bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does physical fitness enhance lung function in children and young adults?
Authors: Hancox Robert J. , Rasmussen Finn
Published: February 2018

Although physical activity is important for lung health, it is unclear whether physical fitness influences lung function. We investigated associations between lung function and fitness in two population-based cohort studies of children and young adults.

Aerobic fitness was measured using a maximal cycle ergometer test at ages 9, 15, 21 and 29 years in Odense, Denmark and using a submaximal cycle test at ages 15, 26, 32 and 38 years in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Aerobic fitness was positively associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in cross-sectional analyses at all ages in both cohorts, independently of height, weight, sex, asthma and smoking. Each standard deviation difference in fitness was associated with 2–3% predicted higher values of FEV1and FVC. Improvements in fitness during childhood and adolescence were associated with growth in lung volumes in longitudinal analyses. These associations tended to be stronger in males than females. No longitudinal associations were found after peak adult lung function had been attained. Fitness was not significantly associated with FEV1/FVC ratios.

Aerobic fitness is positively associated with lung volumes. Improving fitness during childhood and adolescence is associated with greater adult lung volumes, but not with airway calibre.
The independent contribution ofPseudomonas aeruginosainfection to long-term clinical outcomes in bronchiectasis
Authors: Araújo David , Shteinberg Michal , Aliberti Stefano , Goeminne Pieter C. , Hill Adam T. , Fardon Thomas C. , Obradovic Dusanka , Stone Glenda , Trautmann Marion , Davis Angela , Dimakou Katerina , Polverino Eva , De Soyza Anthony , McDonnell Melissa J. , Chalmers James D.
Published: February 2018

Pseudomonas aeruginosais responsible for chronic infection in many bronchiectasis patients but it is not known whether it is associated with worse clinical outcomes independent of the underlying severity of disease.

This study analysed data from 2596 bronchiectasis patients included from 10 different bronchiectasis clinical centres across Europe and Israel, with a 5-year follow-up period. Prevalence ofP. aeruginosachronic infection and its independent impact on exacerbations, hospitalisations, quality of life and mortality was assessed.

The prevalence ofP. aeruginosachronic infection was 15.0% (n=389).P. aeruginosawas associated with a higher mortality in a univariate analysis (hazard ratio (HR) 2.02; 95% (confidence interval) CI 1.53–2.66; p<0.0001) but an independent impact on mortality was not found in a multivariate analysis (HR 0.98; 95% CI 0.70–1.36; p=0.89).P. aeruginosawas independently associated with increased mortality only in patients with frequent exacerbations (two or more per year) (HR 2.03; 95% CI 1.36–3.03; p=0.001). An independent association with worse quality of life of 7.46 points (95% CI 2.93–12.00; p=0.001) was found in a multivariable linear regression.P. aeruginosawas therefore found to be independently associated with exacerbation frequency, hospital admissions and worse quality of life. Mortality was increased in patients withP. aeruginosaparticularly in the presence of frequent exacerbations.
The method to soften the concretions of ceramics in the “Nanhai I” Shipwreck of China Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279AD)
Authors: Wang Yanrong , Zhu Tiequan , Yang Guicheng , Tan Xian , Ye Daoyang , Chen Haotian
Published: February 2018

The “Nanhai I” shipwreck of the Southern Song dynasty is the existent oldest and the most integrally preserved shipwreck in the world. Inside the shipwreck most of the ancient ceramics were covered with different types of concretions. In our work, different types of concretions were analyzed using stereomicroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Based on those analyses, we applied a new physical method of heating and boiling to soften the concretions and remove them from the ceramics. It turned out that this method was efficient to remove the white shellfish concretions, gray concretions and red iron concretions, which not only provided a good basis for the preservation of ancient ceramics of the shipwreck, but also benefited the archaeological research on ancient ceramics.
Addressing alcohol-related dementia should involve better detection, not watchful waiting
Authors: Rao Rahul (Tony) , Draper Brian
Published: February 2018

Alcohol-related dementia represents an underrecognised mental disorder with both clinical and public mental health aspects. There is considerable scope for improving its assessment within both mainstream and specialist mental health services, but ongoing challenges remain in ensuring its timely detection so that appropriate preventative and rehabilitative interventions can be applied.

Declaration of interest

None.
Impact of adherence to antidepressants on long-term prescription opioid use cessation
Authors: Scherrer Jeffrey F. , Salas Joanne , Sullivan Mark D. , Ahmedani Brian K. , Copeland Laurel A. , Bucholz Kathleen K. , Burroughs Thomas , Schneider F. David , Lustman Patrick J.
Published: February 2018

Background

Depression contributes to persistent opioid analgesic use (OAU). Treating depression may increase opioid cessation.

Aims

To determine if adherence to antidepressant medications (ADMs) v. non-adherence was associated with opioid cessation in patients with a new depression episode after >90 days of OAU.

Method

Patients with non-cancer, non-HIV pain (n = 2821), with a new episode of depression following >90 days of OAU, were eligible if they received ≥1 ADM prescription from 2002 to 2012. ADM adherence was defined as >80% of days covered. Opioid cessation was defined as ≥182 days without a prescription refill. Confounding was controlled by inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Results

In weighted data, the incidence rate of opioid cessation was significantly (P = 0.007) greater in patients who adhered v. did not adhered to taking antidepressants (57.2/1000 v. 45.0/1000 person-years). ADM adherence was significantly associated with opioid cessation (odds ratio (OR) = 1.24, 95% CI 1.05–1.46).

