The use of ensiled olive cake in the diets of Friesian cows increases beneficial fatty acids in milk and Halloumi cheese and alters the expression of SREBF1 in adipose tissue.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of ensiled olive cake, a by-product of olive oil production, on milk yield and composition and on fatty acid (FA) profile of milk and Halloumi cheese from cows. Furthermore, the effect of olive cake on the expression of selected genes involved in mammary and adipose lipid metabolism was assessed in a subset of animals. A total of 24 dairy cows in mid lactation were allocated into 2 isonitrogenous and isoenergetic feeding treatments, named the control (CON) diet and the olive cake (OC) diet, in which part of the forages (alfalfa, barley hay, and barley straw) were replaced with ensiled OC as 10% of dry matter according to a 2 × 2 crossover design with two 28-d experimental periods. At the end of the second experimental period, mammary and perirenal adipose tissue samples were collected from 3 animals per group for gene expression analysis by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. The expression of 11 genes, involved in FA synthesis (ACACA, FASN, G6PDH), FA uptake or translocation (VLDLR, LPL, SLC2A1, CD36, FABP3), FA saturation (SCD1), and transcriptional regulation (SREBF1, PPARG), was evaluated. No significant differences were observed between groups concerning milk yield, fat percentage, protein percentage, and protein yield (kg/d), whereas milk fat yield (kg/d) increased in the OC group. Dietary supplementation with ensiled OC modified the FA profile of milk and Halloumi cheese produced. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of de novo synthesized FA, saturated FA, and the atherogenic index, whereas long-chain and monounsaturated FA concentration was increased in both milk and cheese. Among individual saturated FA, only stearic acid was elevated, whereas among individual monounsaturated FA, increments of oleic acid (C18:1 cis-9) and the sum of C18:1 trans-10 and trans-11 acids were demonstrated in milk and Halloumi cheese produced. Although no diet effect was reported on total polyunsaturated FA, the concentration of CLA cis-9,trans-11 was increased in both milk and Halloumi cheese fat of the OC group. The expression of the genes tested was unaffected apart from an observed upregulation of SREBF1 mRNA expression in perirenal fat from cows fed the OC diet. Milk FA differences observed were not associated with alterations in mammary expression of genes involved in FA synthesis, uptake, translocation, and regulation of lipogenesis. Overall, the inclusion of ensiled OC in cow diets for a 4-wk period improved, beneficially for human health, the lipid profile of bovine milk and Halloumi cheese produced without adversely affecting milk yield and composition or the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism of mammary and adipose tissues in cows.

Tuberculosis among foreign-born residents of southern Florida, 1995.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the characteristics of foreign-born people with tuberculosis (TB) in Southern Florida, their contribution to the total number of TB cases, and available data on their HIV status as well as to determine the number of cases detected by the overseas medical screening of immigrants and refugees. METHODS: The authors reviewed TB cases reported by Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach counties in 1995. Case records were matched against the CDC Division of Quarantine database of immigrants and refugees suspected to have TB at the time of visa application overseas. RESULTS: Nearly half (49%) of TB cases in the three counties were among people born outside the United States--34% in Broward County, 58% in Dade County, and 40% in Palm Beach County. A high percentage (26%) were co-infected with HIV. Of those with known date of arrival, 68% had been in the United States for five or more years. Only three cases had been identified by overseas immigrant screening. CONCLUSIONS: A low percentage of TB cases in foreign-born people were identified through the overseas screening system. Controlling TB in South Florida will require efforts targeted toward high risk populations, including people with HIV infection.

[Dynamic ultrasonography in the assessment of candidates to laparoscopic cholecystectomy]. / L'ultrasonografia dinamica nella valutazione del candidato alla colecistectomia laparoscopica.

Laparoscopic surgery has opened a new era in the management of surgical diseases. But, on the other hand, has created problems relating to the technological and to the technico-surgical aspects. In the preoperative evaluation of laparoscopic cholecystectomy candidates it is very important to know about the pathological state of the gallbladder, which may become the cause of very difficult or impossible laparoscopic operation, and the convert in an open procedure will be forced. Recurrent gallbladder inflammations provoke alterations of the normal structure of the wall (oedema, fibrosis) and normal elasticity and contraction after stimulation is last. Adhesion with neighbouring organs hinder contraction as well, and surgical difficulties increase. Choledocholithiasis must be known before operation, to plan surgical strategy. The presence of choledochus disease does that allow us to modify its calibre after stimulation. 100 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in our Department, were evaluated before with dynamic ultrasonography (DUS), and the results were compared with operating finds. In this paper are exposed the used method of evaluation and the results of this work. These results allow as to state that the method is effective and trustworthy.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in Florida: association with the newly identified Black Creek Canal virus.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a recently recognized viral zoonosis. The first recognized cases were caused by a newly described hantavirus. Sin Nombre virus (previously known as Muerto Canyon virus), isolated from Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse). We describe a 33-year-old Floridian man who resided outside the ecologic range of P maniculatus but was found to have serologic evidence of a hantavirus infection during evaluation of azotemia associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome. Small mammal trapping conducted around this patient's residence demonstrated the presence of antihantaviral antibodies in 13% of Sigmodon hispidus [cotton rat). Serologic testing using antigen derived from the Black Creek Canal hantavirus subsequently isolated from this rodent established that this patient was acutely infected with this new pathogenic American hantavirus. HPS is not confined to the geographical distribution of P maniculatus and should be suspected in individuals with febrile respiratory syndromes, perhaps associated with azotemia, throughout the continental United States.

Nuclear medicine in pediatric urology and nephrology.

Renal scintigraphy is a diagnostic procedure of choice or a complementary imaging modality in the work up of infants and children with urologic or nephrologic problems. New radiopharmaceuticals and techniques and expert interpretation provide unique renal parenchymal and collecting system functional and anatomical information, which helps in the diagnosis and follow up of congenital or acquired kidney disorders and the quantitation of renal function. Education of the user and the referring physician, further clinical experience, and comparative studies should help increase utilization of renal scintigraphy in the neonatal and pediatric age for the benefit of the patient and the better understanding of urologic and nephrologic disorders.

Single-dose captopril scintigraphy in the neonate with renovascular hypertension: prediction of renal failure, a side effect of captopril therapy.

Baseline and single-dose captopril scintigraphy with 1 mCi of 99mTc-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (or 99mTc-glucoheptonate) was performed in 5 neonates with renovascular hypertension. Unilateral renal artery thrombosis and/or renal infarction was associated with severe impairment or lack of function on both studies (3 patients). Renal ischemia due to aortic thrombus manifested itself as lack of function only following captopril (2 patients). This approach predicted renal failure as a side effect of captopril therapy in 2 patients, 1 with unilateral (contralateral kidney infarcted) and the other with bilateral renal ischemia from aortic thrombus. Single-dose captopril scintigraphy may be a useful tool to predict tolerance to captopril therapy.