Untersuchungen zu Euterinfektionen in der Frühlaktation bei Milchziegen

Mastitis hat bei Milchziegen einen ähnlichen Stellenwert wie bei Milchkühen, aber Indikatoren zur Mastitisfrüherkennung fehlen bisher. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung ist daher die Ermittlung geeigneter Indikatoren für Euterinfektionen in der Frühlaktation von Milchziegen. In den ersten 6 Wochen der Laktation wurden wöchentlich Hälftengemelksproben von 60 Ziegen der Rasse Bunte Deutsche Edelziege entnommen und der Gehalt an somatischen Zellen (SZZ), der bakteriologische Status, die elektrische Leitfähigkeit und NAGase bestimmt. Weiterhin wurde der California-Mastitis-Test erhoben. Minor- und Majorpathogene wurden bei 47 % der Tiere identifiziert. 54 % der Infektionen waren auf KNS zurückzuführen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen einen Einfluss der Art des Erregers auf die SZZ und die NAGase Aktivität. Allerdings macht es die große Variation innerhalb beider Parameter schwierig, Grenzwerte für die Unterscheidung in infizierte und nichtinfizierte Euterhälften von Milchziegen festzulegen

Nachweis von Euterinfektionen in der Frühlaktation bei Milchziegen

Mastitis hat bei Milchziegen einen ähnlichen Stellenwert wie bei Milckühen, aber Indikatoren zur Mastitisfrüherkennung fehlen bisher. Die subklinische Form der Mastitis, die ohne äußerliche Symptome einer Entzündung verläuft, stellt eine stete Ansteckungsgefahr für den gesamten Bestand dar

Einfluss von Euterinfektionen auf Enzymaktivitäten in Ziegenmilch in der Frühlaktation

At present the analysis of somatic cell count (SCC) used for the detection of intramammary infections in cows is also recommended for goats, but due to various factors influencing SCC it allows only limited conclusions on the udder health of goats. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of infection status on different milk enzyme activities and SCC throughout the early lactation. 60 dairy goats were sampled at weekly intervals over a period of six weeks after kidding and the bacteriological status, milk SCC and the activity of N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase), ß-glucuronidase (ß-glu) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of udder halves were analysed. The infection status had a highly significant effect on SCC, ß-glu and LDH activity, but ß-glu was not influenced by the stage of lactation. Therefore the usefulness of ß-glu in the assessment of udder health status should be further proved

Musical and vocal interventions to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm infants

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: We will assess the overall efficacy of auditory stimulation for physiological and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants (< 37 weeks' gestation), compared to standard care. In addition, we will determine specific effects of various musical and vocal interventions for physiological, anthropometrical, social‐emotional, neurodevelopmental short‐ and long‐term outcomes in preterm infants, parental well‐being, and bonding

Hemoglobin spectra affect measurement of tissue oxygen saturation

Tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) is a valuable clinical parameter e.g. for intensive care applications or monitoring during surgery. Studies showed that near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based tissue oximeters of different brands give systematically different readings of StO2. Usually these readings are linearly correlated and therefore StO2 readings from one instrument can easily be converted to those of another instrument. However, it is interesting to understand why there is this difference. One reason may be that different brands employ different spectra of hemoglobin. The aim here was to investigate how these different absorption spectra of hemoglobin affect the StO2 readings. Therefore, we performed changes in StO2 in a phantom experiment with real human hemoglobin at three different concentrations (26.5, 45 and 70 μM): desaturation by yeast consuming the oxygen and re-saturation by bubbling oxygen gas. The partial pressure of O2 in the liquid changed from at least 10 kPa to ~0 kPa and ISS OxiplexTS, a frequency-domain NIRS instrument, was used to monitor changes of StO2. When we employed two different absorption spectra for hemoglobin, StO2 values were comparable in the normal physiological range. However, particularly at high and low StO2 values, a difference of >6% between these two spectra were noticed. Such a difference of >6% is substantial and relevant for medical applications. This may partly explain why different brands of NIRS instruments provide different StO2 readings. The hemoglobin spectra are therefore a factor to be considered for future developments and applications of NIRS oximeters

In Vitro Comparisons of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Oximeters: Impact of Slow Changes in Scattering of Liquid Phantoms

