Body yield and quality of fresh and post-freezing filet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) genetic groups.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the body yield and quality of fresh and post-freezing filet of male and female fish of inbred and non-inbred AquaAmérica genetic group and the hybrid between the AquaAmérica and Tilamax varieties. Forty fish (20 males and 20 females) of each genetic group were housed in four 48-m3 hapa net cages, getting 120 fish per cage. The fish were housed at 51 days of age and farmed for 269 days. Pre-slaughter weight was higher (P<0.05) in the AquaAmérica × Tilamax males (0.805±0.204 kg) than in the inbred AquaAmérica male (0.643±0.115 kg). Filet yield percentage was higher (P<0.05) in the AquaAmérica × Tilamax males (32.14±4.72%) than in the inbred AquaAmérica (28.15±2.67%) and non-inbred AquaAmérica (29.06±2.80%) males. Head and viscera yield percentages, pH, color values (L*, a* and b*), shear force, drip loss and cooking loss did not differ significantly between the genetic groups and sexes. Alterations in meat quality were observed after freezing. In conclusion, inbreeding in the AquaAmérica variety resulted in reduced slaughter weight for males; AquaAmérica × Tilamax males have a higher filet yield; and filet quality is not influenced by crossing, inbreeding, or sex, but is changed after freezing.

Development and implementation of a scalable and versatile test for COVID-19 diagnostics in rural communities.

Rapid and widespread testing of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is essential for an effective public health response aimed at containing and mitigating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Successful health policy implementation relies on early identification of infected individuals and extensive contact tracing. However, rural communities, where resources for testing are sparse or simply absent, face distinctive challenges to achieving this success. Accordingly, we report the development of an academic, public land grant University laboratory-based detection assay for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 in samples from various clinical specimens that can be readily deployed in areas where access to testing is limited. The test, which is a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)-based procedure, was validated on samples provided by the state laboratory and submitted for FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Our test exhibits comparable sensitivity and exceeds specificity and inclusivity values compared to other molecular assays. Additionally, this test can be re-configured to meet supply chain shortages, modified for scale up demands, and is amenable to several clinical specimens. Test development also involved 3D engineering critical supplies and formulating a stable collection media that allowed samples to be transported for hours over a dispersed rural region without the need for a cold-chain. These two elements that were critical when shortages impacted testing and when personnel needed to reach areas that were geographically isolated from the testing center. Overall, using a robust, easy-to-adapt methodology, we show that an academic laboratory can supplement COVID-19 testing needs and help local health departments assess and manage outbreaks. This additional testing capacity is particularly germane for smaller cities and rural regions that would otherwise be unable to meet the testing demand.

Home Telemonitoring Improved Pain Registration in Patients With Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: For adequate pain treatment in patients with cancer, it is important to monitor and evaluate pain regularly. Although the numeric rating scale (NRS) is implemented in hospitals in the Netherlands, pain is still not systematically registered during outpatient consultations. The aim of this study was to assess whether home telemonitoring increases pain registration in medical records of outpatients with cancer. METHODS: Patients with cancer were included in the intervention group (IG) when they visited the outpatient clinic. They received a short message service and an interactive voice response on their mobile phones 3 times a week, asking them to provide their pain score (NRS). When the reported NRS pain score was ≥5, a specialized oncology nurse adapted the pain treatment when necessary. Outcomes were compared to a control group (CG) without home telemonitoring. In both groups, medical records were analyzed and data on pain and analgesics were collected. RESULTS: In each group, the medical records of 54 patients were analyzed on 3 consecutive outpatient visits. In the CG, pain registration or its absence was described in 60 visits (37.0%). In the IG, pain registration or its absence was reported in 83 visits (51.2%). Patients in the IG received a prescription for analgesics significantly more often (36/54 patients [66.6%]) than did patients in the CG (18/54 patients [33.3%]), P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Home telemonitoring for patients with cancer significantly increases registration of pain and prescriptions of analgesics in outpatient medical records. Home telemonitoring helps to increase the awareness of pain and its management.

Iron Isotope Fractionation during Fe(II) Oxidation Mediated by the Oxygen-Producing Marine Cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7002.

In this study, we couple iron isotope analysis to microscopic and mineralogical investigation of iron speciation during circumneutral Fe(II) oxidation and Fe(III) precipitation with photosynthetically produced oxygen. In the presence of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7002, aqueous Fe(II) (Fe(II)aq) is oxidized and precipitated as amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxide minerals (iron precipitates, Feppt), with distinct isotopic fractionation (ε56Fe) values determined from fitting the δ56Fe(II)aq (1.79‰ and 2.15‰) and the δ56Feppt (2.44‰ and 2.98‰) data trends from two replicate experiments. Additional Fe(II) and Fe(III) phases were detected using microscopy and chemical extractions and likely represent Fe(II) and Fe(III) sorbed to minerals and cells. The iron desorbed with sodium acetate (FeNaAc) yielded heavier δ56Fe compositions than Fe(II)aq. Modeling of the fractionation during Fe(III) sorption to cells and Fe(II) sorption to Feppt, combined with equilibration of sorbed iron and with Fe(II)aq using published fractionation factors, is consistent with our resulting δ56FeNaAc. The δ56Feppt data trend is inconsistent with complete equilibrium exchange with Fe(II)aq. Because of this and our detection of microbially excreted organics (e.g., exopolysaccharides) coating Feppt in our microscopic analysis, we suggest that electron and atom exchange is partially suppressed in this system by biologically produced organics. These results indicate that cyanobacteria influence the fate and composition of iron in sunlit environments via their role in Fe(II) oxidation through O2 production, the capacity of their cell surfaces to sorb iron, and the interaction of secreted organics with Fe(III) minerals.

