bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The treatment of HSV1 ocular infections using quantitative real‐time PCR results
Authors: Hlinomazová Zuzana , Loukotová Věra , Horáčková Monika , Šerý Omar 
Published: June 2010

Abstract.Purpose:  Herpes stromal keratitis is a serious condition and the most frequent cause of unilateral blindness. The real‐time PCR is an accurate and fast diagnostic method for an analysis of infectious agents causing keratitis and keratouveitis. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between clinical symptoms, treatment efficacy monitoring and viral quantity in corneal swabs determined by quantitative real‐time PCR method. The real‐time PCR method was used as well for the detection of other viral eye pathogens.Methods:  A total of 212 patients (136 men and 76 women) suspect of having herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis or keratouveitis were included in the study. The detection and quantitative analysis of the viral DNA were performed using the EliGene HSV1 RT kit, and the result was correlated with the clinical picture of the disease. The patients were routinely treated with acyclovir applied locally or, alternatively, in systemic administration. In a case of acyclovir treatment resistant keratitis, the patients were treated with local ganciclovir (Virgan gel ophth 0.15%).Results:  A total of 636 analyses of the viral DNA were performed; 85 patients were positive for HSV1 (198 detected). There were 16 acyclovir resistant cases of keratitis (14%).Conclusions:  The real‐time PCR appears as a fast and accurate method for an exact identification of the viral DNA in patients with herpes stromal keratitis. The introduction of the quantification is important for the treatment evaluation and for the specification of a so‐called acyclovir resistant keratitis. A long‐term systemic administration in maintenance doses may lead to the resistance and repeated, frequent relapses of the disease.
A can of red herrings
Authors: RAJA Rafi , LAMONT Duncan , YUNG Anthony , SOLANKI Kamal 
Published: June 2010

AbstractLymphomatoid granulomatosis is a rare disease. Anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti‐CCP) antibody is more commonly found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and less frequently in some of the other rheumatic and non‐rheumatic conditions. It is not recognized to be present in lymphoproliferative disease on its own. We report the first case of anti‐CCP antibody positivity in lymphomatoid granulomatosis presenting with polyarthritis. This case illustrates the evolving nature of this disease and its characteristics at different stages leading to the challenge of an accurate diagnosis in the setting of a paraneoplastic polyarthritis.
Discrimination ability of ASDAS estimating disease activity status in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: NAS Kemal , YILDIRIM Kadir , CEVIK Remzi , KARATAY Saliha , ERDAL Akin , BAYSAL Ozlem , ALTAY Zuhal , KAMANLI Ayhan , ERSOY Yuksel , KAYA Arzu , DURMUS Bekir , ARDICOGLU Ozge , TEKEOGLU Ibrahim , UGUR Mahir , SARAC Aysegul Jale , SENEL Kazim , GUR Ali , OZGOCMEN Salih 
Published: June 2010

AbstractObjectives:  To investigate discrimination ability of the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) endorsed disease activity score (ASDAS) versions evaluating low and high disease activity in an unselected group of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods:  Patients consecutively included into the joint database of five university hospitals were analyzed for low or high disease activity according to different criteria. Standardized mean differences (SMD) for two ASDAS versions were evaluated.Results:  The ASDAS versions (back pain, morning stiffness, patient global pain, pain/swelling of peripheral joints, plus either erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C‐reactive protein) discriminated high and low disease activity in subgroups according to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (BASDAI) and ASAS remission/partial remission criteria. ASDAS versions were also not influenced by peripheral arthritis and correlated well with other outcome measurements and acute‐phase reactants. The ASDAS versions performed better than patient‐reported measures or acute‐phase reactants discriminating high and low disease activity status.Conclusion:  Both ASDAS versions, consisting of both patient‐reported data and acute‐phase reactants, performed well in discriminating low and high disease activity. Further longitudinal data may better estimate the usefulness of ASDAS to assess disease activity subgroups and treatment response.
