Establishment of Age-Specific Whole Blood Biochemistry and Gas Reference Intervals in Broiler Chickens using the i-STAT and the Vetscan VS2 Portable Analyzers.

Whole blood biochemistry and blood gas analysis are uncommonly used in poultry, but their use could improve the diagnosis of certain diseases or aid in monitoring flock health. To create preliminary reference intervals for selected blood analytes in broilers using the i-STAT and Vetscan VS2 (VS2) portable analyzers, we tested broilers at 7, 21, and 35 days of age. A total of 134 venous blood samples from healthy chickens of two different flocks were analyzed. There were significant age-related increases in concentration for glucose, hematocrit, ionized calcium, sodium, and carbon dioxide partial pressure on the i-STAT and for aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, total calcium, phosphorus, and total protein on the VS2. Conversely, significant decreases in concentration were observed for pH, oxygen partial pressure, oxygen saturation on the i-STAT and for uric acid and albumin on the VS2. Additionally, significant differences were found on some blood parameters among the two flocks. Extremely high CK values were found on broilers after 21 days of age, indicating a possible degree of muscle injury during the grow-out. Preliminary reference intervals for all the analytes at each of the age groups were obtained. This study's data provide a starting point for the interpretation of blood analysis in broiler chickens at different ages and offer a new approach to investigate certain metabolic diseases that affect commercial poultry.

Nota de investigación- Establecimiento de intervalos de referencia de gases y bioquímica de sangre completa específicos por edad en pollos de engorde utilizando los analizadores portátiles i-STAT y Vetscan VS2. La bioquímica de sangre completa y el análisis de gases sanguíneos se usan con poca frecuencia en avicultura, pero su uso podría mejorar el diagnóstico de ciertas enfermedades o ayudar a monitorear la salud de las parvadas. Para crear intervalos de referencia preliminares para componentes sanguíneos selectos en pollos de engorde utilizando los analizadores portátiles i-STAT y Vetscan VS2 (VS2), se analizaron muestras de pollos de engorde a los 7, 21 y 35 días de edad. Se analizaron un total de 134 muestras de sangre venosa de pollos sanos de dos parvadas diferentes. Hubo aumentos significativos relacionados con la edad en la concentración de glucosa, hematocrito, calcio ionizado, sodio y presión parcial de dióxido de carbono en el i-STAT, y para aspartato aminotransferasa, creatina quinasa (CK), calcio total, fósforo y proteína total en el VS2. Por otro lado, se observaron disminuciones significativas en la concentración para el pH, la presión parcial de oxígeno, la saturación de oxígeno en el i-STAT y para el ácido úrico y la albúmina en el VS2. Además, se encontraron diferencias significativas para los parámetros sanguíneos entre las dos parvadas. Se encontraron valores de creatina quinasa extremadamente altos en pollos de engorde después de los 21 días de edad, lo que indica un posible grado de lesión muscular durante el engorde. Se obtuvieron los intervalos de referencia preliminares para todos los componentes en cada uno de los grupos de edad. Los datos de este estudio proporcionan un punto de partida para la interpretación del análisis de sangre en pollos de engorde a diferentes edades y ofrecen un nuevo enfoque para investigar ciertas enfermedades metabólicas que afectan a las aves comerciales.

[Rotator cuff tear: correlation between ultrasound and arthroscopic findings]. / Ruptura del manguito rotador: correlación de hallazgos ultrasonográficos y artroscópicos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the preoperative shoulder ultrasound (US) findings in patients with a diagnosis of rotator cuff (RC) tear and correlate them with the arthroscopic findings. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of patients with a diagnosis of RC pathology in whom US was performed and who underwent surgery (shoulder arthroscopy). The US/arthroscopic findings were correlated with Fisher's and chi2 tests. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 53. We identified US/arthroscopic correlation in 22/34 cases for the total tears (64.7%) and in 7/19 cases for the partial tears (36.8%) (p = 0.048). Overall correlation (total and partial tears) was seen in 29/53 patients (54.7%). Of the 24 patients without correlation, 11 (45.8%) had ultrasound reports of tendinitis; 75% of the cases in this group had findings of partial supraspinous tear during arthroscopy (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: US shows an appropriate correlation with the diagnosis of RC total tear confirmed with arthroscopy, and the correlation is significantly lower for partial tears. In cases of an ultrasound-diagnosed lesion, such as tendinitis, most cases showed a partial tear during arthroscopy.