Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and green tea polyphenols do not improve stallion semen parameters during cooling at 4°C.

Stallion semen storage for artificial insemination is mainly based on liquid cooled storage. In many stallions this technique maintains sperm quality for an extended period of time (24-72 hr) at 7°C. While this technique is commonly used in the horse industry, there can be a decline in fertility in some stallions, due to an inability of their sperm to tolerate the cool storage process. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of two natural antioxidants (epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) at 20, 60 and 120 µm and green tea polyphenols, and p at .001, .01 and .1 mg/ml) on some sperm parameters (sperm motility, viability/acrosome integrity and DNA quality) in extended semen immediately after its collection (T0) and after 2, 6, 24 and 48 hr of cool storage. Two ejaculates from three trotter stallions were analysed after 48 hr of storage at 4°C. No beneficial effect on the analysed parameters was observed: the two antioxidants were not able to improve sperm quality after 48 hr of storage. These results are in agreement with previous findings on the effect of different antioxidants reported by other researches, who have demonstrated that stallion semen keeps good antioxidant capacity after dilution for 24 hr. In conclusion, the positive effect exerted by antioxidant molecules in other species is not confirmed in the equine one.

Partial Cold Treatment of Citrus Fruit for Export Risk Mitigation for Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) as Part of a Systems Approach.

Some of South Africa's citrus export markets require mandatory postharvest cold treatment of citrus fruit as a phytosanitary risk mitigation treatment for Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). An alternative to this may be partial cold treatment as one of the final steps in a systems approach to mitigate phytosanitary risk. Consequently, the efficacy of such partial cold treatments was evaluated. It was first determined that a 2°C cold treatment was significantly more effective against fourth and fifth instars (the most cold-tolerant instars) than treatments at 3°C and 4°C for a duration of 18 d. Secondly, it was determined that 2°C for 18 d and 1°C for 16 d were similarly effective, but both treatments were significantly more effective than 1°C for 14 d. Mean mortality of fourth and fifth instars treated with 2°C for 18 d in seven replicates from four trials was 99.94%. Finally, it was determined that the inability of the majority of surviving larvae to develop to adulthood would further increase the efficacy of a 2°C for 18 d treatment to 99.96%. Inclusion of reproductive nonviability of survivors increased mortality to 99.99%.

Nuclear medicine imaging of bone infections.

Osteomyelitis is a broad group of infectious diseases that involve the bone and/or bone marrow. It can arise haematogenously, via extension from a contiguous infection, or by direct inoculation during surgery or trauma. The diagnosis is not always obvious and imaging tests are frequently performed as part of the diagnostic work-up. Commonly performed radionuclide tests include technetium-99m ((99m)Tc)-diphosphonate bone scintigraphy (bone), and gallium-67 ((67)Ga) and in vitro labelled leukocyte (white blood cell; WBC) imaging. Although they are useful, each of these tests has limitations. Bone scintigraphy is sensitive but not specific, especially when underlying osseous abnormalities are present. (67)Ga accumulates in tumour, trauma, and in aseptic inflammation; furthermore, there is typically an interval of 1-3 days between radiopharmaceutical injection of and imaging. Currently, this agent is used primarily for spinal infections. Except for the spine, WBC imaging is the nuclear medicine test of choice for diagnosing complicating osteomyelitis. The in vitro leukocyte labelling process requires skilled personnel, is laborious, and is not always available. Complementary marrow imaging is usually required to maximise accuracy. Not surprisingly, alternative radiopharmaceuticals are continuously being investigated. Radiolabelled anti-granulocyte antibodies and antibody fragments, investigated as in vivo leukocyte labelling agents, have their own limitations and are not widely available. (111)In-biotin is useful for diagnosing spinal infections. Radiolabelled synthetic fragments of ubiquicidin, a naturally occurring human antimicrobial peptide that targets bacteria, have shown promise as infection specific radiopharmaceuticals. 2-[(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET) with or without computed tomography (CT) is very useful in musculoskeletal infection. Sensitivities of more than 95% and specificities ranging from 75-99% have been reported in acute and subacute bone and soft-tissue infection. FDG is the radionuclide test of choice for spinal infection. It is sensitive, has a high negative predictive value, and can differentiate degenerative from infectious vertebral body end-plate abnormalities. Data on the accuracy of FDG for diagnosing diabetic pedal osteomyelitis and prosthetic joint infection are inconclusive and its role for these indications remains to be determined. Other PET radiopharmaceuticals that are under investigation as infection imaging agents include gallium-68 citrate ((68)Ga) and iodine-124 fialuridine ((124)I -FIAU).

Sperm DNA fragmentation and morphological degeneration in chilled elephant (Elephas maximus and Loxodonta Africana) semen collected by transrectal massage.

