Partial unilateral ovarian torsion in a red-eared slider turtle ().

Follicular torsion occurs when only a group of ovarian follicles rotates around its own axis resulting in vascular compromise. To our knowledge, no previous reports have documented the occurrence of this condition in chelonians. A 14-year-old female was presented with inappetence and lethargy for approximately 2 weeks.

Myocarditis in an FIP-Diseased Cat with FCoV M1058L Mutation: Clinical and Pathological Changes.

An 8-month-old intact male domestic shorthair cat was referred to the Emergency Service of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) of the Department of Veterinary Science of the University of Parma (Italy) from the Parma municipal multi-cat shelter, during the winter season (January 2023), for lethargy, anorexia, hypothermia, and hypoglycemia. At the VTH, upon cardiologic examination, an increase in heart rate, under normal blood pressure conditions, was detected. Signalment, clinical history, basal metabolic panel (BMP), ultrasound investigations, and cytological findings were all consistent with a diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

Nipah Virus Disease: Epidemiological, Clinical, Diagnostic and Legislative Aspects of This Unpredictable Emerging Zoonosis.

Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a viral disease caused by a Henipavirus, belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family, responsible for a zoonosis. The course of the disease can be very serious and lead to death. NiV natural hosts are fruit bats (also known as megabats) belonging to the Pteropodidae family, especially those of the genus.

Biochemical Analyses of Bioactive Extracts from Plants Native to Lampedusa, Sicily Minor Island.

Major threats to the human lifespan include cancer, infectious diseases, diabetes, mental degenerative conditions and also reduced agricultural productivity due to climate changes, together with new and more devastating plant diseases. From all of this, the need arises to find new biopesticides and new medicines. Plants and microorganisms are the most important sources for isolating new metabolites.

Diplofuranoxin, a disubstituted dihydrofuranone, was produced together with sphaeropsidin A and epi-sphaeropsidone by Diplodia subglobosa, an emerging ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) pathogen in Europe.

An undescribed disubstituted dihydrofuranone, named diplofuranoxin, was isolated, together with the six well known metabolites sphaeropsidins A and C, epi-sphaeropsidone, mellein and cis- and trans-4-hydroxymelleins, from the fungal species Diplodia subglobosa, an emerging pathogen involved in the ash dieback aetiology in Europe. Currently, the disease represents the main threat to European ash heritage and the wood associated industry. Diplofuranoxin, was characterized essentially by NMR and HRESIMS spectra as (3Z)-3-(2,3-dihydroxybutylidene)-5-methyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one.

Cytotoxicity and Antiviral Properties of Alkaloids Isolated from .

Ten Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) were isolated for the first time from Pancratium maritimum collected in Calabria region, Italy. They belong to different subgroups of this family and were identified as lycorine, which is the main alkaloid, 9-O-demethyllycorine, haemanthidine, haemanthamine, 11-hydroxyvittatine, homolycorine, pancracine, obliquine, tazettine and vittatine. Haemanthidine was isolated as a scalar mixture of two 6-epimers, as already known also for other 6-hydroxycrinine alkaloids, but for the first time they were separated as 6,11-O,O′-di-p-bromobenzoyl esters.

Isolation and Biological Characterization of Homoisoflavanoids and the Alkylamide --Coumaroyltyramine from Rottb., an Amaryllidaceae Species Collected in Senegal.

Rottb. (syn. ) is an Amaryllidaceae plant used in African traditional medicine but very few studies have been performed on this species from a chemical and applicative point of view.

Pinofuranoxins A and B, Bioactive Trisubstituted Furanones Produced by the Invasive Pathogen .

Two new bioactive trisubstituted furanones, named pinofuranoxins A and B ( and ), were isolated from , a worldwide conifer pathogen causing severe disease. Pinofuranoxins A and B were characterized essentially by NMR and HRESIMS spectra, and their relative and absolute configurations were assigned by NOESY experiments and computational analyses of electronic circular dichroism spectra. They induced necrotic lesions on L.

Argyrotoxins A-C, a trisubstituted dihydroisobenzofuranone, a tetrasubstituted 2-hydroxyethylbenzamide and a tetrasubstitutedphenyl trisubstitutedbutyl ether produced by Alternaria argyroxiphii, the causal agent of leaf spot on African mahogany trees (Khaya senegalensis).

Three previously undescribed metabolites named argyrotoxins A-C, were isolated, together with the well known porritoxinol, its closely related phthalide, a phthalide derivative, zinniol, alternariol and its 4-methyl ether from Alternaria argyroxiphii E.G. Simmons & Aragaki, the causal agent of leaf spot on African mahogany trees, Khaya senegalensis A.

Effects of Orexin B on Swine Granulosa and Endothelial Cells.

In addition to the well-known central modulatory role of orexins, we recently demonstrated a peripheral involvement in swine granulosa cells for orexin A and in adipose tissue for orexin B (OXB). The aim of present research was to verify immunolocalization of OXB and its potential role in modulating the main features of swine granulosa cells. In particular, we explored the effects on granulosa cell proliferation (through the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine), cell metabolic activity (as indirect evaluation by the assessment of ATP), steroidogenic activity (by immunoenzymatic examination) and redox status (evaluating the production of superoxide anion by means of the WST test, production of nitric oxide through the use of the Griess test and the non-enzymatic reducing power by FRAP test).

Amaryllidaceae Alkaloid Cherylline Inhibits the Replication of Dengue and Zika Viruses.

Dengue fever, caused by dengue virus (DENV), is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease and is endemic in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world, with an increasing incidence in temperate regions. The closely related flavivirus Zika virus (ZIKV) can be transmitted vertically and causes congenital Zika syndrome and other birth defects. In adults, ZIKV is associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

A pathogenic HEXA missense variant in wild boars with Tay-Sachs disease.

Gangliosidoses are inherited lysosomal storage disorders caused by reduced or absent activity of either a lysosomal enzyme involved in ganglioside catabolism, or an activator protein required for the proper activity of a ganglioside hydrolase, which results in the intra-lysosomal accumulation of undegraded metabolites. We hereby describe morphological, ultrastructural, biochemical and genetic features of GM2 gangliosidosis in three captive bred wild boar littermates. The piglets were kept in a partially-free range farm and presented progressive neurological signs, starting at 6 months of age.

Melatonin modulates swine luteal and adipose stromal cell functions.

Based on our previous study in follicles, the first aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of melatonin in the swine corpus luteum (CL). Luteal cells were exposed to 10 and 20pg mL-1 melatonin. We evaluated the effect on proliferation (bromo-deoxy-uridine uptake), steroidogenesis (progesterone) and redox status by means of Griess test (nitric oxide production), WST-1 test (superoxide anion generation) and FRAP test (non-enzymatic antioxidant power).

Multifocal cutaneous non-epitheliotropic B-cell lymphoma in a cat.

Case Summary: Skin tumours are the second-most common form of feline cancer after haematopoietic neoplasms and are often malignant. Cutaneous lymphoma is uncommon in cats and can be classified as epitheliotropic (typically of T-cell origin) or non-epitheliotropic (either of T-cell or B-cell origin). The present study describes a case of multifocal cutaneous non-epitheliotropic B-cell lymphoma.

Orexin B inhibits viability and differentiation of stromal cells from swine adipose tissue.

Adipose tissue is recognized as a fundamental endocrine organ. Nowadays, we are also aware that it contains the highest number of stromal cells (ASCs) per unit of volume. These cells can differentiate between different phenotypes among which the adipocytes.

Xenobiotic-Free Medium Guarantees Expansion of Adipose Tissue-Derived Canine Mesenchymal Stem Cells Both in 3D Fibrin-Based Matrices and in 2D Plastic Surface Cultures.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been recently introduced in veterinary medicine as a potential therapeutic tool for several pathologies. The large-scale in vitro expansion needed to ensure the preparation of a suitable number of MSCs for clinical application usually requires the use of xenogeneic supplements like the fetal bovine serum (FBS). The substitution of FBS with species-specific supplements would improve the safety of implanted cells, reducing the risk of undesired immune responses following cell therapy.

Advances in the Chemical and Biological Characterization of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids and Natural Analogues Isolated in the Last Decade.

