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Aquatic toxicity posed by the complex mixture of biodegradation metabolites and related oxygen-containing organic compounds (OCOCs) in groundwater at typical petroleum release sites is of concern to regulatory agencies; several are using results from laboratory studies in older literature that are not appropriate analogs for risk management. Recent field studies from typical sites and natural groundwater should be utilized. In this study, OCOCs downgradient of the biodegrading crude oil release at the USGS Bemidji site were tested for freshwater aquatic toxicity using unaltered whole groundwater samples. This type of testing is optimal because the entire mixture of OCOCs present is tested directly and assessment is not affected by analytical limitations. Ceriodaphnia dubia and Pimephales promelas were tested for toxicity using USEPA Methods 1002 and 1000, which estimate chronic toxicity. OCOCs in representative samples up to the maximum concentration tested of 1710 ug/L Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) (nC10 to nC40; without silica gel cleanup) did not result in effects relative to the lab control for C. dubia survival, or for P. promelas survival or growth; and did not result in effects above background for C. dubia reproduction. This is consistent with findings using the same testing methods and species on samples from 14 biodegrading fuel release sites: OCOCs did not cause increased toxicity relative to background at a maximum tested concentration of 1800 ug/L TPH (nC10 to nC28). Based on their toxicity testing using the same species and USEPA methods on groundwater from a biodegrading diesel release site, Washington Department of Ecology recently set a freshwater screening level for OCOCs at 3000 ug/L TPH ("Weathered DRO"). These studies indicate that, in the absence of dissolved hydrocarbons, OCOCs in groundwater from typical biodegrading fuel or crude oil releases are not toxic to C. dubia or P. promelas at typical concentrations., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the quality of outside hospital imaging and associated reports submitted to us for reinterpretation related to clinical care at our tertiary cancer center. We compared the initial study interpretations to that of interpretations performed by subspecialty-trained abdominal radiologists at our center and whether this resulted in a change in inpatient treatment., Materials and Methods: We performed an institutional review board-approved retrospective single-institution study of 915 consecutive outside computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) abdominal imaging studies that had been submitted to our institution between August 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020. The assessed parameters included the quality and accuracy of the report, the technical quality of the imaging compared to that at our institution, the appropriateness of the imaging for staging or restaging, usage of oral and IV contrast, and CT slice thickness. Clinical notes, pathologic findings, and subsequent imaging were used to establish an accurate diagnosis and determine the effect on clinical treatment. Discrepancies between the initial and secondary interpretations were identified independently by a panel of radiologists to assess changes in treatment. The impact of discrepancies on treatment was evaluated based on current treatment guidelines., Results: Of 744 CT (81%) and 171 MR (19%) outside imaging studies, 65% had suboptimal quality compared to the images at our institution, and 31% were inappropriate for oncological care purposes. Only 21% of CT studies had optimal slice thickness of <3 mm. Of 375 (41%) outside reports, 131 (34%) had discrepancies between secondary and initial interpretations. Of the 88 confirmed discrepant studies, 42 patients (48%) had a change in treatment based on the secondary interpretation., Conclusions: Imaging studies from outside institutions have variable image quality and are often inadequate for oncologic imaging. The secondary interpretations by subspecialty-trained radiologists resulted in treatment change., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The concentrations of oxygen-containing organic compounds (OCOC), measured as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), in groundwater exceeds those of dissolved hydrocarbons, measured as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), at a crude oil release site. Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to characterize OCOC in samples of the oil, water from upgradient of the release, source area, and downgradient wells, and a local lake. Chemical characterization factors included carbon number, oxygen number, formulae similarity, double bond equivalents (DBE) and radiocarbon dating. Oil samples were dominated by formulae with less than 30 carbons, four or fewer oxygens, and a DBE of less than four. In water samples, formulae were identified with more than 30 carbons, more than 10 oxygens, and a DBE exceeding 30. These characteristics are consistent with DOC found in unimpacted water. Between 65% and 92% of the formulae found in samples collected within the elevated OCOC plume were also found in the upgradient or surface water samples. Evidence suggests that many of the OCOC are not petroleum degradation intermediates, but microbial products generated as a result of de novo synthesis by organisms growing on carbon supplied by the oil. Implications of these results for understanding the fate and managing the risk of hydrocarbons in the subsurface are discussed., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Methods: Keyword searches of Medline, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library for manuscripts published in English, and searches of references cited in selected articles to identify additional relevant papers. Abstracts sponsored by various societies including the American Urological Association (AUA), European Association of Urology (EAU), and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) were also searched., Background: Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, and one of the most expensive in terms of cancer care. The overwhelming majority are urothelial carcinomas, more often non-muscle invasive rather than muscle-invasive. Bladder cancer is usually diagnosed after work up for hematuria. While the workup for gross hematuria remains CT urography and cystoscopy, the workup for microscopic hematuria was recently updated in 2020 by the American Urologic Association with a more risk-based approach. Bladder cancer is confirmed and staged by transurethral resection of bladder tumor. One of the main goals in staging is determining the presence or absence of muscle invasion by tumor which has wide implications in regards to management and prognosis. CT urography is the main imaging technique in the workup of bladder cancer. There is growing interest in advanced imaging techniques such as multiparametric MRI for local staging, as well as standardized imaging and reporting system with the recently created Vesicle Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS). Therapies for bladder cancer are rapidly evolving with immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, as well as another class of immunotherapy called an antibody-drug conjugate which consists of a cytotoxic drug conjugated to monoclonal antibodies against a specific target., Conclusion: Bladder cancer is a complex disease, and its management is evolving. Advances in therapy, understanding of the disease, and advanced imaging have ushered in a period of rapid change in the care of bladder cancer patients.

