RESUMO A cetose pode trazer sérios prejuízos ao desempenho da vaca. Este estudo detectou alterações nos parâmetros metabólicos do sangue pré-parto para prever a cetose pós-parto que ocorre em vacas leiteiras. O escore de condição corporal (ECC) foi avaliado antes e após o parto. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 63 vacas entre 10 dias antes e 10 dias após o parto para medir os parâmetros metabólicos, incluindo ácido β-hidroxibutírico (BHBA), ácido graxo não esterificado (NEFA), glicose (GLU), bilirrubina total (TBIL), bilirrubina direta (DBIL), bilirrubina indireta (IBIL), proteína total (TP), albumina (ALB), globulina (GLO), alanina aminotransferase (ALT) e aspartato aminotransferase (AST). Houve uma incidência de cetose subclínica pós-parto de 42,25%. Em comparação com o pré-parto, o plasma, os níveis de BHBA, AST e NEFA aumentaram significativamente no pós-parto, e AST no pré-parto (R = 0,57) e NEFA (R = 0,45) mostraram uma correlação significativa positiva com cetose pós-parto. O nível plasmático de GLU diminuiu significativamente no pós-parto e foi negativamente correlacionado com a cetose de forma significativa (R = -0,21). A análise da curva característica de operação do receptor revelou BSC pré-parto <2,88 e AST plasmático pré-parto> 68,0 U / L, GLU <3,97mmol / L, NEFA> 0,27mmol / L e BHBA> 0,43mmol / L, indicando um alto risco de cetose subclínica pós-parto. Esses níveis podem ser usados como indicadores de risco para prever a ocorrência de cetose subclínica em vacas no pós-parto.

ABSTRACT Ketosis can seriously impair cow performance. This study detected changes in prepartum blood metabolic parameters for predicting postpartum ketosis occurrence in dairy cows. Body condition score (BCS) was assessed before and after delivery. Blood samples of 63 cows were collected from 10 days before calving to 10 days after calving to measure metabolic parameters including β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), glucose (GLU), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), indirect bilirubin (IBIL), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLO), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). There was a postpartum subclinical ketosis incidence of 42.25%. Compared with prepartum, plasma, levels of BHBA, AST, and NEFA significantly increased postpartum, and prepartum AST (R=0.57) and NEFA (R=0.45) showed a significant positive correlation with ketosis postpartum. Plasma GLU level significantly decreased postpartum and was significantly negatively correlated with ketosis (R=-0.21). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed prepartum BSC < 2.88, and prepartum plasma AST > 68.0 U/L, GLU < 3.97mmol/L, NEFA > 0.27mmol/L, and BHBA > 0.43mmol/L, indicating a high risk of subclinical ketosis postpartum. These levels can be used as risk indicators to predict the occurrence of subclinical ketosis in postpartum cows.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyse the incidence of long and short corrected QT (QTc) in a healthy sample of the population of Changsha in China. Methods: Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were performed on 4025 subjects in Changsha of China, whose age ranged from 6 minutes after birth to 83 years, between January 1993 and December 2012. Heart rate and QT interval were measured and recorded. Corrected QT was calculated with Bazett´s formula (QTc = QT/RR0.5). All recruited individuals had taken healthy examination, ruling out general health issue, in The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 16.0 software (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The incidence of short QTc was 7.13% (287/4025 cases). The peak values of the incidence were in the 30–40 years group (15.71%). The low values were in the 1–3 months group and 3–6 months group (0%, 0.76%), respectively. The incidence of long QTc was 3.16% (127/4025 cases). The values diminished significantly after adulthood. The low values were in the age groups of 18–30 years (0.86%) and 30–40 years (0.71%), respectively. After the age of 50 years, the incidence of long QTc increased with age 50–60 years and 60–70 years and 70–83 years (7.89%, 9.06%, 14.06%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the genders (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The peak incidences of long and short QTc existed in two separate age groups in the healthy sample. The peak incidence of short QTc was in the age group of 18–40 years, and the peak incidence of long QTc was in the age group beyond the 50 years. For these two age groups, it was recommended to pay close attention to the changes in their QTc in order to prevent cardiovascular events.

