32 USE OF HORMONE WITH ACTION FOLLICLE-STIMULATING IN OVULATION SYNCHRONIZATION OF CROSSBRED HOLSTEIN-GYR COWS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the administration of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH-p) or equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) in protocols of ovulation synchronization. One hundred forty-nine crossbred Holstein-Gyr cows were used in 2 properties in Minas Gerais and 3 treatments: TControl (n = 49 cows), Day 0: insert of a progesterone device (Primer®, Tecnopec, São Paulo, Brazil) + 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (RIC-BE®); Day 8: removal of Primer + 112 mg of D-cloprostenol (Prolise®, ARSA SRL, Buenos Aires, Argentina) + 1 mg of estradiol benzoate and fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) accomplished 44 h after the removal of Primer; TFSH (n = 50 cows), similar to TControl, but on Day 8, 15 mg of FSH-p (Folltropin®, Bioniche Animal Health) was administered; TeCG (n = 50 cows), similar to TControl, with administration on Day 8 of 300 IU of eCG (Novormon®, Syntex SA, Buenos Aires, Argentina). Cows that returned to estrus 14 to 28 days after the FTAI were inseminated once again. For all statistical analysis, we used the program SAS 9.0 (2002; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) at 5% probability. Quantitative variables (live weight, days postpartum, follicular average per cow) were analyzed by variance, and body condition score by Friedman test. The pregnancy rates were submitted to logistic analysis considering the effect of local experimental factors and were analyzed by Spearman correlation among the variables studied and the pregnancy rate. There was no difference (P > 0.05) between treatment for pregnancy rate in FTAI protocols (TControl = 40.82%; TFSH = 38.00%; TeCG = 26.00%), in the first insemination after FTAI (TControl = 56.25%; TFSH = 70.59%; TeCG = 68.42%), and in FTAI plus first insemination after FTAI (TControl = 59.18%; TFSH =62.00%; TeCG = 52.00%), as well as for the estrus repetition (TControl = 55.17%; TFSH = 54.84%; TeCG = 51.35%) and the correlation (P > 0.05) among the pregnancy rate and postpartum period, milk production, body weight and body condition. No effect was observed on the pregnancy rate by the addition of the hormones FSH and eCG in the protocol of ovulation synchronization in crossbred Holstein-Gyr cows; however, reinsemination in the period from 14 to 28 days after FTAI increased the pregnancy rate. CNPq; FAPEMIG; TECNOPEC/São Paulo, Brazil.

31 PREGNANCY RATE OF CROSSBRED COWS SUBMITTED TO FIXED-TIME AI AND ADMINISTRATION OF GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE ANALOGUE TWELVE DAYS AFTER AI

The importance of serum progesterone (P4) during the first weeks of pregnancy to reduce the embryo mortality in cattle herds has been demonstrated (Mann and Lamming 2001 Reproduction 121, 175-180). Studies show that a P4 peak at the beginning of pregnancy (about 5 days after the natural breeding or AI) helps development of the concept via secretion of interferon-τ (Mann 2002 XXII World Buiatrics Congress 18-23, 300-306). Studies have shown that the administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or its agonists after AI may stimulate corpus luteum function, induce the formation of an accessory corpus luteum, or increase of P4 serum concentrations and, therefore, improve embryonic survival (Bartolome et al. 2005 Theriogenology 63, 1026-1037). This work aims to evaluate the effect of GnRH injection 12 d after fixed-time AI(FTAI) on P4 serum levels and pregnancy rate of beef crossbred cows. The cows (Bos taurus indicus × Bos taurus taurus, n = 59), range in body condition (BCS) from 2.5 to 3.5 (scale of 1 to 5), were not previously pregnant. The animals were allocated to 2 treatments: TEB treatment (n = 30) consisted of Day 0 insertion of progesterone intravaginal device (ID) plus 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB), i.m. followed on Day 8 by removal of the ID and 300 IU of eCG and 0.15 mg of PGF2α, i.m. on Day 9, 1 mg injection of EB (i.m.) was given, followed by FTAI at 48 to 56 h after the withdrawal of ID. The TEBGnRH12 treatment (n = 29) protocol was similar to TEB, but with administration of 25 μg of GnRH analogue (Lecirelina) 12 d after the FTAI. Transrectal ultrasound was used for pregnancy diagnosis on Day 35 after AI. Blood samples for P4 serum assay were collected from 30% of animals in each treatment, at the time of AI and on Days 5, 12, and 20 after FTAI. For all statistical analysis, we used the program SAS 9.0 (2002; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) at 5% probability. The pregnancy rate was analyzed by logistic regression. The effects of treatment and day in P4 concentration were analyzed in a split plot, with the effect of day in plot, in mixed model, considering the error and repetition as a random effect, and comparison of means by Tukey-Kramer. Pregnancy rate and the concentration of serum P4 on different days was analyzed by Spearman correlation. The pregnancy rate for TEB cows was 53.33% (16/30) for the first service compared with 37.93% (11/29) for TEBGnRH12 cows. The protocol used did not affect the pregnancy rate of crossbred cows (P > 0.05). There were no treatment differences (P > 0.05) between the concentrations of P4 (TEB = 3.88 ng mL-1; TEBGnRH12 = 3.12 ng mL-1). In conclusion, the administration of the analogue of GnRH 12 days after FTAI does not affect the rates of pregnancy or the concentration of P4. Supported by grants from CNPq, FAPEMIG and DZO-UFV.

