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Natural fibre reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) foams, as potential green replacements for petroleum-based polymer foams, were investigated. Highly porous (ε > 95%) microcellular PLA foams were manufactured by supercritical CO2 assisted extrusion process. To overcome the inherently low melt strength of PLA, epoxy-functionalized chain extender was applied, while talc was added to improve its crystallization kinetics. The combined application of chain extender and talc effectively promoted the formation of uniform cell structures. The effect of cellulose and basalt fibre reinforcement on the foamability, morphology, structure and mechanical properties of the PLA foams were investigated as well. The addition of 5 wt% natural fibres promoted the cell nucleation, but caused non-uniform distribution of cell size due to the microholes induced by local fibre-matrix debonding. The compression strength of the manufactured basalt fibre reinforced PLA foams reached 40 kPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low-grade intestinal T-cell lymphoma (LGITL) is the most common intestinal neoplasm in cats. Differentiating LGITL from lymphoplasmacytic enteritis (LPE) is challenging because clinical signs, laboratory results, diagnostic imaging findings, histology, immunohistochemistry, and clonality features may overlap., Objectives: To evaluate possible discriminatory clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic features to differentiate LGITL from LPE., Animals: Twenty-two cats diagnosed with LGITL and 22 cats with LPE based upon histology, immunohistochemistry, and lymphoid clonality., Methods: Prospective, cohort study. Cats presented with clinical signs consistent with LGITL or LPE were enrolled prospectively. All data contributing to the diagnostic evaluation was recorded., Results: A 3-variable model (P < .001) consisting of male sex (P = .01), duration of clinical signs (P = .01), and polyphagia (P = .03) and a 2-variable model (P < .001) including a rounded jejunal lymph node (P < .001) and ultrasonographic abdominal effusion (P = .04) were both helpful to differentiate LGITL from LPE., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Most clinical signs and laboratory results are similar between cats diagnosed with LGITL and LPE. However, male sex, a longer duration of clinical signs and polyphagia might help clinicians distinguish LGITL from LPE. On ultrasonography, a rounded jejunal lymph node, and the presence of (albeit small volume) abdominal effusion tended to be more prevalent in cats with LGITL. However, a definitive diagnosis requires comprehensive histopathologic and phenotypic assessment., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a well-known and commercially available biopolymer that can be produced from different sources. Its different characteristics generated a great deal of interest in various industrial fields. Besides, its use as a polymer matrix for foam production has increased in recent years. With the rise of technologies that seek to reduce the negative environmental impact of processes, chemical foaming agents are being substituted by physical agents, primarily supercritical fluids (SCFs). Currently, the mass production of low-density PLA foams with a uniform cell morphology using SCFs as blowing agents is a challenge. This is mainly due to the low melt strength of PLA and its slow crystallization kinetics. Among the different options to improve the PLA characteristics, compounding it with different types of fillers has great potential. This strategy does not only have foaming advantages, but can also improve the performances of the final composites, regardless of the implemented foaming process, i.e., batch, injection molding, and extrusion. In addition, the operating conditions and the characteristics of the fillers, such as their size, shape factor, and surface chemistry, play an important role in the final foam morphology. This article proposes a critical review on the different SCF-assisted processes and effects of operating conditions and fillers on foaming of PLA composites.

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is the most transcribed genomic region and contains hundreds of tandem repeats. Maintaining these rDNA repeats as well as the level of rDNA transcription is essential for cellular homeostasis. DNA damages generated in rDNA need to be efficiently and accurately repaired and rDNA repeats instability has been reported in cancer, aging and neurological diseases. Here, we describe that the histone demethylase JMJD6 is rapidly recruited to nucleolar DNA damage and is crucial for the relocalisation of rDNA in nucleolar caps. Yet, JMJD6 is dispensable for rDNA transcription inhibition. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that JMJD6 interacts with the nucleolar protein Treacle and modulates its interaction with NBS1. Moreover, cells deficient for JMJD6 show increased sensitivity to nucleolar DNA damage as well as loss and rearrangements of rDNA repeats upon irradiation. Altogether our data reveal that rDNA transcription inhibition is uncoupled from rDNA relocalisation into nucleolar caps and that JMJD6 is required for rDNA stability through its role in nucleolar caps formation., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist

Objective: To compare muscle condition scores (MCSs) and muscle ultrasonographic measurements in cats with and without muscle loss and to evaluate repeatability and reproducibility of MCS assessment., Animals: 40 cats of various ages, body condition scores (BCSs), and MCSs., Procedures: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Body weight, BCS, MCS, epaxial muscle height (EMH), vertebral epaxial muscle score (VEMS), and forelimb epaxial muscle score (FLEMS) were assessed in each cat. The MCS for each cat was assessed 3 separate times by each of 5 raters., Results: The MCS was significantly correlated with EMH ( r = 0.59), VEMS ( r = 0.66), and FLEMS ( r = 0.41). For MCS, the overall value of the κ coefficient for interrater agreement (reproducibility) was 0.43 and the overall value of the κ coefficient for intrarater agreement (repeatability) ranged from 0.49 to 0.76., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Ultrasonographic measurements of muscle may be useful for assessing muscle loss in individual cats over time. However, for the cats of this study, no advantage was observed for assessment of VEMS or FLEMS over EMH. Substantial repeatability and moderate reproducibility were shown when MCS was used for assessment of muscle mass in cats. Prospective ultrasonographic studies are warranted to evaluate the usefulness of MCS and EMH assessment for evaluation of changes in muscle mass of cats over time.

