Evaluation of direct Etest for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacteria isolated from synovial fluid of horses using enrichment bottles.

This study evaluated the Etest for direct antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of bacteria from equine synovial specimens, incubated in BACTEC enrichment bottles. Ninety-four culture-positive broths were inoculated onto agar to directly determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 13 antimicrobials, using the Etest (direct Etest). Results were compared with those obtained with the agar dilution reference method, the standard Etest, and the disc diffusion method, after subculture and standardisation of the inoculum.

Repetitive urine and blood sampling in neonatal and weaned piglets for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling in drug discovery: a pilot study.

Piglets are considered to be suitable animal models for predicting the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of test drugs for potential use in the paediatric population. Such PK/PD studies require multiple blood and urine samplings. The goal of the present study was to determine a suitable blood collection strategy applicable in the youngest age categories of six days, four weeks and eight weeks of age, as well as a urine collection technique for male piglets in the same age categories.

Peripheral CD8 effector-memory type 1 T-cells correlate with outcome in ipilimumab-treated stage IV melanoma patients.

The role of the assessment of peripheral T-cell phenotypes in predicting overall survival (OS) after ipilimumab treatment is unclear. Here, we analysed mononuclear cells in the blood before and at different time points during treatment with ipilimumab in 137 late-stage melanoma patients. The proportions of baseline naïve and memory T-cells were measured by flow cytometry and correlated with OS, with an emphasis on PD-1 expression.

Total aortic arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk procedure in acute DeBakey type I aortic dissections.

Objectives: In patients with acute aortic dissection involving the arch and the descending aorta (AADA DeBakey type I), performing a total aortic arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure for supposedly better long-term results is still controversial.

Methods: From February 2004 to April 2016, 94 patients with AADA DeBakey type I had an FET procedure (80% men, age 58 ± 12 years). During the early period (Group 1, 2004-10), the FET technique was performed using non-branched grafts.

Combined treatment with ipilimumab and intratumoral interleukin-2 in pretreated patients with stage IV melanoma-safety and efficacy in a phase II study.

Treatment of advanced melanoma patients with ipilimumab results in improved survival. However, only about 20% of treated patients experience long-term benefit. Combining treatment of ipilimumab with other drugs may improve immune activation and potentially enhance clinical efficacy.

Establishing High Dimensional Immune Signatures from Peripheral Blood via Mass Cytometry in a Discovery Cohort of Stage IV Melanoma Patients.

The identification of blood-borne biomarkers correlating with melanoma patient survival remains elusive. Novel techniques such as mass cytometry could help to identify melanoma biomarkers, allowing simultaneous detection of up to 100 parameters. However, the evaluation of multiparametric data generated via time-of-flight mass cytometry requires novel analytical techniques because the application of conventional gating strategies currently used in polychromatic flow cytometry is not feasible.

Reactive dissociative experiences in response to acute increases in shame feelings.

Studies have not examined if a direct causal relationship exists between shame and dissociation. The current research examined whether increases in dissociation were evident following exposure to acute shame feelings induced via narrative scripts of shame-evoking situations. Following Gilbert's (1998) differentiation between external and internal shame, participants heard shame-inducing or emotionally neutral stories in conditions designed to heighten (1) external shame, (2) internal shame or (3) general shame.

Comparison of antibacterial effects among three foams used with negative pressure wound therapy in an ex vivo equine perfused wound model.

OBJECTIVE To compare antibacterial effects among 3 types of foam used with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in an ex vivo equine perfused wound model. SAMPLES Abdominal musculocutaneous flaps from 6 equine cadavers. PROCEDURES Each musculocutaneous flap was continuously perfused with saline (0.

Bilateral changes in muscle architecture of physically active people with chronic stroke: A quantitative muscle ultrasound study.

Objective: Changes in muscle architecture after stroke are usually assessed by investigating inter-limb differences. As a result bilateral changes of muscle architecture might be missed. Our aim was to investigate whether bilateral architectural changes in skeletal muscle can be detected in chronic, physically active stroke patients using quantitative muscle ultrasound (QMUS).

High flux circularly polarized gamma beam factory: coupling a Fabry-Perot optical cavity with an electron storage ring.

We report and discuss high-flux generation of circularly polarized γ-rays by means of Compton scattering. The γ-ray beam results from the collision of an external-cavity-enhanced infrared laser beam and a low emittance relativistic electron beam. By operating a non-planar bow-tie high-finesse optical Fabry-Perot cavity coupled to a storage ring, we have recorded a flux of up to (3.

Right-Sided Heart Failure and Extracorporeal Life Support in Patients Undergoing Pericardiectomy for Constrictive Pericarditis: A Risk Factor Analysis for Adverse Outcome.

 Right ventricular failure is a life-threatening postoperative complication after pericardiectomy. We conducted a retrospective study with a special emphasis on right ventricular failure.  Between June 1997 and September 2011, 69 patients underwent surgical pericardiectomy at our center.

Baseline Biomarkers for Outcome of Melanoma Patients Treated with Pembrolizumab.

Purpose: Biomarkers for outcome after immune-checkpoint blockade are strongly needed as these may influence individual treatment selection or sequence. We aimed to identify baseline factors associated with overall survival (OS) after pembrolizumab treatment in melanoma patients.

