Single-Shot Diagnosis of Electron Energy Evolution via Streaked Betatron X Rays in a Curved Laser Wakefield Accelerator.

We report on an experimental observation of the streaking of betatron x rays in a curved laser wakefield accelerator. The streaking of the betatron x rays was realized by launching a laser pulse into a plasma with a transverse density gradient. By controlling the plasma density and the density gradient, we realized the steering of the laser driver, electron beam, and betatron x rays simultaneously. Moreover, we observed an energy-angle correlation of the streaked betatron x rays and utilized it in diagnosing the electron acceleration process in a single-shot mode. Our work could also find applications in advanced control of laser beam and particle propagation. More importantly, the angular streaked betatron x ray has an intrinsic spatiotemporal correlation, which makes it a promising tool for single-shot pump-probe applications.

Research Note: Water applied direct-fed microbial reduced mortality in heat stressed broilers.

Pressure to reduce the use of antibiotics in the poultry industry has intensified research on alternative solutions to support intestinal health, including but not limited to direct fed microbials (DFM). Heat stress is known to impact intestinal health and function. The aim of this study was to determine efficacy of a water applied DFM product on broiler performance during the summer period. One of two treatments were randomly allocated to 12 replicate floor pens each: a control treatment and a treatment provided daily with a dual strain DFM comprised of Lactobacillus acidophilus AG01 and Bifidobacterium animalis AG02 at 1 × 108 CFU/bird/d. Each pen contained 20 Ross 308 broilers. All birds were fed the same three-phased wheat- and soybean meal-based diets. Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and mortality were measured at d 0, 10, 24, 35, and 42. Due to natural extreme external temperature conditions, all birds were subject to heat stress during the end of the grower phase up to and including the finisher phase. Temperature was on average 5°C higher compared to industry recommendation. No significant differences were found in growth performance between the control and DFM treatment, yet BW at d 42 in both treatments was reduced by 19% compared to the breed standard. The DFM treatment significantly reduced mortality among the birds. Overall mortality from d 1 to d 35 was reduced from 4.58% to 0.42% (P = 0.023) and overall mortality from d 1 to d 42 was reduced from 5.83 to 0.83% (P = 0.027). This was driven by the difference in heat-stress related mortality in the finisher phase from d 25 to d 42, where mortality reached only 0.44% in the DFM treatment versus 2.88% in the unsupplemented control treatment. Post-mortem analysis confirmed heat-stress related hypoxia. In conclusion, the dual strain DFM may have provided improved (intestinal) homeostasis and barrier function allowing increased resilience to heat stress in broilers.

Elucidating the Varying Impact of Necrotic Enteritis Using Performance and Health Indicators in Broiler Infection Models.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) continues to be a significant burden to the poultry industry, compounded by pressure to reduce antibiotic use. Researchers use NE-challenge models to study the infection biology of NE and as screening tools to develop potential novel interventions. Currently, data are limited comparing such models between research establishments, and few indicate which quantitative metrics provide the most accurate measure for determining the efficacy of interventions. We compared data from 10 independent NE-challenge trials incorporating six challenge models employed in four geographical regions to determine the extent of variability in bird responses and to determine, using principal component analysis (PCA), which variables discriminated most effectively between nonchallenged control (NC) and challenged control (CC) groups. Response variables related to growth performance (weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion), health (mortality, lesion scores, NE induction rate), and, in three trials only, gut integrity (tight junction protein claudin-1, claudin-2, and zonula occludens-1 expression, coccidia counts, and intestinal permeability [assessed by FITC-dextran assay]). Treatments included a CC, which varied between trials (for example, in Eimeria predisposition, Clostridium perfringens strain, and days of inoculation), and a NC. The degree of response to challenge in CC birds varied significantly among models and trials. In all trials, lesion scores 1 to 4 days postchallenge were increased in CC vs. NC birds and varied both within and among models (by 0.29-1.17 points and 0.05-2.50 points, respectively). In addition, NE-related mortality at day 28 was increased in CC vs. NC, both within and among models (by 1.79%-4.72% and 0.02%-16.70%, respectively), and final (day 35 or 42) body weight was reduced by 3.9%-14.4% and overall FCR increased by up to 27% across trials (P , 0.05). A PCA on the combined dataset including only performance indicators failed to adequately differentiate NC and CC groups. However, the combination of performance and gut integrity variables and standardization of data by trial and phase achieved greater resolution between groups. This indicated that the inclusion of both types of variables in future NE-challenge studies would enable the generation of more robust predictions about intervention efficacy from different types of infection models. A final PCA based on a subset of key indicator variables, including body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality, and lesion score, achieved a good level of separation between NC and CC status of birds and could, with further research, be a useful supplement to existing approaches for assessing and predicting the NE status of birds in the field.

