Proteomic characterization of serum proteins from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) from an outbreak with cardiomyopathy syndrome.

Cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS), caused by piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV), is a serious challenge to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) aquaculture. Regrettably, husbandry techniques are the only tool to manage CMS outbreaks, and no prophylactic measures are available at present. Early diagnosis of CMS is therefore desirable, preferably with non-lethal diagnostic methods, such as serum biomarkers. To identify candidate biomarkers for CMS, the protein content of pools of sera (4 fish/pool) from salmon with a CMS outbreak (3 pools) and from clinically healthy salmon (3 pools) was compared using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Overall, seven proteins were uniquely identified in the sera of clinically healthy fish, while 27 proteins were unique to the sera of CMS fish. Of the latter, 24 have been associated with cardiac disease in humans. These were grouped as leakage enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, glycogen phosphorylase and carbonic anhydrase); host reaction proteins (acute-phase response proteins-haptoglobin, fibrinogen, α2-macroglobulin and ceruloplasmin; and complement-related proteins); and regeneration/remodelling proteins (fibronectin, lumican and retinol). Clinical evaluation of the suitability of these proteins as biomarkers of CMS, either individually or as part of a panel, is a logical next step for the development of early diagnostic tools for CMS.

Psoroptes ovis-Early Immunoreactive Protein (Pso-EIP-1) a novel diagnostic antigen for sheep scab.

AIMS: Serodiagnosis of sheep scab is an established diagnostic method and has become popular in recent years. However, the current diagnostic antigen, Pso o 2, has shown promise as a component of a recombinant vaccine for scab, making it incompatible with discriminating between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA). Here, we describe the discovery and characterization of a novel Psoroptes ovis immunodiagnostic antigen, P. ovis-Early Immunoreactive Protein-1 (Pso-EIP-1). METHODS AND RESULTS: Pso-EIP-1 is a highly abundant member of a six-gene family with no known homologs, indicating its potential uniqueness to P. ovis. Expression of recombinant Pso-EIP-1 (rPso-EIP-1) required a C-terminal fusion protein for stability and specific IgG immunoreactivity against rPso-EIP-1 was observed in sheep serum from 1 to 2 weeks post-infestation, indicating its highly immunogenic nature. Two of the three in silico-predicted B-cell epitopes of Pso-EIP-1 were confirmed by in vitro epitope mapping and, in a direct comparison by ELISA, Pso-EIP-1 performed to the same levels as Pso o 2 in terms of sensitivity, specificity and ability to diagnose P. ovis on sheep within 2 weeks of infestation. CONCLUSION: Pso-EIP-1 represents a novel diagnostic antigen for sheep scab with comparable levels of sensitivity and specificity to the existing Pso o 2 antigen.

MALDIrppa: quality control and robust analysis for mass spectrometry data.

Summary: This R package helps to implement a robust approach to deal with mass spectrometry (MS) data. It is aimed at alleviating reproducibility issues and pernicious effects of deviating signals on both data pre-processing and downstream data analysis. Based on robust statistical methods, it facilitates the identification and filtering of low-quality mass spectra and atypical peak profiles as well as monitoring and data handling through pre-processing, which extends existing computational tools for high-throughput data. Availability and implementation: MALDIrppa is implemented as a package for the R environment for data analysis and it is freely available to download from the CRAN repository at https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=MALDIrppa. Contact: javier.palarea@bioss.ac.uk.

Carbon Nanoparticles Inhibit the Antimicrobial Activities of the Human Cathelicidin LL-37 through Structural Alteration.

