The relationship between mesorectal grading and oncological outcome in rectal adenocarcinoma.

AIM: The prognostic association between mesorectal grading and oncological outcome in patients undergoing resection for rectal adenocarcinoma is controversial. The aim of this retrospective chart review was to determine the individual impact of mesorectal grading on rectal cancer outcomes. METHOD: We compared oncological outcomes in patients with complete, near-complete and incomplete mesorectum who underwent rectal excision with curative intent from 2009 to 2014 for Stage cI-III rectal adenocarcinoma. We also assessed the independent association of mesorectal grading and oncological outcome using multivariate models including other relevant variables. RESULTS: Out of 505 patients (339 men, median age of 60 years), 347 (69%) underwent a restorative procedure. There were 452 (89.5%), 33 (6.5%) and 20 (4%) patients with a complete, near-complete and incomplete mesorectum, respectively. Local recurrence was seen in 2.4% (n = 12) patients after a mean follow-up of 3.1 ± 1.7 years. Unadjusted 3-year Kaplan-Meier analysis by mesorectal grade showed decreased rates of overall, disease-free and cancer-specific survival and increased rates of overall and distant recurrence with a near-complete mesorectum, while local recurrence was increased in cases of an incomplete mesorectum (all P < 0.05). On multivariate analyses, a near-complete mesorectum was independently associated with decreased cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio 0.26, 95% CI 0.1-0.7; P = 0.007). There were no associations between mesorectal grading and overall survival, disease-free survival, overall recurrence or distant recurrence (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Mesorectal grading is independently associated with oncological outcome. It provides unique information for optimizing surgical quality in rectal cancer.

Supplement feed efficiency of growing beef cattle grazing native Campos grasslands during winter: a collated analysis.

Supplementing growing cattle grazing native subtropical Campos grasslands during winter improves the low, even negative, average daily weight gain (ADG) typical of extensive animal production systems in Uruguay. Nonetheless, to render the practice profitable, it is crucial to control supplement feed efficiency (SFE), that is, the difference in ADG between supplemented and control animals (ADGchng) per unit of supplement dry matter (DM) intake. Little has been studied specifically on how SFE varies in these systems. The objective of this study was to quantify the magnitude and variation in SFE of growing beef cattle grazing stockpiled native Campos grasslands during winter and assess putative associations with herbage, animals, supplements, and climatic variables. We compiled data from supplementation trials carried out in Uruguay between 1993 and 2018, each evaluating between one and six supplementation treatments. The average ADG of unsupplemented and supplemented animals were 0.13 ±â€…0.174 and 0.49 ±â€…0.220 kg/animal/day, respectively. In both cases, ADG decreased linearly as the proportion of green herbage in the grazed grassland was lower, but the ADG of unsupplemented animals was further reduced when winter frosts were numerous. Estimated SFE were moderately high, with an average of 0.21 ±â€…0.076 ADGchng/kg DM, resulting from average ADGchng of 0.38 ±â€…0.180 kg/animal/day in response to an average supplementation rate of 1.84 ±â€…0.68 kg supplement DM intake/animal/day (0.86%  ±â€…0.27% body weight). No association was found between SFE and supplementation rate or type (protein vs. energy-based; P > 0.05), but forage allowance negatively affected it, and herbage mass positively affected it, yet in a smaller magnitude, suggesting that a balance is needed between the two to maximize SFE. Weather conditions during trials affected SFE (P < 0.05), with greater SFE in winters with lower temperatures and more frosts. Daytime grazing time was consistently lower in supplemented animals compared to their unsupplemented counterparts, whereas ruminating time during the day was similar, increasing as the proportion of green herbage decreased. Herbage intake estimated from energy balance suggested the existence of some substitution effect. This agrees with the moderately high SFE and with the total digestible nutrients-to-protein ratio of these subtropical humid grasslands being higher than in semi-arid rangelands and dry-season tropical pastures but lower than in sown pastures.

Associations among methane emission traits measured in the feedlot and in respiration chambers in Angus cattle bred to vary in feed efficiency.

The objective of the study was to evaluate associations among animal performance and methane emission traits under feedlot conditions and in respiration chambers in Angus cattle bred to vary in residual feed intake (RFI), which is a measure of feed efficiency. Fifty-nine cattle were tested for feedlot RFI, of which 41 had methane production recorded on an ad libitum grain-based ration in the feedlot, 59 on a restricted grain-based ration in respiration chambers, and 57 on a restricted roughage ration in respiration chambers. The cattle became older and heavier as they went through the different phases of the experiment, but their feed intake (expressed as DMI) and daily emission of enteric methane (methane production rate; MPR) did not increase proportionally, as feed offered was restricted in the respiration chamber tests. Methane emissions by individual animals relative to their DMI were calculated as methane yield (MY; MPR/DMI) and as 2 measures of residual methane production (RMP and RMP), which were calculated as the difference between measured MPR and that predicted from feed intake by 2 different equations. Within each test regime, MPR was positively correlated ( = 0.28 to 0.61) with DMI. Phenotypic correlations for MY, RMP, and RMP between the feedlot test and the restricted grain test ( = 0.40 to 0.43) and between the restricted grain test and the restricted roughage test were moderate ( = 0.36 to 0.41) and moderate to strong between the feedlot test and the restricted roughage test ( = 0.54 to 0.58). These results indicate that the rankings of animals for methane production relative to feed consumed are relatively stable over the 3 test phases. Feedlot feed conversion ratio and RFI were not correlated with MPR in the feedlot test and grain-based chamber test but were negatively correlated with MPR in the chamber roughage test ( = -0.31 and -0.37). Both were negatively correlated with MY and RMP in the feedlot test ( = -0.42 to -0.54) and subsequent chamber roughage test ( = -0.27 to -0.49). Midparent estimated breeding values for RFI tended to be negatively correlated with MY and RMP in the feedlot test ( = -0.27 and -0.27) and were negatively correlated with MY, RMP, and RMP in the chamber roughage test ( = -0.33 to -0.36). These results showed that in young growing cattle, lower RFI was associated with higher MY, RMP, and RMP but had no significant association with MPR.

Use of short-term breath measures to estimate daily methane production by cattle.

Methods to measure enteric methane (CH4) emissions from individual ruminants in their production environment are required to validate emission inventories and verify mitigation claims. Estimates of daily methane production (DMP) based on consolidated short-term emission measurements are developing, but method verification is required. Two cattle experiments were undertaken to test the hypothesis that DMP estimated by averaging multiple short-term breath measures of methane emission rate did not differ from DMP measured in respiration chambers (RC). Short-term emission rates were obtained from a GreenFeed Emissions Monitoring (GEM) unit, which measured emission rate while cattle consumed a dispensed supplement. In experiment 1 (Expt. 1), four non-lactating cattle (LW=518 kg) were adapted for 18 days then measured for six consecutive periods. Each period consisted of 2 days of ad libitum intake and GEM emission measurement followed by 1 day in the RC. A prototype GEM unit releasing water as an attractant (GEM water) was also evaluated in Expt. 1. Experiment 2 (Expt. 2) was a larger study based on similar design with 10 cattle (LW=365 kg), adapted for 21 days and GEM measurement was extended to 3 days in each of the six periods. In Expt. 1, there was no difference in DMP estimated by the GEM unit relative to the RC (209.7 v. 215.1 g CH(4)/day) and no difference between these methods in methane yield (MY, 22.7 v. 23.7 g CH(4)/kg of dry matter intake, DMI). In Expt. 2, the correlation between GEM and RC measures of DMP and MY were assessed using 95% confidence intervals, with no difference in DMP or MY between methods and high correlations between GEM and RC measures for DMP (r=0.85; 215 v. 198 g CH(4)/day SEM=3.0) and for MY (r=0.60; 23.8 v. 22.1 g CH(4)/kg DMI SEM=0.42). When data from both experiments was combined neither DMP nor MY differed between GEM- and RC-based measures (P>0.05). GEM water-based estimates of DMP and MY were lower than RC and GEM (P<0.05). Cattle accessed the GEM water unit with similar frequency to the GEM unit (2.8 v. 3.5 times/day, respectively) but eructation frequency was reduced from 1.31 times/min (GEM) to once every 2.6 min (GEM water). These studies confirm the hypothesis that DMP estimated by averaging multiple short-term breath measures of methane emission rate using GEM does not differ from measures of DMP obtained from RCs. Further, combining many short-term measures of methane production rate during supplement consumption provides an estimate of DMP, which can be usefully applied in estimating MY.

