Comparison of vaccination protocols against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae during the gilt acclimation period

This study evaluated different gilt vaccination protocols againstMycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniaeat acclimationand their effect on the genetic diversity. A total of 180M. hyopneumoniaenaïve gilts were selected 1 week post-entry (wpe) at the acclimation barn in a clinically affectedM. hyopneumoniaefarm. Gilts were distributed ac-cording to theM. hyopneumoniaeantibodies levels into three different vaccination schedules: A) four doses of aM. hyopneumoniaecommercial vaccine at 2, 4, 6 and 8 wpe; B) two vaccine doses at 2 and 6 wpe and PBS at 4 and8 wpe; and C) four PBS doses at the same wpe. Detection ofM. hyopneumoniae(rt-PCR) and antibodies (ELISA)were assessed in gilts at 1, 14, 27 and 34 wpe and in 6 of their piglets at weaning. Rt-PCR positive gilts weredetected at 14 wpe, being the proportion significantly lower in groups A and B (3/120, 3%) than C (27/60, 45%).Seroconversion was detected at 14 wpe, showing significant differences in percentage of inhibition (PI) betweengroups A (median 4.9, range 3.1–19.9) and B (5.5, 3.7–13.5), and C (14.3, 3.3–53.2). Gilts remained seropositiveover the study and significant differences in PI were detected between groups A and B versus C. All piglets werert-PCR negative, but the proportion of seropositive piglets coming from vaccinated gilts was significantly higherthan the non-vaccinated group.M. hyopneumoniaecharacterization showed high variability. Hence, gilt vacci-nation with 2 or 4 doses significantly decreased the pathogen infectious pressure, variability, and provided highantibody levels to gilts and their offspring.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Characterization of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strains in vaccinated and non-vaccinated pigs from Spanish slaughterhouses

This study aimed to describe Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) genetic variability in vaccinated (V) and non-vaccinated (NV) slaughtered pigs showing cranio-ventral pulmonary consolidation (CVPC). Ten V and 10 NV fattening farms with respiratory problems associated to M. hyopneumoniae were selected. Lung lesions of one batch per farm were scored at slaughterhouse and the enzootic pneumonia (EP)-index was calculated. Moreover, three lungs showing the most extensive CVPC per farm were sampled and tested for M. hyopneumoniae detection by real-time (rt)-PCR. Positive samples with cycle threshold ≤30 were selected to be genotyped by sequencing of four loci (P97, P146, H1 and H5). Typing profiles (TP) were assigned considering four or two (P97, P146) loci. Five commercial vaccines for M. hyopneumoniae (VS) and two reference strains (RF) were also genotyped. The EP-index (mean ± SD) in NV farms (3.8 ± 1.9) was not significantly different from V ones (2.2 ± 1.3). From the 60 selected lungs, 46 (76.7%) were M. hyopneumoniae positive by rt-PCR (25/30 and 21/30 from NV and V farms, respectively), and 43 (93.5%) of those were successfully genotyped. A total of 24 different TP(12 in V and 12 in NV farms) or 17 TP(9 in V and 9 in NV farms, being one TP in both farm types) were identified by analyzing four or two loci, respectively. One to three TP per farm were detected, being different from VS and RF. Interestingly, farms with same breeding origin had the same TP using two loci, but such link was not found using four loci. Therefore, high inter-farm and limited intra-farm M. hyopneumoniae genetic variability were detected, but variability depended on the number of studied loci.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Labile plasma iron levels predict survival in patients with lower-risk Myelodysplastic syndromes

Red blood cell transfusions remain one of the cornerstones in supportive care of lower-risk patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. We hypothesized that patients develop oxidant mediated tissue injury through the formation of toxic iron species, caused either by red blood cell transfusions or by ineffective erythropoiesis. We analyzed serum samples from 100 lower-risk patients with myelodysplastic syndromes at six-month intervals for transferrin saturation, hepcidin-25, growth differentiation factor 15, soluble transferrin receptor, non-transferrin bound iron and labile plasma iron in order to evaluate temporal changes in iron metabolism and presence of potentially toxic iron species and their impact on survival. Hepcidin levels were low in 34 patients with ringed sideroblasts compared to 66 patients without. Increases of hepcidin and non-transferrin bound iron levels were visible early in follow-up of all transfusion dependent patient groups. Hepcidin levels significantly decreased over time in transfusion independent patients with ringed sideroblasts. Increased soluble transferrin receptor levels in transfusion-independent patients with ringed sideroblasts confirmed the presence of ineffective erythropoiesis and suppression of hepcidin production in these patients. Detectable labile plasma iron levels in combination with high transferrin saturation levels occurred almost exclusively in patients with ringed sideroblasts and all transfusion dependent patient groups. Detectable labile plasma iron levels in transfusion dependent patients without ringed sideroblasts were associated with decreased survival. IN CONCLUSION: toxic iron species occurred in all transfusion dependent patients and in transfusion independent patients with ringed sideroblasts. Labile plasma iron appeared to be a clinically relevant measure for potential iron toxicity and a prognostic factor for survival in transfusion dependent patients. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00600860

Sex- and age-related differences in the management and outcomes of chronic heart failure: an analysis of patients from the ESC HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

