bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevention of adhesions by sodium chromoglycate, dexamethasone, saline and aprotinin after pelvic surgery
Authors: Kucukozkan Tuncay , Ersoy Bayezit , Uygur Dilek , Gundogdu Cemal 
Published: December 2004

Background:  The purpose of the present paper was to assess the efficacy of saline, sodium chromoglycate, dexamethasone and aprotinin, in single or in combined use in reducing postoperative pelvic adhesion formation in a rabbit model.Methods:  A standard lesion was performed to induce adhesion formation. Forty‐five rabbits were divided into nine study groups. Group 1 was the non‐treatment group. In group 2, 3 cm3 of the rabbits’ own serum was instilled i.p. In group 3, 5 mg/kg sodium chromoglycate and 3 cm3 of the rabbits’ own serum were administered i.p. The group 4 rabbits were instilled with 5 mg/kg sodium chromoglycate, 3 cm3 rabbits’ own serum and 1 mg/kg dexamethasone i.p. The group 5 rabbits were injected with 5000 units aprotinin i.m. 2 h before operation and 5 mg/kg sodium chromoglycate, 3 cm3 of rabbit serum, 1 mg dexamethasone and 5000 units aprotinin instilled i.p. In group 6, 3 cm3 saline was instilled i.p. Groups 7, 8 and 9 were a repeat of groups 4, 5 and 6 with the exception of replacement of the rabbit serum by 3 cm3 saline. Animals were evaluated for adhesions 10 days after operation.Results:  Macroscopic adhesion scores of all the groups (2−9) were significantly less than scores of the control group (group 1). The macroscopic adhesion scores of group 9 and group 8 were significantly less compared to that of group 7.Conclusion:  Intraperitoneal instillation of saline and sodium chromoglycate decreased pelvic adhesion formation significantly in a rabbit model. Addition of aprotinin and dexamethasone to these agents gave a further advantage in decreasing pelvic adhesion formation.
Prospective trial of intraoperative radiation treatment for breast cancer
Authors: Joseph David J. , Bydder Sean , Jackson Lee R. , Corica Tammy , Hastrich Diana J. , Oliver David J. , Minchin David E. , Haworth Annette , Saunders Christobel M. 
Published: December 2004

Background:  A new device, Intrabeam, is available for intraoperative radiotherapy. We have prospectively examined its feasibility and tolerability in delivering adjuvant breast cancer treatment.Methods:  Thirty‐five patients undergoing breast‐conserving surgery received targeted tumour bed irradiation consisting of 5 Gy (at 10 mm) in a single fraction. This single intraoperative treatment was used to replace the external beam radiotherapy ‘boost’ that would usually be given in 10 daily treatments following 5 weeks of whole breast irradiation. Patients later completed external beam radiotherapy as usual. Potential toxicities were prospectively assessed fortnightly prior to external beam radiotherapy, weekly during it, and 3 monthly subsequently.Results:  The intraoperative radiotherapy was able to be delivered without difficulty, either at time of initial cancer surgery or as a second procedure. When performed as a separate procedure the median operating time was 56 min. The treatment was well tolerated, with only one patient experiencing any grade 3 or 4 toxicities − this was acute grade three itch. There was an overall early breast infection rate of 17%. No unexpected toxicities were seen.Conclusions:  This simple and well‐tolerated treatment delivers a useful radiation dose to the area of highest risk of tumour recurrence. The early infection rate is similar to that reported in the literature, for treatments without intraoperative radiotherapy. Whether such a treatment may adequately replace the entire adjuvant radiation therapy treatment for low‐risk patients is now being studied in a randomized trial.
Role of intraoperative frozen section in the management of thyroid nodules
Authors: Wong Zarina , Muthu Carl , Craik Jan , Carter Jim , Harman C. Richard 
Published: December 2004

