Application of 405 nm visible light to selected bacterial species in animal husbandry

To compare percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and the microscopic tubular technique, and to evaluate the outcomes of surgery. We collected information through retrospective analysis of patients with far-lateral lumbar disc herniation (FLLDH) from June 2015 to October 2018. Twenty-six patients underwent paraspinal muscle-splitting microscopicassisted discectomy (MD) and thirty patients underwent PELD surgery by the same surgical team. Data included the duration of the operation, duration of intraoperative radiation exposure, and average duration of hospitalization. Pre- and postoperative pain scores and neurological functions were recorded using the visual analog scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Fifty-six patients remained in the study over the 12-24 months period. The mean operating time was 65.83 ± 16.64 min in the PELD group, mean duration of radiation exposure was 154.98 ± 64.26 mGy, and average of hospitalization was 3.43 days. The mean operating time was 44.96 ± 16.87 min in the MD group, duration of radiation exposure was 42.12 ± 17.28 mGy, and duration of hospitalization was 4.12 days. There were two patients with postoperative transient dysesthesia and one underwent reoperation seven months after surgery in the PELD group. One patient had postoperative transient dysesthesia in the MD group. Except low back pain at three months (p > 0.05), all patients in both groups showed significant improvement in VAS and ODI scores compared with pre-operation and until final follow-up (p < 0.05). Both techniques are minimally invasive, effective, and safe for treating FLLDH in selected patients. Compared with the PELD technique, the MD procedure offers a wider field of vision during operation, shorter operation time, fewer postoperative complications, and shorter learning curve.

The current investigation was aimed to compare the safety, efficacy, adverse effects, and outcome of air pyelogram versus contrast pyelogram for percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from August 2018 to November 2020, which included 400 patients with a clinical diagnosis of renal calculus and randomly (1:1) assigned into Group I (air pyelogram) and Group II (contrast pyelogram). Air was injected in Group I and diatrizoate meglumine 76% was used in Group II for PCS identification. In the case of difficulty in visualization in either group, a mixture of contrast and air was used. The following parameters were assessed: duration of access, total duration of radiation exposure during access, total attempts needed to puncture the desired calyx, failure rate, complications, and outcomes. Both the groups were comparable including renal calculus characteristics. The mean (standard deviation) duration of access was 3.08 (1.21) and 5.23 (1.02) min (P < 0.0001) in Groups I and II, respectively; in 85% and 57.5% of patients (P < 0.0001), respectively, the caliceal puncture was done in a single attempt. The duration of radiation exposure was more in Group II (P < 0.0001). The failure rate (22%) was higher and statistically significant in Group II. The stone clearance rate was not statistically significant between the groups (P = 0.380). No patient had hypoxia, cardiopulmonary complications, and air embolism in perioperative period. Air contrast is effective and safe, and it reduces the duration of caliceal puncture and radiation exposure with lower failure rate. If both air and contrast fail, a combination of both may be effective.

Accurate microbiological surveillance in haemodialysis centres is important as end-stage renal patients can suffer from pyrogenic reactions due to bacterial contamination of dialysis fluids. To evaluate the microbiological quality of haemodialysis fluids, special nutrient-poor culture techniques are necessary. Although the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) recommends Tryptic soy agar (TSA) as the standard agar, several studies have resulted in a general preference for Reasoner's 2A (R2A) agar, as it appeared to be more sensitive in demonstrating contamination of typical haemodialysis associated bacteria. In the Netherlands TSA is still used for culturing dialysate, while dialysis water is cultured on R2A. Therefore, the aims of our study were to evaluate bacterial yields of dialysis fluids on both media, and to qualify their use in routine microbiological monitoring within our haemodialysis centre. Between April 1995 and March 1996, 229 samples of pre-treated and final purified dialysis water, and samples of dialysates were collected. The specimens were aseptically taken from the tap, various points of the reverse osmosis (RO) water-treatment system, and the effluent tubes of 32 bicarbonate haemodialysis machines. Samples of 0.1 ml were inoculated in duplicate on spread plates with TSA and R2A agars. After 10 days of incubation at 25+/-2 degrees C, the numbers of colonies were quantified. The ranges of spread were taken 0-100 and 0-200 colony-forming units per milliliter (c.f.u./ml). The R2A agar had significantly higher colony counts than TSA agar for both dialysis water and dialysates. Considering 100 c.f.u./ml as the upper allowable bacterial limit for all dialysis fluids, microbiological non-compliance (bacterial growth) would be missed in 16% when using only TSA media (TSA < or =100 c.f.u./ml and R2A >100 c.f.u./ml), while this was 3% when using only R2A (TSA >100 c.f.u./ml and R2A < or =100 c.f.u./ml, P<0.0001). Considering 200 c.f.u./ml as the upper limit, non-compliance would have been missed in 10% when using only TSA (TSA < or =200 c.f.u./ml and R2A >200 c.f.u./ml), and 2% when using R2A (TSA > 200 c.f.u./ml and R2A < or =200 c.f.u./ml, P = 0.0011). Microbiological surveillance of haemodialysis fluids, including pre-treated dialysis water samples collected from RO treatment systems, can be performed more precisely with R2A media than TSA, when incubated at 25+/-2 degrees C for 10 days.

