Comparative study of some haematological parameters of two wildChaetophractus villosus (mammalia, dasypodidae) populations

The study of haematological parameters of a species is of great interest both for the comprehension of its biological characteristics in general and its physiological adaptations in particular. In this work, we studied haematological parameters of two wild populations of armadilloChaetophractus villosus (population I,n=25 and population II,n=30). The animals came from a range of 150 km to the north west of Bahía Blanca, Argentina. Blood samples were obtained from anaesthetised animals by cardiac puncture, between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Blood was collected in EDTA and processed for haematological screen by routine techniques. Erythrocyte parameters (total erythrocytes, haematocrit, haemoglobin, erythrocyte indices and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and leucocyte parameters (total leucocytes and percentage composition) were studied. Population I had higher values for erythrocytes, haematocrit and haemoglobin than population II. With the exception of eosinophils (p>0.05), no differences were found between populations of erythrocyte indices, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total leucocytes and leucocyte percentage composition. The sample of population II featured a greater number of young animals than population I, age may therefore partially account for the differences. These results may also be influenced by a higher loading of parasites observed in population II.     

Reliability of a Photographic Method for Assessing Standing Posture of Elementary School Students

ObjectiveA high prevalence of poor standing posture among elementary schoolchildren indicates the need for the introduction of school-based interventions for improvement of postural alignments. For assessing the effect of intervention programs, reliable quantitative measures of standing posture should be used. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of a photographic method for assessment of standing posture among elementary schoolchildren.MethodsThe study was conducted on a convenience sample of 273 male students between 10 and 13 years old. Each subject was photographed in habitual standing posture, 3 times in a front view and 3 times in a side view. Deviations from ideal postural alignment were calculated with Posture Image Analyzer software and UTHSCSA ImageTool software. Interitem reliability was estimated using intraclass correlation coefficient.ResultsIntraclass correlation coefficients for posture deviations assessed with Posture Image Analyzer ranged from 0.81 for knee joints deviation and ankle joints deviation in the coronal plane to 0.92 for trunk deviation and knee joints deviation in the sagittal plane. Intraclass correlation coefficients for posture deviations assessed with UTHSCSA ImageTool ranged from 0.80 for knee joints deviation in the coronal plane to 0.91 for trunk deviation and knee joints deviation in the sagittal plane.ConclusionsThis study showed a satisfactory interitem reliability of a photographic method for the assessment of standing posture among elementary schoolchildren.     

The Glasgow antipsychotic side-effects scale for clozapine in inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder

Background: The inconsistency in clinician and patient ratings of clozapine-induced side effects underscore the need to supplement clinician-based estimates of side effects with patient-reported ones.

Aims: The main aims of the study are validation of the Glasgow antipsychotic side-effects scale for clozapine (GASS-C) in Serbian inpatients/outpatients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder and recommendations for its future use, based on common and rare clozapine-associated side-effects.

Methods: The GASS-C was administered to 95 outpatients/inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or chronic psychotic disorder.

Results: The scale showed good overall reliability, with an internal consistency coefficient of α?=?0.84, an average retest coefficient of rho?=?0.76, and a Spearman–Brown coefficient of validity of 0.81. Side effects were absent or mild in 64.2% of the patients, moderate in 31.6%, severe in 4.2%; 14% of the subjects considered their symptoms distressing. The most commonly reported side-effects were drowsiness, thirst, frequent urination, and dry mouth. Women reported more side effects than men, and patients not in a relationship reported significantly fewer side effects than patients in a relationship. Results indicate a weak positive correlation (rho?=?0.231; p?=?.025) between severity of side effects and clozapine dose.

Conclusions: The GASS-C showed good psychometric characteristics in clinical population of patients on clozapine. In future studies, clozapine serum concentrations should be measured when using the GASS-C to monitor side effects.     

Discovery of 4′′-Ether Linked Azithromycin-Quinolone Hybrid Series: Influence of the Central Linker on the Antibacterial Activity

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Nasal dermal sinus cysts with intracranial extension in a child mosaic for a supernumerary ring chromosome 20

Nasal dermal sinus cysts are congenital malformations that result from anomalous embryological development and are not prescribed to any specific genetic defect. The occurrence of a supernumerary ring 20 that causes a partial trisomy 20 mosaicism is a rare chromosome abnormality and no common phenotype has been described yet. We present a unique case of a 3.5-year-old child with a supernumerary ring chromosome 20 mosaicism associated with nasal dermoid with intracranial extension. It is possible that this genetic defect contribute to embryonic developmental errors of the frontonasal region. The clinical presentation, surgical treatment, and literature review of this case are discussed.     

Injecting drug use as risk factor for visceral leishmaniasis in AIDS patients

In Madrid Region 6652 AIDS cases were diagnosed between 1982 and 1993. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was present in 166 (2.49%). VL frequency among injecting drug users proved higher than that for the other transmission categories (relative risk 2.57; 95% confidence interval 1.64–4.01). This could point to an alternative Leishmania transmission route via needle sharing.     

Morphological and morphometric study of blood leucocytes fromChaetophractus villosus (Mammalia Dasypodidae)

The aim of this work was to study some morphological and morphometric parameters of leucocytes from blood smears of adult armadillosChaetophractus villosus (Mammalia, Dasypodidae). We also analysed the significance of the different sources of variation in these measurements. Blood samples were obtained through heart puncture, using plastic syringes without anticoagulant, in anaesthetised, wild, healthy animals (n=25). Two blood smears of each animal were stained with May Grünwald-Giemsa. Maximum and minimum diameters were measured for each type of leucocyte (n=10 for the most abundant ones: neutrophils and lymphocytes, andn=5 for others: eosinophils, basophils and monocytes). A hierarchical decomposition of the different sources of variation (animals, samples and cells) was carried out using pure model II nest ANOVA. This analysis was applied to both measured parameters. The variation components related to cells were always higher than those related to animals. Estimation of the selected parameters was only marginally changed between samples of the animal. The nuclei of both neutrophils and eosinophils were morphologically similar, generally with four or more lobes. The cytoplasm and neutrophils was only lightly stained. Lymphocytes are the smallest cell type, whereas basophils and lymphocytes are the roundest ones. Eosinophils and basophils are the cell types most variable in size. We suggest that for further studies the effort of sampling be aimed at measuring a larger number of cells from a moderate number of animals. Our results should represent the normal morphological and morphometrical characteristics of leucocytes of wild, healthy animals of this species.