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Simple Summary: The six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcintus) is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being of the least concern, mainly due to its wide distribution and large population. Nonetheless, in recent years, its population is deploying in specific areas as a consequence of human activities. The scarce literature regarding the anatomy of this species leads us to investigate the normal six-banded armadillo sinuses and nasal passages using modern imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) combined with anatomical cross-sectioning to acquire helpful information on the structures that comprise this region. This research aimed to study the rostral part of the head of the six-banded armadillo, applying advanced imaging techniques such as CT. Furthermore, by combining the images obtained through this technique with anatomical cross-sections, an adequate description of the structures that constitute the rostral part of the head of this species is presented. This anatomical information could provide a valuable diagnostic tool for the clinical evaluation of different disorders in the six-banded armadillo's nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Statins are the first‐line therapy prescribed to lower plasma cholesterol levels. Although being safe and showing several beneficial cholesterol‐independent pleiotropic effects, a significant variability regarding statin's therapeutic goals has been abundantly documented, but less understood. We aimed to investigate the influence of the ABCC2 ‐24C>T single nucleotide polymorphism on Chilean hypercholesterolaemic individuals treated for 4 weeks with 10 mg/day atorvastatin. A total of 127 individuals medicated with atorvastatin 10 mg/day/4 weeks were included. Lipid profiles were determined before and after drug administration by conventional assays. Genotyping of the ABCC2 rs717620 SNP (‐24C>T) was performed with TaqMan® Drug Metabolism Genotyping Assays. As expected, atorvastatin reduced TC, LDL‐C and TG concentrations (p < 0.05). Also, HDL‐C levels were increased (p < 0.05). Minor allele frequency for the rs717620 was 0.232. Overall, atorvastatin response was not associated with the ABCC2 rs717620 SNP (p > 0.05). Nonetheless, in male individuals carrying the ‐24T allele, we observed an attenuated reduction in both TG values and the TG/HDL‐C ratio after 10 mg/day atorvastatin. This study indicates that TG levels and the TG/HDL‐C ratio are affected by the rs717620 SNP in Chilean males but not female individuals after atorvastatin treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aims of this study were to analyze causes of stranding of 1,860 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) admitted at the Tafira Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Gran Canaria Island, Spain from 1998 to 2014, and to analyze outcomes of the rehabilitation process to allow auditing of its quality. Methods: Primary causes of morbidity were classified into seven categories. Final dispositions were calculated as euthanasia (Er), unassisted mortality (Mr), and release (Rr) rates. Time to death (Td) for euthanized and dead turtles, and length of stay for released (Tr) turtles were evaluated. Results: The most frequent causes of morbidity were entanglement in fishing gear and/ or plastics (50.81%), unknown/undetermined (20.37%), and ingestion of hooks (11.88%). The final disposition of the 1,634 loggerhead turtles admitted alive were: Er = 3.37%, Mr = 10.34%, and Rr = 86.29%. Er was higher in the trauma category (18.67%) than in other causes of admission. The highest Mr was for turtles admitted due to trauma (30.67%). The highest Rr was in crude oil (93.87%) and entanglement (92.38%) categories. Conclusions: This survey, the first large-scale epidemiological study on causes of stranding and mortality of Eastern Atlantic loggerheads, demonstrates that at least 71.72% of strandings have anthropogenic causes. The high Rr emphasizes the importance of marine rehabilitation centers in conservation. The stratified analysis by causes of admission of final disposition rates and parameters Td and Tr should be included in the outcome research of the rehabilitation process of sea turtles to allow comparative studies between marine rehabilitation centers around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to describe the normal appearance of the bony and soft tissue structures of the thorax of neonatal foals by low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the use of anatomical dissections and gross sections. Three purebred Spanish neonatal foals that died for medical reasons unrelated to thoracic disease were used to obtain T1- and T2-weighted MR images using a magnet of 0.2 Tesla. Anatomic structures on the MR images were evaluated according to characteristics of signal intensity of the different organic tissues. The bones, different associated muscles, diaphragm, trachea, main bronchi, lungs, esophagus, heart chambers, and associated great vessels were well-visualized and evaluated with a low magnetic field. MRI provided correct discrimination of thoracic structures, and this information could be used as an initial anatomic reference for the interpretation of MR images of the thoraxes of neonatal foals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to provide a description of normal cross-sectional anatomy of the camel brain and associated structures using computed tomography (CT) and macroscopic cross sections. Transverse images of two isolated camel cadaver heads were obtained by an axial CT equipment. CT scans were processed with a detailed algorithm using bone and soft-tissue windows settings, and compared with the corresponding frozen cross sections of the heads, to assist in the accurate identification of brain and associated structures. CT images provided good differentiation between the bones and the soft tissues of the head. These CT images are intended to be a useful anatomic reference in the interpretation for clinical CT imaging studies of the brain and associated structures in dromedary camels. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

INTRODUCTION Chronic myeloid leukemia is the first malignant disease to be associated with a genetic lesion and is the first leukemia to provide a genotype model conducive to targeted molecular therapy. It is a chronic clonal myeloproliferative disorder, originating in a pluripotent stem cell common to all three hematopoietic lineages, characterized by overproduction of myeloid cells in all stages of maturation. Approval of the use of imatinib in the United States in 2001 and its introduction in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia changed the evolution and prognosis of the disease and began the era of molecular therapy for malignancies. Imatinib is highly effective and causes fewer adverse reactions than earlier treatments based on interferon and hydroxyurea. In Cuba, chronic myeloid leukemia has been treated with interferon since 1998. Starting in 2003, imatinib was gradually introduced for use in newly-diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia patients. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the use of imatinib as first-line therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia in a group of Cuban patients, based on hematologic, cytogenetic, and molecular response; overall and event free survival rates; and most frequency and severity of adverse reactions. METHODS During May 2003 to May 2008, 33 newly-diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia patients (25 adults, 8 children; <6 months from diagnosis) received a single daily oral dose of imatinib 400 mg from the time of study enrollment. Variables used: (1) to evaluate treatment efficacy: hematologic, cytogenetic, and molecular response; overall and event-free survival; and (2) to evaluate safety: presence of adverse reactions leading to definitive interruption of treatment or death. RESULTS Complete hematologic response occurred in 100% of patients, major cytogenetic response in 90.9%, and complete cytogenetic response in 48.5%. Molecular response occurred in 36.4% of patients. With a mean follow-up of 39 months, overall survival was 96% and estimated five-year event-free survival was 85%. No adverse reactions occurred in 39.5% of patients. Adverse reactions most frequently observed were myelosuppression (24.2%) and digestive disorders (21.2%). These were followed, in decreasing order, by edema, primarily orbital (9.1%), skin depigmentation (3%), and cardiac arrhythmias (3%). CONCLUSIONS In the present study, imatinib was effective first-line therapy for patients with newly-diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia, as determined by overall and event-free survival rates. No severe adverse reactions were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to study the rostral part of the head of the six-banded armadillo, applying advanced imaging techniques such as CT. Furthermore, by combining the images obtained through this technique with anatomical cross-sections, an adequate description of the structures that constitute the rostral part of the head of this species is presented. This anatomical information could provide a valuable diagnostic tool for the clinical evaluation of different disorders in the six-banded armadillo's nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.