Isolation and Characterization of Microbial Pathogens Found in Chickens

The bacterial content of retail chicken is a topic of growing concern. Chicken processing plants are under increasingly strict regulations to prevent contamination. Likewise, increasing controversy is being directed towards chicken farmers concerning cleanliness and the use of antibiotics in raising chickens, as it may lead to antibiotic resistance. There is legitimate concern surrounding the many possible pathogens associated with chicken, let alone the recent trend of bacteria with heightened resistance to antibiotics. This project was carried out with the purpose of the identification and characterization of bacteria found in chicken from local supermarkets. As multiple bacterial species were expected to be encountered, successful identification of at least one species was paramount for the continuation of this project prior to examining bacteria for antibiotic resistance and virulence factors

Does Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) prevent additional toxicity of treating the pelvic lymph nodes compared to treatment of the prostate only?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the risk of rectal, bladder and small bowel toxicity in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) of the prostate only compared to additional irradiation of the pelvic lymphatic region.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For ten patients with localized prostate cancer, IMRT plans with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) were generated for treatment of the prostate only (plan-PO) and for additional treatment of the pelvic lymph nodes (plan-WP). In plan-PO, doses of 60 Gy and 74 Gy (33 fractions) were prescribed to the seminal vesicles and to the prostate, respectively. Three plans-WP were generated with prescription doses of 46 Gy, 50.4 Gy and 54 Gy to the pelvic target volume; doses to the prostate and seminal vesicles were identical to plan-PO. The risk of rectal, bladder and small bowel toxicity was estimated based on NTCP calculations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Doses to the prostate were not significantly different between plan-PO and plan-WP and doses to the pelvic lymph nodes were as planned. Plan-WP resulted in increased doses to the rectum in the low-dose region ≤ 30 Gy, only, no difference was observed in the mid and high-dose region. Normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for late rectal toxicity ranged between 5% and 8% with no significant difference between plan-PO and plan-WP. NTCP for late bladder toxicity was less than 1% for both plan-PO and plan-WP. The risk of small bowel toxicity was moderately increased for plan-WP.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This retrospective planning study predicted similar risks of rectal, bladder and small bowel toxicity for IMRT treatment of the prostate only and for additional treatment of the pelvic lymph nodes.</p

Wide-neck aneurysms: Systematic review of the neurosurgical literature with a focus on definition and clinical implications

OBJECTIVE Wide-necked aneurysms (WNAs) are a variably defined subset of cerebral aneurysms that require more advanced endovascular and microsurgical techniques than those required for narrow-necked aneurysms. The neurosurgical literature includes many definitions of WNAs, and a systematic review has not been performed to identify the most commonly used or optimal definition. The purpose of this systematic review was to highlight the most commonly used definition of WNAs. METHODS The authors searched PubMed for the years 1998.2017, using the terms gwide neck aneurysm h and gbroad neck aneurysm h to identify relevant articles. All results were screened for having a minimum of 30 patients and for clearly stating a definition of WNA. Reference lists for all articles meeting the inclusion criteria were also screened for eligibility. RESULTS The search of the neurosurgical literature identified 809 records, of which 686 were excluded (626 with \u3c 30 patients; 60 for lack of a WNA definition), leaving 123 articles for analysis. Twenty-seven unique definitions were identified and condensed into 14 definitions. The most common definition was neck size ≥ 4 mm or dome-to-neck ratio \u3c 2, which was used in 49 articles (39.8%). The second most commonly used definition was neck size ≥ 4 mm, which was used in 26 articles (21.1%). The rest of the definitions included similar parameters with variable thresholds. There was inconsistent reporting of the precise dome measurements used to determine the dome-to-neck ratio. Digital subtraction angiography was the only imaging modality used to study the aneurysm morphology in 87 of 122 articles (71.3%). CONCLUSIONS The literature has great variability regarding the definition of a WNA. The most prevalent definition is a neck diameter of . 4 mm or a dome-to-neck ratio of \u3c 2. Whether this is the most appropriate and clinically useful definition is an area for future study

Tailoring the surgical corridor to the basilar apex in the pretemporal transcavernous approach: morphometric analyses of different neurovascular mobilization maneuvers

Background: The pretemporal transcavernous approach (PTA) provides optimal exposure and access to the basilar artery (BA); however, the PTA can be invasive when vital neurovascular structures are mobilized. The goal of this study was to evaluate mobilization strategies to tailor approaches to the BA. Methods: After an orbitozygomatic craniotomy, 10 sides of 5 cadaveric heads were used to assess the surgical access to the BA via the opticocarotid triangle (OCT), carotid-oculomotor triangle (COT), and oculomotor-tentorial triangle (OTT). Measurements were obtained, and morphometric analyses were performed for natural neurovascular positions and after each stepwise expansion maneuver. An imaginary line connecting the midpoints of the limbus sphenoidale and dorsum sellae was used as a reference to normalize the measurements of BA exposure and to facilitate the clinical applicability of this technique. Results: In the OCT, the exposed BA segment ranged from − 1 ± 3.9 to + 6 ± 2.0 mm in length in its natural position. In the COT, the accessible BA segment ranged from − 4 ± 2.3 to − 2 ± 3.0 mm in length in its natural position. Via the OTT, the accessible BA segment ranged from − 7 ± 2.6 to − 5 ± 2.8 mm in length in its natural position. In the OCT, COT, and OTT, a posterior clinoidectomy extended the exposure down to − 6 ± 2.7, − 8 ± 2.5, and − 9 ± 2.9 mm, respectively. Conclusions: This study quantitatively evaluated the need for the expansion maneuvers in the PTA to reach BA aneurysms according to the patient’s anatomical characteristics

Thermochronological and Geochronological Constraints on Late Cretaceous Unroofing and Proximal Sedimentation in the Sevier Orogenic Belt, Utah

A source-to-sink analysis incorporating geochronometric and thermochronometric data from the Sevier fold-thrust belt (SFTB) and proximal synorogenic strata of the Canyon Range Conglomerate (CRC) and Indianola Group (IG) provides new insights into orogenic exhumation, erosional unroofing, and the interplay between thrusting and coarse clastic deposition in the Cretaceous Cordilleran foreland basin of western North America. Zircon (U-Th)/He ages from the Pavant and Nebo thrust sheets record significant Cenomanian cooling indicative of synchronous exhumation and thrusting along a large segment of the SFTB in central and northern Utah. Detrital zircon (U-Th)/He (DZHe) ages indistinguishable from depositional ages from the Cenomanian Dakota Formation and lower CRC also record rapid unroofing of the SFTB and synchronous deposition. DZHe data from wedge-top deposits of the CRC record two significant unroofing episodes: Albo-Cenomanian exhumation of the Pavant thrust and progressive unroofing of the Canyon Range culmination. For the IG, the presence of Paleozoic DZHe ages along with Paleozoic-Mesozoic DZ U-Pb ages in the Cenomanian Sanpete Formation suggests derivation from Paleozoic to Jurassic strata exhumed in the frontal Pavant and Nebo thrust sheets. After the Cenomanian episode of rapid exhumation, proximal foredeep strata recorded a widespread DZ provenance shift in the Turonian. Short DZHe lag time values from Campanian CRC and IG deposits reveal rapid exhumation of the SFTB during the Campanian. The synchroneity of major shortening and Campanian and Cenomanian changes in foreland basin architecture and provenance supports models proposing that active shortening in the fold-thrust belt coincides with coarse clastic influx in foreland basins.6 month embargo; first published: 23 May 2020This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]