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Nanoparticles (NPs) are nanoscaled particles sized from 1-100 nm, which can be composed of inorganic or organic compounds. NPs have distinctive morphology, size, structure, and surface features, which give them specific properties. These particular attributes make them interesting for biological and medical applications. Due to these characteristics, researchers are studying the possible aptness of numerous nanoparticles in veterinary medicine, such as the capacity to act as a drug delivery system. The use of these NPs as a possible bactericidal or bacteriostatic medication has been studied against different bacteria, especially multiresistant strains and the ones that cause mastitis disease. The antibiofilm property of these nanostructures has also already been proved. The antiviral activity has also been shown for some important viral animal diseases; the antifungal activity had been demonstrated against both pathogenic and mycotoxigenic species. Therefore, this review aimed to elucidate the main clinical and preventive veterinary applications of inorganic and organic nanoparticles.

Background: Predicting the roughly 50% of melanoma patients that will respond to immunotherapy is challenging. We tested if splenic volume could be a predictive biomarker. Methods: Splenic volume was measured by a semiautomated commercial software tool in pre- and post-treatment PET/CT, CT or MRI in 50 melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Results: Subjects with smaller spleens had better progression-free survival (median not achieved after 30.6 months of follow-up vs median 11.2 months; p = 0.0213) than their counterparts. A cut-off of <244 cm 3 yielded a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 54% to identify responders. Conclusion: Measuring splenic volume on imaging scans is feasible. Smaller pretreatment spleen volume is associated with better responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Sporotrichosis is a superficial fungal disease that can affect animals and humans. The high number of infected cats has been associated with zoonotic transmission and contributed to sporotrichosis being considered by the World Health Organization as one of the main neglected tropical fungal diseases for 2021-2030. Oral administration of itraconazole (ITZ) is the first choice for treatment, but it is expensive, time-consuming, and often related to serious adverse effects. As a strategy to optimize the treatment, we proposed the development of a hydrophilic gel with nanomicelles loaded with ITZ (HGN-ITZ). The HGN-ITZ was developed using an I-optimal design and characterized for particle size, Zeta potential, drug content, microscopic aspects, viscosity, spreadability, in vitro drug release, in vitro antifungal activity, and clinical evaluation in cats. The HGN-ITZ showed a high content of ITZ (97.3 ± 2.1 mg/g); and characteristics suitable for topical application (viscosity, spreadability, globules size, Zeta potential, controlled drug release). In a pilot clinical study, cats with disseminated sporotrichosis were treated with oral ITZ or HGN-ITZ + oral ITZ. A mortality rate of 21.3% was observed for the oral ITZ group compared to 5.3% for the HGN-ITZ + oral ITZ group. In a cat with a single lesion, topical treatment alone (HGN-ITZ) provided complete healing of the lesion in 45 days. No signs of topical irritation were observed during the treatments, suggesting that HGN-ITZ can be a promising strategy in the treatment of sporotrichosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effect of essential oils (obtained using hydrodistillation) and plant extracts (ethanolic, aqueous, and hexanic extractions) of 10 different plants cultivated in Brazil were tested using the diffusion agar method, with the objective of evaluating the inhibitory effect of the oils and extracts on the mycelial growth of Aspergillus westerdijkiae NRRL 3174 and A. carbonarius RC 2054 (UNRC). Of the 40 essential oils and plant extracts analyzed, oregano essential oil and plant extract, rosemary essential oil, and the clove ethanolic extract were the best choice to obtain the growth parameters (radial growth rates (mm day -1 ) and lag phase (h)) due the good results presented and the volume of oil/extract obtained. Comparing all the essential oils and plant extracts that were tested for growth parameters, the best results were obtained for the clove ethanolic extract for both strains assayed. These results demonstrated an outstanding potential use of some of these products in prevention of fungal contamination in food. However, further studies need to be conducted to determine the ability of these oils and extracts to inhibit or reduce ochratoxin A production.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by a variety of fungi, which when ingested can cause several deleterious effects to the health of humans and animals. In this work, the detection and quantification of six major mycotoxins (aflatoxins-AFLA, deoxynivalenol-DON, fumonisins-FUMO, ochratoxin A-OTA, T-2 toxin-T-2 and zearalenone-ZON) in 1749 samples of feed and feed ingredients for cattle, collected in Brazil between 2017 and 2021, was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In total, 97% of samples were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin, yet, very few samples exceeded the lowest European Union guidance values for cattle, and the estimated daily intake also showed a low risk for the animals. However, co-occurrences were widely observed, as 87% of samples contained two or more mycotoxins at the same time, and the presence of more than one mycotoxin at the same time in feed can lead to interactions. In conclusion, the contamination of feed and feed ingredients for cattle with mycotoxins in Brazil is very common. Hence, the monitoring of these mycotoxins is of significant importance for food safety.

To evaluate the imaging methods used at the emergency department (ED) of a cancer center, with emphasis on computed tomography (CT). A descriptive, retrospective, single-center study was conducted by reviewing imaging exams and medical records, after approval of the institution's Ethics Review Board. The demographic data, cancer history, and imaging exam requested were evaluated for all patients and the indications and results of head, chest, and abdominopelvic CT scans were also evaluated. During the study period, there were 8710 visits to the ED, and 5999 imaging studies were requested in 3788 patients (43.5 % of total of visits). One thousand eight hundred twenty-nine CT exams were used in 1121 visits (12.9 % of total of visits). The mean age of patients was 57.7 years and most patients (93.2 %) had a known primary tumor. The most common indications for abdominopelvic CT were non-oncologic emergencies (26.7 %) and postoperative complications (19.2 %), and the results were negative in 36.6 %, positive for clinical suspicion in 49.0 %, and incidental positive in 14.5 %. The most frequent indication for chest CT was suspected pulmonary embolism (34.4 %); however, only 11.1 % confirmed the diagnosis. The results of head TC were negative in 72.9 % and the indications that had more positive findings were suspected metastasis (32.1 %) and focal neurological sign/altered level of consciousness (24.5 %). CT plays an important role in driving the cancer patients visiting the ED. However, the high rate of negative or discordant results causes a concern for the inadvertent and excessive use of this imaging modality.

Objective: To evaluate (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and serum levels of different cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) and associations with disease activity., Methods: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, MMP-3 and MMP-9 were measured in 36 TA patients and 36 controls. Maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of (18)F-FDG in arterial walls was determined by PET-CT scans. TA patients were classified as active disease, inactive disease and possible active disease., Results: Serum IL-6 and MMP-3 levels were higher in TA patients than in controls (p<0.001). Serum IL-6 was higher in patients with active disease and in patients with possible active disease than in inactive disease (p<0.0001). Patients with active disease had higher serum TNFα levels than patients with inactive disease (p=0.049) while patients with possible active disease presented higher IL-18 levels than patients with inactive disease (p=0.046). Patients with active disease had higher SUVmax values than those with inactive disease (p=0.042). By receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve SUVmax was predictive of active disease in TA and values ≥1.3 were associated with disease activity (p=0.039). Serum TNF-α levels were higher in patients with SUVmax≥1.3 than <1.3 (p=0.045) and controls (p=0.012). Serum IL-6 levels were higher in patients with SUVmax≥1.3 than in controls (p<0.001). No differences regarding other biomarkers were found between TA patients and controls., Conclusions: Higher serum IL-6 and TNFα levels as well as higher (18)F-FDG uptake in arterial wall are associated with active TA., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The main objective of the present study was to investigate if the type of voice stimuli-sustained vowel, oral reading, and connected speech-results in good intrarater and interrater agreement/reliability., Study Design: A short-term panel study was performed., Methods: Voice samples from 30 native European Portuguese speakers were used in the present study. The speech materials used were (1) the sustained vowel /a/, (2) oral reading of the European Portuguese version of "The Story of Arthur the Rat," and (3) connected speech. After an extensive training with textual and auditory anchors, the judges were asked to rate the severity of dysphonic voice stimuli using the phonation dimensions G, R, and B from the GRBAS scale. The voice samples were judged 6 months and 1 year after the training., Results: Intrarater agreement and reliability were generally very good for all the phonation dimensions and voice stimuli. The highest interrater reliability was obtained using the oral reading stimulus, particularly for phonation dimensions grade (G) and breathiness (B). Roughness (R) was the voice quality that was the most difficult to evaluate, leading to interrater unreliability in all voice quality ratings., Conclusions: Extensive training using textual and auditory anchors and the use of anchors during the voice evaluations appear to be good methods for auditory-perceptual evaluation of dysphonic voices. The best results of interrater reliability were obtained when the oral reading stimulus was used. Breathiness appears to be a voice quality that is easier to evaluate than roughness., (Copyright © 2015 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT)-and serum levels of different cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA) and associations with disease activity., Methods: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, MMP-3 and MMP-9 were measured in 36 TA patients and 36 controls. Maximum standard uptake value (SUV max ) of 18F-FDG in arterial walls was determined by PET-CT scans. TA patients were classified as active disease, inactive disease and possible active disease., Results: Serum IL-6 and MMP-3 levels were higher in TA patients than in controls (p<0.001). Serum IL-6 was higher in patients with active disease and in patients with possible active disease than in inactive disease (p<0.0001). Patients with active disease had higher serum TNFα levels than patients with inactive disease (p=0.049) while patients with possible active disease presented higher IL-18 levels than patients with inactive disease (p=0.046). Patients with active disease had higher SUV max values than those with inactive disease (p=0.042). By ROC curve SUV max was predictive of active disease in TA and values ≥1.3 were associated with disease activity (p=0.039). Serum TNF-α levels were higher in patients with SUV max ≥1.3 than<1.3 (p=0.045) and controls (p=0.012). Serum IL-6 levels were higher in patients with SUV max ≥1.3 than in controls (p<0.001). No differences regarding other biomarkers were found between TA patients and controls., Conclusions: Higher serum IL-6 and TNFα levels as well as higher arterial 18F-FDG uptake are associated with active TA., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine the rates of diagnostic success and complications of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous biopsy of bone lesions suspected for malignancy., Materials and Methods: Retrospective study including 186 cases of CT-guided percutaneous biopsies of bone lesions in the period from January, 2010 to December, 2012. All the specimens were obtained with 8-10 gauge needles. The following data were collected: demographics, previous history of malignancy, data related to the lesion, to the procedure, and to histological results., Results: Most patients were women (57%), and the mean age was 53.0 ± 16.4 years. In 139 cases (74.6%), there was diagnostic suspicion of metastasis and the most common primary tumors were breast (32.1%) and prostate (11.8%). The bones most commonly involved were spine (36.0%), hip (32.8%) and long bones (18.3%). Complications occurred in only three cases (1.6%) including bone fracture, paresthesia with functional impairment, and needle breakage requiring surgical removal. The specimens collected from 183 lesions (98.4%) were considered appropriate for diagnosis. Malignant results were more frequently found in patients who had a suspected secondary lesion and history of known malignancy (p < 0.001), and in patients who underwent PET/CT-guided procedures (p = 0.011)., Conclusion: CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is a safe and effective procedure for the diagnosis of suspicious bone lesions.

