Tag: nevin manimala

Vet Sci. 2023 Jul 3;10(7):434. doi: 10.3390/vetsci10070434.

ABSTRACT

Weaning entails numerous modifications of the intestinal structure and microbiota composition, making puppies at high risk of sickness during this delicate life stage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a four-week administration of a supplement composed of ultramicronised Palmitoylethanolamide, bovine colostrum and Bacillus subtilis (Normalia^® Extra, Innovet Italia Srl, Saccolongo, Italy) on markers of gut health and microbiome of weaning puppies. Twenty-nine four-week-old Golden Retriever puppies were randomly assigned to control (CG, n = 13) and treated (TG, n = 16) groups. During the whole experimental time, there were no differences between the groups with regard to average daily gain and faecal score. In TG, faecal calprotectin and zonulin values were statistically significantly decreased compared to CG, especially at week 8 (zonulin: 42.8 ± 1.54 ng/mL and 55.3 ± 42.8 ng/mL, and calprotectin: 2.91 ± 0.38 µg/g and 5.71 ± 0.43 µg/g, in TG and CG, respectively; p < 0.0001 for both comparisons). Bacteria belonging to phylum Campylobacterota decreased (p = 0.04), while those referring to genera Coprococcus and Pseudomonas increased (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively). The supplementation of the tested complementary feed can promote the intestinal health of puppies and therefore facilitate weaning by lowering gut inflammation.

PMID:37505839 | DOI:10.3390/vetsci10070434

Vet Sci. 2023 Jun 30;10(7):425. doi: 10.3390/vetsci10070425.

ABSTRACT

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a common autoimmune disorder in dogs with a high fatality rate and it remains a therapeutic challenge. The marine lipid extract, EAB-277, is a natural anti-inflammatory nutraceutical product. However, the effects of EAB-277 in IMHA dogs has rarely been investigated. The objective of this study is to assess the clinical effects of EAB-277 and prednisolone dose-tapering for supplemental therapy in IMHA dogs. Prednisolone was given to 18 anemic IMHA dogs according to a standard regimen. Six dogs were supplementally treated with EAB-277 for 28 days and the remaining twelve dogs were a control group of untreated supplementations. The results demonstrate that the supplement group showed slightly better survival rates (66.7 ± 19.2%) than the control group (16.7 ± 0.7%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.408). When compared to pre-therapy, the supplement group’s blood profiles improved (p < 0.05). The EAB-277 treated group showed a moderate decrease in the incidence rate (4.20 times) of prednisolone tapering compared to the control group. The dosage reduction of prednisolone in supplement group was more than that in the control group (p < 0.0001). Our results suggest that EAB-277 supplementation may enhance clinical outcomes and lessen prednisolone dose-tapering in canine IMHA therapy.

PMID:37505830 | DOI:10.3390/vetsci10070425

Vet Sci. 2023 Jun 28;10(7):418. doi: 10.3390/vetsci10070418.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The thymus is the first lymphoid organ formed to regulate a newborn’s immunity. It reaches its maximum size during puberty, after which it undergoes an atrophic procedure called involution, but its ability to grow again in response to some stresses, such as infections, neoplasia, surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy is maintained. There is no comprehensive study on computed tomographic features of thymus in dogs. So, the goal of the present study is to gain better insight into the thymus using computed tomography as a non-invasive method.

METHODS: One hundred and fifty dogs classified in five age groups and five breed groups were recruited to this study and the thymus was evaluated using a 2-slice computed tomography machine. The inclusion criteria for the present study were having a normal complete blood count, plain and post-contrast CT scan examination of the thoracic region and no history of neoplasia, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The visibility, density, enhancement, grade, size, volume, shape, borders and lateralization of the thymus were evaluated and statistical analysis was performed. The effect of obesity on thymic grade and volume was also investigated.

RESULTS: The visibility, density, dorsal length, volume and grade decreased with increasing age. The thymic shape and lateralization were mostly wedge shaped and left sided, respectively. The borders became concave with aging and increasing body fat content caused an increase in the fatty degeneration of the thymus.