Correlation of higher order aberrations in the anterior corneal surface and degree of keratoconus measured with a Scheimpflug camera. / Correlación de aberraciones de alto orden en la cara anterior de la córnea y el grado de queratocono medidas con cámara de Scheimpflug.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of higher order aberrations in anterior corneal surface and degree of keratoconus measured with a Scheimpflug camera. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 152 eyes (both eyes of each patient) of patients with keratoconus, from January 2009 to April 2014. An examination was performed on the corneal aberrometry in the anterior corneal surface, and topographic mapping (by Amsler and Muckenhirn classification) was used to determine the degree of keratoconus. The correlation between high-order aberrations in anterior corneal surface and the degree of keratoconus was determined. RESULTS: Coma aberration significantly correlated with keratoconus severity (r=.60, P<.01), as well as with the high order aberration (r=.61, P<.01). Trefoil and keratoconus were weakly correlated (r=.34, P<.01). CONCLUSION: Higher order aberrations in anterior corneal surface were positively correlated with the degree of keratoconus in a similar way to the entire optical system.

Estimating daily methane production in individual cattle with irregular feed intake patterns from short-term methane emission measurements.

Spot measurements of methane emission rate (n = 18 700) by 24 Angus steers fed mixed rations from GrowSafe feeders were made over 3- to 6-min periods by a GreenFeed emission monitoring (GEM) unit. The data were analysed to estimate daily methane production (DMP; g/day) and derived methane yield (MY; g/kg dry matter intake (DMI)). A one-compartment dose model of spot emission rate v. time since the preceding meal was compared with the models of Wood (1967) and Dijkstra et al. (1997) and the average of spot measures. Fitted values for DMP were calculated from the area under the curves. Two methods of relating methane and feed intakes were then studied: the classical calculation of MY as DMP/DMI (kg/day); and a novel method of estimating DMP from time and size of preceding meals using either the data for only the two meals preceding a spot measurement, or all meals for 3 days prior. Two approaches were also used to estimate DMP from spot measurements: fitting of splines on a 'per-animal per-day' basis and an alternate approach of modelling DMP after each feed event by least squares (using Solver), summing (for each animal) the contributions from each feed event by best-fitting a one-compartment model. Time since the preceding meal was of limited value in estimating DMP. Even when the meal sizes and time intervals between a spot measurement and all feeding events in the previous 72 h were assessed, only 16.9% of the variance in spot emission rate measured by GEM was explained by this feeding information. While using the preceding meal alone gave a biased (underestimate) of DMP, allowing for a longer feed history removed this bias. A power analysis taking into account the sources of variation in DMP indicated that to obtain an estimate of DMP with a 95% confidence interval within 5% of the observed 64 days mean of spot measures would require 40 animals measured over 45 days (two spot measurements per day) or 30 animals measured over 55 days. These numbers suggest that spot measurements could be made in association with feed efficiency tests made over 70 days. Spot measurements of enteric emissions can be used to define DMP but the number of animals and samples are larger than are needed when day-long measures are made.

L-5178-Y lymphoma associated immunosuppression in Balb/c mice.

Lymphoma L-5178-Y bearing Balb/c mice were unable to mount a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). A suppressor factor present in the ascitis of these mice inhibited the response if given during DNFB sensitization, but not during challenge. The factor was not present in lymphoma-bearing Balb/c nu/nu mice. It appeared to be a 35-66 kDa protein. Non-specific esterase staining indicated that the spleens of tumor-bearing and ascitis-injected mice contained a large excess of macrophages. Our observation that the suppressor factor prevented the very start of the immune response may indicate why immunostimulation is difficult to obtain in cancer bearing hosts.

