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OBJECTIVE To document clinicopathologic findings in domestic rabbits with liver lobe torsion and identify prognostic factors. ANIMALS 82 rabbits. PROCEDURE Medical records of 4 institutions were reviewed to identify rabbits with an antemortem diagnosis of liver lobe torsion that were examined between 2010 and 2020. RESULTS The prevalence of liver lobe torsion was 0.7% (82/11,402). In all 82 rabbits, the diagnosis was made by means of abdominal ultrasonography. Fifty (60.1%) rabbits underwent liver lobectomy, 23 (28%) received medical treatment alone, and 9 (10.9%) were euthanized or died on presentation. Overall, 32 (39%) rabbits died within 7 days of initial presentation and 50 (61%) survived. Seven-day survival rate did not differ significantly between medical treatment alone and surgical treatment. However, median survival time following medical treatment (530 days) was shorter than that following surgical treatment (1,452 days). Six of 14 rabbits had evidence of systemic inflammatory disease on necropsy. Rabbits with right liver lobe torsion were less likely to survive for 7 days than were those with caudate torsions (P = 0.046; OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.04 to 11.3). Rabbits with moderate to severe anemia were less likely to survive for 7 days than were rabbits that were not anemic or had mild anemia (P = 0.006; OR, 4.41; 95% CI, 1.55 to 12.51). Other factors associated with a decreased 7-day survival rate were high heart rate at admission (P = 0.013) and additional days without defecation after admission (P < 0.001). Use of tramadol was associated with an increased survival rate (P = 0.018). CLINICAL RELEVANCE The prognosis for rabbits with liver lobe torsions was more guarded than previously described. Rabbits that underwent liver lobectomy had a longer median survival time than did rabbits that only received medical treatment.

Objective The present study examined coping style as a possible moderator in the relationship between pain and depression in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods Fifty-four PwMS completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and psychosocial questionnaires that assessed physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Using four pain indices (i.e., average pain, current pain, pain intensity, and pain interference) from the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), an overall pain index was created to capture a more comprehensive index of individuals’ overall pain intensity and interference. The COPE questionnaire was used to derive three coping indices: active coping, avoidant coping, and a composite cope index that accounts for the relative contributions of both active and avoidant coping. The Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS) was used to measure depressive symptomatology. A series of hierarchical linear regressions were conducted with depressive symptoms as the outcome variable. Results Regression analyses revealed that the interactions between overall pain and each conceptualization of coping were significant (p = .001–.003). Simple effects tests revealed that overall pain only predicted depressive symptoms in PwMS with low active coping (p Conclusion We found that pain predicted depressive symptoms in PwMS who utilized more avoidant and less active coping strategies. Interventions aimed to improve coping style may be effective in enhancing the ability to manage pain and, subsequently, improve depression outcomes in MS.

OBJECTIVE To determine hepatic copper concentrations and zonal distribution in ferrets with and without hepatobiliary disease, validate rhodanine-based qualitative copper scoring and digital copper quantification in ferret hepatic samples, and ascertain whether clinical features predicted copper accumulation. ANIMALS 34 ferrets, including 7 with necroinflammatory disease, 5 with hepatocellular carcinoma, 13 with non-necroinflammatory disease, and 9 with no hepatobiliary disease. PROCEDURES Rhodanine-based digital copper quantification was validated by use of liver dually measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy and digital scanning (R2 = 0.98). Clinical features and hepatic copper scores and concentrations (dry weight liver) were compared between groups. Zonal copper distribution was determined. RESULTS Hepatic copper concentration was strongly correlated with copper scores (ρ = 0.88). Ferrets with hepatobiliary disease were significantly older and had significantly higher serum alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase activities and creatinine concentrations. Centrilobular copper accumulated in 23 of 34 (64%) ferrets with (n = 15) and without (8) hepatobiliary disease. Median copper concentrations were not significantly different between ferrets with and without hepatobiliary disease but were significantly higher within neoplastic hepatic tissue in ferrets with hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatic copper concentrations exceeded feline (> 180 µg/g) and canine (> 400 µg/g) reference limits in 19 and 9 ferrets, respectively. Hepatic copper > 1,000 µg/g occurred in 5 ferrets with and 2 without hepatobiliary disease. Clinical features did not predict copper accumulation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Rhodanine-based digital copper quantification and qualitative copper scoring discerned liver copper accumulation in ferrets. Ferrets with and without hepatobiliary disease displayed a propensity for centrilobular hepatic copper accumulation of uncertain clinical importance. Clinical and clinicopathologic features could not exclusively implicate pathologic copper accumulation.

Hepatic toxicosis caused by copper accumulation has been reported in most domestic species, as well as multiple small exotic mammals, including ferrets, fruit bats, and sugar gliders. The purpose of this study was to determine the signalments, clinical presentations, and histologic findings associated with hepatic copper accumulation in sugar gliders based on post-mortem histologic findings and retrospective analysis of reported antemortem clinical signs. Sugar gliders with histologic evidence of various hepatopathies were identified within the Northwest ZooPath archive. Sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded hepatic samples were stained for copper, and copper deposition was graded semiquantitatively. The prevalence of copper accumulation in the evaluated hepatopathies was 28%. Copper deposition was seen in all individuals with icterus and non-ataxia neurologic signs. Grossly, individuals with hepatic masses and nodules were 5.50 times more likely to have hepatic copper accumulation. Sugar gliders with biliary hyperplasia were 16.20 times more likely to have copper accumulation while all individuals with cholestasis had hepatic copper accumulation. The results of this study indicate that hepatic copper accumulation is frequently identified in post-mortem evaluation of sugar gliders with hepatopathy. Copper accumulation is frequently noted in individuals with icterus, neurologic abnormalities, hepatic masses, biliary hyperplasia, and cholestasis. This study details the prevalence of hepatic copper accumulation in sugar gliders and illustrates associations between copper hepatotoxicosis and other hepatic diseases.

Objectives Loneliness has been linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes in later life. Little is known about how daily social interactions relate to older adults’ everyday experiences of loneliness. This study examined the dynamic associations between social interactions and the momentary feelings of loneliness in older adults’ daily lives. We further examined whether individual differences in trait loneliness and neuroticism influenced the extent to which daily social interactions were related to moment-to-moment changes in loneliness. Method Participants were 317 community-dwelling older adults (aged 70–90 years) who reported their social interactions and momentary feelings of loneliness 5 times daily for 14 consecutive days using smartphones. Results Having more frequent, more pleasant, and in-person social interactions, as well as interactions with family and friends specifically, significantly predicted lower momentary loneliness a few hours later. Higher levels of momentary loneliness, in turn, predicted less likelihood of engaging in these types of social interactions subsequently. In addition, older adults with higher (vs lower) traits of loneliness and neuroticism experienced greater decreases in momentary feelings of loneliness after having more frequent or pleasant social interactions, or interactions with family members. Discussion These results expand our understanding of the dynamic associations between daily social interactions and loneliness in later life and provide insights to inform future research, including the possibility of behavioral interventions that target social interactions to reduce the risk for loneliness.

There is reason to believe that introversion may relate to different patterns of negative and positive experiences in everyday life ("hassles" and "uplifts"), but there is little evidence for this based on reports made in daily life as events occur. We thus extend the literature by using data from ecological momentary assessments to examine whether introversion is associated with either the frequency or intensity of hassles and uplifts.Participants (N = 242) were community-dwelling adults (63% Black, 24% Hispanic; ages 25-65; 65% women) who completed baseline measures of personality and mental health, followed by reports of hassles and uplifts 5x/day for 14 days. We present associations between introversion and hassles/uplifts both with and without controlling for mood-related factors (neuroticism, recent symptoms of depression, and anxiety).Introversion was associated with reporting less frequent and less enjoyable uplifts, but not with overall hassle frequency or unpleasantness; exploratory analyses suggest associations with specific types of hassles.Our results expand understanding of the role of introversion in everyday experiences, suggesting an overall association between introversion and uplifts (but not hassles, broadly) in daily life. Better understanding of such connections may inform future research to determine mechanisms by which introversion relates to health.

Background Salivary biomarkers of inflammation are increasingly used in stress research. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides a quantitative summary of changes in salivary inflammatory markers in response to acute stress. Method The review included 1558 participants (42 unique samples, 33 studies) obtained through electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase), reference treeing, and articles identified by a 2015 review on a similar topic. To be eligible, articles had to be quantitative and assess change in at least one biomarker of salivary inflammation in response to acute stress in adults. The primary outcome was magnitude of change in inflammatory biomarkers (Cohen’s d for repeated measures [dav]). Results Measures of salivary inflammation included: C-reactive protein (CRP), granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-18, IL-21, interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Cytokines IL-6 (k = 26, dav = 0.27), IL-10 (k = 11, dav = 0.34), TNF-α (k = 10, dav = 0.57), and IFN-γ (k = 6, dav = 0.28) significantly increased in response to stress. Post hoc sensitivity analyses revealed that IL-1β (k = 19, dav = 0.16) and IL-8 (k = 7, dav = 0.30) also increased from pre- to post-stress, but findings with IFN-γ did not hold after removing one outlier study. Examination of moderators suggested that study methodology and sample demographics moderated some associations. Conclusions This meta-analysis revealed that certain salivary inflammatory cytokines increase in response to acute stress. Significant heterogeneity in results and moderator analyses suggest need for standardization of research protocols. Directions for future research are discussed.

Background Although rabbits are commonly used as laboratory models for human glaucoma, management of this disease in pet rabbits has received little attention in the current literature. Spontaneous congenital glaucoma was initially described in New Zealand Whites as an autosomal recessive trait manifesting early in life. Glaucoma may also develop secondary to cataracts, uveitis, or other ocular pathologies. Findings associated with glaucoma in rabbits include elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal edema, loss of vision, optic nerve head cupping, and progressive buphthalmia. Topical medications, intravitreal gentamicin injections, and various surgical techniques have been used to manage glaucoma in rabbits. This case series details the presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical progression of glaucoma in rabbits at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University and VCA South Shore (Weymouth) Animal Hospital from 2008-2019. Methods The records of Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University and VCA South Shore (Weymouth) Animal Hospital were retrospectively reviewed to identify records of rabbits diagnosed with glaucoma by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist or ophthalmology resident between 2008-2019. Results Glaucoma was diagnosed in 16 eyes from 11 rabbits. Median IOP at diagnosis was 39 mmHg (26-55 mmHg) with various clinical signs at presentation including vision loss (11 rabbits, 16 eyes), buphthalmia (8 rabbits, 11 eyes), corneal edema (4 rabbits, 5 eyes), and optic nerve head cupping (5 rabbits, 6 eyes). Other ocular examination findings included cataracts (5 rabbits, 8 eyes) and uveitis (4 rabbits, 8 eyes). Two rabbits were seropositive for Encephalitozoon cuniculi. All eyes were initially treated with topical medications, with 10 eyes from 7 rabbits refractory to initial medical management. Two rabbits (3 eyes) showed progressive reduction in IOPs with long-term continuing topical therapy. Two rabbits (2 eyes) underwent unilateral enucleation and 3 rabbits (5 eyes) received intravitreal gentamicin injections. Conclusions Etiology of glaucoma in rabbits is likely more varied than previously thought, as many of the cases described were not consistent with primary congenital glaucoma. Topical treatments were effective in many rabbits. In those refractory to medical management, enucleation or intravitreal gentamicin injection were successful in decreasing IOP as second-line therapy when performed.

Although there is a strong association between depressive symptoms and markers of inflammation, it remains unclear whether depressive symptoms at one point in life may predict inflammation later in life. Moreover, despite extant literature linking sleep with both depressive symptoms and inflammation, there is little research investigating poor sleep as a mechanism linking depressive symptoms with later inflammation. The links between depression and physical health can also vary by gender. In longitudinal analyses with data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, we examined whether depressive symptoms were associated with inflammatory markers 11 years later and whether these associations were mediated by sleep disturbances or moderated by gender. Participants reported depressive symptoms and demographic information at baseline. At 11-year follow-up, the same participants (n = 968) reported depressive symptoms, sleep quality and duration using validated scale items, and provided a blood sample from which inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were quantified. Actigraphy assessment of sleep was obtained in a subsample (n = 276). After adjusting for concurrent depressive symptoms and other relevant covariates, baseline depressive symptoms were associated with CRP 11 years later in the full sample, and with IL-6 among women. Subjective sleep quality mediated the association between depressive symptoms and CRP. Results suggest that depressive symptoms may be longitudinally associated with inflammation; however, directionality issues cannot be determined from the present work, particularly as inflammation markers (which might have been associated with baseline depressive symptoms) were not available at baseline. Findings further suggest that longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and inflammation may potentially be explained by sleep and may reflect gender specific patterns.

Chronic inflammation is implicated in a variety of diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease and cancer). Much evidence suggests that early life adversity (ELA), such as maltreatment or neglect, can increase risk for inflammation in adulthood. ELA may program proinflammatory activity via its effects on brain areas involved in emotion regulation. Of multiple emotion regulation strategies, some are considered maladaptive (e.g., expressive suppression), while others are generally adaptive (e.g., cognitive reappraisal). We propose a conceptual framework for how emotion regulation tendencies may affect vulnerability or resilience to inflammation in adults who experienced adversity in childhood and/or adolescence. In support of this framework, we summarize evidence for the relationships between emotion dysregulation and higher inflammation (i.e., vulnerability), as well as between cognitive reappraisal and lower inflammation (i.e., resilience), in healthy adults with a history of ELA. Plausible neurobiological, physiological, psychosocial, and ELA-specific factors, as well as interventions, contributing to these associations are discussed. Strengths and limitations of the extant research, in addition to ideas for future directions, are presented.

An array of negative psychological states – including depressive symptoms, perceived stress, rumination, and negative affect – have been linked to immune function and inflammatory responses. Herein we show evidence of gender-dependent associations between ex vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cytokine responses and such psychological states, in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses from three annual waves (N = 162 at baseline, 67.3% female). In cross-sectional analyses (at baseline), gender moderated the associations of depressive symptoms (previously reported), perceived stress (B = -0.043, 95%CI [-0.080, -0.015]), rumination (B = -0.500, [-1.015, -0.232]), negative affect (B = -0.020, [-0.020, -0.005]), and positive affect (B = 0.024, [0.008, 0.047]) with LPS-stimulated cytokine responses. In each analysis, negative psychological states were positively associated with LPS-stimulated cytokine responses among men but negatively among women (with associations for positive affect in the opposite direction). In longitudinal analyses (across three annual measurements), similar associations were seen for depressive symptoms (B = -0.024, [-0.059, -0.004]), perceived stress (B = -0.045, [-0.069, -0.024]), and rumination (B = -0.381, [-0.622, -0.120]). These results indicate that gender is a critical factor in associations between a broad array of negative psychological states and inflammatory responses and identify one pathway by which gender may influence psychosomatic health.

In biomedical research, rabbits are commonly sedated to facilitate a variety of procedures. Developing a sedation assessment scale enables standardization of levels of sedation and comparisons of sedation protocols, and may help in predicting sedation level requirements for different procedures. The goal of this study was to develop a rabbit sedation assessment scale using a psychometric approach. We hypothesized that the sedation scale would have construct validity, good internal consistency, and reliability. In a prospective, randomized, blinded study design, 15 (8 females, 7 males) healthy 1-y-old New Zealand white rabbits received 3 intramuscular treatments: midazolam (0.5 mg/kg; n = 6); midazolam (1.5 mg/kg)–ketamine (5 mg/kg; n = 7); and alfaxalone (4 mg/kg)–dexmedetomidine (0.1 mg/kg)–midazolam (0.2 mg/kg; n = 3). One rabbit received 2 treatments. A sedation scale was developed by using psychometric methods, with assessment performed by 6 independent raters who were blind to treatment. Final sedation scale items included posture, palpebral reflex, orbital tightening, lateral recumbency, loss of righting reflex, supraglottic airway device placement, toe pinch, and general appearance. The scale showed construct validity, good to very good interrater reliability for individual items (6 raters; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.671 to 0.940), very good intrarater reliability (5 raters; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.951 to 0.987), and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach α, 0.947). The sedation scale performed well under the conditions tested, suggesting that it can be applied in a wider range of settings (different populations, raters, sedation protocols).

The purpose of this study was to determine reference ranges for the Nova tabletop blood gas analyzer laboratory parameters in ferrets. Blood was collected from 40 clinically healthy ferrets, ranging in age from 1 to 5 years old (28 neutered males, 12 spayed females). The evaluated parameters were measured using whole blood and included hematologic (hematocrit, hemoglobin), biochemical (lactate, glucose, Na+, K+, iCa++, iMg++, Cl−, BUN/Urea, creatinine, tCO2, anion gap), and blood gas values (pH, PCO2, PO2, SO2%, BEecf, BEb, HCO3−). Laboratory reference intervals were established for 20 hematologic, biochemical, and blood gas values. The reference intervals are as follows: pH 7.274–7.415, PCO2 35.2–59.1 mm Hg, PO2 30.0–69.2 mm Hg, SO2 55.3–93.3%, Hematocrit 33–57%, Hemoglobin 11.0–18.9 g/dL, Na 147.4–154.8 mmol/L, K 3.81–5.37 mmol/L, Cl 109.2–119.3 mmol/L, iCa 1.14–1.35 mmol/L, iMg 0.44–0.66 mmol/L, Glu 74–152 mmol/L, Lac 0.3–1.5 mmol/L, BUN 10–33 mg/dL, Cr 0.4–0.9 mg/dL, TCO2 22.6–31.6 mmol/L, Anion gap 7.8–14.9 mmol/L, BEecf −5.2 to 3.8 mmol/L, BEb −3.9 to 3.5 mmol/L, HCO3− 21.3–30.0 mmol/L. Results varied slightly from previously established values in ferrets and include reference intervals for blood gas analytes that have not been previously reported. The reference intervals provided in this manuscript will aid veterinarians in the evaluation of acid–base balance of ferrets.

A 26-year-old, male eclectus parrot (

A 26-year-old, male eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) was presented to its primary care veterinarian for a 10-day history of increased respiratory effort, lethargy, and a single episode of regurgitation. Hepatomegaly, proventricular enlargement, cranial displacement of the ventriculus, and coelomic effusion were suspected based on a 1-view radiographic image, and the patient was referred for further evaluation. On presentation to the referral veterinary hospital, a distended coelom and dyspnea with abnormal respiratory sounds were abnormalities noted upon physical examination of the patient. The bird was hospitalized for supportive care, and diagnostic tests were performed. Initial radiographic images at the referral hospital revealed a large intracoelomic mass. A computed tomographic scan was performed; however, the origin of the mass could not be determined. A fine-needle aspirate and cytologic evaluation of the intracoelomic mass revealed a neoplastic process but no specific tissue type. Two days after presentation to the referral hospital, an exploratory coeliotomy to surgically resect the mass was attempted. The mass occupied most of the coelomic cavity, with multiple adhesions to internal organs. The mass was successfully resected; however, the patient destabilized and died despite resuscitation efforts. Histopathologic examination of submitted tissue from the mass with immunohistochemistry revealed mixed populations of neoplastic cells differentiated from 3 primordial germinal layers, confirming the diagnosis of teratoma. Teratomas appear to be a rare tumor in avian species but should be included in a list of differential disease diagnoses for abnormal tissue masses of unknown origin. Only 2 cases of teratomas have, to our knowledge, been reported in psittacine species.

OBJECTIVES: Food insecurity is a dynamic phenomenon within a given month and across seasons. It remains unknown how food insecurity influences low-income adults’ day-to-day affective well-being, which is associated with long-term mental and physical health. In this pilot study, we explored the association between daily food insecurity and affect over a 2-month period (spanning 2 seasons) in a sample of low-income adults in Central Pennsylvania. METHODS: A total of 22 healthy low-income adults were recruited during the fall months (September, October, or November) in 2019, 18 of whom were also followed in the winter months (February or March) in 2020. Using an ecological momentary assessment framework administered on smart phones over a three-week-long wave (2nd – 4th week) in each survey month, daily food insecurity (once daily), and positive and negative affect (5 times daily) were collected. Time Varying Effect Models were used to estimate the association between levels of daily food insecurity and daily aggregated positive/negative affect as a function of study day, adjusting for gender, race/ethnicity, employment, and poverty status. RESULTS: A total of 713 person-days (84.9% of what was possible) of daily-level data was collected. Food insecurity was reported in 42.9% and 36.0% of participants in the fall and winter months, respectively. Greater daily food insecurity was associated with significantly lower positive affect scores in the 3rd week of the fall months (β ranged from −1.40 (95% CI −2.62, −0.18) to −3.17 (95% CI: −5.93, −0.42)) and in the 4th week of the winter months (β ranged from −2.24 (95% CI: −4.08, −0.39) to −2.84 (95% CI: −4.28, −1.40)). No consistent association was identified between daily food insecurity and negative affect. CONCLUSIONS: Daily food insecurity was associated with lower positive affect in the second half of the months in both fall and winter seasons. Future large observational studies should verify our study findings in order to better identify, target, and intervene in food insecure adults who are at-risk of adverse mental health outcomes. FUNDING SOURCES: The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health (UL1TR002014) and the Broadhurst Career Development Professorship for the Study of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical findings and short-term outcomes for rabbits with signs of gastrointestinal tract dysfunction or rabbit gastrointestinal syndrome (RGIS). ANIMALS 117 client-owned rabbits. PROCEDURES The electronic medical records database of a veterinary teaching hospital was searched to identify rabbits that were examined because of altered or absent food intake and decreased or absent fecal output between June 1, 2014, and June 30, 2016. For each rabbit, information extracted from the record included history of prior episodes of gastrointestinal tract dysfunction, signalment, physical examination and diagnostic test results, and outcome. RESULTS 117 of the 484 (24%) rabbits examined at the hospital during the study period met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Fifty-nine and 58 rabbits were managed on an inpatient and outpatient basis, respectively. Gastrointestinal stasis without overt obstruction was diagnosed for 43 rabbits on the basis of abdominal radiographic, ultrasonographic, or necropsy results. Many rabbits had concurrent disease and biochemical abnormalities. Fifteen, 18, and 84 rabbits died, were euthanized, and survived to hospital discharge, respectively. Rabbits that were hypothermic (rectal temperature, ≤ 36.6°C [97.9°F]) during the initial examination were 5 times as likely to die or be euthanized as were euthermic rabbits, after controlling for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that the prognosis was generally good for rabbits with signs of RGIS unless they were hypothermic during initial examination. Prospective studies are warranted to further elucidate and characterize RGIS and assess the efficacy of various treatments and outcomes for affected rabbits.

Lymphoma is the 3rdmost common neoplasm in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furoi). The objective of this study was to describe case demographics and outcomes of ferrets diagnosed and treated for lymphoma. Forty-four ferrets from two institutions were retrospectively evaluated for case demographics, subjective response to treatment, date of last known status (lost to follow-up [LTFU], euthanized, died) and survival time (ST; days between diagnosis and last known status). Multiagent chemotherapy protocols included modified cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone (COP) ± l -asparaginase ( l -ASP); modified COP, doxorubicin, l -ASP; Tufts no-IV ± l -ASP; prednisolone, cyclophosphamide ± l -ASP; prednisolone and l -ASP; prednisolone, vincristine and l -ASP; prednisolone, vinblastine and l -ASP; cyclophosphamide and l -ASP; cyclophosphamide, vincristine ± l -ASP. Prednisolone, chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide was used as single-agent therapies in eight cases. The median ST (MST) for ferrets with a known date of death (DOD) was 126 days (n = 37, range 3–1199 days) overall ST. Ferrets treated with modified COP ± additional chemotherapeutics had a MST of 429 days (n = 15, range 35–1199 days); all had a known DOD. The MST for all seven ferrets that received the Tufts no-IV protocol was 86 days (range 19–888 days) with 1/7 having a known DOD at 73 days and the remainder being LTFU. This manuscript provides descriptive data that may be beneficial for veterinarians having treatment discussions with their clients. Due to the inability to control for lymphocyte cell size, staging and treatment heterogeneity, a comparison between protocols was not performed.

