Influence of weather patterns and air quality on ecological population dynamics of ectoparasites in goats.

Ectoparasitism has a damaging impact on the economy of goat production in India, but the factors influencing its distribution and dynamics are less explored. The present study was designed to investigate the influence of environmental factors like weather and air quality parameters on the occurrence of different types of ectoparasites in goats of two agro-climatic regions of India, viz. the Upper Gangetic Plain (UGP) and the Western Himalayas (WH). The prevalence survey for ectoparasitism among goats was conducted during the four distinct climatic seasons (winter, summer, monsoon, autumn) in both regions. The season-wise data of weather parameters (maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity in morning and evening, sunrise and sunset time, mean daily temperature and relative humidity, daily variation in temperature and relative humidity, and day length) and air quality parameters (air quality index (AQI), particulate matter 2.5 µm (PM2.5), particulate matter 10 µm (PM10)) of both regions were analyzed in relation with the ectoparasitic prevalence pattern of corresponding regions. The results depict a noticeable correlation between the studied parameters and seasonal variation in the occurrence of each type of ectoparasites. This outcome on the interaction of studied parameters and ectoparasitism is intriguing and it opens a huge scope for future studies on the biometeorological aspects of host-parasite ecological interplay and evolutionary biology. The better understanding of climatological aspects of ectoparasite occurrences helps goat farmers in formulating appropriate timely intervention strategies for the economic control of ectoparasites, which in turn tackles ectoparasiticidal drug resistance and reduces threat of vector-borne diseases.

2019 Frank Stinchfield Award: A comparison of prosthetic joint infection rates between direct anterior and non-anterior approach total hip arthroplasty.

AIMS: We studied the impact of direct anterior (DA) versus non-anterior (NA) surgical approaches on prosthetic joint infection (PJI), and examined the impact of new perioperative protocols on PJI rates following all surgical approaches at a single institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 6086 consecutive patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) at a single institution between 2013 and 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Data obtained from electronic patient medical records included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), medical comorbidities, surgical approach, and presence of deep PJI. There were 3053 male patients (50.1%) and 3033 female patients (49.9%). The mean age and BMI of the entire cohort was 62.7 years (18 to 102, sd 12.3) and 28.8 kg/m2 (13.3 to 57.6, sd 6.1), respectively. Infection rates were calculated yearly for the DA and NA approach groups. Covariates were assessed and used in multivariate analysis to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for risk of development of PJI with DA compared with NA approaches. In order to determine the effect of adopting a set of infection prevention protocols on PJI, we calculated ORs for PJI comparing patients undergoing THA for two distinct time periods: 2013 to 2014 and 2015 to 2016. These periods corresponded to before and after we implemented a set of perioperative infection protocols. RESULTS: There were 1985 patients in the DA group and 4101 patients in the NA group. The overall rate of PJI at our institution during the study period was 0.82% (50/6086) and decreased from 0.96% (12/1245) in 2013 to 0.53% (10/1870) in 2016. There were 24 deep PJIs in the DA group (1.22%) and 26 deep PJIs in the NA group (0.63%; p = 0.023). After multivariate analysis, the DA approach was 2.2 times more likely to result in PJI than the NA approach (OR 2.2 (95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.9); p = 0.006) for the overall study period. CONCLUSION: We found a higher rate of PJI in DA versus NA approaches. Infection prevention protocols such as use of aspirin, dilute povidone-iodine lavage, vancomycin powder, and Gram-negative coverage may have been positively associated with diminished PJI rates observed for all approaches over time. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B(6 Supple B):2-8.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26:H11 associated with a cluster of haemolytic uraemic syndrome cases in South Africa, 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are foodborne pathogens that may cause diarrhoeal outbreaks and occasionally are associated with haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS). We report on STEC O26:H11 associated with a cluster of four HUS cases in South Africa in 2017. METHODOLOGY: All case-patients were female and aged 5 years and under. Standard microbiological tests were performed for culture and identification of STEC from specimens (human stool and food samples). Further analysis of genomic DNA extracted from bacterial cultures and specimens included PCR for specific virulence genes, whole-genome sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. RESULTS: For 2/4 cases, stool specimens revealed STEC O26:H11 containing eae, stx2a and stx2b virulence genes. All food samples were found to be negative for STEC. No epidemiological links could be established between the HUS cases. Dried meat products were the leading food item suspected to be the vehicle of transmission for these cases, as 3/4 case-patients reported they had eaten this. However, testing of dried meat products could not confirm this. CONCLUSION: Since STEC infection does not always lead to severe symptoms, it is possible that many more cases were associated with this cluster and largely went unrecognized.

Effect of a hyperbaric environment (diving conditions) on adhesive restorations: an in vitro study.