The efficacy of standard laxative use for the prevention and treatment of opioid induced constipation during oxycodone use: a small Dutch observational pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Dutch clinical guidelines recommend that a standard laxative treatment (SLT) should be prescribed concomitantly when starting opioid treatment to prevent opioid-induced constipation (OIC). METHODS: Clinical evidence for SLT in the treatment of OIC is lacking, therefore an observational pilot study was performed to explore the efficacy and tolerability of SLT on OIC in patients treated with the opioid oxycodone. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (58% female, median (range) age 65 (39-92)) were included in this pilot study. The analysis showed that 9 out of 21 patients (43%) were non-responders to SLT. When also taking into consideration patients tending to develop diarrhea 75% of patients are non-responsive to SLT. CONCLUSION: This pilot study indicates that optimal laxative therapy (SLT) might not be effective and feasible for the prevention and treatment of OIC.

Intrathecal administration of high-dose morphine solutions decreases the pH of cerebrospinal fluid.

Terminally ill patients suffering from intractable cancer pain are treated in our hospital on an outpatient basis with a percutaneous intrathecal (i.t.) catheter and a portable pump delivering morphine continuously. In a patient showing an increased demand of morphine the dose was raised from 1.5 to 2 mg/h, but pain intensity did not decrease. Subsequently a 1.5 ml dose of 5% lidocaine was administered; however, no motor or sensory block was observed. After controlling the catheter position and passage through the catheter, a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was taken and the pH was measured. It was found to be outside the physiological range of 7.19 (normal range: 7.27-7.37), possibly explaining the decreased activity of the local anesthetic. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of morphine, with or without sodium metabisulfite, on pH in vitro, using artificial CSF (ACSF) and on pH in vivo during i.t. administration of morphine. An in vitro model was used to measure pH changes by adding a morphine solution (concentrations of 0.5, 2, 5 and 10 mg/ml) with and without sodium metabisulfite to ACSF solutions (Elliott B). Fourteen patients were consecutively selected for continuous administration of morphine. An i.t. catheter was inserted, tunnelled and connected with an external pump (Provider 5500, Abbott, Chicago, IL). CSF was aspirated and pH was measured with a blood-gas system (Ciba-Corning 288, Medfield, USA). In vitro, morphine solutions with or without sodium metabisulfite added to an Elliott B solution (pH = 7.47, 37 degrees C) caused a concentration-related decrease in pH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Energy balance and size and number of ovarian follicles detected by ultrasonography in early postpartum dairy cows.

Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 52) were fed one of six diets consisting of a totally mixed ration (corn silage, corn grain, soybean meal, dried distillers grains, and whole cottonseed) plus either alfalfa hay, alfalfa cubes, or bermuda-grass hay fed chopped as a component in the mixed ration or separate as long hay. Predicted energy balance was calculated from DM intake, milk yield and composition, and BW. On d 25 postpartum, ovarian status was programmed by injecting 25 mg of prostaglandin F2 alpha and treating cows for 15 d with an intravaginal device containing 1.9 g progesterone. Before d 25, number of class 1 follicles (3 to 5 mm; detected by ultrasonography) decreased with increasing days postpartum, and number of class 3 (10 to 15 mm) and class 4 (greater than 15 mm) follicles increased. The number of class 1 and 2 follicles (6 to 9 mm) decreased with increasing energy balance, and number of class 3 follicles increased with energy balance. Before d 25, predicted energy balance explained treatment differences in the number of follicles within each size class. After d 25, energy balance did not affect the average number of follicles per cow, but diet affected the number of follicles within each class. Predicted energy balance and dietary treatments influenced number of follicles at different times after calving. These results identify the importance of diet and energy balance to follicular and ovarian function in postpartum lactating dairy cows.

Effect of feeding calcium soaps to early postpartum dairy cows on plasma prostaglandin F2 alpha, luteinizing hormone, and follicular growth.

Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 18) were fed a total mixed ration containing corn silage, corn grain, whole cottonseed, soybean meal, dried distillers grains, and chopped bermudagrass hay (control) or same diet plus Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids (2.2% of diet DM) for the first 60 d postpartum. Predicted energy balance was calculated from DM intake, milk yield and composition, and BW. On d 25 postpartum, cows were injected with 25 mg of prostaglandin F2 alpha and treated for 15 d with an intravaginal device containing 1.9 g progesterone. Profiles of 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2 alpha (d 1 to 21) and plasma triglycerides (d 7 to 60) were similar between groups. Average number of follicles, determined by ultrasonography prior to d 25, tended to differ between groups; controls had more 3- to 5-mm and fewer 6- to 9-mm follicles than the group of fat-fed cows. Basal, smoothed mean concentration, and average luteinizing hormone amplitude, determined by 10-min samples for 8 h on d 10, were not significantly different between groups. Increasing predicted energy balance was associated with increased pulse amplitude and diameter of the largest follicle on d 10. During the progesterone treatment period and the postprogesterone treatment estrous cycle, cows fed fat had greater numbers of 3- to 5-mm and greater than 15-mm follicles. In conclusion, feeding fat did not influence 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2 alpha or luteinizing hormone dynamics but did alter the average number of follicles within different size classes and the diameter of largest and second largest follicle after progesterone treatment.