Exploring the One Health Paradigm in Male Breast Cancer.

How cancer patterns in humans compare to those of other species remains largely unknown and there is an even bigger knowledge gap for rare cancers like male breast cancer. One Health is a convergence of human and animal healthcare that encourages cross-pollination of medical research uniting human and veterinary medicine. Recognising that breast cancer occurs spontaneously in other male species (e.g. primates, canines, felines), and knowing that no laboratory models exist for male breast cancer, which limits our ability to perform functional studies, we explored the feasibility of applying One Health to breast cancer in men by conducting a narrative review of the topic. Spontaneous development of breast cancer was reported in captive male primates and in companion canines and felines. Some parallels in tumour biology of human male breast cancer with canines and primates were found. The age distribution, pattern of biomarker expression and metastasis were similar, with mammary tumours typically detected after two-thirds of average lifespan. However, instances of triple negative and inflammatory breast cancer, which are rarely observed in human male breast cancer, were found in canines and histological classification was inconsistent between species. These disparities need redressing to enable full exploration of the One Health paradigm in rare cancers.

Epigenetic markers of tooth eruption - DNA methylation and histone acetylation.

The present study aimed to evaluate whether epigenetic markers are expressed in the dental follicles surrounding ectopically erupting teeth. Twenty-one dental follicles were collected in 20 adolescent children through surgical exposure of ectopic teeth. The epigenetic modifications of DNA methylation and histone acetylation were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The results showed cells positive for DNA-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), DNA methyltransferase 3 beta (DNMT3B), ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2), acetyl-histone H3 (AcH3), acetyl-histone H4 (AcH4), 5-methylcytosine (5mC), and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) were present in all the samples. The levels of epigenetic markers representing active chromatin (5hmC, AcH3, AcH4, and TET2) were statistically significantly higher than those of markers representing inactive chromatin (5mC, DNMT3B, DNMT1). In conclusion, follicles in ectopic teeth display major epigenetic modifications. In the follicles, epigenetic markers associated with the activation of bone-related genes are more abundant than markers associated with the inactivation of bone-related genes.

Apical incisor root resorption due to ectopic maxillary canine eruption: Association with time of diagnosis and type of intervention in a retrospective population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim was to study upper incisor severe apical root resorption (RR) related to ectopic canine eruption and its association with timing of diagnosis and type of intervention conducted. The secondary aim was to correlate resorption with other dental anomalies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digital journals and radiographic material of all ectopic maxillary canines registered in 2012 in the regional public paediatric dental clinics in the Council of Aarhus were inspected retrospectively. Data related to 10 variables were retrieved. Post-treatment radiographs were used for evaluation of incisor RR. RESULTS: A total of 260 ectopic maxillary canines were diagnosed in 2012. The majority were found in the 9-13-year-old age group (0.8% prevalence within the total population). In all, 244 canines were assessed for eligibility and 181 had adequate final radiographs for evaluation of RR. Among ectopic maxillary canines, 9.4% caused severe incisor RR to neighbouring teeth. Timely palpation for canine eruption significantly reduced the odds for upper incisor resorption by 80%. Multiple regression showed that when the permanent canine cannot be palpated and the deciduous has been extracted, delaying the first X-rays was associated with a 38% odds ratio increase for RR for each year of delay after the age of 10 years. No significant associations were found between incisor RR and intervention conducted or other dental anomalies. CONCLUSION: Palpation of erupting maxillary canines is crucial for timely diagnosis of ectopic eruption and initiation of treatment to avoid RR. If the canine cannot be palpated at 10 years of age, radiographic examination is highly recommendable.

Classifying the internal anatomy of anterior teeth in the Yemeni population using two systems: a retrospective CBCT study.

