196,249 research outputs found
Clinical Scoring Systems in the Newborn Calf: An Overview
No full textA scoring system is an instrument that enables the scorers, including farmers, technicians, and veterinarians, to adopt a systematic approach for diagnosis or monitoring, as it decreases bias and confounding and increases objectivity. Practically, it is a number assigned to a patient that correlates with a probability that a diagnosis can be confirmed or that a specific outcome will follow. This article examines the clinical scores designed or adapted to bovine medicine that aim to assess newborn calf viability and to diagnose and monitor neonatal calf diarrhea and respiratory diseases, helping the clinician promptly recognize calves needing medical assistance. Despite the large number of clinical scores described in the literature, these are still barely used in farm animal practice; possibly, the complexity of the scores and missing recommendations for intervention are reasons for their lack of popularity as well as the crosswise lack of consistency among scores designed for the same purpose. Further research is needed in this regard to increase scores validation and encourage their application in bovine calf neonatology
Un medaglione eneo di piccolo modulo di Probo da Milano
No full textIl contributo presenta e discute un medaglione eneo di piccolo modulo di Probo, messo in luce a Milano durante le indagini archeologiche effettuate nel 1998 nell’area della Basilica di Sant’Eustorgio e oggi esposto presso l’“Antiquarium Ada Levi”. Il manufatto appartiene alla seconda serie festiva della zecca di Ticinum, coniata agli inizi del 278, in vista del donativum elargito da Probo qualche settimana dopo per celebrare il suo secondo consolato, i successi militari appena ottenuti oltralpe e il suo adventus in Italia settentrionale. Il pezzo milanese è il solo della serie dotato di dati di contesto
Insulin-like growth factor I and non esterified fatty acids plasma concentrations in the newborn calf
No full textNEWBORN CALVES' FEATURES IN RELATION TO THE TYPE OF DELIVERY
No full textDuring recent years, an increase in perinatal mortality has been reported in dairy calves, quite typically not associated with an increase in the rate of dystocia. These perinatal losses not only represent a tremendous economic loss but also mirror an important welfare problem in cattle farms.
In order to reduce the losses occurring during the perinatal and neonatal period, management of the parturient cow and newborn calf have to be addressed critically. As for all newborns, also calf’s survival and subsequent health conditions require a perfect transition from fetal to extra uterine life. Critical observation and/or investigation of the calf during and immediately after calving is important, considering that several problems encountered during the first days after delivery can originate from the calving period itself.
In a crude analysis for fetal and neonatal outcomes related to the type of delivery in the human specie, the highest rates of neonatal morbidity and mortality were seen in the elective caesarean group. Elective caesarean delivery could increase neonatal morbidity and mortality because lack of labour affects the physiological process for initiation of respiration. Caesarean delivery is known to be associated with respiratory distress syndrome and transient tachypnoea possibly mediated by the lower release of catecholamine and prostaglandins, as well as the lack of the mechanical compression of the lungs during labour needed to facilitate postnatal lung adaptation.
Moreover, several studies on babies demonstrated that the type of delivery can deeply influence the adaptational process in the newborn, modifying the immune response, the oxygenation status and the developing endocrine axis; the influence of delivery is not only immediate but extended in time, possibly affecting also the future health status of the subject.
The main focus of this experimental thesis was on the effects of two different types of delivery on the conditions of the calf at birth and during the neonatal period; differences in clinical features and biochemical, metabolic, hormonal, hematological and inflammatory profiles, have been described and discussed in details.
In the first study (chapter 7-8-9), clinical data and biochemical, metabolic and hormonal profiles from newborn calves born by spontaneous parturition or by caesarean section were compared. For each newborn many clinical data (Apgar score, rectal temperature, extimated weight) were collected within 5 minutes from birth. Time for sternal recumbency and time to stand up were registered as soon as evident. Biochemical and metabolic profiles during the first 2 days of life (birth, 24 h, 48 h) were determined. Plasma concentrations of IGF-I, cortisol and thyroid hormones were investigated for the first 14 days of life.