Salmonella enterica serotype Dublin bacteraemia mimicking enteric fever

Salmonella enterica serotype Dublin, a bovine adapted serotype, is the commonest cause of salmonellosis in cattle. Salmonellosis in animals always presents a potential zoonotic threat. Infected cattles serves as a source of infection to humans. We present here Salmonella Dublin Bacteraemia in an elderly patient, with all the clinical details, due to the rarity of its occurrence. He was treated successfully with ciprofloxacin and his follow up period was uneventful.

What is the diagnostic value of nipple discharge cytology and galactography in detecting duct pathology?

The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of nipple discharge (ND) cytology and galactography. Ninety-four patients submitted to duct excision, representing a total of 98 duct excisions, were retrospectively analyzed from January 1997 to May 2007. Histology of ducts excised revealed 35% duct ectasia (DE), 31% duct papilloma (DP), 20% potential malignant transforming lesions (PMTL), 6% breast cancer (BC), 1% adenoma and 6% normal breast tissue. Cytology had a sensibility and specificity in detecting duct pathology of, respectively, 40% and 61.3%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 53.8% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 47.5%. Concerning malignant and PMTL, cytology had a sensibility and specificity of, respectively, 46.2% and 62.3%, a PPV of 25% and a NPV of 82.5%. Breast cancer was never suggested by positive cytology. Galactography had a sensibility and specificity in detecting duct pathology of, respectively, 77.4% and 29.2%, a PPV of 58.5% and a NPV of 50%. For malignant and PMTL, galactography had a sensibility and specificity of, respectively, 80% and 26.7%, a PPV of 19.5% and a NPV of 85.7%. However, galactography never suggested a diagnosis of cancer. Cytology and galactography performed together in 49% showed a low Kappa Index (KI < 1), allowing us to conclude that cytology and galactography detect different pathologies. Cytology showed a poor performance in predicting histological diagnosis in face of ND. Galactography had a good sensibility in excluding malignant lesions and PMTL. Galactography was significantly more sensitive for duct pathology but cytology was more specific for malignant lesions and PMTL.

Parvovirus outbreak in a kindergarten in a municipality in the north of Portugal, April-June 2008

In response to an alert raised due to epidemic exanthematous rashes in children in a kindergarten, an outbreak investigation was carried out in a municipality in the north of Portugal in late spring 2008. The intention was to establish an aetiological diagnosis and take corrective measures if necessary. The warden at the kindergarten was interviewed, and a self-administered questionnaire was given to parents and staff. Blood samples from seven children with facial erythema were collected for serological investigation. Seventeen cases of erythema infectiosum, due to infection with parvovirus B19, were identified and classified as "confirmed". No cases occurred among the eight adult staff members. An overall attack rate of 38% was observed among the 45 children (born in 2002 and 2003). All cases were mild and without fever. This parvovirus B19 outbreak made it possible to estimate the basic reproduction number (R0) at between 6 and 8 (or above). Staff members, parents and local clinicians were informed that the infection could pose a risk when caught by people with special clinical conditions. All children had received one dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and 60% had received two doses. The seven children with serologically confirmed parvovirus B19 infection were immune to measles and rubella. All seven were negative for measles- or rubella-specific IgM.

Parvovirus outbreak in a kindergarten in a municipality in the north of Portugal, April-June 2008

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches

Development and validation of an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of cocaine and its main metabolite, benzoylecgonine, in human hair by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A new, simple and rapid procedure has been developed and validated for the determination of cocaine and its main metabolite, benzoylecgonine, in human hair samples. After extraction from within the hair matrix by a mixture of methanol/hydrochloric acid (2:1) at 65 degrees C for 3 h, and sample cleanup by mixed-mode solid-phase extraction (SPE), the extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), after derivatization with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 5% chlorotrimethylsilane. Using a sample size of only 20 mg of hair, limits of detection (LODs) and quantitation (LOQs) were, respectively, 20 and 50 pg/mg for cocaine, and 15 and 50 pg/mg for benzoylecgonine, achieving the cut-off values proposed by the Society of Hair Testing for the analysis of these compounds in hair. The method was found to be linear (weighing factor of 1/x) between the LOQ and 20 ng/mg for both compounds, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9974 to 0.9996 for cocaine; and from 0.9981 to 0.9994 for benzoylecgonine. Intra- and interday precision and accuracy were in conformity with the criteria normally accepted in bioanalytical method validation. The sample cleanup step presented a mean absolute recovery greater than 90% for both compounds. The developed method may be useful in forensic toxicology laboratories for the analysis of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in hair samples, taking into account its speed (only 3 h are required for the extraction of the analytes from within the matrix, whereas 5 h or even overnight extractions have been reported) and the low limits achieved (using a single quadrupole mass spectrometer, which is available in most laboratories).