A precursor for effective root canal treatment (RCT) is a complete understanding of the internal anatomy of teeth. In this study, the authors aimed to classify the root canal morphology of anterior teeth in the Yemeni population and identify gender-based variations among them. In addition, the symmetry among adjacent quadrants was also evaluated. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 2935 anterior teeth, 1502 maxillary, and 1433 mandibular were analyzed for root canal morphology and symmetry. Comparison between groups and among different genders was done using the Chi-square test. All the maxillary teeth were single-rooted and had a predominantly 1TN1 (Vertucci Type I) canal morphology. In addition to 1TN1, the presence of 1TN1-2-1 (Vertucci type III) and 1TN1-2-1-2-1 (not classified NC according to Vertucci) morphologies were noticed in the maxillary canines. Among the mandibular anteriors, the canal morphologies identified include 1TN1 in majority of the scans followed by 1TN2-1 (Vertucci II), 1TN1-2-1, 1TN1-2 (Vertucci V), 1TN1-2-1-2 (Vertucci VII) was seen only in incisors and newer canal types like 1TN2-1-2-1 (NC Vertucci) and 1TN1-2-1-2-1 (NC Vertucci) was seen in canines and lateral incisors. Two roots were only seen in the mandibular canines and classified as 2TN1-2 (NC Vertucci). Variations in root and root canal morphologies were seen among both genders. However, the results were not significant. All the maxillary teeth except 0.8% were bilaterally symmetrical. In mandible, symmetry ranged between 84.5 and 86.5%. In conclusion, single-rooted teeth with 1TN1 classification are most commonly seen in all the anterior teeth. Gender-based differences were non-significant, and bilateral symmetry was high. Ahmed et al. classification could precisely represent the root canal morphology in two rooted teeth.

Long-term follow-up after the treatment of impacted canines in the maxilla causing severe root resorption of the lateral incisors: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Root resorption of adjacent teeth due to impacted canines is common, and orthodontic treatment often leads to secondary resorption or even loss of adjacent roots. Clinical reports of long-term stability after treatment are rare. CASE PRESENTATION: This study reports two cases of maxillary impacted canines resulting in severe root resorption of the adjacent lateral incisors. Surgical exposure, orthodontic retraction, and alignment of the impacted canines were successful in both cases, and the resorbed lateral incisors were stable with no significant loosening and normal pulp vitality after treatment and at the 5- and 10-year follow-up appointments. CONCLUSIONS: Light orthodontic force may be used to move adjacent teeth with root resorption due to tooth obstruction. The path and direction in which the teeth are moved must be specifically designed so that the adjacent roots are not resorbed and so long-term stability can be achieved.

Treatment options for impacted maxillary canines and occurrence of ankylotic and resorptive processes: a 20-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: This 20-year retrospective study aimed to evaluate the treatment methods used in patients with impacted maxillary permanent canines and to determine the occurrence of ankylotic and resorptive processes and their association with potential risk factors. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 351 consecutive Caucasian patients (120 males and 231 females, mean age 18.4 and 19.9 years, respectively) with 420 impacted maxillary permanent canines. CT and CBCT findings were subsequently confirmed during surgery. Statistical analyses were performed by the generalized linear models, Pearson x2 and Fisher exact tests using the statistical programs R and Statistica v. 14. RESULTS: A total of 273 (65.0%) impacted canines were aligned in the dental arch by orthodontic traction after surgical exposure, this treatment was predominant in patients under 20 years of age. Surgical extraction was performed in 115 (27.2%) impacted canines and was more common in older patients. Ankylotic changes were recorded in 61 (14.5%) impacted canines. The probability of ankylosis increased with age, particularly after the patient's 20th year of life (p < 0.001). Patients were 1.2% likely to develop ankylosis at age 15 years, 4.3% at age 20 years, 14.1% at age 25 years, and 96.8% at age 45 years. Invasive cervical root resorption (ICRR) was found in 8 (1.9%) canines. In 4 canines (1.0%), root ankylosis in addition to ICRR was observed. In contrast to ankylosis, whose frequency of occurrence increased with age, the occurrence of ICRR resulting from PDL damage during surgery was more typical in younger patients. Canines in a high position above the root apices of the adjacent teeth, with a horizontal inclination of the longitudinal axis, with the crown located deep in the center of the alveolar bone and with labiopalatal position, should be considered critically impacted canines with a high risk to failure of orthodontic traction. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the treatment of impacted canines depends mainly on the age of the patient, and the position and inclination of the longitudinal axis of the impacted tooth. To select an adequate treatment method, we recommend CBCT examination, which allows a precise analysis of the position of impacted canines.

Statistical shape analysis of maxillary palatal morphology in patients with palatally displaced canines.

