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Whether surgical palliative therapy is appropriate for oncologic veterinary patients is an increasing concern as pet age increases because of improved care. In this study, an online survey (available for 30 days), comprising 100 questions with structured response options, was administered to 492 diplomates of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS). The survey queried the technical, ethical, social, medical, and financial aspects of surgical palliative therapy for oncologic veterinary patients. Responses were received from 155 ECVS diplomates (31.5%, n = 155/492). Palliative surgery was a relatively common intervention in veterinary oncology, with 50% of respondents (n = 77.5/155) indicating that 75%--100% of oncological surgeries performed were palliative. The presence of metastasis was judged as a key determinant when deciding to perform palliative oncological surgery by 41% of the respondents (n = 63.5/155). The survey revealed that the most commonly performed procedures in palliative oncological surgery were marginal resection, debulking, and amputation. In contrast to human medicine, palliative limb-sparing surgery, stent placement, and embolization were rarely used in veterinary settings, mainly because of a general lack of expertise among veterinarians, elevated costs, and recourse to euthanasia. Taken together, the survey results highlight the need for appropriate guidelines in the field of oncological surgery. To establish general guidelines and direct veterinarians towards the most appropriate judgement, understanding how and what veterinary surgeons manage palliative oncological surgery and how they perceive the main ethical, social, medical, and financial concerns are essential. Such guidelines will lead to better care for ailing animals and will facilitate the path to healing for owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging modality that provides real-time visualization of tissue microstructure. The goals of this study were to assess OCT image tissue depths (TD) with image processing, and other objective characteristics of tissue types at surgical margins in canine soft tissue sarcoma (STS). In this study, a single observer reviewed 248 images of four tissue types (sarcoma, skeletal muscle, adipose and fascia) collected from 24 dogs with STS. The observer evaluated for tissue characteristics and measured TDs utilizing ImageJ software. Images were evaluated in normal, Threshold and Binary conditions. Measurements were repeated 1 week later to evaluate for intra-observer variability. In all three image processing conditions, the order of TD from greatest to least light penetration was adipose, skeletal muscle, fascia and sarcoma tissue. Neovascularization was observed in 53.2% sarcoma, and lines of fascia surrounding muscle bundles was present in 93.5% of skeletal muscle images. These observed differences between tissue types in OCT images can be utilized to improve observer evaluation, aid in development of algorithms, and improve the accuracy of surgical margin assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) uses near-infrared light waves to generate real-time, high-resolution images on the microscopic scale similar to low power histopathology. Previous studies have demonstrated the use of OCT for real-time surgical margin assessment for human breast cancer. The use of OCT for canine mammary tumours (CMT) could allow intra-operative visualisation of residual tumour at the surgical margins. The purpose of this study was to assess OCT imaging for the detection of incomplete tumour resection following CMT surgery. We hypothesized that the OCT images would have comparable features to histopathological images of tissues at the surgical margins of CMT resections along with a high sensitivity of OCT detection of incomplete surgical excision of CMT. Thirty surgical specimens were obtained from nineteen client-owned dogs undergoing surgical resection of CMT. OCT image appearance and characteristics of adipose tissue, skin, mammary tissue and mammary tumour at the surgical margins were distinct and different. The OCT images of normal and abnormal tissues at the surgical margins were utilized to develop a dataset of OCT images for observer evaluation. The sensitivity and specificity for ex vivo images were 83.3% and 82.0% (observer 1) and 70.0% and 67.9% (observer 2). The sensitivity and specificity for in vivo images were 70.0% and 89.3% (observer 1) and 76.7% and 67.9% (observer 2). These results indicate a potential use of OCT for surgical margin assessment for CMT to optimize surgical intervention and clinical outcomes. Improved training and experience of observers may improve sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical imaging modality that has been investigated for real-time surgical margin evaluation in human breast cancer patients. Previous veterinary OCT studies have been limited to surgical margin imaging for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) tumours. To the authors knowledge, OCT has never been used to characterize or evaluate other types of neoplasia in dogs. The goal of this study was to characterize the OCT imaging appearance of apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA) in excised ex vivo specimens from five client-owned dogs. All excised tissue surgical margins were imaged using a clinical spectral domain OCT system and two to four areas suspicious for incomplete surgical margins were selected. These areas were inked and sections were trimmed for histopathology. This enabled OCT imaging from each area of interest to be compared with corresponding H&E stained histology imaging from the same location. OCT was able to identify the presence of AGASACA at or within 1 mm of the surgical margin in all areas of interest. AGASACA, similar to the previously described canine STS, generated a dense, highly scattering image without any specific textural architecture. This study was able to validate the ability of OCT to accurately identify another type of tumour presence at or close to the surgical margin in the dog. Further study is needed to assess OCT accuracy at identifying other tumour types in dogs to understand its potential clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal movement is one of the important phenotypes in animal research. A large number of small animals can be tested in high-throughput studies using multiwell plates to study the effects of different genes, chemicals, and the external environment on animal locomotion. In this paper, we propose AniWellTracker, which is a free image analysis software optimized for analyzing individual animal locomotion using multiwell plates. In the tracking mode, the center coordinates of individual animals are calculated by analyzing images. In the review mode, not only the animal’s movement path, but also its speed, distance traveled, location frequency, rotation angle, etc. are analyzed and visualized using the built-in chart function. To test the usefulness of AniWellTracker, a case study was conducted to investigate the effect of two household cleaning agents on the swimming speed of zebrafish. AniWellTracker, written in Visual Basic .NET, is a standalone graphical user-interface software that does not use commercial software or external image analysis libraries and is expected to be of significant help to researchers.

