Interaction of alcohol intake and cofactors on the risk of cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the interaction between alcohol intake and cofactors [hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), body mass index] and coffee consumption on the risk of cirrhosis. DESIGN: Seven hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients with chronic liver disease referring to units for liver or alcohol diseases in Italy during a 6-months period. Teetotalers were excluded. The odds ratios (OR) for cirrhosis were evaluated using chronic hepatitis cases as the control group. RESULTS: An alcohol intake of more than 3 units/day resulted associated with the likelihood of cirrhosis both in males (OR 4.3; 95% CI=2.5-7.3) and in females (OR 5.7; 95% CI=2.3-14.5). A multiplicative interaction on the risk of cirrhosis between risky alcohol intake and HBsAg or HCV-Ab/HCV-RNA positivity was observed. A reduction of cirrhosis risk was observed in subjects consuming more than 3 alcohol units/day with increasing coffee intake. The OR for the association with cirrhosis decreased from 2.3 (95% CI=1.2-4.4) in subjects drinking 0-2 cups of coffee/day to 1.4 (95% CI=0.6-3.6) in those drinking more than 2 cups/day. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with an alcohol intake >3 units/day the coexistence of HBV or HCV multiplies the risk of cirrhosis. Coffee represents a modulator of alcoholic cirrhosis risk

Beyond appearance: An unusual manifestation of isolated oral secondary syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually acquired chronic infection caused by Treponema pallidum and is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations. The secondary stage of the disease results from the hematogenous and lymphatic dissemination of treponemes after a few weeks or months, and it is characterized by recurrent activity of the disease, with muco-cutaneous as well as systemic manifestations. Mucosal lesions range from small, superficial ulcers that resemble painless aphthae to large gray plaques, and they are generally associated with systemic manifestations of the disease. The exclusive asymptomatic oral localization not associated with general manifestations is uncommon but may actually be unrecognized and under-reported. We report a case of isolated oral manifestation as the unique presentation of secondary syphilis

How stressful is maternity? Study about cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate coat and claws concentrations in female dogs from mating to 60 days post-partum

In dogs, the phase from mating to the end of weaning lasts about 120 days and encompasses many aspects that, interacting, contribute to increase the allostatic load. The coat and claws, useful for long-term change assessments, have the advantage of being collectable without invasiveness. In the present study, the Cortisol (C) and Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) concentration monthly changes in the coat and claws were studied in female dogs from mating to the end of weaning to assess Hypothalamic\u2013Pituitary\u2013Adrenal (HPA) axis activation during pregnancy and the post-partum period. The results from 15 Dobermann Pinscher female dogs showed a trend of increase of the coat C from mating to 60 days post-partum, with significant changes between mating and parturition-60 days post-partum (p < 0.01) and between the 30-day pregnancy diagnosis (PD) and 30\u201360 days post-partum (p < 0.05). The claws C trend showed significant increases between mating and 30\u201360 days post-partum (p < 0.05) and between the PD and 60 days post-partum (p < 0.01). DHEA-S in both matrices showed non-significant changes. The results suggest that maternity could play a pivotal role in the HPA axis activation, with a subsequent chronic secretion of C determining an increase in the allostatic load in the mothers. Neither maternal parity nor litter size played a significant role in the accumulation of C and DHEA-S in both matrices

How Stressful Is Maternity? Study about Cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone‐Sulfate Coat and Claws Concentrations in Female Dogs from Mating to 60 Days Post‐Partum

