Influence of Individual Surgeon Volume on Oncological Outcome of Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Background. Surgery performed by a high-volume surgeon improves short-term outcomes. However, not much is known about long-term effects. Therefore we performed the current study to evaluate the impact of high-volume colorectal surgeons on survival. Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of our prospectively collected colorectal cancer database between 2004 and 2011. Patients were divided into two groups: operated on by a high-volume surgeon (>25 cases/year) or by a low-volume surgeon (<25 cases/year). Perioperative data were collected as well as follow-up, recurrence rates, and survival data. Results. 774 patients underwent resection for colorectal malignancies. Thirteen low-volume surgeons operated on 453 patients and 4 high-volume surgeons operated on 321 patients. Groups showed an equal distribution for preoperative characteristics, except a higher ASAclassification in the low-volume group. A high-volume surgeon proved to be an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in the multivariate analysis ( = 0.04). Although overall survival did show a significant difference in the univariate analysis ( < 0.001) it failed to reach statistical significance in the multivariate analysis ( = 0.09). Conclusions. In our study, a higher number of colorectal cases performed per surgeon were associated with longer disease-free survival. Implementing high-volume surgery results in improved long-term outcome following colorectal cancer

Onderzoek naar brandveiligheid voor dieren in veestallen = Study regarding fire safety of barns for farm animals

Study regarding bottle necks in fire safety of barns for farm animals and possible improvements, inter alia in legislation