Objective: To describe the clinical features of rhabdomyolysis due to albuterol toxicosis in a Greyhound. Case summary: A 4‐year‐old neutered male Greyhound was presented for albuterol toxicosis leading to severe hypokalemia and respiratory paralysis. After 3 hours of mechanical ventilation, pigmenturia and marked enlargement, firmness, and pain of the left thigh muscles were noted. Severe hyperkalemia and cardiac arrhythmias were identified after turning the patient. After discontinuation of mechanical ventilation, other muscles became involved, and the patient developed acute kidney injury and concern for multiple organ dysfunction syndrome over the next 5 days. On day 6, the patient was euthanized, and necropsy revealed myocardial and skeletal muscle necrosis, myoglobinuria, and acute tubular degeneration. New or unique information provided: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of albuterol toxicosis leading to rhabdomyolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tendinopathy is a debilitating disease that causes as much as 30% of all musculoskeletal consultations. Existing treatments for tendinopathy have variable efficacy, possibly due to incomplete characterization of the underlying pathophysiology. Mechanical load can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on tendon, as the overall tendon response depends on the degree, frequency, timing, and magnitude of the load. The clinical continuum model of tendinopathy offers insight into the late stages of tendinopathy, but it does not capture the subclinical tendinopathic changes that begin before pain or loss of function. Small animal models that use high tendon loading to mimic human tendinopathy may be able to fill this knowledge gap. The goal of this review is to summarize the insights from in-vivo animal studies of mechanically-induced tendinopathy and higher loading regimens into the mechanical, microstructural, and biological features that help characterize the continuum between normal tendon and tendinopathy. This review summarizes the insights gained from in-vivo animal studies of mechanically-induced tendinopathy by evaluating the effect high loading regimens have on the mechanical, structural, and biological features of tendinopathy. A better understanding of the interplay between these realms could lead to improved patient management, especially in the presence of painful tendon. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Integration of an ALIO hexapod (ALIO Industries, Colorado, USA) to a video oculography (VOG) system. • The system enables measuring vestibulo-ocular reflex of small animal under 6-degree of freedom motion real time. • The motion accuracy of the present system is 10 folds higher than the previous single axis VOG built on a servo motor. • Different approaches for eyeball tracking are compared for the implementation. We present a video oculography (VOG) system with 6-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) mobility for real-time measurements of the binocular 3D eye position of a small animal. A hybrid hexapod that allowed for multi-axis complex motions with the resolution of the microscopic level was used to control the motion of the animal. The instantaneous eyeball movement of the animal was determined based on two approaches: (1) tracking of marker arrays affixed to the cornea; and (2) tracking the pupil outline. The tracking of the eyeball movement and the motion control of the hexapod were implemented with the LabVIEW virtual instruments. Compared with our previous measurements using a servo-motor-based single-axis VOG system, positional error reduced from more than 4% to less than 0.7%. Validation showed that the tracking errors in three rotational axes are less than 2% for the magnitude and less than 5° for the direction angle. The present VOG system is an effective tool for cross-axis 3D vestibulo-ocular reflex study on small animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We established a canine natural killer (NK)‐type cell line called CNK‐89 derived from a dog with NK cell neoplasia. Immunophenotyping analysis showed positive staining for CD5, CD8, CD45, CD56, CD79a and NKp46, while negative for CD3, CD4, CD14, CD20, CD21, CD34, Thy1, IgG, IgM and MHCII. Polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the presence of CD56, NKG2D, NKp30, NKp44, NKp46 and perforin, but the absence of CD16, Ly49 and granzyme B mRNA. Treating CNK‐89 cells with IL‐2 did not change the expression of activating receptors, TNFα and IFNγ secretion and cytotoxic activity, however, treatment with IL‐12 alone or in combinations with IL‐15, IL‐18 and IL‐21 caused an increase in granzyme B and CD16 mRNA, IFNγ secretion and cytotoxic properties of the CNK‐89 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine famciclovir content (strength) in compounded formulations and to determine if potency changed over time. Methods: Four concentrations of oral oil suspension in three distinct flavors, three concentrations of oral paste, three chew treats and 62.5 mg tablets from one compounding pharmacy were evaluated for famciclovir content. Specific sample preparation procedures were used for each drug formulation prior to determination of famciclovir content through mass spectrometry tandem liquid chromatography. Analysis was performed on arrival from the compounder and on days 7, 14, 28, 56 and 120. Samples were run in triplicate and concentration determined by comparison with a standard curve. Content was considered appropriate if within 90–110% of the labeled concentration. Results: On arrival from the compounding pharmacy, 5/12 oral oil suspensions of varying concentrations were <90% of the labeled concentration and 3/3 oral pastes were >110%. Famciclovir content in oil suspensions ranged from 72% to 118% of the label value while oral pastes ranged from 95% to 202% of the label concentration over the 120 study days, and all concentrations varied in an unpredictable fashion. Tablets contained 90–110% of the labeled value throughout the study period. Chew treats could not be successfully analyzed. Conclusions and relevance: This study found substantial variation in famciclovir content in the compounded products evaluated, which, in turn, raises concerns that substandard dosing could result in lack of efficacy or a failed treatment trial. Drug toxicity might also be encountered. Veterinarians must be aware that while compounded medications can improve compliance, they might not deliver the drug dose expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare alfaxalone and propofol in balanced anaesthesia using midazolam 0.5 mg/kg, xylazine 0.125 mg/kg, butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg intravenously as premedication and the ultrashort acting anaesthetics alfaxalone or propofol for inducing and maintaining in dogs with medically stabilised mitral valve regurgitation. Seven client-owned dogs with a second stage cardiac insufficiency were used in this study. All the dogs suffered from class II cardiac insufficiency according to the classification by the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACH). All the dogs were treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (enalapril) and diuretics (furosemide), which eliminated the clinical signs of mitral valve regurgitation in all the dogs included in the study. This was a prospective controlled clinical study, 12 months in