Rabies control in the developing world: Results of a cross-sectional study in Bohol, Philippines

Rabies remains a significant problem in much of the developed world, where canine rabies is not well controlled, and the bite of an infected dog is the most common means of transmission. The Philippines continues to report several hundred cases of human rabies every year, and many more cases go undetected. In recent years, the province of Bohol has been targeted by the Philippine government and the World Health Organization for a rabies eradication program. ^ The primary objective of this dissertation research was to describe factors associated with dog vaccination coverage and knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding rabies among households in Bohol, Philippines. Utilizing a cross-sectional cluster survey design, we sampled 460 households and 541 dogs residing within dog-owning households. ^ Multivariate linear regression was used to examine potential associations between knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) and variables of interest. Forty-six percent of households knew that rabies was spread through the bite of an infected dog. The mean knowledge score was 8.36 (SD: ± 3.4; range: 1–24). We found that having known someone with rabies was significantly associated with an almost one point increase in the knowledge score (β = 0.88; p = 0.02). The mean attitudes score was 5.65 (SD: ± 0.63; range: 2–6), and the mean practices score was 7.07 (SD: ± 1.7; range: 2–9). Both the attitudes score and the practices score were positively and significantly associated with only the knowledge score and no other covariates. ^ Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine associations between dog vaccination coverage and variables of interest. Approximately 71% of owned dogs in Bohol were reported as vaccinated at some time during their lives. We found that a dog's age was significantly associated with vaccination, and the odds of vaccination increased in a linear fashion with age. We also found that dogs had approximately twice the odds of being vaccinated if they were confined both day and night to the household premises or if the owner was employed; however, these results were only marginally significant (p = 0.07) in the multivariate model. ^ Finally, a systematic review was conducted on canine rabies vaccination and dog population demographics in the developing world. We found few studies on this topic, especially in countries where the burden of rabies is greatest. Overall, dog ownership is high. Dogs are quite young and do not live very long due to disease and accidents. The biggest deterrent to vaccination is the rapid dog population turnover. ^ It is our hope that this work will be used to improve dog rabies vaccination programs around the world and save lives, both human and canine.^

Azithromycin efficacy in treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis

Adolescents 15 – 19 years of age have the highest prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis out of any age group, reaching 28.3% among detained youth [1]. The 2010 Center for Disease Control guidelines recommend one dose of azithromycin for the treatment of uncomplicated chlamydia infections based on 97% cure rate with azithromycin. Recent studies found an 8% or higher failure rate of azithromycin treatment in adolescents [2-5]. We conducted a prospective study beginning May, 2012 in the Harris County Juvenile Justice Center (HCJJC) medical department. Study subjects were detainees with positive urine NAAT tests for chlamydia on intake. We provided treatment with Azithromycin, completed questionnaires assessing risk factors and performed a test of cure for chlamydia three weeks after successful treatment. Those with treatment failure (positive TOC) received doxycycline for seven days. The preliminary results summarized herein are based on data collected from May 2012 to January 2013. Of the 97 youth enrolled in the study to date, 4 (4.1%) experienced treatment failure after administration of Azithromycin. Of these four patients, all were male, African-American and asymptomatic at the time of initial diagnosis and treatment. Of note, 37 (38%) patients in the cohort complained of abdominal pain with administration of Azithromycin. Results to date suggest that the efficacy of Azithromycin in our study is higher than the recent reported studies indicating a possible upper bound of Azithromycin. These results are preliminary and recruitment will continue until a sample size of 127 youth is reached.^

Nueva especie de Melampsora sobre Populus deltoides Stoneville 70 en Mendoza, Argentina

