Treatment of advanced-stage canine nasal carcinomas with toceranib phosphate: 23 cases (2015-2020).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the median survival time (MST) of dogs with nasal carcinoma treated with toceranib phosphate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The databases of four Spanish referral hospitals were retrospectively searched for dogs with a diagnosis of nasal tumours presented between January 2015 and October 2020. Dogs treated with radiotherapy or other chemotherapies prior toceranib were excluded. RESULTS: Twenty-three dogs with a confirmed nasal carcinoma treated with toceranib phosphate and with a CT scan for initial staging according to Adams Modified Staging System were included. Nine dogs had a stage III nasal carcinoma whereas 14 dogs had a stage IV nasal carcinoma. No dog had stages I and II nasal carcinoma. The median overall survival time was 139 days. The difference between the MST between dogs with stages III and IV was not statistically significant [P = 0.6, 140 days for stage III (range 46-401) vs 120 days for stage IV (range 23-600)]. Overall, dogs with epistaxis achieved a longer median survival (166 days) than dogs without epistaxis (83 days). Toceranib phosphate was generally well tolerated. Most dogs had an initial clinical benefit followed by progressive disease. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study to report the MST in dogs with stages III and IV nasal carcinoma treated with toceranib phosphate. This retrospective study showed that toceranib phosphate decreases the clinical signs associated with nasal carcinomas.

Phototoxicity induced in living HeLa cells by focused femtosecond laser pulses: a data-driven approach.

Nonlinear optical microscopy is a powerful label-free imaging technology, providing biochemical and structural information in living cells and tissues. A possible drawback is photodamage induced by high-power ultrashort laser pulses. Here we present an experimental study on thousands of HeLa cells, to characterize the damage induced by focused femtosecond near-infrared laser pulses as a function of laser power, scanning speed and exposure time, in both wide-field and point-scanning illumination configurations. Our data-driven approach offers an interpretation of the underlying damage mechanisms and provides a predictive model that estimates its probability and extension and a safety limit for the working conditions in nonlinear optical microscopy. In particular, we demonstrate that cells can withstand high temperatures for a short amount of time, while they die if exposed for longer times to mild temperatures. It is thus better to illuminate the samples with high irradiances: thanks to the nonlinear imaging mechanism, much stronger signals will be generated, enabling fast imaging and thus avoiding sample photodamage.

Non-invasive CPAP in mild and moderate ARDS secondary to SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 outbreak, a very high number of infected patients developed pneumonia and many of them complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The optimal management of respiratory failure and the role of lung ultrasound imaging in the evaluation of efficacy of treatment are unknown. METHODS: In March 2020 we treated 18 patients with mild and moderate ARDS secondary to SARS-CoV-2 with non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure therapy (NI-CPAP). All patients underwent lung ultrasound imaging to verify the entity of lung recruitment after NI-CPAP initiation. RESULTS: After one hour of treatment we observed a significant improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratio in 10 patients. Notably, only 50 % of them reached an effective improvement in lung aeration detectable with lung ultrasound. In the other 50 % or patients the improvement in PaO2/FiO2 might be related to blood redistribution and reverse of hypoxic vasoconstriction. CONCLUSION: NI- CPAP is a valid therapeutic option in mild and moderate ARDS secondary SARS-CoV-2. Lung recruitment detected by means of lung ultrasound is a relevant but not the exclusive mechanism that underlies the therapeutic efficacy of NI-CPAP in this clinical setting.

[Vascular anomalies in the neonatal period]. / Anomalías vasculares de presentación neonatal.

