bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Economies of scale in blood banking: a study based on data envelopment analysis
Authors: Pereira A. 
Published: March 2006

Background and Objectives  Exploitation of economies of scale is often argued in favour of blood‐bank consolidation into large regional centres, despite a lack of adequate empirical support. This study was aimed at testing the economies of scale hypothesis in a sample of blood centres in the USA.Materials and Methods  An input‐orientated data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to calculate the technical efficiency scores of blood centres, and to determine whether they were operating under increasing returns to scale (IRS), constant returns to scale (CRS) or decreasing returns to scale (DRS). Correlation between the blood‐centre efficiency score and the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the service area was further investigated.Results  Seventy‐one blood centres were included in the analysis. The scale of operations ranged from 7270 to 275 500 red blood cell (RBC) units per year. Six (8%) centres operated under CRS, 29 (55%) under IRS, and most of their technical inefficiency was scale‐independent, and 26 (37%) operated under DRS, and most of their technical inefficiency was size‐related. Efficiency scores were unrelated to any demographic or socioeconomic characteristics of the blood centre service area.Conclusions  Within the size range of blood centres included in this study, expanding the level of operations beyond a certain point leads to DRS.
Correlation of in vitro platelet quality measurements with in vivo platelet viability in human subjects
Authors: Goodrich Raymond P. , Li Junzhi , Pieters Henry , Crookes Robert , Roodt Jan , Heyns Anthon du P. 
Published: March 2006

Background and Objectives  Changes in in vitro platelet quality parameters during platelet storage are associated with a decrease of in vivo platelet viability after platelet transfusion. Many attempts have been made to identify the most predictable in vitro parameters for in vivo performance. We used a riboflavin‐based ultraviolet (UV) light treatment process designed to inactivate pathogens and white blood cell (WBC) contaminants in blood products as a model system in which to study the correlation of in vitro cell quality with in vivo viability.Materials and Methods  Platelet products (n = 18) were collected by a standard Trima apheresis procedure and treated with one of three dose levels of UV light (0, 7·2 or 12·4 J/ml) in the presence of 50 µm riboflavin. Lactate production, glucose consumption and P‐selectin expression, pH, pCO2, pO2, hypotonic shock response and swirl were measured during 5 days of platelet storage post‐UV/RB treatment. Aliquots of these products were radiolabelled on day 5 of storage and were subsequently used to determine platelet recovery and survival time in autologous subjects.Results  The responses of in vitro cell quality were observed to occur in a UV dose‐dependent manner. Lactate production and pH were identified as the parameters most strongly correlated with platelet in vivo recovery, which ranged from 5 to 82%. The correlation coefficients (r) for lactate production and pH with in vivo recovery in human subjects were 0·9090 and 0·8831 with P‐values of 0·007 and 0·031, respectively. Lactate production and pH were also found to be correlated with platelet survival time, with correlation coefficients of 0·8063 and 0·8384 (the P values were 0·01 and 0·001, respectively).Conclusions  Using conditions of riboflavin‐based UV light treatment, lactate production and pH were identified as having the highest correlations with recovery and survival of radiolabelled platelets in healthy subjects.
Factors Associated with High Milk Test Day Somatic Cell Counts in Large Dairy Herds in Brandenburg. I: Housing Conditions
Authors: Köster G. , Tenhagen B.‐A. , Heuwieser W. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThe aim of this study was to examine influences of housing conditions on the udder health in 80 German dairy herds with a herd size between 100 and 1100 cows. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire for the farm manager and a farm visit using a standardized data capture form on hygiene and management. The somatic cell counts of all lactating cows on each farm were collected monthly by the local dairy herd improvement association and analysed to assess udder health status. Factor analysis was used to analyse the variables describing the environmental hygiene. The values derived for the extracted components were classified into good, moderate and poor. The association of the categories was then analysed for their influence on log somatic cell count of the current month (CMSCC) and the year before the farm visit (YASCC) by a one‐way anova. In comparison to other housing systems, free stalls with cubicles had the lowest geometric mean somatic cell count. Three components were derived from the factor analysis. Of those, acceptance of the cubicles by the cows and barn hygiene were determined as components influencing the CMSCC and YASCC significantly, while the association of hygiene of the milking parlour with somatic cell counts was only significant for YASCC. The results of the study show that the cow comfort and housing hygiene have a substantial impact on milk quality and should therefore become the focus of further research on the farm management practices.
