Technical note: Influence of feed on image quality of abdominal ultrasonography in New Zealand white kits

<p class="Body">The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of feed change on image quality of ultrasound scanning of the gallbladder, kidney and jejunum in New Zealand White kits. Thirty-nine 35-day-old rabbits were used, distributed into 4 diet groups: C, only commercial feed; CH, commercial feed and hay; C24H, only commercial feed, replaced by hay 24 h before examination; and CH24H, commercial feed and hay, with the commercial feed withdrawn 24 h before the exam. The rabbits received the diet for 42 d (from 35 to 77 d of age) and the ultrasound evaluations were performed on days 56 and 77. Ultrasonographic assessment for image quality focused on the possibility of visualisation and an image quality rating (3 scores: unacceptable, acceptable or excellent) for the gallbladder, kidneys and jejunum. The kidneys were visualised in 100% of animals of all diets and ages. There was no difference in visualisation (P&gt;0.05) of the gallbladder among the animals fed different diets on days 56 and 77. The C24H diet had a higher visualisation possibility (P&lt;0.05) of the jejunum compared to the C and CH diets on day 77. For the image quality score, there was no difference in the studied organs on day 56. However, on day 77, there was a difference for the jejunum (P&lt;0.05), and only the C24H and CH24H diets presented images classified as excellent. In conclusion, the image quality of the kidneys and gallbladder was unaffected by feed, and the jejunum had an improved image quality with the inclusion of hay and without the commercial feed 24 h before the test in New Zealand White rabbits at 77 d of age.</p>

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase and sodium butyrate may be beneficial in attenuating LPS-induced intestinal inflammation

In this study, we evaluated the effect of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) and sodium butyrate (NaBu) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal inflammation. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase and RelA/p65 (NF-κB) gene expressions in porcine jejunum explants were evaluated following exposure to sodium butyrate (NaBu) and essential oil from Brazilian red pepper (EO), alone or in combination with NaBu, as well as exogenous IAP with or without LPS challenge. Five piglets weighing approximately 20 kg each were sacrificed, and their jejunum were extracted. The tissues were segmented into 10 parts, which were exposed to 10 treatments. Gene expressions of IAP and RelA/p65 (NF-κB) in jejunal explants were evaluated via RT-PCR. We found that EO, NaBu, and exogenous IAP were able to up-regulate endogenous IAP and enhance RelA/p65 (NF-κB) gene expression. However, only NaBu and exogenous IAP down-regulated LPS-induced inflammatory response via RelA/p65 (NF-κB). In conclusion, we demonstrated that exogenous IAP and NaBu may be beneficial in attenuating LPS-induced intestinal inflammation.

Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase: Potential Roles in Promoting Gut Health in Weanling Piglets and Its Modulation by Feed Additives - A Review

The intestinal environment plays a critical role in maintaining swine health. Many factors such as diet, microbiota, and host intestinal immune response influence the intestinal environment. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is an important apical brush border enzyme that is influenced by these factors. IAP dephosphorylates bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), unmethylated cytosine-guanosine dinucleotides, and flagellin, reducing bacterial toxicity and consequently regulating toll-like receptors (TLRs) activation and inflammation. It also desphosphorylates extracellular nucleotides such as uridine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate, consequently reducing inflammation, modulating, and preserving the homeostasis of the intestinal microbiota. The apical localization of IAP on the epithelial surface reveals its role on LPS (from luminal bacteria) detoxification. As the expression of IAP is reported to be downregulated in piglets at weaning, LPS from commensal and pathogenic gram-negative bacteria could increase inflammatory processes by TLR-4 activation, increasing diarrhea events during this phase. Although some studies had reported potential IAP roles to promote gut health, investigations about exogenous IAP effects or feed additives modulating IAP expression and activity yet are necessary. However, we discussed in this paper that the critical assessment reported can suggest that exogenous IAP or feed additives that could increase its expression could show beneficial effects to reduce diarrhea events during the post weaning phase. Therefore, the main goals of this review are to discuss IAP’s role in intestinal inflammatory processes and present feed additives used as growth promoters that may modulate IAP expression and activity to promote gut health in piglets.

[Third ventricle meningioma in a child: case report]

Meningiomas in childhood are rare, and those located in the third ventricle are even rarer, with only 16 cases reported. A five-year-old girl was seen at our hospital with headache and bilateral papilledema. CT scan showed a large third ventricular mass and associated hydrocephalus. Transcallosal interfornical approach was performed with total removal of the tumor, that was attached to the choroid plexus of the anterior third ventricle. Histologically the lesion proved to be a transitional meningioma. The recovery was uneventful, a permanent shunt was not necessary. The diagnosis of these tumors can be done using CT scan or MRI, that usually are sufficient for surgical planning. Angiography usually is not required, unless a vascular lesion is concerned, or embolization is necessary. The treatment of these tumors is surgical, aiming the total removal of the lesion, usually curative once it is acomplished. We report this case, and add a brief review of the literature on third ventricle meningiomas.

[The question of occupation in vital statistics]

"The author discusses the results of an analysis of the information on occupation, collected during the last few decades in connection with vital events in the State of Sao Paulo (Brazil). The stages of collection, clearing, coding and processing are considered, and the resulting tables are investigated. The evidence suggests that no historical series is available, as far as occupation is concerned." Suggestions are made for improving data collection in this area. (SUMMARY IN ENG)