[Serological course investigations of Haemophilus parasuis and Mycoplasma hyorhinis in three pig farms]. / Serologische Verlaufsuntersuchungen auf Haemophilus parasuis und Mycoplasma hyorhinis in drei schweine-haltenden Betrieben.

The aim of the study was to investigate the infection dynamic of Haemophilus (H.)parasuis and Mycoplasma (M.) hyorhinis in 3 farms. A total of 61 piglets were clinically investigated at 1., 3., 5., 7., 9., 11., 14., 18. and 22. weeks of life and a blood sample was taken from each piglet as well as from the sows. The serum samples were tested using ELISA for antibodies against H. parasuis and M. hyorhinis. Clinical signs indicating polyserositis were seen in farm 1 and 3. For both pathogens, a decline of the maternal antibodies could be detected up to the 5th or 7th week of life. The duration of persistence depended on the level of the maternal antibodies. In farm 1, all animals were tested positive for antibodies against H. parasuis during the fattening period. In farm 3, several sows were tested positive in the M. hyorhinis ELISA, therefore, positive results in sows can indicate a higher infection dynamic during the fattening period. For H. parasuis as well as for M. hyorhinis a significant correlation between the level of the antibodies in the sows and their piglets could be seen.

Magnetic hydrogel particles improve nanopore sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses.

Presented here is a magnetic hydrogel particle enabled workflow for capturing and concentrating SARS-CoV-2 from diagnostic remnant swab samples that significantly improves sequencing results using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION sequencing platform. Our approach utilizes a novel affinity-based magnetic hydrogel particle, circumventing low input sample volumes and allowing for both rapid manual and automated high throughput workflows that are compatible with Nanopore sequencing. This approach enhances standard RNA extraction protocols, providing up to 40 × improvements in viral mapped reads, and improves sequencing coverage by 20-80% from lower titer diagnostic remnant samples. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this approach works for contrived influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus samples, suggesting that it can be used to identify and improve sequencing results of multiple viruses in VTM samples. These methods can be performed manually or on a KingFisher automation platform.

Osteodensitometry measurements of periprosthetic bone using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry following total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The present study investigates the reaction of bone density as well as the possible factors influencing this reaction following a cement-free total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osteodensitometry scan data from 50 prospective patients with TKA was evaluated. The patients were split into two groups according to the number of follow-up investigations undertaken. No patient included in the study had received medication to increase bone density. To identify the changes in periprosthetic bone density, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone density measurements in defined regions of interest (ROI) were performed over a period of 24 months postoperative. The test parameters included gender, severity of arthrosis, as well as the metric parameters T-score, body mass index, cortical bone marrow index, and the varus alignment for the respective patient. RESULTS: The most significant changes in bone density were recorded within the first 3 months postoperative, in particular, the highest bone density loss was found in the region of the proximal medial tibia. Moreover, significant gender-specific associations regarding changes in bone density were established. CONCLUSION: Finally, results achieved in the present study demonstrate that the fundamental classification in defined ROI proved to be functional and effective.

Pneumatic compression with foot pumps facilitates early postoperative mobilisation in total knee arthroplasty.

Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) represent life-threatening postoperative complications frequently responsible for in-hospital mortality following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Mechanical prophylaxis in the form of a foot pump offers an alternative to pharmacological and physical therapy. The aim of this prospective and randomised study was to examine the clinical efficacy of the A-V Impulse (AVI) system in reduction of soft-tissue swelling of the lower limb following a TKA. A total of 80 patients undergoing cemented TKA between September 2005 and December 2006 were randomised into two groups of 40 patients (n¹ = 40, n² = 40) during the 16-month study period. All patients received a subcutaneous dose of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (Enoxaparin/Clexane® 40 mg) once daily beginning 24 hours prior to the operation. The mean age for the groups n¹ and n² were 68.93 and 68.15 years, respectively. The reduction of soft-tissue swelling in the n¹ group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared with n². Evaluation of body mass index (BMI) with regard to the average reduction of soft-tissue swelling showed no significant influence (p < 0.05). The better function of the operated knee in group AVI was a significant predictor for improved agility and mobility (p < 0.01). No complications were reported for the application of the AVI. No ultrasonographic evidence of DVT or PE was found in any of the 80 patients during the investigative time period of eight days. After three months, there was no evidence of a symptomatic DVT.

[Complex osteoligamentary injuries of the elbow. Treatment with a hinged external fixator]. / Komplexe osteoligamentäre Verletzungen des Ellenbogens. Therapie mit dem Bewegungsfixateur externe.

