Search

IntroductionAtrial fibrillation secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) frequently affects large-breed dogs. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for the development of atrial fibrillation in dogs of different breeds with an echocardiographic diagnosis of DCM.MethodsIn this multicenter retrospective study, we searched the electronic databases of five cardiology referral centers for dogs with an echocardiographic diagnosis of DCM. A comparison of clinical and echocardiographic variables was performed between dogs developing atrial fibrillation and those not developing atrial fibrillation and the ability to distinguish between these two groups of dogs was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis estimated the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of developing atrial fibrillation.ResultsWe included 89 client-owned dogs with occult and overt echocardiographic DCM. Of these, 39 dogs (43.8%) had atrial fibrillation, 29 dogs (32.6%) maintained a sinus rhythm, and 21 dogs (23.6%) showed other cardiac arrhythmias. Left atrial diameter had high accuracy (area under the curve = 0.816, 95% CI = 0.719–0.890) to predict the development of atrial fibrillation at the cut-off of >4.66 cm. After multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis, only increased left atrial diameter (OR = 3.58, 95% CI = 1.87–6.87; p < 0.001) and presence of right atrial enlargement (OR = 4.02, 95% CI = 1.35–11.97; p = 0.013) were significant predictors of atrial fibrillation development.DiscussionAtrial fibrillation is a common complication of DCM in the dog and is significantly associated with increased absolute left atrial diameter and right atrial enlargement.

The purpose of this study was to understand youth's attitudes and emotions towards responses to cybergossip. Youth (N = 160, ages 10–16) read ten stories involving cybergossip, where an individual received gossip electronically from a friend. The target of gossip was either another friend or a classmate (Target Relationship: friend/classmate). The gossip receiver responded to the gossip sharer in five different ways (Response: passive/positive intervention/negative intervention/encouraging/blocking). In addition, as a between-subjects factor, the online setting was either a private conversation between the sharer and receiver or a public setting involving the sharer, receiver, and a few other friends in a group chat (Setting: private/public). Age (preadolescent/adolescent) and gender (female/male) differences were also examined. Participants were asked to morally evaluate each response, rate the effectiveness of each response, and rate their emotions towards using each response. The findings highlight the nuances of responding to cybergossip and the role of personal and contextual factors. Moreover, the results suggest there are misconceptions among youth about the effectiveness of interventions. These results and others as well as the implications will be discussed. The findings provide critical information on what youth in today's digital world believe are acceptable and effective ways to cyber-communicate.

Permethylated anigopreissin A (PAA), a fully protected form of the natural anigopreissin A, was found in our previous study to be active against several cancer cells, up to IC50 0.24 μM for HepG2 cells. Herein, a total of thirteen PAA analogues with variations in the number, position of substituents and unsaturation were synthesised starting from a common precursor, and their ability to induce cell growth inhibition was tested. By comparing the antiproliferative effect of the analogues with PAA and with the help of computational studies, we have gained valuable insights into both the biological activity and structure of this natural class of compounds. Indeed, we discovered the importance of the C-3 ring in modulating the biological activity of PAA, as well as the crucial role of the trans configuration of the styryl double bond and the significance of substitutions on the other parts of the molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on persons with disabilities has laid bare the link between health and economic outcomes. This article reviews the legal and policy framework impacting economic outcomes for persons with disabilities in India against the backdrop of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on poverty, economic growth, and productive employment. It offers a policy framework for realizing the human rights of persons with disabilities by advancing their inclusion in India's economic development. People with disabilities have not benefited as much from India's economic development as non-disabled persons. The UN disability rights treaty may oblige India to ensure that people with disabilities are included in its economic development. Historically, India's laws and public policies addressing people with disabilities have not always supported them as intended. For India to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of global goals for UN member states, it will need to protect the human rights of people with disabilities by creating policies to address their intersectional needs. Policy creating economic participation opportunities, recourse from unfairness and discrimination, and effective safety nets may improve outcomes for people with disabilities in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. "Complex suicide" refers to suicides in which more than one suicide method is applied. The victim can either plan different and simultaneous ways of death, to prevent any failures, or change the method because the first one fails or turns out to be too painful. Case report. A Middle-age-man was found dead inside a car, in a field, near the seaside. Clothes were intact, wet, and smeared with mud and gravel. His shirt had dried whitish biological material on the thoracic area, referable to oedema fluid, his trousers were down to his ankles exposing external genitalia. Inside the car, a kitchen-serrated blade knife and scissors were found, both smeared with dried blood material. Cadaveric inspection showed: multiple superficial stab/cut injuries; nasal cavities leaking aqueous-like fluid; triangular and linear stab lesions all over the body; hesitation marks on both latero-cervical regions and both wrists; no defensive injuries referrable to third parties; maceration over both palmar and plantar surfaces. Autopsy showed: hemorrhagic infiltration for thoracic muscles; expanded and heavily congested lungs. Conclusions. This is the first Italian case, and one of the few cases reported in major literature (third case worldwide), of unplanned complex suicide achieved through stabbing and drowning by a man with no psychiatric or substances abuse history. Therefore, analyzing any evidence to distinguish this kind of sudden/unnatural death from accidental or homicidal ones is mandatory. Such cases require a flawless approach to judicial inspection, autopsy, and toxicological exams. Moreover, a multidisciplinary perspective including psychiatric criminological investigation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal and gastric foreign bodies (FBs) commonly occur in small animal practices, and their endoscopic removal has been previously reported. However, few studies reported the endoscopic instruments used for the retrieval attempt and the time spent for endoscopic removal. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the factors that can influence the success rate and timing of the endoscopic retrieval of FBs. The medical records of 92 animals undergoing endoscopic removal of esophageal (n = 12) and gastric (n = 84) FBs have been reviewed. Two dogs had FBs in both the esophagus and stomach. From medical records and video recordings, there were extrapolated data on signalment, clinical signs, endoscopic devices used, success of retrieval, and duration of endoscopy. Endoscopic removal of FBs was successful in 88% cases, and the mean time spent for the extraction was 59.74 min (range, 10–120 min). The success rate and timing for the removal of endoscopic foreign bodies (EFBs) are influenced by several factors in our population: medium-breed dogs, adult animals, and localization of FBs in the body of the stomach increased the probability of failure during the endoscopic retrieval attempt. Conversely, the success and timing of the retrieval of EFBs were higher in puppies and with increasing operator’s experience. Moreover, the use of combination devices such as polypectomy snare and grasping forceps negatively influenced the success of extraction of FBs. Further prospective and comparative studies in a large and multicentric population of patients can be useful to create interventional endoscopic guidelines, as in human medicine.

