In vitro insecticide resistance patterns in field strains of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina.

The control of the sheep blowfly relies on the use of insecticides. There have been several reports of in vitro and in vivo resistance to the most widely-used flystrike control chemical, dicyclanil. A recent report also described in vitro resistance to imidacloprid in a strain collected from a single property over three consecutive seasons that also showed resistance to dicyclanil.

Catalytic, Sulfur-Free Chain Transfer Agents That Alter the Mechanical Properties of Cross-Linked Photopolymers.

Thermosetting materials generated by photopolymerization frequently suffer from significant shrinkage stress, are often brittle, and have a limited range of mechanical properties. Various classes of chain transfer agents (CTAs) have been investigated and developed to reduce the cross-linking density of photopolymers by terminating chains and initiating new chains . Although CTAs are successful in manipulating the mechanical properties of photopolymers, they are traditionally consumed during the polymerization and are therefore required in high loadings (up to 20 wt % of the total formulation).

Resistance to dicyclanil and imidacloprid in the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, in Australia.

Background: The sheep blowfly, Lucila cuprina, is a myiasis-causing parasite responsible for significant production losses and welfare issues for the Australian sheep industry. Control relies largely on the use of insecticides. The pyrimidine compound, dicyclanil, is the predominant control chemical, although other insecticides also are used, including imidacloprid, ivermectin, cyromazine and spinosad.

Perioperative risk prediction in the era of enhanced recovery: a comparison of POSSUM, ACPGBI, and E-PASS scoring systems in major surgical procedures of the colorectal surgeon.

Purpose: This study aims to determine whether traditional risk models can accurately predict morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major surgery by colorectal surgeons within an enhanced recovery program.

Methods: One thousand three hundred eighty patients undergoing surgery performed by colorectal surgeons in a single UK hospital (2008-2013) were included. Six risk models were evaluated: (1) Physiology and Operative Severity Score for the enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity (POSSUM), (2) Portsmouth POSSUM (P-POSSUM), (3) ColoRectal (CR-POSSUM), (4) Elderly POSSUM (E-POSSUM), (5) the Association of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) score, and (6) modified Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress Score (E-PASS).

Effect of obesity on patterns and mechanisms of injury: Systematic review and meta analysis.

Background: Trauma is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality globally, especially in younger populations. With an increase in obesity globally, it is important to assess the potential differences in injury pattern and management of obese patients presenting with trauma compared to lean patients to try and improve patient care. This study aims to review the available literature comparing injury patterns between obese and non-obese patients.

Mutations in the Hco-mptl-1 gene in a field-derived monepantel-resistant isolate of Haemonchus contortus.

Resistance to the anthelmintic drug monepantel (Zolvix) has emerged in parasitic worms infecting sheep and goats. The mechanism of resistance in these cases is unknown. The drug targets nicotinic acetylcholine receptors belonging to the nematode-specific DEG-3 subfamily.

Litigation in thyroid surgery in England.

Thyroid surgery has the potential for significant life-changing postoperative complications. Since 1995, the NHS Litigation Authority has handled litigation claims in England. This article reviews all thyroid surgery litigation claims between 1995 and 2012 and looks at potential strategies to minimize future claims.

Demand for specialised training for the obese trauma patient: National ATLS expert group survey results.

Background: The growing incidence of obesity in Western populations continues to place new stressors on health systems. Obese trauma patients present particular challenges across the entirety of the patient care pathway, and are at risk of higher lengths of stay, morbidity, and mortality. This study sought to assess a national group of trauma experts' opinions and knowledge regarding the management of obese trauma.

Insecticidal activities of histone deacetylase inhibitors against a dipteran parasite of sheep, Lucilia cuprina.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are being investigated for the control of various human parasites. Here we investigate their potential as insecticides for the control of a major ecto-parasite of sheep, the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina. We assessed the ability of HDACi from various chemical classes to inhibit the development of blowfly larvae in vitro, and to inhibit HDAC activity in nuclear protein extracts prepared from blowfly eggs.

Informing the process of consent for surgery: identification of key constructs and quality factors.

Background: Informed consent is a fundamental requirement of any invasive procedure. Failure to obtain appropriate and informed consent may result in unwanted or unnecessary procedures, as well as financial penalty in case of litigation. The aim of this study was to identify key constructs of the consent process which might be used to determine the performance of clinicians taking informed consent in surgery.

Increased expression of ATP binding cassette transporter genes following exposure of Haemonchus contortus larvae to a high concentration of monepantel in vitro.

