Utilização do yacon ( Smallanthus sonchifolius ) na proteção contra colonização intestinal de frangos de corte infectados por Salmonella Enteritidis / Use of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) protect against intestinal colonization of broilers infectes by Salmonella Enteritidis]

Os frutanos do tipo inulina são oligossacarídeos que favorecem a multiplicação de determinados gêneros bacterianos no intestino, promovendo um efeito prebiótico. Este trabalho avaliou o efeito da inulina extraída de raízes de yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) sobre a colonização intestinal de frangos de corte experimentalmente infectados por Salmonella Enteritidis. Sessenta frangos de corte com um dia de idade foram divididos em três grupos de tratamento, com duas repetições, criados até 21 dias. As aves do grupo yacon receberam 100mg de inulina/dia, via oral, por três dias consecutivos. No sétimo dia de vida, as aves tratadas e o controle positivo foram desafiados pela via oral com uma cultura de S. Enteritidis. Não foram observadas diferenças de desempenho zootécnico entre os grupos. O índice de infectividade das aves suplementadas com yacon foi menor até o sexto dia após o desafio, mas, ao término do experimento, foi superior ao controle positivo. Os dados deste trabalho demonstram que o uso da inulina nos três primeiros dias de vida promoveu uma redução da colonização intestinal dos frangos por Salmonella Enteritidis na primeira semana após o desafio. Novos estudos são necessários para determinar a dose e o tempo de tratamento ideal para um efeito protetor de maior duração.(AU)

The fructan inulin-type oligosaccharides favor the multiplication of some bacterial genera in the intestine, promoting a prebiotic effect. This study evaluated the effect of inulin extracted from yacon roots (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on intestinal colonization of broilers experimentally infected with Salmonella Enteritidis. Sixty-one day old chicks were grouped into three treatments, with two replicates, and reared until 21 days. Birds in the yacon group received 100mg of inulin/day orally for three consecutive days. On the seventh day of life the treated birds and the positive control were challenged orally with a culture of S. Enteritidis. There were no differences between groups in live performance. The infectivity index of the chicks supplemented with yacon was lower until the sixth day after the challenge, but at the end of the experiment it was higher than the positive control. Data from this study show that the use of inulin during the first 3 days of life caused a reduction of intestinal colonization of chickens by Salmonella Enteritidis in the first week after challenge. Further studies are needed to determine the dose and the ideal time of treatment necessary for a longer protective effect.(AU)

Epidemiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Europe--an update.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a non-neoplastic pulmonary disease that is characterised by the formation of scar tissue within the lungs in the absence of any known cause. IPF is the most common of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias and is an important cause of respiratory mortality. IPF is a relatively rare disease with an estimated prevalence ranging from two to 29 cases per 100,000 and slightly higher in men (20.2/100,000) than in women (13.2/100,000). The mean age at presentation is 66 years. Little recent epidemiological data on the prevalence, incidence, risk factors, and mortality related to the disease are available or are limited by methodological weaknesses. Outstanding questions remain, including the causes of IPF, why the incidence is on the rise, and how best to manage this disease. New comparable epidemiological data on IPF are needed.

Arthroconidial formation in Trichophyton raubitschekii.

Arthroconidia produced by dermatophytic fungi are considered to be the primary cause of skin and nail infections in humans and animals. Trichophyton rubrum is currently the most common cause of tinea pedis all over the world. The common form of T. rubrum produces a cottony colony in cultures that is characteristically low in conidia formation. The attempts to produce arthroconidia in T. rubrum have shown little success so far. Recently, Trichophyton raubitschekii, an anthropophilic dermatophyte prevalent in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean, has been recognized as a variant of T. rubrum. In cultures, T. raubitschekii is characterized by a granular colony form, and an abundance of both micro- and macroconidia. The present study reveals a predominance of arthroconidia in two T. raubitschekii cultures isolated from clinical materials. These isolates were able to maintain arthroconidiation in bimonthly subcultures throughout the entire course of this study. The growth parameters for in vitro cultivation of arthroconidia are described here. Arthroconidia prepared from T. raubitschekii cultures showed greater than 95% germination within 21 h of suspension in phosphate-buffered saline. The availability of arthroconidia in T. raubitschekii cultures appears to offer a practical means of characterizing infective cells in T. rubrum.

[Hysteroscopic vs histologic diagnosis. Study of 222 cases of abnormal uterine hemorrhage]. / Diagnosi isteroscopica ed istologica a confronto. Studio su 222 casi di sanguinamento uterino anomalo.

BACKGROUND: AUB (abnormal uterine bleeding) is one of the most common pathologies. It is therefore important to use a method that is easy to carry out in order to ensure a rapid and reliable diagnosis. Hysteroscopy may represent the elective method for the study of the uterine cavity. METHODS: A total of 222 women suffering from AUB were studied between January 1996 and June 1997 at the Department of Surgery, Gynecology Clinic of L'Aquila University. Their age ranged between 30 and 74 years old. The exclusion criteria for the study were as follows: presence of a genital infection in active or latent phase, pregnancy in progress or abortion. All patients underwent operative hysteroscopy with targeted biopsy accompanied, when necessary, by endometrial ablation. All biopsies underwent histological analysis and the results of hysteroscopic diagnosis and histological diagnosis were then compared. RESULTS: There was a 85% correspondence between results. The main difficulties were encountered in the identification and selection of the characteristics of hyperplasia. Moreover, during the study it was found that hysteroscopy was both diagnostic and also therapeutic since it enabled the removal of polyps and intracavitary fibroma or endometrial ablation if required. CONCLUSIONS: Hysteroscopy was therefore found to be a totally reliable method for the study of abnormal uterine bleeding compared to the histological tests carried out.

[Transvaginal ultrasonography vs. hysteroscopy. Study of 288 cases of abnormal uterine bleeding]. / L'ecografia transvaginale a confronto con l'isteroscopia. Studio su 288 casi di sanguinamento uterino anomalo (AUB).

BACKGROUND: Abnormal uterine bleeding is the most common symptom of endometrial pathology. In the past, D and C (Dialation and Curettage) was the best way for both diagnosis and therapy. We used hysteroscopy in the study of endometrial pathology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate transvaginal ultrasound testing compared to hysteroscopy. METHODS: 288 women with abnormal uterine bleeding underwent transvaginal tests and hysteroscopies with biopsy and curettage. RESULTS: The study reported a 0.91 sensitivity and 0.89 specificity of the transvaginal probe. The authors consider the transvaginal examination a good to evaluate endometrial pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Furthermore, they have found the endometrial thickness and pattern with the TVG probe of value as the first step in any endometrial diagnosis, with or without bleeding.

An autochthonous phaeohyphomycotic nail infection in Canada caused by Hendersonula toruloidea.

A case of an autochthonous toenail infection caused by Hendersonula toruloidea is presented. H. toruloidea was characterized by thick, branching septate brown-walled hyphae of a non-dermatophyte in microscopic tissue mounts in 25% Na0H with 5% glycerol. Cultures grew out on Littman's agar and Sabouraud peptone glucose agar plus chloramphenicol, but only if cycloheximide was not present. In vitro, the H. toruloidea isolate was characterized by copious 1-to 2-celled hyaline to dark-brown arthroconidia deriving from the fragmentation of aerial hyphae. It is likely that more infections due to H. toruloidea will be diagnosed if cycloheximide-free media are routinely used in the isolation of organisms from suspected dermatophyte infections.