En Argentina, al igual que en otros países, las plantaciones de álamo siempre han estado sujetas a peligros fitosanitarios. La roya, causada por Melampsora spp., es una de las enfermedades más serias a nivel mundial. La clasificación de las especies de Melampsora se basa principalmente en las características morfológicas de los estados uredial y telial, y a los hospederos que poseen en su estado aecial y telial. Dada la observación de pústulas con características diferentes a las de Melampsora larici-populina (única especie citada para la provincia de Mendoza), es que el objetivo del presente trabajo fue identificar la especie de Melampsora observada en álamos del clon Stoneville 70, localizados en el distrito de San Carlos, provincia de Mendoza, Argentina. Para ello, fueron tomadas al azar, muestras de hojas sintomáticas, a partir de las cuales se realizó la descripción sintomatológica y posteriormente microscópica, registrándose la morfometría de 100 uredosporas y teliosporas. Las características analizadas concuerdan con aquellas reportadas en la bibliografía para las especies M. larici-tremulae, M. magnusiana, M. pinitorqua y M. rostrupii. Debido a la dificultad que muestran estas especies en ser distinguidas, Wilson y Henderson (1966) adoptan el nombre de M. populnea como especie colectiva. Por ello, se considera oportuno citar a la especie encontrada como M. populnea hasta aclarar con estudios más profundos la identificación definitiva del microorganismo.

Pequena história do azul. O azul como imagem e limite do visível: Manlio Brusatin e a perspectiva pictórica

Among the conscience of the intrinsic value of the pictorial, it resides a continuum understanding of which is fundamental in the relationships and contradictions of succedaneum poetic acts, and they will be better understood as the better we think as M. Brusatin, in order to «dedicate ourselves to the painting return». Reminding all that which was symptomatic and repeatedly hidden and deprecated by the draw – «the colour as decorative complement of the narrative allegory of art history», in our interpretation about Storia dei Colori, we follow the painting in its nature-temporal-space, seeing the “colour-image”, the “colour- shadow”, the “flux to light in white-opacity”. We count the intrinsic vitality of bluish life in people’s cultures; listening to it in its deepness, also in the singular profession’s act, as «once upon a time there was a time again, naturally, the once upon the time of being the Painter» as, for instance, Rafael, Kandinsky, Yves Klein, Mark Rothko and Gerhard Richter.

Lesão hiperemiada do bordo palpebral

Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2014

Le collectif contrarié : analyse des manifestations du sujet national et de sa remise en cause dans l'oeuvre de Robert Morin

La nation s’est affirmée à partir de la fin du 18e siècle comme l’un des grands paramètres de la modernité. Sa remise en cause, tout spécialement dans les dernières décennies du siècle dernier, est à la fois partie prenante et symptomatique de l’actuel phénomène d’effritement des identités collectives. Le Québec n’échappe pas à ce courant de fond, comme en témoigne l’œuvre du vidéaste et cinéaste Robert Morin, qui propose une galerie de personnages en manque d’attaches et souvent réduits à leur propre subjectivité. Dans un contexte de questionnement généralisé des concepts de nation et de collectivité, ces individualités se sentent isolées et tentent désespérément de réactualiser les liens qui les unissent à leurs semblables, mais sans grand succès. La communauté revêt ainsi une dimension nostalgique, parcourant l’œuvre de Morin dans son entièreté et se manifestant de différentes manières, tant à l’écran qu’à travers son approche du médium qui reste grandement tributaire des pratiques filmiques et vidéographiques des années ’60 et ’70. Écartelé entre la prise de conscience de son isolement et son désir d’appartenir à une entité collective, qu’elle soit nationale ou autre, le sujet délié que l’on retrouve chez Morin, comme cette thèse tente de le démontrer, subit ce phénomène de déliaison et lutte simultanément pour l’enrayer.

Le collectif contrarié : analyse des manifestations du sujet national et de sa remise en cause dans l'oeuvre de Robert Morin

La nation s’est affirmée à partir de la fin du 18e siècle comme l’un des grands paramètres de la modernité. Sa remise en cause, tout spécialement dans les dernières décennies du siècle dernier, est à la fois partie prenante et symptomatique de l’actuel phénomène d’effritement des identités collectives. Le Québec n’échappe pas à ce courant de fond, comme en témoigne l’œuvre du vidéaste et cinéaste Robert Morin, qui propose une galerie de personnages en manque d’attaches et souvent réduits à leur propre subjectivité. Dans un contexte de questionnement généralisé des concepts de nation et de collectivité, ces individualités se sentent isolées et tentent désespérément de réactualiser les liens qui les unissent à leurs semblables, mais sans grand succès. La communauté revêt ainsi une dimension nostalgique, parcourant l’œuvre de Morin dans son entièreté et se manifestant de différentes manières, tant à l’écran qu’à travers son approche du médium qui reste grandement tributaire des pratiques filmiques et vidéographiques des années ’60 et ’70. Écartelé entre la prise de conscience de son isolement et son désir d’appartenir à une entité collective, qu’elle soit nationale ou autre, le sujet délié que l’on retrouve chez Morin, comme cette thèse tente de le démontrer, subit ce phénomène de déliaison et lutte simultanément pour l’enrayer.

