Dimethylformamide is not better than glycerol for cryopreservation of boar semen

To improve the boar sperm cryopreservation process, the influence of the sugar (lactose, trehalose) source and the cryoprotectant [glycerol, dimethylformamide (DMF)] on the success of freezing was investigated. Sperm samples were frozen in one of six extenders: lactose plus 3% glycerol (LG); lactose plus 1.5% glycerol and 1.5% DMF (LGD); lactose plus 3% DMF (LD); trehalose plus 3% glycerol (TG); trehalose plus 1.5% glycerol and 1.5% DMF (TGD); trehalose plus 3% DMF (TD). Effects on motility, viability, acrosome integrity and hypoosmotic test (HOST) were measured. The results showed that extender containing 3% glycerol retained the highest motility percentages. In regard to viability and acrosome integrity, all extenders yielded similar rates except for the decreasing values of TD. Endosmosis was diminished in TD and LD at 2 h (P = 0.0018), as compared with the others. The results of the study demonstrated that the use of DMF as a cryoprotectant adversely affected boar sperm quality after cryopreservation.     

Vesicoureteral reflux: current trends in diagnosis, screening, and treatment

Context

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is present in approximately 1% of children in North America and Europe and is associated with an increased risk of pyelonephritis and renal scarring. Despite its prevalence and potential morbidity, however, many aspects of VUR management are controversial.

Objective

Review the evidence surrounding current controversies in VUR diagnosis, screening, and treatment.

Evidence acquisition

A systematic review was performed of Medline, Embase, Prospero, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, clinicaltrials.gov, and the most recent guidelines of relevant medical specialty organizations.

Evidence synthesis

We objectively assessed and summarized the published data, focusing on recent areas of controversy relating to VUR screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Conclusions

The evidence base for many current management patterns in VUR is limited. Areas that could significantly benefit from additional future research include improved identification of children who are at risk for VUR-related renal morbidity, improved stratification tools for determining which children would benefit most from which VUR treatment option, and improved reporting of long-term outcomes of VUR treatments.     

Antibiotics for Treatment of Clostridium difficile Infection in Hospitalized Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), namely ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn''s disease (CD), have worse outcomes with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), including increased readmissions, colectomy, and death. Oral vancomycin is recommended for the treatment of severe CDI, while metronidazole is the standard of care for nonsevere infection. We aimed to assess treatment outcomes of CDI in IBD. We conducted a retrospective observational study of inpatients with CDI and IBD from January 2006 through December 2010. CDI severity was assessed using published criteria. Outcomes included readmission for CDI within 30 days and 12 weeks, length of stay, colectomy, and death. A total of 114 patients met inclusion criteria (UC, 62; CD, 52). Thirty-day readmissions were more common among UC than CD patients (24.2% versus 9.6%; P = 0.04). Same-admission colectomy occurred in 27.4% of UC patients and 0% of CD patients (P < 0.01). Severe CDI was more common among UC than CD patients (32.2% versus 19.4%; P = 0.12) but not statistically significant. Two patients died from CDI-associated complications (UC, 1; CD, 1). Patients with UC and nonsevere CDI had fewer readmissions and shorter lengths of stay when treated with a vancomycin-containing regimen compared to those treated with metronidazole (30-day readmissions, 31.0% versus 0% [P = 0.04]; length of stay, 13.62 days versus 6.38 days [P = 0.02]). Patients with UC and nonsevere CDI have fewer readmissions and shorter lengths of stay when treated with a vancomycin-containing regimen relative to those treated with metronidazole alone. Patients with ulcerative colitis and CDI should be treated with vancomycin.     

The effect of positive balance on the outcomes of critically ill noncardiac postsurgical patients: A retrospective cohort study

Purpose

Fluid balance remains a highly controversial topic in the critical care field, and no consensus has been reached about the fluid levels required by critically ill surgical patients. In this study, we investigated the relationship between fluid balance and in-hospital mortality in critically ill surgical patients.

Methods

The medical records of adult patients managed in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) for more than 48 hours after surgery from January 2010 to February 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Abstracted data included body weights, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, fluid therapy values (intake, output, and balance) during the ICU stay, type of operation, length of stay in the ICU and hospital, and in-hospital mortality.

Results

A total of 148 patients were enrolled. The in-hospital mortality rate was 20.8%, and the median length of stay in the ICU and hospital were 5.0 and 24 days, respectively. The median daily fluid balance over the first 3 postoperative days was positive 11.2 mL/kg. Fluid balances in the ICU were 19.2, 15.0, and − 0.6 mL kg^− 1 d^− 1, respectively, during the first 3 days vs SOFA scores (6.8, 6.3, and 6.5). Comparing the nonsurvival group with the survival group, the univariate analysis showed that age (P = .05), APACHE II score (P < .001), and use of a vasopressor (norepinephrine) (P = .05) affect in-hospital mortality. In the overall patients, any of the fluid balances were not significantly associated with mortality. However, in critically ill patients whose APACHE II scores were greater than 20, the nonsurvivor group showed a significant tendency toward a positive balance compared with the survivor group on the second and third days of ICU stay. Nevertheless, the SOFA scores showed no difference between nonsurvivor and survivors during the initial 2 postoperative days.

