Renal Myxoma in a Feline

Background: Renal neoplasms are a rare condition in felines, with metastatic lymphoma presenting the highest incidence rate. Secondary renal neoplasms are more frequent (88%) than primary renal tumors, with primary mesenquimal renal neoplasms accounting for 22% of the cases and the incidence of benign tumors not exceeding 5%. Myxomas are neoplasms in undifferentiated mesenchymal cells with abundant reproduction of the myxoid matrix, with few few case reports about this type of neoplasm in the veterinary literature. This study reports the first case of renal myxoma in a young feline afflicted by granulomatous nephritis and diagnosed with FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).Case: A 9-month-old, male, mixed breed feline, was admitted into the Veterinary Hospital maintained by the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Botucatu, Brazil, presenting symptoms such progressive weight loss and occasional episodes of emesis for one week, progressing to anorexia, hematochezia, vocalization, lack of coordination, spasms, anuria and inability to defecate. A physical examination revealed moderate dehydration, low temperatures (< 33ºC), dyspnea (36 mpm), slight hyperglycemia (187 mg/dL) and distension of the abdomen and of the urinary bladder. The hematological assay and the serum biochemistry assay revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, anemia and slight uremia. In view of the severity of the neurologic signs and lack of response to the clinical treatment, the owner opted to euthanize the animal. The necropsy revealed diffused jaundice, with kidney injuries observed through the pale coloration of the tissue and irregular surface with multiple off-white small nodules distributed in a marked and diffuse way. The same injury pattern was observed markedly in the lungs and discretely in the spleen and liver. The material collected was fixed in a 10% formalin solution, and processed according to the routine technique (Hematoxylin & Eosin). The remaining samples were submitted to a histochemical analysis with the Alcian Blue and Masson’s Trichrome stains, in addition to an immunohistochemical expression test. The histopathological examination with H&E staining revealed multiple focuses of pyogranulomatous injuries in the kidneys, lungs, spleen, uvea and leptomeninges, corroborating the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). In addition, there was a neoplastic proliferation of fusiform cells among an abundant myxoid matrix, evident in Alcian Blue staining. Normal renal tissue, such as glomeruli or tubules, were occasionally observed inside the neoplastic proliferation. Masson’s Trichrome technique was used to exclude the possibility of a fibroblastic origin. In addition, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to confirm the diagnosis of myxoma using the Vimentin, pan-cytokeratin and p63 antibodies. Discussion: Kidney tumors are rare in veterinary medicine, but have an incidence rate four to five times greater in cats than in dogs. The veterinary literature describes myxomas located in joints, cardiac valves and ureter, but reports of myxomas afflicting the kidneys are more commons in human medicine. This tumor should be included in the differential diagnosis process for young cats with suspicions of renal neoplasms, however, to differentiate between neoplasms with a myxoid component in benign tumors. This is the first reported case of renal myxoma afflicting a young feline with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in the veterinary literature

Networking and Participatory Research Promoting Quality of Life and Well-Being in Portuguese-Speaking African Countries

Spread across the planet each human being, individually or in community, aspires for well-being and quality of life, according to the ideal of each one. However, we all believe that there are always ways to live better. For many people the measurement of a better life translates into the guarantee of social rights, the right to basic services, good land, seed and sufficient nutritious food for their community members. The Mechanism to Facilitate the Participation of Universities in the Food and Nutrition Security Council of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries is a cooperative academic network fomented by the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This mechanism works with teaching, research and extension in the CPLP Food and Nutrition Security Strategy. The pillars of CPLP Strategy are the strengthening of the governance of public policies on Food and Nutrition Security at all levels of government, social protection based on guaranteeing access to food and family farming with a strategy to increase the availability of good quality food, promoting social and environmental sustainability. CPLP University Mechanism has provided training processes for technicians who work in public policies for Food and Nutrition Security and has contributed to the strengthening of postgraduate programs in Portuguese-speaking African countries. As consequence, it has favored participatory research and mixed methods as a theoretical methodological approach. Therefore, it seeks to focus on the territories of Food and Nutrition Security practices to transform reality, as recommended by CPLP Strategy, however, with the autonomous assumptions of the collaborative network. This chapter presents how local researchers perceive the results of a process of inducing an academic network to transform the local reality and promote Food and Nutrition Security in the context of the CPLP

