Effect of glyceryl trinitrate and clevidipine administration on CT angiogram findings in dogs undergoing prostatic artery embolization for prostatic carcinoma.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vasodilator administration on CT angiography (CTA) prostatic artery diameter and peak opacification in dogs with prostatic carcinoma prior to prostatic artery embolization (PAE).

Materials And Methods: A prospective clinical trial was performed. Ten dogs with naturally occurring prostatic carcinoma and no evidence of cardiovascular disease were enrolled.

Discovery and adaptation of microbes that degrade oxidized low-density polyethylene films.

Unlabelled: There is a growing interest in developing a methodology for effectively cleaving carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds in polymer backbones through bioconversion processes that utilize microorganisms and their enzymes. This upsurge of interest is driven by the goal of achieving a circular economy. Polyolefin post-consumer plastics are a substantial source of carbon, but the recycling potential is severely limited.

Updates on Radiation Therapy for Pituitary Tumors: Techniques and Prognosis.

Radiation therapy for the treatment of both functional and nonfunctional pituitary tumors for dogs and cats has been described in veterinary medicine with a recent shift in focus toward stereotactic techniques. While the technology required and normal tissue constraints for stereotactic procedures are more stringent, recent publications indicate that, while it helps alleviate clinical signs, the survival response may not be as durable as with conventionally fractionated radiation therapy in dogs, despite being seen in cats. Regardless of the protocol recommendation, potential benefit to the patient is excellent with manageable side effect profiles.

Assessment of tumor hypoxia in spontaneous canine tumors after treatment with OMX, a novel H-NOX oxygen carrier, with [F]FMISO PET/CT.

Background: Hypoxia is a detrimental factor in solid tumors, leading to aggressiveness and therapy resistance. OMX, a tunable oxygen carrier from the heme nitric oxide/oxygen-binding (H-NOX) protein family, has the potential to reduce tumor hypoxia. [F]Fluoromisonidazole ([F]FMISO) positron emission tomography (PET) is the most widely used and investigated method for non-invasive imaging of tumor hypoxia.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Expert Consensus Document on the Management of Pleural Drains After Pulmonary Lobectomy: Expert Consensus Document.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforce on Evidence-Based Surgery provides this document on management of pleural drains after pulmonary lobectomy. The goal of this consensus document is to provide guidance regarding pleural drains in 5 specific areas: (1) choice of drain, including size, type, and number; (2) management, including use of suction vs water seal and criteria for removal; (3) imaging recommendations, including the use of daily and postpull chest roentgenograms; (4) use of digital drainage systems; and (5) management of prolonged air leak. To formulate the consensus statements, a task force of 15 general thoracic surgeons was invited to review the existing literature on this topic.

Preclinical evaluation and first-in-dog clinical trials of PBMC-expanded natural killer cells for adoptive immunotherapy in dogs with cancer.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic cells capable of recognizing heterogeneous cancer targets without prior sensitization, making them promising prospects for use in cellular immunotherapy. Companion dogs develop spontaneous cancers in the context of an intact immune system, representing a valid cancer immunotherapy model. Previously, CD5 depletion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was used in dogs to isolate a CD5-expressing NK subset prior to co-culture with an irradiated feeder line, but this can limit the yield of the final NK product.

Normal variation of clinical mobility of the mandibular symphysis in cats.

Introduction: The primary objective of this retrospective study was to document the normal variation of clinical mobility of the mandibular symphysis in cats and possible associations with bodyweight, age, sex, sexual status, breed and skull morphology. Secondarily, the radiographic appearance of the mandibular symphysis and possible associations with the analyzed data were evaluated.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred and sixteen cats of 15 different breeds that underwent maxillofacial, oral and dental procedures from April 2015 to December 2021 were included.

Treatment of retroperitoneal sarcoma results in improved outcomes.

Objective: To report the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes in a cohort of dogs with histologically confirmed retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) and to identify potential variables of prognostic significance.