ABSTRACT Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common orthostatic blood pressure (BP) regulation disorder. Orthostatic hypertension (OHT), on the other hand, is not so common but has relevancy with autonomic neuropathy and diabetes. Orthostatic hypotension is prevalent in females and elderly person. But prevalence of OHT in age and gender is poorly studied. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Data collection was from January 2000 to August 2012. Inclusion criteria were patients referred for syncope of unknown origin, headache, dizziness, chest tightness or sighing. Comparisons were made between males and females, and those < 12 year and those ≥ 12 years of age. First outcomes included OHT frequency. Secondary outcomes included age and gender differences in head-up tilt test (HUTT) results and its reaction type, the increment of systolic pressure and diastolic pressure at three minutes of HUTT. Results: Out of a total of 2089 children, OHT was noted in 498 cases. Orthostatic hypertension frequency was higher in males (25.93% vs 21.63%, p < 0.05) and those ≥ 12 years of age (20.48% vs 28.05%, p < 0.05). In OHT children, HUTT positive rate was higher in females (48.6% vs 38.1%, p < 0.05) and those ≥ 12 years of age (51.5% vs 33.2%, p < 0.01). No significant age and gender differences were noted in systolic and diastolic BP in OHT children within three minutes during HUTT. Conclusions: Orthostatic hypotension in children was more often seen in males and in those aged ≥ 12.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: La hipotensión ortostática (HO) es un trastorno de la regulación ortostática común de la presión arterial (PA). Por otro lado, la hipertensión ortostática (HTO) no es tan común, pero tiene importancia en relación con la neuropatía y la diabetes autonómicas. La hipotensión ortostática es frecuente en mujeres y personas mayores. Pero la prevalencia de HTO con respecto a edad y género no ha sido muy estudiada. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de corte transversal. La recogida de datos se realizó de enero de 2000 hasta agosto de 2012. Los criterios de inclusión fueron los pacientes remitidos por síncope de origen desconocido, dolor de cabeza, mareos, opresión en el pecho o suspiros. Se realizaron comparaciones entre varones y hembras, y aquellos de < 12 y ≥ 12 años de edad. Los primeros resultados incluyeron la frecuencia de HTO. Los resultados secundarios incluyeron diferencias de edad y de género en los resultados de la prueba de inclinación (PI) y sus tipos de reacción, el incremento de la presión sistólica y la presión diastólica a los tres minutos de PI. Resultados: De un total de 2089 niños, se observó HTO en 498 casos. La frecuencia de hipertensión ortostática fue mayor en los varones (25.93% vs 21.63%, p < 0.05) y aquellos con ≥ 12 años de edad (20.48% vs 28.05%, p < 0.05). En niños con HTO, la tasa de PI positivos fue mayor en las hembras (48.6% vs 38.1%, p < 0.05) y en aquellos con ≥ 12 años de edad (51.5% vs 33.2%, p < 0.01). No se observó ningún tipo de depresión cardíaca. El tipo mixto fue visto más a menudo en hembras (25.2% vs 13.2%, p < 0.05). No se observó ninguna diferencia significativa de edad y género en la PA sistólica y diastólica en niños con HTO en el plazo de tres minutos durante la PI. Conclusiones: La hipotensión ortostática en niños fue vista más a menudo en varones y en aquellos de edad ≥ 12.

Administration or expression of growth factors, as well as implantation of autologous bone marrow cells, promote in vivo angiogenesis. This study investigated the angiogenic potential of combining both approaches through the allogenic transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) expressing human basic fibroblast growth factor (hbFGF). After establishing a hind limb ischemia model in Sprague Dawley rats, the animals were randomly divided into four treatment groups: MSCs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP-MSC), MSCs expressing hbFGF (hbFGF-MSC), MSC controls, and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) controls. After 2 weeks, MSC survival and differentiation, hbFGF and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and microvessel density of ischemic muscles were determined. Stable hbFGF expression was observed in the hbFGF-MSC group after 2 weeks. More hbFGF-MSCs than GFP-MSCs survived and differentiated into vascular endothelial cells (P<0.001); however, their differentiation rates were similar. Moreover, allogenic transplantation of hbFGF-MSCs increased VEGF expression (P=0.008) and microvessel density (P<0.001). Transplantation of hbFGF-expressing MSCs promoted angiogenesis in an in vivo hind limb ischemia model by increasing the survival of transplanted cells that subsequently differentiated into vascular endothelial cells. This study showed the therapeutic potential of combining cell-based therapy with gene therapy to treat ischemic disease.