Prerigor injection using glycolytic inhibitors in low-quality beef muscles.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of prerigor injection of several glycolytic inhibitors on pH, color, tenderness, and related traits of low-value beef cuts. The semimembranosus, triceps brachii, and supraspinatus muscles from each of 10 steer carcasses were removed 1 h postmortem. Control samples remained in the carcass at 2 degrees C for 24 h. Prerigor muscles were injected and tumbled with 10% (by weight) of one of four solutions: sodium citrate (NaC; 200 mM), sodium fluoride (NaF; 200 mM), sodium acetate (NaA; 200 mM), and calcium chloride (CaCl2; 300 mM). All muscles treated with NaC and NaF showed the highest pH and glycogen content (P < 0.05), indicating that glycolysis was inhibited. Injection of NaC in semimembranosus and supraspinatus produced the tenderest meat (P < 0.05), showing a greater increase in tenderization at 3 d than at 7 d postmortem. Treatment did not affect color or oxidation-reduction potential, but all treated muscles tended to be more oxidative (higher oxidation-reduction potential). Sodium citrate was identified as a potential compound to enhance tenderness of prerigor muscle without altering color. Further studies are required to investigate its effect on palatability traits and to provide a basis for commercial application of the process.

Utilization of bioelectrical impedance to predict carcass composition of Holstein steers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age.

The objective of this experiment was to study the usefulness of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in determining soft tissue composition (STC) and carcass fat-free mass (CFFM) of Holstein steers at different ages. Growth data and prediction of STC and CFFM were determined for four groups of Holstein steers: 12 of 3 mo, 12 of 6 mo, 15 of 9 mo, and 16 of 12 mo of age. Average weight for animals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo were 96.6, 204.7, 354.1, and 465.9 kg, respectively. Average fat content of carcass soft tissue at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo were 2.6, 9.8, 18.2, and 24.6%, respectively. Average protein content of the carcass soft tissue was 20.7% at 3 mo, 20% at 6 mo, 18.30% at 9 mo, and 16.9% at 12 mo of age. Feed and water were withheld for 20 h before the BIA was applied. Steers were sedated and forced to recumbency in a lateral position on their right sides over a nonconductive surface. Two electrodes were placed on each limb of the right side (metatarsal and metacarpal regions on back and front foot, respectively). Resistance (Rs) and reactance (Xc) were obtained by attaching four terminals to the electrodes. Impedance and other predictors such as Vol1 (L/Rs), Vol2 (L2/(RS2+Xc2).5, Vol3 (geometrical animal volume), L (2 x height + body length), and L2 were calculated from Rs and Xc, and body measurements and were used to generate prediction equations for CFFM and carcass soft tissue composition. Carcass fat-free mass was predicted accurately for all age groups and the pooled data (r2 = .99 at 3 mo, .99 at 6 mo, .97 at 9 mo, .77 at 12 mo, and .98 for the pooled data). Correlation coefficients between impedance readings and CFFM and carcass composition were calculated. Carcass CFFM and kilograms of H2O for the pooled data (across age groups) were both correlated highly to Vol1 (.97), Vol2 (.95), L (.97), and L2 (.97).

The use of urea dilution for estimation of carcass composition of Holstein steers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age.