Multidifferential study of identified charged hadron distributions in ZZ-tagged jets in proton-proton collisions at s=\sqrt{s}=13 TeV

Jet fragmentation functions are measured for the first time in proton-proton collisions for charged pions, kaons, and protons within jets recoiling against a $Z$ boson. The charged-hadron distributions are studied longitudinally and transversely to the jet direction for jets with transverse momentum 20 $< p_{\textrm{T}} < 100$ GeV and in the pseudorapidity range $2.5 < \eta < 4$. The data sample was collected with the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.64 fb$^{-1}$. Triple differential distributions as a function of the hadron longitudinal momentum fraction, hadron transverse momentum, and jet transverse momentum are also measured for the first time. This helps constrain transverse-momentum-dependent fragmentation functions. Differences in the shapes and magnitudes of the measured distributions for the different hadron species provide insights into the hadronization process for jets predominantly initiated by light quarks.Comment: All figures and tables, along with machine-readable versions and any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-013.html (LHCb public pages

Study of the B−→Λc+Λˉc−K−B^{-} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{\Lambda}_{c}^{-} K^{-} decay

The decay $B^{-} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{\Lambda}_{c}^{-} K^{-}$ is studied in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. In the $\Lambda_{c}^+ K^{-}$ system, the $\Xi_{c}(2930)^{0}$ state observed at the BaBar and Belle experiments is resolved into two narrower states, $\Xi_{c}(2923)^{0}$ and $\Xi_{c}(2939)^{0}$, whose masses and widths are measured to be $$m(\Xi_{c}(2923)^{0}) = 2924.5 \pm 0.4 \pm 1.1 \,\mathrm{MeV}, \\ m(\Xi_{c}(2939)^{0}) = 2938.5 \pm 0.9 \pm 2.3 \,\mathrm{MeV}, \\ \Gamma(\Xi_{c}(2923)^{0}) = \phantom{000}4.8 \pm 0.9 \pm 1.5 \,\mathrm{MeV},\\ \Gamma(\Xi_{c}(2939)^{0}) = \phantom{00}11.0 \pm 1.9 \pm 7.5 \,\mathrm{MeV},$$ where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The results are consistent with a previous LHCb measurement using a prompt $\Lambda_{c}^{+} K^{-}$ sample. Evidence of a new $\Xi_{c}(2880)^{0}$ state is found with a local significance of $3.8\,\sigma$, whose mass and width are measured to be $2881.8 \pm 3.1 \pm 8.5\,\mathrm{MeV}$ and $12.4 \pm 5.3 \pm 5.8 \,\mathrm{MeV}$, respectively. In addition, evidence of a new decay mode $\Xi_{c}(2790)^{0} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} K^{-}$ is found with a significance of $3.7\,\sigma$. The relative branching fraction of $B^{-} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{\Lambda}_{c}^{-} K^{-}$ with respect to the $B^{-} \to D^{+} D^{-} K^{-}$ decay is measured to be $2.36 \pm 0.11 \pm 0.22 \pm 0.25$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third originates from the branching fractions of charm hadron decays.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-028.html (LHCb public pages

Measurement of the ratios of branching fractions R(D∗)\mathcal{R}(D^{*}) and R(D0)\mathcal{R}(D^{0})

