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Aims To develop quality indicators (QIs) for the evaluation of the prevention and management of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity. Methods and results We followed the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) methodology for QI development which comprises (i) identifying the key domains of care for the prevention and management of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity in patients on cancer treatment, (ii) performing a systematic review of the literature to develop candidate QIs, and (iii) selecting of the final set of QIs using a modified Delphi process. Work was undertaken in parallel with the writing of the 2022 ESC Guidelines on Cardio-Oncology and in collaboration with the European Haematology Association, the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the International Cardio-Oncology Society. In total, 5 main and 9 secondary QIs were selected across five domains of care: (i) Structural framework, (ii) Baseline cardiovascular risk assessment, (iii) Cancer therapy related cardiovascular toxicity, (iv) Predictors of outcomes, and (v) Monitoring of cardiovascular complications during cancer therapy. Conclusion We present the ESC Cardio-Oncology QIs with their development process and provide an overview of the scientific rationale for their selection. These indicators are aimed at quantifying and improving the adherence to guideline-recommended clinical practice and improving patient outcomes.

Agricultural innovation implies sharing information between researchers and farmers. Acknowledging the value of the other partner’s knowledge is a preliminary step to facilitate agricultural intera...

Copyright © 2018 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Background: Soft-tissue complications often dictate the success of limb salvage and the overall outcome of open fractures. Based on prior work at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, the authors hypothesize that wounds larger than 200 cm2 are associated with a greater likelihood of both flap-related reoperation and wound complications among patients requiring soft-tissue reconstruction with a rotational flap or free tissue transfer. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of Fluid Lavage in Open Wounds trial data that included all patients who received a rotational or free tissue flap transfer for an open fracture. The primary outcome was flap-related reoperation within 12 months of injury. The secondary outcome was wound complication, which included events treated operatively or nonoperatively. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between wound size and outcomes, adjusting for confounders. Results: Seventeen percent of the 112 patients required a flap-related reoperation. A wound size greater than 200 cm2 was not associated with reoperation in an unadjusted model (p = 0.64) or adjusting for Gustilo type (p = 0.70). The sample had an overall wound complication rate of 47.3 percent. Patients with a wound size of greater than 200 cm2 were three times more likely to experience wound complications (OR, 3.05; 95 percent CI, 1.08 to 8.62; p = 0.04) when adjusting for moderate to severe wound contamination and wound closure in the operating room. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that wound surface area is an integral determinant for wound complication following soft-tissue flap treatment, but found no association between wound surface area and flap-related reoperation rates.

Introduction Comminuted patella fractures are uncommon and difficult fractures to manage. Multiple treatment modalities have been suggested, with little clinical data to support practice. Recent biomechanical and technical investigations have described successful plate fixation of comminuted patella fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate radiographic, clinical and functional outcome of comminuted patella fractures treated with a fixed angle locking plates. We believe stable fixation, which results in successful fracture union and functional recovery, can be achieved with this technique. Materials and methods A retrospective review was performed at a single regional academic Level 1 trauma hospital. All comminuted patella fractures treated with a fixed angle locking plate (AO/OTA 34C2 and C3) over a six-year period were evaluated. Thirty-six patients were identified. Average length of follow up was 154 weeks (range 12–297 weeks). Twenty patients were available for functional outcome scoring. Primary outcome measures were: Knee Outcome Score (KOS), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LES) and goniometer measured knee range of motion. Secondary outcomes evaluated the need for additional screw or cerclage fixation, reoperation for any reason, bothersome hardware, infection and nonunion. Results Average KOS = 57.2 (20–74), average LES = 58.9 (15–80). Median extension = 0° (full extension), median flexion = 130°. Supplemental screws were used in 17/36 cases; cerclage used in 2/36 cases. Hardware irritation was noted in 4/20 patients, no patient requested elective hardware removal, one patient had failure of fixation and no nonunions were identified. Conclusion Fixed angle plate stabilization of comminuted patella fractures is a viable technique for fracture fixation. Good to excellent return of knee function and low complication rates, including need for hardware removal, can be expected.

The Morel-Lavallée lesion is a closed soft-tissue degloving injury commonly associated with high-energy trauma. The thigh, hip, and pelvic region are the most commonly affected locations. Timely identification and management of a Morel-Lavallée lesion is crucial because distracting injuries in the polytraumatized patient can result in a missed or delayed diagnosis. Bacterial colonization of these closed soft-tissue injuries has resulted in their association with high rates of perioperative infection. Recently, MRI has been used to characterize and classify these lesions. Definitive management is dictated by the size, location, and age of the injury and ranges from percutaneous drainage to open débridement and irrigation. Chronic lesions may lead to the development of pseudocysts and contour deformities of the extremity.

Myriad advances in all fields of cardiac imaging have stimulated and reflected new understanding of cardiac performance, myocardial damage and the mechanisms of heart failure. In this paper, the Heart Failure Association assesses the potential usefulness of innovative imaging modalities in enabling more precise diagnostic and prognostic evaluation, as well as in guiding treatment strategies. Many new methods have gradually penetrated clinical practice and are on their way to becoming a part of routine evaluation. This paper focuses on myocardial deformation and three-dimensional ultrasound imaging; stress tests for the evaluation of contractile and filling function; the progress of magnetic resonance techniques; molecular imaging and other sound innovations. The Heart Failure Association aims to highlight the ways in which paradigms have shifted in several areas of cardiac assessment. These include reassessing of the simplified concept of ejection fraction and implementation of the new parameters of cardiac performance applicable to all heart failure phenotypes; switching from two-dimensional to more accurate and reproducible three-dimensional ultrasound volumetric evaluation; greater tissue characterization via recently developed magnetic resonance modalities; moving from assessing cardiac function and congestion at rest to assessing it during stress; from invasive to novel non-invasive hybrid techniques depicting coronary anatomy and myocardial perfusion; as well as from morphometry to the imaging of pathophysiologic processes such as inflammation and apoptosis. This position paper examines the specific benefits of imaging innovations for practitioners dealing with heart failure aetiology, risk stratification and monitoring, and, in addition, for scientists involved in the development of future research. © 2018 The Authors. European Journal of Heart Failure © 2018 European Society of Cardiology

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Background Reoperation rates are high after surgery for hip fractures. We investigated the effect of a sliding hip screw versus cancellous screws on the risk of reoperation and other key outcomes. Methods For this international, multicentre, allocation concealed randomised controlled trial, we enrolled patients aged 50 years or older with a low-energy hip fracture requiring fracture fixation from 81 clinical centres in eight countries. Patients were assigned by minimisation with a centralised computer system to receive a single large-diameter screw with a side-plate (sliding hip screw) or the present standard of care, multiple small-diameter cancellous screws. Surgeons and patients were not blinded but the data analyst, while doing the analyses, remained blinded to treatment groups. The primary outcome was hip reoperation within 24 months after initial surgery to promote fracture healing, relieve pain, treat infection, or improve function. Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00761813. Findings Between March 3, 2008, and March 31, 2014, we randomly assigned 1108 patients to receive a sliding hip screw (n=557) or cancellous screws (n=551). Reoperations within 24 months did not differ by type of surgical fixation in those included in the primary analysis: 107 (20%) of 542 patients in the sliding hip screw group versus 117 (22%) of 537 patients in the cancellous screws group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·83, 95% CI 0·63–1·09; p=0·18). Avascular necrosis was more common in the sliding hip screw group than in the cancellous screws group (50 patients [9%] vs 28 patients [5%]; HR 1·91, 1·06–3·44; p=0·0319). However, no significant difference was found between the number of medically related adverse events between groups (p=0·82; appendix); these events included pulmonary embolism (two patients [

Study design Systematic review. Objective To identify and describe reconstruction methods for the treatment of transverse sacral fracture (TSF) and to evaluate outcomes based on treatment interventions. Summary of background data A variety of surgical interventions for stabilization of TSFs exist, yet the optimal management remains unclear. Although there are many individual case reports and series describing techniques to stabilize TSF, prior reviews fail to provide a comprehensive summary of current and past surgical techniques and their individual outcomes. Methods Our systematic review searched the PubMed database using keywords identifying sacral fractures with a transverse component, requiring internal fixation for stabilization as well as a review of bibliographies and archives from meeting proceedings. Results Our search located 417 publications for abstract review, of which 27 (109 patients) with TSF were included. Average follow-up was 22 months (range, 0-82 mo). Thirty-eight patients (34%) underwent spinopelvic fixation (SPF), 53 (49%) underwent posterior pelvic ring fixation (PPRF), and 18 (17%) underwent both. PPRF included iliosacral screws (37 patients), transiliac screws (11 patients), transiliac screws with plating (3 patients), posterior plating (1 patient), and transiliac bar (1 patient). Additional injuries causing lumbosacral instability were seen in 8 patients (42%) who underwent SPF, 2 patients (18%) treated with PPRF, and 5 patients (45%) who were treated with both SPF and PPRF. Of those who presented with a neurological deficit, 5 patients (45%) with SPF, 9 (39%) with PPRF, and 3 (30%) with SPF and PPRF experienced full neurological recovery. Five patients (45%) with SPF, 7 (30%) with PPRF, and 5 (50%) with both regained partial neurological function. One patient (9%) with SPF, 7 (30%) with PPRF, and 2 (20%) with both experienced no neurological recovery. Conclusion PPRF seems to be effective for stabilization of TSF. However, in the setting of further injuries causing additional lumbosacral instability, SPF should be used to ensure effective stabilization.