The adrenal glands are an important site of both primary and secondary disease processes. Image-guided percutaneous biopsy of the adrenal gland is an accurate and safe alternative to surgical biopsy. This procedure is most often performed in patients with a suspicion of metastatic disease where an accurate pathological diagnosis plays an important role in disease staging and defining therapy. There are many different approaches to performing adrenal biopsy under CT guidance such as anterior transhepatic/transpancreatic, lateral transhepatic/transplenic or posterior transpulmonary/transpleural/paravertebral. We describe a technique in which the adrenal gland was biopsied using a CT-guided percutaneous paravertebral approach with the use of a hydrodissection manoeuver. 13 CT-guided adrenal gland percutaneous biopsies using this technique were performed at our institution between April 2009 and July 2010. All biopsies yielded sufficient material for pathological analysis and there were no complications reported after the procedure. Saline injection can expand the posterior paravertebral space and facilitate a posterior extrapleural approach with high accuracy and low complication rates, and we believe that this may be the best approach for adrenal gland biopsy.

Objective: To describe a technique for CT-guided biopsy based on PET/CT findings and to evaluate the indications and results of the technique in cancer patients., Methods: We evaluated all patients receiving CT-guided percutaneous biopsies whose indication was based on PET/CT findings at an oncology reference center from October 2009 to December 2010. The PET/CT images were evaluated side by side with noncontrast CT images to identify the lesion or area of interest to be biopsied. Biopsies were guided by CT with the needle directed at the area of metabolic activity identified in the PET/CT examination performed before the procedure., Results: A total of 64 cases were included in this study. The most common lesion location was pulmonary (n = 28; 43.8%). The median of the lesions' greatest diameter and maximum SUV were 44.1 ± 31.6 mm (10-186 mm) and 8.4 ± 5.9 (2.1-34.0), respectively. The histologic results of the biopsies were negative for malignancy in 15 cases (23.4%), positive in 46 cases (71.9%), and inconclusive in 3 cases (4.7%). Lesions with an SUV ≥ 4.0 were more likely to be malignant (85.4% vs. 46.2%; P = 0.006)., Conclusions: CT-guided biopsies should be used routinely for lesions identified or better characterized by PET/CT. The results of this study demonstrate that this method is reliable, secure, and very accurate diagnostically, revealing a high percentage of malignant lesions.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the inclusion of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) involving faecal tagging and no laxatives on the computed tomography (CT) study routinely used in staging patients with colorectal cancer., Methods: CTC was performed on 25 patients who had a diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma, with pathological correlation. Researchers recorded the accuracy of the CTC for staging colorectal cancer, as well as any changes to the plans for surgery based on this exam. The patients' tolerance of the preparation required and the quality of the exams was also evaluated., Results: All exams were well-tolerated, and only one had unsatisfactory quality. CTC identified all the carcinomas and had an overall accuracy of 80%, 60.1% and 100% for the evaluation of tumour depth, lymph nodes and metastases respectively. CTC identified all polyps greater than 9 mm. Following CTC, changes to surgical plans were observed in 20.8% of the cases, all with incomplete optical colonoscopies., Conclusions: CTC proved useful for the pre-operative evaluation of patients with a diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma, affecting plans for surgery in a expressive number of patients with an incomplete colonoscopy., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The purpose of this randomized, prospective study was to evaluate the effect of three preparation types on the abdominal sonographic examination quality and on patient acceptance., Methods: Examinations were performed on 611 patients in the imaging department of a referral oncology center. Patients were divided into three groups: preparation with fasting, water, laxatives, and antiflatulents (Group I), preparation with fasting, water, and antiflatulents alone (Group II), or preparation with fasting and water alone (Group III). The examination quality was evaluated both objectively through grades and subjectively