Host defense peptides, also known as antimicrobial peptides, are key elements of innate host defense. One host defense peptide with well-characterized antimicrobial activity is the human cathelicidin, LL-37. LL-37 has been shown to be upregulated at sites of infection and inflammation and is regarded as one of the primary innate defense molecules against bacterial and viral infection. Human exposure to combustion-derived or engineered nanoparticles is of increasing concern, and the implications of nanomaterial exposure on the human immune response is poorly understood. However, it is widely acknowledged that nanoparticles can interact strongly with several immune proteins of biological significance, with these interactions resulting in structural and functional changes of the proteins involved. This study investigated whether the potent antibacterial and antiviral functions of LL-37 were inhibited by exposure to, and interaction with, carbon nanoparticles, together with characterizing the nature of the interaction. LL-37 was exposed to carbon black nanoparticles in vitro, and the antibacterial and antiviral functions of the peptide were subsequently assessed. We demonstrate a substantial loss of antimicrobial function when the peptide was exposed to low concentrations of nanomaterials, and we further show that the nanomaterial-peptide interaction resulted in a significant change in the structure of the peptide. The human health implications of these findings are significant, as, to our knowledge, this is the first evidence that nanoparticles can alter host defense peptide structure and function, indicating a new role for nanoparticle exposure in increased disease susceptibility.

Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 glycoprotein B: recombinant expression and antibody recognition.

The gammaherpesvirus alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) causes fatal malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in susceptible species including cattle, but infects its reservoir host, wildebeest, without causing disease. Pathology in cattle may be influenced by virus-host cell interactions mediated by the virus glycoproteins. Cloning and expression of a haemagglutinin-tagged version of the AlHV-1 glycoprotein B (gB) was used to demonstrate that the AlHV-1-specific monoclonal antibody 12B5 recognised gB and that gB was the main component of the gp115 complex of AlHV-1, a glycoprotein complex of five components identified on the surface of AlHV-1 by immunoprecipitation and radiolabelling. Analysis of AlHV-1 virus particles showed that the native form of gB was detected by mAb 12B5 as a band of about 70 kDa, whilst recombinant gB expressed by transfected HEK293T cells appeared to be subject to additional cleavage and incomplete post-translational processing. Antibody 12B5 recognised an epitope on the N-terminal furin-cleaved fragment of gB on AlHV-1 virus particles. It could be used to detect recombinant and virus-expressed gB on western blots and on the surface of infected cells by flow cytometry, whilst recombinant gB was detected on the surface of transfected cells by immunofluorescence. Recombinant gB has potential as an antigen for ELISA detection of MCF virus infection and as a candidate vaccine antigen.

Synthesis and characterisation of ultrasound imageable heat-sensitive liposomes for HIFU therapy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Novel approaches allowing efficient, readily translatable image-guided drug delivery (IGDD) against solid tumours is needed. The objectives of this study were to: 1) develop echogenic low temperature sensitive liposomes (E-LTSLs) loaded with an ultrasound (US) contrast agent (perfluoropentane, PFP), 2) determine the in vitro and in vivo stability of contrast agent encapsulation, 3) co-encapsulate and characterise doxorubicin (Dox) E-LTSL, and cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in combination with high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). METHOD: E-LTSLs were loaded passively with PFP and actively with Dox. PFP encapsulation in E-LTSL was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and US imageability was determined in tissue-mimicking phantoms and mouse tumour model. Dox release from E-LTSL in physiological buffer was quantified by fluorescence spectroscopy. Cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of E-LTSL in the presence of HIFU-induced mild hyperthermia (∼40-42 °C) was determined in a 3D tumour spheroid model. RESULTS: TEM and US confirmed that the PFP emulsion was contained within LTSLs. Phantom and animal studies showed that the E-LTSLs were echogenic. Temperature versus size increase and Dox release kinetics of E-LTSLs demonstrated no difference compared to LTSL alone. Dox release was <5% within 1 h at baseline (25 °C) and body (37 °C) temperatures, and was >99% under hyperthermia. E-LTSL plus HIFU achieved significantly greater Dox uptake in spheroids and cytotoxicity compared to body temperature. CONCLUSION: A stable US-imageable liposome co-loaded with Dox and PFP for in vivo IGDD was developed. Data suggest that HIFU can induce cellular uptake and toxicity with E-LTSLs.

