Effect of postpartum suppression of ovulation on uterine involution in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of time of first postpartum ovulation after calving on uterine involution in dairy cows with and without uterine puerperal disease. Transvaginal follicular puncture (FP) of follicles >6 mm suppressed ovulation and development of a CL until Day 42 after calving. Fifty-three lactating Holstein Friesian cows (3.4 ± 1.2 years old, parity 2.5 ± 1.0 [median ± mean absolute deviation]) were divided into groups on the basis of the presence (UD+) or absence (UD−) of uterine disease and whether FP was carried out (FP+) or not (FP−). Uterine disease was defined as the occurrence of retained fetal membranes and/or metritis. This resulted in the following groups: UD−FP− (n = 15), UD−FP+ (n = 13), UD+FP− (n = 13), and UD+FP+ (n = 12). A general examination, vaginoscopy, transrectal palpation, and transrectal B-mode sonography of the reproductive organs were conducted on Days 8, 11, 18, and 25 and then every 10 days until Day 65 after calving. After hormonal synchronization of ovulation (cloprostenol between Days 55 and 60 postpartum and GnRH 2 days later), cows were inseminated in the next spontaneous estrus. On average, the cows ovulated on Day 21.0 ± 6.0 (UD−FP−), 50.0 ± 4.0 (UD−FP+), 16.0 ± 3.0 (UD+FP−), and 48.0 ± 2.0 (UD+FP+) postpartum. Calving-to-conception interval and first-service conception rates were not affected by FP (P > 0.05). Healthy cows with FP had smaller (P < 0.05) uterine horn and cervical diameters assessed sonographically than cows without FP. FP reduced the prevalence of purulent vaginal discharge and uterine size assessed transrectally in UD+ cows (P < 0.05). The results showed that suppression of an early ovulation by transvaginal FP improved uterine involution in cows with and without uterine disease.     

超声影像学对胎盘植入程度的危险度评价及与胎盘植入程度的相关性

摘要 目的：探讨超声影像学对胎盘植入程度的危险度进行评价及与胎盘植入程度的相关性。方法：回顾性分析2017年7月-2020年7月期间于我院住院治疗的胎盘植入患者60例。分析分娩前超声影像学特点,按照胎盘位置及厚度、胎盘后低回声带是否消失、膀胱线是否连续、胎盘陷窝性状、胎盘基底部血流信号、宫颈形态是否完整、宫颈是否存在血窦,以及剖宫产史等项目,每项评0-2分,计算总分值。计算不同类型胎盘植入患者超声评分量表的临界值,并比较各类型患者术中出血量及子宫切除率。结果：60例患者中粘连型38例、植入型13例、穿透型9例。 粘连型出血量低于重型（P＜0.01）,在重型患者中,植入型与穿透型术中出血量无差异（P=0.360）。粘连型患者均未切除子宫。粘连型与重型子宫切除率相比有差异（P＜0.01）,重型高于粘连型。其中植入型子宫切除率低于穿透型（P＜0.01）。粘连型超声评分低于重型（P＜0.01）。重型患者中,植入型超声评分又低于穿透型（P＜0.01）。受试者工作特性曲线显示：当AUC为90.5 %、评分≥2.5 时,敏感度为 92.3 %,特异度为73.7 %,粘连型和植入型的最佳临界值为3分;当AUC为73.5 %、评分≥9.5分时,敏感度为55.6 %,特异度为76.9 %,因此确定植入和穿透型的界值为10分;当AUC为78.0 %、评分≥2.5 时,敏感度为72.7 %,特异度为88.2 %,是否出现产后出血的最佳临界值为3分。结论：超声影像学可评估胎盘植入的程度,并预测术中出血及子宫切除的风险。以评分 3分为界,用以预测粘连和重型胎盘植入、产后出血的发生。以评分≥10分为界,用以预测植入型和穿透型胎盘植入。其中,评分≥10分时,穿透型植入可能性大。     

Age-related change in sit-to-stand power in Japanese women aged 50 years or older

Background

This study examined whether the age-related change in power, calculated from the score of a sit-to-stand (STS) test, corresponds to those in knee extension torque and leg lean tissue mass in Japanese women aged 50 years or older.