Background: The decision to perform a partial nephrectomy (PN) relies largely upon the complexity of the renal mass and its surrounding anatomy. The presence of adherent perinephric fat (APF) can increase surgical complexity and extend operative times. The accurate prediction of APF may improve surgical planning and aid in decision making for the surgical approach., Objective: We sought to develop and externally validate a score that predicts APF based on preoperative clinical and radiological prognostic factors., Design, Setting, and Participants: We retrospectively analyzed 495 consecutive patients who underwent open or minimally invasive PN. APF was defined as the presence of "dense," "adherent," or "sticky" perinephric fat at the time of dissection by the surgeon, and this did not require subcapsular dissection. Additionally, we analyzed an independent cohort of 285 patients for external validation., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: A score model was developed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Calibration of the fitted model was assessed graphically with a plot of the predicted versus the actual probability of APF, and discrimination was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve., Results and Limitations: Of the 495 patients, 95 (19%) had APF. Patients with APF had longer operative (p=0.02) and arterial clamp (p=0.01) times than non-APF patients. On multivariate analyses, diabetes mellitus (p=0.009), posterior perinephric fat thickness (p<0.001), and perinephric stranding (p<0.001) were predictors of encountering APF in PN. A risk score ranging from 0 to 4 was developed based on these three variables to predict APF. The scoring system demonstrated good discrimination of 0.82 and 0.84 for the development and external validation cohorts, respectively., Conclusions: The APF score can accurately predict the presence of APF in patients with a small renal mass who are planning to undergo PN. This score could aid in pre- and intraoperative planning and impact the surgical approach., Patient Summary: The presence of "sticky" fat surrounding the kidney in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy has previously been linked to longer operative times, intraoperative complications, and surgical conversion. In our study, we found that this feature is more often presented in patients with diabetes mellitus, and thicker and more inflammatory fat on renal imaging. Based on these findings, we developed a risk score that can accurately predict this feature before surgery, in order to improve surgical planning and better counsel the patients., (Copyright © 2019 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Diffuse type of gastric adenocarcinoma (dGAC) generally confers a poor prognosis compared to intestinal type. Some dGACs are not avid on fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET (FDG-PET) while others seem to consume glucose avidly. We analyzed the outcomes based on the avidity (high with standardized uptake value (SUV) > 3.5 or low with SUV ≤ 3.5) of the primary on baseline FDG-PET. We retrospectively selected 111 localized dGAC patients who had baseline FDG-PET (all were treated with preoperative chemotherapy and chemoradiation). FDG-PET avidity was compared with overall survival (OS) and response to therapy. The mean age was 59.4 years and with many females (47.7%). The high-SUV group (58 (52.3%) patients) and the low-SUV group (53 (47.7%) patients) were equally divided. While the median OS for all patients was 49.5 months (95% CI: 38.5-98.8 months), it was 98.0 months (95% CI: 49.5-NE months) for the low-SUV group and 36.0 months for the high-SUV ( p = 0.003). While the median DFS for all patients was 38.2 months (95%CI: 27.7-97.6 months), it was 98.0 (95% CI: 36.9-NE months) months for the low-SUV group was and only 27.0 months (95% CI: 15.2-63.2 months) for the high-SUV group ( p = 0.005). Clinical responses before surgery were more common in the low-SUV group but overall we observed only 4 pathologic complete responses in 111 patients. Our unique data suggest that if dGACs used glucose as an energy source then the prognosis was very poor while non-glucose sources improved prognosis. Multi-platform (including metabolomics) profiling of dGACs would yield useful biologic understanding.

Background: Temsirolimus has level 1 evidence for initial treatment of poor-risk patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), but its efficacy has not been directly compared with an antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor [VEGFR TKi]) in this setting., Objective: To evaluate temsirolimus versus pazopanib as first-line therapy in patients with mRCC, predominant clear-cell features, and clinical characteristics of a poor prognosis., Design, Setting, and Participants: A randomized (1:1) phase II trial in 69 treatment-naïve mRCC patients and with three or more predictors of short survival for temsirolimus was conducted during 2012-2017 in a single academic cancer center. Crossover to the alternative treatment upon discontinuation of the first-line agent was permitted., Intervention: Mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor temsirolimus and VEGFR TKi pazopanib., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), safety, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Radiographic response was assessed by blinded radiologists. Efficacy outcomes were adjusted by prior nephrectomy status, prior interleukin-2 treatment, and the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) score., Results and Limitations: Thirty-five patients received temsirolimus and 34 received pazopanib upfront; 72% overall had poor risk by IMDC. Median PFS in the first line was 2.7mo with temsirolimus and 5.2mo with pazopanib (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84-2.22; p=0.210). Median OS was 7.1mo with temsirolimus and 11.9mo with pazopanib (adjusted HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.70-1.93; p=0.558), and ORRs were 5.9% and 21.2%, respectively (adjusted odds ratio 5.2, 95% CI 0.9-29.3; p=0.062). PRO measures favored pazopanib. Five patients discontinued first-line therapy due to adverse events., Conclusions: Temsirolimus and pazopanib had modest activity in patients with poor-risk clear-cell mRCC, and therefore their use should be discouraged in this setting., Patient Summary: We evaluated outcomes of advanced renal cell carcinoma patients presenting with aggressive features when treated with temsirolimus or pazopanib as first-line therapy. Survival was <1yr for most, suggesting that more efficacious alternative treatments should be favored for these patients., (Copyright © 2019 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The potential toxicity to human and aquatic receptors of petroleum fuel biodegradation metabolites (oxygen-containing organic compounds [OCOCs]) in groundwater has been investigated as part of a multi-year research program. Whole mixtures collected from locations upgradient and downgradient of multiple fuel release sites were tested using: 1) in vitro screening assays for human genotoxicity (the gamma-H2AX assay) and estrogenic effects (estrogen receptor transcriptional activation assay), and 2) chronic aquatic toxicity tests in 3 species (Ceriodaphnia dubia, Raphidocelis subcapitata, and Pimephales promelas). In vitro screening assay results demonstrated that the mixtures did not cause genotoxic or estrogenic effects. No OCOC-related aquatic toxicity was observed and when aquatic toxicity did occur, upgradient samples typically had the same response as samples downgradient of the release, indicating that background water quality was impacting the results. This information provides additional support for previous work that focused on the individual compounds and, taken together, indicates that OCOCs from petroleum degradation at fuel release sites are unlikely to cause toxicity to human or freshwater receptors at the concentrations present. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1634-1645. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC., (© 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.)

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common female pelvic malignancy in the United States. Although endometrial cancer is staged according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics surgical system, early and accurate diagnostic assessment of disease status of gynecologic malignancies is important for optimal treatment planning and outcome prediction. Preoperative imaging may assist in evaluation of local extent and detection of distant metastatic disease guiding the optimal course of treatment. Several imaging techniques such as transvaginal ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging have been used as tools for preoperative staging of endometrial cancer. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography and more recently, positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging have also been used in the management of endometrial cancer. Cross-sectional imaging, especially MRI, may detect gross myometrial invasion or extension of tumor to the cervical stroma which can alter management. Imaging studies can also evaluate the presence of lymph nodal involvement, and detect local and distant metastatic disease at diagnosis. Additionally, imaging also plays a role in the monitoring of treatment and surveillance of the patients for detection of early recurrent disease. In this article, we will review the imaging and staging of endometrial cancer., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) is a rare and aggressive variant of endometrial cancer, distinguished by its containment of both epithelial and sarcomatous elements. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathologic classification and staging of UCS, along with the typical findings seen on different imaging modalities. Prognosis and therapies will also be discussed., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Myeloid sarcoma is a rare extramedullary hematologic malignancy. Accurate and timely diagnosis may be challenging because myeloid sarcoma is known to mimic solid tumors, including hepatobiliary, nasopharyngeal, and breast carcinomas. We report a case of myeloid sarcoma that developed in the primary tumor lymphatic drainage field of a previously treated intermediate-thickness cutaneous melanoma, clinically and radiographically mimicking an in-transit metastasis, in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome. The diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma was achieved after surgical excision of the mass and pathological examination that included extensive immunohistochemical studies. Awareness of such an unusual clinical presentation can help reduce diagnostic delay and ensure that adequate tissue is obtained for pathological examination and ancillary studies that are critical for accurate diagnosis and appropriate patient management.

