Evaluation of the Minnesota Easy Culture System II Bi-Plate and Tri-Plate for identification of common mastitis pathogens in milk.

The objective of this study was to validate use of the Minnesota Easy Culture System II Bi-Plate and Tri-Plate (University of Minnesota Laboratory for Udder Health, St. Paul) to identify common mastitis pathogens in milk. A total of 283 quarter and composite milk samples submitted to the University of Minnesota Laboratory for Udder Health during the spring of 2010 were cultured simultaneously using 3 methods: standard laboratory culture (reference method) and the Minnesota Easy Culture System II Bi-Plate and Tri-Plate methods. Bi-Plate and Tri-Plate cultures were incubated for 18 to 24h and interpreted by 2 independent, untrained readers within 5h of each other. An experienced technician completed the standard laboratory culture. For each sample, all 3 study personnel recorded the culture result (yes/no) for each of the following diagnostic categories: no bacterial growth (NG), mixed (2 organisms), contaminated (3 or more organisms), gram-positive (GP), gram-negative (GN), Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and other. For each category, the prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and predictive values of a positive and negative test were calculated, and the agreement between readers and between each reader and the laboratory was assessed. Specificity, overall accuracy, and negative predictive values were generally high (>80%) for the Bi-Plate and Tri-Plate for each category. Sensitivity and positive predictive values were intermediate (>60%) or high (>80%) for the broad categories of NG, GP, GN, Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp., and for Staph. aureus, but were generally lower (<60%) for other more specific categories. Similarly, interreader agreement (kappa value) was moderate to substantial (40-80%) for the broad categories of NG, GP, GN, Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp., and for Staph. aureus and E. coli, but was lower for other categories. The Tri-Plate had a higher sensitivity, accuracy, and negative predictive value for Streptococcus spp., and higher interreader agreement for some of the more specific categories. Our conclusion was that Bi-Plate and Tri-Plate results will be most reliable when used to classify infections in broad diagnostic categories such NG, GP, or GN. The Bi-Plate and Tri-Plate will have intermediate ability to identify infections as being caused by Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., or Staph. aureus.

Radiologists' productivity in the interpretation of CT scans: a comparison of PACS with conventional film.

OBJECTIVE: We compared radiologists' times in the interpretation of CT using hardcopy films with the interpretation using a soft-copy picture archiving and communication system (PACS) computer workstation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred CT examinations were selected at random and reviewed by four board-certified radiologists experienced in soft-copy interpretation. We performed time-motion analysis to determine the total time required to display, interpret, and dictate the individual findings of CT using conventional hard-copy interpretation on a viewbox and soft-copy interpretation, using a four-monitor high-resolution (2048 x 1536 pixel) workstation. RESULTS: Time-motion analysis showed a reduction of 16.2% in the overall time required for soft-copy interpretation of CT compared with that of film. Time savings with soft-copy interpretation were observed for all four participating radiologists. The benefit of soft-copy interpretation was increased for examinations in which there were comparison studies. CONCLUSION: We found that soft-copy interpretation of CT using a PACS workstation requires less time than interpretation using conventional film hung on a viewbox. The transition to filmless imaging has the potential to improve radiologists' productivity and report-turnaround time.

[Stent angioplasty of the intrarenal aorta and aortic bifurcation. Clinical and angiographical results of a prospective study]. / Stentangioplastie der infrarenalen Aorta und der Aortenbifurkation. Klinische und angiographische Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Studie.

PURPOSE: The study was carried out to evaluate clinical and technical success, early and late complications and patency rates after stent angioplasty of atherosclerotic stenoses and occlusions of the infrarenal abdominal aorta and aortic bifurcation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study in 20 consecutive patients treated by implantation of balloon-expandable stents. All patients were followed-up after 6 and 12 months and at yearly intervals thereafter by physical examination, Doppler sonography and angiography. RESULTS: Nineteen of 20 patients had clinical and technical success. In two patients clinically relevant complications occurred. During a mean observation time of 19 months (range 3-51 months) restenosis occurred in one stent after 15 months and was successfully treated by balloon angioplasty. Two patients became symptomatic again due to new atherosclerotic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous stent angioplasty of the infrarenal aorta and aortic bifurcation yields high immediate and mid-term success rates with primary patency of 90% and secondary patency of 95%. These results are slightly better than those with balloon angioplasty, but the limited number of patients in our and others' studies does not yet justify general recommendations.

Differential expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and heat shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70) in human epidermis.

Autoimmunity and microbial agents have been suggested as playing a pathogenetic role in psoriasis. Since immune responses to microbial infections are often directed towards heat shock proteins (HSP), we investigated the expression of three HSP families in normal and inflamed human skin. Specimens from ten patients with psoriasis and three patients with positive patch tests for nickel and from five healthy volunteers were analysed by means of immunohistochemistry. The patterns observed were qualitatively similar in these conditions showing only minor quantitative differences. Psoriatic epidermis exhibited the highest level of expression. HSP27, HSP70 and heat shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70) were readily detectable. HSP27 was homogeneously distributed throughout the epidermis, whereas HSP70 was restricted to the basal layer and HSC70 primarily to the suprabasal layers. Other HSPs were detected to a lesser degree and showed a more irregular pattern. Thus, the qualitative expression pattern of HSPs seems to be constant between different skin conditions, but the expression of constitutive and inducible HSP70 depends on the differentiation state of keratinocytes.

[Pretreatment of donors with sodium selenite-a method for the conditioning of tissues for cryoconservation]. / Spendervorbehandlung mit Natriumselenit - eine Methode zur Konditionierung von Geweben für die Kryokonservierung.

Investigations about the protective effect of the pretreatment of albino rats with different concentrations of sodium selenite in sodium chloride solution were carried out. Albino rats, serving as a control group, had only a pretreatment with sodium chloride solution. The following results were obtained: 1. An intraperitoneal application of 2 microgram sodium selenite per kg body weight over three days shows a significant increase of contractility of frozen and afterwards re-thawed fragments of heart-muscle after storage -196 degrees C. 2. The increase or decrease of the sodium selenite dose by the factor ten had no effect on the preservation of the contractility of fragments of the heart-muscle after storage -196 degrees C in comparison to the control group. 3. A differentiated observation of the injuries under frozen preservation permitted the conclusion that the pretreatment with sodium selenite for the most parts will be protective in the phase below 0 degrees.