through impressions. Statistical significance was set at the p ≤ 0.05 level., Results: No difference in examination quality was seen among patients with or without medication. Improved visualization of the retroperitoneum in the mid abdomen was observed among Group I patients. Patients in Groups II and III displayed fewer side effects. Other variables, such as obesity and increased abdominal wall thickness, also impacted the image quality., Conclusions: Visualization of the abdominal organs was satisfactory even in patients who had only fasted and received water. The use of laxative and antiflatulent preparations is not required before routine abdominal ultrasound examinations., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Conformal external radiotherapy aims to improve tumor control by boosting tumor dose, reducing morbidity and sparing healthy tissues. To meet this objective careful visualization of the tumor and adjacent areas is required. However, one of the major issues to be solved in this context is the volumetric definition of the targets. This study proposes to compare the gross volume of lung tumors as delineated by specialized radiologists and radiotherapists of a cancer center., Methods: Chest CT scans of a total of 23 patients all with non-small cell lung cancer, not submitted to surgery, eligible and referred to conformal radiotherapy on the Hospital A. C. Camargo (São Paulo, Brazil), during the year 2004 were analyzed. All cases were delineated by 2 radiologists and 2 radiotherapists. Only the gross tumor volume and the enlarged lymph nodes were delineated. As such, four gross tumor volumes were achieved for each one of the 23 patients., Results: There was a significant positive correlation between the 2 measurements (among the radiotherapists, radiologists and intra-class) and there was randomness in the distribution of data within the constructed confidence interval., Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the definition of gross tumor volume between radiologists and radiotherapists.

Objective: To report oncological cases (excluding those related to breast cancer) for which radioguided surgery has been used in combination with the Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization technique., Introduction: Radioguided surgery enables a surgeon to identify lesions or tissues that have been preoperatively marked with radioactive substances. The Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization technique has been widely used to identify the sentinel lymph node and occult lesions in patients with breast cancer. However, few studies have reported the use of this technique for non-breast cancer pathologies., Methodology: In all cases, injection of Technecium-99m sulfur colloid was performed, directly inside or near by the suspicious lesion, guided by ultrasound or computed tomography, up to 36 hours prior to the surgical procedure. Intraoperative lesion detection was carried out using a gamma-probe., Results: We report five oncology cases in which preoperative markings of the lesions were carried out using the Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization technique. The patients presented with the following: recurrence of renal cell carcinoma, cervical recurrence of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, recurrence of retroperitoneal sarcoma, lesions of the popliteal fossa, and recurrence of rhabdomyosarcoma of a thigh. In each case, the lesions that were marked preoperatively were ultimately successfully excised., Conclusions: Radioguided surgery has proven to be a safe and effective alternative for the management of oncology patients. The Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization technique can be useful in selected cases where suspect lesions may be difficult to identify intraoperatively, due to their dimensions or anatomical location. The procedure allows for more conservative excisions and reduces the surgery-related morbidity.

We demonstrate experimentally the possibility of reproducing the phase function, absorption, and scattering coefficients of a real biological tissue (adult brain white matter and liver) using a suspension of polystyrene microspheres with a fractal size distribution. The design of a light scattering goniometer with a cylindrical cell in air is discussed, and phase function measurements using the device are described. The scattering coefficient is measured using transmission spectrophotometry and the absorption and reduced scattering coefficients are measured using a time-resolved method. A good match between real tissue and phantom parameters is demonstrated.