Ejaculates from nine Asian and two African elephants were analysed to gain a further understanding of mechanisms underlying variable semen quality after transrectal massage. Semen analysis was performed after collection (0 h; subjective motility parameters only) and after 24 h of chilled storage at 10 °C (24 h; all ejaculate and sperm characteristics). Ejaculates with ≤50% total motility (TM) at 24 h, which represented >90% of collection attempts, contained a sperm population with a high degree of DNA damage (64.2 ± 19.2% fragmented DNA) and an elevated incidence of detached heads (43.3 ± 22.5%). In contrast, good quality ejaculates designated as those with >50% TM at 24 h displayed higher (p < 0.05) values of sperm kinetic parameters, DNA integrity and normal morphology. Fertility potential was high for good quality ejaculates from two males (one Asian and one African bull) based on in vitro characteristics after chilled storage for up to 48 h post-collection. Urine contamination of semen, as assessed quantitatively by creatinine concentration, was confirmed as a significant factor in reduced elephant ejaculate quality. However, the identification of considerable DNA damage and morphological degeneration in the majority of ejaculates after only 24 h of chilled storage indicates that sperm ageing could be a primary contributor to inconsistent semen quality in the elephant.

Imaging of infection and inflammation with 99mTc-Fanolesomab.

(99m)Tc-fanolesomab, a murine M class antigranulocyte antibody, is injected directly into patients, avoiding in vitro leukocyte labeling. Normal distribution includes reticuloendothelial system, genitourinary tract, and blood pool. Small bowel activity appears within 4 h, colonic activity by 24 h. Accumulation in infection is via two mechanisms: binding to circulating neutrophils that migrate to the infection and binding to neutrophils and neutrophil debris containing CD-15 receptors already sequestered in the infection. (99m)Tc-fanolesomab is valuable in atypical appendicitis. Its sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, in 200 patients were 91%, 86%, and 87%, respectively. This agent is comparable to (111)In- labeled leukocytes for diagnosing osteomyelitis in the appendicular skeleton in general and in diabetic patients with pedal ulcers. Preliminary experience suggests (99m)Tc-fanolesomab might replace in vitro labeled leukocytes for other indications as well. Initial clinical investigations found the agent was safe. A transient decrease in circulating leukocytes within 20 min after injection occurred, but with no associated clinical complaints. Recovery averaged about 20 min. One study found no statistically significant HAMA titer elevation and no adverse reactions following injection. In another investigation 5 out of 30 subjects who received two separate antibody injections, exhibited HAMA induction with no serious or severe adverse events. Forty-nine adverse events, including 4 severe ones, were reported among 523 subjects in clinical trials. In 2004, (99m)Tc-falosomab was approved in the United States for use in patients with equivocal presentation of appendicitis. However, following postmarketing reports of serious adverse events, including two fatalities, the agent was withdrawn in late 2005, and its future is uncertain.

Gyrus bipolar electrovaporization vs transurethral resection of the prostate: a randomized prospective single-blind trial with 1 y follow-up.

The Gyrus system uses bipolar electrocautery with saline irrigation to vaporize prostatic tissue and is compared to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in a randomized prospective study with 1 y follow-up. Outcomes measured were fluid absorption, blood loss, period of catheterization, hospital stay, symptom scores, quality of life, flow rates, and post-void residual volumes at 3, 6, and 12 months. All measured parameters were similar, although re-catheterization rates were higher (30% vs 5%) in the Gyrus group. Clot evacuation rates were higher in the TURP group (19% vs 0%). The Gyrus device is safe and produces results that are similar to TURP at 1 y.

Engineered herpes simplex virus expressing IL-12 in the treatment of experimental murine brain tumors.

Genetically engineered, neuroattenuated herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) expressing various cytokines can improve survival when used in the treatment of experimental brain tumors. These attenuated viruses have both copies of gamma(1)34.5 deleted. Recently, we demonstrated increased survival of C57BL/6 mice bearing syngeneic GL-261 gliomas when treated with an engineered HSV expressing IL-4, as compared with treatment with the parent construct (gamma(1)34. 5(-)) alone or with a virus expressing IL-10. Herein, we report construction of a conditionally replication-competent mutant expressing both subunits of mIL-12 (M002) and its evaluation in a syngeneic neuroblastoma murine model. IL-12 induces a helper T cell subset type 1 response, which may induce more durable antitumor effects. In vitro studies showed that, when infected with M002, both Vero cells and murine Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells produced physiologically relevant levels of IL-12 heterodimers, as determined by ELISA. M002 was cytotoxic for Neuro-2a cells and human glioma cell lines U251MG and D54MG. Neurotoxicity studies, as defined by plaque-forming units/LD(50), performed in HSV-1-sensitive A/J strain mice found that M002 was not toxic even at high doses. When evaluated in an intracranial syngeneic neuroblastoma murine model, median survival of M002-treated animals was significantly longer than the median survival of animals treated with R3659, the parent gamma(1)34.5(-) mutant lacking any cytokine gene insert. Immunohistochemical analysis of M002-treated tumors identified a pronounced influx of CD4(+) T cells and macrophages as well as CD8(+) cells when compared with an analysis of R3659-treated tumors. We conclude that M002 produced a survival benefit via oncolytic effects combined with immunologic effects meditated by helper T cells of subset type 1.

Orthopaedic nursing: a study of its specialty status.

This study attempts to clarify the distinction between orthopaedic and general nursing in response to criticism that orthopaedic nursing did not merit specialty status. The questionnaire survey asked nurses to assess a range of 76 nursing activities in terms of professional function. The results showed 36 out of the 76 activities were identified as 'highly orthopaedic'. The author emphasises that the holistic nature of nursing also applies to orthopaedic nursing and that this requires both generic and specialist skills. The implication for nurse education is that the necessary skills may need to be taught to a higher level to match a specialty status.