Metabolic and biochemical changes in plasma of the periparturient rabbit does with different litter size.

The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic and biochemical changes in plasma that occur in the reproductive rabbit doe close to the parturition, as well as if the number of offspring affects the metabolism and the health status of the doe. At −3, 4 and 12 days from parturition (–D3, D4, and D12, respectively) nine rabbit does at their third parity from a commercial hybrid line (HYPLUS PS 19) selected for high prolificacy were weighted and blood was collected for a wide inflammometabolic profile. According to the number of offspring the does were retrospectively divided in two groups: high litter size group (HI; n=5) and low litter size group (LO; n=4). BW was higher (P<0.01) at –D3 and had the lowest values at D4. At D12, the BW was lower (P<0.05) in LO compared with HI. Several metabolites significantly changed from dry to lactation period. Glucose and cholesterol had the lowest levels at –D3; non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and aspartate aminotransferase had the highest values before parturition (P<0.05); creatinine and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) were higher at –D3 with respect to D4 (P<0.05). The lowest value of paraoxonase was observed in does at –D3 (P<0.05), whereas at this time ceruloplasmin and total bilirubin had the highest concentration (P<0.05). The differences for blood profile parameters between does grouped according to litter size were mainly evident before parturition (–D3). In particular, BHBA, NEFA and total bilirubin had higher concentrations (P<0.05) in HI v. LO group, whereas albumin and PON were lower in HI group (P<0.01). After parturition there were no significant differences for the metabolic parameters between the two groups. The results show that for reproductive rabbit doe the last days of gestation are very stressful from a metabolic and inflammatory point of view. The genetic selection of does for higher litter size has increased their ability to mobilize body reserves in order to guarantee the nutrients to a high number of kits. This exposes them to a more severe metabolic and inflammatory challenge during the transition period. Consequently, feeding and managerial strategies for high prolificacy periparturient rabbit does should be revised

Use of an Elastomeric Knee Brace in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Short-Term Results

Purpose This article verifies the effectiveness of a new brace on patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) in adjunct to a specifically developed rehabilitation program. Methods Two groups of 30 patients with PFPS were prospectively and randomly allocated to a rehabilitation protocol, with (group A) or without (group B) the use of a specific brace. All the patients were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months using the disease specific Kujala scale and a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain; time to return to sport and patient satisfaction with the brace were also recorded. Results Kujala scale’s values showed constant and progressive improvement. The mean score at 6 months was 79.8 � 6.8 points in group A and 76.8 � 8.6 in group B, rising at 12 months to 80.9 � 7.5 in group A and 78.4 � 8.3 in group B. VAS scores significantly differed (p < 0.05) between the two groups at both 6 and 12 months; the score recorded at 12months was 0.9 � 1.3 in the brace-treated group and 1.8 � 1.6 in the controls. The patients who used a brace showed a quicker return to sports and 75% of the patients in this group were satisfied. Conclusion All the scores improved progressively in both groups. The most significant improvement concerned pain, showing that the brace used in this study may allow a better subjective outcome and a quicker return to sport. Level of Evidence Level 2, prospective randomized controlled trial

Effect of litter size on prepartum metabolic and amino acidic profile in rabbit does.

