In utero betamethasone affects 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and inhibin-α immunoexpression during testis development.

Prenatal glucocorticoids, commonly used in women at risk of preterm delivery, can predispose the newborn to disease in later life. Since male reproductive function is likely to reflect testis development during fetal life, we studied the effects of prenatal glucocorticoids on two key intra-testicular factors that play roles in cellular proliferation and differentiation, 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD) and inhibin-α. Pregnant sheep (n=42) were treated with betamethasone (0.5 mg/kg) or saline (control) at 104, 111 and 118 days of gestation (DG). Testicular tissue was sampled from fetuses at 121 and 132DG, and from lambs at 45 and 90 postnatal days (PD). Within the betamethasone treated group, 3ß-HSD immunostaining area was greater at 121DG than at 90PD (P=0.04), but the intensity of immunostaining was higher at 90PD than at 121DG (P=0.04), 132DG (P=0.04) and 45PD (P=0.03). Control animals showed no changes in 3ß-HSD area or intensity of immunostaining. No significant differences were observed between treated and control animals in immunostaining area, but immunostaining was more intense in the treated group than in the control group at 90PD (P=0.03). For inhibin-α, the proportion of immunostaining area declined in treated offspring from 121DG to 45PD, in contrast to control values, but recovered fully by 90PD, concomitantly with the onset of spermatogenesis. In conclusion, prenatal betamethasone increased the postnatal testicular expression of inhibin-α but reduced the expression of 3ß-HSD. These effects could compromise androgen-mediated testicular development and therefore adult capacity for spermatogenesis.

Early detection of Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep using three different faecal occult blood tests.

Haemonchus contortus is a blood-sucking parasite causing the presence of faecal occult blood (FOB). The objective was to study three different FOB tests in order to have a new indicator of H. contortus infection in sheep that could be included in the genetic evaluation system as an alternative selection criterion to faecal worm egg count (FEC). A total of 29 Corriedale lambs were experimentally infected with 10.000 larvae of H. contortus. Stool samples were recorded for FEC and FOB tests (Hexagon, Hematest(®) and Multistix(®)), blood for packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin, white and red blood cell count (RBC), and FAMACHA(©) for scoring anaemia. At the end of the experiment lambs were slaughtered to worm burden count. Field infection was achieved in 309 Merino lambs under natural parasite challenge. FEC data were normalized through logarithmic transformation (LnFEC). Pearson correlation was estimated to examine the relationship between all traits. The three tests were able to detect the presence of FOB at day 11. FEC, PCV and RBC decreased to sub-normal values from day 18. FAMACHA(©) score 3 was considered to be indicative of anaemia. Most of the correlations were of high magnitude, with the exception of Multistix(®) test that was moderately correlated with haematological parameters, LnFEC and FEC. In field infection, most samples were negative to FOB tests and the correlations were lower than those calculated under experimental infection. In conclusion, FOB tests were able to detect haemonchosis earlier than FEC under high experimental parasite challenge. However, they were not able to detect FOB under natural mixed parasite challenge. FAMACHA(©) and PCV demonstrated to be good indicators of Haemonchosis, having moderate to high correlations with FEC.

[Endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of bile duct calculi in patients with gallbladder in situ and cholelithiasis]. / Papilotomía endoscópica y extracción de cálculos de la vía biliar en pacientes con vesícula in situ y colelitiasis.

Cholecystectomy with surgical papillotomy is a prolonged procedure with significant morbidity and mortality. In patient stay is usually extended. Occasionally the bad general conditions and the advanced age of the patients contraindicate surgical procedures. Eventually, the drainage of the biliary ducts is inevitable. For this reason, since 1983, we are performing the endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of stones from the bile duct in patients with choledocholithiasis and cholelithiasis. Cholecystectomy was performed only in cases with real necessity. Ninety one patients, 26 men and 65 women, between 25 and 82 years, have been submitted to this procedure in our department. Cholecystectomy was performed in 52 cases after 24 to 72 hours post-papillotomy. Due to acute cholecystitis 12 patients had to be operated after a period of 2 months to 2 years. No cholecystectomy was performed in 27 patients, they are still asymptomatic. Then were no mortality related to the method.

Papilotomía endoscópica y extracción de cálculos de la vía biliar en pacientes con vesícula in situ y colelitiasis / Endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of bile ducts calculi in patients with gallbladder in situ and cholelithiasis

La colecistectomía con papilotomía quirúrgica es una operación prolongada y con una morbi-mortalidad a veces importante. La estadía hospitalaria es generalmente prolongada. En ocasiones el mal estado general y la edad avanzada de los enfermos contraindica la operación. Eventualmente el drenaje de la vía biliar es imperioso. Por esta razón desde 1.980 preconizamos realizar en aquellos enfermos con colelitiasis y coledocolitiasis una papilotomía endoscópica y extracción de la litiasis coledociana y colecistectomía. Hemos realizado este procedimiento en 91 pacientes, 26 hombres y 65 mujeres, cuya edad osciló entre los 25 y 82 años. 73 tenían ictericia y 18 no. En 52 práctico colecostectomía entre las 24 y 72 hs post-papilotomía. 12 fueron operados luego de un lapso de 2 meses a 2 años por presentar una colecistitis aguda. 27 no han sido colecistectomizados y permanecen asintomáticos. No hubo mortalidad inherente al procedimiento

