Sudden cardiac death after robbery: Homicide or natural death?

Tako-Tsubo is one of a number of rare acquired cardiomyopathies that are characterized by left ventricular dyskinesia and symptomatology typical of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The most important feature is that the clinical features are triggered by a severe physical or emotional stress. The authors describe the story of a woman, who was brutally assaulted by two men during a house robbery and died from sudden heart failure 8 hours later, after being taken to hospital. External examination revealed no macroscopic alteration of the inner organs, whereas microscopy showed contraction bands with myocardial necrosis, subendocardial and interstitial neutrophil infiltration and fibrosis. These findings were consistent with death due to stress cardiomyopathy even in the absence of previous heart disease. The robbers were convicted of homicide and sentenced to eighteen years in prison

Efficacy of a new vaccine (Myco-Suivax\uae) against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae under field conditions

Swine enzootic pneumonia is caused by a complex interaction between Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh), the primary infectious agent, environmental factors, and other infectious agents. In the last few years, the efficacy of numerous vaccines has been demonstrated in reducing losses deriving from enzootic pneumonia. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the field efficacy of a new vaccine (Myco-Suivax\uae, Fatro) administered at a single or double dose in the presence of disease, in an Italian farrow-to-finishing farm, where the long fattening cycle causes slaughter of swine at 160\u2013170 kg of live body weight (LBW) and 9\u201310 months of age. The experimental trial was conducted in a farrow-tofinishing farm of 730 sows situated in Northern Italy, where problems of enzootic pneumonia had been identified in growing pigs. Three consecutive homogeneous groups of 300 piglets each were included in the study; these were assigned at random to one of the following treatment groups: - Group A (double shot): vaccinated twice at 7 days of age and at weaning (25 days of age) at a dose of 1 ml; - Group B (one shot): vaccinated once at a dose of 2 ml on the day of the end of the weaning period (60 days of age); - Group C: control (no Mh vaccination). The efficacy of the vaccine was based primarily on the pulmonary lesions associated with respiratory disease, using the method described by Madec and Kobisch. The overall weights at the end of weaning and at slaughter were also recorded, together with feed consumption in the interval between end of weaning and slaughter, to calculate Average Daily Weight Gains (ADWG) and Feed Conversion Rate (FCR). Slaughter was performed, for pig movement restriction reasons (outbreaks of MVS in the Lombardia region in 2006-2007), between 10 and 11 months of age. The animals which died during the trial were subjected to necroscopic examination and laboratory investigations (PCR) to highlight the presence of Mh. All statistical analyses were performed using the software SPSS 12.0.0 (SPSS, 2003). Necroscopic findings and laboratory investigations highlighted the presence of M. hyopneumoniae in swine of all the treatment groups. Myco-Suivax\uae was able to reduce pulmonary lesions, decrease the number of animals which died and improve weight gain and the FCR in both groups subjected to vaccination. The results appear particularly significant taking into account the late slaughter age (160\u2013170 kg of LBW) and 9\u201310 months of age), in which pulmonary lesions due to M. hyopneumoniae have mainly regressed and where growth tends to at slow down. In the specific field situation in which the trial was conducted, the one shot vaccination, performed at 60 days of age, was the one able to supply the best zootechnical results

CORRELATION BETWEEN CHEMICAL MEDIATORS AND HAEMORHEOLOGICAL - COAGULATIVE FACTORS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CHRONIC RESPIRATORY FAIL¬URE CAUSED BY INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASES (F.I.D)

Interstitial lung diseases are caused by deep lung inflammatory state, characterized by an increase of the immunocompetent cells and vascular compartment injury. To evaluate the physiopathological mechanics involved in the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory failure caused by interstitial lung diseases (F.I.D), we examined in six patients with F.I.D. (age: x ±sd = 55.5113.84) in comparison with three normal subjects (age: x ± sd = 52.66112.74) the levels of chemical mediators, cytokines both in BAL and in alveolar macrophages cultures (albumin; TxB2; LTB4; PAF: PGFl-a; PGE2; IL-la; IL-lp; IL-6; IL-8) and the levels of haemorheological parameters in the peripheral blood (V.E.; fibrinogen; P.T.; P.TT.; antithrombin III; beta- thromboglobulin). All patients have been tested to fibrobronchoscopy and BAL in order to study the immunocompetent cell activation by cytofluorimetry; chemical mediators and cytokins by radioimmunassay; haemorheological- coagulative parameters and haemogasanalysis by peripheral blood samples. In patients with F.I.D. the values of chemical mediators were increased significantly in comparison with normals subjects both in BAL (Albumin p=0.02; TxB2 p=0.02; LTB4 p=0.02) and in 24 h unstimulated A.M. culture (Albumin p=0.02; TXB2 p=0.05; LTB4 p=0.02; PAF p=0.02). Significant values of interleukin 1 (3-6-8 were obtained also in BAL (DL-lp p=0.09; IL-6 p=0.05; IL=8 p=0.05) and 24 h unstimulated A.M. culture (IL-lp p=0.05; IL- 6 p=0.05; IL-8 p=0.08). These results were confirmed “in vitro” LPS- stimulated macrophage culture at 12, 24, 48 and 72h. The immunocompetent cell activation shown by either the interleukins increase and by chemical mediators release, proves the presence of vascular phlogosis demonstrated by alterations of haemoreological-coagulative factors such as AP (p=0.05), Fibrin, (p=0.05), PT (p=0.09), PTT (p=0.09), beta-TG (p=0.02). The remarkable cellular activator induced by cytokines was well documented by multiple correlation test that showed a significant value between IL-1(3 vs VE (r=0.64); IL-lp vs AP (n=0.59) IL-lp vs p-TG (n=0.50); IL-8 vs AP (n=0.77); IL-8 vs Fibrin. (r=0.50)