Conclusions

ADM adherence, compared with non-adherence, is associated with opioid cessation in non-cancer pain. Opioid taper and cessation may be more successful when depression is treated to remission.

Declaration of interest

None.
Duration of Anti–Programmed Death-1 Therapy in Advanced Melanoma: How Much of a Good Thing Is Enough?
Authors: Khushalani Nikhil I.
Published: February 2018

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors’ suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.

A 53-year-old healthy man presented with recurrent in-transit melanoma of the right lower extremity. Eight years prior he had undergone wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy for invasive melanoma of the anteromedial aspect of the distal right thigh. Pathology revealed an ulcerated melanoma, Breslow depth 3.5 mm, and with one involved micrometastatic inguinal lymph node. Staging studies did not demonstrate distant metastases. Superficial inguinal node dissection was performed and did not identify any additional metastatic nodes of 14 retrieved for a final pathologic staging of T3bN1aM0 (stage IIIB) cutaneous melanoma. He received 12 months of adjuvant high-dose interferon alfa-2b. Two years later, he developed a 1.2-cm subcutaneous focus of in-transit recurrence approximately 4 cm proximal to the original melanoma site in the right thigh, which was treated with surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Over the next 4 years, he underwent six additional surgeries for isolated in-transit recurrences affecting the same limb. He was referred for therapeutic options at the time of his latest in-transit recurrence. Examination revealed three palpable subcutaneous nodules in the right thigh in the setting of lymphedema. A core biopsy confirmed recurrent melanoma (Fig 1). Whole-body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging revealed at least 17 hypermetabolic cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules in the right thigh, four fluorodeoxyglucose-avid nodules below the right knee, but no distant metastases (Fig 2A). Brain magnetic resonance imaging was normal. His serum chemistry profile, including lactate dehydrogenase, was normal. Molecular analysis demonstrated presence of BRAF V600E mutation in the tumor. After multidisciplinary evaluation, an isolated limb infusion procedure of the right lower extremity was not believed to be feasible, secondary to the proximal extent of the recurrence. Therapy was initiated with pembrolizumab at 2 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks.
Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity Correlates With Uterine Myoma Volume Reduction After Ulipristal Acetate Treatment
Authors: Courtoy Guillaume E , Henriet Patrick , Marbaix Etienne , de Codt Matthieu , Luyckx Mathieu , Donnez Jacques , Dolmans Marie-Madeleine
Published: February 2018

Context

Ulipristal acetate (UPA), a selective progesterone receptor modulator, clinically reduces uterine myoma size in 80% of cases. However, the molecular mechanism of action is still poorly understood, as is the reason why 20% of myomas do not respond to treatment.

Objective

To elucidate whether matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are associated with myoma volume shrinkage after UPA therapy.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

Academic research unit of a university hospital.

Patients

Uterine biopsies were obtained from 59 patients with symptomatic myomas undergoing myomectomy, 45 of whom were treated preoperatively with either one or greater than or equal to two, 3-month courses of UPA and 14 not given any hormone therapy to serve as controls. Myoma volume was individually monitored during UPA therapy to determine any substantial clinical response (defined as a reduction in volume of >25%). Three groups were established based on the response to treatment: responsive (R) after one course (n = 12); R after two to four courses (n = 15); and nonresponsive (NR; n = 18).

Interventions

UPA treatment given as preoperative management for symptomatic myomas.

Main Outcome Measures

MMP and TIMP expression assessed by zymography and immunohistochemistry.

Results

Compared with controls and NR myomas, responders showed significantly higher expression levels for MMP-1 (P < 0.0001) and MMP-2 (P = 0.009) and significantly lower expression levels for TIMP-1 (P = 0.040).

Conclusions

The correlation found between MMP expression and volume fold change supports the notion that MMPs play a key role in UPA-induced myoma shrinkage.
Skeptical Ignorance: Hume, Shelley, and the Mystery of “Mont Blanc”
Authors: Schey Taylor
Published: February 2018

Literary history commonly holds that the Enlightenment inaugurated an epistemological crisis to which the British Romantic poets sought to respond. The skeptical separation of subject and object is considered a central problem for Romanticism, which is thought to rest on a desire to regain access to things in themselves—or, in a more recent idiom, to what Quentin Meillassoux calls “the great outdoors” and Jane Bennett calls “the out-side.” This story does not stand up to scrutiny. A reexamination of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poetry and philosophy reveals that he was positively invested in a poetic praxis of skeptical ignorance derived from David Hume and that this praxis allowed him to vacate the question of the way things really are. Eschewing the masculinist quest to penetrate the secrets of the natural world, this skeptical praxis offers a quiet solution to the mind-nature problem by dissolving its existence as a problem. It also overhauls our understanding of “Mont Blanc” and illuminates a Romantic tradition founded on a poetics of epistemic sufficiency.
Evaluation of Precision Xceed® for on-site monitoring of blood ß-hydroxybutyric acid and glucose in dairy cows
Authors: PANOUSIS (Ν. ΠΑΝΟΥΣΗΣ) N. , KRITSEPI (Μ. ΚΡΙΤΣΕΠΗ) M. , KARAGIANNIS (Ι. ΚΑΡΑΓΙΑΝΝΗΣ) I. , KALAITZAKIS (ΕΜ. ΚΑΛΑΪΤΖΑΚΗΣ) E. , LAFI E. , BROZOS (Χ. ΜΠΡΟΖΟΣ) Ch.
Published: February 2018

