Imported Swine Count, September 2013

The imported swine court report monthly by the Department of Agricultural.

Multiple QTLs influencing triglyceride and HDL and total cholesterol levels identified in families with atherogenic dyslipidemia.

We conducted a genome-wide scan using variance components linkage analysis to localize quantitative-trait loci (QTLs) influencing triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and total cholesterol (TC) levels in 3,071 subjects from 459 families with atherogenic dyslipidemia. The most significant evidence for linkage to TG levels was found in a subset of Turkish families at 11q22 [logarithm of the odds ratio (LOD)=3.34] and at 17q12 (LOD=3.44). We performed sequential oligogenic linkage analysis to examine whether multiple QTLs jointly influence TG levels in the Turkish families. These analyses revealed loci at 20q13 that showed strong epistatic effects with 11q22 (conditional LOD=3.15) and at 7q36 that showed strong epistatic effects with 17q12 (conditional LOD=3.21). We also found linkage on the 8p21 region for TG in the entire group of families (LOD=3.08). For HDL-C levels, evidence of linkage was identified on chromosome 15 in the Turkish families (LOD=3.05) and on chromosome 5 in the entire group of families (LOD=2.83). Linkage to QTLs for TC was found at 8p23 in the entire group of families (LOD=4.05) and at 5q13 in a subset of Turkish and Mediterranean families (LOD=3.72). These QTLs provide important clues for the further investigation of genes responsible for these complex lipid phenotypes. These data also indicate that a large proportion of the variance of TG levels in the Turkish population is explained by the interaction of multiple genetic loci.

Sistemas de informações gerenciais para programa de qualidade total em pequenas empresas da região de Campinas

Este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar sistemas de informação para gerenciamento de pequenas empresas participantes do Programa de Qualidade Total, do Sebrae, na região de Campinas. Na elaboração de um proposta de modelo de sistema de informações para o executivo de empresas de pequeno porte, foi necessário identificar não apenas as características relacionadas às áreas de negócios, mas também as específicas em relação aos setores industrial, comercial e serviços. Para o conhecimento dessas características, foi realizado um diagnóstico para identificação dos recursos de informática, fontes, produtos e serviços de informação utilizados em pequenas empresas. Foram propostos indicadores de informação para o gerenciamento de programa de qualidade total, tendo como suporte o Executive Informations Systems (EIS).

The total material requirement -concept applied to agriculture : a case study from Finland

Selostus: Luonnonvarojen kokonaiskäyttö sovellettuna maatalouteen: esimerkki Suomesta

Infection after total ankle replacement : A 5-year retrospective analysis of 92 implanted ankle prostheses (2004-2008).

Objectives: Total ankle replacement (TAR) is increasingly used for treatment of primary or posttraumatic arthritis of the ankle joint, if joint movement is intended to be preserved. Data on characteristics and treatment of ankle prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is limited and no validated therapeutic algorithm exist. Therefore, we analyzed all infections, which occurred in a cohort of implanted ankle prostheses during a 5-year-period.Methods: Between 06/2004 and 12/2008, all patients with an implanted ankle prosthesis at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were operated by the same surgical team. Ankle PJI was defined as visible purulence, acute inflammation on histopathology, sinus tract, or microbial growth in periprosthetic tissue or sonication fluid of the removed prosthesis. The surgery on the infected ankle prosthesis and the follow-up were performed by the surgical team, who implanted the prosthesis. A specialized septic team consisting of an orthopaedic surgeon and infectious diseases consultant were included in the treatment.Results: During the study period, 92 total ankle prostheses were implanted in 90 patients (mean age 61 years, range 28-80 years). 78 patients had posttraumatic arthritis, 11 rheumatoid arthritis and 3 other degenerative disorder. Ankle PJI occurred in 3 of 92 TAR (3.3%), occurring 1, 2 and 24 months after implantation; the causative organisms were Enterobacter cloacae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively. The ankle prosthesis was removed in all infected patients, including debridement of the surrounding tissue was debrided and insertion of an antibiotic loaded spacer. Provisional arthrodesis was performed by external fixation in two patients and by plaster cast in one. A definitive ankle arthrodesis with a retrograde nail was performed 6 to 8 weeks after prosthesis removal. One patient needed a flap coverage. All 3 patients received intravenous antibiotic treatment for 2 weeks, followed by oral antibiotics for 4-6 weeks. At follow-up visit up to 18 months after start of treatment, all patients were without clinical or laboratory signs of infection.Conclusions: The infection incidence after TAR was 3.3%, which is slightly higher than reported after hip (<1%) or knee arthroplasty (<2%). A two-step approach consisting of removal of the infected prosthesis, combined with local and systemic antibiotic treatment, followed by definitive ankle arthrodesis shows good results. Larger patient cohort and longer follow-up evaluation is needed to define the optimal treatment approach for ankle PJI.