duration, when the dogs included in the study underwent regular dental prophylaxis. The dogs were monitored electrocardiographically throughout the anaesthesia for the presence of arrhythmias, % oxygen saturation of haemoglobin (%SpO2) measured by pulse oximetry, heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature. The dogs underwent two anaesthesia procedures with an interval of one year due to the prophylaxis of periodontitis, with the first anaesthesia maintained by propofol and second one by alfaxalone. The respiratory rate was mostly significantly higher in the individuals undergoing alfaxalone anaesthesia (P < 0.05), but neither the slower respiratory frequency in the propofol anaesthesia had any negative impact on the % oxygen saturation of the haemoglobin (%SpO2). The heart frequency was significantly higher in the alfaxalone group (P < 0.005). The arterial blood pressures were comparable, but, on the contrary, the two dogs from propofol group had significantly higher blood pressure. The cardiovascular values in both types of anaesthesia had a tendency to progressively decrease within the physiological range. The level of the analgesia was significantly higher in the case of the propofol anaesthesia (P < 0.01) and the recovery period was also significantly shorter (P < 0.005). It can be concluded that the investigated ultra short acting anaesthetics used in balanced anaesthesia containing subanaesthetic doses of xylazine can be used over one hour of surgical procedures in dogs stabilised for mitral valve regurgitation without a significantly increased risk from the anaesthesia.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occupational radiation exposure levels of veterinary staff during fluoroscopic examination using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). A prospective study was conducted to measure radiation doses in three positioned persons (two restrainers and one observer) using TLDs. The TLDs were placed on the inside and outside of the lead-equivalent protective devices of the panorama mask, thyroid shield, apron and arm shield. The TLDs were placed at five anatomic sites (eye, thyroid, breast, gonad and hand). Radiation exposure was measured in 65 fluoroscopic examinations at 80 kVp and 100 mAs. The doses (mSv) (outside/inside the shield) measured in restrainers A and B and observer C were 3.09/0.59, 3.80/0.65 and 0.63/0.44 in the eye; 2.20/0.73, 1.88/1.10 and 0.79/0.45 in the thyroid; 3.42/0.44, 3.94/2.35 and 0.61/0.34 in the breast; 1.84/0.45, 1.69/0.23 and 0.46/0.36 in the gonad; and 5.56/3.16, 8.29/2.99 and 0.79/0.34 in the hand, respectively. Out of all the lead protection devices, the radiation dose of the hand was the highest in all three participants, with the thyroid radiation dose value being the same as the hand in the observer C. Radiation doses received by the eyes of all three participants were also not negligible. Veterinary workers exposed to radiation through not only radiography but also fluoroscopy should wear protective gear, especially for the eyes.

Exocrine pancreatic carcinoma is uncommon in the dog and the veterinary literature surrounding the disease is minimal. Twenty‐three cases of canine exocrine pancreatic carcinoma were reviewed in a retrospective manner to obtain information on clinical presentation, behaviour and survival associated with the disease. Presenting clinical signs were nonspecific and included anorexia, lethargy, vomiting and abdominal pain. The overall median survival time was only 1 day but was confounded by the large number of dogs that were euthanized shortly after diagnosis. Metastatic disease was detected in 78% of cases at the time of diagnosis, attesting to the aggressive nature of the disease. Neither lymph node metastasis, tumour size nor tumour location had an impact on overall survival. Only one patient was a previous diabetic who is contrary to reports of the disease in people and felines. This retrospective study reaffirms the need for early detection measures to optimize disease control. However, the benefits of therapy with surgery or radiation and adjuvant chemotherapy remain to be elucidated in dogs with exocrine pancreatic carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastropexy is used to correct gastric dilatation volvulus, a disease that usually affects large and giant dogs and leads to death in 23.4 - 43% of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the biomechanical traction of 2 gastropexy techniques, incisional gastropexy and scarified gastropexy, in 10 dog cadavers. Incisional gastropexy comprises a single incision in the abdominal wall and another incision in the stomach wall in the pyloric region followed by simple continuous sutures. The scarification technique creates scarification along the stomach borders of the pexy. Thereby, knowing that both techniques are successful, the biomechanical traction of each technique was compared. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 10 animals without defined breed weighing from 6.4 - 43.0 kg were allocated into 2 equal groups (GE [scarified gastropexy] and GI [incisional gastropexy]). Incisional gastropexy was performed with a simple continuous suture pattern in the GI group and scarified gastropexy with an interrupted simple suture pattern was performed in the GE group. Absorbable 2-0 monofilament yarn (polygllecaprone 25) was used for sutures in both groups. Rectangular segments of the gastric antrum were collected from the right abdominal wall and from the bottom of the stomach at the left abdominal wall, which were subjected to a traction test. The scarification technique was easier, faster, and used less surgical sutures than the incisional technique. Both techniques were effective regardless of the site applied, with no significant differences. There was a difference in stretching depending on location. Discussion: The pathogenesis of gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) is unknown. However, gas accumulation inside the gastric chamber may lead to organ dilation and consequently cause torsion of the cardia region and pyloric antrum, resulting in strangulation of blood vessels and nerves. This torsion could cause stomach ischemia followed by organ necrosis if early emergency care is not provided. In addition, vessel strangulation my lead to a systemic syndrome resulting in shock. The disease presents acute and non-specific clinical signs such as weight loss, vomiting, and abdominal intumescence. Patients with risk factors such as reduced gastric motility, delayed stomach replenishment, lower weight, advanced age, or presence of a foreign body may present with poor prognosis. Once GDV becomes an emergency, surgical correction with the most efficient surgical techniques and procedures is necessary to guarantee patient survival. Based on the results obtained, both the scarified and incisional gastropexy techniques are more efficient than other techniques. In addition, the scarified technique with interrupted simple stitches stood out when compared to the incisional technique with a continuous simple suture pattern as it was faster and used less suture thread. The incisional technique, on the other hand, provides good juxtaposition of the edges of the wounds, avoiding the exposure of muscle tissue, as well as adhesions from other organs. The knowledge of those factors promotes positive effects on the effectiveness of an emergency surgical