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that proper diet dilution ratio at early age might improve feed conversion ratio (FCR) and reduce body fat deposition of meat-type ducks. One hundred and fifty 1-day-old male and female White Pekin ducks (44.5±1.0 g) were randomly assigned into three treatments with five replicates (pens) of 10 birds each, respectively representing the experimental diets with 0 (control), 40 or 60% rice hulls inclusion in the basal diet between 8 and 14 d of age. The basal diet was fed before and after this period. The results showed that diluting the diet with 40% rice hulls increased (p < 0.05) feed intake, decreased adjusted (excluding rice hulls) feed:gain and body weight gain of ducks during the diet-dilution period; ducks fed the diet with 40% rice hulls had better growth rate (p < 0.05) during the recovery period (15 to 42 d of age) and lower adjusted feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05) during the entire experimental period (1 to 42 d of age) than the control birds, but the same body weight (p > 0.05) as the controls at 42 d of age. The diet diluted with 60% rice hulls resulted in lower (p < 0.05) body weight at market age than the other treatments. The diet with 40% rice hulls reduced (p < 0.05) skin with fat and abdominal fat pad, crude fat content in the carcass and in breast meat, and increased (p < 0.05) carcass crude protein at 42 d of age. These changes may be explained by the lower (p < 0.05) activities of hepatic malic dehydrogenase (MDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) enzymes both at 14 and 42 d of age in birds fed the diluted diets relative to the control birds. The results of this study indicate that feeding diets diluted with 40% rice hulls to Pekin ducks between 8 to 14 d of age may induce compensatory growth during the following recovery period, and may be used to improve FCR and to reduce body fat deposition at market age.

Purpose: To report the immediate changes of intraocular (IOP) pressure after an intravitreal injection of 2.5mg (0.1ml) of bevacizumab. Methods: Prospective, non-controlled, interventional case series of 45 patients undergoing intravitreal injection of 2.5mg (0.1mL) of bevacizumab for a variety of retinal disorders. IOP was measured with a Goldmann tonometer at baseline, immediately after, 30minutes and one day after injection in all of the cases. The main outcome measured was the IOP immediately after injection. Results: At baseline the mean IOP was 16.6±2.8mm Hg (range, 10-24mm Hg; median, 16mm Hg; 25th percentile, 14mm Hg and 75th percentile, 18mm Hg). IOP rose to 53.9±18.2mm Hg (range, 16-78mm Hg, median, 54mm Hg; 25th percentile, 40mm Hg and 75th percentile, 70mm Hg; p<0.001) immediately after the injection. After 30minutes, the IOP normalized but was still higher than baseline with a mean of 19.8±5.2mm Hg (range, 10-36mm Hg; median,18mm Hg; 25th percentile,16mm Hg and 75th percentile, 24mm Hg; P<.01). At 24hours the IOP was 15.7±3.1mm Hg (range,10-24mm Hg; median, 16mm Hg; 25th percentile,14mm Hg and 75th percentile,18mm Hg; p>0.05). Conclusions: An intravitreal injection of 2.5mg (0.1ml) of bevacizumab causes a transient elevation of IOP that tends to return to normal 30 minutes later.

Objetivo: Comunicar los cambios inmediatos en la presión intraocular (PIO) después de una inyección intravítrea de 2,5mg de bevacizumab. Métodos: Serie prospectiva, sin controles de 45 pacientes con una variedad de enfermedades retinianas que se sometieron a una inyección intravítrea de 2,5mg (0,1ml) de bevacizumab. A todos los pacientes se les midió la presión intraocular con el tonómetro de Goldmann previo a la inyección, inmediatamente después, 30 minutos después y un día después de la inyección. El resultado principal fue la PIO inmediatamente después de la inyección. Resultados: La PIO basal fue de 16,6±2,8mm Hg (rango, 10-24mm Hg; mediana, 16mm Hg; primer cuartil, 14mm Hg y tercer cuartil, 18mm Hg)., La PIO subió hasta 53,9±18,2mm Hg (rango, 16-78mm Hg; mediana, 54mm Hg; primer cuartil, 40mm Hg y tercer cuartil, 70mm Hg; p<0,001) inmediatamente después de la inyección. Después de 30 minutos, la PIO se normalizó pero se mantenía aún elevada con una media de 19,8±5,2mm Hg (rango, 10-36mm Hg; mediana,18mm Hg; primer cuartil,16mm Hg y tercer cuartil, 24mm Hg; p<0,01) en comparación a la PIO. A las 24 horas la PIO bajó a 15,7±3,1mm Hg (rango, 10-24mm Hg, mediana, 16mm Hg; primer cuartil,14mm Hg y tercer cuartil,18mm Hg; p>0,05). Conclusión: Una inyección intravítrea de 2,5mg (0,1ml) de bevacizumab causa una elevación transitoria de la PIO que tiende a normalizarse 30 minutos más tarde.

