Horizontal transmission of foot‐and‐mouth disease virus O/JPN/2010 among different animal species by direct contact

Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is highly contagious and easily transmitted among species of cloven‐hoofed animals. To investigate the transmission of FMD virus (FMDV) among different animal species, experimental infections using the O/JPN/2010 strain were performed in cows, goats and pigs. One cow or two goats/pigs were housed with a different species of inoculated animals, and clinical observations, virus shedding and antibody responses were analysed daily. Whilst all cows and goats were infected horizontally by contact with inoculated pigs, transmission from cows to goats/pigs and from goats to cows/pigs was not observed in all in‐contact animals. In particular, no pigs were infected horizontally by contact with inoculated goats. Comparison with our previous study on experimental infections among animals of the same species indicates that horizontal transmission occurred more easily between animals of the same species than between those of the different species. These findings will be useful for establishing and performing species‐specific countermeasures in farms and regions where multiple species of animals coexist in potential future outbreaks.     

Prognostic Significance of Hiatal Hernia in Patients with Gastric Cancer Located within the Upper-Third of the Stomach

World Journal of Surgery - Gastric cancers located within the upper-third of the stomach (UGC), especially the esophagogastric junction GC (EGJGC), have distinct clinicopathological features due to...     

Relationship between serum uric acid level and vascular injury markers in hemodialysis patients

Purpose

It has been reported that hyperuricemia causes vascular endothelial injury. Most hemodialysis patients present with hyperuricemia and also with vascular injury, resulting in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, the association of serum uric acid (sUA) with vascular injury markers in hemodialysis patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate this and discuss the mechanism by which uric acid causes vascular injury.

Methods

We enrolled 48 Japanese maintenance hemodialysis patients without any history of CVD. The association between sUA level and three vascular injury markers (reactive hyperemia index [RHI], ankle–brachial index [ABI], and cardio ankle vascular index [CAVI]) was investigated by linear- and logistic regression analyses.

Results

The median natural logarithm RHI (LnRHI) was 0.36. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between sUA level and LnRHI (β?=?0.42, p?=?0.001) in all patients. Moreover, a significant, strongly positive correlation was observed between sUA and LnRHI in patients who were treated with xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) (β?=?0.75, p?=?0.001). Further, the linear analysis showed a significant negative correlation between sUA level and CAVI in patients who were treated with XOIs (β?=?? 0.52, p?=?0.049). sUA level was not significantly associated with ABI abnormality.

Conclusions

It is possible that a high level of sUA is significantly associated with better vascular endothelial function and condition of vascular tone in hemodialysis patients who were treated with XOIs. The findings suggest a significant paradox between sUA level and vascular endothelial function in hemodialysis patients; however, the opposite has been reported in patients without hemodialysis.

     

Comparison of visual field defect progression in secondary Glaucoma due to anterior uveitis caused by three types of herpes viruses

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To clarify the prevalence of secondary glaucoma (SG) and its speed of progression in patients with herpes simplex virus...     

Efficacy and Predictor of Octreotide Treatment for Postoperative Chylothorax After Thoracic Esophagectomy

Background

Postoperative chylothorax sometimes follows thoracic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. The effectiveness of octreotide treatment for it and factors that predict its response are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of octreotide for treating postoperative chylothorax following thoracic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer and factors that might predict successful treatment and allow chest drain removal.

Methods

We assessed 521 consecutive patients who underwent thoracic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer to investigate the efficacy of octreotide for postoperative chylothorax. Among those with postoperative chylothorax, one group (group A) underwent conservative management, and the other (group B) was treated conservatively with added octreotide administration. We evaluated the clinical outcomes after octreotide administration and assessed the factors associated with successful treatment.

Results

Among the 521 patients, 20 (3.8 %) developed postoperative chylothorax: five in group A and 15 in group B. Two of the five (20 %) group A patients and 13 of the 15 (86.6 %) group B patients were treated successfully (p = 0.03). Factors significantly associated with treatment failure were (1) chest drain output of >1,000 ml/day before treatment (p = 0.04); (2) no reduction in chest drainage by the second day of treatment (p = 0.016); (3) chest drainage of >1,000 ml/day through the second day of treatment (p = 0.006).

Conclusions

For patients with esophageal cancer who undergo thoracic esophagectomy, octreotide can be an effective treatment for postoperative chylothorax.     

Free anterolateral thigh flap with vascularized lateral femoral cutaneous nerve for the treatment of neuroma‐in‐continuity and recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome after carpal tunnel release

Treatment of recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is challenging, especially in a case with recurrent CTS and a neuroma formation. Resection of the neuroma causing the syndrome, reconstruction of the nerve gap of the median nerve, and covering up the reconstructed median nerve with well‐vascularized soft tissue for prevention of CTS re‐recurrence are the essential procedures. We report a case of recurrent CTS with severe pain due to a neuroma‐in‐continuity successfully treated using a free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap with a vascularized lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). A 2 cm neuroma existed in the median nerve and was resected. The nerve gap was repaired using a vascularized LFCN included in the ALT flap. The ALT flap was transferred to the wrist to cover the median nerve. The severe pain disappeared completely and the sensory and motor impairment of the median nerve improved 5 months after the free flap surgery, as the Tinel's sign moved distally away from the wrist and disappeared. The result of the Semmes‐Weinstein test improved from 5.08 to 4.31 and she was able to flex and extend the right wrist and fingers without pain. CTS did not recur 15 months after the surgery. A free ALT flap with vascularized LFCN allows nerve reconstruction for the median nerve gap created after neuroma resection and coverage of the median nerve with well‐vascularized soft tissue to prevent adhesion and CTS recurrence. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 34:145–148, 2014.     

Pseudoaneurysm of the superficial femoral artery after retrograde intramedullary nailing for a supracondylar femoral fracture

Vascular complications of distal femoral fractures are rare but can have disastrous consequences if not recognised and treated promptly. We present the case of a 55-year-old woman who developed a pseudoaneurysm of the superficial femoral artery after osteosynthesis to repair a supracondylar femoral fracture. Eight weeks after surgery, swelling of the right thigh persisted and was accompanied by severe pain. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a pseudoaneurysm in the medial aspect of the affected thigh. Open surgical repair was performed by direct arterial suture. Although the true aetiology of the development of the pseudoaneurysm is unknown, a bony fragment from the reduction manoeuvre may have damaged the adventitia of the superficial femoral artery. In cases of continuous thigh swelling after osteosynthesis to repair a supracondylar femoral fracture, a diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm should be considered and treatment should be initiated immediately.