Alkaline phosphatase and liver fibrosis at diagnosis are associated with deep response to ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis.

Objective: Primary biliary cholangitis is a chronic and progressive autoimmune liver disease, whose prognosis can be improved by normalizing alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. While ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is first line standard of care, approximately 40 % of patients exhibit incomplete response. We aimed to identify prognostic markers for deep response to UDCA therapy at presentation.

A new and simple score to predict adequate and deep response to ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with primary biliary cholangitis: the ALP-A score.

Background: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the standard treatment for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), but a significant proportion of patients do not respond adequately, leading to increased risk of adverse outcomes. This study aims to develop a new and straightforward predictive score to identify PBC patients likely to achieve a complete response to UDCA.

Methods: A logistic regression analysis was conducted using a derivation cohort of PBC patients to identify pre-treatment variables associated with response to UDCA.

Response to Ursodeoxycholic Acid May Be Assessed Earlier to Allow Second-Line Therapy in Patients with Unresponsive Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Background: Response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) has been traditionally assessed 1 to 2 years after treatment initiation. With the development of new drugs, some patients may benefit from an earlier introduction of second-line therapies.

Aims: This study aims to identify whether well-validated response criteria could correctly identify individuals likely to benefit from add-on second-line therapy at 6 months.

Anti-mitochondrial Antibody-Negative Primary Biliary Cholangitis Is Part of the Same Spectrum of Classical Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Background: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease in which anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) are the diagnostic hallmark. Whether AMA-negative PBC patients represent a different phenotype of disease is highly debated.

Aims: The purpose of our study was to compare AMA-positive and AMA-negative PBC patients in a large non-white admixed Brazilian cohort.

The effects of sodium chloride and PSE meat on restructured cured-smoked pork loin quality: A response surface methodology study.

The effects of the PSE meat proportion (0 to 100%) and sodium chloride contents (0 to 2%) on technological and saltiness of restructured cured-smoked pork loins were investigated by using response surface methodology (RSM). Lipid oxidation, pH values and reheating loss of the products were most affected by the proportion of PSE meat, while the salt concentration mainly affected the water activity, expressible moisture values, hardness, chewiness and sliceability of the products. Perception of the salt flavor increased with the addition of salt and proportion of PSE meat in the elaborated products, where the addition of 0.

The practice of reporting adverse events in a teaching hospital.

Objective: Understanding the practice of reporting adverse events by health professionals.

Method: A qualitative case study carried out in a teaching hospital with participants of the Patient Safety Center and the nursing team. The collection took place from May to December 2015, and was conducted through interviews, observation and documentary research to treat the data using Content Analysis.

Histologic evaluation of Ki-67 and cleaved caspase-3 expression in feline mammary carcinoma.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate histopathologic aspects of, and the expression of Ki-67 and cleaved caspase-3 in, feline mammary carcinoma (FMC). Methods Feline mammary tumors were surgically obtained by mastectomy from 30 female cats and were fixed with formalin and embedded in paraffin wax. Four-micron sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathologic diagnosis.

Successful subtotal orbitectomy in a cat with osteoma.

Case Summary: A 14-year-old Siamese neutered male cat was evaluated for anorexia and a left periorbital mass. Skull radiographic findings showed a well-defined lesion resembling new compact bone formation without destruction. A subtotal orbitectomy was indicated.

Esophageal stricture caused by rib osteoma in a cat: case report.

Case Summary: A 6-year-old male domestic shorthair cat presented with frequent food regurgitation and dysphagia. Plain thoracic radiographs revealed a calcified mass overlying the topography of the mediastinum, as well as dilation of the cervical portion of the esophagus due to an accumulation of food. Endoscopic examination showed a severe extraluminal esophageal stricture at the mediastinum entrance.

The influence of fire-coral colony size and agonistic behaviour of territorial damselfish on associated coral reef fish communities.

Branching hydrocorals from the genus Millepora play an important ecological role in South Atlantic reefs, where branching scleractinian corals are absent. Previous studies have shown a high proportion of reef fish species using branching fire-coral colonies as shelter, breeding, and feeding sites. However, the effects of Millepora spp.

Adjuvant chemotherapy with mitoxantrone for cats with mammary carcinomas treated with radical mastectomy.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease-free interval, survival time and adverse events of a combined treatment approach in cats with mammary malignant tumors using radical mastectomy and adjuvant mitoxantrone.

Methods: All cats underwent surgery to remove the mammary chain containing the tumors. A 3 cm margin was obtained around removed tumors.

Recurrent pulmonary edema secondary to elongated soft palate in a cat.

A 9-month-old intact female Persian cat presented with recurrent pulmonary edema secondary to an elongated soft palate. Endoscopic evaluation of the pharynx and larynx showed that the elongated soft palate was overlying the epiglottis. Partial resection of the soft palate was performed and the cat showed no further respiratory signs.

Duodenal perforation caused by Rhizomucor species in a cat.

Unlabelled: CLINICAL SUMMARY: A 7-month-old female Persian cat presented with gastrointestinal (GI) necrosis and perforation caused by Rhizomucor species. Unfortunately, the cat died of bacterial peritonitis and sepsis before a definitive diagnosis, based on histopathology and fungal culture, was achieved.

Practical Relevance: This appears to be the first reported case of GI disease caused by Rhizomucor species in a cat.

Silicone elastomer sling for rectal prolapse in cats.

This study reports 2 cases of recurrent rectal prolapse secondary to anal abnormality in cats. In both cases the anus was wide, leading to a rectal mucosal prolapse during defecation. A silicone elastomer sling was introduced around the anus, and the rectal prolapse was definitively resolved.

Radiation therapy for feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma using a hypofractionated protocol.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of a hypofractionated radiation protocol for feline facial squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Twenty-five histologically confirmed SCCs in 15 cats were treated with four fractions of 7.6-10Gy each, with 1 week intervals.

Peripheral insulin resistance during treatment of chronic hepatitis C with peguilated interferon plus ribavirin.

Unlabelled: Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection present higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the mechanism of this association and the role of antiviral treatment are still unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the use of peguilated interferon and the development of insulin resistance (IR) in these patients.

Clinical, histologic and serologic evaluation of patients with acute non-A-E hepatitis in north-eastern Brazil: is it an infectious disease?

Non-A-E hepatitis and acute cryptogenic hepatitis are the names given to the disease of patients with clinical hepatitis, but in whom serologic evidence of A-E hepatitis has not been found. Over a period of 8 years, we evaluated in Brazil 32 patients who fulfilled the criteria for this diagnosis in order to determine patterns of the clinical illness, laboratory parameters, or histologic features. Each patient was subjected to virologic tests to exclude A-E hepatitis and cytomegalovirus/Epstein-Barr virus infection.

[Frequency and implications of autoantibodies in acute viral hepatitis].

There are interactions between hepatotropic viruses and the host immune system, which could contribute to liver damage in viral hepatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of autoantibodies in patients with acute viral hepatitis and their relationship with biochemical activity, severity of acute illness and chronicity rate. From 1992 to 2000, 156 patients with acute viral hepatitis were enrolled in a prospective study.