CONCLUSIONS: Declining thymic density, grade, size and volume with aging are related to thymic involution and fatty degeneration was accelerated by increasing body fat content. Females and males were different only in thymic shape and small and large breeds were different only in thymic volume. The thymus was visible in some geriatric dogs with no underlying disease. We expect that the present work can be used by radiologists in reading thoracic computed tomography but investigation of thymic characteristics in dogs with neoplasia and history of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and thoracic surgeries can complete this study.

PMID:37505824 | DOI:10.3390/vetsci10070418

Vet Sci. 2023 Jun 22;10(7):408. doi: 10.3390/vetsci10070408.

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy diagnosis during early gestation is important for cattle reproduction. The expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) was studied in embryo-transferred (ET) Japanese Black cattle. ISGs in PBLs-ISG15, MX1, MX2, and OAS1-were detected in multiple ovulation ET cattle using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. Gestational status was predicted using the average ISG levels during the normal estrous cycle (AVE) and the Youden index from the ROC curve analysis as cutoff values. The ISG15, MX1, and MX2 levels were significantly higher in pregnant cattle (n = 10) than in non-pregnant cattle (n = 23) on gestation day 21, whereas the levels of all ISGs were similar between non-pregnant and non-pregnant cattle with late embryonic death (n = 7). ISG15, MX1, and MX2 appropriately predicted the gestational status of ET cows. The statistical evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy in ET cows on day 21 of gestation presented higher values of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive values of ISG15, MX1, and MX2 using the Youden index than using the AVE. Therefore, ISG15, MX1, and MX2 are excellent biomarkers of gestational status during the peri-implantation period in ET cattle.

PMID:37505814 | DOI:10.3390/vetsci10070408

Vet Sci. 2023 Jun 21;10(7):406. doi: 10.3390/vetsci10070406.

ABSTRACT

The development of dentition in dogs has been associated with several problems including tooth over-crowding, missing permanent dentition, and persistent deciduous teeth (PDT). Information on dentition development in different breeds is lacking. This study of 61 Yorkshire terriers aimed to determine the (i) average age at deciduous tooth exfoliation, (ii) average age at permanent tooth eruption, (iii) PDT incidence, and influencing factors such as body weight. The ages of exfoliation of deciduous teeth and eruption of permanent dentition were influenced by body weight and tooth type. These dentition changes tended to occur later in dogs ≤ 3 kg versus dogs > 5 kg. Generally, incisors were exfoliated first, followed by premolars and then canines. At a body weight of 4.5 kg, the middle of the data range, the estimated age at loss of deciduous teeth (with 95% confidence intervals) was 21.9 (21.1, 22.9) weeks for incisors, 26.1 (24.9, 27.4) weeks for canines, and 23.9 (22.9, 24.9) weeks for premolar. The estimated age at eruption of permanent dentition was 22.3 (21.6, 23.0) weeks for incisors, 23.8 (23.0, 24.6) weeks for canines, 24.7 (24.0, 25.5) weeks for premolars, and 26.4 (25.5, 27.3) for molar teeth. However, this sequence was disrupted in dogs ≤ 3 kg. Yorkshire terriers had a high incidence of PDT. At a body weight of 4.5 kg, the estimated proportion of PDT was: incisors 0.86% (0.32, 2.31), canines 15.62% (7.62, 29.37) and premolars 3.57% (1.62, 7.66). Canines constituted the most frequently retained tooth type, with 89.1% retained in dogs ≤ 3 kg compared to 12.0% in dogs > 5 kg. This information will enable veterinarians to provide personalised advice regarding the oral care requirements for Yorkshire terriers and highlights the need to regularly monitor this breed between the ages of two and seven months, during the active phases of tooth development.

