Effect of dietary supplementation with ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide in maintaining remission in cats with nonflea hypersensitivity dermatitis: a double-blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Background Feline nonflea hypersensitivity dermatitis (NFHD) is a frequent cause of over-grooming, scratching and skin lesions. Multimodal therapy often is necessary. Hypothesis/Objectives To investigate the efficacy of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA-um) in maintaining methylprednisolone-induced remission in NFHD cats. Animals Fifty-seven NFHD cats with nonseasonal pruritus were enrolled originally, of which 25 completed all study requirements to be eligible for analysis. Methods and materials Cats were randomly assigned to PEA-um (15 mg/kg per os, once daily; n = 29) or placebo (n = 28) while receiving a 28 day tapering methylprednisolone course. Cats responding favourably to methylprednisolone were then administered only PEA-um (n = 21) or placebo (n = 23) for another eight weeks, followed by a four week long treatment-free period. Cats were maintained in the study until relapse or study end, whichever came first. Primary outcome was time to relapse. Secondary outcomes were pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS), SCORing Feline Allergic Dermatitis scale (SCORFAD) and owner Global Assessment Score (GAS). Results Mean relapse time was 40.5 days (+/- 7.8 SE) in PEA-um treated cats (n = 13) and 22.2 days (+/- 3.7 SE) for placebo (n = 12; P = 0.04). On Day 28, the severity of pruritus was lower in the PEA-um treated cats compared to placebo (P = 0.03). Mean worsening of pruritus at the final study day was lower in the PEA-um group compared to placebo (P = 0.04), whereas SCORFAD was not different between groups. Mean owner GAS at the final study day was better in the PEA-um than the placebo-treated group (P = 0.05). Conclusion and clinical importance Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide could represent an effective and safe option to delay relapse in NFHD cats

Unusual dermatological toxicity of hydroxyurea in two dogs with spontaneously occurring tumours

Hydroxyurea is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat hypereosinophilic syndrome, mast cell tumours and many myeloproliferative disorders. It is usually well tolerated; however, reported side effects include myelosuppression and gastrointestinal complications as well as cutaneous toxicity, in very rare cases. We report the unusual appearance of onychomadesis involving several claws on all feet in two canine patients receiving long-term hydroxyurea treatment. The healing of nail lesions required cessation of treatment in one dog and dose reduction in the second animal, supporting a strict relationship between onychopathy and administration of hydroxyurea. The aim of this case report is to increase clinical awareness of dermatological toxicity associated with long-term administration of hydroxyurea

Cutaneous lesions in pet rabbits following subcutaneous administration of a novel bivalent vaccine against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease.

BACKGROUND: A novel bivalent vaccine to protect against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease is commercially available for pet rabbits. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To describe the appearance of cutaneous lesions arising in pet rabbits positive for myxoma virus (MV) by RT-PCR evaluation shortly after vaccination. ANIMALS: Four pet rabbits presenting with papular, crusting skin lesions ~10 days after vaccination. METHODS: Histological evaluation of formalin-fixed skin biopsies obtained from lesional skin (case 1). Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) evaluation of paraffin-embedded tissue from skin biopsies (case 1) and crusts obtained from the lesion surface (cases 2-4) for myxoma virus are reported as cycle threshold (Ct ) values. RESULTS: Lesions affecting the ear pinna, dorsal aspect of the nose, vulva and/or conjunctiva are reported. Histopathological findings included severe ulcerative, necrotizing dermatitis and intralesional cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in myxoma cells. DNA was amplified from all the paraffin-embedded skin biopsies (Ct = 34-35) and crusts (Ct = 20-24). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Although a wild virus challenge cannot be definitively excluded, veterinarians and pet-owners should be aware that cutaneous lesions have been observed after vaccination with this novel vaccine in low numbers of rabbits

