Colic surgery in the equine patient: novel biomarkers, postoperative management, microbiotal influence and epidemiological analysis on the italian territory

The aim of this work was to investigate novel diagnostic and prognostic tools, postoperative treatments and epidemiologic factors impacting the outcome of surgical cases of colic. To make a more accurate diagnosis and establish a prognosis, several biomarkers have been investigated in colic patients. In this study we evaluated peritoneal PCT and blood ADMA and SDMA in SIRS positive and negative colic patients to be used as prognostic biomarkers. Our results highlighted the limits of these biomarkers in detection and the lack of specificity. In fact PCT was not detectable and even if ADMA and SDMA significantly increased in colic horses, they are not diagnostic nor prognostic markers for SIRS. Fluid therapy has been described to be crucial for the outcome of colic patients, nevertheless no guidelines have been established. Overhydration was the common practice in post surgical management. We compared cases with an extended fluid therapy protocol and cases with a restricted protocol. Results showed that survival rate and postoperative complications were similar between the groups, despite costs being significantly lower in the restricted group. The possible correlation between intestinal microbiota and colics has gained interest. In this study, cecal and colonic content from horses undergoing laparotomy were collected, and the microbiota analized. Results showed some differences in microbiota between discharged and non discharged patients, and between strangulating and non strangulating types of colic, that might suggest some influence of hind gut microbiota on the disease. A multicentric study involving three veterinary teaching hospitals on the italian territory was conducted investigating factors affecting postoperative survival and complications in colics. Results showed that the influence of age, PCV, TPP, blood lactate, reflux, type of disease, type of lesion, presence of anastomosis, duration of surgery and surgeons, were in line with literature. Amount of crystalloids used could affected the outcome

Curation of a reference database of COI sequences for insect identification through DNA metabarcoding: COins

DNA metabarcoding is a widespread approach for the molecular identification of organisms. While the associated wet-lab and data processing procedures are well established and highly efficient, the reference databases for taxonomic assignment can be implemented to improve the accuracy of identifications. Insects are among the organisms for which DNA-based identification is most commonly used; yet, a DNA-metabarcoding reference database specifically curated for their species identification using software requiring local databases is lacking. Here, we present COins, a database of 5' region cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences (COI-5P) of insects that includes over 532 000 representative sequences of >106 000 species specifically formatted for the QIIME2 software platform. Through a combination of automated and manually curated steps, we developed this database starting from all COI sequences available in the Barcode of Life Data System for insects, focusing on sequences that comply with several standards, including a species-level identification. COins was validated on previously published DNA-metabarcoding sequences data (bulk samples from Malaise traps) and its efficiency compared with other publicly available reference databases (not specific for insects). COins can allow an increase of up to 30% of species-level identifications and thus can represent a valuable resource for the taxonomic assignment of insects' DNA-metabarcoding data, especially when species-level identification is needed https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.19130465.v1

RADICAL SURGICAL TECHNIQUE FOR TREATMENT OF WHITE LINE DISEASE IN DAIRY COWS

Introduction: this clinical research investigates whether rigorous and aggressive surgical debridement of white line disease (WLD) lesions in 236 lame cows, in association with a medicated bandage, would promote clinical healing (as evidenced by coverage of the lesion with new horn) with subsequent improvement in milk production. Materials and methods: after claw trimming, wall and sole horn were removed and the horn rim trimmed around and inside the lesion using a hoof knife, until abundant bleeding was present. The wound was then rinsed, covered with a topical antibiotic and bandaged. Results: out of the initial 236 lame cows, on day two 40 cows were not lame anymore and 196 cows showed a score of 2 out of 5. On day 18, two cows had a grade 4 lameness, with the lesions being smaller but not completely healed. On days 30 and 40, none of the remaining 234 cows developed recurrence of pathology or lameness. At day 60, lesions were completely healed. Discussion: this aggressive surgical treatment allows milk production not to decrease comparing to the control group and can be easily implemented in practice. Conclusions: Since bovine claw lesions represent one of the main problems in dairy cattles, this surgical technique could be suggested as a valid option for the treatment of WLD in cows

Clinopodium tomentosum (Kunth) Govaerts Leaf Extract Influences in vitro Cell Proliferation and Angiogenesis on Primary Cultures of Porcine Aortic Endothelial Cells

