Influence of different rearing systems on natural immune parameters in broiler turkeys.

The aim of this study was to determine serological values of lysozyme, hemolytic complement levels (alternative pathway), and bactericidal activity of serum in turkeys kept in different rearing systems (industrial, backyard, and experimental). Results showed that the values for serum bactericidal activity and hemolytic complement levels increased with age, and their values were higher in experimental and in industrial turkeys than in turkeys reared in backyard. Lysozyme concentration showed a similar pattern; its value was higher in the industrial and experimental groups than in the backyard group. Data obtained suggest that rearing system can have an influence on the natural immune parameters considered; experimental and industrial groups showed a similar trend, differentiated from that observed in the backyard group. In the backyard group, the values observed may suggest that hybrid turkeys, selected for high production, have difficulty with being reared outside where predators (foxes and weasels) and weather conditions could be responsible for a stress situation.

Great saphenous varicose vein surgery without saphenofemoral junction disconnection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this case-control study was to determine whether preoperative duplex imaging could predict the outcome of varicose vein surgery without saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) disconnection. The duplex protocol included a reflux elimination test (RET) and assessment of the competence of the terminal valve of the femoral vein. METHODS: One hundred patients with chronic venous disease who had a positive RET result and an incompetent terminal valve were compared with 100 patients matched for age, sex, clinical class (Clinical Etiologic Anatomic Pathophysiologic (CEAP) class C2-C6) and disease duration, but who had a positive RET result and a competent terminal valve. All patients underwent ligation and proximal avulsion of the incompetent tributaries from the great saphenous vein trunk without SFJ disconnection. Clinical and duplex follow-up lasted for 3 years, and included Hobbs' clinical score. RESULTS: Of legs with a competent terminal valve, 100 per cent were rated as cured (Hobbs' class A or B) and 14.0 per cent developed recurrent varices. Patients with an incompetent terminal valve had significantly worse results: 29.0 per cent had Hobbs' class A or B and 82.0 per cent developed recurrence (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative duplex assessment of the terminal valve could be used to identify patients suitable for varicose vein surgery without the need for SFJ disconnection.

Echo-guided foam sclerotherapy treatment of venous malformation involving the sciatic nerve.

Primary sciatic nerve varices (SNV) lie within the sciatic nerve possibly causing chronic venous disease and sciatic pain as well. We report a series of 12 consecutive patients affected by symptomatic SNV. All of them were treated by echo-guided Tessari foam sclerotherapy (EGFSCL). Mean follow up lasted two years. Reflux through the sciatic veins, as the connected superficial varicose veins, disappeared in the entire cohort and only minor complications have emerged. EGFSCL seems to be both safe and effective, so representing a reliable and minimally invasive treatment.

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The extracranial venous outflow routes in clinically defined multiple sclerosis (CDMS) have not previously been investigated. METHODS: Sixty-five patients affected by CDMS, and 235 controls composed, respectively, of healthy subjects, healthy subjects older than CDMS patients, patients affected by other neurological diseases and older controls not affected by neurological diseases but scheduled for venography (HAV-C) blindly underwent a combined transcranial and extracranial colour-Doppler high-resolution examination (TCCS-ECD) aimed at detecting at least two of five parameters of anomalous venous outflow. According to the TCCS-ECD screening, patients and HAV-C further underwent selective venography of the azygous and jugular venous system with venous pressure measurement. RESULTS: CDMS and TCCS-ECD venous outflow anomalies were dramatically associated (OR 43, 95% CI 29 to 65, p<0.0001). Subsequently, venography demonstrated in CDMS, and not in controls, the presence of multiple severe extracranial stenosis, affecting the principal cerebrospinal venous segments; this provides a picture of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) with four different patterns of distribution of stenosis and substitute circle. Moreover, relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive courses were associated with CCSVI patterns significantly different from those of primary progressive (p<0.0001). Finally, the pressure gradient measured across the venous stenosies was slightly but significantly higher. CONCLUSION: CDMS is strongly associated with CCSVI, a scenario that has not previously been described, characterised by abnormal venous haemodynamics determined by extracranial multiple venous strictures of unknown origin. The location of venous obstructions plays a key role in determining the clinical course of the disease.

First-line liver resection and salvage liver transplantation are increasing therapeutic strategies for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and child a cirrhosis.

