Surveillance for infection in U.S. pigs raised under controlled management documents negligible risk for public health.

Biosecurity measures preventing exposure of pigs to rodents, wildlife, and contaminated feed or waste products reduce the risk of zoonotic infection in pork. To understand the benefits of such measures in the United States, we conducted the first comprehensive survey of pigs produced under the Pork Quality Assurance Plus production standard, surveying 3,208,643 pork samples from twelve processing locations tested over a period of 54 months. We detected no sp.

Near-Total Ear Avulsion Repaired With Primary Closure and Hyperbaric Oxygen: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Near-total ear avulsion is a rare and challenging problem to repair with many techniques described; primary repair is an attractive option but is not always successful. Healing may be augmented with postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), but this technique is under-reported, and an ideal regimen is not known. The study objective is to discuss the role of HBOT in the management of ear avulsion by reviewing 2 unique cases.

Technical Note: Validation of the effectiveness of electric stunning for euthanasia of mature swine (Sus scrofa domesticus).

Electrocution and the use of a penetrating captive bolt gun (PCBG) are both acceptable methods of euthanasia for market weight swine. Research has demonstrated that a PCBG is effective in both growing and mature swine. Given limited to no published research base on electrocution in mature swine, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the efficacy of a two-stage (head only followed by head to heart, 10 s contact for each) mobile electric stunner (E-STUN, Hubert HAAS TBG 96N) and to assess euthanasia outcomes when comparing E-STUN with the frontal placement of a heavy-duty PCBG (Jarvis, In-line Cylinder Style) when applied to heavy-weight (>200 kg) mature boars and sows.

Validating the effectiveness of alternative euthanasia techniques using penetrating captive bolt guns in mature swine (Sus scrofa domesticus).

Euthanasia of mature swine is challenging. Temporal and behind-the-ear locations are two sites that have been identified as alternatives to the more commonly used frontal placement. In stage one, the effectiveness of two penetrating captive bolt gun styles (cylinder or pistol) was evaluated using frontal, temporal, and behind-the-ear placement in anesthetized mature swine (n = 36; weight: 267 ± 41 kg).

Identification and Morphogenesis of Vestibular Atrial Septal Defects.

: The vestibular atrial septal defect is an interatrial communication located in the antero-inferior portion of the atrial septum. Reflecting either inadequate muscularization of the vestibular spine and mesenchymal cap during development, or excessive apoptosis within the developing antero-inferior septal component, the vestibular defect represents an infrequently recognized true deficiency of the atrial septum. We reviewed necropsy specimens from three separate archives to establish the frequency of such vestibular defects and their associated cardiac findings, providing additional analysis from developing mouse hearts to illustrate their potential morphogenesis.

Transoral robotic excision of laryngocele: Surgical considerations.

Background: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has emerged as a novel, safe, and feasible procedure for the resection of malignant supraglottic laryngeal cancers. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the surgical technique with extension of the use of TORS to excise a laryngeal cyst.

Results: Laryngeal cyst resection, along with its tract, was accomplished with preservation of both false and true vocal cords.

Cognitive Functions in Adult Cochlear Implant Users, Cochlear Implant Candidates, and Normal-Hearing Listeners.

Objectives: Increasing evidence suggests that hearing loss may be linked to cognitive decline, and that cochlear implantation may lead to improvements in cognition. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of severe-to-profound hearing loss and cochlear implantation in post-lingually deafened adults, compared with age-matched normal-hearing (NH) peers. Participants were tested on several non-auditory measures of cognition: working memory (WM) (digit span, object span, symbol span), non-verbal reasoning (Raven's progressive matrices), information-processing speed and inhibitory control (Stroop test), speed of phonological and lexical access (Test of Word Reading Efficiency), and verbal learning and memory (California Verbal Learning Test).

Is the Program-Specific Paragraph Responsible for Declining Application Numbers? A Commentary.

An alarming trend of declining applications to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery has surfaced over the past 3 years. There are many possible explanations for this decline, and a recent publication has implicated "impossible" qualifications as the reason for this decline. While these qualifications may deter a significant number of potential applicants, they have not changed significantly in the past 5 years and do not seem to explain a sudden decline.

Does treatment of paradoxical vocal fold movement disorder decrease asthma medication use?

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine whether diagnosis and treatment of paradoxical vocal fold movement disorder (PVFMD) leads to decreased asthma medication use. Secondary objectives include determining initial rate of asthma medication use, characterizing symptom improvement, and correlating with pulmonary function testing (PFT).

Study Design: Prospective observational study.

Pneumobilia Resulting From Choledochoduodenal Fistula Secondary to Metastatic Colon Adenocarcinoma.

