Evaluation of a single-use gastroscope in patients presenting with suspected upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: a pilot feasibility study (One-Scope I).

BACKGROUND : Outbreaks of multidrug-resistant bacteria due to contaminated duodenoscopes and infection risks during the COVID-19 pandemic have driven the development of single-use endoscopes. The first single-use gastroscope is now available in Europe. Besides waste disposal and cost issues, the infection risk and performance remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate a single-use gastroscope in patients with signs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. METHODS : 20 consecutive patients presenting with clinical signs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding between October and November 2022 were included in this case series. The primary aim was technical success, defined as access to the descending duodenum and adequate assessment of the upper gastrointestinal tract for the presence of a bleeding site. RESULTS : The primary aim was achieved in 19/20 patients (95 %). The bleeding site was identified in 18 patients. A therapeutic intervention was performed in six patients (two cap-mounted clips, one standard hemostatic clip, two variceal band ligations, one hemostatic powder, two adrenaline injections); technical and clinical success were achieved in all six patients. Two crossovers to a standard gastroscope occurred. CONCLUSIONS : Use of single-use gastroscopes may be feasible for patients presenting for urgent endoscopic evaluation and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

An investigative study on the zoonotic potential of Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterial infections and is widespread globally. It causes a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, though a great proportion of infections are asymptomatic. A total of 143 fresh stool samples were collected from apparently healthy farm and pet animals (43 cattle, 50 buffaloes, 50 sheep, 50 dogs, and 50 cats), in addition to 768 human stool samples. The samples were examined using stool antigen and rapid antibody tests, and further confirmation of glmM "human antigen-positive samples and animal milk samples" was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The prevalence rates of H. pylori infection in animals were 22.2% and 16% in antibody and stool antigen tests, respectively. The detection rates were 28%, 24%, 12%, 10%, and 4.7% in cats, dogs, buffaloes, sheep, and cattle, respectively. On the other hand, the prevalence rate of H. pylori infection in human stool samples was 74.8%, and a statistically significant association was observed between prevalence and several factors, such as sex, age, and locality. PCR was performed to detect the glmM gene of H. pylori, and this gene was found in 21 of 27 human antigen-positive samples and 5 of 13 animal milk samples. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori was detected in both human and animal samples. Furthermore, glmM was found in milk and human samples. Our findings suggest that pet and farm animals could transmit H. pylori infection to humans.

Effects of Liquid Yucca Supplementation on Nitrogen Excretion, Intestinal Bacteria, Biochemical and Performance Parameters in Broilers.

This study was done to determine the impacts Yucca schidigera supplementation to drinking water on the excretion of nitrogen, and subsequently the level of ammonia, intestinal bacterial count, hematological and biochemical parameters, and some performance parameters. A total of 270 one-day old Cobb 500 chicks were equally divided into three groups (90 chicks/group). The first control group (G1) was fed on the basal diets without any yucca supplementation. The 2nd and 3rd groups (G2 and G3) were fed on basal diets with Yucca Plus liquid®, at an 8 h/day supplementation rate of 0.5, and 1 mL/L to drinking water, respectively. The chicks that received yucca showed significant decreases in litter nitrogen content, when compared to controls. The chicks that received liquid yucca had reduced counts of total bacteria (TBC) (p < 0.05), Escherichia coli, and a non-significant increase in the number of lactic acid producing bacteria. They also showed increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, increased levels of immunoglobulins M and G, and decreased levels of lipid peroxidation biomarkers, without a harmful effect on liver and kidney function. The chicks that received yucca showed a better feed conversion ratio. In conclusion, the use of natural additives is necessary to decrease nitrogen losses, feed cost, and environmental pollution; without adverse impacts on animal performance. Liquid supplementation of saponins is valuable for the performance, gut health, and welfare of broiler chickens.

Papaya extract upregulates the immune and antioxidants-related genes, and proteins expression in milk somatic cells of Friesian dairy cows.

Carica papaya is a perennial plant containing bioactive constituents with free radical-scavenging and immune-modulating activities. In contrast, the immune suppression is predominant in the periparturient period, where oxidative stress has a substantial impact on the mammary gland health. The aim of the experiment reported here was to determine the potential effect of C. papaya aqueous extract (CPE) on milk production traits, and expression of genes and proteins related to immune and antioxidant status in dairy milk somatic cells (MSCs). Forty Friesian dairy cows were divided equally between a control and CPE-treated groups (orally drenched 250 µg/kg bwt, once weekly a month before expected parturition and continued until 5 months post-partum). CPE did not affect milk yield or composition but upregulated the expression of ß13-defensin (DEFB13), cathelicidin 2 (CATHL2), cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CATHL3), hepcidin (HAMP), lysozyme (LYZ), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in MSCs. The environmental micro-organisms did not influence the levels of the transcripts. The DEFB13, CATHL2, CATHL3, HAMP and LYZ, but not ß1-defensin (DEFB1) transcripts and proteins were constitutively expressed in MSCs obtained from pathogen-free udders. It could be concluded that CPE has immunostimulant and antioxidant activities; thereby, it could be utilized to minimize the occurrence of mastitis.

