Mediation analysis to estimate direct and indirect milk losses associated with bacterial load in bovine subclinical mammary infections.

Milk losses associated with mastitis can be attributed to either effects of pathogens per se (i.e. direct losses) or to effects of the immune response triggered by the presence of mammary pathogens (i.e. indirect losses). Test-day milk somatic cell counts (SCC) and number of bacterial colony forming units (CFU) found in milk samples are putative measures of the level of immune response and of the bacterial load, respectively. Mediation models, in which one independent variable affects a second variable which, in turn, affects a third one, are conceivable models to estimate direct and indirect losses. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of a mediation model in which test-day SCC and milk were regressed toward bacterial CFU measured at three selected sampling dates, 1 week apart. We applied this method on cows free of clinical signs and with records on up to 3 test-days before and after the date of the first bacteriological samples. Most bacteriological cultures were negative (52.38%), others contained either staphylococci (23.08%), streptococci (9.16%), mixed bacteria (8.79%) or were contaminated (6.59%). Only losses mediated by an increase in SCC were significantly different from null. In cows with three consecutive bacteriological positive results, we estimated a decreased milk yield of 0.28 kg per day for each unit increase in log2-transformed CFU that elicited one unit increase in log2-transformed SCC. In cows with one or two bacteriological positive results, indirect milk loss was not significantly different from null although test-day milk decreased by 0.74 kg per day for each unit increase of log2-transformed SCC. These results highlight the importance of milk losses that are mediated by an increase in SCC during mammary infection and the feasibility of decomposing total milk loss into its direct and indirect components.

Spectroscopy and serial diffusion MR findings in hGH-Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

This report describes the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in two patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for human growth hormone Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, who initially had pronounced bilateral DWI/FLAIR (diffusion weighted imaging/fluid attenuated inversion recovery) hyperintensities in the basal ganglia, with decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values (range, 58-82% of normal). MRI spectroscopy, obtained in one case, showed decreased N-acetyl aspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) ratio in the atrophic vermis (0.79; normal: mean, 1.20; SD, 0.13), despite the lack of DWI/FLAIR signal changes, whereas NAA/Cr was normal in the putamina (1.6; normal: mean, 1.56; SD, 0.17), despite striking DWI signal changes and decreased ADC values (60% of normal). Serial DWI, obtained in the other case, showed a progressive disappearance of DWI hypersignal of the basal ganglia replaced by pronounced atrophy. Data from these two patients suggest that restricted diffusion associated with a normal NAA value might indicate spongiform changes of still viable cells, and that any subsequent regression of the DWI signal changes, atrophy, or decreased NAA values could be related to progressive neuronal death.

Recurring episodes of meningitis (Mollaret's meningitis) with one showing an association with herpes simplex virus type 2.

Benign recurrent aseptic (Mollaret's) meningitis is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. We report the case of a 27-year-old woman who experienced three episodes of lymphocytic meningitis. Human Simplex Virus (HSV) type 2 DNA was detected in the CSF by PCR amplification indicating the diagnosis of recurrent HSV type 2 meningitis. Our observation suggests that search of herpes virus DNA by PCR amplification on CSF may be useful in unexplained recurrent meningitis.

[Adrenomyeloneuropathy. Endocrine, clinical and biological study of 4 cases]. / Adrénomyéloneuropathie. Etude endocrinienne, clinique et biologique de quatre observations.

Adrenoleukomyeloneuropathy (ALMN) is a rare neurological and endocrine disorder. It usually affects children, and consists of cortical disease and adrenal insufficiency (adrenoleukodystrophy: ALD). An adult form has recently been identified in which medullary disease is associated with an endocrine disorder (adrenomyeloneuropathy AMN). The authors describe the clinical, biological and physiopathological features of four cases of AMN.

[Current research in therapy of postmenopausal osteoporosis (author's transl)]. / Perspectives thérapeutiques actuelles de l'ostéoporose commune.

The goals of osteoporosis treatment are not only to decrease bone resorption, but also and mainly to increase bone formation. Present research is based on bone histomorphometry and prospective double blind therapeutic studies. Physical exercise, adequate calcium intake oestrogen therapy in postmenopausal or oophorectomized women have been shown to be effective in prevention of the disease. A moderate beneficial effect of the association of synthetic anabolic steroids with oral calcium has been recognized. Better results are expected from combined treatments such as low doses of calcitonin and oral calcium, or vitamin D metabolites and sodium fluoride, and from stimulating bone formation by low doses of parat-hormone.