Tocilizumab and rituximab for systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease: a real-world cohort analysis.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in SSc. Data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) supports rituximab and tocilizumab monotherapy but there is limited data regarding their use for those who fail standard immunomodulatory therapies.

Methods: SSc patients treated with rituximab or tocilizumab were retrospectively identified in a single centre cohort.

Sebaceous Carcinoma Arising in a Precursor Benign Sebaceoma: Rare Example Highlighting the Utility of Immunohistochemistry Including p53.

Reports of sebaceous carcinoma arising from a pre-existing benign precursor are extremely sparse in the literature. We describe a case in which there was clear transition between sebaceoma and sebaceous carcinoma, with a different pattern of p53 staining in each component.

A European Survey to Identify Challenges in the Management of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Background And Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its more severe subtype, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), are highly prevalent and strongly associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study sought to identify challenges to the diagnosis, treatment and management of people living with MASLD and MASH and understand the key barriers to adopting relevant clinical guidelines.

Methods: A real-world, cross-sectional study (BARRIERS-MASLD) consisting of a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews of physicians in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom was conducted from March to September 2023.

User Experiences of and Preferences for Self-Guided Digital Interventions for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Eating Disorders: Systematic Review and Metasynthesis.

Background: Digital interventions typically involve using smartphones or PCs to access online or downloadable self-help and may offer a more accessible and convenient option than face-to-face interventions for some people with mild to moderate eating disorders. They have been shown to substantially reduce eating disorder symptoms, but treatment dropout rates are higher than for face-to-face interventions. We need to understand user experiences and preferences for digital interventions to support the design and development of user-centered digital interventions that are engaging and meet users' needs.

Anticipatory smooth pursuit eye movements scale with the probability of visual motion: The role of target speed and acceleration.

Sensory-motor systems can extract statistical regularities in dynamic uncertain environments, enabling quicker responses and anticipatory behavior for expected events. Anticipatory smooth pursuit eye movements (aSP) have been observed in primates when the temporal and kinematic properties of a forthcoming visual moving target are fully or partially predictable. To investigate the nature of the internal model of target kinematics underlying aSP, we tested the effect of varying the target kinematics and its predictability.

Mortality Risk Prediction Models for People With Kidney Failure: A Systematic Review.

Importance: People with kidney failure have a high risk of death and poor quality of life. Mortality risk prediction models may help them decide which form of treatment they prefer.

Objective: To systematically review the quality of existing mortality prediction models for people with kidney failure and assess whether they can be applied in clinical practice.

Mental Disorders Among Offspring Prenatally Exposed to Systemic Glucocorticoids.

Importance: Current evidence of the association between prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids and long-term mental disorders is scarce and has limitations.

Objective: To investigate the association between prenatal exposure to systemic glucocorticoids and mental disorders in offspring at the age of 15 years, comparing exposed vs unexposed offspring born to mothers with the same underlying disease (risk of preterm delivery and autoimmune or inflammatory disorders).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This nationwide population-based cohort study used data from registries in Denmark with follow-up until December 31, 2018.

Early access to fully funded tickets for BVA Live 2025.

BVA members can get exclusive early access to a limited number of fully funded educational bursaries for BVA Live 2025.

Markets and medicines discussed by BVA Council.

Two veterinary issues that look set to dominate 2025 - the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority investigation and access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland - featured high on the agenda at a hybrid online/in person BVA Council meeting on 11 December 2024.

Message from the President.

BVA President Liz Mullineaux reflects on a busy 2024 and looks to the year ahead.

Fascination with hustle and bustle of the front desk leads to receptionist role.

Louise Hudson began as a cleaner in the veterinary practice where she is now head veterinary receptionist. Here she describes how her role has expanded, providing many exciting opportunities.

2024: a veterinary year in review.

While a new government may have brought changes in all sectors in 2024, the veterinary world had its own challenges and opportunities. From an investigation into the veterinary services market for pets to livestock diseases and governance reform, 2024 was far from quiet. Kathryn Clark reports.

BVA President 2026/27 - could it be you?

We are currently looking for strong candidates to apply to be the next junior vice president (2025/26), going on to become BVA President in 2026/27.

How can we make farm EMS placements more inspiring and accessible for all?

Barriers to vet students gaining a meaningful farm EMS experience are leading many to opt not to see farm practice at all during their degree, argues Paul Horwood. How can the quality and accessibility of farm EMS be improved so that the next generation is inspired to join the sector?

Steps towards a New Humanism in the Mental Health Disciplines - An Interview with Tim Ingold.

This interview article explores how British anthropologist Tim Ingold's work can inspire innovation in mental health and the psy disciplines. Ingold critiques dominant biomedical and individualistic approaches, arguing for the importance of caring attentiveness and abolishing dichotomies like those between surface and depth, when engaging with people to understand and assist them. Instead, he suggests viewing human existence as correspondences with environmental, social, and relational others.

Multi-trait Genome-Wide Analysis Identified 20 Novel Loci for Sarcopenia-Related Traits in UK Biobank.

This study aims to identify novel loci associated with sarcopenia-related traits in UK Biobank (UKB) through multi-trait genome-wide analysis. To identify novel loci associated with sarcopenia, we integrated the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of usual walking pace (UWP) and hand grip strength (HGS) to conduct a joint association study known as multi-trait analysis of GWAS (MTAG). We performed a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) to analyze the results of MTAG in relation to mRNA expression data for genes identified in skeletal muscle.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Psychosis occurs in 30-40% of individuals with AD. New insights into disease mechanisms may lead to novel pharmacological targets and treatments. Previous studies have focused on bulk tissue analysis with limited results.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving pathological deposition of tau that includes glial inclusions and specific regional vulnerability patterns. Therapeutic developments are hampered by incomplete understanding of disease mechanisms. Few studies have examined its cell type-specific effects.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant condition causing severe neurodegeneration in the striatum and the entorhinal cortex (EC). An epigenome wide association study of DNA methylation in HD by our group, identified potential hypomethylation at the PTGDS gene in the striatum. We aimed to validate this result through pyrosequencing, examining the locus in fine detail, and to assess the signal specificity by profiling multiple neurodegenerative diseases.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is recognized as one major, potentially modifiable risk factor for neurodegenerative disease (NDD). Autopsy studies describe a range of neuropathologies in a proportion of individuals surviving late after TBI, most frequently the tau associated pathology, chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change (CTE-NC). In addition to tau, other NDD pathologies are described.

Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Has No Advantage Over Platelet-Rich Plasma and Bone Marrow Aspirate Injections for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Microfragmented adipose tissue has been proposed for intra-articular treatment of knee osteoarthritis. There are little data comparing the outcomes of treatment between microfragmented adipose tissue and other biological treatments.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing microfragmented aspirated fat injections to other orthobiologics, hyaluronic acid, and corticosteroid injections for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.