Cardiac pathology associated with hypertension and chronic kidney disease in aged cats.

Hypertension is a common condition in older cats, often secondary to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although the heart is one of the organs damaged by hypertension, the pathology of the feline hypertensive (HT) heart has been poorly studied. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the gross and microscopic pathology of hearts obtained from cats at post-mortem examination and to compare cats diagnosed with hypertension with cats of similar age and kidney function for which antihypertensive treatment was not deemed clinically necessary.

Reptile and Amphibian Gastroenterology.

Reptile and amphibian veterinarians are frequently presented with patients exhibiting clinical signs suggestive of gastrointestinal (GI) disease. Understanding the normal structure and function of the GI tract is essential to aid appropriate diagnosis. This article will concentrate on the approach to a patient with GI signs and the problems affecting the GI tract from the esophagus to the colon.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 - A review with particular reference to the physiology and pathophysiology of phosphate homeostasis in the cat.

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a phosphaturic hormone, discovery of which has transformed our understanding of mineral regulation in healthy mammals, including the cat. It is produced by osteoblasts and osteocytes and its prime role is to regulate phosphate entry into extracellular fluid (from bone and via the gut) and its excretion via the kidney. It interacts with other hormones (calcitriol and parathyroid hormone), inhibiting their activation and secretion respectively and so impacts on calcium as well as phosphate homeostasis.

Microglia contribute to the production of the amyloidogenic ABri peptide in familial British dementia.

Mutations in ITM2B cause familial British, Danish, Chinese, and Korean dementias. In familial British dementia (FBD), a mutation in the stop codon of the ITM2B gene (also known as BRI2) causes a C-terminal cleavage fragment of the ITM2B/BRI2 protein to be extended by 11 amino acids. This fragment, termed amyloid-Bri (ABri), is highly insoluble and forms extracellular plaques in the brain.

Canine Mammary Tumours (CMTs) exploit mitochondrial cholesterol for aggressive reprogramming.

In human breast cancer the mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) aids pro-survival cellular response by facilitating the formation of mitochondrial contact sites with the nucleus termed Nucleus Associated Mitochondria (NAM). Here, we show that TSPO positively associates with the aggressiveness of tissues and cells isolated from Canine Mammary Tumours (CMTs). TSPO is also readily upregulated in reprogrammed mammary tumour cells following long-term deprivation of oestrogen or exposure to the endocrine chemotherapeutic (ET) agent Tamoxifen.

Hierarchically Structured Biodegradable Microspheres Promote Therapeutic Angiogenesis.

Promoting neovascularization is a prerequisite for many tissue engineering applications and the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Delivery of a pro-angiogenic stimulus via acellular materials offers several benefits over biological therapies but has been hampered by interaction of the implanted material with the innate immune response. However, macrophages, a key component of the innate immune response, release a plurality of soluble factors that can be harnessed to stimulate neovascularization and restore blood flow to damaged tissue.

Cranial bone microarchitecture in a mouse model for syndromic craniosynostosis.

Crouzon syndrome is a congenital craniofacial disorder caused by mutations in the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2). It is characterized by the premature fusion of cranial sutures, leading to a brachycephalic head shape, and midfacial hypoplasia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the FGFR2 mutation on the microarchitecture of cranial bones at different stages of postnatal skull development, using the FGFR2 mouse model.

Health infrastructure evaluations of trading partners for equivalence: Why they are important and current hurdles for One Health collaboration.

The history of trade has numerous examples of movement of diseases and pests. Nations institute barriers to protect human, animal, and plant populations from incursions; sometimes successfully, sometimes not. The World Trade Organization and international standard-setting bodies (ISSB) are multilateral organizations that promote equitable treatment and safe trade.

Fetal growth restriction and placental defects in obese mice are associated with impaired decidualisation: the role of increased leptin signalling modulators SOCS3 and PTPN2.

Decidualisation of the endometrium is a key event in early pregnancy, which enables embryo implantation. Importantly, the molecular processes impairing decidualisation in obese mothers are yet to be characterised. We hypothesise that impaired decidualisation in obese mice is mediated by the upregulation of leptin modulators, the suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2), together with the disruption of progesterone (P4)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) signalling.

Intranasal administration of DSM 32444 spores: safety and tolerability.

Administered nasally, spores of the Gram-positive bacterium have been shown to be able to induce innate immunity sufficient to confer protection to influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Although members of the aerobiome, intranasal delivery of high numbers of live spores carries potential safety issues. To address the potential safety risk of using live spores, we assessed the safety of spores that had been completely inactivated using heat sterilization.

Reduction of Z alpha-1 antitrypsin polymers in human iPSC-hepatocytes and mice by LRRK2 inhibitors.

Background: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) is a life-threatening condition caused by the inheritance of the serpin family A member 1 "Z" genetic variant driving alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein misfolding in hepatocytes. There are no approved medicines for this disease.