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of the Precision Xceed® hand-held meter as an on-site method for determining blood ß-hydroxyboutyric acid (BHBA) and glucose concentrations, for the diagnosis of subclinical ketosis in dry and lactating dairy cows. A total of 163 clinically healthy Holstein cows (113 lactating, 8-50 days-in-milk; and 50 dry, 10-40 days pre-partum) from 5 farms located around Thessaloniki region, were blood-sampled once, from the jugular vein of each animal, 5 to 8 hours after the start of morning feeding. BHBA was determined in all 163 cows, whereas glucose only in 114 cows (50 dry and 64 lactating cows). These analyses were performed, for each cow, by both laboratory method (in serum) and Precision Xceed® meter (in whole blood, cowside). Using laboratory serum BHBA concentrations > 1.2 mmol/L as the cut-off point, 11/163 (6.7%) of the tested cows were considered as subclinically ketotic, whereas raising the cut-off to > 1.4 mmol/L, 9/163 (5.5%) cows had subclinical ketosis. All these cows (11 and 9, respectively) were lactating. None of the dry cows had subclinical ketosis at BHBA cut-off of > 1.4 mmol/L. One out of the 50 dry cows (2%) and 15/113 (13.3%) lactating cows sampled were classified as subclinically ketotic when the Precision Xceed® meter was set at BHBA concentrations > 1.2 mmol/L. Overall, mean BHBA and glucose concentrations were not statistically different (P>0.05) between the two methods. Significant positive correlations were found for BHBA (strong correlation: r=0.99; n=163; P<0.01) and glucose (moderate correlation: r=0.63; n=114; P<0.01) concentrations between Precision Xceed® and laboratory results. Precision Xceed® is less accurate for measuring glucose (glucometer) compared to BHBA (ketometer). The low percentage of false positive (<0.6%) and false negative (<4%) indicating that the Precision Xceed® meter is an accurate screening test and its results are highly reliable under field conditions. Precision Xceed® meter was highly sensitive (90.9%) and specific (96.05%) at cut off point of BHBA concentrations > 1.2 mmol/L and it had excellent test agreement for detection of subclinical ketosis when using a threshold of blood BHBA > 1.4 mmol/L.
Genetic structure and diversity among three Greek sheep breeds using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA-PCR
Authors: MASTRANESTASIS (Ι. ΜΑΣΤΡΑΝΕΣΤΑΣΗΣ) I. , LIGDA (Χρ. ΛΙΓΔΑ) Ch. , THEODOROU (Κ. ΘΕΟΔΩΡΟΥ) K. , EKATERINIADOU (Λ.Β. ΑΙΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΙΑΔΟΥ) L. V.
Published: February 2018

Genetic structure and diversity of 120 animals from three Greek local breeds were investigated by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) - PCR method. Sheep samples originated from the Lesvos, Chios and Karagouniko breeds were treated with 11 random primers to estimate their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships. Our analysis comprised two levels of the breeds' genetic structure: i) the genetic differentiation among the three breeds and ii) the genetic differentiation among the flocks within each breed. This combined approach gave two main findings: i) the study of genetic distances and identity revealed that the Karagouniko sheep breed is genetically distinct from Chios (GD=0.1979) and Lesvos (GD=0.1691) breeds, while ii) the Chios and Lesvos breeds are genetically similar (GI=0.9631); half of the flocks of Lesvos have a relatively closer relationship with those of Chios than with the other Lesvos flocks. This is the first study that reports the close genetic relationship between the Chios and Lesvos breeds and gives strong evidence to hypotheses about their related origin. Furthermore, the study of polymorphic loci revealed particular indicators located in Karagouniko breed, as definitional datum of genetic identity or as a fingerprint of breed. Therefore, RAPD-DNA methods can be an efficient tool for the determination of phylogenetic relationships and genetic identity among the bloodstock breed of sheep.
Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in bulk milk and blood serum and associations with reproductive indices in cow dairy herds of Central and Northern Greece
Authors: DOVOLOU (Ε. ΝΤΟΒΟΛΟΥ) E. , TSILIGIANNI (Θ. ΤΣΙΛΙΓΙΑΝΝΗ) Th. , VOUZARAS (Δ. ΒΟΥΖΑΡΑΣ) D. , AMIRIDIS (Γ.Σ. ΑΜΟΙΡΙΔΗΣ) G. S.
Published: February 2018

