Surveillance and management of estrous cycle in Awassi and Lacaune ewes during out of season

The purpose of this study was to increase fertility in sheep by applying modern biotechnology: induction and synchronization of estrous in non- breeding season. The ewes were divided into 3 equal batches. In all batches intravaginal sponge (Veramix/Intervet) containing 60 mg of MPA was left in the vagina for 14 days. Immediately after removal of the sponge an injections of prostaglandin (Dinolytic/Pfizer) at the dose of 12.5 mg (2,5ml)/animal was administered in batch II. Batch III received two injections: PMSG hormone (Folligon/Intervet) at the dose of 500 IU/animal and prostaglandin (Dinolytic/Pfizer) at the dose of 12.5 mg (2,5 ml)/animal. The research focused on several directions: assessment of estrous manifestation; occurrence of estrous interval after completion of hormonal therapy; duration of estrous; appreciation of gestation after the first and second estrous clinically manifested; percentage of fecundity. From the results obtained it follows that induction and synchronization of estrous in non-breeding season showed economic advantages by shortening the time needed for the installation of gestation, the possibility of lambing distribution, preparation and organization of mating

Genetic diversity in Babesia canis and associated comorbidities can be fatal in dogs` babesiosis – a case study

The aim of this paper is to briefly present some aspects of Babesia spp. taxonomy, incidence, clinical signs of their infection, and possibilities of prevention, as an introduction to a case study of canine babesiosis presentation. A 7-yearold Malinois dog was presented in August 2020 with signs of generalized icterus, high body temperature and mustard urine, all of them indicating babesiosis. Cytological examination confirmed the large Babesia canis spp., and the biochemical investigations revealed renal and hepatic failure. Although the therapeutic protocol included the specific antidote, imidocarb dipropionate – Imizol® (0.5 ml/10 kg body weight, in a single dose), fluid therapy, vitamin therapy, an antiemetic drug, and supplements for renal and hepatic functions sustaining, the investigated dog died. The postmortem investigation revealed generalized icterus. We consider the delaying of dog presentation at vet an important factor of this outcome; although an infection with various subspecies of Babesia canis was not excluded, the therapeutic intervention would have been the same

Risk Assessment Regarding the Contamination of Poultry Meat with Salmonella in a High-Capacity Slaughterhouse

The frequency of salmonellosis in Europe remains high, being considered the second most common foodborne disease. Salmonella spp., was most commonly detected in poultry meat mainly in fresh turkey meat (3.5%) and fresh chickens (2.2%). The study aims to identify the level of contamination of poultry meat with Salmonella spp. and performing a risk assessment. The samples were collected from a large capacity slaughterhouse on two slaughter lines, from two groups of poultry. An antemortem and postmortem examination was conducted and the samples collected from the neck of poultry carcasses were analyzed using the VIDAS® bioMérieux automatic test using analytical technique. The results of the antemortem inspection indicated negative results. The postmortem examination on group I and group II indicated different types of lesions. The surveillance of contamination of poultry meat with germs of the genus Salmonella spp. highlighted 397 compliant samples in group I, out of a total of 403 samples and 6 non-compliant samples. Salmonella infantis was identified in these non-compliant samples following laboratory examination. The lesions associated with Salmonella infection are not specific and therefore there is no direct correlation between the results of laboratory examination and lesions

Acute idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis with secondary arterial hypertension in a 5-year-old male Siberian Husky

Acute canine idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis (ACIP) is one of the most common generalised neuromuscular diseases affecting dogs. In this report, we describe a 5-year-old, 25-kg, male, intact, Siberian Husky dog with ACIP with secondary induced arterial hypertension fsystolic blood pressure [mean (m) ± standard deviation (sd)], 214 ± 19mmHg; mean blood pressure (m ± sd), 164 ± 6.36mmHg; and diastolic blood pressure (m ± sd), 137 ± 0.7mmHgg and sinus tachycardia. Heart rate variability analysis indicated decreased vagal activity (low root-meansquare values of successive RR interval differences and percentages of the RR intervals differing by more than 50ms in the entire recording) and predominance of sympathetic activity. Arterial hypertension was treated with amlodipine but remained greater than the upper limit for 51 days until the dog recovered ambulation. This is the first case report of ACIP and secondary arterial hypertension in a dog. Routine blood pressure measurements should be included in the monitoring of patients with ACIP if arterial hypertension might interfere with patient prognosis

Impact of Hormone Replacement Therapy on the Overall Survival and Progression Free Survival of Ovarian Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Frequently, patients treated for Ovarian Cancer (OC) undergo menopause with subsequent symptoms. This review scrutinised the impact of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) on the Overall Survival (OS) and Progression-Free Survival (PFS) of patients diagnosed with OC. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the most popular English databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to select publications that evaluate OS and PFS in these patients. End-point analysis targeted values of log(HR) and its Standard Error (SE). Results: Up to 1 September 2022, 11 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Eight publications, totalling 4191 patients, were included in the meta-analyses. Eight studies were considered for the OS analysis and pooled an HR of 0.66 with respective 95% CI between 0.57 and 0.76, with a p-value p = 0.02 at a Z value of 2.36. Further subgroup analyses highlighted the non-inferiority of this treatment. Conclusions: Patients treated for OC that receive HRT for menopausal symptoms after various treatments appeared to have better OS than never-users

