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Background: Bowel mucormycosis is common among high-risk surgical neonates and has high fatality. This study was done to study the clinical profile and outcome of pediatric surgical patients operated at our center who had bowel mucormycosis on histology. Methods: It was a retrospective observational study. The data was collected from the medical records department. The files of surgical patients with tissue diagnosis of bowel mucormycosis operated at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya from June 2018 to May 2021 were retrieved. The data was tabulated on Microsoft Excel sheet®. Results: A total of 11 surgical patients with bowel mucormycosis on histology were traced. The study had male preponderance. The majority were neonates and had low platelet counts with raised CRP levels. All but one expired, with severe sepsis and septic shock as major causes of death. Conclusion: The invasive mucormycosis is more common among neonates (but older children are not immune) with male preponderance. It may affect any part of GIT and the counts and sepsis screen may be normal. It has a high fatality rate.

IntroductionA model has been developed for in silico simulation of digestion and its physiological feedback mechanisms.MethodsThe model is based on known physiology described in the literature and is able to describe the complexity of many simultaneous processes related to food digestion.ResultsDespite the early stage of development of the model, it already encompasses a large number of processes that occur simultaneously, enabling the prediction of a large number of post-prandial physiological markers, which can be highly functional in combination with in vitro, organ-on-a-chip and digital twin models purposed to measure the physiological properties of organs and to predict the effect of adjusted food composition in normal and diseased states.DiscussionInput from and collaboration between science fileds is needed to further develop and refine the model and to connect with in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo (organ-on-a-chip) models.

Abstract Background Up-to-date and hospital-specific knowledge of prognoses for horses with various forms of colic is essential for helping to guide owners’ decisions on costly treatments, and for assessing the continuous development of standards of care in the hospital. This study aimed to determine the short-term survival rates of horses admitted with colic to the University Hospital for Large Animals (UHLA), University of Copenhagen, Denmark, from 2010 to 2018, and to compare these to a previous local study as well as recent, comparable international studies. Short-term survival rates were calculated for horses grouped by treatment (surgical, medical) and diseases. Results were compared to the selected studies using Chi-square tests. Results A total of 1752 horses were admitted with colic during the period, of which 355 were excluded for reasons such as economic restrictions or immediate euthanasia. Short-term survival of the remaining 1397 cases was significantly higher (83.0% (95% CI 81.1–85.0%)) than a previous local study (76%) and a recent Dutch study (80%). Medical treatment was carried out in 77.1% of cases, and surgery in 22.9% of the cases. Short-term survival for medically (89.7%) and surgically (60.6%) treated horses was significantly higher in the present study compared to the previous study (87% and 42%, respectively), but was similar to that found in the Dutch study. Significantly fewer horses were euthanised during surgery than in the previous study (17.2 vs. 40%), and significantly more horses recovered from surgery (79.1 vs. 56%). Short-term survival rate of surgically treated horses (60.6%) did not differ from other European studies (55–62%). Conclusions Short-term survival rates have increased since the previous study at UHLA, mainly due to a decrease in intraoperative euthanasia. Survival rates in this study are similar to those found in recent comparable colic studies.

Purpose: The detection of where an organ starts and where it ends is achievable and, since this information can be delivered in real time, it could be quite important for several reasons. For one, by having the practical knowledge of the Wireless Endoscopic Capsule (WEC) transition through an organ’s domain, we are able to align and control the endoscopic operation with any other possible protocol, i.e., delivering some form of treatment on the spot. Another is having greater anatomical topography information per session, therefore treating the individual in detail (not “in general”). Even the fact that by gathering more accurate information for a patient by merely implementing clever software procedures is a task worth exploiting, since the problems we have to overcome in real-time processing of the capsule findings (i.e., wireless transfer of images to another unit that will apply the necessary real time computations) are still challenging. This study proposes a computer-aided detection (CAD) tool, a CNN algorithm deployed to run on field programmable gate array (FPGA), able to automatically track the capsule transitions through the entrance (gate) of esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon, in real time. The input data are the wireless transmitted image shots of the capsule’s camera (while the endoscopy capsule is operating). Methods: We developed and evaluated three distinct multiclass classification CNNs, trained on the same dataset of total 5520 images extracted by 99 capsule videos (total 1380 frames from each organ of interest). The proposed CNNs differ in size and number of convolution filters. The confusion matrix is obtained by training each classifier and evaluating the trained model on an independent test dataset comprising 496 images extracted by 39 capsule videos, 124 from each GI organ. The test dataset was further evaluated by one endoscopist, and his findings were compared with CNN-based results. The statistically significant of predictions between the four classes of each model and the comparison between the three distinct models is evaluated by calculating the p-values and chi-square test for multi class. The comparison between the three models is carried out by calculating the macro average F1 score and Mattheus correlation coefficient (MCC). The quality of the best CNN model is estimated by calculations of sensitivity and specificity. Results: Our experimental results of independent validation demonstrate that the best of our developed models addressed this topological problem by exhibiting an overall sensitivity (96.55%) and specificity of (94.73%) in the esophagus, (81.08% sensitivity and 96.55% specificity) in the stomach, (89.65% sensitivity and 97.89% specificity) in the small intestine and (100% sensitivity and 98.94% specificity) in the colon. The average macro accuracy is 95.56%, the average macro sensitivity is 91.82%.

Background: Currently, radiation-oncologists generally evaluate a single treatment plan for each patient that is possibly adapted by the planner prior to final approval. There is no systematic exploration of patient-specific trade-offs between planning aims, using a set of treatment plans with a-priori defined (slightly) different balances. To this purpose, we developed an automated workflow and explored its use for prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: For each of the 50 study patients, seven plans were generated, including the so-called clinical plan, with currently clinically desired ≥99% dose coverage for the low-dose planning target volume (PTVLow). The six other plans were generated with different, reduced levels of PTVLow coverage, aiming at reductions in rectum dose and consequently in predicted grade≥2 late gastro-intestinal (GI) normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCPs), while keeping other dosimetric differences small. The applied NTCP model included diabetes as a non-dosimetric predictor. All plans were generated with a clinically applied, in-house developed algorithm for automated multi-criterial plan generation.Results: With diabetes, the average NTCP reduced from 24.9 ± 4.5% for ≥99% PTVLow coverage to 17.3 ± 2.6% for 90%, approaching the NTCP (15.4 ± 3.0%) without diabetes and full PTVLow coverage. Apart from intended differences in PTVLow coverage and rectum dose, other differences between the clinical plan and the six alternatives were indeed minor. Obtained NTCP reductions were highly patient-specific (ranging from 14.4 to 0.1%), depending on patient anatomy. Even for patients with equal NTCPs in the clinical plan, large differences were found in NTCP reductions.Conclusions: A clinically feasible workflow has been proposed for systematic exploration of patient-specific trade-offs between various treatment aims. For each patient, automated planning is used to generate a limited set of treatment plans with well-defined variations in the balances between the aims. For prostate cancer, trade-offs between PTVLow coverage and predicted GI NTCP were explored. With relatively small coverage reductions, significant NTCP reductions could be obtained, strongly depending on patient anatomy. Coverage reductions could also make up for enhanced NTCPs related to diabetes as co-morbidity, again dependent on the patient. The proposed system can play an important role in further personalization of patient care.

The significant decrease of live bacteria during passage of the upper gastrointestinal system is an important drawback for probiotic functional food. Microencapsulation is frequently reported to increase bacterial survival in simulated gastric juice (SGJ) but confirmatory in vivo studies are lacking. The present study aimed to characterize protective effects of milk-protein-based microcapsules in vitro as well as in mice as model consumer. Sodium caseinate (SC) and newly developed, SGJ-resistant fat SC (FSC) capsules significantly increased survival of two Lactobacillus strains in SGJ. In contrast, neither SC nor FSC microcapsules increased bacterial survival in the murine gastrointestinal system 3 or 24 h after oral uptake. This lack of protection is presumably due to rapid digestion of the microcapsules in the murine stomach. The present work demonstrates that positive results from frequently applied simple in vitro assays cannot be extrapolated to living organisms and highlights the importance of in vivo analyses.

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the most commonly involved site of extranodal lymphomas. The close association between chronic inflammation and specific GIT lymphomas not only provide interesting insights into the pathobiology of lymphomas but also poses unique diagnostic challenges. A clear understanding of marginal zone and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in health and disease is helpful to place GIT lymphomas in proper context. A wide variety of lymphomas besides MALT lymphomas occur in various parts of the GIT. The characteristic pathological, immunophenotypic, and genetic features of different GIT lymphomas categorized according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification are presented. The epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of lymphomas occurring in each part of the GIT are summarized and the key points regarding lymphomas at each site are emphasized. A tabular summary of the important differential diagnostic considerations at each site is given and suggestions for a minimal diagnostic work up are provided.

A 12-year-old girl presented with prolonged fever with no obvious focus on either history or clinical examination. High-resolution computerized tomography of the chest revealed the ‘tree-in-bud’ sign in the right lung and necrotic mediastinal lymph nodes. Barium meal showed multiple ileal strictures. The child was treated with anti-tuberculous therapy for six months. At follow-up six months later, the child had gained weight and had no signs of intestinal obstruction. Tuberculosis is a common cause of fever of undetermined origin and should be investigated for especially in countries with a high prevalence.

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a health claim pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 in the framework of further assessment related to a combination of Propionibacterium freudenreichii SI 41and Propionibacterium freudenreichii SI 26 and increasing numbers of gastro‐intestinal microorganisms. The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim, a combination of Propionibacterium freudenreichii SI 41and Propionibacterium freudenreichii SI 26, is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed for further assessment is “beneficially affects the intestinal flora by increasing bifidobacteria”. The proposed target population is the general population. The evidence provided does not establish that the proposed claimed effect, increasing numbers of gastro‐intestinal microorganisms, is a beneficial physiological effect. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of a combination of Propionibacterium freudenreichii SI 41 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii SI 26 and a beneficial physiological effect related to increasing numbers of gastro‐intestinal microorganisms.

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 in the framework of further assessment related to Lactobacillus casei DG CNCM I‐1572 and decreasing potentially pathogenic gastro‐intestinal microorganisms. The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim, Lactobacillus casei DG CNCM I‐1572, is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect, decreasing potentially pathogenic gastro‐intestinal microorganisms, might be a beneficial physiological effect. The proposed target population is the general population. No human studies were provided from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Lactobacillus casei DG CNCM I‐1572 and decreasing potentially pathogenic gastro‐intestinal microorganisms.

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a health claim pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 in the framework of further assessment related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I‐1079 and defence against pathogenic gastro‐intestinal microorganisms. The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim, Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I‐1079, is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect, defence against pathogenic gastro‐intestinal microorganisms, is a beneficial physiological effect. The proposed target population is the general population. The Panel notes that the evidence provided is not sufficient to establish that the strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I‐1079 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii Hansen CBS 5926, which were used in the studies provided, are identical, and considers that owing to the possibility that the effects are strain‐specific, results obtained with one strain cannot be extrapolated to another strain. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I‐1079 and defence against pathogenic gastro‐intestinal microorganisms.

The present study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of gastro-intestinal nematodes in common peafowl (Pavo cristatus) at Lahore Zoo and to evaluate the comparative efficacy of albendazole, levamisole HCI and oxfendazole. Fifty-two faecal samples of the birds were examined in Medicine Laboratory, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lahore, with direct smear method for the identification of nematode ova. Forty two samples out of 52 were found positive (80.77%) for single or mixed infection of Capillaria spp., Ascaridia galliand Heterakis gallinae, and the individual percentages being 59.62, 38.46 and 13.46 respectively. Out of 42 infected birds 40 were chosen for medication and divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 birds (A= treated with albendazole, B=treated with levamisole, C = treated with oxfendazole and group D= untreated control). Faecal samples of experimental birds were examined for counting of eggs per gram of faeces on day '0' (pre-medication). Faecal egg counts were again carried out on day 5 and 10 post-medication and percentage reduction of EPG was calculated. Oxfendazole was found to be the most effective (98.88%) among the three anthelmintics, followed by levamisole (97.3%) and albendazole (95.60%).

A total of 157 goats, irrespective of sex, breed and age from an organized farm were screened for gastrointestinal nematode infection for a period of one year i.e. from February 2006 to January 2007. Occurances of G.I. nematodes in different age group were also studied. The goats below 1 year were found to carry significantly higher nematode burden than the goats of 1-3 years and above 3 years of age. In strongyle groups, the parasites were recorded as Haemonchus, Oesophegastomum, Trichostrongylus, Strongyloides, Bunostomum and Cooperia. Prevalence of Strongyle infection was higher in monsoon season in goats below one year of age. Non-occurrence of Trichuris spp in winter season was also recorded. Ivermectin @ 10 mg/30 kg. Body weight orally as single dose was found to be most effective for treatment of gastrointestinal nematodosis. [Veterinary World 2010; 3(7.000): 321-322]