Background Brucella ceti infections have been increasingly reported in cetaceans. Brucellosis in these animals is associated with meningoencephalitis, abortion, discospondylitis', subcutaneous ...abscesses, endometritis and other pathological conditions B. ceti infections have been frequently described in dolphins from both, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the Mediterranean Sea, only two reports have been made: one from the Italian Tyrrhenian Sea and the other from the Adriatic Sea. Results We describe the clinical and pathological features of three cases of B. ceti infections in three dolphins stranded in the Mediterranean Catalonian coast. One striped dolphin had neurobrucellosis, showing lethargy, incoordination and lateral swimming due to meningoencephalitis, A B. ceti infected bottlenose dolphin had discospondylitis, and another striped dolphin did not show clinical signs or lesions related to Brucella infection. A detailed characterization of the three B. ceti isolates was performed by bacteriological, molecular, protein and fatty acid analyses. Conclusions All the B. ceti strains originating from Mediterranean dolphins cluster together in a distinct phylogenetic clade, close to that formed by B. ceti isolates from dolphins inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean. Our study confirms the severity of pathological signs in stranded dolphins and the relevance of B. ceti as a pathogen in the Mediterranean Sea. Keywords: Brucella ceti, Cetacean, Neurobrucellosis, Discospondylitis, Mediterranean sea
Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of the present study was to explore the relation of visfatin with insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk ...factors and anthropometry in obese patients without comorbidities.
A population of 270 obese patients was analyzed in a prospective way. In all patients we performed a biochemical analysis (lipid profile, insulin, HOMA and visfatina), and a nutritional evaluation (dietary intake, conventional anthropometry and bioimpedance).
Patients were divided in two groups by median visfatin value (8,32 ng/ml), group I (patients with the low values, average value 7,11 (0,7) ng/ml) and group II (patients with the high values, average value 13,5 (10,1) ng/ml). Patients in the group I had higher weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist to hip ratio than patients in group II. Patients in group I had lower LDL-cholesterol and C reactive protein than patients in group II. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between visfatin levels and LDL cholesterol (r=0.194; p<0.05) and C reactive protein (r=0.266; p<0.05) and a negative corelation with weight (r=-0.162; p<0.05). In the logistic analysis with age-, sex- and dietary intake- adjusted basal visfatin concentration as a dependent variable, the next variables remained in the model; weight with an odds ratio (OR) 0,97 (IC95% 0,95-0,99), LDL cholesterol 1,012(1,010-1.023) and C reactive protein 1,15 (1.03-1.3).
LDL cholesterol and c reactive protein levels are positively correlated with visfatin levels. Weight is negatively correlated with visfatin levels, in an independent way and adjusted by age, sex and dietary intake.
Whiplash is a sprain of the ligament with strain of the paraspinal muscles due to acceleration or back acceleration of energy transmitted to the neck. The symptoms are neck pain, neck stiffness, ...muscular spasm and a multitude of discomforts that affect job-related and activities of daily living. In 2000, the Mexican Social Security System treated more than 15,000 cases of whiplash due to job-related activities. With this information, we organized an expert team in order to develop guidelines using methodology of evidence-based medicine and with a focus on early treatment prescribed by the general practitioner in order for the patient to obtain quick relief and to return the patient to his job and to his daily living activities as soon as possible.
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