Animals: 46 client-owned dogs from 10 clinics with histopathologic diagnosis of a sarcoma originating from the retroperitoneal space.

Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to obtain information regarding clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes.

Improved characterization and translation of NK cells for canine immunotherapy.

The field of cancer immunology has seen a meteoric rise in interest and application due to the discovery of immunotherapies that target immune cells, often leading to dramatic anti-tumor effects. However, successful cellular immunotherapy for solid tumors remains a challenge, and the application of immunotherapy to dogs with naturally occurring cancers has emerged as a high yield large animal model to bridge the bench-to-bedside challenges of immunotherapies, including those based on natural killer (NK) cells. Here, we review recent developments in the characterization and understanding of canine NK cells, a critical springboard for future translational NK immunotherapy research.

Normal variation of clinical mobility of the mandibular symphysis in dogs.

Introduction: The primary objective of this retrospective study was to document the normal variation of clinical mobility of the mandibular symphysis in dogs, and evaluate possible associations with breed, bodyweight, age, sex, and skull morphology. Secondarily, the radiographic appearance of the mandibular symphysis and possible associations with the analyzed data were also evaluated.

Methods: Medical records of dogs that underwent anesthetic procedures for maxillofacial, oral and dental evaluation from April 2015 to December 2021 were included.

Missing a "Missing Self" Mechanism: Modeling and Detection of Ly49 Expression in Canine NK Cells.

NK cells are a key focus in immuno-oncology, based on their ability to eliminate malignant cells without prior sensitization. Dogs are valuable models for translational immunotherapy studies, especially for NK cells, where critical species differences exist between mice and humans. Given that the mechanism for recognition of "self" by canine NK cells is currently unknown, we sought to evaluate expression of Ly49 in canine NK cells using in silico and high-throughput techniques.

A variant in the 5'UTR of ERBB4 is associated with lifespan in Golden Retrievers.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in long-lived human populations have led to identification of variants associated with Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease, the latter being the most common cause of mortality in people worldwide. In contrast, naturally occurring cancer represents the leading cause of death in pet dogs, and specific breeds like the Golden Retriever (GR) carry up to a 65% cancer-related death rate. We hypothesized that GWAS of long-lived GRs might lead to the identification of genetic variants capable of modifying longevity within this cancer-predisposed breed.

Training and validation of a novel non-invasive imaging system for ruling out malignancy in canine subcutaneous and cutaneous masses using machine learning in 664 masses.

Objective: To train and validate the use of a novel artificial intelligence-based thermal imaging system as a screening tool to rule out malignancy in cutaneous and subcutaneous masses in dogs.

Animals: Training study: 147 client-owned dogs with 233 masses. Validation Study: 299 client-owned dogs with 525 masses.

Stereotactic radiotherapy outcomes for intraventricular brain tumours in 11 dogs.

Published radiotherapy data for canine intraventricular tumours are limited. In this retrospective, longitudinal study (9/2011-2018), 11 dogs with intraventricular masses were treated with stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). Pathologic diagnosis was available from surgery or necropsy in 6/11 cases, revealing choroid plexus papilloma (3) or carcinoma (2), and ependymoma (1).

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.

Changes in diet and supplement use in dogs with cancer.

Background: Many dog owners alter their dog's nutritional regimen after a diagnosis of cancer. There are limited data as to specific changes made and reasons behind these changes.

Hypothesis/objectives: To collect updated and detailed data on changes made by owners to their dog's diet and supplements after a cancer diagnosis.

Conventionally fractionated radiation therapy is associated with long-term survival in dogs with infiltrative lipomas.

Objective: To describe radiotherapy outcomes for canine infiltrative lipomas and provide detailed radiotherapy planning data.

Animals: 24 dogs from 2000 to 2020.

Methods: In this retrospective study, dogs received 1 to 3 surgeries prior to conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for gross (18) or microscopic (8) infiltrative lipomas.

Conventional fractionated radiotherapy outcomes for young dogs with nephroblastoma of the spinal cord: 5 cases.

