Ve Groups Research Articles

The diagnosis and therapeutic protocols of approximal caries by final-year dental students at Al-Quds University, Palestine

Abstract Introduction: In this study, the major criterion used by 69 final-year dental students of Al-Quds University, Palestine, to ascertain the presence of approximal carious lesions through radiographs, and their subsequent treatment plan is outlined. Methods: This study was designed to be cross-sectional, whereby a questionnaire containing schematic radiographic diagrams of approximal carious lesions in molars of deciduous and permanent dentition were depicted. Th e extent of caries was divided into fi ve groups indicating different levels of enamel and dentin involvement: Caries extending to the external one-third of enamel, external two-thirds of enamel, up to the dentino-enamel junction (DEJ), external one-third of dentin, and two-thirds of dentin. Results: The absolute and relative frequencies of the study group′s responses were recorded. Th e treatment decisions taken for caries in deciduous and permanent dentition were neither affected by age nor gender. Of the 69 subjects, 26.1% (18/69) chose to treat the approximal caries when it had spread to the DEJ in the deciduous dentition and 39.1% (27/69) chose to treat caries at the DEJ in the permanent dentition, showing a significant statistical variation in response. When studying the difference in response to treating deciduous and permanent dentitions, treating a lesion at the DEJ and within the outer third of dentin in deciduous dentition was lower than the latter in permanent dentition, with a treatment response of 26.1% (18/69) for deciduous and 39.1% (27/69) for permanent dentition for a lesion at the DEJ, and 24.3% (17/69) in deciduous and 33.3% (23/69) for permanent dentition for a lesion in the outer third of dentin. Conclusion: These results show a significant difference in the choice to treat approximal caries in deciduous and permanent dentitions, indicating a greater preference for treating caries within dentin in permanent dentition than in deciduous dentition.

The relationship between deprivation and alcohol-related presentation at Accident and Emergency (A&E) over a three-month period.

To identify any relationship between deprivation and the level of presentation to Accident and Emergency with alcohol-related conditions in a busy East Coast teaching hospital in Scotland. Over an 87-day-period initial screening to determine whether alcohol played a part in each presentation was conducted at triage. These patients were then streamed according to their Paddington Alcohol Test (Pat) score into Pat +ve and Pat -ve groups. The postcode of each patient was recorded before they were assigned deprivation levels using the DepCat scoring system. This information was then compiled in Microsoft Excel 2003 and a graph showing the differences in the number of presentations across the social spectrum was constructed. Nine hundred and forty four patients were screened as attending due to alcohol with 43.86% being Pat +ve and 56.14% being Pat -ve. Overall 66.42% of the Pat +ve group and 54.42% of Pat -ve were from deprived or very deprived areas. The use of electronic-based screening was effective at highlighting patients presenting to Accident and Emergency with alcohol-related problems, and these presentations highlighted a direct link between the level of deprivation and attendances.

Evaluation of the wound-healing potential of Amaranthus viridis (Linn.) in experimentally induced diabetic rats

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the wound-healing potential of the ethanolic extract of Amaranthus (A.) viridis leaves in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced by the administration of a single injection of alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg, i.p.) prepared in citrate buffer to experimental animals. The wound-healing activity was evaluated by three methods: excision, incision, and dead space wound models. The diabetic animals were divided into fi ve groups, as follows: Group I, which received alloxan treatment only (diabetic control); Group II, which received topical mupirocin ointment (2% w/w) (standard); Groups III, IV, and V, which were treated with ointments prepared from A. viridis extract of 2%, 5%, and 10% w/w, respectively, daily (test groups) till the wounds completely healed. Wound-healing parameters such as the rate of wound contraction, epithelization, tensile strength, and concentration of hydroxyproline content were measured and compared with diabetic control using oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s test. Results: Rats treated with the prepared ointments of A. viridis extract had shown a signifi cant (P < 0.01) increase in the percentage of wound closure, tensile strength, and hydroxyproline content of the granulation tissue when compared with the diabetic control, in a dose-dependent pattern. Conclusion: These fi ndings demonstrated that the ointments of A. viridis leaf extract effectively stimulate wound contraction and accelerate wound healing in diabetic rats.

Prevalence of periodontal disease in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever: a cohort study from central Turkey.