Machine milking parameters for Murciano-Granadina breed goats

[EN] In dairy ruminants, the combination of milking parameters must ensure good milking performance without harming udder conditions. Commonly, milking conditions for goats are established without having checked the admissible limits for optimal and fast milking. The aim of this study was to establish a limit combination of machine milking parameters that improves machine milking performance without altering milkability or udder status. To this end, we studied the effect of 2 combinations (42 kPa, 120 cpm, 60% vs. 44 kPa, 120 cpm, 60% in terms of kilopascals of vacuum level, cycles per minute of pulsator rate, and percentage of pulsator ratio, respectively) on milk production and composition, milk fractioning during milking, SCC, teat tissue thickness variation after milking, and the milk emission kinetics parameters throughout 1 lactation period (6 rno). The 42 and 44 kPa measured at the vacuum gauge level became average values of 37.5 and 39.3 kPa, respectively, measured at the teat sphincter level during milking. Milk flow significantly increased and total milking time decreased 25 s with the elevation of the vacuum level from 42 to 44 kPa without any adverse effect on milk fractioning at milking. However, the use of 44 kPa also showed an increase in tissue thickness above 5%, and we observed a tendency of average conductivity of milk to increase, although without any adverse effect on SCC. It seems that 44 kPa, 120 cpm, 60% is a possible limit combination of parameters to improve milking performance without altering milkability or udder conditions. We concluded that this combination can be used for milking Murciano-Granadina breed goats in conditions similar to those of this study (mid-level milking system and 1 milking/d), although further studies are necessary to verify its application in the case of 2 milkings/d.Fernández Martínez, N.; Martí Vicent, JV.; Rodríguez Garcia, M.; Peris Ribera, CJ.; Balasch Parisi, S. (2020). Machine milking parameters for Murciano-Granadina breed goats. Journal of Dairy Science. 103(1):507-513. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16446S5075131031Alejandro, M., Roca, A., Romero, G., & Díaz, J. R. (2014). Short communication: Effects of milk removal on teat tissue and recovery in Murciano-Granadina goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(8), 5012-5016. doi:10.3168/jds.2014-7934Ali, A. K. A., & Shook, G. E. (1980). An Optimum Transformation for Somatic Cell Concentration in Milk. Journal of Dairy Science, 63(3), 487-490. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(80)82959-6Blasco, E., Gomez, E. A., Vicente, C., Vidal, G., & Peris, C. (2016). Factors affecting milking speed in Murciano-Granadina breed goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 99(12), 10102-10108. doi:10.3168/jds.2016-10869BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado). 2013. Real Decreto 53/2013, de 1 de febrero, por el que se establecen las normas básicas aplicables para la protección de los animales utilizados en experimentación y otros fines científicos, incluyendo la docencia.Delgado-Pertíñez, M., Guzmán-Guerrero, J. L., Mena, Y., Castel, J. M., González-Redondo, P., & Caravaca, F. P. (2009). Influence of kid rearing systems on milk yield, kid growth and cost of Florida dairy goats. Small Ruminant Research, 81(2-3), 105-111. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2008.12.007Díaz, J. R., Alejandro, M., Peris, C., & Fernández, N. (2013). Use of ultrasound scanning to estimate teat wall thickness in Murciano-Granadina goats. Livestock Science, 155(1), 114-122. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2013.04.007Díaz, J. R., Romero, G., Muelas, R., Alejandro, M., & Peris, C. (2012). Effect of intramammary infection on milk electrical conductivity in Murciano-Granadina goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 95(2), 718-726. doi:10.3168/jds.2011-4698Diaz, J. R., Romero, G., Muelas, R., Sendra, E., Pantoja, J. C. F., & Paredes, C. (2011). Analysis of the influence of variation factors on electrical conductivity of milk in Murciano-Granadina goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 94(8), 3885-3894. doi:10.3168/jds.2011-4187Fernández, N., Martínez, A., Martí, J. V., Rodríguez, M., & Peris, C. (2015). Milkability and milking efficiency improvement in Murciano-Granadina breed goats. Small Ruminant Research, 126, 68-72. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.03.001Gil, Z. (1988). Milk temperature fluctuations during milking in cows with subclinical mastitis. Livestock Production Science, 20(3), 223-231. doi:10.1016/0301-6226(88)90074-7Hamann, J., Mein, G. A., & Nipp, B. (1996). Recommended method for measuring changes in thickness of the bovine teat with spring-loaded calipers. Journal of Dairy Research, 63(2), 309-313. doi:10.1017/s0022029900031800Hamzaoui, S., Salama, A. A. K., Albanell, E., Such, X., & Caja, G. (2013). Physiological responses and lactational performances of late-lactation dairy goats under heat stress conditions. Journal of Dairy Science, 96(10), 6355-6365. doi:10.3168/jds.2013-6665Isaksson, A., & Lind, O. (1992). Teat Reactions in Cows Associated With Machine Milking*. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A, 39(1-10), 282-288. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0442.1992.tb00184.xLE DU, J., BENMEDERBEL, B., DANO, Y., COMBAUD, J. F., & TESSONNIÈRE, R. (1984). Aptitude des chèvres de race Saanen à la traite mécanique. Relations avec les caractéristiques physiques du trayon. Annales de Zootechnie, 33(3), 375-384. doi:10.1051/animres:19840307Peris, S., Caja, G., Such, X., Casals, R., Ferret, A., & Torre, C. (1997). Influence of Kid Rearing Systems on Milk Composition and Yield of Murciano-Granadina Dairy Goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 80(12), 3249-3255. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(97)76299-4Requena, R., Balasch, S., Peris, C., Rodríguez, M., & Fernández, N. (2010). Dose response of lactating dairy ewes during suckling and milking to bovine somatotropin1. Journal of Animal Science, 88(9), 3136-3144. doi:10.2527/jas.2009-2690Zecconi, A., Hamann, J., Bronzo, V., & Ruffo, G. (1992). Machine-induced teat tissue reactions and infection risk in a dairy herd free from contagious mastitis pathogens. Journal of Dairy Research, 59(3), 265-271. doi:10.1017/s002202990003054

Small PARP inhibitor PJ-34 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of adult T-cell leukemia cells

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author’s publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Background HTLV-I is associated with the development of an aggressive form of lymphocytic leukemia known as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). A major obstacle for effective treatment of ATLL resides in the genetic diversity of tumor cells and their ability to acquire resistance to chemotherapy regimens. As a result, most patients relapse and current therapeutic approaches still have limited long-term survival benefits. Hence, the development of novel approaches is greatly needed. Methods In this study, we found that a small molecule inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), PJ-34, is very effective in activating S/G2M cell cycle checkpoints, resulting in permanent cell cycle arrest and reactivation of p53 transcription functions and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis of HTLV-I-transformed and patient-derived ATLL tumor cells. We also found that HTLV-I-transformed MT-2 cells are resistant to PJ-34 therapy associated with reduced cleaved caspase-3 activation and increased expression of RelA/p65. Conclusion Since PJ-34 has been tested in clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors, our results suggest that some ATLL patients may be good candidates to benefit from PJ-34 therapy

