Molecular Imaging of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in an Ex-Vivo Mouse Model Using Spectral Photon-Counting Computed Tomography and Micro-CT

Assessment of disease burden and drug efficacy is achieved preclinically using high resolution micro computed tomography (CT). However, micro-CT is not applicable to clinical human imaging due to operating at high dose. In addition, the technology differences between micro-CT and standard clinical CT prevent direct translation of preclinical applications. The current proof-of-concept study presents spectral photon-counting CT as a clinically translatable, molecular imaging tool by assessing contrast uptake in an ex-vivo mouse model of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Iodine, a common contrast used in clinical CT imaging, was introduced into a murine model of TB. The excised mouse lungs were imaged using a standard micro-CT subsystem (SuperArgus) and the contrast enhanced TB lesions quantified. The same lungs were imaged using a spectral photoncounting CT system (MARS small-bore scanner). Iodine and soft tissues (water and lipid) were materially separated, and iodine uptake quantified. The volume of the TB infection quantified by spectral CT and micro-CT was found to be 2.96 mm(3) and 2.83 mm(3), respectively. This proof-of-concept study showed that spectral photon-counting CT could be used as a predictive preclinical imaging tool for the purpose of facilitating drug discovery and development. Also, as this imaging modality is available for human trials, all applications are translatable to human imaging. In conclusion, spectral photon-counting CT could accelerate a deeper understanding of infectious lung diseases using targeted pharmaceuticals and intrinsic markers, and ultimately improve the efficacy of therapies by measuring drug delivery and response to treatment in animal models and later in humans

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

The effects of a CAADP-compliant budget on poverty and inequality in Ghana

Ghana has accepted the CAADP commitment to dedicate 10 percent of government spending to the agricultural sector. In a 2014 paper, Benin argues that Ghana falls short of that goal, and in a 2016 paper, Younger shows that despite the current fiscal crisis, there is fiscal space to meet the commitment. Benin estimates the rates of return to increased public expenditure on agriculture, finding that they are quite high, especially if the investments are made in the noncocoa sector. This paper uses Benin’s estimates to examine the poverty and inequality consequences of increasing public expenditure on agriculture. Key conclusions are that public expenditure on agriculture is surprisingly progressive, especially if spent in the grains subsector. This progressivity, combined with the high rate of return, means that public investment in agriculture may actually be more efficient at reducing poverty than LEAP, Ghana’s targeted conditional cash transfer program.Non-PRIFPRI1; CRP2; D Transforming Agriculture; PIM 2.2 Tracking investments in agricultural researchDSGD; PIM; ESAOCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM

Rates of Acute and Delayed Achilles Repair

Category: Sports, Trauma Introduction/Purpose: The need for repair of the ruptured achilles tendon has been discussed extensively in recent literature. A landmark paper in 2010 (Willits JBJS) outlined that the re-rupture rates were similar in surgical and non surgically treated Achilles tendon ruptures. However concern has to be raised as to the strength of the muscle tendon complex if the tendon is too long, potentially increasing the rate of late repair. This paper analyses the rate of acute achilles tendon repair and delayed repair before and after the 2010 publication of the Willits paper. Methods: Using the published billings from the Province of British Columbia, the rates per year of surgical repair of achilles tendon and delayed repair were determined. The population of British Columbia has increased over the years from 3.9 million in 1997 to 4.7 million in 2016. The rates of acute and chronic surgery were plotted prior to 2010, and since 2010. The rates were fitted against time using a linear and binomial plot. The rates in the years before and after 2010 were compared with ANOVA and the change of rate in time compared with Pearson’s correlation. Results: The rate of acute repair increased from 271 repairs in 1997 to over 400 repairs per year in 2009. The rate of acute repair has since dropped to just over 300 repairs per year. This is reflected in the enclosed binomial plot. There was a significant increase until 2010 (p<0.001), and a significant decrease since 2010 p<0.05). An average of 374 repairs per year (95% CI 349 to 398) were performed before 2010, decreasing to 328 since (95% CI 294 to 360), p<0.05. The rate of late repair has increased from 48 per year (CI 40 to 56) to 80 (CI 70 to 91) since 2010. The rate of late repair increased both prior to (r2 prior to 2010 .5, p<0.01) and since 2010. Conclusion: The landmark 2010 paper has resulted in a reduction of acute repair. However the increase in late repair is concerning and indicates that the muscle tendon weakness observed in the 2010 paper on strength testing at 1 year review in the non surgical group may be causing an increased rate of late repair. Further evaluation and development of both surgical and non surgical technique is required if the need for late repair is going to be avoided that likely reflects poor patient outcomes

Patient Reported Outcomes Following Revision Ankle Arthrodesis for Ankle Fusion Non-Union

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Ankle arthrodesis (AA) has, for many years, been considered the gold standard procedure for the surgical treatment of end stage ankle arthritis. Non-union following AA surgery is a devastating complication which subsequently requires revision surgery. However, data on outcomes including patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) following revision ankle arthrodesis (RAA) after failed AA is lacking. The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of RAA for symptomatic non-union after AA including PROMs. Methods: Prospectively collected data from a multicenter database of ankle arthritis surgery was analyzed. Demographic data and PROMs including Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey were collected at regular intervals. Surgeries were performed by six fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeons between January 2003 and July 2015. 336 primary AA cases were identified, of which 27 (8%) underwent revision for symptomatic AA non-union. Results: Mean follow-up of 27 AA non-union cases was 5.3 years (2-10). There were 16 (59%) males and 11 (41%) females, with a mean age of 62 years (44 - 81) and a mean BMI of 32 (26.5 – 45), respectively. At index AA, 12 (44%) cases were performed arthroscopically. Twenty-three (84%) AA non-union patients were actively smoking pre- and post-operatively, and 15 (56%) were diabetic. Overall union-rate following RAA was 85% (23/27). For RAA the pre-operative mean AOS score of 64.9 (38.8-81.5) improved to 49.1 (24.1-73) at latest follow-up. SF-36 PCS score improved from 27.2 (21.3 – 38.3) to 33.3 (19.1-54.2) and SF-36 MCS score improved from 41.2 (17.5-60.9) to 46.2 (29.3-65.9). Overall complication rate of RAA was 22%, with a re-operation rate of 15%. Conclusion: Revision ankle arthrodesis (RAA) for ankle fusion non-union resulted in a successful fusion of the ankle in 85% of patients with modest improvement in AOS and SF-36 scores. Indeed, even after successful RAA, patients report pain and disability levels comparable to that reported by primary AA patients pre-operatively. Additionally, complication and re-operation rates of RAA are high. This data emphasizes on the importance of achieving a primary fusion in AA. The presented patient reported outcomes may help the treating surgeon to counsel patients prior to RAA surgery to better set their expectations