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Background: The anaesthetic management of adrenalectomies for phaeochromocytoma excision, a catecholamine secreting tumour, is challenging due to the potential for fatal complications following severe haemodynamic variations, including hypertensive crisis following tumour manipulation or sympathetic stimulation, but also severe hypotension and volume depletion post resection. Case Description: An 11kg, 15-year-old male neutered Jack Russel Terrier, with mitral valve disease (MVD) stage B2, was referred for adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma resection. The patient was administered per os prazosin 0.11mg/kg twice a day and amlodipine 0.125mg/kg once a day for preoperative stabilisation. On the day of surgery, the dog received maropitant 1mg/kg intravenously (IV) and was premedicated with 0.2mg/kg methadone IV. Anaesthesia was induced with alfaxalone 1mg/kg IV and midazolam 0.2mg/kg IV and maintained with a partial intravenous anaesthesia using sevoflurane in 70% oxygen and constant rate infusions of dexmedetomidine 0.5μg/kg/h and maropitant 100μg/kg/h. After induction of anaesthesia, the dog was mechanically ventilated, and a transversus abdominal plane block was performed with ropivacaine 0.2%. The dog remained remarkably stable with a single, self-limiting, hypertension episode recorded intraoperatively. Postoperative rescue analgesia consisted in methadone and ketamine. The dog was discharged 48h after surgery, but persistent hypertension was reported at suture removal. Conclusion: The use of a low dose dexmedetomidine CRI, a maropitant CRI and a TAP block provided stable perioperative haemodynamic conditions for phaeochromocytoma excision in a dog. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(6.000): 1483-1490]

The interesterification process allows structured lipids (SLs) to be obtained with a modified triacylglycerol (TAG) structure, in which the unfavorable saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are replaced with nutritionally significant fatty acids (FAs) such as monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated (PUFAs). Oxidative stability is crucial for the quality of SLs. This study aimed to characterize and evaluate the FA profile and oxidative stability of SLs synthesized by the enzymatic interesterification of hemp seed oil (HO) and coconut oil (CO) blends. Blends were prepared in three ratios (75% HO:25% CO, 50% HO:50% CO, and 25% HO:75% CO) and interesterified using sn-1,3 regiospecific lipase for 2 or 6 h. FA composition, the FA distribution of TAGs, acid value (AV), peroxide value (PV), and oxidation time were analyzed and compared to non-interesterified blends. Results showed no significant difference in the SFA:MUFA ratios between interesterified and non-interesterified blends with the same proportions. Lauric acid predominantly occupied the sn-2 position in all blends. Interesterified blends had higher AVs, exceeding codex standards, while PVs remained within the acceptable limits. Blends with 75% HO had lower oxidation times compared to those with 75% CO, with no significant difference between interesterified and non-interesterified blends. In the interesterification process of the studied blends, new TAGs with a modified structure were created, which may affect their physical and nutritional properties. This process also had a significant effect on the AV and PV levels, but not on the oxidation time of the modified blends. Therefore, it is necessary to remove free FAs after the enzymatic process to produce SLs characterized by improved hydrolytic stability. This will lead to better technological properties compared to the original oils. Further research is also necessary to enhance the oxidation stability of SLs obtained from blends of CO and HO to improve their storage stability.

During a training session for the university diploma of Mountain medicine delivered by University Sorbonne Paris Nord for medical doctors, one of the participants developed signs of maladaptation to high altitude at 3 600 m, the severity of which was incorrectly interpreted. Information was sparingly given by the patient (an anesthetist) to several of his colleagues and no one was in charge to collect clinical data, take a history, and provide appropriate treatment. The combination of the absence of designation of a supervising doctor and the difficulty of communicating with the patient led to a lack of coordinated management and to an evolution of the symptoms towards severe acute mountain sickness. Fortunately, the very rapid management of the patient and a rapid helicopter evacuation, as soon as the symptoms worsened towards the onset of a suspected high altitude cerebral and/or pulmonary edema, allowed rapid resolution without sequelae. Environmental, medical, psychological, and managerial factors led to this Expert Group Syndrome.

