Haltungshygiene und Eutergesundheit im ökologisch geführten Milchviehbetrieb

Im Rahmen einer interdisziplinären Studie wurden in der der Zeit von Januar 2008 bis April 2010 Daten auf 106 Betreiben in Deutschland erhoben. In diesem Teilprojekt wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen Hygeine und Eutergesundheit oim Rahmen einer ersten Asuwertung untersucht. Die Analyse macht deutlich, dass es einen Zusammenhang zwischen Halltungs- une Tierhygiene gibt. zudem gibt es einen Zusammenhang zwischen der Sauberkeit der Laufgänge und der subklinsichen Eutergesundheit sowie der Sauberkeit der Etuer und der Eutergesundheit der Färsen

Spine deviations and orthodontic treatment of asymmetric malocclusions in children

Background: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to assess the effect of early orthodontic treatment for unilateral posterior cross bite in the late deciduous and early mixed dentition using orthopedic parameters. Methods: Early orthodontic treatment was performed by initial maxillary expansion and subsequent activator therapy (Münster treatment concept). The patient sample was initially comprised of 80 patients with unilateral posterior cross bite (mean age 7.3 years, SD 2.1 years). After randomization, 77 children attended the initial examination appointment (therapy = 37, control = 40); 31 children in the therapy group and 35 children in the control group were monitored at the follow-up examination (T2). The mean interval between T1 and T2 was 1.1 years (SD 0.2 years). Rasterstereography was used for back shape analysis at T1 and T2. Using the profile, the kyphotic and lordotic angle, the surface rotation, the lateral deviation, pelvic tilt and pelvic torsion, statistical differences at T1 and T2 between the therapy and control groups were calculated (t-test). Our working hypothesis was, that early orthodontic treatment can induce negative therapeutic changes in body posture through thoracic and lumbar position changes in preadolescents with uniltaral cross bite. Results: No clinically relevant differences between the control and the therapy groups at T1 and T2 were found for the parameters of kyphotic and lordotic angle, the surface rotation, lateral deviation, pelvic tilt, and pelvic torsion. Conclusions: Our working hypothesis was tested to be not correct (within the limitations of this study). This randomized clinical trial demonstrates that in a juvenile population with unilateral posterior cross bite the selected early orthodontic treatment protocol does not affect negatively the postural parameters

Erarbeitung betriebsindividueller Handlungsempfehlungen zur Verbesserung der Euter- und Stoffwechselgesundheit im Rahmen einer interdisziplinären Interventionsstudie

Kernziel des im Rahmen des Bundesprogramms Ökologischer Landbau initiierten Forschungsvorhabens „Gesundheit und Leistungsfähigkeit von Milchkühen im ökologischen Landbau interdisziplinär betrachtet“ (FKZ 07OE012 - 07OE022) ist - neben der Abschätzung des Risikos für Stoffwechselstörungen und Eutererkrankungen - die Entwicklung eines praxistauglichen, präventiv orientierten Tiergesundheitsmanagements für die Praxis der ökologischen Milchviehhaltung. Basierend auf einer Interventionsstudie auf 106 repräsentativ ausgewählten Milchviehbetrieben soll dieses Managementkonzept in einer zweijährigen Praxisphase validiert und auf seine Praxistauglichkeit überprüft werden. Als Grundlage für die Identifikation einzelbetrieblicher Interventionsmaßnahmen dienen zentrale Indikatoren der Euter- und Stoffwechselgesundheit, deren Abgleich mit im Vorfeld definierten Zielgrößen sowie Informationen zur Haltungsumwelt und zum Herdenmanagement. Das entwickelte Konzept soll eine einzelbetriebliche Einschätzung des Gesundheitsstatus der Milchviehherde bezüglich der Euter- und Stoffwechselgesundheit ermöglichen, auf deren Basis Handlungsempfehlungen zur nachhaltigen Verbesserung der Milchviehgesundheit abgeleitet werden können. Die Projektbetriebe setzten zwei Drittel der empfohlenen Maßnahmen um; eine abschließende Effektivitätskontrolle in Bezug auf die Verbesserung der Euter- und Stoffwechselgesundheit auf den Betrieben auf Basis der Daten des letzten Projektjahres steht noch aus

Methodological advances in imaging intravital axonal transport.

