Urachal Cyst in a Bitch

Background: The urachus is a tubular structure continuous with the urinary bladder and the allantois in foetal mammals. It serves as a communication between these two structures. At birth, it loses its function and undergoes atrophy by fibrous proliferation within the lumen. When this atrophy process fails at some point, congenital anomalies of the urachus occur. These anomalies are rare in animals, and to our knowledge, the urachal cyst has not yet been described in dogs. The present work is unique in that it reports a case of this congenital defect in a dog. Our aim is to increase awareness and to discuss the clinical presentation, the imaging techniques used, and the final diagnosis of this anomaly.Case: A bitch Pit Bull, 3-year-old, was presented for veterinary assistance to investigate recurrent pseudopregnancy and an irregular estrous cycle. The animal presented in good bodily condition, and the white blood count and clinical biochemistry were normal. At ultrasound, 2 tubular structures, filled by an echogenic fluid mimicking uterine topography, were found extending through the umbilical and hypogastric regions. No alterations in structure, echogenicity or echotexture of the other organs were observed, including the ovaries and uterus. On exploratory laparotomy, a cystic structure was found, with 2 segments: the larger one was on the left side, attached to the apex of the bladder by its caudal portion; the other was on the right side, attached to the spleen by its cranial portion and to the apex of the bladder by its caudal portion in connection with the left segment. The ovaries, uterus and uterine horns showed no macroscopic alterations. The structure was removed, and after analysis (macroscopic morphology, wall histopathology and biochemistry of the contained fluid), it was determined to be a urachal cyst. The animal recovered uneventfully.Discussion: Ultrasound is an important tool for the evaluation of reproductive cycle physiology and its pathologies. At first, the owner’s complaint justified a fairly straightforward evaluation and clinical management of pseudopregnancy in a very healthy animal based on the history and clinical and complementary exams. However, ultrasound examination revealed two tubular structures filled with echogenic fluid in the lower abdomen. This made the case more complex, as these were interpreted as uterine horns by three different veterinarians, leading to the possibility of pyometra. The management of this condition must be cautious, since the animal's condition could rapidly deteriorate, necessitating an exploratory laparotomy. Based on the clinical presentation, macroscopic anatomy, fluid biochemistry and histological evaluations, the diagnosis of urachal cyst was proposed. Congenital anomalies occur when the urachus fails to obliterate. Four types can be found: patent urachus, urachal sinus, urachal diverticulum and urachal cyst. The urachal cyst occurs when the urachus encompasses a cyst-like structure that is closed to the umbilicus and the bladder lumen. The urachus becomes a cystic structure since its epithelium is still intact, active and accumulating fluid, like the one analysed in this report. Most urachal cysts in humans remain asymptomatic, but when infected, they can cause focal or diffuse peritonitis and an acute abdomen. Although rare, urachal cysts can develop malignant transformation. The combination of nonspecific symptoms and the infrequent occurrence of this anomaly make its diagnosis a difficult challenge. It is commonly an incidental finding like the case reported here. Therefore, diagnostic imaging techniques, especially ultrasound, are essential for the diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a urachal cyst in a dog. This rare anomaly of the urachus was an incidental finding in the investigation of the reproductive problems of a female dog

Direct antiviral therapy for treatment of hepatitis C: A real-world study from Brazil

Introduction and objectives: Direct antiviral agents (DAAs) including sofosbuvir (SOF), daclatasvir (DCV), simeprevir (SIM) and ombitasvir, paritaprevir and dasabuvir were introduced 2015 in Brazil for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aims of this study were to assess effectiveness and safety of HCV treatment with DAA in real-life world in a highly admixed population from Brazil. Materials and methods: All Brazilian reference centers for HCV treatment were invited to take part in a web-based registry, prospectively conducted by the Brazilian Society of Hepatology, to assess outcomes of HCV treatment in Brazil with DAAs. Data to be collected included demographics, disease severity and comorbidities, genotype (GT), viral load, DAA regimens, treatment side effects and sustained virological response (SVR). Results: 3939 patients (60% males, mean age 58 ± 10 years) throughout the country were evaluated. Most had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, GT1 and were treated with SOF/DCV or SOF/SIM. Overall SVR rates were higher than 95%. Subjects with decompensated cirrhosis, GT2 and GT3 have lower SVR rates of 85%, 90% and 91%, respectively. Cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis in GT1 and male sex and decompensated cirrhosis in GT3 were significantly associated with no SVR. Adverse events (AD) and serious AD occurred in 18% and 5% of those subjects, respectively, but less than 1% of patients required treatment discontinuation. Conclusion: SOF-based DAA regimens are effective and safe in the heterogeneous highly admixed Brazilian population and could remain an option for HCV treatment at least in low-income countries

Resumos concluídos - Saúde Coletiva

Resumos concluídos - Saúde Coletiv

Resumos concluídos - Saúde Coletiva

Resumos concluídos - Saúde Coletiv

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Worldwide Disparities in Recovery of Cardiac Testing 1 Year Into COVID-19

BACKGROUND The extent to which health care systems have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide necessary cardiac diagnostic services is unknown.OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the pandemic on cardiac testing practices, volumes and types of diagnostic services, and perceived psychological stress to health care providers worldwide.METHODS The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations from baseline in cardiovascular diagnostic care at the pandemic's onset and 1 year later. Multivariable regression was used to determine factors associated with procedure volume recovery.RESULTS Surveys were submitted from 669 centers in 107 countries. Worldwide reduction in cardiac procedure volumes of 64% from March 2019 to April 2020 recovered by April 2021 in high- and upper middle-income countries (recovery rates of 108% and 99%) but remained depressed in lower middle- and low-income countries (46% and 30% recovery). Although stress testing was used 12% less frequently in 2021 than in 2019, coronary computed tomographic angiography was used 14% more, a trend also seen for other advanced cardiac imaging modalities (positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance; 22%-25% increases). Pandemic-related psychological stress was estimated to have affected nearly 40% of staff, impacting patient care at 78% of sites. In multivariable regression, only lower-income status and physicians' psychological stress were significant in predicting recovery of cardiac testing.CONCLUSIONS Cardiac diagnostic testing has yet to recover to prepandemic levels in lower-income countries. Worldwide, the decrease in standard stress testing is offset by greater use of advanced cardiac imaging modalities. Pandemic-related psychological stress among providers is widespread and associated with poor recovery of cardiac testing. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation