physiological weight loss in newborn puppies of boxer breed

In the first days after birth is common to see weight loss in puppies that should not exceed 10% of body weight at birth. The main causes of weight loss are urine and meconium issued followed by non-recovery of fluids expelled. The aims of the study were to check and outline growth curves in boxer breed during the first two week of life. In our study between 3th and 5th day after birth puppies retrieved the weight and got back a gain that leads to double in two weeks. We observed a mean weight loss of 11.26 g (2.27%) between the first two days of life, subsequently they recovered the birth weight on day four. In our study puppies that regained the birth weight earlier were the puppies with higher weight at birth and were the heaviest at day 13

Flash visual evoked potentials in diurnal birds of prey

The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of Flash Visual Evoked Potentials (FVEPs) testing in birds of prey in a clinical setting and to describe the protocol and the baseline data for normal vision in this species. FVEP recordings were obtained from 6 normal adult birds of prey: n. 2 Harris’s Hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus), n. 1 Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus), n. 2 Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) and n. 1 Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug). Before carrying out VEP tests, all animals underwent neurologic and ophthalmic routine examination. Waveforms were analysed to identify reproducible peaks from random variation of baseline. At least three positive and negative peaks were highlighted in all tracks with elevated repeatability. Measurements consisted of the absolute and relative latencies of these peaks (P1, N1, P2, N2, P3, and N3) and their peak-to-peak amplitudes. Both the peak latency and wave morphology achieved from normal animals were similar to those obtained previously in other animal species. This test can be easily and safely performed in a clinical setting in birds of prey and could be useful for an objective assessment of visual function

Myelofibrosis and allogeneic transplantation: critical points and challenges

New available drugs allow better control of systemic symptoms associated with myelofibrosis (MF) and splenomegaly but they do not modify the natural history of progressive and poor prognosis disease. Thus, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is still considered the only available curative treatment for patients with MF. Despite the increasing number of procedures worldwide in recent years, HSCT for MF patients remains challenging. An increasingly complex network of the patient, disease, and transplant-related factors should be considered to understand the need for and the benefits of the procedure. Unfortunately, prospective trials are often lacking in this setting, making an evidence-based decision process particularly arduous. In the present review, we will analyze the main controversial points of allogeneic transplantation in MF, that is, the development of more sophisticated models for the identification of eligible patients; the need for tools offering a more precise definition of expected outcomes combining comorbidity assessment and factors related to the procedure; the decision-making process about the best transplantation time; the evaluation of the most appropriate platform for curative treatment; the impact of splenomegaly; and splenectomy on outcomes

Dietary supplementation of Saanen goats with dried licorice root modifies chemical and textural properties of dairy products.

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dietary integration with dried licorice root on the chemical-nutritional qualities of goat milk and cheeses. The study was conducted for 60 d, during which 30 Saanen goats were divided into 2 groups: a control group (CG) that received a standard diet and an experimental group (LG+) whose diet was supplemented with licorice. At the end of the study, milk samples were collected to determine chemical-nutritional compositions and fatty acid (FA) profiles. Cheeses produced with CG and LG+ bulk milk were analyzed for chemical-physical parameters after 3 (T3) and 30 (T30) d of ripening. A different FA profile and a significant increase in protein and casein were observed in LG+ milk samples compared with CG milk. Regarding cheeses, an increase of proteins and fat was found in LG+ cheeses, which also were harder, more elastic, and more gummy than the CG samples after both 3 and 30 d of ripening. A different protein profile was detected in the 2 groups without significant variations in casein fractions (αS2-casein and β-casein) during ripening. Moreover, greater oxidative stability was found in LG+ cheeses at both T3 and T30. Different families of volatile compounds were detected in T30 cheeses obtained from both groups. A significant reduction of octanoic acid and an increase in nonanal and ketones were found in LG+ T3 cheeses, whereas the LG+ T30 cheeses were characterized by a significant decrease of hexanoic acid an increase of 3-methyl-1-butanol and acetoin. We concluded that it is possible to assert that dietary integration with dried licorice root modified chemical and technological properties of goat cheeses, reducing lipid oxidation during ripening and inducing changes in texture that could improve consumer acceptability, although further studies are needed from this point of view

