Performance evaluation of nine reference centers and comparison of DNA extraction protocols for effective surveillance of Leishmania-infected Phlebotomine sand flies: Basis for technical recommendations.

Background: Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania protozoan parasites transmitted by Phlebotomine sand flies, is a significant public health concern in the Mediterranean basin. Effective monitoring of Leishmania-infected sand flies requires standardized tools for comparing their distribution and infection prevalence. Consistent quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) parameters and efficient DNA extraction protocols are crucial for reliable results over time and across regions.

Intradural-extramedullary inflammatory pseudotumour of the cervical spinal cord of a dog.

An 8-year-old mixed-breed dog was presented with cervical hyperesthesia, tetraparesis, and mild proprioceptive ataxia in all four limbs. 3 Tesla MRI showed a dorsal compressive intradural-extramedullary mass at the level of C1-C2, isointense to the gray matter with a hypointense ventral core on T2 weighted images (WI), isointense on T1WI, with a strong and homogeneous contrast enhancement. A C1-C2 partial dorsal laminectomy was performed, and the lesion was removed en bloc.

Optimization of Potent and Specific Trypanothione Reductase Inhibitors: A Structure-Based Drug Discovery Approach.

spp. are responsible for up to 1 million new cases each year. The current therapeutic arsenal against is largely inadequate, and there is an urgent need for better drugs.

Clinical, magnetic resonance imaging and histologic findings of canine thoracolumbar discal pseudocyst: 8 cases (2014-2019).

Objective: To report the clinical and MRI features, and histologic findings of thoracolumbar discal pseudocyst in dogs.

Materials And Methods: The records of eight dogs with thoracolumbar discal cyst-like structures were retrospectively collected to record their clinical signs, MRI features and surgical and histologic findings.

Results: Eight dogs with surgically and histologically confirmed thoracolumbar discal pseudocysts were included in the case series.

Canine leishmaniosis in the Italian northeastern Alps: A survey to assess serological prevalence in dogs and distribution of phlebotomine sand flies in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol, Italy.

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol (APB), located in the northernmost territory of the Italian eastern Alps, is still considered non-endemic for canine leishmaniosis (CanL) despite clinical cases being observed and a competent Leishmania infantum vector (Phlebotomus perniciosus) having been recorded since 2008. A serological survey of leishmaniosis among a randomly-selected subpopulation of registered owned dogs was carried in 2018, followed by entomological investigations performed in 2019 and driven by canine survey results. A total of 457 resident dogs from all over the APB territory were examined through IFAT for antibodies against L.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux as a potential cause of persistent local neck symptoms after total thyroidectomy.

Purpose: Local neck symptoms (LNS) may be related to goiter, but are also reported by patients suffering from laryngeal-pharyngeal reflux (LPR). The aim of this study was to investigate whether LPR could play a role in the persistence of some LNS after total thyroidectomy (TT).

Methods: A consecutive case series of 160 patients with multinodular goiter (MNG) candidate for TT were included in this study.

Assessment of Circulating Immune Complexes During Natural and Experimental Canine Leishmaniasis.

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a disease characterized by a large variety of clinical alterations, the majority of which being due to immune mediated mechanisms. Sick dogs usually produce high levels of -specific immunoglobulins which may give rise to circulating immune complexes (CICs) whose defective clearance by scavenging macrophages induces vasculitis and their deposition in specific organs. The aim of this study was to assess the serum level of CICs in dogs exposed to natural and experimental infection.

An investigation of polymorphisms in innate and adaptive immune response genes in canine leishmaniosis.

The outcome of infection with Leishmania infantum in dogs is variable, which is thought to be due to the nature of the immune response mounted by the host. As a consequence, the clinical signs and severity of canine leishmaniosis vary between individual dogs. Host immunogenetic factors might play an important role in determining the outcome of infection.

Emerging feline vector-borne pathogens in Italy.

Background: The epidemiology of feline vector-borne pathogens (FeVBPs) has been less investigated in cats than in dogs. The present study assessed the prevalence of Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp.

The consumption of snacks and soft drinks between meals may contribute to the development and to persistence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

The Hypothesis: The habit of snacking and drinking soft beverages between breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is very widespread in the western world, could be a primum movens, thereby contributing to the development and subsequent persistence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). WHAT DOES THE PROPOSED HYPOTHESIS BASED ON?: The high prevalence of GERD suggests that it is very probably caused by factors, which are intrinsic and widespread in a western lifestyle. Ingesting snacks or imbibing soft drinks between breakfast, lunch and dinner causes additional gastric acid secretion, acid pocket formation, and additional transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs) with acid reflux; the latter are proportional to the number of ingestions.