AIMS: In this retrospective study we assessed the predictive value of the coronary calcium score for significant (>50%) stenosis relative to conventional risk factors.METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated 5515 symptomatic patients from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the USA. All had risk factor assessment, computed tomographic coronary angiogram (CTCA) or conventional angiography and a CT scan for coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring. 1539 (27.9%) patients had significant stenosis, 5.5% of whom had zero CAC. In 5074 patients, multiple binary regression showed the most important predictor of significant stenosis to be male gender (B=1.07) followed by diabetes mellitus (B=0.70) smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, family history of CAD and age but not obesity. When the log transformed CAC score was included, it became the most powerful predictor (B=1.25), followed by male gender (B=0.48), diabetes, smoking, family history and age but hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension lost significance. The CAC score is a more accurate predictor of >50% stenosis than risk factors regardless of the means of assessment of stenosis. The sensitivity of risk factors, CAC score and the combination for prediction of >50% stenosis when measured by conventional angiogram was considerably higher than when assessed by CTCA but the specificity was considerably higher when assessed by CTCA. The accuracy of CTCA for predicting >50% stenosis using the CAC score alone was higher (AUC=0.85) than using a combination of the CAC score and risk factors with conventional angiography (AUC=0.81).CONCLUSION: In symptomatic patients, the CAC score is a more accurate predictor of significant coronary stenosis than conventional risk factors.

Item does not contain fulltext BACKGROUND: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) has been extensively evaluated in groups of patients with osteoarthritis, yet not in patients with a femoral neck fracture. This study aimed to determine the reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness of the WOMAC compared with the Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D) questionnaires for the assessment of elderly patients with a femoral neck fracture. METHODS: Reliability was tested by assessing the Cronbach alpha. Construct validity was determined with the Pearson correlation coefficient. Change scores were calculated from ten weeks to twelve months of follow-up. Standardized response means and floor and ceiling effects were determined. Analyses were performed to compare the results for patients less than eighty years old with those for patients eighty years of age or older. RESULTS: The mean WOMAC total score was 89 points before the fracture in the younger patients and increased from 70 points at ten weeks to 81 points at two years postoperatively. In the older age group, these scores were 86, 75, and 78 points. The mean WOMAC pain scores before the fracture and at ten weeks and two years postoperatively were 92, 76, and 87 points, respectively, in the younger age group and 92, 84, and 93 points in the older age group. Function scores were 89, 68, and 79 points for the younger age group and 84, 71, and 73 points for the older age group. The Cronbach alpha for pain, stiffness, function, and the total scale ranged from 0.83 to 0.98 for the younger age group and from 0.79 to 0.97 for the older age group. Construct validity was good, with 82% and 79% of predefined hypotheses confirmed in the younger and older age groups, respectively. Responsiveness was moderate. No floor effects were found. Moderate to large ceiling effects were found for pain and stiffness scales at ten weeks and twelve months in younger patients (18% to 36%) and in the older age group (38% to 53%). CONCLUSIONS: The WOMAC showed good reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness in both age groups of elderly patients with a femoral neck fracture who had been physically and mentally fit before the fracture. The instrument is suitable for use in future clinical studies in these populations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results are based on two clinical trials. The questionnaires used concern pure, clinically relevant issues (ability to walk, climb stairs, etc.). Moreover, the results can be used for future research comparing clinical outcomes (or treatments) for populations with a femoral neck fracture.

En el arrecife de La Entrega se realizaron muestreos bimestrales de Octubre de 2002 a Agosto de 2003. Con el material recolectado, se caracterizo a la comunidad de moluscos asociados al coral Pocillopora damicornis , para comparar su es tructura con la que existia en 1994-1995. Se encontro que la diversidad no ha tenido cambios estadisticamente significativos, sin embargo, si se han presentado cambios en la abundancia de las especies dominantes, entre las que destaca el incremento de organismos del genero Lithophaga y Quoyula madreporarum , y la disminucion de Muricopsis zeteki y Cantharus spp., especies estrechamente ligadas a los procesos en los arrecifes, como la bioerosion en los corales. Estas especies han encontrado, en la fragil estructura del arrecife, condiciones optimas para su colonizacion y desarrollo, que en una escala temporal mas amplia podrian causar desequilibrio ecologico, como ha sucedido en otros arrecifes alrededor del mundo. Diversity and abundance variation of dominant mollusk species in the coral zone of La Entrega, Oaxaca Bimonthly samplings were carried out from October 2002 to August 2003 at La Entrega reef. With the collected material the mollusk community associated to the coral Pocillopora damicornis was characterized in order to compare its current structure with that which it showed during 1994-1995. We observed that diversity had not changed significantly. However, it did show changes in the abundance of the dominant taxa. Particularly an increase in the number of organisms of the genus Lithophaga and of Quoyula madreporarum along with the decrease of Muricopsis zeteki and Canthrus spp . These species are closely related to various processes that occur within the reefs, such as bioerosion of the corals. These species have found optimal conditions for colonization and development within the fragile structure of the reef that in a larger time scale could generate an ecological im balance, as has occurred in other coral reefs around the world.