The use of modern prolific lines of rabbit does in intensive production systems leads to an increase in productivity but also causes a rise in several problems related to the does' health status. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the litter size on the metabolic, inflammatory and plasma amino acid profile in rabbit does. The blood of 30 pregnant does was sampled on the 27th day of pregnancy. The does were retrospectively grouped according to the number of offspring into a high litter size group (HI, does with ≥ 12 kits; n = 16) and a low litter size group (LO, does with ≤ 11 kits; n = 14). Data were subjected to Pearson's correlation analysis. Further, data were analysed in agreement to a completely randomized design in which the main tested effect was litter size. The linear or quadratic trends of litter size on parameters of interests were post hoc compared by using orthogonal contrasts. In addition, compared with the LO group, the HI group had lower levels of glucose (-5%; P < 0.01), zinc (-19%; P < 0.05), albumin (-6%; P < 0.05) and total cholesterol (-13%; P < 0.07), but the total bilirubin level was higher in the HI group (+14%; P < 0.05). Regarding the plasma amino acids, the HI group had lower concentrations of threonine (-15%), glycine (-16%), lysine (-16%) and tryptophan (-26%) and a higher level of glutamic acid (+43%; P < 0.05) compared with the LO group. The exclusively ketogenic amount of amino acids was lower (P < 0.06) in the HI (55.8 mg/100 ml) does compared with the LO does (56.8 mg/100 ml). These results show that a few days before delivery, rabbit does that gave birth to a higher number of offspring had a metabolic profile and an inflammatory status that was less favourable with respect to does who gave birth to a lower number of offspring. Moreover, the plasma amino acid profile points out that there was an enhanced catabolic condition in the rabbit does with a high number of gestated foetuses; it was likely related to the greater energy demand needed to support the pregnancy and an early inflammatory response

Insights into the safety and versatility of 4D printed intravesical drug delivery systems

This paper focuses on recent advancements in the development of 4D printed drug delivery systems (DDSs) for the intravesical administration of drugs. By coupling the effectiveness of local treatments with major compliance and long-lasting performance, they would represent a promising innovation for the current treatment of bladder pathologies. Being based on a shape-memory pharmaceutical-grade polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), these DDSs are manufactured in a bulky shape, can be programmed to take on a collapsed one suitable for insertion into a catheter and re-expand inside the target organ, following exposure to biological fluids at body temperature, while releasing their content. The biocompatibility of prototypes made of PVAs of different molecular weight, either uncoated or coated with Eudragit®-based formulations, was assessed by excluding relevant in vitro toxicity and inflammatory response using bladder cancer and human monocytic cell lines. Moreover, the feasibility of a novel configuration was preliminarily investigated, targeting the development of prototypes provided with inner reservoirs to be filled with different drug-containing formulations. Samples entailing two cavities, filled during the printing process, were successfully fabricated and showed, in simulated urine at body temperature, potential for controlled release, while maintaining the ability to recover about 70% of their original shape within 3 min

Cost of Bordetella pertussis illness in tertiary hospitals in Argentina

La Comisión Nacional de Inmunizaciones y el ProNaCEI (Programa Nacional de Control de Enfermedades Inmunoprevenibles) actualizaron la política de vacunación por Bordetella pertussis (BP) a partir del año 2009 con el objetivo de optimizar el control de esta enfermedad, de acuerdo con las recomendaciones internacionales. Para evaluar el impacto económico de esta nueva política de vacunación resulta necesario conocer inicialmente el costo que implica para el sistema de salud un niño internado o ambulatorio con infección por BP. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir el perfl de costos en niños internados o tratados ambulatoriamente, con infección confrmada por laboratorio de BP en tres hospitales de la Argentina. Estudio prospectivo de costo de la enfermedad durante el período diciembre de 2010 a marzo de 2012. Resultados. El costo total para toda la cohorte fue de 1 170 663,32 pesos (236 497,64 dólares); los costos médicos directos, de 1 124 052,31 pesos (227 081,27 dólares); los costos indirectos y gastos de bolsillo, de 46611 pesos (9 416,36 dólares), lo que permite inferir un costo total promedio por paciente de 10 546,52 pesos (IC 95% 9009 a 13 840) (2130,60 dólares, IC 95% 1820 a 2795), costos médicos directos por paciente de 10 126,6 pesos (IC 95% 8607 a 13 171) (2045,77 dólares, IC 95%1738 a 2660) y costos indirectos más de bolsillo (viajes y extras) de 419,92 pesos (IC 95% 344,7 a 565,3), (84 dólares, IC 95% 69 a 115). Conclusión. El costo de un caso confrmado hospitalizado por BP es 10 546,52 pesos (IC 95% 9009 a 13 840) (2130,60 dólares, IC 95% 1820 a 2795). Los costos directos no médicos y costos indirectos constituyen el 4% del total, lo que corresponde a 419,91 pesos por familia (84 dólares, IC 95% 69 a 115), un 8% del salario promedio.Fil: Gentile, Angela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "ricardo Gutierrez"; ArgentinaFil: Salgueiro, Ana L.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "ricardo Gutierrez"; ArgentinaFil: Garcia Bournissen, Facundo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "r. Gutierrez". Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Romanin, Viviana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "ricardo Gutierrez"; ArgentinaFil: Bulgheroni, Sonia. Hospital Materno Infantil de San Isidro "Dr. Gianantonio"; ArgentinaFil: Gaiano, Alejandra. Hospital Materno Infantil de San Isidro "Dr. Gianantonio"; ArgentinaFil: Benegas, Liliana. Hospital de Niños "Víctor J. Vilela"; ArgentinaFil: Uboldi, Andrea. Hospital de Niños "Víctor J. Vilela"; ArgentinaFil: Giglio, Norberto. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "ricardo Gutierrez"; Argentin