Every 3 mo for a 2-yr period, two weaned Holstein steer calves (94.5 kg) were randomly assigned to each of four slaughter age groups (3, 6, 9, and 12 mo). Urea dilution was performed before slaughter, and urea space (US) was calculated as total volume and as a percentage of body weight (BW) and empty body weight (EBW). The relationships between US (kg, % EBW and % BW), BW, and EBW and carcass soft tissue composition (protein, fat, moisture, and ash) were studied. One- and two-pool models were fitted using the urea dilution data and the coefficients of those equations (zero time, A + B), and the intercepts of compartments A and B were used to estimate body volume. Body weight and EBW effectively predicted the amount of water, fat, and protein in the carcass soft tissue. Equations expressed in kilograms were more accurate than those expressed as percentages. Urea space overestimated body water, probably because of the fast rate of urea disappearance in plasma. Correlation coefficients between US and carcass soft tissue water (kg) based on the pooled data ranged from .74 at 6 min to .48 at 42 min after infusion. The biexponential models coefficients explained more of the variation of carcass soft tissue composition than US; correlation coefficients using volume B and the soft tissue composition (in kg) with pooled data were .78 (water), .68 (fat), .69 (ash), and .76 (protein). The relationships between A and soft tissue composition were weaker (water .59, fat .51, ash .58 and protein .59). The highest correlation coefficients were obtained when A + B was used for water, fat, ash, and protein (.83, .70, .74 and .81, respectively). Equations combining BW, EBW, and two-model coefficients (A, B, A + B) explained much of the variation of soft tissue composition. No significant benefit was found in using the urea space at various times after infusion over BW or EBW alone to estimate carcass soft tissue composition in Holstein steers.

Correlación de aberraciones de alto orden en la cara anterior de la córnea y el grado de queratocono medidas con cámara de Scheimpflug / Correlation of higher order aberrations in the anterior corneal surface and degree of keratoconus measured with a Scheimpflug camera

OBJETIVO: Determinar la correlación de las aberraciones de alto orden en la cara anterior de la córnea y el grado de queratocono medidas con cámara de Scheimpflug. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal en 152 ojos de pacientes (ambos ojos de cada paciente) con queratocono, desde enero del 2009 hasta abril del 2014. Se analizaron las aberraciones en la cara anterior de la córnea y se utilizó el mapa topográfico (clasificación de Amsler y Muckenhirn) para determinar el grado de queratocono y encontrar la correlación que existe entre las aberraciones de alto orden en la cara anterior de la córnea y el grado de queratocono. Esultados: La aberración coma se correlacionó significativamente con la severidad del queratocono (r = 0,60; p <0,01); de la misma forma que la aberraciones de alto orden (r = 0,61; p <0,01). Trefoil y el grado de queratocono se correlacionaron en menor medida (r = 0,34; p <0,01). CONCLUSIONES: Las aberraciones de alto orden en la cara anterior de la córnea se correlacionan de forma positiva con el grado de queratocono, por lo que deberían ser consideradas en el abordaje diagnóstico de dicho padecimiento

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of higher order aberrations in anterior corneal surface and degree of keratoconus measured with a Scheimpflug camera. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 152 eyes (both eyes of each patient) of patients with keratoconus, from January 2009 to April 2014. An examination was performed on the corneal aberrometry in the anterior corneal surface, and topographic mapping (by Amsler and Muckenhirn classification) was used to determine the degree of keratoconus. The correlation between high-order aberrations in anterior corneal surface and the degree of keratoconus was determined. RESULTS: Coma aberration significantly correlated with keratoconus severity (r = .60, P < .01), as well as with the high order aberration (r = .61, P < .01). Trefoil and keratoconus were weakly correlated (r = .34, P < .01). CONCLUSION: Higher order aberrations in anterior corneal surface were positively correlated with the degree of keratoconus in a similar way to the entire optical system

Bioavailability of alpha-tocopherol fed with retinol and relative bioavailability of D-alpha-tocopherol or DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate.

