scholarly journals Diffuse Alopecia and Thyroid Atrophy in Sheep

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3530
Author(s):  
Rubia Avlade Guedes Sampaio ◽  
Franklin Riet-Correa ◽  
Francisca Maria Sousa Barbosa ◽  
Daniela Dantas de Gois ◽  
Raquel Costa Lima ◽  
...  

Thyroid dysfunction substantially affects the quality of life due to its association with various disorders in different organs. A low intake of selenium and zinc can predispose to thyroid alterations, resulting in hypothyroidism. A deficiency of selenium and zinc causes direct and indirect skin lesions, both by the action of free radicals on the skin and by thyroid dysfunction. The aim of this study was to describe natural cases of diffuse alopecia and thyroid abnormalities in sheep with selenium and zinc deficiency. Five adult sheep presented marked and diffuse alopecia, and the residual hairs were dry and brittle. The skin was thick and crusty, with marked peeling. The triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) serum concentrations were below reference values for the species. Zinc and Se concentrations were low in both the serum and liver. During necropsy, cachexia associated with serous fat atrophy was observed, and the thyroid glands showed marked atrophy. Microscopically, the thyroid presented multifocal to coalescent atrophy, with atrophied and dilated follicles, macrophage infiltration, and the presence of fibrous connective tissue. The skin revealed hyperkeratosis and edema. It is concluded that thyroid atrophy, alopecia, and hyperkeratosis are associated with low serum and liver concentrations of zinc and selenium in sheep.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Giacinto ◽  
Elisabetta Giacinto ◽  
Mario Giacinto ◽  
Filomena Casciani ◽  
Domenica Ciuffoletti

Il trattamento delle lesioni cutanee è complesso per la varietà delle eziologie, della presentazione della ferita, del decorso e delle elevate comorbidità associate. La risoluzione di un’eventuale infezione, che rappresenta la condizione indispensabile per la successiva guarigione della lesione, è da considerarsi l’obiettivo primario di qualsiasi intervento. Numerose sono le evidenze presenti in letteratura che attestano la superiorità di un trattamento antibiotico topico rispetto a una terapia antibiotica sistemica in presenza di una ferita infetta. È stato evidenziato come la sulfadiazina argentica 1% crema (SSD Ag 1%), un antibiotico chemioterapico topico, sia efficace nella prevenzione e cura delle lesioni cutanee acute e croniche infette e/o suscettibili di superinfezioni. Lo scopo di questo studio è quello di verificare l’efficacia della SSD nel migliorare la qualità di vita di pazienti affetti da lesioni. La ricerca è stata condotta presso l’Ambulatorio sperimentale di Vulnologia nel CAPT di Praia a Mare (ASP Cosenza, Italia); ha coinvolto 86 pazienti nell’arco di 4 mesi, trattati in parte in ambulatorio ed in parte in assistenza domiciliare, con età media di 69,6 anni, per la profilassi (50/86, 58%) o per il trattamento (36/86, 42%) di ulcere interessanti principalmente gli arti inferiori. I risultati ottenuti dall’utilizzo della SSD Ag 1% hanno evidenziato che, nei pazienti in cui il prodotto è stato applicato come trattamento, la percezione del dolore è diminuita in 18 su 24 pazienti, con un’aumentata qualità di vita valutata attraverso la Visual Analogue Scale-Quality of Life Scale. L’efficacia della SSD Ag 1% è stata dimostrata dai 23 casi di guarigione in 12 settimane e dai 5 casi in 4 settimane e dai 10 casi di risoluzione della sola infezione. La SSD Ag% si dimostra essere un ottimo prodotto sia per la profilassi (per prevenire l’insorgenza dell’infezione nelle ulcere a rischio) che per il trattamento dell’infezione delle ferite, coniugando efficacia e tollerabilità. Treating skin lesions is complex due to the variety of aetiologies, the presentation of the wound, the course of the injury and the high number of associated comorbidities. The main aim of any treatment is to resolve any infection, as this is the essential condition for the lesion to subsequently heal. There is a lot of evidence in literature that a topical antibiotic treatment is better than a systemic antibiotic therapy for infected wounds. Silver sulfadiazine 1% cream (SSD Ag 1%), a topical chemotherapy antibiotic, has been proved to be effective for the prevention and cure of acute and chronic skin lesions that are infected or susceptible to superinfection. The purpose of this study is to confirm the efficacy of SSD Ag 1%in improving the quality of life of patients with lesions. The study was conducted at the Experimental Wound Treatment Outpatients Department of the Praia a Mare Local Healthcare Centre (Cosenza Health Authority, Italy); it involved 86 patients during a 4-month period, some of whom were treated in the outpatients department and some at home, with an average age of 69.6, for prophylaxis (50/86, 58%) or to treat ulcers, primarily leg ulcers (36/86, 42%). The results of using SSD Ag 1% cream showed that for patients on whom the product was used as treatment, pain perception fell in 18 out of 24 patients, with improved quality of life assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale-Quality of Life Scale. The efficacy of SSD Ag 1% was shown by 23 cases of healing in 12 weeks and 5 cases in 4 weeks and by 10 cases of resolution of the infection only. SSD Ag 1% was shown to be an excellent product both for prophylaxis (to prevent infections in high-risk ulcers) and for treating wound infections, combining efficacy and tolerability.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanobu Takahashi ◽  
Kento Takahashi ◽  
Sunao Abe ◽  
Kosuke Yamada ◽  
Manami Suzuki ◽  
...  

