PILOT STUDY ON ACID BURNS OF THE OESOPHAGUS IN GUINEA PIGS

Correct time determination for beginning of the first bougienage in cases with Stomatoesophagitis corrosiva is probably the most important step for successful outcome of treatment procedures. The aim of this study was to describe patterns of acid burns of the oesophagus in Guinea pigs. We tested 20 animals (mean initial weight of 520 g on average) divided into two groups: Group 1 (subjected to 98% H2S04) and Group 2 (15% H2S04). Changes in weight, pathohistological findings (biopsy), time and cause of death (after International Classification of Diseases - 9th revision) were analysed. The results revealed that animals from Group 1 died about the day 6 from ingestion of the acid with mean decrease of weight of 9.83% as the difference with the initial one was statistically significant (p<0.05) Peritonitis (ICD9 Dx:567) was the cause of death with highest frequency. During the study period of 1 month, Peritonitis and Mediastinids acuta (Dx:518) were pathohistological diagnoses with highest frequency. Only 3 animals from Group 2 died during the period of observation while the rest (n=7) survived afterwards. The relative risk of dying up to the day 9 included after ingestion of 98% against 15% H2SO4 was 9 (p<0.05). The histological analysis on the day 10 from ingestion revealed severe necrotic changes of all layers of the oesophageal wall. Our conclusion from these preliminary results was to sustain the idea to refrain from early bougienage in cases with massive damage of the oesophagus by concentrated acids. Above results might be found useful in planning larger experimental studies on acid burns of the oesophagus in the future

Predicting the outcome of heart failure against chronic-ischemic heart disease in elderly population – Machine learning approach based on logistic regression, case to Villa Scassi hospital Genoa, Italy

Totally 167 patients were admitted at cardiology ward in Villa Scassi hospital, Genoa, Italy. We worked with two control groups: heart failure 59 patients (mean age: 71.37 ± 13.27 years) and chronic-ischemic heart disease 108 patients (mean age: 68.85 ± 11.3 years). Nine parameters: Hb, Serum Creatinine, LDL, HDL, Triglycerides, ALT, AST, hs-cTnI, CRP were evaluated onset to hospitalization. We aimed to identify significant independent predictors relative to the outcome of heart failure versus chronic-ischemic heart disease and select combination of biochemical parameters in logistic regression-based model that would provide on average excellent discrimination to the outcome of heart failure versus chronic-ischemic heart disease in elderly population. Applying 20-fold repeated stratified cross-validation, 4:1 train/test ratio split, we have found that probability of heart failure, provides best discrimination of the outcome of heart failure against chronic-ischemic heart disease

Characterization of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec insertion site in 108 isolates lacking the mecA gene and identified as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by the Xpert MRSA assay

During a 3-year period, 848 patients were detected as carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by the Xpert MRSA assay (Cepheid). Among them, 108 patients (12.7%) were colonized with strains showing methicillin-susceptible phenotypes and absence of the mecA gene, despite being positive with the rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. DNA sequences of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) insertion site of these "false-positive” strains was determined by direct sequencing of the genomic DNA. More than half (53.7%) of the strains had DNA sequences unrelated to either SCC or SCCmec and one-third had DNA sequences related to non-mec SCC. Only 10.2% of the strains carried sequences related to SCCmec, suggesting that a sequence containing the mecA gene was lost from an SCCmec. These findings differ from the general idea that all methicillin-susceptible S. aureus having positive Xpert MRSA assay results are essentially MRSA that lost the mecA gene

Postpartum hemorrhage risk is driven by changes in blood composition through pregnancy.