Specimens of deep-water mollusks were collected with a bottom dredge in the SE Gulf of California during four cruises (TALUD project) in 2000–2001. A total of 24 species (16 Pelecypoda, 5 Gastropoda, and 3 Scaphopoda) were collected. Analyses of environmental data (depth, epibenthic temperature and oxygen content, sediment texture and organic matter content) associated with each record indicated that the community diversity of these deep-water mollusks was related to oxygen concentration and density was correlated with depth. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that the five environmental variables explained 53.8% of observed variance in the model. In a multiple regression analysis, density (ind l−1) was best correlated with dissolved oxygen concentration (R = −0.25), followed by temperature (R = −0.20), organic matter content (R = −0.15), and depth (R = −0.12). As oxygen best explained variance in the CCA it was selected to perform a single correspondence analysis (CA) using the most abundant and frequent species (two Pelecypoda and three Scapophoda). The analysis shows that pelecypods occur in near anoxic values while scaphopods occur in intermediate oxygen concentrations.

De octubre de 2002 a agosto de 2003 se realizaron muestreos bimestrales de la abundancia de erizos en el arrecife de La Entrega. El arrecife fue dividido en dos profundidades (somero 0-6 m y profundo 6-12 m). En cada profundidad se realizaron seis transectos de 50 m de largo por 1 m de ancho. La mayor densidad anual correspondio a Diadema mexicanum (5.96±0.85 ind/m 2 ), seguido de Eucidaris thouarsii (0.46±0.14 ind/m 2 ); Echinometra vanbrunti y Toxopneustes roseus presentaron densidades bajas (0.03±0.01 ind/m 2 y 0.02±0.01 ind/m 2 , respectivamente). Las cuatro poblaciones de erizos presentaron diferencias entre profundidades observandose mayor densidad en lo profundo; si consideramos la abundancia total de erizos en el arrecife, no se registraron diferencias temporales. Empero, al analizar por separado las profundidades, solo E. thouarsii no presento diferencias temporales en ambas profundidades. En diciembre, las densidades de D. mexicanum y E. thouarsii disminuyeron en lo profundo y aumentaron en lo somero, posiblemente porque sucedio una mortalidad coralina en lo somero del arrecife y el incremento de las algas motivo a estas especies a desplazarse a la parte danada. Actualmente el arrecife de La Entrega se encuentra en avanzado estado de erosion lo que puede favorecer que la abundancia de erizos se incremente al igual que su actividad bioerosionadora. Population density of four species of sea urchin (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) at La Entrega Reef, Oaxaca Bimonthly samples of sea urchins fauna inhabiting the La Entrega Reef, Oaxaca, Mexico, were obtained from October 2002 to August 2003. The reef area was divided in two sampling zones, corresponding to shallow (0-6 m) and deep (6-12 m) water. Six transects of 50 m length by 1 m wide were sampled in each zone. Greatest annual density corresponded to Diadema mexicanum (5.96 ± 0.85 ind/m 2 ),followed by Eucidaris thouarsii (0.46 ± 0.14 ind/m 2 ); Echinometra vanbrunti and Toxopneustes roseus presented low densities (0.03 ± 0.01 indv/m 2 and 0.02 ± 0.01 ind/m 2 , respectively). Density of the four populations varied considerably and higher densities were observed in the deep zone. Total abundance of sea urchins (shallow and deep samples) did not vary significantly over time. Abundance per depth range, however, was different over time for all species except for E. thouarsii . In December densities of D. mexicanum and E. thouarsii decreased in the deep zone and increased in the shallow zone, due to massive mortality of coral in the shallow part of the reef and to subsequent increase of algal coverage attracting these species to the shallowest part of the reef. The La Entrega reef is presently in an advanced state of erosion that could favor an increase of sea urchins abundance and of their bioerosion activity.