Published radiotherapy results for spinal nephroblastomas in dogs are limited. In this retrospective longitudinal study (1/2007-1/2022), five dogs with a median age of 2.8 years received post-operative 3D conformal, conventional fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT) with 2-4 fields (parallel-opposed with or without two hinge-angle fields), for an incompletely resected nephroblastoma.

Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Reduction of Gastroesophageal Intussusception With Gastropexy.

We report the rare case of a 71-year-old man with a medical history including dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and achalasia with remote open transthoracic Heller myotomy who presented acutely with symptoms of esophageal obstruction. Sustained gastroesophageal intussusception was diagnosed with esophagogastroduodenoscopy and computed tomography. The patient underwent urgent robot-assisted laparoscopic reduction with gastropexy.

A pilot study for a non-invasive system for detection of malignancy in canine subcutaneous and cutaneous masses using machine learning.

Introduction: Early diagnosis of cancer enhances treatment planning and improves prognosis. Many masses presenting to veterinary clinics are difficult to diagnose without using invasive, time-consuming, and costly tests. Our objective was to perform a preliminary proof-of-concept for the HT Vista device, a novel artificial intelligence-based thermal imaging system, developed and designed to differentiate benign from malignant, cutaneous and subcutaneous masses in dogs.

Pulmonary Open, Robotic, and Thoracoscopic Lobectomy (PORTaL) Study: Survival Analysis of 6646 Cases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze overall survival (OS) of robotic-assisted lobectomy (RL), video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATS), and open lobectomy (OL) performed by experienced thoracic surgeons across multiple institutions.

Summary Background Data: Surgeons have increasingly adopted RL for resection of early-stage lung cancer. Comparative survival data following these approaches is largely from single-institution case series or administrative data sets.

Kinetic Evaluation of the Hypoxia Radiotracers [F]FMISO and [F]FAZA in Dogs with Spontaneous Tumors Using Dynamic PET/CT Imaging.

Purpose: We evaluated the kinetics of the hypoxia PET radiotracers, [18F]fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) and [18F]fluoroazomycin-arabinoside ([18F]FAZA), for tumor hypoxia detection and to assess the correlation of hypoxic kinetic parameters with static imaging measures in canine spontaneous tumors.

Methods: Sixteen dogs with spontaneous tumors underwent a 150-min dynamic PET scan using either [18F]FMISO or [18F]FAZA. The maximum tumor-to-muscle ratio (TMR) > 1.

Longevity and mortality in cats: A single institution necropsy study of 3108 cases (1989-2019).

Client-owned cats who underwent a post-mortem examination (n = 3,108) at a veterinary medical teaching hospital between 1989 and 2019 were studied to determine longevity and factors affecting mortality. Demographic factors, environmental factors, age, and causes of death were assessed. Sexes included 5.

Pulmonary Open, Robotic, and Thoracoscopic Lobectomy study: Outcomes and risk factors of conversion during minimally invasive lobectomy.

Objective: Conversion to thoracotomy continues to be a concern during minimally invasive lobectomy. The aim of this propensity-matched cohort study is to analyze the outcomes and risk factors of intraoperative conversion during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic lobectomy (RL).

Methods: Data from consecutive lobectomy cases performed for clinical stage IA to IIIA lung cancer was retrospectively collected from the Pulmonary Open, Robotic, and Thoracoscopic Lobectomy study consortium of 21 institutions from 2011 to 2019.

Effects of a single subcutaneous dose of enoxaparin on veterinary viscoelastic coagulation monitor variables in healthy cats: Double blind, placebo controlled cross-over trial.

Background: Cats placed on anticoagulant medication require frequent monitoring. The veterinary viscoelastic coagulation monitor (VCM-Vet) could provide a convenient and cost-effective monitoring, enabling therapeutic decision making.

Hypothesis/objectives: Enoxaparin will lead to changes in VCM-Vet variables and these will correlate with antiXa activity.