Objectives No recent study has addressed the effect of diving conditions (pressure increase) on adhesive restorations. We evaluated the impact of a simulated hyperbaric environment on microleakage of the dentine-composite resin interface. The ultimate aim was to propose recommendations for restorative dentistry for patients who are divers to limit barodontalgia (dental pain caused by pressure variations of the environment) and may lead to dangerous sequelae.Methods We bonded 20 dentine disks by using an adhesive system (Scothbond Universal) to ten intact composite cylinders and ten composite cylinders with porosity (Ceram X mono). For each group, the samples were divided into two subgroups, one submitted to a simulated hyperbaric environment and the other to an ambient environment. All samples were immersed in a silver nitrate solution to evaluate microleakage at the interface after analysis with a camera.Results Dye percolation for groups in the hyperbaric environment was greater than groups in ambient environment. For each subgroup, dye percolation was greater for samples with than without porosity.Conclusions High percolation percentages demonstrate that our simulated hyperbaric condition led to loss of sealing at the dentine-composite resin interface, especially with porous composites.Clinical significance Respect of the protocol and the quality of condensation for adhesive restorations are important in all clinical situations, especially for patients who are divers. A more interventionist approach must be adopted with these patients.

Elevated total serum immunoglobulin E (>1000 IU/mL): implications?

Atopic eczema, allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis, helminthic infections and rare primary immunodeficiencies are known to elevate total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) above 1000 IU/mL. However, of 352 patients with IgE >1000 IU/mL seen in our hospital over a 5-year period, less than 50% had these conditions. Markedly elevated IgE levels in the rest of the patients were associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis and food allergy, instances where the test is of limited diagnostic utility.

Decreasing spine implant costs and inter-physician cost variation: the impact of programme of cost containment on implant expenditure in spinal surgery.

The demand for spinal surgery and its costs have both risen over the past decade. In 2008 the aggregate hospital bill for surgical care of all spinal procedures was reported to be $33.9 billion. One key driver of rising costs is spinal implants. In 2011 our institution implemented a cost containment programme for spinal implants which was designed to reduce the prices of individual spinal implants and to reduce the inter-surgeon variation in implant costs. Between February 2012 and January 2013, our spinal surgeons performed 1493 spinal procedures using implants from eight different vendors. By applying market analysis and implant cost data from the previous year, we established references prices for each individual type of spinal implant, regardless of vendor, who were required to meet these unit prices. We found that despite the complexity of spinal surgery and the initial reluctance of vendors to reduce prices, significant savings were made to the medical centre.

Does the BRAF(V600E) mutation herald a new treatment era for Erdheim-Chester disease? A case-based review of a rare and difficult to diagnose disorder.

Erdheim-Chester disease is a multi-system histiocyte disorder characterised by histological xanthogranulomatous inflammation. We report a 67-year-old man who had fatal multi-systemic Erdheim-Chester disease involvement, including retroperitoneal fibrosis, dilated cardiomyopathy and bone pain that was diagnosed late in its course and was refractory to interferon-alfa. A pathogenic BRAF(V600E) mutation, identified after death in this patient, provides insights into pathogenesis and opens potential lines of treatment.

Marine stingray injuries to the extremities: Series of three cases with emphasis on imaging.

Stingray injuries are usually reported from coastal regions. The injury is caused by the tail spine of the stingray, which can penetrate deep into the soft tissues, and the venom in the tail can cause extensive tissue damage. Imaging plays a very important role in patients with stingray injuries, especially to detect the presence of retained foreign bodies and its complications. We present three cases of stingray injuries to the extremities, with a special emphasis on radiographic findings. Embedded foreign bodies that were radiographically visualized were removed in two of the patients (one patient was discharged at request and was lost to follow-up). We also discuss the types of injuries, clinical presentation, importance of imaging and management considerations in stingray injuries.

Incidence and risk factors for hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection among inpatients in an orthopaedic tertiary care hospital.

The aim of this retrospective study was to identify risk factors for hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (HA-CDI) in orthopaedic patients. Thirty-two HA-CDI cases were each matched with two controls. Incidence rate was 0.33 cases per 1000 patient-days. Univariate analyses showed that surgery >24 h after admission, antibiotics for treatment, and proton pump inhibitors were associated with HA-CDI. Multivariate analyses revealed that surgery >24 h after admission was associated with HA-CDI. Patients hospitalized before surgery had a greater risk of HA-CDI, suggesting opportunities to reduce environmental exposure to C. difficile by timelier preoperative medical optimization in the outpatient setting.

Extra-pancreatic manifestations of IgG4-related systemic disease: a single-centre experience of treatment with combined immunosuppression.

