Detection and genetic characterization of domestic cat hepadnavirus in cats with cavitary effusions

: After the identification of the novel domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) in 2018, its potential pathogenetic role in feline hepatic diseases has been suggested. Following the detection of DCH in a cat's serum and peritoneal effusion, the aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the presence of DCH in cats with and without cavitary effusions along with DCH presence in effusions. Stored serum and effusion samples from cats with and without effusions admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Lodi (Italy) in 2020-2022 were included based on results of hematobiochemical parameters. Effusions were classified based on cytological and physicochemical findings. The likelihood of liver damage was estimated based on clinical and laboratory findings. Samples were tested for DCH presence by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Positive samples were subjected to whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. DCH was detected in both serum and peritoneal effusion samples of 2/72 (2.8%) enrolled cats, included in the group with effusions (2/33; 6.1%), with one cat showing inflammatory and the other non-inflammatory effusion. Both DCH-positive cats belonged to the group with a likelihood of liver damage (2/22, 9.1%). Phylogeny showed that the DCH sequences from this study clustered with the prototypic Australian strain but were not included in the clade with other Italian DCH sequences. Results suggest the circulation of different DCH variants in Italy and show the presence of DCH in effusion samples from DCH-positive cats, mirroring the presence of HBV in body fluids from HBV-infected humans. Further studies are still recommended to define the pathogenic role of DCH in cats

ROBOT-ASSISTED LAPAROSCOPIC HYSTEROSACROPEXY FOR PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE

Introduction Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery can be performed either transperineally or transabdominally. The individual woman\u2019s surgical history and goals, as well as her individual risk for surgical complications, prolapse recurrence and de novo symptoms impact the selection of surgical route. Transabdominal repairs are the most common surgical procedures for POP and are associated to recurrence rates up to 10%, whereas transperineal approaches are reported to be a source of higher recurrence rates. Transabdominal procedures can be performed either by laparotomy or by laparoscopy. Recently several series have reported that laparoscopic approach to treat POP (with or without robotic assistance) is feasible and safe with good short and intermediate-term results, comparable to open approaches. This paper describes the technical aspects of robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterosacropexy (RALHSP) using the da Vinci surgical system. Design Since 2006, 10 consecutive patients with POP (mean age 54.5 years), who wished to preserve the uterus, underwent RALHSP as single reconstructive procedure. Two surgeons performed all procedures with the same technique. All complications were collected at a 90-day follow-up using the standardised Clavien classification system. The following outcomes were evaluated: operative time, blood loss, complications, in hospital stay, catheterization time, cure rate. The surgical steps were: bilateral dissection of the perimetrium; identification and extraperitonealization of the uterine cervix; incision of the peritoneum at presacral level and distal to the cervix; placement of a 20 x 2.5 cm polypropylene mesh, willing to embrace the cervix, secured to the anterior longitudinal sacral legament with 0 Tycron stitches; mesh extraperitonealization. Results Al procedures were performed successfully using the Robot-assisted approach. No additional reconstructive procedures were thought to be necessary at the end of surgery. The mean operative time was 103 minutes; the mean blood loss was 18 mL. Neither intra- nor major post-operative complications occurred. According to the Clavien classification system, 4 patients (40%) had grade 1 early complications (two nausea episodes, two electrolyte disturbance); and one patient (10%) had grade 2 complication (diarrhoea). At a mean follow-up of 9.3 months all patients declared themselves satisfied with the anatomical and functional results achieved. Conclusion RALHSP represents an effective option for the management of POP in selected women who wish to preserve the uterus. Moreover da Vinci robotic system allows performing similar procedures to those performed by standard laparoscopy or laparotomy without increasing the morbidity rate when compared to standard laparoscopy, and allows the same functional results

