The version 3.0 of the Delphes fast-simulation is presented. The goal of Delphes is to allow the simulation of a multipurpose detector for phenomenological studies. The simulation includes a track ...propagation system embedded in a magnetic field, electromagnetic and hadron calorimeters, and a muon identification system. Physics objects that can be used for data analysis are then reconstructed from the simulated detector response. These include tracks and calorimeter deposits and high level objects such as isolated electrons, jets, taus, and missing energy. The new modular approach allows for greater flexibility in the design of the simulation and reconstruction sequence. New features such as the particle-flow reconstruction approach, crucial in the first years of the LHC, and pile-up simulation and mitigation, which is needed for the simulation of the LHC detectors in the near future, have also been implemented. The Delphes framework is not meant to be used for advanced detector studies, for which more accurate tools are needed. Although some aspects of Delphes are hadron collider specific, it is flexible enough to be adapted to the needs of electron-positron collider experiments.
Two reviews are available in published literature relating to the effects of ascorbic acid on poultry performance. The first review was written by Pardue and Thaxton in 1986 who reviewed the role of ...ascorbic acid in alleviating the negative effect of heat stress in poultry birds. The second review was presented by Whitehead and Keller in 2003, who detailed the general effects of ascorbic acid in poultry birds, not taking into consideration ‘heat stress’. The first review is deficient in the literature published after 1986, while the second review does not describe the effect of ascorbic acid in heat stressed birds. The present review describes the past and present knowledge of ascorbic acid in alleviating heat stress in poultry birds with new aspects. Heat stress is associated with compromised performance and productivity through a decline in feed intake, nutrient utilisation, growth rate, egg production and quality, feed efficiency and immunity. Heat stress is also characterised by a reduced antioxidant status in birds, resulting in increased oxidative stress. Moreover, male fertility is decreased when birds are exposed to heat stress. Supplementation of 250 mg of ascorbic acid per kg of feed has been found to be optimum to improve feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, egg production and quality, nutrient digestibility, immune response and antioxidant status in poultry birds. This work compiles past and present information about the role of ascorbic acid in heat-stressed poultry.
Background
Molecular testing aids in the work up and management of patients with pancreatic cysts. This study reports on the value of PancreaSeq® in the evaluation of pancreatic cyst aspirates.
...Methods
PancreaSeq® testing at our institution was implemented June 1, 2022. Over a 7‐month period (June 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022) 50 cyst aspirates of which 26 (52%) were non‐diagnostic 4 (8%) negative 1 (2%) atypical, 17 (34%) suspicious for a mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) and 2 (4%) positive for a MCN on cytology were sent for testing.
Results
KRAS/GNAS gene mutations were present in 15 non‐diagnostic cases and 5 cases suspicious for an MCN. The type of cyst was interpreted as mucinous (IPMN) and the risk of progression to high grade dysplasia/adenocarcinoma as low. KRAS mutations were present in 8 non‐diagnostic cases, 1 atypical case, 8 cases suspicious for a MCN and one case positive for an MCN; findings interpreted as a mucinous cyst (IPMN/MCN) with a low risk of progression. BRAF mutations were present in 2 cases; one suspicious and the second positive for an MCN; both interpreted as a mucinous cyst (IPMN) with a low risk of progression. One non‐diagnostic case was positive for several gene mutations and copy number alterations; findings interpreted as a mucinous (IPMN) cyst with an elevated risk of progression. VHL mutations were present in 2 negative cases interpreted as serous cystadenomas. Two non‐diagnostic, 2 negative and 2 cases suspicious for a MCN were negative for gene mutations.
Conclusion
Implementation of PancreaSeq® has led to improvements in clinical management of patients with pancreatic cysts.
There is growing interest in developing natural alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in order to maintain both birds’ performance and health. In the last decade, Turmeric has been extensively ...used in poultry diets. Turmeric is a natural herb of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. Wide range medicinal properties of this plant have been advocated. In poultry feed, Turmeric has been extensively used in different concentrations, dosages and durations. In this review, the beneficial effects of this plant on growth, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, ameliorative effect on liver health, immunomodulatory and antioxidative effects are reviewed.
Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is a perennial and autogamous plant belonging to Umbelliferae family, which grows in Central Asia and Europe. It is a medicinal plant, with seeds and oil used in ...treating several diseases and is employed in the human food industry. Reduction of blood sugar and anticancer effects are the main therapeutic properties of black cumin oil. Hypoglycaemia and hypocholesterolemia are two modern lifestyle diseases, and feeding of black cumin may be useful to solve these conditions. The available literature reports that the addition of black cumin seeds improved performance (at supplementation levels of 3-5% in diet) and influenced positively (at supplementation levels of 2-3% in diet) the intestinal microflora of broilers. Black cumin oil, administered up to 3% in the diet, reduced the number of thrombocytes and neutrophils and increased lymphocytes in broilers. Black cumin seeds may increase the content of unsaturated fatty acids and enhance the antioxidant properties of poultry meat (when fed up to 2% in diet). In laying hens, feeding black cumin oil at 1-2% in feed increased egg mass and improved egg quality, especially in the early production phase, and reduced gut E. coli count. Dietary supplementation with black cumin (2% as seeds or 0.5% as oil) in quail diets improved performance (growth and egg production) and reduced significantly the harmful bacteria in the gut. In this review, the recent findings on the effects of dietary black cumin on poultry performance, immune response, plasma constitutes, gut microbiota and enzyme activity are reviewed and discussed.
Background
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) can present diagnostic difficulties on bile duct brushings as cytologic features mimicking adenocarcinoma may exist. This study evaluates the role of ...fluorescence in‐situ hybridization (FISH) as an adjunct to cytologic evaluation.
Methods
From January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021, 308 bile duct brushings were processed of which 34 (11%) were malignant, 25 (8%) were suspicious, 36 (12%) were atypical, 204 (66%) were negative and 10 (3%) were nondiagnostic. Follow‐up biopsies/resections were performed in the 95 cases with diagnostic cytology (atypical/suspicious/malignant) of which 12 (13%) showed primary sclerosing cholangitis and form the basis of this study. Cytologic, histologic and FISH findings are presented and discussed.
Results
Of the 12 bile duct brushings 4 (34%) were positive/suspicious for adenocarcinoma and 8 (66%) showed atypical epithelial cells. FISH was positive in 2/4 positive/suspicious brushings and negative in the remaining 2 brushings. Histologic findings confirmed the FISH results. The cytologic features of the 2 false positive cases overlapped those of adenocarcinoma. Two of the 8 bile duct brushings with atypical epithelial cells were positive/suspicious for adenocarcinoma on FISH analysis; findings confirmed on histologic follow‐up. The remaining 8 patients underwent surveillance for the development of adenocarcinoma with repeat bile duct brushings, FISH analysis and biopsies, each of which has been negative to date.
Conclusion
FISH, as an adjunct to the cytologic evaluation of bile duct brushings from patients with PSC, plays a role in improving diagnostic accuracy and serves as a surveillance tool for the potential development of adenocarcinoma.
Concerns have been expressed regarding the safety of using biotechnology derived feeds in diets of livestock animals and in regard to human consumption of products from species fed transgenic crops. ...As a consequence, a large number of poultry nutrition studies have been conducted to evaluate the wholesomeness of transgenic crops by examining performances of animals during growth or egg laying. Studies also evaluated whether foreign DNA and proteins could be detected in meat, egg, and tissue samples from broiler chickens and laying hens fed diets containing transgenic feeds. In all studies, the conclusions were in agreement that the transgenic crops provided comparable performance, carcass and egg yields, and meat and egg composition, when compared with conventional grains. Moreover, it was demonstrated that transgenic proteins and DNA present in livestock feeds are not detectable in food products derived from these animals, using the most sensitive detection methods available, confirming that they are rapidly degraded by normal digestive processes. The lack of significant differences were a result of the similarity in nutrient composition of the genetically modified feeds and lack of differences in intake and digestibility, while there were no evidences that the differences reported for performance response variables and carcass measurements between treatment groups were attributable to the presence of the transgenic gene and protein in the biotechnology derived plants. Results demonstrated that genetically modified feeds are substantially equivalent and they result as safe as existing conventional feeds.