Psoriatic arthritis: a systematic review
Authors: CANTINI Fabrizio , NICCOLI Laura , NANNINI Carlotta , KALOUDI Olga , BERTONI Michele , CASSARÀ Emanuele 
Published: June 2010

AbstractPsoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory rheumatic disorder of unknown etiology occurring in patients with psoriasis. The Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis study group has recently developed a validated set of classification criteria for psoriatic arthritis with a sensitivity of 91.4% and a specificity of 98.7%. Three main clinical patterns have been identified: oligoarticular (≤ 4 involved joints) or polyarticular (≥ 5 involved joints) peripheral disease and axial disease with or without associated peripheral arthritis. In this context distal interphalangeal arthritis and arthritis mutilans may occur. According to other reports, also in our centre, asymmetric oligoarthritis is the most frequent pattern at onset. Axial disease has been estimated between 5% and 36% of patients. It is characterized by an irregular involvement of the axial skeleton with a predilection for the cervical spine. Recurrent episodes of enthesitis and dactylitis represent a hallmark of psoriatic arthritis. In around 20% of cases distal extremity swelling with pitting edema of the hands or feet is observed. Unilateral acute iridocyclitis, usually recurrent in alternate fashion, is the most frequent extra‐articular manifestation, and accelerated atherosclerosis is the prominent comorbidity. The clinical course of peripheral and axial psoriatic arthritis is usually less severe than rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, respectively. Local corticosteroid injections and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs are recommended in milder forms. Sulphasalazine and methotrexate are effective in peripheral psoriatic arthritis. Recent studies have provided evidence on the efficacy of anti‐tumor necrosis factor‐α drugs to control symptoms and to slow or arrest radiological disease progression.
The frequency of low bone mineral density and its associated risk factors in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: EZZAT Yasser , HAMDY Khaled 
Published: June 2010

AbstractObjective:  To detect the frequency and the predictive factors of low bone mineral density in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, so as to optimize bone mineral density (BMD) monitoring and treatment for those at risk.Subjects and methods:  Thirty Asian patients were included in this study and were divided into 18 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 12 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). All patients were diagnosed by colonoscopy and histopathological biopsy and were subjected to routine laboratory investigations in addition to 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels as well as serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatise. BMD was measured by using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan at lumbar spine and femoral neck; predictive factors for BMD were analyzed by group comparison and step‐wise regression analysis.Results:  There was increased frequency of osteoporosis and osteopenia involving the lumbar spine in patients with IBD being more common among CD patients than in the UC group. Positive correlations were found between low BMD measurements and vitamin D levels, body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001) as well as steroid cumulative dose and duration of therapy (P < 0.001); stepwise regression analysis showed that CD and vitamin D deficiency are predictive factors for both osteoporosis and osteopenia (P = 0.024, P = 0.027, respectively).Conclusion:  Low BMD was found to be more frequent among patients with CD than UC; in addition CD and vitamin D deficiency act as predictive factors for low BMD. We recommend that calcium and vitamin D should be given to all IBD patients; in addition, bisphosphonate administration should be put into consideration.
The Keurusselkä impact structure, Finland—Impact origin confirmed by characterization of planar deformation features in quartz grains
Authors: FERRIÈRE Ludovic , RAISKILA Selen , OSINSKI Gordon R. , PESONEN Lauri J. , LEHTINEN Martti 
Published: June 2010

Abstract– Although the meteorite impact origin of the Keurusselkä impact structure (central Finland) has been established on the basis of the occurrence of shatter cones, no detailed microscopic examination of the impactites from this structure has so far been made. Previous microscope investigations of in situ rocks did not yield any firm evidence of shock features (Raiskila et al. 2008; Kinnunen and Hietala 2009). We have carried out microscopic observations on petrographic thin sections from seven in situ shatter cone samples and report here the discovery of planar fractures (PFs) and planar deformation features (PDFs) in quartz and feldspar grains. The detection and characterization of microscopic shock metamorphic features in the investigated samples substantiates a meteorite impact origin for the Keurusselkä structure. The crystallographic orientations of 372 PDF sets in 276 quartz grains were measured, using a universal stage (U‐stage) microscope, for five of the seven distinct shatter cone samples. Based on our U‐stage results, we estimate that investigated shatter cone samples from the Keurusselkä structure have experienced peak shock pressures from approximately 2 GPa to slightly less than 20 GPa for the more heavily shocked samples. The decoration of most of the PDFs with fluid inclusions also indicates that these originally amorphous shock features were altered by postimpact processes. Finally, our field observations indicate that the exposed surface corresponds to the crater floor; it is, however, difficult to estimate the exact diameter of the structure and the precise amount of material that has been eroded since its formation.
