Three-week Intervals Research Articles

Prolonged photoperiod improves the growth performance for a hatchery reared right-eyed flatfish

Rearing winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) in captivity for aquaculture and stock enhancement is a viable option to relieve fishing pressure and aid in ongoing recovery strategies. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of photoperiod on growth and survival of young-of-the-year juvenile winter flounder. Juveniles were reared for 12 weeks at three photoperiods: 24 light/0 dark, 18 light/6 dark, and 12 light/12 dark. Twenty fish were stocked into each of 18 enclosures with six enclosures per treatment. Fish in all treatments were fed to satiation every four hours. All fish were imaged at stocking and at three-week intervals. Growth was measured as changes in standard length (SL) and body area (BA). As early as Week 3, fish in all treatments were significantly different in terms of SL and BA. In general, fish grown under continuous 24 light were the largest and fish in the 12 light/12 dark regime were the smallest. Maximum specific growth rates of 0.41 % per day for SL and 0.83 % per day for BA were achieved in the 24 light/0 dark photoperiod. Average mortality rate over the course of the experiment was 9.17 % and there were no significant differences in the number of dead fish among the treatments. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that a longer day coupled with available food will increase growth rate for winter flounder juveniles, without affecting survival. By extending the photoperiod, growth in young-of-the year winter flounder is accelerated, bringing the growth rate of winter flounder close to that of other commercially produced flatfish.

A vaccine using Anaplasma marginale subdominant type IV secretion system recombinant proteins was not protective against a virulent challenge.

Anaplasma marginale is the most prevalent tick-borne livestock pathogen with worldwide distribution. Bovine anaplasmosis is a significant threat to cattle industry. Anaplasmosis outbreaks in endemic areas are prevented via vaccination with live A. centrale produced in splenectomized calves. Since A. centrale live vaccine can carry other pathogens and cause disease in adult cattle, research efforts are directed to develop safe recombinant subunit vaccines. Previous work found that the subdominant proteins of A. marginale type IV secretion system (T4SS) and the subdominant elongation factor-Tu (Ef-Tu) were involved in the protective immunity against the experimental challenge in cattle immunized with the A. marginale outer membrane (OM). This study evaluated the immunogenicity and protection conferred by recombinant VirB9.1, VirB9.2, VirB10, VirB11, and Ef-Tu proteins cloned and expressed in E. coli. Twenty steers were randomly clustered into four groups (G) of five animals each. Cattle from G1 and G2 were immunized with a mixture of 50 μg of each recombinant protein with Quil A® or Montanide™ adjuvants, respectively. Cattle from G3 and G4 (controls) were immunized with Quil A and Montanide adjuvants, respectively. Cattle received four immunizations at three-week intervals and were challenged with 107 A. marginale-parasitized erythrocytes 42 days after the fourth immunization. After challenge, all cattle showed clinical signs, with a significant drop of packed cell volume and a significant increase of parasitized erythrocytes (p<0.05), requiring treatment with oxytetracycline to prevent death. The levels of IgG2 induced in the immunized groups did not correlate with the observed lack of protection. Additional strategies are required to evaluate the role of these proteins and their potential utility in the development of effective vaccines.

Promising Results From a Video-Feedback Interaction Guidance Intervention for Improving Maternal-Infant Interaction Quality of Depressed Mothers: A Feasibility Pilot Study.

Mothers and infants affected by postpartum depression are known to have (1) reduced quality interactions and (2) elevated cortisol levels, both of which are linked to negative developmental outcomes in children. Parent training promoting sensitive and responsive maternal-infant interactions may help optimize development in children of mothers with postpartum depression. This pilot study tested a video-feedback interaction guidance intervention designed to improve maternal-infant interaction, depressive symptoms, and cortisol patterns of depressed mothers and their infants. An experimental, pre-test, post-test design was employed to randomly assign mothers with postpartum depression to intervention (n = 6) and control (n = 6) conditions. Intervention mothers received three video-feedback sessions during home visits, provided at three-week intervals. Control participants received three home visits on the same schedule. Significant differences favoring the intervention group were observed in maternal-infant interaction quality, especially maternal sensitivity and cognitive growth fostering activities, and in reduced infant diurnal cortisol. Professionally guided video-feedback intervention appears to support improvements in interactions between depressed mothers and their infants and optimizes infants' diurnal cortisol patterns. The findings from this feasibility pilot study have been used to support a large-scale follow-up exploration.

Phase I/II Study of Docetaxel and S-1 in Previously-Treated Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: LOGIK0408.

Background: As docetaxel plus S-1 may be feasible for cancer treatment, we conducted a phase I/II trial to determine the recommended docetaxel dose and the fixed S-1 dose (phase I), as well as confirm the regimen’s efficacy and safety (phase II) for previously-treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: Patients ≤75 years with performance status ≤1 and adequate organ function were treated at three-week intervals with docetaxel on day 1 and 80 mg/m2 oral S-1 from days 1–14. The starting docetaxel dose was 45 mg/m2 and this was escalated to a maximum of 70 mg/m2. In phase II, response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety were assessed. Results: The recommended doses were 50 mg/m2 docetaxel (day 1) and 80 mg/m2 S-1 (days 1–14). Grades 3 and 4 leukocytopenia and neutropenia occurred in 44% and 67% of patients, respectively. Nonhematologic toxicities were generally mild. Overall response to chemotherapy was 7.7% (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6–20.9%), and median PFS and OS were 18.0 weeks (95% CI; 11.3–22.9 weeks) and 53.0 weeks, respectively. Conclusion: Fifty mg/m2 docetaxel plus 80 mg/m2 oral S-1 had a lower response rate than anticipated; however, the survival data were encouraging. A further investigation is warranted to select the optimal patient population.

Dynamic in vivo quantification of rod photoreceptor degeneration using fluorescent reporter mouse models of retinitis pigmentosa

Imaging techniques have revolutionised the assessment of retinal disease in humans and animal models. Here we describe a novel technique for the in vivo visualisation of rod photoreceptors which permits semiquantitative assessment of outer retinal degeneration, and validate this approach in two mouse models of retinitis pigmentosa (RP).Transgenic mice carrying an Nrl-EGFP allele and homozygous for either knock-out of rhodopsin (Nrl-EGFP, Rho−/−) or heterozygous for knock-in of P23H mutant rhodopsin (Nrl-EGFP, RhoP23H/+) were used in this study. These novel strains have green fluorescent rods which undergo a progressive degeneration. Fundus imaging was performed at three-weekly intervals by near infrared reflectance (NIR) and blue light autofluorescence (BAF) confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO). Mean grey values (mGV), which quantify fluorescence levels within such images, were compared for degenerate and age-matched non-degenerate (Nrl-EGFP, Rho+/+) controls.Mean grey value significantly decreased over time in the Rho−/− and RhoP23H/+ groups but was maintained in Rho+/+ mice (P < 0.001, two-way ANOVA). This corresponded to outer nuclear layer (ONL) thinning as observed by histology. The mGV of superior retina was significantly greater than that of inferior retina in RhoP23H/+ (P = 0.0024) but not in age-matched Rho+/+ (P = 0.45) or Rho−/- (P = 0.65) mice reflecting histological findings. Focal loss of rods could be visualised and mapped in vivo with this technique following a toxic insult, with thinning of the ONL being confirmed in hypofluorescent regions by spectral domain ocular coherence tomography (OCT).Fluorescence labelling of rods permits in vivo characterisation of models of RP and may provide new insights into patterns of degeneration, or rescue effect after treatment. mGV can be used in such cases as a semiquantitative metric of ONL degeneration, and can be used to identify regional variations in photoreceptor loss.

Evaluation of immunogenicity and protective effect of DNA vaccine encoding surface antigen1 (SAG1) of Toxoplasma gondii and TLR-5 ligand as a genetic adjuvant against acute toxoplasmosis in BALB/c mice

AimsToxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular, protozoan that causes a high incidence of serious zoonotic parasitic disease in humans. In the present study the immune-protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding SAG1 in combination with a gene sequence encoding FliC of Salmonella typhimurium (Toll-like receptor 5 agonist) was evaluated against acute T. gondii infection in mice. Methods and resultsNinety-nine female inbred BALB/c mice were divided into nine groups of 11 mice and were immunized intramuscularly three times at three-week intervals (days 0, 21 and 42) and challenged with virulent T. gondii RH strain 4 weeks later. The immunization of pVAX1-SAG1 administered with pVAX1-fliC in mice indicated specific humoral responses, with higher IgG antibody titers and a mixed IgG1/IgG2a response than in other groups (with a predominance of IgG2a over IgG2b and IgG1). Also, the cellular immune response elicited high levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 cytokines and low levels of IL-4 production compared to traditional adjuvants. Furthermore, the mice vaccinated with pVAX1-SAG1+pVAX1-fliC survived for slightly longer after the last immunization and challenge with the T. gondii. ConclusionThis investigation indicated that cocktail DNA vaccine encoded SAG1 gene of T. gondii and FliC can protect against acute toxoplasmosis.

Histological evaluation of the healing process of autografted mandibular bone defects in rats under treatment with zoledronate

ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the healing process of autografted mandibular bone defects in rats treated with zoledronate (ZOL). Subjects and methodsA total of 180 Wistar rats were divided into four groups: group L received intravenous infusion of two doses of 0.06 mg/kg ZOL, nine weeks apart; group H received 0.06 mg/kg ZOL, while groups C and NC received normal saline at three-week intervals for nine weeks. Three weeks following the last infusion, a unilateral mandibular bone defect (5 mm) was created. Except in the NC group, all defects were repaired with autologous iliac bone graft. Fifteen animals from each group were sacrificed on postoperative Day 20, Day 40, and Day 60. Graft healing was scored using a histological grading system (ranging from 1 to 6). ResultsHistological evaluations performed on postoperative Day 60 showed that the mandibular defects were mainly repaired with fibrous tissue in the NC and H groups (93.00% ± 7.51% and 82.67% ± 13.08%, respectively) and with bone in the C and L groups (75.33% ± 14.20% and 92.67% ± 8.84%, respectively). The percentage of fibrous tissue and bone as well as the healing score of the NC and H groups were significantly different (P = 0.001) from those of the C and L groups. However, these were not different between neither the NC and H groups nor the C and L groups. ConclusionBased on the results of the present study the hypothesis can be established that there also might be a dose-dependent effect of ZOL on the healing of bone grafts in humans. This hypothesis has to be verified or rejected in clinical trials.

Assessment of the immunogenicity and protective efficiency of a novel dual-promoter DNA vaccine, harboring SAG1 and GRA7 genes, from RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice.

BackgroundToxoplasmosis, a protozoan parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, has been a serious human and veterinary medicine problem with global distribution. In the current study, we assessed immunogenicity and protective efficiency of a novel dual-promoter DNA vaccine, harboring SAG1 and GRA7 genes, from RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) with or without CpG-ODN as adjuvant in a murine model.MethodsBALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 alone and pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN three times at three-week intervals. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) cytokines in mice sera. Four weeks post final vaccination, MTT assay and lethal challenge-infection with 1×103 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain were carried out to assess stimulation index (SI) and mice survival time, respectively.ResultsThe IgG levels in mice immunized with multicomponent vaccines, including pVitro-SAG1–GRA7 alone and pVitro-SAG1–GRA7 with CpG-ODN, were significantly higher than those in control mice or single-gene DNA-vaccinated ones (P<0.05). Furthermore, level of IgG2a in mice receiving pVitro-SAG1–GRA7 with CpG-ODN was significantly higher than that in mice receiving pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 alone (P<0.05). The Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA)-stimulated lymphocytes from pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN group responded more dramatically than those from control groups or single-gene DNA-vaccinated groups (P<0.001). The pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN-vaccinated mice developed high levels of IgG2a and IFN-γ (P<0.001) and low levels of IgG1 and IL-10, compared to control groups, suggesting a modulated immune response type Th1. In addition, survival time of the mice immunized with pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN was significantly extended, compared to controls (P<0.05); however, all mice died.ConclusionThe multivalent pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 DNA vaccine with CpG-ODN adjuvant is a promising vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.

Abstract 1454: Long-term immunogenicity results from a first-in-human study evaluating the anti-ASPH cancer vaccine, SNS-301

Abstract SNS-301 is a first-in-class immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine candidate targeting human aspartate β-hydroxylase (ASPH). ASPH is an oncofetal antigen expressed in multiple human cancers but not in healthy adult tissue. As a biologic modifier of the NOTCH pathway, ASPH is associated with tumor cell growth, motility and invasiveness. SNS-301 is a vaccine which delivers over 400 copies of an extracellular domain of the ASPH protein displayed on a bacteriophage vector. This phase 1 first-in-human study of SNS-301 was primarily designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the vaccine and to establish the recommended phase 2 dose. Vaccine was administered intradermally every 21 days in a 3+3 dose-escalation trial in patients with biochemically (rising PSA) relapsed prostate cancer with evidence of ASPH expression. The safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of SNS-301 have been presented previously (Nordquist, et al. Annals of Oncol., 29, suppl_8, 1 October 2018, mdy279.404, Lebowitz, et al., JITC 2018, 6(Suppl 1):P167). Per protocol, all subjects were required to receive at least three doses of SNS-301, but were given the option to continue on-study receiving further vaccinations every 3 weeks. Furthermore, once the safety of higher dose levels of SNS-301 was established, subjects that had initially received lower doses were escalated to the higher dose levels. All patients tolerated the vaccine well with minimal numbers of adverse events and opted to remain on-study, some receiving &amp;gt;20 doses over a period of more than 420 days. Immune responses in these patients were continuously followed at three-week intervals. Specifically, both anti-ASPH and anti-phage antibody levels in serum as well as percentages of ASPH-specific B-cells were monitored. Levels of anti-ASPH antibody and of ASPH-specific B-cells were well correlated. An initial increase in the levels was seen within the first six treatment cycles in a dose dependent fashion with higher doses achieving more rapid and more robust levels of response. As subjects continued on-study, ASPH-specific immune responses reached a peak level, then subsequently declined. Over the longer-term, these responses re-emerged and declined over multiple cycles. This pattern of response may be indicative of immune fatigue and is suggestive that a more refined dosing regimen in which later vaccinations are further spaced in time may be beneficial. Anti-phage antibody responses were also observed and also occurred in a dose-dependent fashion. Interestingly, subjects who received lower doses of vaccine and were subsequently switched to higher doses did not see a concomitant increase in anti-phage antibodies, suggesting that they had achieved a level of tolerance to the phage vector. Phase II trials in heme and solid tumors are planned and will incorporate a vaccine dosing regimen informed by this phase I study. Citation Format: Michael S. Lebowitz, Hong Dai, Kanam Malhotra, Ildiko Csiki, Steven Fuller, Hossein A. Ghanbari. Long-term immunogenicity results from a first-in-human study evaluating the anti-ASPH cancer vaccine, SNS-301 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1454.

Esophageal Variceal Band Ligation Interval and Number Required for the Obliteration of Varices: A Multi-center Study from Karachi, Pakistan.

IntroductionEsophageal variceal band ligation (EVBL) is the best form of treatment for variceal bleeding. The frequency of EVBL for the eradication of esophageal varices has no consensus. We evaluated the number and interval of EVBL sessions required for the obliteration of esophageal varices.MethodsEsophagogastric varices were treated endoscopically with band ligation on initial presentation and then every after three weeks till the obliteration of the varices. Endoscopic band ligation consists of placing rubber elastic bands on large varices. Frequencies were calculated for qualitative variables and mean ± standard deviations for continuous variables.ResultsA total of 107 cases with esophagogastric varices were enrolled. Out of them, seven patients with small esophageal varices and large fundal varices were excluded. The remaining 100 with large esophageal varices had EVBL performed. The second session of EVBL was done in 46 patients with large esophageal varices. The third session of EVBL for the obliteration of esophageal varices required in 20 patients with large esophageal varices and the fourth session was required in only two patients. The total sessions required for the complete obliteration for esophageal varices were 2±1. Only one patient developed post-EVBL bleeding one week after band ligation.ConclusionEsophageal variceal ligation was a safe and well-tolerated procedure performed at three-week intervals in patients with large esophageal varices. On average, two to three sessions of EVBL are required for the complete obliteration of esophageal varices.

Predictive Significance of IL-17A Serum Levels during Chemotherapy in Senegalese Women with Cervical Cancer

Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in female populations. It is a virally induced carcinoma resulting from sexually transmitted high risk Human Papillomavirus infections (e.g. HPV-16, HPV-18). Previous studies have shown associations between IL-17A levels in cancer micro-environments and metastasis of tumor cells. In Africa, chemotherapy (CT) is the standard first-line treatment for cervical cancer and the prognosis remains poor for metastatic and recurrent cases. The impact of CT as a treatment option is still unclear. We investigated the prognostic relevance of IL-17A profiles in Cervical cancer patients (CP) patients treated with cisplatin in combination with 5-fluouracil (5FU) for three cycles. Methods: The study included 57 CP and 59 women with no history of malignancy as healthy controls (HC). IL-17A plasma levels were evaluated by ELISA. For each CP, three blood samples were collected at three-week intervals before initiation of the chemotherapy protocol. Results: Before chemotherapy CP showed higher serum levels of IL-17A compared to HCs (p = 0.035). No relation was detected between age and IL-17A levels. We observed a significant increase in serum IL-17A during treatment of the CP group (p < 0.05). Depending on chemotherapy’s efficacy, CP were divided into 1) non responders, 2) partial responders and 3) good responders. Non-responders patients showed significantly higher serum levels of IL-17A during the follow-up compared to partial and good responder groups both following the first CT cycle (p < 0.05) and the second CT cycle (p < 0.03). Conclusion: Our results suggest that high serum levels of IL-17A are associated with poor responses to classical chemotherapy. However, considering these results to design CC biomarkers, we need further investigations particularly about the relevant prognostic indicator following chemotherapy.

Evaluation of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Immune Responses in BALB/c Mice Induced by DNA Vaccines Encoding Surface Antigen 1 (SAG1) and 3 (SAG3)

DNA vaccine cocktail construction is one of the most important strategies for the development of new generation multiantigenic vaccine against toxoplasmosis. In the present study DNA cocktail vaccines containing SAG1 and SAG3 (from a native Iranian parasite, AN: JF312642) genes were constructed and their immune response and protective efficacy was evaluated in comparison with control groups in BALB/c mice. For this purpose, the plasmids containing complete SAG3, SAG1 genes were constructed and then the recombinant plasmids were administered via intramuscular injections according to immunized mice three times with three-week intervals. Both alum and MMT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) were used as an adjuvant to enhance the immune response. Both humeral and cellular immune response of the mice groups were evaluation. Finally, the mice in immunized and non-immunized groups were inoculated by the parasite and the mortality of the mice was evaluated on a daily basis. In cytokine assay, the INFγ were found higher in the mice that received the cocktail DNA containing recombinant plasmids. Evaluation of proliferation of splenocytes using the Alum and nano adjuvant MMT assay indicated induction of cellular response. Measurement of total IgG and the isotypes of IgG1 and IgG2a showed that the cocktail DNA stimulated IgG and IgG2a production in comparison with the control groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the survival rate of mice in the groups that received the cocktail DNA was significantly higher than that in the control groups (P < 0.05). Accordingly, administration of the cocktail DNA vaccine led to production of higher levels of IFNγ, confirmed by secretion of IgG2a, and the immune response was shifted toward Th1. Thus, the cocktail DNA containing the recombinant plasmids can be an appropriate candidate for immunization against toxoplasmosis.

Taxane-based chemohormonal therapy for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

There has been considerable development in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer over the last decade. A number of agents, including docetaxel, cabazitaxel, abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide and sipuleucel-T, have been reported to improve outcomes in men with castration-resistant disease and their use is being explored in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. To assess the effects of early taxane-based chemohormonal therapy for newly diagnosed, metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. We performed a comprehensive search using multiple databases (the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science), trials registries, other sources of grey literature, and conference proceedings, up to 10 August 2018. We applied no restrictions on publication language or status. We included randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials in which participants were administered taxane-based chemotherapy with systemic androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) within 120 days of beginning ADT versus ADT alone at the time of diagnosis of metastatic disease. Two review authors independently classified studies and abstracted data from the included studies. We performed statistical analyses using a random-effects model. We rated the quality of evidence according to the GRADE approach. The search identified three studies in which 2,261 participants were randomized to receive either ADT alone, or taxane-based chemotherapy at a dose of 75mg per square meter of body surface area at three-weekly intervals for six or nine cycles in addition to ADT.Primary outcomesEarly treatment with taxane-based chemotherapy in addition to ADT probably reduces death from any cause compared to ADT alone (hazard ratio (HR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68 to 0.87; moderate-certainty evidence); this would result in 94 fewer deaths per 1,000 men (95% CI 51 to 137 fewer deaths). We downgraded the certainty of evidence due to study limitations related to potential performance bias. Based on the results of one study with 375 participants, the addition of taxane-based chemotherapy to ADT may increase the incidence of Grade III to V adverse events compared to ADT alone (risk ratio (RR) 2.98, 95% CI 2.19 to 4.04; low-certainty evidence); this would result in 405 more Grade III to V adverse events per 1,000 men (95% CI 243 to 621 more events). We downgraded the certainty of evidence due to study limitations and imprecision.Secondary outcomesEarly taxane-based chemotherapy in addition to ADT probably reduces the risk of prostate cancer-specific death (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.89; moderate-certainty evidence). We downgraded the certainty of evidence due to study limitations related to potential performance and detection bias. The addition of taxane-based chemotherapy also probably reduces disease progression compared to ADT alone (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.71; moderate-certainty evidence). We downgraded the certainty of evidence because of study limitations related to potential performance bias. The addition of taxane-based chemotherapy to ADT may result in a large increase in the risk of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events (RR 79.41, 95% CI 4.92 to 1282.78; low-certainty evidence). We downgraded the certainty of evidence due to study limitations and imprecision. This estimate is derived from a single study with no events in the control arm but a discontinuation rate of 20% in the intervention arm. Taxane-based chemotherapy may increase the incidence of adverse events of any grade (RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.17; low-certainty evidence). We downgraded our assessment of the certainty of evidence due to very serious study limitations. There may be a small improvement, which may not be clinically important, in quality of life at 12 months with combination treatment (mean difference (MD) 2.85 on the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate scale, 95% CI 0.13 higher to 5.57 higher; low-certainty evidence). We downgraded the certainty of evidence for study limitations related to potential performance, detection and attrition bias. Compared to ADT alone, the early (within 120 days of beginning ADT) addition of taxane-based chemotherapy to ADT for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer probably prolongs both overall and disease-specific survival and delays disease progression. There may be an increase in toxicity with taxane-based chemotherapy in combination with ADT. There may also be a small, clinically unimportant improvement in quality of life at 12 months with taxane-based chemotherapy and ADT treatment.

Integrated control of mango blossom malformation in South Africa

Mango malformation disease (MMD) is a serious disease worldwide, causing severe economic losses annually. In South Africa, recommendations for managing MMD are to break out malformed inflorescences when clearly visible. Despite these recommendations, high incidences of MMD were reported during the 2010 to 2012 seasons. The aim of this study was to develop an integrated strategy for optimum control of MMD and to determine the effect of prochloraz on malformation. Treatments included removal of malformed inflorescences alone and/or in combination with one or several prochloraz sprays applied at various times. Percentage infection was calculated and yield data were recorded at harvest. Removal of malformed inflorescences in year one resulted in a decrease in malformation from 19.9% to 3.55% over the four-year period (Trial A), but no significant differences were observed between the treatments. Yield data did not differ significantly between treatments but there was a significant increase in yield from the first to the second year, which then remained constant. Spraying of prochloraz-Zn at three-week intervals combined with removal of malformed inflorescences at regular intervals (Trial B) resulted in a significant decrease in disease incidence. The combined prochloraz and sanitation treatments significantly increased yield over three seasons by 26.9 t ha−1.

Comparison of intralesional verapamil versus intralesional corticosteroids in treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundKeloids and hypertrophic scars are due to overgrowth of dermal collagen following trauma to the skin that usually cause major physical, psychological and cosmetic problems. MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, with a paired design, 50 patients with 2 or more keloids were included. In the control group (50 lesions), intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (40mg/mL) was injected at three-week intervals for a total of 18weeks. In the other group (50 lesions), lesions were treated by verapamil (2.5mg/mL) with the same therapeutic sessions. Scar evaluation at each stage and at the end of 3months follow up was done by serial photographic records as well as by Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). ResultsMean zero VSS scores were achieved with only triamcinolone in respect of scar height (week 15th) and pliability (week 15th). No therapeutic event (parameter=0) or significant improvement was seen in verapamil group. ConclusionOur results did not support verapamil’s capability in treatment of keloid nor hypertrophic scars.

Interactive Effects of Cultivation, Insect Control, and Fungal Disease Control in Organic Peanut Production

ABSTRACT During previous organic peanut weed management trials, maintenance pesticides were not applied and it was observed that insect infestations and disease epidemics were not problematic. This was surprising considering that conventional peanut are routinely treated with insecticides and fungicides to control common pests. It was hypothesized that components of the organic peanut production system could be integrated into conventional peanut production to reduce inputs. Structured research trials were conducted from 2012 through 2014 to determine interactions among three levels of weed control, two levels of insect control, and three levels of fungal disease control in organic peanut production using a factorial arrangement of treatments. Weed control treatments were weed-free using handweeding, cultivation with a tine weeder repeated weekly for six weeks, and a non-cultivated (weedy) control. Insect control treatments were two early-season applications of spinosad (Organic Materials Review Institute approved) and a nontreated control. Fungal disease control treatments were applications of cupric oxide plus sulfur (Cu+S) at three-week intervals, the conventional fungicide azoxystrobin at three-week intervals, and a nontreated control. The peanut cultivar Georgia-04S was planted each year of the study. The crop rotation at the research sites was corn grown in alternating years between peanut experiments. There were no interactions among the main effects. Compared to the non-cultivated control, cultivation with a tine weeder consistently reduced weed densities, and yields were equivalent to handweeded peanut two years of three. Intensive cultivation with a tine weeder did not increase disease epidemics or reduce peanut yield, which is contradictory to long-standing peanut production recommendations. Spinosad applications did not affect any of the parameters measured, including incidence of thrips-vectored spotted wilt and peanut yield. Cupric oxide plus sulfur controlled peanut diseases equal to azoxystrobin two years out of three, but peanut yields did not consistently respond to improved disease control from the conventional fungicide. We speculate that ideal crop rotations to reduce disease inoculum and modern peanut cultivars with improved disease tolerance are also factors that allow the use of reduced pest control inputs.

Weekly versus triweekly cisplatin plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A propensity score analysis with a large cohort.

Purpose: To directly compare the efficacy and acute toxicities of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) concurrent with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2) to high-dose concurrent cisplatin (100 mg/m2) at three-week intervals.Materials and Methods: A total of 3,799 patients diagnosed with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center between January 2010 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Propensity score analysis was conducted to balance the baseline characteristics between the groups, which allowed us to draw reliable conclusions. The efficacy and safety profiles were then assessed in the well-balanced large cohort.Results: The risk of distant metastasis was lower among the patients treated with weekly concurrent cisplatin than among those treated with the triweekly regimen (hazard ratio [HR], 0.45; P = .028). However, the disease-free survival, loco-regional relapse-free survival and overall survival rates were similar. The weekly group showed significantly higher rates of grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia, but lower rates of grade 3-4 mucositis, nausea and vomiting than the triweekly group.Conclusion: IMRT concurrent with a weekly cisplatin regimen was associated with significantly improved distant metastasis-free survival in locally advanced NPC. Differences in the selected acute toxicities between the weekly and triweekly concurrent cisplatin regimens were noted.

Gebelik Öncesi Doğum Korkusu Ölçeğinin Türkçe Uyarlaması: Kadın ve Erkeklerde Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması

objective: The aim of this research was to apply the Childbirth Fear – Prior to Pregnancy Scale as developed by Stoll et al. 2016 to determine the pre-pregnancy birth fears of young Turkish men and women and to examine the psychometric their properties.method: After the scale was translated into Turkish and back translation studies were carried out, it was presented to seven professors two midwifery, four obstetrics and gynecology nursing and one psychiatric nursing experts . With the proposal of the experts, the female and male portions of the scale were separated and 1100 students 543 women and 557 men who were studying at a state university were administered the Women Childbirth Fear – Prior to Pregnancy Scale WCF-PPS and Men Childbirth Fear – Prior to Pregnancy Scale MCF-PPS . The validity and reliability analyses of the WCF-PPS and the MCF-PPS were performed separately. In the validity analysis, explanatory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were examined; in the reliability analysis, Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient and test retest correlation were examined. The item total correlation coefficient and the significance levels of the mean of the upper / lower 27% groups were evaluated for the item analysis.Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the scale consisted of 10 items and one factor in both female and male students, and in the confirmatory factor analysis it was determined that the WCF-PPS and MCF-PPS model had good adaptive values in both groups. The Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficients obtained from the reliability analyses of the scale were 0.89 for WCF-PPS and 0.84 for MCF-PPS, and item-total correlation coefficients and test-retest reliability coefficients obtained at three-week intervals were acceptable for both groups.Conclusion: The obtained results showed that WCF-PPS and MCF-PPS have sufficient validity and reliability for Turkish university students

The Effect of the Motivational Interview Method on the Lifestyle of Hypertensive Individuals

This study aims to analyse the effect of motivational interviews on the lifestyle of hypertensive individuals. This study was conducted with hypertensive individuals between the ages of 24 and 45, registered in seven family health centres in Aksehir, Konya, Turkey. The 75 individuals who agreed to participate were allocated into two groups: experimental and control. Both the groups were administered the pre-test, then the experimental group was visited for a total of 5 times: four visits at threeweek intervals and one visit after one month. The study was completed by administering the post-test to both groups and data were analysed using SPSS 17.0. Statistically significant differences were found between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental group in terms of blood pressure and BMI. In conclusion, motivational interviews can be used in ensuring healthy nutrition and regulation of their exercise level and blood pressure for hypertensive individuals. Keywords: Hypertension, lifestyle, blood pressure, body mass index, nursing

Intranasal immunization with a recombinant outer membrane protein H based Haemorrhagic septicemia vaccine in dairy calves.

Haemorrhagic septicemia (HS) is a contagious disease in cattle with high morbidity and mortality rates. HS vaccine in Thailand is an oil-adjuvant formulation, and is difficult to administer. The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate the protection in dairy calves conferred by immunization with an in-house intranasal HS vaccine. The intranasal vaccine was formulated in a total volume of 500 µl containing either 50 or 100 µg of the recombinant outer membrane protein H (rOmpH) of Pasteurella multocida strain M-1404 (serovar B:2), and 10 µg of Cytosine-phosphate-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) as a mucosal adjuvant. Intranasal immunizations were conducted three times at three-week intervals. The antibodies post-immunization were detected by indirect ELISA and demonstrated efficient in vitro activity in suppressing a P. multocida strain from the complement-mediated killing assay. An intranasal vaccine induced both the serum IgG and secretory IgA levels that were significantly higher than the level conferred by the parenteral vaccine (P<0.05). Challenge exposure was conducted with a P. multocida strain M-1404 at day 72 of the experiments. The immunized calves had reduced clinical signs after challenge exposure that would normally result in disease proliferation. We conclude that intranasal vaccination of calves with rOmpH with CpG-ODN 2007 stimulated serum and secretory antibodies to rOmpH and whole cells of P. multocida strain M-1404 antigen. Moreover, it would result in protection in calves against artificial P. multocida infection.