Findings

Time for a 10-times-repeated STS test and knee extension torque were determined in 556 Japanese women aged 50 to 94 years. STS power was calculated using an equation reported previously. In addition, leg lean tissue mass was estimated using muscle thicknesses determined at thigh and lower leg. STS power, knee extension torque, and lean tissue mass were negatively correlated to age. STS power and knee extension torque, expressed as the percentages of the mean value of the corresponding variable for the subjects aged 50 to 54 years were lower than that of lean tissue mass in the subjects aged 60 years or over, and were similar in those aged under 75 years. However, the relative value of STS power was lower than that of knee extension torque in the subjects aged over 75 years.

Conclusions

In Japanese women aged 50 to 74 years, STS power can be a convenient measure for assessing the age-related decline in knee extension torque, but not for leg lean tissue mass. At over 75 years old, the magnitude of the age-related decline in STS power does not parallel to that in the force generation capability of knee extensor muscles.     

非肝炎病毒所致肝损害超声影像与病理关系的探讨

目的:对154例肝损害原因的超声与病理关系进行总结性分析,以提高对肝损伤的认知.方法:所有病例均行肝脏穿刺及病理检查,并结合临床相关特异性检查,明确肝损害的原因.结果:超声提示分别为肝损害、脂肪肝、肝纤维化、肝硬化,部分超声显示未见异常,病理结果提示在超声检查未见明显异常者中,部分确诊为代谢性疾病,超声提示肝损害组中,病理提示因药物、环境类生化因素所致肝损伤占有相当比例.结论:超声检查在肝损害的筛查中作用明显,而在肝损害原因中,药物性及环境类生化因素所致的肝损害占有相当比例.     

Ultrasonographic features of the mule embryo, fetus and fetal-placental unit

The aim of this study was to establish baseline ultrasound data concerning the mule conceptus during gestation. Ten multiparous Trotter mares were artificially inseminated with chilled semen from an Amiatino jack donkey. Daily transrectal ultrasonography was carried out from the day of ovulation until Day 50 of gestation to determine the following: first detection of the embryonic vesicle (EV), mobility phase, EV diameter, day of EV fixation, changes in EV shape, date of yolk sac regression and embryo crown-rump length. Monthly ultrasonic assessments from Day 50 of gestation to term were carried out. These assessments included an evaluation of fetal well-being and the growth of the mule conceptus, which were monitored using the following variables: cardiac activity, fetal activity and presentation, fetal fluid echogenicity, combined thickness of the utero-placenta unit and fetal orbital and aortic diameter. Mule EV first detection was observed earlier (37% at Day 8) than that observed in the equine pregnancy. EV diameter at first detection was 4.6 ± 1.1 mm. At Day 10, 75% of EVs were detected. EV fixation occurred on Day 17.1 ± 1.1, with a mean EV diameter of 2.5 ± 0.2 cm. EV growth rate was 4.04 mm/day from Days 11 to 16, 0.4 mm/day from Days 16 to 28 and 1.78 mm/day from Days 28 to 45 of pregnancy. The embryo proper was first detected on Day 19.9 ± 1.9 (average length 2.4 ± 1.4 mm), and the embryonic heartbeat was first detected on Day 24 ± 2.4. The fetal carotid pulse was observed at six months of gestation and provided a good means by which to estimate fetal cardiac activity in advanced gestation. The fetal heart rate was recorded from Month 2 of gestation to term. The mean ± SD of the combined uteroplacental thickness was assessed at the cervical-placental junction and at the ventral abdomen in mares between Months 2 and 5 until term, respectively. An abnormal fetal-placental unit and fetal inactivity was observed in association with abortion. Mule-conceptus biometric measurements correlated significantly with the gestational age, and these data were used to predict an unusually large mule fetus, which might result in dystocia. In conclusion, we can assume that early diagnosis of pregnancy failure and assessment of fetal biophysical profile and growth charts could improve the chances of gestation completion in mule-pregnant mares. The early detection of mares at risk for an abnormal pregnancy or delivery may increase the success of prompt treatments, therefore preventing costly emergency procedures and allowing proper obstetrical and neonatal assistance.     

