-
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2024Primary hyperthyroidism is a rarely diagnosed endocrinopathy in equids and there have been no previous reports of structural and functional cardiac changes associated...
Primary hyperthyroidism is a rarely diagnosed endocrinopathy in equids and there have been no previous reports of structural and functional cardiac changes associated with hyperthyroidism in these species. This case report investigates a 20-year-old mule gelding that presented for a three-month history of thin body condition despite polyphagia, with a heart murmur and elevated free and total thyroid hormone concentrations. On presentation, physical exam revealed a body condition score of two out of nine, persistent tachycardia, pansystolic heart murmur and firm bilateral ventral proximal cervical masses. Bloodwork confirmed markedly elevated free T4, total T4 and T3 concentrations. Echocardiogram demonstrated left ventricular concentric hypertrophy with increased ventricular and atrial systolic function. Bilateral thyroidectomy was performed under standing sedation without complications. Histopathology demonstrated adenocarcinoma of the left thyroid gland and multiple adenomas with osseous metaplasia within the right thyroid. The mule was supplemented with levothyroxine sodium two weeks post-op after a thyroid panel demonstrated undetectable concentrations. Polyphagia resolved following surgery and the mule began gaining weight. Echocardiographic changes improved but did not resolve at two years post-operative. Continued bi-annual follow up and monitoring of thyroid levels was recommended. This case represents the first documentation of hemodynamically relevant cardiac remodeling in an equid associated with primary hyperthyroidism.
PubMed: 38891707
DOI: 10.3390/ani14111660 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024The trigeminal nerve is responsible for innervating the periorbita. Ultrasound-guided trigeminal block is employed in humans for trigeminal neuralgia or periorbital...
The trigeminal nerve is responsible for innervating the periorbita. Ultrasound-guided trigeminal block is employed in humans for trigeminal neuralgia or periorbital surgery. There are no studies evaluating this block in dogs. This study aims to evaluate and compare two approaches (coronoid and temporal) of the trigeminal nerve block. We hypothesised superior staining with the coronoid approach. Thirteen dog heads were used. After a preliminary anatomical study, two ultrasound-guided injections per head (right and left, coronoid and temporal approach, randomly assigned), with an injectate volume of 0.15 mL cm of cranial length, were performed (iodinated contrast and tissue dye mixture). The ultrasound probe was placed over the temporal region, visualising the pterygopalatine fossa. For the temporal approach, the needle was advanced from the medial aspect of the temporal region in a dorsoventral direction. For the coronoid approach, it was advanced ventral to the zygomatic arch in a lateromedial direction. CT scans and dissections were conducted to assess and compare the position of the needle, the spread of the injectate, and nerve staining. No significant differences were found. Both approaches demonstrated the effective interfascial distribution of the injectate, with some minimal intracranial spread. Although the coronoid approach did not yield superior staining as hypothesised, it presents a viable alternative to the temporal approach. Studies in live animals are warranted to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety.
PubMed: 38891690
DOI: 10.3390/ani14111643 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024Although the presence of female contact sex pheromones in . has been hypothesized, to date its existence has not been proven. To gather more evidence of their...
Although the presence of female contact sex pheromones in . has been hypothesized, to date its existence has not been proven. To gather more evidence of their existence, cuticular liposoluble extracts were obtained from the following samples of adult females to be used as the experimental treatments: (1) ventral exoskeleton of immature female (VI), (2) dorsolateral exoskeleton of immature female (DI), (3) ventral exoskeleton of mature female (VM), and (4) dorsolateral exoskeleton of mature female (DM). Polyvinyl chloride tubes (artificial females; AF) were coated with each extract and the behavior displayed by sexually mature males in contact with the AF was recorded and classified as follows: 0 = no response; 1 = contact; 2 = pushing; and 3 = prolonged contact (≥10 s). To test the hypothesis that the extracts collected from the ventral portion of the abdomen exoskeleton have a higher effect on the behavior of males than the extracts collected from the dorsolateral portion of the abdomen exoskeleton, the experiment was divided into two bioassays: Bioassay I (VI vs. DI) and Bioassay II (VM vs. DM). In each bioassay, all experimental treatments were significantly different ( > 0.05) from the CTL group (AF coated with hexane). Notably, the pushing behavior was significantly higher ( < 0.05) in the VI treatment compared to the CTL and DI treatment. These results provide evidence of the existence of contact female sex pheromones with sexual recognition function located primarily in the ventral portion of the abdomen exoskeleton of . .
PubMed: 38891570
DOI: 10.3390/ani14111523 -
European Journal of Medical Research Jun 2024Femoral head varus triggers poor clinical prognosis in intertrochanteric fracture patients with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) fixation. Studies present that...
Changes in nail position and antirotation blade angles on the risk of femoral head varus in PFNA fixed patients: a clinical review and comprehensive biomechanical research.