Conclusion

In critically ill noncardiac postsurgical patients whose APAHCE II scores were greater than 20, a positive balance in the ICU can be associated with mortality risk. To determine the direct effect of positive fluid balance, a larger scaled, prospective randomized study will be required.     

Can EPS Development Be Avoided with Early Interventions? The Potential Role of Tamoxifen—A Single-Center Study

♦ Background: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a severe complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Identification of patients at high risk for EPS (“EPS-prone”) and delivery of appropriate interventions might prevent its development. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of all EPS and EPS-prone patients diagnosed at our PD unit.♦ Methods: For a 30-year period representing our entire PD experience, we retrospectively identified all patients with EPS (diagnosed according to International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis criteria) and all patients defined as EPS-prone because they met at least 2 established criteria (severe peritonitis, PD vintage greater than 3 years, severe hemoperitoneum, overexposure to glucose, and acquired ultrafiltration failure).♦ Results: Of 679 PD patients, we identified 20 with EPS, for an overall prevalence of 2.9%. Mean age at diagnosis was 50.2 ± 16.4 years, with a median PD time of 77.96 months (range: 44.36 - 102.7 months) and a median follow-up of 30.91 months (range: 4.6 - 68.75 months). Of patients with EPS, 10 (50%) received tamoxifen, 10 (50%) received parenteral nutrition, and 2 (10%) underwent adhesiolysis, with 25% mortality related to EPS. Another 14 patients were identified as EPS-prone. Median follow-up was 54.05 months (range: 11.9 - 87.04 months). All received tamoxifen, and 5 (36%) received corticosteroids; none progressed to full EPS. We observed no differences in baseline data between the groups, but the group with EPS had been on PD longer (84 ± 53 months vs 39 ± 20 months, p = 0.002) and had a higher cumulative number of days of peritoneal inflammation from peritonitis (17.2 ± 11.1 days vs 9.8 ± 7.9 days, p = 0.015). Overall mortality was similar in the groups. The incidence of EPS declined during our three decades of experience (5.6%, 3.9%, and 0.3%).♦ Conclusions: Being a serious, life-threatening complication of PD, EPS requires high suspicion to allow for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Early detection of EPS-prone states and delivery of appropriate intervention might prevent EPS development. Tamoxifen seems to be a key strategy in prevention, but caution should be used in interpreting our results. Additional randomized controlled studies are needed.     

Study of Treadmill Exercise Effect on Rats with Osteoarthritis Using Proteomic Analysis

[Purpose] To investigate the correlation between the effect treadmill exercise and change in serum proteins in rats with osteoarthritis, a study of proteins was carried out using a mass spectrometer. [Subjects and Methods] Rats were randomly divided into five groups. After 4 weeks of treadmill training, serum from each rat was analyzed by Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Complementary component 9 (C9) was discovered to be downregulated in the serum of the exercise groups, and this was validated by Western blot. [Results] Seventeen proteins were discovered to be elevated in the monosodium iodoacetate injection osteoarthritis group samples by more than 1.5 fold compared with the control group. One of the proteins upregulated, C9 protein, was validated, and it was found to decrease in the middle-intensity exercise group. [Conclusion] We showed that the serum level of C9, an inflammatory-related protein, decreased after treadmill exercise. Therefore, treadmill exercise with an appropriate intensity might be recommended for OA patients.Key words: Treadmill, Serum protein, Proteomics     

Neck circumference and excess weight: proposal of cutoff points for Brazilian adolescents

ObjectiveTo indicate neck circumference (NC) cutoff points to identify excess weight at different stages of somatic maturation and evaluate the association between NC and body mass index (BMI).MethodsCross-sectional study with 1715 adolescents. BMI was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Somatic maturation was obtained through the peak growth velocity (PGV). To define the cutoff points, curves of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) model were constructed. The agreement between the anthropometric evaluation instruments was analyzed. The association between the variables was verified.ResultsOf the girls, 93 were in the pre-PGV stage, 266 in the PGV stage, and 481 in the post-PGV stage. Of the boys, 264 were in the pre-PGV stage, 334 in the PGV stage, and 277 in the post-PGV stage. For the pre-PGV group, the cutoff point was 28 cm for females and 29 cm for males; for the group during PGV, the cutoff points were 30 cm for females and 33 cm for males; in the post-PGV group the cutoff values were 32 cm in females and 35 cm in males. The prevalence of excess weight was higher in the pre-PGV stage in males and in the PGV stage in females. The correlation coefficients were higher in the pre-PGV and PGV stages.ConclusionThe cutoff points for NC found in this study showed good sensitivity and specificity to identify excess weight in Brazilian adolescents and can be used as a reference in epidemiological studies.