approach for patients with GDV, since it allows less surgical time, as well as less anesthetic time. Based on the results obtained during the biomechanical traction tests of the study, it was concluded that both scarified gastropexy with interrupted single stitches and incisional gastropexy with a continuous single stitch may be efficient. The scarified technique stood out when compared to the incisional technique as it required less time and used less sutures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few published reports of canine rhabdomyosarcomas. In human paediatrics, rhabdomyosarcomas account for 5%‐10% of all tumours and >50% of soft tissue sarcomas. They have an aggressive biologic behaviour; most patients develop diffuse metastatic disease. Ezrin, a cytoskeleton linker protein, has been correlated with metastasis in a number of tumours, including rhabdomyosarcomas. The goal of this study was to describe dogs with non‐urinary rhabdomyosarcomas including clinical findings, ezrin expression and outcome. Twenty‐five dogs with rhabdomyosarcomas were identified from two institutions' databases. Signalment, primary tumour location, cytologic and histologic findings, metastatic sites, treatments, survival time and necropsy results were recorded. Immunohistochemical staining for ezrin expression was performed on archived samples; cellular localization of ezrin was characterized. The mean and median age of all patients was 4.3 and 2 years, respectively. Subcutaneous and retrobulbar/orbital were the most common primary tumour locations. Sixteen dogs had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Three dogs presented with diffuse disease where a primary tumour could not be identified. A round cell tumour was the initial diagnosis in 32% of cases, and 76% of cases required immunohistochemistry to establish the diagnosis. The median survival was 10 days. Twenty‐one cases had archived samples available for ezrin staining; all but one was positive and exhibited both membranous and cytoplasmic localization. Rhabdomyosarcomas occur in young dogs, may have a round cell appearance, and exhibit aggressive biologic behaviour. Given ezrin's defined role in metastasis, its observed expression in the tumours in this study suggest its possible role in canine rhabdomyosarcoma's aggressive biologic behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA‐214 (miR‐214), a pivotal tumour‐suppressive miRNA, is downregulated in canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) cells. Although these tumour‐suppressive miRNAs are potential therapeutic agents, their clinical efficacy may be limited because of their vulnerability to RNase‐rich microenvironments and low in vivo transfection rates. We developed synthetic miR‐214s with enhanced cytotoxicity, RNase resistance and quantity of miR‐214 in/on cells. These synthetic miR‐214s were synthesized by various chemical modifications (such as 4′‐aminoethyl‐2′‐fluoro, 2′‐fluoro, 2′‐O‐methyl, phosphorothioate and oligospermine modifications) of the wild‐type mature miR‐214 sequences. Transfection of HSA cells with synthetic miR‐214 (miR‐214 5AE) demonstrated significant growth suppressive effect and induced the strongest apoptotic response. Synthetic miR‐214s (miR‐214 5AE, miR‐214 10AE and miR‐214 OS) were much more stable than mature miR‐214s in foetal bovine serum. Similar to mature miR‐214, 5AE and OS suppressed the expression level of COP1 in HSA cells. The quantity of synthetic miR‐214s in/on cells was higher than that of mature miR‐214. In conclusion, we developed a clinically applicable, synthetic miR‐214 5AE that regulates the COP1 protein expression similar to that mediated by mature miR‐214. Additionally, miR‐214 5AE confers better cytotoxicity, nuclease resistance and transfection rate than mature miR‐214. Thus, miR‐214 5AE could potentially be a novel miRNA‐based chemotherapeutic agent that could improve the prognosis of HSA. Its in vivo effects on canine HSA need to be examined in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the dramatic advancements in pelvic radiotherapy, urinary toxicity remains a significant side-effect. The assessment of clinico-dosimetric predictors of radiation cystitis (RC) based on clinical data has improved substantially over the last decade; however, a thorough understanding of the physiopathogenetic mechanisms underlying the onset of RC, with its variegated acute and late urinary symptoms, is still largely lacking, and data from pre-clinical research is still limited. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the main open issues and, ideally, to help investigators in orienting future research. First, anatomy and physiology of bladder, as well as the current knowledge of dose and dose-volume effects in humans, are briefly summarized. Subsequently, pre-clinical radiobiology aspects of RC are discussed. The findings suggest that pre-clinical research on RC in animal models is a lively field of research with growing interest in the development of new radioprotective agents. The availability of new high precision micro-irradiators and the rapid advances in small animal imaging might lead to big improvement into this field. In particular, studies focusing on the definition of dose and fractionation are warranted, especially considering the growing interest in hypo-fractionation and ablative therapies for prostate cancer treatment. Moreover, improvement in radiotherapy plans optimization by selectively reducing radiation dose to more radiosensitive substructures close to the bladder would be of paramount importance. Finally, thanks to new pre-clinical imaging platforms, reliable and reproducible methods to assess the severity of RC in animal models are expected to be developed.

PICO question In small animal veterinary professions, does implementation of an educational intervention, when compared to no intervention, improve hand hygiene compliance? Clinical bottom line Category of research question Treatment The number and type of study designs reviewed Three papers were critically appraised. They were all prospective observational cohort studies Strength of evidence Weak Outcomes reported Two out of the three papers did not find educational implementation to have a statistically significant positive effect on hand hygiene compliance (HHC) in small animal veterinary professionals Conclusion The veterinary evidence reviewed does not provide strong justification for the use of education in the improvement of HHC in small animal practice. This contrasts with extensive human evidence which supports the use of educational interventions (Helder et al., 2010). However, a limited veterinary knowledge base in the field of HH, combined with the flawed methodologies of the appraised literature, suggests that this finding is not representative of the effect education could have on HHC. The conclusion drawn from the evidence assessed within this Knowledge Summary is that educational interventions are not significantly linked to an improvement in HHC within a small animal veterinary setting. When considering the volume of human evidence which supports education as a tool to improve HHC, the authors suggest this Knowledge Summary should be repeated in the future when additional veterinary evidence is available to reassess the conclusion drawn How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision-making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.

