Co-Inference of Data Mislabelings Reveals Improved Models in Genomics and Breast Cancer Diagnostics.

Mislabeling of cases as well as controls in case-control studies is a frequent source of strong bias in prognostic and diagnostic tests and algorithms. Common data processing methods available to the researchers in the biomedical community do not allow for consistent and robust treatment of labeled data in the situations where both, the case and the control groups, contain a non-negligible proportion of mislabeled data instances. This is an especially prominent issue in studies regarding late-onset conditions, where individuals who may convert to cases may populate the control group, and for screening studies that often have high false-positive/-negative rates.

Reliability of genomic variants across different next-generation sequencing platforms and bioinformatic processing pipelines.

Background: Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is the fundament of various studies, providing insights into questions from biology and medicine. Nevertheless, integrating data from different experimental backgrounds can introduce strong biases. In order to methodically investigate the magnitude of systematic errors in single nucleotide variant calls, we performed a cross-sectional observational study on a genomic cohort of 99 subjects each sequenced via (i) Illumina HiSeq X, (ii) Illumina HiSeq, and (iii) Complete Genomics and processed with the respective bioinformatic pipeline.

Development of an in Vivo Lipopolysaccharide Inflammation Model to Study the Pharmacodynamics of COX-2 Inhibitors Celecoxib, Mavacoxib, and Meloxicam in Cockatiels ().

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used frequently in avian medicine for their antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties during surgery and for diseases that cause tissue damage and inflammation. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which are responsible for the induction of pyresis, pain, and inflammation. In our study, a lipopolysaccharide-induced (LPS) pyresis model was optimized using cockatiels () as subject birds (four males/three females) and validated in two females and one male, characterized by an intravenous bolus injection of LPS (7.

Biomechanical properties of celiotomy wounds closed with tape and cyanoacrylate versus intradermal sutures.

Objective: To compare cutaneous wound closure with mesh and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (MOC) vs an intradermal suture pattern (ISP) in terms of time of application and biomechanical properties.

Sample Population: Experimental study with 12 female beagle dogs.

Methods: A skin incision was created from the xiphoid to the pubis as part of an ovariohysterectomy; the linea alba and subcutaneous tissue were closed routinely.

The Ontogeny of Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Activity and Protein Abundance in Conventional Pigs in Support of Preclinical Pediatric Drug Research.

Since the implementation of several legislations to improve pediatric drug research, more pediatric clinical trials are being performed. In order to optimize these pediatric trials, adequate preclinical data are necessary, which are usually obtained by juvenile animal models. The growing piglet has been increasingly suggested as a potential animal model due to a high degree of anatomical and physiological similarities with humans.

Postnatal Maturation of the Glomerular Filtration Rate in Conventional Growing Piglets As Potential Juvenile Animal Model for Preclinical Pharmaceutical Research.

Adequate animal models are required to study the preclinical pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) and safety of drugs in the pediatric subpopulation. Over the years, pigs were presented as a potential animal model, since they display a high degree of anatomical and physiological similarities with humans. To assess the suitability of piglets as a preclinical animal model for children, the ontogeny and maturation processes of several organ systems have to be unraveled and compared between both species.

Immunomodulatory properties of gamithromycin and ketoprofen in lipopolysaccharide-challenged calves with emphasis on the acute-phase response.

Macrolide antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been reported to be modulators of the innate immune response, irrespectively of their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions. Therefore, it was our objective to evaluate whether the macrolide gamithromycin (GAM) and the NSAID ketoprofen (KETO) attenuate the acute-phase response in calves, and whether their combined administration is beneficial due to synergistic and/or additive effects. To this end, both drugs, as well as their combination, were studied in a previously developed inflammation model, i.

Echocardiographic measurements of right heart size and function in healthy horses.

Reasons For Performing Study: Right ventricular (RV) function is scarcely described in horses.

Objectives: To establish reliable echocardiographic measurements of right heart size and function in horses.

Study Design: Descriptive study in healthy horses.

Serologic screening for 13 infectious agents in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Flanders.

Introduction: In order to investigate the role of roe deer in the maintenance and transmission of infectious animal and human diseases in Flanders, we conducted a serologic screening in 12 hunting areas.

Materials And Methods: Roe deer sera collected between 2008 and 2013 (n=190) were examined for antibodies against 13 infectious agents, using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, virus neutralisation, immunofluorescence, or microagglutination test, depending on the agent.

Results And Discussion: High numbers of seropositives were found for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (45.

Evaluation of assays for troponin I in healthy horses and horses with cardiac disease.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a marker for detection of myocardial damage in horses. Many cTnI assays exist and medical studies have shown that the clinical performance of assays differs. The aim of this study was to compare two different cTnI assays in horses.

Evaluation of heart rate variability in dogs during standard and microburst vagus nerve stimulation: a pilot study.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an established treatment for epilepsy and depression in human patients, but in both humans and dogs, optimal stimulation parameters remain unknown. Delivering afferent bursts of stimulation may be promising as a means of increasing efficacy, but evaluation of potential effects on the heart due to unavoidable efferent stimulation is required. The present study investigated heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy Beagle dogs treated with 1 h of sham, standard or microburst left-sided VNS in a crossover design.

Atrial natriuretic peptide vs. N-terminal-pro-atrial natriuretic peptide for the detection of left atrial dilatation in horses.

Reasons For Performing Study: Studies on the use of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) as a biomarker for left atrial dilatation in horses have produced variable results. Few have been performed, and the results may have been influenced by ANP instability, differences in sampling protocol and changes in the assay over time. N-Terminal proANP (NT-proANP) is a more stable molecule and might be a good alternative for clinical use.

Atrial fibrillation cycle length and atrial size in horses with and without recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) cycle length (CL) and atrial size have been used in humans to characterize electrical and structural remodeling to predict outcome of cardioversion of AF and risk for AF recurrence (rAF).

Hypothesis: Atrial fibrillation cycle length can be determined in horses with AF, and AFCL and atrial size are related to risk for rAF.

Animals: Eighteen horses with naturally occurring AF that were successfully converted to sinus rhythm (SR) by transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC).

Long-term follow-up of atrial function after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in horses.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes atrial electrical and contractile remodelling in horses. The aim of this study was to quantify left atrial (LA) contractile function and its time course of recovery after cardioversion of naturally-occurring AF in horses. The study population included 42 AF horses which were successfully treated using transvenous electrical cardioversion TVEC (n=39) or quinidine sulfate (n=3), with trivial or mild mitral regurgitation present in 25 horses.

Exposure to the proton scavenger glycine under alkaline conditions induces Escherichia coli viability loss.

Our previous work described a clear loss of Escherichia coli (E. coli) membrane integrity after incubation with glycine or its N-methylated derivatives N-methylglycine (sarcosine) and N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG), but not N,N,N-trimethylglycine (betaine), under alkaline stress conditions. The current study offers a thorough viability analysis, based on a combination of real-time physiological techniques, of E.

Evaluation of tissue Doppler imaging for regional quantification of radial left ventricular wall motion in healthy horses.

Objective: To compare the feasibility and repeatability of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) for quantification of radial left ventricular (LV) velocity and deformation from different imaging planes and to correlate cardiac event timing data obtained by TDI to M-mode and pulsed-wave Doppler-derived time intervals in horses.

Animals: 10 healthy adult horses.

Procedures: Repeated echocardiography was performed by 2 observers from right and left parasternal short-axis views at papillary muscle and chordal levels.

Influence of atrioventricular interaction on mitral valve closure and left ventricular isovolumic contraction measured by tissue Doppler imaging.

Background: The influence of atrioventricular (AV) interaction on mitral valve closure (MVC) and left ventricular (LV) isovolumic contraction is not fully clarified. We investigated the relationship among AV delay, MVC, and LV isovolumic contraction using a horse model because of the low heart rate and physiologically long AV delay.

Methods And Results: Six horses were evaluated during sinus rhythm, right ventricular pacing without preceding atrial contraction, and dual-chamber pacing at AV delays of 150 to 350 ms, programmed at a constant rate.

Ventricular response during lungeing exercise in horses with lone atrial fibrillation.

Reasons For Performing The Study: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most important dysrhythmia affecting performance in horses and has been associated with incoordination, collapse and sudden death. Limited information is available on ventricular response during exercise in horses with lone AF.

Objectives: To investigate ventricular response in horses with lone AF during a standardised lungeing exercise test.

The influence of morphine on cerebral 5-HT2A availability in dogs: a SPECT study.

Unlabelled: The opioid and serotonergic systems are closely involved in pain processing and mood disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of systemic morphine on cerebral serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT(2A)) binding in dogs using SPECT with the 5-HT(2A) radioligand (123)I-5I-R91150.

Methods: 5-HT(2A) binding was estimated with and without morphine pretreatment in 8 dogs.

Tissue Doppler imaging and 2-dimensional speckle tracking of left ventricular function in horses exposed to lasalocid.

Background: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and 2-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) can quantify left ventricular (LV) function in horses.

Objectives: To evaluate LV function by TDI and 2DST in horses with myocardial dysfunction after accidental ionophore intoxication.

Animals: Sixty-seven horses exposed to lasalocid in feed.

Acute and long-term cardiomyopathy and delayed neurotoxicity after accidental lasalocid poisoning in horses.

Background: Horses are extremely susceptible to ionophore intoxication. Although numerous reports are available regarding monensin, little is known about lasalocid toxicity.

Objectives: To describe accidental lasalocid poisoning on a farm in Belgium.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking for quantification of left ventricular circumferential and radial wall motion in horses.

Reasons For Performing Study: The use of two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) for quantification of left ventricular (LV) function has recently been described in horses using long-axis images and short-axis images at chordal but not at papillary muscle level.

Objectives: To compare the feasibility and reliability of 2DST for quantification of circumferential and radial LV function in short-axis images at papillary muscle and chordal level.

Methods: Repeated echocardiographic examinations were performed on 10 healthy trotter horses by 2 observers from a right parasternal short-axis view at papillary muscle and chordal level.

Oesophageal electrocardiography in healthy horses.

Reasons For Performing Study: In human medicine, oesophageal electrocardiography (ECG) is a well-established technique that magnifies P waves with respect to the QRS complex.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of oesophageal ECG recording in horses and its ability to produce larger P waves compared with base-apex and unipolar recordings.

Methods: Bipolar and unipolar ECG were performed using oesophageal and surface electrodes.

Flow cytometric detection of myeloperoxidase in horse neutrophils: a novel technique in equine diagnostic research.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a protein of interest due to its involvement in equine pathologies. Until now, results in equine diagnostic research were achieved through extracellular MPO detection. However, studying the cellular MPO content in neutrophils has revealed important insights in human diseases.

Glycine and its N-methylated analogues cause pH-dependent membrane damage to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

The current study first investigates the emulsifying potential of glycine and its N-methylated derivatives N-methylglycine (sarcosine), N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG) and N,N,N-trimethylglycine (betaine) under varying pH conditions. Subsequently, the effect of these test compounds on the membrane integrity of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) was evaluated. Oil in water emulsions containing each compound show that DMG is a more potent enhancer of emulsification than glycine, sarcosine and betaine under the conditions tested.