Skin lesions in feline leishmaniosis: A systematic review

Feline leishmaniosis (FeL) is increasingly reported throughout the world and skin lesions predominate in the clinical picture. There are, however, few evidence-based data on cutaneous feline leishmaniosis and directions are strongly needed for a better management of the disease. In this study, we systematically reviewed what is currently known about the clinical dermatological presentation of FeL through analysis of the literature and, further, by adding unpublished cases managed by Italian veterinary dermatologists. Sixty-six feline cases of cutaneous leishmaniosis published in 33 articles between 1990 and 2020 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Six unpublished cases of cutaneous FeL managed by Italian dermatologists were also reviewed. The majority of cases were reported from South America, followed by Europe and North America. Nodules were the most frequently reported clinical signs and the presence of Leishmania in lesioned skin was assessed mainly by cytology. A total of six Leishmania species have been identified as being responsible for skin lesions. Coinfections by FIV or FeLV were reported in 12.1% and 9.1% of the cases, respectively. Clinical data including treatment have been analyzed and discussed to provide directives for proper management of the disease for which cats may also serve as domestic reservoirs for human infections

Denervation findings on EMG in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and correlation with prognostic milestones: Data from a retrospective study

Objective: To verify whether the finding of denervation activity on EMG at the time of diagnosis has a prognostic value in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: We retrospectively studied all the patients discharged with a diagnosis of ALS between January 2009 and January 2017. 92 patients met the inclusion criteria. We mainly verified three prognostic targets: (1) Time to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or tracheostomy. (2) Time to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or parental nutrition. (3) Survival.All EMG examinations were reviewed and a denervation score (DS) was calculated. The association of DS with clinical milestones was analysed, adjusting for disease duration, age, sex, and clinical phenotype. Results: We found a significant association between bulbar DS and time to NIV/tracheostomy (HR: 3.34, 95% CI: 1.49 to 7.48, p = 0.002) and with survival (HR 3.633, 95% CI 1.681\u20137.848, p = 0.001), regardless of the clinical phenotype. Furthermore, we found a significant influence of a general DS on survival (HR: 2.62, 95% CI 1.335\u20135.160, p = 0.005). Conclusion: EMG assessment could be of value not just for ALS diagnosis but also for its intrinsic prognostic value. Significance: EMG could provide additional information about the rate of progression of ALS as early as the diagnosis is made

Skin globotriaosylceramide 3 deposits are specific to Fabry disease with classical mutations and associated with small fibre neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Fabry Disease (FD) is characterized by globotriaosylceramide-3 (Gb3) accumulation in several tissues and a small fibre neuropathy (SFN), however the underlying mechanisms are poorly known. This study aimed to: 1) ascertain the presence of Gb3 deposits in skin samples, by an immunofluorescence method collected from FD patients with classical GLA mutations or late-onset FD variants or GLA polymorphisms; 2) correlate skin GB3 deposits with skin innervation. METHODS: we studied 52 genetically-defined FD patients (32 with classical GLA mutations and 20 with late-onset variants or GLA polymorphisms), 15 patients with SFN associated with a specific cause and 22 healthy controls. Subjects underwent skin biopsy to evaluate Gb3 deposits and epi-dermal innervation. RESULTS: Skin Gb3 deposits were found in all FD patients with classical GLA mutations but never in FD patients with late-onset variants or GLA polymorphisms or in patients with SFN and healthy controls. Abnormal deposits were found inside different skin structures but never inside axons. FD patients with GB3 deposits showed lower skin innervation than FD patients with late-onset variants or polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Skin Gb3 deposits are specific to FD patients with classical GLA mutations; 2) Gb3 deposits were associated with lower skin innervation but they were not found inside axons, suggesting an indirect damage on peripheral small fibre innervation

Cuckoo Search Based Backcalculation Algorithm for Estimating Layer Properties of Full-Depth Flexible Pavements

This study introduces a backcalculation algorithm to estimate the material properties of the full-depth asphalt pavements. The proposed algorithm, namely CS-ANN, uses an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based forward response engine, which is developed from the solutions of nonlinear finite element analysis to calculate the deflections mathematically. In the backward phase of the method, Cuckoo Search (CS), is utilized to search for the layer moduli values. The performance of the proposed method is investigated by analyzing the synthetically calculated deflections by a finite element based software and deflection data obtained from the field. In addition, to evaluate the searching capability of CS, optimization algorithms widely used in pavement backcalculation; Genetic Algorithms (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA), are employed for comparison purposes. Obtained results indicate that the proposed backcalculation approach is able to determine stiffness-related layer properties in an accurate and rapid manner. In addition, CS presents a promising performance in reaching the optimum solutions that are better than GA, PSO, and GSA