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of the form of alpha-tocopherol or interactions of alpha-tocopherol with vitamin A on its bioavailability. In Experiment 1, Holstein steers were fed a diet that was low in vitamins A and E for 1 mo; then, steers were blocked by body weight (X = 97.5 kg) and assigned randomly to one of four oral treatments: 1) no added vitamins, 2) 442 mg of retinyl acetate, 3) 1342 mg of D-alpha-tocopherol, or 4) 442 mg of retinyl acetate and 1342 mg of D-alpha-tocopherol. Each treatment was given as a pulse dose. Blood was sampled over a 36-h period. Concentrations of plasma retinyl palmitate peaked at 2 to 6 h postsupplementation for all calves and then peaked again at 22 to 28 h for calves receiving vitamin supplements. Concentrations of plasma alpha-tocopherol peaked earliest with D-alpha-tocopherol supplementation alone at 12 to 20 h after supplementation, but simultaneous supplementation with retinyl acetate resulted in lower plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations. Plasma retinyl palmitate decreased during peak alpha-tocopherol concentrations. In Experiment 2, blood and tissue were analyzed after a single gastric tube administration of a powder (DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) or a liquid (D-alpha-tocopherol) form of vitamin E to Holstein calves. Plasma and kidney concentrations of alpha-tocopherol were higher when calves were fed D-alpha-tocopherol than when calves were fed the DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate form. Concentrations in the liver, spleen, adipose tissue, heart, muscle, cellular blood fraction, and gut did not differ between the two forms.

Surveillance of influenza in Houston, Texas, USA: gradual transition from A/Victoria/75 (H3N2) to A/Texas/77 (H3N2) predominance and antigenic characterization of "intermediate" strains.

Influenza epidemics in Houston, Texas, USA, during the winters of 1975-76, 1976-77, and 1977-78 were attributed to A/Victoria/3/75 (H3N2), B/Hong Kong/5/72, and A/Texas/1/77 (H3N2)-like viruses, respectively. Both A/Victoria and A/Texas viruses were detected towards the end of the 1976-77 epidemic and throughout the 1977-78 epidemic. To determine if there had been a gradual transition in the predominant strain, 267 viral isolates from the 1975-76 epidemic were tested for A/Texas virus. Eight specimens (3%) that appeared to contain A/Texas antigens were cloned and retested with specific antisera prepared in guinea-pigs and ferrets. One virus was identical to A/Texas/1/77 virus, two reacted like A/Victoria/3/75 and five reacted equally well with antisera prepared against A/Victoria/3/75 and A/Texas/1/77 viruses (bridging strains). The six viral isolates containing A/Texas antigens were obtained at different times during the epidemic, from all parts of the city, from males and females aged between 1 and 20 years.Characterization of type A influenza virus isolates obtained during the 1976-77 and 1977-78 epidemics revealed a progressive increase in the frequency of viruses containing A/Texas antigens, from 2.2% in 1975-76 to 32% in 1976-77 to 70% in 1977-78. Thus, both type A (H3N2) variants were present in the Houston community in 3 successive years.An antigenic analysis of the bridging viruses was performed by competition radio-immunoprecipitation assays and by reactivity with a set of monoclonal antibodies prepared against A/Texas/1/77 virus. These assays confirmed the identity of the A/Texas isolate with the prototype virus and indicated that the bridging strains shared antigenic determinants with both A/Vic/75 and A/Tex/77 viruses, but were more closely related to A/Victoria/3/75 virus.It seems clear that new variants of a subtype of type A influenza may not immediately displace the existing variant and that seeding in a community and transition from predominance of one variant to another may be a gradual process.

Partial trisomy 12p. A newborn child with karyotype 46, XY, der(11), t(11; 12) (q25; pll) mat. Case report and review.

Presentamos un caso de trisomia parcial 12p originado de una translocacion familiar t(11; 12) (q25; 11p) heredada a traves de cuatro generaciones. Las preparaciones cromossomicas se obtuvieron de cultivos de linfocitos de sangre periferica segun los metodos standard y los cromosomas se identificaron con Bandas G. Hasta donde conocemos, este es el primer caso reportado que involucra una translocacion del cromosoma 12 con el cromosoma 11 y es ademas el primero en el cual se reporta una malformacion intestinal. Tratamos de explicar la ausencia de abortos en la historia reproductiva de los portadores de esta translocacion, quienes sin embargo refieren numerosos trastornos de la reproduccion (prematuros, mortinatos y muerte perinatal). Finalmente, insistimos en la importancia de diagnostico genetico prenatal en parejas como esta, donde uno de los progenitores es portador de una translocacion balanceada. Estas parejas tienen un riesgo teorico de 50% de tener un hijo con una aneuploidia parcial (monosomia o trisomia)