First Experience on the Effect of In‐feed Lincomycin for the Control of Proliferative Enteropathy in Growing Pigs
Authors: Alexopoulos C. , Tassis P. D. , Kyriakis C. S. , Tzika E. D. , Papatsiros V. , Kyriakis S. C. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThis trial's aim was to evaluate the effect of in‐feed lincomycin for the control of proliferative enteropathy (PE; also known as ileitis) in growing pigs, in which it is associated with significant morbidity levels. Investigation regarding the efficacy of this substance in growing pigs has never been carried out before in a field trial. The trial farm had a previous history of PE outbreaks. On day 1 of the trial (age of 62 ± 1.5 days), 240 pigs were divided into two groups of 120 pigs/group which were allocated into five pens of 24 pigs each. Therefore, a randomized block design was used with two experimental groups (T1–T2) and five replicates (pens) per group. T1 group served as negative control (NC) animals which were receiving no medication and conversely T2 group received in‐feed lincomycin at the dose of 110 mg/kg of feed. The treatment period lasted for 3 weeks, followed by an observation period of 4 weeks up to the age of 111 ± 1.5 days which was the end of the grower stage. Administration of lincomycin at a dose of 110 mg/kg of feed had beneficial effects compared with the NC group. The pigs of T2 group showed significant improvement of their production parameters in terms of average daily body gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) not only during the treatment period (ADG: 0.515 ± 0.050 versus 0.481 ± 0.071 and FCR: 2.38 ± 0.05 versus 2.56 ± 0.08, for T2 and T1 groups respectively), but also during the remaining period until the end of the grower stage (observation period: ADG: 0.687 ± 0.019 versus 0.646 ± 0.044 and FCR: 2.58 ± 0.02 versus 2.74 ± 0.02 respectively). Other effects in the T2 group refer to the reduction of diarrhoea prevalence (mean pen diarrhoea score during the whole grower stage: 0.200 ± 0.060 versus 0.632 ± 0.041 respectively), morbidity rates (morbidity rates during the whole grower stage: 15.83% versus 45.00% respectively) and the reduction ofLawsonia intracellularisprevalence as shown by polymerase chain reaction diagnostic method (at the end of the treatment period: 10.0% versus 60.0% respectively). In conclusion, treatment with 110 mg lincomycin/kg of feed for 21 consecutive days had a beneficial effect on the control of PE in growing pigs.
The Influence of Intramammary Lipopolysaccharide Infusion on Serum Ca, P, Vitamin D, Cytokines and Cortisol Concentrations in Lactating Sows
Authors: Wang J. F. , Wang M. , Ma J. L. , Jiao L. G. , Zhou X. Y. , Lindberg J. E. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryTen multiparous lactating sows were used to investigate whether intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharides (LPS;Escherichia coli0111:B4; 2.0 μg/kg of body weight) would affect the circulating concentrations of Ca, P, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OHD), tumour necrosis factor‐α(TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and cortisol. The sows were randomly allotted to either control group (control) or LPS‐treated group with five individuals per group and were infused with either physiological saline solution or LPS solution. The rectal temperature and udder quarter appearance were recorded at 0 (just before infusion), 1, 3, 7, 12 or 24 h after infusion. Blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 3, 7, 12 or 24 h after infusion. Before infusion, the rectal temperatures of all sows were below 39.2°C. At 3 and 7 h after infusion, the sows in the LPS group had a rectal temperature over 39.4°C. At 24 h after infusion, the rectal temperatures returned to pre‐infusion levels. Serum Ca and P concentrations in the LPS group decreased (P < 0.05) after LPS infusion compared with the control group at 1 h after infusion. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in the concentrations of 25‐OHD were observed between groups control and LPS at any sampling time. Increased (P < 0.01) concentrations of serum TNF‐α, IL‐6 and cortisol were observed in the LPS group compared with the control group at 3 and 7 h after infusion respectively. In conclusion, the elevation of serum concentrations of TNF‐α, IL‐6 and cortisol and the alterations of circulating concentrations of Ca and P following LPS infusion indicate that the immune system has been activated and immune activation may affect macromineral homeostatic regulation, which might have important implications for metabolic health of lactating sows. Lowered serum Ca and P following immune activation also shows a causative mechanism whereby immune activation increases the risk of secondary disorders such as mastitis‐metritis‐agalactia syndrome. However, immune activation did not affect circulating concentrations of vitamin D metabolites.