The aim of this study was to compare the periodontal status in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and in those without this disease. 84 subjects clinically diagnosed with FMF and 75 systemically healthy controls, matched by age and gender, were recruited. All FMF patients were on a regular daily colchicine treatment and during attack-free periods. Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), probing pocket depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured in all subjects. To evaluate periodontal disease further, patients were stratified into fi ve groups. Education information and smoking habits were recorded. The FMF patients and healthy controls were comparable for age, gender, and smoking status (P>.05). The FMF patients had significantly higher PI and GI values and lower PD and CAL values than those of the control group (P<.05). However, there was no significant difference among all groups in terms of periodontal disease severity (P>.05). In the FMF-severe periodontitis group, higher PI and GI values were seen (P<.05). However, there was no significant difference between the FMF-severe periodontitis group and the controls with severe periodontitis regarding the PD and CAL values (P>.05). Patients with FMF using colchicine did not manifest higher attachment loss compared to age- and sex-matched systemically healthy controls.

Studying the Effect of Vitamin E and Selenium on Liver Enzymes in Chemotherapy Rat with Cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide is a drug of alkylating group and used widely as an anticancer drug. Vitamin E and selenium have important role in protecting the body by their antioxidant factor. The aim of this study is investigating the effect of selenium and vitamin E on liver enzymes in cyclophosphamide chemotherapy rats. The experimented animals were a total of 42 were Wistar rats which randomly divided into 7 equal groups. CO group did not receive any drug or solvent. SA Group daily received 0.2 ml of physiological saline as drug solvent intraperitoneally. SN group received 1 mg/kg-B.W of sodium selenite intraperitoneally. VE group received 200 mg/kg-BW of vitamin E gavage feeding. CP group received 5 mg/kg-BW of cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally. CP-SN and CP-VE groups once a day received 5 mg/kg-BW of cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally and respectively 1 mg/kg-B.W of sodium selenite and 200mg/kg-BW of vitamin E gavage feeding for 21 days. Then the rats were bled and serum was separated. Then, activities of ALT, AST, ALP enzymes were evaluated by the kinetics method and photometer. The results showed that the activities of measured enzymes in SA, SN and VE groups have not significant different compared to the CO group but the CP group has increased significant and in groups of CP-VE and CP-SN has a decreased significant compared to the CP group. According to the results from studies of liver enzymes we can conclude that cyclophosphamide with increasing active oxygen types, increased the liver enzymes’ activity in serum. Vitamin E and sodium selenite also have antioxidant factor and somewhat reduces the negative effects of cyclophosphamide. So, the use of vitamin E and sodium selenite is recommended for reducing cyclophosphamide toxicity in cancer patients.

Angiogenic output in viral hepatitis, C and B, and HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

IntroductionAngiogenesis is known to play a pivotal role in most of malignancy, including HCC, and in chronic inflammation. AimTo investigate the angiogenic output in HCV and HBV infection and its implication in the development of HCV associated HCC. Materials and methodsBlood samples were collected and grouped as; HS healthy subjects control group; HCC–HCV; chronic HCV infected patient group (HCV+ve) who are positive for serum anti-HCV antibodies and HCV–RNA; anti-HCV antibody positive and HCV–RNA negative patient group (HCV−ve); patients with positive HBsAg and HBV-DNA group (HBV+ve); and HBsAg positive and HBV-DNA negative patient group (HBV−ve). Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, endostatin and angiostatin were assessed in different studied groups. ResultsThe level of sVEGF was insignificantly elevated in both HCV+ve and HCV−ve groups when compared with controls, while Ang-2, sES and sAS were significantly elevated in both groups as compared with healthy controls. The studied parameters were significantly elevated in HBV-+ve patients when compared with the control. However, HBV−ve patients showed significantly elevated levels in sAng-2, sES and sAS when compared with the control while the level of sVEGF was equal to that of controls. In patients with HCC, the studied parameters showed a significant elevation when compared with healthy controls and patients either with HBV or HCV infection except for sAS in the case of HCV-+ve patients and VEGF for HBV-+ve patients who were also higher but not significant. ConclusionThe increased hepatic angiogenesis in chronic HCV and HBV could provide the molecular basis for liver carcinogenesis and contribute to the increased risk of HCC in patients with cirrhosis due to HCV and/or HBV.

