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Bartonella henselae is increasingly associated with a variety of pathological entities, which are often similar in dogs and human patients. Following an acute flea infestation, a dog developed an unusual clinical presentation for canine bartonellosis. Comprehensive medical, microbiological, and surgical interventions were required for diagnosis and to achieve a full recovery.

This pilot study studied the impact of brief mindfulness meditation training with adolescents. Whereas adult mindfulness training programs typically entail weekly 2.5 hour sessions over an eight week period, this program delivered four 50-minute sessions within a three week period. Each session was comprised of two mindfulness exercises delivered by a peer facilitator. In addition to subjective self-reports of stress reduction, the outcome measures showed a 30% reduction in general anxiety as measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory and a 9% reduction in social anxiety as measured by the Interaction Anxiety Scale. Notably, the mindfulness intervention showed a 55% reduction on the Cognitive subscale of the BAI, but only an 11% reduction on the Physiological subscale, suggesting that the strongest short-term effect of mindfulness training may be in reducing or counteracting negative cognitions such as self-deprecation and excessive worrying.

At the pyloroduodenal junction (PDJ), an increase in wall echogenicity is frequently observed. A prospective study was performed to assess the PDJ sonographically in 175 adults and small dogs (>1 year old, <11.4 kg (25 lb)) over 12 months to evaluate the prevalence of this finding. Additionally, changes in echogenicity were correlated with histology in 14 postmortem specimens. A scoring system of echogenicity change centered on the mucosa and submucosa of the PDJ was implemented; 0: no change, 1: mild, 2: moderate to marked. Other included parameters were age, sex, breed, gastric distention, gastric contents, and reported vomiting at the time of presentation. Hyperechogenicity of the PDJ was highly prevalent (scores 1 and 2: 85.7%). No statistical association between hyperechogenicity of the PDJ and age, sex, gastric distention, gastric contents, or vomiting was identified. Hyperechogenicity of the PDJ is thought to represent an anatomical transition zone, and based on histology, hyperechogenicity of the PDJ may represent a variation in distribution and amount of fibrous connective tissue, glandular number, and glandular dilation within the submucosa and mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating interstitial pneumonia causing a loss of respiratory surface area due to a proliferative fibrotic response involving hyperplastic, hypertrophic, and metaplastic epithelium, cystic honeycomb change, septal expansion, and variable inflammation. Wnt (wingless) signaling glycoproteins are known to be involved in lung development and tissue repair, and are up-regulated in patients with IPF. Based on previous qRT-PCR data showing increased Wnt7B in lungs of IPF patients, a systematic, quantitative examination of its tissue site distribution was undertaken. Methods Tissue samples from the Lung Tissue Research Consortium (LTRC) of 39 patients diagnosed with mild to severe IPF/usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and 19 normal patients were examined for the immunolocalization of Wnt7B. Results In normal lung, moderate Wnt7B reactivity was confined to airway epithelium, smooth muscle of airways and vasculature, and macrophages. IPF lung showed strong Wnt7B reactivity in fibroblastic foci, dysplastic airway and alveolar epithelium, and in highly discrete subepithelial, basement membrane-associated regions. All reactive sites were sized and counted relative to specific microscopic regions. Those in the subepithelial sites were found in significantly greater numbers and larger relative area compared with the others. No reactive sites were present in normal patient controls. Conclusions The results demonstrate Wnt7B to be expressed at high concentrations in regions of active hyperplasia, metaplasia, and fibrotic change in IPF patients. In this context and its previously established biologic activities, Wnt7B would be expected to be of potential importance in the pathogenesis of IPF.

An unprecedented irruption of thousands of Razorbills Alca torda into Florida in winter 2012/13 was followed by a "wreck" of Razorbills and Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica in outer Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in January-March 2013. We describe these events using citizen-science sources (eBird and beached-bird surveys) and band recoveries, then we discuss them in relation to extreme weather and oceanographic change. We explored effects on likely source populations using census and monitoring data, along with possible contributions from population increases, reduced food supply, and extreme weather. Winter 2012/13 followed a marine heatwave throughout the northwest Atlantic, whose effects included reduced availability of plankton. We attribute the irruption of Razorbills into Florida partly to delayed effects of Hurricane Sandy, which disrupted their coastal habitat sufficiently to cause starving birds to move south on the Labrador Current as far as Florida. Despite the continuation of anomalously warm ocean temperatures in subsequent years and a reduction in plankton communities in the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine that continues to date, no comparable events have been recorded in subsequent winters; this supports our theory that the delayed effects of Hurricane Sandy contributed to these wrecks. We highlight the power of these datasets to detect and to investigate birds' responses to extreme and anomalous conditions, which in turn provides insight into the dynamics of rapidly changing ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect that the presence of a student in the PET/CT department has on the technologist's occupational radiation exposure and whether this effect is influenced by the type of supervision performed. Methods: This was a retrospective, institutional review board-approved study that collected data from 2 PET/CT departments. Dosimetry reports, correlated with the clinical schedules of the students, were normalized for workflow (amount of radioactivity), the number of technologists, and the number of monitored days in the department. A 2-sample t test assuming unequal variance with an α of 0.05 was used to compare doses between with-student and without-student groups and between direct-supervision and indirect-supervision groups. Results: The study consisted of a dataset of 42 dosimetry reports, 19 with students and 23 without students. When comparing with-student and without-student groups, the total (n = 42) extremity dose had a P value of 0.012 with a mean of 0.0011665 μSv/MBq/technologist/d; all other dose comparisons between groups were greater than 0.05 (P > 0.05). For indirect supervision (n = 21), the extremity-dose P value was 0.298. The other dose P values were all less than 0.05. For direct supervision (n = 21), the dose P values were all greater than 0.05. There was a trend toward decreasing exposure of technologists when students were in the department. Conclusion: Extremity dose decreases when students are present. There is a trend toward decreasing dose with indirect supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 (ADCmean) and minimum ADC value (ADCmin) were calculated. Additionally, two smaller, ovoid ROI were drawn within the lesion with mean ADC calculated (ADCmean sR and ADCmin sR). Normalized ADC values using white matter were also calculated (ADCn and ADCn 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. ADCmean sR and ADCmin sR were significantly lower when comparing grade II/III to grade I (P <.05). Grade II tumors had significantly lower ADCmean, ADCmean sR, ADCmin sR, ADCn, and ADCn 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Histologic features of pulmonary veno‐occlusive disease (PVOD) and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) have been described in dogs but without a thorough clinical description. Objectives: To report the clinical features, diagnostics, treatment, and outcome of dogs with histologic evidence of PVOD and PCH. Animals: Fifteen pet dogs meeting histopathologic criteria of PVOD (occlusive remodeling of small‐sized to medium‐sized pulmonary veins) or PCH (alveolar capillary proliferation and congestion), or both. Methods: Medical records of dogs with PVOD and PCH identified based on histopathologic features between 2003 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Fifteen dogs met inclusion criteria of a histologic diagnosis of PVOD or PCH or both. Dogs were older (median 11 years) with no apparent breed or sex predisposition. Dogs presented with acute clinical signs (median 3 days), usually respiratory distress. Thoracic radiography (available in 10 dogs) revealed right cardiomegaly and patchy or diffuse interstitial to alveolar patterns, with 9 dogs having a normal left cardiac silhouette. In 5 dogs tested, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was documented. In all 3 dogs, thoracic computed tomography scans showed pulmonary arterial enlargement and perivascular diffuse nodular ground‐glass opacities. Ten of 15 dogs died within 1 day; median survival was 3 days. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In dogs with PAH, the inability to document left‐sided congestive heart failure and failure to identify another cause of signs of respiratory disease should increase suspicion for PVOD and PCH. With increased awareness of PVOD and PCH by clinicians and pathologists, dogs with compatible clinicopathologic features should be evaluated for these pulmonary vascular disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The aim of the study was to report the ultrasonographic and clinicopathological findings in cats with confirmed pyloroduodenal adenomatous polyps. Methods Clinicopathological data, ultrasonographic and histopathological findings were collected retrospectively from medical records. Results Pyloroduodenal polyps appeared as small moderately echogenic and homogeneous nodules filling most of the proximal duodenal or pyloroduodenal lumen. The most common presenting signs in this study included acute vomiting and anorexia in 4/6 cats and lethargy in 3/6 cats. Two cats presented with severe anemia, suggestive of active bleeding. One cat presented with increased bilirubin without anemia, suggestive of impaired bile flow. Five cats survived surgical removal of the polyp and were free of clinical signs 817 days after the procedure. Conclusions and relevance Pyloroduodenal polyps have subtle ultrasonographic changes that can easily be mistaken for ingesta. They are characterized by a discrete small (up to 1.5 cm in diameter) homogeneous echogenic nodule filling the pyloroduodenal lumen. Pyloroduodenal polyps are benign lesions but can cause severe clinical signs including gastrointestinal bleeding or biliary obstruction. The prognosis is excellent with surgical removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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