Methods: We conducted a high-throughput image-based small molecule screen using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell-hepatocytes (iPSC-hepatocytes).

Equine Endothelial Cells Show Pro-Angiogenic Behaviours in Response to Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 but Not Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A.

Understanding the factors which control endothelial cell (EC) function and angiogenesis is crucial for developing the horse as a disease model, but equine ECs remain poorly studied. In this study, we have optimised methods for the isolation and culture of equine aortic endothelial cells (EAoECs) and characterised their angiogenic functions in vitro. Mechanical dissociation, followed by magnetic purification using an anti-VE-cadherin antibody, resulted in EC-enriched cultures suitable for further study.

Variations in touch representation in the hummingbird and zebra finch forebrain.

Somatosensation is essential for animals to perceive the external world through touch, allowing them to detect physical contact, temperature, pain, and body position. Studies on rodent vibrissae have highlighted the organization and processing in mammalian somatosensory pathways. Comparative research across vertebrates is vital for understanding evolutionary influences and ecological specialization on somatosensory systems.

Leptin signalling regulates transcriptional differences in granulosa cells from genetically obese mice but not the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Obesity is associated with increased ovarian inflammation and the establishment of leptin resistance. We presently investigated the role of impaired leptin signalling on transcriptional regulation in granulosa cells (GCs) collected from genetically obese mice. Furthermore, we characterised the association between ovarian leptin signalling, the activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and macrophage infiltration in obese mice.

Hepatic Gene Expression of Angiogenic and Regeneration Markers in Cats with Congenital Portosystemic Shunts (CPSS).

Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) are vascular anomalies resulting in liver hypoplasia and hepatic insufficiency. Cats with CPSS typically show signs of hepatic encephalopathy associated with increased ammonia, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress. Surgical attenuation of the CPSS results in improved liver function, resolution of clinical signs, and increased portal blood flow.

Immune-mediated hematological disease in dogs is associated with alterations of the fecal microbiota: a pilot study.

Background: The dog is the most popular companion animal and is a valuable large animal model for several human diseases. Canine immune-mediated hematological diseases, including immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), share many features in common with autoimmune hematological diseases of humans. The gut microbiome has been linked to systemic illness, but few studies have evaluated its association with immune-mediated hematological disease.

Antimicrobial Resistance in and Its Correlation with Antimicrobial Use on Commercial Poultry Farms in Bangladesh.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global concern, posing risks to human and animal health. This research quantified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in isolates from poultry fecal and environmental samples in Bangladesh and explored their association with antimicrobial use (AMU). We screened 725 fecal and 250 environmental samples from 94 conventional broilers and 51 Sonali farms for presence using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Bacillus velezensis DSM 33864 reduces Clostridioides difficile colonization without disturbing commensal gut microbiota composition.

Up to 25% of the US population harbor Clostridioides difficile in the gut. Following antibiotic disruption of the gut microbiota, C. difficile can act as an opportunistic pathogen and induce potentially lethal infections.

Identification of a Sub-Clinical spp. Infection in a Dairy Cow Using a Commercially Available Stool Storage Kit.

Stool sampling is a useful tool for diagnosing gastrointestinal disease in veterinary medicine. The sub-clinical disease burden of spp. in cattle can become significant for farmers.

Pharmacological and Genetic Disruption of C-Type Natriuretic Peptide () Expression in Zebrafish () Causes Stunted Growth during Development.

Human patients with mutations within or genes (encoding C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and guanylyl cyclase-B (GC-B), respectively) display clinical signs associated with skeletal abnormalities, such as overgrowth or short stature. Mice with induced models of or deletion display profound achondroplasia, dwarfism and early death. Recent pharmacological therapies to treat short stature are utilizing long-acting CNP analogues, but the effects of manipulating CNP expression during development remain unknown.

A Machine Learning-Based Image Segmentation Method to Quantify In Vitro Osteoclast Culture Endpoints.

Quantification of in vitro osteoclast cultures (e.g. cell number) often relies on manual counting methods.

MicroRNAs Regulate Ca Homeostasis in Murine Embryonic Stem Cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of embryonic stem cell (ESC) biology, and their study has identified key regulatory mechanisms. To find novel pathways regulated by miRNAs in ESCs, we undertook a bioinformatics analysis of gene pathways differently expressed in the absence of miRNAs due to the deletion of , which encodes an RNase that is essential for the synthesis of miRNAs. One pathway that stood out was Ca signaling.

Mechanosignalling pathways that regulate endothelial barrier function.

Blood vessels are lined by a single layer of endothelial cells that provide a barrier between circulating plasma and the underlying tissue. Permeability of endothelial cells is tightly regulated, and increased permeability is associated with a number of diseases including atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells are continuously exposed to mechanical forces exerted by flowing blood and are particularly sensitive to shear stress, which is a key determinant of endothelial function.