Determinación del impacto variable de la enteritis necrótica mediante indicadores de rendimiento y salud en modelos de infección de pollos de engorde. La enteritis necrótica (EN) sigue siendo un problema importante para la industria avícola, que se ha agudizado por la presión para reducir el uso de antibióticos. Los investigadores utilizan modelos de desafío de enteritis necrótica para estudiar la biología de la infección de este problema y como herramientas de detección para desarrollar posibles intervenciones novedosas. Actualmente, los datos que comparan dichos modelos entre grupos de investigación son limitados y pocos indican qué métricas cuantitativas proporcionan la medida más precisa para determinar la eficacia de las intervenciones. Comparamos datos de 10 ensayos independientes de desafío para enteritis necrótica que incorporan seis modelos de desafío empleados en cuatro regiones geográficas para determinar el grado de variabilidad en las respuestas de las aves y determinar, utilizando el análisis de componentes principales (PCA), qué variables discriminaron más efectivamente entre el control no desafiado (NC) y grupos de control desafiados (CC). Variables de respuesta relacionadas con el rendimiento del crecimiento (aumento de peso, consumo de alimento, conversión alimenticia), salud (mortalidad, puntuaciones de lesiones, tasa de inducción de enteritis necrótica) y, en sólo tres ensayos, la integridad intestinal (proteína de unión estrecha claudina-1, claudina-2, y expresión de zonula occludens-1, recuentos de coccidias y permeabilidad intestinal [evaluada mediante ensayo FITC-dextrano]). Los tratamientos incluyeron un control desafiado, que fue variable entre los ensayos (por ejemplo, en la predisposición a Eimeria, la cepa de Clostridium perfringens y los días de inoculación) y un control no desafiado. El grado de respuesta al desafío en aves del grupo control desafiado varió significativamente entre modelos y ensayos. En todos los ensayos, las puntuaciones de lesiones de 1 a 4 días después del desafío aumentaron en las aves del grupo control desafiado en comparación con el control no desafiado y variaron tanto dentro como entre los modelos (entre 0.29 y 1.17 puntos y entre 0.05 y 2.50 puntos, respectivamente). Además, la mortalidad relacionada con enteritis necrótica en el día 28 aumentó en el control desafiado en comparación con el control no desafiado, tanto dentro como entre modelos (entre un 1.79% y un 4.72% y entre un 0.02% y un 16.70%, respectivamente), y el peso corporal final (día 35 o 42). se redujo entre un 3.9% y un 14.4% y la conversión alimenticia en general aumentó hasta un 27% en todos los ensayos (P ,0.05). El análisis de componentes principales sobre el conjunto de datos combinado que incluye solo indicadores de desempeño no logró diferenciar adecuadamente los grupos control no desafiado y desafiado. Sin embargo, la combinación de variables de rendimiento e integridad intestinal y la estandarización de los datos por ensayo y fase lograron una mayor resolución entre los grupos. Esto indicó que la inclusión de ambos tipos de variables en futuros estudios de desafío para enteritis necrótica permitiría la generación de predicciones más sólidas sobre la eficacia de la intervención a partir de diferentes tipos de modelos de infección. Un análisis de componentes principales final basado en un subconjunto de variables indicadoras clave, incluido el peso corporal, el consumo de alimento, el índice de conversión alimenticia, la mortalidad y la puntuación de las lesiones, logró un buen nivel de separación entre el estado de las aves no desafiadas y desafiadas y podría, con más investigación, ser un complemento útil a los enfoques existentes para evaluar y predecir el estado de enteritis necrótica de las aves en el campo.

Quality of life gains in frail and intermediate-fit patients with multiple Myeloma: Findings from the prospective HOVON123 clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Frailty in newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients is associated with treatment-related toxicity, which negatively affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Currently, data on changes in HRQoL of frail and intermediate-fit MM patients during active treatment and post-treatment follow-up are absent. METHODS: The HOVON123 study (NTR4244) was a phase II trial in which NDMM patients ≥ 75 years were treated with nine dose-adjusted cycles of Melphalan-Prednisone-Bortezomib (MPV). Two HRQoL instruments (EORTC QLQ-C30 and -MY20) were obtained before start of treatment, after 3 and 9 months of treatment and 6 and 12 months after treatment for patients who did not yet start second-line treatment. HRQoL changes and/or differences in frail and intermediate-fit patients (IMWG frailty score) were reported only when both statistically significant (p < 0.005) and clinically relevant (>MID). RESULTS: 137 frail and 71 intermediate-fit patients were included in the analysis. Compliance was high and comparable in both groups. At baseline, frail patients reported lower global health status, lower physical functioning scores and more fatigue and pain compared to intermediate-fit patients. Both groups improved in global health status and future perspective; polyneuropathy complaints worsened over time. Frail patients improved over time in physical functioning, fatigue and pain. Improvement in global health status occurred earlier than in intermediate-fit patients. CONCLUSION: HRQoL improved during anti-myeloma treatment in both intermediate-fit and frail MM patients. In frail patients, improvement occurred faster and, in more domains, which was retained during follow-up. This implies that physicians should not withhold safe and effective therapies from frail patients in fear of HRQoL deterioration.

Determinants of lenalidomide response with or without erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in myelodysplastic syndromes: the HOVON89 trial.

A randomized phase-II study was performed in low/int-1 risk MDS (IPSS) to study efficacy and safety of lenalidomide without (arm A) or with (arm B) ESA/G-CSF. In arm B, patients without erythroid response (HI-E) after 4 cycles received ESA; G-CSF was added if no HI-E was obtained by cycle 9. HI-E served as primary endpoint. Flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing were performed to identify predictors of response. The final evaluation comprised 184 patients; 84% non-del(5q), 16% isolated del(5q); median follow-up: 70.7 months. In arm A and B, 39 and 41% of patients achieved HI-E; median time-to-HI-E: 3.2 months for both arms, median duration of-HI-E: 9.8 months. HI-E was significantly lower in non-del(5q) vs. del(5q): 32% vs. 80%. The same accounted for transfusion independency-at-week 24 (16% vs. 67%), but similar in both arms. Apart from presence of del(5q), high percentages of bone marrow lymphocytes and progenitor B-cells, a low number of mutations, absence of ring sideroblasts, and SF3B1 mutations predicted HI-E. In conclusion, lenalidomide induced HI-E in patients with non-del(5q) and del(5q) MDS without additional effect of ESA/G-CSF. The identified predictors of response may guide application of lenalidomide in lower-risk MDS in the era of precision medicine. (EudraCT 2008-002195-10).

Fósforo na alimentação de pacus criados em tanques-rede / Phosphorus in the feeding of pacus reared in net-cages

Avaliaram-se o desempenho zootécnico, as características da carcaça, as características hematológicas e bioquímicas, a composição química e também a qualidade da água na criação de pacus Piaractus mesopotamicus em tanques-rede em reservatório e alimentados com dietas que continham diferentes quantidades de fósforo total. Foram utilizados 3.000 peixes, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições em 20 tanques-rede, sendo a unidade experimental composta por um tanque com 150 peixes. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por cinco dietas, elaboradas de modo a conterem quantidades de fósforo total de 6,0; 7,5; 9,0; 10,5 e 12,0g/kg por meio da suplementação de fosfato bicálcico. A quantidade de 6,0 a 12,0g/kg de fósforo total na ração pode ser utilizada na alimentação de pacus criados em tanques-rede, sem que haja comprometimento do desempenho dos animais, e pode-se recomendar, comercialmente, 6,0g/kg de fósforo total em dietas para pacus...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the zootechnical performance, carcass characteristics, hematologic and biochemical characteristics, chemical composition and water quality in the rearing of pacus Piaractus mesopotamicus in cages in the reservoir fed with diets containing different total phosphorus quantities. A total of 3,000 fish allotted to a completely randomized design were used with five treatments and four replications in 20 cages, and the experimental unit consisted of a tank with 150 fish. The treatments were formed by five diets made to contain total phosphurus quantities of 6.0; 7.5; 9.0; 10.5 and 12.0g/kg through supplementation of dicalcium phosphate. The quantities of 6.0 to 12.0g/kg of total phosphurus can be used in the feeding of pacus reared in cages without compromising the animals' performance and the use of 6.0 g/kg total phosphorus in diets for pacus can be commercially recommended...

Antecedente de hipotiroidismo en pacientes consultantes por lipodistrofia (celulitis) / Hypothyroidism in women who consulted for lipodystrophy (cellulite)

La celulitis es una entidad que afecta a la mayoría de las mujeres. Existen varias teorías sobre su fisiopatología. Sabemos que la hormona tiroidea tiene un efecto a nivel cutáneo, y en nuestro país se ha reportado una mayor prevalencia de hipotiroidismo que en otros países. Objetivo: Comparar la prevalencia de hipotiroidismo en mujeres que consultaron para tratamiento de celulitis y/o flaccidez abdominal en un centro dermatológico de Santiago con la reportada en la literatura. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo con 122 pacientes evaluadas entre noviembre 2009 y enero 2012. Se excluyeron 25 por no contar con anamnesis completa. Los datos fueron obtenidos de la entrevista inicial, y de la ficha clínica cuando ésta estaba incompleta. Resultados: Se obtuvo una prevalencia de 19 por ciento, valor significativamente mayor (p<0,001)a la reportada en la literatura (6,8 por ciento en Chile y entre 5 por ciento y 10 por ciento en otros países).

Cellulite is an entity that affects most women. There are many theories about its physiopathology. It is known that the thyroid hormone has an effect on the skin, and there are reports of a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism in our country than elsewhere. Objective: Compare the prevalence of hypothyroidism in women who consulted for cellulite and/or abdominal flabbiness in a dermatologic clinic in Santiago, with the data reported in the literature. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective study with 122 patients who consulted between November 2009 and January 2012, of whom 25 were excluded because of incomplete data. Information was obtained from the initial interview, and, if missing some data, from the clinical records. Results: We found a prevalence of 19 percent, which is significantly higher (p<0,001) than the value reported in the literature (6,8 percent in Chile, and between 5 percent and 10 percent elsewhere).

Ciprofloxacina em exacerbaçöes agudas de bronquite crônica / Ciprofloxacin in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis

Trinta e quatro pacientes com exacerbaçöes agudas purulentas de bronquite crônica foram tratados com 500mg de ciprofloxacina duas vezes por dia, oralmente, por dez dias. O índice de resposta a curto prazo foi de 97% (cura 70,6%), melhora 26,4%) e falha de 3%; o índice de resposta a longo prazo (seis meses de acompanhamento) foi dfe 73,5%. Os patógenos que predominaram no início foram o Haemophilus influenzae e o Streptococcus pneumoniae, principalmente em cultura puras. Todas as culturas de escarro, com exceçäo daquelas com Str pneumoniae, tornaram-se negativas no terceiro dia de tratamento. Fora a observaçäo de um menor desaparecimento do pneumococo do escarro, näo houve diferenças nas respostas entre as infecçöes por pneumococos e por Haemphilus durante e após a terapia. Os níveis de picos séricos 2h após a administraçäo foram de 3,8 ñ 1,7mg/l, a meia vida foi de 3H; os níveis de pico no escarro após 4 h foram de 1,3 ñ 0,95mg/l. A penetraçäo soro-escarro, medida pela ASC, foi de 49,9%. Reaçöes adversas leves, do tipo gastrointestinal, foram observadas em cinco pacientes