The influence of genital tract status in postpartum period on the subsequent reproductive performance in high producing dairy cows

The aim of the present study was to characterize the early postpartum period in clinically healthy dairy cows by ultrasonography (US), endometrial cytology (EC), and white blood cell counts, and determine possible relationships between postpartum findings and subsequent reproductive performance. Fifty-three dairy cows were examined on Days 15 to 21 (Visit 1), 22 to 28 (Visit 2), and 29 to 35 (Visit 3) postpartum. The clinical examination included: examination of vaginal fluid, EC, transrectal palpation and ultrasonography of the genital tract (cervical diameter, endometrial thickness, presence of a corpus luteum [CL] or intrauterine fluid [IUF] and its echogenicity). Luteal activity (presence of a CL in a single visit), return to cyclicity (presence of a CL in 2 consecutive visits), and conception rate at 70 and 120 days postpartum were considered as the dependent variables in four consecutive binary logistic regression analyses. Factors affecting leukocyte counts were established by general linear model (GLM) repeated measures analysis of variance. Based on the odds ratio (OR), the likelihood of luteal activity was higher in multiparous than primiparous cows (OR = 3.75) and tended to diminish in cows showing increased endometrial thickness in Visit 1 (V1) (OR = 0.06). The likelihood of returning to cyclicity decreased for each centimeter increase in cervical diameter in V1 (OR = 0.14) and that of conception on Day 70 was lower in cows showing the presence of echogenic or anechogenic IUF in V1 (OR = 0.09 or OR = 0.13, respectively) compared with cows lacking IUF. Effects of parity and IUF were observed on neutrophil counts. Positive EC results were unrelated to the cumulative conception rate at 70 and 120 days in milk, whereas cows returning a positive EC result in V1 showed a greater likelihood of increased endometrial thickness. In conclusion, measuring cervical diameter, endometrial thickness, and detecting the echogenicity of IUF by ultrasonography from Days 15 to 21 postpartum in clinically normal cows is an appropriate tool to predict subsequent reproductive performance. Vaginal examination and transrectal palpation alone did not emerge as valuable predictors.     

Validity of resting myotonometric assessment of lower extremity muscles in chronic stroke patients with limited hypertonia: A preliminary study

The aim of this preliminary study was to examine the validity of a recently-introduced tool (MyotonPRO) for the assessment of mechanical parameters of the main lower extremity muscles in patients with chronic stroke. Thigh and shank muscles of 20 stroke patients with limited hypertonia (11 men and 9 women; mean age: 52 ± 11 yrs) and 20 healthy controls (11 men and 9 women; mean age: 53 ± 10 yrs) were bilaterally evaluated with (i) MyotonPRO for muscle stiffness, tone and elasticity, (ii) ultrasonography for muscle and subcutaneous thickness, and (iii) dynamometry for isometric muscle strength. MyotonPRO parameters of stroke patients were reassessed a week later (inter-day test-retest design). For all the investigated muscles, MyotonPRO variables did not differ between the more affected and the less affected side of patients (P > 0.05 for main side effect), and neither differed between patients and controls (P > 0.05 for main group effect), except for gastrocnemius medialis stiffness that was higher in patients (300 ± 51 N/m) than in controls (281 ± 29 N/m; P < 0.05). Thigh muscle stiffness was negatively correlated to subcutaneous thickness (r = −0.84 for the vastus lateralis; P < 0.001), while only tibialis anterior stiffness and tone correlated positively with muscle thickness (both r = 0.46; P < 0.01). Test-retest reliability of MyotonPRO parameters was adequate, except for muscle elasticity. The validity of MyotonPRO for the evaluation of thigh muscles in chronic stroke patients is partially challenged by the poor discriminant ability and by the considerable impact of subcutaneous tissue thickness (sex-dependent) on mechanical parameters. The potential validity of MyotonPRO for the assessment of shank muscles requires further investigation.     

Inversion–eversion moment arms of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior measured in vivo

In this study, the frontal plane moment arms of tibialis anterior (TA) and the lateral and medial heads of gastrocnemius (LG and MG) were determined using ultrasonography of ten healthy subjects. Analysis of variance was performed to investigate the effects of frontal plane angle, muscle activity, and plantarflexion angle on inversion–eversion moment arm for each muscle. The moment arms of each muscle were found to vary with frontal plane angle (all p<0.001). TA and LG exhibited eversion moment arms when the foot was everted, but MG was found to have a slight inversion moment arm in this position. As the ankle rotated from 0° to 20° inversion, the inversion moment arm of each increased, indicating that the three muscles became increasingly effective inverters. In neutral position, the inverter moment arm of MG was greater than that of LG (p=0.001). Muscle activity had a significant effect on both LG and MG moment arm at all frontal plane positions (all p0.005). These results demonstrate the manner in which frontal plane moment arms of gastrocnemius and TA differ across the frontal plane range of motion in healthy subjects. This method for assessing muscle action in vivo used in this study may prove useful for subject-specific planning of surgical treatments for frontal plane foot and ankle deformities.     

Ultrasonographic quantification of architectural response in tibialis anterior to neuromuscular electrical stimulation

While muscle contraction in voluntary efforts has been widely investigated, little is known about contraction during neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). The aim of this study was to quantify in vivo muscle architecture of agonist and antagonist muscles at the ankle joint during NMES. Muscle fascicle lengths and pennation angles of the tibialis anterior (TA) and lateral gastrocnemius muscles were assessed via ultrasonography in 8 healthy young males. Measures were obtained during maximal NMES and torque-matched voluntary dorsiflexion contractions. In the TA, NMES induced a shorter fascicle length (67.2 ± 8.1 mm vs 74.6 ± 11.4 mm; p = 0.04) and a greater pennation angle (11.0 ± 2.4° vs 9.3 ± 2.5°; p = 0.03) compared with voluntary torque-matched dorsiflexion contractions. Architectural responses in the antagonist lateral gastrocnemius muscle did not significantly differ from rest or between voluntary and electrically induced contractions (p > 0.05). Contraction of the antagonist muscle was not a contributing factor to a greater fascicle shortening and increased pennation angle in the TA during NMES. TA architectural response during NMES likely arose from the contribution of muscle synergists during voluntary contractions coupled with a potentially localized contractile activity under the stimulation electrodes during NMES induced contractions.     

Effect of joint rotation correction when measuring elongation of the gastrocnemius medialis tendon and aponeurosis

It is well known that during maximal plantar flexion contractions the ankle joint rotation overestimates the actual elongation of the tendon and aponeurosis. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the curve length changes of the Achilles tendon on the joint rotation corrected elongation and strain of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) tendon and aponeurosis. Nine subjects (age: 29.4 ± 5.7 years, body mass: 78.8 ± 6.8 kg, body height: 178 ± 4 cm) participated in the study. The subjects performed maximal voluntary isometric plantarflexion contractions in the prone position on a Biodex-dynamometer. Ultrasonography (Aloka SSD 4000) was used to visualize the muscle belly of the GM muscle-tendon unit. To calculate the curve length changes of the Achilles tendon its surface contour was reconstructed using a series of small reflective skin markers having a diameter of 2.5 mm. The elongation of the GM tendon and aponeurosis was calculated (a) as the difference of the measured and the passive (due to joint rotation) displacement of the tendon and aponeurosis and (b) as the difference of the measured displacement and the length changes of the reconstructed Achilles tendon surface contour. The absolute difference between the elongation obtained by both methods were 1.2 ± 0.4 mm. These differences were due to the higher changes in length obtained by the reconstruction of the tendon curved surface contour as compared to the changes observed in the passive displacement of the digitised point at the aponeurosis. Without correcting for angle joint rotation, the measured elongation clearly overestimates the actual elongation of the GM tendon and aponeurosis. After the passive displacement correction the calculated elongation still overestimates the actual elongation of the GM tendon and aponeurosis. However, this overestimation has a negligible effect on the examined in vivo strain (0.3%) of the tendon and aponeurosis.