Amaryllidaceae are bulbous wild and cultivated plants well known for their beautiful flowers and pharmaceutical applications, essentially due to the alkaloids and flavonoids content. Hundreds of alkaloids have been isolated until now and several scientific publications reported their sources, chemical structures, and biological activities. During the last decade, some unstudied Amaryllidaceae plants were the object of in-depth investigations to isolate and chemically and biologically characterize new and already known alkaloids as well as some analogues.

Endocanalicular transendothelial crossing (ETC): A novel intravasation mode used by HEK-EBNA293-VEGF-D cells during the metastatic process in a xenograft model.

In cancer metastasis, intravasation of the invasive tumor cell (TCi) represents one of the most relevant events. During the last years, models regarding cancer cell intravasation have been proposed, such as the "endocanalicular transendothelial crossing" (ETC) theory. This theory describes the interplay between two adjacent endothelial cells and the TCi or a leukocyte during intravasation.

Phytotoxic metabolites from a fungal pathogen of in Iran.

Two phytotoxic furan derivatives were isolated, together with the well-known fungal and plant phytotoxin tyrosol, from the culture filtrates of . This fungal pathogen isolated from trees induced wood necrosis and decline symptoms on the host plant in Iran. The two furan derivatives, isolated for the first time from , were identified by spectroscopic methods (essentially 1 D and 2 D H and C NMR and ESIMS spectroscopy) as 5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde and 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran.

Massarilactones D and H, phytotoxins produced by , associated with grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) in Iran.

A strain of associated with grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) was identified in Iran and induced disease symptoms on the host in greenhouse conditions. The grapevine pathogens are able to produce a plethora of toxic metabolites belonging to different classes of naturally occurring compounds. Two homogeneous compounds were isolated from the organic extract of culture filtrates.

Anti-Biofilm Activity of the Fungal Phytotoxin Sphaeropsidin A Against Clinical Isolates of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

Many pathogens involved in human infection have rapidly increased their antibiotic resistance, reducing the effectiveness of therapies in recent decades. Most of them can form biofilms and effective drugs are not available to treat these formations. Natural products could represent an efficient solution in discovering and developing new drugs to overcome antimicrobial resistance and treat biofilm-related infections.

Gigantelline, gigantellinine and gigancrinine, cherylline- and crinine-type alkaloids isolated from Crinum jagus with anti-acetylcholinesterase activity.

Three undescribed Amarylidaceae alkaloids, named gigantelline, gigantellinine and gigancrinine, were isolated from Crinum jagus (syn. = Crinum giganteum) collected in Senegal, together with the already known sanguinine, cherylline, lycorine, crinine, flexinine and the isoquinolinone derivative hippadine. Gigantelline, gigantellinine and gigancrinine were characterized as 4-(6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolin-4-yl)-phenol, its 7-O-demethyl-5ꞌ-hydroxy-4ꞌ-methoxy derivative and 5,6a,7,7a,8a,9-hexahydro-6,9a-ethano[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-j]oxireno[2,3-b]phenanthridin-9-ol, respectively, by using spectroscopic (1D and 2D H and C NMR and HRESIMS) and chemical methods.

Evaluation of the Anti-Tumor Activity of Small Molecules Targeting Eph/Ephrins in APC /J Mice.

The Eph receptors are the largest receptors tyrosine kinases (RTKs) family in humans and together with ephrin ligands constitute a complex cellular communication system often dysregulated in many tumors. The role of the Eph-ephrin system in colorectal cancer (CRC) has been investigated and different expression of Eph receptors have been associated with tumor development and progression. In light of this evidence, we investigated if a pharmacological approach aimed at inhibiting Eph/ephrin interaction through small molecules could prevent tumor growth in APC /J mice.

Higginsianins D and E, Cytotoxic Diterpenoids Produced by .

Two new diterpenoids with tetrasubstituted 3-oxodihydrofuran substituents, named higginsianins D () and E (), were isolated from the mycelium of the fungus grown in liquid culture. They were characterized as methyl 2-[6-hydroxy-5,8a-dimethyl-2-methylene-5-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)-decahydronaphthalen-1-ylmethyl]-4,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2,3-dihydrofuran-2-carboxylate and its 21-epimer by using NMR, HRESIMS, and chemical methods. The relative configurations of higginsianins D and E, which did not afford crystals suitable for X-ray analysis, were determined by NOESY experiments and by comparison with NMR data of higginsianin B.