Haemodynamic assessment following inferior vena cava resection without replacement

Background: Treatment of bulky retroperitoneal malignancy may require en bloc resection of the infrarenal inferior vena cava. A number of reconstructive options are available to the surgeon but objective haemodynamic assessment of the peripheral venous system following resection without replacement is lacking. The aim of the present paper was thus to determine the symptomatic and haemodynamic effects of not reconstructing the resected infrarenal inferior vena cava. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was carried out at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Queensland. Five patients underwent resection of the thrombosed infrarenal inferior vena cava as part of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer (n = 3), radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (n = 1) and thrombosed inferior vena cava aneurysm (n = 1). Clinical effects were determined via the modified venous clinical severity score and venous disability score. Haemodynamic data were obtained postoperatively using venous duplex ultrasound and air plethysmography. Results: None of the present patients scored >2 (out of 30) on the modified venous clinical severity score or >1 (out of 3) on the venous disability score. Haemodynamic studies showed only minor abnormalities. Conclusions: Not reconstructing the resected thrombosed infrarenal inferior vena cava results in minor signs and symptoms of peripheral venous hypertension and only minor abnormalities on haemodynamic assessment.

Exploring an Ancestral Irish Adage

This paper will examine the various processes through which the folktale ‘On the Advantage of Silence’, first recorded by the Persian poet Sa’di in his The Gulistān (Rose Garden) (1258),has been altered in terms of content, style and function since the 13th century. Particular emphasis will be placed on the expression ‘tied stones and loose dogs’ which became its punch line in jest tales of the 17th and 18th centuries, and which was subsequently appropriated in the Irish language as a blason populaire denigrating the town of Ballyneety,Co. Limerick, and then as a legal expression in the Irish legal system in the 20th century.

Síndrome de Sjögren Primário

A Síndrome de Sjögren (SS) é uma das três patologias autoimunes mais frequentes na população mundial, ainda assim frequentemente infradiagnosticada. Esta síndrome é uma doença autoimune crónica que afeta as glândulas exócrinas, particularmente as glândulas salivares e lacrimais. A SS primária (SSp) afeta especificamente as glândulas exócrinas, enquanto que a SS secundária (SSs) aparece associada a outras patologias autoimunes sistémicas. A SS é caracterizada, histopatologicamente, por um infiltrado inflamatório linfocitário que interfere com a função glandular normal. Afeta 0,5% da população mundial, sendo claramente mais predominante em mulheres (9:1 versus homens), principalmente por volta dos 50 anos (após a menopausa), ainda que também possa aparecer depois da menarca (entre os 20 e os 30 anos). Considera se que a etiologia da SS é multifatorial. Fatores genéticos, ambientais, hormonais e virais estão implicados na sua etiopatogénese. É muito importante o papel dos Médicos Dentistas no diagnóstico da SSp, uma vez que na maior parte dos casos são eles quem detetam os primeiros sintomas, mais propriamente a boca seca. Diversos testes auxiliares são utilizados para o diagnóstico desta doença, tais como: o teste de Schimer, o teste de Rosa Bengala, a Sialometria, a Sialografia, a Biópsia das glândulas salivares, entre outros. A SSp, regra geral, tem um curso não doloroso, sendo a boca seca e a secura ocular as suas duas características clínicas mais salientes. A maior parte das manifestações orais que se apresentam nestes pacientes são resultado de hipofunção das glândulas salivares (da boca seca), tais como: a cárie dentária, a doença periodontal, as infeções fúngicas, entre outras. Esta doença também se pode associar a problemas a nível sistémico, que podem ser subdivididos em não viscerais (pele, artralgia, mialgia) e viscerais (pulmão, coração, rim, sistema gastrointestinal, sistema endócrino e sistema nervoso central e periférico). O tratamento é empírico, sintomático e direcionado a tratar as complicações da doença mais inicial, que consiste em limitar os danos da xerostomia e da queratoconjuntivite. A prevenção dos sintomas a nível oral e ocular é fundamental em pacientes com SSp, para assim terem maior qualidade de vida.

