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Biomedical subjects

A Branca

Publications and source records attributed to A Branca.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Short-term dietary effects on reproductive wastage after induced ovulation and artificial insemination in primiparous lactating Sarda ewes.

Short-term effects of nutrition on conception rate (CR), ovulation rate (OR), ova and embryo losses (OEL) during the first 50 days following insemination and total reproductive wastage after ovulation (TRW), were investigated in primiparous lactating Sarda ewes after oestrous synchronisation and cervical [corrected] artificial insemination (AI). Eighty ewes grazing a green high-quality pasture were offered one of three iso-energetic supplements from day 14 before to day 2 after AI: whole maize grain (M); soyabean meal (S); maize gluten meal (G); or served as controls (C). Supplements G and S were iso-nitrogenous but provided different amounts of rumen undegradable digestible protein. The intake of herbage and digestible dry matter, measured by the n560 mg/l was associated with lower CR. Ranking by ovulation groups of CR was single<double=triple; and of TRW was double<triple<single. In conclusion, OR in primiparous lactating Sarda ewes grazing on a good quality pasture is high, and CR after AI is reduced by ova as well as embryo loss, especially following single ovulations. Short-term supplementation with a soyabean-based concentrate may help alleviate these losses.

Alkanes↗
PubMed1997

Arthroscopic treatment of anterior ankle impingement.

Ankle arthroscopy has recently allowed the elaboration of less invasive techniques for the treatment of anterior impingement. Its indications, advantages, and drawbacks in this application are discussed. Between 1987 and 1994, 133 patients were treated for ankle impingement. Among them, 58 patients, 37 men and 21 women (mean age, 28.5 years), who had failed a trial of conservative treatment were treated by means of tibiotalar arthroscopy. Twenty-seven were athletes engaged in sports with abnormal stressing of the ankle. According to McDermott's radiological classification, there were 15 stage I cases, 23 stage II, 13 stage III, and 7 stage IV. Preoperative evaluation with a modified version of McGuire's scoring system gave 50 cases rated as "poor" (< 60 points) and 8 cases rated as "fair" (60-67 points). Treatment consisted of removal of adhesions, cartilage shaving, and removal of the bone impingement with powered instruments, curettes, or small osteotomes. Follow-up was from 8 to 62 months (mean, 21.5 months). The postoperative McGuire ratings were 37 good, 13 fair, and 8 poor. There were no major complications. Recurrence of impingement was observed in four cases of stage III and IV. The conclusion is drawn that ankle arthroscopy is a sound method for the treatment of anterior impingement. Even in cases with severe joint cartilage impairment, it plays a therapeutic role as a means of postponing a possible arthrodesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Light and scan electron microscopic analysis of cyclops syndrome: etiopathogenic hypothesis and technical solutions.

The loss of range of motion after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is one of the most common and most challenging complications of this kind of surgery. Recently, an intercondylar notch fibrous proliferation, called cyclops syndrome because of its arthroscopic appearance, has been identified as one of the specific causes of loss of extension. The incidence of cyclops syndrome is 2%-4% [17, 18], but there is still no understanding of its etiology. We speculate on the etiology and suggest some technical solutions to reduce this complication. In 180 patients submitted to arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon, we observed in 4 cases a fibrous nodule adherent to the neoligament that caused a loss of extension between 12 degrees and 17 degrees. In all cases, arthroscopic removal of this nodule solved completely the loss of articular motion. The nodules were subjected to light and scanning electron microscope evaluation. We observed numerous, newly formed vessels in all 4 nodules. These vessels were made up of hyperplastic and hypertrophic cells and were surrounded by bundles of disorganized fibrous tissue. No inflammatory cells or bone or cartilaginous tissue was observed. We hypothesize a microtraumatic genesis for cyclops syndrome. Repeated microtraumas expose the graft collagen fibers, which can lead to productive inflammatory process and thence to the formation of the cyclops nodule. We suggest some technical solutions to avoid graft impingement with the notch and with the tibial bone tunnel.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament↗
PubMed1996

Blood transfusion and deep venous thrombosis in primary total hip and knee replacement surgery: a retrospective analysis of 339 patients.

Autologous blood transfusion (ABT) has become widely practiced as a useful procedure in preventing the side effects of allogeneic blood transfusion (allo-BT) and in coping with a cost-containment policy. We report on a retrospective analysis of blood support of 339 patients undergoing orthopedic elective surgery in the period 1988-1994. We observed a progressive decrease of allo-BTs (from 54.5 to 14.8% in males and from 73.7 to 15.5% in females undergoing total hip replacement), and assessed the usefulness of post-operative blood salvage in reducing the need for allo-BT when a concomitant pre-deposit program is conducted. In addition, we carefully reviewed charts in order to establish Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)-related morbidity, and found a surprisingly low incidence (only 3.2%) of this dreadful complication in our patient series. It is yet to be established whether anticoagulant prophylaxis and early mobilization are strongly effective in preventing DVT, or that many DVTs happen after hospital discharge and are not identified and/or reported to the orthopedic team.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Use of a protein-free medium for the in vitro development of sheep embryos].