Mouse Bioassay forin vivoScreening of Oestrogen and Progesterone Antagonists
Authors: ŠKarda J. , Köhlerová E. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThis study tested and compared the anti‐proliferative and proliferative activities of two anti‐oestrogens and three anti‐progestins on four separate mouse model systems: young intact and adult ovariectomized (OV‐X) females, and young intact and adult castrated males. Pure steroidal anti‐oestrogen ICI 182,780 (ICI) decreased mammary and uterine growth stimulated by endogenous hormones in young intact females and by exogenous hormones [progesterone (Prog), 17β‐oestradiol (E) or E plus Prog] in both young intact and adult ovariectomized (OV‐X) females. Non‐steroidal anti‐oestrogen EM‐800 (EM), on the other hand, had no effect on mammary and uterine growth stimulated by endogenous hormones in young intact females and in adult OV‐X females. Uterine growth was even stimulated by EM alone, and a combination of EM plus Prog not only stimulated uterine growth but also mammary growth (an oestrogenic agonistic activity). However, EM showed anti‐oestrogenic activities in both mammary and uterine tissues in females treated with E or E plus Prog. In males, ICI and EM decreased mammary growth stimulated by exogenous hormones (E or E plus Prog) in both young intact and adult castrated animals. In young intact, but not in adult castrated males, ICI increased seminal vesicle growth affected by both endogenous and exogenous (Prog, E or E plus Prog) hormones. EM, on the other hand, decreased seminal vesicle weights in E or E plus Prog and increased its weights in Prog‐treated young intact males. Thus, under certain conditions EM possess mixed agonist and antagonist activity in the mammary gland, uterus and seminal vesicles. Norethindrone acetate (NA)‐stimulated mammary growth was decreased by anti‐progestins onapristone (ON), RU 46556 (RU), and RU 38486 (MI) by 34–59% in females and by 35–93% in males. Uterine weights of NA‐treated females were decreased by ON and RU by 29–55% but not by MI. In NA‐treated young intact males, seminal vesicle weights were stimulated by RU (by 63%) and not affected by ON and MI. In NA‐treated adult castrated males, seminal vesicle weights were decreased by ON, increased by RU and not affected by MI. The results obtained in these and our earlier studies show clearly that mouse four‐model systems could serve asin vivotool for the detection of steroid hormone agonist and antagonist activities of natural and man‐made chemicals.
Effect of Dried Oregano Leaves Versus Neomycin in Treating Newborn Calves with Colibacillosis
Authors: Bampidis V. A. , Christodoulou V. , Florou‐Paneri P. , Christaki E. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryTreatment with neomycin (as a positive control) and dried oregano leaves on mortality, number of days scouring and severity of scours due to Escherichia coli were examined in 30 Holstein calves. Calves were assigned to one of the treatments following clinical signs of diarrhoea (i.e. faecal score >2), and treated either with an oral solution of neomycin sulphate, to provide 10 mg neomycin sulphate per kg calf body weight per 24 h, or dried oregano leaves, to provide 10 mg oregano essential oil per kg calf body weight per 24 h. The number of scouring days, severity of scouring and mortality rates were similar between the treatments. This study indicates that dried oregano leaves administered as an oral solution to calves with diarrhoea may be as effective in the treatment of colibacillosis as neomycin.
Polioencephalomalacia in Cattle: A Consequence of Prolonged Feeding Barley Malt Sprouts
Authors: Kul O. , Karahan S. , Basalan M. , Kabakci N. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryPolioencephalomalacia (PEM) in ruminants has been recognized as a consequence of excess sulphur intake. The present study describes clinical, gross and histopathological findings of PEM following an abrupt change of diet in two ranches housing 2750 dairy and 2300 beef cattle. As a result of severe PEM, 256 cattle died or were slaughtered. Clinical findings included circling, hypersensitivity, excessive salivation, hypermetria, incoordination, blindness and death. The first clinical signs occurred in beef calves (6–8 months old) at a holding facility. Clinical signs of the disorder continued intermittently during the 5‐month period in both ranches and were more evident in calves and lactating dairy cows. The affected cattle did not respond to thiamine injections. Clinical signs disappeared gradually following removal of barley malt sprouts from the diet. Although macroscopic lesions were not apparent in the brain tissues of some animals, histopathology typical of PEM was found in most cases: spongiosis in the neuropil and neuronal necrosis, haemorrhage, capillary hyperplasia, fibrinoid degeneration in arterioles, multifocal liquefaction necroses in the grey matter and abundance of gitter cells with vacuolar large cytoplasm. Sulphide in rumen fluid of a clinically affected animal was measured as 1.55 mg/dl, which is considerably higher than that collected from two control cows (mean 0.21 mg/dl). The total sulphur content of the diet containing barley malt sprouts was estimated to be 0.45%, which is also higher than the National Research Council (NRC) maximum tolerable levels. In conclusion, PEM can result from excess barley malt sprout intake because of its higher sulphur content. Clinical signs may occur shortly after the intake of barley malt sprout as outbreaks with a higher number of deaths or as an ongoing periodic condition.
