Peripartum Haemodynamic Status of Bitches with Normal Birth or Dystocia

There has been limited investigation of parturition in the bitch and there is little information published on clinical and obstetrical examination other than opinion and anecdote. While there are substantial data on haemodynamic and vascular changes during normal parturition in humans, little is known about the physiological events in the dog. This study was aimed at maternal haemodynamic changes occurring during normal parturition and to investigate how these were modified in bitches with dystocia (DYST) treated either medically or via assisted delivery and caesarean operation. Three groups of 10 bitches were investigated; those with normal parturition, those with DYST corrected by manipulative assistance or caesarean operation and those with uterine inertia treated by oxytocin administration. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, electrocardiogram and blood glucose concentration were measured pre-partum, intra-partum, immediately after parturition and 1 h later. Heart rate was high at all times throughout the study and the majority of bitches had normal sinus rhythm. Blood pressure was generally within the normal range, and although systolic and diastolic blood pressure was highest during the intra-partum period and sometimes during the immediate post-partum period, there were no significant differences between groups. All bitches had blood glucose concentrations within the normal range throughout the study although pre-partum concentrations were statistically lower than many of the other time periods. The study provides useful physiological data that will facilitate monitoring and clinical management of bitches throughout normal parturition and DYST.

Acid-Base Changes in Canine Neonates Following Normal Birth or Dystocia

There are limited data concerning blood gas parameters in neonatal dogs. Knowledge of the normal physiology may facilitate effective therapeutic intervention and potentially reduce neonatal mortality. This study examined acid-base parameters in pups born at normal parturition (n = 27) compared with those born after obstetrical assistance or caesarean operation (n = 13) and those born following oxytocin (OXY) administration for treatment of uterine inertia (n = 11). Pups were subjected to an objective scoring method of neonatal health adapted from use in humans (the Apgar score) at birth and again at 5 and 60 min after birth. Venous blood samples were collected at 5 and 60 min after birth for evaluation of blood gas parameters. At birth, all pups had low Apgar scores and a mixed acidosis. The base excess was lowest for pups delivered after OXY administration. The Apgar score improved for all pups after 5 min of birth and there was an improvement in carbon dioxide tension, base excess and venous blood pH at 1 h, although in all pups a metabolic acidosis persisted. These data provide an important insight into neonatal physiology and the variability of blood gas parameters in pups born at normal and abnormal parturition and provide the basis for clinical decision making following dystocia.

Immunohistochemical approach reveals involvement of inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat late development

To better understand the role of nitric oxide (NO) in mammal development, specifically in the transition of the fetal stages at birth, we studied the timing of cell-specific expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) isoform during gestational periods of rats, mainly at the late stages of intra-uterine development. Before experimentation, the samples were collected (from 17th to 21st gestational days), fixed in 10% buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin for histological procedures. Hereafter, the sections (5 mu m thickness) obtained from different embryos were immunostained by avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique, by using antibody against iNOS isoform. The most of cell immunopositive was suggestive of granulocyte-like cells and those cells were resident close to the blood vessels in different organs, such as: lung, liver or bone marrow environment. Sometimes we noted immunopositive cells in the blood flow, as reported in the thymus. In agreement, iNOS expression, obtained by western blotting analysis, showed the same profile. Together, our data shows that iNOS expression increased gradually during the late stages of rat development (from E17 to E21) and it was executed by cells close to blood vessels. Thus, we can clearly to predict that this expression was finely modulated and it contributes for time-line dependent NO production during rat late development.

Genetic and non-genetic factors affecting birth-weight and adult body mass index

Birthweight affects neonatal mortality and morbidity and has been used as a marker of foetal undernutrition in studies of prenatal effects on adult characteristics. It is potentially influenced by genetic and environmental influences on the mother, and effects of foetal genotype, which is partially derived from the maternal genotype. Interpretations of variation in birthweight and associated characteristics as being due to prenatal environment ignore other possible modes of materno-foetal transmission. Subjects were adult twins recruited through the Australian Twin Registry, aged 17 to 87 years, and the sample comprised 1820 men and 4048 women. Twins reported their own birthweight as part of a health questionnaire. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated from self-reports of height and weight. Correlations between co-twins' birthweights were high for both monozygotic (r = 0.77) and dizygotic (r = 0.67) pairs, leading to substantial estimates of shared environmental effects (56% of variance) with significant additive genetic (23%) and non-shared environmental (21%) components. Adult BMI was mainly influenced by genetic factors, both additive (36% of variance) and nonadditive (35%). The correlation between birthweight and BMI was positive, in that heavier babies became on average more obese adults. A bivariate model of birthweight and adult BMI showed significant positive genetic (rg = 0.16, p = 0.005) and environmental (re = 0.08, p = 0.000011) correlations. Intra-uterine environmental or perinatal influences shared by cotwins exercise a strong influence on birthweight, but the factors which affect both birthweight and adult BMI are partly genetic and partly non-shared environmental.