OBJECTIVE: Vascular anomalies in the neonatal period are a diagnostic challenge for the lack of evident signs, symptoms and follow-up, and the convenience of restricting aggressive diagnostic tests. The aim of this work is to review the characteristics of neonatal cases presented to our Vascular Anomalies Unit in the last 5 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases of suspected vascular anomaly presented to our unit before 1 month of age between 2010 and 2015 were reviewed, diagnostic tests and treatments carried out with chronology were analyzed. Presumptive diagnosis and final diagnosis (when available) were compared. RESULTS: Fifteen vascular tumors were found, 2 with visceral involvement: 6 infantile hemangiomas (IH), 3 NICH, 4 RICH, 1 tufted hemangioma, 1 unspecified liver vascular tumor, 3 venous malformations (2 equivocal MRI and a hyperkeratotic venous malformation), 4 lymphatic malformations, 3 of them macrocystic, and 2 vascular lesions that were diagnosed of fibrosarcoma and sclerema neonatorum and they were not vascular anomalies. Only 3 patients with macrocystic lymphatic malformations had prenatal diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Accurate diagnosis of vascular anomalies during the first month of life is difficult, even with MRI. Only in a few cases early treatment is needed, so it is worth taking time to follow-up. Different types of treatment (observation, propranolol, biopsy, laser, embolization, and resection) will depend on the condition to be treated. A continuous observation can avoid unnecessary procedures and risks.

OBJETIVOS: Las anomalías vasculares de presentación neonatal suponen un reto diagnóstico por la ausencia de semiología florida, de historia evolutiva y la conveniencia de restringir pruebas diagnósticas agresivas. El objetivo es revisar las características de los casos neonatales presentados a nuestra Unidad de Anomalías Vasculares en los últimos 5 años. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Se recogen todos los casos de sospecha de anomalía vascular presentados a nuestra Unidad antes de 1 mes de edad entre 2010 y 2015. Se revisa el momento del diagnóstico en relación con la anomalía, las pruebas diagnósticas y los tratamientos efectuados con su cronología. Se comparan el diagnóstico de presunción y el de certeza, cuando lo hay. RESULTADOS: Se incluyen 26 pacientes: 15 tumores vasculares, 2 de ellos con afectación visceral (6 hemangiomas infantiles (HI), 3 NICH, 4 RICH, 1 hemangioma en penacho, 1 tumor vascular hepático no especificado. 3 malformaciones venosas: 2 con RM equívoca y una malformación venosa hiperqueratótica. 4 malformaciones linfáticas: 3 macroquísticas y una microquística. 2 lesiones muy vasculares que se diagnosticaron posteriormente (fibrosarcoma y adiponecrosis) y no eran anomalías vasculares. Solo 3 pacientes tenían diagnóstico prenatal, las malformaciones linfáticas macroquísticas. CONCLUSION: El diagnóstico preciso de las anomalías vasculares durante el primer mes de vida es difícil, incluso con RM. En pocos casos se necesita un tratamiento precoz, por lo que conviene dar tiempo a la evolución, al menos durante unas semanas. Los diferentes tipos de tratamiento (observación, propranolol, biopsia, láser, embolización, exéresis) dependerán de la patología a tratar. Una observación continuada puede evitar procedimientos y riesgos innecesarios.

Anomalías vasculares de presentación neonatal / Vascular anomalies in the neonatal period