Pneumobilia, or air within the biliary tree, is a poor prognostic indicator in a patient without prior biliary sphincterotomy. Differential diagnosis includes infection with gas-forming organisms, choledochoenteric fistula in the setting of gallstones or penetrating ulcer disease, malignant invasion from a primary liver or biliary tract tumor, or metastatic disease. Treatment depends on etiology and patient factors, but often requires surgical intervention.

Graft-Versus-Host Disease of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract After an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in recipients of autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) is less common compared to recipients of allogeneic SCT, but its existence has been well documented. Similarly, the diarrheal component of the disease is highlighted when discussing its gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations, with less emphasis given to upper GI symptoms like nausea and vomiting. We present a case illustrating the upper GI tract signs and symptoms of GVHD after autologous SCT, and emphasize that prompt treatment can rapidly improve morbidity and prevent disease progression.

Biomechanical evaluation contribution of the acetabular labrum to hip stability.

Purpose: Knowledge of the effect of hip pathologies on hip biomechanics is important to the understanding of the development of osteoarthritis, and the contribution of the labrum to hip joint stability has had limited study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of labral injury to stability of the femoral head in the acetabular socket.

Methods: Ten cadaver hip specimens were tested using a robotic system under four different loading conditions: axial loading (80 N) along the femoral axis and axial loading (80 N) combined with either anterior, posterior or lateral loading (60 N).

Prophylactic versus reactive PEG tube placement in head and neck cancer.

Objective: To understand the impact of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement timing on tube duration, weight loss, and disease control in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).

Setting: A tertiary academic center.

Study Design: Historical cohort study.

Biomechanical comparison of different graft positions for single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Purpose: Recent reports have highlighted the importance of an anatomic tunnel placement for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of different tunnel positions for single-bundle ACL reconstruction on knee biomechanics.

Methods: Sixteen fresh-frozen cadaver knees were used.

Biomechanics of the human triple-bundle anterior cruciate ligament.

Purpose: To investigate the biomechanics of the intermediate (IM), anteromedial (AM), and posterolateral (PL) bundles in the human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Methods: Eighteen human cadaveric knees were tested with a robotic/universal force-moment sensor testing system. Anterior tibial translation (ATT) was determined under an 89-N anterior tibial load.

A biomechanical comparison of 2 femoral fixation techniques for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in skeletally immature patients: over-the-top fixation versus transphyseal technique.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare knee kinematics and in situ forces of the graft between 2 femoral fixation techniques of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction: the over-the-top (OTT) fixation and transphyseal (TP) techniques.

Methods: ACL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients is a challenging procedure. Regarding the femoral fixation techniques, 2 methods are commonly used: the OTT fixation and TP techniques.

Comparison of in situ forces and knee kinematics in anteromedial and high anteromedial bundle augmentation for partially ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

Background: High tunnel placement is common in single- and double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions. Similar nonanatomic tunnel placement may also occur in ACL augmentation surgery.

Purpose: In this study, in situ forces and knee kinematics were compared between nonanatomic high anteromedial (AM) and anatomic AM augmentation in a knee with isolated AM bundle injury.

Optical coherence tomography detection of subclinical traumatic cartilage injury.

Objectives: Posttraumatic arthritis is a major cause of disability. Current clinical imaging modalities are unable to reliably evaluate articular cartilage damage before surface breakdown, when potentially reversible changes are occurring. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a nondestructive imaging technology that can detect degenerative changes in articular cartilage with an intact surface.

Contribution of the meniscofemoral ligament as a restraint to the posterior tibial translation in a porcine knee.

The meniscofemoral ligament (MFL) is a major structure in the posterior aspect of the porcine knee together with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). While the porcine knee is a frequently used animal model for biomechanical evaluation of PCL reconstruction techniques, the contribution of the MFL to stability of the porcine knee is not well understood. The purpose of this study is (1) to evaluate the kinematics of the knee after sequential cutting of the PCL and MFL and (2) to determine the in situ forces of the PCL and MFL in response to a posterior tibial load of 89 N using the robotic/universal force-moment sensor system from 15 degrees to 90 degrees of knee flexion.

Progressive chondrocyte death after impact injury indicates a need for chondroprotective therapy.

Background: Impact injury to articular cartilage can lead to posttraumatic osteoarthritis.

Hypotheses: This study tests the hypotheses that (1) chondrocyte injury occurs after impact at energies insufficient to fracture the cartilage surface, and that (2) cartilage injury patterns vary with impact energy, time after injury, and cartilage thickness.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Effect of tunnel position for anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction on knee biomechanics in a porcine model.

Attention has been focused on the importance of anatomical tunnel placement in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of different tunnel positions for single-bundle (SB) ACL reconstruction on knee kinematics. Ten porcine knees were used for the following reconstruction techniques: three different anatomic SB [AM-AM (antero-medial), PL-PL (postero-lateral), and MID-MID] (n = 5 for each group), conventional SB (PL-high AM) (n = 5), and anatomic double-bundle (DB) (n = 5).