Rapid transplacental infection with bovine pestivirus following intranasal inoculation of ewes in early pregnancy

Despite the importance of congenital viral infections in both veterinary and human medicine, only limited experimental work has been carried out to elucidate the mechanisms involved in transplacental virus infections. To further an understanding of fetal infection with pestiviruses, the distribution of bovine pestivirus in the uterine and fetal tissues of ewes in early pregnancy, following a natural route of infection, was investigated. On the 18th day of pregnancy, nine ewes were inoculated by the intranasal route with 1 X 10(5) 50% tissue culture infective doses of an Australian isolate of noncytopathic bovine pestivirus (bovine viral diarrhea virus genotype 1). All ewes were ovariohysterectomized at approximately 100 hours postinfection. Samples from the reproductive tract and conceptus were examined histologically and tested for bovine pestivirus by nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry and for interferon-tau mRNA expression by nonnested RT-PCR. Although no histopathologic changes were observed in the maternal or fetal tissues, virus was detected in the reproductive tract of all nine ewes and in all of the conceptuses examined. Al; the time of surgery, only two of the nine ewes were demonstrably viremic. This study demonstrates that bovine pestivirus can spread from a natural site of infection to the ovine fetus within 4 days in the absence of maternal immunity and despite the presence of interferon expression in the reproductive tract.

Accuracy of frozen section for the operative management of endometrial cancer

Objective To assess the accuracy of intra-operative frozen section reports at identifying the features of high risk uterine disease compared with final histopathology. Design Retrospective study. Methods The records, of 460 patients with uterine cancer registered with the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1998 were reviewed. Intra-operative frozen section was undertaken in 260 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma. Frozen section pathology was compared with the final histopathology reports. Inter-observer reliability was assessed using percentage agreement and kappa statistics. Clinical notes were also reviewed to determine if errors resulted in sub-optimal patient care. Results Respectively, tumour grade and depth of myometrial invasion were accurately reported in 88.6% of cases (expected 61.5%, Kappa 0.70) and 94.7% (expected 53.8%, Kappa 0.89). Errors were predominantly attributable to difficulties with respect to the interpretation of tumour grade. The error resulted in the patient receiving sub-optimal surgical management in only I I cases (5.3%) Conclusion Frozen section is accurate at identifying the features of high risk uterine disease in the setting of endometrial cancer and can play an important role in directing primary operative management.

Limitations of HLA-transgenic mice in presentation of HLA-restricted cytotoxic T-cell epitopes from endogenously processed human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein

We investigated the use of mice transgenic for human leucocyte antigen (HLA) A*0201 antigen-binding domains to test vaccines composed of defined HLA A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E7 oncoprotein. HPV is detected in >90% of cervical carcinomas. HPV16 E7 oncoprotein transforms cells of the uterine cervix and functions as a tumour-associated antigen to which immunotherapeutic strategies may be directed. We report that although the HLA A*0201 E7 epitope peptides function both to prime for E7 CTL responses, and to sensitize target cells for E7-directed CTL killing in situations where antigen processing is not required, the epitopes are not processed out of either endogenously expressed or immunization-introduced E7, by the mouse antigen-processing and presentation machinery. Thus (1) CTL induced by HLA A*0201 peptide immunization killed E7 peptide-pulsed target cells, but did not kill target cells expressing whole E7; (2) immunization with whole E7 protein did not elicit CTL directed to HLA A*0201-restricted E7 CTL epitopes; (3) HLA A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes expressed in the context of a DNA polytope vaccine did not activate E7-specific T cells either in 'conventional' HLA A*0201 transgenic (A2.1K(b) ) mice, or in HHD transgenic mice in which expression of endogenous H-2 class 1 is precluded; and (4) HLA A*0201 E7 peptide epitope immunization was incapable of preventing the growth of an HLA A*0201- and E7-expressing tumour. There are generic implications for the universal applicability of HLA-class 1 transgenic mice for studies of human CTL epitope presentation in murine models of human infectious disease where recognition of endogenously processed antigen is necessary. There are also specific implications for the use of HLA A2 transgenic mice for the development of E7-based therapeutic vaccines for cervical cancer.

