Tag: pubmed

BMC Vet Res. 2022 Oct 29;18(1):380. doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03478-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study determined plasma protein electrophoresis (PPE) reference intervals in two elasmobranch species: the undulate skate (Raja undulata) and the nursehound shark (Scyliorhinus stellaris), using a reference population of 48 undulate skates (27 males, 21 females) and 62 nursehounds (32 males, 30 females), considered to be clinically healthy. Plasma samples were analyzed using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE).

RESULTS: The undulate skate electrophoretogram resembled those previously reported in other batoids and could be divided into seven consistent fractions. No statistically significant differences were detected between sexes and developmental stages. The nursehound electrophoretogram was similar to that previously described in other shark species and could be divided into eight consistent fractions. Fraction 5% was significantly higher in juvenile nursehounds when compared to adults, while fraction 6 concentration and percentage were significantly higher in adults. Fraction 4% was higher in males than in females. Albumin band was not detected, and pre-albumin was negligible in both studied species. Alpha-globulins were predominant in the undulate skate, while beta-globulins were predominant in nursehounds. Statistically significant differences were found in all electrophoretogram fraction percentages and concentrations between the two species.

CONCLUSION: To the authors knowledge, this is the first study reporting PPE values in undulate skates and nursehounds, and the first study using CZE in elasmobranch plasma. These findings can serve as a primary reference for health monitoring in both species and will add to the limited data available on PPE in elasmobranchs.

PMID:36309677 | DOI:10.1186/s12917-022-03478-z

BMC Vet Res. 2022 Oct 29;18(1):381. doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03470-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Natural service breeding is common in U.S. cow-calf operations. Diseases impacting bull reproductive performance have significant economic consequences for producers. Anaplasmosis may be an underappreciated cause of poor reproductive performance in bulls. The primary systemic effects of bovine anaplasmosis including anemia, fever, and weight loss, can all result in unsatisfactory reproductive performance. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate breeding soundness examination (BSE) outcomes and clinical changes in bulls during and upon resolution of clinical anaplasmosis. Anaplasma marginale-challenged bulls were observed for clinical disease and infection progression and changes in breeding soundness compared to uninfected control bulls for 16 weeks.

RESULTS: All Anaplasma marginale-challenged bulls were PCR-positive, seropositive, and showed clinical signs by 3-, 17-, and 24-days post-challenge, respectively. Clinical signs of anaplasmosis included pallor, icterus, fever (≥ 40.2 °C), and weight loss. Acute anemia was observed in all challenged bulls with PCV nadirs ≤ 18% and peak percent parasitized erythrocyte ≥ 50%. Decreased scrotal circumference and poor semen quality (e.g., increased percentage of abnormal spermatozoa, decreased progressively motile sperm), were initially observed within days after onset of clinical anaplasmosis signs and continued weeks beyond disease resolution. Control bulls remained negative for A. marginale.

CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrates that clinical anaplasmosis reduces breeding soundness in beef bulls. Anaplasmosis should be considered as a differential for bulls with decreased semen quality, especially within endemic areas. A 90 day or greater retest window is recommended for bulls of unsatisfactory breeding potential recently recovered from clinical anaplasmosis.

PMID:36309670 | DOI:10.1186/s12917-022-03470-7

BMC Womens Health. 2022 Oct 29;22(1):427. doi: 10.1186/s12905-022-02004-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Women with prior severe preeclampsia are at an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life compared to women who had a normotensive pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess their needs and preferences regarding app-based cardiovascular health promotion.

METHODS: Patients (n = 35) of the Follow-Up PreEClampsia Outpatient Clinic (FUPEC), Erasmus MC, the Netherlands, participated in an anonymous online survey. The main outcomes under study were women’s needs for health behavior promotion, and their preferences with respect to intervention delivery. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate needs, and thematic analysis was used to analyze preferences.

RESULTS: Women’s primary need for health behavior promotion pertained to their fat and sugar intake and physical activity; for some, to their mental health (practices), fruit and vegetable intake, salt intake, and water intake; and for a few, to their alcohol and tobacco use. Most women preferred an app-based intervention to include, in descending order: the tracking of health-related metrics, an interactive platform, the use of behavior change strategies, the provision of information, and personalization.

CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular health promotion targeting women with prior severe preeclampsia should feel relevant to its audience. App-based interventions are likely to be well received if they target fat and sugar intake and physical activity. These interventions should preferably track health-related metrics, be interactive, contain behavior change strategies, provide information, and be personalized. Adopting these findings during intervention design could potentially increase uptake, behavior change, and behavior change maintenance in this population.

PMID:36309668 | DOI:10.1186/s12905-022-02004-5

J Prosthet Dent. 2022 Oct;128(4):604.e1-604.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.07.007.

