Clinicopathological features of an equine ovarian teratoma.

The present study describes the clinicopathological features of a mature cystic ovarian teratoma occurred in a 4 year old, cyclic, nulliparous Andalusian mare. The mass was discovered in the left ovary during a breeding soundness examination, and was hard in consistency and variously echogenic. Laparoscopy was performed to confirm the neoplastic change, followed by a unilateral laparotomic ovariectomy in the standing animal. On the cut surface the teratomatous ovary showed a large cyst filled with hair and sebaceous material and three small cysts containing mucous fluid, surrounded by solid areas where bone and cartilage could be recognized. Exceptionally, functional remnants of the ovary, including small follicles and a diestral corpus luteum were found near the tubal extremity. Histology revealed mature tissues foreign to the ovary including stratified squamous and respiratory epithelia, mucous, sebaceous and sweat glands, muscle fibres, fat and nervous tissue. The appearance of tracheal and lung architecture was occasionally observed

Metabolic perturbations associated with the consumption of a ketogenic medium-chain TAG diet in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy

Consumption of diets containing medium-chain TAG (MCT) has been shown to confer neuroprotective effects. We aim to identify the global metabolic perturbations associated with consumption of a ketogenic diet (medium-chain TAG diet (MCTD)) in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. We used ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS (UPLC-MS) to generate metabolic and lipidomic profiles of fasted canine serum and made comparisons between the MCTD and standardised placebo diet phases. We identified metabolites that differed significantly between diet phases using metabolite fragmentation profiles generated by tandem MS (UPLC–MS/MS). Consumption of the MCTD resulted in significant differences in serum metabolic profiles when compared with the placebo diet, where sixteen altered lipid metabolites were identified. Consumption of the MCTD resulted in reduced abundances of palmitoylcarnitine, octadecenoylcarnitine, stearoylcarnitine and significant changes, both reduced and increased abundances, of phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolites. There was a significant increase in abundance of the saturated C17 : 0 fatty acyl moieties during the MCTD phase. Lysophosphatidylcholine (17 : 0) (P=0·01) and PC (17:0/20:4) (P=0·03) were both significantly higher in abundance during the MCTD. The data presented in this study highlight global changes in lipid metabolism, and, of particular interest, in the C17 : 0 moieties, as a result of MCT consumption. Elucidating the global metabolic response of MCT consumption will not only improve the administration of current ketogenic diets for neurological disease models but also provides new avenues for research to develop better diet therapies with improved neuroprotective efficacies. Future studies should clarify the involvement and importance of C17 : 0 moieties in endogenous MCT metabolic pathways

Parameter identifiability in a class of random graph mixture models

We prove identifiability of parameters for a broad class of random graph mixture models. These models are characterized by a partition of the set of graph nodes into latent (unobservable) groups. The connectivities between nodes are independent random variables when conditioned on the groups of the nodes being connected. In the binary random graph case, in which edges are either present or absent, these models are known as stochastic blockmodels and have been widely used in the social sciences and, more recently, in biology. Their generalizations to weighted random graphs, either in parametric or non-parametric form, are also of interest in many areas. Despite a broad range of applications, the parameter identifiability issue for such models is involved, and previously has only been touched upon in the literature. We give here a thorough investigation of this problem. Our work also has consequences for parameter estimation. In particular, the estimation procedure proposed by Frank and Harary for binary affiliation models is revisited in this article

Pseudo-placentational endometrial hyperplasia in the bitch: Case series

Canine pseudo-placentational endometrial hyperplasia differs from the classical form of cystic endometrial hyperplasia for the well-organized tissue architecture resembling the canine placenta. After the discovery, it has been inconstantly reported. The present work reports the clinicopathologi-cal details of six spontaneous cases retrieved retrospectively from a large database. The lesion was found in young non-pregnant female dogs (median 2.0 years) at the end of dioestrus. It could be imaged by ultrasound and was always grossly detectable as single or multiple uterine enlargements of 2–3 cm in diameter with a villous whitish tissue growing on the mucosa and occluding the lumen. Histology confirmed the tissue architecture of the canine placenta with a basal glandular layer, a connective band, a spongy layer and a tortuous and compact labyrinth, often poorly recogniz-able. The pseudo-placentational hyperplasia is a non-inflammatory proliferative lesion although numerous mast cells inhabit the connective band, and a superimposed inflammatory infiltrate was seen in a case. Canine pseudo-placentational endometrial hyperplasia has very peculiar features, and it is a model for canine placentation and may help to better understand the cystic endometrial hyperplasia/pyometra complex

