A move from conventional cages to either an enriched cage or a noncage system may affect the safety or quality, or both, of the eggs laid by hens raised in this new environment. The safety of the ...eggs may be altered either microbiologically through contamination of internal contents with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella Enteritidis) or other pathogens, or both, or chemically due to contamination of internal contents with dioxins, pesticides, or heavy metals. Quality may be affected through changes in the integrity of the shell, yolk, or albumen along with changes in function, composition, or nutrition. Season, hen breed, flock age, and flock disease-vaccination status also interact to affect egg safety and quality and must be taken into account. An understanding of these different effects is prudent before any large-scale move to an alternative housing system is undertaken.
Deciphering the function of the many genes previously classified as uncharacterized "open reading frame" (orf) completes our understanding of cell function and its pathophysiology.
Whole-exome ...sequencing, yeast 2-hybrid and transcriptome analyses together with molecular characterization are used here to uncover the function of the C2orf69 gene.
We identified loss-of-function mutations in the uncharacterized C2orf69 gene in eight individuals with brain abnormalities involving hypomyelination and microcephaly, liver dysfunction and recurrent autoinflammation. C2orf69 contains an N-terminal signal peptide that is required and sufficient for mitochondrial localization. Consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction, patients showed signs of respiratory chain defect and a CRISPR-Cas9 knockout cell model of C2orf69 had similar respiratory chain defects. Patient-derived cells revealed alterations in immunological signaling pathways. Deposits of PAS-positive material in tissues from affected individuals together with decreased glycogen branching enzyme 1 (GBE1) activity indicated an additional impact of C2orf69 on glycogen metabolism.
Our study identifies C2orf69 as an important regulator of human mitochondrial function and suggests an additional influence on other metabolic pathways.
Many patients with bi-lobar liver tumours are not eligible for liver resection due to an insufficient future liver remnant (FLR). To reduce the risk of posthepatectomy liver failure and the primary ...cause of death, regenerative procedures intent to increase the FLR before surgery. The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the available literature and outcomes on the effectiveness of simultaneous portal and hepatic vein embolization (PVE/HVE) versus portal vein embolization (PVE) alone.
A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase up to September 2022. The primary outcome was resectability and the secondary outcome was the FLR volume increase.
Eight studies comparing PVE/HVE with PVE and six retrospective PVE/HVE case series were included. Pooled resectability within the comparative studies was 75 per cent in the PVE group (n = 252) versus 87 per cent in the PVE/HVE group (n = 166, OR 1.92 (95% c.i., 1.13-3.25)) favouring PVE/HVE (P = 0.015). After PVE, FLR hypertrophy between 12 per cent and 48 per cent (after a median of 21-30 days) was observed, whereas growth between 36 per cent and 67 per cent was reported after PVE/HVE (after a median of 17-31 days). In the comparative studies, 90-day primary cause of death was similar between groups (2.5 per cent after PVE versus 2.2 per cent after PVE/HVE), but a higher 90-day primary cause of death was reported in single-arm PVE/HVE cohort studies (6.9 per cent, 12 of 175 patients).
Based on moderate/weak evidence, PVE/HVE seems to increase resectability of bi-lobar liver tumours with a comparable safety profile. Additionally, PVE/HVE resulted in faster and more pronounced hypertrophy compared with PVE alone.
Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is widely used to reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSI), but there is uncertainty as to what the proportion of SSI reduction is. Therefore, it is ...difficult for surgeons to properly weigh the costs, risks and benefits for individual patients when deciding on the use of SAP, making it challenging to promote antimicrobial stewardship in primary practice settings. The objective of this study was to map the veterinary evidence focused on assessing the effect of SAP on SSI development and in order to identify surgical procedures with some research evidence and possible knowledge gaps. In October 2021 and December 2022, Scopus, CAB Abstracts, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase and MEDLINE were systematically searched. Double blinded screening of records was performed to identify studies in companion animals that reported on the use of SAP and SSI rates. Comparative data were available from 34 out of 39123 records screened including: eight randomised controlled trials (RCT), 23 cohort studies (seven prospective and 16 retrospective) and three retrospective case series representing 12476 dogs and cats in total. Extracted data described peri- or post-operative SAP in nine, and 25 studies, respectively. In the eight RCTs evaluating SAP in companion animals, surgical procedure coverage was skewed towards orthopaedic stifle surgeries in referral settings and there was large variation in SAP protocols, SSI definitions and follow-up periods. More standardized data collection and agreement of SSI definitions is needed to build stronger evidence for optimized patient care.
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•There was a substantial lack of evidence for antimicrobial prophylaxis practices•There was a general lack of details in the reporting of antimicrobial (AM) usage•There was a lack of studies on common surgical procedures seen in primary practice•There was great variation in surgical site infection (SSI) definitions applied•Standards for AM and SSI outcomes is highly needed for future comparative studies
Acquired resistance of Escherichia coli to 3rd generation cephalosporin antimicrobials is a relevant issue in intensive broiler farming. In Belgium, about 35% of the E. coli strains isolated from ...live broilers are resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporins while over 60% of the broilers are found to be carrier of these 3rd generation cephalosporin resistant E. coli (CREC) after selective isolation. A model aimed at estimating the exposure of the consumer to CREC by consumption of broiler meat was elaborated. This model consists of different modules that simulate the farm to fork chain starting from primary production, over slaughter, processing and distribution to storage, preparation and consumption of broiler meat. Input data were obtained from the Belgian Food Safety agencies' annual monitoring plan and results from dedicated research programs or surveys. The outcome of the model using the available baseline data estimates that the probability of exposure to 1000 colony forming units (cfu) of CREC or more during consumption of a meal containing chicken meat is ca. 1.5%, the majority of exposure being caused by cross contamination in the kitchen. The proportion of CREC (within the total number of E. coli) at primary production and the overall contamination of broiler carcasses or broiler parts with E. coli are dominant factors in the consumer exposure to CREC. The risk of this exposure for human health cannot be estimated at this stage given a lack of understanding of the factors influencing the transfer of cephalosporin antimicrobial resistance genes from these E. coli to the human intestinal bacteria and data on the further consequences of the presence of CREC on human health.