OBJECTIVE: Maxillary morphology has long been a subject of interest due to its possible impact on palatally and labially displaced canines. This study aims to conduct a comparison of the palate morphology between individuals with palatal and labially displaced canines and control subjects using statistical shape analysis on a coronal cross-sectional of CBCT images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients aged between 12 and 43 years with palatally or labially displaced canines referred to Hamadan School of Dentistry between 2014 and 2019 were recruited for this retrospective study. The sample included 29 palatally displaced canines (PDC), 20 labially displaced canines (LDC), and 20 control groups (CG). Initially, the maxillary palate coronal section was acquired and landmarked in the region between the right and the left first molar. Procrustes and principal component analyses were used to identify the primary patterns of palatal shape variation. Statistical tests were then performed to examine both shape and size differences. RESULTS: According to the results of Hotelling's T2 test, there is a significant difference between the mean shape of palate in PDC and CG (P = 0.009), while the difference between the PDC-LDC and LDC-CG groups is not significant. The longest full Procrustes distance was observed between PDC and CG (distance = 0.043), and the shortest full Procrustes distance was observed between LDC and CG (distance = 0.029). The first two principal components accounted for 84.47% of the total variance. The predictive accuracy of the discriminant analysis model showed that 72.46% of cases were correctly classified into the three study groups. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of centroid size, there was no significant difference in the sectional area between the three groups, but the difference between the mean shape of palate in the PDC and CG groups was significant. The PDC group showed more prominent mid-palatal area in the molar region.

Estimating the 3-D location of impacted maxillary canines: A CBCT-based analysis of severity of impaction.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to quantify the 3-D location of impacted canines by measuring their linear and angular deviations in relation to adjacent structures and further evaluate impaction severity. METHODS: CBCT images of 314 impacted canines were analysed in the sagittal, coronal and axial planes. Linear and angular measurements were recorded. Canine inclination was identified in coronal and sagittal planes. An evaluation system was constructed for analysis. Upright canine was considered as the appropriate position for fully erupted maxillary canine. Outcomes were compared between right and left sides and by gender. For categorical variables, chi-square tests were used while Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables. Regression models were used to measure severity. RESULTS: Impactions were greater in females (119/207; 57.5%). No significant differences between unilateral (100/207; 49.3%) and bilateral (107/207; 51.7%) (P > 0.05). Out of 314 impactions, 105 (33.4%) were mild, 118 (37.58%) moderate and 91 (28.98%) severe. Severe impactions were primarily buccal (44/ 91; 48.3%), in the occlusal ½ of the adjacent incisor root (38/ 91, 41.7%), mesial to the distal border of central incisor (47/91, 51.6%), with sagittal angle value + >45 ̊ (46/ 91, 50.5%) and mesial tip + >30 ̊ (86/ 91, 94.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Severely impacted canines had their crowns buccal, closer to occlusal plane and mesial to the distal border of the central incisor with greater than 45-degree buccal inclination and greater than 30-degree mesial tip. The sagittal angle can have a significant impact on the severity of impaction. A new classification system was proposed to quantify severity.

Implant-supported crowns on maxillary laterals and canines-a long-term follow-up of aesthetics and function.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the long-term aesthetic and functional aspects of implant-supported crowns in lateral (ISC-L) and canine positions (ISC-C). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients (14 males, 18 females, mean age: 23.1, SD:2.0) with an ISC-L or ISC-C participated in this prospective cohort study at baseline (T0) and in the long-term follow-up (T1, mean years: 11.1, SD: 1.0). Twenty-four patients (11 males, 13 females) participated in T1. Patient-reported outcomes (PROM) were rated using surveys with questions related to aesthetics and function. The colour of the implant crown and the buccal gingiva, the appearance of the papilla, periodontal health and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) outcomes were assessed in a clinical examination. The Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Signed Rank tests were performed. RESULTS: Patients with an ISC-L and ISC-C were equally satisfied with the crown shape and colour at T0 and T1. No differences in TMD outcomes were reported by the patients and no clinical signs of TMD were observed. At T1, ISC-C had more bleeding on probing and a three mm greater pocket depth than ISC-L (p = 0.03, p = 0.01, respectively). At T0, operators graded the crown colour of ISC-L as being too dark (35%) and ISC-C as being too light (40%). At T1, no difference was seen between the two groups regarding crown colour, gingiva colour and the papilla (p = 0.2749, p = 0.2099, p = 0.8053, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The PROM and clinical examination show that ISC-L and ISC-C are equivalent with regard to aesthetics and function in the long term. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although ISC-L and ISC-C are aesthetically and functionally comparable in the long term, ISC-Cs are more likely to impact periodontal health.

Pain, discomfort, and functional impairment after extraction of primary teeth in children with palatally displaced canines - a randomized control trial comparing extraction of the primary canine versus extraction of the primary canine and the primary first molar.

