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Localised infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans is described in two Kelpies, a Whippet and a Koolie domiciled on the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. The diagnosis was confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the M. ulcerans-specific insertion sequence (IS 2404) in DNA extracted from swabs of ulcerated lesions in all cases. Where available, molecular typing confirmed that three of the dogs were infected with a strain of M. ulcerans that was indistinguishable from a disease-causing strain in people and other animals in Victoria. One dog was still undergoing treatment at the time of writing, but the remaining three dogs were successfully treated with a combination of surgical debridement and medical therapy in one case, and medical therapy alone in the other two. Investigation of the home environs of three of the dogs using real-time PCR revealed low amounts of M. ulcerans DNA in various environmental samples. Mycobacterium ulcerans infection should be included in the differential diagnoses of any ulcerated skin lesions in dogs that live in or visit endemic areas of Victoria and Queensland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A randomised controlled trial was conducted to compare the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of Dinoprostone Slow Release Pessary (Propess) with Gel (Prostin) for induction of labour (IOL) at term. A total of 120 women requiring IOL at term with no previous uterine surgery and no contraindication to prostaglandins were included. The main outcome measures were efficacy of drug preparations, patient satisfaction and the cost-effectiveness. The secondary outcome measures noted were maternal complications during the labour, type of delivery, the neonate's Apgar scores at birth and 5 min and incidence of significant morbidities. There were insignificant differences between the two groups in induction-to-delivery interval, mode of delivery, number of women delivering within 24 h and neonatal outcomes. However, the number of vaginal examinations was significantly lower in the Propess group. Propess was found to be more cost effective compared with Prostin in view of single dose and less midwifery hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of supplemental Se on the transfer of Se to nursing pigs when sows are fed diets containing a Se level above the NRC recommendation (0.15 ppm), sows were fed diets containing no supplemental Se or supplemental (0.3 ppm) Se from sodium selenite or Se yeast. A nonSe-fortified corn-soy-bean meal basal diet with a high endogenous Se content served as the negative control (0.20 to 0.23 ppm Se). Fifty-two sows were fed diets from 60 d prepartum until 14 d of lactation. Six sows per treatment were bled at 60 and 30 d prepartum, at farrowing, and at 14 d postpartum to measure serum Se concentrations. Colostrum was collected within 12 h postpartum, and milk was collected at 14 d of lactation. Blood was obtained from 3 pigs each from 12 litters per treatment at birth and at weaning (d 14), and pooled serum was analyzed for Se and immunoglobulin G concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity. Regardless of treatment, serum Se in sows declined throughout gestation and gradually increased during lactation. Sows fed Se yeast tended (P < 0.06) to have greater serum Se at farrowing than sows fed unsupplemented diets. Colostrum and milk (d 14) Se concentrations increased (P < 0.01) when sows were fed Se from yeast but not from sodium selenite. At birth, serum Se was increased (P < 0.01) for pigs whose dams were fed Se yeast compared with pigs from sows fed the basal diet. At 14 d of age, there was no difference in serum Se concentration of pigs from dams fed any of the treatments. Pig serum immunoglobulin G concentrations and glutathione peroxidase-1 activity were unaffected by dietary Se source. Supplementation of gestating and lactating sow diets with Se (0.3 ppm) from an organic or inorganic source reduced the number of stillbirths per litter. However, only pigs born to sows fed organic Se (Se yeast) had greater serum Se at birth. Organic Se increased Se concentration of colostrum and 14-d milk to a greater degree than inorganic Se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies drug combinations as discriminative stimuli using a four-choice procedure. Features of the procedure; Importance of studying the discriminative stimuli produced by drug interactions.

Pulmonary hypertension is found in about 10% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE). Pulmonary hypertension may be present at the time of diagnosis or may develop after the diagnosis of SLE or anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). It often presents in the reproductive years and has a significant impact on pregnancy outcome, being a significant cause of indirect maternal deaths. In our observational case series of three patients there were two deaths (66%). In cases 1 and 2 the pulmonary hypertension developed during pregnancy and deteriorated rapidly with markedly abnormal mean pulmonary artery pressures of 80 and 70mmHg respectively prior to death. Both patients died within 48 hours of delivery. In case 3 the pulmonary hypertension was milder and was diagnosed very early in pregnancy. The patient received multidisciplinary care from the first trimester and the management of the pregnancy, delivery and the early puerperium was planned. Careful epidural anaesthesia was used and the patient had invasive monitoring on the intensive therapy unit (ITU) for 72 hours. Women with pulmonary hypertension need to be aware of the high risk of maternal mortality associated with pregnancy but we believe that an improvement in outcome can be achieved by careful assessment and the use of a multidisciplinary approach from early in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of monoclonal antibodies which recognize antigenic determinants on lymphoid cells has resulted in the immunologic analysis of a wide variety of diseases where disturbance of the immune system is believed to be important in pathogenesis. These reagents may be used to scrutinize cell suspensions, like blood and lymphoid cells in tissues. The diseases to be discussed in this review are lupus erythematosus, leprosy, sarcoidosis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and parapsoriasis. The specificity of the monoclonal antibodies used is shown in tabulated form.

This study evaluated the effect of yeast-derived products on growth performance, gut lesion score, intestinal population ofClostridium perfringens, and local innate immunity of broiler chickens challenged withC. perfringens. One-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments providing six replicate pens of 55 birds each per treatment. Dietary treatments consisted of Control diets without and withC. perfringenschallenge, and diets containing bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD, 55 g/tonne), nucleotides (150 g/tonne), yeast cell wall (YCW, 300 g/tonne), and a commercial product Maxi-Gen Plus (1 kg/tonne) fed to chickens challenged withC. perfringens. Diets containing 10% distillers dried grains with solubles without and withC. perfringenschallenge were also used. Birds were orally challenged withC. perfringens(108 colony-forming units (cfu)/bird) on day 14. On day 21, intestinal samples were collected for gene expression analysis. Pathogen challenge significantly (P < 0.05) impaired feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) shortly after the challenge (14–21 days). IncreasedC. perfringenscounts and intestinal lesion scores were observed for challenged birds except the BMD-containing diet. Over the entire trial (1–35 days), no difference in growth performance was observed except the BMD diet which improved FCR over the Control, challenged group. Birds receiving nucleotides showed increased expression of toll-like receptors and cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-18 compared to the Control, challenged group. Expression of macrophage mannose receptor and IL-18 was upregulated in birds receiving YCW. Increased expression of cytokines and receptors involved in innate immunity in broilers receiving nucleotides and YCW suggests the immunomodulatory properties of these products under pathogen challenge conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background An ulcerative dermopathy caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans is described in two alpacas ( Vicugna pacos) domiciled in endemic areas of Victoria, Australia. Results The diagnosis was confirmed in both cases by PCR targeting the M. ulcerans-specific insertion sequence, IS 2404. Extensive wound debridement and bandaging was effective in controlling local disease in one alpaca, although the animal was eventually euthanased because of suspected disease recurrence at other anatomical sites. Treatment was not undertaken in the second animal, but the results of a complete necropsy are described. Investigation of the environs of the second animal yielded low levels of M. ulcerans DNA associated with a variety of samples. The potential use of adjunctive antibiotic therapies directed against M. ulcerans infection in this species is discussed. Conclusion Mycobacterium ulcerans infection should be suspected in alpacas domiciled in endemic areas and presented with ulcerative skin disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the spatial dimension of plant disease development which was always neglected by epidemiologists despite its importance. It discusses that methods such as spatial scales, mapping and geostatics to be used for spatial analysis. It infers that the spikelet disease severity is numbered and that the metabolic profiles were recorded using gas chromatography.