An outbreak of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in sows

his paper describes a case of malignant catarrhal fever in a sow herd in Belgium caused by infection with ovine herpesvirus-2 (OHV-2). The 11 affected sows had high fever and 10 of them died within 3 days after the onset of clinical disease. The most prominent macroscopic lesion was a hemorrhagic to pseudo-membranous gastritis. Histopathology revealed severe infiltration and necrosis of the gastric mucosa. Neither antimicrobial treatment nor injection with anti-inflammatory drugs ameliorated the severity of the disease. As the sows and sheep were housed in the same building with the possibility of having direct nose-to-nose contact, and as PCR testing showed that the virus found in the sows was identical to that found in the sheep, it is very likely that the infection was transmitted from the subclinically infected sheep to the sows. The present case showed that OHV-2 infection should be included in the differential diagnosis when facing problems of fever followed by death, especially when pigs are housed in close contact with sheep

Utilizing the “Plan, Do, Study, Act” Framework to Explore the Process of Curricular Assessment and Redesign in a Physical Therapy Education Program in Suriname

Purpose: To describe how a multinational team worked together to transition a physical therapy (PT) educational program in Paramaribo, Suriname, from a Bachelor level to a Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) level. The team was made up of PT faculty from Anton De Kom Universiteit van Suriname (AdeKUS), the Flemish Interuniversity Council University Development Cooperation (VLIR-UOS) leadership, and Health Volunteers Overseas volunteers. In this case study, the process for curricular assessment, redesign, and upgrade is described retrospectively using a Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) framework. Method: PT educational programs in developing countries are eager for upgrade to meet international expectations and to better meet community health-care needs. An ongoing process which included baseline assessment of all aspects of the existing bachelor's program in PT, development of a plan for a MSPT, implementation of the master's program, and evaluation following implementation is described. Conclusion: Curricular assessment and upgrade in resource limited countries requires the implementation of process-oriented methods. The PDSA process is a useful tool to explore curricular development. The international collaboration described in this paper provides an example of the diligence, consistency, and dedication required to see a project through and achieve success while providing adequate support to the host site. This project might provide valuable insights for those involved in curricular redesign in similar settings

Saliva Electrolyte Analysis Using ICP-OES in NPC Patients Following IMRT

Poster Session: Salivary Diagnostic and Salivary Composition I - presentation no. 1638Objectives: Saliva plays an important role in oral health. Different ions in saliva contribute to the pH of oral cavity, taste sensation and the de/remineralization of teeth. Many factors can affect the ion concentration of saliva, with radiation being one of them. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometry (ICP-OES) for salivary electrolyte analysis in subjects with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) undergoing Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) which is considered more superior in preserving salivary gland function when compared with conventional radiotherapy.Methods: To date, 20 subjects have been recruited from Queen Mary Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital. Stimulated saliva were collected before IMRT as baseline and at follow-up appointments 1 month, 3 months, 6 months after IMRT. The parameters being measured include flow rate, pH, ion concentration with ICP-OES.Results: According to the data to date, the subjects after IMRT showed significant changes in salivary flow rate and salivary pH. But no significant difference has been observed in the concentration of selected ions.Conclusions: ICP-OES is a feasible method for measuring salivary ion concentration in NPC subjects undergoing IMRT, provided with careful pretreatment of saliva and calibration of the machine