Development and evaluation of an anatomically designed and 3D printed device to enhance orotracheal intubation success in rabbits by inexperienced veterinarians.

Objective: To assess whether the use of a three-dimensional (3D) printed device enhances the success rate of orotracheal intubation in rabbits.

Study Design: Prospective, crossover randomized controlled trial.

Animals: A total of six mixed-breed rabbits.

Circulating DNA in the neoadjuvant setting of early stage colon cancer.

Background: While circulating tumour (ct)DNA is an indicator of minimal residual disease and negative prognostic factor in stage II-III colon cancer, no study has ever analysed the value of this biomarker in colon cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We sought to fill this gap by using prospectively collected plasma samples from 80 stage III colon cancer patients, receiving one cycle of neoadjuvant FOLFOX followed by surgery +/- adjuvant FOLFOX in the PePiTA trial.

Material And Methods: Samples were collected at baseline, 2 weeks and surgery.

Ocular and systemic toxicity of high-dose intravitreal topotecan in rabbits: Implications for retinoblastoma treatment.

Although many more eyes of children with retinoblastoma are salvaged now compared to just 10 years ago, the control of vitreous seeding remains a challenge. The introduction of intravitreal injection of melphalan has enabled more eyes to be salvaged safely but with definite retinal toxicity. Intensive treatment with high-dose intravitreal topotecan may be a strategy to control tumor burden because of its cell cycle-dependent cytotoxicity and the proven safety in humans.

Implementation of a Low-Cost 3D-Printed Feline Larynx Model for Veterinary Students.

Endotracheal intubation (EI) in domestic cats is an important skill that veterinary students learn in order to perform anesthesia safely in this species. Implementing a 3D-printed larynx model (LaryngoCUBE) during the instruction process may improve student's learning of EI in felines. Twenty-two third-year students performed EI in cats with standard training (ST), and 16 students trained with the model (MT) the day before the laboratory.

Fortnightly or fractionated weekly docetaxel-cisplatin-5-FU as first-line treatment in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: The randomized phase II DoGE study.

Background: While docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (DCF) outperforms CF in first-line gastric adenocarcinoma, toxicity remains an issue.

Methods: This multicenter phase II trial randomized chemonaïve metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma patients to fractionated weekly DCF (D 40 mg/m , C 35 mg/m², F 1800 mg/m² over 24 h, on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks, arm (1) or fortnightly DCF (D 50 mg/m , C 50 mg/m², F 2000 mg/m² over 48 h every 2 weeks, arm (2). Prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was not allowed.

Evaluation of analgesic, sympathetic and motor effects of 1% and 2% lidocaine administered epidurally in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Objective: To compare, versus a control, the sensory, sympathetic and motor blockade of lidocaine 1% and 2% administered epidurally in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Study Design: Randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial.

Animals: A total of 24 mixed-breed intact female dogs.

A low-cost portable simulator of a domestic cat larynx for teaching endotracheal intubation.

Objective: To design and construct an affordable simulator of the cat larynx for training intubation maneuvers and to share the designs for its fabrication.

Study Design: Research and development study.

Animals: A domestic cat.

Mucosal immunization with polymeric antigen BLSOmp31 using alternative delivery systems against Brucella ovis in rams.

Subcellular vaccines against ovine contagious epididymitis due Brucella ovis can solve some shortcomings associated with the use of Brucella melitensis Rev 1. We have demonstrated that the parenteral immunization with polymeric antigen BLSOmp31 emulsified in oil adjuvant conferred significant protection against B. ovis in rams.

Sedative and physiologic effects of tiletamine-zolazepam following buccal administration in cats.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the sedative and some physiological effects of tiletamine-zolazepam following buccal administration (BA) in cats.

Methods: Seven healthy spayed European shorthair cats (three males, four females) were studied twice in this randomized, blinded, crossover study. Each cat received two doses of tiletamine-zolazepam by BA: the low-dose (LD) group consisted of 5 mg/kg of each drug, and the high-dose (HD) group consisted of 7.

Which Factors Predict Overall Survival in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Treated With Abiraterone Acetate Post-Docetaxel?

Background: Abiraterone acetate (AA) increases overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) previously treated with docetaxel. However, survival time varies substantially between individuals. Our goal was to identify prognostic factors that better estimate OS.

Polymeric antigen BLSOmp31 in aluminium hydroxide induces serum bactericidal and opsonic antibodies against Brucella canis in dogs.

Polymeric antigen BLSOmp31 is an immunogenic vaccine candidate that confers protection against Brucella canis in mice. In this preliminary study, the immunogenicity and safety of BLSOmp31 adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide gel (BLSOmp31-AH) were evaluated in Beagle dogs. In addition, the potential to elicit serum antibodies with complement-dependent bactericidal activity and/or to enhance phagocytosis by neutrophils were analyzed.

Abiraterone acetate post-docetaxel for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in the Belgian compassionate use program.

Background: Abiraterone acetate (AA) is licensed for treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Real-world data on oncological outcome after AA are scarce. The current study assesses efficacy and safety of AA in mCRPC patients previously treated with docetaxel who started treatment during the Belgian compassionate use program (January 2011-July 2012).