A contribuição da educação ambiental para uma compreensão ética da relação entre indivíduos humanos e cães: inferências teóricas a partir de um estudo de caso no município de Rio Grande-RS

A presente pesquisa teve como problemática o cão abandonado, e fez a relação entre esta situação e os processos humanos e culturais que perpassam o problema. A questão central da pesquisa é: Como compreender a relação dos humanos com os cães, e como a Educação Ambiental pode contribuir para a construção da reflexão sobre o tema e a consequente mudança de postura dos humanos para com estes animais em seu convívio social? O foco da pesquisa é a ética entendida como ética da vida a partir de autores como Morin, Singer e Brugger. O objetivo da pesquisa é contribuir para a construção de uma nova mentalidade; fazer perceber uma ética que não está clara, e buscar compreender os processos que afastem os humanos desta mentalidade. Sendo assim, a fundamentação teórica concentra - se em estudos sobre a ética, a domesticação e o antropocentrismo. Justifico este trabalho por tratar de uma situação degradante para com a vida deste animal, por seu valor intrínseco, e por ser um animal que, em minha opinião, acompanhou e refletiu a própria história da humanidade. A metodologia utilizada foi o Estudo de Caso, aplicado na cidade de Rio Grande, entre 2011 e 2013, e contou com entrevistas com grupos de proteção animal, e com o atual prefeito municipal. Como ferramenta metodológica, para a realização da pesquisa e do texto, utilizei a Mandala Reflexiva, da Prof. Dra. Virginia Machado, que é uma configuração de abordagem pedagógica e epistemológica do processo de investigação. A interação da pesquisa, além do resultado da atividade com alunos jovens e adultos da 8ª série do PROMEJA de uma escola municipal, envolveu a proposta da produção de vídeos amadores de sensibilização sobre o tema, para ser aplicada em escolas ou em quaisquer tipos de projetos com interessados sobre o tema, a fim de difundir a questão a partir da experiência ético - estética. O resultado prático é o registro de uma nova expectativa em relação à resolução do problema dos cães abandonados nesta cidade. Filosoficamente, chegou - se a uma reflexão complexa sobre o ser humano e suas ações no planeta, que indicam que, quanto mais formos capazes de pensar no todo, e substituir o egoísmo por uma dosagem de altruísmo e de ética, mais sentido terá a nossa própria vida.

Osteomyelitis of the maxilla in a patient with Malignant Infantile Osteopetrosis

Osteopetrosis is characterized by a considerable increase in bone density resulting in defective remodeling, caused by failure in the normal function of osteoclasts, and varies in severity. It is usually subdivided into three types: benign autosomal dominant osteopetrosis; intermediate autosomal recessive osteopetrosis; and malignant autosomal recessive infantile osteopetrosis, considered the most serious type. The authors describe a case of chronic osteomyelitis in the maxilla of a 6-year-old patient with Malignant Infantile Osteopetrosis. The treatment plan included pre-maxilla sequestrectomy and extraction of erupted upper teeth. No surgical procedure was shown to be the best to prevent the progression of oral infection. Taking into account the patient's general condition, if the patient develops severe symptomatic and refractory osteomyelitis surgery should be considered. The patient and his family are aware of the risks and benefits of surgery and its possible complications.