Background: Surgery is the best option for cure of localised gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). When surgery is not possible due to comorbidities or patient choice, definitive chemoradiation is an option. We report on one of the largest cohorts of localised GAC patients who did not have surgery., Methods: We identified 71 patients with localised GAC who received chemo/chemoradiation therapy but did not have surgery. We assessed various end-points: overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and clinical complete response (cCR; negative post therapy biopsy and no evidence of cancer by imaging)., Results: The median follow-up time was 1.8 years (range; 0.4-10.6). Most of the patients were men (64.8%), and the median age was 73 years (range; 30-96). Reason for not having surgery included comorbidities in 34 (47.9%), poor performance status 14 (19.7%), and patient refusal 23 (32.4%). Of all 71 patients, a complete restaging evaluation with endoscopy and imaging could be performed for 50, and 32 (45.1%) achieved a cCR. For the entire cohort, the median OS was 2.1 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78-2.55). The estimated OS rates at 2 and 5 years were 54% and 18%, respectively. Female gender (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.98, p = 0.045) and chemoradiation (HR 0.25, 95% CI 0.06-1.01; p = 0.05) were independently associated with longer OS in the multivariate analysis., Conclusion: Our data show that patients with localised GAC treated with chemotherapy and/or chemoradiation, who do not undergo surgery, have a 5-year OS rate of 18%., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This case report presents the ultrasound and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging findings related to a patient with metastatic melanoma to the testis. We review this very rare entity and discuss the role of imaging.

Background: Over the last 15 years, large randomized controlled studies have validated the benefit of preoperative therapy for patients with resectable gastric cancer. Computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) are commonly used to select patients for preoperative treatment, but studies of preoperative staging accuracy that focus on patient selection for preoperative therapy are rare; therefore, whether CT or EUS can reliably identify patients eligible for preoperative therapy is still unclear. Our purpose was to determine the accuracy of EUS and CT for preoperative staging of gastric cancer and to identify factors that may affect their usefulness in selecting patients for preoperative therapy., Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 8,260 patients with gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma treated at our institution from 1995 to 2013, identifying those who underwent gastrectomy without preoperative treatment. We compared T stage and N status from preoperative EUS and CT reports with those drawn from surgical pathology reports. Clinicopathologic and demographic variables associated with incorrect preoperative staging were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses., Results: We identified 187 patients who underwent preoperative staging by EUS (n=145) and/or CT (n=134) before gastrectomy. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of EUS in distinguishing stage T1 from more advanced tumors were 82%, 78%, and 85%, respectively. Variables associated with underestimation of EUS T stage were lymphovascular invasion [odds ratio (OR), 7.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91-29.50; P<0.01] and white race (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.31-10.75; P=0.01). The accuracies, sensitivities, and specificities for determining N status were, respectively, 65%, 49%, and 79% with CT and 66%, 29%, and 95% with EUS. Lymphovascular invasion was associated with a false negative result (OR, 3.79; 95% CI, 1.34-10.70; P=0.01), and well- or moderately differentiated histology was associated with a false positive result for CT N status (OR, 7.14; 95% CI, 2.00-25.44; P<0.01)., Conclusions: EUS is accurate in distinguishing T1 from T2-T4 lesions; both CT and EUS have low sensitivities and high specificities in determining N status. These accuracies and variables associated with inaccurate staging, including race, should be considered when selecting gastric cancer patients for preoperative therapy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: Presented at The American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium, January 21, 2016.

Introduction: We sought to determine whether preoperative chemoradiation therapy or chemotherapy increases the risk of anastomotic leak after gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients without gastroesophageal junction involvement., Methods: We reviewed data from a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent gastrectomy at our institution between 2001 and 2016. The incidence of anastomotic leak and symptomatic intra-abdominal fluid collection was determined and tested for associations with the type of preoperative therapy. Risk factors for these adverse events were identified by univariate and multivariable logistic regression models., Results: Of 346 included patients, 35% had upfront surgery, 44% had preoperative chemoradiation therapy, and 21% had preoperative chemotherapy. Anastomotic leak and intra-abdominal fluid collection were diagnosed in 3.5% and 7.5% of patients, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that concomitant organ resection was the only significant risk factor for anastomotic leak or intra-abdominal fluid collection (P=.014). The type of preoperative therapy was not a risk factor for anastomotic leak or intra-abdominal fluid collection., Conclusions: Anastomotic leak and intra-abdominal fluid collection were rare after gastrectomy, and neither type of preoperative therapy increased the risk of these adverse events. Our results add to the existing literature that preoperative therapy, including preoperative chemoradiation therapy, is safe for patients with gastric cancer., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The microbes responsible for anaerobic benzene biodegradation remain poorly characterized. In this study, we identified and quantified microbial populations in a series of 16 distinct methanogenic, benzene-degrading enrichment cultures using a combination of traditional 16S rRNA clone libraries (four cultures), pyrotag 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (11 cultures), metagenome sequencing (1 culture) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR; 12 cultures). An operational taxonomic unit (OTU) from the Deltaproteobacteria designated ORM2 that is only 84% to 86% similar to Syntrophus or Desulfobacterium spp. was consistently identified in all enrichment cultures, and typically comprised more than half of the bacterial sequences. In addition to ORM2, a sequence belonging to Parcubacteria (candidate division OD1) identified from the metagenome data was the only other OTU common to all the cultures surveyed. Culture transfers (1% and 0.1%) were made in the presence and absence of benzene, and the abundance of ORM2, OD1 and other OTUs was tracked over 415 days using qPCR. ORM2 sequence abundance increased only when benzene was present, while the abundance of OD1 and other OTUs increased even in the absence of benzene. Deltaproteobacterium ORM2 is unequivocally the benzene-metabolizing population. This study also hints at laboratory cultivation conditions for a member of the widely distributed yet uncultivated Parcubacteria (OD1)., (© 2015 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Despite the wide spread use of trastuzumab in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer patients, its optimal duration of administration beyond first-line disease progression is unknown. In HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer, trastuzumab continuation beyond first-line disease progression has shown improvement in time to progression (TTP) without an increased risk of treatment related toxicity., Methods: HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer patients were identified from our database between January 2010 and December 2014. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 43 patients who received trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy as first-line and continued trastuzumab beyond disease progression., Results: Forty-three cases were identified, 27 males (62.8%), median age of the patients was 58 years. Thirty-five (81.4%) presented with stage 4 as their initial presentation. Eighty one percent had 3+ HER2 overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and 18% had 2+ HER2 overexpression confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Thirteen (52%) were moderately differentiated, 16 (37.1%) were poorly differentiated. The most common sites of metastasis were liver 35 (81.4%) and lung 14 (32.5%). The most commonly used first-line regimen was oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and trastuzumab in 22 (51.1%) patients. Twenty-five (58.1%) patients received irinotecan, 5-FU and trastuzumab in the second-line. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 5 months (95% CI: 4.01-5.99 months). Five patients are still alive and excluded from calculating the median overall survival (OS) which was 11 months (range, 5-53 months) for the remaining 20 subjects of this second-line group. Trastuzumab was not discontinued due to side effects in any of the study population., Conclusions: In conclusion, this retrospective analysis suggests that continuation of trastuzumab beyond disease progression in patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer is feasible and safe. Randomized studies are warranted.

