Strain Elastography Evaluation of Patellar Tendons in Dogs after TPLO/TTA for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture, Qualitative and Semiquantitative Evaluation Compared with Healthy Subjects.

Strain elastography (SE) evaluates tissue stiffness, providing qualitative and semiquantitative evaluation, with a strain ratio (SR) > 1 indicating that the target lesion is stiffer than the reference tissue. The patellar tendon has been described as soft in healthy dogs and hard in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture, but SR usefulness has not been assessed. Dogs were divided into healthy (G1) and at least 1 month after surgery (G2) groups.

B-Flow and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Features of Subcutaneous Masses and Nodular Lesions in Dogs.

Subcutaneous lesions in dogs are common in clinical practice. This prospective clinical study aims to compare B-flow and CEUS for the characterization of subcutaneous lesions evaluating their usefulness to distinguish benign subcutaneous lesions from malignant ones. Dogs were enrolled and ultrasound cine-loops were achieved in B-mode, Colour Doppler, Power Doppler, B-flow and CEUS.

Epigenetic regulation by polycomb repressive complex 1 promotes cerebral cavernous malformations.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are anomalies of the cerebral vasculature. Loss of the CCM proteins CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2, or CCM3/PDCD10 trigger a MAPK-Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) signaling cascade, which induces a pathophysiological pattern of gene expression. The downstream target genes that are activated by KLF2 are mostly unknown.

Histomorphological evaluation of thermal injury following palatoplasty performed with CO laser or LigaSure device in dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.

The elongated soft palate is an abnormality that characterizes most brachycephalic dogs and contributes to the brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Palatoplasty is routinely performed in brachycephalic dogs; several surgical techniques exist. The use of surgical instruments such as monopolar electrocoagulation, CO or diode laser, bipolar vessel sealing device and harmonic shears has become routine to reduce the operating time, the intraoperative risk of bleeding and the postoperative oedema.

Use of Caudal Block with Ropivacaine as Part of an Opioid-Free Analgesic Protocol in Dogs Undergoing Orchiectomy: A Randomized Trial.

In veterinary medicine, the use of loco-regional anesthesia techniques is increasing. The block (QL) is an interfascial loco-regional technique that involves the release of local anesthetic (LA) between the and the (Pm) muscle. The study aims to evaluate the effect of the QL block on reducing the total amount of opioids in dogs undergoing pre-scrotal orchiectomy.

Identification and validation of diagnostic cut-offs of the ELISpot assay for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in high-risk patients.

Objective: We investigated the performance of enzyme linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in high-risk patients with hematologic malignancies.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled two cohorts of patients undergoing intensive myelosuppressive or immunosuppressive treatments at high risk for IA. ELISpot was performed to detect Aspergillus-specific T cells producing Interleukin-10.

Sex differences in the extent of acute axonal pathologies after experimental concussion.

Although human females appear be at a higher risk of concussion and suffer worse outcomes than males, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. With increasing recognition that damage to white matter axons is a key pathologic substrate of concussion, we used a clinically relevant swine model of concussion to explore potential sex differences in the extent of axonal pathologies. At 24 h post-injury, female swine displayed a greater number of swollen axonal profiles and more widespread loss of axonal sodium channels than males.

Immunosenescence and vaccine efficacy revealed by immunometabolic analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific cells in multiple sclerosis patients.

Disease-modifying therapies (DMT) administered to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) can influence immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine efficacy. However, data on the detailed phenotypic, functional and metabolic characteristics of antigen (Ag)-specific cells following the third dose of mRNA vaccine remain scarce. Here, using flow cytometry and 45-parameter mass cytometry, we broadly investigate the phenotype, function and the single-cell metabolic profile of SARS-CoV-2-specific T and B cells up to 8 months after the third dose of mRNA vaccine in a cohort of 94 patients with MS treated with different DMT, including cladribine, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, interferon, natalizumab, teriflunomide, rituximab or ocrelizumab.