Background Mammary fibroadenomas are one of the most common tumors of female companion rats (Rattus norvegicus forma domestica). The objectives of this study were to determine if subcutaneous administration of a deslorelin implant following excision of fibroadenomas can prevent or delay development of additional mammary tumors and increase survival in companion rats. Methods Female intact client-owned rats with benign mammary tumors were divided into three groups: no implant (n = 10), placebo implant (n = 10), or 4.7 mg deslorelin implant (n = 10) placed within 2 months of tumor excision. Rats were monitored for subsequent mammary tumors for 10 months following treatment. Expression of estrogen α, progesterone, prolactin, and androgen receptors stained by immunohistochemistry in primary masses of rats included in the deslorelin-treated group was evaluated using the Allred scoring system. Results In the control non-implanted group, four of the 10 rats developed another mammary tumor, including one anaplastic carcinoma. In the control placebo group, five of the 10 rats developed another mammary tumor, including one ductal carcinoma. In the deslorelin-treated group, three of 10 rats developed another mammary tumor, including one adenocarcinoma. Median time between surgery and new mass detection did not differ significantly among groups (55 days in the deslorelin group vs. 77 days in the control placebo group, P = 0.25). Median survival times after surgery did not differ significantly among groups. No correlation was noted between receptor expression and response to treatment with deslorelin. Conclusions and clinical relevance Deslorelin implants placed within 2 months of benign mammary tumor surgical excision were not associated with a decreased risk of developing subsequent mammary tumors, nor with an increased survival in female rats. Further studies are needed to define useful adjunct therapy to surgery.

Thirty interstitial cell tumors (ICTs) from domestic rabbits collected from Zoo/Exotic Pathology Service, Northwest ZooPath, and Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University were submitted for histologic review and immunohistochemistry for p53 and Ki-67 along with Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were: (1) to determine the prevalence of testicular granular cell tumors (GCTs) in domestic rabbits within ICTs using PAS staining, and (2) to evaluate morphologic criteria and immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67 and p53 to prognosticate testicular ICTs, in domestic rabbits. The prevalence of ICTs was 1.93% of all submissions and 87% of all testicular tumors. All cases histologically diagnosed as ICT were reclassified as GCT based on PAS staining. Neither labeling for p53 nor the Ki-67 index was prognostically significant. Median survival time of rabbits diagnosed with GCTs was 599 days. No metastatic disease was reported in rabbits diagnosed with ICTs following surgical removal. This study found that the majority of ICTs in rabbit testicles are GCTs and staining with PAS is required to confirm the diagnosis. Regardless, surgical removal (castration) of domestic rabbits with GCTs is an appropriate treatment for this disease and no further investigation is required.

Evidence is mixed with regard to whether positively valanced affect (PA) is associated with engagement in health behaviors. Both affective arousal (activated/deactivated) and level of analysis (between and within-person) may influence such associations. Adults (N = 121; 25-65 years) completed ambulatory assessments of affect and daily reports of sleep, diet, and physical/sedentary activity. Patterns of association were generally consistent at between and within-person levels, although associations varied by arousal. Activated PA was positively associated with action tendencies (i.e., higher physical activity, lower sedentary activities) and riskier behaviors (such as poor diet) whereas deactivated PA was positively associated with engaging in satiety and rest (i.e., better diet, better sleep quality, and more sedentary activity). Results were maintained when covarying for indicators of relative socioeconomic advantage and neuroticism. Overall, arousal appears to be related to the nature of the associations between PA and health behaviors, highlighting the importance of assessing and evaluating a range of arousal states.

Sexual minority (SM) adults (those who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual) consistently report more health problems compared to heterosexuals, and they tend to experience excess social stress. Although numerous studies have established links between social stress and clinical outcomes in SM adults, few studies have examined biological factors that may help explain how social stress leads to health disparities among SM adults. We used data from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS) to examine whether two inflammatory markers that have been commonly associated with social stress – C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) – differed by sexual orientation and whether any differences were explained by perceptions of discrimination. Participants self-identified as heterosexual (n = 1,956) or lesbian, gay, or bisexual (n = 81). After controlling for age, gender, race, and education, SM individuals had higher CRP and IL-6 than heterosexuals on average and these differences were partially explained by perceptions of discrimination. Implications for inflammatory pathways as mechanisms related to SM health disparities and discrimination are discussed.

