Short communication: Characterization of molasses chemical composition.

Beet and cane molasses are produced worldwide as a by-product of sugar extraction and are widely used in animal nutrition. Due to their composition, they are fed to ruminants as an energy source. However, molasses has not been properly characterized in the literature; its description has been limited to the type (sugarcane or beet) or to the amount of dry matter (DM), total or water-soluble sugars, crude protein, and ash. Our objective was to better characterize the composition of cane and beet molasses, examine possible differences, and obtain a proper definition of such feeds. For this purpose, 16 cane and 16 beet molasses samples were sourced worldwide and analyzed for chemical composition. The chemical analysis used in this trial characterized 97.4 and 98.3% of the compounds in the DM of cane and beet molasses, respectively. Cane molasses contained less DM compared with beet molasses (76.8 ± 1.02 vs. 78.3 ± 1.61%) as well as crude protein content (6.7 ± 1.8 vs. 13.5 ± 1.4% of DM), with a minimum value of 2.2% of DM in cane molasses and a maximum of 15.6% of DM in beet molasses. The amount of sucrose differed between beet and cane molasses (60.9 ± 4.4 vs. 48.8 ± 6.4% of DM), but variability was high even within cane molasses (39.2-67.3% of DM) and beet molasses. Glucose and fructose were detected in cane molasses (5.3 ± 2.7 and 8.1 ± 2.8% of DM, respectively), showing high variability. Organic acid composition differed as well. Lactic acid was more concentrated in cane molasses than in beet molasses (6.1 ± 2.8 vs. 4.5 ± 1.8% of DM), varying from 1.6 to 12.8% of DM in cane molasses. Dietary cation-anion difference showed numerical differences among cane and beet molasses (7 ± 53 vs. 66 ± 45 mEq/100 g of DM, on average). It varied from -76 to +155 mEq/100 g of DM in the cane group and from +0 to +162 mEq/100 g of DM in the beet group. Data obtained in this study detailed differences in composition between sources of molasses and suggested that a more complete characterization could improve the use of molasses in ration formulation.

Impact of Molasses on Ruminal Volatile Fatty Acid Production and Microbiota Composition In Vitro.

The aim of this study was to assess if molasses could modify VFA production and the rumen microbial community in vitro. Three beet (treatment Beet) and three cane (treatment Cane) molasses preparations were randomly selected from a variety of samples collected worldwide and incubated in vitro with rumen fluid along with a control sample (treatment CTR, in which no molasses was used). Flasks for VFA analysis were sampled at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 24 h of each incubation. For microbiota analysis, samples from each fermentation flask after 12 and 24 h were subjected to microbial DNA extraction and V3-V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing on an Illumina MiSeq platform. Total net VFA production was higher in the beet and cane preparations than in the control (CTR) group at 24 h (33 mmol/L, 34 mmol/L, and 24.8 mmol/L, respectively), and the composition of VFAs was affected by the inclusion of molasses: acetic acid increased in the CTR group (73.5 mol%), while propionic acid increased in the beet and cane molasses (19.6 mol% and 18.6 mol%, respectively), and butyric acid increased, especially in the cane group (23.2 mol%). Molasses even influenced the composition of the rumen microbiota, and particularly the relative abundance of the most dominant family in the rumen, Prevotellaceae, which decreased compared to CTR (37.13%, 28.88%, and 49.6%, respectively). In contrast, Streptococcaceae (19.62% and 28.10% in molasses compared to 6.23% in CTR), Veillonellaceae (6.48% and 8.67% in molasses compared to 4.54% in CTR), and Fibrobacteraceae (0.90% and 0.88% in molasses compared to 0.62% in CTR) increased in the beet and cane groups compared to the CTR group. Another important finding is the lower proportion of Methanobacteriaceae following the addition of molasses compared to CTR (0.26%, 0.28%, and 0.43%, respectively). This study showed the impact of molasses in influencing VFA production and composition as a result of a modified rumen microbial composition.

