Surgery groups differed in adverse outcome probabilities and can be used to adjust hospital comparisons.

Background And Objective: In the Netherlands, all procedures in general surgery are categorized into 12 surgery groups by the Association of Surgeons of the Netherlands. The purpose of this study was to assess whether surgery groups differ in adverse outcome probabilities, to decide whether hospital comparisons on adverse outcomes should be adjusted for differences in surgery groups.

Methods: All surgical patients in one hospital discharged in 1997-1999 were included.

The value of MR angiography techniques in the detection of head and neck paragangliomas.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare three-dimensional phase-contrast angiography (3D PCA), 2D time-of-flight (2D TOF), and 3D TOF magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and a proton density weighted technique in terms of their ability to detect head and neck paragangliomas.

Materials And Methods: 14 patients with 29 paragangliomas were examined at 1.5 T.

Head and neck paragangliomas: improved tumor detection using contrast-enhanced 3D time-of-flight MR angiography as compared with fat-suppressed MR imaging techniques.

Background And Purpose: MR imaging techniques have proved their efficacy in imaging the head and neck region. In this study, we compared T1-weighted, dual T2-weighted, and fat-suppressed MR imaging and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced 3D time-of-flight MR angiography sequences for detection of head and neck paragangliomas.

Methods: Thirty-one patients with 70 paragangliomas were examined.

Digital slot-scan charge-coupled device radiography versus AMBER and Bucky screen-film radiography for detection of simulated nodules and interstitial disease in a chest phantom.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of full-field slot-scan charge-coupled device (CCD)-based digital radiography in the detection of simulated chest diseases in clinical conditions versus that of two screen-film techniques: advanced multiple beam equalization radiography (AMBER) and Bucky radiography.

Materials And Methods: Simulated nodules and interstitial nodular and interstitial linear lesions were attached onto an anthropomorphic chest phantom. One hundred sixty-eight lesions were distributed over 25 configurations.

The Eurotransplant Study on Twin Lung Transplants (ESOTWIN): 90 paired single-lung transplants from the same donor.

Background: Despite its reduced benefit for a single recipient, the transplantation of two single-lung allografts as opposed to one bilateral lung transplant has the indisputable advantage of maximizing the number of patients that benefit from a single donor.

Methods: In the period 1997 to 1999, 90 paired single-lung transplants (SLTx) from 45 donors were performed in 16 lung centers in Eurotransplant, with a complete follow-up of 1 year.

Results: No significant differences between left- and right-lung allograft recipients were observed regarding age, sex, primary disease, number of human leukocyte antigen mismatches, cold ischemic time, and donor-to-recipient cytomegalovirus match.

Predictors of lung transplant survival in eurotransplant.

This study was undertaken to assess the influence of patient/donor and center factors on lung transplantation outcome. Outcomes of all consecutive first cadaveric lung transplants performed at 21 Eurotransplant centers in 1997-99 were analyzed. The risk-adjusted center effect on mortality was estimated.

Microarrays, pattern recognition and exploratory data analysis.

We explore the application of principal component based approaches to pattern recognition in microarray analysis. A comparative assessment is presented, based on predictive evaluation, following a review of some key methodology. On the basis of these results, we select principal component based linear discrimination for a further in-depth analysis.

Reduction of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus stearothermophilus and Streptococcus faecalis in meat batters by temperature-high hydrostatic pressure pasteurization.

People have a growing preference for fresh, healthy, palatable and nutritious meals and drinks. However, as food deterioration is a constant threat along the entire food chain, food preservation remains as necessary now as in the past. High pressure processing is one of the emerging technologies being studied as an alternative to the classical pasteurization and sterilization treatments of food.

Prediction of the impact of logging activities on forest cover: a case-study in the east province of Cameroon.

The objective of this study was to test the value of the concept of the net commercial value of standing timber in predicting the impact of logging activities on forest-cover modifications. A study area was selected in the East province of Cameroon which contains major primary forests and which contributes strongly to national timber production. A Geographic Information System containing ecological and economic variables was used in combination with remote sensing data to define the net commercial value of standing timber in the East province.

Transcription of the unique ruminant class II major histocompatibility complex-DYA and DIB genes in dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) constitute the most effective immune cell population for priming and recalling T cell responses to foreign antigens. DC patrol the peripheral tissues collecting foreign antigen for subsequent presentation by classical class II MHC molecules to T cells in the draining lymph nodes. Since the description of the DYA and DIB class II MHC genes, which are unique to ruminants, no transcript or protein have been reported.

Cloning, sequence and mRNA expression of bovine interleukin-16.

A lambda gt11 cDNA library was constructed using mRNA isolated from Theileria parva-infected bovine lymphocytes. Sequencing of random clones of this library resulted in the identification of a cDNA encoding bovine interleukin-16 (IL-16). The cDNA has an open reading frame of 1134 bp, and a 3' untranslated region of 275 nucleotides with a polyadenylation signal 16 bases upstream from the poly (A) tail.

Flt-3 ligand, in combination with bovine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4, promotes the growth of bovine bone marrow derived dendritic cells.

Culture of bone marrow precursor cells with cytokines, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and the tyrosine kinase receptor binding proteins Flt-3 ligand (Flt-3L) and stem-cell factor (SCF), has previously been shown, in both mouse and human, to result in the generation of large numbers of dendritic cells. We extend these findings to bovine dendritic cells. Culture of bovine bone marrow cells with GM-CSF, IL-4 and either Flt-3L or SCF enhanced the generation of low buoyant-density dendritic cells.

