Erd-Wurzel-Separation nach dem maschinellen Ausstechen von Ampfer (Rumex obtusifolius)

Labour-intensive manual digging with various sorts of spades or forks is the most common technique to control broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius). Machines for removing roots exist, but are not in use. The process leaves undesired holes in the ground and large quantities of soil have to be removed. An invention for separating the fertile soil from the roots directly in the field and refilling the holes thus created would represent a significant advance. Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART has developed a separation unit to improve the mechanical weeding process. The separator unit consists of three paired rotary brushes (d = 200 mm,l = 250 mm) and an oscillating sieve (surface: 200 x 500 mm, gaps: 15 x 500 mm). In the summer 2011 a self-propelled unit dug out 174 Rumex obtusifolius plants on grassland on the experimental farm in Tänikon. The cleaned soil was used in situ to refill the holes created. The weight of both the excavated and cleaned soil was recorded. A RTK-GPS device enabled the exact position of plants to be located. Three months after treatment, the treaded places had been evaluated. In 160 cases (92 %) where Rumex plants had been removed at the same positions no plants regrew. The used standard adjustment could separate 55 to 80 % of the total excavation, depend on field condition. Disadvantages are the transport of 1.2 kg of soil and root material per plant in average and high efforts on machine construction

Local recurrence model of malignant pleural mesothelioma for investigation of intrapleural treatment

Objective: Local recurrence remains a major problem in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. The aim of the underlying study was to establish a standardised local recurrence model in rats which enables to study different intrapleural therapies. Materials and methods: Fifty microlitre containing 1×106 cells of a syngeneic rat malignant mesothelioma cell line (II-45), established from mesothelioma in Fischer 344 rats exposed to asbestos, were inoculated subpleurally via a left-sided thoracotomy. Tumour size was assessed 6 days later and the tumour nodule completely resected. Evaluation of recurrence at the resection site was performed after 10 days (n=6) and 6 days (n=6). The recurrent nodule was histopathologically confirmed. In a second experiment, this new recurrence model was evaluated for the effect of intrapleural therapy with different agents: 4ml of cisplatin-solution (100mg2/kg BW), cisplatin combined with the fibrin-based sealant Vivostat®, 4ml taurolidine 2%, repeated injection of 1μg of the chemokine CCL-19 at the tumour site and 4ml povidone-iodine in a dilution 1:10. In a control group, the chest cavity was filled with 4ml 0.9% NaCl. The primary endpoint was the extent of tumour recurrence. Results: Six days after inoculation, all animals presented a standardised tumour nodule at the injection site of a mean diameter of 5.1 (±0.8)mm. Evaluation of the recurrence after 10 days showed a relapse directly at the resection site, but additional tumour nodules on the ipsi- and contralateral chest wall were found and histologically confirmed. The animals that were sacrificed 6 days after resection of the tumour nodule showed a recurrence only at the resection site with no macroscopic or microscopic evidence of other tumour. Resection of the tumour nodule combined with intrapleural application of the different agents lead to clear reduction of recurrence. The strongest effect was observed after intrapleural application of cisplatin-Vivostat® with significant decrease of the longest, widest and thickest diameter of the recurrence. Conclusions: With this new recurrence model for investigation of malignant pleural mesothelioma in rats, we were able to investigate new intrapleural therapies after pneumonectomy. The intrapleural application of cisplatin-Vivostat® significantly reduced the extent of local recurrenc

Association between gastrointestinal tract infections and glycated hemoglobin in school children of poor neighborhoods in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Low- and middle-income countries are facing a dual disease burden with infectious diseases (e.g., gastrointestinal tract infections) and non-communicable diseases (e.g., diabetes) being common. For instance, chronic parasite infections lead to altered immune regulatory networks, anemia, malnutrition, and diarrhea with an associated shift in the gut microbiome. These can all be pathways of potential relevance for insulin resistance and diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between common gastrointestinal tract infections and glycemia in children from non-fee paying schools in South Africa. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 9- to 14-year-old school children in Port Elizabeth. Stool and urine samples were collected to assess infection status with parasitic worms (e.g., Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, and Trichuris trichiura), intestinal protozoa (e.g., Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia intestinalis), and the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured in finger prick derived capillary blood. All children at schools with a high prevalence of helminth infections and only infected children at the schools with low infection rates were treated with albendazole. The association of anthelmintic treatment with changes in HbA1c 6 months after the drug intervention was also investigated. FINDINGS: A high prevalence of 71.8% of prediabetes was measured in this group of children, with only 27.8% having HbA1c in the normal range. H. pylori was the predominant infectious agent and showed an independent positive association with HbA1c in a multivariable regression analysis (β = 0.040, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.006-0.073, p<0.05). No association of HbA1c with either any other infectious agent or albendazole administration was found. CONCLUSION: The role of H. pylori in diabetes needs confirmation in the context of longitudinal treatment interventions. The specific effect of other gastrointestinal tract infections on glycemia remains unclear. Future studies should integrate the measurement of biomarkers, including immunological parameters, to shed light on the potential mediating mechanisms between parasite infections and diabetes