AIM: The present study focused on nine patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with Child A liver cirrhosis undergoing first-line liver resection and salvage liver transplantation (SLT) for liver tumor recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients with HCC underwent liver transplantation (OLT); 37 (80.5%) were primary liver transplantations (PLTs) and 9 (19.5%) were SLTs. All patients who underwent SLT received minor transabdominal liver resections. RESULTS: The posttransplant 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates for SLT (88.9%, 88.9%, and 88.9%) were similar to those for PLT (78%, 62.7%, and 62.7%). Four (10.8%) patients in the PLT group had HCC recurrence, while there was zero recurrence in the SLT group. The 1-, 3-, 5-year disease-free survival rates for PLT (89%, 74%, and 74%) were similar to those for SLT (100%, 100%, and 100%). The 1-, 3-, 5-year disease-free survival rates after PLT were 89%, 74%, and 74%, and after SLT were 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The operative mortality, intraperioperative bleeding, operative time, intensive care unit stay, in-hospital stay, and overall incidence of postoperative complications were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, SLT for HCC is a feasible procedure with similar results in terms of overall survival, disease-free survival, and postoperative complications to those reported for patients who underwent PLT at our institute. An important role exists for SLT as shown by the fact that such a strategy has been used in the 20% of the patients undergoing OLT for HCC.

Modified liver hanging maneuver during orthotopic liver transplantation with inferior vena cava preservation: results after 120 consecutive applications.

The outflow venovenous anastomosis represent a crucial aspect during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with inferior vena cava (IVC) preservation. The modified Belghiti liver hanging maneuver applied to the last phase of hepatectomy, lifting the liver, provides a better exposure of the suprahepatic region and allows easier orthogonal clamping of the three suprahepatic veins with a minimal portion of IVC occlusion. The outflow anastomosis constructed with a common cloacae of the three native suprahepatic veins is associated with a lower incidence of graft related venous outflow complications. The procedure planned in 120 consecutive OLT was achieved in 118 (99%). The outflow anastomosis was constructed on the common cloaca of the three hepatic veins in 111/120 cases (92.5%). No major complications were observed (bleeding during tunnel creation, graft outflow dysfunction, etc) except in one patient with acute Budd-Chiari, who successfully underwent retransplantation.

In vitro antifungal activity of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil and its major components against plant pathogens.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil (TTO) and its principal components on four cereal-pathogenic fungi. METHODS AND RESULTS: The antimycotic properties of TTO and of terpinen-4-ol, gamma-terpinen and 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) were evaluated in vitro on Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium culmorum and Pyrenophora graminea. Moreover, barley leaves infected with Blumeria graminis were treated with whole TTO. All the tested fungi were susceptible to TTO and its components. CONCLUSIONS: TTO exerted a wide spectrum of antimycotic activity. Single TTO purified components were more active than the whole oil in reducing in vitro growth of fungal mycelium and, among the tested compounds, terpinen-4-ol was the most effective. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: TTO and its components can be considered potential alternative natural fungicides.

Haplotype characterization and markers at the barley Mlo powdery mildew resistance locus as tools for marker-assisted selection.

Recessive mlo alleles of the barley Mlo gene confer resistance to almost all known isolates of the powdery mildew fungal pathogen targeting barley (Hordeum vulgare). To characterize haplotypes present in the Mlo chromosomal region of cultivated Mlo and mlo barley genotypes, we conducted a polymorphism search in 3 predicted low-copy sequence regions adjacent to the Mlo gene by examining a sample of 4 Mlo and 3 mlo cultivars. Eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 1 insertion-deletion (indel) were detected, and easy to use PCR-based markers were developed for typing the SNPs. The PCR markers were used to characterize a collection of 46 Mlo and 25 mlo barley cultivars, identifying 3 distinct mlo-11 haplotypes, 1 mlo-9 haplotype, and 4 Mlo haplotypes. We summarized the haplotype and marker information obtained here and in a previous study to help breeders identify strategies for mlo marker-assisted selection. The ability of the markers to identify mlo-resistant genotypes in segregating populations was demonstrated using 2 resistance-characterized F2 populations derived by 3-way crosses.

Perineal swelling, intermenstrual cycle, and female sexual behavior in bonobos (Pan paniscus).

Many reports have claimed that the duration of the swelling cycle in female bonobos (Pan paniscus) is longer than that of chimpanzees, and that the bonobo maximum swelling phase is markedly prolonged. Field data on intermenstrual intervals (IMIs) in female bonobos are limited and restricted to interswelling intervals (ISIs), which are assumed to reflect the IMI, though a direct comparison between the duration of ISIs and IMIs is still lacking. Reports on bonobo sexual activity as a function of the swelling phase are often contradictory. Moreover, the function of female homosexual interactions (genito-genital (GG) rubbing) is still debated. This study examines the reliability of the ISI as an approximation of the IMI, and the attractivity of female sexual swellings for other individuals. An analysis of 51 ISI-IMI pairs showed that ISIs are a fair representation of the reproductive cycle. The cycle length was 35.6+/-1.1 SE days relying on the ISI, whereas it was 35.0+/-1.1 SE days considering the IMI. This result is similar to the cycle length reported for chimpanzees. Female homosexual interactions and copulatory rates were higher during maximum tumescence, suggesting that the sexual swelling may be attractive for both males and other females. Furthermore, the GG-rubbing was performed free of a hierarchical postural imposition, and was not correlated with affinitive interactions. We suggest that GG-rubbing, which is generally the most frequent female sexual interaction, is a tool for social assessments among females.