CONCLUSION: Primary canines and first molars can be extracted in a way that is associated with relatively low levels of pain and discomfort during and after the procedures. Double extractions induced more pain and discomfort than single extractions, which should be accounted for in the treatment planning. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-eight children, aged 9.5-14 years with displaced permanent maxillary canines were randomly assigned for extraction of the primary canine only or the primary canine and the primary first molar. Pain and discomfort were rated on visual analogue scales, and influence on daily activities was assessed by a questionnaire that has been previously tested for reliability and validity. Differences between groups were assessed by independent samples t-tests, Mann-Whitney U-tests or the Fisher's exact test. OBJECTIVE: To assess pain, discomfort, and functional impairment in children experiencing extraction of primary canine or primary canine and primary first molar as an interceptive treatment for palatally displaced permanent canines. RESULTS: Tooth extraction was associated with low levels of pain and discomfort on a group level. Extraction of both the canine and the first molar was associated with significantly more pain and discomfort than was the extraction of the canine only. Extractions were associated with chewing problems among one-third to half of the children, otherwise, few children reported any jaw impairment after extraction.

In Vitro Characteristics of Canine Primary Tracheal Epithelial Cells Maintained at an Air-Liquid Interface Compared to In Vivo Morphology.

Culturing respiratory epithelial cells at an air-liquid interface (ALI) represents an established method for studies on infection or toxicology by the generation of an in vivo-like respiratory tract epithelial cellular layer. Although primary respiratory cells from a variety of animals have been cultured, an in-depth characterization of canine tracheal ALI cultures is lacking despite the fact that canines are a highly relevant animal species susceptible to various respiratory agents, including zoonotic pathogens such as severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this study, canine primary tracheal epithelial cells were cultured under ALI conditions for four weeks, and their development was characterized during the entire culture period. Light and electron microscopy were performed to evaluate cell morphology in correlation with the immunohistological expression profile. The formation of tight junctions was confirmed using transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements and immunofluorescence staining for the junctional protein ZO-1. After 21 days of culture at the ALI, a columnar epithelium containing basal, ciliated and goblet cells was seen, resembling native canine tracheal samples. However, cilia formation, goblet cell distribution and epithelial thickness differed significantly from the native tissue. Despite this limitation, tracheal ALI cultures could be used to investigate the pathomorphological interactions of canine respiratory diseases and zoonotic agents.

Periodontal outcomes associated with impacted maxillary central incisor and canine teeth following surgical exposure and orthodontic alignment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Maxillary incisor and canine teeth are commonly impacted and require multidisciplinary treatment to accommodate them in the dental arch. OBJECTIVES: To assess the periodontal outcomes of impacted maxillary central incisor and canine teeth, which have been successfully aligned in the arch following surgical exposure and orthodontic traction with fixed appliance therapy. SEARCH METHODS: Systematic literature searches without restrictions were undertaken in eight databases. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies reporting surgical interventions in combination with orthodontic traction with fixed appliance therapy to align impacted maxillary incisors or canines published up to January 2023. DATA COLLECTION: Duplicate independent study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. ANALYSIS: Random-effects meta-analyses of aggregate data. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies (21 retrospective and 2 prospective) were included in the final analysis. Three studies reported outcomes for maxillary central incisors and 20 reported outcomes for maxillary canines. For maxillary central incisors, all three studies were rated as being at moderate risk of bias. For maxillary canines, 17 studies and 1 study were rated at moderate and high risk of bias, respectively. Both prospective studies were rated at a low risk of bias. Meta-analyses comparing aligned impacted maxillary canines to their non-impacted contralateral counterparts found the former had increased Plaque Index scores (mean difference [MD] 0.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03, 0.35; P = 0.03), increased clinical attachment loss (MD 0.40 mm; 95% CI 0.17, 0.63; P = 0.01), increased pocket probing depth (MD 0.18 mm; 95% CI 0.07, 0.28; P = 0.001), increased bone loss (MD 0.51 mm; 95% CI 0.31, 0.72; P < 0.001), and reduced keratinized gingival width (MD -0.31 mm; 95% CI -0.61, -0.01; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Limited evidence suggests that surgical exposure and orthodontic alignment of impacted maxillary central incisor or canine teeth, results in modest adverse effects in the periodontium. These findings should be viewed with caution as our certainty for these outcomes is very low to low due to the bias and heterogeneity. Further well-conducted studies reporting patient centred outcomes are required. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42020225639).