Cutaneous melanoma: From pathogenesis to therapy (Review)

In less than 10 years, melanoma treatment has been revolutionized with the approval of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have been shown to have a significant impact on the prognosis of patients with melanoma. The early steps of this transformation have taken place in research laboratories. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway promote the development of melanoma through numerous genomic alterations on different components of these pathways. Moreover, melanoma cells deeply interact with the tumor microenvironment and the immune system. This knowledge has led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and treatment strategies. In this review, the epidemiological features of cutaneous melanoma along with the biological mechanisms involved in its development and progression are summarized. The current state-of-the-art of advanced stage melanoma treatment strategies and the currently available evidence of the use of predictive and prognostic biomarkers are also discussed

A randomised trial of a medium-chain TAG diet as treatment for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy

Despite appropriate antiepileptic drug treatment, approximately one-third of humans and dogs with epilepsy continue experiencing seizures, emphasising the importance for new treatment strategies to improve the quality of life of people or dogs with epilepsy. A 6-month prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over dietary trial was designed to compare a ketogenic medium-chain TAG diet (MCTD) with a standardised placebo diet in chronically antiepileptic drug-treated dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Dogs were fed either MCTD or placebo diet for 3 months followed by a subsequent respective switch of diet for a further 3 months. Seizure frequency, clinical and laboratory data were collected and evaluated for twenty-one dogs completing the study. Seizure frequency was significantly lower when dogs were fed the MCTD (2·31/month, 0–9·89/month) in comparison with the placebo diet (2·67/month, 0·33–22·92/month, P=0·020); three dogs achieved seizure freedom, seven additional dogs had ≥50 % reduction in seizure frequency, five had an overall <50 % reduction in seizures (38·87 %, 35·68–43·27 %) and six showed no response. Seizure day frequency were also significantly lower when dogs were fed the MCTD (1·63/month, 0–7·58/month) in comparison with the placebo diet (1·69/month, 0·33–13·82/month, P=0·022). Consumption of the MCTD also resulted in significant elevation of blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in comparison with placebo diet (0·041 (sd 0·004) v. 0·031 (sd 0·016) mmol/l, P=0·028). There were no significant changes in serum concentrations of glucose (P=0·903), phenobarbital (P=0·422), potassium bromide (P=0·404) and weight (P=0·300) between diet groups. In conclusion, the data show antiepileptic properties associated with ketogenic diets and provide evidence for the efficacy of the MCTD used in this study as a therapeutic option for epilepsy treatment

Fixation free laparoscopic obliteration of inguinal hernia defects with the 3D dynamic responsive scaffold ProFlor

Laparoscopic TAPP/TEP approaches are well-established options for the cure of inguinal hernias. As in the open approach, mesh fixation and poor-quality biologic response represent controversial questions and are a source of concerns. Furthermore, hernia defect patency represents another problem which seems not well acknowledged among surgeons. These problems are considered the cause of frequent intra and postoperative complications. To overcome these concerns, recently a different concept of cure has emerged. Based on a newly developed dynamic responsive 3D scaffold named ProFlor, a permanent hernia defect obliteration has been finalized. Following its inherent centrifugal expansion due to its dynamic responsivity, this hernia device is positioned fixation free within the defect and induces a probiotic biological response allowing for the re-establishment of the degenerated inguinal barrier. A laparoscopic approach with the 3D scaffold has been tested on 71 patients to demonstrate its effectiveness in reducing intra and postoperative complications. The operated patients presented with bilateral and/or recurrent inguinal hernia. Overall, 122 hernia defects were obliterated with 119 dynamic responsive scaffolds. The procedures were carried out from January 2018 to January 2022 with a defined protocol and detailed procedural steps. The laparoscopic technique with the 3D hernia scaffold allowed for fixation free placement, permanent defect obliteration and dynamically induced regenerative effects. The technique proved effective in reducing intra and postoperative complications. In particular, early postoperative pain and discomfort significantly decreased. No chronic pain and no recurrences were reported during follow up. The results achieved with the described laparoscopic technique seem to embody an innovative concept for inguinal hernia repair. Fixation free, dynamic responsive, permanent defect obliteration, histologically proven regenerative effects are the distinctive features of this 3D scaffold. It seems to embody a more physiological and pathogenetically coherent concept of cure, thus improving treatment results of this widespread disease