Precision Oncology: 2024 in Review.

This article discusses the specific advances made in precision oncology in 2024. We comment on the evolving nature of predictive molecular events used to select patients who will most benefit clinically from treatment. We also discuss advances in the development of strategic treatment regimens for combination therapies, rational drug design of small-molecule inhibitors, and structurally informed drug repurposing.

Predicting Admission and Future Performance of Veterinary School Applicants: Evaluation of Scores of Self-Reported Animal Experience and Rural Versus Urban Background.

Admission to veterinary school is generally based on academic and nonacademic measures. Descriptions of animal or veterinary experience and rural versus urban background are often sought from applicants, but little is objectively known about their impact on admission success or future performance. We evaluated scores from written descriptions from 590 veterinary school applicants for the nature and extent of self-reported animal experience.

Evaluation and Comparison of Tolerance of Ambiguity in Veterinary Pathology Professionals and Trainees.

Ambiguity is ubiquitous in veterinary medicine, including in clinical and anatomic pathology. Tolerance of ambiguity (TOA) relates to how individuals navigate uncertainty. It is associated with psychological well-being in health professionals yet has been little investigated in veterinarians or veterinary pathologists.

Cellulose Synthase in Atacama Cyanobacteria and Bioethanol Production from Their Exopolysaccharides.

Cyanobacteria produce exopolysaccharides (EPSs) as an adaptative mechanism against ultraviolet radiation and desiccation. Cellulose is present in the extracellular polymeric substance in some cyanobacteria genera and it has been proposed as a raw material for biofuel production. The goal of this work was to evaluate the cellulose presence in EPS of Atacama cyanobacteria strains and its use as an alternative and innovative biological source to produce bioethanol.

Quantifying the Expanding Landscape of Clinical Actionability for Patients with Cancer.

Unlabelled: There is a continuing debate about the proportion of cancer patients that benefit from precision oncology, attributable in part to conflicting views as to which molecular alterations are clinically actionable. To quantify the expansion of clinical actionability since 2017, we annotated 47,271 solid tumors sequenced with the MSK-IMPACT clinical assay using two temporally distinct versions of the OncoKB knowledge base deployed 5 years apart. Between 2017 and 2022, we observed an increase from 8.

The Role of B Lymphocyte Subsets in Adipose Tissue Development, Metabolism, and Aging.

Adipose tissue contains resident B lymphocytes (B cells) with varying immune functions and mechanisms, depending on the adipose depot type and location. The heterogeneity of B cells and their functions affect the immunometabolism of the adipose tissue in aging and age-associated metabolic disorders. B cells exist in categorizations of subsets that have developmental or phenotypic differences with varying functionalities.

Identification of potential plasma protein biomarkers for feline pancreatic carcinoma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

In both humans and cats, pancreatic carcinoma is an aggressive cancer with a grave prognosis. Proteomics techniques have successfully identified several blood-based biomarkers of human pancreatic neoplasia. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether similar biomarkers can be identified in the plasma of cats with FePAC by using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Comparison of Fine Arts- and Pathology-Based Observational Skills Training for Veterinary Students Learning Cytology.

Keen observational skills are essential for veterinarians; however, the development of these skills is not usually an explicit part of the veterinary curriculum. Fine arts-based (FAB) observation training has been shown to improve medical students' observational skills and might also improve veterinary students' observational skills. We compared FAB and pathology-based (PB) observation training in a veterinary cytology course.

Assessment of neutrophil function in canine cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and correlation with neutrophil numbers.

Decreased neutrophil function following administration of chemotherapy has been reported in dogs with lymphoma. The first objective of our study was to determine if neutrophil oxidative burst and phagocytic activity are affected by chemotherapy 7 to 10 days following initiation of treatment in dogs with lymphoma and non-lymphoma malignancies. The second objective was to determine if there is a correlation between neutrophil numbers and neutrophil function before or after initiation of chemotherapy.

Tolerance of Ambiguity in Veterinary Students at the Beginning and End of a Second-year Clinical Pathology Course.

Tolerance of ambiguity (TOA) is essential for veterinarians because ambiguity and uncertainty are unavoidable aspects of veterinary practice. However, TOA has been little investigated in veterinarians or veterinary students. In this article, the 27-item Tolerance of Ambiguity of Veterinary Students (TAVS) scale, including eight additional clinical pathology-specific items, is used to evaluate TOA in veterinary students at the beginning and end of a clinical pathology course.

Reference intervals for radiographic, echocardiographic and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide values in healthy kittens.

Objectives: Assessment of heart size in kittens is important, and there is a need for reference intervals (RIs) to prevent misinterpretation of cardiomegaly in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to generate RIs for echocardiographic and radiographic quantification of cardiac size in healthy kittens.

