SOME ENVIRONMENTEAL FACTORS AFFECTING BROILER HOUSING IN WINTER SEASON

The main objective of this study was to study some environmental factors affecting broiler housing in winter season. The results showed that, temperature fluctuations between house ceiling and floor ranged between 0.4 to 5.93 ºC during the first two days of age. The average house temperature reduced gradually from 29.7 to 21.3 ºC. The indoor relative humidity ranged between 43.6 to 74.3 %. Specific heating power, specific fuel consumption and heating energy requirements ranged between 3850.2 W/ºC , 0.34 kg /h. ºC and 308.9 kJ/h. kg at the first week of age to 6213.4 W/ºC , 0.36 kg /h. ºC and 19.3 kJ/h. kg at the end of the life respectivel

Tumor Content Is Not Linked To Pembrolizumab Response In Rare Tumors

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp23/1079/thumbnail.jp

Prevalence and trends of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors in the State of Qatar, 2013-2017.

Millions of lives around the world are being saved annually through blood transfusion. However, blood transfusion is among the essential vehicles for transmitting infections. The overall prevalence of Transfusion Transmissible Infections among blood donors differs around the world, reflecting the variation in the prevalence of these infections. This study aims to assess the prevalence and trends of Transfusion Transmissible Infections among blood donors in Qatar. This is a cross-sectional study utilizing donation records of 5 years from January 2013 to December 2017. We included in the study results for all screening and confirmatory tests for Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Human T-lymphotropic Virus-I/II, Syphilis and Malaria. Among the 190,509 donations received at the donation centre during the study period, about 91% of donations were received from males and 9% from females. The overall positivity rate for all tests was 1.87, 2.23, 1.78, 2.31, 2.67% for the years 2013 through 2017, with an increasing yearly trend by 6% each year. The overall positivity rates for Hepatitis C Virus, Human T-lymphotropic Virus-I/II, Hepatitis B Virus, Syphilis and Malaria (2013-2017) were 0.60, 0.18, 0.30, 0.43 and 0.20%, respectively. The overall positivity rate of all tests combined for the Transfusion Transmissible Infections demonstrated a gradually increasing trend from 2013 to 2017. However, the trend for each infection (Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Syphilis and Malaria) was fluctuating except for Human T-lymphotropic Virus-I/II, which was increasing. Supporting the development of effective prevention and control strategies requires further comprehensive investigations for better estimation of the burden of these infections.The authors gratefully acknowledge the Blood Donation Center at HMC for their support

Demographics and Epidemiology of Hepatitis B in the State of Qatar: A Five-Year Surveillance-Based Incidence Study

Background: Expatriates represent >80% of Qatar’s population, mostly arriving from countries in Africa and Asia that are endemic with many diseases. This increases the risk for introducing new pathogens into the country and provides a platform for maintenance of endemic pathogen circulation. Here, we report on the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B in Qatar between 2010 and 2014. Methods: We performed a retrospective epidemiological data analysis using the data available at the surveillance system of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in Qatar. Data were collected from distinctive public and private incorporates around the nation. Reported cases of hepatitis B patients represent those who met the stringent case definition as per World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and eventually reported to MOPH. Results: The annual incidence rates of hepatitis B cases were 30.0, 34.2, 30.5, 39.4, and 19.8 per 100,000 population in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. There was no specific trend or seasonality for the reported cases. The incidence rates were higher in females compared to males between 2010 and 2012, but similar in 2013 and 2014. The highest incidence rates were reported among individuals between 25 and 34 years of age. No cases were reported in children younger than five years in 2013 and 2014. Rates of hepatitis B cases declined dramatically in 2014, in both Qataris and non-Qataris, as compared to the previous years. Conclusion: Our results indicate a dramatic decline of hepatitis B cases in Qatar but mandate improved surveillance and vaccination efforts in expatriates in the nation. View Full-TextMOP

Management of hepatitis C virus genotype 4: recommendations of an international expert panel.

HCV has been classified into no fewer than six major genotypes and a series of subtypes. Each HCV genotype is unique with respect to its nucleotide sequence, geographic distribution, and response to therapy. Genotypes 1, 2, and 3 are common throughout North America and Europe. HCV genotype 4 (HCV-4) is common in the Middle East and in Africa, where it is responsible for more than 80% of HCV infections. It has recently spread to several European countries. HCV-4 is considered a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation in these regions. Although HCV-4 is the cause of approximately 20% of the 170 million cases of chronic hepatitis C in the world, it has not been the subject of widespread research. Therefore, this document, drafted by a panel of international experts, aimed to review current knowledge on the epidemiology, natural history, clinical, histological features, and treatment of HCV-4 infections

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. METHODS: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. RESULTS: SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin

The Role of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators for the Prevention of Ventricular Arrhythmia in Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients

Advanced heart failure represents a significant strain on our health care system and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. New device therapies, including left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, have transformed management as both a destination therapy and as a bridge to transplantation. Although LVADs have improved patient outcomes, arrhythmias represent a significant and costly complication of this therapy. In recent years, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have been developed to reduce the incidence of lethal arrhythmia. However, a gap in the literature exists for both guidelines in prevention of early ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in LVAD recipients and the effectiveness of ICDs when paired with various LVADs. Here, we clarify these guidelines and show that ICD selection should be tailored to the type of LVAD. We also show that subcutaneous ICDs represent an attractive alternative option for certain cohorts of patients, although transvenous ICDs remain a first-line choice at this time. Ultimately, understanding the various management options that affect outcomes in heart failure patients is important for treatment and clinical decision-making in an ever-growing population

CT-guided transforaminal epidural steroid injection and vertebral axial decompression in management of acute lumbar disc herniation

Aim of the work: To assess the efficacy of CT-guided transforaminal epidural steroid injection (CT-TFESI) as compared to vertebral axial decompression (VAX-D), the combined effect of both and medical treatment in the management of acute lumbar disc herniation. Patients and methods: Forty-eight patients complaining of low back pain (LBP) with radicular symptoms due to lumbar disc herniation (<6 weeks duration) were enrolled. Patients were divided into 4 groups (12 patients each) and treated for one month; group I received three CT-TFESIs at 10 day intervals; group II received VAX-D sessions every other day; group III received three CT-TFESIs with simultaneous VAX-D sessions and group IV only received medical treatment. Evaluation of LBP intensity and its impact on activities of daily living was done using the Pain Visual Analogue Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index respectively at baseline, after 1 and 3 months from baseline. Results: Patients were 36 males and 12 females; their mean age was 38.6 ± 3.07 years, disease duration was 14.23 ± 6.51 days and body mass index was 44.9 ± 7.1. Patients who received CT-TFESIs had 87.8% improvement in pain intensity and 45.5% functional improvement. Patients who had combined CT-TFESIs and VAX-D sessions had the highest functional improvement (79.8%) after 3 months with significant pain control (77.5%), especially in patients with shorter disease duration. Medical treatment was the least effective. Conclusion: All treatment modalities showed a significant improvement in pain and function, however, the combined CT-TFESIs with regular VAX-D sessions was the most effective. Further studies with a larger sample size and a longer follow up are needed to support our findings

The dilemma of ischemic heart failure; how FDG-PET can guide therapy and improve outcomes? Case report

Patients with ischemic LV dysfunction are at increasing risk of adverse cardiac events including sudden cardiac death. Proper revascularization of viable ischemic myocardium (compared to medical treatment alone) is associated with improvement of LV systolic function, less cardiac morbidities & mortalities and better functional capacity and well-being. Many diagnostic tools are used in clinical practice for assessment of myocardial viability. Dobutamine stress Echocardiography (DSE) is the most widely used technique, while delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) and Flourine-18-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) are considered the standard of care for assessment of myocardial viability. Our case report illustrates how FDG PET myocardial viability assessment can guide therapy and improve outcomes in a difficult clinical and angiographic situation

Effect of Cryopreservation on Arabian Stallion Semen After Adding INRA96 and DMF Based Extenders

Cryopreservation is very important technique in AI centers of stallions, it preserves sperms for long period and spread the superior genetic merits between different animal’s breeds. However, using of cryopreserved sperms lead to decreasing the fertility between animals, due to lethal damage of sperms during preservation process; so, this study aimed to use the two different freezing media with decreasing post thawing sperm damage. A total of 54 ejaculates were collected from nine pure fertile Egyptian Stallions (6 ejaculates per stallion), individually housed at a Veterinary Clinic in Giza Government. Semen sample was collected by Missouri AV on a regular basis (two collections ⁄ week) during the 2021 breeding season in presence of teaser mare. The collected ejaculates were sent to the laboratory immediately for evaluation by CASA (total concentration, progressive motility, static motility, and sperm abnormalities). Ejaculates were filtrated for removal gel fraction; filtrated ejaculates were diluted by EDTA-glucose media for centrifugation and the resulting sperm pellets were split into 2 equal aliquots and then extended in freezing media. INRA96 Milk-based Extender with glycerol and Egg yolk- based Extender with DMF (dimethylformamide) were used in this study as freezing extenders. Diluted semen was packaged into 0.5 ml straw then cooling at 4 ◦C and freezing by vapor of liquid nitrogen and after that preserved by freezing in liquid nitrogen container at -196⁰ C. After keeping the frozen straws in liquid nitrogen for one week, at least 2 straws were taken for thawing and evaluating post thawing-freezing motility. Finally thawed-frozen semen was inseminated inside fertile mares for calculation the conception rate after one month. Post thawing motility were evaluated in extended semen by two different extenders. The obtained results showed a change in the motility by decreasing in INRA-diluted semen compared to DMF-diluted semen. Conception rate was recorded after insemination and showed a high significant in DMF-diluted semen than INRA diluted semen. We concluded that the frozen semen with DMF based diluent did not decrease the motility of sperms after thawing and achieved high conception rate when compared with INRA based glycerol diluent.