Three-dimensional comparison of continuous and segmented arch techniques in the traction of palatally impacted canines using a non-linear finite element analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the three-dimensional (3D) effects of canine traction on the maxillary teeth when using two different traction methods, the continuous and the segmented arch wire techniques; then to test whether adding a transpalatal arch (TPA) would affect their response to traction. DESIGN: Finite element analysis. METHODS: A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan of a patient with bilateral palatally impacted canines was chosen, from which a 3D model was derived and imported into ABAQUS. Two arch wires were modelled, a continuous round one and a segmented rectangular one. Four models were obtained by adding a TPA to both techniques. A 100° imposed rotation was then applied at the intersection between the vertical loop and the horizontal segment of each wire. Initial displacement of the maxillary tooth in the labio-lingual and in the vertical directions was measured. The absolute maximum principal stress of the periodontal ligament (PDL) was also assessed. RESULTS: Traction using a continuous arch wire led to different movement patterns of all teeth, some of them were tipped in a labial direction while others were lingually tipped. Traction using a segmented arch wire resulted in a retroclination of the posterior teeth and a proclination of the anterior teeth with a high level of stress on the premolars' PDL. Adding the TPA only affected the displacement of the first molars. The right side showed a maximum displacement of the first premolar, while the left side showed it on the lateral. The total displacement on the right side was higher than the left side. CONCLUSION: The segmented technique caused a uniform displacement of all teeth while the continuous one showed a non-uniform displacement. The angulation and position of the vertical loop affected the displacement of the maxillary teeth. The addition of a TPA acted only on the first molars.

The William Houston gold medal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 2022: Two case reports.

This paper describes the orthodontic treatment of two cases that were successful in winning the William Houston Gold Medal at the Membership in Orthodontics Examinations of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2022. Both cases discuss the management of palatally impacted maxillary canines and treatment was initiated during the emerging COVID-19 crisis and completed over a 27-month period. The first case describes the management of a 15-year-old female with a Class II division 1 incisor relationship complicated by a palatally impacted upper left canine, moderate upper and lower arch crowding, and a lower centreline discrepancy with an associated right lateral displacement on closure. Treatment involved open surgical exposure of the impacted canine, a quad helix appliance, premolar extractions, and upper and lower fixed appliances. The second case describes the management of a 14-year-old female with a Class III incisor relationship complicated by bilaterally impacted maxillary canines, impeded eruption of the lower right second molar, moderate lower and severe upper arch crowding, and an upper centreline discrepancy. These case reports aim to demonstrate the high standards of care achieved by Orthodontic Specialty Trainee Registrars in the UK and provide aspirational standards for future trainees.

A non-invasive system to manage impacted teeth associated with a large dentigerous cyst.

A male patient aged 11 years presented a large dentigerous cyst in the lower left quadrant associated with retained deciduous lower lateral incisor and canine and impacted, unerupted corresponding permanent ones. The treatment consisted in marsupialisation and placement of a modified lingual arch that held a tube for decompression used for irrigation of the cystic cavity in a comfortable way for the patient and for the clinician.The same lingual arch was later used as an anchorage method for traction of the retained teeth. The final records showed complete resolution of the cyst and retained teeth were successfully Aligned into the oral cavity.

Similarities and differences in the dental tissue proportions of the deciduous and permanent canines of Early and Middle Pleistocene human populations.

The two- and three-dimensional assessment of dental tissues has become routine in human taxonomic studies throughout the years. Nonetheless, most of our knowledge of the variability of the enamel and dentine dimensions of the human evolutionary lineage comes from the study of permanent dentition, and particularly from molars. This leads to a biased view of the variability of these features. Due to their early formation and rapid development, the deciduous teeth allow more simplified inferences regarding the processes involved in the dental tissue development of each group. Therefore, their study could be very valuable in dental palaeohistology. In this research, we have explored the dental tissue proportions of the deciduous canines belonging to some human samples of the Early and Middle Pleistocene. The purpose of this was to discuss the meaning of the similarities and differences observed in their histological pattern, as well as to evaluate the degree of covariance with that observed in the permanent dentition of these populations. Our results show that, although there are some similarities in the dental tissue proportions between the deciduous and permanent canines of the study samples, the two dental classes do not provide a similar or comparable pictures of the dental tissue pattern present in the dentition of fossil hominins. Future works on the dental tissue patterns of the anterior and posterior dentition, including deciduous teeth, of fossil samples, may help to shed light on this hypothesis.