No significant differences between calves from spontaneous parturition and from caesarean section were found concerning clinical features at birth and during neonatal period (chapter 7). Many differences between the two groups were found regarding some biochemical, metabolic and hormonal parameters. These fast changes in biochemical and metabolic parameters in the newborn calf are probably due to the maturational processes of liver, kidney and metabolism for adaptation to the extra uterine life; basing on our data, the caesarean section seems to entail a lower physical effort for calves during birth, and a slower or delayed adaptational process.
In the second study (chapter 10) the plasmatic profile of prostaglandin F2α was determined in 10 newborn calves from spontaneous parturition, and compared with those from neonates of other animal species. Plasmatic levels of prostaglandin metabolite in calves remained high for the first 3 hours of life, unlike newborn horse and donkey foals, in which the metabolite already decreased at 30 minutes after birth.
Differences in placentation type or in gestation length could be the reason for the difference between these species.
In the third study (chapter 11) the hematological profile of the newborn calves during the first 14 days of life was investigated in relation to the type of delivery. Data from 16 Holstein Friesian calves from spontaneous parturition and from 25 Belgian White and Blue calves from caesarean section were compared. Differences were found regarding many parameters; red blood cells count was always higher in the CS group, as hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit levels. White blood cells count was higher in the CS group at birth and at 14 days after birth, and it was due to an higher neutrophil count.
Different type of delivery can lead to different degree of stress and oxygenation in the newborn, which can represent the reason for variation in hematological pattern; difference in breed could anyway also play a role in this.
In the fourth study (chapter 12) a new acute phase protein (PON1) was investigated in newborn calves from spontaneous parturition, and in calves up to 120 days old. Samples from some calves with inflammation were examined and compared with those of age-matched controls. The profile of PON1 activity in the newborn calves was characterized by a gradual increase starting from day 3 of life, probably due to maturation of hepatic system; this result evidences the importance to establish age-related reference intervals. In sick calves, PON1 was significantly lower than in age-matched controls, confirming the role of PON1 as a negative acute phase protein also in calves.
From this thesis, the following general conclusion can be drawn:
- during the first minutes, hours and days after delivery, a wide number of physiological changes take place in the newborn calf;
- circulating levels of many hormones, which are responsible for maturation and adaptation of the neonate, rapidly change with age; most of these hormones reach stable values after the first 24 hours of life, so that the first day after birth has a key role in the adaptational process of the newborn to the extra uterine life;
- prostaglandins F2α metabolite plasma concentrations in the newborn calf remain high for the first 3 hours of life, unlike newborn horse and donkey foals, in which the metabolite already decreased at 30 minutes after birth. Differences in placentation type or in gestation length could be the reason for the difference between these species;
- PON1 activity in the newborn calves is characterized by a gradual increase starting from day 3 of life, probably due to maturation of hepatic system; this result evidences the importance to establish age-related reference intervals;
- in sick calves, PON1 is significantly lower than in age-matched controls, confirming the role of PON1 as a negative acute phase protein also in calves;
- the type of delivery does not seem to influence the immediate clinical conditions of the newborn calf, above all in terms of viability;
- the type of delivery seems to influence the biochemical, metabolic, haematological and hormonal profiles of the newborn calf: these differences are probably due to a different stress stimulation, which is normally lower during elective caesarean section
Quantum lost and found
No full textWe consider the problem of correcting the errors incurred from sending classical or quantum information through a noisy quantum environment by schemes using classical information obtained from a measurement on the environment. We give a conditions for quantum or classical information (prepared in a specified input basis B) to be corrigible based on a measurement M. Based on these criteria we give examples of noisy channels such that (1) no information can be corrected by such a scheme (2) for some basis B there is a correcting measurement M (3) for all bases B there is an M (4) there is a measurement M which allows perfect correction for all bases B. The last case is equivalent to the possibility of correcting quantum information, and turns out to be equivalent to the channel allowing a representation as a convex combination of isometric channels. Such channels are doubly stochastic but not conversely