For the first time in Greece, we investigated the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in milk and sera from dairy cattle herds located at central and northern parts of the country. Eighty herds were initially voluntary enrolled in the study and a bulk milk sample from each farm was assayed by ELISA for C burnetii antibodies. According to antibody titre, herds were classified into 5 categories: negative and grades 1,2,3 and 4 (ascending scale). To assess the prevalence within farms, two herds from each category were selected and blood samples were collected for antibody assessment. In these herds, some reproductive indices were compared between farms; in addition, comparisons were made in paired seropositive and seronegative animals from one grade 3 herd. Twenty three herds (35%) were found positive, 21 being in categories 3 and 4. The prevalence of seropositive animals between herds varied from 4.9 to 46.3%, even from farms initially characterized as negative, some positive animals were detected. Between farms, no differences were detected in the abortion rate or in the mean number of artificial inseminations (AI) per pregnancy. Some differences were found in other reproductive indices that were impossible to be biologically interpreted under the light of C. burnetii level of infection. From the results presented here, we infer that C. burnetii infection is likely asymptomatic in dairy cows causing minimal -if any- economic losses to farmers. However, since the disease is a zoonotic one, its spread can easily occur, a systematic surveillance, in all ruminant species, for the restriction or eradication of the disease should be undertaken in national level.
Prevalence of Listeria spp. in freshwater T\s\v(Oncorhynchus my kiss and Carassius gibelio) and the environment offish markets in Northern Greece
Authors: PAPADOPOULOS (Θ. ΠΑΠΑΔΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ) Th. , ABRAHIM A. , SERGELIDIS (Δ. ΣΕΡΓΚΕΛΙΔΗΣ) D. , KIRKOUDIS (Ι. ΚΥΡΚΟΥΔΗΣ) I. , BITCHAVA (Κ. ΜΠΙΤΧΑΒΑ) K.
Published: February 2018

In this study, a total of 405 samples from freshwater fish, personnel and environment were collected from retail fish markets in three cities in Northern Greece and they were examined for the presence of Listeria spp. They consisted of 136 samples from the skin and 136 from the flesh of 71 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and 65 gibel carps (Carassius gibelio), 20 from workers' hands, 27 from workers' knives, 22 from working surfaces, 29 from wooden boxes, 15 from plastic boxes, 18 from floor surfaces and 2 from drainage lids. Listeria spp. was isolated from 10.62% of the samples, L. monocytogenes were 0.99%, 4.69% L. seeligeri and 4.94% L. innocua, respectively. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 3.54% of the environmental samples and none from fresh water fish and workers hands' samples. Listeria spp. was isolated from 1.54% of gibel carp flesh (1.54% L. seeligeri), from 18.46% of gibel carp skin (10.77% L. seeligeri and 7.69% L. innocua) and from 8.45% from rainbow trout skin samples (1.41% L. seeligeri and 7.04% L. innocua). The higher rate of isolation of Listeria spp. from the environmental samples emphasises the importance of sanitary conditions in order to reduce the risk of contamination by L. monocytogenes at the retail level.
Severe focal myelopathy secondary to chronic compression by an arachnoid pseudocyst in a Rottweiler
Authors: POLIZOPOULOU (Ζ.Σ. ΠΟΛΥΖΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ) Z. S. , SOUFTAS (Β.Δ. ΣΟΥΦΤΑΣ) V. D. , BRELLOU (Γ. ΜΠΡΕΛΛΟΥ) G. , PATSIKAS (Μ.Ν. ΠΑΤΣΙΚΑΣ) M. N. , SOUBASIS (Ν. ΣΟΥΜΠΑΣΗΣ) Ν. , KOUTINAS (Α.Φ. ΚΟΥΤΙΝΑΣ) A. F.
Published: February 2018

A four-year old Rottweiler was presented with tetraplegia, established progressively over a 4-month period. Initiallythe dog developed paresis of the posterior limbs that subsequently evolved to tetraparesis and finally tetraplegia. Upon neurological examination the dog exhibited spastic tetraplegia with exaggerated spinal reflexes in all four limbs. The neuroanatomical lesion localization indicated a focal or diffuse cervical spinal cord disease. Cisternal myelography revealed obstruction of the contrast medium flow at the level of C5 vertebral body. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed intradural-extramedullary compression of the spinal cord at the level of C5-C6 intervertebral disc by a spinal arachnoid pseudocyst, syrinx formation and myelopathy expressed as abnormally higher signal on T2-weighted images at the C5 segment level. Severe demyelination, involving exclusively the white matter of the grossly affected segments and extending rostrally into the brainstem and caudally into the thoracic spinal cord segments, was noticed on histopathology. The unusually severe secondary degenerative change in the cervical spinal cord white matter, inflicted by focal SAP compression, was the most interesting finding.
New aspects upon the classification of Staphylococcus intermedins
Authors: PETRIDOU (Ε. ΠΕΤΡΙΔΟΥ) E. , FARMAKI (Ρ. ΦΑΡΜΑΚΗ) R. , KOUTINAS (Α.Φ. ΚΟΥΤΙΝΑΣ) A. F.
Published: February 2018

In 1976, Staphylococcus intermedins was first described as being a new species isolated from pigeons, dogs, mink and horses. Until recently, the majority of coagulase-positive staphylococci originating from animals such as dogs and pigeons have been classified as S. intermedins. This species has been recognized to constitute normal skin flora of various animal species and to occasionally cause a variety of infections in dogs and cats. There have been six species of coagulase-positive staphylococci other than Staphylococcus aureus, namely S.intermedius, S.schleiferì subsp. coagulans, S.hyicus, S. lutrae, S.delphini and S. pseudintermedius. Sequence similarities of 16S rRNA genes among four of these species, except S. hyicus and S. lutrae, are 99% identical. In addition, it is very difficult to differentiate among S. intermedius, S. delphini and S. pseudintermedius phenotypically, and commercial kits are not available for the differentiation between of S. pseudintermedius and S. delphini. It has been shown that isolates phenotypically identified as Staphylococcus intermedius consist of four distinct species, including S. intermedius, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus delphini group A and B, which together represent the Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG). Moreover, S. delphini group Β might be a novel species. In 2009, a new, rapid and inexpensive PCR-RFLP was developed and is capable of discriminating the SIG strains.
Mechanical ventilation. Part I: Physiology and pathophysiology
Authors: NIKOLAOU (Χ. ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ) Ch. , SAVVAS (Ι. ΣΑΒΒΑΣ) I. , PAPASTEFANOU (Α. ΠΑΠΑΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΥ) A.
Published: February 2018

