Assessment of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Artefacts Caused By Equine Anaesthesia Equipment:A Cadaver Study

Acquisition of magnetic resonance images of the equine limb is still sometimes conducted under general anaesthesia. Despite low-field systems allow the use of standard anaesthetic equipment, possible interferences of the extensive electronic componentry of advanced anaesthetic machines on image quality is unknown. This prospective, blinded, cadaver study investigated the effects of 7 standardised conditions [Tafonius positioned as in clinical cases, Tafonius on the boundaries of the controlled area, anaesthetic monitoring only, Mallard anaesthetic machine, Bird ventilator, complete electronic silence in the room (negative control), source of electronic interference (positive control)] on image quality through the acquisition of 78 sequences using a 0.31T equine MRI scanner. Images were graded with a 4-point scoring system, where 1 denoted absence of artefacts and 4 major artefacts requiring repetition in a clinical setting. A lack of STIR fat suppression was commonly reported (16/26). Ordinal logistic regression showed no statistically significant differences in image quality between the negative control and either the non-Tafonius or the Tafonius groups (p = 0.535 and p = 0.881, respectively), and with the use of Tafonius compared to the other anaesthetic machines (p = 0.578). The only statistically significant differences in scores were observed between the positive control and the non-Tafonius (p = 0.006) and the Tafonius groups (p = 0.017). Our findings suggest that anaesthetic machines and monitoring do not appear to affect MRI scan quality and support the use of Tafonius during acquisition of images with a 0.31T MRI system in a clinical context

Catecholamine stress alters neutrophil trafficking and impairs wound healing by β2-adrenergic receptor-mediated upregulation of IL-6.

Stress-induced hormones can alter the inflammatory response to tissue injury; however, the precise mechanism by which epinephrine influences inflammatory response and wound healing is not well defined. Here we demonstrate that epinephrine alters the neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN))-dependent inflammatory response to a cutaneous wound. Using noninvasive real-time imaging of genetically tagged PMNs in a murine skin wound, chronic, epinephrine-mediated stress was modeled by sustained delivery of epinephrine. Prolonged systemic exposure of epinephrine resulted in persistent PMN trafficking to the wound site via an IL-6-mediated mechanism, and this in turn impaired wound repair. Further, we demonstrate that β2-adrenergic receptor-dependent activation of proinflammatory macrophages is critical for epinephrine-mediated IL-6 production. This study expands our current understanding of stress hormone-mediated impairment of wound healing and provides an important mechanistic link to explain how epinephrine stress exacerbates inflammation via increased number and lifetime of PMNs

Large-Scale Release of Campylobacter Draft Genomes: Resources for Food Safety and Public Health from the 100K Pathogen Genome Project.

Campylobacter is a food-associated bacterium and a leading cause of foodborne illness worldwide, being associated with poultry in the food supply. This is the initial public release of 202 Campylobacter genome sequences as part of the 100K Pathogen Genome Project. These isolates represent global genomic diversity in the Campylobacter genus

Enteric bacterial pathogen detection in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) is associated with coastal urbanization and freshwater runoff

Although protected for nearly a century, California’s sea otters have been slow to recover, in part due to exposure to fecally-associated protozoal pathogens like Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona. However, potential impacts from exposure to fecal bacteria have not been systematically explored. Using selective media, we examined feces from live and dead sea otters from California for specific enteric bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, C. difficile and Escherichia coli O157:H7), and pathogens endemic to the marine environment (Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus and Plesiomonas shigelloides). We evaluated statistical associations between detection of these pathogens in otter feces and demographic or environmental risk factors for otter exposure, and found that dead otters were more likely to test positive for C. perfringens, Campylobacter and V. parahaemolyticus than were live otters. Otters from more urbanized coastlines and areas with high freshwater runoff (near outflows of rivers or streams) were more likely to test positive for one or more of these bacterial pathogens. Other risk factors for bacterial detection in otters included male gender and fecal samples collected during the rainy season when surface runoff is maximal. Similar risk factors were reported in prior studies of pathogen exposure for California otters and their invertebrate prey, suggesting that land-sea transfer and/or facilitation of pathogen survival in degraded coastal marine habitat may be impacting sea otter recovery. Because otters and humans share many of the same foods, our findings may also have implications for human health

Addressing nutrient shortfalls in 1- to 5-year-old Irish children using diet modeling: development of a protocol for use in country-specific population health

BACKGROUND: Dietary habits formed in early childhood can track into later life with important impacts on health. Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) may have a role in improving population health but are lacking for young children. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to establish a protocol for addressing nutrient shortfalls in 1- to 5-y-old children (12–60 mo) using diet modeling in a population-based sample. METHODS: Secondary analysis of 2010–2011 Irish National Pre-School Nutrition Survey data (n = 500) was conducted to identify typical food consumption patterns in 1- to 5-y-olds. Nutrient intakes were assessed against dietary reference values [European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Institute of Medicine (IOM)]. To address nutrient shortfalls using diet modeling, 4-d food patterns were developed to assess different milk-feeding scenarios (human milk, whole or low-fat cow milk, and fortified milks) within energy requirement ranges aligned with the WHO growth standards. FBDGs to address nutrient shortfalls were established based on 120 food patterns. RESULTS: Current mean dietary intakes for the majority of 1- to 5-y-olds failed to meet reference values (EFSA) for vitamin D (≤100%), vitamin E (≤88%), DHA (22:6n–3) + EPA (20:5n–3) (IOM; ≤82%), and fiber (≤63%), whereas free sugars intakes exceeded recommendations of <10% energy (E) for 48% of 1- to 3-y-olds and 75% of 4- to 5-y-olds. “Human milk + Cow milk” was the only milk-feeding scenario modeled that predicted sufficient DHA + EPA among 1- to 3-y-olds. Vitamin D shortfalls were not correctable in any milk-feeding scenario, even with supplementation (5 µg/d), apart from the “Follow-up Formula + Fortified drink” scenario in 1- to 3-y-olds (albeit free sugars intakes were estimated at 12%E compared with ≤5%E as provided by other scenarios). Iron and vitamin E shortfalls were most prevalent in scenarios for 1- to 3-y-olds at ≤25(th) growth percentile. CONCLUSIONS: Using WHO growth standards and international reference values, this study provides a protocol for addressing nutrient shortfalls among 1- to 5-y-olds, which could be applied in country-specific population health