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Everted third eyelid cartilage is a common ocular disease in young, large breed dogs. The inappropriate third eyelid margin position impairs optimal tear film distribution and drainage and may contribute to conjunctivitis and exposure keratopathy. This condition was presumed to be congenital in certain breeds of dogs. Possible unequal growth rates of the bulbar and palpebral cartilage surfaces and/or an unequal growth rate of the adherent conjunctiva were hypothesized as contributing factors [1,2]. Different techniques for restoration of the anatomical position of the everted nictating membrane have been reported. However, few clinical reports evaluated postoperative results and relapse rate. The purpose of this study is to describe and evaluate surgical treatment of third eyelid cartilage eversion in dogs, with or without concomitant nictitans gland prolapse. A retrospective analysis of cases of eversion of third eyelid cartilage in dogs, between January 2010 and December 2017 was performed. The sex, breed and age at the time of diagnosis were recorded. The presence of other concurrent ocular diseases and surgical treatment were also recorded. Follow-up information was obtained from medical records and subsequently by telephone conversation with the owner. Sixteen dogs representing 18 everted third eyelid cartilage were included in this study. The sex distribution included 9 intact males and 7 intact females. Six dogs were Neapolitan Mastiffs, three were English Bulldogs, two were Great Danes, two were Boxer, with one each of the following breeds: Dachshund, Cane Corso and Rhodesian Ridgeback. Ages ranged from 3 months to 8 months. Only two dogs were bilaterally affected. Surgical treatment provided the excision of 2 mm of the folded cartilage, through posterior conjunctival approach. The same approach was used to perform a Morgan Pocket technique, also in dogs without prolapse of the nictitans gland. Incisions were finally apposed by simple continuous suture with pds 5/0 until 1-2 mm of incision’s end. In one dog a double approach was performed: the excision of the folded cartilage through anterior conjunctival approach while the Pocket technique through posterior conjunctival approach, however, mild inflammation of the third eyelid was observed. All dogs had good results in terms of cartilage correction with no recurrence. In conclusion, the association of Morgan Pocket technique to the excision of folded cartilage may be considered in the dogs with everted cartilage, in order to prevent the prolapse of the gland and probably the relapse of the eversion. Bulbar approach to the scrolled portion of cartilage, in the dog has the advantage that dissection is easier with less adhesion of the cartilage to overlying conjunctiva. Although it was suggested [3] that corneal damage may occur from resulting scarring if approach through the bulbar aspect is chosen, the association of Pocket technique may be beneficial in reducing the possibility of traumatic corneal scarring in the postoperative period.

Precision and personalized medicine is gaining importance in modern clinical medicine, as it aims to improve diagnostic precision and to reduce consequent therapeutic failures. In this regard, prior to use in human trials, animal models can help evaluate novel imaging approaches and therapeutic strategies and can help discover new biomarkers. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, accounting for 25% of cases of all cancers and is responsible for approximately 500,000 deaths per year. Thus, it is important to identify accurate biomarkers for precise stratification of affected patients and for early detection of responsiveness to the selected therapeutic protocol. This review aims to summarize the latest advancements in preclinical molecular imaging in breast cancer mouse models. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging remains one of the most common preclinical techniques used to evaluate biomarker expression in vivo, whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly diffusion-weighted (DW) sequences, has been demonstrated as capable of distinguishing responders from nonresponders for both conventional and innovative chemo- and immune-therapies with high sensitivity and in a noninvasive manner. The ability to customize therapies is desirable, as this will enable early detection of diseases and tailoring of treatments to individual patient profiles. Animal models remain irreplaceable in the effort to understand the molecular mechanisms and patterns of oncologic diseases.

Per valutare l’incidenza e i fattori predisponenti della rabdomiolisi da sforzo (RER) su 327 Trottatori Italiani è stato utilizzato un questionario presentato presso 13 scuderie. I veterinari e/o gli allenatori delle scuderie sono stati intervistati mensilmente per un anno. La diagnosi di RER era emessa in base ai segni clinici ed all’esame biochimico del siero ematico. Per ogni soggetto affetto erano registrati sesso, età, alimentazione, modalità di stabulazione, tipo di allenamento, guidatore, performance di gara, giorni di riposo durante gli allenamenti, eventuale presenza di zoppia. Tali dati sono stati confrontati con le stesse informazioni riguardanti due cavalli sani scelti a caso nella stessa scuderia. L’incidenza della sindrome è stata dell’8,6%. Il sesso femminile e l’alternanza di guida sono risultati statisticamente più frequenti nei soggetti affetti. L’età, il temperamento ed i fattori manageriali non differivano in maniera significativa tra i cavalli ammalati ed i controlli. La predisposizione delle femmine alla patologia, riportata anche da altri autori, non ha trovato finora una spiegazione univoca e sono necessari ulteriori studi per chiarire la patogenesi di tale sindrome.

Anatomical studies on the palmar and plantar digital nerves (NDP) distribution, clinical trials about the effectiveness of nerve blocks and the availability of modern imaging techniques in equine practice questioned the specificity and the reliability of this diagnostic ancillary test. Aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the human error and of the operator’s skill on the results of the test; meanwhile, the utility for didactic purpose and the learning curve were evaluated, using parts of limb from slaughtered animals. One experienced (operator 3) and two untrained operators (operators 1 and 2) performed the perineural injections on 50 limbs. A score was assigned to the difficulty, the time of execution and the precision of the inoculation respectively; type and incidence of the errors occurred were also recorded. Statistical analysis of the data concerning 200 injections revealed that frequency and severity of the mistakes of operator 1 were greater both compared to the other untrained operator (operator 2) and to the experienced operator (operator 3); both inexperienced operators made more errors than the skilled operator. The most frequent error was the accidental inoculation into the digital tendon sheath; other errors occurred were the injection into the digital vein, distance of the inoculation from the nerve greater than 5 mm and a poor amount of anaesthetic. Regard to the site of injection, unskilled operators failed more often in performing perineural blocks in the hind limb. Besides, it has been observed for both the untrained operators a gradual and significant reduction in frequency and severity of the errors. Statistic analysis of data demonstrated that the human error influences the test only when performed by unskilled operators. The use of isolated limbs is a valid aid to acquire a correct skill and the learning curve is influenced by individual variable