Supplying sows energy on the expected day of farrowing improves farrowing kinetics and newborn piglet performance in the first 24 h after birth.

The farrowing process is one of the most energy-demanding activities for the modern hyperprolific sow. This study evaluated the effects of supply of energy on the expected date of farrowing on the farrowing kinetics and piglets' performance during the first 24 h after birth. A total of 80 sows were used. The sows and their respective litters were considered as the experimental unit. On the expected day of farrowing, the sows were allocated to one of the following groups: sows that did not have access to feed from farrowing induction until the end of the farrowing process (CON, n = 40); sows fed 500 g of energetic supplement, which consisted of 250 g of the basal lactation diet plus 250 g of cane sugar, 18 h after farrowing induction (SUP, n = 40). The farrowing duration, farrowing assistance, birth interval, number of total born, stillborn and mummified piglets were recorded for each sow. Piglets were weighed individually at birth and 24 h later. The interval from birth to first suckle was evaluated individually for each piglet in 16 randomly selected litters (eight litters per treatment group). Blood glucose concentrations of six sows were measured shortly after expulsion of the first piglet. Farrowing duration, farrowing assistance and stillborn rate tended to be greater (P = 0.06, P = 0.09 and P = 0.07, respectively) in sows from the CON group compared to sows from the SUP group. However, there was no difference (P > 0.05) between the groups for birth interval. Colostrum intake was greater (P < 0.05) for piglets from the SUP group compared to piglets from the CON group. Additionally, BW gain of the piglets suckling the SUP group was greater (P < 0.05) than those suckling the CON group at 24 h after birth. The blood glucose concentrations during the expulsive stage of farrowing were greater (P < 0.05) in the SUP group than for sows from the CON group. In conclusion, supplying modern hyperprolific sows energy on the expected day of farrowing is a valuable nutritional intervention to improve the farrowing kinetics and piglets' performance in early life.

Contribuições do paradigma de equivalência de estímulos para o estudo das atitudes / Contributions of stimulus equivalence paradigm for studying attitudes

Considerando a abordagem analítico-comportamental, atitudes podem ser consideradas respostasavaliativas emitidas de acordo com uma história prévia de aprendizagem. O paradigma deequivalência de estímulos, utilizando procedimentos que simulam o comportamento simbólico nolaboratório, tem possibilitado entender a formação de atitudes como uma rede de relações arbitráriasentre classes de estímulos e atributos avaliativos. Esta visão tem auxiliado na compreensão de comofenômenos sociais, tais como estereótipos e preconceitos, podem ser estabelecidos e modificados. Oobjetivo deste trabalho é apresentar algumas contribuições, a partir de evidências empíricasdemonstradas por pesquisas que utilizaram este paradigma nas últimas décadas, particularmente apartir da década de 90, que fortalecem a equivalência de estímulos como um modelocomportamental importante para o estudo das atitudes(AU)

Review of the biological properties and toxicity of usnic acid.

Since its first isolation in 1844, usnic acid [2,6-diacetyl-7,9-dihydroxy-8,9b-dimethyl-1,3(2H,9bH)-dibenzo-furandione] has become the most extensively studied lichen metabolite and one of the few that are commercially available. Lichens belonging to usnic acid-containing genera have been used as crude drugs throughout the world. There are indications of usnic acid being a potentially interesting candidate for such activities as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, healing, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antiviral, larvicidal and UV protection. However, some studies reported the liver toxicity and contact allergy. Thus, further studies are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of usnic acid.

