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The gold standard of treatment for ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries has been reconstruction. Despite early repair studies yielding less than satisfactory results, there has been recent renewed interest in UCL repair due to improved outcomes and new technologies. Data regarding clinical use of these procedures are lacking. The purpose of this study was to define the epidemiological trends of UCL repair and reconstruction surgery from 2010 to 2019, compare demographic characteristics of patients undergoing either procedure, and determine incidence of concomitant procedures in each surgical group as well as comparing respective patient-level charges.

Ubiquitin-like with plant homeodomain and ring finger domains 1 (UHRF1) encodes a master regulator of DNA methylation that has emerged as an epigenetic driver in human cancers. To date, no studies have evaluated UHRF1expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). This study was undertaken to explore the therapeutic potential of targeting UHRF1 in MPM.

Bleeding is a consequence of insufficient hemostasis and excessive bleeding at a surgical site is associated with an increased risk of post-operative infection, transfusion and re-operation, in addition to increased hospital length of stay and costs. Surgeons employ a range of methods to achieve hemostasis, including topical hemostatic agents of differing composition and properties. Hemostatic powders are a sub-group of topical hemostats, which can be used in helping as adjuncts to manage troublesome bleeding in a variety of situations. As this technology is relatively new and potentially not well known by the broad surgical community, no specific guidelines or recommendations for the optimal use of hemostatic powders in surgery currently exist. A steering group throughout Europe of multidisciplinary surgeons, expert in hemostasis and hemostatics, identified from literature and from personal experience, five key topics. When to use hemostatic powder, the evidence for use, benefits of use, safety remarks and considerations in various surgical specialties. Thirty-seven statements were subsequently drawn from these five key topics. An online survey was sent to 128 high-volume surgeons working in breast surgery, gynaecological and obstetric surgery, general and emergency surgery, thoracic surgery and urological surgery in Europe to assess agreement (consensus) with these statements. Consensus was defined as high if ≥ 75% and very high if ≥ 90% of respondents agreed with a statement. A total of 79 responses were received and consensus among the surgical experts was very high in 27 (73%) statements, high in 8 (22%) statements and was not achieved in 2 (5%) statements. Based on the consensus scores, the steering group produced 16 key recommendations which they considered could improve patient outcomes by reducing post-operative bleeding and its associated complications using hemostatic powder.

ABSTRACTDry direct-seeded rice is widely practiced in drought-prone environments in tropical Asia where mechanized options for crop establishment are in great demand. The objective of this study is to identify the suitable design of a hand tractor-mounted multigrain seed drill under biophysical conditions in the Philippines. The prototype was newly designed and tested under field conditions in three provinces in 2015 and 2016. The results suggested that the prototype with tined furrow openers and an inclined circular seed plate in the hopper for seed metering driven by the ground wheel through the combination of chain and sprocket produced rice grain yield similar to the crop established from broadcasting. Field experiments also confirmed that the seed drill has a capacity of over 2 ha day−1for rice and over 3 ha day−1for mung bean, and thus, the prototype appears promising for rainfed lowlands in the Philippines.Abbreviations: BS: broadcast seeding; FS: furrow seeding; IRRI: International Rice Research Institute; MSD: Multigrain seed drill; PhilRice: Philippine Rice Research Institute

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) offer promising opportunities for preventing HIV-1 infection in humans. Immunoprophylaxis with potent bNAbs efficiently protects non-human primates from mucosal transmission even after repeated challenges. However, the precise mechanisms of bNAb-mediated viral inhibition in mucosal tissues are currently unknown. Here, we show that immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA bNAbs do not interfere with the endocytic transport of HIV-1 across epithelial cells, a process referred to as transcytosis. Instead, both viruses and antibodies are translocated to the basal pole of epithelial cells, possibly in the form of an immune complex. Importantly, as opposed to free virions, viral particles bound by bNAbs are no longer infectious after transepithelial transit. Post-transcytosis neutralization activity of bNAbs displays comparable inhibitory concentrations as those measured in classical neutralization assays. Thus, bNAbs do not block the transport of incoming HIV-1 viruses across the mucosal epithelium but rather neutralize the transcytosed virions, highlighting their efficient prophylactic and protective activity in vivo.

Pyelonephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys which may be caused by a bacterial infection. Symptoms include fever, back pain and impaired kidney function. Determining the virulence or strength of the organism may be helpful in predicting the likelihood that the inflammation will affect the urinary tract. Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria was found in 84 children between the ages of 2 months and 6 years. Children with one particular strain of the bacteria had a rapid onset of symptoms with high fever and high white blood cell count, indicating a severe infection. The severity of the symptoms brought the patients to get treatment earlier than patients having other bacteria strains. Identifying the organism and beginning early treatment may ultimately reduce the chances of kidney damage.

Objective: To determine seroprotection for the vaccine‐preventable diseases (VPDs) measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis B among new employees seen at a Victorian tertiary hospital staff clinic. Methods: Employees who presented to the staff clinic for immunisation assessment between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013 were included. Demographic data, self‐reported disease history and previous vaccination status were reviewed retrospectively to determine impact on serological results. Results: A total of 1,901 new employees were included, 83% of whom were at risk of direct contact with blood or body substances. Overall, the proportion of workers seropositive to measles was 88%, mumps 90%, rubella 78%, varicella 93% and hepatitis B 80%. Staff born before 1966 were more likely to have positive measles or mumps serology but negative rubella or hepatitis B serology (p<0.05 for each). Staff who self‐reported measles (99% vs. 93%, p=0.03) or varicella infection (98% vs. 92%, p<0.001) were more likely to be seropositive, but those reporting previous vaccination to measles, mumps or rubella were no more likely to be seropositive. Conclusions and implications: This study demonstrated levels of seropositivity of 78–93% for the five VPDs. Despite recognised limitations of serological testing, 10–20% of new employees to a healthcare institution lacking seroprotection represents a potentially unacceptable risk of nosocomial transmission of these VPDs. Our findings support ongoing serological testing of new healthcare staff at risk of direct contact with blood or body substances.

It turns out that math is the only class that we don't have together. - MAIA N. My school's student council organized a canned goods drive, so of course I signed up to help box the donations. I wanted to impress the new guy in my grade, so I suggested that we study together for the next math test. [Extracted from the article]

Greater experience with urological laparoscopy has lead to increasing interest in its use for reconstructive surgery, such as pyeloplasty.

The excavation of a 1st century BC cremation cemetery having ring-ditch surrounded interments is reported. One of its two richly accompanied burials included an unparalleled drapery-cast stud/knob – an extraordinary object found within a cemetery with uniquely delineated graves. Given its location on the northern fringe of the distribution of Aylesford-Swarling cremation burials, the site prompts questions of core/periphery interrelationships, regionally and group definition.

Prenatal and postnatal influences on testicular development in boars were investigated utilizing crossfostering techniques. Dams were paired within 24 hr after parturition and were randomly assigned to nurse either a large (14 pigs) or small (six pigs) litter. Each litter contained approximately equal numbers of progeny from each dam with males given preference during the transfer. Data were collected on 189 boars representing 42 litters and three farrowing seasons.Pigs were weaned at 56 days. Testes width, testes length and body weight were measured at 56, 84, 112, 140 and 168 days. Boars reared in small litters were heavier at 56, 84, 112, 140 (P<05) and 168 (P>.05) days. Testes width and length in situwere greater in boars from small litters at all ages but the differences were significant only at 56 and 84 days. Boars were castrated at 168 days and excised testes were weighed and measured. Epididymides were separated from the testes and weighed also. Total sperm number in the testes and epididymides were determined. There were no significant differences due to litter size as reared for any of the measures on excised testes or epididymides.Season affected testes length (P<.05) at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months. Prenatal effects were generally not significant. However, these effects accounted for up to 30% of the variance, suggesting possible important genetic influences on testicular development.