Despite the fact that mechanical ventilation is an integral part of anaesthesia practice, its widespread use in veterinary medicine has yet to be established. The increasing needs and advances in animal pain management, being associated with anaesthetic protocols that can cause hypoventilation, make the use of mechanical ventilation more necessary than ever. Although mechanically ventilating the patient is not pivotal in a substantial number of surgical techniques, inability to do so precludes certain anaesthetic protocols from being used, making the choice of the drugs to be employed troubleshooting. Successful mechanical ventilation requires a thorough understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of respiration, as well as the way mechanical ventilation affects them. Before any attempt to describe mechanical ventilation, a glossary of technical terms has to be accepted, as long as consensus between the authors has not been found in the literature. Lung elasticity, resistance to flow, inspiration time and the ratio of inspiration to expiration time interact during mechanical ventilation affecting the final result on the patient. Volutrauma, barotrauma, ventilation-perfusion mismatch and cardiac output decrease are some of the adverse effects of mechanical ventilation. The choice of whether or not to use automatic ventilators, the choice of the right equipment and setting the variables correctly on the control panel need a thorough understanding of patient pathology. This article reviews respiration under normal and pathologic conditions and the effects mechanical ventilation exerts on different organ systems. Guidelines for the application of mechanical ventilation under various pathologic conditions are provided.
Cutaneous lymphohistiocytic and multifocal lymphoma in an adult mare
Authors: SPANOUDES (Κ.Μ. ΣΠΑΝΟΥΔΗΣ) K. M. , McGOWAN C. M. , DIAKAKIS (Ν.Ε. ΔΙΑΚΑΚΗΣ) N. E. , KOUTINAS (Α.Φ. ΚΟΥΤΙΝΑΣ) A. F.
Published: February 2018

Cutaneous or subcutaneous lymphoma is one of the four different forms appearing in the horse. This type of equine lymphoma is usually lymphohistiocytic with a Τ, Β or mixed-cell immunophenotype and with a prevalence of less than 3% among skin neoplasms. This is all about a 9-year old Warmblood mare admitted with a 5-month history of multiple cutaneous masses spreading to many parts of the body. Apart from the multiple subcutaneous nodules and plaques, which did not provide discomfort to the horse, no other abnormalities were found either in clinical or laboratory examination. Lesionai histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed a lymphohistiocytic T-cell lymphoma, which most likely was primary. The owner elected not to have her horse treated, but readmitted it for euthanasia 5 months later, because of the worsening of skin lymphoma and the appearance of general and systemic clinical signs. The ensuing postmortem was suggestive of distant metastatic disease (liver, mediastinal lymph nodes, pharyngeal wall) most likely originating from the skin.
Animal welfare issues on the use of rabbits in an animal assisted therapy program for children
Authors: LOUKAKI (Κ. ΛΟΥΚΑΚΗ) K. , KOUKOUTSAKIS (Π. ΚΟΥΚΟΥΤΣΑΚΗΣ) P. , KOSTOMITSOPOULOS (Ν. ΚΩΣΤΟΜΗΤΣΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ) N.
Published: February 2018

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a method of complementary treatment in the rehabilitation of many human illnesses and conditions. Although the dog is the most widely used therapy animal that is used in AAT program, the rabbit can also be used as an alternate animal species and complementary therapy for many diseases. It is an intelligent, human friendly and playful small animal, easily socialized and transported. Also, the rabbit has very good communication through its body language. A special bond, also, exists between children and rabbits, and in the animal world of children, the rabbit is a very popular animal mainly through children's literature. As a result, rabbits elicit positive feelings in children and enhance their imagination. Based on previousexperience from an AAT program with rabbits in a children's hospital, the rabbit can be easily accepted by children with emotional or physical problems. In order for an AAT program with a rabbit to be a success, it is very important to guarantee good health and normal behaviour of the rabbit, as well as its proper welfare. The contribution and participation of a veterinarian during the design and the implementation of the program are, also, very important for assuring the success of an AAT program with rabbits.
1924-2009 85 Years of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society
Authors: ANANIADIS Th.
Published: February 2018

Presentation of Mr Theodoros Kl. Ananiadis for the 85 years of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, during the opening celebration of the 11th Pan-Hellenic Veterinary Congress, «The Athens HILTON» Athens 19-22 March 2009
The use of the "EUR-Lex" website for retrieving European legislation related to veterinary medicine
Authors: ANGELIDIS (Α.Σ. ΑΓΓΕΛΙΔΗΣ) A. S. , CHAINTOUTIS (Σ. ΧΑΪΝΤΟΥΤΗΣ) S. , TYRPENOU (Α.Ε. ΤΥΡΠΕΝΟΥ) A. E.
Published: February 2018

This article contains instructions in the form of a "user's manual" for the use of the "EUR-Lex" web site, which is the official European Union site for access to the European Union legislation. Anyone having access to the internet can conduct searches using the "EUR-Lex" website and retrieve results pertaining to the European Union legislation, such as Regulations, Decisions and Directives. This article contains descriptions of the different ways and approaches for conducting searches as well as descriptions and directions on evaluating and further handling the search results. The use of the "Eur-Lex" web site is free of charge (no subscription is necessary). The "Eur-Lex" site is undoubtedly the easiest and most direct tool for accessing the European Legislation in force and constitutes an invaluable resource for veterinarians, who wish to keep up to date with European Union legislation pertaining to all aspects of Veterinary Medicine.
Experimental biomedical research: achievements and future aims
Authors: DONTA (Ι. ΔΟΝΤΑ) I.
Published: February 2018