Lutein supplements are often used to pigment and enrich layer chicken eggs. This experiment was conduced to compare the bioavailability of free and esterified lutein, by depletion method. Forty chickens were randomly divided into two groups. After 2 weeks of washout period, when all birds were fed the same low lutein basal diet, the two groups were fed for another 2 weeks with diets supplemented with free lutein or esterified lutein. Two experimental diets were supplemented with the same amount of 15 mg lutein/kg. On day 0 (baseline) and days 3, 7, and 14, birds fasting morning plasma samples were collected and stored for lutein analysis by high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC). Results showed that: 1) Plasma lutein concentration increased dramatically after feeding free or esterified lutein; 2) Plasma lutein level in birds fed the diet supplemented with free lutein significantly differed from those fed esterified lutein on day 3. 3) There were no significant differences in plasma lutein levels between free lutein and esterified lutein on days 7 and 14. In conclusion, the lutein bioavailability from free lutein or esterified lutein supplements was comparable.

Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) is worldwide a major obstacle in the successful implementation of next-generation optical-fibre telecommunication networks. Countrywide PMD measurement results are presented which illustrate the extent of the PMD problem in the South African network. An analysis of these results highlights the urgent need for a suitable intervention strategy such as PMD compensation if the South African network is to operate extensively at 10 Gb/s and beyond. The effectiveness of a number of established PMD compensation techniques is demonstrated experimentally using PMD compensators which we built and tested. Furthermore, investigations into the stability of PMD in deployed fibre networks under local conditions illustrate how PMD gradually drifts in buried fibre, and rapidly fluctuates in aerial fibre. These results confirm that PMD compensation is extremely difficult in aerial fibre due to the need to track the rapid PMD fluctuations continuously in real-time. We also briefly discuss possible alternative strategies besides PMD compensation for dealing with the PMD problem in the South African network.

Marine yeast strains from different habitats were isolated and phytase-producing marine yeasts were screened. Of the 327 yeast strains isolated, 10 showed comparatively higher phytase activity. Physiological and biochemical characters of these 10 strains, and optimum pH and temperature of the crude phytases produced by them were examined. Partial sequences of the 18S rDNA were also analyzed. Based on the physiological and biochemical characters and phylogenetic analyses, the 10 strains were found to be closely related to Hanseniaspora uvarum (strain WZ1), Yarrowia lipolytica (strain W2B), Kodamaea ohmeri (strain BG3), Candida carpophila (strain N12C), Issatchenkia orientalis (strain YF04C), Candida tropicalis (strain MA6), Yarrowia lipolytica (strain YF08), Candida carpophila (strain NY4E), Candida tropicalis (strain YF12C), and Candida tropicalis (strain MB2). They were obtained from gut of unknown fish, gut of Holothuria scabra, gut of Hexagrammos otakii, gut of Hexagrammos otakii, gut of Synechogobius hasta, and seawater. It is interesting to note that some marine yeast strains could produce alkaline phytase. This is the first report of marine yeast strains capable of producing extracellular phytase or cell-bound phytase. The results also indicated that phytase-producing marine yeasts were diverse enough to be used in bioremediation of marine phosphorous pollution.

Se aislaron cepas de levaduras marinas de diferentes hábitats y se monitorearon las que mostraron ser productoras de fitasa. De las 327 cepas aisladas, 10 mostraron comparativamente mayor actividad fitasa. Se examinaron las características fisiológicas y bioquímicas de las levaduras productoras de fitasas, así como el pH y temperatura óptimos para su producción. También se analizaron secuencias parciales del gen 18S rARN. Con base en las características bioquímicas y fisiológicas y análisis filogenéticos, se encontró que las 10 cepas están estrechamente relacionadas con Hanseniaspora uvarum (cepa WZ1), Yarrowia lipolytica (cepa W2B), Kodamaea ohmeri (cepa BG3), Candida carpophila (cepa N12C), Issatchenkia orientalis (cepa YF04C), Candida tropicalis (cepa MA6), Yarrowia lipolytica (cepa YF08), Candida carpophila (cepa NY4E), Candida tropicalis (cepa YF12C), y Candidad tropicalis (cepa MB2). Estas cepas se obtuvieron de estómagos de peces no identificados, de vísceras de Holothuria scabra, de Hexagrammos otakii, de Hexagrammos otakii, de Synechogobius hasta, así como directamente de agua de mar. Es interesante resaltar que algunas levaduras marinas pueden producir fitasa alcalina. Ésta es la primera vez que se reportan cepas de levaduras marinas capaces de producir fitasa extracelular o unida a las células. Los resultados también indican que las levaduras marinas productoras de fitasa fueron lo suficientemente diversas como para ser utilizadas en la bioremediación de contaminación marina por fósforo.