Experimental Design: Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), routine blood count parameters, and clinical characteristics were investigated in 616 patients.

Steroids can reduce warm ischemic reperfusion injury in a porcine donation after circulatory death model with ex vivo lung perfusion evaluation.

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) is being used to increase the number of transplantable organs. The role and timing of steroids in DCD donation and ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we investigated the effect of steroids on warm ischemic injury in a porcine model (n = 6/group).

Establishing human leukemia xenograft mouse models by implanting human bone marrow-like scaffold-based niches.

To begin to understand the mechanisms that regulate self-renewal, differentiation, and transformation of human hematopoietic stem cells or to evaluate the efficacy of novel treatment modalities, stem cells need to be studied in their own species-specific microenvironment. By implanting ceramic scaffolds coated with human mesenchymal stromal cells into immune-deficient mice, we were able to mimic the human bone marrow niche. Thus, we have established a human leukemia xenograft mouse model in which a large cohort of patient samples successfully engrafted, which covered all of the important genetic and risk subgroups.

High GDF-15 Serum Levels Independently Correlate with Poorer Overall Survival of Patients with Tumor-Free Stage III and Unresectable Stage IV Melanoma.

Biomarkers are strongly needed for diagnostic surveillance of patients with metastatic melanoma. On the basis of its known association with tumor metastasis and its ability to induce cancer cachexia, we investigated serum levels of growth and differentiation factor 15 (sGDF-15) as a marker for overall survival (OS). sGDF-15 was retrospectively measured by ELISA in 761 samples obtained at distinct time points during routine clinical care of patients with stage III/IV melanoma.

Homoleptic Gold Acetonitrile Complexes with Medium to Very Weakly Coordinating Counterions: Effect on Aurophilicity?

A series of gold acetonitrile complexes [Au(NCMe) ] [WCA] with weakly coordinating counterions (WCAs) was synthesized by the reaction of elemental gold and nitrosyl salts [NO] [WCA] in acetonitrile ([WCA] =[GaCl ] , [B(CF ) ] , [Al(OR ) ] ; R =C(CF ) ). In the crystal structures, the [Au(NCMe) ] units appeared as monomers, dimers, or chains. A clear correlation between the aurophilicity and the coordinating ability of counterions was observed, with more strongly coordinating WCAs leading to stronger aurophilic contacts (distances, C-N stretching frequencies of [Au(NCMe) ] units).

A20 inhibition of STAT1 expression in myeloid cells: a novel endogenous regulatory mechanism preventing development of enthesitis.

Objectives: A20 is an important endogenous regulator of inflammation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in A20 have been associated with various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, and cell-specific deletion of A20 results in diverse inflammatory phenotypes. Our goal was to delineate the underlying mechanisms of joint inflammation in myeloid-specific A20-deficient mice (A20 mice).

Treatment of sarcoids in equids: 230 cases (2008-2013).

OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes following treatment of sarcoids in equids and to identify risk factors for treatment failure in these patients. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 230 equids with 614 sarcoids.

Proportions of blood-borne Vδ1+ and Vδ2+ T-cells are associated with overall survival of melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab.

Human γδ T-cells possess regulatory and cytotoxic capabilities, and could potentially influence the efficacy of immunotherapies. We analysed the frequencies of peripheral γδ T-cells, including their most prominent subsets (Vδ1+ and Vδ2+ cells) and differentiation states in 109 melanoma patients and 109 healthy controls. We additionally analysed the impact of γδ T-cells on overall survival (OS) calculated from the first dose of ipilimumab in melanoma patients.

Does the surgeon's experience have an impact on outcome after total arterial revascularization with composite T-grafts? A risk factor analysis.

Objectives: When composite T-grafting is performed, total arterial revascularization (TAR) can be accomplished with only two grafts. There is the belief that composite grafting poses a risk of graft failure due to its single inflow via the left internal thoracic artery (LITA). High surgical quality is essential for left internal thoracic artery preparation, T-grafting and length estimation.

Pressure level required during prolonged cerebral perfusion time has no impact on neurological outcome: a propensity score analysis of 800 patients undergoing selective antegrade cerebral perfusion.

Objectives: Operating on the aortic arch is a surgical challenge involving various periods of circulatory arrest. Deep hypothermia is used to protect the brain. Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) is employed to protect the brain and enable cerebral ischaemia time to be prolonged.

Laparoscopic Evaluation of the Epiploic Foramen after Celiotomy for Epiploic Foramen Entrapment in the Horse.

Objectives: To evaluate the epiploic foramen using laparoscopy in horses previously treated for epiploic foramen entrapment to determine if spontaneous epiploic foramen closure had occurred.

Study Design: Non-consecutive case series.

Animals: Seven horses.

Multimodal Imaging for In Vivo Evaluation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in a Murine Model of Heart Failure.

Myocardial stem cell therapy in heart failure is strongly dependent on successful cellular transfer, engraftment, and survival. Moreover, massive cell loss directly after intramyocardial injection is commonly observed, generating the need for efficient longitudinal monitoring of transplanted cells in order to develop more efficient transplantation techniques. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess viability and cardiac retention of induced pluripotent stem cells after intramyocardial delivery using in vivo bioluminescence analysis (BLI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).