The Effects of Cryopreservation on the Morphometric Dimensions of Iberian Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) Epididymal Sperm Heads
Authors: Esteso MC , Fernández‐Santos MR , Soler AJ , Montoro V , Quintero‐Moreno A , Garde JJ 
Published: March 2006

ContentsComputer‐automated sperm‐head morphometry was used in this study to determine the effects of cryopreservation on red deer sperm‐head morphometry. Epididymal sperm samples were collected from 40 mature stags and were divided. One portion was diluted at room temperature in a Tris‐citrate egg yolk medium, containing 6% glycerol. A microscope slide was prepared from single extended sperm samples prior to freezing. The remainder of each sample was frozen in nitrogen vapours. After thawing, sperm smears were prepared as described above. All slides were air dried and stained with Hemacolor. The sperm‐head dimensions for length, width, area, perimeter and shape factor (length/width), for a minimum of 135 spermatozoa were determined for each slide by means of the Sperm‐Class Analyser® (SCA). Firstly, our results show that cryopreservation substantially reduced (p < 0.001) sperm motility and plasma membrane and acrosome integrities. In addition, sperm heads were significantly smaller in cryopreserved spermatozoa than in the companion extended samples for area (32.05 μm2vs 32.56 μm2; p < 0.05), length (8.46 μm vs 8.53 μm; p < 0.0001) and shape factor (1.833 vs 1.849; p < 0.0001) for all stags. These differences were found within 29 of 40 stags (75%) for at least three of the morphometric parameters. The individual variability (CV) of sperm head measurements from extended samples was negatively correlated (p < 0.005) with the per cent of change in sperm head measurements after cryopreservation for area (r = −0.465), width (r = −0.483) and perimeter (r = −0.375). Thus, the lower the sperm head variability in the extended samples, the greater the sperm change as a consequence of the cryopreservation. These results suggest that the variability (heterogeneity) in sperm head dimensions of individual stags may be a good indicator of sperm freezability.
Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements in patients using chloroquine
Authors: Bonanomi Maria TBC , Dantas Neuman C , Medeiros Felipe A 
Published: March 2006

AbstractPurpose:  Previous investigations have suggested that initial retinal damage from chloroquine toxicity occurs in ganglion cells, and other ocular tissues are affected only later on. The aim of this study was to evaluate retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measurements, as assessed by scanning laser polarimetry, in a group of patients under long‐term treatment with chloroquine.Methods:  This case–control study included 34 patients using chloroquine diphosphate and 34 age‐matched healthy subjects with no previous history of chloroquine intake. All subjects underwent RNFL assessment using the GDx – Nerve Fibre Analyser (software v.2.0.01). One eye of each patient was randomly selected for statistical analysis. Peripapillary RNFL measurements were compared between the two groups. For patients using chloroquine, the correlation between RNFL measurements and chloroquine dosage was assessed.Results:  Mean ± SD RNFL thickness for patients using chloroquine was 60.6 ± 11.2 µm, 65.6 ± 13.2 µm, 74.8 ± 14.8 µm, 36.2 ± 9.6 µm and 43.8 ± 7.9 µm for global, superior, inferior, temporal and nasal regions, respectively. In the control group, the corresponding values were 72.1 ± 12.7 µm, 79.9 ± 14.8 µm, 88.3 ± 14.0 µm, 44.2 ± 12.8 µm and 49.7 ± 11.9 µm. Mean RNFL thickness measurements from patients using chloroquine were significantly different from those in the control group in all regions (P < 0.05). Thinner RNFL thickness measurements were associated with higher daily dosages of chloroquine.Conclusion:  Patients under long‐term chloroquine treatment had significantly lower RNFL thickness measurements than healthy subjects, and the RNFL loss was correlated to chloroquine daily dosage.