Background:  The role of intraoperative frozen section in the management of thyroid nodules is controversial. Its potential benefit is to facilitate one‐stage total thyroidectomy. Most literature on this topic originates from overseas tertiary referral centres with a high percentage of cancer cases and a fully resourced frozen section service. The aim of the present study was to review all patients undergoing frozen section at a typical general surgical department in New Zealand (North Shore Hospital, Auckland) to see how often frozen section altered surgical strategy.Methods:  A retrospective review of all frozen sections between November 1999 and June 2003 was performed. Patient records, operation notes and pathology reports were reviewed.Results:  Forty‐seven sequential frozen sections were included in the study. Thirteen patients had thyroid carcinoma (five follicular, three Hurthle cell, and five papillary). In only one patient did the result of an intraoperative frozen section result in a total thyroidectomy being performed instead of a thyroid lobectomy. The reason for this was the rare condition of Riedel's thyroiditis. In no patients did frozen section detect a cancer that was not diagnosed on preoperative fine‐needle aspirate biopsy.Conclusion:  The present review found little benefit in performing intraoperative frozen section in this setting. As a diagnostic test the cost of frozen section (NZ $200 for each frozen section) needs to be weighed against its low clinical benefit.
Surgical management of lung cancer in Western Australia in 1996 and its outcomes
Authors: Mina Kym , Byrne Michael J. , Ryan Gerard , Fritschi Lin , Newman Mark , Joseph David , Harper Chris , Bayliss Evan , Kolybaba Marlene , Jamrozik Konrad 
Published: December 2004

Background:  All cases of lung cancer diagnosed in Western Australia in 1996 in which surgery was the primary treatment, were reviewed. Reported herein are the characteristics of the patients, the treatment outcomes and a comparison of the management undertaken with that recommended by international guidelines.Methods:  All patients with a new diagnosis of lung cancer in Western Australia in the calendar year of 1996 were identified using two different population‐based registration systems: the Western Australian (WA) Cancer Registry and the WA Hospital Morbidity Data System. A structured questionnaire on the diagnosis and management was completed for each case. Date of death was determined through the WA Cancer Registry.Results:  Six hundred and sixty‐eight patients with lung cancer were identified; 132 (20%) were treated with surgery. Lobectomy was the most frequently performed procedure (71%), followed by pneumonectomy (19%). Major complications affected 23% of patients. Postoperative mortality was 6% (3% lobectomy, 12% pneumonectomy). At 5 years the absolute survival was as follows for stage I, II, IIIA, IIIB, respectively: 51%, 45%, 12%, 5%.Conclusions:  Investigations and choice of surgery in WA in 1996 reflect current international guidelines. The survival of patients with resectable lung cancer remains unsatisfactory.
Colorimetric Method for Identifying Plant Essential Oil Components That Affect Biofilm Formation and Structure
Authors: Niu C. , Gilbert E. S. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT

The specific biofilm formation (SBF) assay, a technique based on crystal violet staining, was developed to locate plant essential oils and their components that affect biofilm formation. SBF analysis determined that cinnamon, cassia, and citronella oils differentially affected growth-normalized biofilm formation by
Escherichia coli
. Examination of the corresponding essential oil principal components by the SBF assay revealed that cinnamaldehyde decreased biofilm formation compared to biofilms grown in Luria-Bertani broth, eugenol did not result in a change, and citronellol increased the SBF. To evaluate these results, two microscopy-based assays were employed. First, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to examine
E. coli
biofilms cultivated in flow cells, which were quantitatively analyzed by COMSTAT, an image analysis program. The overall trend for five parameters that characterize biofilm development corroborated the findings of the SBF assay. Second, the results of an assay measuring growth-normalized adhesion by direct microscopy concurred with the results of the SBF assay and CLSM imaging. Viability staining indicated that there was reduced toxicity of the essential oil components to cells in biofilms compared to the toxicity to planktonic cells but revealed morphological damage to
E. coli
after cinnamaldehyde exposure. Cinnamaldehyde also inhibited the swimming motility of
E. coli
. SBF analysis of three
Pseudomonas
species exposed to cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, or citronellol revealed diverse responses. The SBF assay could be useful as an initial step for finding plant essential oils and their components that affect biofilm formation and structure.
Inactivation of Viruses in Bubbling Processes Utilized for Personal Bioaerosol Monitoring
Authors: Agranovski I. E. , Safatov A. S. , Borodulin A. I. , Pyankov O. V. , Petrishchenko V. A. , Sergeev A. N. , Agafonov A. P. , Ignatiev G. M. , Sergeev A. A. , Agranovski V. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT
A new personal bioaerosol sampler has recently been developed and evaluated for sampling of viable airborne bacteria and fungi under controlled laboratory conditions and in the field. The operational principle of the device is based on the passage of air through porous medium immersed in liquid. This process leads to the formation of bubbles within the filter as the carrier gas passes through and thus provides effective mechanisms for aerosol removal. As demonstrated in previous studies, the culturability of sampled bacterium and fungi remained high for the entire 8-h sampling period. The present study is the first step of the evaluation of the new sampler for monitoring of viable airborne viruses. It focuses on the investigation of the inactivation rate of viruses in the bubbling process during 4 h of continuous operation. Four microbes were used in this study, influenza, measles, mumps, and vaccinia viruses. It was found that the use of distilled water as the collection fluid was associated with a relatively high decay rate. A significant improvement was achieved by utilizing virus maintenance fluid prepared by using Hank's solution with appropriate additives. The survival rates of the influenza, measles, and mumps viruses were increased by 1.4 log, 0.83 log, and 0.82 log, respectively, after the first hour of operation compared to bubbling through the sterile water. The same trend was observed throughout the entire 4-h experiment. There was no significant difference observed only for the robust vaccinia virus.
Chitinase Gene Sequences Retrieved from Diverse Aquatic Habitats Reveal Environment-Specific Distributions
Authors: LeCleir Gary R. , Buchan Alison , Hollibaugh James T. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT
Chitin is an abundant biopolymer whose degradation is mediated primarily by bacterial chitinases. We developed a degenerate PCR primer set to amplify a ∼900-bp fragment of family 18, group I chitinase genes and used it to retrieve these gene fragments from environmental samples. Clone libraries of presumptive chitinase genes were created for nine water and six sediment samples from 10 aquatic environments including freshwater and saline lakes, estuarine water and sediments, and the central Arctic Ocean. Putative chitinase sequences were also retrieved from the Sargasso Sea metagenome sequence database. We were unable to obtain PCR product with these primers from an alkaline, hypersaline lake (Mono Lake, California). In total, 108 partial chitinase gene sequences were analyzed, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 13 chitinase sequences obtained from each library. All chitinase sequences were novel compared to previously identified sequences. Intralibrary sequence diversity was low, while we found significant differences between libraries from different water column samples and between water column and sediment samples. However, identical sequences were retrieved from samples collected at widely distributed locations that did not necessarily represent similar environments, suggesting homogeneity of chitinoclastic communities between some environments.
Genetic and Biochemical Characterization of Field-Evolved Resistance to
Bacillus thuringiensis
Toxin Cry1Ac in the Diamondback Moth,
Plutella xylostella
Authors: Sayyed Ali H. , Raymond Ben , Ibiza-Palacios M. Sales , Escriche Baltasar , Wright Denis J. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT

The long-term usefulness of
Bacillus thuringiensis
Cry toxins, either in sprays or in transgenic crops, may be compromised by the evolution of resistance in target insects. Managing the evolution of resistance to
B. thuringiensis
toxins requires extensive knowledge about the mechanisms, genetics, and ecology of resistance genes. To date, laboratory-selected populations have provided information on the diverse genetics and mechanisms of resistance to
B. thuringiensis
, highly resistant field populations being rare. However, the selection pressures on field and laboratory populations are very different and may produce resistance genes with distinct characteristics. In order to better understand the genetics, biochemical mechanisms, and ecology of field-evolved resistance, a diamondback moth (
Plutella xylostella
) field population (Karak) which had been exposed to intensive spraying with
B. thuringiensis
subsp.
kurstaki
was collected from Malaysia. We detected a very high level of resistance to Cry1Ac; high levels of resistance to
B. thuringiensis
subsp.
kurstaki
Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, and Cry1Fa; and a moderate level of resistance to Cry1Ca. The toxicity of Cry1Ja to the Karak population was not significantly different from that to a standard laboratory population (LAB-UK). Notable features of the Karak population were that field-selected resistance to
B. thuringiensis
subsp.
kurstaki
did not decline at all in unselected populations over 11 generations in laboratory microcosm experiments and that resistance to Cry1Ac declined only threefold over the same period. This finding may be due to a lack of fitness costs expressed by resistance strains, since such costs can be environmentally dependent and may not occur under ordinary laboratory culture conditions. Alternatively, resistance in the Karak population may have been near fixation, leading to a very slow increase in heterozygosity. Reciprocal genetic crosses between Karak and LAB-UK populations indicated that resistance was autosomal and recessive. At the highest dose of Cry1Ac tested, resistance was completely recessive, while at the lowest dose, it was incompletely dominant. A direct test of monogenic inheritance based on a backcross of F
1
progeny with the Karak population suggested that resistance to Cry1Ac was controlled by a single locus. Binding studies with
125
I-labeled Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac revealed greatly reduced binding to brush border membrane vesicles prepared from this field population.
Comparison of Two Alternative Dominant Selectable Markers for Wine Yeast Transformation
Authors: Cebollero Eduardo , Gonzalez Ramon 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTGenetic improvement of industrial yeast strains is restricted by the availability of selectable transformation markers. Antibiotic resistance markers have to be avoided for public health reasons, while auxotrophy markers are generally not useful for wine yeast strain transformation because most industrialSaccharomyces cerevisiaestrains are prototrophic. For this work, we performed a comparative study of the usefulness of two alternative dominant selectable markers in both episomic and centromeric plasmids. Even though the selection for sulfite resistance conferred byFZF1-4resulted in a larger number of transformants for a laboratory strain, thep-fluoro-dl-phenylalanine resistance conferred byARO4-OFPresulted in a more suitable selection marker for all industrial strains tested. Both episomic and centromeric constructions carrying this marker resulted in transformation frequencies close to or above 103transformants per μg of DNA for the three wine yeast strains tested.
Diagnostic Real-Time PCR for Detection of
Salmonella
in Food
Authors: Malorny Burkhard , Paccassoni Elisa , Fach Patrick , Bunge Cornelia , Martin Annett , Helmuth Reiner 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT

A robust 5′ nuclease (TaqMan) real-time PCR was developed and validated in-house for the specific detection of
Salmonella
in food. The assay used specifically designed primers and a probe target within the
ttrRSBCA
locus, which is located near the
Salmonella
pathogenicity island 2 at centisome 30.5. It is required for tetrathionate respiration in
Salmonella
. The assay correctly identified all 110
Salmonella
strains and 87 non-
Salmonella
strains tested. An internal amplification control, which is coamplified with the same primers as the
Salmonella
DNA, was also included in the assay. The detection probabilities were 70% when a
Salmonella
cell suspension containing 10
3
CFU/ml was used as a template in the PCR (5 CFU per reaction) and 100% when a suspension of 10
4
CFU/ml was used. A pre-PCR sample preparation protocol including a preenrichment step in buffered peptone water followed by DNA extraction-purification was applied when 110 various food samples (chicken rinses, minced meat, fish, and raw milk) were investigated for
Salmonella
. The diagnostic accuracy was shown to be 100% compared to the traditional culture method. The overall analysis time of the PCR method was approximately 24 h, in contrast to 4 to 5 days of analysis time for the traditional culture method. This methodology can contribute to meeting the increasing demand of quality assurance laboratories for standard diagnostic methods. Studies are planned to assess the interlaboratory performance of this diagnostic PCR method.
Influence of Applied Volume on Efficacy of 3-Minute Surgical Reference Disinfection Method prEN 12791
Authors: Kampf Günter , Ostermeyer Christiane 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT

For assessment of the efficacy of surgical hand disinfection, European reference method prEN 12791 prescribes that the hands must be kept wet with the reference alcohol for 3 min regardless of the applied volume. The aim of this study was to determine whether the applied volume of the reference disinfectant
n
-propanol (60%, vol/vol) influences the effect on the resident hand flora. Ten experiments with 200 reference disinfections were analyzed. Hands were washed for 1 min with soap. The bacterial prevalue was obtained by rubbing fingertips in tryptic soy broth for 1 min. After this, each subject treated the hands with
n
-propanol (60%, vol/vol) by using as many portions as necessary to keep hands wet for a total of 3 min. Bacterial postvalues (immediate effect) were obtained for one hand, and the other hand was gloved for 3 h. After the gloves were taken off, a second postvalue was obtained (sustained effect). Most surgical reference disinfections (73%) were achieved with 9 ml of the reference alcohol, followed by 12 ml (24%) and 6 ml (3%). There was no significant difference between the mean log
10
reduction values for the three treatment groups, both in terms of the immediate effect (
P
= 0.333, as determined by analysis of variance) and in terms of the sustained effect (
P
= 0.442). A higher number of portions did not correlate with a higher reduction factor (for immediate effect, Pearson's correlation coefficient = −0.028 [
P
= 0.689]; for sustained effect, Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.059 [
P
= 0.404]). If the hands were kept wet with the reference alcohol for the total application time, the applied volume could vary, but this did not alter the efficacy.
Survival of Cold-Stressed
Campylobacter jejuni
on Ground Chicken and Chicken Skin during Frozen Storage
Authors: Bhaduri Saumya , Cottrell Bryan 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT

Campylobacter jejuni
is prevalent in poultry, but the effect of combined refrigerated and frozen storage on its survival, conditions relevant to poultry processing and storage, has not been evaluated. Therefore, the effects of refrigeration at 4°C, freezing at −20°C, and a combination of refrigeration and freezing on the survival of
C. jejuni
in ground chicken and on chicken skin were examined. Samples were enumerated using tryptic soy agar containing sheep's blood and modified cefoperazone charcoal deoxycholate agar. Refrigerated storage alone for 3 to 7 days produced a reduction in cell counts of 0.34 to 0.81 log
10
CFU/g in ground chicken and a reduction in cell counts of 0.31 to 0.63 log
10
CFU/g on chicken skin. Declines were comparable for each sample type using either plating medium. Frozen storage, alone and with prerefrigeration, produced a reduction in cell counts of 0.56 to 1.57 log
10
CFU/g in ground chicken and a reduction in cell counts of 1.38 to 3.39 log
10
CFU/g on chicken skin over a 2-week period. The recovery of
C. jejuni
following freezing was similar on both plating media. The survival following frozen storage was greater in ground chicken than on chicken skin with or without prerefrigeration. Cell counts after freezing were lower on chicken skin samples that had been prerefrigerated for 7 days than in those that had been prerefrigerated for 0, 1, or 3 days. This was not observed for ground chicken samples, possibly due to their composition.
C. jejuni
survived storage at 4 and −20°C with either sample type. This study indicates that, individually or in combination, refrigeration and freezing are not a substitute for safe handling and proper cooking of poultry.
Restoration of Gene Function by Homologous Recombination: from PCR to Gene Expression in One Step
Authors: Yosef Ido , Bloushtain Noga , Shapira Michal , Qimron Udi 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT

We have developed a simple method for single-step cloning of any PCR product into a plasmid. A novel selection principle has been applied, in which activation of a drug selection marker is achieved following homologous recombination. In this method a DNA fragment is amplified by PCR with standard oligonucleotides that contain flanking tails derived from the host plasmid and the complete λP
R
or
rrnA1
promoter regions. The resulting PCR product is then electroporated into an
Escherichia coli
strain harboring both the phage λ Red functions and the host plasmid. Upon homologous recombination of the PCR fragment into the plasmid, expression of a drug selection marker is fully induced due to restoration of its truncated promoter, thus allowing appropriate selection. Recombinant plasmid vectors encoding β-galactosidase and neomycin phosphotransferase were constructed by using this method in two well-known Red systems. This cloning strategy significantly reduces both the time and costs associated with cloning procedures.