Una citazione di Probo nel Servio Danielino (Serv. auct. Aen. 9.814)
No full textNota critica. Proposta di intervento sulla glossa di Servio (Danielino) a Verg. Aen. 9,814 che cita alla lettera Probo in merito a una questione lessicale rapportata all'usus di Virgilio e di un'aggiunta a opera dello scoliasta stesso a documento del dibattito nella storia dell'interpretazione virgiliana antica. Con argomenti paleografici e contenutistici, si ritiene opportuno riconsiderare l'estensione della citazione di Probo considerando la parte finale come un'opinione del glossografo stesso
Lactation performances in primiparous Holstein cows following short and normal gestation lengths
No full textpeer reviewedDespite decades of research, little is known regarding physiologic temporal limits for initiation of lactation in pregnant non-lactating cattle the aim of this study was to compare the lactation performances in primiparous Holstein cows after a short gestation length (GL) or abortion to those after a normal GL. The data were collected using an automated data collection system. The 94 herds evaluated were located in Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. Data from a wide range of physiological cow-life events including birth and calving events, reproduction events (insemination, pregnancy checks, and abortions), and milking events were collected. The GL was defined as the interval between the last insemination and the subsequent calving (or abortion) within a range of 150–297 days. Animals were categorized into one of five categories based on GL quantiles (C-I to C-V). Lactation curve parameters including the scale, ramp, and decay were estimated using the Milkbot model. Then, the derived 305-day milk yield (M305-d), peak yield, and time to peak were compared between different GL categories. Of 13,732 lactations, 15 (0.11%) were found with a GL shorter than 210 days (ranging from 158 to 208 days). The 305-day milk yield was significantly lower in the C-I (7,566 ± 186) and C-II groups (7,802 ± 136 kg), compared to the C-III (8,254 ± 116 kg), C-IV (8,148 ± 119 kg), and C-V (8,255 ± 117 kg) groups. The same trends were found for the scale and peak yield of the lactation; the lowest scale were found for the C-I (31.5 ± 0.73) and C-II (32.8 ± 0.53) groups, and the highest were found for the C-III (34.5 ± 0.46), C-IV (34.9 ± 0.45), and C-V (35.0 ± 0.45) groups. Peak yield increased significantly from C-I (27.8 ± 0.66 kg) and C-II group (28.8 ± 0.48 kg) to the C-III (30.2 ± 0.42 kg) and further to the C-IV (30.6 ± 0.40 kg) and C-V (30.6 ± 0.41 kg) groups. Moreover, primiparous cows in the C-II GL category showed a higher milk yield persistency (decay of 1.30E−4 ± 3.55E−5) compared to those belonging to the C-IV (decay of 1.38E−4 ± 2.51E-5) and C-V (decay of 1.38E−4 ± 2.58E-5) group. In conclusion, results showed that primiparous cows with a shorter GL produced significantly less 305-day milk and peak yields, had a higher lactation persistency, and showed a lower upward slope of the lactation curve compared to those with a normal GL
Calving Ease Risk Factors and Subsequent Survival, Fertility and Milk Production in Italian Holstein Cows
No full textThe objectives of this study were to investigate the main risk factors associated with calving ease (CE) in Italian Holstein cow herds, and to estimate the association between CE and subsequent survival, fertility and milk production. Data obtained from Holstein cows in 40 Italian herds were retrospectively investigated. Calvings were surveilled and classified into two categories of CE, unassisted calving or assisted calving, based on the need for intervention. The following factors were analyzed as possible risk factor affecting CE: herd, number of calvings/herd/year, age at first calving (AFC), cow parity, gestation length, twinning, calf sex, previous calving-to-conception interval, previous milk yield, dry period and close-up length, and season of calving. The association between CE and culling risk within the first 30 days-in-milk (DIM), cumulative 60-d milk yield and predicted 305-d milk yield, and pregnancy risk within 150 DIM were also investigated. Of the 47,672 calvings, 37,892 (79.5%) were unassisted, while 9780 (20.5%) required some type of assistance. Among the risk factors, only the AFC was not correlated with CE, while for all the other risk factors an association with CE was detected. Assisted calvings were associated with an increased culling risk at 30 DIM, decreased 60-d milk yield, decreased 305-d milk yield and reduced pregnancy risk at 150 DIM. In conclusion, dairy herd management should aim at correcting/reducing the risk factors in order to limit the incidence of assisted calving, and possibly improve the quality of calving assistance; controlling CE within the herd is crucial to reducing culling risk, and achieving higher lactation and reproductive performance
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