Migrating grass awns are an important cause of disease in dogs and cats. Plant awns can migrate into several body tissues and cavities because of their fusiform shape and backward-pointing barbs. Their migration causes inflammatory tissue reaction and clinical signs depend upon their localization. Ultrasound has been described as a useful, noninvasive, and readily available tool to identify and guide vegetal foreign bodies removal in animals. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize current knowledge on the application of ultrasonography in the identification and removal of grass awns from various anatomic locations in dogs and cats. We selected and analyzed 46 papers on the application of ultrasonography in dogs and cats affected by migrating grass awns. The ultrasonographic appearance of grass awns is characteristic, although their size and location can influence the visualization and the attempt of removal. In some cases, migrating grass awns are not directly visualized by ultrasonography, but the lesions caused by their migration can be easily seen. Ultrasonography can be considered a useful diagnostic tool to localize and remove migrating grass awns; however, when the migration occurs in less accessible locations or discrete foreign bodies are present, this diagnostic tool should be considered as a part of a multidisciplinary approach with advanced diagnostic imaging modalities.

Ilaria Laurenzana,1,* Stefania Trino,1,* Daniela Lamorte,1 Marco Girasole,2 Simone Dinarelli,2 Angelo De Stradis,3 Vitina Grieco,4 Maddalena Maietti,5 Antonio Traficante,5 Teodora Statuto,4 Oreste Villani,6 Pellegrino Musto,6 Alessandro Sgambato,7 Luciana De Luca,4,* Antonella Caivano4,* 1Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy; 2Institute for the Study of the Structure of Matter, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy; 3Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council (CNR), Bari, Italy; 4Laboratory of Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostics, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy; 5Unit of Clinical Pathology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy; 6Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy; 7Scientific Direction, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Antonella CaivanoLaboratory of Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostics, IRCCS CROB, Rionero in Vulture, 85028, Potenza, ItalyTel +39 0972 726395Fax +39 0972 726482Email antonella.caivano@crob.itIntroduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are naturally secreted cellular lipid bilayer particles, which carry a selected molecular content. Owing to their systemic availability and their role in tumor pathogenesis, circulating EVs (cEVs) can be a valuable source of new biomarkers useful for tumor diagnosis, prognostication and monitoring. However, a precise approach for isolation and characterization of cEVs as tumor biomarkers, exportable in a clinical setting, has not been conclusively established.Methods: We developed a novel and laboratory-made procedure based on a bench centrifuge step which allows the isolation of serum cEVs suitable for subsequent characterization of their size, amount and phenotype by nanoparticle tracking analysis, microscopy and flow cytometry, and for nucleic acid assessment by digital PCR.Results: Applied to blood from healthy subjects (HSs) and tumor patients, our approach permitted from a small volume of serum (i) the isolation of a great amount of EVs enriched in small vesicles free from protein contaminants; (ii) a suitable and specific cell origin identification of EVs, and (iii) nucleic acid content assessment. In clonal plasma cell malignancy, like multiple myeloma (MM), our approach allowed us to identify specific MM EVs, and to characterize their size, concentration and microRNA content allowing significant discrimination between MM and HSs. Finally, EV associated biomarkers correlated with MM clinical parameters.Conclusion: Overall, our cEV based procedure can play an important role in malignancy biomarker discovery and then in real-time tumor monitoring using minimal invasive samples. From a practical point of view, it is smart (small sample volume), rapid (two hours), easy (no specific expertise required) and requirements are widely available in clinical laboratories.Keywords: extracellular vesicles, biomarkers, hematological malignancies, nanoparticle tracking analysis, flow cytometry, digital PCR

The inability of CD8+ effector T cells (Teffs) to reach tumor cells is an important aspect of tumor resistance to cancer immunotherapy. The recruitment of these cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME) is regulated by integrins, a family of adhesion molecules that are expressed on T cells. Here, we show that 7HP349, a small-molecule activator of lymphocyte function–associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and very late activation antigen-4 (VLA-4) integrin cell-adhesion receptors, facilitated the preferential localization of tumor-specific T cells to the tumor and improved antitumor response. 7HP349 monotherapy had modest effects on anti–programmed death 1–resistant (anti–PD-1–resistant) tumors, whereas combinatorial treatment with anti–cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (anti–CTLA-4) increased CD8+ Teff intratumoral sequestration and synergized in cooperation with neutrophils in inducing cancer regression. 7HP349 intratumoral CD8+ Teff enrichment activity depended on CXCL12. We analyzed gene expression profiles using RNA from baseline and on treatment tumor samples of 14 melanoma patients. We identified baseline CXCL12 gene expression as possibly improving the likelihood or response to anti–CTLA-4 therapies. Our results provide a proof-of-principle demonstration that LFA-1 activation could convert a T cell–exclusionary TME to a T cell–enriched TME through mechanisms involving cooperation with innate immune cells.