BACKGROUND/AIM: IgG4-related systemic disease (IgG4-RSD) is a systemic inflammatory disease distinguished by tissue infiltrates of IgG4(+) plasma cells and elevated serum IgG4 levels. While IgG4-RSD often involves the pancreas, extra-pancreatic organs are also frequently affected. Here, we review the presentation and management of patients with extra-pancreatic IgG4-RSD. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients diagnosed with extra-pancreatic IgG4-RSD identified from a single centre. RESULTS: Six patients with extra-pancreatic IgG4-RSD were identified. The median age of the patients was 64 years. The range of involved organs included lymph nodes (three patients), ocular adnexa, lung, kidneys, meninges and exocrine glands. The median delay in diagnosis was 13.5 months (4-60 months). Four patients had elevated serum IgG4 levels at diagnosis. Five symptomatic patients were commenced on combination immunosuppression, which included corticosteroids. Maintenance therapy with azathioprine was used in one patient, methotrexate and mycophenolate were each used in two patients, and cyclophosphamide in one patient. Four treated patients went into remission, while two patients had persistent radiological disease. One patient experienced two relapses. CONCLUSION: IgG4-RSD can manifest in a variety of organs. Lack of awareness regarding this entity may delay diagnosis. Combination treatment of corticosteroids and conventional immunosuppression is effective.

Energetic ion loss detector on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak.

A scintillator-based energetic ion loss detector has been successfully commissioned on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. This probe is located just below the outer midplane, where it captures ions of energies up to 2 MeV resulting from ion cyclotron resonance heating. After passing through a collimating aperture, ions impact different regions of the scintillator according to their gyroradius (energy) and pitch angle. The probe geometry and installation location are determined based on modeling of expected lost ions. The resulting probe is compact and resembles a standard plasma facing tile. Four separate fiber optic cables view different regions of the scintillator to provide phase space resolution. Evolving loss levels are measured during ion cyclotron resonance heating, including variation dependent upon individual antennae.

Preliminary results from the Alcator C-Mod polarimeter.

A poloidally viewing far infrared polarimeter diagnostic is being developed for the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, and will be used to determine the q-profile and to study density and magnetic field fluctuations. A three-chord version of what will eventually be up to a ten-chord system has been designed and fabricated and will be installed on C-Mod before the end of the current run period. Bench tests of a single chord mock-up of this system show acceptable noise levels for the planned measurements. We will discuss the analysis and experimental techniques used to diagnose and reduce noise sources.

Palladium(II) chloride catalyzed selective acetylation of alcohols with vinyl acetate.

PdCl(2) can catalyze the acetylation of primary and secondary alcohols with vinyl acetate. The reaction is selective and mild with high yields. Tertiary alcohols, phenols and amines are unaffected under these reaction conditions.

Noninvasive bone replacement with a new injectable calcium phosphate biomaterial.

The use of injectable calcium phosphate (CaP) biomaterials in noninvasive surgery should provide efficient bone colonization and implantation. Two different kinds of injectable biomaterials are presently under development: ionic hydraulic bone cements that harden in vivo after injection, and an association of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramic granules and a water-soluble polymer vehicle (a technique particularly investigated by our group), providing an injectable CaP bone substitute (IBS). In our study, we compared these two approaches, using physicochemical characterizations and in vivo evaluations in light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and three-dimensional microtomography with synchrotron technology. Three weeks after implantation in rabbit bone, both biomaterials showed perfect biocompatibility and bioactivity, but new bone formation and degradation of the biomaterial were significantly greater for BCP granules than for ionic cement. Newly formed bone developed, binding the BCP granules together, whereas new bone grew only on the surface of the cement, which remained dense, with no obvious degradation 3 weeks after implantation. This study confirms that BCP granules carried by a cellulosic polymer conserve bioactivity and are conducive to earlier and more extensive bone substitution than a carbonated-hydroxyapatite bone cement. The presence of intergranular spaces in the BCP preparation, as shown on microtomography imaging, seems particularly favorable, allowing body fluids to reach each BCP granule immediately after implantation. Thus, the IBS functions as a completely interconnected ceramic with total open macroporosity. This new bone replacement approach should facilitate microinvasive bone surgery and local delivery of bone therapy agents.

Non-invasive cardiac assessment in beta-thalassaemia major.

