To estimate the annual cost of infections attributable to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus to US swine producers.
Economic analysis.
Data on the health and productivity of ...PRRS-affected and PRRS-unaffected breeding herds and growing-pig populations were collected from a convenience sample of swine farms in the midwestern United States.
Health and productivity variables of PRRS-affected and PRRS-unaffected swine farms were analyzed to estimate the impact of PRRS on specific farms. National estimates of PRRS incidence were then used to determine the annual economic impact of PRRS on US swine producers.
PRRS affected breeding herds and growing-pig populations as measured by a decrease in reproductive health, an increase in deaths, and reductions in the rate and efficiency of growth. Total annual economic impact of these effects on US swine producers was estimated at dollar 66.75 million in breeding herds and dollar 493.57 million in growing-pig populations.
PRRS imposes a substantial financial burden on US swine producers and causes approximately dollar 560.32 million in losses each year. By comparison, prior to eradication, annual losses attributable to classical swine fever (hog cholera) and pseudorabies were estimated at dollar 364.09 million and dollar 36.27 million, respectively (adjusted on the basis of year 2004 dollars). Current PRRS control strategies are not predictably successful; thus, PRRS-associated losses will continue into the future. Research to improve our understanding of ecologic and epidemiologic characteristics of the PRRS virus and technologic advances (vaccines and diagnostic tests) to prevent clinical effects are warranted.
When considering the development of antimicrobial resistance in food animals, comparing gross use estimates of different antimicrobials is of little value due to differences in potencies, duration of ...activity, relative effect on target and commensal bacteria, and mechanisms of resistance. However, it may be valuable to understand quantities of different antimicrobials used in different ages of swine and for what applications. Therefore, the objective of this project was to construct an estimate of antimicrobial use through the feed in swine production in the United States. Estimates were based on data from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Swine 2006 Study and from a 2009 survey of swine-exclusive practitioners. Inputs consisted of number of pigs in a production phase, feed intake per day, dose of the antimicrobial in the feed, and duration of administration. Calculations were performed for a total of 102 combinations of antimicrobials (n=17), production phases (n=2), and reasons for use (n=3). Calculations were first conducted on farm-level data, and then extrapolated to the U.S. swine population. Among the nursery phase estimates, chlortetracycline had the largest estimate of use, followed by oxytetracycline and tilmicosin. In the grower/finisher phase, chlortetracycline also had the largest use estimate, followed by tylosin and oxytetracycline. As an annual industry estimate for all phases, chlortetracycline had the highest estimated use at 533,973 kg. The second and third highest estimates were tylosin and oxytetracycline with estimated annual uses of 165,803 kg and 154,956 kg, respectively. The estimates presented here were constructed to accurately reflect available data related to production practices, and to provide an example of a scientific approach to estimating use of compounds in production animals.
Yersinia enterocolitica is considered an important food-borne pathogen impacting the pork production and processing industry in the United States. Since this bacterium is a commensal of swine, the ...primary goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in pigs in the United States using feces as the sample source. A total of 2,793 fecal samples were tested for its presence in swine. Fecal samples were collected from late finisher pigs from 77 production sites in the 15 eastern and midwestern pork-producing states over a period of 27 weeks (6 September 2000 to 20 March 2001). The prevalence of ail-positive Y. enterocolitica was determined in samples using both a fluorogenic 5' nuclease PCR assay and a culture method. The mean prevalence was 13.10% (366 of 2,793 fecal samples tested) when both PCR- and culture-positive results were combined. Forty-one of 77 premises (53.25%) contained at least one fecal sample positive for the ail sequence. The PCR assay indicated a contamination rate of 12.35% (345/2,793) compared to 4.08% (114/2,793) by the culture method. Of the 345 PCR-positive samples, 252 were culture negative, while of the 114 culture-positive samples, 21 were PCR negative. Among 77 premises, the PCR assay revealed a significantly (P < 0.05) higher percentage (46.75%, n = 36 sites) of samples positive for the pathogen (ail sequence) than the culture method (22.08%, n = 17 sites). Thus, higher sensitivity, with respect to number of samples and sites identified as positive for the PCR method compared with the culture method for detecting pathogenic Y. enterocolitica, was demonstrated in this study. The results support the hypothesis that swine are a reservoir for Y. enterocolitica strains potentially pathogenic for humans..
A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in swine feces in the United States as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System's Swine ...2000 study. Fecal samples collected from swine operations from 13 of the top 17 swine-producing states were tested for the presence of STEC. After enrichment of swine fecal samples in tryptic soy broth, the samples were tested for the presence of stx1 and stx2 by use of the TaqMan E. coli STX1 and STX2 PCR assays. Enrichments of samples positive for stx1 and/or stx2 were plated, and colony hybridization was performed using digoxigenin-labeled probes complementary to the stx1 and stx2 genes. Positive colonies were picked and confirmed by PCR for the presence of the stx1, stx2, or stx2e genes, and the isolates were serotyped. Out of 687 fecal samples tested using the TaqMan assays, 70% (484 of 687) were positive for Shiga toxin genes, and 54% (370 of 687), 64% (436 of 687), and 38% (261 of 687) were positive for stx1, stx2, and both toxin genes, respectively. Out of 219 isolates that were characterized, 29 (13%) produced stx1, 14 (6%) produced stx2, and 176 (80%) produced stx2e. Twenty-three fecal samples contained at least two STEC strains that had different serotypes but that had the same toxin genes or included a strain that possessed stx1 in addition to a strain that possessed stx2 or stx2e. The STEC isolates belonged to various serogroups, including O2, O5, O7, O8, O9, OX10, O11, O15, OX18, O20, O57, O65, O68, O69, O78, O91, O96, O100, O101, O120, O121, O152, O159, O160, O163, and O untypeable. It is noteworthy that no isolates of serogroup O157 were recovered. Results of this study indicate that swine in the United States harbor STEC that can potentially cause human illness.
Chinese international students studying abroad in the United States undertake a life changing venture; one that produces numerous benefits for both the Chinese students and the American people, yet ...is also fraught with hardships and struggle. Prior literature shows that large and diverse social networks are ideal for increasing international students’ adaptation. Using an online questionnaire administered to 120 Chinese international college students studying in the U.S., we explored the potential impact that the utilization of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) could have on the construction of such social networks, when used during study abroad preparation. We found that students who used SNSs more often during their study abroad preparations had larger, more diverse social networks abroad, compared with students who used SNSs less often or not at all. Students with more diverse social networks reported significantly higher levels of social and academic adaptation in the host culture. We suggest universities and advisors provide training for the use of SNSs to Chinese students during their study abroad preparations, in order to increase social and academic adaptation when abroad.
Continuous intravenous inotrope therapy (CIIS) is a Class 2b recommendation in the ACC/AHA heart failure (HF) guidelines and is being increasingly used to combat symptoms and increase quality of life ...of patients with end stage HF. Most hospice agencies in the region, except for one, do not accept patients on inotrope therapy. Therefore, our aim is to study outcomes of Stage D HF patients on CIIS under hospice care to learn if this is a viable approach to improve end of life care in this patient population.
This is a retrospective cohort study of patients on CIIS as palliative therapy who were admitted to Hospice of the Chesapeake between 2018-2022. Electronic health records were reviewed, and data was abstracted for statistical analysis using descriptive statistics.
