Dammlundgaard1165

05). This is the first study in South Africa to describe the prevalence of E. moshkovskii. E. dispar was significantly associated with abdominal pains (p = 0.003). Further studies are needed to clarify the role of E. PT2385 moshkovskii and E. dispar in abdominal pain and diarrhoea. © 2020 The Authors.Foodborne diseases are important everywhere in the world, but the level of attention they receive varies by region. We surveyed the current opinions and knowledge regarding the globally most important foodborne parasites (FBP) among healthcare professionals in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, by conducting a questionnaire survey among healthcare professionals in a tertiary hospital. We focused on the FBP ranked as the top five globally Taenia solium, Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, Toxoplasma gondii, and Cryptosporidium spp., and gathered local expert opinions regarding their importance in Nigeria. Moreover, we surveyed the extent of healthcare community knowledge on transmission, manifestations and pathologies, and prevention of infections with these five FBP. Among the 205 healthcare professionals completing the survey, T. solium was selected as important in Nigeria by 143 (70%), E. granulosus by 91 (44%), E. multilocularis by 62 (30%), T. gondii by 132 (64%), and Cryptosporidium spp. by 123 (60%). Only 44 (21%) of the participants selected at least 15 of the 25 answers to knowledge questions that we considered as correct to select. The proportion selecting at least 15 of the correct answers was not statistically significantly associated with gender nor with experience level. Our results suggest that further education about FBP should target healthcare professionals at all levels. © 2020 The Authors.Sarcocystis spp. are protozoan parasites which can infect a wide range of vertebrates, including humans; the latter can act as definitive hosts for two cattle Sarcocystis spp. Sarcocystis hominis and Sarcocystis heydorni. Reports of intestinal sarcocystosis are well documented in the literature, but PCR-based methods have been scarcely used to identify Sarcocystis species in human stools, and have been limited to the molecular analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene sequences. Since the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is one of the most promising tools for distinguishing between closely related Sarcocystis spp., and taking into account the lack of publicly available S. hominis COI sequences, in the present study we obtained the first partial COI sequence of S. hominis from human stool samples of patient with gastrointestinal symptoms. We designed specific COI primers to develop a multiplex PCR method for the identification of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle. The submission of the COI sequence described herein and the unambiguous identification of S. hominis through the application of the new multiplex PCR is important for determining the prevalence of this zoonotic Sarcocystis spp. in meat and the risk for consumers. © 2020 The Authors.We consider the scientific evidence that research on in-vitro development of embryos beyond 14 days is necessary. We then examine potential new developments in the use of stem cells to make embryoids or synthetic human entities with embryo-like features, and consider whether they also require legal control. Next, we consider the arguments advanced against extending the 14-day period during which research on human embryos is currently permitted, and find none of them to be convincing. We end by proposing a new objective limit that could serve as a mechanism for regulating the use of embryos for research in vitro. © 2020 The Authors.Introduction The possibility of intentionally triggering non targeted effects (NTEs) using spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT) alone or combined with immunotherapy is an intriguing and fascinating area of research. Among different techniques for SFRT, stereotactic body radiotherapy targeting exclusively the central hypoxic segment of bulky tumors, (SBRT-PATHY) might trigger immunogenic cell death more efficiently. This in silico study aims to identify the best possible dosimetric trade-off for prescribing SFRT with volumetric modulated arc (VMAT) based stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). Material and methods Eight spherical volumes defined "Gross Tumor Volumes" (GTVs) were generated with diameters of 3-10 cm (with incremental steps of 1 cm), simulating tumor lesions. The inner third part of each GTV (GTVcentral) was selected to simulate the central hypoxic area and a ring structure was derived around it to simulate the tumor periphery (GTVperipheral). Volumetric modulated arc radiation treatment (VMAT) plans were calculated to deliver a single fraction of 10 Gy to each GTVcentral with different dose prescription methods target mean and isodose driven (40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90%).The volume of GTVperipheral receiving less than 2 Gy was recorded as dosimetric performance indicator. Results 56 possible dosimetric scenarios were analyzed. The largest percentage of GTVperipheral spared from the dose of 2 Gy was achieved with dose prescription methods to the 70% isodose line for lesions smaller than 6 cm (range 42.9-48.4%) and to the target mean for larger ones (range 52.9-64.5%). Conclusions Optimizing the dose prescription method may reduce the dose to tumor periphery in VMAT-based SFRT, thus potentially sparing tumor infiltrating immune cells. The optimal method may vary according to the size of the lesion. This should be taken into account when designing prospective trials using SFRT. © 2020 The Authors.Introduction To identify organs to which dose limitation using intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can potentially modify the incidence and duration of feeding tube use, during and immediately following therapy for head and neck cancer. Materials and methods One hundred and fourteen patients treated with definitive IMRT (± concurrent chemotherapy) head and neck mucosal cancers were included. Patients received a prophylactic feeding tube and followed up by a dietician for at least eight weeks post-radiotherapy. Salivary and swallowing organs were delineated for each patient. Tumour and dosimetric variables were recorded for all patients and analysed for incidence and duration of feeding tube use for at least 25% of dietary requirements. Results Multivariate analysis showed T-classification ≥3 and level II lymphadenopathy as independent significant predictors of incidence and duration of feeding tube use in oral cavity, pharyngeal and supraglottic primaries. Mean dose deposited in the cervical oesophagus over 36Gy further increased the incidence and duration of feeding tube use.