•Post caloric recruitment index is the ratio between cold and warm stimulation.•Post caloric recruitment index is useful to identify the affected ear separately.•Video head impulse test did not prove ...to be a good predictor of post caloric recruitment.
The vestibular recruitment observed in caloric testing is a new tool in the study of the vestibulo-ocular reflex. This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the video head impulse test to detect post-caloric vestibular recruitment.
In this cross-sectional study, all participants underwent the standard otoneurological assessment of the service, caloric test, and video head impulse test. A non-linear mixed model was used to test for associations.
The study group consisted of 250 (89 male and 161 female) patients, with a mean age of 54.84 years. The control group comprised 35 participants, 18 men and 17 women, with a mean age of 40.42 years. Sex and age had no effect on group responses. There was no difference between the study and control groups regarding the interaction between recruitment and gain (p = 0.7487); recruitment and overt (p = 0.7002) and covert saccades (p = 1.0000); and recruitment and anti-compensatory saccades in the contralateral ear (p = 0.3050). The video head impulse test had a sensitivity of 51% and a specificity of 50% as a predictor of post-caloric recruitment.
The video head impulse test results showed no relevance in predicting post-caloric vestibular recruitment.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most serious form of degenerative motor neuron disease in adults, characterized by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration, skeletal muscle atrophy, ...paralysis, and death. High prevalence of malnutrition and weight loss adversely affect quality of life. Moreover, two thirds of patients develop a hypermetabolism of unknown cause, leading to increased resting energy expenditure. Inasmuch as lipids are the major source of energy for muscles, we determined the status of lipids in a population of patients with ALS and investigated whether lipid contents may have an impact on disease progression and survival.
Blood concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured in a cohort of 369 patients with ALS and compared to a control group of 286 healthy subjects. Postmortem histologic examination was performed on liver specimens from 59 other patients with ALS and 16 patients with Parkinson disease (PD).
The frequency of hyperlipidemia, as revealed by increased plasma levels of total cholesterol or LDL, was twofold higher in patients with ALS than in control subjects. As a result, steatosis of the liver was more pronounced in patients with ALS than in patients with PD. Correlation studies demonstrated that bearing an abnormally elevated LDL/HDL ratio significantly increased survival by more than 12 months.
Hyperlipidemia is a significant prognostic factor for survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This finding highlights the importance of nutritional intervention strategies on disease progression and claims our attention when treating these patients with lipid-lowering drugs.
Background
The hematology of turtles of the Amazon, such as the Arrau turtle (Podocnemis expansa), has not been well described in the literature. Referencing how to collect and analyze blood samples ...is fundamental for the medical practice of these exotic animals.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate the hematologic parameters of Arrau turtles of the Amazon to determine the best anticoagulant (EDTA, citrate, or sodium heparin) and cytologic stain (Giemsa, Quick Panoptic, or Rosenfeld) for use with this species.
Methods
Blood samples from eight turtles were collected. Three blood smears were made using blood without anticoagulant, and the rest of the sample was distributed in three tubes, containing EDTA, citrate, and sodium heparin, for erythrogram and leukogram analyses.
Results
All blood samples anticoagulated with EDTA showed marked hemolysis. Blood collected with citrate showed minimal hemolysis, and blood collected with sodium heparin did not have any hemolysis. Some analyses were not performed on blood containing EDTA because of the intense hemolysis. The erythrocyte variables were obtained and showed better results for blood samples in heparin. Blood smears without anticoagulant were appropriate for differential leukocyte counts with the three stain types, while blood with any of the anticoagulants made it difficult to differentiate leukocytes.
Conclusions
Sodium heparin showed the best results and should be the anticoagulant of choice for hematologic studies in P expansa. All cytologic stains were efficient, allowing adequate identification of distinct cell groups. Leukocyte differentiation was assured and had better contrast using blood smears made from blood without an anticoagulant.
Trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by Trypanosoma (Dutonella) vivax, a hemoprotozoa that can affect bovines. In South America, the sanguineous form is mechanically transmitted from one mammalian ...host (ruminant) to another by the bite of a blood-sucking insect or by needles contaminated with infected blood. The negative impact of the parasitosis caused by T. vivax infection on the reproductive activity of male and female ruminants is known to reduce fertility. In males, alterations such as degeneration, diffuse or interlobular inflammatory infiltrate found in ovine and bovine testicles, can affect fertility through decreased sperm quality. This study evaluated the impact of natural infection with T. vivax on Zebu bulls from the Central Station of Artificial Insemination (CSAI) with regard to libido and the negative effects caused by this protozoan on semen quality.
Blood samples of 44 animals were collected to evaluate the presence of the trypomastigote form of T. vivax in blood smears obtained from hematocrit and buffy coat, and antibody titer IgG anti T. vivax in indirect Immunoflorescence (IFI). Furthermore, data related to libido, ejaculate volume, spermatic concentration, and seminal vigor were recorded for these animals employing the criteria of the CSAI.
Nine animals (20.45 %) showed T. vivax trypomastigotes and parasitemia between 0.02 and 0.07, and antibody titers from 1:80 to 1:320 in IFI. Twenty nine negative animals in parasitological tests were not reactive in IFI, and six animals presented the antibodies IgG anti T. vivax in IFI. Data on reproductive activity showed that animals infected with T. vivax have a decreased libido and an increased spermatic volume, whereas other factors related to the reproductive process such as spermatic concentration, motility and spermatic force, were unchanged in infected bulls.