BACKGROUND
Femoral head varus triggers poor clinical prognosis in intertrochanteric fracture patients with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) fixation. Studies present that changes in nail position and screw insertion angles will affect fixation stability, but the biomechanical significance of these factors on the risk of femoral head varus has yet to be identified in PFNA fixed patients.
METHODS
Clinical data in PFNA fixed intertrochanteric fracture patients have been reviewed, the relative position of intermedullary nail has been judged in the instant postoperative lateral radiography. Regression analyses have been performed to identify the effect of this factor on femoral head varus. Corresponding biomechanical mechanism has been identified by numerical mechanical simulations.
RESULTS
A clinical review revealed that ventral side nail insertion can trigger higher risk of femoral head varus, corresponding numerical mechanical simulations also recorded poor fixation stability in models with ventral side nail insertion, and changes in the trajectory of anti-rotation blade will not obviously affect this tendency.
CONCLUSIONS
Ventral side insertion of intramedullary nail can trigger higher risk of femoral head varus in PFNA fixed patients by deteriorating the instant postoperative biomechanical environment, and changes in blade trajectory cannot change this tendency biomechanically. Therefore, this nail position should be adjusted to optimize patients' prognosis.
Topics: Humans; Biomechanical Phenomena; Bone Nails; Femur Head; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; Hip Fractures
PubMed: 38890700
DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01892-7 -
Translational Psychiatry Jun 2024Neuroimaging studies have identified the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as one of the major targets of ketamine in the human brain, which may be related to ketamine's... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Neuroimaging studies have identified the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as one of the major targets of ketamine in the human brain, which may be related to ketamine's antidepressant (AD) mechanisms of action. However, due to different methodological approaches, different investigated populations, and varying measurement timepoints, results are not consistent, and the functional significance of the observed brain changes remains a matter of open debate. Inhibition of glutamate release during acute ketamine administration by lamotrigine provides the opportunity to gain additional insight into the functional significance of ketamine-induced brain changes. Furthermore, the assessment of trait negative emotionality holds promise to link findings in healthy participants to potential AD mechanisms of ketamine. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, single dose, parallel-group study, we collected resting-state fMRI data before, during, and 24 h after ketamine administration in a sample of 75 healthy male and female participants who were randomly allocated to one of three treatment conditions (ketamine, ketamine with lamotrigine pre- treatment, placebo). Spontaneous brain activity was extracted from two ventral and one dorsal subregions of the ACC. Our results showed activity decreases during the administration of ketamine in all three ACC subregions. However, only in the ventral subregions of the ACC this effect was attenuated by lamotrigine. 24 h after administration, ACC activity returned to baseline levels, but group differences were observed between the lamotrigine and the ketamine group. Trait negative emotionality was closely linked to activity changes in the subgenual ACC after ketamine administration. These results contribute to an understanding of the functional significance of ketamine effects in different subregions of the ACC by combining an approach to modulate glutamate release with the assessment of multiple timepoints and associations with trait negative emotionality in healthy participants.
Topics: Humans; Ketamine; Lamotrigine; Gyrus Cinguli; Male; Female; Double-Blind Method; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Adult; Emotions; Young Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
PubMed: 38890270
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02977-x -
NPJ Parkinson's Disease Jun 2024Dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tier of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) degenerate prominently in Parkinson's disease (PD), while those in the dorsal tier...
Dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tier of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) degenerate prominently in Parkinson's disease (PD), while those in the dorsal tier and ventral tegmental area are relatively spared. The factors determining why these neurons are more vulnerable than others are still unrevealed. Neuroinflammation and immune cell infiltration have been demonstrated to be a key feature of neurodegeneration in PD. However, the link between selective dopaminergic neuron vulnerability, glial and immune cell response, and vascularization and their interactions has not been deciphered. We aimed to investigate the contribution of glial cell activation and immune cell infiltration in the selective vulnerability of ventral dopaminergic neurons within the midbrain in a non-human primate model of PD. Structural characteristics of the vasculature within specific regions of the midbrain were also evaluated. Parkinsonian monkeys exhibited significant microglial and astroglial activation in the whole midbrain, but no major sub-regional differences were observed. Remarkably, the ventral substantia nigra was found to be typically more vascularized compared to other regions. This feature might play some role in making this region more susceptible to immune cell infiltration under pathological conditions, as greater infiltration of both T- and B- lymphocytes was observed in parkinsonian monkeys. Higher vascular density within the ventral region of the SNc may be a relevant factor for differential vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain. The increased infiltration of T- and B- cells in this region, alongside other molecules or toxins, may also contribute to the susceptibility of dopaminergic neurons in PD.
PubMed: 38886348
DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00735-w -
Life Science Alliance Sep 2024Protein translation initiation is a conserved process involving many proteins acting in concert. The 13 subunit eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) complex is...