Paratuberculosis (Ptbc) has a high prevalence in Argentina, that affects dairy and beef cattle. The culture is the gold standard to the diagnosis of the disease. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis), the aetiological agent, is difficult to isolate and grow in culture. In this study, 24 randomly selected cows of the Fresian breed from a dairy herd with a history of Ptbc were used to evaluate the performance of different diagnostic techniques. These animals did not show clinical signs of the disease. However, another animal from this herd presented evidence of clinical disease at the moment of the present study. This animal was necropsied and one strain of M. paratuberculosis was isolated from faeces, lymph nodes and intestine. Serum for indirect absorbed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests and whole blood samples to perform gamma interferon (gammaIFN) release assays were obtained from each animal. Faeces and milk samples to carry out bacteriological cultures, PCR identification of M. paratuberculosis, and direct examinations of smears with Ziehl-Neelsen's (ZN) stain were also collected. Tuberculin test with bovine purified protein derivative (PPD) in the caudal fold was performed. The results showed that 10 out of 24 animals (41.6%) were positive to ELISA. Eight strains of M. paratuberculosis were isolated, six from faeces, two from milk. Five of the animals that excreted the bacteria through faeces were ELISA-positive, whereas the excreters through milk were negative to ELISA. No positive samples by AGID were obtained in clinical asymptomatic animals. Seven samples gave positive gammaIFN results with avian PPD, but only two of these animals were confirmed with culture. Direct PCR, to detect IS900 (M. paratuberculosis) in faeces and milk samples, was negative, but PCR using material taken from faecal and milk cultures gave positive results before visualizing the colonies. No sample was positive by PCR directed to IS6110 (M. tuberculosis complex). There was not always agreement between isolations and ZN in the studied samples. In conclusion, the absorbed ELISA was useful to detect positive animals and excreters through faeces but not through milk. PCR applied to cultures with incipient development before the visualization of colonies was effective to specifically determine the presence of M. paratuberculosis. The gammaIFN test was not able to detect the most positive animals confirmed by culture. The importance of using ELISA and cultures is emphasized by this study but it is necessary to continue with the gammaIFN test development for early detection of the disease.

Transforaminal pelvic fractures are high-energy injuries that are translationally and rotationally unstable. This study compared the biomechanical stability of triangular osteosynthesis vs 2-transsacral-screw fixation in the repair of a transforaminal pelvic fracture model. A transforaminal fracture model was created in 10 cadaveric lumbopelvic specimens. Five of the specimens were stabilized with triangular osteosynthesis, which consisted of unilateral L5-to-ilium lumbopelvic fixation and ipsilateral iliosacral screw fixation. The remaining 5 were stabilized with a 2-transsacral-screw fixation technique that consisted of 2 transsacral screws inserted across S1. All specimens were loaded cyclically and then loaded to failure. Translation and rotation were measured using the MicroScribe 3D digitizing system (Revware Inc, Raleigh, North Carolina). The 2-transsacral-screw group showed significantly greater stiffness than the triangular osteosynthesis group (2-transsacral-screw group, 248.7 N/mm [standard deviation, 73.9]; triangular osteosynthesis group, 125.0 N/mm [standard deviation, 66.9]; P =.02); however, ultimate load and rotational stiffness were not statistically significant. Compared with triangular osteosynthesis fixation, the use of 2 transsacral screws provides a comparable biomechanical stability profile in both translation and rotation. This newly revised 2-transsacral-screw construct offers the traumatologist an alternative method of repair for vertical shear fractures that provides biplanar stability. It also offers the advantage of percutaneous placement in either the prone or supine position.

SUMMARY Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis ( Map ) is the etiological agent of paratuberculosis. In Chile, information about Map isolation from both domestic ruminant and wildlife species has been accumulating, but it has extended to other species. In Chile, deer farming activity has been focused in hunting and meat production. No paratuberculosis surveillance has been reported for these source herds. In the present study, chronic diarrhea and poor body condition in some animals belonging to a deer farm was informed. Four adult affected hinds were euthanized under suspicion of paratuberculosis. In all animals macroscopic and microscopic lesions consistent with paratuberculosis were observed. Map -positive culture results from faecal and tissue samples, complemented with positive-PCR-results from fixed tissues are informed. Evidence has been found on cattle and deer populations being connected since molecular characterization of the Map isolated from deer lack of variation between the cattle control strain. The latter could indicate that both species share the same bacteria, suggesting there is interspecies transmission. Complementary diagnostic methods were accurate to diagnose paratuberculosis and to differentiate the clinical deer case from other mycobacterial infection. The epidemiological findings suggest that the infection in the deer farm could be transmitted from a cattle herd, making this the first reported case of paratuberculosis in deer farm in Chile.