Nocardial brain abscess in an immunocompetent host

Nocardial infection of the central nervous system is rare and usually manifests as brain abscess. Here we describe an elderly gentleman who presented with signs and symptoms of an intracranial mass lesion localising to the frontal lobe. Clinical examination and CT scan suggested neoplasia as the probable diagnosis. A biloculated abscess was seen at surgery. Aspiration of the contents and examination of pus revealed Nocardia asteroides . Treatment included total excision and prolonged antibiotic therapy which resulted in an excellent outcome.

In vivo infrared spectroscopy studies of alkanol effects on human skin

Many studies investigate the permeation of actives through the skin and ignore the role of excipients. The solvents used in formulations will undoubtedly penetrate the skin where they can have a number of effects. They can extract skin lipids, they can alter the fluidity of the lipids and they can alter the polarity of the skin. The degree to which they do this and the depth into the skin where this occurs will depend on the uptake kinetics. The problem is to distinguish the different effects. Using ATR-FTIR and deuterated materials this can be achieved in vivo. The aim of the present study was to study the higher alkanols (hexanol, octanol, decanol) in vivo using a combination of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and tape stripping. Studies conducted in vivo using deuterated vehicles confirmed the lipid extraction effects of d-hexanol and d-octanol, whereas d-decanol did not change skin lipid content. The uptake of d-decanol was higher than for the other vehicles consistent with previous observations on mouse skin for alkanols of increasing chain length. In general, solvent uptake was proportional to the induced shift in the C-H stretching frequency. Lipid disorder was induced by all vehicles studied in vivo and was proportional to the amount of vehicle present in the skin.

Primary endometrial B-cell lymphoma: case report

The female genital tract is usually involved with lymphoma as part of disseminated disease. Primary lymphoid neoplasms of the female genital tract are rare; the frequency was reported to be 2% among extranodal lymphomas in women. Most of the time, primary female genital tract lymphoma occurs in the ovary and cervix, whereas endometrial lymphoma is extremely rare. The case of an 89-year-old patient that presented with postmenopausal bleeding is reported. An endometrial polypoid formation was found on hysteroscopic examination and the biopsy revealed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were surgically performed. The histologic diagnosis was primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the endometrium. Adjuvant therapy was not performed. Five months after initial diagnosis, the patient died. Only a few case reports of primary endometrial lymphoma have been published; therefore, information concerning etiologic factors, histologic type, treatment and prognosis is limited.

Influence of membrane–solvent–solute interactions on solute permeation in skin

The relative importance of solubility parameters and other solvent properties on membrane diffusion processes has not been fully elucidated in the literature. Previously, we have studied the effect of different vehicles on the permeation of caffeine, benzoic acid (BA) and salicylic acid (SA) through silicone membranes. The present paper investigates diffusion of the selected permeants from different saturated solutions through human epidermis. The permeation of caffeine was strongly affected by the vehicle chosen and the maximum enhancement observed for the permeation of caffeine was 288-fold. A maximum of 12-fold enhancement in the flux was observed for the permeation of SA and a maximum of 10-fold enhancement was observed for the permeation of BA. The diffusion profiles obtained for SA in the different solvents were very similar when compared with those obtained for BA but the permeation rates were higher for BA than for SA. This similarity results from the similar chemical structure and lipophilicity.

Fatal Group A Streptococcal meningitis in an adult

Despite the recent resurgence in reports of invasive Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infections worldwide, it remains a rare cause of pyogenic meningitis both in children and adults. We report a case of fatal GAS meningitis in a healthy adult emphasizing the need for clinicians to be aware of its fulminant course, prompting early diagnosis and treatment. There is also a need to consider postexposure chemoprophylaxis in close contacts of such cases.

A new route to trihydroxamate-containing artificial siderophores and synthesis of a new fluorescent probe

A fluorescent labelled artificial siderophore 1 was synthesized by coupling a 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) derivative to the terminal amino group of a new trihydroxamate-containing amine 2, a ferrichrome-type siderophore that was obtained from tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane. Compound 1 was shown to be a suitable tool for experiments on siderophore transport and uptake processes in various organisms cells and particularly in Candida albicans cells.