Biofilm production by otitis isolates of P. aeruginosa is common and may play a role in the pathogenesis of disease. The MICs for biofilm-embedded bacteria differ from their planktonic counterparts, potentially leading to a lack of response to treatment. If polymyxin B, gentamicin, neomycin or enrofloxacin is to be used for topical treatment of a Pseudomonas otitis, the concentration of the medication should be increased, in particular if addressing chronic otitis, because biofilms may have developed.

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While isolates were susceptible to most of the tested compounds, universal susceptibility to all compounds with potential antimicrobial activity cannot be assumed, and specific testing is required.

Outcomes following revision surgery for failed rotator cuff repairs are far less predictable than and are associated with decreased patient satisfaction compared with primary repairs. Extracellular matrix augmentation (ECM) may improve the biologic potential for healing during revision repair. The authors examined clinical outcomes and healing rates based on postoperative imaging of patients who underwent revision open rotator cuff repair with an ECM patch for symptomatic recurrent rotator cuff tear. Twenty-four (77%) of 31 patients with a mean follow-up of 50 months (range, 30-112 months) completed post-revision surgery outcome questionnaires at a mean of 5.3 years after revision surgery, and 16 patients (67%) underwent a physical examination and repeat imaging (ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging) at a mean of 4.2 years after revision surgery. Ten (63%) of those 16 patients were found to have failed revision rotator cuff repair on imaging, with American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) outcome measures that were significantly (P=.04) better in patients with confirmed intact repairs than those with confirmed failed revision repair. Outcome measures for all patients (n=24) included a mean ASES score of 67.2 (SD, 27.9) and a mean Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score of 66.9 (SD, 26.0). Based on these scores, excellent results were achieved in 24% of patients, good in 13%, fair in 21%, and poor in 42%. Results of this investigation demonstrated that augmentation of revision rotator cuff repair with an ECM patch through an open approach showed no significant improvement in outcomes when compared to historical reports without augmentation.

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Background Next‐generation sequencing techniques have revealed that human and animal skin is colonised by a rich and diverse population of bacteria, and that microbial composition varies between different body sites and individuals. Very little is known about the normal microbiota of healthy equine skin. Hypothesis/Objectives To describe the taxonomic distributions of cutaneous bacterial microbiota in a population of healthy horses in Ontario, Canada, and to evaluate the effects of body site, individual and time of year on microbial diversity and community composition. Animals Samples were collected from four body sites (dorsum, ventral abdomen, pastern and groin) from 12 clinically healthy horses from the same farm. Samples were collected from all individuals at four time points (winter, spring, summer, autumn) within a calendar year. Methods and materials Illumina sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed following DNA extraction. Data were analysed using mothur software. Results Bacteria from 38 phyla and 1,665 genera were identified. Alpha diversity was higher in the winter and summer than spring and autumn although this was not statistically significant. Community membership and structure clustered more based on season than skin site. Conclusions and clinical importance Healthy equine skin is inhabited by a marked diversity of microbiota. Individuals living in a similar environment share overlapping cutaneous microbial populations. These populations vary significantly over time and between body sites.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common cause of urogenital infection and is implicated in genesis of male infertility. In this in vitro study, the influence of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-Qinglishengjing pills on spermatozoa infected in vitro with E. coli was studied. Semen samples were prepared by standard technique and sperm suspension was coincubated respectively with E2888 EARLE'S (group A as normal control), E. coli suspension (group B), mixture of E. coli suspension and TCM (group C) and mixture of E. coli suspension and Furadantin (group D) in vitro. After coincubation, motility parameters, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalisation and morphology of spermatozoa were evaluated. No significant difference between the group C and group A was found in sperm motility parameters (P > 0.05), whereas difference between group B and group A was significant after 2 h (P < 0.05) and 4 h (P < 0.01). Mixed agglutination and ultrastructure damage could be observed in group B and no apparent similar agglutination and ultrastructure damage were observed in other groups. There was no difference in PS externalisation per cent between the groups A and C (P > 0.05) and there was significant difference between the groups A and D, A and B, B and D, C and D (P < 0.01). TCM-Qinglishengjing pills could reverse E. coli effects on spermatozoa in vitro.