Cherimoya ripening with and without prior storage at 8 degrees C was studied in fruit harvested on early- (EH), mid- (MH), and late-season (LH) dates. Most of the differences in the ripening behavior were observed between EH cherimoyas and fruit from the other two harvest dates. During ripening of nonstored fruit, the increases in ethylene production and respiration rates and in soluble sugars and organic acids contents were faster in EH than in the other fruits (which ripened 1 day later). These differences could be due to variations in the physiological stage at harvest as a result of the different heat units (degree/month) accumulated in the last month of fruit development. During ripening of cold-stored fruit the differences in the time to the onset of the increase in ethylene production and in the accumulation of malic and citric acid were minimized, especially after longer storage times, and the relationship of harvest date with the increases in respiration rate was lost. Glucose and fructose accumulation was reduced by prior cold storage, especially after longer storage duration and in MH and LH fruit, but sucrose hydrolysis was almost complete, as in nonstored fruit. It is suggested that glucose and fructose accumulation is more sensitive to low temperature than sucrose metabolism and that this differential sensitivity is more marked in MH and LH cherimoyas. The time to ripen was inversely related to prior cold storage duration and was dependent on harvest date: the later the harvest date, the longer storage time it took to shorten subsequent ripening.

The effects of short controlled-atmosphere (CA) treatments, involving exposure to 10% O2 combined with 10%, 15% and 20% CO2, on a selection of biochemical parameters and related enzymatic activities of cherimoya fruit were studied. A marked increase in the activity of soluble and cell-wall invertases was found in cherimoyas stored in air, but this was inhibited by CA treatment, which also reduced the accumulation of soluble sugar and malic acid. CA had no effect on the citric acid content and enhanced the rise in fumaric acid concentration, which was directly related to the CO2 level. Differences in the softening of fruit stored in air and in CA were found after 9 days of storage, but the role of the cell-wall hydrolases polygalacturonase and carboxymethyl-cellulase in this behaviour was not elucidated.

The peel of `Fino de Jete' cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) stored at 20 °C in air and in an atmosphere with high levels of CO2 was analyzed for changes in protein levels, color, chlorophyll content, and firmness. The accumulation of immunoreactive proteins was studied using Rubisco and polygalacturonase antibodies. During storage in air, cherimoya peel tissues exhibited a decrease in chlorophyll content and an immunodetected drop in the abundance of the large subunit of ribulose 1,5-biphosphate carboxylase (LSR). An immunodetected rise in polygalacturonase (PG)-related protein was quantified. High CO2 levels delayed the softening of cherimoya fruit, retarded the maximum accumulation of PG-related protein, and maintained LSR levels, greenness, and chlorophyll content of peel tissues.

‘Fino de Jete’ cherimoya fruit were stored at 20, 10, 8, or 6C, 80% relative humidity. Two rises of CO2 production and an ethylene rise following the first peak of respiration were obtained in fruit held at 20C. The ripe stage coincided with the onset of the second respiratory rise. Soluble sugar and organic acid concentration were maximal, and flesh firmness was 18 N in ripe fruit. Lower temperature reduced respiration rate and ethylene production; however, some stimulation of ethylene synthesis was observed at 10C. Cherimoyas ripened to edible condition during 6 days at 10C, but fruit maintained at 8C for up to 12 days required transfer to 20C to ripen properly. Our results suggest that high increases in CO2 are not sufficient to complete cherimoya fruit ripening without the concurrent rise in ethylene production. Citric acid accumulation, inhibition of ethylene synthesis, and reduced accumulation of sucrose were observed during storage at 6C. Removal to 20C after 12 days at 6C resulted in no ripening, almost complete inhibition of ethylene synthesis, and severe skin browning. Thus, 8C is the lowest tolerable temperature for prolonged cold storage of cherimoya ‘Fino de Jete’. Fruit can be held at 8C for up to 12 days without damage from chilling injury.

Major peripheral nerve injuries are often associated with devastating functional deficits. Current management techniques fail to achieve adequate functional neural regeneration, and the development of adjunct therapies is necessary to improve outcomes. Recent efforts at enhancing the regeneration rate of peripheral nerves and developing axonal guidance channels or conduits have had limited success. The neuromuscular junction serves as the interface between the peripheral nerves and muscle. This critical area undergoes significant changes following peripheral nerve injury and induces end-organ atrophy after denervation, which limits the chance of true functional regeneration. Stabilization of the neuromuscular junction may be an important adjunct in peripheral nerve repair and should be explored as a method of managing major nerve injuries.

La pesca de escribano en Isla Contoy no causa efecto negativo sobre las poblaciones de otras especies de peces. La talla de primera captura coincide con organismos inmaduros o en maduración, hembras con talla superior a este parámetro presentan gónada madura. Al igual que en otros estudios, la hembra es significativamente mayor que los machos pero contrario a otros trabajos, la cantidad de machos duplica a hembras (2:1).

