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IntroductionThis study aimed to assess the effectiveness of capsule endoscopy in detecting gastric foreign bodies in normal dogs, considering variations in the number of foreign bodies and the gastric environment.MethodsFive healthy male beagles were administered virtual, non-harmful foreign objects that maintained their shape in the stomach. Capsule endoscopy was performed and the images were evaluated by veterinarians and non-veterinarians.ResultsThe overall sensitivity and specificity of capsule endoscopy were 99.1 and 90.4%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were comparable between veterinarians and non-veterinarians. Sensitivity and specificity in the veterinarian group were 98.7 and 91.2%, respectively, whereas those in the non-veterinarian group were 100 and 88.5%, respectively.DiscussionCapsule endoscopy is a valuable alternative diagnostic tool for identifying foreign bodies in the stomach, particularly in challenging cases in which conventional imaging or invasive approaches have limitations.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a common condition in cats, characterized by recurring gastrointestinal signs with histologic evidence of intestinal inflammation. A 9-month-old neutered male Sphynx cat was presented with a 5-week history of vomiting and hematochezia. Conservative patient management with a therapeutic gastrointestinal formula, antibiotics, and antiemetics resulted in a positive response to treatment, with relapse of signs when the medications were discontinued. A new finding of marked eosinophilia and basophilia was identified 3 months after the initial presentation. Colonoscopy revealed cecal erosions and a surgical biopsy with histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of lymphocytic-plasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis. For this diagnosis, the patient was treated with prednisolone, tylosin, and metronidazole. Antibiotics were gradually tapered as the cat showed clinical improvement. The patient showed resolution of the gastrointestinal signs, and the numbers of eosinophils and basophils returned within the reference range 8 weeks after the treatment began. Basophilia and eosinophilia has been reported in conjunction with feline T-cell lymphoma. However, marked basophilia accompanying eosinophilia is extremely rare in cats with inflammatory bowel disease. We herein provide clinical details, including ultrasonography, endoscopy, histopathology, and disease course of feline lymphocytic-plasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis with marked basophilia and eosinophilia. This case highlights the importance of considering enteritis as potential diagnoses when eosinophilia and basophilia are concurrently observed in cats.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a gram-positive bacterial species that is utilised as a probiotic in humans and animals. There are no reports of infective endocarditis (IE) in dogs. An 8-year-old, spayed, female Maltese presented with a 1-month history of fever, depression, weight loss, and hindlimb lameness. Laboratory test results indicated non-regenerative anaemia, neutrophilia, hyperglobulinemia, and proteinuria. Echocardiography revealed vegetation on the septal leaflet of the mitral valve and thromboemboli in the left atrium. Consecutive blood culture results revealed that the blood samples were consistently positive for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which is generally considered a probiotic bacterial species for animals. Broad-spectrum antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefotaxime) and anticoagulants (clopidogrel and rivaroxaban) were administered for 4 months. The clinical signs were responsive to antibiotic treatment. After 4 months, the dog was no longer febrile and the size of the thromboemboli in the left atrium had decreased. Bacteria were no longer isolated in blood cultures after antibiotic therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of canine IE caused by bactaeremic infection with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Abstract Leukaemia cutis (LC) is the infiltration of neoplastic leukocytes into the skin, characterised by haemorrhagic papules, nodules, and plaques. LC has been reported in human leukaemia patients, but it is extremely rare in dogs. A 13‐year‐old spayed female Golden Retriever that was previously diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was managed with chlorambucil (20 mg/m2 orally, every 2 weeks) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg orally, every other day) for 8 months; however, immunosuppression was temporarily discontinued because of a bacterial urinary tract infection. Cutaneous signs, including multifocal ecchymosis and white plaques, appeared 1 month after cessation of chemotherapy. Histopathological examination revealed small‐ to intermediate‐sized lymphocytes with mild atypia in a perivascular to interstitial pattern within the superficial dermis. The bands of atypical cells within the superficial dermis were strongly and extensively positive for CD3 on immunohistochemistry. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the biopsied skin revealed clonal rearrangement of the T‐cell receptor gamma locus gene. Given the evidence of clinical signs, peripheral immunophenotyping, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and clonal gene arrangement, LC was diagnosed. The lesions disappeared when chemotherapy was restarted but were occasionally observed when chemotherapy was stopped. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first case report of LC in a dog.

Abstract A 1‐year‐old, castrated, male, domestic short‐haired cat with pruritic, multifocal, crusted ulceration of the skin over the dorsal aspect of the neck and scapulae was presented. The cat also had a history of depression and anorexia. A causative agent for the lesion was not identified on a general dermatological examination. Histopathology revealed diffuse epidermal ulceration and loss with replacement by neutrophilic inflammation and necrotic debris. Idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis (IUD) was diagnosed based on history, physical examination and histopathology. To prevent self‐trauma and secondary bacterial infection, light bandages and glucocorticoid ointment were applied. After a month of management, the lesions markedly improved. Approximately 3 months after the initial presentation, the cat died; necropsy confirmed an IUD and non‐effusive (dry form) feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This report describes a rare case of IUD in a cat with concurrent FIP. However, no association between IUD and FIP was found.