Investigation on the use of fused deposition modeling for the production of IR dosage forms containing Timapiprant

: The present work focused on evaluating the feasibility of fused deposition modeling (FDM) in the development of a dosage form containing Timapiprant (TMP), also known as CHF6532, which is a novel active molecule indicated in the potential treatment of eosinophilic asthma upon oral administration. The resulting product could be an alternative, with potential towards personalization, of immediate release (IR) tablets used in the clinical studies. Formulations based on different polymeric carriers were screened, leading to the identification of a polyvinyl alcohol-based one, which turned out acceptable for versatility in terms of active ingredient content, printability and dissolution performance (i.e. capability to meet the dissolution specification set, envisaging &gt;80% of the drug dissolved within 30&nbsp;min). Following an in-depth evaluation on the influence of TMP solid state and of the voids volume resulting from printing on dissolution, few prototypes with shapes especially devised for therapy customization were successfully printed and were compliant with the dissolution specification set

Costs of Bordetella pertussis in tertiary hospitals of Argentina

The National Immunization Commission and the National Program for the Control of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (Programa Nacional de Control de Enfermedades Inmunoprevenibles, ProNaCEI) updated the immunization policy in relation to Bordetella pertussis (BP) in 2009 in order to improve the control of this disease in accordance with international recommendations. To evaluate the financial impact of this new immunization policy, we must first know the cost on the health system of having a hospitalized or outpatient child infected with BP. The objective of this study was to describe the profile of costs of hospitalized or outpatient children with laboratory-confirmed BP infection in three hospitals of Argentina. This was a prospective study of the cost of BP in the period between December 2010 and March 2012. Results. The total cost for the entire cohort was 1 170 663.32 ARS (236 497.64 USD); direct medical costs were 1 124 052.31 ARS (227 081.27 USD); indirect costs and out-of-pocket expenses were 46 611 ARS (9416.6 USD). From this data, it is possible to conclude that the total average cost per patient was 10 546.52 ARS (95% CI: 9009-13 840) (2130.60 USD, 95% CI: 1820-2795), the direct medical cost per patient was 10 126.6 ARS (95% CI: 8607-13 171) (2045.77 USD, 95% CI: 1738-2660), and the indirect plus out-of-pocket costs (transportation and extras) were 419.92 ARS (95% CI: 344.7-565.3) (84 USD, 95% CI: 69-115). Conclusion. The cost of a hospitalized child with confirmed BP is 10 546.52 ARS (95% CI: 9009-13 840) (2130.60 USD, 95% CI: 1820-2795). Direct non-medical costs and overhead costs account for 4% of the total cost, amounting to 419.91 ARS per family (84 USD, 95% CI: 69-115), approximately an 8% of an average salary. © 2013 Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría

Single-Dose Universal Hepatitis A Immunization in Argentina: Low Viral Circulation and High Persistence of Protective Antibodies Up to 4 Years

