Left-dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in a Fila Brasileiro dog.

Background: In human medicine, arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy was described as a primary disease of the heart characterized by fibroadipose replacement of the myocardium..

Case Description: We report the case of a dog, with history of syncope and irregular cardiac rhythm.

Clinical Proof of Concept for Stabilization of Tracheostomy Tubes Using Novel DYNAtraq Device.

Introduction: Tracheostomy is one of the most common surgical strategies in intensive care units (ICU) and provides relevant clinical benefit for multiple indications. However, the complications associated with its use range from 5 to 40% according to different series. The risk of these complications could be reduced if fixation strategies and alignment of the tracheostomy tube with respect to the tracheal axis are improved.

Cushing's syndrome caused by intra-adrenocortical adrenocorticotropic hormone in a dog.

A 13-year-old Labrador retriever was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome (CS) caused by primary bilateral nodular adrenocortical hyperplasia with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) expression. The pituitary origin of CS was ruled out by suppression of plasma ACTH concentration and absence of a proliferative lesion on histological evaluation of the pituitary gland using periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, reticulin staining, and immunostaining for ACTH. A pheochromocytoma also was found at necropsy examination.

Findings suggestive of coronary microvascular dysfunction in cats with myocardial ischemia.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is an important cause of death and disability among humans worldwide. Few studies have reported the occurrence of MI in small animals as well. Reports in human medicine indicate that up to 30% of patients with clinical signs compatible with myocardial ischemia suggestive of coronary disease exhibit normal epicardial arteries at angiography.

Invention and Pilot Study of the Efficacy and Safety of the SUPRAtube Device in Continuous Supraglottic Aspiration for Intubated and Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

Background: Bronchoaspiration of content that accumulates in the supraglottic area (eg, saliva, gastroesophageal reflux) is a risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia. A continuous supraglottic suction system may decrease the risk of bronchoaspiration in these patients.

Objective: (1) Constructing a conceptual model and functional prototype of a continuous supraglottic suction device for use in humans; (2) defining functional characteristics in ex vivo swine head models; and (3) evaluating its efficacy and safety in mechanically ventilated patients.

Adrenal cortex stimulation with hCG in spayed female dogs with Cushing's syndrome: Is the LH-dependent variant possible?

Background: The expression and overexpression of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors in the canine adrenal gland cortex have been reported. Therefore, it was hypothesized that a LH-dependent form of Cushing's syndrome (CS) could exist in dogs.

Aim: To assess whether the adrenal gland post-ovariectomy (OVx) exhibits a greater response to adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) stimulation; to evaluate whether the adrenal gland responds to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation by increasing the release of cortisol; and to consider whether hCG stimulus testing would be useful as a diagnosis for possible cases of LH-dependent CS.

Diabetes mellitus remission in three cats with hypersomatotropism after cabergoline treatment.

Case Summary: Three diabetic cats presented with polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia and poor glycemic control. Cat 1 displayed prognathia inferior and had a body condition score (BCS) of 4/5; cat 2 had a BCS of 5/5; and cat 3 had broad facial features. Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 concentrations were compatible with hypersomatotropism in cat 1 and cat 2 (>1500 ng/ml and 1200 ng/ml, respectively) and just below the cut-off of 1000 ng/ml (947 ng/ml) in cat 3; in this last cat diagnosis was further supported by the presence of pituitary enlargement on MRI.

Psychometric properties of the Jefferson Empathy Scale in four nursing student faculties.

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Jefferson Medical Empathy Scale, Spanish version (JSE-S), its factorial structure, reliability, and the presence of invariance between genders in the behavior of empathy levels among Chilean nursing students.

Method: Instrumental research design. The JSE-S was applied to 1,320 nursing students.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Occupational Groups from the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, Colombia.

The negative effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have impacted the world economy due to the absence from work because of SARS-CoV-2 infection in workers, among other reasons. However, some economic areas are essential to society and people must continue working outside the home to support economic reactivation; their serological profile could be different from that of the global population. Cross-sectional study: Workers from health, construction, public transportation, public force, bike delivery messengers, independent or informal commerce areas, and residents of Bucaramanga or its metropolitan area were invited to participate.

Imaging infections in patients using pathogen-specific positron emission tomography.

represent the largest group of bacterial pathogens in humans and are responsible for severe, deep-seated infections, often resulting in sepsis or death. They are also a prominent cause of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections, and some species are recognized as biothreat pathogens. Tools for noninvasive, whole-body analysis that can localize a pathogen with specificity are needed, but no such technology currently exists.

Respiratory Motion Mitigation and Repeatability of Two Diffusion-Weighted MRI Methods Applied to a Murine Model of Spontaneous Pancreatic Cancer.

Respiratory motion and increased susceptibility effects at high magnetic fields pose challenges for quantitative diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) of a mouse abdomen on preclinical MRI systems. We demonstrate the first application of radial k-space-sampled (RAD) DWI of a mouse abdomen using a genetically engineered mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) on a 4.7 T preclinical scanner equipped with moderate gradient capability.

Survival after heart transplantation for Chagas cardiomyopathy using a conventional protocol: A 10-year experience in a single center.

Background: Heart transplant (HT) remains the most frequently indicated therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure that improves prognosis in Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM). However, the lack of benznidazole therapy and availability of RT-PCR follow-up in many centers is a major limitation to perform this life-saving intervention, as there are concerns related with the risk of reactivation. We aimed to describe the outcomes of a cohort of patients with CCM who underwent HT using a conventional protocol with mycophenolate mofetil, without benznidazole prophylaxis or RT-PCR follow-up.

CDC20 associated with cancer metastasis and novel mushroom‑derived CDC20 inhibitors with antimetastatic activity.

