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In Italy, water buffalo is exclusively reared for milk production and, as a result, lactation is a critical phase since milking represents a potential stressful event influencing the immune system as well as physiological and endocrine metabolism. The study was carried out on two different buffalo intensive farms in the province of Latina and Viterbo, both provided of modern milking management, in order to assess welfare indicators of the immune, metabolic and hormonal response. Samples were taken, in both farms, from buffalos within primiparous and pluriparous subjects, during the catabolic and anabolic phase of lactation. Non-specific immune response indicators, such as lysozyme and bactericidal activity, were determined by a microbiological method whereas haemogram was performed by an automatic cell counter. Specific immune response indicators, as T lymphocytes subset distribution, CD4+ and CD8+ percentage, was calculated by flow cytometry. Some metabolic parameters, ALT, AST, BUN, cholesterol, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, 4gt, glucose, NEFA, triglycerides, B-HBA, free radicals and total proteins were automatically analyzed. Cortisol and thyroid hormones concentration was determined by RIA. Comparing the farms, total lymphocytes count and the lysozyme showed a significant difference whereas CD4+ and CD8+ percentage, higher in Viterbo than in Latina farm, did not show any significant difference. Significant differences were observed in glucose, NEFA, B-HBA and cholesterol as well as in the thyroide hormones concentration. Comparing the lactation phases within each farm, only in Latina, a significant increase was observed, in leucocytes count, during the catabolic phase, whereas lymphocytes count showed a significant decrease. In the two farms, lysozyme and bactericidal activity showed higher values in the catabolic phase without any significant difference. Concerning CD4+ and CD8+ percentage, in Latina farm, a slight increasing trend was observed, in the anabolic phase, without any significant difference whereas, in Viterbo farm, the CD4+ percentage showed a decreased value in the same phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saving human lives is of paramount importance in avalanche rescue missions. Avalanche military dogs represent an invaluable resource in these operations. However, their performance can be influenced by several environmental, social and transport challenges. If too severe, these are likely to activate a range of responses to stress, which might put at risk the dogs' welfare. The aim of this study was to assess the physiological and behavioural responses of a group of military dogs to a Simulated Avalanche Search and Rescue mission (SASR). Seventeen avalanche dogs from the Italian Military Force Guardia di Finanza (SAGF dogs) were monitored during a simulated search for a buried operator in an artificial avalanche area (SASR). Heart rate (HR), body temperature (RBT) and blood samples were collected at rest the day before the trial (T0), immediately after helicopter transport at the onset of the SASR (T1), after the discovery of the buried operator (T2) and 2h later (T3). Heart rate (HR), rectal body temperature (RBT), cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured. During the search mission the behaviour of each SAGF dog was measured by focal animal sampling and qualitatively assessed by its handler and two observers. Inter-rater agreement was evaluated. Snow and environmental variables were also measured. All dogs successfully completed their search for the buried, simulated victim within 10min. The SASR was shown to exert significant increases on RBT, NEFA and cortisol (P<0.001), CK and HR (P<0.01), AST and LDH (P<0.05). These indicate the activation of a response to stress probably induced by the addition of factors such as helicopter transport, disembarking, and the search and rescue exercise. However, changes were moderate and limited over time, progressively decreasing with complete recovery at T3 except for sera cortisol that showed a slightly slower decline. More time walking within the search was related to lower RBT, conversely to walking. Standing still with head up and exploring with head-up were inversely related with HR. Agreement between handler and observers' opinions on a dog's search mission ability was found only for motivation, signalling behaviour, signs of stress and possessive reward playing. More time signalling was related to shorter search time. In conclusion, despite extreme environmental and training conditions only temporary physiological and behavioural changes were recorded in the avalanche dogs. Their excellent performance in successful simulated SASR may be attributable to extensive training and good dog-handler relationships. Simulated SASR did not seem to impair SAGF dogs' performance or welfare., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Irradiation is a preservation technology used to improve the safety and hygienic quality of food. Aim of this study was to assess the applicability and validity of the microbiological screening method direct epifluorescence filter technique (DEFT)/aerobic plate count (APC) (EN 13783:2001) for the identification of irradiated herbs and spices. Tests on non-irradiated and irradiated samples of dried herbs and spices were performed. The method was based on the comparison of APC and count obtained using DEFT. In accordance with the standard reference, this method is not applicable to samples with APC<10 3 colony forming units (CFU)/g and this is its main limit. The results obtained in our laboratories showed that in 50% of cases of non-irradiated samples and in 96% of the samples treated with ionising radiation, the method was not applicable due to a value of CFU/g <10 3 .