ROLE OF SYMPTOMS DURATION AS PROGNOSTICATOR FOR SACRAL NEUROMODULATION IN REFRACTORY OVERACTIVE BLADDER

Hypothesis / aims of study Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) offers a well-tolerated treatment option for patients with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) refractory to conservative treatment. The advantageous effect of SNM depends on the accurate identification of suitable candidates during pre-implant percutaneous nerve evaluation. In the Literature there are conflicting data regarding the role of age, duration of complaints and neurogenic bladder dysfunction in predicting the effect of SNM, and up to-date no specific urological pre-treatment factors have been associated with response to SNM. The aim of this multicentric study was to investigate data from 103 patients with refractoy OAB who underwent SNM implant in order to evaluate the role of symptoms duration as possible pre-treatment prognosticator. Study design, materials and methods From September 2001 to November 2010 a total of 103 patients attending four different urological centres with refractory OAB underwent a temporary SNM implant. Patient data (demographics, medical history,urologic investigations, and diagnosis) were collected. Temporary implant results were evaluated from a voiding diary and patient history. More than 50% improvement of voiding parameters was considered a successful SNM and those patients were selected for implantation. We test the duration of complaints as prognosticator for predicting SNM result. We performed the Pearson correlation analysis. For comparison between groups either Student's t test or Mann-Whitney test were used, as appropriate. Results Eighty patients (77%) underwent a definitive implant. At a mean follow-up of 25.2 \uf0b1 22.9 months we observed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in the mean number of incontinence episodes/die (1.3\ub1 1.9 versus 4.6\ub12.4), number of pads/die (1.2 \ub1 1.4 versus 3.7 \ub1 2.2), daily urinary frequency (8.7 \ub1 2.8 micturitions/die versus 12.7 \ub1 4.8). Stratifying patients according to the lower urinary tract dysfunction aetiology (idiopathic, neurogenic, iatrogenic), we did not find any significant correlation between symptoms duration (neither as continuous nor categorical variables) and the improvement rates of incontinence episodes (figures 1-2), and micturition frequency (figures 3-4), although we observed better results mainly in neurogenic patients with < 4- year history of urinary symptoms (figure 5). Interpretation of results Patients with urgency and urge urinary incontinence due to neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction for a relatively long period of time may have a lower chance of a positive test compared with patients with neurogenic dysfunction for a relatively short period. Concluding message Duration of complaints was not found to be significant predictive factor for the success of SNM. Disclosure

Avaliação e perspectivas da abordagem à conservação do patrimônio organístico no Brasil

Órgãos de tubos são construídos no Brasil, ou importados do exterior, desde as primeiras décadas do período colonial. Estes instrumentos, apesar de constituírem um conjunto relativamente exíguo, representam um testemunho histórico e musical de valor inestimável. No entanto, de um modo geral, encontram-se em condições precárias de funcionamento e, em parte, mais ou menos descaracterizados profundamente, quanto à sua estrutura e configuração original, às vezes em estado de abandono e, por incrível que pareça, ainda sujeitos ao risco de intervenções arbitrárias e desprovidas de bases técnicas e de preocupação histórica e musicológica. Neste artigo, busca-se percorrer o caminho que levou à atual situação e discutem-se os princípios e os critérios de processos de recuperação, manutenção e conservação preventiva desse patrimônio, partindo dos pressupostos do respeito à sua originalidade e do direito a restauros segundo os rigorosos cânones já definidos para objetos com plena condição de bem cultural, cujo reconhecimento para os órgãos de qualquer época deve ser urgentemente garantido.Pipe organs have been built in Brazil or imported from elsewhere since the very first decades of the colonial period. Albeit relatively small in number, such instruments have inestimable historical and musical value. Notwithstanding, they are generally in very poor working condition and some have lost much of their original structure and configuration; they are often found in a state of abandonment and, incredible as it may seem, still under the threat of arbitrary interventions performed with no technical expertise or any concern for their historical and musicological significance. This article is an effort to understand how this state of affairs came to be, and discusses principles and criteria for the restoration, maintenance and preventive conservation of this legacy, based on assumptions regarding its original conditions and entitlement to restoration in accordance with the stringent standards already set for artifacts that enjoy the full status of cultural assets, which should also be urgently granted to pipe organs of any time and age

The ALICE Silicon Pixel Detector: readiness for the first proton beam

The Silicon Pixel Detector (SPD) is the innermost element of the ALICE Inner Tracking System (ITS). The SPD consists of two barrel layers of hybrid silicon pixels surrounding the beam pipe with a total of 48 10^7 pixel cells. The SPD features a very low material budget, a 99.9% efficient bidimensional digital response, a 12 micron spatial precision in the bending plane (rf ) and a prompt signal as input to the L0 trigger. The SPD commissioning in the ALICE experimental area is well advanced and it includes calibration runs with internal pulse and cosmic ray runs. In this contribution the commissioning of the SPD is reviewed and the first results from runs with cosmic rays and circulating proton beams are presented

Two-pion Bose-Einstein correlations in central Pb-Pb collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76 TeV