Conjunctival impression cytology in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation syndrome
Authors: Erdoğan Haydar , Arıcı D Sema , Toker M İlker , Arıcı M Kemal , Fariz Gönül , Topalkara Ayşen 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground:  In this study, ocular surface changes and tear film functions in patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) and pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome were evaluated.Methods:  This study is a randomized, double‐blind and prospective study. Conjunctival impression cytology, tear film break‐up time (TFBUT) test and basal Schirmer test (BST) were performed on 45 eyes of 45 subjects with PEXG (group I), 48 eyes of 48 subjects with PEX syndrome (group 2) and 50 eyes of 50 normal subjects (group 3). Impression cytology was graded 0–III based on the shape, eosinophilic‐staining cytoplasm and nucleocytoplasmic ratio of the epithelial cells, and the shape, quantity and Periodic Acid Schiff‐positive cytoplasm of the goblet cells.Results:  Impression cytology grading scores were 6.7% grade 0, 15.6% grade I, 37.7% grade II and 40% grade III in group 1, 6.3%, 18.7%, 43.8% and 31.2% in group 2 and 38%, 36.0%, 20% and 6% in group 3, respectively. The scores in groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher than in group 3 (P = 0.001, χ2 = 39.84). The mean values of TFBUT of groups 1, 2 and 3 were 5.91 ± 3.27, 7.39 ± 4.82, 10.96 ± 3.81 s and the mean values of BST were 7.82 ± 3.56, 9.04 ± 4.60 and 12.50 ± 5.25 mm/5 min, respectively. The values of TFBUT and BST were lower in groups 1 and 2 than in group 3 (P = 0.001).Conclusion:  The conjunctival changes in PEX and PEXG patients recorded in this study may explain the existence of tear film abnormalities in these patients. It has been shown that PEXG and PEX syndrome cause conjunctival surface changes and reduction of tear film functions.
Causes of blindness among hospital outpatients in Ecuador
Authors: Cass Helene , Landers John , Benitez Paul 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground:  There is a lack of published information on the causes of blindness in Ecuador and the Latin American region in general. This study is designed to enumerate the proportions of ocular conditions contributing to blindness in an outpatient population of an ophthalmology hospital in the coastal region of Ecuador.Methods:  All cases presenting to an ophthalmology outpatient clinic over a 3‐week period during September 2004 were reviewed (n = 802). Visual acuity was measured using a Snellen acuity chart and those who met the criteria for blindness were included in the study (n = 118). Blindness was defined under the World Health Organization protocol as visual acuity of <3/60. Both unilateral and bilateral blindness were included in the study. The diagnosis of ocular pathology contributing to blindness was recorded.Results:  Among those considered to have unilateral blindness (n = 88), cataract was the most common cause (43%). This was followed by corneal pathologies (17%) and glaucoma (15%). Among those considered to have bilateral blindness (n = 30), refraction was the most common cause (37%), followed by cataract (23%) and glaucoma (17%).Conclusion:  The major causes of blindness found in this study reflected those in estimated data for the region. More studies are needed to improve the quality and quantity of epidemiological data on blindness in Ecuador and Latin America. Many obstacles to successful implementation of prevention of blindness programmes in South America still need to be overcome.
Topical therapy with imiquimod for eyelid lesion
Authors: Tsang Hughie Hc , Huynh Nghi T , Hollenbach Eugene 
Published: March 2006

AbstractHerein a case of clinically diagnosed lower eyelid lesion treated with topical imiquimod is reported. Macroscopic resolution of the lesion occurred 4 weeks after treatment with good cosmetic result. This is the first reported successful case of using this drug in treating eyelid lesion involving the lid margin.
Vitreous and subretinal haemorrhage: an unusual complication of retinal racemose haemangioma
Authors: Papageorgiou Konstantinos I , Ghazi‐Nouri Seyed MS , Andreou Petros S 
Published: March 2006

AbstractRacemose haemangioma of the retina is a rare, usually unilateral developmental abnormality: an arteriovenous communication with variable alterations in capillary and arteriolar networks. Herein a case of a 57‐year‐old man with a vitreous and subretinal haemorrhage in the left eye is described.