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Abstract Background Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus are closely related members of the B. cereus-group of bacilli. Suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to identify specific chromosomal sequences unique to B. anthracis. Results Two SSH libraries were generated. Genomic DNA from plasmid-cured B. anthracis was used as the tester DNA in both libraries, while genomic DNA from either B. cereus or B. thuringiensis served as the driver DNA. Progressive screening of the libraries by colony filter and Southern blot analyses identified 29 different clones that were specific for the B. anthracis chromosome relative not only to the respective driver DNAs, but also to seven other different strains of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis included in the process. The nucleotide sequences of the clones were compared with those found in genomic databases, revealing that over half of the clones were located into 2 regions on the B. anthracis chromosome. Conclusions Genes encoding potential cell wall synthesis proteins dominated one region, while bacteriophage-related sequences dominated the other region. The latter supports the hypothesis that acquisition of these bacteriophage sequences occurred during or after speciation of B. anthracis relative to B. cereus and B. thuringiensis. This study provides insight into the chromosomal differences between B. anthracis and its closest phylogenetic relatives.

Objective: The patient's knee implant performance (PKIP) is a patient-reported outcome measure, developed in the USA in English that evaluates knee functional performance before and after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The PKIP assesses the level of satisfaction, confidence, and stability, while performing various activities, as well as the need for changing ways of doing activities. It comprises 24 items. The objective of this study was to present the methodology of the linguistic validation of the PKIP., Methods: The Japanese version of the PKIP was developed using a standard linguistic validation (LV) process. The LV involved the following steps: (1) conceptual analysis of the original version; (2) translation into Japanese using a dual forward/backward translation process; (3) review by an orthopaedics surgeon; (4) test on five respondents; and (5) proofreading., Results: The translation itself did not reveal major translatability issues, either cultural, semantic, or syntactic. Most of the activities listed (e.g., going up stairs, getting in/out of a car, and walking up a hill/ramp/incline) were easily translated. Only one activity was culturally sensitive and raised some discussion, i.e., "sitting down on a toilet," since the style of Japanese toilets is different from the western style. Overall, the respondents well understood the questionnaire. However, the expression "how your knee is working with your body" used in the opening sentence was an issue for both the clinician and the respondents. A compromise was found by using a Japanese equivalent of "how your knee functions with your legs.", Conclusion: The rigorous translation process, which involved the collaboration of a minimum of thirteen people (sponsor, four translators, two coordinators (one in Japan and one in Europe), one clinician, and five respondents) enabled the production of a Japanese version of the PKIP conceptually equivalent to the USA English original., Competing Interests: Dr. Minoda executed the Service Agreement with Johnson & Johnson K.K as a medical expert and he supported to development of the Japanese version of the PKIP. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Fumiya Ohmasa et al.)

Introduction: This study evaluated total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes for an Existing-TKA versus New-TKA from the same manufacturer., Methods: TKA outcomes for 752 with Existing-TKA versus 1129 subjects with New-TKA were followed through 2 years using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Responders were assessed per Outcome Measures in Rheumatology-Osteoarthritis Research Society International criteria. Kaplan-Meier implant survivorship was estimated. Radiographs had an independent radiographic review., Results: Two-year follow-up was 84.6% (636/752) for Existing-TKA and 82.5% (931/1129) for New-TKA. Two-year PROMs mean outcomes for New-TKA versus Existing-TKA at 2 years were: Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (ADL: 89.0 versus 86.8, P = 0.005; pain: 88.9 versus 87.1, P = 0.019; symptoms: 84.1 versus 82.2, P = 0.017; Sport/Rec: 63.9 versus 58.8, P = 0.001; and QOL: 77.0 versus 73.5, P = 0.003), Patient's Knee Implant Performance (overall: 76.5 versus 73.5, P = 0.003; confidence: 8.4 versus 8.1, P = 0.004; stability: 8.6 versus 8.3, P = 0.006; satisfaction: 8.3 versus 8.1, P = 0.042; and modifying activities: 6.6 versus 6.4, P = 0.334), Oxford Knee Score (41.9 versus 41.1, P = 0.027), and EQ5D-3L (0.88 versus 0.88, P = 0.737). Two-year responder rates using WOMAC were 93.9% versus 90.6% (P = 0.018) for New-TKA versus Existing-TKA. Independent radiographic review showed that tibial and femoral radiolucencies ≥2 mm were similar (P ≥ 0.05) or favored New-TKA. Implant survivorship was similar between groups (log-rank P = 0.9994)., Discussion: New-TKA versus Existing-TKA demonstrated slightly better PROMs with similar radiographic and implant survivorship outcomes., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Background: This study provides an example for evaluating learning curve when introducing a new knee system., Methods: Thirty-five investigators across 22 sites prospectively implanted 843 subjects with currently available products (group A). Seventy-seven investigators across 48 sites prospectively implanted 2330 subjects with the ATTUNE Knee System; in which the first 10 subjects for each surgeon were the learning curve cases (group B, N = 611), and the later subjects were designated as group C (N = 1719). Surgical time, rates of intraoperative and early postoperative complications, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) at a minimum of 1 year were compared., Results: Mean (standard deviation) surgical time was 72.0 (21.6) minutes for group A, 83.0 (24.2) for group B, and 72.1 (24.1) for group C ( P < .001 for group B vs group C; P  = .955 for group C vs group A). Intraoperative, early (<90 day) complication rates, and PROMs were similar for all groups., Conclusions: The new knee system learning curve was characterized by a slightly longer surgical time with no negative impact on complications or PROMs., Level of Evidence: III.