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease for which there is no cure; it results in skin lesions and has a strong negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Fucoidan from Cladosiphon okamuranus is a dietary seaweed fiber with immunostimulatory effects. The present study reports that the administration of fucoidan provided symptomatic relief of facial itching and altered the gut environment in the TNF receptor-associated factor 3-interacting protein 2 (Traf3ip2) mutant mice (m-Traf3ip2 mice); the Traf3ip2 mutation was responsible for psoriasis in the mouse model used in this study. A fucoidan diet ameliorated symptoms of psoriasis and decreased facial scratching. In fecal microbiota analysis, the fucoidan diet drastically altered the presence of major intestinal opportunistic microbiota. At the same time, the fucoidan diet increased mucin volume in ileum and feces, and IgA contents in cecum. These results suggest that dietary fucoidan may play a significant role in the prevention of dysfunctional immune diseases by improving the intestinal environment and increasing the production of substances that protect the immune system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim Van Biesen ◽  
Amaryllis Van Craenenbroeck ◽  
Daniel Abramowicz ◽  
Holvoet Els ◽  
Veys Nic ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Patient centred care is progressively gaining importance. Standardized outcomes should take into account patient relevant outcomes, such as mortality and quality of life. It is unknown whether the health utility index EQ5D, an objective assessment of quality of life, is associated with mortality in haemodialysis patients. Serum concentrations of different uremic toxins have been associated with survival. We intended to explore whether EQ5D rather than concentrations of representative uraemic toxins (UT) was associated with mortality. Method Prospective longitudinal multicentric cohort study of all haemodialysis patients at 5 representative dialysis centres in Flanders. Total and free concentrations of representative uraemic toxins indoxyl sulfate (IxS), p-cresyl sulfate (pCS), p-cresyl glucuronide (pCG), indole acetic acid (IAA), 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropionic acid (CMPF), hippuric acid (HA) and uric acid (UA) were determined at baseline. Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and EQ5D were assessed by dedicated nurses. Mortality was assessed from administrative or medical records. A Cox regression model was built, both fixed and as conditional forward including clinical parameters, MNA, EQ5D and serum concentrations of the different uraemic toxins. Results 216 prevalent patients (62%male, age 67.2 ± 15.7) all on high flux haemodialysis were included. Over the observation period, 59 patients (27%) died. Health utility as assessed by EQ5D was 0.69±0.28; perceived health by visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-100) was 59.6±18.6. Adjusting for age, gender and MNA score, free but not total concentrations of IxS, pCS and IAA and EQ5D score were associated with overall survival in the forced entry model. However, neither in the fixed entry, the forward or backward model were serum concentrations of uraemic toxins retained, and only age, gender, BMI, EQ5D and VAS were consistently associated with survival. Conclusion Measures of health utility, such as EQ5D, and quality of life, such as a simple VAS score, are more predictive of survival in patients on regular haemodialysis than serum concentrations of a panel of relevant uraemic toxins. Health utility and QoL are thus not only directly relevant to patients, but also indirectly through an association with improved survival. The concept of dialysis adequacy has been challenged over the last decade, mainly because it was focusing on small solute clearance. Different authors reported that concentrations of middle molecular and protein bound solutes were more representative. In our study, free but not total solute concentrations were associated with survival. However, adjusting additionally for health utility and/or health perception and/or assessment of nutritional status abolishes this association. Studies assessing interventions to enhance solute removal should not only include solute concentrations as outcome, but also consider EQ5D, VAS and nutritional status as important outcomes to enhance patient centeredness of their findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. e229967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Nallamilli ◽  
Aideen O’Neill ◽  
Andrew Wilson ◽  
Mallika Sekhar ◽  
Jonathan Lambert

