Comparison of different sampling types across the rearing period in broiler flocks for isolation of Campylobacter spp

Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of human gastrointestinal disease in most developed countries. It is generally accepted that poultry products are a significant source of foodborne Campylobacter infections in humans. Assessing the effectiveness of any potential intervention at farm level requires monitoring of the Campylobacter status of broiler flocks, using appropriate sampling methods. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the sample type across the rearing period for the detection of Campylobacter spp. at farm level. During this study, 21 commercial broiler farms were intensively sampled. Each farm was visited and sampled at different times during the rearing period (d 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42). On the first day of rearing, the status of the house and the day-old flock was evaluated, and environmental and cecal samples were collected. During rearing, 4 different sample types were collected: feces with sock swabs (sock swabs), feces directly from the litter (feces), cloacal swabs, and cecal content. All samples were analyzed according to ISO 10272-1:2006 (Annex E) and also by direct culture. The results of this study showed that Campylobacter spp. were detected in all of the sample types on d 14 of rearing. From this point on, the detection increased significantly, with a maximum detection rate by the end of rearing, regardless of the sample type. All samples that were negative upon direct culture were also negative after pre-enrichment. At the end of rearing, the percentage of samples positive for Campylobacter spp. was 71.4% for cecal samples, 61.9% for cloacal swabs, 45.2% for sock swabs, and 69.1% for fecal samples. C. jejuni was detected in all the sample types, with positive rates ranging from 67.1 to 76.0% for cecal samples and cloacal content, respectively. Cecal samples, cloacal swabs, and fecal samples cultured by direct plating onto modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) without pre-enrichment have the same sensitivity for detection of Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks independent of the day of rearing.

Oncoplastic breast surgery: initial experience at the Centro Clinico de Estereotaxia-CECLINES, Caracas, Venezuela

BACKGROUND

Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) may sometimes lead to deformities in the remaining breast. Oncoplastic surgery (OPS) aims to improve our aesthetic results even in the case of major volume resections. The purpose of this study is to provide an objective evaluation of our initial experience with OPS, mainly based on the levels of satisfaction reported by both patients and surgeons.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective study was performed at CECLINES in Caracas, Venezuela, between January 2011 and October 2012. It involved 107 consecutive patients in two groups: 52 patients with level II OPS versus 55 patients with 'standard' BCS (SBCS). We evaluated the level of satisfaction and cosmetic outcome at 6 and 12 months post-operation using a score from 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent). The cosmetic score was recorded during the follow-up by the surgeon, by phone calls, and photographs were reviewed by a panel of four observers.

RESULTS

The participation rate in the cosmetic outcome/level of satisfaction evaluation was 100% at 6 months and 96.2% at 12 months. The average tumour size was 23 mm [standard deviation (SD): 13.5] for the OPS group versus 17.6 mm (SD: 8.3) for the SBCS group (p = 0.017). The average weight for the surgical specimen was 101 g (range: 30-512 g) in the OPS group versus 60.4 g (range: 20-135 g) in the SBCS group (p = 0.004). The OPS techniques most performed were round block 40.3% (21/52), inverted T mammoplasty 26.8% (14/52) and vertical scar mammoplasty 15.3% (8/52). Of all the patients, 51.9% (27/52) had symmetrisation procedures performed distributed according to the period of the study: 77.2% (17/22) in 2011, 56.6% (17/30) in 2012, and 18.1% (6/33) in 2013. The rate of complications was 5.7% (3/52) in the OPS group and 0% for the SBCS group (p < 0.005). The average cosmetic score at 6 months by patients in the OPS group was 4.4; patient satisfaction scores of 4 (good) and 5 (excellent) were 88.4%. In the SBCS group at 6 months, the mean score reported by patients was 4.2, with scores 4-5 being 83.4% (p = 0.644). The cosmetic score by surgeons in the OPS group at 6 months was 4.5; the surgeon satisfaction scores of 4-5 were 94.2%. In the SBCS group, the surgeons' mean score at 6 months was 4.1, with 84.5% of scores being 4 or 5 (p < 0.005). The final cosmetic score by patients in the OPS group at 12 months was 4.5; patient satisfaction scores of 4-5 were 90.4%. In the SBCS group, the final mean score at 12 months by patients was 4.2, with 77.5% of scores being 4 or 5 (p < 0.005). The final cosmetic score by surgeons in the OPS group at 12 months was 4.5; surgeon satisfaction scores of 4-5 were 92.3%. In the SBCS group, the surgeons' final mean score at 12 months was 4.1, with 84.5% of scores being 4 or 5 (p < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

OPS provides good satisfaction rates. An SBCS when an OPS is not indicated mostly results in good satisfaction levels and cosmetic scores. Usually, the results remain stable after 6 months. The use of OPS allows the excision of bigger lesions and surgical specimens. Symmetrisation procedures are not always required. With the appropriate patient selection, the rate of complications is low for both OPS and SBCS.