A prospective, randomised, controlled, double-blind phase I-II clinical trial on the safety of A-Part® Gel as adhesion prophylaxis after major abdominal surgery versus non-treated group

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Postoperative adhesions occur when fibrous strands of internal scar tissue bind anatomical structures to one another. The most common cause of intra-abdominal adhesions is previous intra-abdominal surgical intervention. Up to 74% of intestinal obstructions are caused by post surgical adhesions. Although a variety of methods and agents have been investigated to prevent post surgical adhesions, the problem of peritoneal adhesions remains largely unsolved. Materials serving as an adhesion barrier are much needed.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This is a prospective, randomised, controlled, patient blinded and observer blinded, single centre phase I-II trial, which evaluates the safety of A-Part^®Gel as an adhesion prophylaxis after major abdominal wall surgery, in comparison to an untreated control group. 60 patients undergoing an elective median laparotomy without prior abdominal surgery are randomly allocated into two groups of a 1:1- ratio. Safety parameter and primary endpoint of the study is the occurrence of wound healing impairment or peritonitis within 28 (+10) days after surgery. The frequency of anastomotic leakage within 28 days after operation, occurrence of adverse and serious adverse events during hospital stay up to 3 months and the rate of adhesions along the scar within 3 months are defined as secondary endpoints. After hospital discharge the investigator will examine the enrolled patients at 28 (+10) days and 3 months (±14 days) after surgery.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This trial aims to assess, whether the intra-peritoneal application of A-Part^®Gel is safe and efficacious in the prevention of post-surgical adhesions after median laparotomy, in comparison to untreated controls.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT00646412</p

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Local recurrence model of malignant pleural mesothelioma for investigation of intrapleural treatment

Objective: Local recurrence remains a major problem in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. The aim of the underlying study was to establish a standardised local recurrence model in rats which enables to study different intrapleural therapies. Materials and methods: Fifty microlitre containing 1×106 cells of a syngeneic rat malignant mesothelioma cell line (II-45), established from mesothelioma in Fischer 344 rats exposed to asbestos, were inoculated subpleurally via a left-sided thoracotomy. Tumour size was assessed 6 days later and the tumour nodule completely resected. Evaluation of recurrence at the resection site was performed after 10 days (n=6) and 6 days (n=6). The recurrent nodule was histopathologically confirmed. In a second experiment, this new recurrence model was evaluated for the effect of intrapleural therapy with different agents: 4ml of cisplatin-solution (100mg2/kg BW), cisplatin combined with the fibrin-based sealant Vivostat®, 4ml taurolidine 2%, repeated injection of 1μg of the chemokine CCL-19 at the tumour site and 4ml povidone-iodine in a dilution 1:10. In a control group, the chest cavity was filled with 4ml 0.9% NaCl. The primary endpoint was the extent of tumour recurrence. Results: Six days after inoculation, all animals presented a standardised tumour nodule at the injection site of a mean diameter of 5.1 (±0.8)mm. Evaluation of the recurrence after 10 days showed a relapse directly at the resection site, but additional tumour nodules on the ipsi- and contralateral chest wall were found and histologically confirmed. The animals that were sacrificed 6 days after resection of the tumour nodule showed a recurrence only at the resection site with no macroscopic or microscopic evidence of other tumour. Resection of the tumour nodule combined with intrapleural application of the different agents lead to clear reduction of recurrence. The strongest effect was observed after intrapleural application of cisplatin-Vivostat® with significant decrease of the longest, widest and thickest diameter of the recurrence. Conclusions: With this new recurrence model for investigation of malignant pleural mesothelioma in rats, we were able to investigate new intrapleural therapies after pneumonectomy. The intrapleural application of cisplatin-Vivostat® significantly reduced the extent of local recurrenc

Children retained in the study sample for complete case analysis.

<p>Children retained in the study sample for complete case analysis.</p