An addition of sourdough and whey proteins affects the nutritional quality of wholemeal wheat bread

Bread can be a good source of nutrients as well as non-nutrient compounds. This study was designed to assess the effect of adding of sourdough and whey proteins to wholemeal (WM) bread produced by bake-off technology on chemical composition and bioavailability of proteins, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron content in Wistar rats. Wholemeal breads were baked with using conventional or bake off technology. In breads chemical composition, selected minerals content, amino acid composition were measured. Five week-old Wistar rats (n = 30, male), were randomly divided into fi ve groups and fed with modified AIN-93G diets containing experimental breads. In animal study the nutritional value of breads' proteins and concentration of selected minerals in serum, liver and femoral bone, were measured. The body weight gain, biological value (BV) and net protein utilization (NPU) were significantly higher in rats fed with partially baked frozen wholemeal (PBF WM) bread with sourdough and whey proteins. The level of magnesium was significantly lower in serum of animals fed with the diet containing PBF WM bread with sourdough and whey proteins in comparison to rodents fed with conventional WM bread with sourdough. The content of iron was significantly higher in liver of rats fed with PBF WM with sourdough bread in comparison to the groups fed with conventional WM and conventional WM with sourdough breads. Sourdough addition can be recommended in a production of whole wheat partially baked frozen bread but its use is further more beneficial if it is fermented with whey proteins.

Pregnancy and Thyroid Dysfunction: Need for Universal Screening - A Pilot Study

Aim: 1. To determine Thyroid dysfunction and antiTPO antibody status in pregnant women. 2. To know the benefit of LT4 therapy in maternal pregnancy outcome (antiTPO ab+ve vs antiTPO ab-ve groups) and 3. To determine the maternal and fetal outcomes in hypothyroid pregnant women and to decide whether universal screening of pregnant women for hypothyroidism is required or not. Materials and methods: A prospective study was done in mamata general hospital in the dept. of obg, over a period of 1 ½ years.105 antenatal women were included in the study. Outcome in these pregnancies were observed and analysed using appropriate statistical method. Results: There were only 3 patients with spontaneous abortions, 3 patients with pregnancy induced hypertention and only 1 patient had preterm delivery. There was more of thyroid dysfunction in anti TPO Ab +ve cases. But there was no significant adverse effect on pregnancy outcome in patients who were treated. Conclusion: Though our study included only a small number of antenatal women who were screened for thyroid abnormality since it was only a pilot study done in our hospital since our area is endemic for thyroid disorders due to iodine deficiency we recommend Universal screening to rule out thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy because the maternal and fetal complications can be reduced by early screening, diagnosing and correcting thyroid abnormality. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i1.14173 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 13 No. 01 January2014: 49-52

DOES JCV ANTIBODY POSITIVITY ENCOURAGE CESSATION OF NATALIZUMAB THERAPY IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?

BackgroundNatalizumab, a monoclonal α–4–integren receptor antibody, is an effective immunomodulator in highly active relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis (HARRMS). Natalizumab has been associated with PML (progressive multifocal leucoencephaopathy), due to opportunistic...

SAT0037 14-3-3 ETA Sero-Positivity Marks More Severe Disease and Titres Inform Response to Therapy, also in Patients with Lower Crp

BackgroundThere is an unmet need for RA markers that inform prognosis and treatment response. While RF and anti-CCP are useful, augmenting their predictive capacity with additional markers is desirable. CRP...

Assessment of treatment response with fulvestrant (F) 500 mg in standard clinical practice through a retrospective study: NCT01509625.

