Sperm head ellipticity as a heat stress indicator in Australian Merino rams (Ovis aries) in Northern Patagonia, Argentina.

In Northern Patagonia, Argentina, the ovine mating season starts on March 15, which is the time when rams are submitted to summer temperatures. This study assessed the adaptability of 12 Australian Merino rams, six unshorn and six shorn, half of which were treated in a heat chamber for five days (09.00 hours to 17.00 hours) that gradually reached 40 °C. In an attempt to quantify the effects of heat stress on sperm head morphology, ellipticity was analyzed to establish the relationship between the distributions of subpopulations, light hours, temperature and humidity. Ellipticity was measured on 9224 sperm heads that were obtained over 12 weeks starting in the summer time. Four sperm head subpopulations (S) were identified by comparison with a sperm head population of ejaculates obtained in the late breeding season without the effect of heat stress (S1 = heads with ellipticity ≥ 2.00; S2 = sperm head with range of ellipticity between 1.80 and 1.99; S3 = sperm head with range of ellipticity from 1.60 to 1.79; and S4 = sperm head with range of ellipticity from 1.30 to 1.59). The variable sperm head ellipticity for each ejaculate was expressed as the means and frequencies of subpopulation. The results demonstrate changes in ram sperm head ellipticity in different conditions (control/treated, unshorn/shorn) throughout the experiment (P < 0.05). Treated shorn rams had a higher mean ellipticity and frequency of elliptical heads (mean ellipticity value = 2.06 and S1 frequency = 76.35%), peaking in the seventh week posttreatment (on the basis of the action of heat stress on seminiferous tubules). According to this study, unshorn rams were better adapted to heat stress than the shorn ones.

Linfoma óseo tras tratamiento con metotrexato en la artritis reumatoide / Osseous lymphoma following methotrexate treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

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Quiste gastrointestinal heterotópico lingual: a propósito de un caso / Heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst: Report of a case

El quiste gastrointestinal heterotópico en cavidad oral es una patología poco frecuente de etiología incierta aunque se barajan varias teorías. Suele aparecer en la lengua, sobre todo en la porción anterior. Dependiendo del tamaño pueden provocar dificultad a la fonación, deglución e incluso a la respiración. Presentamos un caso en una niña de nueve años de edad que recurrió a los siete años de la primera intervención (AU)

[Prevalence of mental subnormality recorded in the province of Jaen]. / Prevalencia de la subnormalidad mental censada en la provincia de Jaén.

It is done a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of mental retardation in the province of Jaén (Spain), based on the cumulated cases reported to the Institute of Social Services of the Social Security (INSERSO) until January 1, 1984. The main objective of this research is to know the prevalence of mental retardation in our province, and to analize its relationship with some sociodemographic variables. The prevalence obtained has been 4.09%, being a 59.27% of the prevalence due to endogenous/unexplained etiology. Mild subnormality constitutes a 8.4% of cases, being closely related with the size of the locality (municipio). Prevalence of mental subnormality showed a significative linear association with the size of the locality (r = -0.904, p less than 0.05), and with the population growth (r = -0.929, p less than 0.01). This relationship was not observed neither with the level of per capita income nor the altitude of the locality. A multiple regression analysis is made for every etiology of mental retardation and several social and geographic variables. We conclude that the figures for mental retardation in our province show a direct relationship with local development parameters.

[Antibiotic sensitivity, serology and typing by pyocine in 154 cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)]. / Sensibilidad antibiótica, serología y piocinotipia de 154 aislamientos clínicos de Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas infections continue to be an important problem in the hospital environment. Serious infections are always invariably associated with severe underlying conditions or with diminished host resistance. The increasingly resistance of strains and hospital epidemics favour the organism prevalence. During 1978, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 154 cultures from a variety of biological samples in the hospital. Tests of biochemical identification, serological typing, and typing by pyocine production were carried out. Susceptibility to aminoglycosides and beta-lactamic antibiotics was also tested. Serological study demonstrated a higher incidence of 4 and 11 serotypes; 69.4 percent corresponded to type I when typing by pyocine production was carried out. No relationship between serotypes and pyocine-types has been found. Ticarcillin showed a greater activity than carbenicillin (minimal inhibitory concentration less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml). Amikacin, tobramicin, sisomicin and gentamicin inhibited 83.7 percent, 73.6 percent, 70.7 percent and 69.4 percent of the isolated strains, respectively.

[Determination of endotoxemia by means of the Limulus test in patients with septicemia (author's transl)]. / Determinación de endotoxemia por el test del Limulus en enfermos septicémicos.

The Limulus test was applied to determine bacterial endotoxemia in 42 patients suspected of having septicemia. Hemocultures were practiced simultaneously. A comparative study is made of the two presently most commonly recommended tests for neutralizing the factors inhibiting the endotoxin-amebocyte reaction. According to our results the dilution of plasma in isotonic saline solution is preferable; we obtained a sensitivity of determination of 0.0001 micrograms of E. coli endotoxin per ml of plasm. Seventeen cases of bacteriemia were diagnosed, only one of which with sepsis due to Serratia marcescens responded positively to the limulus test. The test was positive in three of the remaining 25 patients. Two of them had liver failure. The basic role that liver failure plays in the high level of endotoxin in the blood is discussed. The prognostic value of this test and the low correlation between bacteremia and endotoxemia are also commented on