Usual values of haptoglobin, protein-bound sialic acid and blood sedimentation in a population of the Cherbourg region]

The authors studied 3 parameters commonly used for the exploration of an inflammatory syndrome (determination of globular sedimentation rate at the first and second hour, concentration of plasma haptoglobin, sialic acid bound to plasma proteins rate). Haptoglobin and acid sialic assays were solely used in determining a control population (816 patients without any inflammatory reaction). As a matter of fact, the values we found complied with a normal distribution rule and confidence limits with a probability of 95% were obtained.     

Responses of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) to competitive endurance exercise in recreational athletes

The present study was designed to investigate whether the stress of a half-marathon race can induce myocardial cell injury or left ventricular dysfunction in moderately trained runners of both gender, as assessed by post-race plasma concentrations of biochemical cardiac-specific markers and by quantitative echocardiographic measurements. We examined 12 male (mean+/-SD); age: 42.8+/-7.3 yr; height: 177.6+/-7.4 cm; body mass: 75.6+/-9.4 kg; BMI: 24.1+/-1.8 and 13 female (mean+/-SD); age: 39.0+/-6.5 yr; height: 164.6+/-6.2 cm; body mass: 58.4+/-9.8 kg; BMI: 21.5+/-3.4 recreational runners, who completed a half-marathon race. Blood samples were collected from each subject before the half-marathon race as well as 20 min and 2 h post-race and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured. Quantitative echocardiographic analyses of wall dimensions and ejection fraction were also obtained from 14 of 25 subjects within 1 wk after the race. Both blood markers showed significant changes (p<0.05-0.001) over the time course of the three blood draws. A significant percentage of laboratory analytes analyzed in this study were outside the reference ranges and fulfilled conventional criteria for cardiac muscle damage. However, echocardiography within one week following the competition did not show any evidence that running a half-marathon competition damages the myocardium. Strenuous endurance exercise in middle-aged recreational runners induces a significant elevation of biochemical cardiac-specific markers, which may reflect transient subclinical myocardial damage, but can also reflect a physiological reparative or adaptive process.     

Rickettsial infection in animals and Brazilian spotted fever endemicity

We compared the rickettsial infection status of Amblyomma cajennense ticks, humans, dogs, and horses in both Brazilian spotted fever (BSF)-endemic and -nonendemic areas in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Most of the horses and few dogs from BSF-endemic areas had serologic titers against Rickettsia rickettsii antigens. In contrast, no dogs or horses from BSF-nonendemic areas had serologic titers against R. rickettsii antigens, although they were continually exposed to A. cajennense ticks. All human serum samples and ticks from both areas were negative by serologic assay and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Our results indicate that surveys of horse serum are a useful method of BSF surveillance in areas where humans are exposed to A. cajennense ticks. In addition, we successfully performed experimental infection of A. cajennense ticks with R. parkeri.     

Virulence factors and clonal relationships among Escherichia coli strains isolated from broiler chickens with cellulitis

In this study, we compared Escherichia coli isolates from chickens with avian cellulitis with those from feces of healthy chickens. Cellulitis-derived strains presented phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of greater virulence than did the fecal isolates. Phylogenetic analysis by repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR showed that, in agreement with their virulence characteristics, the cellulitis isolates form two clonal groups distinct from the fecal isolates.     

Tissue responses resulting from tooth movement surgically assisted by corticotomy and corticision in rats

Objective:To compare the histological responses in corticotomy- and corticision-assisted tooth movement.Materials and Methods:Ninety Wistar rats were divided into three groups: C (control—tooth movement only), CT (tooth movement + corticotomy), and CI (tooth movement + corticision). Surgeries were performed on the vestibular and lingual cortical bone of the maxillary first molar. Tooth movement was carried out with nickel-titanium closed coil springs having a force of 30 g. The rats were sacrificed at 3, 14, and 28 days. To evaluate the number of osteoclasts and amount of root resorption, a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase stain was used. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for areas of hyalinization, and the organic bone matrix was stained with picrosirius.Results:The CT group showed a greater number of osteoclasts than did the C group on day 3 (P < .05). At the same time point, the CT and CI groups showed a delayed onset of organic bone matrix remodeling and a lower incidence of root resorption than did the C group (P < .05). There were also fewer hyalinization areas in the CI group than in the C group on day 3 (P < .05).Conclusions:Corticotomy effectively increased bone resorption during the early stages of tooth movement, but this increase was not observed for corticision. The surgical procedures did not accelerate organic bone matrix remodeling. Corticotomies and corticisions decreased the risk of root resorption only during the early stages of movement. Corticision reduced the level of hyalinization, while corticotomy did not.     

Neospora caninum: evaluation of vertical transmission in slaughtered beef cows (Bos indicus)

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite that causes the most important reproductive problems in cattle worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of vertical transmission of N. caninum in zebus breed beef cows (Bos indicus) submitted for slaughter at an abattoir in the northern region of the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. One hundred and fifty-nine cows were evaluated: 83 pregnant (in different stages of gestation) and 76 non-pregnant. Serum determination of N. caninum was evaluated by indirect ELISA (Idexx). Blood (with EDTA) from pregnant cows and tissue samples (brain and heart) from their fetuses were collected and used for PCR analyses. Antibodies against N. caninum were observed in 14.6% (12/83) of pregnant and in 15.8% (12/76) of non-pregnant cows. Antibodies against the parasites were detected in one fetus (1.4%). The PCR analyses revealed that 6.0% (5/83) of cows and 4.8% (4/83) of fetuses evaluated were positive to specific N. caninum primers. These positive fetuses were between 4 and 6 months of age. Thus, considering PCR and serology as an indicative of vertical transmission in fetuses, 4.8% of fetuses were infected by N. caninum during gestation.