Objective: To evaluate how many patients could have undergone partial nephrectomy (PN) rather than radical nephrectomy (RN) before and after neoadjuvant axitinib therapy, as assessed by five independent urological oncologists, and to study the variability of inter-observer agreement., Patients and Methods: Pre- and post-systemic treatment computed tomography scans from 22 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in a phase II neoadjuvant axitinib trial were reviewed by five independent urological oncologists. R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score and κ statistics were calculated., Results: The median R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score changed from 11 before treatment to 10 after treatment (P = 0.002). Five tumours with moderate complexity before axitinib treatment remained moderate complexity after treatment. Of 17 tumours with high complexity before axitinib treatment, three became moderate complexity after treatment. The overall κ statistic was 0.611. Moderate-complexity κ was 0.611 vs a high-complexity κ of 0.428. Before axitinib treatment the κ was 0.550 vs 0.609 after treatment. After treatment with axitinib, all five reviewers agreed that only five patients required RN (instead of eight before treatment) and that 10 patients could now undergo PN (instead of three before treatment). The odds of PN feasibility were 22.8-times higher after treatment with axitinib., Conclusions: There is considerable variability in inter-observer agreement on the feasibility of PN in patients treated with neoadjuvant targeted therapy. Although more patients were candidates for PN after neoadjuvant axitinib therapy, it remains difficult to identify these patients a priori., (© 2015 The Authors BJU International © 2015 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) are of uncertain significance in patients with renal cell carcinoma., Objective: We sought to determine predictors of IPN progression to pulmonary metastasis and develop a tool for individualized risk stratification of patients who present with IPN on preoperative chest imaging in the setting of localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma., Design, Setting, and Participants: We reviewed all patients who had radical nephrectomy with no evidence of distant metastases at a single institution from 2005-2009 who had ≥1 IPN on chest computed tomography that measured <2 cm. All chest computed tomographies were rereviewed by a radiologist who was blinded to outcomes, to independently determine number, size, and location of nodules., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: The primary objective of the study was to develop a prognostic model to predict pulmonary metastases among radical nephrectomy patients who present with IPN based on readily available preoperative imaging and postoperative pathological criteria. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess the predictive factors for development of pulmonary metastasis. We developed a nomogram that predicted the 3-yr and 5-yr lung metastasis-free survival (LMFS), with assessment of discrimination and internal validation., Results and Limitations: Among 251 patients with IPN who underwent nephrectomy, 72 (29%) developed pulmonary metastases. Median follow-up for the cohort was 36.6 mo. Three-yr and 5-yr probability of LMFS for the overall cohort was 71% (95% confidence interval 65-77%) and 65% (95% confidence interval 57-72%), respectively. The nomogram developed included number and size of IPN along with postoperative pathological variables, and showed calibration with a concordance index (c-index) of 0.81 and a bootstrap corrected c-index of 0.78. Limitations include retrospective study with no external validation., Conclusions: We developed a nomogram to predict the individualized risk LMFS for patients who underwent nephrectomy for localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma., Patient Summary: We reviewed outcomes among kidney cancer patients who presented with small lung nodules and developed a clinical tool to predict risk of developing lung metastases., (Copyright © 2015 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In an effort to understand the nature and toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation metabolites, 2-dimensional gas chromatography linked to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (GC×GC-TOFMS) was used to conduct nontargeted analysis of the extracts of 61 groundwater samples collected from 10 fuel release sites. An unexpected result was the tentative identification of 197 unique esters. Although esters are known to be part of specific hydrocarbon degradative pathways, they are not commonly considered or evaluated in field studies of petroleum biodegradation. In addition to describing the compounds identified, the present study discusses the role for nontargeted analysis in environmental studies. Overall, the low toxicological profile of the identified esters, along with the limited potential for exposure, renders them unlikely to pose any significant health risk., (© 2015 The Authors. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., on behalf of SETAC.)

Benign and malignant uterine masses can be seen in the women. Some of these are asymptomatic and incidentally discovered, whereas others can be symptomatic. With the soft tissue contrast resolution magnetic resonance imaging can render a definitive diagnosis, which can further help streamline patient management. In this article we show magnetic resonance imaging examples of benign and malignant masses of the uterus and their treatment strategies., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Primary carcinoma of the vagina is rare, accounting for 1-3% of all gynaecological malignancies. MRI has an increasing role in diagnosis, staging, treatment and assessment of complications in gynaecologic malignancy. In this review, we illustrate the utility of MRI in patients with primary vaginal cancer and highlight key aspects of staging, treatment, recurrence and complications.

Pelvic exenteration is a radical surgery that is used in an attempt to cure patients with locally advanced central pelvic malignancies. Exenteration is a salvage operation that is considered only after other therapies, such as chemoradiation, have been exhausted. The high morbidity from exenteration's multiorgan resection warrants careful patient selection. Preoperative imaging plays a major role in the selection process, allowing the exclusion of patients with unresectable pelvic disease or distant metastases. Imaging is also crucial to surgical planning, providing the surgeon with a map of the distribution and extent of the pelvic disease., (©RSNA, 2015.)

Objective: We present a case series of 14 patients with lymphoma presenting with tumor thrombus to highlight this rare but important manifestation of lymphoma., Conclusion: The dominant mass leading to tumor thrombus formation was nodal disease in nine patients and extranodal disease in five patients. Lymphoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis in the setting of tumor thrombus with solid organ involvement when there are other imaging features suggestive of lymphoma.

