Measurement of Campylobacter numbers on carcasses in British poultry slaughterhouses.

An assessment of the proposed new International Organization for Standardization quantitative method for Campylobacter was undertaken on poultry carcass samples collected after the chilling phase of processing. Using a critical differences method, we determined the uncertainty associated with log-transformed Campylobacter numbers by dual analyses of 346 samples collected from 22 processing plants located throughout the United Kingdom. Overall, using log-transformed Campylobacter numbers that ranged between -1 and 5 log, we calculated the expanded measurement of uncertainty (EMU) to be 3.

No evidence that severity of stroke in internal carotid occlusion is related to collateral arteries.

Background/aim: The neurological effects of internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion vary between patients. The authors investigated whether the severity of symptoms in a large group of patients with ipsilateral or/and contralateral ICA occlusion at presentation with ocular or cerebral ischaemic symptoms could be explained by patency of other extra or intracranial arteries to act as collateral pathways.

Methods: The authors prospectively identified all patients (n = 2881) with stroke, cerebral transient ischaemic attack (TIA), retinal artery occlusion (RAO), and amaurosis fugax (AFx) presenting to our hospital over five years, obtained detailed history and examination, and examined the intra and extracranial arteries with carotid and colour-power transcranial Doppler ultrasound.

Interobserver agreement in magnetic resonance brain and neck imaging.

Aim: To investigate the interobserver reliability of brain and neck magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in older community subjects previously recruited to a case-control study of dizziness.

Methods: Subjects aged over 65 years were identified through a local survey and advertising. Several investigations were performed, including MRI of the head and neck using a Siemens 1.

An assessment of sampling methods and microbiological hygiene indicators for process verification in poultry slaughterhouses.

Studies to determine the appropriateness of the use of populations of indicator bacteria on poultry carcasses for process verification were undertaken in commercial slaughterhouses. Samples were collected from neck skin by excision or from whole carcass rinses and were examined for a range of presumptive process hygiene indicator bacteria. Coefficients of variation were calculated for each bacterial indicator and were significantly lower in excised samples, indicating more reproducible bacterial recovery by this sampling method.

Genetic characterization and antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter spp. isolated from poultry and humans in Senegal.

Aims: The main objectives of this study were to investigate the diversity of Campylobacter genotypes circulating in Senegal and to determine the frequency of antibiotic resistance.

Methods And Results: Strains of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from poultry (n = 99) and from patients (n = 10) and Campylobacter coli isolated from poultry (n = 72) were subtyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The pulsotypes obtained after digestion by SmaI and KpnI revealed a significant genetic diversity in both species, but without any predominant pulsotypes.

Longitudinal changes in muscle strength and mass after acute stroke.

Background: Reduced mobility after stroke may cause a loss of muscle mass which may, in theory, contribute to disability. We investigated longitudinal changes in muscle strength, lean cross-sectional area and muscle mass in all limbs after acute stroke.

Methods: We recruited 17 patients within 72 h of hospital admission and measured (a) hand grip strength, (b) knee extensor strength and (c) arm and leg lean cross-sectional area on 6 occasions over 6 months.

The tumor kinetics of multiple myeloma following autologous stem cell transplantation as assessed by measuring serum-free light chains.

In multiple myeloma, changes in serum-free immunoglobulin light chains (FLC) are a more rapid indicator of treatment response than intact immunoglobulin due to their shorter serum half-life. The present study analysed the changes in serum FLC after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) in 19 patients. The majority of myeloma patients (18 of 19) undergoing PBSCT had a rapid fall in FLC concentrations.

Epidemiological analysis of Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovars Hadar, Brancaster and Enteritidis from humans and broiler chickens in Senegal using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and antibiotic susceptibility.

Aims: Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella Brancaster and Salmonella Enteritidis are the main Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovars isolated from poultry in Senegal. Our objective was to analyse the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and antibioresistance patterns of strains belonging to these serovars and to assess the significance of broiler-chicken meat as a source of human infection.

Risk factors associated with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica contamination of chicken carcases in Senegal.

The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for Salmonella spp. contamination of Senegalese chicken carcases during slaughtering. One hundred and twenty traditional slaughterhouses were studied from January 2000 to December 2002 in and around Dakar.

The continued value of central histopathological review of testicular tumours.

Aims: Central histopathological review of testicular tumours prior to definitive treatment can have an important impact on patient management. This study was designed to assess the continued value of central review in the light of increasing subspecialization and increased numbers of consultant histopathologists.

Materials And Results: The original and review reports of 291 testicular cancer specimens from 1998 to 2002 were analysed, looking particularly at major diagnosis, vascular invasion and the tumour elements within non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT).