The extent to which women differ in the course of blood cell counts throughout pregnancy, and the importance of these changes to pregnancy outcomes has not been well defined. Here, we develop a series of statistical analyses of repeated measures data to reveal the degree to which women differ in the course of pregnancy, predict the changes that occur, and determine the importance of these changes for post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) which is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. We present a prospective cohort of 4082 births recorded at the University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland between 2009 and 2014 where full labour records could be obtained, along with complete blood count data taken at hospital admission. We find significant differences, at a [Formula: see text] level, among women in how blood count values change through pregnancy for mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean platelet volume, platelet count and red cell distribution width. We find evidence that almost all complete blood count values show trimester-specific associations with PPH. For example, high platelet count (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01-1.53), high mean platelet volume (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.04-2.08), and high erythrocyte levels (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01-1.57) in trimester 1 increased PPH, but high values in trimester 3 decreased PPH risk (OR 0.85, 0.79, 0.67 respectively). We show that differences among women in the course of blood cell counts throughout pregnancy have an important role in shaping pregnancy outcome and tracking blood count value changes through pregnancy improves identification of women at increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage. This study provides greater understanding of the complex changes in blood count values that occur through pregnancy and provides indicators to guide the stratification of patients into risk groups

Dermatomycosis: A potential source of zoonotic infection in cities

Skin infections in animals and humans represent a complex syndrome that is, from etiological point of view, often hard to solve. Skin is one of the largest organs and plays an important role in the organism of mammals. Depending on the age, it presents 5-8% of total body mass in humans, 12% of adult animals, and even up to 24% in newly born animals. The population of pets and stray dogs in cities provides a possibility for contacts between animals and/or humans, which is a mode of transmission for some diseases. Fungal diseases in dogs caused by dermatophyte are zoonosis, contagious infections that affect dogs and cats, but also other animals, as well as humans. There has been an overall increase in the number of the cases caused by anthropophilic fungi from the strain of Microsporum spp. and Trichophyton spp. Our research was related to animals with different changes on skin manifested by hairless surfaces, dandruff, red skin and extensive pruritus. The objective of our examination was the analyses of scarified samples and swob from canine skin with the aim to determine whether the changes were caused by dermatophytosis. Our aim was to point out the possibility of transmission of mycotic infections from animals to humans in households. For this mycological examination swobs and skin scarifications from dogs, were used. The samples were streaked on Sabo and dextrose agar and incubated at 25°C for at least 21 days. In one year period 81 samples were collected out of which 11 (13.58%) were positive for dermatophyte. In all samples Microsporum canis was isolated. The findings of Microsporum canis in 13.58% of the examined samples indicate the importance of mycological skin disorder in pets. Having in mind that this is a zoonosis, the findings point to a possibility of exposing the humans to fungal infection, affecting almost all pet owners, especially in urban environment

Impact of Waddlia chondrophila infection on pregnancy in the mouse.

The intracellular bacterium Waddlia chondrophila, which belongs to the Chlamydiales order, was found to be associated with miscarriage in humans. There is little to no knowledge regarding the mode of infection, impact on the neonate and pathophysiology of this emerging bacterium. We have previously shown that W. chondrophila induces a systemic infection, organ pathology and elicits T helper type 1-associated humoral immunity in a murine model of genital infection. In the present study, we took advantage of this model of infection to evaluate the impact of this bacterium on the mouse pregnancy. We used two routes of inoculation, vaginal and intrauterine, to introduce infection before and after mating. Our results show that genital infection by W. chondrophila did not have any significant impact on gestation length and maternal weight gain, nor on the number of offspring and their weight. This observation indicates that the mouse model of infection is not suitable to study the effect of W. chondrophila on pregnancy and alternative models of infection, including in vitro ones, should be used. Moreover, an indirect immunopathological mechanism activated by this bacterium should be further explored

Swine Dysentery: Practical Observations, Control And Diagnostics

Swine dysentery is a severe mucohemorrhagic enteric disease of pigs which has a large impact on pig production, with important losses caused by mortality and suboptimal performance. The causative agent is Brachyspirahyodysenteriae. The aim of the paper was to evaluate all the available data on B. hyodysenteriae presence on swine farms in Vojvodina region. The material for this research included five swine farms, where certain disorders and health problems in weaned, grower and fattening pigs were detected. Depending on the specificity of each evaluated case and available material, the applied research methods included: anamnestical and clinical evaluation, gross pathological examination, standard bacteriological testing for detection of the presence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in the tissue samples derived from diseased and/or died pigs. Besides this, in some cases the molecular diagnostic method (RT-PCR) was included. Swine dysentery is a common and important endemic problem in many swine farms in Vojvodina. On endemically infected swine farms transmission mainly occurs by ingestion of infected faeces. All the observed factors affecting disease persistence and transmission on the farm are thoroughly analysed and discussed. Finally, current prophylactic and therapeutic approaches to fight against disease are described