Objetivos. Las anomalías vasculares de presentación neonatal suponen un reto diagnóstico por la ausencia de semiología florida, de historia evolutiva y la conveniencia de restringir pruebas diagnósticas agresivas. El objetivo es revisar las características de los casos neo- natales presentados a nuestra Unidad de Anomalías Vasculares en los últimos 5 años. Material y métodos. Se recogen todos los casos de sospecha de anomalía vascular presentados a nuestra Unidad antes de 1 mes de edad entre 2010 y 2015. Se revisa el momento del diagnóstico en relación con la anomalía, las pruebas diagnósticas y los tratamientos efectuados con su cronología. Se comparan el diagnóstico de presunción y el de certeza, cuando lo hay. Resultados. Se incluyen 26 pacientes: 15 tumores vasculares, 2 de ellos con afectación visceral (6 hemangiomas infantiles (HI), 3 NICH, 4 RICH, 1 hemangioma en penacho, 1 tumor vascular hepático no especificado. 3 malformaciones venosas: 2 con RM equívoca y una malformación venosa hiperqueratótica. 4 malformaciones linfáticas: 3 macroquísticas y una microquística. 2 lesiones muy vasculares que se diagnosticaron posteriormente (fibrosarcoma y adiponecrosis) y no eran anomalías vasculares. Solo 3 pacientes tenían diagnóstico prenatal, las malformaciones linfáticas macroquísticas. Conclusión. El diagnóstico preciso de las anomalías vasculares durante el primer mes de vida es difícil, incluso con RM. En pocos casos se necesita un tratamiento precoz, por lo que conviene dar tiempo a la evolución, al menos durante unas semanas. Los diferentes tipos de tratamiento (observación, propranolol, biopsia, láser, embolización, exéresis) dependerán de la patología a tratar. Una observación continuada puede evitar procedimientos y riesgos innecesarios (AU)

Objective. Vascular anomalies in the neonatal period are a diagnostic challenge for the lack of evident signs, symptoms and follow-up, and the convenience of restricting aggressive diagnostic tests. The aim of this work is to review the characteristics of neonatal cases presented to our Vascular Anomalies Unit in the last 5 years. Materials and methods. All cases of suspected vascular anomaly presented to our unit before 1 month of age between 2010 and 2015 were reviewed, diagnostic tests and treatments carried out with chronology were analyzed. Presumptive diagnosis and final diagnosis (when available) were compared. Results. Fifteen vascular tumors were found, 2 with visceral involvement: 6 infantile hemangiomas (IH), 3 NICH, 4 RICH, 1 tufted hemangioma, 1 unspecified liver vascular tumor, 3 venous malformations (2 equivocal MRI and a hyperkeratotic venous malformation), 4 lymphatic malformations, 3 of them macrocystic, and 2 vascular lesions that were diagnosed of fibrosarcoma and sclerema neonatorum and they were not vascular anomalies. Only 3 patients with macrocystic lymphatic malformations had prenatal diagnosis. Conclusion. Accurate diagnosis of vascular anomalies during the first month of life is difficult, even with MRI. Only in a few cases early treatment is needed, so it is worth taking time to follow-up. Different types of treatment (observation, propranolol, biopsy, laser, embolization, and resection) will depend on the condition to be treated. A continuous observation can avoid unnecessary procedures and risks (AU)

Allozyme, chloroplast DNA and RAPD markers for determining genetic relationships between Abies alba and the relic population of Abies nebrodensis.

Allozyme, chloroplast (cpDNA) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers have been used to estimate genetic and taxonomic relationships among different populations of Abies alba and the relic population of A. nebrodensis. Twelve isozyme gene loci, as well as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) at cpDNA spacer regions between t-RNA genes were analysed. Moreover, a set of 60 random sequence 10-mer primers were tested. Over all isozyme loci, evident differences in allele frequencies among A. nebrodensis and A. alba populations were found, particularly at 2 loci, phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi-a) and shikimate dehydrogenase (Skd-a). More than 10% of the total genetic diversity was due to differences among populations. High values of genetic distances among populations were also found. Out of the 60 primers tested, 12 resulted in a polymorphic banding pattern both within and among populations. A total of 84 RAPD fragments were produced by the 12 selected primers. A phenogram of relationships among populations was constructed based on RAPD band sharing: the differentiation of the A. nebrodensis population was evident. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was used to apportion the variation among individuals within populations and among populations. There was considerable variation within each population: even so, genetic divergence was found among populations. This pattern of genetic variation was very different from that reported for inbred species. Identical cpDNA amplification and restriction patterns were observed among all the individuals sampled from the populations. Taken together, the results of allozyme and RAPDs show a clear differentiation among A. nebrodensis and A. alba populations and provide support for their classification into two different taxonomic groups.