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OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of surgical site infection-inflammation in dogs undergoing elective orthopedic surgery of the stifle after draping with a single-layer Kraton elastic seal patient drape or conventional double-layer drapes. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. SAMPLE POPULATION: A total of 789 dogs. METHODS: Dogs were assigned to one of two groups: (1) conventional draping with 4-corner drapes and an overlying patient drape (n = 390) or (2) a Kraton seal extremity patient drape without 4-corner drapes (n = 399). All dogs were evaluated for surgical site infection-inflammation by 21 days and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The distribution of surgical procedures did not differ between draping techniques and included tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA, n = 480), tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO, n = 10), extracapsular lateral suture (ECLS, n = 130), medial patellar luxation repair (MPL, n = 63), lateral patellar luxation repair (LPL, n = 1), ECLS/MPL (n = 68), TTA/MPL (n = 12), TTA with joint capsule biopsy (n = 1), and stifle arthroscopy combined with TTA or TPLO (n = 24). Duration of follow up was 180 days (range 3-180 days) for clinical examinations and 182 days (range 2-182 days) for phone communications. Infection-inflammation was documented in 9 dogs after double-layer draping and 11 dogs after single-layer draping at 21 days postoperatively and in 12 dogs after double-layer draping and 7 dogs after single-layer draping at 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: No difference in postoperative infection-inflammation was detected between canine stifle surgeries draped with a single-layer Kraton extremity patient drape or double-layer drapes. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The single-layer Kraton extremity patient drape is a viable alternative to conventional double-layer draping in canine stifle surgery.

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Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is characterized by expression of a plethora of cell surface antigens, thus offering opportunities for specific therapeutic targeting with use of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). ADCs are structured from two major constituents, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against a specific target and a cytotoxic drug connected via a linker molecule. Several ADCs are developed against different UC surface markers, but the ones at most advanced stages of development include sacituzumab govitecan (IMMU-132), enfortumab vedotin (ASG-22CE/ASG-22ME), ASG-15ME for advanced UC, and oportuzumab monatox (VB4-845) for early UC. Several new targets are identified and utilized for novel or existing ADC testing. The most promising ones include human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and members of the fibroblast growth factor receptor axis (FGF/FGFR). Positive preclinical and early clinical results are reported in many cases, thus the next step involves further improving efficacy and reducing toxicity as well as testing combination strategies with approved agents.

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INTRODUCTION: A small group of Gastropods possessing giant neurons have long been used to study a wide variety of fundamental neurophysiological phenomena. However, the majority of gastropods do not have large neurons but instead have large numbers of small neurons and remain largely unstudied. We explored neuron size and rate of increase in neuron numbers in the Chinese mud snail, Cipangopaludina chinensis. METHODS: Using histological sections and whole mounts of the cerebral ganglia, we collected cross-sectional data on neuron number and size across the lifespan of this animal. Neurogenesis was verified using Click-it EdU staining. RESULTS: We found that total neuron number in the cerebral ganglia increases throughout the lifespan of this species at a constant rate. New neurons arise primarily near the nerve roots. Females live longer (up to 7 years) than males (up to 5 years) and thus achieve larger numbers of neurons in the cerebral ganglion. Neuron size is consistently small (<10 µm) in the cerebral ganglia at all ages, however, cells in the posterior section of the cerebral ganglia are modestly but significantly larger than cells at the anterior. CONCLUSIONS: These features suggest that C. chinensis and similar species of Caenogastropoda are good candidates for studying gastropod neurogenesis, senescence, and sex differences in the nervous system.

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Dialysis withdrawal is common, accounting for over 20% of patient deaths. It is the third leading cause of death among patients receiving dialysis, after cardiovascular disease and infectious complications. Here we present a case of a patient with significant comorbid disease who ultimately elected to withdraw from dialysis. The medical, social and psychological issues encountered by caregivers are reviewed. Additionally we discuss the available data on factors affecting the decision to withdraw, current practice guidelines, and efforts to educate nephrology fellows on end-of-life issues.

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A surface drinking water monitoring program for four corn (Zea mays L.) herbicides was conducted during 1995-2001. Stratified random sampling was used to select 175 community water systems (CWSs) within a 12-state area, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable sites, based on corn intensity and watershed size. Finished drinking water was monitored at all sites, and raw water was monitored at many sites using activated carbon, which was shown capable of removing herbicides and their degradates from drinking water. Samples were collected biweekly from mid-March through the end of August, and twice during the off-season. The analytical method had a detection limit of 0.05 microg L(-1) for alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)-acetamide] and 0.03 microg L(-1) for acetochlor [2-chloro-N-(ethoxymethyl)-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-acetamide], atrazine [6-chloro-N-ethyl-N'-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine], and metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)-acetamide]. Of the 16528 drinking water samples analyzed, acetochlor, alachlor, atrazine, and metolachlor were detected in 19, 7, 87, and 53% of the samples, respectively. During 1999-2001, samples were also analyzed for the presence of six major degradates of the chloroacetanilide herbicides, which were detected more frequently than their parent compounds, despite having higher detection limits of 0.1 to 0.2 microg L(-1). Overall detection frequencies were correlated with product use and environmental fate characteristics. Reservoirs were particularly vulnerable to atrazine, which exceeded its 3 microg L(-1) maximum contaminant level at 25 such sites during 1995-1999. Acetochlor annualized mean concentrations (AMCs) did not exceed its mitigation trigger (2 microg L(-1)) at any site, and comparisons of observed levels with standard measures of human and ecological hazards indicate that it poses no significant risk to human health or the environment.

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