In dogs, the phase from mating to the end of weaning lasts about 120 days and encompasses many aspects that, interacting, contribute to increase the allostatic load. The coat and claws, useful for long‐term change assessments, have the advantage of being collectable without invasiveness. In the present study, the Cortisol (C) and Dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulfate (DHEA‐S) concentration monthly changes in the coat and claws were studied in female dogs from mating to the end of weaning to assess Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis activation during pregnancy and the post‐partum period. The results from 15 Dobermann Pinscher female dogs showed a trend of increase of the coat C from mating to 60 days post‐partum, with significant changes between mating and parturition‐60 days post‐partum (p &lt; 0.01) and between the 30‐day pregnancy diagnosis (PD) and 30–60 days post‐partum (p &lt; 0.05). The claws C trend showed significant increases between mating and 30–60 days post‐partum (p &lt; 0.05) and between the PD and 60 days post‐partum (p &lt; 0.01). DHEA‐S in both matrices showed non‐significant changes. The results suggest that maternity could play a pivotal role in the HPA axis activation, with a subsequent chronic secretion of C determining an increase in the allostatic load in the mothers. Neither maternal parity nor litter size played a significant role in the accumulation of C and DHEA‐S in both matrices

Postnatal and postweaning endocrine setting in dairy calves through hair cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate

Importance of the work: The care of calves on dairy farms between birth and weaning can improve their long-term development and growth. In fact, a poor newborn health status and a high allostatic load may adversely affect development in dairy cows. To determine cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) individually is useful for an understanding of the individual state, being biomarkers of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Objectives: As a preliminary study, to investigate the hair concentrations of cortisol, DHEA, DHEA-S and their ratios in dairy calves in two key periods of their growth characterized by considerable environmental changes. Materials & Methods: Hair sampling was conducted on clinically healthy dairy calves during the postnatal period at age 64.8±0.65 d (POP; mean±standard error; n = 73) and during the postweaning period at age 155.3±0.85 d (PWP, n = 62). The hair hormone concentrations were measured using a radioimmunoassay. Results: Hair cortisol concentrations were higher in the POP than in the PWP. Furthermore, the cortisol:DHEA and cortisol:DHEA-S ratios were higher in the first period of evaluation, showing a higher animal allostatic load at birth. Main finding: Identification was achieved non-invasively of calves with a high allostatic load through biomarkers of HPA axis activity. The evaluation of this activity is very important given its influence on many biological processes, such as energy balance, development of the reproductive system and immune response

Estimating performances of dairy buffaloes in a new model of automated milking system

Background: In recent years automatic milking systems (AMS) have emerged as a technology that can improve traditional milking routine. AMS offer several benefits, such as regular milking routine, health of the mammary glands and labour efficiency, higher milk yield (MY), and quality. In contrast with dairy cows, the application of AMS in dairy buffalo herds remains underexplored. This study aimed to extend the current knowledge regarding AMS and evaluate for the first time the efficiency of new AMS models in buffalo species on a wide dataset, by focusing on MY and quality. Two sources of data were analysed: data collected at each milking by the AMS software for a duration of 22 months, and monthly milk yields and quality traits. The statistical analysis was performed through the R software. A mixed model for repeated measures was adopted, using days in milk (DIM) and parity as fixed factors and the visit/day of sampling as repeated measure. A linear regression model was also used to study the relationship between the number of milking per buffalo per day (as independent variable), lactation persistency, DIM, parity, somatic cell score (SCS), and MY (as dependent variables). Results: The effects of parity, DIM and their interaction were significant for all milk quality traits (monthly recordings), except for their interaction on somatic cell count (SCC) and SCS. An average of 2.35 milkings/buffalo was recorded, with a mean milking duration of 7.36 min. The average MY was 9.15 kg/day, with 7.97% and 4.81% fat and protein content, respectively and the lactation peak occurred at 38.17 ± 1.31 DIM. The difference between multiparous and primiparous was clear in terms of both MY and energy-corrected milk (ECM). Also, parity and DIM significantly influenced both average milk flow rate (1.49 kg/min on average) and peak milk flow rate (2.68 kg/min on average): these showed a comparable trend describing higher values during the first days in milk followed by a decrease throughout the lactation, along with a decreased milk production. Conclusions: The present study was the first to investigate new model of AMS in buffalo species in a large dataset providing insight into the new model of AMS as an effective milking system for buffalo species. Still, further research is encouraged to confirm these findings, as well as to compare the performances of different automatic milking systems, possibly under different management practices and environmental conditions