Changes in volume, surface estimate, three-dimensional shape and total number of neurons of the human primary visual cortex from midgestation until old age.

Macroscopic features such as volume, surface estimate, thickness and caudorostral length of the human primary visual cortex (Brodman's area 17) of 46 human brains between midgestation and 93 years were studied by means of camera lucida drawings from serial frontal sections. Individual values were best fitted by a logistic function from midgestation to adulthood and by a regression line between adulthood and old age. Allometric functions were calculated to study developmental relationships between all the features. The three-dimensional shape of area 17 was also reconstructed from the serial sections in 15 cases and correlated with the sequence of morphological events. The sulcal pattern of area 17 begins to develop around 21 weeks of gestation but remains rather simple until birth, while it becomes more convoluted, particularly in the caudal part, during the postnatal period. Until birth, a large increase in cortical thickness (about 83% of its mean adult value) and caudorostral length (69%) produces a moderate increase in cortical volume (31%) and surface estimate (40%) of area 17. After birth, the cortical volume and surface undergo their maximum growth rate, in spite of a rather small increase in cortical thickness and caudorostral length. This is due to the development of the pattern of gyrification within and around the calcarine fissure. All macroscopic features have reached the mean adult value by the end of the first postnatal year. With aging, the only features to undergo significant regression are the cortical surface estimate and the caudorostral length. The total number of neurons in area 17 shows great interindividual variability at all ages. No decrease in the postnatal period or in aging could be demonstrated.

Trace element supplementation modulates pulmonary infection rates after major burns: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Infections remain the leading cause of death after major burns. Trace elements are involved in immunity and burn patients suffer acute trace element depletion after injury. In a previous nonrandomized study, trace element supplementation was associated with increased leukocyte counts and shortened hospital stays. This randomized, placebo-controlled trial studied clinical and immune effects of trace element supplements. Twenty patients, aged 40 +/- 16 y (mean +/- SD), burned on 48 +/- 17% of their body surfaces, were studied for 30 d after injury. They consumed either standard trace element intakes plus supplements (40.4 micromol Cu, 2.9 micromol Se, and 406 micromol Zn; group TE) or standard trace element intakes plus placebo (20 micromol Cu, 0.4 micromol Se, and 100 micromol Zn; group C) for 8 d. Demographic data were similar for both groups. Mean plasma copper and zinc concentrations were below normal until days 20 and 15, respectively (NS). Plasma selenium remained normal for group TE but decreased for group C (P < 0.05 on days 1 and 5). Total leukocyte counts tended to be higher in group TE because of higher neutrophil counts. Proliferation to mitogens was depressed compared with healthy control subjects (NS). The number of infections per patient was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in group TE (1.9 +/- 0.9) than in group C (3.1 +/- 1.1) because of fewer pulmonary infections. Early trace element supplementation appears beneficial after major burns; it was associated with a significant decrease in the number of bronchopneumonia infections and with a shorter hospital stay when data were normalized for burn size.

