For analysis, we compared two periods of equal duration.

Results: A total of 57 patients were diagnosed with CDAD, of whom 26.3% had concomitant IBD. A 3.75-fold increase in CDAD was observed between period 1 and period 2, irrespective of underlying IBD and with a comparable total

number of analyzed stool samples between both periods. GSK126 in vivo Non-IBD patients were significantly older. Antibiotic use three months prior to the infection was higher in non-IBD (29/42 or 69%) than in IBD patients (6/15 or 42%) (p=0.047). Nine IBD patients were on concomitant immunomodulators, and this was not different between period 1 and period 2. Most patients had a successful outcome and only one patient with ulcerative colitis needed semi-urgent colectomy. Two patients died in the non-IBD group. The duration of hospital stay was significantly tower in IBD patients.

Conclusion: We observed a significant rise in CDAD in both IBD and non-IBD. The clinical outcome was favorable with only one IBD patient needing semi-urgent colectomy. Because C. difficile can mimic an IBD flare, it is essential that clinicians are vigilant to this complication. PKC412 The use of immunosuppressive drugs in IBD does not influence the risk. (c) 2008 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
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Previous studies indicate that reproductive prolificacy of obese swine breeds is markedly influenced by embryo losses in early pregnancy. In such period, adequate secretion AR-13324 inhibitor of progesterone (P4) by the ovary is essential for pregnancy success. This study analyses the luteal functionality during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy of Iberian sows and Large White x Landrace females, in terms of P4 secretion after in vitro culture of luteal tissue stimulated or not with luteinizing hormone (LH). The secretion of progesterone (expressed in ng/mg of luteal tissue or ng/mgLT) of the corpora lutea of obese Iberian swine was always hampered when compared to lean genotypes, either during early oestrous cycle

(110.7 +/- 37.8 vs 259.7 +/- 10.2ng/mgLT; p<0.0001), late oestrous cycle (49.0 +/- 3.5 vs 75.92 +/- 7.14ng/mgLT; p<0.0001) or early pregnancy (38.4 +/- 2.1 vs 70.7 +/- 5.3ng/mgLT; p<0.0001). The differences in basal P4 secretion remained after stimulation with LH. Finally, P4 secretion during early pregnancy of Iberian sows decreased with age and, hence, with obesity features (46.6 +/- 4.2 vs 65.5 +/- 4.8ng/mgLT; p<0.001). In conclusion, the results of the present study provide convincing evidence of a reduced luteal function during oestrous cycle and early pregnancy of sows with obesity/leptin resistance like Iberian sows, which may contribute to the low reproductive efficiency reported in this breed.