Canine intracranial meningiomas can be graded based on histological classification as benign (grade I), atypical (grade II), and anaplastic or malignant (grade III). In people, grade II/III meningiomas behave more aggressively, have a higher potential for recurrence after surgical resection, and have lower apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). In this retrospective analytical cross-sectional study, 42 dogs had ADC values quantified in an attempt to differentiate tumor histologic grade. Our hypothesis was that ADC values would be significantly lower in grade II and III versus grade I meningiomas in dogs. On each ADC image, a polygonal region of interest (ROI) was hand-drawn along the lesion's periphery, excluding fluid-filled and hemorrhagic regions. Mean ADC value (ADC mean ) and minimum ADC value (ADC min ) were calculated. Additionally, two smaller, ovoid ROI were drawn within the lesion with mean ADC calculated (ADC mean sR and ADC min sR ). Normalized ADC values using white matter were also calculated (ADC n and ADC n sR ). Grades of each tumor were assigned based on histopathology review. Association between ADC parameters and histological grade was tested by means of two-sample t-tests. There were 14 grade I (33.3%), 25 grade II (59.5%), and three grade III (7.2%) meningiomas. ADC mean sR and ADC min sR were significantly lower when comparing grade II/III to grade I (P < .05). Grade II tumors had significantly lower ADC mean , ADC mean sR , ADC min sR , ADC n , and ADC n sR than grade I meningiomas. This preliminary study supports the potential of ADC values to help predict the histological grade of intracranial meningiomas in dogs., (© 2019 American College of Veterinary Radiology.)

Objective: To evaluate repeatability and reproducibility of muscle condition score (MCS) in dogs with various degrees of muscle loss; to compare MCS, muscle ultrasonographic measurements, and quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) measurements; and to identify cutoff values for ultrasonographic measurements of muscle that can be used to identify dogs with cachexia and sarcopenia., Animals: 40 dogs of various age, body condition score (BCS), and MCS., Procedures: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Body weight, BCS, QMR measurements, thoracic radiographic measurements, and muscle ultrasonographic measurements were assessed once in each dog. The MCS for each dog was assessed 3 separate times by 4 separate raters., Results: For the MCS, overall κ for interrater agreement was 0.50 and overall κ for intrarater agreement ranged from 0.59 to 0.77. For both interrater and intrarater agreement, κ coefficients were higher for dogs with normal muscle mass and severe muscle loss and lower for dogs with mild and moderate muscle loss. The MCS was significantly correlated with age ( r = -0.62), vertebral epaxial muscle score (VEMS; r = 0.71), forelimb epaxial muscle score (FLEMS; r = 0.58), and BCS ( r = 0.73), and VEMS was significantly correlated ( r = 0.84) with FLEMS. Cutoff values for identification of mild muscle loss determined by use of VEMS and FLEMS were 1.124 and 1.666, respectively., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: MCS had substantial repeatability and moderate reproducibility for assessment of muscle mass in dogs. Prospective studies of MCS, VEMS, and FLEMS for assessment of muscle mass in dogs are warranted.

Objectives The objective of the study was to measure the preoperative and postoperative renal pelvic size and describe the ultrasound findings following successful decompression of a ureteral obstruction using the subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) device in cats. Methods This retrospective study assessed the measurement of the renal pelvis of 27 cats with unilateral (n = 21) or bilateral (n = 6) ureteral obstruction before (pre-t 0 ) and after placement of a SUB during short- (before t 0 + 3 months ) and long-term (after t 0 + 3 months ) follow-up. Several qualitative ultrasound parameters were recorded for each cat. At both intervals, the last ultrasound examination was used for qualitative criteria and the mean pelvic size was recorded. The complications observed during follow-up were divided into obstructive and non-obstructive. Results No qualitative ultrasound parameter was statistically significant. The presence of retroperitoneal or peritoneal effusion was rarely seen (n = 4/25 during the short term and n = 1/14 during the long term). Hyperechogenicity of the perirenal adipose tissue decreased in the long term. A statistically significant decrease in the width of the renal pelvis was noted in the short- (2.4 mm, range 0-7.0 mm) and long-term (1.7 mm, range 0-3.5 mm) follow-ups compared with the preoperative value (11.7 mm, range 0.9-41 mm). Three months following SUB placement, each cat without an obstructive complication had a pelvic width ⩽3.5 mm. Conclusions and relevance Renal pelvic distension is at least partially reversible when ureteral obstruction is treated by placement of a SUB. Ultrasound monitoring is a useful tool to detect obstructive complications.