Texture analysis of computed tomography images of acute ischemic stroke patients

Computed tomography (CT) images are routinely used to assess ischemic brain stroke in the acute phase. They can provide important clues about whether to treat the patient by thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator. However, in the acute phase, the lesions may be difficult to detect in the images using standard visual analysis. The objective of the present study was to determine if texture analysis techniques applied to CT images of stroke patients could differentiate between normal tissue and affected areas that usually go unperceived under visual analysis. We performed a pilot study in which texture analysis, based on the gray level co-occurrence matrix, was applied to the CT brain images of 5 patients and of 5 control subjects and the results were compared by discriminant analysis. Thirteen regions of interest, regarding areas that may be potentially affected by ischemic stroke, were selected for calculation of texture parameters. All regions of interest for all subjects were classified as lesional or non-lesional tissue by an expert neuroradiologist. Visual assessment of the discriminant analysis graphs showed differences in the values of texture parameters between patients and controls, and also between texture parameters for lesional and non-lesional tissue of the patients. This suggests that texture analysis can indeed be a useful tool to help neurologists in the early assessment of ischemic stroke and quantification of the extent of the affected areas.

Texture analysis of computed tomography images of acute ischemic stroke patients.

Computed tomography (CT) images are routinely used to assess ischemic brain stroke in the acute phase. They can provide important clues about whether to treat the patient by thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator. However, in the acute phase, the lesions may be difficult to detect in the images using standard visual analysis. The objective of the present study was to determine if texture analysis techniques applied to CT images of stroke patients could differentiate between normal tissue and affected areas that usually go unperceived under visual analysis. We performed a pilot study in which texture analysis, based on the gray level co-occurrence matrix, was applied to the CT brain images of 5 patients and of 5 control subjects and the results were compared by discriminant analysis. Thirteen regions of interest, regarding areas that may be potentially affected by ischemic stroke, were selected for calculation of texture parameters. All regions of interest for all subjects were classified as lesional or non-lesional tissue by an expert neuroradiologist. Visual assessment of the discriminant analysis graphs showed differences in the values of texture parameters between patients and controls, and also between texture parameters for lesional and non-lesional tissue of the patients. This suggests that texture analysis can indeed be a useful tool to help neurologists in the early assessment of ischemic stroke and quantification of the extent of the affected areas.

Chickens (Gallus domesticus) are natural intermediate hosts of Neospora caninum.

Neospora caninum naturally infects many mammal species, but has not previously been demonstrated in birds. We examined sera for N. caninum antibodies from 200 outdoor chickens and from 200 chickens confined indoors in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Seroprevalence was greater in outdoor chickens (23.5% versus 1.5%, P<0.001). PCR testing for N. caninum was positive in six of 10 seropositive chickens. Amplicons from two of these were sequenced and had 97-98% nucleotide identity with N. caninum. This finding extends the list of intermediate hosts of N. caninum to include birds and may have important epidemiological consequences.

Evaluation of B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) costimulatory molecules and dendritic cells on the immune response in leprosy.

The cell activation depends on T cell antigen receptor binding to antigen plus MHC and costimulation. The binding of CD28, expressed on the T cell surface to B7 (B7-1 or CD80/B7-2 or CD86) present on the antigen--presenting cells (APCs), determines, in several T cell function models, if activation or anergy follows antigenic stimulation. In leprosy, the role of CD80 and CD86 as costimulatory signal in M. leprae-specific cellular immunity has not yet been defined. We investigated the role of B7-CD28 pathway of T cell activation in the in vitro response to M. leprae, following stimulation in the presence of monocytes or dendritic cells (DCs) as APCs. Monocytes were purified, by cold aggregation, from peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC), isolated from leprosy patients. In order to obtain DCs, the monocytes were cultured in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF. T cells were purified from PBMC by negative selection with mABs and C'. The phenotype of the cell populations was monitored by FACS. Lymphoproliferative assays were performed with T cells, in the presence of monocytes or DCs. The cells were stimulated by M. leprae in the presence of anti-CD80 antibody (Ab) and/or anti-CD86 antibody (Ab) (Innogenetics). In some experiments Il-10, Il-12 and anti-Il-12 Ab were also added to the culture. We observed a significantly more efficient APC function for DCs when compared to monocytes in T cell in vitro responses to M. leprae. Regardless of the clinical form of Leprosy, the M. leprae-specific immune response was markedly reduced in the presence of anti-CD86 Ab. Il-12 increase the immune response to M. leprae while IL-10 or anti-IL-12 Ab reduce this response when monocytes or DCs were used as APCs.

