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.

Phase I study of plitidepsin in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Previous studies showed antitumor activity for plitidepsin plus dexamethasone (DXM) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM), and in vitro synergism with bortezomib (BTZ) or DXM against MM cells. This phase I trial evaluated plitidepsin (3-h intravenous infusion Day 1 and 15), BTZ (subcutaneous bolus Day 1, 4, 8, and 11), and DXM (orally Day 1, 8, 15, and 22), every 4 weeks in 36 r/r MM patients. Twenty-two patients were treated using a standard dose escalation design (10 at the recommended dose [RD] cohort), and 14 additional patients were treated to expand the RD cohort.

Real-world effectiveness of caplacizumab vs the standard of care in immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy caused by anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies. Caplacizumab is approved for adults with an acute episode of iTTP in conjunction with plasma exchange (PEX) and immunosuppression. The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the safety and efficacy of caplacizumab vs the standard of care and assess the effect of the concomitant use of rituximab.

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.

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.

Comparison of two sedation protocols for short electroretinography in cats.

Objectives The objectives were to compare two different sedative combinations, xylazine-ketamine and dexmedetomidine-ketamine, for the short electroretinography (ERG) protocol and their impact on sedative effect, reversal times and physiological variables in cats. Methods Six healthy spayed female domestic cats were sedated using one of two ketamine-containing protocols: intramuscular xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg) plus ketamine hydrochloride (3 mg/kg) (XK), and dexmedetomidine hydrochloride (5 µg/kg) plus ketamine hydrochloride (3 mg/kg) (DK). A short ERG protocol was recorded from the left eye of each cat under XK and DK sedation.

Ocular topotecan pharmacokinetics following topical administration to rabbits for diffused anterior retinoblastoma.

Objectives: We characterized and compared the in-vivo absorption of topotecan into the aqueous humor after instillation of aqueous and ointment formulations.

Methods: A lanolin/petrolatum ointment was used. New Zealand rabbits were instilled with topotecan solution (6 μg, group A), a single 10 μg dose of topotecan ointment (group B) or with five 10 μg doses of topotecan ointment (group C).

Sustained-release hydrogels of topotecan for retinoblastoma.

Treatment of retinoblastoma, the most common primary ocular malignancy in children, has greatly improved over the last decade. Still, new devices for chemotherapy are needed to achieve better tumor control. The aim of this project was to develop an ocular drug delivery system for topotecan (TPT) loaded in biocompatible hydrogels of poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethyleneglycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) block copolymers (PCL-PEG-PCL) for sustained TPT release in the vitreous humor.

Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Efficacy of Intravitreal Digoxin in Preclinical Models for Retinoblastoma.

Purpose: To assess in vitro cytotoxic activity and antiangiogenic effect, ocular and systemic disposition, and toxicity of digoxin in rabbits after intravitreal injection as a potential candidate for retinoblastoma treatment.

Methods: A panel of two retinoblastoma and three endothelial cell types were exposed to increasing concentrations of digoxin in a conventional (72-hour exposure) and metronomic (daily exposure) treatment scheme. Cytotoxicity was defined as the digoxin concentration that killed 50% of the cells (IC50) and was assessed with a vital dye in all cell types.

Novel protease inhibitor-loaded Nanoparticle-in-Microparticle Delivery System leads to a dramatic improvement of the oral pharmacokinetics in dogs.

With the advent of the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, the morbidity and the mortality associated to HIV have been considerably reduced. However, 35-40 million people bear the infection worldwide. One of the main causes of therapeutic failure is the frequent administration of several antiretrovirals that results in low patient compliance and treatment cessation.

Local and systemic toxicity of intravitreal melphalan for vitreous seeding in retinoblastoma: a preclinical and clinical study.

Purpose: Intravitreal melphalan is emerging as an effective treatment for refractory vitreous seeds in retinoblastoma, but there is limited understanding regarding its toxicity. This study evaluates the retinal and systemic toxicity of intravitreal melphalan in retinoblastoma patients, with preclinical validation in a rabbit model.

