Biocompatibility of mussel-inspired water-soluble tissue adhesives.

Wound closure in surgeries is traditionally achieved using invasive methods such as sutures and staples. Adhesion-based wound closure methods such as tissue adhesives, sealants, and hemostats are slowly replacing these methods due to their ease of application. Although several chemistries have been developed and used commercially for wound closure, there is still a need for better tissue adhesives from the point of view of toxicity, wet-adhesion strength, and long-term bonding. Catechol chemistry has shown great promise in developing wet-set adhesives that meet these criteria. Herein, we have studied the biocompatibility of a catechol-based copolymer adhesive, poly([dopamine methacrylamide]-co-[methyl methacrylate]-co-[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]) or poly(catechol-MMA-OEG), which is soluble in water. The adhesive was injected subcutaneously in a mouse model on its own and in combination with a sodium periodate crosslinker. After 72 h, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks, the mice were euthanized and subjected to histopathological analysis. Both adhesives were present and still palpable at the end of 12 weeks. The moderate inflammation observed for the poly(catechol-MMA-OEG) cohort at 72 h had reduced to mild inflammation at the end of 12 weeks. However, the moderate inflammatory response observed for the poly(catechol-MMA-OEG) + crosslinker cohort at 72 h had not subsided at 12 weeks.

Pathology in Practice.

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

An apparently healthy female crossbred Labrador retriever-poodle dog with severe intra-abdominal adhesions as an incidental finding to ovariohysterectomy.

An apparently healthy 1-year-old, female crossbred Labrador retriever-poodle dog was brought to a veterinary clinic for elective ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Severe abdominal adhesions complicated the procedure. There was no report of a previous illness or surgical procedure that would be a predisposing cause for the adhesions. The OVH was completed despite the adhesions and the dog recovered well. It is unclear whether this was simply a case of severe intra-abdominal adhesions or an atypical sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP). The differential diagnoses include inflammatory processes, a genetic predisposition, or an idiopathic cause. Fourteen days later, at the time of surgical staple removal, the dog was healthy and had reportedly been doing very well. Although rare, intra-abdominal adhesions can occur in young and previously healthy dogs without causing clinical signs. Veterinarians should be aware of such a condition when approaching abdominal surgeries and be prepared to manage these cases appropriately.

Une chienne Labrador retriever-caniche croisée apparemment en bonne santé avec d'importantes adhérences intra-abdominales comme découverte fortuite lors d'une ovariohystérectomie. Une chienne Labrador retriever-caniche croisée de 1an apparemment en bonne santé a été amenée dans une clinique vétérinaire pour une ovariohystérectomie élective (OVH). Des adhérences abdominales importantes ont compliqué la procédure. Il n'y avait aucun rapport d'une maladie ou d'une intervention chirurgicale antérieure qui serait une cause prédisposant aux adhérences. L'OVH a été complétée malgré les adhérences et la chienne a bien récupéré. Il n'est pas clair s'il s'agissait simplement d'un cas d'adhérences intra-abdominales importantes ou d'une péritonite sclérosante encapsulante (SEP) atypique. Les diagnostics différentiels incluent des processus inflammatoires, une prédisposition génétique ou une cause idiopathique. Quatorze jours plus tard, au moment du retrait des agrafes chirurgicales, la chienne était en bonne santé et se portait très bien. Bien que rares, des adhérences intra-abdominales peuvent survenir chez des jeunes chiens en bonne santé sans provoquer de signes cliniques. Les vétérinaires doivent être conscients d'une telle condition lorsqu'ils abordent des chirurgies abdominales et être prêts à gérer ces cas de manière appropriée.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Vocal acoustic analysis as a biometric indicator of information processing: implications for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Vocal expression reflects an integral component of communication that varies considerably within individuals across contexts and is disrupted in a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. There is reason to suspect that variability in vocal expression reflects, in part, the availability of "on-line" resources (e.g., working memory, attention). Thus, understanding vocal expression is a potentially important biometric index of information processing, not only across but within individuals over time. A first step in this line of research involves establishing a link between vocal expression and information processing systems in healthy adults. The present study employed a dual attention experimental task where participants provided natural speech while simultaneously engaged in a baseline, medium or high nonverbal processing-load task. Objective, automated, and computerized analysis was employed to measure vocal expression in 226 adults. Increased processing load resulted in longer pauses, fewer utterances, greater silence overall and less variability in frequency and intensity levels. These results provide compelling evidence of a link between information processing resources and vocal expression, and provide important information for the development of an automated, inexpensive and uninvasive biometric measure of information processing.

Resident Cats in Small Animal Veterinary Hospitals Carry Multi-Drug Resistant Enterococci and are Likely Involved in Cross-Contamination of the Hospital Environment.

In the USA, small animal veterinary hospitals (SAVHs) commonly keep resident cats living permanently as pets within their facilities. Previously, multi-drug resistant (MDR) enterococci were found as a contaminant of multiple surfaces within such veterinary hospitals, and nosocomial infections are a concern. The objectives of this study were to determine whether resident cats carry MDR enterococci and to compare the feline isolates genotypically to those obtained from SAVH surfaces in a previous study. Enterococcal strains (n = 180) were isolated from the feces of six healthy resident cats from different SAVHs. The concentration of enterococci ranged from 1.1 × 10(5) to 6.0 × 10(8) CFU g(-1) of feces, and the population comprised Enterococcus hirae (38.3 ± 18.6%), E. faecium (35.0 ± 14.3%), E. faecalis (23.9 ± 11.0%), and E. avium (2.8 ± 2.2%). Testing of phenotypic resistance to 14 antimicrobial agents revealed multi-drug resistance (≥3 antimicrobials) in 48.9% of all enterococcal isolates with most frequent resistance to tetracycline (75.0%), erythromycin (50.0%), and rifampicin (36.1%). Vancomycin resistant E. faecalis (3.9%) with vanB not horizontally transferable in in vitro conjugation assays were detected from one cat. Genotyping with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis demonstrated a host-specific clonal population of MDR E. faecalis and E. faecium. Importantly, several feline isolates were genotypically identical or closely related to isolates from surfaces of cage door, thermometer, and stethoscope of the corresponding SAVHs. These data demonstrate that healthy resident cats at SAVHs carry MDR enterococci and likely contribute to contamination of the SAVH environment. Proper disposal and handling of fecal material and restricted movement of resident cats within the ward are recommended.