Axonal transport is the active process whereby neurons transport cargoes such as organelles and proteins anterogradely from the cell body to the axon terminal and retrogradely in the opposite direction. Bi-directional transport in axons is absolutely essential for the functioning and survival of neurons and appears to be negatively impacted by both aging and diseases of the nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The movement of individual cargoes along axons has been studied in vitro in live neurons and tissue explants for a number of years; however, it is currently unclear as to whether these systems faithfully and consistently replicate the in vivo situation. A number of intravital techniques originally developed for studying diverse biological events have recently been adapted to monitor axonal transport in real-time in a range of live organisms and are providing novel insight into this dynamic process. Here, we highlight these methodological advances in intravital imaging of axonal transport, outlining key strengths and limitations while discussing findings, possible improvements, and outstanding questions

Sagittal jaw position in relation to body posture in adult humans – a rasterstereographic study

BACKGROUND: The correlations between the sagittal jaw position and the cranio – cervical inclination are described in literature. Only few studies focus on the sagittal jaw position and the body posture using valid and objective orthopaedic examination methods. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with malocclusions reveal significant differences in body posture compared to those without (upper thoracic inclination, kyphotic angle, lordotic angle and lower lumbar inclination). METHODS: Eighty-four healthy adult patients (with a mean age = 25.6 years and ranging from 16.1 to 55.8 years) were examined with informed consent. The orthodontic examination horizontal overjet (distance between upper and lower incisors) was determined by using an orthodontic digital sliding calliper. The subjects were subdivided in respect of the overjet with the following results: 18 revealed a normal overjet (Class I), 38 had an increased overjet (Class II) and 28 had an reversed overjet (Class III). Rasterstereography was used to carry out a three – dimensional back shape analysis. This method is based on photogrammetry. A three-dimensional shape was produced by analysing the distortion of parallel horizontal white light lines projected on the patient's back, followed by mathematical modelling. On the basis of the sagittal profile the upper thoracic inclination, the thoracic angle, the lordotic angle and the pelvic inclination were determined with a reported accuracy of 2.8° and the correlations to the sagittal jaw position were calculated by means of ANOVA, Scheffé and Kruskal-Wallis procedures. RESULTS: Between the different overjet groups, no statistically significant differences or correlations regarding the analysed back shape parameters could be obtained. However, comparing males and females there were statistically significant differences in view of the parameters 'lordotic angle' and 'pelvic inclination'. CONCLUSION: No correlations between overjet and variables of the thoracic, lordotic or the pelvic inclination could be observed

Gesundheit und Leistungsfähigkeit von Milchkühen im ökologischen Landbau interdisziplinär betrachtet – eine (Interventions-) Studie zu Stoffwechselstörungen und Eutererkrankungen unter Berücksichtigung von Grundfuttererzeugung, Fütterungsmanagement und Tierhaltung

Im Mittelpunkt des Projektes stand die Stoffwechsel- und Eutergesundheit von ökologisch gehaltenen Milchkühen im prä- und peripartalen Zeitraum sowie in den ersten 100 Laktationstagen und deren Beeinflussung durch die Futter- und Nährstoffversorgung und die Haltungsumwelt im umfassenden Sinn. In einer bundesweiten Feldstudie auf 106 ökologisch wirtschaftenden Milchviehbetrieben erfolgten Erhebungen mit dem Ziel einer Risikomodellierung zu Stoffwechsel- und Eutererkrankungen. Vor diesem Hintergrund wurden die Produktionssysteme von der Pflanzenzusammensetzung im Grünland und im Ackerfutter über die Grobfutterproduktion, Futterqualität und Rationsgestaltung, Haltungsumwelt bis hin zur Tiergesundheit und Milchqualität analysiert, um hier einzelbetriebliche Risikoeinschätzungen vorzunehmen, Optimierungspotenziale aufzuzeigen und Handlungsempfehlungen abzuleiten, die anschließend betriebsindividuell implementiert wurden. Die Effektivität des so geschaffenen präventiv orientierten Tiergesundheitsmanagements wurde anhand der Entwicklung ausgewählter Kennzahlen der Euter- und Stoffwechselgesundheit geprüft. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich mit dieser Vorgehensweise auch unter Praxisbedingungen die Tiergesundheitssituation signifikant verbes-sern lässt. Die Feldstudie wurde mit experimentellen Untersuchungen ergänzt, die sich speziellen Fragen der Analyse von nXP in Grasprodukten, des Kraftfuttereinsatzes, der Wahl der geeigneten Rasse, dem Infektionsgeschehen, der Nutzung von Haltungstechniken im Fütterungsmanagement und der Verbesserung der Grasnarbe widmeten. Die im Projekt generierten, aufgrund ihrer Ableitung aus der Praxis widerspruchsarmen Erkenntnisse wurden über vielfältige Formen des Wissenstransfers an die Akteure in der Ökologischen Milchviehhaltung vermittelt. Ein Merkblatt zur Euter- und Stoffwechselgesundheit bei Biomilchkühen und ein modular aufgebautes Wissenstransferkonzept wurden erarbeitet, um die Projektergebnisse nachhaltig nutzen zu können

DISC1 genetics, biology and psychiatric illness

Psychiatric disorders are highly heritable, and in many individuals likely arise from the combined effects of genes and the environment. A substantial body of evidence points towards DISC1 being one of the genes that influence risk of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, and functional studies of DISC1 consequently have the potential to reveal much about the pathways that lead to major mental illness. Here, we review the evidence that DISC1 influences disease risk through effects upon multiple critical pathways in the developing and adult brain