The first measurement of two-pion Bose-Einstein correlations in central Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider is presented. We observe a growing trend with energy now not only for the longitudinal and the outward but also for the sideward pion source radius. The pion homogeneity volume and the decoupling time are significantly larger than those measured at RHIC.Comment: 17 pages, 5 captioned figures, 1 table, authors from page 12, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/388

Circulating Cell-Free DNA in Dogs with Mammary Tumors: Short and Long Fragments and Integrity Index

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been considered an interesting diagnostic/prognostic plasma biomarker in tumor-bearing subjects. In cancer patients, cfDNA can hypothetically derive from tumor necrosis/apoptosis, lysed circulating cells, and some yet unrevealed mechanisms of active release. This study aimed to preliminarily analyze cfDNA in dogs with canine mammary tumors (CMTs). Forty-four neoplastic, 17 non-neoplastic disease-bearing, and 15 healthy dogs were recruited. Necrosis and apoptosis were also assessed as potential source of cfDNA on 78 CMTs diagnosed from the 44 dogs. The cfDNA fragments and integrity index significantly differentiated neoplastic versus non-neoplastic dogs (P<0.05), and allowed the distinction between benign and malignant lesions (P<0.05). Even if without statistical significance, the amount of cfDNA was also affected by tumor necrosis and correlated with tumor size and apoptotic markers expression. A significant (P<0.01) increase of Bcl-2 in malignant tumors was observed, and in metastatic CMTs the evasion of apoptosis was also suggested. This study, therefore, provides evidence that cfDNA could be a diagnostic marker in dogs carrying mammary nodules suggesting that its potential application in early diagnostic procedures should be further investigated

Suppression of charged particle production at large transverse momentum in central Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76 TeV

Inclusive transverse momentum spectra of primary charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV have been measured by the ALICE Collaboration at the LHC. The data are presented for central and peripheral collisions, corresponding to 0-5% and 70-80% of the hadronic Pb-Pb cross section. The measured charged particle spectra in $|\eta|<0.8$ and $0.3 < p_T < 20$ GeV/$c$ are compared to the expectation in pp collisions at the same $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$, scaled by the number of underlying nucleon-nucleon collisions. The comparison is expressed in terms of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$. The result indicates only weak medium effects ($R_{\rm AA} \approx$ 0.7) in peripheral collisions. In central collisions, $R_{\rm AA}$ reaches a minimum of about 0.14 at $p_{\rm T}=6$-7GeV/$c$ and increases significantly at larger $p_{\rm T}$. The measured suppression of high-$p_{\rm T}$ particles is stronger than that observed at lower collision energies, indicating that a very dense medium is formed in central Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC.Comment: 15 pages, 5 captioned figures, 3 tables, authors from page 10, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/98

A note on comonotonicity and positivity of the control components of decoupled quadratic FBSDE

In this small note we are concerned with the solution of Forward-Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (FBSDE) with drivers that grow quadratically in the control component (quadratic growth FBSDE or qgFBSDE). The main theorem is a comparison result that allows comparing componentwise the signs of the control processes of two different qgFBSDE. As a byproduct one obtains conditions that allow establishing the positivity of the control process.Comment: accepted for publicatio

Multiplicity dependence of jet-like two-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between unidentified charged trigger and associated particles are measured by the ALICE detector in p-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The transverse-momentum range 0.7 $< p_{\rm{T}, assoc} < p_{\rm{T}, trig} <$ 5.0 GeV/$c$ is examined, to include correlations induced by jets originating from low momen\-tum-transfer scatterings (minijets). The correlations expressed as associated yield per trigger particle are obtained in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta|<0.9$. The near-side long-range pseudorapidity correlations observed in high-multiplicity p-Pb collisions are subtracted from both near-side short-range and away-side correlations in order to remove the non-jet-like components. The yields in the jet-like peaks are found to be invariant with event multiplicity with the exception of events with low multiplicity. This invariance is consistent with the particles being produced via the incoherent fragmentation of multiple parton--parton scatterings, while the yield related to the previously observed ridge structures is not jet-related. The number of uncorrelated sources of particle production is found to increase linearly with multiplicity, suggesting no saturation of the number of multi-parton interactions even in the highest multiplicity p-Pb collisions. Further, the number scales in the intermediate multiplicity region with the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions estimated with a Glauber Monte-Carlo simulation.Comment: 23 pages, 6 captioned figures, 1 table, authors from page 17, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/161