Aberrant expression of cell division cycle 20 (CDC20) is associated with malignant progression and poor prognosis in various types of cancer. The development of specific CDC20 inhibitors may be a novel strategy for the treatment of cancer with elevated expression of CDC20. The aim of the current study was to elucidate the role of CDC20 in cancer cell invasiveness and to identify novel natural inhibitors of CDC20.

Metformin reduces insulin resistance and the tendency toward hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism.

Hypercortisolism induces a state of insulin resistance that can occur concurrently with fasting hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus. Metformin reduces hepatic glucose production and insulin resistance of the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of metformin on the control of metabolic disorders of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC).

Decrease of nitric oxide and increase in diastolic blood pressure are two events that affect renal function in dogs with pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism.

Hyperadrenocorticism is a frequent disease in dogs. The excess of circulating cortisol affects different organs and metabolic pathways, producing severe adverse effects that endanger the animal's life. Among these effects, hypertension and renal damage can be mentioned.

Overexpression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 in visceral adipose tissue and underexpression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the adrenal cortex of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism.

11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) is an enzyme that activates cortisone into cortisol in tissues. Alterations in this enzyme are related to the development of metabolic syndrome, obesity and hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) produces nitric oxide and is related to the regulation of adrenal steroidogenesis.

Addison disease and normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism in a dog with multiple endocrine neoplasia.

A 12-year old dog with a 9-year history of primary adrenal insufficiency was referred to the service for hyporexia, muscle weakness, polyuria and polydipsia. Ultrasound examination showed an unresectable mass in the left adrenal gland, with local vascular invasion, which prompted the euthanasia of the animal. Additionally, necropsy revealed a nodular lesion in the right adrenal gland and enlargement of one of the four parathyroid glands.

BreastDefend enhances effect of tamoxifen in estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Tamoxifen (TAM) has been widely used for the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer and its combination with other therapies is being actively investigated as a way to increase efficacy and decrease side effects. Here, we evaluate the therapeutic potential of co-treatment with TAM and BreastDefend (BD), a dietary supplement formula, in ER-positive human breast cancer.

Methods: Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined in ER-positive human breast cancer cells MCF-7 by MTT assay, quantitation of cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragments and expression of cleaved PARP, respectively.

Honokiol inhibits migration of renal cell carcinoma through activation of RhoA/ROCK/MLC signaling pathway.

Honokiol, a biologically active compound isolated from Magnolia bark, has been shown to possess promising anticancer effect through induction of apoptosis. However, there is a relative lack of information regarding its anti‑metastatic activity. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common malignancy of the adult kidney and is known for high risk of metastasis.

Determination of Anti-Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Neutralizing Antibodies in Patients With Heart Failure in the Cardiovascular Foundation of Colombia (ANVIAS): Study Protocol.

Background: Recent progress in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) has led to the development of new therapeutic options such as gene therapy and the use of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. Despite the promising results in early clinical trials of gene therapy for HF, various obstacles have been faced, such as the presence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against the capsid vectors. NAb activity limits vector transduction levels and therefore diminishes the final therapeutic response.

Setting Up an ECMO Program in a South American Country: Outcomes of the First 104 Pediatric Patients.

Background: Less than 1% of the extracorporeal life support organization (ELSO) registry patients are from South America. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an expensive therapy not only in terms of direct financial cost but also with respect to technical and human resources. Finding a successful ECMO model that developing countries can afford is critical to the expansion of therapy to include the availability of this technology for patients in the developing world.

Honokiol suppresses metastasis of renal cell carcinoma by targeting KISS1/KISS1R signaling.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urological cancer worldwide and is known to have a high risk of metastasis, which is considered responsible for more than 90% of cancer associated deaths. Honokiol is a small-molecule biphenol isolated from Magnolia spp. bark and has been shown to be a potential anticancer agent involved in multiple facets of signal transduction.

Patient Outcomes of an International Telepediatric Cardiac Critical Care Program.

Background: An optimal model for telemedicine use in the international care setting has not been established. Our objective was to describe variables associated with patient outcome during the implementation of an international pediatric cardiac critical care (PCCC) telemedicine program.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review was performed of clinical records and a telemedicine database of patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) at the Fundacion Cardiovascular de Colombia, Bucaramanga, Colombia, during the initial 10 months of our program, compared with patients admitted during a previous period.

Molecular cloning of ion channels in Felis catus that are related to periodic paralyses in man: a contribution to the understanding of the genetic susceptibility to feline neck ventroflexion and paralysis.

Neck ventroflexion in cats has different causes; however, the most common is the hypokalemia associated with flaccid paralysis secondary to chronic renal failure. In humans, the most common causes of acute flaccid paralysis are hypokalemia precipitated by thyrotoxicosis and familial forms linked to mutations in sodium, potassium, and calcium channel genes. Here, we describe the sequencing and analysis of skeletal muscle ion channels in Felis catus that could be related to periodic paralyses in humans, contributing to the understanding of the genetic susceptibility to feline neck ventroflexion and paralysis.

Differential distribution of HP1 proteins after trichostatin a treatment influences chromosomal stability in HCT116 and WI-38 cells.

Background: Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) is important in the establishment, propagation, and maintenance of constitutive heterochromatin, especially at the pericentromeric region. HP1 might participate in recruiting and directing Mis12 to the centromere during interphase, and HP1 disruption or abrogation might lead to the loss of Mis12 incorporation into the kinetochore. Therefore, the centromere structure and kinetochore relaxation that are promoted in the absence of Mis12 could further induce chromosome instability (CIN) by reducing the capacity of the kinetochore to anchor microtubules.