Effects of total fishing prohibition on the rocky fish assemblages of Medes Islands marine reserve (NW Mediterranean)

Visual scuba diving censuses were used to assess the effects of fishing prohibition on abundance and size structure of littoral fish populations by comparing the same benthic communities inside and outside the protected area of Medes Islands (NE Catalonia, Spain). The total number of species found was 43 in the reserve and 44 outside, but the mean value of species richness per sampling station was significantly higher in the protected area. However, diversity, heavily affected by the presence or absence of large schools of pelagic species, showed no significant differences between sites. The prohibition of fishing for 6 years is the first factor affecting the qualitative and quantitative structure of fish populations ('reserve effect'), and depth is the second factor. Thus, except in the cases of Serranus cabrilla and Mullus surmuletus, all other vulnerable species are highly sensitive to the protection measures. The size structure of all vulnerable species was found to be absolutely different at the reserve sites than in the unprotected zones, and the modal size classes of size frequency distributions were always higher in the reserve than outside. The reserve effect was significantly responsible of the differences observed in this change on size structure. Some highly vulnerable species, such as Epinephelus guaza and Sciaena umbra, have only been found in the protected area. Others, such as Sparus aurata, Diplodus cervinus and Dicentrarchus labrax, were much more frequent inside the reserve.

Imported Swine Count, November 2013

The imported swine court report monthly by the Department of Agricultural.

A Y Allah Lou Count Ta Tedri ; Kom Tara / Zohra M'tireb, chant [acc. voc. et instr.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Imported Swine Count, December 2013

The imported swine court report monthly by the Department of Agricultural.

Efeito da germinação de soja CV. BR-13 e Paraná sobre ácido fítico, fósforo total e inibidores de tripsina

Este trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o efeito da germinação sobre os constituintes antinutricionais da soja, ácido fítico, P total e inibidores de tripsina, que interferem na utilização de proteínas e outras substâncias. A diminuição no aproveitamento de nutrientes resulta em inibição de crescimento, hipoglicemia ou danos a tecidos animais. Para os ensaios foram utilizadas as cultivares de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merrill ) BR-13 e Paraná. As sementes foram incubadas em câmara de germinação a 25°C e 100% de umidade, de 0 a 72 horas, com coleta de amostras em intervalos eqüidistantes de seis horas. A cultivar Paraná apresentou teores superiores de ácido fítico, P total e inibidores de tripsina, em relação à cultivar BR-13. As análises de variância e comparações entre médias indicaram que houve aumentos significativos (p < 0,05) nos teores de P total (8,5% e 3,6% nas cultivares BR-13 e Paraná, respectivamente) e nos níveis de inibidores de tripsina (22,05% e 17,10% nas cultivares BR-13 e Paraná, respectivamente), e reduções nos teores de ácido fítico (15,96% e 9,46% nas cultivares BR-13 e Paraná, respectivamente), em 72 horas de germinação.

A new measurement of energy expenditure and physical activity in patients treated by maintenance hemodialysis

