Prevalence of porcine circovirus type 2 and type 3 in slaughtered pigs and wild boars in Korea.

Background: Porcine circovirus, a non-enveloped single-stranded DNA virus belonging to the genus Circovirus of the family Circoviridae, is a major pathogen of porcine circovirus-associated disease. Porcine circovirus 3, a novel porcine circovirus, has been identified in individuals with clinical symptoms.

Objectives: The prevalence of porcine circovirus 2 and porcine circovirus 3 and the confirmation of diagnosis of this emerging viral disease have not been fully studied yet.

Development of novel biliary metal stent with coil-spring structure and its application swine biliary stricture model.

Background: As of date, endoscopic biliary stenting with plastic stent (PS) and self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) have been widely used for the palliation of biliary tract strictures. However, these two stents have several limitations regarding the management of biliary strictures caused by intrahepatic and hilar cholangiocarcinoma. PS has short patency and also risks bile duct injury and bowel perforation.

Systemic Infection of Mycobacterium abscessus in a Free-Ranging Wild Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo).

An adult Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) rescued from drowning was unable to fly. After euthanasia, necropsy and histopathologic examination showed granulomatous inflammation and intracellular acid-fast stain-positive rod-shaped bacteria in the skin, lung, liver, and spleen, which were identified by using molecular analysis as Mycobacterium abscessus.

Comparative study of sodium bicarbonate- and magnesium hydroxide-based gastric antacids for the effectiveness of Salmonella delivered Brucella antigens against wild type challenge in BALB/c mice.

We compared the effects of two antacid formulations based on sodium bicarbonate and magnesium hydroxide on a Salmonella-delivered oral Brucella live attenuated vaccine. We conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments to investigate the pH buffering capacity, buffering longevity and the effects of these formulations on the survival of Salmonella under neutralized pH conditions and its impact on immune responses. Magnesium hydroxide had a greater, stable and prolonged buffering capacity than sodium bicarbonate and was safer when administered orally.

Experimental evaluation of the response of micro-channel plate detector to ions with 10s of MeV energies.

The absolute calibration of a microchannel plate (MCP) assembly using a Thomson spectrometer for laser-driven ion beams is described. In order to obtain the response of the whole detection system to the particles' impact, a slotted solid state nuclear track detector (CR-39) was installed in front of the MCP to record the ions simultaneously on both detectors. The response of the MCP (counts/particles) was measured for 5-58 MeV carbon ions and for protons in the energy range 2-17.

Vascularized Partial Free Toe Tissue Transfer Under Local Anesthesia.

Background: This study was designed to introduce free toe soft tissue transfer using local infiltration anesthesia in patients not suitable for general anesthesia and local tissue coverage.

Methods: From January 2006 to August 2012, a total of 11 traumatic fingertip defects were reconstructed by toe soft tissue transfer. All procedures except 1 were done as primary reconstructions, with either the lateral side of the great toe (5 cases) or the medial side of the second toe (6 cases) used as a donor.

Antihelical shaping of prominent ears using conchal cartilage-grafting adhesion.

Objectives/hypothesis: No specific otoplasty method has been considered as the absolute standard in patients with prominent ears showing thick and strong auricular cartilage.

Study Design: Retrospective case series study.

Methods: The authors reviewed the chart and preoperative and postoperative photos of patients (N = 66) who underwent otoplasty consecutively with a new antihelical shaping technique using conchal cartilage-grafting adhesion between 2003 and 2010.