Objectives: To assess mid-term outcome of biodegradable biliary stents (BBSs) to treat benign biliary strictures refractory to standard bilioplasty., Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained and patient consent was waived. 107 patients (61 males, 46 females, mean age 59 ± 16 years), were treated. Technical success and complications were recorded. Ninety-seven patients (55 males, 42 females, aged 57 ± 17 years) were considered for follow-up analysis (mean follow-up 23 ± 12 months). Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U tests were used and a Kaplan-Meier curve was calculated., Results: The procedure was always feasible. In 2/107 cases (2 %), stent migration occurred (technical success 98 %). 4/107 patients (4 %) experienced mild haemobilia. No major complications occurred. In 19/97 patients (18 %), stricture recurrence occurred. In this group, higher rate of subsequent cholangitis (84.2 % vs. 12.8 %, p = 0.001) and biliary stones (26.3 % vs. 2.5 %, p = 0.003) was noted. Estimated mean time to stricture recurrence was 38 months (95 % C.I 34-42 months). Estimated stricture recurrence rate at 1, 2, and 3 years was respectively 7.2 %, 26.4 %, and 29.4 %., Conclusion: Percutaneous placement of a BBS is a feasible and safe strategy to treat benign biliary strictures refractory to standard bilioplasty, with promising results in the mid-term period., Key Points: • Percutaneous placement of a BBS is 100 % feasible. • The procedure appears free from major complications, with few minor complications. • BBSs offer promising results in the mid-term period. • With a BBS, external catheter/drainage can be removed early. • BBSs represent a new option in treating benign biliary stenosis.

Introduction: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) has a high mortality. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. In our institution there is a therapeutic protocol that includes endovascular techniques (ET) in patients with AMI without peritoneal irritation at diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of ET in conjunction with conventional surgery in the management of potentially reversible IMA diagnosed by computed tomography (CT-angiography)., Methods: Observational, descriptive and retrospective study that evaluated the use of ET in patients with AMI (arterial origin) in 2 periods (before and after the application of a protocol that includes ET), between 2009-2013. All patients were diagnosed by a CT-angiography, as the diagnostic technique of choice, because of the clinical and analytical suspicion., Results: Our series included 73 patients with IMA diagnosed by CT-angiography (45: 2009-2011; 28: 2012-2013). Leukocytosis was common (82%), high lactate levels are less frequent (47% vs. 53%). There were 49 patients with IMA without peritoneal irritation. In 51% bowel resection surgery was performed (44% survival); 18%: revascularization by ET (survival 67%); 31%: palliative treatment (0% survival). 33% of patients undergoing first-line RVI needed a surgical rescue (bowel resection). The overall mortality was 67% (2009-2011) vs. 62% (2012-2013)., Conclusions: Since the protocol application, there is a higher indication of ET in patients with AMI without peritoneal irritation, showing a decreased mortality. With ET application, there is a higher survival in these patients. In our experience, the use of ET in cases of AMI without peritoneal irritation at diagnosis, may increase survival., (Copyright © 2015 AEC. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Noninvasive vascular diagnosis has become routine in radiology departments in Spain. This article aims to communicate the results of a survey sent to a large number of Spanish hospitals to obtain information about the following aspects of noninvasive vascular diagnosis: who performs it and how, in what conditions it is performed, what problems there are in relation to these techniques, and what the training is like., Material and Methods: In October 2008, we sent a questionnaire to 93 hospitals with training programs in diagnostic imaging and to 45 hospitals without training programs. The questionnaire solicited information about the hospital and its technological and human resources, the organization of the diagnostic imaging department, the performance of different noninvasive vascular examinations, and the respondents' opinions about problems related to these techniques and about the state of training programs., Results: A total of 43 (46%) of the 93 teaching hospitals and 9 (20%) of the non-teaching hospitals responded to the survey. This article uses multiple tables and figures to communicate the responses obtained in the survey., Conclusions: The results of the survey provide a view of the current state of noninvasive vascular diagnosis in teaching hospitals in Spain in concrete figures. We hope that these data will stimulate diagnostic imaging departments to protect these techniques and to actively promote training in noninvasive vascular diagnosis.

Objective: To prospectively and quantitatively compare the use of different volumes of contrast in 16-slice CT angiography for the study of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta before and/or after treatment., Material and Methods: From November 2005 to March 2006, we included 63 consecutive patients referred for CT angiography for aneurysm of the abdominal aorta or for post-treatment follow-up. Each patient was randomly assigned to one of three groups: group A was administered 100 mL of contrast agent, group B 80 mL, and group C 60 mL. In all cases, contrast was administered with 40 mL of physiological serum at a rate of 4 ml/s. A 16-detector CT scanner was used. In the last 61 patients, attenuation was measured in different locations using circular ROIs. Hounsfield units were recorded in the first slice (initial contrast), in the last slice (final contrast), at their maximum value, and also at one-second intervals., Results: No statistically significant differences in the Hounsfield units recorded in the first slice, in the last slice, or in the maximum values were found between the different groups. Mean values were above 200 in 58 of 61 patients. Weight and body mass index (BMI) were negatively correlated with aortoiliac attenuation., Conclusion: Using a 16-detector CT scanner enables the volume of contrast for studies of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta to be reduced considerably; however, 60 mL might not be sufficient for patients with high weight or BMI.