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is inversely related to development of adiposity in school-age children

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Studies in adults indicate that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition may play a role in development of adiposity. Because adipocyte quantity is established between late childhood and early adolescence, understanding the impact of PUFAs on weight gain during the school-age years is crucial to developing effective interventions.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

We quantified N-3 and N-6 PUFAs in serum samples of 668 Colombian schoolchildren aged 5-12 years at the time of recruitment into a cohort study, using gas-liquid chromatography. Serum concentrations of N-3 (alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid) and N-6 PUFAs (linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid) were determined as percentage total fatty acids. Children's anthropometry was measured annually for a median of 30 months. We used mixed-effects models with restricted cubic splines to construct population body mass index-for-age z-score (BAZ) growth curves for age- and sex-specific quartiles of each PUFA.

RESULTS

N-3 ALA was inversely related to BAZ gain after adjustment for sex, baseline age and weight status, as well as household socioeconomic level. Estimated BAZ change between 6 and 14 years among children in the highest quartile of ALA compared with those in the lowest quartile was 0.45 (95% confidence interval: 0.07, 0.83) lower (P-trend=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

N-3 ALA may be protective against weight gain in school-age children. Whether improvement in PUFA status reduces adiposity in pediatric populations deserves evaluation in randomized trials.

Quantification of rat brain SPECT with (123)I-ioflupane: evaluation of different reconstruction methods and image degradation compensations using Monte Carlo simulation

SPECT studies with (123)I-ioflupane facilitate the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). The effect on quantification of image degradations has been extensively evaluated in human studies but their impact on studies of experimental PD models is still unclear. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of compensating for the degrading phenomena on the quantification of small animal SPECT studies using (123)I-ioflupane. This assessment enabled us to evaluate the feasibility of quantitatively detecting small pathological changes using different reconstruction methods and levels of compensation for the image degrading phenomena. Monte Carlo simulated studies of a rat phantom were reconstructed and quantified. Compensations for point spread function (PSF), scattering, attenuation and partial volume effect were progressively included in the quantification protocol. A linear relationship was found between calculated and simulated specific uptake ratio (SUR) in all cases. In order to significantly distinguish disease stages, noise-reduction during the reconstruction process was the most relevant factor, followed by PSF compensation. The smallest detectable SUR interval was determined by biological variability rather than by image degradations or coregistration errors. The quantification methods that gave the best results allowed us to distinguish PD stages with SUR values that are as close as 0.5 using groups of six rats to represent each stage.

The combined effects of undersized drilling and implant macrogeometry on bone healing around dental implants: an experimental study

This study investigated the effect of undersized preparations with two different implant macrogeometries. There were four experimental groups: group 1, conical implant with an undersized osteotomy of 3.2mm; group 2, conical implant with an undersized osteotomy of 3.5mm; group 3, cylindrical implant with an undersized osteotomy of 3.2mm; group 4, cylindrical implant with an undersized osteotomy of 3.5mm. Implants were placed in one side of the sheep mandible (n=6). After 3 weeks, the same procedure was conducted on the other side; 3 weeks later, euthanasia was performed. All implants were 4mm×10mm. Insertion torque was recorded for all implants during implantation. Retrieved samples were subjected to histological sectioning and histomorphometry. Implants of groups 1 and 2 presented significantly higher insertion torque than those of groups 3 and 4 (P<0.001). No differences in bone-to-implant contact or bone area fraction occupied were observed between the groups at 3 weeks (P>0.24, and P>0.25, respectively), whereas significant differences were observed at 6 weeks between groups 1 and 2, and between groups 3 and 4 (P<0.01). Undersized drilling affected the biological establishment of bone formation around both dental implant macrogeometries.