Plasma from 24 captive, clinically normal, Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) was analysed in order to provide haematological and chemistry reference values for use in clinical pathology. The values found were broadly similar to those reported by previous authors in other species of vultures and raptors. No sex or subspecies differences were observed for any of the parameters studied. Aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase, were higher during spring than during winter. In addition, cholesterol values decreased with age whereas creatinine values increased.

An immunoperoxidase method which reveals saturated ER and PgR receptors is reported. With this method it is possible to assess nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity as well as the percentage of the positive cells present in the tumour.

Eight cases of normal endometrium in the early proliferative phase and an equal number of cases in the late secretive phase were stained histochemically for acidic mucosubstances and immunocytochemically for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), carcinoembryogenetic antigen (CEA) and Gross Cyst Disease Fluid Protein -15 (GCDFP-15) production. Alcian blue positive material was observed in both phases of the cycle, although the distribution was different. Sulphated mucosubstances were only present in the secretive phase. No CEA nor GCDFP-15 immunoreactive material was detected. EMA positive staining was observed in all cases, but the distribution varied according to the two different phases of the cycle.

It has been recently demonstrated that the concentration of Estriol in saliva increases in the course of pregnancy, similarly to the plasmatic concentration of unconjugated and total Estriol. As an alternative to RIA, which is an expensive method and requires a highly specialized laboratory, there is now available a competitive, sensitive and rapid enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) for Estriol in saliva and plasma. Aim of this study is to compare the levels of Estriol concentration, measured by RIA and by ELISA in saliva and plasma in seven women tested every week from the 30th week to the term of pregnancy.

Endometrial adenomatous and atypical hyperplasia are the histopathological pictures that more frequently may develop into an adenocarcinoma. It is believed that a hormonal action may favour the genesis of endometrial cancer. We studied the plasmatic levels of some steroids, considered to be responsible for neoplastic changes, in patients with adenomatous and atypical hyperplasia. With this object we measured plasmatic levels of estrone, estradiol, androstenedione, DHEA-S and testosterone in postmenopausal patients with adenomatous and atypical hyperplasia and in fertile women, both in proliferative and secretory phases. We didn't find any difference in the steroid pattern in the two groups.

In order to study the hormonal pattern in ten postmenopausal women with coelomic ovarian tumors we measured Estrone, Androstenedione, DHEA-S and Testosterone plasmatic levels before and after surgery. Estrone and Androstenedione plasmatic levels were significantly higher in patients with coelomic ovarian tumors than in the control group and they showed a rapid and constant decrease after surgery. Nevertheless we didn't find any ovarian histological picture to explain the hormonal increase.

Ten cases of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium were studied using histochemical methods for mucopolysaccharides and immunocytochemical methods for the localization of various markers, such as EMA (epithelial membrane antigen), GCDFP-15 (gross cystic disease fluid protein) and CEA. Four cases appeared to contain High Iron Diamine-positive substance and 6 cases were positive using an immunocytochemical method with a polyclonal anti-CEA antiserum. In contrast, no cases stained when a monoclonal anti-CEA antiserum was employed. This suggested that HID- positive material could be a sign of differentiation towards cells with a secretory function.