Preoperative tumor marking with indocyanine green prior of robotic colorectal resections

This prospective case-series study aimed to assess the usefulness of preoperative colonoscopic marking of colorectal tumors using Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence in patients that underwent robotic surgical colorectal resections. Consecutive patients that were eligible for colorectal resection with intent to cure in a single hospital (Athens Medical Center), from February 2022 to June 2022, were included. ICG solution was injected into the submucosal layer at 2 opposite sites (180 degrees apart) distal to the tumor, without submucosal elevation. Identification of the tumor marking was then performed after switching to near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence mode. During the robotic procedure, qualitative evaluation of fluorescence was performed by the surgical team (primary surgeon, first assistant, second assistant, research fellow). All 10 patients underwent robotic surgical approach and operations included right-sided colectomy (n = 1), left-sided colectomy (n = 6) and low anterior resection (n = 3). Visualisation of this dye with near-infrared light was very clear with bright intensity in all patients when the marking was performed one day prior of surgery. Preoperative tumor marking with ICG was identified intraoperatively in all cases and the techinque was easily reproducible

Brucellosis remains a neglected disease inthe developing world: a call forinterdisciplinary action

Brucellosis places significant burdens on the human healthcare system and limits the economic growth of individuals, communities, and nations where such development is especially important to diminish the prevalence of poverty. The implementation of public policy focused on mitigating the socioeconomic effects of brucellosis in human and animal populations is desperately needed. When developing a plan to mitigate the associated consequences, it is vital to consider both the abstract and quantifiable effects. This requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative, or One Health, approach that consists of public education, the development of an infrastructure for disease surveillance and reporting in both veterinary and medical fields, and campaigns for control in livestock and wildlife species

Food Security in the South Pacific Island Countries with Special Reference to the Fiji Islands

This paper analyses the status of food security in selected South Pacific Island countries

Advances in prevention and therapy of neonatal dairy calf diarrhoea : a systematical review with emphasis on colostrum management and fluid therapy

Neonatal calf diarrhoea remains the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in preweaned dairy calves worldwide. This complex disease can be triggered by both infectious and non-infectious causes. The four most important enteropathogens leading to neonatal dairy calf diarrhoea are Escherichia coli, rota-and coronavirus, and Cryptosporidium parvum. Besides treating diarrhoeic neonatal dairy calves, the veterinarian is the most obvious person to advise the dairy farmer on prevention and treatment of this disease. This review deals with prevention and treatment of neonatal dairy calf diarrhoea focusing on the importance of a good colostrum management and a correct fluid therapy

The Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium: Using Spontaneously Occurring Cancers in Dogs to Inform the Cancer Drug Development Pathway

Chand Khanna and colleagues describe the work of the Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium (COTC), which provides infrastructure and resources to integrate naturally occurring dog cancer models into the development of new human cancer drugs, devices, and imaging techniques

Production of phi mesons at mid-rapidity in sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC

We present the first results of meson production in the K^+K^- decay channel from Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV as measured at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX detector at RHIC. Precision resonance centroid and width values are extracted as a function of collision centrality. No significant variation from the PDG accepted values is observed. The transverse mass spectra are fitted with a linear exponential function for which the derived inverse slope parameter is seen to be constant as a function of centrality. These data are also fitted by a hydrodynamic model with the result that the freeze-out temperature and the expansion velocity values are consistent with the values previously derived from fitting single hadron inclusive data. As a function of transverse momentum the collisions scaled peripheral.to.central yield ratio RCP for the is comparable to that of pions rather than that of protons. This result lends support to theoretical models which distinguish between baryons and mesons instead of particle mass for explaining the anomalous proton yield.Comment: 326 authors, 24 pages text, 23 figures, 6 tables, RevTeX 4. To be submitted to Physical Review C as a regular article. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm

The Effect of Bacterial Infection on the Biomechanical Properties of Biological Mesh in a Rat Model

BACKGROUND: The use of biologic mesh to repair abdominal wall defects in contaminated surgical fields is becoming the standard of practice. However, failure rates and infections of these materials persist clinically. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanical properties of biologic mesh in response to a bacterial encounter. METHODS: A rat model of Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection of subcutaneously implanted biologic mesh was used. Samples of biologic meshes (acellular human dermis (ADM) and porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS)) were inoculated with various concentrations of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [10(5), 10(9) colony-forming units] or saline (control) prior to wound closure (n = 6 per group). After 10 or 20 days, meshes were explanted, and cultured for bacteria. Histological changes and bacterial recovery together with biomechanical properties were assessed. Data were compared using a 1-way ANOVA or a Mann-Whitney test, with p<0.05. RESULTS: The overall rate of staphylococcal mesh colonization was 81% and was comparable in the ADM and SIS groups. Initially (day 0) both biologic meshes had similar biomechanical properties. However after implantation, the SIS control material was significantly weaker than ADM at 20 days (p = 0.03), but their corresponding modulus of elasticity were similar at this time point (p>0.05). After inoculation with MRSA, a time, dose and material dependent decrease in the ultimate tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of SIS and ADM were noted compared to control values. CONCLUSION: The biomechanical properties of biologic mesh significantly decline after colonization with MRSA. Surgeons selecting a repair material should be aware of its biomechanical fate relative to other biologic materials when placed in a contaminated environment

Expression and methylation status of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 gene in non-small-cell lung cancer

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) is a Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor that inhibits plasmin-dependent activation of several metalloproteinases. Downregulation of TFPI-2 could thus enhance the invasive potential of neoplastic cells in several cancers, including lung cancer. In this study, TFPI-2 mRNA was measured using a real-time PCR method in tumours of 59 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tumour TFPI-2 mRNA levels appeared well correlated with protein expression evaluated by immunohistochemistry and were 4–120 times lower compared to those of nonaffected lung tissue in 22 cases (37%). Hypermethylation of the TFPI-2 gene promoter was demonstrated by restriction enzyme-polymerase chain reaction in 12 of 40 cases of NSCLC (30%), including nine of 17 for whom tumour TFPI-2 gene expression was lower than in noncancerous tissue. In contrast, this epigenetic modification was shown in only three of 23 tumours in which no decrease in TFPI-2 synthesis was found (P=0.016). Decreased TFPI-2 gene expression and hypermethylation were more frequently associated with stages III or IV NSCLC (eight out of 10, P=0.02) and the TFPI-2 gene promoter was more frequently hypermethylated in patients with lymph node metastases (eight out of 16, P=0.02). These results suggest that silencing of the TFPI-2 gene by hypermethylation might contribute to tumour progression in NSCLC

Increasing the potential for malaria elimination by targeting zoophilic vectors

Countries in the Asia Pacific region aim to eliminate malaria by 2030. A cornerstone of malaria elimination is the effective management of Anopheles mosquito vectors. Current control tools such as insecticide treated nets or indoor residual sprays target mosquitoes in human dwellings. We find in a high transmission region in India, malaria vector populations show a high propensity to feed on livestock (cattle) and rest in outdoor structures such as cattle shelters. We also find evidence for a shift in vector species complex towards increased zoophilic behavior in recent years. Using a malaria transmission model we demonstrate that in such regions dominated by zoophilic vectors, existing vector control tactics will be insufficient to achieve elimination, even if maximized. However, by increasing mortality in the zoophilic cycle, the elimination threshold can be reached. Current national vector control policy in India restricts use of residual insecticide sprays to domestic dwellings. Our study suggests substantial benefits of extending the approach to treatment of cattle sheds, or deploying other tactics that target zoophilic behavior. Optimizing use of existing tools will be essential to achieving the ambitious 2030 elimination target