Background: Previous studies have shown a modest impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on primary renal tumors. Those studies were mostly retrospective or heterogeneous in their eligibility criteria with regard to histology, disease stage, duration of therapy, and time off therapy prior to surgery., Objective: To prospectively investigate the safety and efficacy of axitinib in downsizing tumors in patients with nonmetastatic biopsy-proven clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a single-institution, single-arm phase 2 clinical trial. Patients with locally advanced nonmetastatic biopsy-proven ccRCC were eligible., Intervention: Patients received axitinib 5mg for up to 12 wk. Axitinib was continued until 36h prior to surgery. Patients underwent partial or radical nephrectomy after axitinib therapy., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: The primary outcome was objective response rate prior to surgery. Secondary outcomes included safety, tolerability, and quality of life. A dedicated radiologist independently reviewed all computed tomography scans to evaluate for response using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST)., Results and Limitations: A total of 24 patients were treated. Twenty-two patients continued axitinib for 12 wk; 1 patient continued axitinib for 11 wk and underwent surgery as planned. One patient stopped treatment at 7 wk due to adverse events (AEs). Median reduction of primary renal tumor diameter was 28.3%. Eleven patients experienced a partial response per RECIST; 13 had stable disease. There was no progression of disease while on axitinib. The most common AEs were hypertension, fatigue, oral mucositis, hypothyroidism, and hand-foot syndrome. Postoperatively, 2 grade 3 and 13 grade 2 complications were noted. No grade 4 or 5 complications occurred. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Kidney Specific Index-15 changed over time, with quality of life worsening while on therapy, but by week 19, it was not statistically different from screening. Limitations include single-arm design and small patient numbers., Conclusions: Axitinib was clinically active and reasonably well tolerated in the neoadjuvant setting in patients with locally advanced nonmetastatic ccRCC., Patient Summary: In this prospective clinical trial, we found that axitinib, when given prior to surgery, results in significant shrinking of kidney cancers. Larger studies are needed prior to further clinical use., Trial Registration: This clinical trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01263769)., (Copyright © 2014 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The enzymes involved in the initial steps of anaerobic benzene catabolism are not known. To try to elucidate this critical step, a metatranscriptomic analysis was conducted to compare the genes transcribed during the metabolism of benzene and benzoate by an anaerobic benzene-degrading, nitrate-reducing enrichment culture. RNA was extracted from the mixed culture and sequenced without prior mRNA enrichment, allowing simultaneous examination of the active community composition and the differential gene expression between the two treatments. Ribosomal and mRNA sequences attributed to a member of the family Peptococcaceae from the order Clostridiales were essentially only detected in the benzene-amended culture samples, implicating this group in the initial catabolism of benzene. Genes similar to each of two subunits of a proposed benzene-carboxylating enzyme were transcribed when the culture was amended with benzene. Anaerobic benzoate degradation genes from strict anaerobes were transcribed only when the culture was amended with benzene. Genes for other benzoate catabolic enzymes and for nitrate respiration were transcribed in both samples, with those attributed to an Azoarcus species being most abundant. These findings indicate that the mineralization of benzene starts with its activation by a strict anaerobe belonging to the Peptococcaceae, involving a carboxylation step to form benzoate. These data confirm the previously hypothesized syntrophic association between a benzene-degrading Peptococcaceae strain and a benzoate-degrading denitrifying Azoarcus strain for the complete catabolism of benzene with nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor., (Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

Chlorobenzene is a widespread groundwater contaminant found at many industrial sites. Reductive dechlorination of chlorobenzene requires input of electron donor and results in problematic accumulation of benzene, which is more toxic than chlorobenzene. We hypothesized that coupling a culture capable of reductive dechlorination of chlorobenzene to benzene with a second benzene-degrading methanogenic culture would completely detoxify chlorobenzene. To this end, active chlorobenzene-dechlorinating microcosms that were producing benzene were inoculated with a previously described enriched methanogenic benzene-degrading consortium. The combination resulted in the transformation of chlorobenzene via benzene to the nontoxic degradation products, CO2 and CH4. Sustainable degradation of chlorobenzene and benzene was observed in the microcosms and was further confirmed by shifts in the carbon isotopic ratios of chlorobenzene and benzene during degradation. Moreover, we could show that benzene derived electrons fueled chlorobenzene dechlorination removing the need to provide exogenous electron donor. The results have promising implications for sustainable bioremediation of sites contaminated with chlorinated benzenes and benzene.

High voltage electrical stimulation (1130 V peak, 14.28 bidirectional half sinusoidal pulses/s) or low voltage stimulation (45 V peak, 36 alternating square wave pulses/s) was used on cattle: (1) low voltage stimulation applied for 10 or 40 s with fast and slow chilling or high voltage stimulation for 60 s with normal chilling, applied to 100% Bos taurus cattle, (2) low voltage stimulation (40 s) and high voltage stimulation (60 s) with normal chilling applied to mixed Bos indicus and B.taurus cattle, (3) high voltage stimulation (54 s) with normal chilling applied to B. taurus and B. indicus cattle of 0-100% B. indicus composition, and (4) high voltage stimulation (60 s) applied to 100% B. taurus and 100% B. indicus cattle. All stimulation parameters enhanced the tenderness of steaks from M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) aged at 1°C up to 28 days compared with non stimulated LTL. Short low voltage stimulation of 10s was marginally more effective than no stimulation and longer durations of 40s were very effective and high voltage stimulation was most effective. The shear force values for non stimulated B. indicus LTL are much greater than for B. taurus, but following high voltage stimulation LTL of B. indicus were similar to B. taurus and all had lower shear force values than from non stimulated carcasses. Thus adequate electrical stimulation removes any toughness of LTL related to B. indicus genetic composition., (Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A mathematical model of anaerobic muscle energy-metabolism was developed to predict pH and the concentrations of nine muscle metabolites over time. Phosphorous-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance was used to measure time-course data for some phosphate metabolites and pH in anoxic M. semitendinosus taken from three slaughtered sheep. Muscles were held at 35 degrees C during the experiment. Measurement commenced 25 min post mortem and concluded before rigor mortis. The model was fitted to these data within experimental error, by simultaneously varying model parameter values and initial substrate concentrations. The model was used to simulate the period from death until metabolic activity ceased, in order to predict the different stages of metabolic response to anoxia. The model suggested that alkalinisation would occur in all three muscles in the first few minutes after the onset of anoxia, followed by a steady decline in pH. For two of the muscles this decline continued until rigor, with final pH values of 5.60 and 6.07. For the other muscle, pH reached a low of 5.60 near rigor but then increased to a final value of 5.73. A rise in pH after rigor has been observed but not previously explained in the literature. The modelling results suggest it was caused by the alkalising effect of adenosine monophosphate deamination being greater at low pH than the acidifying effect of inosine monophosphate dephosphorylation., (Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) has proven clinical utility, particularly in the diagnosis, staging, and management of cancer. The use of PET/CT has grown substantially in the past few years, with an increasing number of hospitals and imaging centers installing PET/CT systems each year. The combination of 2 procedures, which each imparting a radiation dose and hence the potential for deleterious health effects, creates unique radiation safety issues. This article addresses the radiation safety issues posed by PET/CT with regard to the protection and safety of PET/CT personnel, the public, and adult and pediatric patients.

The initial metabolic reactions for anaerobic benzene biodegradation remain uncharacterized. Isotopic data for carbon and hydrogen fractionation from nitrate-reducing, sulfate-reducing, and methanogenic benzene-degrading enrichment cultures and phylogenic information were used to investigate the initial reaction step in anaerobic benzene biodegradation. Dual parameter plots of carbon and hydrogen isotopic data (deltadelta2H/ deltadelta13C) from each culture were linear, suggesting a consistent reaction mechanism as degradation proceeded. Methanogenic and sulfate-reducing cultures showed consistently higher slopes (m = 29 +/- 2) compared to nitrate-reducing cultures (m = 13 +/- 2) providing evidence for different initial reaction mechanisms. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that culture conditions were strictly anaerobic, precluding any involvement of molecular oxygen in the observed differences. Using published kinetic data, we explored the possibility of attributing such slopes to reaction mechanisms. The higher slopes found under methanogenic and sulfate-reducing conditions suggest against an alkylation mechanism for these cultures. Observed differences between the methanogenic and nitrate-reducing cultures may not represent distinct reactions of different bonds, but rather subtle differences in relative reaction kinetics. Additional mechanistic conclusions could not be made because kinetic isotope effect data for carboxylation and other putative mechanisms are not available.