Expression and functional characterization of bovine receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL).

Receptor activator of nuclear factor Kappa-B Ligand (RANKL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor ligand (TNF) family involved in immune responses and immunomodulation. Expressed in various cells types around the body, RANKL plays a crucial role in bone remodeling and development of the thymus, lymph nodes and mammary glands. Research in other species demonstrates that RANKL is required for the development of microfold cells (M cells) in the gut, however limited information specific to cattle is available. Cloning and expression of bovine RANKL (BoRANKL) was carried out and bioactivity of the protein was demonstrated in the induction of osteoclast differentiation from both bovine and ovine bone marrow cells. The effects of BoRANKL on particle uptake in bovine enteroids was also assessed. The production of cross-reactive bovine RANKL protein will enable further investigations into cell differentiation using the available ruminant organoid systems, and their role in investigating host-pathogen interactions in cattle and sheep.

Characterisation of protective vaccine antigens from the thiol-containing components of excretory/secretory material of Ostertagia ostertagi.

Previous vaccination trials have demonstrated that thiol proteins affinity purified from Ostertagia ostertagi excretory-secretory products (O. ostertagi ES-thiol) are protective against homologous challenge. Here we have shown that protection induced by this vaccine was consistent across four independent vaccine-challenge experiments. Protection is associated with reduced cumulative faecal egg counts across the duration of the trials, relative to control animals. To better understand the diversity of antigens in O. ostertagi ES-thiol we used high-resolution shotgun proteomics to identify 490 unique proteins in the vaccine preparation. The most numerous ES-thiol proteins, with 91 proteins identified, belong to the sperm-coating protein/Tpx/antigen 5/pathogenesis-related protein 1 (SCP/TAPS) family. This family includes previously identified O. ostertagi vaccine antigens O. ostertagi ASP-1 and ASP-2. The ES-thiol fraction also has numerous proteinases, representing three distinct classes, including: metallo-; aspartyl- and cysteine proteinases. In terms of number of family members, the M12 astacin-like metalloproteinases, with 33 proteins, are the most abundant proteinase family in O. ostertagi ES-thiol. The O. ostertagi ES-thiol proteome provides a comprehensive database of proteins present in this vaccine preparation and will guide future vaccine antigen discovery projects.

Structural and functional analyses of nematode-derived antimicrobial peptides support the occurrence of direct mechanisms of worm-microbiota interactions.

The complex relationships between gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes and the host gut microbiota have been implicated in key aspects of helminth disease and infection outcomes. Nevertheless, the direct and indirect mechanisms governing these interactions are, thus far, largely unknown. In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that the excretory-secretory products (ESPs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) of key GI nematodes contain peptides that, when recombinantly expressed, exert antimicrobial activity in vitro against Bacillus subtilis. In particular, using time-lapse microfluidics microscopy, we demonstrate that exposure of B. subtilis to a recombinant saposin-domain containing peptide from the 'brown stomach worm', Teladorsagia circumcincta, and a metridin-like ShK toxin from the 'barber's pole worm', Haemonchus contortus, results in cell lysis and significantly reduced growth rates. Data from this study support the hypothesis that GI nematodes may modulate the composition of the vertebrate gut microbiota directly via the secretion of antimicrobial peptides, and pave the way for future investigations aimed at deciphering the impact of such changes on the pathophysiology of GI helminth infection and disease.

Evaluating the performance of methods for estimating the abundance of rapidly declining coastal shark populations.