We report a rare case of sterile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) accompanied by systemic inflammatory response syndrome. A 5-year-old, neutered male Maltese dog presented with extensive crusts on the whole-body surface and multifocal erosions and plaques on the four limbs. The lesions had been present for two months and did not respond to antibiotics before the presentation. In addition, the dog was lethargic, anorexic, and febrile, with joint swelling. A clinicopathologic analysis revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis with left shift and increased C-reactive protein level. Furthermore, a histopathological examination showed moderate to severe inflammatory infiltrates consisting predominantly of neutrophils from the superficial to the deep dermis. There was no evidence of bacterial or fungal infections, and autoimmune diseases, such as pemphigus, systemic lupus erythematosus, and erythema multiforme, were excluded. Sweet's syndrome, a rare skin disorder, associated with systemic inflammation was diagnosed, and the cutaneous lesions and systemic inflammation disappeared after prolonged steroid administration.

Abstract Background Combination therapy with glucocorticoids and adjunctive immunomodulating drugs has been generally accepted as a standard treatment regimen for meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology (MUE). We hypothesized that treatment with MMF as an adjunctive agent along with glucocorticoids would be effective and well-tolerated protocol in dogs with MUE. Eighty-six dogs with MUE between May 2009 and June 2017 were included (59 females and 27 males; mean age of 5.93 years; mean body weight of 3.83 kg). The medical records of dogs with MUE treated with prednisolone and MMF were retrospectively evaluated to determine the therapeutic response, survival time, and treatment-related adverse effects. Results A partial or complete response (CR) was recorded for 75 dogs. The overall median survival time from the initiation of treatment was 558 days. Dogs that showed CR with no relapse over the treatment period (from diagnosis to death) had significantly longer median survival times. A significantly higher mortality hazard ratio of 4.546 was recorded in dogs that failed to achieve CR. The interval between the onset of clinical signs and the clinical presentation was not significantly associated with CR, relapse rate, and survival time. Adverse effects included gastrointestinal upsets in 26 dogs (30.23%), sporadic infections in 17 dogs (19.77%), and pancreatitis in seven dogs (8.14%). Conclusions The results suggest that adjunctive MMF treatment for MUE is safe and comparable to other immunosuppressive protocols. The treatment should focus on the achievement of CR and preventing relapse for successful management.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is derived from apoptosis/necrosis, active cellular secretion, and lysis of circulating cancer cells or micrometastases. In humans, cfDNA is widely used in cancer diagnosis, but veterinary research has yet to be actively conducted to establish it as a cancer biomarker. This retrospective study analyzed cfDNA levels in samples collected from dogs with neoplastic disease (n = 38), clinically ill dogs without neoplasia (n = 47), and healthy dogs (n = 35). cfDNA levels and clinical data were compared among groups, and prognostic analyses were performed within the neoplastic group. Furthermore, continual cfDNA measurements were performed during the chemotherapy of six dogs with lymphoma. Dogs with neoplasia showed significantly higher cfDNA concentrations than dogs without neoplasm, and the cfDNA oncentration in the lymphoid neoplasia group was significantly elevated among all neoplastic groups. Dogs with neoplasia and a plasma cfDNA concentration above 1,247.5 μg/L had shorter survival rates than those with levels below this threshold (26.5 vs. 86.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). In cases with complete remission in response to chemotherapy, the cfDNA concentration was significantly decreased compared with the first visit, whereas the cfDNA concentration was increased in cases with disease progression or death. Interestingly, a significant correlation was found between lymph node diameter and cfDNA concentration in dogs with multicentric lymphoma (R2 = 0.26, P < 0.01). These data suggest that changes in cfDNA concentration could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for canine neoplasia. Furthermore, increased plasma DNA levels might be associated with shorter survival time, and cfDNA concentrations may reflect the response to chemotherapy.

Abstract Background The chromogenic anti‐Xa assay, the gold standard for monitoring the anti‐Xa effect of rivaroxaban, is not available as a cage‐side diagnostic test for use in a clinical setting. Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate clinical modalities for measuring the anticoagulant effects of rivaroxaban using a point‐of‐care prothrombin time (PT) and thromboelastography (TEG). Animals Six healthy Beagle dogs. Methods Prospective, experimental study. Four different doses of rivaroxaban (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg) were administered PO to dogs. Single PO and 3 consecutive dosing regimens also were assessed. Plasma rivaroxaban concentration was determined using a chromogenic anti‐Xa assay, point‐of‐care PT, and TEG analysis with 4 activators (RapidTEG, 1 : 100 tissue factor [TF100], 1 : 3700 tissue factor [TF3700], and kaolin), and results were compared. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between ratios (peak to baseline PT; peak reaction time [R] of TEG to baseline [R] of TEG) and anti‐Xa concentration. Results Anti‐Xa concentration had a significant correlation with point‐of‐care PT (R = 0.82, P