Vertically unstable fractures of the pelvis are uncommon high-energy injuries. There exist various methods of fixation for posterior pelvic ring injuries such as anterior plating, tension band-plating, trans-iliac bars, spinopelvic fixation, and iliosacral (IS) screws. Recent literature supports that triangular osteosynthesis (spinopelvic fixation) provides superior fixation strength compared to traditionally placed IS screw fixation. The theoretical advantage of triangular osteosynthesis fixation is that this technique combines unilateral spinopelvic distraction osteosynthesis for vertical stabilization with ipsilateral iliosacral screw fixation for horizontal stabilization, thereby providing biplanar stability. While spinopelvic fixation provides biplanar biomechanical stability there are inherent risks of spinal instrumentation, including neurologic injury from malpositioned pedicle screws, hardware loosening or breakage, local infection, wound dehiscence, hardware prominence requiring removal, and predisposition of spinal arthritis. Iliosacral screws are thought to be advantageous in that they can be applied percutaneously or as an open procedure, potentially limit soft tissue dissection, and minimize blood loss. However, IS screw fixation alone has been associated with fixation failure in unstable vertical shear pelvic fractures. There exists a vertical shear repair technique that has been used in revisional and non-union cases, which utilizes trans-sacral screws to stabilize vertical shear fractures. This trans-sacral technique provides biplanar stability and can be implemented without spinal instrumentation. The purpose of this study was to compare the structural integrity of trans-sacral (TS) versus triangular osteosynthesis (TO) in an unstable sacral fracture model.Copyright © 2009 by ASME

Inhibition of melanosis was studied in pink shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) treated on shipboard with various concentrations of 4-hexylresorcinol (4-HR)-based formulations. Treatments, applied by dipping and dusting, were carried out at sea immediately following the catch. A selection of the most effective treatments was made to determine the level of 4-HR residues in the muscle and viscera. 4-Hexylresorcinol proved effective at extending shelf-life over that of untreated shrimp at all the concentrations tested. However, the minimum dose of 4-HR to avoid melanosis for at least one week was found to be 0.5%, with a residual level in muscle ranging from ≈80 to 90 mg/kg at day 2 of storage to >200 mg/kg after 7 days. Residues around 2-3 mg/kg were shown to be effective to prevent melanosis in pink shrimp only for 2 days from a commercial point of view., This work was funded by the Consejerıa de Agricultura y Pesca, Junta de Andalucía [Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Autonomous Government of Andalusia] (Project 110105030020).

The ability of an emergency adjuvanted FMDV vaccine to elicit early protective immune response in mice was examined. We studied the efficacy of several adjuvants to induce such protection. The aqueous IMS1313 plus inactivated FMDV induce a higher protective immune response than the vaccine with inactivated virus alone at seven days post vaccination (dpv). Mice vaccinated with this formula showed higher lymphoproliferative index values and higher IL-2, IL-4 and IFNgamma levels than the controls.

Paratuberculosis (Ptbc) has a high prevalence in Argentina, that affects dairy and beef cattle. The culture is the gold standard to the diagnosis of the disease. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis), the aetiological agent, is difficult to isolate and grow in culture. In this study, 24 randomly selected cows of the Fresian breed from a dairy herd with a history of Ptbc were used to evaluate the performance of different diagnostic techniques. These animals did not show clinical signs of the disease. However, another animal from this herd presented evidence of clinical disease at the moment of the present study. This animal was necropsied and one strain of M. paratuberculosis was isolated from faeces, lymph nodes and intestine. Serum for indirect absorbed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests and whole blood samples to perform gamma interferon (gammaIFN) release assays were obtained from each animal. Faeces and milk samples to carry out bacteriological cultures, PCR identification of M. paratuberculosis, and direct examinations of smears with Ziehl-Neelsen's (ZN) stain were also collected. Tuberculin test with bovine purified protein derivative (PPD) in the caudal fold was performed. The results showed that 10 out of 24 animals (41.6%) were positive to ELISA. Eight strains of M. paratuberculosis were isolated, six from faeces, two from milk. Five of the animals that excreted the bacteria through faeces were ELISA-positive, whereas the excreters through milk were negative to ELISA. No positive samples by AGID were obtained in clinical asymptomatic animals. Seven samples gave positive gammaIFN results with avian PPD, but only two of these animals were confirmed with culture. Direct PCR, to detect IS900 (M. paratuberculosis) in faeces and milk samples, was negative, but PCR using material taken from faecal and milk cultures gave positive results before visualizing the colonies. No sample was positive by PCR directed to IS6110 (M. tuberculosis complex). There was not always agreement between isolations and ZN in the studied samples. In conclusion, the absorbed ELISA was useful to detect positive animals and excreters through faeces but not through milk. PCR applied to cultures with incipient development before the visualization of colonies was effective to specifically determine the presence of M. paratuberculosis. The gammaIFN test was not able to detect the most positive animals confirmed by culture. The importance of using ELISA and cultures is emphasized by this study but it is necessary to continue with the gammaIFN test development for early detection of the disease.

