Case report: The first description of a thyroglossal duct cyst in a hen (Gallus gallus domesticus).

Thyroglossal duct cyst represents a congenital anomaly of the cervical region, rarely documented in animals. Although previously reported in dogs, cats, horses, goats, pigs, and calves, never in birds. This report describes a rare case of thyroglossal duct cyst in a hen. A necropsy of a Transylvanian Naked Neck hen carried following diphtheroid mucocutaneous lesions. The necropsy revealed a large, cyst-like structure measuring 0.5 cm at the level of the caudal edge of the left thyroid gland. Histologically, the cystic mass, bordered by 1-2 lines of well-differentiated ciliated cuboidal cells, presented nuclear immunoreactivity for Thyroid transcription factor 1. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there are no previous records of thyroglossal duct cysts in avians. Moreover, this is the first case describing a thyroglossal duct cyst in a hen.

Potential Defence Mechanisms Triggered by Monosodium Glutamate Sub-Chronic Consumption in Two-Year-Old Wistar Rats.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid (GLA), used as a flavour enhancer. MSG is considered a controversial substance. It is incriminated in disturbing the antioxidant system, but also has beneficial effects, as GLA metabolism plays a crucial role in homeostasis. This study highlights which positive or negative aspects of MSG sub-chronic consumption are better reflected in subjects potentially affected by advanced age. Daily doses of MSG were administered to four groups of two-year-old Wistar rats for 90 days: (I) 185 mg/kg bw, (II) 1500 mg/kg bw, (III) 3000 mg/kg bw and (IV) 6000 mg/kg bw, compared to a MSG non-consumer group. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, direct and total bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and urea levels were analysed; stomach, liver and kidney samples were subjected to histopathological analysis. Although, in most cases, there were no statistical differences, interesting aspects of the dose-effect relationship were observed. After MSG sub-chronic consumption, the positive aspects of GLA seem to be reflected better than the negative ones. The hormesis effect, with low-level reactive oxygen species' protective effects and GLA metabolism, may represent the hypothesis of a potential defence mechanism triggered by MSG sub-chronic consumption in ageing rats.

Helicobacter Pylori-Induced Gastric Infections: From Pathogenesis to Novel Therapeutic Approaches Using Silver Nanoparticles.

Helicobacter pylori is the first formally recognized bacterial carcinogen and the most important single digestive pathogen responsible for the induction of gastroduodenal diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, and, finally, gastric neoplasia. The recently reported high rates of antimicrobial drug resistance hamper the current therapies of H. pylori, with therapeutic failure reaching up to 40% of patients. In this context, new treatment options and strategies are urgently needed, but the successful development of these new therapeutic tools is conditioned by the understanding of the high adaptability of H. pylori to the gastric acidic environment and the complex pathogenic mechanism. Due to several advantages, including good antibacterial efficiency, possible targeted delivery, and long tissular persistence, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) offer the opportunity of exploring new strategies to improve the H. pylori therapy. A new paradigm in the therapy of H. pylori gastric infections using AgNPs has the potential to overcome the current medical limitations imposed by the H. pylori drug resistance, which is reported for most of the current organic antibiotics employed in the classical therapies. This manuscript provides an extensive overview of the pathology of H. pylori-induced gastritis, gastric cancer, and extradigestive diseases and highlights the possible benefits and limitations of employing AgNPs in the therapeutic strategies against H. pylori infections.