Accurately surveying shark populations is critical to monitoring precipitous ongoing declines in shark abundance and interpreting the effects that these reductions are having on ecosystems. To evaluate the effectiveness of existing survey tools, we used field trials and computer simulations to critically examine the operation of four common methods for counting coastal sharks: stationary point counts, belt transects, video surveys, and mark and recapture abundance estimators. Empirical and theoretical results suggest that (1) survey method selection has a strong impact on the estimates of shark density that are produced, (2) standardizations by survey duration are needed to properly interpret and compare survey outputs, (3) increasing survey size does not necessarily increase survey precision, and (4) methods that yield the highest density estimates are not always the most accurate. These findings challenge some of the assumptions traditionally associated with surveying mobile marine animals. Of the methods we trialed, 8 x 50 m belt transects and a 20 m radius point count produced the most accurate estimates of shark density. These findings can help to improve the ways we monitor, manage, and understand the ecology of globally imperiled coastal shark populations.

Changes in protein expression in the sheep abomasum following trickle infection with Teladorsagia circumcincta.

Continual low-level exposure of sheep to the helminth Teladorsagia circumcincta elicits a temporary protective immunity, where factors in the immune abomasal mucosa prevent penetration of infective larvae, but which is essentially lost within 6 weeks of cessation of parasite challenge. Here, a proteomic approach was used to identify proteins that are differentially regulated in immune compared to naïve sheep, as potential key mediators of immunity. Six naïve sheep and 12 sheep trickle-infected with T. circumcincta were treated with anthelmintic, and the naïve (control) and 6 immune sheep were killed 7 days later. The remaining 6 sheep (immune waning) were killed 42 days after anthelmintic treatment. Abomasal tissue samples were subjected to 2D-gel electrophoresis and densitometric analysis. Selected spots (n=73) were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting and confirmatory Western blotting was carried out for 10 proteins. Spots selectively up-regulated in immune versus control, but not immune waning versus control sheep, included galectin-15 and thioredoxin, which were confirmed by Western blotting. In immune sheep, serum albumin was significantly down-regulated and albumin proteolytic cleavage fragments were increased compared to controls. Unexpectedly, albumin mRNA was relatively highly expressed in control mucosa, down-regulated in immune, and was immunolocalized to mucus-producing epithelial cells. Thus we have identified differential expression of a number of proteins following T. circumcincta trickle infection that may play a role in host protection and inhibition of parasite establishment.

Mathematical modelling of nanoparticle-mediated topical drug delivery to skin tissue.

Nanoparticles have been extensively studied to improve drug delivery outcomes, however, their use in topical delivery remains controversial. Although the feasibility to cross the human skin barrier has been demonstrated in experiments, the risk of low drug concentration in deep tissue still limits the application. In this study, mathematical modelling is employed to examine the performance of nanoparticle-mediated topical delivery for sending drugs into the deep skin tissue. The pharmacokinetic effect is evaluated based on the drug exposure over time. As compared to the delivery using plain drugs, nanoparticle-mediated topical delivery has the potential to significantly improve the drug exposure in deep skin tissue. Modelling predictions denote that the importance of sufficient long-term drug-skin contact in achieving effective drug deposition in the deep skin tissue. The delivery outcomes are highly sensitive to the release rate. Accelerating the release from nanoparticles in stratum corneum is able to improve the drug exposure in stratum corneum and viable epidermis while resulting in the reductions in dermis and blood. The release rate in stratum corneum and viable epidermis should be well-designed below a threshold for generating effective drug accumulation in dermis and blood. A more localised drug accumulation can be achieved in the capillary-rich region of dermis by increasing the local release rate. The release rate in dermis needs to be optimised to increase the drug exposure in the dermis region where there are fewer blood and lymphatics capillaries. Results from this study can be used to improve the regimen of topical delivery for localised treatment.

Development of a recombinant ELISA for ovine herpesvirus 2, suitable for use in sheep.

