Kentucky Master Sheperds Named

The Bluegrass State Sheep Association recently announced its Master Sheperd Award winners for 1965. The certificates were presented at the Association\u27s annual meeting for three categories of commercial sheep producers based on flock size

Increasing the Efficiency of Lamb Production

Opportunities for increasing lamb production efficiency include increased rate of reproduction, more efficient lamb growth to heavier market weights with a higher lean to fat ratio, improved meat quality, and a more uniform distribution of high quality lamb throughout the year

An international perspective on hospitalized patients with viral community-acquired pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Who should be tested for viruses in patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP), prevalence and risk factors for viral CAP are still debated. We evaluated the frequency of viral testing, virus prevalence, risk factors and treatment coverage with oseltamivir in patients admitted for CAP. METHODS: Secondary analysis of GLIMP, an international, multicenter, point-prevalence study of hospitalized adults with CAP. Testing frequency, prevalence of viral CAP and treatment with oseltamivir were assessed among patients who underwent a viral swab. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to evaluate risk factors. RESULTS: 553 (14.9%) patients with CAP underwent nasal swab. Viral CAP was diagnosed in 157 (28.4%) patients. Influenza virus was isolated in 80.9% of cases. Testing frequency and viral CAP prevalence were inhomogeneous across the participating centers. Obesity (OR 1.59, 95%CI: 1.01-2.48; p = 0.043) and need for invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 1.62, 95%CI: 1.02-2.56; p = 0.040) were independently associated with viral CAP. Prevalence of empirical treatment with oseltamivir was 5.1%. CONCLUSION: In an international scenario, testing frequency for viruses in CAP is very low. The most common cause of viral CAP is Influenza virus. Obesity and need for invasive ventilation represent independent risk factors for viral CAP. Adherence to recommendations for treatment with oseltamivir is poor

Seed Production and Resource Allocation in Three Cultivars of \u3cem\u3eAchnatherum Hymenoides\u3c/em\u3e, Nevada, USA

Plant production is partially determined by resource allocation among various organs (Monsi & Murata, 1970), however, studies on dry matter partitioning among different plant organs are scarce in general (Marceli, 1996), and lacking in Achnatherum hymenoides. This study compared dry matter production and partitioning among three commercial cultivars (Paloma, Nezpar and Rimrock) of A. hymenoides and identified growth and developmental characteristics that could indicate potential seed production. In addition, the relationship between an organ weight as a percent of total aerial plant biomass was assessed

Effect of Jackbean Urease Injections on Performance, Antiurease Production and Plasma Ammonia and Urea Levels in Sheep and Swine

Animal Nutritio

Correction to: Atypical pathogens in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a worldwide perspective.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article

Prevalence and risk factors for Enterobacteriaceae in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia

N.J.S. is partially funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) Partnered Evaluation Initiative Grant (HX002263-01A1).Background and objective : Enterobacteriaceae (EB) spp. family is known to include potentially multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms, and remains as an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) associated with high mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and specific risk factors associated with EB and MDR-EB in a cohort of hospitalized adults with CAP. Methods : We performed a multinational, point-prevalence study of adult patients hospitalized with CAP. MDR-EB was defined when ≥3 antimicrobial classes were identified as non-susceptible. Risk factors assessment was also performed for patients with EB and MDR-EB infection. Results : Of the 3193 patients enrolled with CAP, 197 (6%) had a positive culture with EB. Fifty-one percent (n = 100) of EB were resistant to at least one antibiotic and 19% (n = 38) had MDR-EB. The most commonly EB identified were Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 111, 56%) and Escherichia coli (n = 56, 28%). The risk factors that were independently associated with EB CAP were male gender, severe CAP, underweight (body mass index (BMI) < 18.5) and prior extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) infection. Additionally, prior ESBL infection, being underweight, cardiovascular diseases and hospitalization in the last 12 months were independently associated with MDR-EB CAP. Conclusion : This study of adults hospitalized with CAP found a prevalence of EB of 6% and MDR-EB of 1.2%, respectively. The presence of specific risk factors, such as prior ESBL infection and being underweight, should raise the clinical suspicion for EB and MDR-EB in patients hospitalized with CAP.PostprintPeer reviewe

Burden and risk factors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa community-acquired pneumonia: a multinational point prevalence study of hospitalised patients

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a challenging bacterium to treat due to its intrinsic antibiotic resistance to the most frequently used antibiotics in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Data about the global burden and risk factors associated with P. aeruginosa-CAP are limited. We assessed the multinational burden and specific risk factors associated with P. aeruginosa-CAP. We enrolled 3,193 patients in 54 countries with confirmed diagnosis of CAP that underwent microbiological testing at admission. Prevalence was calculated according to the identification of P. aeruginosa. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa-CAP. The prevalence of P. aeruginosa and antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa-CAP was 4.2% and 2.0%, respectively. The rate of P. aeruginosa CAP in patients with prior infection/colonisation due to P. aeruginosa and at least one of the three independently associated chronic lung diseases [i.e., tracheostomy, bronchiectasis and/or very severe COPD]) was 67%. In contrast, the rate of P. aeruginosa CAP was 2% in patients without prior P. aeruginosa infection/colonisation and none of the selected chronic lung diseases. The multinational prevalence of P. aeruginosa-CAP is low. The risk factors identified in this study may guide healthcare professionals in deciding empirical antibiotic coverage for CAP patients