PMID:37505812 | DOI:10.3390/vetsci10070406

JMIR Form Res. 2023 Jul 28;7:e45349. doi: 10.2196/45349.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As of May 2023, the novel SARS-CoV-2 has claimed nearly 7 million lives globally and >1.1 million lives in the United States. Low-income populations are often disproportionately affected by risk factors such as lifestyle, employment, and limited health literacy. These populations may lack the knowledge of appropriate infection precautions or have reduced access to care during illness, particularly in countries without universal health care.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of COVID-19, including symptoms and risk factors among uninsured individuals seeking care at a free medical clinic, and to obtain respondents’ perceptions of and suggestions for adapting a mobile health (mHealth) app to an uninsured population known to have low health literacy.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective multimethod survey study with a convenience sample of uninsured adults seeking care at 3 free clinics in the United States. Respondents were questioned about their risk for and awareness of COVID-19 symptoms, COVID-19 testing, current technology use, and the use of technology to facilitate their health regarding COVID-19. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (eg, frequencies and mean differences). In addition, a small subset of respondents from one of the clinics (n=10) participated in interviews to provide feedback about the design of a COVID-19 web-based smartphone (mHealth) app.

RESULTS: The survey respondents (N=240) were 53.8% (n=129) female, were primarily White (n=113, 47.1%), and had a mean age of 50.0 (SD 11.67; range 19-72) years. Most respondents (162/222, 73%) did not think that they were at risk for COVID-19. Although respondents reported only moderate confidence in their knowledge of the short- and long-term symptoms of COVID-19, their knowledge of the symptoms aligned well with reports published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the most common acute (590/610, 96.7%) and long-term (217/271, 80.1%) symptoms. Most respondents (159/224, 71%) reported an interest in using the mHealth app to gain additional information regarding COVID-19 and available community resources. Respondents who were interviewed provided suggestions to improve the mHealth app but had overall positive perceptions about the potential usefulness and usability of the app.

CONCLUSIONS: It was encouraging that the knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms aligned well with the reports published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and that respondents were enthusiastic about using an mHealth app to monitor symptoms. However, it was concerning that most respondents did not think they were at a risk of contracting COVID-19.

PMID:37505792 | DOI:10.2196/45349

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2023 Jul 1;24(7):2543-2550. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2543.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To evaluate dosimetry between CT based radiation planning and PET-CT based radiation planning.

MATERIAL & METHODS: Histologically proven 40 cases of locally advanced non-small cell carcinoma of lung were accrued for the prospective study. Contrast enhanced planning CT images and PET images were acquired. Target volume delineation, organs of interest & radiation planning were performed in Eclipse V 14.5 followed by dosimetric comparison among GTV, PTV and OARs. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: The mean of GTV were 141.18 ± 119.76 cc in CT and 115.54 ± 91.02 cc in PET-CT based and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.03). The mean of CTV were 313.91 ± 180.87 cc in CT and 260.81 ± 148.83 cc in PET-CT based and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.03). The contralateral lung mean dose was statistically very significant (p<0.01) among both the 3D-CRT plans which were 8.49 Gy in CECT based planning and 9.53 Gy in PET CT based planning. The heart mean dose was also statistically significant (p=0.03) among the plans which were 17.90 Gy in CECT based planning and 17.06 Gy in PET CT based planning. Mann-Whitney U test showed the CT based PTV D90 was 58.20 Gy vs 57.58 Gy in PET CT based planning (p=0.02). PTV V95 were also comparable in both of the plans (p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: GTV measured using PET-CT, may be greater or lesser than the CECT-based GTV. PET-CT-based contouring is more accurate for identifying tumour margins and new lymph node volumes.

PMID:37505789 | DOI:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2543

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2023 Jul 1;24(7):2523-2530. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2523.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with varied symptoms and pathogenesis, as well as variable prognosis and therapeutic outcomes. Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, one of the tumor microenvironment factors, has been recognized as an important immunological biomarker that reflected the antitumor immune response in breast cancer.

METHODS: We analyzed 207 invasive breast cancer patients who had lumpectomy or mastectomy and have not received any pre-operative treatment. Clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemistry characteristics, molecular subtypes classification and stromal TILs evaluation were investigated.

