The effect of a cannula milk sampling technique on the microbiological diagnosis of bovine mastitis.

Two methods of collecting milk samples from mastitic bovine mammary quarters were compared. Samples were taken in a consistent order in which standard aseptic technique sampling was done first, followed by insertion of a sterile cannula through the teat canal and collection of a second sample. Microbiological results of those two sampling techniques were compared. Milk samples were analysed using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cannula technique produced a reduced number of microbial species or groups of species per sample compared with conventional sampling. Staphylococcus spp. were the most common species identified and were detected more often during conventional sampling than with cannula sampling. Staphylococcus spp. identified in milk samples could also have originated from the teat canal without being present in the milk. The number of samples positive for Trueperella pyogenes or yeasts in the conventional samples was twice as high as in the cannula samples, indicating that the presence of Trueperella pyogenes and yeast species should not necessarily be interpreted as being the causative agents of bovine intra-mammary infections (IMI).

Combination of microsatellite instability and BRAF mutation status for subtyping colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to examine the role of microsatellite instability (MSI) and BRAF(V600E)mutation in colorectal cancer (CRC) by categorising patients into more detailed subtypes based on tumour characteristics. METHODS: Tumour samples from 762 population-based patients with sporadic CRC were analysed for MSI and BRAF(V600E) by immunohistochemistry. Patient survival was followed-up for a median of 5.2 years. RESULTS: Compared with microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC, MSI was prognostic for better disease-free survival (DFS; 5 years: 85.8% vs 75.3%, 10 years: 85.8% vs 72.9%, P=0.027; HR 0.49, CI 0.30-0.80, P=0.005) and disease-specific survival (DSS; 5 years: 83.2% vs 70.5%; 10 years: 83.2 vs 65.0%, P=0.004). Compared with BRAF wild type, BRAF(V600E) was a risk for poor survival (overall survival; 5 years: 62.3% vs 51.6%, P=0.014; HR 1.43, CI 1.07-1.90, P=0.009), especially in rectal cancer (for DSS, HR: 10.60, CI: 3.04-36.92, P<0.001). The MSS/BRAF(V600E) subtype was a risk for poor DSS (HR: 1.88, CI: 1.06-3.31, P=0.030), but MSI/BRAF(V600E) was a prognostic factor for DFS (HR: 0.42, CI: 0.18-0.96, P=0.039). Among stage I-II patients, the MSS/BRAF(V600E) subtype was independently associated with poor DSS (HR: 5.32, CI: 1.74-16.31, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Microsatellite instable tumours were associated with better prognosis compared with MSS. BRAF(V600E) was associated with poor prognosis unless it occurred together with MSI. The MSI/BRAF(V600E) subtype was a favourable prognostic factor compared with the MSS/BRAF wild-type subtype. BRAF(V600E) rectal tumours showed particularly poor prognosis. The MSS/BRAF(V600E) subtype was associated with increased disease-specific mortality even in stage I-II CRC.

Interference of levamisole with Forssman shock.

The anti-helminthic drug levamisole has been used as an adjunct in the treatment of some immunologic defects including cancer. Recently, it has been shown that this drug inhibits thromboxane synthetase as well. Since Forssman shock in guinea pig is used as a model for pulmonary thromboembolism involving thromboxane A2, we studied the interference of levamisole with bronchoconstriction, thrombocytopenia, endothelial cells and pulmonary damage induced by Forssman antiserum. Levamisole inhibited dose-dependently the pathological changes produced by Forssman antiserum raising the possibility that levamisole may be effective for the treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism in man.

Células endoteliales circulantes: aislamiento y cuantificación / Circulating endothelial cells: isolation and quantification

Se describe una técnica de aislamiento y cuantificación de las células endoteliales circulantes en la sangre. Se discute su utilidad en la valoración del daño endotelial en la aterosclerosis y sus manifestaciones clínicas y como un método eficaz en la evaluación de sustancias con posibles efectos protectores del endotelio vascular

Células endoteliales circulantes: aislamiento y cuantificación / Circulating endothelial cells: isolation and quantification

Se describe una técnica de aislamiento y cuantificación de las células endoteliales circulantes en la sangre. Se discute su utilidad en la valoración del daño endotelial en la aterosclerosis y sus manifestaciones clínicas y como un método eficaz en la evaluación de sustancias con posibles efectos protectores del endotelio vascular