Methods: In total, 88 kittens aged 6-16 weeks were enrolled in this study.

Using Fine Arts-Based Training to Develop Observational Skills in Veterinary Students Learning Cytology: A Pilot Study.

Arts-based training has been shown to improve medical students' observational skills. Veterinarians also need keen observational skills. Student veterinarians are expected to develop their observational skills; however, this training is usually not an explicit part of the veterinary curriculum.

An arrestin-1 surface opposite of its interface with photoactivated rhodopsin engages with enolase-1.

Arrestin-1 is the arrestin family member responsible for inactivation of the G protein-coupled receptor rhodopsin in photoreceptors. Arrestin-1 is also well-known to interact with additional protein partners and to affect other signaling cascades beyond phototransduction. In this study, we investigated one of these alternative arrestin-1 binding partners, the glycolysis enzyme enolase-1, to map the molecular contact sites between these two proteins and investigate how the binding of arrestin-1 affects the catalytic activity of enolase-1.

Intra- and inter-rater agreement for the detection of band neutrophils and toxic change in horses.

Background: The detection of band neutrophils and toxic change via microscopic blood smear review is vitally important, as their presence indicates systemic inflammation. However, in-clinic evaluation of WBC morphology is often limited.

Objective: We aimed to determine the agreement between expert raters in the detection of bands and toxic change.

Providers' Perspectives on Adherence to Hormonal Therapy in Breast Cancer Survivors. Is there a Role for the Digital Health Feedback System?

Objective: Despite the benefits of hormonal therapy (HT) adherence remains suboptimal in ER positive breast cancer patients. Medication adherence is challenging to assess and tends to be overestimated. The Digital Health Feedback System (DHFS) consists of an ingestible sensor attached to a pill that sends intake date and time to a smart phone or computer.

Do plasma protein:fibrinogen ratios in horses provide additional information compared with fibrinogen concentration alone?

The plasma protein:fibrinogen (PP:F) ratio was introduced to aid interpretation of hyperfibrinogenemia by accounting for dehydration. However, this ratio is inconsistently assessed in practice and its clinical value remains unknown. Our objective was to determine whether the PP:F ratio provides additional information in adult horses beyond fibrinogen concentration alone.

Engaging Latina breast cancer survivors in research: building a social network research registry.

Disparities persist in breast cancer outcomes between Latina survivors and non-Hispanic Whites. Identifying methods to ensure that Latinas participate in and benefit from translational behavioral medicine research is important to reduce disparities. We developed a "Social Network Research Registry" to enhance Latina survivors' engagement in research and explored the social networks and research/cancer organization participation in this population.

Changes in Student Perceptions and Study Strategies Over Time in a Veterinary Clinical Pathology Course Using Case-Based Instruction.

Veterinary students are challenged to develop new, nonlinear ways of thinking as they learn diagnostic reasoning skills. To support this process, we use real-life cases in our clinical pathology course. Changes in student perceptions regarding the use of cases and changes in study strategies over time have not been previously investigated or compared to student grades.

Quantifying Novice and Expert Differences in Visual Diagnostic Reasoning in Veterinary Pathology Using Eye-Tracking Technology.

Visual diagnostic reasoning is the cognitive process by which pathologists reach a diagnosis based on visual stimuli (cytologic, histopathologic, or gross imagery). Currently, there is little to no literature examining visual reasoning in veterinary pathology. The objective of the study was to use eye tracking to establish baseline quantitative and qualitative differences between the visual reasoning processes of novice and expert veterinary pathologists viewing cytology specimens.

Identifying influential individuals on intensive care units: using cluster analysis to explore culture.

Aim: The objective of this paper is to identify attribute patterns of influential individuals in intensive care units using unsupervised cluster analysis.

Background: Despite the acknowledgement that culture of an organisation is critical to improving patient safety, specific methods to shift culture have not been explicitly identified.

Methods: A social network analysis survey was conducted and an unsupervised cluster analysis was used.

Trauma-Exposed Latina Immigrants' Networks: A Social Network Analysis Approach.

Objective: Trauma exposure among Latina immigrants is common. Social support networks can buffer the impact of trauma on mental health. This study characterizes the social networks of trauma-exposed Latina immigrants using a social network analysis perspective.

Evaluation of lymph node aspirates at diagnosis and relapse in dogs with high-grade multicentric lymphoma and comparison with survival time.

Background: Canine high-grade multicentric lymphoma, a common disease with variable response to chemotherapy, is often diagnosed using cytology.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to compare cytologic features of canine peripheral lymph node aspirates collected at diagnosis and at relapse, and evaluate their usefulness in predicting survival.

Methods: Cytologic scoring based on a rubric and nuclear morphometry analyses were performed on cytologic smears collected at diagnosis and at relapse.