Dismembered pyeloplasty offers the best long-term results for the treatment of pelviuretic junction (PUJ) obstruction and is the only technique applicable to all cases, regardless of aetiology. The disadvantages of open pyeloplasty (wound pain, prolonged hospitalization and a delayed return to normal activities) can largely be overcome by the adoption of a laparoscopic approach. The trauma of access may be further reduced by direct retroperitoneal endoscopy, and long-term anastomotic patency enhanced by the use of fibrin glue, based on the results of a recent comparative study of tissue approximation techniques by the first author. Retroperitoneoscopic dismembered fibrin-glued pyeloplasty was performed in a female with PUJ obstruction, previously complicated by pyonephrosis, in an operating time of 230 min. Drainage and post-operative opiate analgesic requirements were minimal and the patient was discharged home on the fourth post-operative day. Diuresis renography at 3 months (6 weeks following stent removal) revealed a normal draining upper renal tract. Long-term renographic follow-up is necessary to fully evaluate this technique.

Wistar rats of the inbred CPB-WE and the random bred Cpb:WU strains have been used in neuro-anatomical studies. In both groups of rats a high incidence of hydrocephalus was observed. In the CPB-WE rats the ventricular dilatation was accompanied by optic tract lesions and microphthalmia. The present report describes the gross and microscopic findings in these rats and discusses the possible aetiology.

Earlier studies have shown that the majority of Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infections which possess a D-mannose-resistant adhesin contain gene sequences homologous to the pap pilus gene sequences encoded on the recombinant plasmid pRHU845. In this report, several E. coli isolates from urinary tract infections were examined to determined the arrangement of pap-related sequences. Copies of gene sequences homologous to the entire pap operon were found to exist at multiple sites in the chromosomes of some strains. The position of the pap operon(s) with respect to adjacent sequences was also found to be variable.

Optimal conditions for in vitro adherence of Escherichia coli to uroepithelial cells, previously shown to more efficient for strains causing acute symptomatic than that for strains causing "asymptomatic" urinary tract infections, were investigated. Uroepithelial cells from fresh morning urine of healthy individuals and E. coli bacteria from patients with various forms of urinary tract infeciton were used. Adhesion was found to vary, between individuals and epithelial cell types, with epithelial cell viability, bacterial cultivation medium and growth phase, number of bacteria added to the epithelial cells, and incubation time and temperature. Adhesion was also influenced by variations in pH and osmolarity. Optimal test conditions were obtained with post-log-phase bacterial cultures grown on nutrient broth when 10(8) bacteria were added to 10(5) epithelial cells and incubated for 60 min. Considerable variation was found between experiments done on different days, whereas the variation between duplicates was small. The method described may provide a useful tool in the study of the host-parasite relationship in urinary tract infections.

The extent of chromosomal-gene diversity among 261 isolates of Escherichia coli sharing single O, K, or H antigens and various combinations thereof was estimated by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, which detects allelic variation in structural genes. The results of this study indicate that the genetic diversity among isolates sharing single antigenic determinants can approach or equal that observed among randomly chosen strains; that the magnitude of the diversity varies among antigens; and that the genetic diversity is reduced, but not eliminated, among isolates sharing two antigenic determinants. With one exception, isolates of the same O:K:H serotype were of identical or closely related electrophoretic types (ETs). Isolates of the same ET generally shared the same combination of antigenic determinants, but some ETs included isolates of different serotypes. The implications of these findings for epidemiological research and the clone hypothesis of population structure are discussed, and possible evolutionary mechanisms causing antigenic divergence and convergence are considered.