Small animal reproduction (SAR) is a main research field in veterinary medicine and bibliometric analyses are useful to investigate trends in specific research areas. The objective of the present study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the literature of the last decade on SAR. A search equation was created, and documents were retrieved from the Web of Science database. Documents were manually revised, categorized and R software version 4.1.2 with Bibliometrix R package version 3.1 and MS Excel were used to perform the analyses. The included documents (n = 1470) were mainly research articles (78%). The top countries for the number of documents and citations were Brazil, United States, Italy, Poland, and Korea. These also account for the most prolific authors and institutions. Analyses by author keywords, categories, and recent reviews of the literature suggest that research on the canine species is more abundant than research on the feline one and that reproductive biotechnologies are a main research focus. Some clinical topics are still considered niche or neglected themes (e.g., semen collection in tomcats, neonatology). However, heterogeneity and ambiguity in keywords and categories are undeniable. This study offers interesting insights, providing definitions for main keywords in the field of SAR.

Despite the dramatic advancements in pelvic radiotherapy, urinary toxicity remains a significant side-effect. The assessment of clinico-dosimetric predictors of radiation cystitis (RC) based on clinical data has improved substantially over the last decade; however, a thorough understanding of the physiopathogenetic mechanisms underlying the onset of RC, with its variegated acute and late urinary symptoms, is still largely lacking, and data from pre-clinical research is still limited. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the main open issues and, ideally, to help investigators in orienting future research. First, anatomy and physiology of bladder, as well as the current knowledge of dose and dose-volume effects in humans, are briefly summarized. Subsequently, pre-clinical radiobiology aspects of RC are discussed. The findings suggest that pre-clinical research on RC in animal models is a lively field of research with growing interest in the development of new radioprotective agents. The availability of new high precision micro-irradiators and the rapid advances in small animal imaging might lead to big improvement into this field. In particular, studies focusing on the definition of dose and fractionation are warranted, especially considering the growing interest in hypo-fractionation and ablative therapies for prostate cancer treatment. Moreover, improvement in radiotherapy plans optimization by selectively reducing radiation dose to more radiosensitive substructures close to the bladder would be of paramount importance. Finally, thanks to new pre-clinical imaging platforms, reliable and reproducible methods to assess the severity of RC in animal models are expected to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In addition to the structural information afforded by 1H MRI, the use of X-nuclei, such as sodium-23 (23Na) or phosphorus-31 (31P), offers important complementary information concerning physiological and biochemical parameters. By then combining this technique with PET, which provides valuable insight into a wide range of metabolic and molecular processes by using of a variety of radioactive tracers, the scope of medical imaging and diagnostics can be significantly increased. While the use of multimodal imaging is undoubtedly advantageous, identifying the optimal combination of these parameters to diagnose a specific dysfunction is very important and is advanced by the use of sophisticated imaging techniques in specific animal models. Methods: In this pilot study, rats with intracerebral 9L gliosarcomas were used to explore a combination of sequential multinuclear MRI using a sophisticated switchable coil set in a small animal 9.4 T MRI scanner and, subsequently, a small animal PET with the tumour tracer O-(2-[18F]-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine ([18F]FET). This made it possible for in vivo multinuclear MR-PET experiments to be conducted without compromising the performance of either multinuclear MR or PET. Results: High-quality in vivo images and spectra including high-resolution 1H imaging, 23Na-weighted imaging, detection of 31P metabolites and [18F]FET uptake were obtained, allowing the characterisation of tumour tissues in comparison to a healthy brain. It has been reported in the literature that these parameters are useful in the identification of the genetic profile of gliomas, particularly concerning the mutation of the isocitrate hydrogenase gene, which is highly relevant for treatment strategy. Conclusions: The combination of multinuclear MR and PET in, for example, brain tumour models with specific genetic mutations will enable the physiological background of signal alterations to be explored and the identification of the optimal combination of imaging parameters for the non-invasive characterisation of the molecular profile of tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): L-4-borono-2-18F-fluoro-phenylalanine (L-[18F]FBPA), a substrate of Ltype amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), is a tumor-specific probe used in positron emission tomography (PET). On the other hand, it has not been examined whether another isomer D-[18F]FBPA accumulates specifically in the tumor. Here, we compared the accumulation of D-[18F]FBPA in C6 glioma and inflammation to evaluate the performance of D-[18F]FBPA as a tumor-specific probe. Methods: HEK293-LAT1 and HEK293-LAT2 cells were tested for [14C]-leucine or [14C]-alanine transport, and IC50 values of L- and D-FBPA were evaluated in both cell types. PET was conducted in rat xenograft model of C6 glioma with LAT1 expression and model of turpentine oil-induced subcutaneous inflammation (n=10 for both models). The concentrations of D-[18F]FBPA were compared between glioma and inflammatory lesion using standardized uptake value (SUV) . Results: In contrast to L-FBPA, which inhibited substrate uptake in both HEK293- LAT1 and -LAT2 cells, D-FBPA showed no inhibitory effect on both cells, suggesting low transporter selectivity of D-[18F]FBPA against LAT1 and LAT2. Static PET analysis showed low accumulation of D-[18F]FBPA in C6 glioma and inflammatory lesion (SUVmax=0.80±0.16, 0.56±0.09, respectively). Although there was a statistical difference in SUVmax between these tissues, it was difficult to distinguish glioma from inflammation on the PET image due to its low uptake level. Therefore, it was suggested that D-[18F]FBPA is not a suitable tumor-specific probe for oncology PET in contrast to L-[18F]FBPA. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that D-[18F]FBPA is not a LAT1-specific PET probe and shows low uptake in C6 glioma, indicating its unsuitability as a tumor diagnosis PET probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): L-4-borono-2-18F-fluoro-phenylalanine (L-[18F]FBPA), a substrate of Ltype amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), is a tumor-specific probe used in positron emission tomography (PET). On the other hand, it has not been examined whether another isomer D-[18F]FBPA accumulates specifically in the tumor. Here, we compared the accumulation of D-[18F]FBPA in C6 glioma and inflammation to evaluate the performance of D-[18F]FBPA as a tumor-specific probe. Methods: HEK293-LAT1 and HEK293-LAT2 cells were tested for [14C]-leucine or [14C]-alanine transport, and IC50 values of L- and D-FBPA were evaluated in both cell types. PET was conducted in rat xenograft model of C6 glioma with LAT1 expression and model of turpentine oil-induced subcutaneous inflammation (n=10 for both models). The concentrations of D-[18F]FBPA were compared between glioma and inflammatory lesion using standardized uptake value (SUV). Results: In contrast to L-FBPA, which inhibited substrate uptake in both HEK293- LAT1 and -LAT2 cells, D-FBPA showed no inhibitory effect on both cells, suggesting low transporter selectivity of D-[18F]FBPA against LAT1 and LAT2. Static PET analysis showed low accumulation of D-[18F]FBPA in C6 glioma and inflammatory lesion (SUVmax=0.80±0.16, 0.56±0.09, respectively). Although there was a statistical difference in SUVmax between these tissues, it was difficult to distinguish glioma from inflammation on the PET image due to its low uptake level. Therefore, it was suggested that D-[18F]FBPA is not a suitable tumor-specific probe for oncology PET in contrast to L-[18F]FBPA. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that D-[18F]FBPA is not a LAT1-specific PET probe and shows low uptake in C6 glioma, indicating its unsuitability as a tumor diagnosis PET probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies for remotely observing animal movements have advanced rapidly in the past decade. In recent years, Australia has invested in an Integrated Marine Ocean Tracking (IMOS) system, a land ecosystem observatory (TERN), and an Australian Acoustic Observatory (A2O), but has not established movement tracking systems for individual terrestrial animals across land and along coastlines. Here, we make the case that the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, an open-source, rapidly expanding cooperative automated radio-tracking global network (Motus, https://motus.org) provides an unprecedented opportunity to build an affordable and proven infrastructure that will boost wildlife biology research and connect Australian researchers domestically and with international wildlife research. We briefly describe the system conceptually and technologically, then present the unique strengths of Motus, how Motus can complement and expand existing and emerging animal tracking systems, and how the Motus framework provides a much-needed central repository and impetus for archiving and sharing animal telemetry data. We propose ways to overcome the unique challenges posed by Australia's ecological attributes and the size of its scientific community. Open source, inherently cooperative and flexible, Motus provides a unique opportunity to leverage individual research effort into a larger collaborative achievement, thereby expanding the scale and scope of individual projects, while maximising the outcomes of scant research and conservation funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the safety, feasibility, and utility of whole body computed tomography (WBCT) in polytrauma patients. A second objective was to describe the utilization of the VetMouse Trap for sedated WBCT in polytrauma patients. Methods: A prospective, observational study in a high‐volume private practice. Any cat or dog weighing <20 kg that presented to the emergency department following a polytrauma was eligible. Patients were given analgesia and sedation prior to placement in the VetMouse Trap. A WBCT was then performed. Results: A total of 16 patients (8 dogs and 8 cats) met inclusion criteria. All patients presented with blunt trauma; 3 also had evidence of penetrating wounds. Five (31.25%) patients met inclusion criteria for WBCT based on their neurological evaluation. Five (31.5%) were non‐ambulatory with suspicion of orthopedic injury, and 37.5% met additional criteria for WBCT. The most common areas of injury were head (43.7%), lungs (25%), and pelvis (25%). Four patients (25%) had evidence of cavitary effusion that was not seen on focused assessment using sonography for trauma (FAST) scan. No patient had any adverse events during the CT. Conclusion: This study demonstrated successful WBCT imaging of the sedated small animal polytrauma patient with the VetMouse Trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexiletine has been suggested in various studies for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. Extremely low toxicity of this drug has been reported in these literatures; however, there is no reasonable report on the effects and function of this drug on the cat’s heart processes in different phases of cardiac contraction. This article evaluated the effects of different dosages of mexiletine on cat’s electrocardiography. Seven cats were used for this study and incremental dosage method with oral capsule has been used. Before starting the study, each cat were evaluated by an electrocardiogram sample, which was considered as a normal electrocardiogram) ECG(. To evaluate the effects of mexiletine, doses of 4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 mg/kg were adjusted and prescribed. For each cat, the doses were prescribed sequentially every 24 hours and after prescription of the drug, the cats were examined clinically and electrocardiographically. This evaluation was done at the peak of the drug, about 2 hours after prescription. Finally, all clinical observations and ECGs were evaluated. In the clinical study, any clinic symptoms was considered and rhythm, heart rate, and determination of heart electrical functions such as P amplitude and duration, QRS duration, R amplitude, ventricular contraction time (QT interval) and PR interval were evaluated in electrocardiographic experiments. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the drug is quite safe for cats and no cardiac complication and electrophysiological disorder was observed even with the use of high doses or even incremental doses, so this indicates that the drug can be safe in terms of cardiac effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background We investigate the use of different denoising filters on low signal-to-noise ratio cardiac images of the rat heart acquired with a birdcage volume coil at 7T. Accuracy and variability of cardiac function parameters were measured from manual segmentation of rat heart images with and without filtering. Methods Ten rats were studied using a 7T Varian system. End-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, ejection fraction and left ventricle mass (LVM) were calculated from manual segmentation by two experts on cine-FLASH short-axis slices covering the left ventricle. Series were denoised with an anisotropic diffusion filter, a whole variation regularization or an optimized Rician non-local means (ORNLM) filtering technique. The effect of the different filters was evaluated by the calculation of signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios, followed by a study of intra- and inter-expert variability of the measurement of physiological parameters. The calculated LVM was compared to the LVM obtained by weighing the heart ex vivo. Results The SNR and the CNR increased after application of the different filters. The performance of the ORNLM filter was superior for all the parameters of the cardiac function, as judged from the inter- and intra-observer variabilities. Moreover, this filtering technique resulted in the lowest variability in the LVM evaluation. Conclusions In cardiac MRI of rats, filtering is an interesting alternative that yields better contrast between myocardium and surrounding tissues and the ORNLM filter provided the largest improvements.