Lepocreadiinae lepocreadiids (Digenea) from tetraodontiform fishes in the waters off Tasmania, Queensland and Moorea, French Polynesia

Two new species of Pseudocreadium are described from off northern Tasmania, P maturini sp. nov. from Meuschenia freycineti and P aubreyi sp. nov. from Acanthaluteres vittiger. They differ from the only other recognised species in the genus by the number of ovarian lobes and by size, and they differ from each other by size, shape, caecal length, forebody length, pre-oral lobe size, uterine position, excretory vesicle length and oral sucker shape. Lobatocreadium exiguum is redescribed from Sufflamen bursa, off Moorea, French Polynesia and Abalistes stellatus, Swain Reefs, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Records and measurements are given for Hypocreadium cavum from Sufflamen fraenatus and Lepotrema clavatum from Melichthys vidua, both off Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

Reproductive biology of the eastern shovelnose ray, Aptychotrema rostrata (Shaw & Nodder, 1794), from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia

The eastern shovelnose ray, Aptychotrema rostrata (Rhinobatidae), is an endemic batoid common to the east coast of Australia. The reproductive cycle was studied in Moreton Bay, south-eastern Queensland, over a 14-month period. Aptychotrema rostrata is an aplacental yolksac viviparous species with an annual, seasonal reproductive cycle in Moreton Bay. Females mature at 54-66 cm total length, and males at 60-68 cm total length. Gravid females were observed during September-November and parturition occurred in November-December. Vitellogenesis does not proceed in parallel with gestation. Ovulation and copulation probably occur during July-September, resulting in a gestational period of 3-5 months. Uterine fecundity ranges from 4 to 18, with a significant positive relationship between uterine fecundity and maternal body length. In mature males, a peak in the proportion of mature spermatocysts in the testes was observed in July, whereas gonadosomatic index peaked in April.

Role of PGF(2 alpha) and oxytocin in parturition in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Maturation of the fetal pituitary and adrenal glands allows the secretion of cortisol, which in turn leads to an increase in prostaglandin and mesotocin production. The production of prostaglandin and mesotocin results in an increase in uterine contractions and initiates birth in marsupials. The major metabolite of PGF(2alpha), 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F-2alpha (PGFM), has been found in the plasma of the possum at the time of birth and administration of PGF(2alpha) to female possums induced the adoption of the birth position. Evidence that mesotocin is an integral hormone of birth in the tammar wallaby indicates that both PGF(2alpha) and mesotocin or oxytocin are required for marsupial birth. The presence of PGF(2alpha) receptors in the uterus and corpus luteum of the possum, and the in vitro uterine responsiveness to PGF(2alpha) or oxytocin, were examined. PGF(2alpha) receptors were not observed in possum uteri and the inability of PGF(2alpha) to cause contractions indicates that PGF(2alpha) is not involved directly in contraction of the uterus at parturition. The presence of oxytocin and mesotocin receptors in the uterus of possoms and the ability of oxytocin to induce uterine contraction in vitro supports the view that mesotocin is required for expulsion of the young from the uterus. Low numbers of PGF(2alpha) receptors were found in the possum corpus luteum at birth, indicating an involvement of PGF(2alpha) in regression of the corpus luteum.

Special twin environments, genetic influences and their effects on the handedness of twins and their siblings

It has been suggested that twinning may influence handedness through the effects of birth order, intra-uterine crowding and mirror imaging. The influence of these effects on handedness (for writing and throwing) was examined in 3657 Monozygotic (MZ) and 3762 Dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs (born 1893-1992). Maximum likelihood analyses revealed no effects of birth order on the incidence of left-handedness. Twins were no more likely to be left-handed than their singleton siblings (n = 1757), and there were no differences between the DZ co-twin and sibling-twin covariances, suggesting that neither intra-uterine crowding nor the experience of being a twin affects handedness. There was no evidence of mirror imaging; the co-twin correlations of monochorionic and dichorionic MZ twins did not differ. Univariate genetic analyses revealed common environmental factors to be the most parsimonious explanation of familial aggregation for the writing-hand measure, while additive genetic influences provided a better interpretation of the throwing hand data.

Exogenous induction of ovarian activity and ovulation and transfer of fresh embryos of domestic cat (Felis catus)

The objective of the present study was the exogenous stimulation of ovarian activity and definition of embryo collection, and transfer protocols, in the domestic cat for potential application in non-domestic endangered species. Sixteen adult queens and two adult male reproducers kept in the experimental cat house at the Morphology sector at the Veterinary Department (DVT), UFV, were used in this study. All the queens received a single application of 150 IU Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) in the post estrus to induce ovarian activity and 80 to 84 hours later, received a single application of 100 UI Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) to induce ovulation. After hCG application, only the donor queens were naturally mated. The receptor queens received extra stimulus for induction of ovulation through manipulation of an intravaginal swab. Five to six days after hCG application, the donor queens were subjected to a laparotomy for embryo collection that was performed by trans-horn uterine washing. On average, six embryos were surgically inovulated. They were classified as type I and III compact morula and blastocysts in four receptor queens. Three animals presented pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound at day 36 and two of these animals gave birth to litters of two and four offsprings, respectively, at 66 and 63 days after induction of ovulation. Except for one still birth, all the offspring developed normally.