A bioavailable strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isoscape for Aotearoa New Zealand: Implications for food forensics and biosecurity.

As people, animals and materials are transported across increasingly large distances in a globalized world, threats to our biosecurity and food security are rising. Aotearoa New Zealand is an island nation with many endemic species, a strong local agricultural industry, and a need to protect these from pest threats, as well as the economy from fraudulent commodities. Mitigation of such threats is much more effective if their origins and pathways for entry are understood. We propose that this may be addressed in Aotearoa using strontium isotope analysis of both pests and products. Bioavailable radiogenic isotopes of strontium are ubiquitous markers of provenance that are increasingly used to trace the origin of animals and plants as well as products, but currently a baseline map across Aotearoa is lacking, preventing use of this technique. Here, we have improved an existing methodology to develop a regional bioavailable strontium isoscape using the best available geospatial datasets for Aotearoa. The isoscape explains 53% of the variation (R2 = 0.53 and RMSE = 0.00098) across the region, for which the primary drivers are the underlying geology, soil pH, and aerosol deposition (dust and sea salt). We tested the potential of this model to determine the origin of cow milk produced across Aotearoa. Predictions for cow milk (n = 33) highlighted all potential origin locations that share similar 87Sr/86Sr values, with the closest predictions averaging 7.05 km away from their true place of origin. These results demonstrate that this bioavailable strontium isoscape is effective for tracing locally produced agricultural products in Aotearoa. Accordingly, it could be used to certify the origin of Aotearoa's products, while also helping to determine if new pest detections were of locally breeding populations or not, or to raise awareness of imported illegal agricultural products.

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration (a nonentity?).

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration has generally been considered a congenital malformation in which an accessory lung bud develops, is enveloped by normal lung, and retains its systemic arterial supply. Also usually included in the "sequestration spectrum" are aberrant arteries to normal lung with either normal or anomalous venous connection. We reviewed all surgical pathology specimens and autopsies performed at Texas Children's Hospital from 1955 through 1984. There were 15 cases with an aberrant systemic artery to normal or abnormal lung. Nine were cases of structurally normal lung with an aberrant systemic artery, and five were cystic adenomatoid malformations with a systemic artery. In one older child some features of intralobar sequestration were present, but a major bronchial connection was retained. We propose that most intralobar sequestrations represent either cystic adenomatoid malformations that clinically are unrecognized until they become secondarily infected or developmentally normal lung supplied by a systemic artery.

The role of 3D CT in the assessment of acetabular fractures.

A total of 16 patients with acetabular fractures were evaluated by plain radiography, axial computed tomography (CT) and three dimensional (3D) CT. It was possible to classify the fracture type in each case from the plain radiographs alone. Axial CT gave additional detail in certain areas, notably the region of the teardrop, the obturator foramen and the acetabular roof. Intra-articular and impacted roof fragments and associated soft tissue injuries were also shown. 3D CT provided the best and most easily interpreted overall assessment of the fractures. In addition to projections equivalent to the plain radiographs, two other views were of particular clinical value in demonstrating surgically inaccessible areas, namely the view of the pelvis from above and the view of the inner aspect of the fractured hemipelvis. However, fracture lines demonstrated on plain radiographs and axial CT were not always apparent on the 3D CT scans. Although 3D CT is a valuable addition to the imaging of acetabular fractures, it is not a substitute for good quality plain radiography and analysis of the axial CT images.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the male breast in a cancer center.