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Effect of a single administration of FSH delivered in hyaluronic acid on oocyte competence and hormonal concentrations in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes undergoing ovarian stimulation prior to ovum pick-up

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a single intramuscular administration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) dissolved in 1 % hyaluronic acid (HA) for ovarian stimulation in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes (IMB) undergoing ovum pick-up (OPU). The aim was to simplify hormonal protocols, reduce handling stress, and improve oocyte competence. In Experiment 1, multiparous IMB (n = 24) were enrolled in a crossover design comparing the standard six-dose FSH protocol (FSH-6) with a single FSH-HA injection. Transrectal ultrasonography was used to record the number and the size of follicles, in vitro embryo production to assess oocyte developmental competence, and an in-house radioimmunoassay (RIA) method to measure plasma cortisol levels. In Experiment 2, plasma FSH profile during follicular growth was evaluated in IMB (n = 12) subjected to FSH-HA, FSH-6, or no stimulation (control) protocols. The FSH-HA treatment resulted in a higher (P < 0.05) proportion of medium-sized follicles compared to FSH-6 (3.4 ± 2.7 and 2.0 ± 2.3, respectively) as well as a significantly greater number of cleaved oocytes (3.3 ± 0.4 and 2.4 ± 0.4 respectively), although the total embryo yield remained similar (30.1 ± 7.2 and 29. 2 ± 4.5, respectively). Cortisol concentrations increased after OPU in all groups, but the FSH-HA group showed a trend (P < 0.10) toward lower stress levels compared to FSH-6. In Experiment 2, FSH-HA maintained higher plasma FSH concentrations for a longer period, with peak values observed between 30 and 72 h post-administration, suggesting the importance of optimizing the timing of OPU in HA-based protocols

DNA-dependent Protein Kinase Activity Is Not Required for Immunoglobulin Class Switching

Class switch recombination (CSR), similar to V(D)J recombination, is thought to involve DNA double strand breaks and repair by the nonhomologous end–joining pathway. A key component of this pathway is DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), consisting of a catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and a DNA-binding heterodimer (Ku70/80). To test whether DNA-PKcs activity is essential for CSR, we examined whether IgM+ B cells from scid mice with site-directed H and L chain transgenes were able to undergo CSR. Although B cells from these mice were shown to lack DNA-PKcs activity, they were able to switch from IgM to IgG or IgA with close to the same efficiency as B cells from control transgenic and nontransgenic scid/+ mice, heterozygous for the scid mutation. We conclude that CSR, unlike V(D)J recombination, can readily occur in the absence of DNA-PKcs activity. We suggest nonhomologous end joining may not be the (primary or only) mechanism used to repair DNA breaks during CSR

Friedman tongue position and the anthropometric parameters in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea: an observational study

Introduction: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a relevant public health problem; dentists can play an important role in screening patients with sleep disorders by using validated tools and referring patients to a specialist, thereby promoting an interdisciplinary approach. The aim of the study is to identify if the OSAS severity, measured by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and some anthropometric measurements are associated with the Friedman Tongue Position (FTP) within a population with dysmetabolic comorbidities. Materials and methods: A questionnaire containing information about clinical data including height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), neck circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference and FTP was administered. The AHI value was measured by means of an unattended home polysomnography device. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated, and Kruskal-Wallis, Kolmogorov-Smirnov (both nonparametric) and independence tests were performed to probe the possible relationships. The significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 357 subjects were analyzed. The association between the FTP and AHI was not statistically significant. On the contrary, the AHI showed a positive correlation with BMI and neck circumference. A statistically significant association between the number of subjects with a larger neck and an increasing FTP class was found. BMI, neck, hip and waist circumference was associated with the FTP scale. Conclusions: although the FTP was not directly associated with OSAS severity, there was also evidence that an FTP increase is associated with an increase in the considered anthropometric parameters, and FTP can be a clinical tool used in the assessment of risk for OSAS risk factors