The employment of protein-free medium for the culture of ovine embryos collected at the 1-2 cell stage from superovulated ewes was investigated. For this purpose sheep zygotes were randomly allocated in four treatment groups: T1) CZB medium + bovine serum albumin (BSA) on sheep oviductal monolayer (SOM), T2) CZB + polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) + SOM, T3) CZB + PVA + SOM supplemented with inositol (I) and serine (S), T4) TCM 199 + 10% fetal calf serum + SOM. Standard culture conditions were 2 ml of medium in 35 mm Petri dishes, under 5% CO2 in air at 39 degrees C. The percentages of morulae and blastocysts were recorded after 4 and 7 days of culture. After 4 days of culture there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the percentage of morulae between embryos cultured in T1 (86%), T2 (85%), T3 (88.8%), and T4 (87.5%). After 7 days the percentages of blastocysts were T1 (70%), T2 (50%), T3 (55.5%) and T4 (46.8%). These data suggest that a protein-free medium, CZB + PVA and CZB + PVA + I + S, can support ovine preimplantation embryo development in vitro; however CZB medium supplemented with BSA enhances development to blastocyst.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Hoffa disease.

Among the causes of anterior knee pain, impingement of portions of the infrapatellar fat pad between the femoropatellar and femorotibial articular surfaces plays an important role. This disease, first described by Hoffa in 1904, has always been fairly obscure. This review of 63 cases delineates the clinical features, distinguishing two phases, acute and chronic, and analyzing the pathologic changes in the fat pad and the other joint structures involved. Treatment of both the chronic and acute phases is described, emphasizing the importance of arthroscopy in the chronic phase. The arthroscopic techniques are thoroughly described and commented on. Analysis of the results confirms the validity of arthroscopic surgery in the treatment of this disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

[In vitro dissection and development of sheep embryos after preservation at very low temperature (-196 degrees C)].

Embryos obtained from Sardinian breed ewes superovulated with FSH-p (Sigma) were frozen at -196 degrees C in liquid nitrogen. After 6 months storage, the embryos (12, all at the compact morula stage), were thawed in a water bath at 39 degrees C for 30 minutes. Six embryos were dissected with a Leitz micromanipulator using a simplified technique. Both demi and intact embryos, were cultured in medium TCM 199 + 10% FCS at 38 degrees C in 5% CO2 for 24 hours. Only five demi-embryos (41.6%) became blastocysts versus 4 whole embryos (66.6%) after the culture period. Splitting as our results show, lowers the embryo viability after freezing-thawing, but it can be used in certain instances to obtain genetic improvement in the Sardinian breed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Human intestinal parasites in Subsaharan Africa. I. Eastern Boè and Canhabaque Island (Guinea-Bissau)].

A coprological survey was carried out in 1982-1983 in East Boè and in Canhabaque Island, (Bijagòs Islands), where 289 and 288 specimens of stools, respectively, have been collected. The samples were taken from apparently healthy subjects, of both sexes and of different age groups. The tests were made according to the modified Ritchie technique. The following results were obtained: A) East Boè: 1) Protozoa: E. coli 68.9%, E. nana 24.6%, G. intestinalis 8.7%, I. buetschlii 5.9%, E. histolytica 1.7%, E. hartmanni 0.7%, T. intestinalis 0.7%. b) Helminths: Ancylostomatidae 69.2%, T. trichiura 38.4%, S. stercoralis 6.2%, Taenia sp. 1.7%, H. nana 0.7%, S. haematobium 0.7%, S. mansoni 0.7%, S. fuelleborni 0.7%. B) Canhabaque: a) Protozoa: E. coli 85.1%, I. buetschlii 14.9%, E. nana 12.5%, G. intestinalis 8.3%, C. mesnili 7.3%, E. hartmanni 1.4%, E. histolytica 1.0%, T. intestinalis 0.4%. b) Helminths: Ancylostomatidae 87.9%, T. trichiura 9.4%, S. stercoralis 7.9%, S. fuelleborni 2.8%, Trichostrongylus sp. 1.4%, A. lumbricoides 0.7%, H. nana 0.4%. Eggs of Capillaria sp. probably pseudoparasites, were found in 8.7% of samples. The high prevalence of Ancylostomatidae infections appears to be related to the heavy fecal pollution all over the examined territory. The utilization of antihelminthic drug of popular medicine, which has a specific action on A. lumbricoides, could explain the lack and the low prevalence, respectively, of A. lumbricoides infections in both examined areas. In the past, other authors emphasized the low prevalence of this parasite for other Guinea Bissau regions which have a different geomorfological constitution. The cases of S. fuelleborni and H. nana are the first reported for Guinea Bissau.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Effect of alpha, alpha'-dipyridyle on the testicular parenchyma of the rat.

Treatment with an iron-chelating substance (alpha, alpha'-dipyridyle) provokes alterations in the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue of rat testicular parenchyma. The action of the drug seems to be dependent neither on the dose nor on the duration of the treatment. The effects of the drug appear in the testicular parenchyma according to a centripetal course either in the whole gonad or in the tubule. Because the alterations of the testicular parenchyma occur at the first treatments the reaction of the tissue cannot be ascribed to an intoxication effect of the drug. The interstitital cells of the testicular parenchyma show greater resistance to the action of dipyridyle than the seminal epithelial cells.

2,2'-Dipyridyl↗
PubMed1978

Proprioceptive innervation of the external cremaster muscle of some domestic mammals.

The proprioceptive innervation of the external cremaster muscle of some domestic animals was studied. Muscle spindles and tendon organs with their well-known features were found, but this finding was uncommon and unexpected in the investigated animals. For this reason, we believe that there is no relationship between the presence of these proprioceptors and the cremasteric reflex.

Animals↗