A 4-year-old spayed female miniature poodle dog presented with a 1-week history of acute tetraparesis. A neurological examination revealed severe neck pain and non-ambulatory tetraparesis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed hypoplastic dens with moderate compression of the spinal cord at C1–C2. The atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) was surgically stabilized using ventral pins and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement. On the second postoperative day, the patient showed significant dyspnea, and aspiration pneumonia was identified on radiography. The patient exhibited dysphagia with abnormal food prehension and an inability to protrude the tongue, with no gag reflex. We tentatively diagnosed the patient with multiple cranial nerve (CN) palsies involving the 9th, 10th, and 12th CNs following surgical ventral stabilization. The protruding cranial part of the implanted PMMA cement, which could mechanically contribute to the corresponding CNs dysfunction, was surgically removed. The symptoms gradually improved, and the patient showed normal tongue movement 1 month after revision surgery. In conclusion, we report herein a canine case of multiple CN palsies following ventral stabilization surgery for AAS. The experience gained from this case suggests an optimized management plan for postoperative neurological complications associated with ventral stabilization.

A 15.5-year-old, neutered, male, domestic shorthair cat was presented with neurologic dysfunctions. At presentation, an obtunded mental status and vestibular ataxia were identified. On neurologic examination, postural reactions were decreased-to-absent in all four limbs, and pupillary light reflexes showed bilaterally delayed results. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed, and a demarcated lesion was identified in the third ventricle. The cat was tentatively diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was suspected to be a meningioma. The cat was treated with hydroxyurea and prednisolone. Mental status was considered more alert, and ataxia improved following treatment. On the 106th day after the commencement of treatment, a 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan was performed. On the PET images, a hypermetabolic region was found in the lesion. The average standardized uptake value of FDG was 2.47, and the tumor-to-normal-tissue ratio was 1.25. The cat died 408 days following the commencement of treatment, and a grade 1 meningioma was confirmed by postmortem histopathology. Immunohistochemistry for Ki-67 and p53 was performed. The labeling indices of Ki-67 and p53 were 2.56 and 0%, respectively. This case shows that chemotherapy with hydroxyurea and prednisolone may be considered in the treatment of feline meningiomas. Furthermore, this is the first case describing the application of FDG-PET to visualize a naturally occurring meningioma in a cat.

A 2-year-old female Mongrel dog weighing 3.12 kg presented with a 2-month history of progressive exophthalmos of the left eye and periorbital swelling. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the affected tissue revealed atypical cells of suspected malignant mesenchymal tumor origin. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an ill-demarcated soft tissue mass in the left retrobulbar space extending into the nasal cavity and into the frontal lobes of the brain with destruction of the adjacent cribriform plate and the basisphenoid bone. Histopathological features of the tumor were consistent with the diagnosis of undifferentiated sarcoma. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and desmin and negative for S100. These findings were mostly consistent with leiomyosarcoma arising from the smooth muscle on the retrobulbar tissues. Primary retrobulbar leiomyosarcoma is an extremely rare tumor in dogs. To expand our knowledge of retrobulbar leiomyosarcoma in dogs, we have described its clinical, diagnostic imaging, histopathological, and immunohistochemical characteristics in a dog.

In high-speed microelectronic communication, efficient and reliable radome-enclosed antenna performance is highly desired, which depends on consistent dielectric, mechanical properties, and low moisture absorption. The purpose of this study is to investigate the dielectric properties of fiber-polymer matrix composite (PMC) radome over wideband frequency and the impact of environmental aging on its performance. The dielectric constant (εr) of the SF/E0.8 (80% fiber loading) composite radome material decreased to 4% from its original value (3.93), and dielectric loss (δ) was reduced by 11% from 0.035 (2-18 GHz), while SEM morphology indicated fair interface bonding. Employing the Hallberg and Peck model, equivalent aging time (5-25 years), upon accelerated environmental aging, εr was increased up to 3.69%, δ to 9.68%, and the moisture uptake in the SF/E0.8 composite was increased from 1.13% to 1.67%, while tensile strength was retained up to 90.62% of its original value (147.83 MPa), compression strength up to 93.56% of its original value (388.54 MPa), flexural strength up to 85.44% of its original value (286.77 MPa), and interlaminar shear strength up to 77.66% of its original value (22.03 MPa), respectively. SF/E0.8 radome-enclosed antenna gain was decreased to 1%, and the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) was increased to 1.04% from their original values. This gradual and small deviation of SF/Ex composite properties and radome electrical performance over the extended aging time is referred to as reliable and effective for radome applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormalities in glucose metabolism that precede the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D) activate immune cells, leading to elevated inflammatory factors and chronic inflammation. However, no single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) studies have characterized the properties and networks of individual immune cells in T2D. Here, we analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from non-diabetes and T2D patients by scRNA-seq. We found that CD14 monocytes in T2D patients were in a pro-inflammatory state and intermediate monocytes expressed more MHC class II genes. In T2D patients, cytotoxic CD4 T cells, effector memory CD8 T cells, and gd T cells have increased cytotoxicity and clonal expansion. B cells were characterized by increased differentiation into intermediate B cells, plasma cells, and isotype class switching with increased expression of soluble antibody genes. These results suggest that monocytes, T cells, and B cells could interact to induce chronic inflammation in T2D patients with pro-inflammatory characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]