Acute febrile illness is associated with Rickettsia spp infection in dogs

BACKGROUND: Rickettsia conorii is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and causes Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF) in humans. Although dogs are considered the natural host of the vector, the clinical and epidemiological significance of R. conorii infection in dogs remains unclear. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether Rickettsia infection causes febrile illness in dogs living in areas endemic for human MSF. METHODS: Dogs from southern Italy with acute fever (n = 99) were compared with case–control dogs with normal body temperatures (n = 72). Serology and real-time PCR were performed for Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum/A. platys and Leishmania infantum. Conventional PCR was performed for Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. Acute and convalescent antibodies to R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were determined. RESULTS: The seroprevalence rates at first visit for R. conorii, E. canis, A. phagocytophilum and L. infantum were 44.8%, 48.5%, 37.8% and 17.6%, respectively. The seroconversion rates for R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were 20.7%, 14.3% and 8.8%, respectively. The molecular positive rates at first visit for Rickettsia spp., E. canis, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, L. infantum, Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. were 1.8%, 4.1%, 0%, 2.3%, 11.1%, 2.3% and 0.6%, respectively. Positive PCR for E. canis (7%), Rickettsia spp. (3%), Babesia spp. (4.0%) and Hepatozoon spp. (1.0%) were found only in febrile dogs. The DNA sequences obtained from Rickettsia and Babesia PCRs positive samples were 100% identical to the R. conorii and Babesia vogeli sequences in GenBank®, respectively. Febrile illness was statistically associated with acute and convalescent positive R. conorii antibodies, seroconversion to R. conorii, E. canis positive PCR, and positivity to any tick pathogen PCRs. Fourteen febrile dogs (31.8%) were diagnosed with Rickettsia spp. infection based on seroconversion and/or PCR while only six afebrile dogs (12.5%) seroconverted (P = 0.0248). The most common clinical findings of dogs with Rickettsia infection diagnosed by seroconversion and/or PCR were fever, myalgia, lameness, elevation of C-reactive protein, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates acute febrile illness associated with Rickettsia infection in dogs living in endemic areas of human MSF based on seroconversion alone or in combination with PCR

What do rates of deposition of dental cementum tell us? Functional and evolutionary hypotheses in red deer.

Cementum is a bone connective tissue that provides a flexible attachment for the tooth to the alveolar bone in many mammalian species. It does not undergo continuous remodelling, unlike non-dental bone, which combined with its growth pattern of seasonal layering makes this tissue uniquely suitable as a proxy for tracking changes in body repair investment throughout an animal´s life. We tested functional and sexual selection hypotheses on the rate of cementum deposition related to the highly polygynous mating strategy of red deer. We used a sample of 156 first lower molars from wild Scottish red deer of known age between 1 and 17 years old, approximately balanced by sex and age class. Cementum deposition on the inter-radicular pad increased with age at a constant average rate of 0.26 mm per year, with no significant differences between sexes. Cementum deposition was independent of (i) tooth wear, other than that associated with age, and (ii) enamel and dentine micro-hardness. The results partially supported the hypothesis that the main function of cementum is the repositioning of the tooth to maintain opposing teeth in occlusion. However, teeth that had more wear or males´ teeth that had faster rates of tooth wear than those of females did not present the expected higher rates of cementum deposition

Geometric invariant theory of syzygies, with applications to moduli spaces

We define syzygy points of projective schemes, and introduce a program of studying their GIT stability. Then we describe two cases where we have managed to make some progress in this program, that of polarized K3 surfaces of odd genus, and of genus six canonical curves. Applications of our results include effectivity statements for divisor classes on the moduli space of odd genus K3 surfaces, and a new construction in the Hassett-Keel program for the moduli space of genus six curves.Comment: v1: 23 pages, submitted to the Proceedings of the Abel Symposium 2017, v2: final version, corrects a sign error and resulting divisor class calculations on the moduli space of K3 surfaces in Section 5, other minor changes, In: Christophersen J., Ranestad K. (eds) Geometry of Moduli. Abelsymposium 2017. Abel Symposia, vol 14. Springer, Cha

Novedades en la farmacoterapia del dolor óseo de origen maligno y no maligno.