Gynecologic cancers are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in women of all ages. While many gynecologic cancers are staged clinically using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system, imaging can be a useful adjunct to clinical staging. Cross sectional imaging techniques such as ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used to detect and follow patients with gynecologic cancer. These imaging modalities can show anatomic detail and morphologic changes in the female genitourinary tract to good advantage. Positron emission tomography (PET) differs in that it shows functional information that is not easily obtained by the other cross sectional imaging techniques. The fusion of PET with CT allows anatomic localization of functional abnormalities in the female genital tract and thereby allows the detection of gross disease in many malignant conditions both within and outside the confines of the female pelvis. The utility and limitations of imaging common gynecologic tumors such as cervical, ovarian and endometrial cancer are discussed with particular emphasis on PET/CT imaging.

The effect of electrical stimulation of lamb carcasses (n=269) or its absence (n=257) on shear force of m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LT) was monitored during ageing in pasture-fed merino lambs (n=526). The lambs were slaughtered on four different days allowing durations of between one to 10 days of recovery from pre-slaughter handling (yarding, weighing and crutching) that affected ultimate pH (pH(u)). The right LT was removed 20-40min post-slaughter, tightly-wrapped in cling film (prevents the muscle cross-section increasing and thus minimising shortening) and rapidly cooled to 15°C to enter rigor mortis and age. At 0, 4, 24 and 72h post-slaughter, pH measurements and samples for shear force measurement were taken. Pre-slaughter handling had a significant negative effect on pH(u) and several days recovery were required for pH(u) to reach values associated with optimal meat quality as reflected by pH(u). Lambs with one and three days recovery (no significant difference between them) had a pH(u)>5.7 in 50% of the muscles and 19.4%>pH(u) 5.8. Whereas, in lambs with 8-10 days recovery (no significant difference between them), only 8% had a pH(u)>5.7 and 3.1%>pH(u) 5.8. Within each slaughter day electrically stimulated lambs were always more tender than non-stimulated lambs. For non-stimulated muscles at 72h, shear force values >40N occurred for 11.2% of the muscles: for electrically stimulated muscles at 72h, shear force values >40N occurred for 1.9% of the muscles. The rates of tenderisation were slower for intermediate pH(u) values resulting in higher shear force values at all ageing durations. With ageing at 72h for intermediate pH(u), non-stimulated muscles (n=38) 17.64% were >40N and for stimulated muscles (n=34), 7.9% were >40N.

We investigated the relationship between stress responsiveness and meat quality in cattle. The cattle were 16-19-month-old Mixed (n=37, 303 kg) or Non-mixed (n=23, 279 kg) Friesian bulls and Friesian cull cows (1.5-7 years) that were classified Unfinished (n=133, 195 kg) or Finished for 3 months (n=34, 252 kg). A portion of m. longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle was obtained from consecutive animals for a single days slaughter of 227 cattle processed through a hot boning plant. Catecholamines were obtained from bladder urine. Ultimate pH, lactate, glycogen, glycolytic potential and representative sarcomere lengths were determined from 20-h muscle samples. Shear force measurements were from meat aged at 15 °C for 20 and 90 h. Urinary noradrenaline was similar between Mixed (14.86 ng/μmol creatinine) and Non-mixed bulls (14.07 ng/μmol creatinine) and Finished cows (15.24 ng/μmol creatinine) and elevated in the Unfinished cows (22.28 ng/μmol creatinine). Urinary adrenaline was higher in Mixed bulls (9.5 ng/μmol creatinine) than Non-mixed bulls (5.7 ng/μmol creatinine) and higher in both Unfinished cows (16.67 ng/μmol creatinine) and Finished cows (14.19 ng/μmol creatinine). For bulls that are growing well on-farm, with a only short period of fasting prior to slaughter, pH(u) is a good predictor of meat tenderness. In this situation, stressors that lower muscle glycogen pre-slaughter can have a significant effect on meat shear force, and individual animals with elevated urinary adrenaline were the most susceptible. However, in the case of cows, adrenaline responses are not necessarily associated with glycogen depletion and pH(u) is less affected than for bulls. Furthermore, the ability of meat to tenderise fully, related to reduced proteolytic turnover, is reduced in nutritionally compromised animals such as the Unfinished cows.

Application of electrical stimulation in the sheep and beef processing industry has been erratic around the world and this may reflect an incomplete knowledge of how to optimise the technology. Although it is well established that stimulation increases the rate of post-mortem glycolysis, other biochemical and biophysical effects have been implicated with the use of this technology. This review seeks to examine the current theories about the effect of stimulation on post-mortem muscle. The classical view that stimulation prevents muscle from shortening excessively during rigor development has been expanded to include the possibility that it also results in physical disruption of muscle structure. The interaction of these effects with the acceleration of the rate of proteolysis through activation of the calpain protease system has not been comprehensively reviewed in the past. Thus there are two mechanisms which could explain the effect of stimulation on tenderisation, reduced 'cold-induced' shortening and alteration of protein structure. A secondary effect is the enhancement of the rate of proteolysis stimulated by release of Ca (2+) at a higher temperature. As a result of this review we highlight several areas that may prove fruitful for further research. The challenge for further development of electrical stimulation systems is optimisation of the activation of the enzyme systems in parallel with manipulation of chilling regimes so as to ensure rigor mortis is achieved at temperatures which minimise shortening. These optimal temperatures largely established at a fixed incubation temperature for detached muscle may be different when measured in intact carcasses. The potential of regional stimulation of sections of the carcass to achieve this outcome is worthy of study given the different fibre composition of muscles and temperature gradients. In addition, to ensure that appropriate amounts of energy are applied to individual carcasses, development of self-response stimulation units, which are able to determine carcass resistance and apply appropriate durations or strengths of stimulation is worthy of future research. This would lead to more effective electrical stimulation practices.

