Survival Study: International Multicentric Minimally Invasive Liver Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastases (SIMMILR-2).

Introduction: Study: International Multicentric Minimally Invasive Liver Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastases (SIMMILR-CRLM) was a propensity score matched (PSM) study that reported short-term outcomes of patients with CRLM who met the Milan criteria and underwent either open (OLR), laparoscopic (LLR) or robotic liver resection (RLR). This study, designated as SIMMILR-2, reports the long-term outcomes from that initial study, now referred to as SIMMILR-1. Methods: Data regarding neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic (NC) and neoadjuvant biological (NB) treatments received were collected, and Kaplan−Meier curves reporting the 5-year overall (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) for OLR, LLR and RLR were created for patients who presented with synchronous lesions only, as there was insufficient follow-up for patients with metachronous lesions. Results: A total of 73% of patients received NC and 38% received NB in the OLR group compared to 70% and 28% in the LLR group, respectively (p = 0.5 and p = 0.08). A total of 82% of patients received NC and 40% received NB in the OLR group compared to 86% and 32% in the RLR group, respectively (p > 0.05). A total of 71% of patients received NC and 53% received NB in the LLR group compared to 71% and 47% in the RLR group, respectively (p > 0.05). OS at 5 years was 34.8% after OLR compared to 37.1% after LLR (p = 0.4), 34.3% after OLR compared to 46.9% after RLR (p = 0.4) and 30.3% after LLR compared to 46.9% after RLR (p = 0.9). RFS at 5 years was 12.1% after OLR compared to 20.7% after LLR (p = 0.6), 33.3% after OLR compared to 26.3% after RLR (p = 0.6) and 22.7% after LLR compared to 34.6% after RLR (p = 0.6). Conclusions: When comparing OLR, LLR and RLR, the OS and RFS were all similar after utilization of the Milan criteria and PSM. Biological agents tended to be utilized more in the OLR group when compared to the LLR group, suggesting that highly aggressive tumors are still managed through an open approach.

Study: International Multicentric Minimally Invasive Liver Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastases (SIMMILR-CRLM).

(1) Background: Here we report on a retrospective study of an international multicentric cohort after minimally invasive liver resection (SIMMILR) of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) from six centers. (2) Methods: Resections were divided by the approach used: open liver resection (OLR), laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and robotic liver resection (RLR). Patients with macrovascular invasion, more than three metastases measuring more than 3 cm or a solitary metastasis more than 5 cm were excluded, and any remaining heterogeneity found was further analyzed after propensity score matching (PSM) to decrease any potential bias. (3) Results: Prior to matching, 566 patients underwent OLR, 462 LLR and 36 RLR for CRLM. After PSM, 142 patients were in each group of the OLR vs. LLR group and 22 in the OLR vs. RLR and 21 in the LLR vs. RLR groups. Blood loss, hospital stay, and morbidity rates were all highly statistically significantly increased in the OLR compared to the LLR group, 636 mL vs. 353 mL, 9 vs. 5 days and 25% vs. 6%, respectively (p < 0.001). Only blood loss was significantly decreased when RLR was compared to OLR and LLR, 250 mL vs. 597 mL, and 224 mL vs. 778 mL, p < 0.008 and p < 0.04, respectively. (4) Conclusions: SIMMILR indicates that minimally invasive approaches for CRLM that follow the Milan criteria may have short term advantages. Notably, larger studies with long-term follow-up comparing robotic resections to both OLR and LLR are still needed.

Genetic Sequencing of Attwater's Prairie Chicken Avian Poxvirus and Evaluation of Its Potential Role in Reticuloendotheliosis Virus Outbreaks.

Efforts to breed Attwater's prairie chickens (APC; Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) in captivity to supplement wild populations of this endangered bird have been negatively affected by infections with Avipoxvirus and reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV). Because REV can be integrated into the genome of fowlpox virus (FPV) and may be transmitted in that manner, identifying the source of avipox disease in APC is important to mitigate the impact of this virus. Tissue samples from APC were collected from breeding programs in Texas from 2016 to 2020. These samples consisted of 11 skin lesions and three internal organs from a total of 14 different birds that died of unknown causes or were euthanized. Avipoxvirus was detected by PCR and isolation in embryonating chicken eggs in all skin lesion samples but was not detected in internal organs. Using sequence analysis of FPV polymerase and 4b genes, we determined that 10 out of 11 Avipoxvirus detections resided within the fowlpox clade and a single sample resided within the canarypox clade. REV sequences were detected in all FPV positive samples and in all internal organ tissues but were not detected in the sample matching the canarypox clade. Analysis of REV sequences and PCR detection showed the REV infecting APC was consistent with REV-A and had little variability on analysis of the U3 region of the long terminal repeat. The results of this study indicate control of REV in APC breeding colonies may benefit by a vaccination program targeting FPV and REV. However, a commercially available vaccine for REV is not available at this time.