ABSTRACT

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Semi-adjustable articulators use an average axis facebow with a nasion relator at a fixed distance of 22 mm or 23 mm from the orbitale anterior reference point to locate the axis orbital plane, which is a major factor in measuring the sagittal condylar inclination. Lateral cephalometric radiograph allows the measurement of the distance between the nasion and Frankfort horizontal plane, which has shown great variability among patients.

PURPOSE: Measure and describe individual variation of the distance between nasion and Frankfort horizontal plane, and error factor of facebow in semi-adjustable articulators, in order to assess the importance of an accurate transfer of the axis orbital plane of the patient to the articulator.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional analytic clinical study used 637 lateral cephalometric radiographs from the database of 2 private clinics in Santiago de Chile. The distance between the nasion and Frankfort horizontal plane was measured. Then, a correction of -7.1 mm was applied to determine the distance between N and the axis orbital plane, and this corrected distance was analyzed and compared with the one used by Panadent and Whip Mix articulators. In 150 cephalometric radiographs, the measurements were classified according to facial biotype and skeletal class. ANOVA Bonferroni test was applied to recognize how the N to FHP measurements behave according to biotype and skeletal class (P ≤ .05).

RESULTS: The average corrected distance from nasion to axis orbital plane in the present study was 24.7 mm, 2.7 mm higher than the distance used by Panadent articulator and 1.7 mm higher than the distance used by Whip Mix articulator. No statistically significant differences were found among biotypes or the different skeletal classes.

CONCLUSIONS: For the studied population, a fixed-value nasion relator is a factor that introduces error.

PMID:36309468 | DOI:10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.07.007

Food Microbiol. 2023 Feb;109:104147. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2022.104147. Epub 2022 Sep 21.

ABSTRACT

Vacuum packaging and storage conditions at chilled temperatures are commonly used in order to prolong the shelf life of meat. Under these conditions and time-temperature abuse, cold-tolerant (facultatively) anaerobic spoilage microorganisms can continue growing. This study investigated growth of six relevant spoilage microorganisms in vacuum-packed beef (n = 12, 72 subsamples, stored at 10 °C for 28 days) using culture and qPCR methods. Correspondingly, six qPCRs were newly developed/modified (for total bacteria, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Enterobacterales, total fungi, Kazachstania psychrophila, and cold-tolerant Clostridium spp.). Besides microbial quantification, four spoilage appearances of meat (gas production, spoilage odor, % drip loss, and meat color) were observed. Results obtained from culture and qPCR show that total bacteria, LAB, and Enterobacterales reached their stationary phase at day 7 when spoilage parameters such as gas production were statistically increased and a deviation of odor was detected. Fastidious cold-tolerant Clostridium spp. and K. psychrophila could be detected from day 7. Based on microbiological and sensory analysis results, the maximum shelf life of vacuum-packed beef stored at 10 °C is 7 days. The developed qPCR has the potential to be used as an alternative method to culturing for determination of microbial growth.

PMID:36309446 | DOI:10.1016/j.fm.2022.104147

Food Microbiol. 2023 Feb;109:104143. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2022.104143. Epub 2022 Sep 12.

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present study was to compare the growth of food-pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, food spoilage Bacillus subtilis, an industrial milk product isolate, and spore-forming Paenibacillus in commercially available ultrahigh temperature processed (UHT) bovine milk and non-dairy, plant-based beverages (coconut, almond, cashew) stored at chilled and ambient temperatures (4 °C, 8 °C or 20 °C). Beverage samples were inoculated with a strain cocktail or individual strains of either Listeria or Salmonella, or Paenibacillus or Bacillus, respectively (approximately 1 × 10³ CFU/mL). The findings indicate that the bacterial strains used in the study were capable of proliferating in plant-based beverages at higher rates than in bovine milk at 8 °C and 20 °C for Listeria and 20 °C for Salmonella and Paenibacillus, respectively. Bacillus subtilis grew equally fast in bovine milk and plant-based almond drink at 20 °C. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in growth rates between different types of tested beverages was observed at 4 °C and at 8 °C for Listeria and Salmonella cocktails, respectively. These data suggest that plant-based beverages may present a significant risk for listeriosis and salmonellosis and post-opening recommendations should be carefully considered.

PMID:36309444 | DOI:10.1016/j.fm.2022.104143

Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed). 2022 Nov;18(9):523-530. doi: 10.1016/j.reumae.2021.08.004.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of Baricitinib and Tofacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in “real world” conditions.