Evaluation of effectiveness of an innovative semen extender (Formula®) comparing with a traditional extender (Lepus®) for artificial insemination in rabbits does

This study aimed to investigate the preservability and viability of the rabbit spermatozoa diluted in a new semen extender Formula® in comparison with Lepus® at 17 °C of storage. The main characteristic of the new extender formulation is the use of an enzymatic agent associated to a polysaccharide as energy source precursor, added with gentamycin. During eight trials, ejaculates from 70 bucks were collected and diluted at 1:10 ratio with both the extenders, after 24 h of storage the semen doses were used for the artificial insemination (AI). Aliquots of the semen doses for each trial were stored at 17 °C, the total and progressive motility were checked at 0, 4, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108 h of storage. A total of 1267 and 1525 does were inseminated, respectively with Formula® and Lepus®. During storage the mean total and progressive motility (77.23% and 72.854%, respectively) were significantly higher for Formula® (p < .01) and the progressive motility at almost 70% was maintained for at least 60 h vs the 24 h of storage for Lepus® with significant differences after 12 h of storage (p < .05). The new extender reported a higher pregnancy rate (p < .05) and an average of 9.25 rabbits born per litter vs 8.83 for the traditional extender (p < .05), while the mean of the newborn alive was 9.08 using Formula® vs 8.51 with Lepus® (p < .05). In conclusion, the use of Formula® is recommended for rabbit semen AI programmes

NUP85 as a Neurodevelopmental Gene: From Podocyte to Neuron

Pathogenic gene variants encoding nuclear pore complex (NPC) proteins were previously implicated in the pathogenesis of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). The NUP85 gene, encoding nucleoporin, is related to a very rare form of SRNS with limited genotype-phenotype information. We identified an Italian boy affected with an SRNS associated with severe neurodevelopmental impairment characterized by microcephaly, axial hypotonia, lack of achievement of motor milestones, and refractory seizures with an associated hypsarrhythmic pattern on electroencephalography. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and a simplified gyration of the cerebral cortex. Since the age of 3 years, the boy was followed up at our Pediatric Nephrology Department for an SRNS, with a focal segmental glomerulosclerosis at renal biopsy. The boy died 32 months after SRNS onset, and a Whole-Exome Sequencing analysis revealed a novel compound heterozygous variant in NUP85 (NM_024844.5): 611T&gt;A (p.Val204Glu), c.1904T&gt;G (p.Leu635Arg), inherited from the father and mother, respectively. We delineated the clinical phenotypes of NUP85-related disorders, reviewed the affected individuals so far reported in the literature, and overall expanded both the phenotypic and the molecular spectrum associated with this ultra-rare genetic condition. Our study suggests a potential occurrence of severe neurological phenotypes as part of the NUP85-related clinical spectrum and highlights an important involvement of nucleoporin in brain developmental processes and neurological function

The prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in healthy captive ophidian