Aims: This study aimed to assess age- and sex-related differences in management and 1-year risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Methods and results: Of 16 354 patients included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, 9428 chronic HF patients were analysed [median age: 66 years; 28.5% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37%]. Rates of use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) were high (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: 85.7%, 88.7% and 58.8%, respectively). Crude GDMT utilization rates were lower in women than in men (all differences: P\ua0 64 0.001), and GDMT use became lower with ageing in both sexes, at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT prescription; however, age >75 years was a significant predictor of GDMT underutilization. Rates of all-cause mortality were lower in women than in men (7.1% vs. 8.7%; P\ua0=\ua00.015), as were rates of all-cause hospitalization (21.9% vs. 27.3%; P\ua075 years. Conclusions: There was a decline in GDMT use with advanced age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT or adverse outcomes. However, age >75 years independently predicted lower GDMT use and higher all-cause mortality in patients with LVEF 6445%

Mobilizace perifernich hematopoetickych bunek po podani chemoterapie a rustovych faktoru u nemocnych s mnohocetnym myelomem - srovnani ruznych variant stimulacnich rezimu.

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) has an established role in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). High-dose cyclophosphamide in combination with various haematopoietic growth factors has been generally considered to be the optimal approach to collect the highest possible number of PBSC for autotransplants in moltiple myeloma. It is not yer clear wheather increasing dose of G-CSF or addition of erythropoietin to G-CSF after chemotherapy administration may allow collection of more PBSC. So far we have studied three variants of PBSC mobilization in multiple myeloma patients (pts) to compare the efficacy and toxicity. We have analyzed 77 patients with MM undergoing PBSC mobilization, 34 with cyclophosphamide 5 g/m2 + filgrastim (G-CSF) 5 g/kg (group A), 10 with cyclophosphamide 5 g/m2+ G-CSF 5mg/kg + erythropoietin (EPO) 50 IU/kg (group B), 33 with cyclophosphamide 5 g/m2 + G-CSF 10 mg/kg (group C). PBSC harvest was considered successful when > 2,5 x 1000000 CD 34+ cells/kg were collected. The groups A, B, C were similar in age, stage of MM and previous treatment. All patients underwent only 4 cycles of VAD chemotherapy and no radiotherapy was given to them before PBSC mobilization. Many paremeters were observed in the groups A, B, C, such as number of CD+ cells, number of CFU-GM, number of leukaphereses, number of blood and platelet transfusion, days of parenteral antibiotic therapy and parameters of toxicity. The median number of CD+ cells x 1000000/kg collected was 15,9 (range 3,4-40,3) for the A group, 15,7 (range 7,1-43,7) for the B group and 19,2 (range 6,7-40,0) for the C group. The median number of CFU-GM x 10000/kg collected was 68,3 (range 11,4-251,4) for the A group, 62,8 (range 23,2-91,6) for the B group and 70,3 (range 11,1-179,4) for the C group. The PBSC harvest was successful in all patients. There were no statistically significant differences in number of blood and platelet units transfused (p=0,394, p=0,401) number of CFU-GM (p=0,175), days of parenteral antibiotic therapy (p=0,995) and number of leukaphereses (p=0,184) between the groups A and C. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups A and B in number of CD 34+ cells (p=0,191), number of CFU-GM (p=0,069), number of leukaphereses (p=0,823), days of parenteral antibiotic therapy (p=0,334). Mobilization PBSC with CTX 5 g/m2 + G-CSF 5 mg/kg in multiple myeloma patients who were previously treated only 4 VAD is very efficient regimen with low toxicity. The use of higher dose G-CSF 10 mg/kg after CTX 5 g/m2 or combination of G-CSF 5 mg/kg + EPO 50 IU/kg after CTX 5 g/m2 does not seem to provide additional clinical benefit in comparison with G-CSF 5 mg/kg after CTX 5 g/m2.Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi

Circulating Serum MicroRNA-130a as a Novel Putative Marker of Extramedullary Myeloma.

Poor outcome of extramedullary disease in multiple myeloma patients and lack of outcome predictors prompt continued search for new markers of the disease. In this report, we show circulating microRNA distinguishing multiple myeloma patients with extramedullary disease from myeloma patients without such manifestation and from healthy donors. MicroRNA-130a was identified by TaqMan Low Density Arrays and verified by quantitative PCR on 144 serum samples (59 multiple myeloma, 55 myeloma with extramedullary disease, 30 healthy donors) in test and validation cohorts as being down-regulated in myeloma patients with extramedullary disease. Circulating microRNA-130a distinguished myeloma patients with extramedullary disease from healthy donors with specificity of 90.0% and sensitivity of 77.1%, patients with extramedullary disease from newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with specificity of 77.1% and sensitivity of 34.3% in the test cohort and with specificity of 91.7% and sensitivity of 30.0% in the validation cohort of patients. Circulating microRNA-130a in patients with extramedullary myeloma was associated with bone marrow plasma cells infiltration. Further, microRNA-130a was decreased in bone marrow plasma cells obtained from patients with extramedullary myeloma in comparison to bone marrow plasma cells of myeloma patients without such manifestation, but it was increased in tumor site plasma cells of patients with extramedullary disease compared to bone marrow plasma cells of such patients (p<0.0001). Together, our data suggest connection between lower level of microRNA-130a and extramedullary disease and prompt further work to evaluate this miRNA as a marker of extramedullary disease in multiple myeloma