Standard Procedures Research Articles

‘Moo-ving’ towards a non-speciesist green narrative criminology: a critique of artificial insemination practices in the Australian dairy industry

This article examines the hidden and often unaddressed harms inflicted upon cows within the intensive dairy farming industry, with a focus on prolonged suffering, particularly the sexual violence that is integral to the reproductive standard operating procedures of intensive dairy production. Drawing parallels between the suffering of cows and how similar acts, if committed against humans or animals situated higher in the sociocultural hierarchy, would be classified as heinous crimes, the article critiques the systemic violence normalised in animal agriculture. The research challenges existing legal frameworks that permit such practices against non-human animals, arguing that these animals are denied the same moral and legal consideration afforded to humans. In addition, the article introduces the concept of ‘voiceless victimology’, advocating for a critical examination of victims who, due to their lack of voice, depend on advocates to bring attention to their suffering. Through a methodological ‘replacement-reform’ innovation, our article seeks to develop an approach to better comprehend and measure the degree of speciesism embedded within the law. This work aims to spark a deeper, more critical dialogue about animal rights, species justice, the ethical implications of animal agriculture, and the urgent need for legal reforms to address the hidden injustices within the dairy industry.

Human health risks of PAHs in soil and vegetables from Tiga, Kano State, Nigeria.

Human health risks of PAHs in soil and vegetables from Tiga, Kano State, Nigeria.

Two minimally invasive strategies to implant guide cannulas for multiple injections in deep brain areas.

Two minimally invasive strategies to implant guide cannulas for multiple injections in deep brain areas.

Bioproducts from renewable methanol: The paraformaldehyde approach.

Bioproducts from renewable methanol: The paraformaldehyde approach.

A catchment-scale dataset of soil properties and their mid-infrared spectra.

The dataset presents information on soil properties and their associated mid-infrared spectra for a drainage basin of 4.2 km2, referred to as Upper Badong catchment (31°1'24''N, 110°20'35''E) in the Hubei province, China. Data were collected for topsoil in a highly diverse terrace catchment composed of woodland, cropland and small farm building. Soil properties included in this dataset are pH, texture (i.e. clay, silt and sand content), total carbon, organic carbon and CaCO3. In addition, the soil samples were scanned in the mid-infrared range. The data collection processed involved three field campaigns during 2013 and 2014 where topsoil samples were collected in a standardized way across all sites, and soil analyses in the laboratory of soil science following standard procedures. The dataset offers insights into the spatial variation of soil properties in a highly diverse catchment of central China. Researchers interested in soil research can use this dataset for various purposes, including building digital soil mapping models or soil spectroscopic models, benchmarking of models with other datasets, and research in soil erosion modelling.

Clinical features and comorbidities associated with migraine in bipolar disorder: Results from the FACE-BD cohort.

Clinical features and comorbidities associated with migraine in bipolar disorder: Results from the FACE-BD cohort.

Organoid in droplet: Production of uniform pancreatic cancer organoids from single cells.

Organoid in droplet: Production of uniform pancreatic cancer organoids from single cells.

Efficient Synthesis of Mannopyranoside-based Fatty Acyl Esters: Effects of Acyl Groups on Antimicrobial Potential.

The approval of Sucrose Fatty Acid Esters (SFAEs) as food additives/ preservatives with antimicrobial potential has triggered enormous interest in discovering new biological applications. Accordingly, many researchers reported that SFAEs consist of various sugar moieties, and hydrophobic side chains are highly active against certain fungal species. This study aimed to conduct aregioselective synthesis of SAFE and check the effect of chain length and site of acylation (i.e., C-6 vs. C-2, C-3, C-4, and long-chain vs. short-chain) on antimicrobial potency. A direct acylation method maintaining several conditions was used for esterification. In vitro tests, molecular docking, and in silico studies were conducted using standard procedures. In vitro tests revealed that the fatty acid chain length in mannopyranoside esters significantly affects the antifungal activity, where C12 chains are more potent against Aspergillus species. In terms of acylation site, mannopyranoside esters with a C8 chain substituted at the C-6 position are more active in antifungal inhibition. Molecular docking also revealed that these mannopyranoside esters had comparatively better stable binding energy and hence better inhibition, with the fungal enzymes lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase (3LD6), urate oxidase (1R51), and glucoamylase (1KUL) than the standard antifungal drug fluconazole. Additionally, the thermodynamic, orbital, drug-likeness, and safety profiles of these mannopyranoside esters were calculated and discussed, along with the Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR). This study thus highlights the importance of the acylation site and lipid-like fatty acid chain length that govern the antimicrobial activity of mannopyranoside-based SFAE.

Longitudinal EGFR assessment in plasma and tissue samples in early non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

8038 Background: Osimertinib has become the standard adjuvant treatment for patients (pts) with surgically resected, early-stage, EGFR -mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), after the results of the ADAURA trial. However, the temporal distribution of EGFR mutations (mut) and its relation with recurrence patterns in this population have not been established yet. Aim of the study is to describe the prevalence of circulating tumor DNA and EGFR mut at different timepoints in early-stage NSCLC and the correlation between their presence and prognosis. Methods: This is a single center study conducted at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, including consecutive pts with surgically resected, stage I-III NSCLC harbouring EGFR mut from 2008 to 2024. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) with ONCOMINE panel was performed on tissue samples, archival when surgery pre-dated the start of the study. NGS on plasma samples was performed using Guardant360 panel at timepoints: 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery and at recurrence. For pts receiving adjuvant osimertinib, additional plasma samples were collected before drug initiation and during treatment. Pts were referred for genetic consultation if NGS on tissue samples detected a TP53 mut with a variant allele frequency (VAF) >30%, or if NGS on plasma identified TP53 or BRCA mut with a VAF >20%, or a basal T790M mutation. Results: Currently, 70 pts were enrolled, of which 24.3% were male. Median age was 68 years, and 35.7% were former/current smokers. Pts with stage IA were 37.1%, IB 24.3%, IIA 2.9%, IIB 11.4%, IIIA 14.3%, IIIB 5.7%. All pts had an EGFR mut, 54.2% detected by NGS on surgical or pre-surgical specimens. EGFR mut of the other samples were detected using PCR Cobas, and NGS are ongoing. EGFR mut was not detected on plasma after surgery (except for 1). Most pts harboured common mut (47.1% ex19del and 45.7% exon21 L858R on COBAS, 65.6% ex19del and 34.4% exon21 L858R on ONCOMINE). Interestingly, of the 43 pts with post-surgery NGS on plasma, 41.9% had a pathogenic mutation ( TP53 50%, ARID1 and BRCA1/2 11.1% each, 5.6% each SMAD4, MPL, TSC1, NOTCH1, JAK2, APC, FGFR1 and KRAS ) with a median VAF of 0.25% (tissue confirmation is needed to exclude hematopoietic origin). Liquid biopsies were obtained from all pts, with at least one sample collected post-surgery at varying time points. Adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 31.4% of pts, while 17.1% received adjuvant osimertinib (100% after adjuvant osimertinib approbation by local label if indicated) and 11.4% also received radiotherapy. Disease recurrence occurred in 22 patients (31.4%), with 8 being local recurrence. At data lock 83% of pts were alive. Conclusions: Evaluation of EGFR in early-stage NSCLC should be standard procedure. We aim to identify a pattern associated with higher risk of recurrence and worse prognosis. Dynamic monitoring of EGFR could aid in personalising adjuvant treatments and follow-up scheduling.

Implementation of digestion and characterization procedures for control standardization on samples of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) and plastic polymers from the coastal environment of the Asinara Gulf (Sardinia, Italy)

Implementation of digestion and characterization procedures for control standardization on samples of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) and plastic polymers from the coastal environment of the Asinara Gulf (Sardinia, Italy)

Health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in public pipe-borne water from selected households in Abeokuta, Southwestern, Nigeria.

Health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in public pipe-borne water from selected households in Abeokuta, Southwestern, Nigeria.

Prevalence of bacterial contamination on wild meat processing and cooking surfaces in rural Cameroon.

Prevalence of bacterial contamination on wild meat processing and cooking surfaces in rural Cameroon.

Between unity and disparity: current treatment protocols for common orofacial clefts in European expert centres.

There is considerable variability in the management of common orofacial clefts across Europe, reflecting differing opinions on optimal treatments. An updated overview of treatment protocols for orofacial clefts across 26 expert centres in the European Reference Network CRANIO is presented here. A structured questionnaire was distributed to map the surgical protocol and additional standard procedures for cleft palate (CP), unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), and bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP). A surgical protocol was defined as the unique combination of a sequence of standard surgeries, their timing, and the surgical techniques employed. Overall, 33 unique surgical protocols for CP, 54 for UCLP, and 51 for BCLP were identified. Notable findings included the trend towards early hard palate closure, uniform timing of lip closure, and the popularity of primary cleft rhinoplasty. Nevertheless, practice variations were most pronounced in the timing of alveolar closure, the number of standard surgeries, and the application of additional standard procedures. This study highlights the diversity of treatment protocols across Europe, despite considerable convergence of treatment practices over time. To allow for further convergence, establishing objective criteria for protocol selection, adequate documentation of customizations, and consensus on the terminology of surgical techniques, are necessary.

Combined (SoliQ) molecular profiling using whole exome sequencing in advanced HNSCC at baseline: Lessons learned for prognostication and treatment planning.

e18025 Background: HNSCC imparts rising incidence and mortality rate worldwide, due to lack of information regarding spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the tumors. Nearly 50 to 60% of advanced node positive HNSCC are known to develop platinum resistance during the course of treatment. Beyond this, Metronomic Chemotherapy (MC; erlotinib 150mg daily, celecoxib 200mg BD daily, methotrexate 9mg/m2 every week) has shown promising effect by impacting the PFS and OS in the palliative setting. Nevertheless, only nearly 50% of these patients get the benefit of MC, which could be attributed to the underlying biology. At this stage, stratifying patients using the tumors’ mutational landscape would be more beneficial. This pilot study was aimed to understand the prognostic implications of adding liquid biopsy to solid tumor profiling in HNSCC. Methods: We adopted Whole Exome Sequencing of Tumor (Solid) and LiQuid biopsy (SoliQ) at the time of diagnosis in 10 HNSCC patients, with advanced stage recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancers, platinum resistant. The NGS libraries were generated as per standard procedures for illumina sequencing. The tumors were sequenced to a coverage depth of 250X, while the plasma cfDNA was sequenced to a coverage depth of 500X. Results: Broad genomic landscape of more than 230 pathogenic genes were unveiled, among which the frequently mutated genes were EGFR, CCND1, PIK3CA, NOTCH1, TP53, CDKN2A, KMT2A, FBXW7 and EP300 . Major findings included: a) 40% concordance in mutations identified between tumor tissue and liquid biopsy at the baseline b) those patients who had positive cfDNA/ctDNA fraction at baseline as measured from mutant allelic fraction, had a poor PFS (cfDNA positive PFS- 2.28 months (95% CI 1.733 -NA) and in cfDNA negative- 4.63 months (95% CI 0.967 -5.27). P= 0.06) and OS (cfDNA positive OS- 7.77 months (95% CI 3.63 -8.1) and in cfDNA negative- 4.92 months (95%CI 1.73 -NA). P= 0.0082) as compared those patients who had negative ctDNA fraction/no clinically relevant or somatic alterations identified in plasma cfDNA. Conclusions: This pilot study is the first of its kind to demonstrate the clinical utility of combining liquid biopsy profiling with tissue biopsy at baseline in HNSCC, using whole exome sequencing approach. Prospective studies on larger number of patients may help in establishing its role as part of the initial diagnostic work-up to be included in future guidelines/standard-of-care practice.

Antioxidant and anticancer activity of Canarium ovatum Engl. (Pili) ethanolic leaf extracts

The Pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.) tree, native to the Philippines, has been reported to have medicinal properties because of the biological and chemical properties it exhibits. This paper aimed to investigate the presence of phytochemicals, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of the ethanolic leaf extract of C. ovatum. To determine the phytochemicals, present in the extract, standard procedures for qualitative phytochemical screening were performed. The antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed in vitro using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The anticancer activity of the extract was assessed in vitro using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay against the HCT116 cancer cell line. Phytochemical screening of C. ovatum ethanolic leaf extract detected alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. The extract had extremely high antioxidant activity (IC<sub>50</sub>=11.44 mg/L). The MTT assay revealed moderate cytotoxic activity of the leaf extract to HCT116 cancer cell line (IC<sub>50</sub>=94.43 mg/L). These findings suggest that the C. ovatum ethanolic leaf extract has therapeutic potential because of the presence of beneficial phytochemicals, strong antioxidant activity, and anticancer capacity. Futher research is recommended to comprehensively evaluate the medicinal potential of Pili leaf extracts, including exploring other biological activities using various assays and employing different solvents for leaf extraction.

Prognostic Value of Tumor-Stroma Ratio in a Screened Stage II Colon Cancer Population: Intratumoral Site-Specific Assessment and Tumor Budding Synergy.

The tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) has shown a prognostic value in various cancers, including colon cancer. This retrospective, multicenter cohort study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of TSR in a screened stage II colon cancer population, both independently and in combination with tumor budding. The cohort included 497 patients who underwent surgical resection for stage II colon cancer. TSR was determined based on the procedures proposed by van Pelt etal, and tumor budding was evaluated according to the guidelines from the International Tumor Budding Consensus Conference. Our findings demonstrate that patients with tumors categorized as having a high proportion of stroma (>50% stroma area) had a shorter 5-year time to recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.95; P= .05), recurrence-free survival (HR, 1.63; P= .02), and overall survival (HR, 1.05; P= .07) compared with those with tumors categorized as having a low proportion of stroma (≤50% stroma area). The prognostic effect was specific to TSR determination at the deepest invasive front of tumor and lost significance as the examination area expanded. Combining TSR and tumor budding further improved prognostic stratification. Tumors with high stromal content and high-grade budding exhibited a significantly more aggressive risk profile and poorer 5-year survival outcomes compared with those with stroma-low and budding-low tumors (time to recurrence: HR, 4.47; P < .01; recurrence-free survival: HR, 2.71; P < .01; and overall survival: HR, 2.20; P= .01). The study highlights the importance of standardized procedures for TSR assessment and suggests that evaluating both TSR and tumor budding could improve prognostic accuracy and aid in clinical decision-making.

"Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis from Oral Odontogenic Origins: A Frequently Overlooked Entity".

"Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis from Oral Odontogenic Origins: A Frequently Overlooked Entity".

Polish LITMUS Cross-Linguistic Lexical Task: Reliability, validity, and norms for monolingual 3- to 5-year olds

Vocabulary assessment is an important part of measuring language proficiency in both monolingual and bilingual children. The LITMUS Cross-Linguistic Lexical Tasks (CLT) provides a framework for assessing the vocabulary of monolingual and bilingual children using a standardized procedure and comparable stimuli across languages. All language versions of CLT include picture naming and picture recognition tasks, using both nouns and verbs as target words. The present study demonstrates high reliability (internal consistency) and convergent validity of the Polish CLT (CLT-PL) in a monolingual sample of children between 3 and 6 years of age. We present data collected from 479 participants. Based on the analysis of the impact of children’s demographic characteristics on CLT scores, we developed a set of monolingual norms for children aged 3;0 to 5;11. We conclude that the CLT-PL is a reliable and valid tool for assessing vocabulary in monolingual children that could be applied in research and has the potential to serve as a diagnostic tool in the future. With this, we are one step further in designing tools for assessing the vocabularies of multilingual children learning Polish.

Prevalence and factors associated with hypertension in rural areas of Naubatpur block of Patna District in Bihar, India: a population−based cluster cross−sectional study

BackgroundHypertension is a serious public health challenge with varying incidence at the global and national levels. The prevalence of hypertension has been rising in low− and middle−income countries (LMICs) like India. Hypertension, previously considered an urban issue, is increasingly prevalent in rural India, necessitating targeted interventions.ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of hypertension, and the various associated factors among the rural population of Naubatpur block of Patna district in Bihar state.MethodologyA population−based, cluster cross−sectional study was conducted among 840 adults, selected randomly using a two−stage cluster sampling method. Data on socio-demographics and economic, anthropometric, family history, lifestyle variables, and awareness were collected using a pre−tested standardized structured questionnaire. Standard WHO procedures were used to measure blood pressure and anthropometric variables. Stata version 17 was used for statistical analyses considering cluster survey data using sampling weights. Bivariate analysis was performed to estimate crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals. A multivariate logistic regression model was used, taking variables with p−value ≤ 0.20 in bivariate analysis as independent variables and hypertension as dependent variables to estimate adjusted ORs with 95% confidence intervals.ResultsThe weighted prevalence of hypertension in adults was 24.55% (95% CI: 20.66 – 28.9%) higher than the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data of Bihar. Nearly 25.35% of subjects were classified in the pre−hypertension stage according to JNC VII criteria. Based on three regression models, the odds of having hypertension increased significantly with an increasing trend as age advanced, family history of hypertension, tobacco chewing, Obesity (BMI > 25.5), and salt consumption (> 5gm/day) were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of hypertension among adult population of rural areas after controlling for all the confounders.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of hypertension and pre−hypertension among the adult population residing in the rural area is a serious public health concern. Public health policymakers and professionals need to create awareness, early identification, and prevention programs in rural areas to focus on modifiable behaviors in rural areas to combat the menace of diseases associated with hypertension.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Dysfunction Post Transcatheter Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Pediatric Patients

Objectives: To compare Left Ventricular (LV) function before and after Transcatheter Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) closure and to identify factors associated with LV dysfunction following device closure. Study Design: Quasi- experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi, Jan to Jun 2024. Methodology: A non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used for patient selection. Thirty patients aged upto 18 years who underwent PDA device closure were enrolled. Echocardiographic parameters were measured before, 24 hours after device closure and at 1 and 3 months. Assessment of pre procedure LV function was done upon admission of the patient and the parameters were recorded in predesigned profoma using M mode echocardiography, TDI and Speckled tracking. Trans catheter device closure of PDA was done using standard procedure and following the standard guidelines. Results: Out of 30 patients, 17(56.7%) were males and 13(43.3%) were females. The median age of patients was 4.00(2.75-6.00) year. After 24 hours of procedure, 5(16.7 %) patients developed LV dysfunction. Patients with LV dysfunction had a median PDA diameter of 8.00(8.00-9.00) mm. LAd/AOd ratio 1.24(1.22-1.32) was significantly higher in patients with LV dysfunction (p&lt;0.05). The LAd, LVEDD, LVESD and LVEDVI showed a significant decline following procedure and throughout the course of 3 months (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: Transcatheter PDA closure causes a decrease in LV performance immediately post procedural closure, which recovers completely within 3 months. Pre closure LAd/Aod ratio and PDA diameter were found to be an important markers in anticipating LV dysfunction ...