Nutritional supplements and a magnesium bolus and were used in lambs in a 2×2 factorial design to investigate the effect on growth, preslaughter stress measurements, muscle glycogen, and meat quality. In total, 64 Perendale lambs were used (32.7±0.53 kg, mean±SEM). Feed supplemented animals received 150 g feed pellets day(-1) in addition to pasture grazing, and this increased growth from 183 to 207 g day(-1). Mean delivery of Mg from the boluses was 0.17 g day(-1) for 28 days, with no effect on growth rates, or any other of the variables measured. Urinary noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol did not differ between groups in the immediate pre-slaughter period. The meat ultimate pH was not different between groups and had a mean range of 5.47-5.53. Muscle residual glycogen did not differ between groups and had a mean range of 42-43 mmol kg(-1). Finally there were no differences in shear force values at all ageing times. The final shear force value of 2.5 kg F after 72 h ageing at 15 °C was a low value representing tender meat. These studies indicate that if nutrition is adequate and stress levels are low, there are no differences in meat tenderness of pasture fed lambs compared with those having feed supplements to increase growth rate.

Immediately after electrical stimulation, the paired m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LT) of 40 sheep were boned out and wrapped tightly with a polyethylene cling film. One of the paired LT's was chilled in 15°C air to reach a rigor mortis (rigor) temperature of 18°C and the other side was placed in a water bath at 35°C and achieved rigor at this temperature. Wrapping reduced rigor shortening and mimicked meat left on the carcass. After rigor, the meat was aged at 15°C for 0, 8, 26 and 72 h and then frozen. The frozen meat was cooked to 75°C in an 85°C water bath and shear force values obtained from a 1×1 cm cross-section. The shear force values of meat for 18 and 35°C rigor were similar at zero ageing, but as ageing progressed, the 18 rigor meat aged faster and became more tender than meat that went into rigor at 35°C (P<0.001). The mean sarcomere length values of meat samples for 18 and 35°C rigor at each ageing time were significantly different (P<0.001), the samples at 35°C being shorter. When the short sarcomere length values and corresponding shear force values were removed for further data analysis, the shear force values for the 35°C rigor were still significantly greater. Thus the toughness of 35°C meat was not a consequence of muscle shortening and appears to be due to both a faster rate of tenderisation and the meat tenderising to a greater extent at the lower temperature. The cook loss at 35°C rigor (30.5%) was greater than that at 18°C rigor (28.4%) (P<0.01) and the colour Hunter L values were higher at 35°C (P<0.01) compared with 18°C, but there were no significant differences in a or b values.

The effect on shear force of skeletal restraint and removing muscles from lamb m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LT) immediately after slaughter and electrical stimulation was undertaken at a rigor temperature of 18°C (n=15). The temperature of 18°C was achieved through chilling of electrically stimulated sheep carcasses in air at 12°C, air flow 1-1.5 ms(-2). In other groups, the muscle was removed at 2.5 h post-mortem and either wrapped or left non-wrapped before being placed back on the carcass to follow carcass cooling regimes. Following rigor mortis, the meat was aged for 0, 16, 40 and 65 h at 15°C and frozen. For the non-stimulated samples, the meat was aged for 0, 12, 36 and 60 h before being frozen. The frozen meat was cooked to 75°C in an 85°C water bath and shear force values obtained from a 1 × 1 cm cross-section. Commencement of ageing was considered to take place at rigor mortis and this was taken as zero aged meat. There were no significant differences in the rate of tenderisation and initial shear force for all treatments. The 23% cook loss was similar for all wrapped and non-wrapped situations and the values decreased slightly with longer ageing durations. Wrapping was shown to mimic meat left intact on the carcass, as it prevented significant prerigor shortening. Such techniques allows muscles to be removed and placed in a controlled temperature environment to enable precise studies of ageing processes.

Pairs of muscularis longissimus thoracicus et lumborum (LTL) from young bulls were removed within 1h of slaughter. Small portions of the muscles were placed in a rigormeter to continously follow the isometric tension and isotonic shortening developed, at constant temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C, as the muscle went into rigor. The bulk LTL was placed in water baths at the same temperature. One of the bulk pairs was tightly restrained by wrapping, to reduce muscle shortening, the other was unrestrained free to shorten. For the bulk samples, shear values were measured using a Warner-Bratzler instrument (1, 7 and 14 days post mortem), and sensory attributes were measured using a sensory panel (7 and 14 days post mortem). Minimum tension and shortening occurred at 15°C. The activation energy for the muscle shortening process was larger than for the isometric tension process. This indicates that the isometric tension data, collected during rigor, does not solely reflect muscle shortening. Thus, a counteracting process that decreases the tension response, most likely ageing is simultaneously detected. Meat that went into rigor at 15°C had least shortening and was always more tender than meat going into rigor at higher temperatures. For meat entering rigor at temperatures higher than 15°C, restraining of the muscle by wrapping, significantly (p<0.05) decreased the amount of muscle shortening and resulted in an improved meat tenderness (p<0.001). It was also observed that at rigor temperatures higher than 15°C the meat tenderness is affected negatively by a reduced ageing capacity. It therefore appears that muscle shortening and enzyme activity both affect tenderness and that both are highly affected by rigor temperature and have the greatest beneficial effect at a rigor temperature of 15°C.

Loins from 20 lambs with an ultimate pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.4 were frozen and stored at -20 °C, then thawed at + 3 °C. During thawing, muscle (m. longissimus lumborum) lactate was measured in samples taken when the meat temperature reached -20, -5, -2, 0, and + 2 °C. At -5 °C, muscle lactate concentration was similar to that at -20 °C, but at -2 °C lactate levels were double those at -20 °C. As the temperature increased to +2 °C lactate concentrations fell from their -2 °C level. Low pH (5.5-5.6) and intermediate pH (5.7-6.1) meat at +2 °C had a higher lactate level than at -20 °C, with the greatest difference occurring in the low pH group (5 mmol lactate kg equating to approximately 0.05 pH unit increase). High pH meat (6.2-6.3) had similar lactate levels at -20 °C and +2 °C. These results demonstrate the importance of measuring the pH of frozen meat immediately rather than thawing the meat before measurement, and also show that meat pH may change on thawing, depending on the ultimate pH of the sample.

This study investigated drip loss in chilled beef (hot-boned m. longissimus lumborum (LL)) under conventional packaging systems, in which a vacuum is applied, and non-vacuum packaging systems. The use of vacuum during the packaging process (vacuum packaging, CO(2) atmosphere packaging) was associated with increased drip. Drip was lower in heat-shrunk vacuum packaging than in non-shrunk vacuum packaging. A slow vacuum onset had no effect on drip formation, or may have increased it. The extent of pressure reduction (vacuum; range 0-1 atm) did not significantly affect drip formation, although the standard vacuum pressure (0 atm) tended to cause more drip loss than higher pressures. The three non-vacuum anaerobic packaging systems tested were: flushed with carbon dioxide without the pressure being reduced below atmospheric (Flush), or the same system with no CO(2) flush but a proprietary oxygen absorber added (Scavenger), or a combination of both (Flush/Scavenger). Storage was at -1.5 °C for up to 20 weeks. The Flush and Flush/Scavenger systems had considerably lower drip loss than the CAP standard system (6.4%, 6.5%, and 9.1% respectively); the Scavenger system had the lowest drip loss (5.2%). Drip losses generally increased with storage period, irrespective of packaging system. All non-vacuum packaging systems except the Flush system had very low oxygen levels (<0.l% v v ). The Flush system had considerably higher levels of oxygen (0.9%) with associated browning of meat samples. All packaging systems gave a hygienic shelf-life of at least 16 weeks. At 16 weeks, microbial numbers were highest (5 × 10(6)) in the Scavenger system. The meat from all packaging systems was acceptable to taste panels even after 16 weeks of storage at -1.5 °C. There were no significant differences between any of the packaging systems for any of the sensory attributes tested. The packaging systems with the best all round performance were the Flush/Scavenger and the Scavenger systems, depending on the storage-life required.