Fil: Vizzotti, Carla. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: González, Joaquín V. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Rearte, Analía. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Urueña, Analía. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Pérez Carrega, María Eugenia. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Calli, R. Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Tucumán, Programa Ampliado de Inmunizaciones; Argentina.Fil: Gentile, Angela. Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Uboldi, Andrea. Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Santa Fe, Programa Ampliado de Inmunizaciones; Argentina.Fil: Ramonet, Margarita. Hospital Nacional Profesor Dr. Alejandro Posadas, Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Cañero-Velasco, M. Hospital de Niños de San Justo, Provincia de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Diosque, Máximo. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina.Single-dose hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccination was implemented in all Argentinean children aged 12 months in 2005. Between 2005 and 2011, a dramatic decline was observed in HAV infection rates, fulminant hepatitis, and liver transplantation. This study assessed current viral circulation and estimated protective antibody persistence 4 years after vaccination

Impact of different exposure models and spatial resolution on the long-term effects of air pollution.

Abstract Long-term exposure to air pollution has been related to mortality in several epidemiological studies. The investigations have assessed exposure using various methods achieving different accuracy in predicting air pollutants concentrations. The comparison of the health effects estimates are therefore challenging. This paper aims to compare the effect estimates of the long-term effects of air pollutants (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm, PM10, and nitrogen dioxide, NO2) on cause-specific mortality in the Rome Longitudinal Study, using exposure estimates obtained with different models and spatial resolutions. Annual averages of NO2 and PM10 were estimated for the year 2015 in a large portion of the Rome urban area (12 × 12 km2) applying three modelling techniques available at increasing spatial resolution: 1) a chemical transport model (CTM) at 1km resolution; 2) a land-use random forest (LURF) approach at 200m resolution; 3) a micro-scale Lagrangian particle dispersion model (PMSS) taking into account the effect of buildings structure at 4 m resolution with results post processed at different buffer sizes (12, 24, 52, 100 and 200 m). All the exposures were assigned at the residential addresses of 482,259 citizens of Rome 30+ years of age who were enrolled on 2001 and followed-up till 2015. The association between annual exposures and natural-cause, cardiovascular (CVD) and respiratory (RESP) mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for individual and area-level confounders. We found different distributions of both NO2 and PM10 concentrations, across models and spatial resolutions. Natural cause and CVD mortality outcomes were all positively associated with NO2 and PM10 regardless of the model and spatial resolution when using a relative scale of the exposure such as the interquartile range (IQR): adjusted Hazard Ratios (HR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI), of natural cause mortality, per IQR increments in the two pollutants, ranged between 1.012 (1.004, 1.021) and 1.018 (1.007, 1.028) for the different NO2 estimates, and between 1.010 (1.000, 1.020) and 1.020 (1.008, 1.031) for PM10, with a tendency of larger effect for lower resolution exposures. The latter was even stronger when a fixed value of 10 μg/m3 is used to calculate HRs. Long-term effects of air pollution on mortality in Rome were consistent across different models for exposure assessment, and different spatial resolutions

Dataset on a Small-Scale Film-Coating Process Developed for Self-Expanding 4D Printed Drug Delivery Devices

Film-coating is widely applied in pharmaceutics to enhance aspect/taste and mechanical properties of dosage forms, to protect them from the environment and to modify their release performance. In this respect, a film-coating process was recently involved in the development of 4D printed prolonged-release systems intended for organ retention. During coating processes, liquid formulations are sprayed onto moving cores, whose shape, weight and surface characteristics are essential to attain a homogeneous film. Devices of complex shapes, composed of smart materials and fabricated by hot-processing techniques, such as extrusion and fused deposition modeling 3D printing, might be poorly compatible with the requirements of traditional coating methods, e.g., need for spherical substrates with smooth surface and stable under process temperatures. This work was aimed at evaluating, at a small scale level, the feasibility of a versatile equipment for film-coating of rod-shaped extruded and printed prototypes with different section. Equipment design and set up of process parameters were performed starting from polymeric solutions and suspensions and selecting as cores 50 mm-long rod-shaped samples based on shape memory poly(vinyl alcohol). Integrity and thickness of the applied layer and its impact on shape memory and release performance of prototypes were investigated