Effectiveness of a Piezoelectric-Assisted Distraction Osteogenesis Procedure for the Treatment of Ankylosed Permanent Front Teeth.

A common complication of tooth replantation after traumatic avulsion is tooth ankylosis causing dental malpositioning, partial loss of function, tipping of adjacent teeth and worsening of aesthetics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a repositioning procedure of such ankylosed permanent front teeth by a distraction osteogenesis procedure. Five patients (mean age 13.

The value of total thyroidectomy as the definitive treatment for Graves' disease: A single centre experience of 594 cases.

Purpose: Thyroidectomy is the preferred approach as the definitive treatment for Graves' disease. The outcomes for total thyroidectomy in a large series of 594 patients, who were observed in the last decade, will be presented in this study.

Methods: The study concerned a retrospective review of 594 patients, undergoing a total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease.

Nostril mass caused by Leishmania spp. in a dog.

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a systemic zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania, an intracellular macrophage parasite, transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sandflies. In dogs, the clinical disease is mostly characterised by symptoms associated with viscerocutaneous lesions such as lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin lesions, and renal and ocular disease caused by the deposition of immune complexes. The parasite may provoke mucosal lesions which cause atypical clinical signs.

Epidemiological survey on Leishmania infection in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs sharing the same rural area in Southern Italy.

Southern Italy, particularly Campania region, is an area where canine leishmaniasis (CanL) and zoonotic human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are endemic. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has been hypothesized to play a role in occurrence of CanL in Italy but specific studies are poor. The aim of the present survey was to investigate the prevalence of Leishmania infection in dogs and foxes living in the same rural area (Picentini hills).

The recombinant protein rSP03B is a valid antigen for screening dog exposure to Phlebotomus perniciosus across foci of canine leishmaniasis.

The frequency of sandfly-host contacts can be measured by host antibody levels against sandfly salivary proteins. Recombinant salivary proteins are suggested to represent a valid replacement for salivary gland homogenate (SGH); however, it is necessary to prove that such antigens are recognized by antibodies against various populations of the same species. Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Psychodidae) is the main vector of Leishmania infantum (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae) in southwest Europe and is widespread from Portugal to Italy.

Ongoing outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in northwestern Yemen: clinicoepidemiologic, geographic, and taxonomic study.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is widespread in Yemen but has not been fully documented.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the clinicoepidemiologic and geographic aspects of CL in northwest Yemen and the taxonomic profile of the causative Leishmania species.

Methods: All CL cases diagnosed at the Dermatology Clinic of the Saudi Hospital at Hajjah during 1997-2012 were reviewed.

Analysis of tissue and circulating microRNA expression during metaplastic transformation of the esophagus.

Genetic changes involved in the metaplastic progression from squamous esophageal mucosa toward Barrett's metaplasia and adenocarcinoma are almost unknown. Several evidences suggest that some miRNAs are differentially expressed in Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Among these, miR-143, miR-145, miR-194, miR-203, miR-205, miR-215 appear to have a key role in metaplasia and neoplastic progression.

Nintedanib in NSCLC: evidence to date and place in therapy.

The treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is currently driven by the detection of targetable oncogenic drivers, i.e. epidermal growth factor receptor, echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase, etc.

Hunting dogs as sentinel animals for monitoring infections with Trichinella spp. in wildlife.

Background: Nematode parasites of the genus Trichinella are important foodborne pathogens transmitted by ingestion of striated muscles harbouring infective larvae. Wild carnivorous and omnivorous animals are the most important reservoirs of these parasites. Hunting activities play an important role in Trichinella spp.

Optimization of the Wound Scratch Assay to Detect Changes in Murine Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Migration After Damage by Soluble Cigarette Smoke Extract.

Cell migration is vital to many physiological and pathological processes including tissue development, repair, and regeneration, cancer metastasis, and inflammatory responses. Given the current interest in the role of mesenchymal stromal cells in mediating tissue repair, we are interested in quantifying the migratory capacity of these cells, and understanding how migratory capacity may be altered after damage. Optimization of a rigorously quantitative migration assay that is both easy to customize and cost-effective to perform is key to answering questions concerning alterations in cell migration in response to various stimuli.

HepatomiRNoma: The proposal of a new network of targets for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent a huge advancement in the last years. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been also studied to provide a new tool for early diagnosis of high risk patients, for prognostic classification to identify those patients who benefit cancer treatment and for predictive definition to select the right targeted drug. In this review we revised all the available data obtained to explore the role of miRNAs in HCC.