The ratios of branching fractions $\mathcal{R}(D^{*})\equiv\mathcal{B}(\bar{B}\to D^{*}\tau^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\tau})/\mathcal{B}(\bar{B}\to D^{*}\mu^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\mu})$ and $\mathcal{R}(D^{0})\equiv\mathcal{B}(B^{-}\to D^{0}\tau^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\tau})/\mathcal{B}(B^{-}\to D^{0}\mu^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\mu})$ are measured, assuming isospin symmetry, using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to 3.0 fb${ }^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The tau lepton is identified in the decay mode $\tau^{-}\to\mu^{-}\nu_{\tau}\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$. The measured values are $\mathcal{R}(D^{*})=0.281\pm0.018\pm0.024$ and $\mathcal{R}(D^{0})=0.441\pm0.060\pm0.066$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The correlation between these measurements is $\rho=-0.43$. Results are consistent with the current average of these quantities and are at a combined 1.9 standard deviations from the predictions based on lepton flavor universality in the Standard Model.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-039.html (LHCb public pages

Volumetric analysis of intra-Drug-eluting stents intimal hyperplasia in diabetic patients treated with or without cilostazol

Fundamentos: Ensaios prévios reunindo pacientes em series consecutivas ou randomicas sem cegamento evidenciaram beneficio da adição do cilostozol à terapia antiplaquetária em diabéticos submetidos ao implante de stents coronários farmacológicos com redução nas taxas de reestenose binária, perda tardia intra-stent e revascularização tardia da lesão alvo. Objetivos: O objetivo primário deste estudo foi verificar se a adição do cilostazol à dupla terapia antiplaquetária, proporcionaria uma redução adicional da hiperplasia intimal em diabéticos após o implante de stent farmacológico, mensurada por meio do cálculo do volume de obstrução pelo ultrassom intracoronário 9 meses após o procedimento índice. Os objetivos secundários foram aferir a angiografia quantitativa do vaso alvo e ocorrência de eventos cardíacos adversos graves (óbito, infarto do miocárdio não fatal e necessidade de nova revascularização da lesão-alvo) aos 30 dias, 9 meses e 1 ano. Casuística e métodos: Estudo prospectivo, unicêntrico, randomizado, duplo cego, reunindo 133 pacientes diabéticos, comparando pacientes que receberam cilostazol (Grupo 1, n= 65 ) versus placebo (Grupo 2, n= 68), submetidos a implante de stent coronário com liberação de zotarolimus em artéria coronária nativa com estenose maior ou igual a 50% e diâmetro de referência igual ou superior a 2,0 mm (avaliação visual), com reestudo angiográfico e análise ultrassonográfica aos 9 meses. Resultados: Os 2 grupos foram similares nas características clínicas, angiográficas e técnicas, exceto na evidencia de maior incidência de hipertensão arterial no grupo 2 (81,5% vs 94,1%, p=0,026) assim como nos diâmetros dos stents coronários utilizados, significativamente menores no grupo 1 (2,78 mm vs 2,96 mm, p<0,001). O calculo do volume de obstrução intimal por meio do ultrassom intracoronário aos 9 meses foi similar entre os grupos (33,2% vs 35,1%, p=0,069), assim como as taxas de eventos cardíacos adversos graves (12,3% vs 8,8%, p= 0,811), trombose de stent (1,5% versus 0,75%, p= 0,237), reestenose binária intra-sent (9,8% vs 6,8%, p= 0,988), perda tardia intra-stent (0,60 vs 0,64, p=0,300) e no segmento ( 0,57 vs 0,58, p= 0,387). Conclusões: A adição do cilostazol à dupla terapia antiplaquetária com ácido acetilsalicílico e clopidogrel em pacientes diabéticos submetidos à implante de stent com zotarolimus, não reduziu eventos cardíacos adversos graves ou o porcentual de hiperplasia intimal intra-stent mensurado pela análise volumétrica do ultrassom intracoronário.Background: Previous trials with assembled patients in consecutive or random series without blindness offered evidence of the benefit adding cilostazol to the antiplatelet therapy in diabetic patients undergoing drug-eluting stents coronary implantation, with reduction in binary restenosis rates, in-stent late loss and late target lesion revascularization. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of cilostazol to the dual antiplatelet therapy would provide an additional intimal hyperplasia reduction in diabetic patients after drug-eluting stents implantation, measured by calculating the obstruction volume through the intravascular ultrasound 9 months after the index procedure. Secondary objectives were to assess the target vessel quantitative angiography and the occurrence of serious adverse cardiac events (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and need for a target lesion revascularization) at 30 days, 9 months and 1 year. Methods: Prospective, single center, randomized, double blinded study, gathering 133 diabetic patients, comparing who received cilostazol (Group 1, n= 65) versus placebo (Group 2, n= 68), undergoing coronary stenting, with the releasing of zotarolimus in a native coronary artery with stenosis greater than or equal to 50% and reference diameter equal to or greater than 2.0 mm (visual assessment) with the intravascularultrasound and angiographic restudy at 9 months. Results: Both groups were similar in clinical, angiographic and technical characteristics, except for a higher incidence of arterial hypertension in group 2 (81,5% vs 94,1%, p=0,026) as well as significantly lower coronary stents diameters in group 1 (2,78 mm vs 2,96 mm, p<0,001). The intimal obstruction volume calculated by the intravascularultrasound at 9 months was similar between the groups (33,2% vs 35,1%, p=0,069), as well as the rates of major adverse cardiac events (12,3% vs 8,8%, p= 0,811), stent thrombosis (1,5% versus 0,75%, p= 0,237), in-stent binary restenosis (9,8% vs 6,8%, p= 0,988), in stent late loss (0,60 vs 0,64, p=0,300) and at the segment ( 0,57 vs 0,58, p= 0,387). Conclusions: The addition of cilostazol to the dual antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylate acid and clopidogrel, in diabetic patients undergoing stent implantation with zotarolimus did not reduce major adverse cardiac events nor the percentage of intra-stent intimal hyperplasia measured by the intravascularultrasound volumetric analysis

