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The object of this study was to investigate the effect of some blood metabolites and elements on the ovarian persistent follicle formation in dairy cattle. Blood samples were obtained from 117 lactating cows in two groups of normal and persistent follicle status. Glucose, urea, total protein, phosphorus and betahydroxy butyrate were measured by spectrophotometer method. Estradiol concentration in blood serum was measured by ELISA method. Effects of calving season, parity and milk production at 50-60 days postpartum were studied on persistent follicle status. Status of animal (presence or absence of resistant follicle) had significant effect on urea, protein, beta-hydroxybutyrate, phosphorus and estradiol (p

In recent years, the integration of traffic simulators and emission models has become the most preferred option for evaluating vehicle emissions in different traffic states. However, the definition of a 'traffic condition' is often subjective, as driving patterns can vary significantly with the spatial domain of study. Alternatively, the implementation of 'Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems' has led to a growing variety of devices being installed, both on the road and in public transport vehicles for monitoring traffic-flow conditions and vehicle speeds in cities. This study purposed an original approach for integrating real-world emissions (as an micro-emission model), real-world driving profiles, and city traffic sensor data to assess the effects of traffic congestion at the route level on emissions from urban buses in Madrid (Spain). The definition of the traffic scenarios was based on a K-means clustering analysis by linking stationary (from city sensors) and dynamic (from bus driving profiles) congestion indicators. In parallel, a micro-emissions model based on vehicle-specific power (VSP) methodology was used to model second-by-second CO 2 and NO x emissions from individual trips of the diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Finally, the clustering and modelled emissions data were combined. A comparison of the free flow and the severe congestion scenarios showed that the average speed of the route decreased by approximately 50 %, and the number of stops per kilometre increased by a multiple of 1.5; furthermore, the CO 2 and NO x emissions from buses increased by approximately 50 % and 85 %, respectively. The diesel bus showed a lower sensitivity to variations in the congestion level at the route level, although the low-NO x emissions from the CNG buses were evident for all traffic scenarios. The results of this study, based on extensive real-world data, can be used to develop high-resolution vehicle emissions inventories., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Previous research has suggested that patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are not offered adequate risk factor modification, despite their high cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to assess the cardiovascular profiles of patients with PAD and quantify the survival benefits of target-based risk factor modification., Methods: The Vascular and Endovascular Research Network (VERN) prospectively collected cardiovascular profiles of patients with PAD from ten UK vascular centres (April to June 2018) to assess practice against UK and European goal-directed best medical therapy guidelines. Risk and benefits of risk factor control were estimated using the SMART-REACH model, a validated cardiovascular prediction tool for patients with PAD., Results: Some 440 patients (mean(s.d.) age 70(11) years, 24·8 per cent women) were included in the study. Mean(s.d.) cholesterol (4·3(1·2) mmol/l) and LDL-cholesterol (2·7(1·1) mmol/l) levels were above recommended targets; 319 patients (72·5 per cent) were hypertensive and 343 (78·0 per cent) were active smokers. Only 11·1 per cent of patients were prescribed high-dose statin therapy and 39·1 per cent an antithrombotic agent. The median calculated risk of a major cardiovascular event over 10 years was 53 (i.q.r. 44-62) per cent. Controlling all modifiable cardiovascular risk factors based on UK and European guidance targets (LDL-cholesterol less than 2 mmol/l, systolic BP under 140 mmHg, smoking cessation, antiplatelet therapy) would lead to an absolute risk reduction of the median 10-year cardiovascular risk by 29 (20-38) per cent with 6·3 (4·0-9·3) cardiovascular disease-free years gained., Conclusion: The medical management of patients with PAD in this secondary care cohort was suboptimal. Controlling modifiable risk factors to guideline-based targets would confer significant patient benefit., (© 2019 BJS Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A 66-year-old man presented with a long history of recurrent attacks of urinary retention and lower urinary tract symptoms. Flexible cystoscopy showed a urethral stricture. Follow-up cystoscopy 7 years later for recurrent symptoms demonstrated unusual extensive mucosal brown to black pigmentation, which proved histopathologically to be a simple bladder melanosis. Follow-up demonstrated complete resolution over a period of 1 year with no specific treatment. In this report, we highlighted a rare bladder abnormality with uncertain natural history., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)