282 research outputs found
Deslorelin subcutaneous implants in Oryx dammah males for reproductive control
No full textcontraceptive
method in the Oryx dammah male. For this purpose, deslorelin at different doses, i.e. 14.1 mg and 9.4 mg,
was subcutaneously implanted in three males (Phase 1) and one male (Phase 2) adult Oryx dammah, respectively.
Quantitative behavior evaluation and androgen concentrations in feces and plasma were assessed before and after
implant application. Fecal androgen concentrations observed in treated males were compared with those measured
in one orchiectomized male and two females. Fecal androgen concentrations increased up to 15 days after
the implant application, then progressively decreased, reaching the basal level at day150 in Phase 1. In Phase
2, levels remained high until day 60 and returned to basal level on day 120. Plasma testosterone concentration
was higher on the day of implant application than three months later, but with variable ranges among males.
A general increase of activity levels and hierarchical changes were observed after treatment, in accordance with
hormonal variations. Despite males cohabiting with two fertile females during the observation period, no births
were recorded. However, between the end of Phase 1 and the beginning of Phase 2, i.e. about 10–11 months after
the first deslorelin implant, a fertile mating occurred leading to the birth of a calf. Therefore, we can hypothesize
a contraceptive effect up to 10 months after the implant. Testicular histology performed on one male at the
end of the Phase 2 showed no spermatogenetic activity.Our results suggest that deslorelin implant can be used
to temporarily control reproduction in the Oryx dammah male. Behavior and fecal androgen measurements were
useful and repeatable, non-invasive methods to monitor response
Asymptomatic unilateral ovarian leiomyoma in a german shepherd bitch
No full textThis report shows for the first time clinical imaging (ultrasound and computed tomography), histological and immunohistochemical findings of an ovarian leiomyoma, coincidentally diagnosed in an asymptomatic unmated nulliparous ten year-old German shepherd bitch concurrently suffering from multiple mammary tumors. A thorough examination allowed the differentiation of ovarian leiomyoma from other spindle cell tumors. An accurate description of the diagnostic procedures useful in the managing of ovarian leiomyoma could provide valuable information to veterinary practitioners. Indeed, despite its rarity and nonspecific symptoms, ovarian leiomyoma may also affect the dog with an unknown potential risk
Treatment Effects and Risk Factors Evaluation in Longitudinal Studies : A Statistical Help for Data Analysis
No full textThis paper was inspired by the experience of the Authors research group composed by oncologist veterinarians and a biostatistician to evaluate treatments and prognostic factors with the aim to help veterinarians involved in longitudinal studies into evaluating and writing prognostic results.
Longitudinal studies are commonly analysed by techniques for survival data, taking into account for the time elapsed from the beginning of observation and the occurrence of an event related to treatment effect or disease course. The presence of incomplete follow-up information for some subjects requires specific descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Two literature datasets were analysed to show statistical models implementation techniques and to discuss statistical issues: I) A multicentre clinical trial on remission maintenance of children with acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia and II) A randomized clinical trial on advanced inoperable lung cancer. Data sets concerned studies on “humans”, nevertheless the peculiar data structure allowed to discuss some aspects which are common to survival analysis studies, regardless on subject’s characteristics. Log-rank test was used to compare survival curves for treatments and the relationship between Log-Rank test and univariate Cox model results was explained. As the evaluation of prognostic impact cannot be based only on p-values, the strength of the association between treatments and prognosis was estimated to take into account for the clinical relevance of results. On the second data set, beside of treatment, other clinical variables were available and a multivariate Cox model was applied. Model implementation was discussed concerning the coding of categorical variables and the relationship between continuous variables and model response. Suggested rules for the maximum number of covariates to be included in order to obtain reliable results were cited. Finally, the predictive ability of the model was discussed based on a measure of the area under ROC curve specific for survival data
DEBORA: Developing an Interface to Support Collaboration in a Digital Library
No full textInterfaces to library systems have largely failed to represent the in-herently collaborative nature of information work. This paper describes how collaborative functionality is being implemented as part of the DEBORA project to provide access to digitised Renaissance documents. Work practices of users of Renaissance documents are described and the collaborative features of the client software are outlined. Functionalities discussed include annotation, the creation of virtual books and the inclusion of user-supplied metadata
Neonatal mortality in dogs: Prognostic value of Doppler ductus venosus waveform evaluation - Preliminary results
No full textAim: To define the prognostic value of Doppler ultrasonographic morphology of ductus venosus (DV) waveform on canine neonatal mortality.
Materials and Methods: Fifty-four healthy pregnant bitches underwent fetal ultrasonographic assessment. The DV waveforms were classified as diphasic (dDVw) or triphasic (tDVw) and compared with neonatal mortality.