BACKGROUND: Hinged external fixation is a recognized method to treat instabilities after complex dislocations and fracture-dislocations of the elbow. The hinged external fixator allows stabilization of the elbow while preserving flexion and extension. METHODS: Eighteen patients with an average age of 47 years (range 35-67) were treated with a hinged external fixator between April 2001 and March 2006 for 6 weeks. In 11 patients an internal fixation had to be done; six were treated initially with an AO fixator. After 8 days (3-14), we changed to a hinged external fixator. RESULTS: At 39 months (12-71) of follow-up, all 18 elbows were stable. One stress-fracture of the ulna after pin removal occurred. The mean Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) was 78 points. Five (28%) patients had an excellent result, six (33%) a good result and seven (39%) a fair result. The average DASH score (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) was 18 points, which indicates a discrete impairment. CONCLUSION: The treatment outcome of complex instabilities treated with a hinged external fixator using our technique is comparable to outcomes from other studies.

The effect of everyday exercise on steady state digoxin concentrations.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 1 hour of everyday exercise (walking at patient's own pace) on serum digoxin concentrations. Nine white male subjects (ages 58-74) who had been taking the same digoxin dose for greater than 1 month participated. There were three continuous phases: 1 hour of rest, 1 hour of exercise, and a final hour of rest. Serum digoxin concentrations were drawn every 20 minutes. During the first rest period, serum digoxin concentrations rose 30% from the first concentration drawn in the study. After 1 hour of exercise, serum digoxin concentrations fell 26.8% from the last concentration of the first rest period. At the end of the second hour of rest, serum digoxin concentrations increased by 36.6% from the last concentration. Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated a significant (P less than .01) change in serum digoxin concentrations. Significant (P less than .01) differences were found between sampling times 0 and 60, 60 and 80, 60 and 100, 60 and 120 and 180 minutes using a paired t-test with Bonferroni correction. A weak correlation (r = 0.74, r2 = 0.55) between percent change in concentrations and age during the exercise phase was found, but there was no correlation between the percent change in concentrations and age during the two immobilization phases. Because significant changes in concentrations occurred during each phase of the study, we conclude that the influence of everyday exercise should be taken into account when interpreting serum digoxin concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Intravenous cholegraphy with Chologram (a double blind comparison with Bilivistan) (author's transl)]. / Intravenöse Cholegraphie mit Chologram, Doppelblindstudie gegen Bilivistan

A double blind comparison between Ioglycamid (Bilivistan) and the new I-V cholegraphic medium Iotroxamid (proposed trade name Chologram) is reported. Chologram produces better pictures and it is better tolerated. Pharmaco-kinetic data are published for the first time.

Electronic performance monitoring and social context: impact on productivity and stress.

In a laboratory study, the presence of individual- or work-group-level electronic performance monitoring (EPM) was manipulated as participants worked on a data-entry task alone, as a member of a noninteracting aggregate, or as a member of a cohesive group. The pattern of results suggested the operation of a social facilitation effect, as highly skilled monitored participants keyed more entries than highly skilled nonmonitored participants. The opposite pattern was detected among low-skilled participants. No signs of social loafing were detected among group-monitored participants. Nonmonitored workers and members of cohesive groups felt the least stressed. The implications of these findings for organizations adopting EPM systems are discussed.

The longitudinal distribution of cadmium, zinc, copper, iron, and metallothionein in the small-intestinal mucosa of rats after administration of cadmium chloride.

Different routes of Cd intake may influence the intestinal distribution of Cd, metallothionein (MT), and trace metals differently. Therefore, we compared the effects of parenteral and enteral administration of Cd on the distribution of trace metals and MT along the small intestine. In a first experiment three groups of rats were employed: a control, one receiving CdCl2 within the drinking water, and another receiving sc injections of CdCl2. In a second experiment, rats were fed three different diets with either 0, 0.3, or 1 mmol CdCl2/kg for one and two weeks to study the time- and dose-dependent effects of orally administered Cd. Metal concentrations (Cd, Zn, Cu, Fe) were measured by atomic emission spectrometry and MT was determined by radioimmunoassay. Intestinal MT levels did not show proximodistal gradients in controls or after sc administration of Cd, but orally administered Cd increased mucosal MT levels longitudinally from the duodenum to the ileum. Cd levels paralleled those of MT. Compared with the metal concentrations in the controls, sc administration of Cd did not change intestinal Zn, Cu, and Fe levels. Oral administration of Cd, however, increased Cu and decreased Fe levels in the intestinal mucosa significantly. The second experiment revealed that only high dietary concentrations of Cd increase intestinal Cd and MT levels longitudinally toward the distal parts, whereas at lower dietary concentration the longitudinal distribution was reversed. This shows that different routes and doses of Cd intake lead to a different trace metal and MT distribution and emphasizes the role of dietary Cd in the local induction of small-intestinal MT.

The condylar plate for treatment of distal femoral fractures: a long-term follow-up study.