The ladies trial: laparoscopic peritoneal lavage or resection for purulent peritonitisA and Hartmann's procedure or resection with primary anastomosis for purulent or faecal peritonitisB in perforated diverticulitis (NTR2037)

Background: Recently, excellent results are reported on laparoscopic lavage in patients with purulent perforated diverticulitis as an alternative for sigmoidectomy and ostomy. The objective of this study is to determine whether LaparOscopic LAvage and drainage is a safe and effective treatment for patients with purulent peritonitis (LOLA-arm) and to determine the optimal resectional strategy in patients with a purulent or faecal peritonitis (DIVA-arm: perforated DIVerticulitis: sigmoidresection with or without Anastomosis). Methods/Design: In this multicentre randomised trial all patients with perforated diverticulitis are included. Upon laparoscopy, patients with purulent peritonitis are treated with laparoscopic lavage and drainage, Hartmann's procedure or sigmoidectomy with primary anastomosis in a ratio of 2:1:1 (LOLA-arm). Patients with faecal peritonitis will be randomised 1:1 between Hartmann's procedure and resection with primary anastomosis (DIVA-arm). The primary combined endpoint of the LOLA-arm is major morbidity and mortality. A sample size of 132:66:66 patients will be able to detect a difference in the primary endpoint from 25% in resectional groups compared to 10% in the laparoscopic lavage group (two sided alpha = 5%, power = 90%). Endpoint of the DIVA-arm is stoma free survival one year after initial surgery. In this arm 212 patients are needed to significantly demonstrate a difference of 30% (log rank test two sided alpha = 5% and powe

Factors associated with intramammary infection in dairy cows caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Corynebacterium bovis, or Escherichia coli

The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for bovine intramammary infection (IMI) associated with the most common bacterial species in Finland. Large databases of the Finnish milk-recording system and results of microbiological analyses of mastitic milk samples from Valio Ltd. (Helsinki, Finland) were analyzed. The study group comprised 29,969 cows with IMI from 4,173 dairy herds. A cow with a quarter milk sample in which DNA of target species was detected in the PathoProof Mastitis PCR Assay (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) was determined to have IMI. Only cows with IMI caused by the 6 most common pathogens or groups of pathogens, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Corynebacterium bovis, and Escherichia coli, were included. The control group comprised 160,176 IMI-free cows from the same herds as the study group. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to study herd- and cow-specific risk factors for incidence of IMI. Pathogen-specific results confirmed those of earlier studies, specifically that increasing parity increases prevalence of IMI regardless of causative pathogen. Holsteins were more susceptible to IMI than Nordic Reds except when the causative pathogen was CNS. Occurrence of IMI caused by C. bovis was not related to milk yield, in contrast to IMI caused by all other pathogens investigated. Organic milk production was associated with IMI only when the causative pathogen of IMI was Staph. aureus; Staph. aureus IMI was more likely to occur in conventional than in organic production. Cows in older freestall barns with parlor milking had an increased probability of contracting an IMI compared with cows in tiestall barns or in new freestall barns with automatic milking. This was the case for all IMI, except those caused by CNS, the prevalence of which was not associated with the milking system, and IMI caused by Staph. aureus, which was most common in cows housed in tiestall barns. A better breeding index for milk somatic cell count was associated with decreased occurrence of IMI, indicating that breeding for improved udder health has been successful in reducing the incidence of IMI caused by the most common pathogens in Finland. In the Finnish dairy sector, the importance of other measures to control IMI will increase as the Holstein breed progressively takes the place of the Nordic Red breed. Attention should be paid to hygiene and cleanliness, especially in old freestall barns. Based on our results, the increasing prevalence of automatic milking is not a reason for special concern.Peer reviewe