Classification of portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the omental foramen in dogs

ObjectiveTo re‐evaluate the anatomy and classification of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the level of the omental foramen.Material and MethodsA retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs undergoing CT angiography as part of the diagnostic work‐up for a congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt.ResultsIn total, 53 dogs met the inclusion criteria revealing four anatomically distinct omental foramen shunt types; one of which (32 of 53 dogs) showed no shunting blood flow through the right gastric vein and three of which (21 of 53 dogs) involved shunting flow through this vessel. The anatomy of these four distinct shunt types, as defined by CT angiography, was found to be highly consistent. In all cases, regardless of the tributary vessels, the left gastric vein was the final vessel that communicated with the caudal vena cava. Using these findings, a more accurate naming classification for congenital portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the level of the omental foramen was proposed.Clinical SignificanceA precise pre‐treatment anatomical classification of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts entering the caudal vena cava at the level of the omental foramen is important for a more complete understanding of the severity of clinical signs and prognosis, and for the better communication between clinicians and researchers in this clinical field

High-throughput, quantitative analyses of genetic interactions in E. coli.

Large-scale genetic interaction studies provide the basis for defining gene function and pathway architecture. Recent advances in the ability to generate double mutants en masse in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have dramatically accelerated the acquisition of genetic interaction information and the biological inferences that follow. Here we describe a method based on F factor-driven conjugation, which allows for high-throughput generation of double mutants in Escherichia coli. This method, termed genetic interaction analysis technology for E. coli (GIANT-coli), permits us to systematically generate and array double-mutant cells on solid media in high-density arrays. We show that colony size provides a robust and quantitative output of cellular fitness and that GIANT-coli can recapitulate known synthetic interactions and identify previously unidentified negative (synthetic sickness or lethality) and positive (suppressive or epistatic) relationships. Finally, we describe a complementary strategy for genome-wide suppressor-mutant identification. Together, these methods permit rapid, large-scale genetic interaction studies in E. coli

Genetic interaction mapping informs integrative structure determination of protein complexes

Determining structures of protein complexes is crucial for understanding cellular functions. Here, we describe an integrative structure determination approach that relies on in vivo measurements of genetic interactions. We construct phenotypic profiles for point mutations crossed against gene deletions or exposed to environmental perturbations, followed by converting similarities between two profiles into an upper bound on the distance between the mutated residues. We determine the structure of the yeast histone H3-H4 complex based on similar to 500,000 genetic interactions of 350 mutants. We then apply the method to subunits Rpb1-Rpb2 of yeast RNA polymerase II and subunits RpoB-RpoC of bacterial RNA polymerase. The accuracy is comparable to that based on chemical cross-links; using restraints from both genetic interactions and cross-links further improves model accuracy and precision. The approach provides an efficient means to augment integrative structure determination with in vivo observations

Diagnostic findings in sinonasal aspergillosis in dogs in the United Kingdom: 475 cases (2011-2021).

ObjectivesTo describe the diagnostic tests used and their comparative performance in dogs diagnosed with sinonasal aspergillosis in the United Kingdom. A secondary objective was to describe the signalment, clinical findings and common clinicopathologic abnormalities in sinonasal aspergillosis.Materials and methodsA multi-centre retrospective survey was performed involving 23 referral centres in the United Kingdom to identify dogs diagnosed with sinonasal aspergillosis from January 2011 to December 2021. Dogs were included if fungal plaques were seen during rhinoscopy or if ancillary testing (via histopathology, culture, cytology, serology or PCR) was positive and other differential diagnoses were excluded.ResultsA total of 662 cases were entered into the database across the 23 referral centres. Four hundred and seventy-five cases met the study inclusion criteria. Of these, 419 dogs had fungal plaques and compatible clinical signs. Fungal plaques were not seen in 56 dogs with turbinate destruction that had compatible clinical signs and a positive ancillary test result. Ancillary diagnostics were performed in 312 of 419 (74%) dogs with observed fungal plaques permitting calculation of sensitivity of cytology as 67%, fungal culture 59%, histopathology 47% and PCR 71%.Clinical significanceThe sensitivities of ancillary diagnostics in this study were lower than previously reported challenging the clinical utility of such tests in sinonasal aspergillosis. Treatment and management decisions should be based on a combination of diagnostics including imaging findings, visual inspection, and ancillary testing, rather than ancillary tests alone