e11583 Background: The CONFIRM study showed greater efficacy of F500 as compared to F250.Based on these results a dosage change was authorized in Spain.The aim of this study is to describe the efficacy of F500 (progression free survival(PFS) and clinical benefit rate(CBR) in Spanish patients (P) with estrogen receptor (ER+) Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) through a retrospective data collection. Methods: After written informed consent, data collection was recorded from clinical records of P who previously had progressed on hormonal treatment and who received at any time F 500 from 1st January 2010 to 31st October 2011. Results: 102 P in 14 centers were included in the study, 93 P were evaluable.Median age was 65 (39-88). Histology: 80.6% ductal ;15% lobulillar. Hormonal receptors: ER+/ PgR+ 77.4%; ER+/PgR- 21.6 %. HER2 status was documented in 80P, 15% of them were HER2+. 45.4% were Ki67 +. Mean from diagnosis to metastatic disease:3.7 years, 19.3% of P had de novo metastatic disease. 21.5% of P had visceral metastases.82.8% of P had good PS (0-1) when F started.F received as 1st line in 7.5%, as 2nd line in 52.7% and 3rdor more in 39.8% of the P. Average cycles administered: 10(3-48). With a median follow up of 16 months (m) since F treatment (1.4-34.4), median PFS was 10.6 m[8.3-13.0]. CBR was 59.1% (12.9%CR, 12.9 PR and 33.3% SD≥ 24 weeks). Median PFS in P with or without CB was 23.3 m and 5.6 m respectively. Median PFS in P with F in 1 st line was 10.3 m, 11.6 m in 2nd line and 9 m in 3rd line or more. No significant differences in CBR were observed between P with or without visceral metastases (58.9 vs 60%). There was a trend in the CBR between HER –ve and +ve groups (64.7% vs 33.3% p = 0.0565). 1-year survival rate was 86% (77.3-92.3). Median Overall Survival was not calculated because only 20 P had died when data were analyzed. More frequent toxicities were: local injection site pain (11.8%), hot flushes (11.8%) and gastrointestinal disorders (8.6%). Conclusions: F500 in real life setting showed a PFS of 10.6 m and got CB in 2/3 of P with a good toxicity profile, in line with phase III trials. In P who achieve a CB the median PFS was almost two years. P with visceral metastases may benefit from F same as those with non visceral involvement.

Relation between carotid intima media thickness and vitamin D in hypertension

Purpose: Subclinical atherosclerosis defined as endothelial dysfunction, coronary calcification, and increased carotid intima media thickness is related to cardiovascular events independent from blood pressure. There are data showing possible relation between low vitamin D levels and subclinical atherosclerosis. In this study we aimed to find out the relation between vitamin D level and intima media thickness and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques. Materials and Methods: Fifteen male and 148 female subjects with essential hypertension aged between 30-76 were included to the study. Intima media thickness was measured and the presence of plaque was evaluated by real time B mode ultrasonography (MyLab 70 XVG, Esaote SpA, Genoa, Italy) using 4.0-13.0 MHz linear probe. Serum parathormone was measured by chemiluminiscence immunoassay and 25 OH vitamin D level by radioimmunassay. Results: Eighty patients (49%) had plaques. Seventy three patients (45%) had severe vitamin D deficiency defined as level below 10 ng/ml and 64 (39%) had insufficiency, (10-20 ng/ml). Vitamin D levels were similar in plaque +ve and –ve groups (p=0.44). Intima media thickness was positively correlated with age (r=0.399, p=0.0001), fasting glucose (r=0.165, p=0.036), and Hemoglobin A1c (r=0.384, p=0.002). There was no correlation between intima media thickness and vitamin D level (p=0.75) and LDL (p=0.581). Conclusion: We did not find any relation between vitamin D level andintima media thickness in hypertensive subjects. The lack of significance may be due to high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.

Microalbuminuria as a Predictor of Short-Term Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Microalbuminuria is one of the predictors of mortality. Available published data has suggested that microalbuminuria is a potential new risk factor for ischemic stroke. This study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College during the period from July 2009 to June 2010. In this study, we enrolled 120 patients of ischemic stroke. 60 of them were with microalbuminuria (MA) and 60 were without MA. Among the MA +ve group, 38 (63.3%) were males and 22 (36.7%) were females. On the other hand those belonging to MA -ve groups 52 (36.7%) were males and 8 (13.3%) were females. Age range of the subjects in MA +ve group was 45-70 years and in MA-ve group was 50-70 years. In patients with microalbuminuria mortality was 26.7% and in patients without MA mortality was 11.7% (p&lt;0.05). The study showed significantly higher mortality in patients with microalbuminuria than that of the patients without microalbuminuria. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v5i1.13426 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2012; 5(1): 16-19

Cytokine Responses to Novel Antigens in an Indian Population Living in an Area Endemic for Visceral Leishmaniasis

