Why is priority setting important for global burn care research?

The use of robust evidence is a key component of providing high quality care to patients. Synthesised evidence to support clinical decision-making is lacking for many aspects of clinical burn care. Identifying the most important areas of care that lack high quality evidence and requires research is necessary, as funding for primary research is limited. Priority setting research studies are a joint endeavour between patients, carers and clinicians to identify and rank topics for research in a healthcare area in order to reduce research waste. Such an exercise has yet to be undertaken in burns. The aim of this paper is to outline the importance of research prioritisation in burn care, to discuss how it facilitates the maximum benefit from limited research funding and to explain the methodologies used.

The SPaCE diagnostic: a pilot study to test the accuracy of a novel point of care sensor for point of care detection of burn wound infection.

BACKGROUND: Wound infection in burn patients is common and has an impact on outcomes. There is no objective method to diagnose infection at point of care (PoC). Early diagnosis prevents progression to sepsis. Diagnostic subjectivity supports over-diagnosis, unnecessary hospitalization, and antibiotic overuse. AIM: This pilot study aimed to investigate the accuracy of a novel PoC wound infection diagnostic in burn patients. METHODS: We produced, and in vitro tested, a PoC diagnostic for early wound infection diagnosis. The prototype SPaCE diagnostic uses a patented lipid vesicle suspension into which a clinical swab is placed. The diagnostic delivers a colour-response to Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida species and Enterococcus faecalis at toxin release. A pilot clinical diagnostic accuracy study was undertaken. The reference standard was a retrospective decision made by an expert clinical panel using routinely available data. FINDINGS: Data was available from 33 of 34 patients. Of these, 52% were considered to have a wound infection, 42% not, and two (6%) were equivocal. The diagnostic results showed 24% were infected, 42% were not and 33% produced intermediate results. Agreement between clinical judgement and diagnostic result, assessed using a weighted Kappa, was 0.591 suggesting moderate agreement. If the intermediate results were excluded, 22 sets of data with definitive results achieved a Kappa statistic of 0.81 suggesting 'almost perfect' agreement. Sensitivity and specificity were 57% (8/14) and 71% (12/17), respectively. CONCLUSION: This pilot study provided evidence that the SPaCE diagnostic could provide valuable and timely data to support clinical decision-making at PoC for wound infection.

A systematic review of intervention studies demonstrates the need to develop a minimum set of indicators to report the presence of burn wound infection.

INTRODUCTION: Burn wound infections result in delayed healing and increased pain, scarring, sepsis risk and healthcare costs. Clinical decision making about burn wound infection should be supported by evidence syntheses. Validity of evidence from systematic reviews may be reduced if definitions of burn wound infectionvary between trials. This review aimed to determine whether burn wound infectionis defined, and whether there is variation in the indicators used to define burn wound infectionacross studies testing interventions for patients with burns. METHOD: Searches were carried out in four databases (Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Cinahl, Cochrane Register of Trials) to identify studies evaluating interventions for patients with burns and reporting a burn wound infection outcome. Pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria were systematically applied to select relevant studies. Data were systematically extracted and reported narratively. RESULTS: 2056 studies were identified, of which 72 met the inclusion criteria, comprising 71 unique datasets. 52.1% of studies were randomised controlled trials. Twenty-eight (38.0%) studies reporting a burn wound infection outcome did not report how they had defined it. In the methods of included studies, 59 studies (83.1%) reported that they planned to measure burn wound infection as an outcome. Of these, 44 studies (74.6%) described how they had defined burn wound infection; 6 studies (13.6%) reported use of a previously developed consensus-informed definition of burn wound infection, and 41 studies (69.5%) described the specific indicators used to define it. Studies used between one (11 studies; 26.8%) and nine indicators (2 studies; 4.9%) to define burn wound infection (median = 3, inter-quartile range = 2). The most commonly used indicator was presence of bacteria in the wound (61.0% of studies). Only 13 studies (31.7%) defined burn wound infection using the same indicators as at least one other study. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Within intervention studies reporting burn wound infection outcomes, a definition of this outcome is commonly not provided, or it varies between studies. This will prevent evidence synthesis to identify effective treatments for patients with burn injuries. Since there is no objective method for assessing burn wound infection, expert consensus is needed to agree a minimum set of indicators (Core Indicator Set) reported in all trials reporting burn wound infection as an outcome.

Generation of Flp-intm-ready DG44 and Lec 3.2.8.1 CHO cell lines for quick and easy constitutive protein expression.

The well-characterized cell line Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) has been used to produce numerous biopharmaceuticals and is an important tool for basic research. However, introducing foreign DNA into specially modified CHO cells such as DG44 and Lec 3.2.8.1 can sometimes be an arduous process. Here we show that the Flp-intm plasmid can be modified to produce a fluorescent tracer protein tag (mCherrytm) as a fusion reporter, to allow for the rapid selection of single-cell sorted, isogenic Flp-intm-ready DG44 and Lec 3.2.8.1 cell lines. These two cell lines are stable and viable and may be useful for applications such as antibody production and crystallographic studies. Here we provide key details on how the modified pFRT/CherryZeo plasmid may be used to incorporate Flp-intm technology into virtually any desired target cell line in a fast, safe and reliable manner.

Exploring the acceptability of using low-friction bedding for patients with burns: Qualitative results from the SILKIE study.

BACKGROUND: Skin grafts following deep burns are needed to ensure healing. Grafts that fail and require re-grafting cause significant distress to patients and additional costs for the NHS. Shearing, which leads to graft loss, may be reduced through the use of low-friction bedding. A feasibility study was conducted to assess proof of concept for the use of low-friction bedding for patients with burns. Patient, parent and staff views on the acceptability of this material were explored through semi-structured interviews. METHOD: Patient views were gathered through telephone interviews (n=17; 11 adult patients and 6 parents of child patients). One patient completed the questionnaire in written form because of hearing difficulties. Staff views were gathered at two time points: at the start of the study through open-ended questionnaires (n=20) and at the end of the study through focus group (n=12) and telephone interviews (n=3). Data were analysed using framework analysis. RESULTS: Three themes were identified describing both patient and staff views of the sheets: Slippery feel of the sheets; leaking wounds and sheet changes; and movement and friction. Overall patients' views of the sheets were positive; they were comfortable to use the sheets and experienced reduced pain and itching. However, issues related to the slipperiness were highlighted. Staff views were largely negative because of difficulty in use, lack of absorbency, and increased workload. CONCLUSION: The use of low-friction bedding is acceptable to patients undergoing a skin graft following a burn injury; however, problems related to sliding down the bed and soiling of sheets need addressing. Staff were supportive of the concept of low-friction bedding; however, they reported significant challenges in day-to-day use of sheets. Low-friction bedding presents a promising alternative to standard cotton sheets for patients with burns and those at risk of pressure sores; however, further work is needed to address current challenges in use.

The management of small area burns and unexpected illness after burn in children under five years of age - A costing study in the English healthcare setting.

The objective of this economic study was to evaluate the resource use and cost associated with the management of small area burns, including the additional costs associated with unexpected illness after burn in children of less than five years of age. This study was conducted as a secondary analysis of a multi-centre prospective observational cohort study investigating the physiological response to burns in children. 452 children were included in the economic analysis (median age=1.60years, 61.3% boys, median total burn surface area [TBSA]=1.00%) with a mean length of stay of 0.69 days. Of these children, 21.5% re-presented to medical care with an unexpected illness within fourteen days of injury. The cost of managing a burn of less than 10% TBSA in a child less than five years of age was £785. The additional cost associated with the management of illness after burn was £1381. A generalised linear regression model was used to determine the association between an unexpected illness after burn, presenting child characteristics and NHS cost. Our findings may be of value to those planning economic evaluations of novel technologies in burn care.

Detection of dietary DNA, protein, and glyphosate in meat, milk, and eggs.

Products such as meat, milk, and eggs from animals that have consumed genetically engineered (GE) feed are not currently subject to mandatory GE labeling requirements. Some voluntary "non-genetically modified organism" labeling has been associated with such products, indicating that the animals were not fed GE crops, as there are no commercialized GE food animals. This review summarizes the available scientific literature on the detection of dietary DNA and protein in animal products and briefly discusses the implications of mandatory GE labeling for products from animals that have consumed GE feed. Because glyphosate is used on some GE crops, the available studies on glyphosate residues in animal products are also reviewed. In GE crops, recombinant DNA (rDNA) makes up a small percentage of the plant's total DNA. The final amount of DNA in food/feed depends on many factors including the variable number and density of cells in the edible parts, the DNA-containing matrix, environmental conditions, and the specific transgenic event. Processing treatments and animals' digestive systems degrade DNA into small fragments. Available reports conclude that endogenous DNA and rDNA are processed in exactly the same way in the gastrointestinal tract and that they account for a very small proportion of food intake by weight. Small pieces of high copy number endogenous plant genes have occasionally been detected in meat and milk. Similarly sized pieces of rDNA have also been identified in meat, primarily fish, although detection is inconsistent. Dietary rDNA fragments have not been detected in chicken or quail eggs or in fresh milk from cows or goats. Collectively, studies have failed to identify full-length endogenous or rDNA transcripts or recombinant proteins in meat, milk, or eggs. Similarly, because mammals do not bioaccumulate glyphosate and it is rapidly excreted, negligible levels of glyphosate in cattle, pig and poultry meat, milk, and eggs have been reported. Despite consumer concern about the presence of trace concentrations of glyphosate that might have been applied to feed crops and/or the presence of rDNA or recombinant proteins in meat, milk, and eggs, the available data do not provide evidence to suggest that products from animals that have consumed approved GE feed crops differ in any distinguishable way from those derived from animals fed conventional feed or that products from animals fed GE feedstuffs pose novel health risks.

Mice lacking the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 5 chromatin remodeler display autism-like characteristics.

Although autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) share a core set of nosological features, they exhibit substantial genetic heterogeneity. A parsimonious hypothesis posits that dysregulated epigenetic mechanisms represent common pathways in the etiology of ASDs. To investigate this hypothesis, we generated a novel mouse model resulting from brain-specific deletion of chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 5 (Chd5), a chromatin remodeling protein known to regulate neuronal differentiation and a member of a gene family strongly implicated in ASDs. RNA sequencing of Chd5-/- mouse forebrain tissue revealed a preponderance of changes in expression of genes important in cellular development and signaling, sociocommunicative behavior and ASDs. Pyramidal neurons cultured from Chd5-/- cortex displayed alterations in dendritic morphology. Paralleling ASD nosology, Chd5-/- mice exhibited abnormal sociocommunicative behavior and a strong preference for familiarity. Chd5-/- mice further showed deficits in responding to the distress of a conspecific, a mouse homolog of empathy. Thus, dysregulated chromatin remodeling produces a pattern of transcriptional, neuronal and behavioral effects consistent with the presentation of ASDs.

Prototype Development of the Intelligent Hydrogel Wound Dressing and Its Efficacy in the Detection of Model Pathogenic Wound Biofilms.

The early detection of wound infection in situ can dramatically improve patient care pathways and clinical outcomes. There is increasing evidence that within an infected wound the main bacterial mode of living is a biofilm: a confluent community of adherent bacteria encased in an extracellular polymeric matrix. Here we have reported the development of a prototype wound dressing, which switches on a fluorescent color when in contact with pathogenic wound biofilms. The dressing is made of a hydrated agarose film in which the fluorescent dye containing vesicles were mixed with agarose and dispersed within the hydrogel matrix. The static and dynamic models of wound biofilms, from clinical strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis, were established on nanoporous polycarbonate membrane for 24, 48, and 72 h, and the dressing response to the biofilms on the prototype dressing evaluated. The dressing indicated a clear fluorescent/color response within 4 h, only observed when in contact with biofilms produced by a pathogenic strain. The sensitivity of the dressing to biofilms was dependent on the species and strain types of the bacterial pathogens involved, but a relatively higher response was observed in strains considered good biofilm formers. There was a clear difference in the levels of dressing response, when dressings were tested on bacteria grown in biofilm or in planktonic cultures, suggesting that the level of expression of virulence factors is different depending of the growth mode. Colorimetric detection on wound biofilms of prevalent pathogens (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. faecalis) is also demonstrated using an ex vivo porcine skin model of burn wound infection.

Atopic dermatitis is associated with an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, and a decreased risk for type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by epidermal barrier failure and immune-mediated inflammation. Evidence on AD as a potential risk factor for inflammatory comorbidities is scarce. OBJECTIVES: We sought to test the hypothesis that prevalent AD is a risk factor for incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn disease [CD], ulcerative colitis [UC]) and is inversely related to type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to investigate established RA, IBD, and T1D susceptibility loci in AD. METHODS: This cohort study used data from German National Health Insurance beneficiaries aged 40 years or younger (n = 655,815) from 2005 through 2011. Prevalent AD in the period 2005 to 2006 was defined as primary exposure, and incident RA, IBD, and T1D in the period 2007 to 2011 were defined as primary outcomes. Risk ratios were calculated with generalized linear models. Established RA, IBD, and T1D loci were explored in high-density genotyping data from 2,425 cases with AD and 5,449 controls. RESULTS: Patients with AD (n = 49,847) were at increased risk for incident RA (risk ratio [RR], 1.72; 95% CI, 1.25-2.37) and/or IBD (CD: RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.11-1.61; UC: RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.03-1.53). After adjusting for health care utilization, there was a nominally significant inverse effect on T1D risk (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53-0.998). There was no disproportionate occurrence of known RA, CD, UC, or T1D risk alleles in AD. CONCLUSIONS: AD is a risk factor for the development of RA and IBD. This excess comorbidity cannot be attributed to major known IBD and RA genetic risk factors.

Genome-wide comparative analysis of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis gives insight into opposing genetic mechanisms.

Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are the two most common immune-mediated inflammatory disorders affecting the skin. Genome-wide studies demonstrate a high degree of genetic overlap, but these diseases have mutually exclusive clinical phenotypes and opposing immune mechanisms. Despite their prevalence, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis very rarely co-occur within one individual. By utilizing genome-wide association study and ImmunoChip data from >19,000 individuals and methodologies developed from meta-analysis, we have identified opposing risk alleles at shared loci as well as independent disease-specific loci within the epidermal differentiation complex (chromosome 1q21.3), the Th2 locus control region (chromosome 5q31.1), and the major histocompatibility complex (chromosome 6p21-22). We further identified previously unreported pleiotropic alleles with opposing effects on atopic dermatitis and psoriasis risk in PRKRA and ANXA6/TNIP1. In contrast, there was no evidence for shared loci with effects operating in the same direction on both diseases. Our results show that atopic dermatitis and psoriasis have distinct genetic mechanisms with opposing effects in shared pathways influencing epidermal differentiation and immune response. The statistical analysis methods developed in the conduct of this study have produced additional insight from previously published data sets. The approach is likely to be applicable to the investigation of the genetic basis of other complex traits with overlapping and distinct clinical features.

Prevalence and impacts of genetically engineered feedstuffs on livestock populations.

Globally, food-producing animals consume 70 to 90% of genetically engineered (GE) crop biomass. This review briefly summarizes the scientific literature on performance and health of animals consuming feed containing GE ingredients and composition of products derived from them. It also discusses the field experience of feeding GE feed sources to commercial livestock populations and summarizes the suppliers of GE and non-GE animal feed in global trade. Numerous experimental studies have consistently revealed that the performance and health of GE-fed animals are comparable with those fed isogenic non-GE crop lines. United States animal agriculture produces over 9 billion food-producing animals annually, and more than 95% of these animals consume feed containing GE ingredients. Data on livestock productivity and health were collated from publicly available sources from 1983, before the introduction of GE crops in 1996, and subsequently through 2011, a period with high levels of predominately GE animal feed. These field data sets, representing over 100 billion animals following the introduction of GE crops, did not reveal unfavorable or perturbed trends in livestock health and productivity. No study has revealed any differences in the nutritional profile of animal products derived from GE-fed animals. Because DNA and protein are normal components of the diet that are digested, there are no detectable or reliably quantifiable traces of GE components in milk, meat, and eggs following consumption of GE feed. Globally, countries that are cultivating GE corn and soy are the major livestock feed exporters. Asynchronous regulatory approvals (i.e., cultivation approvals of GE varieties in exporting countries occurring before food and feed approvals in importing countries) have resulted in trade disruptions. This is likely to be increasingly problematic in the future as there are a large number of "second generation" GE crops with altered output traits for improved livestock feed in the developmental and regulatory pipelines. Additionally, advanced techniques to affect targeted genome modifications are emerging, and it is not clear whether these will be encompassed by the current GE process-based trigger for regulatory oversight. There is a pressing need for international harmonization of both regulatory frameworks for GE crops and governance of advanced breeding techniques to prevent widespread disruptions in international trade of livestock feedstuffs in the future.

Impact of reduced resuscitation fluid on outcomes of children with 10-20% body surface area scalds.

'Permissive hypovolaemia' fluid regimes in adult burn care are suggested to improve outcomes. Effects in paediatric burn care are less well understood. In a retrospective audit, outcomes of children from the South West Children's Burn Centre (SWCBC) less than 16 years of age with scalds of 10-20% burn surface area (BSA) managed with a reduced volume fluid resuscitation regime (post-2007) were compared to (a) an historical local protocol (pre-2007) and (b) current regimes in burn services across England and Wales (E&W). Outcomes included length of stay per percent burn surface area (LOS/%BSA), skin graft requirement and re-admission rates. 92 SWCBC patients and 475 patients treated in 15 other E&W burn services were included. Median LOS/%BSA for patients managed with the reduced fluid regime was 0.27 days: significantly less than pre-2007 and other E&W burn services (0.54 days, 0.50 days, p<0.001). Skin grafting to achieve healing reduced post-2007 compared to pre-2007 and remains comparable with other E&W services. Re-admission rates were comparable between all groups. A reduced fluid regime has significantly shortened LOS/%BSA without compromising burn depth as measured by skin grafting to achieve healing. A prospective trial comparing permissive hypovolaemia to current regimes for moderate paediatric scald injuries would help clarify.

The cost of a major paediatric burn.

There is little written on the financial cost of burns care. This project examined three major paediatric burns of 30-40% total body surface area (%TBSA) admitted to the South West Paediatric Burns Service in Bristol, and calculated the cost per patient of acute inpatient treatment. A list of costs was established for theatre time, bed time, medications and fluids, dressings, invasive procedures, therapy services and investigations. The time period was the initial inpatient stay, from admission to the burns service, to first discharge. Staff in the relevant managerial and purchasing departments provided additional information about charging. We calculated a mean cost per patient of £63,157.22 (range £55,354.79-£74,494.24). Our results suggest that current income achieved for a major paediatric burn underestimates the actual financial burden of treatment. The North Bristol NHS Trust tariff cost for a "major burn, third degree of more than 19% TBSA, or affecting multiple body regions with significant graft" is £17,797 (2009). The fact that our costs are almost certainly an underestimate in themselves serves to reinforce this view. We hope that the data presented here can provide some guidance and understanding in the funding of burns care, a complex and difficult area to cost.

Epidemiology and severity of paediatric burn injuries occurring during camping and caravanning holidays.

BACKGROUND: Due to its unique location, the South West England Paediatric Burns Service based in Bristol admits an interesting cohort of holiday-makers, who have sustained their burns whilst on camping and caravanning holidays. AIM: We aimed to establish whether burns sustained during camping and caravanning holidays are more severe and require more extensive intervention compared to burns sustained in other situations. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective, observational study of admissions to the South West Paediatric Burns Service between June, and August from 2003 to 2005. Our primary outcome was to assess the severity of the burns as defined by percentage total body surface area of partial and full thickness burns. We used secondary outcomes of indirect indicators of burn severity: length of hospital stay, number of general anaesthetics, and need for surgical debridement, artificial skin dressing and/or skin grafting. Analysis of the data was undertaken using Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's exact test, and Chi-squared test. RESULTS: 151 patients were included in the study, 30 (20%) of which were campers. Our results show that burns sustained during camping and caravanning holidays are significantly more likely to be of larger surface area than burns sustained in other environments. Campers' burns also required more frequent surgical intervention (in 87% versus 66%) and had longer inpatient admissions (5.3 days versus 3.8 days). CONCLUSIONS: Our results have implications for clinicians and campsite owners. Access to free flowing water is often not immediately available on campsites and time taken to reach the nearest Emergency Department is often prolonged with a further delay before reaching the tertiary centre. The general public needs to be aware of the risks of burn during camping and caravanning holidays. Campsite owners should consider improving first aid facilities and clinicians need to be aware of the need for early referral and timely transfer to tertiary facilities.

Characterization of variation in the canine suppressor of cytokine signaling-2 (SOCS2) gene.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) is a negative regulator of growth hormone signaling. The deletion of SOCS2 in mice results in a 30-50% increase in post-natal growth. In an effort to identify polymorphisms in the SOCS2 gene that may be associated with body size in dogs, we characterized the canine SOCS2 gene and analyzed its genetic diversity among small and large dog breeds. The study was carried out on a total of 520 dogs from 66 different breeds. Dogs were classified as large or small based on height and weight as determined by their respective American Kennel Club breed standards. The SH2 and SOCS domains of the canine SOCS2 gene were sequenced in 32 dogs from different breeds. Only one non-synonymous sequence variant (DQ415457:g.326G>T) was detected which corresponds to an amino acid change (Asp127Tyr). All samples were genotyped by PCR/RFLP and the allele frequencies were determined for each dog breed. The T allele was distributed primarily among European large dog breeds with a gene frequency ranging from 0.72 to 0.04. The nature of the nucleotide change and the effect on the protein together with the finding of a QTL related to body size in the same CFA15 region by other researchers suggest canine SOCS2 as a potential candidate gene for body size in dogs. Future studies will be needed to clarify the role of the 326G>T polymorphism and its interaction with genes like growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1.

Characterization of variation in the canine suppressor of cytokine signaling-2 (SOCS2) gene

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) is a negative regulator of growth hormone signaling. The deletion of SOCS2 in mice results in a 30-50% increase in post-natal growth. In an effort to identify polymorphisms in the SOCS2 gene that may be associated with body size in dogs, we characterized the canine SOCS2 gene and analyzed its genetic diversity among small and large dog breeds. The study was carried out on a total of 520 dogs from 66 different breeds. Dogs were classified as large or small based on height and weight as determined by their respective American Kennel Club breed standards. The SH2 and SOCS domains of the canine SOCS2 gene were sequenced in 32 dogs from different breeds. Only one non-synonymous sequence variant (DQ415457:g.326G>T) was detected which corresponds to an amino acid change (Asp127Tyr). All samples were genotyped by PCR/RFLP and the allele frequencies were determined for each dog breed. The T allele was distributed primarily among European large dog breeds with a gene frequency ranging from 0.72 to 0.04. The nature of the nucleotide change and the effect on the protein together with the finding of a QTL related to body size in the same CFA15 region by other researchers suggest canine SOCS2 as a potential candidate gene for body size in dogs. Future studies will be needed to clarify the role of the 326G>T polymorphism and its interaction with genes like growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1

The cost of a hot drink scald.

Approximately 6400 children per year are admitted to UK hospitals for treatment of burns [National Burn Care Review Committee Report (NBCRC). Standards and Strategy for Burn Care: a review of burn care in the British Isles. 2001.]. This paper investigates the financial costs involved in the management of uncomplicated, minor paediatric scalds. Three cases (2-4% TBSA scalds) were studied to quantify consumables used, services required during management and costs obtained from appropriate Purchasing Departments and Directorate Accountants. Management in all cases involved a general anaesthetic for cleaning of wounds, application of BioBrane (Bertek Pharmaceuticals) and dressings, observation on Children's Ward and discharge following wound review at 48 h. The calculated mean average cost per case was pound1850. In the period 01/12/2002-30/11/2003, 144 children were admitted to Frenchay hospital, Bristol, for treatment of a minor burn or scald (less than 10%TBSA). This caseload is therefore estimated to currently cost pound266,400 per year. These findings may facilitate improved planning for future resource allocation and could also contribute evidence towards the cost effectiveness of prevention strategies.

Development of a new canine osteosarcoma cell line.

Establishing a canine osteosarcoma (OSA) cell line can be useful to develop in vivo and in vitro models of OSA. The goal of this study was to develop, characterize and authenticate a new canine OSA cell line and a clone. A cell line and a clone were developed with standard cell culture techniques from a naturally occurring OSA in a dog. The clonal cell line induced a tumour after injection in RAG 1-deficient mouse. Histology was consistent with OSA. The original tumour from the dog and the tumour induced in the mouse were both reactive with vimentin and osteonectin (ON). The parent cell line and clonal cell line were reactive with ON, osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase. Loss of heterozygosity was found in the same three microsatellite markers in the parent and clonal cell lines, and the tumour tissue grown in the mouse.