PSIII-4 Determining the Efficacy and Safety of Differing Caliber/Ammunition Combinations for the Humane Euthanization and Subsequent Mass Depopulation of Market Weight Pigs

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 156-157
Author(s):  
Chad A Stahl ◽  
John T Fangman ◽  
Thomas J Fangman

Abstract The objective of this proof of concept exercise was to validate a field applicable methodology designed to objectively assess the multiple caliber/ammunition combinations available for the safe and humane euthanization of market weight pigs during mass depopulation events. Heads of an equal number of barrows and gilts (n = 64) were randomly assigned to one of four caliber/ammunition combinations consisting of the .22 LR, .22 Mag, 0.38 Special, and 9mm. Fully jacketed (FMJ) ammunition was discharged from each of four unique firearms while ensuring that the distance from the muzzle to the forehead was consistent. The MIXED procedure of SAS was used to test the fixed effects of sex and caliber. No differences in skull thickness existed between sex (P = 0.32) or caliber/ammunition combination (P = 0.34). There was no difference in entrance wound diameter between the .38 Special and the 9mm (P = 0.15) yet the entrance wound diameter of the .38 Special and 9mm was larger than both the .22 LR and .22 Mag, respectfully (P < 0.0001). The 9mm bullets traveled further into the ballistic gel (P < 0.0001) and the furthest total distance (P < 0.0001). Bullets from the .38 Special traveled further into the ballistic gel and a further total distance than both the .22 LR and .22 Mag (P < 0.0001). There was no difference in the measurable trauma area of the brain for the 9mm bullets compared to .38 Special bullets (P = 0.83). The measurable trauma area of the brain was greater for the 9mm and .38 Special bullets when compared to both the .22 LR and .22 Mag (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, the efficacy and safety of the multiple caliber/ammunition combinations available for use in the euthanization of market weight pigs can be objectively quantified, replicated, and reported.

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 1580-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernán Jara ◽  
Asim Mian ◽  
Osamu Sakai ◽  
Stephan W. Anderson ◽  
Mitchel J. Horn ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-145
Author(s):  
Woosik Yu

This paper analyzes the effect of the so-called ‘brain drain’ on economic growth through the channel of growth in total factor productivity. We analyze panel data that measure the severity of brain drain, which are from IMD and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Our analysis shows that middle-income countries have more brain drain compared to the group of high-income countries. Also, emerging economies that grow fast tend to experience more brain drain. Our results from fixed effects regression models show that that brain drain has a significant and positive impact on economic growth, and the main channel is productivity growth. This can be considered as evidence of the positive effects of ‘brain circulation’, which is one of the brain drain phenomena that settlement of the talents in advanced countries can eventually help improve the productivity of home country by the sharing of advanced technologies and skills around them with colleagues in motherland. Therefore, a strategy of utilizing overseas resident talents should also be considered, alongside the brain-attraction policy.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248524
Author(s):  
Rui Li ◽  
Zhiyong Tang ◽  
Fu Liu ◽  
Ming Yang

Background Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) has a significant impact on the mortality of immunocompromised patients. It is not known whether the prophylactic application of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) can reduce the incidence of PCP and mortality in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative immunodeficient population. The safety profile is also unknown. There have been few reports on this topic. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of the use of TMP-SMZ for the prevention of PCP in this population of patients from the perspective of evidence-based medicine. Methods A comprehensive search without restrictions on publication status or other parameters was conducted. Clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or case-control trials (CCSs) of TMP-SMZ used for the prevention of PCP in HIV-negative immunocompromised populations were considered eligible. A meta-analysis was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effects model or Mantel-Haenszel random-effects model, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and reported. Results Of the 2392 records identified, 19 studies (n = 4135 patients) were included. The efficacy analysis results indicated that the PCP incidence was lower in the TMP-SMZ group than in the control group (OR = 0.27, 95% CI (0.10, 0.77), p = 0.01); however, the rate of drug discontinuation was higher in the TMP-SMZ group than in the control group (OR = 14.31, 95% CI (4.78, 42.91), p<0.00001). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of mortality between the two groups (OR = 0.54, 95% CI (0.21, 1.37), p = 0.19). The safety analysis results showed that the rate of adverse events (AEs) was higher in the TMP-SMZ group than in the control group (OR = 1.92, 95% CI (1.06, 3.47), p = 0.03). Conclusions TMP-SMZ has a better effect than other drugs or the placebo with regard to preventing PCP in HIV-negative immunocompromised individuals, but it may not necessarily reduce the rate of mortality, the rate of drug discontinuation or AEs. Due to the limitations of the research methodologies used, additional large-scale clinical trials and well-designed research studies are needed to identify more effective therapies for the prevention of PCP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 1193-1200
Author(s):  
R.F. Barajas ◽  
D. Schwartz ◽  
H.L. McConnell ◽  
C.N. Kersch ◽  
X. Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1033-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Glatt ◽  
Peter C Taylor ◽  
Iain B McInnes ◽  
Georg Schett ◽  
Robert Landewé ◽  
...  

