A nonsense variant in the KRT14 gene in a domestic shorthair cat with epidermolysis bullosa simplex.

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a hereditary blistering disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes. It has been reported in humans, cattle, buffaloes and dogs, but so far not in cats. In humans, EBS is most frequently caused by variants in the KRT5 or KRT14 genes. Here, we report a case of feline epidermolysis bullosa simplex and describe the causative genetic variant. An 11-month-old male domestic shorthair cat presented with a history of sloughed paw pads and ulcerations in the oral cavity and inner aspect of the pinnae, starting a few weeks after birth. Clinical and histopathological findings suggested a congenital blistering disease with a split formation within the basal cell layer of the epidermis and oral mucous epithelium. The genetic investigation revealed a homozygous nonsense variant in the KRT14 gene (c.979C>T, p.Gln327*). Immunohistochemistry showed a complete absence of keratin 14 staining in all epithelia present in the biopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of feline EBS, and the first report of a spontaneous pathogenic KRT14 variant in a non-human species. The homozygous genotype in the affected cat suggests an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.

Influence of chemotherapy for lymphoma in canine parvovirus DNA distribution and specific humoral immunity.

In man, the combination of cancer and its treatment increases patients' susceptibility to opportunistic infections, due to immune system impairment. In veterinary medicine little information is available concerning this issue. In order to evaluate if a similar dysfunction is induced in small animals undergoing chemotherapy, we assessed the complete blood count, leukocytic, plasma and fecal canine parvovirus (CPV) viral load, and anti-CPV protective antibody titers, in dogs with lymphoma treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) protocol, before and during chemotherapy. There was no evidence of decreased immune response, either at admission or after two chemotherapy cycles, indicating that the previously established immunity against CPV was not significantly impaired, supporting the idea that immunosuppression as a result of hematopoietic neoplasms and their treatment in dogs requires further investigation and conclusions cannot be extrapolated from human literature.

Molecules of natural origin, semi-synthesis and synthesis with anti-inflammatory and anticancer utilities.

The development of new drugs that can be valuable for the evolution of diseases' treatment is a goal for different areas of research, namely natural products chemistry, molecular biology and biochemistry, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry and analytical chemistry. Nature is the main source of compounds for pharmaceutical purposes, either by providing the natural organic chemical compounds of interest or as a source of inspiration for the design of new drugs. The known anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents belong to a great diversity of structural skeletons since inflammatory and cancer processes involve many different biological targets. Their origins extend to plants, fungi, bacteria, and marine organisms, besides those produced by semi-synthesis and total synthesis. The tasks of the organic chemist are the screening, the structure assignment, and the semi and total syntheses of active molecules. Herein the screening and assignment of new active structures is addressed, together with other aspects, namely the improvements, both in availability and in effectiveness of action that can be achieved from new derivatives by synthetic or semi-synthetic strategies. Some aspects of drug delivery of anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents are considered. The bibliography presented is far from being exhaustive due to the prodigious number of published works. Instead, the most significant contributions in the scope of this review are described. The active compounds are organised by their biosynthetic origins as terpenoids; macrolides, polyketides and ansamycins; phenolics; alkaloids; peptides; glycoconjugates; other compounds, and food compounds.