Use of a chemically defined system for the direct comparison of inner cell mass and trophectoderm distribution in murine, porcine and bovine embryos.

The mammalian blastocyst comprises an inner cell mass (ICM) and a trophectoderm cell layer. In this study the allocation of blastomeres to either cell lineage was compared between murine, porcine and bovine blastocysts. Chemical permeation of trophectoderm cells by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in combination with DNA-specific fluorochromes resulted in the differential staining of trophectoderm and ICM.

Developmental consequences of karyokinesis without cytokinesis during the first mitotic cell cycle of bovine parthenotes.

Bovine parthenogenetic embryos and bovine embryos produced by in vitro fertilization were compared for chromosomal complement and developmental potential. Oocytes (n = 1885) were matured in vitro, fertilized (n = 1151) or activated (n = 734) by exposure to 5 microM ionomycin for 4 min, and then treated with 1.9 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine for 5 h to inhibit protein kinase functions and promote mitosis.

Trazodone, a double blind trial for treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Objective: to assess the effectiveness of oral trazodone 150 mg/d for treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Patients And Methods: A double-blind, placebo controlled, multicentre trial. A run-in period of two weeks was followed by four weeks of medication.

Bovine parthenogenesis is characterized by abnormal chromosomal complements: implications for maternal and paternal co-dependence during early bovine development.

The present study was conducted to examine the karyotypes of parthenogenetic bovine embryos arising from the application of standard oocyte activation and diploidization methods. Bovine cumulusoocyte complexes were collected and matured in vitro for 24 hr prior to oocyte activation with either 5 microM ionomycin or 7% ethanol for 5 min. Groups of activated oocytes were further treated with 5 micrograms/ml cytochalasin D or 1.

Serogroups, toxins and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli strains isolated form diarrhoeic goat kids in Spain.

Fifty-five Escherichia coli strains isolated from 55 diarrhoeic goat kids from 13 flocks in Spain were serotyped and investigated for production of enterotoxins (LT and STa), verotoxins (VT1 and VT2), cytotoxic necrotizing factors (CNF1 and CNF2), alpha-hemolysin (Hly) and enterohemolysin (EntHly), and for antibiotic resistance. Only 3 (5%) strains were toxigenic: 1 VT1+EntHly+ (serogroup O8) and 2 CNF2+ (both of serogroup O153). The strains serotyped belonged to 19 serogroups.

Influence of age of the donor sheep on the phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus subspecies anaerobius and S aureus by neutrophils.

The age of the sheep donating neutrophils had a marked influence in vitro on their phagocytic ability with respect to Staphylococcus aureus and S aureus subspecies anaerobius. Neutrophils from lambs five to eight weeks old phagocytosed these organisms significantly less efficiently (P < 0.001) than neutrophils from adults two to four years old.

In vitro susceptibility of Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic lambs and goat kids to 14 antimicrobial agents.

The in vitro activities of 14 anti-microbial agents were determined against 92 strains of E. coli isolated from lambs (60 strains) and kids (32 strains) affected by neonatal diarrhoea. The overall percentage of resistant strains to streptomycin, sulphadimethoxine and tetracycline was very high (above 70%).

In vitro activity of fifteen antimicrobial agents against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus intermedius.

In this study the susceptibility of 91 methicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus intermedius strains (MRSI and MSSI, respectively) against 15 antimicrobial agents was determined. The activity of the antimicrobial agents was studied at pH 7.2 and pH 8.

Serogroups, toxins and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic lambs in Spain.

One hundred and forty-four Escherichia coli strains isolated from 144 diarrhoeic lambs (5 to 21 days old) from 38 flocks in Spain were serotyped and investigated for production of enterotoxins (LT and STa), verotoxins (VT1 and VT2), cytotoxic necrotizing factors (CNF1 and CNF2), alpha-haemolysin (Hly) and enterohaemolysin (EntHly), for necrotic and lethal activities and for antibiotic resistance. The strains belonged to 39 different serogroups; however, 58% were of one of 13 serogroups (O4, O6, O7, O8, O9, O11, O23, O26, O77, O80, O101, O103 and O161) and only four of them (O8, O9, O11 and O77) accounted for 34% of strains. In total 10 (7%) toxigenic strains were detected: two LT+, two VT1+ EntHly+, four VT1+ EntHly-, one CNF1+ Hly+ and one CNF2+.