The minor capsid protein of ovine herpesvirus 2, identified as a potential antigen for serological testing, was over-expressed and purified to allow its assessment in ELISA. The corresponding gene sequence (OvHV-2 orf65, Ov65) was modified to incorporate epitope tags and internal restriction enzyme sites in an E. coli codon-optimised version of the gene. This codon-optimised gene was then subject to internal deletions to identify regions of the protein that could be removed while maintaining protein solubility and antigenicity. It was found that a derivative with deletion of the conserved 5'-end of the gene (Ov65delB) expressed a polypeptide that was soluble when over-expressed in bacteria and was detected by OvHV-2 specific sera. Proteomic analysis of the affinity purified Ov65delB showed that it contained multiple predicted Ov65 tryptic peptides but also showed contamination by co-purifying E. coli proteins. An indirect ELISA, based on this affinity-purified OV65delB, was optimised for use with sheep and cattle samples and cut-off values were established based on known negative serum samples. Analysis of groups of samples that were either presumed infected (UK sheep) or tested OvHV-2 positive or negative by PCR (cattle MCF diagnostic samples) showed that the assay had 95 % sensitivity and 96 % specificity for sheep serum; and 80 % sensitivity and 95 % specificity for cattle serum. The lower sensitivity with cattle samples appeared to be due to a lack of serological response in some MCF-affected cattle. This recombinant antigen therefore shows promise as the basis of an inexpensive, simple and reliable test that can be used to detect OvHV-2-specific antibody responses in both MCF-affected animals and in OvHV-2 reservoir hosts.

Identification of proteins from the secretory/excretory products (SEPs) of the branchiuran ectoparasite Argulus foliaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) reveals unique secreted proteins amongst haematophagous ecdysozoa.

BACKGROUND: It is hypothesised that being a blood-feeding ectoparasite, Argulus foliaceus (Linnaeus, 1758), uses similar mechanisms for digestion and host immune evasion to those used by other haematophagous ecdysozoa, including caligid copepods (e.g. sea louse). We recently described and characterised glands associated with the feeding appendages of A. foliaceus using histological techniques. The work described in the present study is the first undertaken with the objective of identifying and partially characterising the components secreted from these glands using a proteomic approach. METHODS: Argulus foliaceus parasites were sampled from the skin of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), from Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, UK. The proteins from A. foliaceus secretory/excretory products (SEPs) were collected from the supernatant of artificial freshwater conditioned with active adult parasites (n = 5-9 per ml; n = 560 total). Proteins within the SEPs were identified and characterised using LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD016226. RESULTS: Data mining of a protein database translated from an A. foliaceus dataset using ProteinScape allowed identification of 27 predicted protein sequences from the A. foliaceus SEPs, each protein matching the criteria of 2 peptides with at least 4 contiguous amino acids. Nine proteins had no matching sequence through OmicsBox (Blast2GO) analysis searches suggesting that Argulus spp. may additionally have unique proteins present in their SEPs. SignalP 5.0 software, identified 13 proteins with a signal sequence suggestive of signal peptides and supportive of secreted proteins being identified. Notably, the functional characteristics of identified A. foliaceus proteins/domains have also been described from the salivary glands and saliva of other blood-feeding arthropods such as ticks. Identified proteins included: transporters, peroxidases, metalloproteases, proteases and serine protease inhibitors which are known to play roles in parasite immune evasion/induction (e.g. astacin), immunomodulation (e.g. serpin) and digestion (e.g. trypsin). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, the present study represents the first proteomic analysis undertaken for SEPs from any branchiuran fish louse. Here we reveal possible functional roles of A. foliaceus SEPs in digestion and immunomodulation, with a number of protein families shared with other haematophagous ectoparasites. A number of apparently unique secreted proteins were identified compared to other haematophagous ecdysozoa.

Concentrated sodium chloride brine solutions as an additional treatment for preventing the introduction of nonindigenous species in the ballast tanks of ships declaring no ballast on board.