All fine-needle aspirates (FNA) performed on the male breast at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1985 to 1992 were reviewed, totaling 64. The patients' ages ranged from 19 to 86 years, with a mean of 56 years. Thirty-three patients had a history of an extramammary malignancy. The diagnoses established by FNA were gynecomastia (45), mammary carcinomas (6), neoplasms metastatic to the breast (5), suspicious for carcinoma (1), intra-mammary lymph node (1), and lipoma (1). In five cases the aspirates were nondiagnostic. Two of these proved to be gynecomastia on subsequent histologic examination. Of the six FNA cases initially thought to represent primary breast carcinomas, two were found to be secondary because of involvement of the underlying chest wall by mesothelioma (1), and mucinous adenocarcinoma, unknown primary (1). No false-positive diagnosis was rendered. We conclude that fine-needle aspiration of the male breast is a reliable means of assessment; however, unique problems may be encountered compared with aspiration of the female breast. These include the epithelial hyperplasia frequently associated with gynecomastia, the relatively equal frequency of primary and metastatic breast lesions when a malignant process is discovered, and chest wall lesions masquerading as breast lesions.

Japanese Aedes albopictus among four mosquito species reaching New Zealand in used tires.

Since a 1988-89 survey of northern New Zealand revealed no additions to the known mosquito fauna, this country's used tire importations have much increased. Relevant entomological quarantine was thus monitored in a November 1992-January 1993 Auckland project, during which almost 1/3 of 8,549 casings from Japan proved wet on inspection. In this study and at 2 South Island ports afterwards, 5 vessels from Japan and one from Australia were found to have brought in mosquito-infested used tires. Live Aedes albopictus (all larval instars, pupae, and adults) and Aedes japonicus, and dead Tripteroides bambusa were discovered in shipments from Japan (3 interceptions each in the first 2 cases, and one in the 3rd). Live Tripteroides tasmaniensis were recorded from the Australian cargo. One of the Ae. albopictus arrivals was followed by an apprehended introduction at an Auckland importer's premises.

Leadership-scholarship integration: using the Neuman systems model for 21st-century professional nursing practice.

This article describes leadership and scholarship from the Neuman systems model as requisite for a true practice model necessary for 21st-century scientific professional nursing. A rationale for the integration of leadership and scholarship is provided along with markers to guide the leadership-scholarship protocol, which can be viewed as a scholarly research process. An example from a community nursing center demonstrating the application of the integration of leadership-scholarship is presented to support the proposed integration.

Comparison of Stamey and Pereyra-Raz bladder neck suspensions.

Endoscopic bladder neck suspension has become one of the more popular methods of surgical treatment of stress incontinence. The Pereyra technique was first described in 1959 and modified by Raz in 1981. Stamey first described his technique in 1973 and this has been modified in a number of ways. The reported cure rates are 54 to 94% for the Pereyra-Raz procedure and 61 to 92% for the Stamey procedure. We present a comparative review of the technical results of treatment of 30 patients with a modified Stamey procedure and 17 patients with a modified Pereyra-Raz technique. The age range of the 2 groups was comparable. A successful result, with either complete continence or only minor occasional leaks after surgery, was achieved in 80% with the Stamey techniques and 76% with the Pereyra technique. Those patients not helped by the procedure had nearly all undergone previous surgery for incontinence. The Pereyra technique was used more frequently in patients who had failed previous incontinence surgery (including the Stamey technique). Complications were minor; 5 buffer infections occurred (3 buffers were removed). Both techniques offer a significant improvement in continence, but previous surgery is associated with a higher failure rate.

Case report: simple liver cyst masquerading as a gastric leiomyoma--a diagnostic pitfall.

A 47-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain. A barium meal and CT scan suggested a gastric leiomyoma. Follow-up CT showed that a cyst of the left lobe of the liver was responsible for the appearances. The differential diagnosis is discussed.