Background: There is some evidence that ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters play a role in resistance to anthelmintics, particularly against macrocyclic lactones. Some anthelmintics, including ivermectin (IVM), have been shown to induce transcription of multiple ABC transporters in nematodes; however, the effects of monepantel (MPL) on transcription of these transporter genes has not been studied.

Methods: Larvae of two MPL-susceptible isolates of Haemonchus contortus were exposed to MPL at two concentrations (2.

Effects of in vitro exposure to ivermectin and levamisole on the expression patterns of ABC transporters in Haemonchus contortus larvae.

This study investigated the interaction of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transport proteins with ivermectin (IVM) and levamisole (LEV) in larvae of susceptible and resistant isolates of Haemonchus contortus in vitro by measuring transcription patterns following exposure to these anthelmintics. Furthermore, we studied the consequences of drug exposure by measuring the sensitivity of L3 to subsequent exposure to higher drug concentrations using larval migration assays. The most highly transcribed transporter genes in both susceptible and resistant L3 were pgp-9.

Histone deacetylase enzymes as drug targets for the control of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina.

The Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, is an ecto-parasite that causes significant economic losses in the sheep industry. Emerging resistance to insecticides used to protect sheep from this parasite is driving the search for new drugs that act via different mechanisms. Inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs), enzymes essential for regulating eukaryotic gene transcription, are prospective new insecticides based on their capacity to kill human parasites.

Lucilia cuprina genome unlocks parasitic fly biology to underpin future interventions.

Lucilia cuprina is a parasitic fly of major economic importance worldwide. Larvae of this fly invade their animal host, feed on tissues and excretions and progressively cause severe skin disease (myiasis). Here we report the sequence and annotation of the 458-megabase draft genome of Lucilia cuprina.

The Influence of Oral L-Glutamine Supplementation on Muscle Strength Recovery and Soreness Following Unilateral Knee Extension Eccentric Exercise.

The study aimed to examine the effects that L-glutamine supplementation has on quadriceps muscle strength and soreness ratings following eccentric exercise. It was hypothesized that glutamine ingestion would quicken the recovery rate of peak force production and decrease muscle soreness ratings over a 72-hr recovery period. Sixteen healthy participants (8♀/8♂; 22 ± 4 years) volunteered in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study.

The role of body composition evaluation by computerized tomography in determining colorectal cancer treatment outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: Strong evidence indicates that excessive adipose tissue distribution or reduced muscle influence short-, mid-, and long-term colorectal cancer outcomes. Computerized tomography-based body composition (CTBC) analysis quantifies this in a reproducible parameter. We reviewed the evidence linking computerized tomography (CT) based quantification of BC with short and long-term outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC).

A systematic review of enhanced recovery care after colorectal surgery in elderly patients.

Aim: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) can decrease complications and reduces hospital stay. Less certain is whether elderly patients can fully adhere to and benefit from ERAS. We aimed to determine the safety, feasibility and efficacy of enhanced recovery after colorectal surgery in patients aged ≥ 65 years old.

Systematic review of the impact of surgical harm on quality of life after general and gastrointestinal surgery.

Objective: To assess the impact of surgical harm on quality of life (QoL) in general and gastrointestinal surgery.

Background: Surgical adverse events (SAEs) are associated with poor outcome. Although SAEs are likely to affect QoL, this has not been demonstrated in surgery.

Cloning, recombinant expression and inhibitor profiles of dihydrofolate reductase from the Australian sheep blow fly, Lucilia cuprina.

While dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an important drug target in mammals, bacteria and protozoa, no inhibitors of this enzyme have been developed as commercial insecticides. We therefore examined the potential of this enzyme as a drug target in an important ectoparasite of livestock, the Australian sheep blow fly, Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) (Wiedemann). The non-specific DHFR inhibitors aminopterin and methotrexate significantly inhibited the growth of L.

What is the utility of preoperative frailty assessment for risk stratification in cardiac surgery?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether frailty scoring can be used either separately or combined with conventional risk scores to predict survival and complications. Five hundred and thirty-five papers were found using the reported search, of which nine cohort studies represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question.

Relative level of thiabendazole resistance associated with the E198A and F200Y SNPs in larvae of a multi-drug resistant isolate of Haemonchus contortus.

While the F200Y SNP in the beta-tubulin gene is most commonly associated with benzimidazole resistance in trichostrongylid nematodes, other SNPs as well as drug efflux pathways have been implicated in the resistance. The relative contributions of all these mechanisms are not understood sufficiently to allow expected drug efficacy to be inferred from molecular data. As a component of developing better means to interpret molecular resistance tests, the present study utilised a drug resistant Haemonchus contortus isolate which possesses two of the principal benzimidazole resistance SNPs (E198A and F200Y) in order to assess the relative degree of resistance conferred by the two SNPs.