ObjectiveEvaluate the efficacy and safety of dual neutralisation of interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F with bimekizumab, a monoclonal IgG1 antibody, in addition to certolizumab pegol (CZP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inadequate response (IR) to certolizumab pegol.MethodsDuring this phase 2a, double-blind, proof-of-concept (PoC) study (NCT02430909), patients with moderate-to-severe RA received open-label CZP 400 mg at Weeks 0, 2 and 4, and 200 mg at Week 6. Patients with IR at Week 8 (Disease Activity Score 28-joint count C-reactive protein (DAS28(CRP))>3.2) were randomised 2:1 to CZP (200 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W)) plus bimekizumab (240 mg loading dose then 120 mg Q2W) or CZP plus placebo. The primary efficacy and safety variables were change in DAS28(CRP) between Weeks 8 and 20 and incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).ResultsOf 159 patients enrolled, 79 had IR at Week 8 and were randomised to CZP plus bimekizumab (n=52) or CZP plus placebo (n=27). At Week 20, there was a greater reduction in DAS28(CRP) in the CZP-IR plus bimekizumab group compared with the CZP-IR plus placebo group (99.4% posterior probability). The most frequent TEAEs were infections and infestations (CZP plus bimekizumab, 50.0% (26/52); CZP plus placebo, 22.2% (6/27)).ConclusionsPoC was confirmed based on the rapid decrease in disease activity achieved with 12 weeks of CZP plus bimekizumab. No unexpected or new safety signals were identified when neutralising IL-17A and IL-17F in patients with RA concomitantly treated with CZP, but the rate of TEAEs was higher with dual inhibition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (13) ◽  
pp. 135012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Maimbourg ◽  
Alexandre Houdouin ◽  
Mathieu Santin ◽  
Stéphane Lehericy ◽  
Mickael Tanter ◽  
...  

Trials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Devos ◽  
Tatjana Geukens ◽  
Alexander Schauwvlieghe ◽  
Kevin K. Ariën ◽  
Cyril Barbezange ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an enormous burden on health care systems around the world. In the past, the administration of convalescent plasma of patients having recovered from SARS and severe influenza to patients actively having the disease showed promising effects on mortality and appeared safe. Whether or not this also holds true for the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus is currently unknown. Methods DAWn-Plasma is a multicentre nation-wide, randomized, open-label, phase II proof-of-concept clinical trial, evaluating the clinical efficacy and safety of the addition of convalescent plasma to the standard of care in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Belgium. Patients hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 are eligible when they are symptomatic (i.e. clinical or radiological signs) and have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the 72 h before study inclusion through a PCR (nasal/nasopharyngeal swab or bronchoalveolar lavage) or a chest-CT scan showing features compatible with COVID-19 in the absence of an alternative diagnosis. Patients are randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either standard of care and convalescent plasma (active treatment group) or standard of care only. The active treatment group receives 2 units of 200 to 250 mL of convalescent plasma within 12 h after randomization, with a second administration of 2 units 24 to 36 h after ending the first administration. The trial aims to include 483 patients and will recruit from 25 centres across Belgium. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients that require mechanical ventilation or have died at day 15. The main secondary endpoints are clinical status on day 15 and day 30 after randomization, as defined by the WHO Progression 10-point ordinal scale, and safety of the administration of convalescent plasma. Discussion This trial will either provide support or discourage the use of convalescent plasma as an early intervention for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.govNCT04429854. Registered on 12 June 2020 - Retrospectively registered.


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