Objective Higher affect variability (the extent to which individuals vary in their affect over time) has been associated with poorer health indicators, but associations with inflammation are less well understood. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether affect variability was associated with inflammation in ways consistent with the stability theory or the fragile positive affect theory, and whether associations were linear or nonlinear. Method In a racially diverse sample (N = 231; Aged 25-65; 65% female; 62% Black; 25% Hispanic), we examined whether positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) variability exhibited linear or quadratic associations with circulating inflammatory cytokines (a composite measure comprised of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ), and C-reactive protein (CRP) and whether person-mean affect moderated these associations. Affective states were assessed using ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) 5 times per day for 2 weeks, with a blood draw at the end of the EMA period. Individual standard deviations of affective states indexed affect variability. Results A quadratic association indicated that moderate NA variability was associated with lower CRP. There was evidence of significant moderation by linear associations with PA only: For those with higher person-mean PA, PA variability was positively associated with the cytokine composite. Both person-mean PA and person-mean NA moderated quadratic associations, such that for those with high person-mean affect, both high and low affect variability was associated with systemic inflammation. Conclusion Results are in line with fragile affect theory suggesting that associations between affect variability and health indicators may vary by person-mean affect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Background Previous research suggests that positive affect (PA) may promote health and longevity and that one potential mechanism involves inflammation. However, it remains unclear to what extent PA is associated with specific inflammatory markers and whether such associations are driven by main effects of PA and/or due to PA operating as a stress-buffer. Methods The present narrative review incorporates studies (N = 28) that have examined the association between PA and peripheral inflammatory markers obtained using venous puncture or dried blood spots. We separate results by whether the study tested direct effects or stress-buffering, and by type of inflammatory marker [including C-reactive protein (CRP), and proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines], also paying close attention to type of PA assessment (state, aggregated state, or retrospective, the latter involving recall over one to two weeks), and study design (cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental). Results Limited evidence suggests that studies were more supportive of a stress-buffering association, compared to a relatively direct association. When significant direct associations were observed, results suggested that studies using measures of state/aggregated PA exhibited more consistent associations with inflammatory markers than studies using retrospective PA. When significant, higher PA tended to be associated with lower pro- and anti-inflammatory markers, suggestive of lower overall inflammatory load. Discussion Recommendations for the field and future research are discussed, including the value of utilizing state/aggregated PA measures and of examining stress-buffering mechanisms.

Depressive symptoms are often linked with higher inflammation and inflammatory responses, although these associations are not always consistent. In a recent study (N = 160, 25–65 years, 67% women), our group reported gender differences relevant to this association: In men higher depressive symptoms were related to heightened ex vivo inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), whereas in women higher depressive symptoms were related to attenuated inflammatory responses. In the present manuscript, we investigate markers of endotoxemia – i.e., markers of the presence of endotoxin in the blood, presumably due to bacterial translocation from the gut – as factors that elicit gender-dependent immune responses that may be associated with links between depressive symptoms and inflammation. We examined ex vivo inflammatory responses in whole blood via a composite index of LPS-stimulated cytokines. The ratio of LPS-binding protein to soluble CD14 receptor (LBP:sCD14) was quantified as an index of endotoxemia that captures the relative reliance on pro-inflammatory versus non-inflammatory pathways for bacterial clearance. Levels of endotoxemia markers in blood were found to moderate gender differences in the link between depressive symptoms and stimulated inflammation (Gender × Depressive Symptoms × Endotoxemia: B = −0.039, 95%CI [-0.068, 0.009], p = 0.010). At lower LBP:sCD14 levels, depressive symptoms and stimulated inflammation were unrelated in both men and women. However, with higher levels of LBP:sCD14, men showed an increasingly positive correlation and women showed a negative correlation between depressive symptoms and stimulated inflammation. Hence, men and women exhibited similar associations between depressive symptoms and inflammatory responses at lower endotoxin marker levels, but these associations became divergent at higher levels of endotoxin markers. This information provides a novel perspective on risk factors for depression-linked alterations in inflammation, which may help to determine susceptibility to the downstream physical consequences of depressive symptomatology.