Purpose: X‐ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) is an emerging molecular imaging modality for preclinical and clinical applications with high atomic number contrast agents. XFCT allows detection of molecular biomarkers at tissue depths of 4–9 mm at L‐shell energies and several centimeters for K‐shell energies, while maintaining high spatial resolution. This is typically not possible for other molecular imaging modalities. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate XFCT imaging with reduced acquisition times. To accomplish this, x‐ray focusing polycapillary optics are utilized to simultaneously increase x‐ray fluence rate and spatial resolution in L‐shell XFCT imaging. Materials and methods: A prototype imaging system using a polycapillary focusing optic was demonstrated. The optic, which was custom‐designed for this prototype, provided a high fluence rate with a focal spot size of 2.6 mm at a source to isocenter distance of 3 cm with a ten times higher fluence rate compared to standard collimation. The study evaluates three different phantoms to explore different trade‐offs and limitations of L‐shell XFCT imaging. A low‐contrast gold phantom and a high‐contrast gold phantom, each with three target regions with gold concentrations of 60, 80, and 100 μg ml-1 for low contrast and 200, 600, and 1000 μg ml-1 for high contrast, and a mouse‐sized water phantom with gold concentrations between 300 and 500 μg ml-1 were imaged. X‐ray fluorescence photons were measured using a silicon drift detector (SDD) with an energy resolution of 180 eV FWHM at an x‐ray energy of 11 keV. Images were reconstructed with an iterative image reconstruction algorithm and analyzed for contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and signal to noise ratio (SNR). Results: The XFCT data acquisition could be reduced from 17 h to under 1 h. The polycapillary x‐ray optic increases the x‐ray fluence rate and lowers the amount of background scatter which leads to reduced imaging time and improved sensitivity. The quantitative analysis of the reconstructed images validates that concentrations of 60 μg ml-1 of gold can be visualized with L‐shell XFCT imaging. For a mouse‐sized phantom, a concentration of 300 μg ml-1 gold was detected within a 66 min measurement. Conclusions: With a high fluence rate pencil beam from a polycapillary x‐ray source, a reduction in signal integration time is achieved. It is presented that subtle amounts of contrast agents can be detected with L‐shell XFCT within biologically relevant time frames. Our basic measurements show that the polycapillary x‐ray source technology is appropriate to realize preclinical L‐shell XFCT imaging. The integration of more SDDs into the system will lower the dose and increase the sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane‐enclosed fragments shed from all cell types, including tumour cells. EVs contain a wide range of proteins, biolipids and genetic material derived from mother cells and therefore may be potential biomarkers for tumour diagnosis, disease progression and treatment success. We studied the effect of canine mast cell tumours (MCTs) on EV concentrations in blood isolates in association with MCT's histological grade, Ki‐67 proliferative index, KIT‐staining pattern and number of PLT. The average EV concentration in blood isolates from nine dogs with MCTs was considerably higher than that in blood from eight healthy dogs. But there were no statistically significant differences in EVs concentration in the population of dogs with MCT according to a different histological grade of malignancy (Patnaik, Kiupel), KIT‐staining pattern and Ki‐67 proliferation index. The results show that these variables statistically do not significantly predicted EV concentrations in blood isolates (P > .05), except the KIT‐staining pattern I which added statistically significantly to the prediction (P < .05). The results confirmed the impact of neoplasms on the morphological changes to cell membranes, which result in greater vesiculability and higher EV concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mice and rats are rodent specimens commonly used in multidisciplinary research. Specifically, vasculature imaging of rodents has been widely performed in preclinical studies using various techniques, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound imaging. Photoacoustic CT (PACT) is a noninvasive, nonionizing optical imaging technique derived from photoacoustic tomography and benefits from using intrinsic endogenous contrast agents to produce three-dimensional volumetric data from images. In this study, a commercial PACT device was employed to assess the cervicothoracic vasculature of mouse and rat specimens, which has rarely been examined using PACT, under two conditions with depilation and skin incision. Various blood vessels, including the common carotid artery, internal/external jugular veins, cranial vena cava, internal thoracic vein, and mammary, were identified in the acquired PACT images. The difference between the depilated and skin-incised specimens also revealed the presence of branches from certain blood vessels and specific anatomical features such as the manubrium of the sternum. This study presents detailed PACT images observing the cervicothoracic vasculature of rodent specimens and is expected to be used as a reference for various preclinical experiments on mice and rats.

