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Abstract Background Recent data have demonstrated that in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), a total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) approach improves compliance with chemotherapy and increases rates of tumor response compared to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) alone. They further indicate that the optimal sequencing of TNT involves consolidation (rather than induction) chemotherapy to optimize complete response rates. Data, largely from retrospective studies, have also shown that patients with clinical complete response (cCR) after TNT may be managed safely with the watch and wait approach (WW) instead of preemptive total mesorectal resection (TME). However, the optimal consolidation chemotherapy regimen to achieve cCR has not been established, and a randomized clinical trial has not robustly evaluated cCR as a primary endpoint. Collaborating with a multidisciplinary oncology team and patient groups, we designed this NCI-sponsored study of chemotherapy intensification to address these issues and to drive up cCR rates, to provide opportunity for organ preservation, improve quality of life for patients and improve survival outcomes. Methods In this NCI-sponsored multi-group randomized, seamless phase II/III trial (1:1), up to 760 patients with LARC, T4N0, any T with node positive disease (any T, N +) or T3N0 requiring abdominoperineal resection or coloanal anastomosis and distal margin within 12 cm of anal verge will be enrolled. Stratification factors include tumor stage (T4 vs T1-3), nodal stage (N + vs N0) and distance from anal verge (0–4; 4–8; 8–12 cm). Patients will be randomized to receive neoadjuvant long-course chemoradiation (LCRT) followed by consolidation doublet (mFOLFOX6 or CAPOX) or triplet chemotherapy (mFOLFIRINOX) for 3–4 months. LCRT in both arms involves 4500 cGy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks + 900 cGy boost in 5 fractions with a fluoropyrimidine (capecitabine preferred). Patients will undergo assessment 8–12 (± 4) weeks post-TNT completion. The primary endpoint for the phase II portion will compare cCR between treatment arms. A total number of 312 evaluable patients (156 per arm) will provide statistical power of 90.5% to detect a 17% increase in cCR rate, at a one-sided alpha = 0.048. The primary endpoint for the phase III portion will compare disease-free survival (DFS) between treatment arms. A total of 285 DFS events will provide 85% power to detect an effect size of hazard ratio 0.70 at a one-sided alpha of 0.025, requiring enrollment of 760 patients (380 per arm). Secondary objectives include time-to event outcomes (overall survival, organ preservation time and time to distant metastasis) and adverse event rates. Biospecimens including archival tumor tissue, plasma and buffy coat, and serial rectal MRIs will be collected for exploratory correlative research. This study, activated in late 2022, is open across the NCTN and had accrued 330 patients as of May 2024. Study support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U24 CA196171; https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org . Discussion Building on data from modern day rectal cancer trials and patient input from national advocacy groups, we have designed The Janus Rectal Cancer Trial studying chemotherapy intensification via a consolidation chemotherapy approach with the intent to enhance cCR and DFS rates, increase organ preservation rates, and improve quality of life for patients with rectal cancer. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT05610163; Support includes U10CA180868 (NRG) and U10CA180888 (SWOG).

Early detection of pregnancy is vital for appropriate reproductive management programmes to facilitate the rapid re-insemination of non-pregnant females and reduce the calving interval.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the behaviour of Meriz goats using environmental enrichment technique. Sixteen goats aged two-four years, were divided into two equal groups, one group was placed in a stall without any enrichment (control), while the other group placed in another stall with enrichment. The enriched stall had six objects including canopy, grooming brush, suspended tire, trunk of tree, and plastic PET bottle suspended and freely move on the floor. The goats' behaviours were observed for eighty minutes in the morning and eighty minutes in the evening for fifteen consecutive days. Focal-animal sampling methods were used to record the behaviours, in which each animal was observed for ten-minutes period each day. Results revealed that the animals of enriched environment group displayed lower frequency of stereotypic and abnormal behaviour than control group. The mean frequencies of the groups were significantly different (P<0.001) for all recorded behaviours except for stall interaction which showed similar behaviours frequencies (P=0.56). The highest percentage of frequency interaction for grooming brush and suspended tire was detected (27%). It was also found that the frequency interaction between the goats and objects of the enriched environment increased daily and showed significant difference between 1st and 15th days (P<0.001). It was therefore concluded that animals on enriched environment express more behaviours, show greater preference for some objects, and spent more time on objects than non-enriched environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is a disease caused by fowl adenovirus (FAdV), categorized under the Adenoviridae family. FAdVs are distributed globally but have not been documented in Iraq since 1979. This study reports the disease occurrence in 89 broiler farms in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, North Iraq, from April 2013 to April 2021. Infected birds' ages ranged between two days and four weeks. Clinically, birds were lethargic, huddling with ruffled feathers, lacked appetite, and showed yellowish mucoid droppings. The gross lesions included enlarged mottled liver, pale to icteric skin, swollen and pale kidneys, and hemorrhage on the skeletal muscle. Also, histopathological examinations revealed large intranuclear inclusion bodies in hepatocytes, degeneration and congestion of liver sinusoids, degeneration of renal tubules, interstitial tissue infiltrated with inflammatory cells, and necrotizing pancreatitis. PCR was used to detect the virus by amplification of partial 1300 bp hexon gene. The amplified fragments were confirmed by sequencing. The study results indicate that avian adenovirus is enzootic in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Two different subgroups circulate in Kurdistan. The FAdV/Kurdistan/2013, FAdV/Kurdistan/2020, and FAdV/Kurdistan/2021 belong to the FAdV-E subgroup. On the other hand, the FAdV/Kurdistan/2015 belongs to the FAdV-D subgroup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis is a significant food-borne protozoal disease in humans and animals. The study aimed to find out Toxoplasma seropositivity in sheep, estimate epidemiological risk factors and assess haemato-biochemical parameter changes. Blood samples were collected from 276 indigenous sheep in five districts surrounding Sulaymaniyah Province in the northern region of Iraq. Toxoplasmosis was determined by detecting anti-Toxoplasma antibodies by ELISA. The impact of various risk factors on seropositivity was evaluated. Haematological and serum biochemical changes from naturally infected sheep were analysed using commercial kits. The overall seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies among the studied population was 41.67%. Sharazoor district had a higher prevalence rate of 46.15% than Bakrajo, with the lowest frequency rate of 38.18%. Ewes with an abortion history had a higher risk for seropositivity of about 47.4% (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 0.9-1.6). Sampling season and herd size are other risk factors, with higher seropositivity at 42.5% (OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.8-1.4) during the dry season and among small flocks ≤ 100 animals/farm at 43.6% (OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.7-1.4). Toxoplasma prevalence was correlated with animals' ages; a higher seropositivity of 43.3% was found among older sheep (OR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6-1.2). Seropositive sheep had significantly higher total leukocyte, lymphocyte and granulocyte counts but significantly lower haemoglobin, haematocrit and total erythrocyte counts. The serum levels of total protein and albumin were significantly reduced, with increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations. Also, AST enzyme activity represents a higher value in positive sheep with toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma infection among the ovine population is common. Its impact on livestock productivity should not be neglected. A potential risk for humans through infected sheep could be a hazardous source for public health., (© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)