BACKGROUND Increased concentrations of cell-free DNA have been found in several disorders and have been interpreted as evidence of increased rates of cell death or turnover. Evidence from in vitro and animal experiments suggests that DNA may play a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS We measured cell-free DNA in plasma and serum from patients with RA and healthy con...

Laying out the logic of Bourdieu’s approach to institutional fi elds, this essay argues that Bourdieu’s theorization of the logic of practice is a generic contest for domination in a plurality of homologously organized fi elds. Bourdieu aligns all practices through the logic of domination, which allows him to homologize group relations in every fi eld. This homologization depends on a homogeniz...

The objective of this study was to determine whether somatic cell count (SCC) was an effective test, with a sensitivity exceeding 85%, to determine species-specific bacterial infections. In addition, the relation between the SCC and various udder pathogen groups was investigated. SCC thresholds of greater than 200 000 cells/mL were used in quarter and greater than 150 000 cells/mL in composite ...

Some gastropod specimens belonging to the planorbid genus Ferrissia were recently collected in Lebanon and in Iraq, where the autochthonous species Ferrissia clessiniana (Jickeli, 1882) is supposed to occur. The molecular identification of collected specimens proved that they belong to the allochthonous species Ferrissia fragilis (Tryon, 1863), the protagonist of a dramatic cryptic invasion whi...

Ehrlichia canis is the causative agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. In order to evaluate platelet counts as a screening test for E. canis in an endemic area, 217 whole blood samples from dogs were divided into three groups: 71 non-thrombocytopenic samples (group A, platelet counts greater than 200 000/mL) and 146 thrombocytopenic samples (less than 200 000/mL). The thrombocytopenic group w...

During a survey for bladder cancer in a healthy male population a surprisingly high incidence of significant microhaematuria was found and no urinary sample was completely free of blood. A study of the sensitivity of the different techniques for assessing microhaematuria seemed necessary. A semiquantitative centrifugation technique, developed for cytological purposes, was found to be the most s...

The purpose of the study was to determine the microorganism species dependently on somatic cell count (SCC) in foremilk (inflammatory secretion) samples. Bacteriological examinations of 18 713 samples taken from clinically and subclinically (CMT positive) inflamed quarters were performed according to standard methods. Above 13% of the samples originated from quarters previously treated with ant...

A system for the rapid screening of urines for the presence of bacteriuria has been devised using a Coulter Counter Model ZBI linked to a multichannel pulse-height analyser (Coulter "Channelyser") with computer analysis of the output. In a series of 215 urines containing growth of a single pathogen of more than 100 x 10(6)/l (greater than 100 000/ml) satisfactory level of sensitivity (99.1%) wa...

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects associated with intramammary infection (IMI) by a bacterium or a group of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, coliforms, Staphylococci other than S. aureus, and Corynebacterium bovis) on the somatic cell count (SCC) in quarter milk of dairy cows. Papers selected for analysi...

Much emphasis has been put on evaluating alterations in milk composition caused by clinical and subclinical mastitis. However, little is known about changes in milk composition during subclinical mastitis in individual udder quarters with a low-to-moderate increase in milk somatic cell count (SCC). This information is needed to decide whether milk from individual udder quarters with a moderate-...