Stockmanship competence and its relation to productivity and economic profitability: the context of backyard goat production in the Philippines

A stockperson has a significant influence on the productivity and welfare of his animals depending on his stockmanship competence. In this study, stockmanship competence (SC) is defined as the capacity of the stockperson to ensure the welfare of his animals by providing his animals' needs. The study was conducted to evaluate the SC of backyard goat raisers and examine its relationship to goat productivity and economic profitability. There were 101 respondents for this study who have all undertaken farmer livestock school on integrated goat management (FLS-IGM). Interview was conducted in Region I, Philippines on September 3 to 30, 2012 and March 4 to 17, 2013. Data on SC, goat productivity and farmer's income were gathered. Questions regarding SC were formulated based on the Philippine Recommendations for Goat Production and from other scientific literature. Housing, feeding, breeding and health and husbandry management were the indicators used in computing stockmanship competence index score (SCIS). Pearson correlation using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was carried out to analyse the relationship between SCIS, productivity and income. Based from the results of the study, a majority of the respondents raised native and upgraded goats. The computed mean SCIS before and after undergoing FLS-IGM were 38.52% and 75.81% respectively, a percentage difference of 65.23%. Both index scores resulted in significant differences in productivity and income. The median mature weight and mortality rate of goats before FLS-IGM was 14 kg and 30% respectively. After FLS-IGM, median mature weight was 19 kg and mortality rate decreased from 30% to 11.11%. Likewise, fewer goat diseases were observed by farmers who were able to undergo FLS-IGM. With regard to income, there was a 127.34% difference on the median net income derived by farmers. Result implies that improved SC could lead not only to increased productivity and income of backyard goat raisers but also to better animal welfare.

Quality of life and metrics of achievement in long-term adult survivors of pediatric heart transplant

Many children who undergo heart transplantation will survive into adulthood. We sought to examine the QOL and capacity for achievement in long-term adult survivors of pediatric heart transplantation. Adults >18 yr of age who received transplants as children (≤18 yr old) and had survived for at least 10 yr post-transplant completed two self-report questionnaires: (i) Ferrans & Powers QLI, in which life satisfaction is reported as an overall score and in four subscale domains and is then indexed from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 1 (very satisfied); and (ii) a "Metrics of Life Achievement" questionnaire regarding income, education, relationships, housing status, and access to health care. A total of 20 subjects completed the survey. The overall mean QLI score was 0.77 ± 0.16. Subjects were most satisfied in the family domain (0.84 ± 0.21) and least satisfied in the psychological/spiritual domain (0.7 ± 0.28). Satisfaction in the domains of health/functioning and socioeconomic were intermediate at 0.78 and 0.76, respectively. Most respondents had graduated from high school, reported a median annual income >$50 000/yr, and lived independently. Adult survivors of pediatric heart transplant report a good QOL and demonstrate the ability to obtain an education, work, and live independently.

HLA desensitization with bortezomib in a highly sensitized pediatric patient

The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib has been used with variable success in the treatment of AMR following heart transplant. There is limited experience with this agent as a pretransplant desensitizing therapy. We report a case of successful HLA desensitization with a bortezomib-based protocol prior to successful heart transplantation. A nine-yr-old boy with dilated cardiomyopathy, not initially sensitized to HLA (cPRA of zero), required three days of ECMO, followed by implantation of a Heartmate II LVAD. Within six wk, the patient developed de novo class I IgG and C1q complement-fixing HLA antibodies with a cPRA of 100%. Two doses of IVIG (2 g/kg) failed to reduce antibody levels, although two courses of a novel desensitization protocol consisting of rituximab (375 mg/m(2) ), bortezomib (1.3 mg/m(2)  × 5 doses), and plasmapheresis reduced his cPRA to 0% and 87% by the C1q and IgG assays, respectively. He underwent heart transplantation nearly two months later. The patient is now >one yr post-transplant, is free of both AMR and ACR, and has no detectable donor-specific antibodies by IgG or C1q. Proteasome inhibition with bortezomib and plasmapheresis may be an effective therapy for HLA desensitization pretransplant.

Tetralogy of Fallot: aorto-pulmonary collaterals and pulmonary arteries have distinctly different transcriptomes

BACKGROUND

Tetralogy of Fallot patients with pulmonary atresia (TOF/PA) present a pulmonary blood supply directly from aortic collateral arteries. Major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) present substantial clinical and surgical management challenges. Surgical operations to reestablish and promote further development of a pulmonary arterial connection preferentially utilize MAPCAs for reconstruction of central pulmonary arteries. However, the propensity of some MAPCAs to develop stenosis rather than growth may impair the response to reconstructions.

METHODS

Probe sets prepared from MAPCAs, PA, and aorta mRNA were used to interrogate human genome microarrays. We compared expression differences between pairs of the three vessels to determine whether MAPCAs display distinct expression patterns.

RESULTS

Functional clustering analysis identified differences in gene expression, which were further analyzed by gene ontology classification. A subset of highly regulated genes was validated using quantitative PCR. Expression differences among vessel types were observed for multiple gene classes. Of note, we observed that MAPCAs differentially express several genes at much higher levels than either PA or aorta.

CONCLUSION

MAPCAs differ from PA or aorta by significantly altered levels in gene expression, suggesting a transcriptional basis for their physiology that will guide a further understanding of the pathobiology of MAPCAs and TOF.

Kinetic Interpretation of the Importance of OATP1B3 and MRP2 in Docetaxel-Induced Hematopoietic Toxicity

Neutropenia is a lethal dose-limiting toxicity of docetaxel. Our previous report indicated that the prevalence of severe docetaxel-induced neutropenia is significantly associated with genetic polymorphisms in solute carrier organic anion transporter 1B3 (SLCO1B3) (encoding organic anion–transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3)) and ATP-binding cassette subfamily C2 (ABCC2) (encoding multidrug-resistant–associated protein 2 (MRP2)). Therefore, we investigated their significance in docetaxel-induced neutropenia. In vitro experiments suggested their possible involvement in the hepatic uptake of docetaxel and its efflux from bone marrow cells. To further characterize a quantitative impact of OATP1B3 and MRP2 on neutropenia, we used an in silico simulation of the neutrophil count in docetaxel-treated subjects with functional changes in OATP1B3 and MRP2 in a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model. The clinically reported odds ratios for docetaxel-induced neutropenia risk were explained by the decreased function of OATP1B3 and MRP2 to 41 and 32%, respectively. These results suggest that reduced activities of OATP1B3 and MRP2 associated with systemic exposure and local accumulation in bone marrow cells, respectively, account for the docetaxel-induced neutropenia observed clinically.

Characterization of a novel periodontal ligament-specific periostin isoform

Periostin is a mesenchymal cell marker predominantly expressed in collagen-rich fibrous connective tissues, including heart valves, tendons, perichondrium, periosteum, and periodontal ligament (PDL). Knockdown of periostin expression in mice results in early-onset periodontitis and failure of cardiac healing after acute myocardial infarction, suggesting that periostin is essential for connective tissue homeostasis and regeneration. However, its role(s) in periodontal tissues has not yet been fully defined. In this study, we describe a novel human isoform of periostin (PDL-POSTN). Isoform-specific analysis by reverse-transcription polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that PDL-POSTN was predominantly expressed in the PDL, with much lower expression in other tissues and organs. A PDL cell line transfected with PDL-POSTN showed enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity and calcified nodule formation, compared with cells transfected with the full-length periostin isoform. A neutralizing antibody against integrin-αv inhibited both ALPase activity and calcified nodule formation in cells transfected with PDL-POSTN. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that PDL-POSTN bound to integrin αvβ3 more strongly than the common isoform of periostin, resulting in strong activation of the integrin αvβ3-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling pathway. These results suggest that PDL-POSTN positively regulates cytodifferentiation and mineralization in PDL cells through integrin αvβ3.

Molecular diagnosis of long QT syndrome at 10 days of life by rapid whole genome sequencing

BACKGROUND

The advent of clinical next generation sequencing is rapidly changing the landscape of rare disease medicine. Molecular diagnosis of long QT syndrome (LQTS) can affect clinical management, including risk stratification and selection of pharmacotherapy on the basis of the type of ion channel affected, but results from the current gene panel testing requires 4-16 weeks before return to clinicians.

OBJECTIVE

A term female infant presented with 2:1 atrioventricular block and ventricular arrhythmias consistent with perinatal LQTS, requiring aggressive treatment including epicardial pacemaker and cardioverter-defibrillator implantation and sympathectomy on day of life 2. We sought to provide a rapid molecular diagnosis for the optimization of treatment strategies.