BackgroundThyroid cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies in South Korea, with incidence rates among the highest globally. Young women, in particular, represent a high-risk group, likely due to a combination of biological, occupational, and environmental factors. However, the specific risk factors contributing to thyroid cancer development in this population remain poorly understood.ObjectiveThis study aims to identify the risk factors associated with thyroid cancer among young female nurses using longitudinal survival analysis.MethodsThis longitudinal study used data from the Korea Nurses’ Health Study (KNHS), a prospective national cohort of female nurses. Data from the first, fifth, seventh, and ninth surveys were used to construct a person-period data set. Female nurses aged in their 20s at baseline were included. Time-varying explanatory variables included age, marital status, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, perceived stress, sleep problems, nursing position, night shift work, working unit, and duration of radiation exposure. The dependent variable was self-reported physician-diagnosed thyroid cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were performed to examine the association between risk factors and thyroid cancer occurrence.ResultsA total of 22,759 person-period cases were analyzed, and 105 thyroid cancer events were identified. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significant associations between thyroid cancer occurrence and age (χ²1=51.6, P<.001), marital status (χ²1=25.1, P<.001), sleep problems (χ²1=20.3, P<.001), night shift work (χ²1=20.1, P<.001), working unit (χ²1=13.0, P<.001), and duration of radiation exposure (χ²1=91.0, P<.001). In the Cox regression model, nurses aged in their 20s had a significantly higher risk of thyroid cancer than those aged in their 30s (hazard ratio [HR] 4.602, 95% CI 1.893-11.188). Those who worked night shifts were also at an increased risk (HR 1.923, 95% CI 1.127-3.280). Compared with no exposure, radiation exposure showed a dose-response relationship: <1 year: HR 3.449, 95% CI 1.474-8.074; ≥1 year: HR 4.178, 95% CI 2.702-6.461.ConclusionsYounger age, night shift work, and duration of radiation exposure were significantly associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer in young female nurses. These findings highlight the importance of early screening and occupational risk management, including regular radiation monitoring and support for circadian health, in health care settings.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.4178/epih.e2024048

Multiple radiographic images may be necessary during the standard procedure of in-situ pinning of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) hips. This procedure can be performed with the patient positioned on a fracture table or a radiolucent table. Our study aims to look at any differences in the amount and duration of radiation exposure for in-situ pinning of SCFE performed using a traction table or a radiolucent table. Sixteen hips in thirteen patients who were pinned on radiolucent table were compared for the cumulative radiation exposure to 35 hips pinned on a fracture table in 33 patients during the same time period. Cumulative radiation dose was measured as dose area product in Gray centimeter2 and the duration of exposure was measured in minutes. Appropriate statistical tests were used to test the significance of any differences. Mean cumulative radiation dose for SCFE pinned on radiolucent table was statistically less than for those pinned on fracture table (P<0.05). The mean duration of radiation exposure on either table was not significantly different. Lateral projections may increase the radiation doses compared with anteroposterior projections because of the higher exposure parameters needed for side imaging. Our results showing decreased exposure doses on the radiolucent table are probably because of the ease of a frog leg lateral positioning obtained and thereby the ease of lateral imaging. In-situ pinning of SCFE hips on a radiolucent table has an additional advantage that the radiation dose during the procedure is significantly less than that of the procedure that is performed on a fracture table.

Effect of UV-C radiation and fluorescent light to control postharvest soft rot in potato seed tubers

Objective: Exact drilling into the ischemic areas of necrotic lesions of the femoral head remains a challenging procedure, particularly in obese patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the precision of fluoroscopically based drilling and the associated radiation exposure in an in-vitro model of adiposis.Materials and Methods: In an in-vitro model of necrotic lesions in adiposis, 20 sawbones were drilled under the guidance of an intraoperative navigation system (VectorVision®, BrainLAB, Munich, Germany) and 20 more were drilled conventionally under fluoroscopic control only.Results: A statistically significant difference was found with respect to the distance from the drill tip to the desired mid-point of the lesion, with a mean distance of 0.56 mm for the navigated group and 1.15 mm for the control group. Furthermore, a significant difference was found in the number of drilling corrections required, as well as the radiation exposure time: The navigated group required a mean of 0.35 second drillings or corrections of the drilling direction, compared to 2.45 for the control group, and the duration of radiation exposure was less than 1 second for the navigated group and 3.85 seconds for the control group.Conclusions: Drilling guided by the VectorVision® navigation system shows high precision, even under difficult circumstances such as those encountered in adiposis, with a marked reduction in the duration of radiation exposure.

Objective: Exact drilling into the ischemic areas of necrotic lesions of the femoral head remains a challenging procedure, particularly in obese patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the precision of fluoroscopically based drilling and the associated radiation exposure in an in-vitro model of adiposis.Materials and Methods: In an in-vitro model of necrotic lesions in adiposis, 20 sawbones were drilled under the guidance of an intraoperative navigation system (VectorVision®, BrainLAB, Munich, Germany) and 20 more were drilled conventionally under fluoroscopic control only.Results: A statistically significant difference was found with respect to the distance from the drill tip to the desired mid-point of the lesion, with a mean distance of 0.56 mm for the navigated group and 1.15 mm for the control group. Furthermore, a significant difference was found in the number of drilling corrections required, as well as the radiation exposure time: The navigated group required a mean of 0.35 second drillings or corrections of the drilling direction, compared to 2.45 for the control group, and the duration of radiation exposure was less than 1 second for the navigated group and 3.85 seconds for the control group.Conclusions: Drilling guided by the VectorVision® navigation system shows high precision, even under difficult circumstances such as those encountered in adiposis, with a marked reduction in the duration of radiation exposure.

Utilization of ram horn hydrolysate as a supplement for recovery of heat- and freeze-injured bacteria

AimThe study of minimal ter operon as a determinant of tellurium resistance (TeR) is important for the purpose of confirming the relationship of these genes to the pathogenicity of microorganisms. The ter operon is widespread among bacterial species and pathogens, implicated also in phage inhibition, oxidative stress and colicin resistance. So far, there is no experimental evidence for the role of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) minimal ter operon in ultraviolet C (UVC) resistance, biofilm formation and auto-aggregation. To identify connection with UVC resistance of the minimal ter operon, matched pairs of Ter-positive and -negative E. coli cells were stressed and differences in survival and whole genome sequence analysis were performed. This study was aimed also to identify differences in phenotype of cells induced by environmental stress.MethodsIn the current study, a minimal ter operon(terBCDEΔF) originating from the uropathogenic strain E. coli KL53 was used. Clonogenic assay was the method of choice to determine cell reproductive death after treatment with UVC irradiation at certain time intervals. Bacterial suspensions were irradiated with 254 nm UVC-light (germicidal lamp in biological safety cabinet) in vitro. UVC irradiance output was 2.5 mW/cm2 (calculated at the UVC device aperture) and plate-lamp distance of 60 cm. DNA damage analysis was performed using shotgun sequencing on Illumina MiSeq platform. Biofilm formation was measured by a crystal violet retention assay. Auto-aggregation assay was performed according to the Ghane, Babaeekhou & Ketabi (2020).ResultsA large fraction of Ter-positive E. coli cells survived treatment with 120-s UVC light (300 mJ/cm2) compared to matched Ter-negative cells; ∼5-fold higher resistance of Ter-positive cells to UVC dose (p = 0.0007). Moreover, UVC surviving Ter-positive cells showed smaller mutation rate as Ter-negative cells. The study demonstrated that a 1200-s exposure to UVC (3,000 mJ/cm2) was sufficient for 100% inhibition of growth for all the Ter-positive and -negative E. coli cells. The Ter-positive strain exhibited of 26% higher auto-aggregation activities and was able to inhibit biofilm formation over than Ter- negative strain (**** P < 0.0001).ConclusionOur study shows that Ter-positive cells display lower sensitivity to UVC radiation, corresponding to a presence in minimal ter operon. In addition, our study suggests that also auto-aggregation ability is related to minimal ter operon. The role of the minimal ter operon (terBCDEΔF) in resistance behavior of E. coli under environmental stress is evident.

Acanthamoeba is a genus of ubiquitous, free-living amebae that can be difficult to isolate by standard microbiologic techniques. We retrospectively reviewed the laboratory records of patients with ocular acanthamoebic infection for the period from January 1973 to June 1996 and found that Acanthamoeba isolates were recovered from 73, 71, and 70% of clinical specimens inoculated onto buffered charcoal-yeast extract agar (BCYE), nonnutrient agar with live or dead Escherichia coli, and tryptic soy agar (TSA) with horse or sheep blood, respectively. We then prospectively compared the recovery of a corneal isolate of Acanthamoeba on commercial media from Remel and BBL (TSA with 5% sheep blood, TSA with 5% horse blood, TSA with 5% rabbit blood, V agar, chocolate agar, BCYE, and selective BCYE with polymyxin B, anisomycin, and vancomycin) and on axenic and monoxenic media prepared with live or dead bacteria (Enterobacter aerogenes, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia). Good recovery of trophozoites was obtained on BCYE, TSA with rabbit blood, TSA with horse blood, and Remel TSA with sheep blood. BBL TSA with horse blood or rabbit blood provided good recovery of cysts. All species of live or dead bacteria yielded good recovery of trophozoites; however, only nonnutrient agar with live P. aeruginosa, live E. aerogenes, or live S. maltophilia gave good recovery of cysts. TSA with either rabbit blood or horse blood, BCYE, and nonnutrient agar prepared with live P. aeruginosa, E. aerogenes, or S. maltophilia offer optimal recovery of Acanthamoeba.

Evaluation of a new disinfection procedure for ultrasound probes using ultraviolet light

Objective: To study the correlation between occupational radiation exposure and chronic metabolic diseases. Methods: The status of chronic metabolic diseases of medical workers were compared in 5 hospitals in Hangzhou. As representatives of chronic metabolic diseases, diabetes and metabolic syndrome (MS) were compared in association with duration of radiation exposure. Results: Long-term ionizing radiation (IR) exposure was led to increased blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG) , dyslipidemia, gallbladder disease, and MS. The years of radiation exposure was associated with lens opacity, gallstone and MS in men and gallbladder polyps in women. Radiation working more than 10 years is one of the independent risk factors for increased FBG and MS. Moreover, the risk of FBG increase in the group of radiation working more than 10 years was 3.052 times of that the non-exposed group, and the risk of MS occurrence was 4.132 times that of the non-exposed group. Conclusion: Long-term exposure to IR increases the risk of chronic metabolic diseases.

In 1963, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) first issued guidelines for animal housing and husbandry. The most recent 2010 revision emphasizes animal care “in ways judged to be scientifically, technically, and humanely appropriate” (National Institutes of Health, 2010, p. XIII). The goal of these guidelines is to ensure humanitarian treatment of animals and to optimize the quality of research. Although these animal care guidelines cover a substantial amount of information regarding animal housing and husbandry, researchers generally do not report all these variables (see Table ​Table1).1). The importance of housing and husbandry conditions with respect to standardization across different research laboratories has been debated previously (Crabbe et al., 1999; Van Der Staay and Steckler, 2002; Wahlsten et al., 2003; Wolfer et al., 2004; Van Der Staay, 2006; Richter et al., 2010, 2011). This paper focuses on several animal husbandry and housing issues that are particularly relevant to stress responses in rats, including transportation, handling, cage changing, housing conditions, light levels and the light–dark cycle. We argue that these key animal housing and husbandry variables should be reported in greater detail in an effort to raise awareness about extraneous experimental variables, especially those that have the potential to interact with the stress response.

Objective: Fungal corneal infections are challenging to treat due to delayed diagnostic procedures, bacterial co-infections, and limited antifungal efficacy. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of ultraviolet C (UVC) light alone and combined with antifungal drugs. Methods: A subsurface infection model was developed in semi-solid agar droplets, with Candida albicans cells or Aspergillus brasiliensis spores inoculated into 0.75% w/v yeast peptone dextrose (YPD) agar in a 96-well microplate (5 µL per well). Two treatment groups were tested: (1) UVC exposure (265 nm, 1.93 mW/cm2) for durations of 0 s, 5 s, 10 s, 15 s, 30 s, 60 s, or 120 s, and (2) UVC combined with antifungal drugs (Amphotericin B and Natamycin) at their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), determined in YPD broth. After treatment, agar droplets were homogenized, diluted, and plated for microbial enumeration. The most effective UVC doses were further tested in an ex vivo C. albicans porcine keratitis model, where the corneal epithelium was debrided, infected with C. albicans, and exposed to UVC. Corneas were then homogenized and plated to evaluate treatment efficacy. Results: UVC exposure of ≥15 s inhibited C. albicans, and ≥10 s inhibited A. brasiliensis (all p < 0.05). The broth MICs were 0.1875 µg/mL for Amphotericin B against C. albicans, 6.25 µg/mL against A. brasiliensis, and 0.78125 µg/mL for Natamycin against C. albicans, 7.8125 µg/mL against A. brasiliensis. The broth MIC did not eradicate fungi in the subsurface model. Combined treatments enhanced inhibition (all p < 0.05), with 30 s UVC + amphotericin B for C. albicans (p = 0.0218) and 30 s UVC + natamycin for A. brasiliensis (p = 0.0017). Ex vivo, 15 s and 30 s UVC inhibited growth (p = 0.0476), but no differences were seen between groups (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: UVC demonstrated strong antifungal efficacy, with supplementary benefits from combining UVC with low doses of antifungal drugs.