Results: Ninety-three fetuses were evaluated. Twenty fetuses belonged to litters with neonatal mortality, in which tDVw was observed. Seven fetuses belonged to litters without neonatal mortality, in which tDVw was observed. Fifty-eight fetuses belonged to litters without neonatal mortality, in which only dDVw was observed. Eight fetuses belonged to litters with neonatal mortality, in which only dDVw was observed. The correlation between tDVw and neonatal mortality was statistically significant (odds ratio [OR], 20.7; p<0.0001). Considering only pregnancies with one or two fetuses with the same DV waveform: Two fetuses with tDVw belonged to litters with neonatal mortality; 1 foetus with tDVw belonged to litter without neonatal mortality and 26 fetuses showed dDVw without neonatal mortality. The correlation between tDVw and neonatal mortality even in litters up to two pups was statistically significant (OR, 88.3; p=0.01).
Conclusion: Echo-Doppler assessment of DV is feasible in canine fetuses, and the presence tDVw seems to be related to neonatal mortality
Identification of C-Kit-Positive Interstitial Cells in the Dog Lower Urinary Tract and Relationship with Smooth Muscle and Nerves. Hypotheses for a Likely Pacemaker Role.
No full textThe aim of this work was to give an evidence of the likely presence of interstitial cells in the canine lower urinary tract and to study their possible interactions with the musculature and the intramural innervation. Cryosections of normal canine bladder and urethra were immunofluorescently labelled with c-kit, a transmembrane, tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor, known to be expressed on the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) of the gut. The relationship with antiactin positive smooth muscle cells and PGP9.5-positive intramural innervation was also investigated by confocal microscopy. Anti-c-kit labelling demonstrated a network of elongated and branched c-kit positive cells, which were located in interstitial spaces, oriented in parallel to the smooth muscle bundles that form the bladder muscular layer, irrespective of dog sex. Cells with a similar localization were also PAS- and NADPH-diaphorase-positive. A contact between c-kit immunofluorescent cells and intramural innervation was demonstrated, too. The roles of interstitial cells might include regulation of smooth muscle activity of the bladder detrusor, integrating neuronal signals during urine storage and voiding
Cotinine as a Sentinel of Canine Exposure to Tobacco Smoke
No full textThe adverse health effects of both active and passive tobacco smoke have been well-known in humans for a long time. It is presumable that even pets, which intimately share the owner’s lifestyle, may be exposed to the same risks. This study aimed to detect and quantify cotinine (a metabolite of nicotine) in the serum and hair of dogs using a specific commercial ELISA immunoassay kit. A total of 32 dogs, 16 exposed and 16 unexposed to the owner’s smoke, were enrolled. The cotinine concentration was higher in the exposed than the unexposed group in both matrices (p p p p < 0.01). The exposure intensity, age, and weight of the dogs did not affect cotinine concentrations. A cut-off value of 2.78 ng/mL and 1.13 ng/mL cotinine concentration in serum and fur, respectively, was estimated to distinguish between the exposed and unexposed dogs. Cotinine was confirmed as a valuable marker of passive smoking also in dogs. Although owners do not perceive secondhand smoke as a risk for their dogs, greater awareness should be advisable, especially in pregnant animals
On the avant-garde : Bruno Schulz and Debora Vogel
No full textIn his recent book devoted to the study of Schulz, Michał Paweł Markowski rebukes the scholars of Schulz that they have ignored the indebtedness of the write r in Hegel's philosophy, and at the same time he claims that it is hard to find in Schulz any evidence that he had actually read the philosopher. The author of the article argues the contrary: Hegelian themes are treated by Schulz with an ironic distance, and it is certain the w rite r read Hegel as his
closest friend, Debora Vogel, devoted her PhD dissertation to the author of The Phenomenology of Spirit. The influence of Hegel can be rather seen in Vogel's writings, as she
was fascinated by the avant-garde idea of progress pursued by the anonymous masses. Seemingly Schulz the bumpkin is behind but in the long run he went ahead of his friend,
because unlike her he stressed the subjective aspect of the avant-garde revolution. Jarzębski Wobec awangardy: Bruno Schulz i Debora Vogel
Homogenization of conservation laws with oscillatory source and non-oscillatory data
No full textWe consider a scalar conservation law with oscillatory, periodic source term and with oscillatory initial data.
For possibly resonant initial data, we prove a corrector-type result for this problem, extending a previous one by
the author [Asymptotic Anal. 46 (2006), 53-79]. Here we can relax the assumption of well-prepared data
interessi sociali, concorrenza e pluralismo istituzionale nei servizi pubblici locali
No full textThe article tries to truce the connection between Pubblic Administration and Local Pubblic Services in the perspective of an institutional and social pluralism. Moving from the analysis of the changes occured to State intervention in economy and the ineraction of pubblic and private sector, the Author analyse the most recent reforms of Local Pubblic Services'legislation and the impact of the new costitutional federalism in the role of the different level of governament in managing and regulating Pubblic Service
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