The impact of stress and anesthesia on animal models of infectious disease.

Stress and general anesthesia have an impact on the functional response of the organism due to the detrimental effects on cardiovascular, immunological, and metabolic function, which could limit the organism's response to an infectious event. Animal studies have formed an essential step in understanding and mitigating infectious diseases, as the complexities of physiology and immunity cannot yet be replicated . Using animals in research continues to come under increasing societal scrutiny, and it is therefore crucial that the welfare of animals used in disease research is optimized to meet both societal expectations and improve scientific outcomes.

Antimicrobial use on Australian dairy cattle farms - A survey of veterinarians.

Aims: The aims of this study were to determine antimicrobial prescription patterns and the factors affecting antimicrobial selection amongst Australian dairy veterinarians.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to Australian dairy cattle veterinarians using the Qualtrics online survey platform. Questions focused on their (1) demographics; (2) opinions surrounding antimicrobial use, resistance, and stewardship; (3) decision-making drivers of both prescription and selection of commonly prescribed antimicrobials; (4) awareness on the guidelines for antimicrobial usage and sources of information concerning antimicrobials.

Asymmetric, mixed-valence molecules for spectroscopic readout of quantum-dot cellular automata.

Mixed-valence compounds may provide molecular devices for an energy-efficient, low-power, general-purpose computing paradigm known as quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA). Multiple redox centers on mixed-valence molecules provide a system of coupled quantum dots. The configuration of mobile charge on a double-quantum-dot (DQD) molecule encodes a bit of classical information robust at room temperature.

The Impact of Bushfire Smoke on Cattle-A Review.

In 2019-2020, a particularly bad bushfire season in Australia resulted in cattle being exposed to prolonged periods of smoke haze and reduced air quality. Bushfire smoke contains many harmful pollutants, and impacts on regions far from the fire front, with smoke haze persisting for weeks. Particulate matter (PM) is one of the major components of bushfire smoke known to have a negative impact on human health.

The major membrane nuclease MnuA degrades neutrophil extracellular traps induced by Mycoplasma bovis.

Mycoplasma bovis has been increasingly recognised worldwide as an economically important pathogen of cattle, causing a range of diseases, including pneumonia, mastitis, polyarthritis and otitis media. It is believed that M. bovis utilises a range of cell surface proteins, including nucleases, to evade the host immune response and survive.

Oriental theileriosis in dairy cows causes a significant milk production loss.

Background: Oriental theileriosis is a tick-borne, protozoan disease of cattle caused by members of the Theileria orientalis-complex. Recent outbreaks of this disease in eastern Australia have caused major concerns to the dairy and beef farming communities, but there are no published studies of the economic impact of this disease. On a farm in Victoria, Australia, we assessed whether oriental theileriosis has an impact on milk production and reproductive performance in dairy cows.

Early outcomes of surgery for oesophageal cancer in a thoracic regional unit. Can we maintain training without compromising results?

Objectives: Meaningful exposure to oesophageal cancer surgery during general thoracic surgical training is restricted to few centres in the United Kingdom. Our Regional Tertiary Unit remains a rare 'large-volume' oesophagectomy centre. We aimed to determine the proportion of patients operated by trainees and their perioperative outcomes.

Surgical management of primary empyema of the pleural cavity: outcome of 81 patients.

Postpneumonic empyema is the most common form of empyema thoracis and is still recognised as a major cause of morbidity and prolonged hospital stay. We reviewed 106 patients retrospectively who underwent surgical management of pleural empyema over a period of three years from August 2005. We identified 81 patients (76%) (58 males, mean age 52 years) with primary empyema and 25 patients (24%) with secondary empyema.

Residual apical space following surgery for pneumothorax increases the risk of recurrence.

Objective: Residual air spaces on chest radiographs after pneumothorax surgery are not uncommon. We aimed to study their incidence and impact on surgical outcomes.

Methods: Four hundred and twenty-seven patients [283 men and 144 women with a median age of 31 (14-96) years] underwent surgery for pneumothorax from 1995 to 2005 in a single unit.

Boerhaave's syndrome: a review of management and outcome.

Spontaneous oesophageal rupture (Boerhaave's syndrome) is an uncommon but serious condition. A retrospective review was undertaken of the management of 34 patients (age range 17-85 years) presenting between 1991 and 2006. Contrast swallow was possible in 22 patients, confirming the diagnosis in 17.

Oesophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma: lessons from a decade of consecutive resections.

The aim of this study was to analyse the outcome following oesophageal resection for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a large volume unit. Between 1987 and 1997, 166 patients with SCC underwent oesophagectomy. The outcomes and pathological characteristics of this cohort were then analysed.

Nutritional status affects long term survival after lobectomy for lung cancer.

Study Objectives: Nutritional status has been reported as a predictor of complications following surgery for lung cancer. However, the impact of impaired nutrition in the long term has not been extensively studied. We have analysed our own experience after lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Survival after esophageal resection for carcinoma: the importance of the histologic cell type.

Background: The significance of tumor cell type on survival after esophageal resection for carcinoma is uncertain. We reviewed our experience in order to compare the outcome in the two main histologic groups.

Methods: Between January 1987 and April 2000, 621 patients underwent esophagectomy with curative intention for squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma.

A study exploring the role of intercostal nerve damage in chronic pain after thoracic surgery.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of intra-operative nerve damage and its association with chronic pain.

Methods: Our prospective study of 33 patients used nerve conduction studies to assess intercostal nerve function during elective thoracic surgical procedures. We used two methods to study nerve conduction: pre-operative magnetic stimulation (in 10 patients) and intra-operative nerve conduction studies (in all patients) We correlated these findings with specific intra-operative parameters, pain and psychological questionnaires pre-op and 3 month post-op and altered cutaneous sensation.

A questionnaire study investigating the prevalence of the neuropathic component of chronic pain after thoracic surgery.

Objective: Our questionnaire study set out to assess the prevalence of chronic pain after thoracic surgery, the contribution of the neuropathic component of chronic pain and the impact of chronic pain on patients' lives.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 1152 patients who had undergone thoracic surgery in our department between 7 months and 7 years ago. The questionnaire was designed specifically for the study and included questions on neuropathic symptoms.

Risk of mistaken DNR orders.

A questionnaire study was carried out among attendants at a community cancer center to determine the subjects' preferences and understanding of the meaning of do-not-resuscitate (DNR). Only 34% correctly understood the meaning of DNR, and 66% thought that DNR was administered only to prolong life without realizing that a DNR decision would result in not being resuscitated even if the cause of the sudden death was potentially reversible. We then determined the subjects' preferences if they had developed a treatment complication needing resuscitation and be put on the ventilator machine temporarily.

Redo antireflux surgery--the importance of a tailored approach.

Objective: Although several studies have examined early outcome following redo antireflux surgery, there is little data on the long-term efficacy of these procedures. We reviewed our experience of these operations in order to assess the long-term results which can be achieved by choosing redo antireflux procedures based on the results obtained from pre-operative oesophageal function testing.

Methods: The case notes of 26 patients who underwent a repeat antireflux procedure between 1981 and 2000 were reviewed.

Histological determinants of survival in completely resected T1-2N1M0 nonsmall cell cancer of the lung.

Background: The histologic determinants of survival after surgical resection of stage II nonsmall cell lung cancer are poorly understood. We analyzed the prognostic significance of a number of histologic features after complete resection of T1-2N1M0 nonsmall cell cancer of the lung.

Methods: The case notes and histology of all patients who underwent a potentially curative surgical resection for T1-2N1M0 nonsmall cell carcinoma of the lung between 1991 and 1997 were reviewed retrospectively.

Long term results of surgery versus continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (CHART) in patients aged >70 years with stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Patients with T1N0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are preferably treated by anatomic lobectomy. However, not all such patients are suitable for lobectomy due to their age or co-morbidity. Our aim was to determine the results obtained following lobectomy, wedge resection (WR) or continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (CHART) in patients aged >70 years.

Pneumonectomy for stage I (T1N0 and T2N0) nonsmall cell lung cancer has potent, adverse impact on survival.

Background: Surgically treated, stage I (T1N0 and T2N0) nonsmall cell lung cancer has a relatively favorable prognosis. Our aim was to determine whether performing a pneumonectomy in this group of patients has an impact on survival.

Methods: Four hundred eighty-five patients with stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer undergoing lung resection between 1991 and 2000 were studied.