ACVR and ECVDI consensus statement: Reporting elements for toxicity criteria of the veterinary radiation therapy oncology group v2.0.

The toxicity criteria of the veterinary radiation therapy oncology group (VRTOG) version 2 guidelines are a substantial update to reflect significant advances in radiation oncology over the last three decades. Radiation therapy techniques provide precise and spatially accurate radiation delivery, which facilitates treating tumors in more anatomic locations and incorporating hypofractionated protocols. The purpose of this update is to aid radiation oncology teams in capturing and grading clinically relevant data that impacts the decision-making process in everyday practice and the assessment of clinical trials involving radiation therapy.

First, do no harm. Ethical and legal issues of artificial intelligence and machine learning in veterinary radiology and radiation oncology.

Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are novel technologies that will change the way veterinary medicine is practiced. Exactly how this change will occur is yet to be determined, and, as is the nature with disruptive technologies, will be difficult to predict. Ushering in this new tool in a conscientious way will require knowledge of the terminology and types of AI as well as forward thinking regarding the ethical and legal implications within the profession.

The experience of sleep deprivation for midwives practicing in the united states.

Introduction: Midwives in the United States who work shifts longer than 12 h have higher rates of excessive daytime sleepiness than midwives who work shifts of 12 h or less. Increased levels of excessive daytime sleepiness can lead to negative life impacts and may increase the risk for accidents and professional burnout.

Objective: To describe midwives' experiences related to sleep and sleep deprivation as a result of their work and call-shift schedules.

Tolerability of oral sorafenib in pet dogs with a diagnosis of cancer.

Sorafenib is a multi-target small molecule inhibitor of the RAF kinase family and VEGFR-2/PDGFR. The US Food and Drug Administration approved sorafenib in human patients with liver, thyroid, or renal carcinoma. The aim of this study was to help guide future pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of sorafenib in dogs with a cancer diagnosis.

A NOVEL, REMOVABLE, CERROBEND, BEAM-BLOCKING DEVICE FOR RADIATION THERAPY OF THE CANINE HEAD AND NECK: PILOT STUDY.

Radiation therapy of the head and neck can result in mucositis and other acute affects in the oral cavity. This prospective pilot study evaluated a novel, intraoral, beam-blocking device for use during imaging and therapeutic procedures. The beam-blocking device was made from a metal alloy inserted into a coated frozen dessert mold (Popsicle® Mold, Cost Plus World Market, Oakland, CA).

Protein Phosphatase 2A Inhibition with LB100 Enhances Radiation-Induced Mitotic Catastrophe and Tumor Growth Delay in Glioblastoma.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a tumor suppressor whose function is lost in many cancers. An emerging, though counterintuitive, therapeutic approach is inhibition of PP2A to drive damaged cells through the cell cycle, sensitizing them to radiotherapy. We investigated the effects of PP2A inhibition on U251 glioblastoma cells following radiation treatment in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model in vivo.

Ionizing radiation and glioblastoma exosomes: implications in tumor biology and cell migration.

Exosomes are nanometer-sized lipid vesicles released ubiquitously by cells, which have been shown to have a normal physiological role, as well as influence the tumor microenvironment and aid metastasis. Recent studies highlight the ability of exosomes to convey tumor-suppressive and oncogenic mRNAs, microRNAs, and proteins to a receiving cell, subsequently activating downstream signaling pathways and influencing cellular phenotype. Here, we show that radiation increases the abundance of exosomes released by glioblastoma cells and normal astrocytes.

Radiosensitization by the novel DNA intercalating agent vosaroxin.

Purpose: Vosaroxin is a first in class naphthyridine analog structurally related to quinolone antibacterials, that intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II. Vosaroxin is not a P-glycoprotein receptor substrate and its activity is independent of p53, thus evading common drug resistance mechanisms. To evaluate vosaroxin as a clinically applicable radiation sensitizer, we investigated its effects on tumor cell radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo.

Development and characterization of 5 canine B-cell lymphoma cell lines.

Canine and human lymphoma share similar characteristics in disease development and response to therapy. Translational research can be furthered using tools such as canine cell lines to model therapeutic compounds and strategies. We developed 5 B-cell lymphoma cell lines from dogs with confirmed large B-cell lymphoma.

Modeling opportunities in comparative oncology for drug development.

Successful development of novel cancer drugs depends on well-reasoned scientific drug discovery, rigorous preclinical development, and carefully conceived clinical trials. Failure in any of these steps contributes to poor rates of approval for new drugs to treat cancer. As technological and scientific advances have opened the door to a variety of novel approaches to cancer drug discovery and development, preclinical models that can answer questions about the activity and safety of novel therapies are increasingly necessary.

Spontaneous hemoperitoneum in cats: 65 cases (1994-2006).

Objective: To describe the clinical signs, physical examination findings, clinical laboratory abnormalities, etiology, and outcome in cats with spontaneous hemoperitoneum.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 65 client-owned cats with spontaneous hemoperitoneum.

Assessment of the accuracy and precision of a patient immobilization device for radiation therapy in canine head and neck tumors.

The positioning accuracy and precision of a head and neck immobilization device for radiation therapy of tumors in the canine skull was evaluated. Nineteen dogs with a spontaneous tumor of the head were enrolled including 12 with an intracranial mass and seven with an intranasal or maxillary tumor. Three hundred thirty-three pairs of orthogonal digital portal radiographs were analyzed to assess patient displacement in the cranial-caudal, lateral, and dorso-ventral directions.

Temporal changes in characteristics of injection-site sarcomas in cats: 392 cases (1990-2006).

Objective: To evaluate changes in characteristics of feline injection-site sarcomas (ISSs) from 1990 through 2006.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 392 cats with a histologic diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma, or chondrosarcoma at potential injection sites.

Evaluation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway and the effect of rapamycin on target expression and cellular proliferation in osteosarcoma cells from dogs.

Objective: To investigate activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and the antitumor effect of rapamycin in canine osteosarcoma cells.

Sample Population: 3 established primary canine osteosarcoma cell lines generated from naturally developing tumors.

Procedures: Expression of total and phosphorylated mTOR and p70S6 kinase was assessed by use of western blot analysis in canine osteosarcoma cells with and without the addition of rapamycin.

Evaluation of strontium Sr 90 for the treatment of superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal planum in cats: 49 cases (1990-2006).

Objective: To determine progression-free and overall survival times of cats with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the nasal planum following treatment with a single fraction of strontium Sr 90 ((90)Sr).

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 49 cats with SCC of the nasal planum.