Abstract Background Positron emission tomography (PET) studies using 15O-labeled CO2, O2, and CO have been used in humans to evaluate cerebral blood flow (CBF), the cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) and cerebral blood volume (CBV), respectively. In preclinical studies, however, PET studies using 15O-labeled gases are not widely performed because of the technical difficulties associated with handling labeled gases with a short half-life. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the scatter fraction using 3D-mode micro-PET for 15O-labeled gas studies and the influence of reconstruction algorithms on quantitative values. Nine male SD rats were studied using the steady state inhalation method for 15O-labeled gases with arterial blood sampling. The resulting PET images were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP), ordered-subset expectation maximization (OSEM) 2D, or OSEM 3D followed by maximum a posteriori (OSEM3D-MAP). The quantitative values for each brain region and each reconstruction method were calculated by applying different reconstruction methods. Results The quantitative values for the whole brain as calculated using FBP were 46.6 ± 12.5 mL/100 mL/min (CBF), 63.7 ± 7.2% (OEF), 5.72 ± 0.34 mL/100 mL/min (CMRO2), and 5.66 ± 0.34 mL/100 mL (CBV), respectively. The CBF and CMRO2 values were significantly higher when the OSEM2D and OSEM3D-MAP reconstruction methods were used, compared with FBP, whereas the OEF values were significantly lower when reconstructed using OSEM3D-MAP. Conclusions We evaluated the difference in quantitative values among the reconstruction algorithms using 3D-mode micro-PET. The iterative reconstruction method resulted in significantly higher quantitative values for CBF and CMRO2, compared with the values calculated using the FBP reconstruction method.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used for neuromodulation of the human brain. However, the technique is not widely used for small animal models. Here, we propose millimeter‐sized coils for brain stimulation of small animals. To estimate the electric field distributions of TMS coils, we performed magnetic flux density measurements and computer simulation using a simplified model combining a mouse head and a TMS coil. Our results indicate the millimeter‐sized TMS coils produce electrical field with sufficient magnitude to activate the cortex under the skull in vivo. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the review article the problems of modeling cerebral ischemia in small mammals are consecrated. The advantages of experimental studies that are based on the similarity of the blood circulation of the brain in humans and animals are indicated. Classification of experimental models for the study of acute and chronic disorders of cerebral circulation, mechanisms of their development and preclinical approbation of new drugs is given. The authors indicate that all experimental models of brain ischemia can be divided into two groups: to study risk factors and pathophysiological studies of brain ischemia. And in the second case, the models of focal and global ischemia are described. In conclusion, the authors point out the difficulties and shortcomings of certain methods of ischemia reproduction, which await researchers to solve the above problems.

Objective: To describe coagulation profiles in dogs with echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension (PH), to compare them to coagulation profiles in dogs without echocardiographic evidence of PH, and to determine the relationship between coagulation profiles and echocardiographic probability of PH., Animals: 66 dogs with PH (cases) and 86 dogs without PH (controls)., Methods: Retrospective evaluation of records between 2013 and 2021 of dogs that had both an echocardiogram and a coagulation panel performed within 7 days. Dogs that received antithrombotics within 7 days of evaluation and dogs diagnosed with congenital or acquired coagulopathy or other severe systemic disease that could lead to coagulopathy were excluded. Dogs with a low echocardiographic probability of PH were also excluded. The dogs were divided into a PH group and non-PH group based on echocardiographic results. Demographic, clinicopathologic, and traditional coagulation parameters and VCM Vet (Entegrion) parameters were compared between the 2 groups., Results: Dogs with PH were significantly older (median, 11 years vs 9.5 years, P = .02) and had a significantly lower body weight (median, 7.3 kg vs 19.3 kg, P < .001) than controls. Dogs with PH also had a significantly greater percent increase in prothrombin time (PT; P = .02), partial thromboplastin time (PTT; P < .0001), and fibrinogen (P = .045); however, their antithrombin concentration was lower (P = .005) compared to controls. Eight of 65 dogs (12.3%) in the PH group and 1/86 (1.2%) dogs in the non-PH group had an elevation of PT and/or PTT greater than 50% above the reference interval (P = .005). Dogs with PH had 11.9 times (95% CI, 1.5 to 97.9; P = .02) greater odds of being hypocoagulable than dogs without PH based on PT and PTT., Clinical Relevance: This study demonstrated an association between a moderate to high echocardiographic probability of PH and a hypocoagulable state in dogs as determined by traditional coagulation assays. It underscores the importance of monitoring the coagulation status in canine patients with PH, particularly before initiating antithrombotic medications.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the robustness of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) data determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) via spatially resolved error estimation., Materials and Methods: Using standard T2* relaxation time measurement protocols, in-vivo and ex-vivo MRI data with water and fat nominally in phase or out of phase relative to each other were acquired on a 7 T small animal scanner. Based on a total of 24 different echo times, PDFF maps were calculated in a magnitude-based approach. After identification of the decisive error-prone variables, pixel-wise error estimation was performed by simple propagation of uncertainty. The method was then used to evaluate PDFF data acquired for an explanted mouse liver and an in vivo mouse liver measurement., Results: The determined error maps helped excluding measurement errors as cause of unexpected local PDFF variations in the explanted liver. For in vivo measurements, severe error maps gave rise to doubts in the acquired PDFF maps and triggered an in-depth analysis of possible causes, yielding abdominal movement or bladder filling as in vivo occurring reasons for the increased errors., Conclusion: The combination of pixel-wise acquisition of PDFF data and the corresponding error maps allows for a more specific, spatially resolved evaluation of the PDFF value reliability., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Nasal polyps in dogs are space-occupying soft-tissue masses that have been encountered concurrently with intranasal neoplasia in surgical biopsy specimens. The proportion of nasal polyp co-occurrence with primary nasal tumors was examined, and follow-up biopsies on dogs initially diagnosed with nasal polyp were reviewed. Histologic sections from 321 cases of intranasal neoplasia and 50 cases of nasal polyp from 2004 to 2017 were reviewed. Of the 321 cases of intranasal neoplasia, 51 (16%) had concurrent nasal polyps, and most of these (47/51) had intranasal carcinoma. Twenty-five of the 50 dogs with a primary diagnosis of nasal polyp were rebiopsied, and the diagnoses in these subsequent biopsies were nasal polyp in 15, malignant neoplasm in 9, and intranasal nematode in 1. Nasal polyps occurred frequently in conjunction with nasal carcinoma. In dogs with a diagnosis of nasal polyp, repeat biopsy to reveal possible neoplasia is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]