Breast cancer detection by daughters of women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the frequency of breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination, and mammography of adult daughters of women with breast cancer. Additionally, the relationships among frequency of self-examination, clinical examination, perceived risk, fear of breast cancer, and frequency of talking with their mothers about breast cancer were assessed. METHODS: A retrospective, correlational descriptive design was used. Questionnaires were mailed to members of a breast cancer support group and to women diagnosed with breast cancer in one medical oncology practice. These women were asked to mail the questionnaires to their adult daughters. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between frequency of BSE and frequency of talking with mothers about breast cancer. Frequency of self-examination was related inversely to fear of breast cancer. Fear of breast cancer appears to act as a barrier to action whereas frequency of talking with their mothers about breast cancer seems to act as a cue to action in support of the Health Belief Model. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare providers should make every effort to optimize the practice of BSE in daughters of women with breast cancer. Only 52% reported performing BSE monthly, with the remaining 48% performing BSE less frequently or not at all. Thirty-one percent reported having no formal or printed instruction regarding BSE. Health professionals caring for women who have a family history of breast cancer should assess the educational needs of these women and provide opportunities for them to acquire and demonstrate skills. Periodic re-evaluation of BSE is needed to reinforce importance and demonstrate technique. The development of educational materials developed specifically for daughters of women with breast cancer may be useful in diminishing the perception of an unrealistically high risk of developing breast cancer. With the decrease in fear, which appears to be acting as a barrier to BSE in this group, better breast cancer detection practices in daughters may be realized. Counseling about realistic risk of developing breast cancer also may be useful in reducing the amount of fear of breast cancer in these women. This is an unnecessary burden for any woman to bear and may interfere with her optimal practice of breast cancer detection practices.

Primary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix with pseudomyxoma peritonei manifested as a splenic mass.

We have reported a case of pseudomyxoma peritonei manifested as a splenic mass in a 38-year-old woman. Upon reviewing previously reported cases of pseudomyxoma peritonei with visceral involvement or extension above the diaphragm, we conclude that such spread of the disease does not significantly alter the prognosis. Furthermore, our findings support the concept that pseudomyxoma peritonei represents the implantation of malignant cells rather than metaplastic transformation of mesothelial cells.

Assignment of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A and C class-specific anticapsular antibody concentrations to the new standard reference serum CDC1992.

A new standard meningococcal reference serum designated CDC1992 was prepared to replace meningococcal reference sera ECG and PB-2, which are not available in sufficient quantities for continued use as primary reference sera. CDC1992 was prepared from 14 healthy adult volunteers who underwent plasmapheresis 4 to 12 weeks postvaccination with a single dose of a Neisseria meningitidis quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine. Total and/or class-specific meningococcal serogroup A and C anticapsular antibody concentrations (in micrograms per milliliter) were assigned to CDC1992 by using homologous and heterologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) formats. The reference serum ECG was used as a reference standard to assign total anticapsular antibody concentrations to CDC1992 by a homologous ELISA format. A heterologous ELISA format, with the Haemophilus influenzae type b standard reference serum FDA 1983, was used to assign total and class-specific antibody concentrations to CDC1992. Alkaline phosphatase-labeled mouse anti-human monoclonal antibody conjugates were used as secondary antibodies in both ELISA formats. The total, immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM antibody concentrations, assigned to CDC1992 for serogroup A were 135.8, 91.8, 20.1, and 23.9 micrograms/ml, respectively, and those for serogroup C were 32.0, 24.1, 5.9, and 2.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. Meningococcal serogroup A and C antibody concentrations were in good agreement when homologous and heterologous ELISA format results were compared. Total and class-specific serogroup A and C antibody concentrations were determined in six adult quality control serum samples from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by using the homologous ELISA and our assigned antibody concentrations for CDC1992. Antibody concentrations in reference sera ECG and PB-2 were measured in order to provide a historical link to previous studies. The general acceptance of CDC1992 as the standard reference serum and the assigned antibody concentrations will allow investigators to compare antibody levels in serum to those in a single reference preparation.

Determination of parallelism and nonparallelism in bioassay dilution curves.