An invaluable amount of knowledge and enormous progress in the advancement of human health, longevity and quality of life has been achieved by biomedical research throughout the ages. Most of the achievements were accomplished by research on animals and more recently, on laboratory animals. Progress in the production of drugs, vaccines, sera, antibiotics, surgical techniques and materials, diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and many more, was reached by their safety and efficacy testing on laboratory animals, prior to their application on humans. The achievements resulting from this research are applied both in humans and in animals. Experimental biomedical research is currently conducted in animal models of human diseases, invertebrates and with alternative methods to the use of animals. Its future aims are to solve existing and emerging health threats and to increase gene therapy, with the concomitant application of the three Rs principles of animal use - replacement, reduction and refinement.
Ethics of experimentation. Ethical review of experimental research protocols
Authors: MARINOU (Κ. ΜΑΡΙΝΟΥ) K. , DONTA (Ι. ΔΟΝΤΑ) I.
Published: February 2018

This paper describes a set of principles for the conduct of ethical review regarding experiments carried out on laboratory animals, which is important to be maintained from researchers throughout the whole process, from the initial design of the experimental protocol up to the publication of results in a peer-reviewed journal. Animal use should be justified after thorough examination of the existing validated alternative methods. The ethical review of experimental protocols will very soon become obligatory as the revision of the European Directive 86/609/EEC, regarding the protection and welfare of experimental animals, and the process will be clearly defined. In Greece several ethical committees have already been established in academic and research institutions that review applications submitted by researchers who have to prove that they are aware of all ethical aspects of animal experimentation, including a harm/benefit analysis where special attention to the severity of the procedure is given. Ethical committees are responsible for the initial ethical evaluation of research protocols that plan to use laboratory animals and for ensuring that animal welfare considerations are applied. Ethical committees may comprise experts from various scientific fields, among which the participation of a veterinarian specialized in Laboratory Animal Science and Medicine is considered to be essential. The ethical evaluation process needs to become a vital necessity for all researchers wishing to deal with Laboratory Animal Science and biomedical research.
Health Monitoring of Laboratory Animals in Breeding and Experimental Units
Authors: PETRIDOU E.
Published: February 2018

The last decades the number of laboratory animals used in experiments was dramatically increased due to biomedical research development, while new needs were revealed. The animals used in experiments should be genetically defined and should have a certain health status. Only healthy animals should be used in experiments. The good health of the lab animals that are goingto be used in experiments and the maintenance of this good health during the whole period (before- during- in the end) of experimentation is of crucial importance. On the other hand, the good health of all animals (and of course lab animals) is always at a risk due to a variety of infections. These infections (clinical or subclinical) can influence the outcome of the experiment. Moreover, clinical disease may not be observed until the animal is stressed (e.g the experiment itself or other endogenous or exogenous factors). Depending upon the exogenous factor or the infectious agent a variety of biological parameters maybe influenced. Microbial infections may also lead to biological material contamination such as: tissue cultures, cell-lines, biological products(sera), while many of these infectious agents are zoonotic. In this case, the risk for the personnel (scientists, animal caretakers, technicians) is great. Not only in most European Countries, but also in the U.S.A., Canada and Japan, Health Monitoring Programs (HMPs) in lab animal facilities are performed. In 1994 and later in 2002 the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) published recommendations for the health monitoring of rodent and rabbit colonies in breeding and experimental units. In these recommendations a list of viruses, bacteria, mycoplasmas, fungi and parasites that lab animal facilities should be monitored for, is presented. Moreover, recommendations for the sampling frequency, the sample size and the diagnostic methodology are also given. By publishing these Recommendations FELASA aims to the harmonization of HMPs at least between the E.U. countries. Moreover, the need for accredited diagnostic laboratories involved in health monitoring is underlined.
Aflatoxins in foods of animal origin
Authors: GOVARIS (Α. ΓΚΟΒΑΡΗΣ) A.
Published: February 2018

Anatoxins are produced by various types of Aspergillus spp. fungi in a wide variety of foods and feeds. Anatoxins are toxic to human and animals, acute and chronic. In humans, they can cause liver cancer, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Among the four main aflatoxins (B1? B2, Gx and G2), aflatoxin Βχ (AFBi) is the most frequently found in feeds and the most toxic one. The most important aflatoxin in foods of animal origin is aflatoxin M4 (AFM4), which is the principal hydroxylated metabolite of AFB! AFM4 is mainly found in milk from lactating animals consuming feed contaminated with AFB^ Surveys carried on the occurrence of AFM4 in raw milk in various countries all over the world during the past 15 years, showed that contamination levels were low in European Union and USA, but high in certain countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Other global surveys on the occurrence of AFM4 in foods of animal origin (meat, eggs etch) showed that the level of the toxin is low as compared to milk and dairy products. European Union has set the maximum residual limit (MRL) for AFM4 of 0.05 μg/kg and 0.025 μg/kg in raw milk and milk powder for infants, respectively. In order to protect the consumer's health, control measures should be applied to avoid contamination of feed and foods with aflatoxins.
Evaluation of the preference of mice on food intake - Preliminary study
Authors: PARONIS (Ε. ΠΑΡΩΝΗΣ) E. , ALEXAKOS (Π. ΑΛΕΞΑΚΟΣ) P. , DIMITRIOU (Κ. ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ) C. , BALAFAS (Ε. ΜΠΑΛΑΦΑΣ) E. , KOSTOMITSOPOULOS (Ν. ΚΩΣΤΟΜΗΤΣΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ) N.
Published: February 2018

One of the possible ways to improve the housing conditions of laboratory animals is to give animals opportunities to perform more species-specific behavioural repertoires through providing enrichment of their environment. Environmental enrichment is, by definition, any modification in the environment of the captive animals that seeks to enhance their physical and physiological well being by providing stimuli meeting the animals' species-specific needs. Food intake is of high concern as this should be promoting the expression of physical feeding behaviour and improves the welfare of the captive animals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the preference of mice to receive their food from a feeding cup located inside the cage or from the classical food hopper located on the stainless steel wire lid of the cage. Twenty four male C57BL/6 mice, at the age of 5-7 weeks, originated from the breeding colony of the animal facility of the Foundation, were randomly divided into two groups. In group A (n=12) the food was supplied through the food hopper. In group Β (n=12) food was supplied through the feeding cup located in the front side of the cage, as well as through the classical food hopper on the wire lid of the cage. A statistically significant preference of the mice to use the feeding cup instead of the food hopper was noticed (p<0.05). A preference of animals to empty the feeding cup from the food pellets, eat them directly from the bedding and use the feeding cup as a shelter was also observed in all the cages of group B. Based on the above preliminary observations it is concluded that the placement of a feeding cup within the cage could improve the welfare of the animals housed in individual ventilated cages and trigger the expression of a more species-specific feeding behaviour.
Fever of unknown origin in the dog
Authors: PARDALI (Δ. ΠΑΡΔΑΛΗ) D. , ADAMAMA-MORAITOU (Κ. ΑΔΑΜΑΜΑ-ΜΩΡΑΪΤΟY) K. , RALLIS (Τ. ΡΑΛΛΗΣ) T.
Published: February 2018

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) refers to a febrile syndrome that does not resolve spontaneously in an adequate period of time for the remission of self-limited infections and definitive diagnosis cannot be established despite considerable diagnostic effort. This definition is an extrapolation from human medicine, since FUO has not been still defined accurately in animals. The spectrum of diseases involved in FUO includes infectious, neoplastic, immune-mediated, miscellaneous and not defined diseases. Clients and clinicians must be aware that FUO may be a diagnostic challenge. The diagnostic plan should always begin with costless and simple tests followed by more invasive and expensive procedures. The initial diagnostic approach of FUO includes a detailed history, a thorough physical examination, a routine laboratory evaluation and radiographical examination of the thorax and abdomen. If diagnosis cannot be achieved, specific non-invasive tests should then be applied. No therapeutic trial should be initiated during evaluation, since it may alleviate clinical symptoms and alter the laboratory results potentially misleading the diagnostic approach. Nevertheless, fever is rarely harmful. In body temperature above 41,0 °C, diagnostic evaluation is postponed and the initiation of an emergency therapy is strongly recommended. If definitive diagnosis is confirmed, the dog is treated accordingly. Therapeutic trial is indicated, if despite the thorough evaluation no diagnosis is established or the owners are unwilling to support the cost of the diagnostic work-up of their dog. Therapy is focused on the administration of antibiotics followed by steroids and finally non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs.
Fish vaccination
Authors: PAPADOPOULOS (Π. ΠΑΠΑΔΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ) P. , BITCHAVA (Κ. ΜΠΙΤΧΑΒΑ) K. , TZIRONI (Ε. ΤΖΙΡΩΝΗ) E. , ATHANASSOPOULOU (Φ. ΑΘΑΝΑΣΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ) F.
Published: February 2018

In intensive fish rearing system, fish are kept in high densities and their chance to be exposed to micro organisms that can cause infection, such as bacteria, parasites or viruses, is very high. Under these circumstances, the problem of infectious diseases is becoming very important and has significant results. Bacterial and viral diseases of the cultured fish species have led to high mortalities and have decreased the income of the fish farming industries. There are many examples in the Mediterranean Sea, in the production of sea bream (Spams aurata), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and many other cultured fish species. In the last years, this production has been followed by important outbreaks of known diseases and also by the appearance and identification of new ones. Until recently, for the control of the bacterial and parasite diseases, only antibiotics and chemical products were used that often demonstrated side effects, like residues in the fish muscle, development of resistance to the antibiotics and environmental pollution. Moreover, for the viral diseases, for which there is no treatment, the onset of the disease usually demands the destruction of the infected population. All the above, showed that there was a need to find methods to prevent the infection of the fish populations and this led to the development of vaccines. At the beginning, vaccines were produced only for the most common diseases and were easy to prepare bacterial vaccines, for example for vibriosis, furunculosis and red mouth disease (ERM). Nowadays, the production of new and more effective vaccines has began, even for diseases that are caused by viruses, like the subunit vaccines, the live recombinant and the genetic vaccines.
Phylogenetic analysis of vaccinal and wild type European strains of Feline Calicivirus
Authors: RAUE R. , KANELLOS T. , KOLIGAS (Μ. ΚΟΛΥΓΑΣ) M. , XYLOURI (Ε. ΞΥΛΟYPH) E.
Published: February 2018