A rare case of intracardiac fibrosarcoma with myxoid features inducing venous occlusion in a dog – a case report

Abstract Background In both humans and animals, cardiac fibrosarcoma is rare among primary cardiac malignant neoplasia. The overall prevalence of cardiac neoplasia in dogs is low, reported to be between 0.17% and 0.19% of hospital admissions. The aim of this report is to describe the clinical and pathological findings of a dog presenting signs of right sided congestive heart failure due to an intracardiac and venous obstructing mass, diagnosed by histopathology as cardiac fibrosarcoma with myxoid features. Case presentation A 7 years old male mix breed Husky weighing 23 kg was presented to our Veterinary Teaching Hospital the owner reporting weight loss, inappetence and exercise intolerance and on presentation exhibited breathlessness and an enlarged abdomen. A 5 minutes six leads electrocardiogram and cardiac ultrasonography were performed using standard, established techniques. Complete blood count, serum liver enzyme activities and renal parameters were assessed. Shortly after the cardiologic examination, the dog died and necropsy examination of the cardiovascular system revealed an elongated and branched mass attached dorsally to the endocardial insertion of the septal tricuspid valve leaflet. This mass extended retrogradely into the lumen of the cervical veins, obstructing the venous flow. Histological diagnosis of the mass was cardiac fibrosarcoma with myxoid features. Multiple metastases were found inside the lungs only. Conclusion This is the first report describing a right cardiac fibrosarcoma with myxoid features and venous obstruction in a dog. Cardiac fibrosarcoma is a rare finding, however should be considered when an intracardiac mass is diagnosed

Vaccine Hesitancy among European Parents—Psychological and Social Factors Influencing the Decision to Vaccinate against HPV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Due to low adherence to HPV vaccination programs, the European region struggles with vaccination rates lower than 30% among the targeted population. The present report investigated various socio-demographic and psychological factors influencing European parents’ hesitancy towards vaccinating their children. Methods: As of September 2023, four databases were searched. After applying inclusion criteria, all articles comparing psychological and socio-demographic factors in parents who vaccinate or do not vaccinate their children were included. Results: Twenty-five primary publications met the criteria, totaling 385,460 responders, of which 311,803 want to or have already vaccinated their child, and 73,555 do not wish to do so. Immigrant and employment status, religion, age of parents and the child’s gender seemed to influence their decision to vaccinate their child. Previous experience with vaccines, perceived safety and efficacy and the mother’s previous abnormal CCS results also impacted their decision. The caregivers’ education, gender, civil status, number of children, family history of neoplasia or mother’s CCS attendance did not influence their hesitancy to vaccine. Conclusion: Multiple demographic, social, economic and psychological barriers involved in the parents’ hesitancy to vaccinate their children against the HPV virus were highlighted. Specific at-risk categories that need to be targeted with information, education and vaccination campaigns were identified

The Role of miR-375-3p, miR-210-3p and Let-7e-5p in the Pathological Response of Breast Cancer Patients to Neoadjuvant Therapy

Background and Objectives: Prediction of response to therapy remains a continuing challenge in treating breast cancer, especially for identifying molecular tissue markers that best characterize resistant tumours. Microribonucleic acids (miRNA), known as master modulators of tumour phenotype, could be helpful candidates for predicting drug resistance. We aimed to assess the association of miR-375-3p, miR-210-3p and let-7e-5p in breast cancer tissues with pathological response to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and clinicopathological data. Material and methods: Sixty female patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at The Oncology Institute “Ion Chiricuță”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (IOCN) were included in this study. Before patients received any treatment, fresh breast tissue biopsies were collected through core biopsy under echographic guidance and processed for total RNA extraction and miRNA quantification. The Cancer Genome Atlas Breast Invasive Carcinoma (TCGA-BRCA) database was used as an independent external validation cohort. Results: miR-375-3p expression was associated with more differentiated tumours, hormone receptor presence and lymphatic invasion. According to the Miller–Payne system, a higher miR-375-3p expression was calculated for patients that presented with intermediate versus (vs.) no pathological response. Higher miR-210-3p expression was associated with an improved response to NAT in both Miller–Payne and RCB evaluation systems. Several druggable mRNA targets were correlated with miR-375-3p and miR-210-3p expression, with upstream analysis using the IPA knowledge base revealing a list of possible chemical and biological targeting drugs. Regarding let-7e-5p, no significant association was noticed with any of the analysed clinicopathological data. Conclusions: Our results suggest that tumours with higher levels of miR-375-3p are more sensitive to neoadjuvant therapy compared to resistant tumours and that higher miR-210-3p expression in responsive tumours could indicate an excellent pathological response