There is a lack of consensus among investigators who use a variety of immunoassay techniques (e.g., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and radioimmunoassay) regarding the protocols for describing and forming standard reference or calibration curves and interpolating serum antibody concentrations. This confounds the issue of detecting the presence or absence of parallelism between standard reference serum and serially diluted serum sample curves. These curves must be parallel to support the assumption that the antibody-binding characteristics are similar enough to allow the determination of antibody levels in the diluted serum sample. There is no universal and widely adopted strategy for assessing parallelism in bioassays, and without an assurance of parallelism, investigators are not able to calculate reliable estimates for antibody concentrations in serum samples. Furthermore, single-point (dilution) serum assays do not provide information related to parallelism and nonparallelism, and this, too, may lead to considerable error when calculating antibody concentrations. When assay methodology, technique, and precision improve to the extent that standard reference serum and serially diluted serum sample curves are fit with little error, standard analysis of variance techniques are overly sensitive to negligible departures from parallelism. We present a series of guidelines that compose a protocol for assessing parallelism between bioassay dilution curves that are applicable to data derived from ELISAs. These criteria should be applicable, with minor modifications, to most immunoassay experimental situations and, most importantly, are not dependent on the mathematical model used to form the standard reference curve. These guidelines have evolved in our laboratories over the past 4 years during the performance of thousands of ELISAs for antibodies to the capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis groups A and C and Haemophilus influenzae type b.

An outbreak of multidrug-resistant pneumococcal pneumonia and bacteremia among unvaccinated nursing home residents.

BACKGROUND: Outbreaks of pneumococcal disease are uncommon and have occurred mainly in institutional settings. Epidemic, invasive, drug-resistant pneumococcal disease has not been seen among adults in the United States. In February 1996, there was an outbreak of multidrug-resistant pneumococcal pneumonia among the residents of a nursing home in rural Oklahoma. METHODS: We obtained nasopharyngeal swabs for culture from residents and employees. Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were serotyped and compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify factors associated with colonization and disease. RESULTS: Pneumonia developed in 11 of 84 residents (13 percent), 3 of whom died. Multidrug-resistant S. pneumoniae, serotype 23F, was isolated from blood and sputum from 7 of the 11 residents with pneumonia (64 percent) and from nasopharygeal specimens from 17 of the 74 residents tested (23 percent) and 2 of the 69 employees tested (3 percent). All the serotype 23F isolates were identical according to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Recent use of antibiotics was associated with both colonization (relative risk, 2.3; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 4.2) and disease (relative risk, 3.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 10.8). Only three residents (4 percent) had undergone pneumococcal vaccination. After residents received pneumococcal vaccine and prophylactic antibiotics, there were no additional cases of pneumonia, and the rates of carriage decreased substantially. CONCLUSIONS: In this outbreak a single pneumococcal strain was disseminated among the residents and employees of a nursing home. The high prevalence of colonization with a virulent organism in an unvaccinated population contributed to the high attack rate. Clusters of pneumococcal disease may be underrecognized in nursing homes, and wider use of pneumococcal vaccine is important to prevent institutional outbreaks of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae infection.

Safety and immunogenicity of meningococcal A and C polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in adults.

A meningococcal vaccine containing group A and C polysaccharides conjugated to CRM197 was evaluated in 50 adults. Vaccinees were entered into one of five groups: 30 adults received a single dose of either 22, 11, or 5.5 micrograms of the conjugated A-C vaccine; 10 received an approved meningococcal vaccine; and 10 received saline injections. Local and systemic reactions to vaccines were recorded, and immune responses were determined. The experimental meningococcal vaccine was well tolerated, with the most frequent reaction being pain at the injection site. Both A and C polysaccharide components of the experimental vaccine were highly immunogenic, and total antibody concentrations 1 month postvaccination were not significantly different from the mean antibody concentrations among adults given the approved meningococcal vaccine. In addition, significant rises in immunoglobulin G, A, and M antibodies to both A and C polysaccharides occurred. Antibody concentrations measured at 6 and 12 months postvaccination had declined but remained significantly higher than prevaccination concentrations. Postvaccination meningococcal group C functional antibody activity increased more than 600-fold for both the polysaccharide and the conjugate vaccines. Further studies of this conjugated meningococcal vaccine are indicated for young children and infants.