Control of the Respiratory Diseases in a Pig Herd Using Data of the Respiratory Organs Examination of Fattening Pigs at a Slaughterhouse

In everyday farming practice, assessment of economical impact of respiratory diseases at herd level relies on the following information: data records on the diseases within the herd, productivity and slaughterhouse records. The data available from the slaughterhouse encompass the number and percentage of low weight pigs, number of diseased animals, the severity of lesions observed at slaughter as well as the amount of discarded organs and carcasses. The aim of this investigation is to improve the assessment of health status of pigs at herd level and design programs for the control of respiratory syndrome in swine based on the analysis of the data collected at slaughter line. In the slaughterhouse, the thoracic cavity organs from 105 fatlings that have reached the slaughter body mass, 20 underweight fatlings and 20 underdeveloped piglets were examined. The weight of both half-carcasses was measured. Tissue samples of altered organs (lungs, mediastinal lympho nodes, tonsils) were collected and subjected to bacteriological analysis. The average weight of both half-carcasses was 81.54kg in fatteners with full slaughter body mass, and 58.29kg and 14.95kg in low-weight fatlings and piglets, respectively. Changes affecting 10% of lung tissue were established in 9 animals, 11-20% in 10 and 21-32% in 10 fatlings. Pathological process is characterized by hepatization of lung tissue, inflammation of the pleura or, even more frequently, adhesions between the visceral and parietal pleura and pericardium. In underweight fatlings, the rates of lung changes were 20% in 5, 11-30% in 3, 40% in 4, and 40% in 6 animals. Applying bacteriological testing, the following microorganisms were isolated: Haemophilus parasuis, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, and Pasteurella multocida. The examination performed at the slaughter line strongly suggested the necessity of designing a new, updated vaccination program taking into consideration the causative agents and vaccination schedule

Waddlia chondrophila induces systemic infection, organ pathology, and elicits Th1-associated humoral immunity in a murine model of genital infection.

Waddlia chondrophila is a known bovine abortigenic Chlamydia-related bacterium that has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in human. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding how W. chondrophila infection spreads, its ability to elicit an immune response and induce pathology. A murine model of genital infection was developed to investigate the pathogenicity and immune response associated with a W. chondrophila infection. Genital inoculation of the bacterial agent resulted in a dose-dependent infection that spread to lumbar lymph nodes and successively to spleen and liver. Bacterial-induced pathology peaked on day 14, characterized by leukocyte infiltration (uterine horn, liver, and spleen), necrosis (liver) and extramedullary hematopoiesis (spleen). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of a large number of W. chondrophila in the spleen on day 14. Robust IgG titers were detected by day 14 and remained high until day 52. IgG isotypes consisted of high IgG2a, moderate IgG3 and no detectable IgG1, indicating a Th1-associated immune response. This study provides the first evidence that W. chondrophila genital infection is capable of inducing a systemic infection that spreads to major organs, induces uterus, spleen, and liver pathology and elicits a Th1-skewed humoral response. This new animal model will help our understanding of the mechanisms related to intracellular bacteria-induced miscarriages, the most frequent complication of pregnancy that affects one in four women

Noninvasive detection of a ruptured aneurysm at a basilar artery fenestration with submillimeter multisection CT angiography

The criterion standard for the detection of intracranial aneurysms is digital subtraction angiography. MR imaging and CT provide good accuracy in the evaluation of brain arteries and aneurysms. We herein report a case of a ruptured aneurysm at a basilar artery fenestration. The diagnosis was assessed with 16-row multisection CT angiography and was confirmed by using digital subtraction angiography. The patient was successfully treated with coil placement