METHODS

We performed Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-certified rapid whole genome sequencing (WGS) with a speed-optimized bioinformatics platform to achieve molecular diagnosis at 10 days of life.

RESULTS

We detected a known pathogenic variant in KCNH2 that was demonstrated to be paternally inherited by follow-up genotyping. The unbiased assessment of the entire catalog of human genes provided by WGS revealed a maternally inherited variant of unknown significance in a novel gene.

CONCLUSION

Rapid clinical WGS provides faster and more comprehensive diagnostic information at 10 days of life than does standard gene panel testing. In selected clinical scenarios such as perinatal LQTS, rapid WGS can provide more timely and clinically actionable information than can a standard commercial test.

Effects of acivicin on growth, mycotoxin production and virulence of phytopathogenic fungi

Acivicin is an inhibitor of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and glutamine amidotransferase. When grown on a synthetic minimal agar medium, acivicin strongly inhibited the growth of Magnaporthe oryzae and Alternaria brassicicola, and to a lesser extent, Botrytis cinerea. However, only partial or marginal growth inhibition was observed with regard to Fusarium sporotrichioides and Fusarium graminearum. The growth retardation caused by acivicin was significantly alleviated by cultivating the fungus on a nutrient-rich medium. The inhibition of M. oryzae growth caused by 1 μmol l(-1) of acivicin on minimal agar medium was subdued by the addition of specific single amino acids, including His, a branched-chain amino acid (Leu, Ile or Val), an aromatic amino acid (Trp, Tyr or Phe), Met or Gln, at a concentration of 0·4 mmol l(-1). Trichothecene production by F. graminearum in trichothecene-inducing liquid medium was reduced significantly in the presence of acivicin despite its inability to inhibit growth in the trichothecene-inducing liquid medium. Foliar application of conidia in the presence of acivicin reduced the severity of rice blast disease caused by M. oryzae. These results suggest the usefulness of this modified amino acid natural product to mitigate agricultural problems caused by some phytopathogenic fungi. Significance and impact of the study: Fusarium head blight or scab disease and rice blast, caused by Fusarium graminearum and Magnaporthe oryzae, respectively, are major diseases of cereal crops that cause a significant loss of yield and deterioration in the quality of the grain. The present study investigated the effects of acivicin, a glutamine amino acid analog, on the physiology of various phytopathogenic fungi. Application of acivicin to a fungal culture and conidial suspension reduced mycotoxin production by the wheat scab fungus and the severity of rice blast, respectively. These results suggest the possibility that acivicin may serve as a lead compound to develop agricultural chemicals for the control of some plant diseases.

Plasma CD147 reflects histological features in patients with lupus nephritis

OBJECTIVE

A glycosylated transmembrane protein, CD147, has been implicated in regulating lymphocyte responsiveness and leukocyte recruitment. As lupus nephritis (LN) often follows a relapsing-remitting disease course, accurate understanding of the disease activity would be extremely helpful in improving prognosis. Unfortunately, neither clinical nor serological data can accurately reflect the histological features of LN. The present study investigated whether CD147 can accurately predict pathological features of LN.

METHODS

Plasma and spot urine samples were collected from 64 patients who underwent renal biopsy between 2008 and 2011. Disease activity for LN tissues was evaluated using the biopsy activity index, and compared to levels of biomarkers including CD147.

RESULTS

In LN tissues, CD147 induction was striking in injured glomeruli and infiltrating inflammatory cells, but not in damaged tubules representing atrophy. Plasma CD147 levels accurately reflected the histological disease activity. However, prediction using a single molecule would be quite difficult because of the complex pathogenesis of LN. The diagnostic accuracy of multiplex parameters indicated that the combination including plasma CD147 might yield excellent diagnostic abilities for guiding ideal LN therapy.

CONCLUSION

Plasma CD147 levels might offer useful insights into disease activity as a crucial biomarker in patients with LN.

Transvaginal anterior levatorplasty with posterior colporrhaphy for symptomatic rectocele

BACKGROUND

We evaluated functional and morphological outcomes of transvaginal anterior levatorplasty with posterior colporrhaphy for symptomatic rectocele.