Several cerebral oximeters based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) are commercially available that determine tissue oxygen saturation (StO). One problem is an inconsistency of StO readings between different brands of instruments. Liquid blood phantoms mimicking optical properties of the neonatal head enable quantitative device comparisons. However, occasionally, the reduced scattering coefficient (μ') of these phantoms decreases over time. AIM To investigate whether this decrease in μ' affects the validity of comparison of these devices. StO was measured by several NIRS oximeters simultaneously on a phantom, which exhibited a particularly strong decrease in μ'. We found that a decrease in μ' by ≤16% from baseline led to deviations in StO of ≤3%

Immunology of IL-12

As its first identified member, Interleukin-12 (IL-12) named a whole family of cytokines. In response to pathogens, the heterodimeric protein, consisting of the two subunits p35 and p40, is secreted by phagocytic cells. Binding of IL-12 to the IL-12 receptor (IL-12R) on T and natural killer (NK) cells leads to signaling via signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) and subsequent interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production and secretion. Signaling downstream of IFN-γ includes activation of T-box transcription factor TBX21 (Tbet) and induces pro-inflammatory functions of T helper 1 (TH1) cells, thereby linking innate and adaptive immune responses. Initial views on the role of IL-12 and clinical efforts to translate them into therapeutic approaches had to be re-interpreted following the discovery of other members of the IL-12 family, such as IL-23, sharing a subunit with IL-12. However, the importance of IL-12 with regard to immune processes in the context of infection and (auto-) inflammation is still beyond doubt. In this review, we will provide an update on functional activities of IL-12 and their implications for disease. We will begin with a summary on structure and function of the cytokine itself as well as its receptor and outline the signal transduction and the transcriptional regulation of IL-12 secretion. In the second part of the review, we will depict the involvement of IL-12 in immune-mediated diseases and relevant experimental disease models, while also providing an outlook on potential translational approaches

Altered in-stent hemodynamics may cause erroneous upgrading of moderate carotid artery restenosis when evaluated by duplex ultrasound

ObjectiveTo assess the influence of stent application on in-stent hemodynamics under standardized conditions.MethodsOvine common carotid arteries before and after stent (6 × 40 mm, sinus-Carotid-RXt, combined open-closed cell design; Optimed, Ettlingen, Germany) application were used. Plastic tubes, 10 mm in length, simulating stenosis were placed in the middle of the applied stent to induce different degrees of stenosis (moderate 57.8% and severe 76.4%). Flow velocity and dynamic compliance were, respectively, measured with ultrasound and laser scan; proximal, in-stent, and distal to the stented arterial segment (1 cm proximal and distal) in a pulsatile ex vivo circulation system.ResultsStent insertion caused the in-stent peak systolic velocity to increase 22% without stenosis, 31% with moderate stenosis, and 23% with severe stenosis. Stent insertion without stenosis caused no significant increase in in-stent end-diastolic velocity (EDV) but a 17% increase with moderate stenosis. In severe stenosis, EDV was increased 56% proximal to the stenosis. Compliance was reduced threefold in the middle of the stented arterial segment where flow velocity was significantly increased.ConclusionsWith or without stenosis, stent introduction caused the in-stent peak systolic velocity to become significantly elevated compared with a nonstented area. EDV was also increased by stent insertion in the case of moderate stenosis. The stent-induced compliance reduction may be causal for the increase in flow velocity since the stent-induced flow velocity elevation appeared in the stented area with low compliance. Because of altered hemodynamics caused by stent introduction when measured by duplex ultrasound, caution is prudent in concluding that carotid artery stenting is associated with a higher restenosis rate than carotid endarterectomy. Mistakenly upgrading moderate to severe restenosis could result in unnecessary reintervention.Clinical RelevanceClinical experience and prior studies support the supposition that restenosis after carotid artery stenting in carotid lesions displays erroneously elevated velocity when evaluated by duplex ultrasound (DUS), thus contributing to misleading interpretation of the degree of stenosis. This study, in contrast to studies of other groups, employs exactly the same conditions to measure flow with DUS in an unstented and then stented section of the carotid artery. Since DUS is the first-choice tool for carotid artery evaluation, knowledge about inexactness of the method is essential to avoid errors in treatment or follow-up decisions