Feline Calicivirus (FCV) infection is considered one of the most common upper respiratory tract infections in cats. In spite of widespread vaccination, FCV-related diseases still occur in the field and in some cases novel and more virulent FCV strains have been identified causing severe systemic diseases and death in cats. Besides persistently infected cats and the high resistance of FCV in the environment, genetic and antigenic variability of FCV is an important feature contributing to the widespread prevalence of these viruses. As in most of RNA viruses, mutations frequently occur during FCV replication, which may result in genetic changes that could allow escape from host immune responses. Therefore, this study was designed to get an insight into the diversity of recently isolated European FCV strains. In total, 83 FCV isolates were randomly selected from diagnostic samples from Austria, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy, from 2000 to 2005. The isolates were propagated in CRFK cells and tested for the presence of feline herpesvirus (FHV) by PCR. Forty-nine (49) out of the 83 tested FCV isolates were viable and free of FHV DNA. The hypervariable region of the FCV capsid gene was amplified by RT-PCR, sequenced and plotted in a phylogenetic tree together with published sequences. Based on the sequenced region showing >20% diversity on the nucleotide level, 21 (5 Austrian, 7 German, 6 British and 3 Italian isolates) different FCV strains were identified. As all Italian strains came from South Italy, it's not surprising that these strains were much closer related than the FCV strains from the other countries. Although most of the South Italian strains clustered together in the phylogenetic tree, a clustering of the FCV strains, based on the country they came from, was not observed. These results indicate that the evolution of the FCV strains is totally random and not influenced by regional differences.
Human influenza pandemics: Myth and reality
Authors: TSIODRAS S.
Published: February 2018

This paper attempts to shed light in certain questions and false beliefs about seasonal, avian and pandemic influenza, mainly focusing on issues surrounding pandemic influenza. Important similarities and differences exist between seasonal, avian and pandemic influenza. Historical lessons from old pandemics help in recognizing their significant social, economical and political impact and guide the current preparedness for a future human pandemic. Currendy circulating strains, such as the avian influenza H5N1 strain constitute a danger to public health and have significant pandemic potential. Regarding clinical characteristics it appears that disease associated with a pandemic will have a high case fatality rate especially in vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the need for confirmatory diagnostic testing will likely diminish as a pandemic progresses. With regards to management stockpiling one antiviral agent will probably not be enough. No uniform scientific conclusion about the success of a prepandemic H5N1 vaccine has been reached yet. Complete pandemic plans that address subtle issues surrounding stockpiling antivirals and prepandemic vaccines as well as non-pharmaceutical measures need to be ready and to be tested in practice in order to identify problems with implementation and gaps in preparedness.
Occurrence of aflatoxins in milk and their effects on reproduction
Authors: KOUROUSEKOS (Γ. Δ. ΚΟΥΡΟΥΣΕΚΟΣ) G. D. , LYMBEROPOULOS (Α. Γ. ΛΥΜΠΕΡΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ) A. G.
Published: February 2018

The aflatoxins are toxic metabolites of the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These fungi invade the forages and under suitable conditions produce aflatoxins (Bl, B2, Gl, G2). The consumption of aflatoxins by the animals results in various pathological conditions (aflatoxicoses), with symptoms that vary depending on the species of animal, the age, the degree of forage invasion by the fungi and the quantity of the consumed feed. Nowadays, researchers pay more attention to the aflatoxins, because the latter do occur in many parts of the world. The regions more affected by aflatoxins are those with tropic or subtropic climate, since the levels of humidity and temperature play an important role in fungi's growth. The consumption of anatoxin Bl results in the excretion of aflatoxin Ml into the milk. Ml is one of Bl's metabolites and in some cases it is detected in concentrations higher than the maximum desirable limits fixed by each state, making the milk inappropriate for consumption. Furthermore, there are many reports about the effects of aflatoxins on the reproductive system. Sexual maturation, growth and maturation of the follicles, levels of hormones, gestation, growth of foetus are some of the parameters that are possibly influenced by aflatoxins. Regarding the genital system of male, most reports are related with the likely effect of aflatoxins on the size and weight of the genital organs, on spermatogenesis, on the number and morphology of spermatozoa, as well as on the levels of hormones.
Ochratoxin A in foods of animal origin
Authors: GOVARIS (Α. ΓΚΟΒΑΡΗΣ) A. , SOLOMAKOS (Ν. ΣΟΛΩΜΑΚΟΣ) N. , PAXARA (Α. ΠΕΞΑΡΑ) A.
Published: February 2018

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by the fungi Aspergillus ochraceus καιPénicillium verrucosum. OTA shows a nephrotoxic, teratogenic, immunotoxic and carcinogenic action against animals and humans. In humans, OTA is implicated in the aetiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy. OTA can be mainly found in foods of animal origin as a result of indirect transmission from animals exposed to naturally contaminated feed. Results from research works in various countries showed that the  pork meat was the most important source of human contamination with OTA, as compared to other products of animal origin. Sausages containing blood or pork kidney presented the highest amounts of OTA among other food products of animal origin. The presence of OTA in cow's milk was rather low, since the bacteria in the rumen of ruminants are capable of splitting OTA to ochratoxin a, which is generally accepted as no toxic metabolite. The European Union has not yet set limits of ochratoxin in foods of animal origin, in contrast to these of limits in foods of plant origin.