Getting Started with Hoop Structures

Archie Kunz has six years of experience with hoops and has used all types of bedding. The style he uses has a concrete pad in the front, with beds in the back and a metal door. He said he thinks pigs are happy in hoops. Don Lewis built his first hoop in 1992 after seeing an article in a farm show magazine. He made several mistakes: 1) he built too close behind the structure, and 2) the split wall down the middle made bedding difficult. Hoops need to be user-friendly. You need to make it work in all conditions. Don Struthers said his decision to build hoops included his sons and other partners. They first considered hoops for hay storage. They felt they could succeed with hoops if the Rhodes research farm was successful

Getting Started with Hoop Structures

Archie Kunz has six years of experience with hoops and has used all types of bedding. The style he uses has a concrete pad in the front, with beds in the back and a metal door. He said he thinks pigs are happy in hoops. Don Lewis built his first hoop in 1992 after seeing an article in a farm show magazine. He made several mistakes: 1) he built too close behind the structure, and 2) the split wall down the middle made bedding difficult. "Hoops need to be user-friendly. You need to make it work in all conditions." Don Struthers said his decision to build hoops included his sons and other partners. They first considered hoops for hay storage. They felt they could succeed with hoops if the Rhodes research farm was successful.</p

Myofiber integrity depends on desmin network targeting to Z-disks and costameres via distinct plectin isoforms

Dysfunction of plectin, a 500-kD cytolinker protein, leads to skin blistering and muscular dystrophy. Using conditional gene targeting in mice, we show that plectin deficiency results in progressive degenerative alterations in striated muscle, including aggregation and partial loss of intermediate filament (IF) networks, detachment of the contractile apparatus from the sarcolemma, profound changes in myofiber costameric cytoarchitecture, and decreased mitochondrial number and function. Analysis of newly generated plectin isoform–specific knockout mouse models revealed that IF aggregates accumulate in distinct cytoplasmic compartments, depending on which isoform is missing. Our data show that two major plectin isoforms expressed in muscle, plectin 1d and 1f, integrate fibers by specifically targeting and linking desmin IFs to Z-disks and costameres, whereas plectin 1b establishes a linkage to mitochondria. Furthermore, disruption of Z-disk and costamere linkages leads to the pathological condition of epidermolysis bullosa with muscular dystrophy. Our findings establish plectin as the major organizer of desmin IFs in myofibers and provide new insights into plectin- and desmin-related muscular dystrophies

Nuclear morphometry and chromatin texture changes in hepatocellular carcinoma samples may predict outcomes of liver transplanted patients

BACKGROUND: Nuclear changes are typical in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Morphometry and chromatin texture analysis are quantitative methods for their quantification. In this study, we analyzed nuclear morphometry and chromatin texture parameters in samples of hepatocellular carcinoma from liver transplant patients and their associations with clinicopathologic variables. METHODS: Samples of HCC and adjacent tissue from 34 individuals were collected in tissue microarray blocks. Stained slides were microphotographed using an optical microscope and nuclear parameters analyzed in ImageJ (FracLac plug-in). ROC curve analysis was used to find accurate cut-offs for differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells. The inter-rater agreement was also evaluated. RESULTS: Nuclear morphometric and textural differences were observed between the samples of HCC and adjacent tissue of liver transplant patients. Lower mean gray value (p = 0.034) and Feret diameter (p = 0.024) were associated with higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. Nuclei with larger area (p = 0.014) and larger Feret diameter (p = 0.035) were associated with lower survival. Lower aspect ratio was associated with HCC recurrence after the transplant (p = 0.048). The cut-off of 1.13 μm (p =  \u3c 0.001) for aspect ratio and cut-off of 21.15 μm (p = 0.038) for perimeter were established for the differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells. The morphometric analysis was reproducible to area, circularity, Feret diameter, mean gray value and aspect ratio between observers (p =  \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Nuclear morphometric differences between the HCC and the adjacent tissue samples were associated with prognostic variables (MELD scores, recurrence and survival) and may predict liver transplant patients\u27 outcomes

The use of information and communication technology in continuing education in tuberculosis