Radiotherapy versus single-dose carboplatin in adjuvant treatment of stage I seminoma: a randomised trial.

Background: Adjuvant radiotherapy is effective treatment for stage I seminoma, but is associated with a risk of late non-germ-cell cancer and cardiovascular events. After good results in initial studies with one injection of carboplatin, we undertook a large randomised trial to compare the approaches of radiotherapy with chemotherapy in seminoma treatment.

Methods: Between 1996 and 2001, 1477 patients from 70 hospitals in 14 countries were randomly assigned to receive radiotherapy (para-aortic strip or dog-leg field; n=904) or one injection of carboplatin (n=573; dose based on the formula 7x[glomerular filtration rate+25] mg), at two trial centres in the UK and Belgium.

Electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation and flutter.

Background: Atrial fibrillation increases stroke risk and adversely affects cardiovascular haemodynamics. Electrical cardioversion may, by restoring sinus rhythm, improve cardiovascular haemodynamics, reduce the risk of stroke, and obviate the need for long-term anticoagulation.

Objectives: To assess the effects of electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or flutter on the risk of thromboembolic events, strokes and mortality (primary outcomes), the rate of cognitive decline, quality of life, the use of anticoagulants and the risk of re-hospitalisation (secondary outcomes) in adults (>18 years).

A phase II trial of TIP (paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin) given as second-line (post-BEP) salvage chemotherapy for patients with metastatic germ cell cancer: a medical research council trial.

This phase II trial describes the use of TIP chemotherapy (paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin) as salvage for patients with metastatic germ cell cancer (GCC) who have failed initial BEP (bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin) chemotherapy. Patients with first relapse following BEP for metastatic GCC, confirmed by biopsy or sequentially rising markers, received four courses of TIP (paclitaxel 175 mg m(-2) day 1, followed on days 1-5 by ifosfamide 1 g m(-2) intravenously (i.v.

Risk factors associated with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica contamination of chicken carcases in Senegal.

This study was to identify the risk factors for Salmonella spp. contamination of Senegalese chicken carcases during slaughtering. One hundred and twenty traditional slaughterhouses were studied from January 2000 to December 2002 in and around Dakar.

Adjuvant bleomycin, vincristine and cisplatin (BOP) for high-risk stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumours: a prospective trial (MRC TE17).

Adjuvant BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin) is effective treatment for high-risk clinical stage I (HRCS1) non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT), but the known toxicities of etoposide, and the expansion of the HR group to any patient with vascular invasion (50% of patients), led the Medical Research Council to pilot the BOP regimen. Patients received two courses of BOP 14 days apart: cisplatin 50 mg m(-2) days 1 and 2, vincristine 1.4 mg m(-2) (max.

Pharmacological cardioversion for atrial fibrillation and flutter.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the commonest cardiac dysrhythmia. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There are two approaches to the management of atrial fibrillation: controlling the ventricular rate or converting to sinus rhythm in the expectation that this would abolish its adverse effects.

Randomized trial of 30 versus 20 Gy in the adjuvant treatment of stage I Testicular Seminoma: a report on Medical Research Council Trial TE18, European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Trial 30942 (ISRCTN18525328).

Purpose: To assess the possibility of reducing radiotherapy doses without compromising efficacy in the management of patients with stage I seminoma.

Patients And Methods: Patients were randomly assigned 20 Gy/10 fractions over 2 weeks or 30 Gy/15 fractions during 3 weeks after orchidectomy. They completed a symptom diary card during treatment and quality-of-life forms pre- and post-treatment.

Liver metastases in germ cell cancer: defining a role for surgery after chemotherapy.

Objective: To review the clinical course and outcome of patients with germ cell cancer and liver metastases treated at one centre, as the presence of hepatic metastases, although rare, is a poor prognostic feature in germ cell cancer.

Patients And Methods: The case records of all patients with germ cell cancer and liver metastases at presentation, and treated with chemotherapy at a medical oncology unit between 1984 and 2001, were reviewed. The treatment regimens, tumour responses and patient outcome were recorded.

European consensus on diagnosis and treatment of germ cell cancer: a report of the European Germ Cell Cancer Consensus Group (EGCCCG).

Germ cell tumour is the most frequent malignant tumour type in young men with a 100% rise in the incidence every 20 years. Despite this, the high sensitivity of germ cell tumours to platinum-based chemotherapy, together with radiation and surgical measures, leads to the high cure rate of > or = 99% in early stages and 90%, 75-80% and 50% in advanced disease with 'good', 'intermediate' and 'poor' prognostic criteria (IGCCCG classification), respectively. The high cure rate in patients with limited metastatic disease allows the reduction of overall treatment load, and therefore less acute and long-term toxicity, e.