Inflammatory effects of snake venom metalloproteinases

Metalloproteinases are abundant enzymes in crotaline and viperine snake venoms. They are relevant in the pathophysiology of envenomation, being responsible for local and systemic hemorrhage frequently observed in the victims. Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMP) are zinc-dependent enzymes of varying molecular weights having multidomain organization. Some SVMP comprise only the proteinase domain, whereas others also contain a disintegrin-like domain, cysteine-rich, and lectin domains. They have strong structural similarities with both mammalian matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and members of ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) group. Besides hemorrhage, snake venom metalloproteinase induce local myonecrosis, skin damage, and inflammatory reaction in experimental models. Local inflammation is an important characteristic of snakebite envenomations inflicted by viperine and crotaline snake species. Thus, in the recent years there is a growing effort to understand the mechanisms responsible for SVMP-induced inflammatory reaction and the structural determinants of this effect. This short review focuses the inflammatory effects evoked by SVMP

Controlled Drug Delivery Vehicles in Veterinary Oncology: State-of-the-Art and Future Directions

Controlled drug delivery systems can be used to carry several anticancer agents, including classical chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin, paclitaxel or cisplatin, and are also used for the encapsulation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. Usually, the controlled systems are used to decrease drug toxicity, increase local drug concentration or target specific organs or systems. In dogs, liposomal doxorubicin is the most known controlled drug delivery vehicle in veterinary medicine. However, several antitumor drugs can be encapsulated within these systems. Since the delivery vehicles are a relatively new topic in veterinary oncology, this review aims to discuss the current knowledge regarding the controlled drug delivery vehicles and discuss the current challenges and future direction of its use in veterinary oncology

Implante de stents em conduto cirúrgico cavopulmonar: relato de dois casos

Apesar dos avanços na cirurgia de Fontan, obstruções nos condutos extracardíacos podem ocorrer e causar deterioração clínica. Relatamos dois casos em que foram realizados implante de stent para correção de estenose na cirurgia de Fontan. Ascite era o sinal clínico comum; um paciente tinha enteropatia perdedora de proteínas.Todos os procedimentos obtiveram sucesso angiográfico e clínico