Introduction: The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) tools has been impacting health care. Distance learning has been used for the continuing improvement of healthcare workers (HCWs). In this systematic review, we evaluated the use of ICT in tuberculosis (TB) continuing education. Methods: We searched Medline and Embase for cross-sectional studies that included HCWs or students, and that reported participants’ learning level. Results: Four studies proved eligible. Three used online educational tools, and another one used CDroms and live video conferencing. All studies evaluated participants’ learning level through online pre- and post-tests. The quality of the studies was high. Conclusions: There is a paucity of studies evaluating distance learning in TB training. Continuing education of students and HCWs is essential for TB control. Accomplishing this is critical in increasing the skills and the numbers of qualified HCWs capable of meeting the health care needs of the population

Nuclear morphometry and chromatin texture changes in hepatocellular carcinoma samples may predict outcomes of liver transplanted patients

Background: Nuclear changes are typical in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Morphometry and chromatin texture analysis are quantitative methods for their quantification. In this study, we analyzed nuclear morphometry and chromatin texture parameters in samples of hepatocellular carcinoma from liver transplant patients and their associations with clinicopathologic variables. Methods: Samples of HCC and adjacent tissue from 34 individuals were collected in tissue microarray blocks. Stained slides were microphotographed using an optical microscope and nuclear parameters analyzed in ImageJ (FracLac plug-in). ROC curve analysis was used to find accurate cut-offs for differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells. The inter-rater agreement was also evaluated. Results: Nuclear morphometric and textural differences were observed between the samples of HCC and adjacent tissue of liver transplant patients. Lower mean gray value (p=0.034) and Feret diameter (p=0.024) were associated with higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. Nuclei with larger area (p=0.014) and larger Feret diameter (p=0.035) were associated with lower survival. Lower aspect ratio was associated with HCC recurrence after the transplant (p=0.048). The cut-off of 1.13 μm (p= < 0.001) for aspect ratio and cut-off of 21.15 μm (p=0.038) for perimeter were established for the differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells. The morphometric analysis was reproducible to area, circularity, Feret diameter, mean gray value and aspect ratio between observers (p= < 0.001). Conclusions: Nuclear morphometric differences between the HCC and the adjacent tissue samples were associated with prognostic variables (MELD scores, recurrence and survival) and may predict liver transplant patients’ outcomes

Efficacy of azithromycin and miltefosine in experimental systemic pythiosis in immunosuppressed mice

We evaluated the efficacy of azithromycin (50 mg/kg, every 12 h [q12h] orally) and miltefosine (25 mg/kg, q24h orally) treatments in an experimental model of vascular/disseminated pythiosis in immunosuppressed mice. Azithromycin was the only treatment able to reduce mortality. The histopathological findings showed acute vascular inflammation, pathogen dissemination, necrotizing myositis, neuritis, and arteritis. The results suggest that azithromycin, but not miltefosine, may have clinical relevance in the treatment of vascular/disseminated pythiosis

EDUCAÇÃO E SAÚDE: ORIENTAÇÕES SOBRE MÉTODOS CONTRACEPTIVOS PARA ALUNOS DA REDE MUNICIPAL DE ENSINO DE XANXERÊ.

Esse trabalho está inserido nas atividades do Grupo de Pesquisa em Saúde Coletiva, consolidado na Unoesc, campus de Xanxerê. Os acadêmicos do curso de Farmácia deste campus, realizaram  atividades de orientações e prevenção que envolveram os seguintes temas, métodos contraceptivos e doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DST´s), nesta primeira fase foi atendida a demanda de duas escolas, Escola de Educação Básica Dom Anulfo e Escola de Educação Básica Iraci Tonelo ambas de Xanxerê. O público dessas escolas frequentavam entre o 6º e 9º ano escolar, com idade entre 13 e 18 anos, totalizando cerca de 350 atendimentos.O objetivo maior deste trabalho foi aumentar o indice de conhecimento dos adolescentes sobre o uso de preservativos, bem como a sua importância na prevenção contra DST´s e gravidez precoce.  A preocupação maior se deu em elaborar uma abordagem que prendesse a atenção deste público e ao mesmo tempo os deixasse desinibidos para questionar. Para enfrentar esse propósito realizou-se pesquisas sobre os temas, e também dinâmicas que pudessem ser desenvolvidas em grupo.  Em todos os atendimentos, ficou perceptível que os alunos estavam constrangidos. Mas a partir do momento em que o preservativo masculino e feminino foram apresentados de forma física, o público começava a interagir. O interessante foi que muitos alunos enviaram perguntas escritas sem identificação, o que possibilitou os mesmos receberem  informação. Acredita-se que a informação seja a melhor maneira de prevenir doenças, e que deve ser desenvolvida nos anos inciais da adolescência