Immune response of cattle infected with African trypanosomes.

Trypanosomosis is the most economically important disease constraint to livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and has significant negative impact in other parts of the world. Livestock are an integral component of farming systems and thus contribute significantly to food and economic security in developing countries. Current methods of control for trypanosomosis are inadequate to prevent the enormous socioeconomic losses resulting from this disease.

Cytokine mRNA profiles in trypanotolerant and trypanosusceptible cattle infected with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma congolense: protective role for interleukin-4?

African trypanosomes are important pathogens of both humans and livestock. We investigated the association of cytokine responses with disease susceptibility in Trypanosoma congolense-infected cattle. Changes in interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12 p40, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TFN-alpha), CD40L, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) gene expression were compared in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of infected trypanotolerant N'Dama (Bos taurus) and trypanosusceptible Boran (Bos indicus) cattle.

Trypanosoma congolense infection of trypanotolerant N'Dama (Bos taurus) cattle is associated with decreased secretion of nitric oxide by interferon-gamma-activated monocytes and increased transcription of interleukin-10.

The mechanisms whereby trypanotolerant N'Dama cattle control infection with Trypanosoma congolense are unknown. Previous studies have suggested that the monocytes of N'Dama cattle are more highly activated during infection than those of trypanosusceptible Boran cattle. However, we have recently reported that the monocytes of Boran cattle have a reduced capacity to secrete nitric oxide during trypanosome infection.

Bovine stem cell factor: production of a biologically active protein and mRNA analysis in cattle infected with Trypanosoma congolense.

The cDNA coding for the soluble form of bovine stem cell factor (boSCFAla165) was cloned and recombinant protein was produced in bacteria as a histidine tagged-protein. The protein was purified from the inclusion bodies in one step by metal chelation chromatography under denaturing conditions. Recombinant bovine SCF was shown to act synergistically with interleukin 3 (IL-3) and erythropoietin (EPO) in stimulating the growth of bone marrow progenitor cells such as colony forming units-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) and burst forming units-erythroid (BFU-E).

The nucleotide sequence of the bovine interleukin-5-encoding cDNA.

The nucleotide (nt) sequence encoding the bovine homologue of interleukin-5 (boIL-5) was determined. Total cDNA generated from stimulated bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes was used to amplify the boIL-5 gene using primers based on the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of the ovine IL-5 cDNA sequence. The boIL-5 coding sequence is 405 bp long, coding for a 15.

Nitric oxide synthesis is depressed in Bos indicus cattle infected with Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma vivax and does not mediate T-cell suppression.

Infection with African trypanosomes causes the diseases sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle in sub-Saharan Africa. Suppression of cellular immune responses is a feature of trypanosomiasis in bovine, human, and murine hosts. Some aspects of immunosuppression in the murine model are mediated by nitric oxide (NO) produced by gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-activated macrophages.

Cloning of a cDNA encoding bovine erythropoietin and analysis of its transcription in selected tissues.

A bovine cDNA encoding erythropoietin (Epo) was isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and screening of a bovine kidney cDNA library. The sequenced cDNA has a length of 1312 bp and an open reading frame that encodes a predicted 192-amino-acid (aa) protein, including a putative signal sequence of 25 aa. A mature protein of 167 aa (18.

A standardisation approach to the control of socioeconomic confounding in small area studies of environment and health.

Objective: To assess how effectively a routine adjustment can be made for socio-economic confounding in small area studies of environment and health using indirect standardisation and small area deprivation indices, including analysis of the appropriate size of population unit on which to base the deprivation index and the importance of region and urban/rural status as axes of stratification.

Methods: Standardised morbidity ratios were calculated for cancers in Great Britain for 1981 and standardised mortality ratios for all cause mortality in Great Britain between 1982 and 1985. Deprivation indices were calculated for enumeration districts and wards from 1981 small area census statistics.

Cloning of the bovine interleukin-3-encoding cDNA.

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is one of the cytokines that act during the early and late stages of blood cell formation. To enable the study of the role of IL-3 in bovine haemopoietic stem cell differentiation, the polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify an IL-3 cDNA from first-strand cDNAs prepared from RNA isolated from 4- and 5-hour concanavalin-A-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from N'Dama cattle. An analysis of the cDNA sequence reveals that it contains a 432-nucleotide (nt) open reading frame which codes for 144 amino acids (aa).

Trypanosoma congolense: proliferative responses and interleukin production in lymph node cells of infected cattle.

T-cell-mediated immune responses to defined antigens of Trypanosoma congolense were measured in cattle undergoing primary infection. The antigens used were the variable surface glycoprotein and two invariant antigens, a 33-kDa cysteine protease (congopain) and a recombinant form of a 69-kDa heat-shock protein. Proliferative responses were highest during the second week postinfection and were detected in cells obtained from the lymph node draining the site of infection but not in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The Björk-Shiley Monostrut valve. Clinical experience in 647 patients.

A total of 647 consecutive patients underwent valve replacement with a Björk-Shiley Monostrut valve (Shiley, Inc., Irvine, Calif.) from January 1, 1984, through December 31, 1988.