Very little research has assessed how measures of negative and positive affect (NA and PA) derived from assessments at multiple time points per day (e.g., via ecological momentary assessment [EMA]), as opposed to questionnaires that rely on recall over a longer period, are related to levels of peripheral inflammation. We examined how different indicators of NA and PA predicted concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and seven peripheral inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ) that were examined in the form of an inflammatory composite. A community-based sample of 220 adults (62% Black/African-American and 25% Hispanic/Latino; aged 25–65; 65% female) completed questionnaires at baseline (including recalled affect “over the past month”) and then provided EMA reports 5x/day for 14 days. Blood was drawn from each participant after completion of EMA and used to determine plasma levels of CRP and cytokines. Analyses examined if indicators of affect predicted inflammation, controlling for age, gender, body mass index, education, health conditions, and statin use. Neither recalled NA or PA nor momentary NA or PA (aggregated across the 14 days of EMA) were significantly associated with the cytokine composite or CRP. Negative mood more proximal to the blood draw (i.e., aggregated momentary NA in week 2 of EMA) was associated with the cytokine composite but not CRP. Exploratory moderation analyses revealed that the cytokine composite was also associated with PA in week 2 for men only, and with recalled NA for those with lower education. Exploratory analyses around temporal dynamics suggested that the timing of NA measurement relative to the blood draw mattered: Specifically, there were stronger trends of association between momentary NA and inflammatory cytokines when NA was assessed closer in time to blood collection. Future investigation of the relevance of temporal proximity and other measurement details may improve understanding of how affect relates to inflammation.

Background Research examining the effects of mindfulness meditation (MM) on emotion seldom considers differences by arousal level or emotion variability. Methods In the present study, 115 participants (64% Female, 72% White, Mage = 19.03) were randomly assigned to a brief MM intervention condition (n = 60) or a wait-list control condition (n = 51). Participants in the MM condition were trained in MM and instructed to practice MM daily for one week. All participants provided daily diary reports of both higher- and lower-arousal positive (PE) and negative (NE) emotions. Emotions were weighted by valence and arousal. Multilevel modeling was used to examine valence, arousal, and their interaction; multivariate regression was used to examine emotional variability. Results More time spent meditating (but not the MM condition itself) was associated with increased lower arousal emotions, and exhibited a significant effect on the interaction between valence and arousal. Examination of individual emotion items suggested that more time meditating significantly predicted increased feelings of quiet and calm and marginally increased relaxation and sleepiness among participants, but did not predict any other emotions assessed in daily life. MM was not associated with emotional variability. Conclusion These results may suggest that PE should be separated by arousal when examining the effects of MM interventions.

Treatment options for animals with cancer are rapidly expanding, including in exotic animal medicine. Limited information is available about treatment effects in exotic pet species beyond individual case reports. Most cancer treatment protocols in exotic animals are extrapolated from those described in humans, dogs, and cats. This review provides an update on cancer treatment in exotic animal species. The Exotic Species Cancer Research Alliance accumulates clinical cases in a central location with standardized clinical information, with resources to help clinicians find and enter their cases for the collective good of exotic clinicians and their patients.

Older adults may be particularly vulnerable to experiencing loneliness as a result of stay-at-home and social distancing orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluated change in loneliness following the COVID-19 outbreak, using a longitudinal design and a validated loneliness measure, in a well-characterized sample who are at heightened risk for COVID-19 due to both age and location. The study included n = 226 older adults aged 70-90 years old, living in the Bronx, New York City, who had completed the 3-item Loneliness Scale prior to and during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City. There was no evidence of significant increases in mean loneliness from pre- to post-COVID-19 outbreak. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify risk and protective factors for change in loneliness during the COVID-19 outbreak, adjusting for pre-outbreak loneliness. Living alone, higher levels of education, greater worry about contracting the coronavirus, and limiting of daily exercise activities were risk factors for greater loneliness after the outbreak. In contrast, Black race, older age, greater social support and frequent social interactions via video call, all related to lower levels of loneliness after the outbreak.The outcomes of this study demonstrate substantial resilience among older adults to loneliness in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlight key risk and protective factors that may play an important role in individual differences in loneliness as pandemic-driven isolation continues.

A 10-year-old, female umbrella cockatoo (

OBJECTIVE To use duplex Doppler ultrasonography to compare gastrointestinal activity in healthy sedated versus nonsedated rabbits and to evaluate agreement between B-mode and pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD) ultrasonographic measurements. ANIMALS 10 healthy client-owned rabbits brought for routine physical examination and 11 brought for routine ovariohysterectomy or castration. PROCEDURES Duplex Doppler ultrasonography of the gastrointestinal tract was performed once for the 10 rabbits that underwent physical examination and twice (before and after presurgical sedation) for the 11 rabbits that underwent routine ovariohysterectomy or castration. Mean number of peristaltic contractions during a 30-second period was determined for the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, cecum, and colon from B-mode and PWD ultrasonographic images that had been video recorded. Findings for the duodenum and jejunum were compared between B-mode and PWD ultrasonography and between sedated and nonsedated rabbits. RESULTS Duodenal and jejunal segments had measurable peristaltic waves; however, the stomach, cecum, and colon had no consistent measurable activity. B-mode and PWD ultrasonographic measurements for the duodenum and jejunum had high agreement. No significant difference was identified between nonsedated and sedated rabbits in mean number of peristaltic contractions of the duodenum or jejunum. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that both B-mode and PWD ultrasonography of the duodenum and jejunum may be suitable for noninvasive evaluation of small intestinal motility in rabbits and that the sedation protocol used in this study had no impact on measured peristaltic values.