Genome sequence of strain A5969.

strain A5969 is one of the earliest identified and studied avian mycoplasma strains, valued for its ease of growth and production of uniformly sized colonies. Here, we report the genomic sequence of the A5969 strain.

Evaluating the effects of virulence genotype, swarming motility, and multi-locus sequence types of Escherichia coli on layer chicken embryos.

Aims: To determine the effects of swarming motility (SM) and multi-locus sequence types (MLST) on the main effect of virulence genotype of Escherichia coli through an embryos lethality assay between the 12th and 18th days of incubation.

Methods And Results: We collected 58 E. coli isolates from asymptomatic commercial hens (n = 42) and lesions of colibacillosis cases (n = 16), then classified their virulence genotype as avirulent, moderately virulent, virulent-healthy, and virulent-colibacillosis categories by the presence of five virulence-associated genes (iroN, ompT, hlyF, iutA, and iss).

Genetic comparison of the Mycoplasma gallisepticum 6/85 vaccine strain and 6/85-like field isolates.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection in poultry leads to disease and pathology that can reduce producer profits. Live attenuated vaccines are available that can limit or completely prevent the effects of infection. Field isolates that are genetically related to the attenuated vaccine strains have been isolated, raising the question of whether the attenuation of the vaccine strains is limited and can lead the strains to revert to more virulent forms.

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Three M. gallisepticum Isolates Similar to the 6/85 Vaccine Strain.

Effective control of Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection is accomplished through vaccination with live attenuated vaccines. However, virulent M. gallisepticum strains with genetic markers consistent with those of vaccine strains were found in infected flocks.

Effects of the Administration of the 6/85 Vaccine on Layer Chicken Embryo Hatchability and Early Posthatch Performance.

administration as a possible alternative method of 6/85 MG vaccination was assessed. After 18 days of incubation (doi), the eggs were administered a particular dosage of a live attenuated 6/85 MG vaccine in either the air cell (AC) or amnion (AM). The treatments included non-injected eggs and eggs injected into the AC or AM with diluent alone as controls.

Genomic diversity, pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from poultry in the southern United States.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) are typically present as commensal bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract of most animals including poultry species, but some avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strains can cause localized and even systematic infections in domestic poultry.

Complete Genome Sequences of Three Mycoplasma gallisepticum 6/85-like Isolates.

Control of Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection can be accomplished through vaccination. However, virulent field strains with genetic markers identical to vaccine strains have been identified. Here, we report the sequencing of three field isolates with genetic markers identical to the M.

Effects of the In Ovo Vaccination of the ts-11 Strain of in Layer Embryos and Posthatch Chicks.

The transmission of the ts-11 strain of (MG) vaccine (ts-11MGV) between incubated eggs and between hatchlings that was administrated via in ovo injection, and its subsequent effects on their posthatch performance were evaluated. Marek's disease diluent alone (sham-injected) or containing either 3.63 × 10, 10, 10, or 10 cfu of ts-11MGV was manually in ovo-injected into the amnion on 18 days of incubation.

Upregulation of C/EBPα Inhibits Suppressive Activity of Myeloid Cells and Potentiates Antitumor Response in Mice and Patients with Cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the mechanisms of how therapeutic upregulation of the transcription factor, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), prevents tumor progression in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in different mouse tumor models.

Experimental Design: We conducted a phase I trial in 36 patients with HCC (NCT02716012) who received sorafenib as part of their standard care, and were given therapeutic C/EBPα small activating RNA (saRNA; MTL-CEBPA) as either neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment. In the preclinical setting, the effects of MTL-CEBPA were assessed in several mouse models, including BNL-1ME liver cancer, Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC), and colon adenocarcinoma (MC38).

Effect of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Programmes on Overall Survival in a Mixed Cirrhotic UK Population: A Prospective, Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Introduction: Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is recommended by national and international guidelines. However, there are no trial data on whether surveillance improves clinical outcomes in a UK cirrhosis population of mixed aetiology. Our aim was to determine the impact of, and adherence to, surveillance on overall survival.

Fluorescent microspheres as a positive indicator in an intratracheal infection model.

Animal models testing the ability of vaccines and therapeutic agents to prevent pathology from induced respiratory infection are an important means of testing and validating the vaccines and therapeutic agents. However, the lack of induced pathology in test subjects could be either indicative of protection or a problem with the animal model system. This work describes the improvement of a chicken model system of intratracheal infection using fluorescent microspheres as a positive indicator of infection.

Complete Genome Sequences of Two Vaccine Strains and One Field Isolate of Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

infection of poultry can cause significant losses for poultry producers. Live attenuated vaccines mitigate the losses caused by infection, although the antigens that lead to immune protection have not been identified. Here, we report the sequencing of two vaccine strains and one field strain.

Complete Genome Sequences of Two Mycoplasma gallisepticum F-Strain Variants.

pathology in poultry is preventable by vaccination with live vaccines. Research has suggested possible differences in host response between F-strain-based vaccines. The genomes of the AviPro vaccine and F99 parent strains were sequenced for comparison with the already sequenced F-strain vaccine.