Introducción: El dolor óseo es un síntoma debilitante que puede aparecer en un gran número de trastornos tanto malignos como no malignos y existen indicios que la prevalencia va a aumentar en las próximas décadas. El objetivo de esta revisión es recopilar y resumir la evidencia disponible sobre el tratamiento farmacológico actual del dolor óseo tanto en patologías de origen oncohematológico como de origen no maligno. Método: Para responder al objetivo de nuestro trabajo se realizó una búsqueda exhaustiva de la literatura publicada en las principales bases de datos hasta el 31 de abril de 2016. Resultados: Los fármacos antirresortivos, como los bifosfonatos, y aquellos que estimulan la formación del hueso, como la teriparatida, junto a analgésicos, como los AINEs y lo opioides, son actualmente la base farmacológica para tratar el dolor óseo (dependiendo de qué patología se trate). Existen nuevas hipótesis sobre diferentes mecanismos que pueden estar relacionados con la génesis del dolor, con el consecuente desarrollo de nuevas moléculas con distintos y novedosos mecanismos de acción. Conclusiones: Es necesario que se desarrollen más estudios que aclaren aspectos inciertos relacionados con el tratamiento del dolor óseo y permita el desarrollo de nuevos fármacos. Los farmacéuticos deben de estar actualizados sobre el arsenal terapéutico disponible en la actualidad para el tratamiento del dolor óseo como el primer paso para llevar a cabo una atención farmacéutica de calidad

Novedades en la farmacoterapia del dolor óseo de origen maligno y no maligno.

Introducción: El dolor óseo es un síntoma debilitante que puede aparecer en un gran número de trastornos tanto malignos como no malignos y existen indicios que la prevalencia va a aumentar en las próximas décadas. El objetivo de esta revisión es recopilar y resumir la evidencia disponible sobre el tratamiento farmacológico actual del dolor óseo tanto en patologías de origen oncohematológico como de origen no maligno. Método: Para responder al objetivo de nuestro trabajo se realizó una búsqueda exhaustiva de la literatura publicada en las principales bases de datos hasta el 31 de abril de 2016. Resultados: Los fármacos antirresortivos, como los bifosfonatos, y aquellos que estimulan la formación del hueso, como la teriparatida, junto a analgésicos, como los AINEs y lo opioides, son actualmente la base farmacológica para tratar el dolor óseo (dependiendo de qué patología se trate). Existen nuevas hipótesis sobre diferentes mecanismos que pueden estar relacionados con la génesis del dolor, con el consecuente desarrollo de nuevas moléculas con distintos y novedosos mecanismos de acción. Conclusiones: Es necesario que se desarrollen más estudios que aclaren aspectos inciertos relacionados con el tratamiento del dolor óseo y permita el desarrollo de nuevos fármacos. Los farmacéuticos deben de estar actualizados sobre el arsenal terapéutico disponible en la actualidad para el tratamiento del dolor óseo como el primer paso para llevar a cabo una atención farmacéutica de calidad

User needs elicitation via analytic hierarchy process (AHP). A case study on a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner

Background: The rigorous elicitation of user needs is a crucial step for both medical device design and purchasing. However, user needs elicitation is often based on qualitative methods whose findings can be difficult to integrate into medical decision-making. This paper describes the application of AHP to elicit user needs for a new CT scanner for use in a public hospital. Methods: AHP was used to design a hierarchy of 12 needs for a new CT scanner, grouped into 4 homogenous categories, and to prepare a paper questionnaire to investigate the relative priorities of these. The questionnaire was completed by 5 senior clinicians working in a variety of clinical specialisations and departments in the same Italian public hospital. Results: Although safety and performance were considered the most important issues, user needs changed according to clinical scenario. For elective surgery, the five most important needs were: spatial resolution, processing software, radiation dose, patient monitoring, and contrast medium. For emergency, the top five most important needs were: patient monitoring, radiation dose, contrast medium control, speed run, spatial resolution. Conclusions: AHP effectively supported user need elicitation, helping to develop an analytic and intelligible framework of decision-making. User needs varied according to working scenario (elective versus emergency medicine) more than clinical specialization. This method should be considered by practitioners involved in decisions about new medical technology, whether that be during device design or before deciding whether to allocate budgets for new medical devices according to clinical functions or according to hospital department