Several mechanical parameters obtained by means of compression and penetration tests, and changes in cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) fruit quality during storage in air and two controlled atmospheres (CA), (3% O2+ 0% CO2 and 3% O2 + 3% CO2) were analysed. A gradient of softening was found among the equatorial and the apical areas of the flesh during CA storage, as assessed by localized penetration tests. The combination of low O2/elevated CO2 (3% O2 + 3% CO2) increased this gradient and had a greater inhibiting effect on skin softening than low O2. It appeared that the prevention of softening by CA was stronger in the less mature tissues (equatorial and outer areas) than in the more mature tissues (apical and inner areas around the longitudinal axis). CA delayed or inhibited changes in fruit quality observed during air storage: increases in total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and yellowness of the flesh (b), and diminution in flesh lightness of colour (L). A good relationship between an objective quality index (QI, where QI = TSS + TA + L/b) and the compression slope (CS) was found during storage under all the conditions tested. It is suggested that the relationship, QI = 29.25 + 0.04 × CS-0.0023 × CS2 could be useful when assessing stages of cherimoya fruit quality during storage under different conditions by performing a nondestructive, compression test. © Springer-Verlag 1999., This research was supported by grant ALI92-0467 from the CICYT (Spain)

Thiol hypersensitivity in a mutant of Escherichia coli (IS16) was reversed by complementation with a plasmid that carried the ubiX gene. The mutant had low ubiquinone content. Complementation elevated the ubiquinone level and eliminated thiol hypersensitivity. Analysis of chromosomal ubiX genes indicated that both parent and mutant strains were ubiX mutants. The low ubiquinone content of IS16 was possibly caused by a ubiD ubiX genotype. A ubiA mutant also exhibited thiol hypersensitivity. Neither IS16 nor the ubiA mutant strain could produce alkaline phosphatase (in contrast to their parent strains) after 2 h of induction, thus showing Dsb − phenotypes. The phenomena of thiol hypersensitivity and low ubiquinone content may be linked by their connections to the periplasmic disulfide bond redox machinery.

The activities of the cell-wall degrading enzymes polygalacturonase (PG) and cellulase and of two forms of invertase were studied during the ripening of cherimoya fruit. All activities showed maxima coinciding with the climacteric maximum in respiration and the beginning of the most pronounced rise in ethylene production. The activities of PG and cellulase increased three-fold concomitantly with the highest drop in flesh firmness. After reaching maxima, the activity of the soluble invertase was almost stabilized, while that of the cell-wall bound form decreased to values similar to those of preclimacteric fruit. Since fructose and glucose concentrations increased continuously during ripening it is suggested that sucrose was hydrolyzed mainly by the soluble invertase. Cherimoya PG and cellulase had maximum activities at pH 5.0 and 5.5, respectively. PG activity was more thermostable than cellulase activity (complete inactivation by heating for 5 min at 75°C and 60°C, respectively). The activity of both invertases had a similar pH optimum (3.0-3.5), heat stability (complete inactivation by heating for 5 min at 55-60°C) and affinity for sucrose (K(m) of 2.6 and 3.8 mM).

Prior studies from this laboratory, using untreated castrated (CASTRATE) rats and testosterone-treated castrated (TESTO) rats, have shown that the magnitude of the intracavernosal pressure increase during erection is androgen dependent. Studies from this and other laboratories have also presented evidence suggesting that penile erection is mediated principally by nitric oxide (NO). The present report was designed to confirm that androgens maintain the availability of cavernosal NO and to determine if this androgenic action is exerted at the genomic level modulating the expression of the neuronal form of the nitric oxide synthase gene (nNOS). The results showed that administration of supplemental L-arginine failed to augment the erectile response in either group, suggesting that substrate availability is not a cause of the reduced response in CASTRATE animals. Inhibition of NO synthesis with a nitro-arginine competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase enzyme protein (NOS) resulted in strong inhibition of erection in both TESTO and CASTRATE rats. When given in conjunction with ganglionic stimulation to induce erection, the NO releasing drug, sodium nitro-prusside (SNP), increased intracavernosal pressure in CASTRATE rats but not in TESTO rats, suggesting a deficiency of the available NO in CASTRATE-animals. Finally, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated that mRNA levels for the enzyme nNOS in the penis were greater in TESTO animals than in CASTRATE rats. These results support the hypothesis that androgens mediate the erectile response in the rat penis by stimulating the expression of the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase, thus maintaining an adequate supply of NO.

The modern design of conveyor belts focused on producing a “Mean and Lean” product, in other words, a conveying system with the minimal capital and operating costs and maximum availability, using the latest technology available, is discussed.

Low temperature storage of avocados (Persea americana Mill.) is someway limited by the ocurrence of chilling injury (CI). The CI symptons of avocado include atypical respiration and ethylene production patterns and failure to soften properly upon warming after storage (Wang, 1990).