METHODS

Ten women (median 68 years) underwent transvaginal anterior levatorplasty with posterior colporrhaphy for symptomatic rectocele. Symptoms and continence were monitored before and after surgery. Manovolumetric study and defecography were performed in 9 of 10 patients before and 3-6 months after surgery. Twenty-one females without anorectal diseases were used as controls in manovolumetric study. The patients were followed up after a median of 89 months (range, 3-103).

RESULTS

Main symptoms (defecatory disorders in 9 patients, vaginal mass in 6, perineal discomfort in 2) disappeared after surgery. Six patients performed digitation preoperatively and gave up digitation on defecation after surgery. Stool incontinence disappeared in 4 of 5 preoperatively incontinent patients (Cleveland clinic score, 5-12) and continence score improved from 5 to 2 in the remaining patient. Three patients with urinary cough incontinence preoperatively did not experience incontinence after surgery but cough incontinence occurred occasionally in an 81-year-old patient postoperatively. Rectocele demonstrated on defecography disappeared postoperatively in all 9 patients who underwent defecography. High threshold volume and maximum tolerable volume, which were observed preoperatively, decreased to control levels after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Transvaginal anterior levatorplasty with posterior colporrhaphy might be an option for symptomatic rectocele to improve anorectal and urinary dysfunctions with morphological disorders.

The impact of the number of occult metastatic lymph nodes on postoperative relapse of resectable esophageal cancer

Clinical stage II/III esophageal cancer (EC), as defined by the Japanese Classification, relapses at a moderately high rate even after curative resection. The number of lymph node metastases is known to be associated with tumor relapse. Recently, the prognostic significance of occult metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs), as well as that of overt MLNs, has been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the total number of MLNs including occult MLNs on postoperative relapse in clinical stage II/III EC. One hundred and five patients with clinical stage II/III EC who underwent esophagectomy accompanied by radical lymphadenectomy at the Department of Surgical Oncology in Osaka City University Hospital between January 2000 and October 2008 were included in this study. Occult MLNs, metastases not detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining, were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using antipancytokeratin antibody AE1/AE3. The clinicopathological features of occult MLNs were compared between the relapse and no relapse groups. A total of 6558 lymph nodes (1357 from two-field dissection and 5201 from three-field dissection) were examined by IHC staining; 362 overt MLNs and 143 occult MLNs were detected. The number of occult MLNs increased in proportion to the International Union Against Cancer pathological (p)N-status and pStage. When the number of occult MLNs was added to the number of pNs, the number of total MLNs was associated with postoperative relapse. With respect to tumor, node, metastasis stage, 6 of 22 patients (27%) who were pathological node-negative converted to node-positive by considering total MLNs. The number of N3 patients with relapse increased markedly with restaging by total MLNs. The number of total MLNs, but not overt MLNs, was an independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis. These results suggest that occult MLNs were often found, and they were associated with postoperative relapse of resectable esophageal cancer. The total number of MLNs including occult MLNs could contribute to evaluating the precise stage of patients with esophageal cancer.

An inpatient rehabilitation program utilizing standardized care pathways after paracorporeal ventricular assist device placement in children

BACKGROUND

Structured rehabilitation programs in adults after ventricular assist device (VAD) placement result in improvements in physical function and exercise capacity, and have been shown to improve survival and accelerate post-transplant recovery. The objective of this study was to determine the safety and feasibility of an acute inpatient rehabilitation program for children utilizing standardized, age-appropriate, family-centered care pathways after paracorporeal VAD placement in both the ICU and acute-care inpatient settings.

METHODS

Between November 12, 2010 and March 15, 2013, 17 patients were referred to therapy after VAD implantation, 14 of whom were medically stable enough to participate. Beginning in the ICU, a structured physical and occupational therapy program was implemented utilizing novel age-appropriate, standardized care pathways for infants (age <1 year) and children (age 1 to 12 years). The infant and child pathways consisted of 8 and 10 goals, respectively. Retrospective review was conducted to ascertain the number of phases achieved per patient. Adverse events, defined as bleeding, physiologic instability, stroke, or device disruption during therapy, were also analyzed.