Twenty-one patients, mean age 72.9 years (SD = 8.03), 62% male and 38% female, met study criteria, out of which 48% of patients identified as Caucasian and 52% as African American. The choice of inotrope was dobutamine for 33% of patients and milrinone for 67% of patients. Code status on admission was full code for 24% of patients and DNR/DNI for 76% of patients. Out of all patients, 29% had one hospitalization during their hospice stay, 5% had three hospitalizations, and 66% had no hospitalizations. Mean length of stay was 49.6 days (SD = 102.4), or 28.1 days (SD = 29.2) when excluding one outlier. Mean visits by interdisciplinary team members was 1.16 (SD = 1.12) per day. When accounting for length of stay, mean visits per day for short hospice stay (10 or less days) were 1.94 (SD = 1.40), whereas mean visits per day for longer hospice stay (11 or more days) were 0.68 (SD = 0.52). Regarding final outcomes, 24% of patients were discharged alive, 14% died at a hospice facility, 10% at a hospital and 52% at home. Out of all patients, 76% were on low dose PRN opioids (e.g. 5mg PO morphine q3h or equivalent) and 24% were on high dose PRN opioids (e.g. 5mg IV morphine q1h or equivalent).
To our knowledge, this is the first ever study describing outcomes of Stage D HF patients on palliative CIIS under hospice care. Sample sizes are relatively small in such populations as this is a select cohort, therefore further research is needed not only to consolidate these findings but also eventually draw comparisons with the general population (i.e. Stage D HF patients not on palliative CIIS under hospice care). This may pave the way for new possibilities pertaining to hospice care models and more importantly improve end of life care.
Managers were invited to attend the two-day “Predicting Ecological Changes in the Florida Everglades in a Future Climate Scenario” workshop and to participate in discussion and panel sessions. This ...paper provides a management perspective on the technical presentations presented at the workshop, identifying information of particular interest to Everglades restoration decision-making. In addition, the paper highlights the points related to science and decision-making that emerged from the discussion sessions and provides thoughts for future discussion in a follow-up forum. Particular focus is dedicated to the importance of and challenges associated with integrating science and decision-making. In addition, the paper offers a management perspective on the uncertainties of climate science and the implications they have for influencing Everglades restoration decision-making. The authors propose that on the one hand, even given uncertainties associated with predicting the ecological response to climate change, there remains a scientific consensus that Everglades restoration is generally on the right track. On the other hand, uncertainty can be a significant barrier to climate science influencing the implementation of restoration and adaptive management programs.
We performed the present systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety for S-1-based regimens comparing to intravenous fluorouracil-based ones in Asian patients with ...metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC).
Eligible prospective and controlled randomized clinical trials (RCT) were included, of which data were extracted by inclusion criteria and exclusion ones. Odds ratio (OR) and Hazard ratio (HR) of outcomes including objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progressive-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were explored for the final analysis between the 2 groups.
A total of 23 eligible prospective, controlled RCTs including 2269 patients were enrolled for the pooled analysis. With the meta-analysis of available data, the results of the present research showed that there was no statistical difference on short-term efficacy including ORR (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.71-1.01; P = .07) or DCR (HR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.69-1.11; P = .27), as well as long-term efficacy including PFS (HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.90-1.11; P = .98) or OS (HR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.82-1.10; P = .50). In addition, the incidences of AEs including leucopenia, neutropenia, and vomiting were statistically lower in S-1-based regimens comparing to intravenous fluorouracil-based ones, regardless of all grade or high grade (all P <.05). However, there were no significant differences detected among other AEs including anemia, thrombocytopenia, increased alanine aminotransferase concentration, stomatitis, anorexia, diarrhea, hand-foot syndrome (HFS), or sensory neuropathy among the 2 groups (all P >.05).
The present meta-analysis revealed that S-1-based regimens might be associated with comparable efficacy, as well as lower risk of leucopenia, neutropenia, and vomiting at all/high grade comparing to intravenous fluorouracil-based ones in Asian patients with mCRC.