Prostaglandin E1 with phentolamine for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Aim Of The Study: to evaluate the feasibility of a self-injection programme for impotence with a combination of 10 micrograms prostaglandine E1 (PGE1) and 0.5 mg phentolamine.

Method: follow-up at outpatients department with history taking, physical examination and questionnaires of 58 patients using this combination.

Sex chromosome complement and developmental diversity in pre-and post-hatching porcine embryos.

To examine sex and development relationships in porcine embryos in early gestation, 10 gilts were killed on Day 4, 5, or 6 post mating (first day of standing estrus = Day 0). Embryos recovered immediately after slaughter were cultured in Medium 199 with colcemid (0.05mug/ml), fixed on slides, and stained with 4% Giemsa.

Comparative in vitro activity of 11 beta-lactam antibiotics against 91 Staphylococcus intermedius strains isolated from staphylococcal dermatitis in dogs.

A study was made of the susceptibility of 91 strains of Staphylococcus intermedius, isolated from staphylococcal dermatitis of dogs, to 11 beta-lactam antimicrobial agents. The activity of these antimicrobial agents against all strains was tested at pH 7.2 and 8.

In vitro activities of enoxacin, enrofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin against Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic lambs and kids.

The in vitro activities of four fluoroquinolone compounds were tested against 92 Escherichia coli strains of ovine and caprine origin under aerobic and anaerobic incubation conditions. The four fluoroquinolones proved to be highly effective against the E. coli isolates tested.

Occupational allergy to mites in salty ham, chorizo and cheese.

We present three cases of occupational allergy caused by the manipulation of food: cheese, chorizo (typical Spanish salami) and salty ham. A IgE-mediated sensitization is demonstrated by skin tests, RAST and positive challenge tests to Acarus siro and Blomia kulagini of the cheese rind, Euroglyphus maynei of the "chorizo" and Tyrophagus putrescentiae of the salty ham.

Temporal modulation of spatial optical solitons.

A variational method is used to investigate temporal effects that are experimentally observed in the propagation of spatial solitons in planar systems. These effects appear when the laser beam used to reach the soliton propagation regime is pulsed. In the absence of dispersion, the three-dimensional equation of propagation, including two space and one time variable, becomes a two-dimensional spatial equation.

Treatment of corpus cavernosum abscess by aspiration and intravenous antibiotics.

We report the successful treatment of an abscess in the corpus cavernosum of a paraplegic man on intracavernous papaverine injection therapy by means of percutaneous aspiration and intravenous antibiotics. After 3 months of intracavernous pharmacotherapy the patient experienced good erections again and only minimal fibrosis could be found on palpation.

Immunotherapy with allergenic extracts in geriatric patients: evaluation of effectiveness and safety.

A study has been performed of the prevalence of allergic pathology in the geriatric population attending our department during a period of one year, showing that this type of clinical problem affects 10.4% of our patients 60 years or older. In spite of such considerable prevalence, immunotherapy is not normally used with this age group.

Urticaria by Blastocystis hominis. Successful treatment with paromomycin.

Urticaria and angioedema are easily recognized disorders, but in at least 70 percent of individuals, chronic episodes of urticaria are of unknown causes. We present 10 cases of chronic urticaria associated parasitation by blastocystis hominis. This parasite has not been previously related with urticaria.

Sequence analysis of thymidine kinase-defective mutants of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

We have amplified, cloned and sequenced the gene encoding the thymidine kinase (TK) of a wild-type strain (Ab4) of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) and two mutants with defective TK activity isolated for resistance to penciclovir (PCV). One of the mutants, PR1, has suffered a 879-bp deletion which reduces the size of TK to 180 bp. The other mutant, PR3, has an adenine to cytosine mutation resulting in a Lys38-->Thr change.

Experimental intramammary infection of ewes with Staphylococcus aureus subsp anaerobius.

The susceptibility of the ovine mammary gland to experimental infection with Staphylococcus aureus subsp anaerobius was studied in five lactating Churra ewes. The left mammary gland of each ewe was inoculated with bacteria while the right halves remained untreated and served as a control. A rapid cellular response was elicited in all inoculated glands.