Clínica e cirurgia em animais de companhia

Este relatório foi realizado no âmbito do estágio curricular no Hospital Veterinário do Baixo Vouga de 1 de Setembro de 2015 a 31 de Janeiro de 2016. A primeira componente trata da casuística acompanhada no estágio. A área médica mais comum foi a gastroenterologia. A segunda componente consiste na revisão bibliográfica da aspergilose canina complementada com um caso clínico acompanhado no estágio. A aspergilose sino-nasal canina ocorre principalmente em indivíduos jovens ou de meia-idade, mesaticéfalos ou dolicocéfalos e saudáveis. O seu diagnóstico implica o conjunto de vários exames, nomeadamente imagiológicos, cultura de fungos, histopatologia, serologia e diagnóstico molecular. O tratamento recomendado é o tópico. A aspergilose disseminada é menos frequente, sendo mais comum na raça Pastor Alemão. Sendo geralmente mais grave, o tratamento passa essencialmente pela terapia antifúngica sistémica. O uso de fungicidas tem sido muito associado à ocorrência de resistências cruzadas a antifúngicos azóis, dificultando o tratamento destas infeções; Abstract: Small Animal Medicine This report was elaborated following a traineeship at the Hospital Veterinário do Baixo Vouga from September 1st, 2015 to January, 31st, 2016. The first component covers the casuistry accompanied during the same. The most prevalent medical field was the gastroenterology. The second component consists of a literature review of canine aspergillosis along with the report of a case followed during the internship. Canine sinonasal aspergillosis primarily affects young to middle-aged, mesaticephalic or dolichocephalic and healthy dogs. Its diagnosis involves a conjunction of medical exams, namely imagiologic, fungal culture, histopathology, serology and molecular diagnosis. The recommended treatment is the topical one. Disseminated aspergillosis is more infrequent, occurring usually in German Shepard Dogs. Being more grievous, its treatment is based upon the administration of systemic antifungals. The use of azole fungicides has been linked to the development of cross-resistances between these and the antifungal azoles, making it difficult to treat such infections.

Increased Levels of Diadenosine Polyphosphates in Dry Eye

Purpose. To analyze the levels of the diadenosine polyphosphates Ap4A and Ap5A in tears, in a set of control subjects and in groups of symptomatic and nonsymptomatic persons with dry eye. Methods. Ninety-seven subjects participated in the study. The subjects were divided into five experimental groups: control subjects; symptomatic patients with normal tear secretion; symptomatic patients with low tear secretion; forced blink; and corneal mechanical stimulation provided by a gas esthesiometer. The Schirmer I test was used to measure and collect tear secretions from each subject. All samples were processed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and their Ap4A and Ap5A levels determined. Results. The levels of Ap4A and Ap5A in tears were greater in all symptomatic patients than in control subjects, especially in symptomatic subjects with low tear secretion. Within the symptomatic subjects with normal tear secretion, significant differences in concentrations of Ap4A and Ap5A were found between men and women. In the forced blink experiments, concentrations of the Ap4A and Ap5A rose with increasing blink frequency. When the cornea was mechanically stimulated, the levels of Ap4A and Ap5A rose significantly during both moderate and high-flow rate tests. Conclusions. The increased levels of Ap4A and Ap5A in tears of patients with dry eye allow these dinucleotides to be used as objective biomarkers in dry eye conditions.

A novel antigen capture ELISA for the specific detection of IgG antibodies to elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus

BACKGROUND Elephants are classified as critically endangered animals by the International Union for Conservation of Species (IUCN). Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) poses a large threat to breeding programs of captive Asian elephants by causing fatal haemorrhagic disease. EEHV infection is detected by PCR in samples from both clinically ill and asymptomatic elephants with an active infection, whereas latent carriers can be distinguished exclusively via serological assays. To date, identification of latent carriers has been challenging, since there are no serological assays capable of detecting seropositive elephants. RESULTS Here we describe a novel ELISA that specifically detects EEHV antibodies circulating in Asian elephant plasma/serum. Approximately 80 % of PCR positive elephants display EEHV-specific antibodies. Monitoring three Asian elephant herds from European zoos revealed that the serostatus of elephants within a herd varied from non-detectable to high titers. The antibody titers showed typical herpes-like rise-and-fall patterns in time which occur in all seropositive animals in the herd more or less simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the developed ELISA is suitable to detect antibodies specific to EEHV. It allows study of EEHV seroprevalence in Asian elephants. Results confirm that EEHV prevalence among Asian elephants (whether captive-born or wild-caught) is high.