Currently, seawater flushing is the only management strategy for reducing the number of viable organisms in residual sediments and water of ballast tanks of vessels declaring no ballast on board (NOBOB) that traffic ports of the eastern United States. Previously, we identified several species of freshwater and brackish-water peracarid crustaceans able to survive the osmotic shock that occurs during open-ocean ballast water exchange and, potentially, to disperse over long distances via ballasted ships and NOBOB vessels. We tested the efficacy of concentrated sodium chloride brine solutions as an additional treatment for eradicating the halotolerant taxa often present in the ballast tanks of NOBOB ships. The lowest brine treatments (30 ppt for 1 h) caused 100% mortality in several species of cladocerans and copepods collected from oligohaline habitats. Several brackish-water peracarid crustaceans, however, including some that can survive in freshwater as well, required higher brine concentrations and longer exposure durations (45-60 ppt for 3-24 h). The most resilient animals were widely introduced peracarid crustaceans that generally prefer mesohaline habitats but do not tolerate freshwater (required brine treatments of 60-110 ppt for 3-24 h). Brine treatments (30 ppt) also required less time to cause 100% mortality for eight taxa compared with treatments using 34 ppt seawater. Based on these experiments and published data, we present treatment strategies for the ballast tank biota often associated with NOBOB vessels entering the Great Lakes region. We estimate the lethal dosage of brine for 95% of the species in our experiments to be 110 ppt (95% confidence interval, 85-192 ppt) when the exposure time is 1 h and 60 ppt (95% confidence interval, 48-98 ppt) when the exposure duration is 6 h or longer.

Trends in Surgeon Wellness (Take a Sad Song and Make It Better): A Comparison of Surgical Residents, Fellows, and Attendings.

We aim to investigate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physician burnout (PBO), and work-life balance (WLB) among surgical residents, fellows, and attendings to illustrate the trends in surgeon wellness. A cross-sectional national survey of surgical residents, fellows, and attendings was conducted screening for PTSD, PBO, and WLB. The prevalence of screening positive for PTSD was more than two times that of the general population at all levels of experience, and more than half have an unhealthy WLB. The prevalence of PTSD, PBO, and unhealthy WLB declined with increasing level of experience (P < 0.001). One deviation in this trend was a lower prevalence of PBO among surgical fellows compared with residents and attendings (P < 0.001). Surgeon wellness improved with increasing level of experience. The incorporation of wellness programs into surgical residencies is essential to the professional development of young surgeons to cultivate healthy lasting habits for a well-balanced career and life.

Characterisation of a niche-specific excretory-secretory peroxiredoxin from the parasitic nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta.

BACKGROUND: The primary cause of parasitic gastroenteritis in small ruminants in temperate regions is the brown stomach worm, Teladorsagia circumcincta. Host immunity to this parasite is slow to develop, consistent with the ability of T. circumcincta to suppress the host immune response. Previous studies have shown that infective fourth-stage T. circumcincta larvae produce excretory-secretory products that are able to modulate the host immune response. The objective of this study was to identify immune modulatory excretory-secretory proteins from populations of fourth-stage T. circumcincta larvae present in two different host-niches: those associated with the gastric glands (mucosal-dwelling larvae) and those either loosely associated with the mucosa or free-living in the lumen (lumen-dwelling larvae). RESULTS: In this study excretory-secretory proteins from mucosal-dwelling and lumen-dwelling T. circumcincta fourth stage larvae were analysed using comparative 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A total of 17 proteins were identified as differentially expressed, with 14 proteins unique to, or enriched in, the excretory-secretory proteins of mucosal-dwelling larvae. One of the identified proteins, unique to mucosal-dwelling larvae, was a putative peroxiredoxin (T. circumcincta peroxiredoxin 1, Tci-Prx1). Peroxiredoxin orthologs from the trematode parasites Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola hepatica have previously been shown to alternatively activate macrophages and play a key role in promoting parasite induced Th2 type immunity. Here we demonstrate that Tci-Prx1 is expressed in all infective T. circumcincta life-stages and, when produced as a recombinant protein, has peroxidase activity, whereby hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is reduced and detoxified. Furthermore, we use an in vitro macrophage stimulation assay to demonstrate that, unlike peroxiredoxins from trematode parasites Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola hepatica, Tci-Prx1 is unable to alternatively activate murine macrophage cells. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we identified differences in the excretory-secretory proteome of mucosal-dwelling and lumen-dwelling infective fourth-stage T. circumcincta larvae, and demonstrated the utility of this comparative proteomic approach to identify excretory-secretory proteins of potential importance for parasite survival and/or host immune modulation.