RESULTS

The median age was 1.1 (range 0.5 to 14.4) years in the 14 patients considered medically stable enough to participate in rehabilitation. Nine of them were female. Eight patients participated in the infant standardized care pathway (SCP) and 6 participated in the child SCP. Seven patients were on biventricular support. Twelve patients were transplanted and survived. Two patients died while awaiting transplantation. There were 1,473 total days on the VAD (range 40 to 229 days). The median time to extubation was 2 days (range 1 to 8) and the median ICU stay was 6.5 days (range 3 to 152). Eleven patients achieved all goals of the SCP, including all of the patients in the child group. For the infant group, 5 patients achieved all goals of the SCP (range 5 to 8), and all but 1 patient achieved at least 7 goals of the SCP. There were no adverse events related to therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Standardized, family-centered inpatient rehabilitation care paths are safe for infants and children after paracorporeal device placement. Structured rehabilitation goals can be achieved by the majority of pediatric patients during VAD support. Early mobilization and inpatient rehabilitation in this cohort promotes normalization of function while awaiting cardiac transplantation.

Abstract P1-01-12: Intraoperative detection of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients using ultrasonography-guided direct indocyanine green dye-marking by real-time virtual sonography constructed with three-dimensional computed tomography-lymphography

Purpose: This study aims to determine the utility of ultrasonography (US)-guided direct dye-marking of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) by real-time virtual sonography (RVS) constructed with three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT)-lymphography (LG).

Patients and Methods: We identified SLNs in 258 clinically node-negative breast cancer patients using an RVS system to display in real time a virtual multiplanar reconstruction CT image obtained from CT volume data corresponding to the same cross-sectional image from US. CT volume data were obtained using our original 3D CT-LG, which accurately detects SLNs in breast cancer. We then perform US-guided dye-marking close to SLNs using indocyanine green (ICG). Subsequently, indigo carmine blue dye was injected into the subareolar and peritumoral areas around each primary tumor. All patients underwent SLN biopsy and SLN metastases were examined pathologically.

Results: In all 258 patients, we were able to detect the same SLNs visualized on 3DCT-LG, using the RVS system. We detected ICG close to SLNs in 257 of 258 patients (99.6%) during SLN biopsy. In 25 patients (9%), we failed to follow the blue lymphatic route stained by indigo carmine and SLNs were not stained by indigo carmine, but easily detected SLNs by ICG marking.

Conclusion: US-guided direct ICG dye-marking of SLNs using this RVS system seems useful for the detection of SLNs, allowing easy detection of SLNs even when the stained lymphatic route is not followed.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P1-01-12.

Lower socioeconomic status is associated with worse outcomes after both listing and transplanting children with heart failure

The relationship between SES and outcomes surrounding pediatric cardiac transplantation is complex and influenced by recipient race. Broad-based studies of SES have not been performed. A retrospective review of all 5125 primary pediatric heart transplants performed in the United States between 2000 and 2011. Patients were stratified by SES based on zip code of residence and U.S. census data (low SES: 1637; mid-SES: 2253; high SES: 1235). Survival following listing and transplantation was compared across strata. Risk-adjusted long-term mortality on the waitlist was higher among low SES patients (hazard 1.32, CI 1.07-1.63). The relationship between SES and outcomes varied by race. Early risk-adjusted post-transplant outcomes were worst among high SES patients (10.8% vs. low SES: 8.9%, p < 0.05). The incidence of non-compliance was higher among low SES patients (p < 0.0001). Long-term risk-adjusted patient survival was poorer among low (hazard 1.41, CI 1.10-1.80) and mid-SES (1.29, 1.04-1.59) groups. Low SES is associated with worse outcomes on both the waitlist and late following transplantation. Higher SES patients had more complex transplants with higher early mortality. Further research should be directed at identifying and addressing underlying causal factors for these disparities.

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the cichlid fish in Lake Victoria, Haplochromis chilotes

Twelve short tandem repeat markers were successfully isolated from a cichlid, Haplochromis chilotes, in Lake Victoria, and characterized in Haplochromis pyrrhocephalus. The microsatellite regions of these markers were found to have between two and 48 alleles with heterozygosity ranging from 0.07 to 0.97. No loci showed significant departures from the Hardy-Weinberg or linkage equilibrium after the Bonferroni correction (P > 0.05). Cross-species amplification in other cichlids of Lake Victoria, Haplochromis laparogramma, Lithochromis rubripinnis, L. rufus and Haplochromis sp. 'rockkribensis', was successful.