► Exposure to large quantities of CREC occurs frequently. ► Cross contamination in the kitchen is the main exposure route. ► Reduction of CREC prevalence in primary production reduces exposure. ► Respect of good hygiene practices in the slaughterhouse reduces exposure.
The prevalence of respiratory pathogens in diseased veal calves was determined in 24 respiratory disease outbreaks in 15 herds in Belgium. Bacteria were cultured from nasopharyngeal swabs and ...seroconversion against viruses and Mycoplasma bovis was determined on paired sera. At the individual calf level, Mycoplasma species, Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida, were isolated from 70.5 per cent, 21.5 per cent and 26.0 per cent of swabs, respectively. At the herd level, the presence of M bovis could be confirmed in 84.6 per cent of the herds examined. Seroconversion against bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was present in 71.4 per cent of herds, parainfluenzavirus type 3 in 53.3 per cent, bovine respiratory syncytial virus in 40.0 per cent, bovine adenovirus type 3 in 46.7 per cent, bovine coronavirus in 30.0 per cent, and bovine herpesvirus type 1 in 26.7 per cent. At postmortem examination, Mycoplasma species could be cultured from 61.9 per cent of pneumonic lungs (n=21). Sixty per cent of calves tested were positive for BVDV (n=20), and 20.0 per cent were positive for bovine respiratory syncytial virus (n=16).
Background: Postoperative ileus (POI) is a frequent and often fatal complication of colic surgery. Reliably effective treatments are not available.
Objectives: To determine risk factors and ...protective factors associated with POI, and to assess the effect of lidocaine IV on short‐term survival.
Animals: One hundred and twenty‐six horses that underwent small intestinal colic surgery and that survived for at least 24 hours postoperatively.
Methods: Retrospective cross‐sectional study. The association of 31 pre‐, intra‐, and postoperative variables with POI and the association of lidocaine treatment with short‐term survival were investigated. Associations were evaluated with univariable logistic regression models, followed by multivariable analysis.
Results: Significant associations of high heart rate (odds ratio OR = 1.05, 95% confidence interval CI 1.03–1.08), the presence of more than 8 L of reflux at admission (OR = 3.02, 95% CI 1.13–8.02) and the performance of a small intestinal resection (OR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.15–5.27) with an increased probability of POI were demonstrated. Prophylactic lidocaine treatment was significantly associated with a reduced incidence of POI (OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.11–0.56). Lidocaine treatment was also significantly associated with enhanced short‐term survival (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.09–0.98).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The variables associated with an increased risk of POI can be useful in identifying horses at risk of POI and in providing a more accurate prognosis. The results are supportive for lidocaine IV as an effective prokinetic treatment after small intestinal colic surgery.
Background: Extended liver resection is the only treatment option for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). Bile salts and the gut hormone FGF19, both promoters of liver regeneration (LR), have not ...been investigated in patients undergoing resection for pCCA. We aimed to evaluate the bile salt-FGF19 axis perioperatively in pCCA and study its effects on LR. Methods: Plasma bile salts, FGF19, and C4 (bile salt synthesis marker) were assessed in patients with pCCA and controls (colorectal liver metastases), before and after resection on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, and 7. Hepatic bile salts were determined in intraoperative liver biopsies. Results: Partial liver resection in pCCA elicited a sharp decline in bile salt and FGF19 plasma levels on POD 1 and remained low thereafter, unlike in controls, where bile salts rose gradually. Preoperatively, suppressed C4 in pCCA normalized postoperatively to levels similar to those in the controls. The remnant liver volume and postoperative bilirubin levels were negatively associated with postoperative C4 levels. Furthermore, patients who developed postoperative liver failure had nearly undetectable C4 levels on POD 7. Hepatic bile salts strongly predicted hyperbilirubinemia on POD 7 in both groups. Finally, postoperative bile salt levels on day 7 were an independent predictor of LR. Conclusions: Partial liver resection alters the bile salt-FGF19 axis, but its derailment is unrelated to LR in pCCA. Postoperative monitoring of circulating bile salts and their production may be useful for monitoring LR.
To be able to come to zero-energy buildings we need to apply multiple Energy Techniques and Measures (ETMs). Phase Change Materials (PCMs) can be considered as one of these ETMs and they seem to have ...a lot of potential. Due to their latent heat capacity, PCMs can help to store energy of our main renewable source, the sun, and to shave energy peaks. However, little is known about what barriers exactly exist in implementing ETMs —and PCMs in particular— in residential buildings. By assessing 1) the effects of PCMs on the energy performance of dwellings, 2) their financial effects and 3) the effects of implementing PCMs for stakeholders, the implementation potential of micro-encapsulated paraffin-based PCMs in Dutch residential buildings is determined and barriers are identified. The observation was made that the effects on the actual energy use cannot be easily estimated and that their impact on compelled EPIs is little. It was also observed that only the investment costs of the PCMs can be assessed and that uncertainty exists about how PCMs perform, when actually implemented in a dwelling and used by residents for several years. Although our experiments on PCMs integrated in concrete floors showed positive results, the implementation potential of micro-encapsulated paraffin based PCMs to support or replace heating systems in residential real estate is relatively low. The results could help developers of new ETMs to become aware of what advantages their innovation can offer and what shortcomings still need to be overcome.
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