An uncommon case of iatrogenic cellular changes associated with busulfan therapy in a bronchoalveolar lavage of a 65‐year‐old woman who underwent bone marrow transplantation is presented and ...discussed. Chemotherapeutic changes are presented, and pitfalls discussed.
Background
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) fine needle aspiration (FNA) is highly sensitive and specific in the detection and diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasms. EUS‐guided needle core biopsy has been ...used alone or as an adjunct to maximize diagnostic yield. This study compared the use of FNA versus needle core biopsy in the diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasms.
Methods
From January 1, 2018 through December 21, 2020, the Cytopathology Laboratory processed 374 FNAs from solid pancreatic masses of which 332 (89%) had concurrent pancreatic biopsies and form the basis of this study.
Results
Of the 332 FNAs, 173 (52%) were positive/suspicious for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 33 (10%) were positive for a neoplasm, 20 (6%) were atypical 19 (6%) were negative and 87 (26%) were non‐diagnostic. Biopsies were concordant in 248 (75%) cases and discordant in 84 (25%) cases. Of the 84 discordant cases, 29 (35%) had neoplastic cells on FNA of which 14 were atypical, 11 were negative and 4 were nondiagnostic on core biopsy. Of the 18 (21%) FNAs with atypical cells, 8 showed adenocarcinoma on core biopsy. Thirty‐seven nondiagnostic FNAs showed adenocarcinoma on 25 (70%) core biopsies. If nondiagnostic FNAs were included, FNA sensitivity was 89% and specificity; 100%, and both were 100%, if the nondiagnostic cases were excluded. The needle core biopsy sensitivity was 91% and specificity; 100%.
Conclusion
Both FNAs and core biopsies show high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of pancreatic neoplasms. However, combining the techniques enhances cellular yields and provides material for ancillary tests.
Background
The multigene genomic classifier ThyroSeq V3 has proven to be an effective triage modality in the management of indeterminate thyroid nodules. This study reports on the clinical management ...of patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules.
Methods
ThyroSeq V3 testing at our institution was implemented April 1, 2019. Over a 17‐month period (1 April 2019 through 31 August 2020). Thirty five indeterminate thyroid nodules were sent for testing; diagnoses included FLUS, suspicious for a follicular/Hurthle cell neoplasm (SFN/SHCN) and suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma (SPTC). There were 26 females, nine males; mean age 56 years. Aspirated nodules, mean size of 2 cm, were evaluated by rapid on site evaluation with adequacy assessed by the cytopathologist via telecytology.
Results
Of the 35 nodules, 17 (49%) were positive and 18 (51%) were negative on ThyroSeq Testing. All of the 17 positive nodules (four FLUS, 10 SFN/SHCN, three SPTC) showed neoplastic lesions; five adenomas, one NIFTP and 11 carcinomas on surgical resection. Only 4 (22%) of the 18 nodules that were negative were resected and showed two colloid/adenomatous nodules, one NIFTP and one follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. As FLUS FNAs were the majority of the indeterminate nodules, a comparison was made pre‐and post ThyroSeq testing. Prior to ThyroSeq testing the majority (69%) of the nodules were resected as compared to 36% post implementation; a statistically significant value (P < .005). Surgical resection yielded a majority of benign nodules pre‐ThyroSeq testing, 68%, as compared to post‐ThyroSeq testing, 25%.
Conclusion
Implementation of ThyroSeq V3 testing has led to improvements in clinical management of patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules.
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