Background: Quantitative assessment of postsurgical knee motion provides sensitive measurements, but results are technical and may not be meaningful to patients. Although several knee-specific instruments exist, no patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure correlates function with improved stability, motion, satisfaction, and confidence., Objective: To address both the above limitations by developing a PRO measure to assess the phenomenon of a "normal" knee after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA)., Methods: A draft conceptual model linking the impact of clinical mechanics to hypothesized functional outcomes was generated after a literature review of available assessment tools. Participants aged 18 to 80 years having undergone TKA within the past 10 to 18 months were identified and screened by clinical sites to participate in phase 1 focus groups or phase 2 in-depth interviews. Participants were asked to describe their TKA experiences, including how their knee feels now, followed by cognitive debriefing of Patient's Knee Implant Performance (PKIP) draft items., Results: Phase 1 results indicated that concepts of confidence, stability, and satisfaction in patients' replacement knee when performing certain activities were distinct and important in the patients' assessment of their TKA. Phase 2 efforts yielded a final version of the PKIP measure containing nine items assessing the broader concepts of stability, confidence, and satisfaction in association with activities. Presurgical and postsurgical versions of the measure were created., Conclusions: Results of this qualitative study support use of the PKIP as a complementary PRO measure to assess performance after primary TKA. Psychometric evaluation of the PKIP is planned., (Copyright © 2014 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine if health literacy is associated with knowledge of colorectal cancer (CRC) and CRC screening tests, with perceived benefits and barriers to CRC screening, with perceived risk of CRC, with reported self-efficacy for completing CRC screening and with receipt of CRC tests., Methods: A convenience sample of 99 subjects completed a health literacy assessment, the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) and a structured interview., Results: Limited or inadequate health literacy was significantly associated with less knowledge about CRC and CRC screening and with more reported barriers to completing fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and colonoscopy in multivariate analysis. Health literacy was not associated with perceived benefits or reported self-efficacy for completing FOBT or colonoscopy, with perceived risk of developing CRC or with completing CRC tests. However, our small sample size limited our power to detect differences., Conclusions: Patients with limited health literacy have less knowledge about CRC and CRC screening and report more barriers to completing FOBT and colonoscopy. Interventions to improve CRC screening should consider the health literacy of patients, especially when addressing barriers to screening. Future studies are needed to better define the role of health literacy in CRC screening.

Objectives: Patients are assuming responsibility for their own health by self-medicating with dietary supplements, often without physician knowledge or oversight. The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) pediatric dietary supplement use by surveying parents of children who were hospitalized in a university institution; 2) if any health care professional inquired about supplement use at the time the child was hospitalized; 3) whether the use of a supplement was documented in the patient's medical record; and 4) parents' attitudes about dietary supplements., Study Design: Parents of 100 hospitalized pediatric patients (<18 years of age) were randomly selected to complete a survey about their child's use of dietary supplements prior to and during hospitalization. They were also asked if they intended to use these products after hospitalization. The purpose of the study was explained, informed consent was obtained, and parents were given ample time to complete the survey., Results: Fifty percent of parents reported giving their child a dietary supplement prior to hospitalization; 17% reported use of an herbal supplement. Only 24% of parents reported being asked about supplement use by a health care professional upon admission or during the hospital stay. The response to only five of these queries was documented in the child's medical record., Conclusions: Increasing dietary supplement use mandates that all health care professionals elicit this information as part of the routine History and Physical Examination at the time a child is hospitalized. This information should also be documented in the patient's medical record. Likewise, parents should be encouraged to discuss the use of these products with their physician and pharmacist.