Iron deposition in the heart occurs in beta-thalassaemia major and contributes to cardiac dysfunction. Eighteen patients with beta-thalassaemia major were assessed clinically and had non-invasive investigations. They were young (15.5 +/- 3.6 years). Two patients had clinical heart failure. Doppler echocardiography demonstrated higher transmitral peak flow velocity in early and late diastole compared with controls (e: p<0.05, a: p<0.01). Transtricuspid peak late diastolic flow velocity was higher in patients (p<0.005). Isovolumic relaxation time was shortened (p<0.001). Pulmonary venous flow velocity was higher in diastole than systole (S: 0.51 +/- 0.11 m/s, D: 0.62 +/- 0.08 m/s). Reversal of pulmonary venous flow during atrial systole was seen in eight patients. These diastolic filling abnormalities did not significantly change with blood transfusion. Left ventricular ejection fraction was normal in patients. Two patients had cardiomegaly on chest X-ray. In beta-thalassaemia with iron overload, there is a restrictive pattern of diastolic dysfunction. This is not altered by recent blood transfusion. Left ventricular function remains relatively intact.

Skin sensitization study of two hydroxypropyl methylcellulose components (Benecel and E4M) of an injectable bone substitute in guinea pigs.

Although initial results were promising for an injectable bone substitute (IBS) associating a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) polymer vector (Benecel, 2 w/w %) with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), a sensitization reaction occurred probably related to the degree of polymer purity. In this context, Benecel and another HPMC, E4M were investigated in the present study. The expected composition of the polymers was confirmed by gas-liquid chromatography. Studies in the guinea pig showed that Benecel has strong sensitization capacity and E4M none. Benecel manifests impurities (30 times more than E4M) in individual fibers or rounded clumps that are apparently responsible for extreme sensitization. Purification by ultracentrifugation associated with 0.2 microm filtration can decrease sensitization capacity considerably, though with a slight loss of polymer concentration. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that the impurities were largely cellulose derivatives. However, extraction by organic solvent, followed by FTIR studies and micro-X analysis, detected an oily substance containing carbon and silicon associated with the cellulose derivatives. E4M, a polymer with no sensitization capacity, could replace Benecel and improve results with IBS.

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of covered expandable metal stents in the palliation of malignant esophageal obstruction at the gastroesophageal junction.

OBJECTIVE: Palliation of malignant esophageal obstruction is an important clinical problem. Expandable metal stents are a major advance in therapy, but many stents become obstructed because of tumor ingrowth. The aim of this study was to compare a new, membrane-covered expandable metal stent to conventional prostheses in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with malignant inoperable esophageal obstruction at the gastroesophageal junction participated in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to covered or uncovered stents. The principal outcome measure was the need for reintervention because of recurrent dysphagia or migration. Secondary endpoints were relief of dysphagia measured by a dysphagia score (grade 0 = no dysphagia, grade 1 = able to eat solid food, grade 2 = semisolids only, grade 3 = liquids only, grade 4 = complete dysphagia) and the rate of complications and functional status. All patients were observed at monthly intervals until death or for 6 months. RESULTS: One week after stenting the dysphagia score improved significantly in both the uncovered (n = 32, 3 +/- 0.1 to 1 +/- 0.1 [means +/- SEMs], p < 0.001) and covered (n = 30, 3 +/- 0.1 to 1 +/- 0.2 [means +/- SEMs], p < 0.001) stents. Obstructing tumor ingrowth was significantly more likely in the uncovered stent group (9/30) than in the covered group (1/32) (p = 0.005). Significant stent migration occurred in 2/30 patients with uncovered stents, as compared with 4/32 patients in the covered group (p = 0.44). Reinterventions for tumor ingrowth were significantly greater in the uncovered stent group (27%), as compared with 0% in the covered group (p = 0.002). Life table analysis showed similar survival in both groups. CONCLUSION: Membrane-covered stents have significantly better palliation than conventional bare metal stents because of decreased rates of tumor ingrowth that necessitate endoscopic reintervention for dysphagia.

Dermatoglyphics in 46, XY females.

Dermatoglyphics is known to be one of the best available diagnostic tools in genetic disorders. This paper aims to find out the diagnostic characteristic dermatoglyphic features in cytogenetically confirmed 46, XY female patients. The total number of patients studied (46, XY females) were 31 and the control consisted of 30 males and 30 females. Dermatoglyphic features, studied and tabulated, were: (a) Finger pattern frequency, (b) total finger ridge count (TFRC), absolute finger ridge count (AFRC), a-b ridge count, 'atd' angle and (c) palmar patterns eg, simian crease, Sydney line, hypothenar pattern, interdigital patterns. Results confirmed significant differences between the 46, XY females and the control groups: (i) 46, XY females had increased ulnar loops but decreased whorls as compared to control males (overall finger pattern frequency). (ii) The right thumb in 46, XY females had less whorls and more ulnar loops than both male and female control groups (individual finger pattern frequency). (iii) 46, XY females had lowered TFRC, AFRC, a-b ridge count than corresponding control groups (both control males and females). Significant differences were not observed for the 'atd' angle, interdigital patterns, hypothenar pattern, simian crease and Sydney line.