RESULT: Stromal TILs correlated with well-established prognostic markers. Tumor grade showed significantly higher sTILs percentages in high-grade tumors than in low-grade tumors (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant association between intermediate and high levels of sTILs and a high Ki-67 index (p< 0.001). ER/PR negative was significantly related to high sTILs. Mean sTILs score was significantly higher in TNBC (40.1±31.6%) compared to others, statistically significant (p<0.001). In HER2-negative breast cancer, sTILs were significantly associated with histologic grade, ER status, PR status, and Ki67 index.

CONCLUSION: sTILs played an important role, associated with unfavorable factors in breast cancer. Our findings support the use of stromal sTILs to identify a more aggressive phenotype of tumors.

PMID:37505787 | DOI:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2523

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2023 Jul 1;24(7):2465-2471. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2465.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric cancer patients. We sought to assess the impact of using rapid molecular diagnostic techniques on time to pathogen identification, early administration of targeted antimicrobial treatment, and hospital outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at the Egyptian National Cancer Institute (1/2018-1/2019) on pediatric cancer patients with suspected sepsis. The cohort was divided into two groups. In one group, blood samples were sent for rapid molecular detection [multiplex-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)] and blood cultures (PCR-group). While only blood cultures were collected for the second group (BC-group).

RESULTS: In the entire cohort (n=120), the most common bacteria identified on blood cultures was Escherichia Coli (n=33,27.5%) followed by Klebsiella (n=31,25.8%). Multidrug-resistant bacteria were identified in 63 patients (52.5%). The median turnaround time to initial results was 5 hours in PCR-group (n=60), and 120 hours in BC-group (n=60)(P<0.001). For PCR-group, agreement in pathogen identification between the rapid molecular detection kit (PCR) and blood cultures was noted in 56 patients (93.3%). While the remaining four patients had no bacterial growth on blood cultures. The empirical antibiotic treatment for the PCR-group was modified based on the result of the PCR test. Antibiotic shift, based on blood culture sensitivity results, was done in 29 patients (48%) in PCR-group, compared to 45 patients (75%) in BC-group (P=0.003). Median sepsis episode duration [8-days vs. 10-days,P=0.361), and hospital mortality (42% vs. 50%, P=0.360) were slightly lower in PCR-group. However, this did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: There was a substantial agreement in pathogen identification between the rapid molecular detection method (PCR) and blood culture results. PCR had a much shorter turnaround time, which allows for earlier start of optimal antimicrobial treatment, and might potentially improve hospital outcomes, which in turn will reduce associated health care costs.

PMID:37505781 | DOI:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2465

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2023 Jul 1;24(7):2445-2454. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2445.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an in-house iodine solution (IS) mouthwash for the prophylaxis of concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) induced oral mucositis (OM) in head & neck cancer (HNC) patients.

METHODS: This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted on 20 HNC patients, being treated with definite or postoperative CCRT, at the Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to the treatment group or the control group. Patients in the treatment group gargled IS three times daily after meals, while patients in the control group gargled normal saline solutions (NSS). Assessment of OM was performed before starting CCRT, once a week during CCRT, and 4 weeks after CCRT was completed. The primary outcome was Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS).

RESULTS: The mean weekly OMAS, pain score, and impact on swallowing score were not statistically significant in patients who rinsed with IS mouthwash compared to those who received NSS (p > 0.999 in every week). There was no difference in the mean onset to OM (all grades) (p = 0.704), and the mean duration of OM (all grades) (p = 0.365). Severe OM (WHO grade 3-4) occurred in three patients [IS=2, NSS=1] with the median onset of 45.50 & 33.00 days (p = NA), and the duration of 8.00 & 57.00 days (p = NA) in the IS and NSS groups, respectively. Oral candidiasis occurred in one patient from the NSS group while no secondary infection of oral mucosa was observed in the patients receiving IS mouthwash.

CONCLUSION: The study could not reach statistically significance to show that IS mouthwash was effective in of prevention CCRT-induced OM. Further study with a larger number of participants is encouraged.

PMID:37505779 | DOI:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2445