The Crossroads of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Physician Burnout: A National Review of United States Trauma and Nontrauma Surgeons.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among trauma surgeons is three times that of the general population, and physician burnout (PBO) among surgeons is rising. Given that PTSD and PBO are both stress-based syndromes, we aim to identify the prevalence and risk factors for PTSD among trauma and nontrauma surgeons, and determine if a relationship exists. A cross-sectional survey of surgeons was conducted between September 2016 and May 2017. Respondents were screened for PTSD and PBO. Traumatic stressors were identified, and 20 potential risk factors were assessed. The respondents (n = 1026) were grouped into trauma (n = 350) and nontrauma (n = 676). Between the cohorts, there was no significant difference in prevalence of screening positive for PTSD (17% vs 15%) or PBO (30% vs 25%). A relationship was found between PTSD and PBO (P < 0.001). The most common traumatic stressor was overwhelming work responsibilities. Potential risk factors for PTSD differed, but overlapping risk factors included hospital culture, hospital support, and salary (P < 0.05). Our findings of an association between PTSD and PBO is concerning. Interventions to reduce rates of PTSD should target changing the existing culture of surgery, improving hospital support, and ensuring equitable pay.

Points to Consider: Best Practices to Identify Particle Entry Routes along the Manufacturing Process for Parenteral Formulations.

During the processes involved in pharmaceutical manufacturing, particulate matter may be introduced into a product from a variety of sources and at different points in the manufacturing process. Companies design quality at the beginning of the process to ensure against defects and strive to manufacture products that meet the pharmacopeial standard of being "practically/essentially free" of particles, which can be challenging, though necessary. As particulate matter recalls are predominantly associated with parenteral products, most companies employ a quality risk management program to identify critical parameters or conditions that could affect product quality or patient safety and incorporate systemic and procedural controls to mitigate or reduce the probability of their occurrence. Yet, determining where particulates are most likely to enter the process, what types of materials are most vulnerable, and how the size and number of particles might affect product quality can be very complex. Visual inspection and sampling of the manufactured drug product are designed to control the risk of particulate contamination; building prevention controls will ensure sustainability. This concept paper highlights the necessity of a more thorough understanding of the failure mechanisms that result in particle contamination across a range of products, such as elastomeric components and glass, and processes, such as the formulation and filling of injectables. The goal is to identify process steps within the end-to-end manufacturing process that are most critical to particle generation and entering of visible particles into the final drug product.LAY ABSTRACT: This concept paper highlights the necessity of a more thorough understanding of the failure mechanisms that result in particle contamination across a range of products, such as elastomeric components and glass, and processes, such as the formulation and filling of injectables. The goal is to identify process steps within the end-to-end manufacturing process that are most critical to particle generation and entering of visible particles into the final drug product.

The proteome of gastric lymph in normal and nematode infected sheep.

Lymph node cannulation allows the collection of lymph draining from a defined anatomical region. Proteomic analysis of that lymph offers a potentially valuable insight into the immunoinflammatory response of that particular region. In this study, ovine gastric lymph has been used to monitor the proteomic changes occurring in the tissue fluid of the abomasum, in response to infection with the parasitic nematode, Teladorsagia circumcincta. Lymph, collected temporally over an experimental infection period, was analysed by means of 2-DE and subsequent gel analysis using densitometry software. In addition, the composition of the lymphatic proteome was further explored by means of MALDI-TOF and MS/MS analyses. The concentration of gelsolin, alpha-1 beta glycoprotein and haemopexin were altered significantly (p<0.05) with infection.