Clinopodium tomentosum (Kunth) Govaerts is an endemic species in Ecuador, where it is used as an anti-inflammatory plant to treat respiratory and digestive affections. In this work, effects of a Clinopodium tomentosum ethanolic extract (CTEE), prepared from aerial parts of the plant, were investigated on vascular endothelium functions. In particularly, angiogenesis activity was evaluated, using primary cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells (pAECs). Cells were cultured for 24 h in the presence of CTEE different concentrations (10, 25, 50, and 100 \u3bcg/ml); no viability alterations were found in the 10-50 \u3bcg/ml range, while a slight, but significant, proliferative effect was observed at the highest dose. In addition, treatment with CTEE was able to rescue LPS-induced injury in terms of cell viability. The CTEE ability to affect angiogenesis was evaluated by scratch test analysis and by an in vitro capillary-like network assay. Treatment with 25-50\u3bcg/ml of extract caused a significant increase in pAEC\u2019s migration and tube formation capabilities compared to untreated cells, as results from the increased master junctions\u2019 number. On the other hand, CTEE at 100 \u3bcg/ml did not induce the same effects. Quantitative PCR data demonstrated that FLK-1 mRNA expression significantly increased at a CTEE dose of 25\u3bcg/ml. The CTEE phytochemical composition was assessed through HPLC-DAD; rosmarinic acid among phenolic acids and hesperidin among flavonoids were found as major phenolic components. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content assays showed that flavonoids are the most abundant class of polyphenols. The CTEE antioxidant activity was also showed by means of the DPPH and ORAC assays. Results indicate that CTEE possesses an angiogenic capacity in a dose-dependent manner; this represents an initial step in elucidating the mechanism of the therapeutic use of the plant

Short-Term Survival and Postoperative Complications Ratesin Horses Undergoing Colic Surgery: A Multicentre Study

The occurrence of colic could be influenced by the characteristics of a population, geograph-ical area, and feeding management. The aim of this study was to report the short-term postoperativecomplications and survival rates and to identify factors that might affect the outcome of horses thatunderwent colic surgery in three Italian surgical referral centres. Data of horses subjected to colicsurgery in three referral centres (2018–2021) were analysed. Comparisons of the outcomes wereperformed using a Mann–Whitney or a Chi square test. Areas under the receiver operating character-istic (ROC) curve and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used for parameters that weresignificant in the previous univariate analysis. The goodness-of-fit of the model was assessed usingthe Akike information criterion (AIC). Significance was defined asp< 0.05, and odds ratios and 95%confidence intervals were calculated as percentages. A total of 451 horses were included. The survivalrate was 68.5% of all of the horses that underwent colic surgery and 80% of the horses survivinganaesthesia. Age, BCS, PCV and TPP before and after surgery, amount of reflux, type of disease, typeof lesion, duration of surgery, surgeon’s experience, and amount of intra- and postoperative fluidsadministered influenced the probability of short-term survival. The multivariate analysis revealedthat PCV at arrival, TPP after surgery, and BCS had the highest predictive power. This is the firstmulticentre study in Italy. The results of this study may help surgeons to inform owners regardingthe prognosis of colic surgery

Development of Algorithm for Clinical Management of Sickle Cell Bone Disease: Evidence for a Role of Vertebral Fractures in Patient Follow-up

Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is a worldwide distributed hemoglobinopathy, characterized by hemolytic anemia associated with vaso-occlusive events. These result in acute and chronic multiorgan damage. Bone is early involved, leading to long-term disability, chronic pain and fractures. Here, we carried out a retrospective study to evaluate sickle bone disease (SBD) in a cohort of adults with SCD. We assessed bone density, metabolism and turnover. We also evaluated the presence of fractures and the correlation between SCD severity and skeletal manifestations. A total of 71 patients with SCD were analyzed. The mean age of population was 39 \ub1 10 years, 56% of which were females. We found osteoporosis in a range between 7% and 18% with a high incidence of vertebral fractures. LDH and AST were predictive for the severity of vertebral fractures, while bone density was not. Noteworthy, we identified -1.4 Standard Deviations T-score as the cutoff for detecting the presence of fractures in patients with SCD. Collectively our data allowed us to develop an algorithm for the management of SBD, which may be useful in daily clinical practice to early intersect and treat SBD