BackgroundThere are no effective vaccines for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a neglected parasitic disease second only to malaria in global mortality. We previously identified 14 protective candidates in a screen of 100 Leishmania antigens as DNA vaccines in mice. Here we employ whole blood assays to evaluate human cytokine responses to 11 of these antigens, in comparison to known defined and crude antigen preparations.MethodsWhole blood assays were employed to measure IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 responses to peptide pools of the novel antigens R71, Q51, L37, N52, L302.06, J89, M18, J41, M22, M63, M57, as well as to recombinant proteins of tryparedoxin peroxidase (TRYP), Leishmania homolog of the receptor for activated C kinase (LACK) and to crude soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA), in Indian patients with active (n = 8) or cured (n = 16) VL, and in modified Quantiferon positive (EHC+ve, n = 20) or modified Quantiferon negative (EHC−ve, n = 9) endemic healthy controls (EHC).ResultsActive VL, cured VL and EHC+ve groups showed elevated SLA-specific IFN-γ, but only active VL patients produced IL-10 and EHC+ve did not make TNF-α. IFN-γ to IL-10 and TNF-α to IL-10 ratios in response to TRYP and LACK antigens were higher in cured VL and EHC+ve exposed individuals compared to active VL. Five of the eleven novel candidates (R71, L37, N52, J41, and M22) elicited IFN-γ and TNF-α, but not IL-10, responses in cured VL (55–87.5% responders) and EHC+ve (40–65% responders) subjects.ConclusionsOur results are consistent with an important balance between pro-inflammatory IFNγ and TNFγ cytokine responses and anti-inflammatory IL-10 in determining outcome of VL in India, as highlighted by response to both crude and defined protein antigens. Importantly, cured VL patients and endemic Quantiferon positive individuals recognise 5 novel vaccine candidate antigens, confirming our recent data for L. chagasi in Brazil, and their potential as cross-species vaccine candidates.

Anaphylactic Shock Decreases Cerebral Blood Flow More Than What Would Be Expected From Severe Arterial Hypotension

The effects of acute reduction in arterial blood pressure in severe anaphylactic shock (AS) on cerebral blood flow are of paramount importance to be investigated. We studied cerebral circulation and oxygenation in a model of severe AS and compared it with a pharmacologically induced arterial hypotension of similar magnitude. Anaphylactic shock was induced by 1 mg intravenous ovalbumin (OVA) in sensitized rats. Rats were randomized to three groups: (i) no resuscitation (OVA; n = 10) (ii) intravenous volume expansion (10 mL in 10 min after OVA injection) (OVA + VE; n = 10); (iii) control hypotension (100 μg of nicardipine followed by continuous infusion of 1 mg · 100 g · h intravenously; NICAR; n = 10). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), carotid blood flow (CBF), cardiac output, cerebral cortical blood flow (CCBF; estimated by laser Doppler technique), and cerebral tissue oxygen pressure (PtiO2) were recorded over the 15 min following AS induction in all three groups. Results are expressed as mean (SD). One minute after OVA or nicardipine injection, there was a rapid and significant 50% decrease in MAP from basal values. In the OVA group, AS severely altered systemic and cerebral hemodynamics in 5 min: 93% (SD, 4%) decrease in CBF, 66% (SD, 8%) in CCBF, and 44% (SD, 8%) in PtiO2; the decrease in CBF was significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated in the OVA + VE group; however, CCBF and PtiO2 were not statistically different in the OVA versus OVA + VE groups. On the contrary, nicardipine-induced hypotension had only a limited impact on CBF, cardiac output, CCBF, and PtiO2 for a similar MAP decrease. There was a linear relation between CCBF and blood pressure in the OVA (regression slope: 0.87 [SD, 0.06]; median r = 0.81) but not in the NICAR group (regression slope: 0.23 [SD, 0.32]; median r = 0.33). Anaphylactic shock resulted in severe impairment of cerebral blood flow and oxygenation, beyond what could be expected from the level of arterial hypotension.

PTU-184 Defining and treating a positive circumferential resection margin in oesophageal and gastro-oesophageal junctional cancer

IntroductionA positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) has been implicated with poorer prognosis in oesophageal and gastro-oesophageal junctional (OGJ) cancer. The Royal College of Pathologists (RCP) defines a margin as positive...

072 Fragmented QRS: a predictor of myocardial scar and fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BackgroundIt is well-established that fragmented QRS complexes (fQRS) on the 12-lead ECG are a predictor of delayed gadolinium enhancement (DGE) on Cardiac MRI (CMR) and indicate myocardial scar or fibrosis...