Background Snakes are globally considered as pet animals, and millions of ophidians are bred in captivity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium that can act as an opportunistic pathogen of man and animals and is frequently present in the oral and cloacal microbiota of healthy ophidians. It can cause severe clinical diseases and often shows antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of P. aeruginosa isolated from the cloacal microbiota of a large population sample of healthy captive ophidians and to evaluate the statistical associations with farming conditions. Methods A total of 419 cloacal swabs were collected from snakes belonging to the Boidae (n = 45), Colubridae (n = 48) and Pythonidae (n = 326) families and inoculated onto complete culture media. Food, water and bedding samples were also analyzed. The antimicrobial susceptibility of P. aeruginosa isolates was evaluated through the Kirby-Bauer agar diffusion test. Statistical analyses were performed with the chi-square test. Results The prevalence of P. aeruginosa was 59.9%, and 35.5% of these strains were multidrug resistant (MDR). The prevalence of MDR P. aeruginosa was significantly higher in adult samples than in young samples, and widespread resistance to Cephalosporins, Polymyxins and Sulfonamides was observed. Statistically significant differences in the prevalence of P. aeruginosa were observed depending on the farm size and snake family. Feeding thawed prey was associated with a higher P. aeruginosa and MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence. Moreover, snakes fed home-raised prey had a significantly higher MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence than snakes fed commercially available feed. Less frequent terrarium cleaning was associated with a higher MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence. On the other hand, snake reproductive status was not significantly associated with P. aeruginosa or MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence. All food, water and bedding samples were negative for P. aeruginosa presence. Discussion The overall P. aeruginosa prevalence found in this study was lower than that found by other authors, but a high proportion of the isolates were MDR. This study highlighted the presence of constitutive (such as age and taxonomic family) and managerial (farm size, cleaning cycle frequency and food type) factors associated with P. aeruginosa and/or MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence. Good breeding management and proper antibiotic treatment of P. aeruginosa infections could help reduce the presence of P. aeruginosa and MDR P. aeruginosa in the gut microbiota of snakes and consequently reduce the risk to public health

Prednisone vs high-dose dexamethasone in newly diagnosed adult primary immune thrombocytopenia: a randomized trial

A debate exists regarding which type of corticosteroids (standard-dose prednisone [PDN] or high-dose dexamethasone [HD-DXM]) is the best first-line treatment for adult patients with newly diagnosed untreated primary immune thrombocytopenia (pITP). An ad hoc study compared PDN with HD-DXM in newly diagnosed untreated patients with pITP (aged &gt;= 18 but &lt;= 80 years, platelet count of &lt;= 20 or &gt;20 but &lt;50 x 10(9)/L, and bleeding score of &gt;= 8). Patients were randomised to receive PDN 1 mg/kg per day from days 0 to 28 (Arm A) or HD-DXM 40 mg per day for 4 days, every 14 days, for 3 consecutive courses (Arm B). Fifty-nine of 113 patients (52.2%) were randomized to Arm A and 54 of 113 (47.8%) to Arm B. In evaluable patients, total initial responses (complete response [CR], partial response [PR], minimal response [MR]) were 44 of 56 (78.57%) in Arm A and 46 of 49 (93.88%) in Arm B at days 42 and 46, respectively (P = 0.0284). Total final responses (at day 180 from initial response) were 26 of 43 (60.47%) in Arm A and 23 of 39 (58.97%) in Arm B (P = 0.8907). Total persistent responses (at 12 months from initial response) were 25 of 31 (80.65%) in Arm A and 20 of 36 (55.56%) in Arm B (P = 0.0292). Seven relapses occurred. Median follow-up was 44.4 months. Overall survival was 100% at 48 months, overall disease-free survival was 81.11% at 48 months from day 180. PDN and pulsed HD-DXM were well tolerated; HD-DXM allows effective initial responses but less long lasting than PDN. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00657410

Borexino : geo-neutrino measurement at Gran Sasso, Italy

Geo-neutrinos, electron anti-neutrinos produced in beta-decays of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes in the Earth, are a unique direct probe of our planet's interior. After a brief introduction of the geo-neutrinos' properties and of the main aims of their study, we discuss the features of a detector which has recently provided breakthrough achievements in the field, Borexino, a massive, calorimetric liquid scintillator detector installed at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory. With its unprecedented radiopurity levels achieved in the core of the detection medium, it is the only experiment in operation able to study in real time solar neutrino interactions in the challenging sub-MeV energy region. Its superior technical properties allowed Borexino also to provide a clean detection of terrestrial neutrinos. Therefore, the description of the characteristics of the detected geo-neutrino signal and of the corresponding geological implications are the main core of the discussion contained in this work