Total and segmental colonic transit time in constipated patients with Chagas' disease without megaesophagus or megacolon.

Manometric and pharmacological tests have shown that motor abnormalities may occur in the non-dilated colons of chagasic patients. In order to investigate the presence of abnormalities of colonic function in constipated patients with Chagas' disease (ChC) without megaesophagus or megacolon, studies of total and segmental colonic transit time with radiopaque markers were performed on 15 ChC patients, 27 healthy volunteers and 17 patients with idiopathic constipation (IC). The values obtained for the control group were similar to those reported in the literature (total colonic time: 34. 1 +/- 15.6 h; right colon: 9.9 +/- 7.3 h; left colon: 10.8 +/- 10 h, and rectosigmoid: 12.6 +/- 9.9 h). Colonic transit time data permitted us to divide both IC and ChC patients into groups with normal transit and those with slow colonic transit. Colonic inertia was detected in 41% of IC patients and in 13% of ChC patients; left colon isolated stasis (hindgut dysfunction) was detected in 12% of IC patients and 7% of ChC patients, and outlet obstruction was detected in 6% of IC patients and 7% of ChC patients. There were no significant differences in total or segmental colonic transit times between slow transit IC and slow transit ChC patients. In conclusion, an impairment of colonic motility was detected in about 30% of constipated patients with Chagas' disease without megaesophagus or megacolon. This subgroup of patients presented no distinctive clinical feature or pattern of colonic dysmotility when compared to patients with slow transit idiopathic constipation.

Total and segmental colonic transit time in constipated patients with ChagasÆ disease without megaesophagus or megacolon

Manometric and pharmacological tests have shown that motor abnormalities may occur in the non-dilated colons of chagasic patients. In order to investigate the presence of abnormalities of colonic function in constipated patients with Chagas disease (ChC) without megaesophagus or megacolon, studies of total and segmental colonic transit time with radiopaque markers were performed on 15 ChC patients, 27 healthy volunteers and 17 patients with idiopathic constipation (IC). The values obtained for the control group were similar to those reported in the literature (total colonic time: 34.1 + or - 15.6 h; right colon: 9.9 + or - 7.3 h; left colon: 10.8 + or - 10 h, and rectosigmoid: 12.6 + or - 9.9 h). Colonic transit time data permitted us to divide both IC and ChC patients into groups with normal transit and those with slow colonic transit. Colonic inertia was detected in 41 percent of IC patients and in 13 percent of ChC patients; left colon isolated stasis (hindgut dysfunction) was detected in 12 percent of IC patients and 7 percent of ChC patients, and outlet obstruction was detected in 6 percent of IC patients and 7 percent of ChC patients. There were no significant differences in total or segmental colonic transit times between slow transit IC and slow transit ChC patients. In conclusion, an impairment of colonic motility was detected in about 30 percent of constipated patients with Chagas disease without megaesophagus or megacolon. This subgroup of patients presented no distinctive clinical feature or pattern of colonic dysmotility when compared to patients with slow transit idiopathic constipation

Anticalculus effect of two zinc citrate/essential oil-containing dentifrices.

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility of incorporating zinc citrate, a known anticalculus ingredient, into a dentifrice formulation containing a fixed combination of essential oils, a known antiplaque/antigingivitis agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized, parallel, double-blind study evaluated the potential of two essential oil dentifrice formulations containing different levels of zinc citrate (1.0% and 2.0% ZCT) to reduce supragingival calculus formation compared to a marketed control dentifrice, Crest Regular. Following a 3-month pre-test phase, subjects received a dental prophylaxis, were stratified into three balanced groups on the basis of Volpe-Manhold calculus scores and brushed twice daily with their assigned dentifrice for 3 months. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-six evaluable subjects completed all phases of the study. ANCOVA revealed that the 1.0% ZCT and 2.0% ZCT essential oil dentifrice formulations provided significant reductions in calculus formation of 26.4% and 29.0% (P< 0.001), respectively, compared to the control dentifrice, Crest Regular. The magnitude of calculus reductions is similar to those levels obtained by other zinc salt formulations.