The metabolic response to nephrectomy was studied in patients undergoing laparoscopic (n = 10) and open (n = 10) nephrectomy using a standardized anaesthetic technique. The median percentage change from baseline in urinary free cortisol excretion was significantly greater and prolonged in the open group. The median percentage change from baseline in urinary adrenaline excretion was greater in the laparoscopic group at 24 h, but fell rapidly thereafter and was significantly lower than in the open group by 48 h following surgery. Although there was no significant difference between the two groups at 24 h, post-operative pulmonary function and oxygen-ation were significantly better in the laparoscopic group at 48 h following operation. Laparoscopic nephrectomy evokes a lesser stress response than its open counterpart and results in superior post-operative pulmonary function. It offers real biological advantages over conventional surgery to patients with limited cardiorespiratory and nutritional reserves (and perhaps malignancy), and potential benefits to all patients requiring nephrectomy.

The frequency of isolation of Burkholderia cepacia from the sputum of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is increasing. Using the human A549 lung epithelial cell line, we have investigated the ability of B. cepacia exoproducts to stimulate interleukin-8 (IL-8) release. Cell-free supernatants from a panel of CF clinical, non-CF clinical, and nonclinical B. cepacia isolates were found to stimulate IL-8 release, with levels ranging from 11.8 +/- 2.8 to 80.0 +/- 3.5 ng/ml. A similar pattern was seen at the level of the IL-8 mRNA. The bioactivity of the IL-8 was confirmed by examining its effect on the intracellular free calcium in neutrophils and inhibition by a neutralizing anti-IL-8 antibody. B. cepacia lipopolysaccharide, which was able to stimulate IL-8 release from monocytes, did not release IL-8 from the A549 cells. Furthermore, the stimulating ability of the bacterial cell-free supernatant was not diminished by polymyxin B, was markedly reduced by boiling, and appeared unrelated to N-acylhomoserine lactones. The ability of B. cepacia to elicit IL-8 release from epithelial cells may be important in the pathology of CF.

Cells of Escherichia coli were plasmolyzed with sucrose. They were classified according to length by way of electron micrographs taken from samples prepared by agar filtration. The percentage of plasmolyzed cells increased about two- and threefold between mean cell sizes of newborn and separating cells. However, dividing cells were less frequently plasmolyzed than nondividing cells of the same length class. Analysis of cell halves (prospective daughters) in dividing cells showed that they behaved as independent cellular units with respect to plasmolysis. The results indicate that compressibility of the protoplast (given a certain plasmolysis space) is inversely related to cell size. That a dividing cell does not react as one osmotic compartment to osmotic stress may suggest that cell size-dependent strength of the cell membrane-cell wall association, rather than variation in turgor, plays a role during the cell division cycle.

Correction to: Mucosal Immunology advance online publication, 14 December 2016; doi:10.1038/mi.2016.106 Although Supplementary Movies 1–4 did not appear with the article when it was originally published, they are now accessible along with the other Supplementary Information. The publisher regrets the error.

Significant advances in fiberoptic and digital technology for laparoscopic surgery have been made over the past decade. One area that appears to be overlooked in this field is the advancement in the display of the image during laparoscopic surgery. The authors describe the use of digital video-cinema equipment as a simple and effective technique that enhances the projection of the surgical view. This method has been found to be visually more comfortable, aiding the surgical procedure, and extremely useful as a teaching tool.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

The non-secretor phenotype was significantly associated with the occurrence of renal scarring among patients with recurrent pyelonephritis. Girls (n= 77) with recurrent pyelonephritis were followed from the first known episode of infection for up to twelve years with repeated radiological investigations. They were divided into two categories: those with renal scars (n= 35) and those who did not develop scars (n= 42). There was a significant over-representation of non-secretors among the patients with scarring, (14/35, 40%) compared to the healthy controls (21.8%, P < 0.05). The frequency of non-secretors among the girls who did not develop scars in spite of repeated episodes of acute pyelonephritis was not significantly different from the healthy controls (9/42, 21%, n.s.). This study provides a basis for analysis of the influence of secretor state on host-parasite interaction in the urinary tract.