Anti-Jo-1 Antigen polyclonal antibody

Background. A significant percentage of patients on hemodialysis (HD) present with affective disorders such as anxiety and/or depression. The purpose of this study was to explore adaptive mixed affective disorders of patients on HD and to analyze the clinical value of a brief health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) instrument, the COOP-WONCA charts, in our population of HD patient. Methods: Seventy-five patients (mean age 49.2 years; range 20.1-64.9), who had been on HD for a mean 110 months (range 6.1-364.5 months) were studied. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Scale of Depression (HDRS) and Hamilton Scale of Anxiety (HARS) were used. To evaluate patient HRQoL, we used the validated Spanish version of the COOP-WONCA charts. Results. Of the 75 patients studied, 44.0% (BDI) and 53.4% (HDRS) had some depressive symptoms which were moderate-severe in 14.7% (BDI) and in 22.7% (HDRS). Anxiety symptoms were observed in 46.6% of the patients (13.3% were of moderate-severe degree). There was a high level of association between both depression scales (BDI and HDRS) (r=0.70; p<0.001), as well as between both scales and the HARS (HDRS, r=0.82; p<0.001; BDI, r=0.53; p<0.001). The most affected dimensions of the COOP-WONCA charts were "Physical fitness" and "Overall health," whereas the least affected were "Social activities" and "Daily activities." The global score of the COOP-WONCA charts was associated with the presence of depressive (BDI, r=0.64, and HDRS, r=0.75; p<0.001) and anxiety symptoms (HARS, r=0.52; p<0.001). A score of >= 3 corresponding to the dimension "Feelings" on the COOP-WONCA charts allowed the detection of 81.8% of the patients with clinically significant depressive symptoms (BDI >18), with a sensitivity of 96.8% and a specificity of 75% for this cutoff point. Conclusions. A high percentage of patients on HD present with mixed emotional disorders (anxiety and/or depression); a good correlation is observed between HRQoL and the levels of anxiety and depression in these patients; and measuring HRQoL with the COOP-WONdA charts may help diagnose such problems.

In order to optimize the regrowth and harvest of signal grass ( Urochloa decumbens) cv. Basilisk pastures it is necessary to establish more precise grazing management guidelines. The objective of this study was to evaluate herbage accumulation, plant-part composition and nutritive value of signal grass managed under contrasting levels of steady-state canopy heights. Treatments included 3 canopy height targets, i.e. 10 (S-short), 17.5 (M-medium) and 25 cm (T-tall), in a completely randomized design with 4 replications. Experimental units were 144-m(2) plots which were grazed by groups of steers for short periods in an endeavor to keep canopy heights at the 3 desired targets. On average, herbage accumulation rate (HAR) in T pastures was greater than in M and S pastures, including the dry-wet season transition period in spring (September-November). The S pastures had higher crude protein and lower acid detergent fiber concentrations than M and T pastures, especially in the first half of the calendar year. However, in vitro organic matter digestibility was similar for all treatments (612 g/kg). As S and M pastures had lower HARs than T pastures in the spring, it appears advantageous to maintain the signal grass canopy at similar to 25 cm in order to ensure quick regrowth with the return of the wet season. However, longer-term studies are needed with recording of animal performance before these initial findings can be promoted widely.