Stain removal efficacy of two new fluoride dentifrices containing essential oils.

PURPOSE: To assess in vitro the stain removal efficacy of two new antiplaque/antigingivitis dentifrices utilizing a modification of a previously validated Stookey method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The modifications to the original Stookey method are the following: (1) study design; three 5 x 5 Latin Squares were employed to minimize bias stemming from position or test run in the study. (2) statistical success criteria; a test formulation was judged to be effective if the lower one-sided 95% confidence limit was "equal to or higher than" 50 since a minimum PCR (pellicle cleaning ratio) score of 50 is needed for a dentifrice to show clinical efficacy. The two test dentifrice formulations contained a fluoride source, a silica abrasive system, and four essential oils. The ADA reference abrasive material (calcium pyrophosphate) and placebo toothpaste were included as positive and negative controls, respectively. RESULTS: Compared to the negative control, the positive control exhibited a statistically higher PCR score; therefore, the validity of this modified Stookey method was confirmed. Additionally, the lower limits of the one-sided 95% confidence interval for the two dentifrice formulations were above the threshold PCR of 50; therefore, this modified Stookey method should predict that both essential oil-containing dentifrices possess acceptable stain removal power.

Development and validation of a short-term clinical model for assessing calculus inhibitory agents.

The purpose of this project was to develop and validate an efficient, short-term clinical model for assessing topically-applied anticalculus agents. In this model, calculus development occurred within 14 days on both labial and lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth. Because of documented long-term clinical efficacy, pyrophosphate dentifrices were used to investigate the validity of the short-term calculus model for evaluating anticalculus agents. This paper provides the results of the final 3 studies conducted during the development of this model. For each study, the design consisted of two 14-day phases, i.e., a control phase and a treatment phase, separated by a 7-day washout phase. At the start of each phase, a prophylaxis was performed on the mandibular anterior teeth to remove all plaque and calculus. At the end of each phase, supragingival calculus formation on the labial and lingual surfaces of these same teeth was measured using the VMI scoring method. Twice a day during the control phase, subjects applied a control dentifrice undiluted to the test teeth with a custom-fitted toothshield and brushed only the exposed teeth with the same dentifrice. For the treatment phase, subjects were randomly assigned to groups balanced on the basis of control-phase calculus scores and then delivered the dentifrices using the toothshield as in the first phase. After 14 days, calculus formation occurred in all groups. However, the pyrophosphate dentifrice groups had significantly less calculus (16-30%) than the control dentifrice group. These studies demonstrated that this methodology permitted rapid formation of dental calculus, and by substantiating with anticalculus systems documented to have activity in long-term human trials, it is concluded that this short-term clinical model is valid for assessing anticalculus agents.

Industry response to SARA Title III: pollution prevention, risk reduction, and risk communication.

This paper reports results from a survey designed to: (1) evaluate changes in industrial pollution prevention practices since the passage of the landmark environmental legislation, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, also known as SARA Title III, and (2) identify those factors that may contribute to an industrial facility engaging in pollution prevention and risk communication activities. The survey was conducted under a Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Columbia University Center for Risk Communication. Evidence from the survey indicates that a wide variety of waste and pollution reduction activities have been undertaken since passage of the Act. Virtually all facilities surveyed in the pulp and paper, chemical, and petroleum and refining industries reported that they had reduced pollutants or wastes on at least one of ten measures, including reducing toxic air emissions. Most facilities indicated paying more attention to pollution prevention activities as a result of SARA Title III and half reported that their communication activities have also increased.