Marker discovery and associations with ß-carotene content in Indian dairy cattle and buffalo breeds.

Vitamin A is essential for human health, but current intake levels in many developing countries such as India are too low due to malnutrition. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 250 million preschool children are vitamin A deficient globally. This number excludes pregnant women and nursing mothers, who are particularly vulnerable. Efforts to improve access to vitamin A are key because supplementation can reduce mortality rates in young children in developing countries by around 23%. Three key genes, BCMO1, BCO2, and SCARB1, have been shown to be associated with the amount of ß-carotene (BC) in milk. Whole-genome sequencing reads from the coordinates of these 3 genes in 202 non-Indian cattle (141 Bos taurus, 61 Bos indicus) and 35 non-Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) animals from several breeds were collected from data repositories. The number of SNP detected in the coding regions of these 3 genes ranged from 16 to 26 in the 3 species, with 5 overlapping SNP between B. taurus and B. indicus. All these SNP together with 2 SNP in the upstream part of the gene but already present in dbSNP (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/SNP/) were used to build a custom Sequenom array. Blood for DNA and milk samples for BC were obtained from 2,291 Indian cows of 5 different breeds (Gir, Holstein cross, Jersey Cross, Tharparkar, and Sahiwal) and 2,242 Indian buffaloes (Jafarabadi, Murrah, Pandharpuri, and Surti breeds). The DNA was extracted and genotyped with the Sequenom array. For each individual breed and the combined breeds, SNP with an association that had a P-value <0.3 in the first round of linear analysis were included in a second step of regression analyses to determine allele substitution effects to increase the content of BC in milk. Additionally, an F-test for all SNP within gene was performed with the objective of determining if overall the gene had a significant effect on the content of BC in milk. The analyses were repeated using a Bayesian approach to compare and validate the previous frequentist results. Multiple significant SNP were found using both methodologies with allele substitution effects ranging from 6.21 (3.13) to 9.10 (5.43) µg of BC per 100 mL of milk. Total gene effects exceeded the mean BC value for all breeds with both analysis approaches. The custom panel designed for genes related to BC production demonstrated applicability in genotyping of cattle and buffalo in India and may be used for cattle or buffalo from other developing countries. Moreover, the recommendation of selection for significant specific alleles of some gene markers provides a route to effectively increase the BC content in milk in the Indian cattle and buffalo populations.

Effectiveness of a multidimensional approach for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in 21 adult intensive-care units from 10 cities in India: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).

We report on the effect of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium's (INICC) multidimensional approach for the reduction of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in adult patients hospitalized in 21 intensive-care units (ICUs), from 14 hospitals in 10 Indian cities. A quasi-experimental study was conducted, which was divided into baseline and intervention periods. During baseline, prospective surveillance of VAP was performed applying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Healthcare Safety Network definitions and INICC methods. During intervention, our approach in each ICU included a bundle of interventions, education, outcome and process surveillance, and feedback of VAP rates and performance. Crude stratified rates were calculated, and by using random-effects Poisson regression to allow for clustering by ICU, the incidence rate ratio for each time period compared with the 3-month baseline was determined. The VAP rate was 17.43/1000 mechanical ventilator days during baseline, and 10.81 for intervention, showing a 38% VAP rate reduction (relative risk 0.62, 95% confidence interval 0.5-0.78, P = 0.0001).

Impact of a multidimensional infection control strategy on catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates in the adult intensive care units of 15 developing countries: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the impact of a multidimensional infection control strategy for the reduction of the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in patients hospitalized in adult intensive care units (AICUs) of hospitals which are members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), from 40 cities of 15 developing countries: Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, India, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Peru, Philippines, and Turkey. METHODS: We conducted a prospective before-after surveillance study of CAUTI rates on 56,429 patients hospitalized in 57 AICUs, during 360,667 bed-days. The study was divided into the baseline period (Phase 1) and the intervention period (Phase 2). In Phase 1, active surveillance was performed. In Phase 2, we implemented a multidimensional infection control approach that included: (1) a bundle of preventive measures, (2) education, (3) outcome surveillance, (4) process surveillance, (5) feedback of CAUTI rates, and (6) feedback of performance. The rates of CAUTI obtained in Phase 1 were compared with the rates obtained in Phase 2, after interventions were implemented. RESULTS: We recorded 253,122 urinary catheter (UC)-days: 30,390 in Phase 1 and 222,732 in Phase 2. In Phase 1, before the intervention, the CAUTI rate was 7.86 per 1,000 UC-days, and in Phase 2, after intervention, the rate of CAUTI decreased to 4.95 per 1,000 UC-days [relative risk (RR) 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.72)], showing a 37% rate reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the implementation of a multidimensional infection control strategy is associated with a significant reduction in the CAUTI rate in AICUs from developing countries.

Mammary coronary artery anastomosis without cardiopulmonary bypass through minithoracotomy: one year clinical experience.

OBJECTIVE: The recent concept of minimally invasive coronary artery surgery in selected patients has dramatically affected surgical management of coronary artery disease. We explored the possibility of coronary artery bypass grafting of anterior coronary arteries with in situ internal mammary artery through a limited anterior thoracotomy on beating heart. METHOD: Minithoracotomy and direct coronary artery surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was attempted in 116 patients. The procedure was completed in 108 cases while in eight cases minithoracotomy was converted to mid sternotomy. In 107 cases, left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery anastomosis was done through left anterior minithoracotomy and in one case LIMA to LAD and right internal mammary artery (RIMA) to right coronary artery (RCA) anastomosis was done through bilateral minithoracotomy. Left anterior minithoracotomy through 4th intercostal space and right anterior minithoracotomy through 5th intercostal space was used for left and right internal mammary artery dissection respectively. With this approach 4-8 cm length of mammary artery was easily dissected. Mammary coronary artery anastomosis were performed on a beating heart without CPB through window pericardiotomy. Two patients also underwent left carotid endarterectomy along with LIMA to LAD anastomosis. In two patients complementary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) to circumflex artery was done 5 days after minithoracotomy and LIMA to LAD anastomosis. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were extubated in the operating room and 66 in the intensive care unit 2-10 h after surgery. Blood transfusion was used in one case who was reexplored for postoperative bleeding due to a displaced hemoclip from the internal mammary artery branch. None of these patients required inotropic support. Postoperative predischarge check angiogram in 53 cases revealed adequate mammary coronary flow in 51 cases, the remaining two had anastomotic problems, one was subjected to PTCA and the other for redo coronary bypass grafting through mid sternotomy. Doppler flow assessment of anastomosis was done in 102 cases, of which two showed problems which was confirmed on check angiography. One-hundred and six patients are in our regular follow-up (mean follow-up 10+/-1.5 months), 98 of them are in functional class I. CONCLUSION: In our experience mammary coronary artery anastomosis without CPB through minithoracotomy is a safe, simple and minimally invasive procedure. Favorable cost/benefit ratio, has been achieved due to no early/late mortality and minimal early morbidity. Postoperative check angiogram and Doppler flow study revealed excellent mid term results.

Transmyocardial laser revascularisation combined with coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: To achieve complete myocardial revascularisation in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease, patients with inordinately high risk of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) like severe systemic disease or diffuse atherosclerosis of the aorta. METHODS: We have adopted the technique of combining coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with transmyocardial laser revascularisation (TMLR) using 1000 W CO2 laser machine. TMLR is done to areas supplied by ungraftable arteries, while CABG without cardiopulmonary bypass is done to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and/or right coronary artery (RCA). TMLR + CABG on beating heart without CPB has been performed on 56 patients. Age ranged from 37 to 81 years with a mean of 56.17. Four patients were in renal failure, two were redo CABG. Preoperatively 39.28% patients had angina class III and 10.71% had angina class IV. Four patients were on preoperative IABP support. RESULTS: The mean number of grafts was 1.09. Internal thoracic artery (ITA) was used in 96.4% of the patients. Five patients showed elevation of CPK-MB, while three patients had an increase in Troponin T. Mortality was 1.8% (one patient died of intractable ventricular arrhythmia). The mean follow-up is 9.2 months. Myocardial perfusion scanning showed a stepwise improvement in reversible ischemia increasing from 52% at baseline to 91% at 12 months; 90.9% of the patients were angina free at 12 months. Metabolic stress test demonstrated an average increase in exercise tolerance from 5.2 min at baseline to 9.4 min at 12 months. Metabolic equivalents (METs) increased from 4.5 at baseline to 9.4 at 12 months. The average 44% Karnofsky score preoperative also increased to 86% at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the technique is surgically feasible and safe, with excellent short term results.

Significantly reduced incidence of stroke during coronary artery bypass grafting using transesophageal echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: Protruding atheromas of thoracic aorta have been identified as a source of systemic emboli and a major cause of stroke following cardiac surgery. This prospective study used transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to identify atherosclerosis of thoracic aorta intraoperatively. The influence of risk factors was studied. Finally the impact of modifying surgical technique on the outcome was evaluated. METHODS: Seven-hundred and ninety-two patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were evaluated with TEE. Depending on the location and extent of thoracic aortic disease various surgical modifications were carried out, e.g. hypothermic circulatory arrest with aortic arch atherectomy, CABG on beating heart and others. The stroke rate in this group of patients was determined and analysed. RESULTS: Of the 114 patients with grade II and III atheromas of aortic arch and ascending aorta in whom surgical modifications were done, none had stroke. The overall stroke rate in the study group was 0.76%, six patients had stroke. Stepwise logistic regression identified age, diabetes, serum triglycerides and VLDL as important risk factors. Associated carotid artery disease and calcium on chest X-ray (CXR) were identified as important predictors of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative TEE is an invaluable modality for evaluating the thoracic aorta. There is significant reduction in stroke rate following identification of atheromas and modification of surgical technique.