Breast cancer in Mexican women: an epidemiological study with cervical cancer control

INTRODUCTION: In Mexico, breast cancer (BC) is one of the main causes of cancer deaths in women, with increasing incidence and mortality in recent years. Therefore, the aim of the study is identify possible risk factors related to BC. METHODS: An epidemiological study of hospital cases of BC and controls with cervical uterine cancer (CUCA) was carried out at eight third level concentration hospitals in Mexico City. The total of 353 incident cases of BC and 630 controls with CUCA were identified among women younger than 75 years who had been residents of the metropolitan area of Mexico City for at least one year. Diagnosis was confirmed histologically in both groups. Variables were analyzed according to biological and statistical plausibility criteria. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Cases and controls were stratified according to the menopausal hormonal status (pre and post menopause). RESULTS: The factors associated with BC were: higher socioeconomic level (OR= 2.77; 95%CI = 1.77 - 4.35); early menarche (OR= 1.32; 95%CI= 0.88 - 2.00); old age at first pregnancy (>31 years: OR= 5.49; 95%CI= 2.16 - 13.98) and a family history of BC (OR= 4.76; 95% CI= 2.10 - 10.79). In contrast, an increase in the duration of the breastfeeding period was a protective factor (>25 months: OR= 0.38; 95%CI= 0.20 - 0.70). CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the identification of risk factors for BC described in the international literature, in the population of Mexican women. Breastfeeding appears to play an important role in protecting women from BC. Because of changes in women`s lifestyles, lactation is decreasing in Mexico, and young women tend not to breastfeed or to shorten the duration of lactation.

Peso ao nascer e síndrome metabólica em adultos: meta-análise

OBJETIVO: Analisar as evidências na literatura do efeito do peso ao nascer sobre a ocorrência de síndrome metabólica em adultos. MÉTODOS: Foram pesquisados nas bases PubMed and LILACS, no período de 1966 a maio de 2006, artigos publicados usando os seguintes descritores: "birth weight" , "birthweight" , "intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR)", "fetal growth retardation", "metabolic syndrome", "syndrome X", "Reaven's X syndrome". Foram selecionados 224 estudos considerados elegíveis que relatavam estimativas de associação entre peso ao nascer e síndrome metabólica ou seus componentes. Desses, 11 apresentavam razões de odds e foram usados na meta-análise. RESULTADOS: Com exceção de dois estudos, os demais relataram associação inversa entre peso ao nascer e síndrome metabólica. Comparadas com pessoas de peso normal, a razão de odds do efeito combinado naquelas que nasceram com baixo peso foi de 2,53 (IC 95%: 1,57;4,08). O gráfico de funil sugere viés de publicação e o resultado permanece estatisticamente significativo mesmo em estudos com mais de 400 pessoas (efeito combinado 2,37; IC 95%: 1,15;4,90). CONCLUSÕES: Baixo peso ao nascer aumenta o risco de síndrome metabólica na idade adulta.

Factors related to inadequate cervical cancer screening in two Brazilian state capitals

OBJECTIVE:To analyze factors associated with cervical cancer screening failure. METHODS:Population-based cross-sectional study with self-weighted two-stage cluster sampling conducted in the cities of Fortaleza (Northeastern Brazil) and Rio de Janeiro (Southeastern Brazil) in 2002. Subjects were women aged 25-59 years in the last three years prior to the study. Data were analyzed through Poisson regression using a hierarchical model. RESULTS: The proportion of women who did not undergo the Pap smear test in Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro was 19.1% (95% CI: 16.1;22.1) and 16.5% (95% CI: 14.1;18.9), respectively. Higher prevalence ratios of cervical cancer screening failure in both cities were seen among women with low education and low per capita income, old age, unmarried, who never underwent mammography, clinical breast examination, and blood glucose and cholesterol level testing. Smokers also had lower screening rates compared to non-smoker women and this difference was only statistically significant in Rio de Janeiro. CONCLUSIONS:The study findings point to the need of intervention focusing particularly women in worse socioeconomic conditions and access to healthcare, old-aged and unmarried. Education activities must prioritize screening of asymptomatic women and early diagnosis for symptomatic women and access to adequate diagnostic methods and treatment should be provided.