The downstaging approach to irresectable oesophageal and gastric cancer: a single centre experience.

Background: There is uncertainty over optimal management of locally advanced non-metastatic oesophageal and gastric (OG) adenocarcinomas which are deemed irresectable at time of diagnosis due to local tumour or nodal burden. Current practice in our regional centre is to administer chemotherapy in a "downstaging" strategy in the hope of achieving tumour shrinkage to allow radical treatment. Patients without sufficient response to downstaging are treated palliatively.

Capecitabine compared with observation in resected biliary tract cancer (BILCAP): a randomised, controlled, multicentre, phase 3 study.

Background: Despite improvements in multidisciplinary management, patients with biliary tract cancer have a poor outcome. Only 20% of patients are eligible for surgical resection with curative intent, with 5-year overall survival of less than 10% for all patients. To our knowledge, no studies have described a benefit of adjuvant therapy.

A framework for the development of effective anti-metastatic agents.

Most cancer-related deaths are a result of metastasis, and thus the importance of this process as a target of therapy cannot be understated. By asking 'how can we effectively treat cancer?', we do not capture the complexity of a disease encompassing >200 different cancer types - many consisting of multiple subtypes - with considerable intratumoural heterogeneity, which can result in variable responses to a specific therapy. Moreover, we have much less information on the pathophysiological characteristics of metastases than is available for the primary tumour.

The impact of vaccination route on Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine efficacy.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection can lead to major financial losses for poultry producers. Control of M. gallisepticum infection in the layer industry is generally obtained through vaccination due to the nature of the multi-aged flocks in the facilities.

A multicentre comparison between Child Pugh and Albumin-Bilirubin scores in patients treated with sorafenib for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background & Aims: The Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) grade was proposed as an objective means to evaluate liver function in patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). ALBI grade 1 vs 2 were proposed as stratification factors within the Child Pugh (CP) A class. However, the original publication did not provide comparison with the subclassification by points (5-15) within the CP classification.

Prevention of degradation of the natural high potency sweetener (2R,4R)-monatin in mock beverage solutions.

Exposure of the naturally-occurring sweetener monatin to light and metal ions results in loss of both parent monatin and total indole (monatin plus monatin lactone/lactam) in mock beverage solutions, with an accompanying decrease in sweetness. In this study potential protective strategies to prevent degradation were investigated. Metal ion chelating resin, or the chelators EDTA and desferrioxamine decreased monatin and indole loss for solutions kept either in darkness or exposed to light.

Gemcitabine and capecitabine with or without telomerase peptide vaccine GV1001 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer (TeloVac): an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial.

Background: We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of sequential or simultaneous telomerase vaccination (GV1001) in combination with chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Methods: TeloVac was a three-group, open-label, randomised phase 3 trial. We recruited patients from 51 UK hospitals.

Mapping the vulnerability of older persons to disasters.

Older people sit at the centre of a unique constellation of factors that combine to increase their vulnerability to the negative effects of catastrophic events. The aim of this paper is to explore some of the factors that underlie this vulnerability. Attention will be directed at three broad factors that will be discussed in some depth, namely poverty, long standing health conditions and psychological trauma.

Methodologies for estimating cumulative human exposures to current-use pyrethroid pesticides.

We estimated cumulative residential pesticide exposures for a group of nine young children (4-6 years) using three different methodologies developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency and compared the results with estimates derived from measured urinary metabolite concentrations. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Residential Exposure Assessment are intended to provide a screening-level assessment to estimate exposure for regulatory purposes. Nonetheless, dermal exposure estimates were typically lower from the SOP (1-1300 nmol/day) than from SHEDS (5-19,000 nmol/day) or any of the four different approaches for estimating dermal exposure using the Draft Protocol for Measuring Children's Non-Occupational Exposure to Pesticides by all Relevant Pathways (Draft Protocol) (5-11,000 nmol/day).

Proteomics inference of genes involved in host adaptation of Mycoplasma gallinarum.

Different from most other host-specific mycoplasmas, Mycoplasma gallinarum has been isolated from various hosts, such as poultry, pig, cattle, and sheep. The wide distribution among different hosts, the low pathogenesis, and the weak host immunological responses suggest this mycoplasma has a unique host adaptation mechanism. In this study, we applied two-dimensional liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (2D LC-MS/MS) to characterize the protein profiling of M.

Health economics: what value to the theatre practitioner?

Clinical effectiveness has become embedded into healthcare in the last decade. In juxtaposition with this philosophy lies health economics with its mantra of resources being finite, whilst the need for healthcare remains infinite. An outline of a provocative cost-benefit analysis is provided to increase the knowledge of health economics for those working in the operating department.

The role of focal-adhesion kinase in cancer - a new therapeutic opportunity.

Focal-adhesion kinase (FAK) is an important mediator of growth-factor signalling, cell proliferation, cell survival and cell migration. Given that the development of malignancy is often associated with perturbations in these processes, it is not surprising that FAK activity is altered in cancer cells. Mouse models have shown that FAK is involved in tumour formation and progression, and other studies showing that FAK expression is increased in human tumours make FAK a potentially important new therapeutic target.