The aim of this retrospective study was to present the long-term functional and radiological outcomes of indirect reduction techniques and fixation with a condylar plate for treatment of distal femoral supracondylar or intracondylar femoral fractures. The series included 24 men and 17 women, mean age 51 years, between March 1994 and April 1999. All fractures were AO type 33, and eight were open fractures. Primary iliac bone graft was used in five cases. In one case of severe osteoporosis, screw fixation was augmented with cement. There were three delayed unions, one non-union and two infections; four participants required reoperation with bone grafts. Two (5%) participants developed a second varus deformity and three a second valgus deformity; correction osteotomy with bone grafts was necessary in these cases. After a mean follow-up of 9.5 years, the mean Neer score was 82 points and indicated that function was excellent in 16, satisfactory in 9, unsatisfactory in 4 and poor in 2 cases. The mean Neer score in cases of isolated fracture was 89 points and in cases with additional injuries was 72 points. Thus the long-term results of indirect reduction techniques of distal femoral fractures treated with the condylar plate were good to excellent in 82% of cases.

[Open arthrolysis of posttraumatic elbow stiffness]. / Die offene Arthrolyse der posttraumatischen Ellenbogensteife.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of relevant posttraumatic functional deficits in the sense of elbow stiffness with less than 30 degrees in extension or flexion less than 120 degrees , is unknown. A differentiation can be made between intraarticular, extraarticular and combined causes. An open procedure is indicated in elbow stiffness after correct analysis of the situation and failure of conservative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An open procedure was carried out on 35 patients between March 1995 and November 2001, 10 (3-24) months after the trauma. The mean age of the 24 men and 11 women was 45 (range 17-75) years. Of the patients 15 had distal humerus fractures, 10 radius head or neck fractures and 12 proximal ulnar fractures. RESULTS: Of the patients 11 (31%) had an excellent result in the Cauchoix and Deburge score, 15 (42%) a good, 4 (11%) a fair, 4 (11%) a bad and 1 (3%) a very bad result after a mean follow-up of 21.5 (range 9-60) months. Of the patients 11 (31%) had an excellent result in the Mayo elbow performance score, 14 (40%) a good, 5 (14%) a fair and 5 (14%) a poor result. CONCLUSION: Open arthrolysis for severe posttraumatic elbow stiffness carried out 10 months (range 3-24 months) after the accident led to good results in most cases with a clear improvement in functional mobility.

A closer look at water-related geologic activity on Mars.

Water has supposedly marked the surface of Mars and produced characteristic landforms. To understand the history of water on Mars, we take a close look at key locations with the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, reaching fine spatial scales of 25 to 32 centimeters per pixel. Boulders ranging up to approximately 2 meters in diameter are ubiquitous in the middle to high latitudes, which include deposits previously interpreted as finegrained ocean sediments or dusty snow. Bright gully deposits identify six locations with very recent activity, but these lie on steep (20 degrees to 35 degrees) slopes where dry mass wasting could occur. Thus, we cannot confirm the reality of ancient oceans or water in active gullies but do see evidence of fluvial modification of geologically recent mid-latitude gullies and equatorial impact craters.

Pharmacotherapy quality improvement: use of a clinical rule-based application.

Heritage's drug usage evaluation (DUE) program focuses on analyzing the dynamics of prescribing, dispensing, and medication usage data for insurers, managed care organizations (MCO), and others involved in the management of pharmacotherapy in the ambulatory care setting. The addition of a new clinical rules-based system (Athena) has increased the flexibility, scope, and speed of Heritage quality improvement products. Its integration into benchmarking, profiling, and disease management programs is described.

Pharmacotherapy quality improvement in the managed care setting.

Physician partnering, value-added relationships, and integrated delivery systems with risk/incentive arrangements are emerging in managed care. These arrangements require time-sensitive program information that can be used in continuous quality improvement programs. Components of any clinical intervention program designed to improve the quality of pharmacotherapy are on a continuum, from those that are primarily individual patient focused to those that are disease or system/process focused. Components include case management, patient profile review, brand to generic drug conversion, targeted therapeutic evaluations, provider profiling, and pharmacoeconomic analysis. All health care professionals involved in pharmacotherapy need to be involved in implementation of these quality improvement programs.

Use of computerized databases for drug therapy quality management.

Although this paper has focused primarily on use of hospital-based databases for DUE purposes, the defunct Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act did have provisions for ongoing prospective screening for drug interactions and adverse reactions among community Medicare prescriptions. The key to the proposed system was a point-of-service system that would have linked all Medicare pharmacies to a centralized database. This database would have been used for claims processing as well as quality management purposes. Many DUE functions at this time involve labor-intensive retrospective reviews that do not directly benefit or protect the particular patient involved. The future direction of DUE activity is concurrent screening that actively protects the patient from inappropriate prescribing. Use of computerized databases to assist in that process is a necessity.