject(s)
Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/epidemiology , Behavioral Symptoms/epidemiology , Lewy Body Disease/complications , Lewy Body Disease/psychology , Perceptual Disorders/epidemiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Diagnostic Imaging , Electroencephalography , Female , Hospitals, Psychiatric , Humans , Italy , Lewy Body Disease/diagnosis , Male , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Prevalence , Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS)1 C276T polymorphism was shown to increase the risk for frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). In the brain, both NOS1 and NOS3 (endothelial isoform) have been detected. The distribution of NOS3 G894T (Glu298Asp) and T-786C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was analyzed in a population of 222 patients with FTLD compared with 218 age-matched controls to determine whether they could influence the susceptibility to develop the disease. RESULTS: A statistically significant increased frequency of the NOS3 G894T SNP was observed in patients as compared with controls (40.0 vs. 31.4%, P = 0.011, OR: 1.65, CI: 1.13-2.42). Conversely, the distribution of the T-786C SNP was similar in patients and controls. No differences were observed stratifying according to gender. DISCUSSION: The NOS3 G894T polymorphism likely acts as risk factor for sporadic FTLD, but studies in larger populations are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