Design: Clinical and preclinical, prospective, cohort study.

Plasma and ocular prednisolone disposition after oral treatment in cats.

Objective: To evaluate the plasma and aqueous humor disposition of prednisolone after oral administration in cats.

Methods: Six cats were administered with a single oral dose of prednisolone (10 mg). Blood and aqueous humor samples were serially collected after drug administration.

Ocular and systemic toxicity of intravitreal topotecan in rabbits for potential treatment of retinoblastoma.

Treatment of intraocular retinoblastoma with vitreous seeding is a challenge. Different routes of chemotherapy administration have been explored in order to attaining pharmacological concentrations into the posterior chamber. Intravitreal drug injection is a promissing route for maximum bioavailability to the vitreous but it requires a well defined dose for achieving tumor control while limited toxicity to the retina.

Foodborne nosocomial outbreak of SHV1 and CTX-M-15-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae: epidemiology and control.

Background: We describe a foodborne nosocomial outbreak due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Methods: An outbreak of ESBL K. pneumoniae was detected in March 2008.

Fluorescence-based detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in phlebotomus vectors.

The geographical diffusion of leishmaniasis can depend on the factors limiting the distribution of sandfly vectors. In Sicily, as in all Mediterranean areas, sandflies are present almost all year round because the climate permits perpetuation of this vector's life cycle. Transmission can occurs in rural and domestic habitats through the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies.

Characterization of uveitis induced by use of a single intravitreal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide in cats.

Objective: To investigate the use of a single intravitreal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to experimentally induce uveitis in cats.

Animals: 7 young male European shorthair cats that were considered physically and ophthalmologically healthy.

Procedures: In each cat, LPS was injected intravitreally into 1 eye; the contralateral eye was injected with the preparation vehicle.

Hallux valgus inheritance: pedigree research in 350 patients with bunion deformity.

Our objective was to construct 3-generation pedigree charts from 350 patients with hallux valgus. During a 1-year period, all consecutive patients (n = 1174) with a painful bunion deformity evaluated roentgenographically were asked to complete a detailed 3-generation family history questionnaire. We studied 350 probands (22 men, 328 women; male/female ratio, 1:14.

Circadian rhythm of intraocular pressure in cats.

Objective: To evaluate the rhythm of intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy domestic cats with no evidence of ocular disease and to analyze the influence of photoperiod, age, gender and ocular diseases on diurnal-nocturnal variations of cat IOP.

Animals: All animals were Domestic Short-haired cats; 30 were without systemic or ocular diseases, classified as follows: 12 male intact adult cats, five intact adult female, five adult spayed female, and eight male cats; the latter were less than 1 year of age. In addition, five adult cats with uveitis and three adult cats with secondary glaucoma were included.

Use of random amplified microsatellites to type isolates from an outbreak of nosocomial aspergillosis in a general medical ward.

Numerous patients were diagnosed with aspergillosis in a nosocomial outbreak caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Thirty-three isolates of the former and 28 isolates of the latter were collected from the hospital environment and from the patients and studied for genetic relatedness by random amplified microsatellites (RAMS) analysis, in which two polymorphic regions were tested. Twenty-eight genotypes of A.

Inter-single-sequence-repeat-PCR typing as a new tool for identification of Microsporum canis strains.

Background: Microsporum canis is a ubiquitous dermatophyte that commonly causes human infections. Since contact with infected animals is the usual way of infection, tracing its source is an essential preventive measure.

Objective: To type isolates of M.

Social context for workplace health promotion: feasibility considerations in Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Spain and Sweden.

We constructed a simple, flexible procedure that facilitates the pre-assessment of feasibility of workplace health promotion (WHP) programmes. It evaluates cancer hazards, workers' need for hazard reduction, acceptability of WHP, and social context. It was tested and applied in 16 workplace communities and among 1085 employees in industry, construction, transport, services, teaching and municipal works in Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Spain and Sweden.