Septic arthritis of the first and second cervical vertebral articulations with vertebral osteomyelitis in a foal caused bySalmonella
Authors: Roberts B. L. , Reimer J. M. , Woodie J. B. , Reed S. M. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryA case of infectious arthritis of a cervical vertebral articulation and vertebral osteomyelitis in a foal caused bySalmonellais described. Ultrasound images of the cervical facet joints were suggestive of septic arthritis and ultrasound facilitated needle placement for arthrocentesis and joint lavage. Due to the uncommon location of the infection, diagnosis of septic arthritis was not immediate and, despite aggressive intra‐articular lavage and instillation of appropriate intra‐articular antibiotics after hospitalisation, we were unable to resolve the infection in this foal. Radiographs did not show evidence of osseous involvement until later in the course of the infection. Septic arthritis should be suspected in cases with similar clinical and laboratory findings and radiographic changes may not be present early in the course of infection. Ultrasound imaging provided the most useful diagnostic information regarding infection of the cervical joints, facilitating both diagnosis and treatment.
Direct preputial hernia associated with a ventral abdominal wall defect in a two‐year‐old gelding
Authors: O'Brien T. , Koch C. , Livesey M. A. , Brounts S. H. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryThe case of a 2‐year‐old gelding with acute onset of preputial swelling and prolapse is presented. After initiating conservative management using a penile repulsion device, the horse repeatedly displayed signs of mild abdominal discomfort with sudden deterioration to an episode of violent colic after 5 days of hospitalisation. Ultrasonographic examination of the preputial swelling at that time demonstrated the presence of small intestine between the internal and external laminae of the prepuce and led to the diagnosis of a direct preputial hernia. The contents of the hernia were readily reduced through a defect in the ventral abdominal wall after the anaesthetised horse was placed in dorsal recumbency. The historical information, clinical progression and surgical findings were supportive of an acquired ventral abdominal wall defect. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a direct preputial hernia associated with an acquired ventral abdominal wall defect.
Parenteral nutrition in the mature horse
Authors: Magdesian K. G. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryParenteral nutrition is an important component of the management of critically ill horses unable or unwilling to eat. It provides dextrose, amino acids, vitamins and minerals and, in some cases, lipids for nutritional support until enteral nutrition can be reinstituted. It can also be used as a supplement to enteral nutrition, where horses are not ingesting at least 80% of digestible energy (resting) requirements for more than 2–3 days. This review discusses the indications, applications, monitoring and complications of parenteral nutrition in mature horses.
Genetic aspects of equids with particular reference to their hybrids
Authors: BENIRSCHKE K. , RYDER O. A. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryThis paper gives a brief review of the cytogenetic knowlege of equine species, the chromosomal errors currently known to exist, and an account of the interspecific hybrids that have served man during the 4500 years of domestication of horse and donkey.
Critical events surrounding the maternal recognition of pregnancy in mares
Authors: SHARP D. C. , McDOWELL KAREN J. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryAn experiment was undertaken to determine whether the equine conceptus inhibits production of prostaglandin F2α in the pregnant mare. Endometrial tissue was obtained from two normally cycling mares and conceptus membranes were obtained from a further two mares which were pregnant. Endometrial tissue was cultured alone and with conceptus membranes and the prostaglandin F2α concentrations measured in the incubation medium over a 24 h period. With endometrium alone, prostaglandin F2α concentrations increased slowly for the first 9 h of incubation but then began to rise sharply. When the conceptus membranes were added, the prostaglandin F2α production rate was initially comparable to that of endometrium alone but the sharp increase seen after 9 h was large attenuated. By 18 to 24 h, the prostaglandin F2α concentration in the endometrium plus conceptus membranes was 63 per cent less than for endometrium alone. The results corroborate previous studies that conceptus membranes can inhibit prostaglandin F2α synthesis.