The T. vivax infection in Zebu bulls from CSAI caused patent parasitemia, induced a febrile state, promoted reduction in the libido and increased the ejaculate volume. These conditions together may account to decrease the performance of these animals.
Summary
Suitable levels of interferon (IFN)‐γ and interleukin (IL)‐10 seem to favour the outcome of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), while high IFN‐γ and low IL‐10 production are associated with ...severity of mucosal leishmaniasis (ML). Considering that cytokine balance is important for the maintenance of protective responses in leishmaniasis, our aim was to investigate leishmanial antigens‐induced IFN‐γ and IL‐10 levels maintained in healed individuals who had different clinical outcomes of Leishmania infection. Thirty‐three individuals who recovered from L. braziliensis infection were studied: cured CL (CCL), cured ML (CML), spontaneous healing of CL (SH) or asymptomatic individuals (ASY). Cytokines were quantified by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in culture supernatants of L. braziliensis‐stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). IFN‐γ levels were higher in CML (7593 ± 5994 pg/ml) in comparison to SH (3163 ± 1526 pg/ml), ASY (1313 ± 1048 pg/ml) or CCL (1897 ± 2087 pg/ml). Moreover, cured ML cases maintained significantly lower production of IL‐10 (127 ± 57·8 pg/ml) in comparison to SH (1373 ± 244 pg/ml), ASY (734 ± 233 pg/ml) or CCL (542 ± 375 pg/ml). Thus, a high IFN‐γ/IL‐10 ratio observed in CML can indicate unfavourable cytokine balance. On the other hand, no significant difference in the IFN‐γ/IL‐10 ratio was observed when CCL individuals were compared to SH or ASY subjects. In conclusion, even after clinical healing, ML patients maintained a high IFN‐γ/IL‐10 secretion profile in response to leishmanial antigens. This finding can explain a delayed down‐modulation of exacerbated inflammatory responses, which can be related in turn to the necessity of prolonged therapy in ML management. Conversely, lower IFN‐γ/IL‐10 balance observed in CCL, SH and ASY individuals can represent a better‐modulated immune response associated with a favourable prognosis.
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) plays a key role in atherosclerosis development. It is considered a marker of increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and plaque ...vulnerability. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder characterized by elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a higher prevalence of early CVD.
Our aim was to evaluate the differences in Lp-PLA2 activity in a population of hypercholesterolemic patients with and without definite FH.
Hypercholesterolemic patients were consecutively recruited. Definite FH was defined according to Dutch Lipid Clinic Network criteria ≥8. All patients underwent routine clinical examination and biological assessments and Lp-PLA2 activity was measured in blood samples.
Among 469 patients, 118 had a definite diagnosis of FH. Lp-PLA2 activity was significantly higher in definite FH patients compared to non-definite FH patients (206.5 ± 54.5 vs. 180.8 ± 48.4 nmol/min/mL, p < 0.0001). Lp-PLA2 positively correlated with total cholesterol, LDL-C and apolipoprotein B and negatively with HDL-C and apolipoprotein A-1. In multivariate analysis, definite FH diagnosis, LDL-C, HDL-C and statin treatment remained correlates of Lp-PLA2 independently of systolic blood pressure.
Lp-PLA2 activity was higher in definite FH than in non-definite FH patients independently of LDL-C levels and statin treatment. These results highlight the particular phenotype of FH subjects among hypercholesterolemic patients. As increased Lp-PLA2 activity suggests, FH patients exhibit higher arterial inflammation that may contribute to their high cardiovascular risk. Our results reinforce the potential beneficial role of statins pleiotropic effects and the need for proper identification and treatment of FH patients.
•Lp-PLA2 is higher in definite FH patients compared to non-definite FH hypercholesterolemic patients.•Lp-PLA2 is higher in definite FH compared to non-definite FH independently of LDL-C and statins.•Increased Lp-PLA2 levels in definite FH patients indicate high arterial inflammation.
BACKGROUND: Endogamy increases the risk of manifestation of deleterious recessive genes. Mitochondrial DNA allows the separation of American Zebu (Bos indicus and Bos taurus) and evaluate the effect ...of mitochondrial DNA on productive traits of cattle. However, the effect of endogamy and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) on the immune system remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between endogamy, mtDNA and immune parameters. RESULTS: A total of 86 cattle (43 cows and 43 calves) were used in this study. Age, endogamy, milk yield, and origin of mtDNA were measured and their influence on immunological parameters was evaluated. Older cows had increased CD4⁺ T cells, decreased CD21⁺ and γδʰⁱᵍʰ T cells as well as increased CD4⁺/CD8⁺ and T/B ratio. Multiple regression analysis indicated that endogamy in calves was associated with increased CD8⁺ T and CD21⁺ B lymphocytes, and decreased γδʰⁱᵍʰ T cells in peripheral blood. Cows with medium and lower endogamy had a lower percentage of B lymphocytes and γδˡᵒʷ T cells and cows with lower endogamy had higher levels of γδ T cells and γδʰⁱᵍʰ T cells, as well as the CD4⁺/CD48⁺ cell ratio. Calves with higher endogamy had higher levels of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, whereas calves with lower endogamy had lower levels of γδˡᵒʷ T cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated for the first time that endogamy influences the immune system of cattle.
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