Subthalamic 6-OHDA-induced lesion attenuates levodopa-induced dyskinesias in the rat model of Parkinson's disease

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) receives direct dopaminergic innervation from the substantia nigra pars compacta that degenerates in Parkinson's disease. The present study aimed to investigate the role of dopaminergic denervation of STN in the origin of levodopa-induced dyskinesias. Rats were distributed in four groups which were concomitantly lesioned with 6-OHDA or vehicle (sham) in the STN and in the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) as follows: a) MFB-sham plus STN-sham, b) MFB-sham plus STN-lesion, c) MFB-lesion plus STN-sham, and d) MFB-lesion plus STN-lesion. Four weeks after lesions, animals were treated with levodopa (6mg/kg with 15mg/kg benserazide i.p.) twice daily for 22 consecutive days. Abnormal involuntary movements were measured. In situ hybridization was performed measuring the expression of striatal preproenkephalin, preprodynorphin, STN cytochrome oxidase (CO) and nigral GAD67 mRNAs. STN 6-OHDA denervation did not induce dyskinesias in levodopa-treated MFB-sham animals but attenuated axial (p<0.05), limb (p<0.05) and orolingual (p<0.01) dyskinesias in rats with a concomitant lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway. The attenuation of dyskinesias was associated with a decrease in the ipsilateral STN CO mRNA levels (p<0.05). No significant differences between MFB-lesion plus STN-sham and MFB-lesion plus STN-lesion groups in the extent of STN dopaminergic denervation were observed. Moreover, intrasubthalamic microinfusion of dopamine in the MFB-lesion plus STN-lesion group triggered orolingual (p<0.01), but not axial or limb, dyskinesias. These results suggest that dopaminergic STN innervation influences the expression of levodopa-induced dyskinesias but also the existence of non dopaminergic-mediated mechanisms. STN noradrenergic depletion induced by 6-OHDA in the STN needs to be taken in account as a possible mechanism explaining the attenuation of dyskinesias in the combined lesion group.

What basal ganglia changes underlie the parkinsonian state? The significance of neuronal oscillatory activity

One well accepted functional feature of the parkinsonian state is the recording of enhanced beta oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia. This has been demonstrated in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in animal models such as the rat with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesion and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated monkeys, all of which are associated with severe striatal dopamine depletion. Neuronal hyper-synchronization in the beta (or any other) band is not present despite the presence of bradykinetic features in the rat and monkey models, suggesting that increased beta band power may arise when nigro-striatal lesion is advanced and that it is not an essential feature of the early parkinsonian state. Similar observations and conclusions have been previously made for increased neuronal firing rate in the subthalamic and globus pallidus pars interna nuclei. Accordingly, it is suggested that early parkinsonism may be associated with dynamic changes in basal ganglia output activity leading to reduced movement facilitation that may be an earlier feature of the parkinsonian state.

Effect of surface polishing and oxidization induced strain on electronic order at the Verwey transition in Fe3O4

Following the controversy between two previous publications (Lorenzo et al 2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 101 226401 and Garcia et al 2009 Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 176405), we report on the influence of mechanical polishing, and subsequent sample storage, on the electronic order at the Verwey transition of highly pure magnetite, Fe(3)O(4), by resonant x-ray scattering. Contrary to expectations, mechanically polishing the surface induces an inhomogeneous micron deep dead layer, probably of powdered Fe(3)O(4). In addition, we have found that polishing the sample immediately before the experiment influences and favors the appearance of long range order electronic correlations, whereas samples polished well in advance have their electronic order quenched. Conversely, lattice distortions associated with the Verwey transition appear less affected by the surface state. We conclude that mechanical polishing induces stresses at the surface that may propagate into the core of the single crystal sample. These strains relax with time, which affects the different order parameters, as measured by x-ray resonant diffraction.

Phonon energy gaps in the charged incommensurate planes of the spin-ladder Sr14Cu24O41 compound by Raman and infrared spectroscopy

The terahertz (THz) excitations in the quantum spin-ladder system Sr14Cu24O41 have been determined along the c axis using THz time-domain, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy. Low-frequency infrared and Raman active modes are observed above and below the charge-ordering temperature T(co) is approximately equal to 200 K over a narrow interval approximately equal to 1-2 meV approximately equal to 8-16 cm(-1)). A new infrared mode at approximately equal to 1 meV develops below approximately equal to 100 K. The temperature dependence of these modes shows that they are coupled to the charge- and spin-density-wave correlations in this system. These low-energy features are conjectured to originate in the gapped sliding motion of the chain and ladder subsystems, which are both incommensurate and charged.