3D Imaging of Ferroelectric Kinetics during Electrically Driven Switching.

Cerenkov-type second-harmonic generation microscopy is used for in situ 3D imaging of the switching process of ferroelectric domains in a relaxor-type ferroelectric crystal. The lateral and longitudinal domain wall motion is optically measured and compared with the hysteresis loop to reveal the connection between the domain kinetics and the ferroelectric aging effect in strontium barium niobate.

Selective, reliable blood and milk bio-markers for diagnosing clinical and subclinical bovine mastitis.

Mastitis is positioned as the most vital ailment in dairy cows in light of conventional cost examinations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of different acute phase proteins (APPs), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy cows and in those with clinical or subclinical mastitis and to localize APP gene expression in the milk of mastitic cows. Therefore, 20 subclinical mastitic cows with positive California Mastitis Test (CMT) results and no clinical signs of mastitis, 15 clinically mastitic cows, and 15 healthy cows with negative CMT results and somatic cell count (SCC) of <600,000 cells/mL were selected. Milk and blood samples were collected. The present findings indicate that the biochemical parameters examined were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in cows with both types of mastitis, except for total protein, albumin, and GSH levels and the TAC, which were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased, compared with values in the controls. Surprisingly, SAA and Hp gene expression were up-regulated in milk from cows with both forms of mastitis, while Fb expression was absent. The present study demonstrates that APPs, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and indicators of oxidative stress may serve as biomarkers of clinical and subclinical mastitis. Interestingly, the expression of SAA and Hp indicates the local de novo synthesis of these APPs within the mammary glands. Furthermore, the presence of SAA and Hp transcripts in milk cells derived from pathogen-free mammary glands proved their constitutive expression. However, future studies with more extensive baseline sampling are still needed to establish and validate the reference values for APPs, cytokines, and oxidative stress markers in cows.

Simultaneous type I and type II Cerenkov-phase matched second-harmonic generation in disordered nonlinear photonic structures.

We observe simultaneous type I and II Cerenkov-phase matched second-harmonic generation in a disordered nonlinear photonic crystal. The mean width of the disordered ferroelectric domains and the laser beam width are adjusted to be on the same length scale. We analyze the polarization properties, emission angles and intensities of each process.

Controlling the effective second-order susceptibility in random quadratic media.

We study systematically the effect of spatial disorder of ferroelectric domains in nonlinear media on the polarization properties of optical frequency conversion. Experimentally, different statistics of domain sizes are created using electric field poling at room temperature. We analyze the evolution of polarization properties of the second- and third-harmonic signals for each created statistic by determining the corresponding relative strength of non-zero components of the second-order susceptibility tensor, d24, d32 and d33. The relative strengths are labeled by means of the control parameter E on the characteristic P-E loop of the studied ferroelectric medium.

Cerenkov-type second-harmonic spectroscopy in random nonlinear photonic structures.

We report on experimental and theoretical studies of Cerenkov-type second-harmonic generation in random nonlinear photonic structures with different two-dimensional distributions of the ferroelectric domains. We utilize Cerenkov-type second-harmonic generation spectroscopy to estimate the average ferroelectric domain size by analyzing the spatial Fourier spectrum of the domain patterns. This is measured by scanning the Cerenkov second-harmonic signal for different angles of incidence and light polarizations of the fundamental wave. By comparing the experimental results with numerically simulated Fourier spectra, the corresponding domain patterns are retrieved, which are in a good correspondence with images obtained by Cerenkov-type second-harmonic generation microscopy.

Effect of the domain shape on noncollinear second-harmonic emission in disordered quadratic media.

We study the role of the individual ferroelectric domain shape on the second-harmonic emission in strontium barium niobate featuring a random quadratic nonlinearity. The noncollinearly emitted second-harmonic signal is scanned in the far-field at different incident angles for different domain size distributions. This offers the possibility to retrieve the Fourier spectrum, corresponding to the spatial domain distribution and domain shape. Based on images of the domain structures retrieved by Cerenkov-type second-harmonic microscopy, domain patterns are simulated, the second-harmonic intensities are calculated, and finally compared with the measurements.

Domain-shape-based modulation of Cerenkov second-harmonic generation in multidomain strontium barium niobate.

We study experimentally and numerically the second-harmonic Cerenkov emission with two different characteristic azimuthal intensity distributions in strontium barium niobate with a random structure of χ2 nonlinearity. We monitor in situ the Cerenkov emission during domain switching and show that a change of domain size and shape results in a fourfold azimuthal modulation of the Cerenkov cone.

Second harmonic generation in multi-domain χ2 media: from disorder to order.

We investigate systematically the evolution of second harmonic generation in strontium barium niobate with different degrees of disorder of its χ2 nonlinearity. These different degrees of disordered domain structures are achieved through electrically switching of the polarization at room temperature. The size and distribution of the domains change during the poling process and this in turn strongly affects the spatial distribution of the second harmonic signal. The degree of disorder can be determined by analyzing the angular distribution and wavelength dependence of the second harmonic emission patterns combined with measurements of the spontaneous polarization. We demonstrate evidence of the control of the second harmonic emission pattern by creating defined states of order, and successfully reproduce the resulting patterns theoretically.