Uterine prostaglandin release relative to embryo collection, transfer procedures and maintenance of the corpus luteum
Authors: BETTERIDGE K. J. , RENARD A. , GOFF A. K. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryFailure of embryo reinsertion experiments and observation of a high incidence of extended oestrous cycles following transcervical embryo recovery at Day 12.5 (ovulation = Day 0) prompted investigation of the effects of uterine lavage on cycle length and concentrations of progesterone and 15‐keto‐13, 14‐dihydroprostaglandin F2α (PGFM) in peripheral blood. Progesterone profiles confirmed the occurrence of prolonged luteal phases after flushing on Days 12.5 and 13.5 and showed that extended cycles can occur even after flushing as early as Day 7.5. However, almost 40 per cent of the delays in return to oestrus were associated with an initial decline in luteal activity after flushing followed by a reactivation of the corpus luteum and/or the formation of a new one. Profiles of PGFM revealed variable patterns of prostaglandin F2α release caused principally by cervical dilatation and uterine manipulation. They also showed that a measure of prostaglandin F2α release could be obtained from paired samples taken before and after flushing. Such paired sampling was used on 113 inseminated mares flushed 6.5 to 15.5 days after ovulation. It was shown that flushing could induce prostaglandin F2α release after Day 6.5 but probably not before. The presence of an embryo had little effect on the flush‐induced release up to Day 10.5 but its inhibitory effect had become marked by Day 11.5. Oxytocin injection on Days 10.5 or 12.5 also induced prostaglandin F2α release. In an ovariectomised mare, uterine flushing and oxytocin injections were similarly effective in inducing prostaglandin F2α release after treatment with oestrogen followed by progesterone, but not after oestrogen alone. This suggests a role for oxytocin in normal luteolysis in cycling mares. The fact that the embryo can alter uterine responsiveness to flushing procedures by Day 11.5 calls into question the concept of a ‘critical stage’ for pregnancy recognition in mares. Eight sham transfers in two mares between Days 5.5 and 8.5 had no effect on PGFM concentrations but it is suggested that failure of embryo reinsertion techniques might be associated with prostaglandin F2α release provoked by uterine flushing.
Storage and international transport of horse embryos in liquid nitrogen
Authors: BOYLE M. S. , ALLEN W. R. , TISCHNER M. , CZLONKOWSKA MARIA 
Published: June 2010

SummaryThree different experiments were conducted in which horse embryos were frozen in liquid nitrogen, thawed and transferred surgically to synchronised recipient mares in two countries. In Experiment 1, out of 14 embryos transferred via mid ventral laparotomy, two established normal pregnancies, of which one continued to full term with the birth of a healthy colt foal. In Experiment 2, one of two embryos resulted in a normal conceptus. In Experiment 3, all the transfers were carried out via flank laparotomy and none of the recipients became pregnant. The results from Experiments 1 and 2 indicate that early unexpanded equine blastocysts tolerate cryopreservation better than larger expanded blastocysts. Some other factors associated with the transfer technique, unrelated to the viability of the frozen thawed embryos, are thought to have played a significant role in the failure to achieve any pregnancies in Experiment 3.