A Comparison of the Intrarectal and Intramuscular Effects of a Dexmedetomidine, Ketamine and Midazolam Mixture on Tear Production in Cats: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Cats are often easily stressed and uncooperative. The use of sedative agents in the feline species is widely used to perform even minor clinical and diagnostic procedures. The aim of this study is to assess the impact on tear film production of the intrarectal route (IR) administration of a mixture of dexmedetomidine, ketamine and midazolam in comparison with the intramuscular (IM) one.

Inhibition of exosome biogenesis affects cell motility in heterogeneous sub-populations of paediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas.

Background: Paediatric-type diffuse High-Grade Gliomas (PDHGG) are highly heterogeneous tumours which include distinct cell sub-populations co-existing within the same tumour mass. We have previously shown that primary patient-derived and optical barcoded single-cell-derived clones function as interconnected networks. Here, we investigated the role of exosomes as a route for inter-clonal communication mediating PDHGG migration and invasion.

Evaluating immunological and inflammatory changes of treatment-experienced people living with HIV switching from first-line triple cART regimens to DTG/3TC B/F/TAF: the DEBATE trial.

Background: The aim of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to compare immunological changes in virally suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH) switching from a three-drug regimen (3DR) to a two-drug regimen (2DR).

Methods: An open-label, prospective RCT enrolling PLWH receiving a 3DR who switched to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) or dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) was performed. Blood was taken at baseline and months 6 and 12.

Evaluation of Presumptive Normal Feline Tonsils with Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Preliminary Retrospective Study.

Palatine tonsils are lymphoid organs, whose anatomic localization gives them a role against antigens entering the body during feeding and breathing. In human medicine, MRI is used to investigate tonsillar diseases. In veterinary medicine, a recent study on healthy dogs described the MRI appearance of canine palatine tonsils, with no available reports about feline ones.

Toll-like receptor-guided therapeutic intervention of human cancers: molecular and immunological perspectives.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) serve as the body's first line of defense, recognizing both pathogen-expressed molecules and host-derived molecules released from damaged or dying cells. The wide distribution of different cell types, ranging from epithelial to immune cells, highlights the crucial roles of TLRs in linking innate and adaptive immunity. Upon stimulation, TLRs binding mediates the expression of several adapter proteins and downstream kinases, that lead to the induction of several other signaling molecules such as key pro-inflammatory mediators.

SARS-CoV-2 Induced Herpes Virus Reactivations and Related Implications in Oncohematology: When Lymphocytopenia Sets in and Immunosurveillance Drops Out.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome, coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a positive-sense single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus contagious in humans and responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) [...

Wnt9 directs zebrafish heart tube assembly via a combination of canonical and non-canonical pathway signaling.

During zebrafish heart formation, cardiac progenitor cells converge at the embryonic midline where they form the cardiac cone. Subsequently, this structure transforms into a heart tube. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control these morphogenetic processes.

Ultrasonography and Sonoelastography Characteristics of Benign vs. Malignant Mesenteric Lymph Nodes in Cats: An Update.

(1) Background: Strain elastography (SE) is an ultrasound-based technique able to non-invasively assess tissue elasticity, with malignant tissues being stiffer than normal tissues. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SE to differentiate feline mesenteric benign and malignant lymph nodes (LNs) using a multivariate approach including both SE results and B-mode ultrasound and color Doppler findings. (2) Methods: Feline enlarged mesenteric LNs were evaluated using B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasonography, and SE.

Thoracoscopic Assisted PleuralPort Application in Seven Dogs Affected by Chronic Pleural Effusion.

Chronic non-septic pleural effusion is a condition that frequently may occur because of lung or pleural neoplasia, or chylothorax refractory to surgical treatment, in dogs. Effusion management can be performed with multiple pleurocenteses or the application of chest drains. New modified vascular devices have been used for patients with chronic diseases; they offer the advantage of allowing home management and do not require hospitalization.

Prognostic immune markers identifying patients with severe COVID-19 who respond to tocilizumab.

Introduction: A growing number of evidences suggest that the combination of hyperinflammation, dysregulated T and B cell response and cytokine storm play a major role in the immunopathogenesis of severe COVID-19. IL-6 is one of the main pro-inflammatory cytokines and its levels are increased during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several observational and randomized studies demonstrated that tocilizumab, an IL-6R blocker, improves survival in critically ill patients both in infectious disease and intensive care units.