Protein translation initiation is a conserved process involving many proteins acting in concert. The 13 subunit eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) complex is essential for assembly of the pre-initiation complex that scans mRNA and positions ribosome at the initiation codon. We previously reported that a gain-of-function (gf) mutation affecting the G subunit of the eIF3 complex, , selectively modulates protein translation in the ventral cord cholinergic motor neurons. Here, through unbiased genetic suppressor screening, we identified that the gene mediates ()-dependent protein translation in motor neurons. LIN-66 is composed largely of low-complexity amino acid sequences with unknown functional domains. We combined bioinformatics analysis with in vivo functional dissection and identified a cold-shock domain in LIN-66 critical for its function. In cholinergic motor neurons, LIN-66 shows a close association with EIF-3.G in the cytoplasm. The low-complexity amino acid sequences of LIN-66 modulate its subcellular pattern. As cold-shock domains function broadly in RNA regulation, we propose that LIN-66 mediates stimulus-dependent protein translation by facilitating the interaction of mRNAs with EIF-3.G.
Topics: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3; Protein Biosynthesis; Motor Neurons; Mutation; RNA, Messenger; Amino Acid Sequence; Cold-Shock Response; Protein Domains
PubMed: 38886018
DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402673 -
Research Square Jun 2024Preclinical studies have provided causal evidence that the postpartum period involves regional neuroanatomical changes in 'maternal' brain regions to support the...
Preclinical studies have provided causal evidence that the postpartum period involves regional neuroanatomical changes in 'maternal' brain regions to support the transition to offspring caregiving. Few studies, in humans, have examined neuroanatomical changes from early to one-year postpartum with longitudinal neuroimaging data and their association with postpartum mood changes. In this study, we examined longitudinal changes in surface morphometry (cortical thickness and surface area) in regions previously implicated in the transition to parenthood. We also examined longitudinal volumetric neuroanatomical changes in three subcortical regions of the maternal brain: the hippocampus, amygdala, and ventral diencephalon. Twenty-four participants underwent longitudinal structural magnetic resonance imaging at 2-4 weeks and 1 year postpartum. Cortical thickness increased from early to one-year postpartum in the left ( = .003, Bonferroni corrected) and right ( = .02, Bonferroni corrected) superior frontal gyrus. No significant increases (or decreases) were observed in these regions for surface area. Volumetric increases, across the postpartum period, were found in the left amygdala ( = .001, Bonferroni corrected) and right ventral diencephalon ( = .01, Bonferroni corrected). An exploratory analysis of depressive symptoms found reductions in depressive symptoms from early postpartum to one-year postpartum were associated with greater cortical thickness in the superior frontal gyrus for both the left ( = .02) and right ( = .02) hemispheres. The findings expand our evidence of the neuroanatomical changes that occur across the postpartum period in humans and motivate future studies to examine how mood changes across this period are associated with cortical thickness of the superior frontal gyrus.
PubMed: 38883787
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4432804/v1 -
Cureus May 2024Parastomal hernia (PH) following Hartmann's procedure is a common late-term complication and is often combined with an incisional hernia (IH). The surgical treatment for...
Parastomal hernia (PH) following Hartmann's procedure is a common late-term complication and is often combined with an incisional hernia (IH). The surgical treatment for double hernias with an end colostomy is complex and challenging. We present a 54-year-old woman with an end colostomy and combined hernias (PH and midline IH) after an emergency Hartmann's procedure for diverticular perforation of the sigmoid colon underwent staged surgery. First, laparoscopic Hartmann's reversal (LHR) and PH repair with primary suture were performed. Ten months later, "intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair (IPOM) plus" methods were implemented for IH repair. Both surgeries were successfully conducted using a laparoscopic approach, and no evidence of hernia recurrence has been observed in the 12 months after the second surgery. This case report provides valuable insights into the surgical strategy for double hernias with an end colostomy.
PubMed: 38883055
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60470 -
MicroPublication Biology 2024Robo3 is an axon guidance receptor that regulates longitudinal axon tract formation in the embryonic ventral nerve cord. Robo3 is thought to guide longitudinal axons by...
Robo3 is an axon guidance receptor that regulates longitudinal axon tract formation in the embryonic ventral nerve cord. Robo3 is thought to guide longitudinal axons by signaling repulsion in response to Slit. To test this, we modified the locus to express a version of the receptor lacking its cytoplasmic domain (Robo3∆C). We find that longitudinal axon guidance is reduced, but not eliminated, in embryos expressing Robo3∆C. Our results show that Robo3's cytodomain is partially dispensable for its axon guidance activity and suggest that it may guide axons via a mechanism other than direct transduction of Slit-dependent signaling.
PubMed: 38882930
DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001228