Body mass interacts with fat quality to determine the postprandial lipoprotein response in healthy young adults

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Postprandial lipemia predicts the evolution of cardiovascular disease. Obesity is associated with an increase in the magnitude of postprandial lipemia. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the effects of acute ingestion of different types of fat on the postprandial lipemic response.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-one healthy men followed a 4-week baseline diet and then consumed three fat-loaded meals that included 1g fat/kg body wt (65%fat) according to a randomized crossover design. The compositions of the three meals were olive oil meal (22% saturated fatty acids (SFA), 38% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 4% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)); butter meal (35% SFA, 22% MUFA, 4% PUFA); walnuts meal (20% SFA, 24% MUFA, 16% PUFA, and 4% α-linolenic acid). Higher-weight (HW) subjects (BMI greater than the median 26.18 kg/m(2), n = 11) presented higher incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for triglycerides (TG), both in large- and small-TG rich lipoproteins (TRL) than lower-weight (LW) subjects (BMI<26.18 kg/m(2), n = 10) (p<0.05), and a similar trend for plasma TG (p = 0.084). Moreover, HW subjects presented higher concentrations for small TRL-cholesterol and small TRL-TG in different timepoints of the postprandial lipemia after the intake of enriched walnuts or butter meals compared with the olive oil-enriched meal (p < 0.05) No significant differences were observed between the three types of meals in the postprandial response of LW subjects.

CONCLUSION

HW subjects present a greater postprandial response than LW subjects, and they benefit from the consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil, to lower their levels of TRL particles during the postprandial state.

Persistence of microbial and chemical pig manure markers as compared to faecal indicator bacteria survival in freshwater and seawater microcosms

Natural seawater and freshwater microcosms inoculated with pig manure were set up to determine the persistence of pig faecal microbial and chemical markers in these two types of surface water. The concentrations of Lactobacillus amylovorus, the Bacteroidales Pig-2-Bac 16S rRNA genetic marker, five stanols and the evolution of two ratios of stanols, R1 (coprostanol to the sum of coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol) and R2 (sitostanol to coprostanol) were analyzed during two months along with the concentration of Faecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB). Pig manure was inoculated to unfiltered water microcosms incubated aerobically at 18 °C in the dark. The faecal contamination load represented by the concentrations of culturable Escherichia coli and/or enterococci remained for two months in the freshwater and seawater microcosms water column. These concentrations followed a biphasic decay pattern with a 97% reduction of the initial amount during a first rapid phase (<6 days) and a remaining proportion undergoing a slower or null second decline. The L. amylovorus marker and five stanols persisted as long as the indicators in both treatments. The Pig-2-Bac marker persisted 20 and 27 days in seawater and freshwater, respectively. The ratios R1 and R2 were in the range specific to pig manure until day 6 in both types of water. These results indicate that Pig-2-Bac, L. amylovorus and stanol ratios might be used in combination to complement FIB testing to determine the pig source of fecal pollution. However, stanol ratios are to be used when the time point of the discharge is known.

Increased levels of microparticles originating from endothelial cells, platelets and erythrocytes in subjects with metabolic syndrome: relationship with oxidative stress

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Circulating microparticles (MP) are involved in the pathogenesis of atherothrombotic disorders and are raised in individual with CVD. We measured their level and cellular origin in subjects with MetS and analyzed their associations with 1/anthropometric and biological parameters of MetS, 2/inflammation and oxidative stress markers.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eighty-eight subjects with the MetS according to the NCEP-ATPIII definition were enrolled in a bicentric study and compared to 27 healthy controls. AnnexinV-positive MP (TMP), MP derived from platelets (PMP), erythrocytes (ErMP), endothelial cells (EMP), leukocytes (LMP) and granulocytes (PNMP) were determined by flow cytometry. MetS subjects had significantly higher counts/μl of TMP (730.6±49.7 vs 352.8±35.6), PMP (416.0±43.8 vs 250.5±23.5), ErMP (243.8±22.1 vs 73.6±19.6) and EMP (7.8±0.8 vs 4.0±1.0) compared with controls. LMP and PNMP were not statistically different between groups. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that each criterion for the MetS influenced the number of TMP. Waist girth was a significant determinant of PMP and EMP level and blood pressure was correlated with EMP level. Glycemia positively correlated with PMP level whereas dyslipidemia influenced EMP and ErMP levels. Interestingly, the oxidative stress markers, plasma glutathione peroxydase and urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F(2) α, independently influenced TMP and PMP levels whereas inflammatory markers did not, irrespective of MP type.

CONCLUSION

Increased levels of TMP, PMP, ErMP and EMP are associated with individual metabolic abnormalities of MetS and oxidative stress. Whether MP assessment may represent a marker for risk stratification or a target for pharmacological intervention deserves further investigation.