NEW BNYVV P25 VARIANTS IN BELGIUM.

Rhizomania is a widespread viral plant disease of major importance in sugar beet cropping and breeding. It is caused by the Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), a Benyvirus transmitted by the soil inhabiting plasmodiophorid Polymyxa betae. This vector also transmits other sugar beet virus such as Beet virus Q (BVQ) and Beet soil-borne virus (BSBV).

Evaluation of the efficacy of outer membrane protein 31 vaccine formulations for protection against Brucella canis in BALB/c mice.

Canine brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Brucella canis. Unlike conventional control programs for other species of the genus Brucella, currently there is no vaccine available against canine brucellosis, and preventive measures are simply diagnosis and isolation of infected dogs. New approaches are therefore needed to develop an effective and safe immunization strategy against this zoonotic pathogen.

The vaccine candidate BLSOmp31 protects mice against Brucella canis infection.

Canine brucellosis represents a major reproductive problem worldwide and it is considered a zoonotic disease. New approaches are therefore urgently needed to develop an effective and safe immunization strategy against Brucella canis. In the present study, BALB/c mice were subcutaneously immunized with the recombinant chimera rBLSOmp31 formulated in different adjuvants.

Immune response and serum bactericidal activity against Brucella ovis elicited using a short immunization schedule with the polymeric antigen BLSOmp31 in rams.

Brucella ovis is the etiologic agent of ovine brucellosis. The control measures for this disease are periodical diagnosis by serological tests and/or bacteriological culture and culling of positive animals. Vaccination with Brucella melitensis Rev 1 is recommended when prevalence is high.

Phase I study of sorafenib in combination with docetaxel and prednisone in chemo-naïve patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Purpose: We performed a dose-escalation study to investigate the safety of sorafenib in combination with docetaxel and prednisone in chemo-naïve patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Methods: Six patients were included per dose level. Following docetaxel infusion on day 1 (75 mg/m(2)/q3 weeks), sorafenib was administered at 200 mg BID on days 2-19 (dose level 1), at 200 mg BID on days 1-21 (dose level 2), at 400 mg BID on days 2-19 (dose level 3), at 400 mg BID on days 1-21 (dose level 4).

Phase II study of everolimus in patients with locally advanced or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelial tract: clinical activity, molecular response, and biomarkers.

Background: This phase II study assessed the safety and efficacy of everolimus, an oral mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor in advanced transitional carcinoma cell (TCC) after failure of platinum-based therapy.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-seven patients with advanced TCC received everolimus 10 mg/day until progressive disease (PD) or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was the disease control rate (DCR), defined as either stable disease (SD), partial response (PR), or complete response at 8 weeks.

The polymeric antigen BLSOmp31 confers protection against Brucella ovis infection in rams.

We have engineered the polymeric vaccine BLSOmp31 by decorating the highly immunogenic and decameric Brucella lumazine synthase with an exposed loop of the Brucella outer membrane protein Omp31. In the present study, we have immunized different groups of rams with the recombinant chimera rBLSOmp31 in two different adjuvants (Incomplete Freund Adjuvant-IFA and QUIL A) and with the plasmid pCIBLSOmp31 administered either by i.m.

Metastases of clinically occult testicular seminoma mimicking primary extragonadal retroperitoneal germ cell tumors.

Background: Whether extragonadal germ cell tumors develop primarily in the retroperitoneum or whether they are essentially metastases of a primary testicular tumor has long been debated and remains controversial.

Patients And Methods: Three patients presenting with apparent primary extragonadal retroperitoneal germ cell tumors are reported. Ipsilateral testicular evaluation was extended with palpation, ultrasonography and finally histological examination.

Prospective randomized study comparing docetaxel, estramustine, and prednisone with docetaxel and prednisone in metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and toxicity of the addition of estramustine to docetaxel (D) for the treatment of metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: One hundred fifty patients were randomly assigned to D alone (35 mg/m(2) on days 2 and 9, every 3 weeks) or D in combination with estramustine (D/E; 280 mg orally three times a day on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12, every 3 weeks). All patients received prednisone (10 mg/d).

Carcinoid tumor of the small intestine: MDCT findings with pathologic correlation.

Background: MDCT currently frequently represents the first choice modality for imaging in acute or subacute abdominal conditions implicating the small bowel. As a consequence, the MDCT features of intestinal carcinoid tumors and of their peculiar metastatic spread have to be known by abdominal radiologists.

Patients And Methods: These features are described and illustrated in the retrospective review of seven proven cases of small intestine carcinoids diagnosed and treated in our institution.

A Belgian registry of interleukin-2 administration for treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer and confrontation with literature data.

In an effort to map the use of interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment in patients with clear cell renal cell cancer (RCC) in Belgian hospitals, 44 cases were registered from 9 hospitals between February 2003 and June 2006. It was demonstrated that the majority of these patients were treated with subcutaneous (SC) IL-2. Other methods such as the inhalation of the drug in case of intrathoracic disease or high dose intravenous (IV) administration were much less frequent (3 and 0 cases in this registry, respectively).