Methods such as real time (RT)-PCR have not been developed for the rapid detection and diagnosis of Dermatophilus (D.) congolensis infection. In the present study, a D. congolensis-specific SYBR Green RT-PCR assay was evaluated. The detection limit of the RT-PCR assay was 1 pg of DNA per PCR reaction. No cross-reaction with nucleic acids extracted from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, or Austwickia chelonae was observed. Finally, the RT-PCR assay was used to evaluate clinical samples collected from naturally infected animals with D. congolensis. The results showed that this assay is a fast and reliable method for diagnosing dermatophilosis.
Actinomycetales/*isolation & purification ; Actinomycetales Infections/diagnosis/microbiology/*veterinary ; Animals ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Fluorescent Dyes/*diagnostic use ; Horse Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Horses ; Limit of Detection ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods/veterinary ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sheep ; Sheep Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic and predictive value of the nucleotide excision repair-related gene GTF2H5, which is localized at the 6q24.2-26 deletion previously reported by our group to predict longer survival of high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients. METHODS: In order to test if protein levels of GTF2H5 are associated with patients' outcome, we performed GTF2H5 immunohistochemical staining in 139 high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas included in tissue microarrays. Upon stratification of cases into high- and low-GTF2H5 staining categories (> and < or = median staining, respectively) Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test were used to estimate patients' survival and assess statistical differences. We also evaluated the association of GTF2H5 with survival at the transcriptional level by using the on-line Kaplan-Meier plotter tool, which includes gene expression and survival data of 855 high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients from 13 different datasets. Finally, we determined whether stable short hairpin RNA-mediated GTF2H5 downregulation modulates cisplatin sensitivity in the SKOV3 and COV504 cell lines by using cytotoxicity assays. RESULTS: Low expression of GTF2H5 was associated with longer 5-year survival of patients at the protein (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.93; p=0.024) and transcriptional level (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.97; p=0.023) in high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients. We confirmed the association with 5-year overall survival (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.78; p=0.0007) and also found an association with progression-free survival (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.96; p=0.026) in a homogenous group of 388 high-stage (stages III-IV using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system), optimally debulked high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients. GTF2H5-silencing induced a decrease of the half maximal inhibitory concentration upon cisplatin treatment in GTF2H5-silenced ovarian cancer cells. CONCLUSION: Low levels of GTF2H5 are associated with enhanced prognosis in high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients and may contribute to cisplatin sensitization.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor/biosynthesis/genetics ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Ovarian Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Prognosis ; Transcription Factors/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The optimal perioperative anticoagulation management in patients on warfarin therapy is poorly defined due to the lack of randomized trials. Because guidelines are heterogeneous, it was hypothesized that "treatment strategies are not uniform in clinical practice". Between February 2003 and May 2003, a questionnaire with 4 different clinical scenarios was distributed to physicians by e-mail, or direct contact was made by a survey monitor. Two scenarios described the cases of patients with a mechanical heart valve (MHV) in the mitral position, with additional risk factors for a systemic embolism; one undergoing major (scenario 1) and the other minor surgery (scenario 3). Two scenarios described patients with an aortic MHV; one undergoing major (scenario 2) and the other minor (scenario 4) surgery. Different preoperative and postoperative management options were offered. The treatment options for all scenarios were the same. Of the 90 questionnaires distributed, 52 (57.8%) were returned. Hospitalization for full-dose intravenous unfractionated heparin (IV UH) was the most commonly selected strategy in the preoperative phase for scenarios 1 (59%), 2 (42%) and 3 (44%). In scenario 4, 34% chose IV UH. Outpatient, full- dose, subcutaneous UH or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) was the most selected option in the postoperative phase for all scenarios, with the exception of number 4 (52.9% in scenario 1, 34% in scenario 2, 32%, in scenario 3 and 28% in scenario 4). Even among expert clinicians, the management of perioperative anticoagulation is heterogeneous. In particular, the definition of risk categories and the optimal intensity of antithrombotic drugs need to be defined by well-designed prospective studies.
Anticoagulants/*therapeutic use ; Health Care Surveys ; *Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Perioperative Care/*methods ; *Physicians ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Warfarin/*therapeutic use

Bones are the third most common location for solid tumor metastasis affecting up to 10% of patients with solid tumors. When the spine is involved, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are frequently affected. Access to spinal lesions can be through minimally invasive surgery (MIS) or traditional open surgery (OS). This study aims to determine which method provides an advantage. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Inventory for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines, a systematic review was conducted to identify studies that compare MIS with OS in patients with spinal metastatic disease. Data were analyzed using Review Manager ver. 5.3 (RevMan; Cochrane, London, UK). Ten studies were included. Operative time was similar among groups at -35.23 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI], -73.36 to 2.91 minutes; p=0.07). Intraoperative bleeding was lower in MIS at -562.59 mL (95% CI, -776.97 to -348.20 mL; p<0.00001). OS procedures had higher odds of requiring blood transfusions at 0.26 (95% CI, 0.15 to 0.45; p<0.00001). Both approaches instrumented similar numbers of levels at -0.05 levels (95% CI, -0.75 to 0.66 levels; p=0.89). We observed a decreased need for postoperative bed rest at -1.60 days (95% CI, -2.46 to -0.74 days; p=0.0003), a shorter length of stay at -3.08 days (95% CI, -4.50 to -1.66 days; p=0.001), and decreased odds of complications at 0.60 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.96; p=0.03) in the MIS group. Both approaches revealed similar reintervention rates at 0.65 (95% CI, 0.15 to 2.84; p=0.57), effective rates of reducing metastasis-related pain at -0.74 (95% CI, -2.41 to 0.94; p=0.39), and comparable scores of the Tokuhashi scale at -0.52 (95% CI, -2.08 to 1.05; p=0.41), Frankel scale at 1.00 (95% CI, 0.60 to 1.68; p=1.0), and American Spinal Injury Association Scale at 0.53 (95% CI, 0.21 to 1.37; p=0.19). MIS appears to provide advantages over OS. Larger and prospective studies should fully detail the role of MIS as a treatment for spine metastasis.

