Evaluation of 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm cannulated drill bits on minimally invasive removal of articular cartilage from the proximal interphalangeal joint in equine cadaver limbs

The objective was to 1) compare 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm cannulated drill bits when removing articular cartilage from the medial and lateral aspects of equine proximal interphalangeal joints on cadaver limbs and 2) prove feasibility of using cannulated drill bits in proximal interphalangeal joints of horses. Two sizes of cannulated drill bits were tested on 32 cadaver limbs (8 forelimbs and 8 hind limbs for each size of drill bit). The 4.5 mm cannulated drill bit (Group 1) was drilled from the medial and lateral aspects of the joint from one cm incision on each side in a three drill tract technique. The 5.5 mm cannulated drill bit (group 2) was performed in the same manner as group 1. The joints were then disarticulated and the soft tissues were removed. Each articular surface was grossly observed and was then digitally photographed to allow planimetry measurements to record the percentage of cartilage removed. Grossly all the tracts appeared to be within the joint and subchondral bone was present in all the tracts. Group 1 (16.07% ± 5.46) had a significantly smaller percentage of cartilage removed compared to group 2 (28.13% ± 5.15). The exact amount of articular cartilage necessary to be removed in a pastern joint arthrodesis is unknown. Clinical evaluations should be performed using these techniques to know if 16% or 28% of cartilage removed is large enough to allow for clinical fusion of the pastern joint

Characterization of Five Novel Brevibacillus Bacteriophages and Genomic Comparison of Brevibacillus Phages.

Brevibacillus laterosporus is a spore-forming bacterium that causes a secondary infection in beehives following European Foulbrood disease. To better understand the contributions of Brevibacillus bacteriophages to the evolution of their hosts, five novel phages (Jenst, Osiris, Powder, SecTim467, and Sundance) were isolated and characterized. When compared with the five Brevibacillus phages currently in NCBI, these phages were assigned to clusters based on whole genome and proteome synteny. Powder and Osiris, both myoviruses, were assigned to the previously described Jimmer-like cluster. SecTim467 and Jenst, both siphoviruses, formed a novel phage cluster. Sundance, a siphovirus, was assigned as a singleton phage along with the previously isolated singleton, Emery. In addition to characterizing the basic relationships between these phages, several genomic features were observed. A motif repeated throughout phages Jenst and SecTim467 was frequently upstream of genes predicted to function in DNA replication, nucleotide metabolism, and transcription, suggesting transcriptional co-regulation. In addition, paralogous gene pairs that encode a putative transcriptional regulator were identified in four Brevibacillus phages. These paralogs likely evolved to bind different DNA sequences due to variation at amino acid residues predicted to bind specific nucleotides. Finally, a putative transposable element was identified in SecTim467 and Sundance that carries genes homologous to those found in Brevibacillus chromosomes. Remnants of this transposable element were also identified in phage Jenst. These discoveries provide a greater understanding of the diversity of phages, their behavior, and their evolutionary relationships to one another and to their host. In addition, they provide a foundation with which further Brevibacillus phages can be compared

Thigh-length compression stockings and DVT after stroke

Controversy exists as to whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with invasive bladder cancer, despite randomised controlled trials of more than 3000 patients. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of such treatment on survival in patients with this disease

DNA binding pocket comparison of Osiris gp55, Osiris gp59, and related homologous proteins from <i>B</i>. <i>laterosporus</i> phages.

<p>DNA binding pocket comparison of Osiris gp55, Osiris gp59, and related homologous proteins from <i>B</i>. <i>laterosporus</i> phages.</p

Conserved Domain search identifies several host virulence factors present in <i>Brevibacillus</i> phages.

<p>Conserved Domain search identifies several host virulence factors present in <i>Brevibacillus</i> phages.</p

<i>Brevibacillus</i> phage SecTim467 genes harboring upstream conserved motifs are primarily involved in nucleotide metabolism/replication.

<p>FIMO [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0156838#pone.0156838.ref046" target="_blank">46</a>] was used to locate the conserved motif in the genome of SecTim467. This chart also shows that these motifs are located in inter-gene gaps upstream of DNA metabolism and RNA transcription genes. “N/A” indicates the gene downstream of the motif at that location had an unknown function. The motif is displayed at the bottom, with the bases of the highly conserved portions of the motif highlighted throughout the figure in red. In many cases, several genes appear immediately downstream of the conserved motif in what may be an operon. In these cases, more than one gene function is reported. Two of the discovered motif sequences are present in the reverse complement of the given coordinates and are denoted by their coordinate numbers colored in red. The word graph at the bottom of the figure is a proportional representation of instances of different nucleotides at each position in the motif that contribute to the overall consensus sequence.</p