High-resolution genetic mapping of the leaf stripe resistance gene Rdg2a in barley.

The dominant gene Rdg2a of barley conferring resistance to the hemi-biotrophic seed-borne pathogen Pyrenophora graminea is located in the distal region of chromosome arm 1 (7H)S. As the first step towards isolating the gene, a high-resolution genetic map of the region was constructed using an F(2) population of 1,400 plants (Thibaut Rdg2axMirco). The map included six classes of resistance gene analogues (RGAs) tightly associated with Rdg2a. Rdg2a was delimited to a genetic interval of 0.14 cM between the RGAs ssCH4 and MWG851. Additional markers were generated using the sequence from the corresponding region on rice chromosome 6, allowing delimitation of the Rdg2a syntenic interval in rice to a 115 kbp stretch of sequence. Analysis of the rice sequence failed to reveal any genes with similarity to characterized resistance genes. Therefore, either the rice-barley synteny is disrupted in this region, or Rdg2a encodes a novel type of resistance protein.

Retrospective ultramicroscopic investigation on naturally cryptosporidial-infected commercial turkey poults.

The morphometric characteristics and the ultramicroscopic findings of Cryptosporidium spp. at various stages of their life cycle in the intestinal and bursal epithelial cells of naturally infected 30-day-old commercial turkeys are reported. Small, sporulated oocysts, observed in the small intestinal content after flotation, were identified as Cryptosporidium meleagridis on the basis of morphometric characteristics (round in shape and 4.5-5.0 microm in size) and the small intestinal localization. Light section examinations revealed the presence of the protozoon in multiple organs, but its prevalence was highest in the intestinal and bursal epithelial cells. Ultramicroscopic studies on ileum and bursal samples showed the presence of all the life cycle stages in the microvillar brush epithelial cells in both the organs examined. On the basis of the comparison of the morphology and the sizes of the microorganisms parasitizing the ileum and the bursa, hypotheses are considered on the possible species involved.

Experimental trichinellosis in fallow-deer (Dama dama L.).

Herbivora can play a very important role in spreading trichinellosis, as showed by the massive epidemics in man, caused by the consumption of horse meat in the last years. In this context, the present study has been undertaken to verify, through an experimental infection, the susceptibility, together with other biological parameters, of fallow-deer to Trichinella infection. The four animals, 8-9 months of age and 18-25 Kg body weight, were orally infected with low doses of Trichinella britovi and T. pseudospiralis (2,000 larvae/animal). After day 30 p.i., the animals were necropsied and, using artificial digestion methods, larval burden of Trichinella in muscle tissues was determined. Histopathological, serological (IgG monoclonal blocking ELISA) and biochemical data were assessed during the experiment. The results showed the susceptibility of fallow-deer to T. britovi and T. pseudospiralis infection; under the same inoculum size, the number of larvae/g was higher in group infected with T. britovi. The animals showed a higher immunological response to T. pseudospiralis infection. The results are discussed.

Efficacy and safety of an infectious bursal disease virus intermediate vaccine in ovo.

The study was divided into two experiments. In the first experiment, the efficacy of in ovo intermediate vaccine against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was determined by challenge at 21 days of age with virulent IBDV in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) and commercial chickens. This vaccine was able to induce active immunity and to protect SPF chickens to challenge; protection was not complete in commercial chickens, as testified by bursal lesions, bursal index after challenge, and vaccine immunoresponse. In order to detect field and vaccinal viruses, immunoperoxidase staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, capture, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were tested; the RT-PCR was more effective at detecting both kind of viruses. In the second experiment, the immunosuppressive effect of in ovo vaccination was determined by evaluating the immunoresponse against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccination effected at 10 days in both SPF and commercial chickens vaccinated in ovo. The in ovo vaccine causes a reduction of NDV immunoresponse, as testified by lowest geometric mean titer in group I (SPF chickens vaccinated against IBDV in ovo and against NDV at 11 days). In commercial chickens, immunoresponse to NDV vaccination was not influenced by in ovo vaccination.

[Multiple organ failure (MOF) in tertian malaria. Report of a clinical case]. / Multiple organ failure (MOF) in corso di malaria terzana. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

The authors describe a malignant malaria clinic case complicated by shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ failure (renal, heart, lung failure): MOF. Early diagnosis and suitable therapy, with multiple organ failure intensive care allowed a good patient outcome.

Evaluation of the efficacy of apramycin against Salmonella pullorum infection in chickens.

The efficacy of apramycin given orally at dose levels of 225, 150 and 75 mg/litre for five days to chicks experimentally infected with Salmonella pullorum has been evaluated. The results show that this drug, when utilised at the dose level of 225 mg/litre for five days, totally suppresses mortality and significantly reduces Salmonella excretion in comparison with non-treated chicks.