This study aimed to explore the efficacy of Baduanjin exercise on promoting memory function, executive function and general self-efficacy, decreasing the level of subjective memory complaints of ...older adults.In this randomized controlled trial, 80 patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to 12-week Baduanjin exercise group or 12-week control group. Subjective memory complaint questionnaire, Auditory verbal learning test, Trail Making Test and General Self-Efficacy Scale was used to assess the subjective memory complaint level, memory function, executive function and general self-efficacy level at three times (baseline, after intervention and follow up at 3 months). One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the outcome variables of the two groups.There were no significant differences between the Baduanjin exercise and the control group at baseline in demographic, SMCQ, MoCA, and GDS-15. Compared to participants in the control group, participants in the Baduanjin group had a significantly improvement in memory function (F = 46.93, P < .00), executive function (F = 317.83, P < .00) and general self-efficacy (F = 38.72, P < .00) at the end of 12-week intervention period and after 3months follow-up period (P < .01). At the same time, participants in the Baduanjin group had a significantly greater decrease in subjective memory complaint scores at the end of 12-week intervention period and after 3months follow-up period (F = 24.53, P < 0.00).Baduanjin exercise appears to be a feasible and acceptable intervention to improve subjective memory complaint among older adults.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the most lethal cancer, mainly attributing to its high tendency to metastasis. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) are related ...to human cancer onset and progression including invasion and metastasis.An eligible gene dataset and an eligible miRNA dataset were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database based our screening criteria. Differentially expressed genes (DE-genes) or DE-miRNAs for each dataset obtained by the R software package. The potential target genes of the top 10 DE-miRNAs were predicted by multiple databases. For annotation, visualization and integrated discovery, Metascape 3.0 was introduced to perform enrichment analysis for the DE-genes and the predicted target genes of the selected top 10 DE-miRNAs, including Pathway and Process Enrichment Analysis or protein-protein interaction enrichment analysis. The intersection of predicted target genes and DE-genes was taken as the final DE-genes. Then apply the predicted miRNAs-targets relationship of top 10 DE-miRNAs to the final DE-genes to gain more convinced DE-miRNAs, DE-genes and their one to one relationship.GSE19945 (miRNA microarray) and GSE40275 (gene microarray) datasets were selected and downloaded. 56 DE-miRNAs and 861 DE-genes were discovered. 297 miRNAs-targets relationships (284 unique genes) were predicted as the target of top 10 upregulating DE-miRNAs. 245 miRNAs-targets relationships (238 unique genes) were identified as the target of top 10 downregulating DE-miRNAs. The key results of enrichment analysis include protein kinase B signaling, transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase signaling pathway, negative regulation of cell differentiation, response to growth factor, cellular response to lipid, muscle structure development, response to growth factor, signaling by Receptor Tyrosine Kinases, epithelial cell migration, cellular response to organic cyclic compound, Cell Cycle (Mitotic), DNA conformation change, cell division, DNA replication, cell cycle phase transition, blood vessel development, inflammatory response, Staphylococcus aureus infection, leukocyte migration, and myeloid leukocyte activation. Differential expression of genes-upstream miRNAs (RBMS3-hsa-miR-7-5p, NEDD9-hsa-miR-18a-5p, CRIM1-hsa-miR-18a-5p, TGFBR2-hsa-miR-9-5p, MYO1C-hsa-miR-9-5p, KLF4-hsa-miR-7-5p, EMP2-hsa-miR-1290, TMEM2-hsa-miR-18a-5p, CTGF-hsa-miR-18a-5p, TNFAIP3-hsa-miR-18a-5p, THBS1-hsa-miR-182-5p, KPNA2-hsa-miR-144-3p, GPR137C-hsa-miR-1-3p, GRIK3-hsa-miR-144-3p, and MTHFD2-hsa-miR-30a-3p) were identified in SCLC.RBMS3, NEDD9, CRIM1, KPNA2, GPR137C, GRIK3, hsa-miR-7-5p, hsa-miR-18a-5p, hsa-miR-144-3p, hsa-miR-1-3p along with the pathways included protein kinase B signaling, muscle structure development, Cell Cycle (Mitotic) and blood vessel development may gain a high chance to play a key role in the prognosis of SCLC, but more studies should be conducted to reveal it more clearly.
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