The interesterification process allows structured lipids (SLs) to be obtained with a modified triacylglycerol (TAG) structure, in which the unfavorable saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are replaced with nutritionally significant fatty acids (FAs) such as monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated (PUFAs). Oxidative stability is crucial for the quality of SLs. This study aimed to characterize and evaluate the FA profile and oxidative stability of SLs synthesized by the enzymatic interesterification of hemp seed oil (HO) and coconut oil (CO) blends. Blends were prepared in three ratios (75% HO:25% CO, 50% HO:50% CO, and 25% HO:75% CO) and interesterified using sn-1,3 regiospecific lipase for 2 or 6 h. FA composition, the FA distribution of TAGs, acid value (AV), peroxide value (PV), and oxidation time were analyzed and compared to non-interesterified blends. Results showed no significant difference in the SFA:MUFA ratios between interesterified and non-interesterified blends with the same proportions. Lauric acid predominantly occupied the sn-2 position in all blends. Interesterified blends had higher AVs, exceeding codex standards, while PVs remained within the acceptable limits. Blends with 75% HO had lower oxidation times compared to those with 75% CO, with no significant difference between interesterified and non-interesterified blends. In the interesterification process of the studied blends, new TAGs with a modified structure were created, which may affect their physical and nutritional properties. This process also had a significant effect on the AV and PV levels, but not on the oxidation time of the modified blends. Therefore, it is necessary to remove free FAs after the enzymatic process to produce SLs characterized by improved hydrolytic stability. This will lead to better technological properties compared to the original oils. Further research is also necessary to enhance the oxidation stability of SLs obtained from blends of CO and HO to improve their storage stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tavernier et al. decipher the mechanism by which the intrinsically disordered protein Bora, phosphorylated by Cyclin-Cdk, potentiates AURKA activity towards Polo-like kinase 1. Furthermore, they demonstrate the importance of this mechanism for timely mitotic entry in Xenopus and human cells.

Coenurosis is a parasitic disease affecting the central nervous system of small ruminants. This case describes the anaesthetic management of a ewe undergoing craniotomy for associated‐brain cyst removal. As small ruminants are food‐producing animals, there is limited access to veterinary medicinal products, and choosing an appropriate anaesthetic protocol is challenging. After premedication with detomidine (0.03 mg/kg intramuscularly) and butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg intravenously), anaesthesia was induced with lidocaine (1 mg/kg) and ketamine (2 mg/kg intravenously), and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen, using controlled mechanical ventilation. The animal was placed in sternal recumbency, with the head slightly elevated. A lidocaine incisional infiltration was performed, and dexamethasone (0.06 mg/kg intravenously) was administered. Vital parameters remained stable throughout anaesthesia, but moderate agitation was noticed at recovery, treated with butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg intravenously). While the ewe showed clinical improvement initially, its neurological status deteriorated in the following days, leading to euthanasia. Postmortem examination revealed intracranial haematoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commitment to mitosis must be tightly coordinated with DNA replication to preserve genome integrity. While we have previously established that the timely activation of CyclinB1-Cdk1 in late G2 triggers mitotic entry, the upstream regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is required for entry into mitosis during an unperturbed cell cycle and is rapidly activated shortly before CyclinB1-Cdk1. We determine that Plk1 associates with the Cdc25C1 phosphatase and induces its phosphorylation before mitotic entry. Plk1-dependent Cdc25C1 phosphosites are sufficient to promote mitotic entry, even when Plk1 activity is inhibited. Furthermore, we find that activation of Plk1 during G2 relies on CyclinA2-Cdk activity levels. Our findings thus elucidate a critical role for Plk1 in CyclinB1-Cdk1 activation and mitotic entry and outline how CyclinA2-Cdk, an S-promoting factor, poises cells for commitment to mitosis.