Possible roles of the cellular messenger nitric oxide (NO) in post-mortem meat ageing were investigated in bull m. longissimus lumborum. Both enhancement and inhibition of NO activity had positive and negative effects, respectively, on early rates of ageing. These also correlated with direct measurements of NO in the meat samples. However, by 8 days of storage, the tenderness was not significantly different to non treated meat samples.

Sheep in the field display differences in social behaviour. These differences allow a division into three social groups with distinct behavioural occurrences and frequencies. The behavioural and neurotransmission responses of each of these groups to aversive stimuli were compared. Behavioural responses were seen to both forelimb electric shocks and thermal heating of the nose in all groups. These responses changed with stimulus repetition in a group-dependent manner. Microdialysis probe studies of neurotransmitter release in the somatosensory cortex indicated neurotransmitter responses to stimuli in all animals that varied with both animal group and stimulus repetition. Group 1 animals, aggressive and socially active, showed increases in gamma amino-4-butyric acid (GABA) with initial stimulus presentation; this increased with stimulus repetition. Behavioural responses to the stimuli decreased with repetition and nonstimulus-related behaviours, during the course of the experiment, increased. Both of these appeared dependent upon GABA. Group 2 animals, moderately aggressive and socially active, released opioid-like peptides (OLP) upon initial exposure to stimuli but, with repetition, switched to using GABA. Group 3 animals, nonaggressive and socially inactive, released OLP with initial and repeat stimuli. In groups 2 and 3, both GABA and OLP appear to reduce stimulus-related behaviour, but OLP appeared to also reduce nonstimulus-related behaviour and GABA increased these. Changes were independent of animal liveweight. Glutamate was released in response to stimuli in all 3 groups and, with repetition, fell in groups 1 and 2 but increased in group 3. An animal's social behaviour and status may predict its response to a stimulus.

In calves aged two to five months, throat cutting resulted in an increase in the concentration of the amino acid neurotransmitters glutamate and aspartate in the brain. Electrical head-only stunning by itself also increased the concentrations of these two neurotransmitters. The levels induced by stunning resulted in a seizure state characterised by epileptiform-like activity in the electroencephalograph. Combing head-only stunning with throat cutting within 10 seconds of the stun had a synergistic effect upon glutamate and aspartate, increasing their concentration by a greater amount and more quickly than either procedure on its own. An irreversible loss of brain function also occurred more quickly than after throat cutting alone. The administration of glutamate and aspartate receptor antagonists before the throat cutting lengthened the time to the loss of brain function in a dose dependent manner. Similar changes were observed in sheep but they occurred much more quickly than in cattle.

A range of ultimate pH (pH(u)) values, from 5.4 to 7.2, was produced in the m. longissimus thoracicum et lumborum (LD) of 55 sheep by subcutaneous injections of adrenaline, or by injection and subsequent exercise. The rate constant of ageing for each of 47 animals was calculated from shear force measurements, taken at intervals for up to 5 days from the LD held at 12 dgC. The relationship between the ageing rate and pH(u) could be adequately described by the equation rate constant (k) = 4.109 - 1.349(pH) + 0.1111(pH)(2); r(2) = 0.707, with a minimum rate constant at pH 6.07. The loin muscles from eight carcasses were selected to determine the effects of ultimate pH on the initial, unaged toughness value. Calpain activity was inhibited by intramuscular injection of ZnCl(2) dissolved in saline, and the muscles were aged at 10-12 °C on the carcass for up to 6 days. At all values of pH(u) (5.4-6.7), tenderness as measured by shear force were equivalent, from which it was concluded that the initial toughness of unaged lamb was not affected by pH(u). In the contralateral, untreated muscle, ageing was measured using both shear force measurement and changes in the myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI). After 1 day, the intermediate pH range (5.8-6.2) has the highest shear force and the lowest fragmentation index value. However, in contrast to the shear force values, the ultimate MFI value in aged muscle was lowest in the high pH(u) range (6.4-6.7; minimum value at 6.4). The highest fragmentation values were found at the low pH(u) range. These observations suggest that pH(u)-related tenderness differences in meat result from different rates of ageing in the post rigor period, and therefore that these differences disappear following a sufficient ageing period. The slowest rate of tenderization measured on cooked meat was observed at pH(u) values around 6.07, but the least fragmentation of raw meat was observed at pH(u) values around 6.4, a difference of almost 0.33 pH unit.

Effective electrical head-only stunning produces a seizure-like state followed by a period of analgesia seen in animals allowed to recover. Passing of a 1·0 A current (50 Hz, 500 V) for less than 0·2 s, through the head of a sheep does not produce a seizure-like state as evidenced by recorded electroencephalogram. Corresponding to this lack of seizure-like state, the release of the neurotransmitters glutamate and aspartate, in the brain, occurs to levels associated with arousal rather than seizure. At a duration of 0·2 s, the same stun parameters as above produce a seizure-like state and the release of glutamate and aspartate rises dramatically. The length of the seizure-like state, and the levels of release of glutamate, aspartate and a third neurotransmitter gamma amino-4-butyric acid (GABA), increased with stun duration until 4·0 s duration, where a peak in these parameters was seen. Stun durations of 2·0, 4·0, 8·0 and 12·0 s all produce similar effects. At a duration of 20 s, however, the length of the seizure-like state and the release of neurotransmitters is less than at shorter stun durations. For welfare purposes a head-only electrical stun, of 1·0 A, at a duration as low as 0·2 s produces unconsciousness and analgesia to subsequent slaughter procedures. However, maximum welfare benefits appear attainable at durations between 2·0 and 20·0 s.

Identification of the commencement of aging in relation to the rigor process was determined on lamb loin muscles by injecting a zinc-TRIS solution, which inhibits meat aging, into the muscle over the period when the pH was falling. Aging was evaluated by measuring the tenderness of cooked meat samples using a MIRINZ tenderometer. When zinc was injected into muscle above pH 6·5, the sarcomeres shortened and the cooked meat had an average shear force of 19 kgF (shear force is the force required to shear through at 1 cm cross-section sample). When sinc was injected into the muscle at pH values below 6·5 the sarcomeres did not shorten, and down to the ultimate pH, the shear force remained at approximately 15 kfF. Aging did not take place pre-rigor. The same relationships occurred for electrically stimulated muscle. The data indicate that the basal shear-force value of lamb loin prior to aging, i.e. the basal toughness level, is 15 kgF.