Objective: Transarterial Onyx embolization is the mainstay of intracranial non-cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) treatment. Although the dural arterial supply varies depending on the location, the impact of arterial access on treatment outcomes has remained unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize factors as sociated with complete obliteration following transarterial Onyx embolization, with a special focus on arterial access routes and dAVF location. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the patients who underwent transarterial Onyx embolization for intracranial dAVFs at two academic institutions was performed. Patients with angiographic follow-up were considered eligible to investigate the impact of the arterial access on achieving complete obliteration. Results: Sixty-eight patients underwent transarterial Onyx embolization of intracranial dAVFs. Complete obliteration was achieved in 65% of all treated patients and in 75% of those with cortical venous reflux. Multivariable analysis identified middle meningeal artery (MMA) access to be a significant independent predictive factor for complete obliteration (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.06-5.06; p=0.034). Subgroup analysis showed that supratentorial and lateral cerebellar convexity dAVFs (OR, 5.72, 95% CI, 1.89-17.33, p=0.002), and Borden type III classification at pre-treatment (OR, 3.13, 95% CI, 1.05- 9.35, p=0.041), were independent predictive factors for complete obliteration following embolization through the MMA. Conclusions MMA access is an independent predictive factor for complete obliteration following transarterial Onyx embolization for intracranial non-cavernous dAVFs. It is particularly effective for supratentorial and lateral cerebellar convexity dAVFs and those that are Borden type III.

Objective To evaluate the application of Burnet Institute-made prototype IgA rapid test,a kind of point-of-care (POC) testing,in the diagnosis of early syphilis.Methods Totally,455 stored serum samples in the Reference Laboratory of Sexually Transmitted Disease,the Institute of Dermatology were used to evaluate the application of the prototype IgA rapid test (IgA-POC) in the diagnosis of early syphilis.According to resluts of Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA),rapid plasma reagin card test (RPR),and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgM antibodies (IgM-ELISA),these stored samples were divided into 3 groups:uninfected group,previously infected group and early active syphilis group.IgA-POC test was performed in the 3 groups to evaluate its diagnostic performance for active syphilis,and researchers were blind to the group information.Results The prototype IgA-POC test had a sensitivity of 92.6％ (147/163) for the early active syphilis group,a specificity of 72.22％ (104/144) for the previously infected group,and a specificity of 97.97％ (145/148) for the uninfected group.The total specificity of the prototype IgA-POC test was 85.27％,which met the minimum requirement of WHO for the POC test.The prototype IgA-POC test showed a significantly higher sensitivity for the diagnosis of early active syphilis compared with the IgM-ELISA (59.51％,Z =6.88,P ＜ 0.05),but a significantly lower specificity for the diagnosis of previous syphilis infection compared with the IgM-ELISA (98.61％,Z =6.18,P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,no significant difference in the specificity for the diagnosis of non-infection was observed between the prototype IgA-POC test and IgM-ELISA (Z =1.16,P =0.25).Conclusion The prototype IgA-POC test has better capacity for the diagnosis of early active syphilis compared with the IgM-ELISA,so it can be applied to the screening of early active syphilis.

BACKGROUND: Further research is required to explore the associations between 24-h movement behaviours and health outcomes in the paediatric population. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the associations between novel data-driven 24-h activity metrics and adiposity among children and adolescents. METHODS: The sample included 382 children (8-13 years) and 338 adolescents (14-18 years). The average acceleration (AvAcc) of activity, intensity gradient (IG), and metrics representing the initial acceleration for the most active time periods of the 24-h cycle were calculated from raw acceleration data. Adiposity measures included body mass index z-score, fat mass percentage (FM%), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Data analysis was performed using multiple linear regression adjusted for wear time, sex, maternal education level, and maternal overweight and obesity. RESULTS: Children demonstrated higher values in all 24-h activity metrics than did adolescents (p < 0.001 for all). For children, the initial acceleration for the most active 2, 5, 15, and 30 min of the 24-h cycle were negatively associated with FM% (p ≤ 0.043 for all) and VAT (p <0.001 for all), respectively. For adolescents, the IG was negatively associated with FM% (p = 0.002) and VAT (p = 0.007). Moreover, initial acceleration for the most active 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min were associated with FM% (p ≤ 0.007 for all) and with VAT (p ≤ 0.023 for all). CONCLUSIONS The intensity distribution of activity and initial acceleration for the most active 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min within the 24-h cycle are beneficial for the prevention of excess adiposity in the paediatric population.