Purpose: The accurate estimation of total energy expenditure (TEE) is essential to allow the provision of nutritional requirements in patients treated by maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). The measurement of TEE and resting energy expenditure (REE) by direct or indirect calorimetry and doubly labeled water are complicated, timeconsuming and cumbersome in this population. Recently, a new system called SenseWear® armband (SWA) was developed to assess TEE, physical activity and REE. This device works by measurements of body acceleration in two axes, heat production and steps counts. REE measured by indirect calorimetry and SWA are well correlated. The aim of this study was to determine TEE, physical activity and REE on patients on MHD using this new device. Methods and materials: Daily TEE, REE, step count, activity time, intensity of activity and lying time were determined for 7 consecutive days in unselected stable patients on MHD and sex, age and weightmatched healthy controls (HC). Patients with malnutrition, cancer, use of immunosuppressive drugs, hypoalbumemia <35 g/L and those hospitalized in the last 3 months, were excluded. For MHD patients, separate analyses were conducted in dialysis and non-dialysis days. Relevant parameters known to affect REE, such as BMI, albumin, pre-albumin, hemoglobin, Kt/V, CRP, bicarbonate, PTH, TSH, were recorded. Results: Thirty patients on MHD and 30 HC were included. In MHD patients, there were 20 men and 10 women. Age was 60,13 years ± 14.97 (mean ± SD), BMI was 25.77 kg/m² ± 4.73 and body weight was 74.65 kg ± 16.16. There were no significant differences between the two groups. TEE was lower in MHD patients compared to HC (28.79 ± 5.51 SD versus 32.91 ± 5.75 SD kcal/kg/day; p <0.01). Activity time was significantly lower in patients on MHD (101.3 ± 12.6SD versus 50.7 ± 9.4 SD min; p = 0.0021). Energy expenditure during the time of activity was significantly lower in MHD patients. MHD patients walked 4543 ± 643 SD vs 8537 ± 744 SD steps per day (p <0.0001). Age was negatively correlated with TEE (r = -0.70) and intensity of activity (r = -0.61) in HC, but not in patients on MHD. TEE showed no difference between dialysis and non-dialysis days (29.92 ± 2.03 SD versus 28.44 ± 1.90 SD kcal/kg/day; p = NS), reflecting a lack of difference in activity (number of steps, time of physical activity) and REE. This finding was observed in MHD patients both older and younger than 60 years. However, age stratification appeared to have an influence on TEE, regardless of dialysis day, (29.92 ± 2.07 SD kcal/kg/day for <60 years-old versus 27.41 ± 1.04 SD kcal/kg/day for ≥60 years old), although failing to reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Using SWA, we have shown that stable patients on MHD have a lower TEE than matched HC. On average, a TEE of 28.79 kcal/kg/day, partially affected by age, was measured. This finding gives support to the clinical impression that it is difficult and probably unnecessary to provide an energy amount of 30-35 kcal/kg/day, as proposed by international guidelines for this population. In addition, we documented for the first time that MHD patients exert a reduced physical activity as compared to HC. There were surprisingly no differences in TEE, REE and physical activity parameters between dialysis and non-dialysis days. This observation might be due to the fact that patients on MHD produce a physical effort to reach the dialysis centre. Age per se did not influence physical activity in MHD patients, contrary to HC, reflecting the impact of co-morbidities on physical activity in this group of patients.

Loss to follow-up in an international, multicentre observational study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to assess loss to follow-up (LTFU) in EuroSIDA, an international multicentre observational cohort study. METHODS: LTFU was defined as no follow-up visit, CD4 cell count measurement or viral load measurement after 1 January 2006. Poisson regression was used to describe factors related to LTFU. RESULTS: The incidence of LTFU in 12 304 patients was 3.72 per 100 person-years of follow-up [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.58-3.86; 2712 LTFU] and varied among countries from 0.67 to 13.35. After adjustment, older patients, those with higher CD4 cell counts, and those who had started combination antiretroviral therapy all had lower incidences of LTFU, while injecting drug users had a higher incidence of LTFU. Compared with patients from Southern Europe and Argentina, patients from Eastern Europe had over a twofold increased incidence of LTFU after adjustment (incidence rate ratio 2.16; 95% CI 1.84-2.53; P<0.0001). A total of 2743 patients had a period of >1 year with no CD4 cell count or viral load measured during the year; 743 (27.1%) subsequently returned to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Some patients thought to be LTFU may have died, and efforts should be made to ascertain vital status wherever possible. A significant proportion of patients who have a year with no follow-up visit, CD4 cell count measurement or viral load measurement subsequently return to follow-up.

Smart instrumentation for determination of ligament stiffness and ligament balance in total knee arthroplasty.

Ligament balance is an important and subjective task performed during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedure. For this reason, it is desirable to develop instruments to quantitatively assess the soft-tissue balance since excessive imbalance can accelerate prosthesis wear and lead to early surgical revision. The instrumented distractor proposed in this study can assist surgeons on performing ligament balance by measuring the distraction gap and applied load. Also the device allows the determination of the ligament stiffness which can contribute a better understanding of the intrinsic mechanical behavior of the knee joint. Instrumentation of the device involved the use of hall-sensors for measuring the distractor displacement and strain gauges to transduce the force. The sensors were calibrated and tested to demonstrate their suitability for surgical use. Results show the distraction gap can be measured reliably with 0.1mm accuracy and the distractive loads could be assessed with an accuracy in the range of 4N. These characteristics are consistent with those have been proposed, in this work, for a device that could assist on performing ligament balance while permitting surgeons evaluation based on his experience. Preliminary results from in vitro tests were in accordance with expected stiffness values for medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL).