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Aims The aim of this study was to characterize phenotypical properties, to analyse whole genomes of novel Acinetobacter baumannii phages infecting carbapenem-resistant Ac. baumannii ( CRAB) and to evaluate their potential as antimicrobial alternatives to control Ac. baumannii in clinical settings. Methods and Results The Ac. baumannii phages, Βϕ-R1215 and Βϕ-R2315, were isolated from sewage samples. These phages were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, host spectrum, the thermal/ pH stability test, the bacterial lysis assay and the whole genome analysis. Both phages lysed 21 of 45 CRAB hosts, and showed high stability at various pH ( pH 4-10) and temperature (25-60°C), and were strongly active against host bacteria in vitro. The genomes of Βϕ-R1215 and Βϕ-R2315 are linear double-strands of DNA with 44·866 and 44·846 bp respectively. These two genomes revealed high similarity at the DNA level, but the organization and direction of open reading frames were different. Conclusions The Ac. baumannii phages, Βϕ-R1215 and Βϕ-R2315, are novel lytic phages lysing CRAB strains which were isolated from respiratory samples of patients. Significance and Impact of the Study In vitro and in silico data showed that these novel Ac. baumannii phages, Βϕ-R1215 and Βϕ-R2315, have potential as antimicrobial alternatives to control CRAB in healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for the detection and characterisation of focal hepatic lesions compared with the use of T2 weighted imaging. Method: 45 patients with 97 hepatic lesions (51 malignant lesions and 46 benign lesions) were included in this retrospective study. Malignant hepatic lesions included 12 hepatocellular carcinomas, 26 metastases and 13 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. Benign hepatic lesions included 19 haemangiomas and 27 cysts. The MRI protocol for the upper abdomen included T2 weighted images, in- and opposed-phase T1 weighted images and dynamic T1 weighted images. Breath-hold fat-suppressed single-shot echo planar DWI was performed with the following parameters: 1338/66; b factors, 0, 50 and 800 s mm-2. Two independent observers reviewed the T2 weighted images and the DWI to detect and to characterise the hepatic lesions. Results: For detection of malignant hepatic lesions, the use of DWI showed a significantly higher detection rate than the use of T2 weighted images (p,0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the use of DWI and T2 weighted images for benign hepatic lesions. For the differentiation between malignant and benign hepatic lesions, there was no significant difference in sensitivity, specificity and accuracy between the use of T2 weighted images and the use of DWI. Conclusion: The use of DWI was better for the detection of malignant hepatic lesions than the use of T2 weighted images. However, for detection of benign hepatic lesions and characterisation of hepatic lesions, the use of DWI was equivalent to the use of T2 weighted images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the benefit of high-resolution susceptibility-weighted imaging and the apparent diffusion coefficient for brain tumour imaging, and to assess the clinical feasibility of using a non-contrast MR protocol at 3 T. 73 patients with intra-axial tumours were enrolled into the study. Two experienced neuroradiologists reviewed three MRI sessions: (i) a non-contrast protocol including high-resolution susceptibility-weighted images and apparent diffusion coefficient; (ii) a contrast protocol including MR perfusion images; and (iii) combined contrast and non-contrast protocols. The two observers categorised tumours as glial or non-glial tumours, and then subcategorised the gliomas into low-grade or high-grade tumours. For semi-quantitative analysis, a scoring system based on the degree of intratumoral susceptibility signals and the visual apparent diffusion coefficient was used. The two observers diagnosed accurate tumour pathology in 52 (71%) of 73 tumours in the first review, 55 (75%) of 73 tumours in the second review and 61 (84%) of 73 tumours in the third review. The addition of the non-contrast protocol to the contrast protocol significantly differentiated glioblastoma multiforme and metastatic tumours, which was not possible with the contrast protocol alone. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for glioma grading with the non-contrast protocol were 83.2%, 100%, 100% and 79.3%, respectively. The addition of both high-resolution susceptibility-weighted imaging and the apparent diffusion coefficient improved the diagnostic performance of the contrast MR protocol for brain tumour imaging and could be feasible in selected patients who cannot tolerate a contrast agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the diagnostic performance of non-enhanced MRI and fatsuppressed contrast-enhanced MRI (CEMRI) in diagnosing intravertebral clefts in benign vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). We retrospectively reviewed 99 consecutive patients who had undergone percutaneous vertebroplasty for VCFs. A cleft was defined as a signal void or hyperintense area on non-enhanced MRI (T1 and T2 weighted imaging) or as a hypointense area within a diffusely enhanced vertebra on CEMRI. A cleft was confirmed as a solid opacification on post-procedural radiographs. The interobserver reliability and MRI diagnostic performance were evaluated. The interobserver reliability of non-enhanced MRI was substantial (k=0.698) and the interobserver reliability of CEMRI was almost perfect (k=0.836). Post-procedural radiographs showed solid cleft opacification in 32 out of the 99 cases. The sensitivity and specificity of non-enhanced MRI were 0.72 and 0.82 (observer 1) and 0.63 and 0.87 (observer 2), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of CEMRI were 0.94 and 0.63 (observer 1) and 0.85 and 0.60 (observer 2), respectively. The sensitivity of CEMRI was significantly higher than that of non-enhanced MRI, and the specificity of nonenhanced MRI was higher than that of CEMRI. CEMRI was highly reliable and sensitive, and non-enhanced MRI was specific for intravertebral clefts. Therefore, spine MRIs, including CEMRI, could provide useful information about intravertebral clefts before percutaneous vertebroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the relationship between organic acid contents in total mixed ration (TMR) and rumen volatile fatty acid production. TMR for lactating dairy cow was used. Organic acid production in TMR was modified by inoculation of different starter cultures. Five lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were used as a starter culture, and 12 different blends of those strains were designed based on Plackett-Burman experimental design. TMRs with different inoculants were fermented for 3 days at room temperature, and organic acid profiles (lactate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate) were examined. Fermented TMR was then air-dried at 60°C and ground for in vitro rumen fermentation. Rumen fluid from a cannulated Holstein cow was mixed with McDoughal solution. In vitro rumen fermentation with TMR was performed for 24 hours, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production was measured. Significant effects of LAB were found for lactate, propionate, and butyrate of TMR (P < 0.05). On lactate, L. paracasei HNB34 showed a significant positive effect (PE) (P < 0.05). A significant PE on propionate was detected for L. paracasei HNB31 (P < 0.05). On butyrate, HNB34 and L. parabuchneri HNB35 showed a significant PE (P < 0.05). Significant alterations of nutrients (DM, CP, EE, NDF, and ADF) in TMR by LAB were not found. Then, the correlation between volatile fatty acid profiles from in vitro rumen fermentation with TMRs and organic acids used in TMR was investigated. Lactate in TMR showed a significant positive correlation (PC) with propionate in the rumen fluid (P < 0.05). Ruminal propionate was found to be negatively correlated with acetic acid in TMR, significantly (P < 0.05). Propionate in TMR showed significant correlation with all ruminal VFAs (P < 0.05). All ruminal VFAs, except valerate, showed PC with propionate in TMR. Butyrate in TMR showed a significant PC with valerate (P < 0.05) and significant negative correlations with acetate and propionate (P < 0.05). In conclusion, propionate and butyrate were detected as influencing factors toward rumen VFAs profiles. More propionate and less butyrate production in TMR could be beneficial in terms of more propionate production in the rumen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the feed value of a new forage resource, kenaf, for the ruminant animal. Rumen fermentation characteristics and digestibilities of kenaf (K) and its silage (KS) were compared with those of rice straw (RS) and ryegrass (RG) in an in vitro study. The effects of KS feeding on growth performance of Hanwoo steer were also investigated. In vitro rumen fermentation using 0.5 g of dried and ground forage and 50 mL of rumen inoculum was performed for 72 hours. For rumen fermentation characteristics, total gas production of KS was significantly higher than that of others at 48 h. Gas productions of RG and K were significantly higher than others at 72 h. Ammonia nitrogen did not differ among groups at both of 48 and 72 h. For IVDMD, K showed significantly higher values than others at 48 h (P < 0.05). At 72 h, RG and K showed significantly greater IVDMD than the others treatments (P < 0.05). No difference between RG and K for IVDMD was found. Total volatile fatty acid and acetate production were significantly higher in the order of K > RG > KS > RS, regardless of incubation time (P < 0.05). In propionate production, RG was significantly higher than others at 48 and 72 h (P < 0.05). Thirty-six Hanwoo steers were assigned into three groups (RS, RG, and KS) based on a complete randomized design for a feeding trial. Growth performances were measured for 172 days. During the early period (0 ~ 43 days), average daily gain (ADG) of K was significantly lower than that of other treatments (P < 0.05). However, during the following days, no significant differences in ADG between groups were detected. At the end of trial, a significantly decreased feed requirement (feed/gain) was found in the KS group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, results of ruminal fermentation characteristics and feeding trial showed that kenaf and its silage can be used as forage resource for ruminants, and these resources could be beneficial for farm in terms of nutrition for animal and economics for farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]