Reproduction in mules: Embryo transfer using sterile recipients
Authors: DAVIES C. J. , ANTCZAK D. F. , ALLEN W. R. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryNine intraspecies horse embryos and four intraspecies donkey embryos were recovered non‐surgically on Days 7 or 8 after ovulation and transferred surgically to recipient mules. Five of the horse embryos and three of the donkey embryos were transferred to cycling mules that had ovulated five to seven days before transfer as determined by serial plasma progesterone measurements. The remaining embryos, four horse and one donkey, were transferred to anoestrous mules that were given daily oral doses of the synthetic progestogen, allyl trenbolone, to simulate dioestrus.Three horse‐in‐mule and one donkey‐in‐mule pregnancies were established in the cycling recipients. One horse‐in‐mule conceptus was removed surgically on Day 73 for histological examination of the endometrial cups and other placental tissues, and the other three mules foaled normally after 366, 344 and 357 days of gestation respectively.One horse‐in‐mule pregnancy was established in an anoestrous recipient that received allyl trenbolone. Despite the presence of very high levels of equine chorionic gonadotrophin in the serum of this mule after Day 40, its endogenous plasma progesterone levels remained basal. The transferred foetus died spontaneously at about Day 55 and the conceptus was resorbed. A hysterotomy was performed on Day 84 for examination and recovery of the persisting endometrial cups.These experiments demonstrated that some female mules, although infertile, can ovulate and cycle regularly. Their reproductive tracts are capable of supporting the development of either horse or donkey cenceptuses to term. Furthermore, the development of a horse conceptus to Day 55 in one of the non‐cycling mules given allyl trenbolone indicated that progesterone is the only steroid hormone that is essential for the establishment of pregnancy in equids.
Genetic control of immune responses to major histocompatibility complex antigens during equine pregnancy
Authors: CRUMP ANNE L. , DAVIES C. J. , ANTCZAK D. F. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryEmbryo transfer was used to establish a pregnancy in which two equine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, equine lymphocyte antigen (ELA) W2, a ‘strong’ antigen, and ELA W3, a ‘weak’ antigen, were presented together to the maternal immune system on a single conceptus. Cytotoxic antibody was first detected in the serum of the recipient mare on Day 51. Sampling was continued until Day 100, during which time antibody to ELA W2 persisted but no antibody to the W3 antigen was detected. It is clear that the maternal cytotoxic antibody response to ELA W3 in equine pregnancy is very weak relative to responses to other MHC antigens.
Successful transfer of a zebra embryo to a domestic horse
Authors: BENNETT S. D. , FOSTER W. R. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryThe first successful birth of a zebra foal from a domestic horse mare following embryo transfer is described. Seven consecutive non‐surgical embryo collections, performed on a multiparous Grant's zebra mare (Equus burchelli) yielded six embryos. Transfer of two embryos on different occasions to domestic recipient mares resulted in one pregnancy that terminated with the induced birth of a live male zebra foal on Day 366 of gestation. The mare accepted and suckled the foal normally. These findings indicate that between‐species nonsurgical embryo transfer may provide a useful tool for conserving wild species of equids in captivity.
Commercial application of equine embryo transfer
Authors: VOGELSANG S. G. , BONDIOLI K. R. , MASSEY J. M. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryEmbryo recovery rates from commercial donor mares mated at the clients' farms and commercial and research donors mated at the authors' laboratory were 27, 59 and 57 per cent, respectively. Transfer of embryos recovered on Days 6 to 8 post ovulation to recipients that were −1, −2 or −3 days asynchronous with the respective donor gave pregnancy rates of 54, 40 and 60 per cent respectively. No pregnancies were produced from the transfer of Days 9 and 10 embryos to recipients that were asynchronous with the donors.
Embryo recovery from Polish pony mares and preliminary observations on foal size after transfer of embryos to large mares
Authors: TISCHNER M. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryA total of 264 non‐surgical embryo recovery attempts, performed at Day 6 to 10 after ovulation on 11 Polish pony donor mares (350 to 420 kg body weight), yielded 152 embryos (58 per cent). Recovery rate per mare over a six‐year period averaged 15 embryos with a range of six to 24 embryos.Non‐surgical transfer of 19 Polish pony embryos to heavy‐type recipient mares (620 to 800 kg body weight) resulted in five live foals, all of which were appreciably taller and heavier at birth than equivalent control foals born to Polish pony mares. The transferred foals grew much faster during the period of suckling than the control foals and they have remained bigger to the present time, when the two oldest foals are 2.5 years of age. These preliminary findings indicate that the size of the recipient mare may significantly influence the final size of its offspring achieved by embryo transfer.