Papilotomía endoscópica y extracción de cálculos de la vía biliar en pacientes con vesícula in situ y colelitiasis. / [Endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of bile duct calculi in patients with gallbladder in situ and cholelithiasis]

Cholecystectomy with surgical papillotomy is a prolonged procedure with significant morbidity and mortality. In patient stay is usually extended. Occasionally the bad general conditions and the advanced age of the patients contraindicate surgical procedures. Eventually, the drainage of the biliary ducts is inevitable. For this reason, since 1983, we are performing the endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of stones from the bile duct in patients with choledocholithiasis and cholelithiasis. Cholecystectomy was performed only in cases with real necessity. Ninety one patients, 26 men and 65 women, between 25 and 82 years, have been submitted to this procedure in our department. Cholecystectomy was performed in 52 cases after 24 to 72 hours post-papillotomy. Due to acute cholecystitis 12 patients had to be operated after a period of 2 months to 2 years. No cholecystectomy was performed in 27 patients, they are still asymptomatic. Then were no mortality related to the method.

Papilotomía endoscópica y extracción de cálculos de la vía biliar en pacientes con vesícula in situ y colelitiasis / Endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of bile ducts calculi in patients with gallbladder in situ and cholelithiasis

La colecistectomía con papilotomía quirúrgica es una operación prolongada y con una morbi-mortalidad a veces importante. La estadía hospitalaria es generalmente prolongada. En ocasiones el mal estado general y la edad avanzada de los enfermos contraindica la operación. Eventualmente el drenaje de la vía biliar es imperioso. Por esta razón desde 1.980 preconizamos realizar en aquellos enfermos con colelitiasis y coledocolitiasis una papilotomía endoscópica y extracción de la litiasis coledociana y colecistectomía. Hemos realizado este procedimiento en 91 pacientes, 26 hombres y 65 mujeres, cuya edad osciló entre los 25 y 82 años. 73 tenían ictericia y 18 no. En 52 práctico colecostectomía entre las 24 y 72 hs post-papilotomía. 12 fueron operados luego de un lapso de 2 meses a 2 años por presentar una colecistitis aguda. 27 no han sido colecistectomizados y permanecen asintomáticos. No hubo mortalidad inherente al procedimiento (AU)

Tratamiento endoscopico de la pancreatitis aguda de etiologia biliar / Endoscopic treatment of acute pancreatitis of biliary etiology

Se trataron 23 enfermos con Pancreatitis Biliar Aguda mediante papilotomía endoscópica y extracción de la litiasis de la vía biliar. 12 tenían una pancratitis aguda de mediana gravedad y 11 una pancreatitis severa, de acuerdo a los criterios de Glasgow. La edad de los pacientes osciló entre los 45 a los 92 años. 19 evolucionaron sin ninguna complicación, 2 pacientes eran portadores de una colangitis aguda, evolucionaron lentamente, pero fueron dados de alta, 2 fallecieron a raíz de la pancreatitis aguda por shock séptico y falla cardi-respiratoria

Tratamiento endoscopico de la pancreatitis aguda de etiologia biliar / Endoscopic treatment of acute pancreatitis of biliary etiology

Se trataron 23 enfermos con Pancreatitis Biliar Aguda mediante papilotomía endoscópica y extracción de la litiasis de la vía biliar. 12 tenían una pancratitis aguda de mediana gravedad y 11 una pancreatitis severa, de acuerdo a los criterios de Glasgow. La edad de los pacientes osciló entre los 45 a los 92 años. 19 evolucionaron sin ninguna complicación, 2 pacientes eran portadores de una colangitis aguda, evolucionaron lentamente, pero fueron dados de alta, 2 fallecieron a raíz de la pancreatitis aguda por shock séptico y falla cardi-respiratoria (AU)

[Endoscopic treatment of acute pancreatitis of biliary etiology]. / Tratamiento endoscópico de la pancreatitis aguda de etiología biliar.

23 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis were treated with endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of bile duct stones. 12 suffered on an acute moderate and 11 on an severe pancreatitis in the classification of Glasgow. The patients were between 45 and 92 years old. 19 had an evolution without complications, 2, who also had an acute cholangitis, had a slow but good evolution. 2 died due to a septic shock and cardio-respiratory failure.

Tratamiento endoscópico de la pancreatitis aguda de etiología biliar. / [Endoscopic treatment of acute pancreatitis of biliary etiology]

23 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis were treated with endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of bile duct stones. 12 suffered on an acute moderate and 11 on an severe pancreatitis in the classification of Glasgow. The patients were between 45 and 92 years old. 19 had an evolution without complications, 2, who also had an acute cholangitis, had a slow but good evolution. 2 died due to a septic shock and cardio-respiratory failure.