A Randomized Trial of Vaginal Antiseptic Preparation Solutions to Reduce Bacteria Colony Counts in Patients Undergoing Vaginal Surgery

Antiseptic preparation of surgical sites is known to reduce the rate of infective complications. However, surgical site infections (SSI) remain a leading cause of post-operative hospitalizations, increasing patient stress and cost for the healthcare system.1-7 In gynecologic surgery, preparation of the vagina is performed to reduce bacterial load prior to surgery, though it is known to remain contaminated.3 In the US, only solutions containing povidone-iodine (PI) are FDA approved for vaginal preparation; though, a 2018 ACOG Practice Bulletin lists chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) with low (\u3c4%) alcohol concentrations as a reasonable option for off-label use.3 Other preparations for vaginal surgery have been reported including baby shampoo (BS) and a commercially available preparation, containing PCMX (para-chloro-meta-xylenol, Techni-care®, chloroxylenol), that is marketed specifically for use with mucous membranes.8-12 There is a growing need to establish evidence-based alternatives to iodine for vaginal preparation for patients with allergies or sensitivity to iodine-containing products while minimizing postoperative irritation. One retrospective study comparing BS to PI in gynecologic surgeries showed a non-significant lower rate of surgical site infection with BS.9 One major challenge for determining effectiveness of surgical scrubs for reducing SSI is the relatively rare occurrence of postoperative infection. As an alternative proxy for infection colony counts of bacteria/fungi, before and after preparation, have been used.12,13 BS has been shown to reduce bacterial loads in non-gynecologic surgery, but there is limited data regarding its use in vaginal surgery, even though surgeons have been using BS in cases of iodine allergy or intolerance to other antiseptics.9-12CHG use in vaginal surgery has been debated due to concerns about vaginal irritation, however studies have demonstrated that alteration of the solution to 2-4% chlorhexidine with low (4%) alcohol concentration was associated with mild to no vaginal irritation. CHG showed similar reduction in post-incision bacterial counts and wound infections in cesarean delivery, and reduced colony counts during hysterectomy (when compared to PI).14-20 PCMX and CHG were shown to significantly reduce bacterial colonization of extracted root canals, and PCMX has been marketed specifically for vaginal antiseptic preparation.21 While some information on the effectiveness of these four antiseptic preparations has been documented in the literature, at this time there are no randomized controlled trials comparing these solutions in the context of vaginal surgery. Further evaluation and research of antiseptic solutions is warranted to provide evidence for best practices in minimizing infection and irritation. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three antiseptic solutions with the standard, PI, for reducing bacterial colonies as a proxy for SSI, and to assess postoperative irritation and infection symptoms

Comparison of Four Vaginal Antiseptic Preparation to Reduce Bacteria Colony Counts in Patients Undergoing Vaginal Surgery: A Randomized Trial

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSI) remain a prominent complication of gynecologic procedures. The only FDA approved compound for preoperative vaginal preparation is povidone-iodine. Direct comparison of commonly used agents is needed to inform appropriate standards of care. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of 10% povidone-iodine (PI), 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), baby shampoo (BS), and 3% para-chloro-meta-xylenol (PCMX) preparations for reducing bacterial and fungal colony counts and minimizing postoperative irritation after vaginal surgery. Materials and Methods: This is a single-blind, RCT conducted between 2018 and 2023 in patients 18 years or older who were undergoing surgeries requiring vaginal preparation. Patients were assigned to one of four vaginal preparation solutions on the day of surgery. Bacterial/fungal colony counts were assessed by performing pre-scrub, post-scrub, and postprocedural vaginal swabs using a standardized procedure. The primary outcome was the percentage of cases with positive cultures (bacterial count ≥ 5000 CFU/mL) for each preparation. Secondary outcomes were vaginal irritation rating by patients up to 4 weeks post-procedure and signs of infection noted by physicians. Results: Thirty-one patients completed the study. Groups were similar for percent of positive cultures at pre-scrub (PI=100%, BS=75%, CHG=100%, PCMX=83%). Baby Shampoo had higher percent of anaerobic positive cultures compared to PI at post-scrub (PI=11% vs BS=63%; p=.05), while CHG and PCMX were not different from iodine (PI=11%, CHG=50%, PCMX=0%). Groups did not differ at post-procedure (PI=20%, BS=50%, CHG=13%, PCMX=0%). There were no differences for vaginal irritation or infection scores at two days, two weeks, or one month post-procedure. Conclusions: Only BS was higher for positive cultures at the post-swab collection, although this finding should be interpreted with caution due to our small sample size. This study lends some support for the use of CHG and PCMX for the preparation of the vagina and perineum, showing reduction in colony counts and low rates of irritation and signs of infection. Further research is needed with larger sample sizes to support these findings and to determine absolute risks of vaginal cuff cellulitis and other postoperative infection complications