METHODS: A single centre retrospective study was performed including RA patients who had initiated treatment with Baricitinib or Tofacitinib from September-2017 to January-2020. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, efficacy and safety variables were collected from baseline and at months 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24. Effectiveness was evaluated by changes from the baseline in DAS28, SDAI, HAQ and acute phase reactants. Safety analysis included adverse events due to any cause, including infection or intolerance. Infection was considered severe if it implied hospitalization. Statistical analysis consisted in Bayesian mixed ordinal regression models including the monotonic effect of each visit and Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

RESULTS: Overall, 98 patients were included. A significant reduction of disease activity scores was noted in both groups. No difference between either treatment was detected in terms of effectiveness even in first line, after bDMARD failure, in monotherapy nor combined therapy. A total of 54 adverse events were recorded of which 18 were considered relevant. The incidence of infection, including Herpes Zoster, was similar in both groups. No patients in either group suffered any tuberculosis, thromboembolic event, malignancy, death or cardiovascular adverse events. Survival analysis did not show any difference between groups.

CONCLUSION: Baricitinib and Tofacitinib are both comparable in terms of effectiveness and safety in real world conditions.

PMID:36309409 | DOI:10.1016/j.reumae.2021.08.004

In Vivo. 2022 Nov-Dec;36(6):2869-2874. doi: 10.21873/invivo.13027.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: The Hippo pathway is a molecular pathway recently associated with tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is the most common malignancy diagnosed during gestation; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying PABC are largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate Hippo pathway transducers TAZ and YAP1 expression in PABC in relation to the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from 21 PABC patients treated at Alexandra Hospital in Athens, Greece, were analyzed with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Strong nuclear TAZ/YAP1 stanning was found in 48% of the PABC patients analyzed. Hormone receptor negative patients had a statistically significant correlation with strong positive expression of TAZ/YAP1 co-transcription factors. No association was observed with overall and disease-free survival.

CONCLUSION: The Hippo pathway is de-regulated in a subset of PABC patients, highlighting the complex molecular background of the disease, which certainly requires further investigation.

PMID:36309401 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.13027

In Vivo. 2022 Nov-Dec;36(6):2884-2889. doi: 10.21873/invivo.13029.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study investigated a correlation between ex vivo interferon-gamma (IFN)-gamma production using IFN-gamma releasing assay (IGRA) and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) activity assessed by Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) in AAV patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 113 patients with AAV were consecutively selected from the AAV cohort and their medical records were reviewed. IGRA was performed at AAV diagnosis and before the initiation of glucocorticoids or immunosuppressive drugs for AAV treatment.

RESULTS: The median age was 61.8 years and 41.6% of the patients were men. Eighteen, 28, and 67 patients had EGPA, GPA, and MPA, respectively. Eighteen, 84, and 11 patients had positive, negative, and indeterminate results, and the median Nil, tuberculosis antigen, mitogen, and ex vivo IFN-gamma production were 0.1, 0.1, 10.0, and 9.8 IU/ml, respectively. There was no significant correlation between ex vivo IFN-gamma production and BVAS in AAV patients. When AAV patients were divided into two groups according to BVAS of 18, the higher tertile of BVAS, there was no significant difference in ex vivo IFN-gamma production between AAV patients with BVAS ≥18 and those without. In addition, there were no statistically significant correlations between ex vivo IFN-gamma production and BVAS in AAV patients with either indeterminate and negative IGRA results or only negative IGRA results.

CONCLUSION: There is no correlation between ex vivo IFN-gamma production and BVAS. This study provided information on the reliability of the IGRA results for latent tuberculosis screening in AAV patients regardless of the activity of AAV.

PMID:36309398 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.13029

In Vivo. 2022 Nov-Dec;36(6):2993-2998. doi: 10.21873/invivo.13044.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: Bronchiectasis has long been neglected, unlike chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Recent clinical trials have shown that long-term use of azithromycin or erythromycin reduce exacerbations of non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis. Because of this, we should actively try to treat patients susceptible to severe status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled patients who had been diagnosed with bronchiectasis at five branches of the Catholic Medical Center between January 2015 to December 2017. We retrospectively analyzed these patients for demographic characteristics such as sex, age, body mass index (BMI), history of smoking and tuberculosis, bacterial colonization, pulmonary function, hospitalizations, and other exacerbations.

RESULTS: Colonization was shown to have a statistically significant association with hospitalization. A three-year follow up period showed that the mean frequency of hospitalization in patients without colonization was 0.8 times, compared to 0.7 times and 1.9 times, respectively in patients with NTM colonization and with other bacterial colonization (p-value=0.03). Patients with a lower BMI also had an increased risk of hospitalization (p-value=0.024). Current smokers had increased risk of mortality as compared to those who had never smoked (HR=11.29, p-value 0.015). Patients with a high BMI also had low risk of mortality as compared to patients with a low BMI (HR=0.76, p-value 0.005).

CONCLUSION: Patients with bronchiectasis having chronic colonization, low BMI, or who are current smokers tend to be at greater risk for severe illness. Therefore, physicians should actively treat these patients to prevent exacerbations and mortality.

PMID:36309393 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.13044