Systemic mastocytosis results from proliferation and activation of an abnormal mast cell clone. It is a heterogeneous disorder with clinical manifestations ranging from skin lesions alone to aggressive multi-organ infiltration and decreased survival. Given these varied manifestations, diagnosis can be difficult. We describe the case of a woman who presented with rash and diarrhoea and had a history of anaphylactic reactions. Over a protracted period, the patient’s symptoms were investigated by a number of specialties including gastroenterology, dermatology, immunology and haematology. Morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of bone marrow samples ultimately led to a diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis. Management with leukotriene and histamine antagonists resulted in significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life. The case serves to highlight the protean manifestations of systemic mastocytosis, the tests available to diagnose it and the agents available to treat it.


2011 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-67
Author(s):  
Vera Gulácsy ◽  
László Maródi

Patients with combined primary immunodeficiency or B-cell deficiency with low serum concentration of immunoglobulin G can be efficiently treated with immunoglobulin G concentrates. From the 1950s IgG was used intramuscularly, and from the 1980s intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement has become widely available for replacement therapy. Among the potential side effects of IVIG (including anaphylaxis), further disadvantages of IVIG are hospitalization during treatment and varying concentrations of IgG. Over the past ten years, subcutaneous IgG (SCIG) preparations have become reasonable alternatives to IVIG. SCIG given weekly assures a more balanced serum IgG level, side affects are mostly local and temporary, systemic, severe adverse events have not been observed. In addition, SCIG can be used for home treatment of patients which improves their quality of life remarkably. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 64–67.


2002 ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
U Feldt-Rasmussen ◽  
R Abs ◽  
BA Bengtsson ◽  
H Bennmarker ◽  
M Bramnert ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To compare baseline characteristics in adult patients with growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) who had previously been treated for Cushing's disease or acromegaly with data from patients with GHD of other aetiologies. To study the effects of GH therapy in those patients who had completed at least 6 months of GH replacement. DESIGN: Data from a large outcomes research database (KIMS (Pharmacia International Metabolic Database)). METHODS: 135 patients were identified with previous Cushing's disease, 40 had had acromegaly, and 1392 had GHD of other aetiologies. The number of additional hormone deficiencies, and the mean age of the patients were similar in the three groups. Similar proportions of patients in each group were treated using surgery, but radiotherapy was used more often in patients with acromegaly than those with other diagnoses. RESULTS: At baseline, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension were significantly higher in the group treated for Cushing's disease, and the prevalence of stroke was significantly higher in the group treated for acromegaly. The incidence of coronary heart disease and claudication were similar in all three groups. Patients treated for Cushing's disease had lower bone mineral density and suffered fractures more often than other GHD adults. Body mass index, waist-hip ratio, serum concentrations of lipids and standard deviation scores of serum concentrations of insulin-like-growth factor-I were similar in the three groups. The dose of GH administered was comparable in the three groups and the effects of GH replacement on waist circumference, blood pressure and quality of life were also similar across the groups. The numbers and types of adverse events reported were not different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the characteristics of patients in these diagnostic groups depend on the primary disease which resulted in GHD, and that the clinical expression of GHD does not differ between the groups. Patients with previous hypercortisolism showed more long-term effects of their disease, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and fractures. A benefit from GH replacement was evident in patients previously treated for acromegaly and Cushing's disease particularly in relation to quality of life.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-424
Author(s):  
Elsa Soares ◽  
Patricia Valério ◽  
Catarina Abrantes ◽  
Teresa Furtado ◽  
José Assunção ◽  
...  

The residual renal function (RRF) in a peritoneal dialysis (PD) patient is clinically important because it contributes to dialytic adequacy, quality of life and mortality. We present the case of a patient in PD with a marked decrease in RRF. Even after the increase of dialysis, the patient maintained asthenia and anorexia, was prostrate and showed no improvement analytically. The study revealed hypothyroidism, iatrogenic due to the use of amiodarone. After suspension of the drug and replacement with levothyroxine, there was a normalization of thyroid function and recovery of RRF to baseline values. A thyroid dysfunction is associated with several changes in renal function, in most cases reversible after obtaining euthyroid state. The association between thyroid dysfunction and loss of RRF continues to be under-recognized. We should consider monitoring thyroid function annually as routine in this group of patients.


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