Secuenciación genética de un virus de la viruela aviar de un gallo grande de las praderas Attwater y evaluación de su papel potencial en los brotes del virus de la reticuloendoteliosis. Los esfuerzos para criar gallos de las praderas grandes de Attwater (APC; Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) en cautiverio para complementar las poblaciones silvestres de esta ave en peligro de extinción se han visto afectados negativamente por infecciones con Avipoxvirus y con el virus de la reticuloendoteliosis (REV). Debido a que el virus de la reticuloendoteliosis puede integrarse en el genoma del virus de la viruela del pollo (FPV) y puede transmitirse de esa manera, identificar la fuente del virus pox en gallos de las praderas grandes es importante para mitigar el impacto de este virus. Se recolectaron muestras de tejido de gallos de las praderas grandes de programas de reproducción en Texas entre los años 2016 a 2020. Estas muestras consistieron en 11 lesiones cutáneas y tres órganos internos de un total de 14 aves diferentes que murieron por causas desconocidas o fueron sacrificadas. El Avipoxvirus se detectó mediante PCR y por aislamiento en huevos embrionados de pollo en todas las muestras de lesiones cutáneas, pero no se detectó en los órganos internos. Utilizando el análisis de secuencia de la polimerasa del virus de la viruela del pollo y de los genes 4b, se determinó que diez de las once detecciones de Avipoxvirus residían dentro del clado de la viruela aviar del pollo y una sola muestra residía dentro del clado de la viruela del canario. Se detectaron secuencias del virus de la reticuloendoteliosis en todas las muestras positivas para virus de la viruela de pollo y en todos los tejidos de órganos internos, pero no se detectaron en la muestra que coincidía con el clado de la viruela del canario. El análisis de las secuencias del virus de la reticuloendoteliosis y la detección por PCR mostró que los virus de reticuloendoteliosis que infectan a gallos de las praderas grandes eran compatible con virus de la reticuloendoteliosis A y tenía poca variabilidad en el análisis de la región U3 de la región repetida terminal larga. Los resultados de este estudio indican que el control del virus de la reticuloendoteliosis en colonias reproductoras de gallos de las praderas grandes puede beneficiarse de un programa de vacunación dirigido los virus de la viruela del pollo y de la reticuloendoteliosis. Sin embargo, una vacuna disponible comercialmente contra el virus de la reticuloendoteliosis no está disponible en este momento.

Retrospective Survey of Amphibian Pathology Cases at Texas A&M University System (2016-2020).

Dramatic declines in amphibians worldwide highlight the need for a better understanding of diseases affecting these species. To delineate the health issues of amphibians submitted to Texas A&M University System (2016-2020), the databases were queried on the basis of defined selection criteria. A total of 502 anurans (157 frogs [44 species] and 345 toads [10 species]) and 30 caudatans (23 salamanders [6 species] and 7 newts [4 species]) were reviewed. A most likely cause of death or major pathological finding (CD-MPF) leading to euthanasia was identified in 295 (55%) Anura cases and 15 (50%) Caudata cases. Of the 532 records reviewed, anurans included 492 captive, seven free-ranging and three undetermined specimens. All caudatans were captive. The most common CD-MPF in anurans was infectious/inflammatory (228/295; 77%), involving mycobacteriosis (73/228; 32%), chlamydiosis (44/228; 19%) and mycosis (32/228; 14%). Neoplasia was less common (28/295; 9%). Infectious/inflammatory lesions (14/15; 93%) were the main CD-MPFs in caudatans. Infectious diseases are a significant threat to captive amphibians in Texas and these results may aid personnel involved in amphibian conservation programmes, veterinarians and diagnosticians.

Improved consistency of bond-line thickness when conducting single lap-shear joint tests.

This article details a method for improving the consistency of bond-line thickness during lap-shear sample preparation. This includes the schematic for a lap-shear sample test rig and consideration for controlled variation of the bond-line thickness for up to ten pairs of samples at a time. Concerns regarding the curing of the samples when held on a large heat reservoir are addressed through direct measurement of the bond-rig temperature in combination with the cure chamber temperature. Additionally, the application of a release coating to the bond-rig has been demonstrated to improve ease of sample removal for the bond-rig, minimizing potential damage to the lap-shear sample set before testing. The release coating provides a clean surface for subsequent sets of samples, ensuring an even surface and reducing cleaning and degradation of the machined geometries of the rig. Overall, the proposed bond-rig provides: •Increased bond-line uniformity•Up to ten samples prepared in a batch•Option to apply a release coating to improve usability and minimize cleaning.

Kinetics of viral loads and genotypic analysis of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus-1 infection in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs) can cause fatal hemorrhagic disease in juvenile Asian elephants (Elphas maximus); however, sporadic shedding of virus in trunk washes collected from healthy elephants also has been detected. Data regarding the relationship of viral loads in blood compared with trunk washes are lacking, and questions about whether elephants can undergo multiple infections with EEHVs have not been addressed previously. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the kinetics of EEHV1 loads, and genotypic analysis was performed on EEHV1 DNA detected in various fluid samples obtained from five Asian elephants that survived detectable EEHV1 DNAemia on at least two separate occasions. In three elephants displaying clinical signs of illness, preclinical EEHV1 DNAemia was detectable, and peak whole-blood viral loads occurred 3-8 days after the onset of clinical signs. In two elephants with EEHV1 DNAemia that persisted for 7-21 days, no clinical signs of illness were observed. Detection of EEHV1 DNA in trunk washes peaked approximately 21 days after DNAemia, and viral genotypes detected during DNAemia matched those detected in subsequent trunk washes from the same elephant. In each of the five elephants, two distinct EEHV1 genotypes were identified in whole blood and trunk washes at different time points. In each case, these genotypes represented both an EEHV1A and an EEHV1B subtype. These data suggest that knowledge of viral loads could be useful for the management of elephants before or during clinical illness. Furthermore, sequential infection with both EEHV1 subtypes occurs in Asian elephants, suggesting that they do not elicit cross-protective sterilizing immunity. These data will be useful to individuals involved in the husbandry and clinical care of Asian elephants.