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in thick malignant melanoma: A 10-year single unit experience

Between the years 2000-2010, 195 patients were diagnosed with ≥4 mm Breslow thickness malignant melanoma in our unit. Median follow-up was 36.8 months. 49% of patients were male and 51% were female. Median age was 74 years. The commonest melanoma type was nodular (55%). The commonest tumour location was on the extremity (45%). 64% of tumours were ulcerated. Median mitotic rate was 9. Median Breslow thickness was 7 mm 66 patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy. 44 (67%) patients had negative results and the remaining 22 (33%) patients were positive for metastatic melanoma. There was no statistically significant correlation between any of the patient or tumour variables (age, sex, melanoma type, melanoma site, Clark level, Breslow thickness, mitotic rate, ulceration) and sentinel lymph node status. Patients with Breslow thickness melanoma of <6 mm had a significantly better 5-year disease free and overall survival compared with those patients with >6 mm Breslow thickness melanoma (63.5% vs. 32.9%; P=0.004 and 73.9% vs. 54.7%; P=0.02 respectively). Recurrence rate was 50% in those with positive sentinel lymph node biopsy compared to 23% in those with negative results. Distant recurrence was the commonest in both groups. 5-year disease free survival was 64.1% in the SLNB -ve group and 35.4% in the SLNB +ve group (P=0.01). There was no significant difference in overall survival between the SLNB -ve and SLNB +ve groups (70.3% vs. 63.7% respectively; P=0.66). We conclude that sentinel lymph node biopsy in our unit has provided no survival benefit in those with thick melanoma over the past 10 years but is an important predictor of recurrence free survival. Breslow thickness remains an important predictor of disease free and overall survival in thick melanoma.

50 EFFECTS OF VITAMINS ON THE QUALITY AND FERTILITY OF BOAR SEMEN AFTER LIQUID PRESERVATION AT 5°C

Liquid preservation can be used as an alternative to freeze-thawing for preserving semen for AI. The efficiency of some boar semen extenders has been studied over storage periods of 5 to 7 days. The objective of this study was to evaluate the viability and penetrability of boar spermatozoa preserved at 5°C in a modified Modena-based extender supplemented with either 100 μM vitamin C (Vc), 100 μM vitamin E (Ve), or 100 μM Vc + 100 μM Ve (Vc + e). The final sperm concentration was adjusted to cells mL–1 and the semen was then stored at 5°C for 4 weeks. In Experiment 1, the semen samples were assessed every week during the 4-week storage in each extender for the following factors: motility, by using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA); viability, by using the Live/Dead fluorescence viability assay; plasma membrane integrity, by using the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST); and acrosome integrity, by using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled peanut agglutinin staining. In Experiment 2, we examined the penetrability of spermatozoa that had been stored in each extender for 4 weeks and the development of fertilized oocytes. Data were analysed using ANOVA. In Experiment 1, when the semen was stored for 2 weeks, the mean percentage values of total sperm motility and viability for semen stored with Ve were significantly higher than those for semen stored without Vc and Ve (control group) (84.3 vs 67.9% and 59.8 vs 51.2%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). Moreover, the percentage sperm motility for semen stored for 4 weeks tended to be higher in the Ve group than in the control group (44.2 vs 32.7%; P &lt; 0.1). Storage with Vc or Vc + e did not improve sperm motility and viability of semen. The plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity of semen did not significantly differ among the groups during the 4-week storage. In Experiment 2, the rates of sperm penetration and of development to blastocysts of fertilized oocytes did not differ between the Ve and control groups (33.0 vs 28.5% and 14.9 vs 10.1%, respectively; P &gt; 0.05). However, storage with Vc reduced the rate of oocyte development compared with the Ve and control groups (1.1%; P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, adding Ve to the semen extender may improve the motility and fertility of boar semen stored at 5°C. However, adding Vc has a harmful effect on the quality and fertility of stored boar semen.

Arte rupestre entre las sierras y Los Llanos riojanos: localidad arqueológica Palancho

Este artículo presenta la localidad arqueológica con arte rupestre Palancho (Depto. Chilecito, La Rioja). Dadas las dimensiones de la localidad investigada y la abundancia de representaciones rupestres, este trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar una primera caracterización general de la localidad y proponer una secuencia cronológica preliminar para el arte rupestre. Para ello se toman en cuenta cuatro variables (técnica, tipos de motivos, superposiciones y grados de pátina) para agrupar las representaciones rupestres y proponer cinco momentos de ejecución. Por otra parte, ante la ausencia de otra evidencia arqueológica para el análisis se recurrió a indicadores estilísticos regionales.