Pretargeted PET of Osteodestructive Lesions in Dogs.

The last decade has witnessed the creation of a highly effective approach to in vivo pretargeting based on the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) click ligation between tetrazine (Tz) and trans-cyclooctene (TCO). Despite the steady progression of this technology toward the clinic, concerns have persisted regarding whether this in vivo chemistry will work in humans given their larger size and blood volume. In this work, we describe the use of a 64Cu-labeled Tz radioligand ([64Cu]Cu-SarAr-Tz) and a TCO-bearing bisphosphonate (TCO-BP) for the pretargeted positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of osteodestructive lesions in a large animal model: companion dogs. First, in a small animal pilot study, healthy mice were injected with TCO-BP followed after 1 or 6 h by [64Cu]Cu-SarAr-Tz. PET images were collected 1, 6, and 24 h after the administration of [64Cu]Cu-SarAr-Tz, revealing that this approach produced high activity concentrations in the bone (>20 and >15%ID/g in the femur and humerus, respectively, at 24 h post injection) as well as high target-to-background contrast. Subsequently, companion dogs (n = 5) presenting with osteodestructive lesions were administered TCO-BP (5 or 10 mg/kg) followed 1 h later by [64Cu]Cu-SarAr-Tz (2.2-7.3 mCi; 81.4-270.1 MBq). PET scans were collected for each dog 4 h after the administration of the radioligand, and SUV values for the osteodestructive lesions, healthy bones, and kidneys were determined. In these animals, pretargeted PET clearly delineated healthy bone and produced very high activity concentrations in osteodestructive lesions. Low levels of uptake were observed in all healthy organs except for the kidneys and bladder due to the renal excretion of excess radioligand. Ultimately, this work not only illustrates that pretargeted PET with TCO-BP and [64Cu]Cu-SarAr-Tz is an effective tool for the visualization of osteodestructive lesions but also demonstrates for the first time that in vivo pretargeting based on IEDDA click chemistry is feasible in large animals.

Microbiome function underpins the efficacy of a fiber-supplemented dietary intervention in dogs with chronic large bowel diarrhea.

BACKGROUND: Chronic large bowel diarrhea is a common occurrence in pet dogs. While nutritional intervention is considered the primary therapy, the metabolic and gut microfloral effects of fiber and polyphenol-enriched therapeutic foods are poorly understood. METHODS: This prospective clinical study enrolled 31 adult dogs from private veterinary practices with chronic, active large bowel diarrhea. Enrolled dogs received a complete and balanced dry therapeutic food containing a proprietary fiber bundle for 56 days. Metagenomic and metabolomic profiling were performed on fecal samples at Days 1, 2, 3, 14, 28, and 56; metabolomic analysis was conducted on serum samples taken at Days 1, 2, 3, 28, and 56. RESULTS: The dietary intervention improved clinical signs and had a clear effect on the gut microfloral metabolic output of canines with chronic diarrhea, shifting gut metabolism from a predominantly proteolytic to saccharolytic fermentative state. Microbial metabolism of tryptophan to beneficial indole postbiotics and the conversion of plant-derived phenolics into bioavailable postbiotics were observed. The intervention altered the endocannabinoid, polyunsaturated fatty acid, and sphingolipid profiles, suggesting a modulation in gastrointestinal inflammation. Changes in membrane phospholipid and collagen signatures were indicative of improved gut function and possible alleviation of the pathophysiology related to chronic diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: In dogs with chronic diarrhea, feeding specific dietary fibers increased gut saccharolysis and bioavailable phenolic and indole-related compounds, while suppressing putrefaction. These changes were associated with improved markers of gut inflammation and stool quality.

The diagnostic value of orthopantomograms in detecting resorption of lateral incisors associated with ectopic canines: a CBCT study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the diagnostic value of orthopantomograms (OPG) in the identification of root resorption of lateral incisors, secondary to an impacted canine, as confirmed by a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan. DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort study. SETTING: South Wales secondary care setting: Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport and Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny. METHODS: A total of 40 consecutive patients with impacted canines between January 2018 and December 2019 were selected. For each patient, one consultant orthodontist examined the OPG in isolation to detect the presence and extent of resorption of lateral incisors. The CBCT report was then studied to confirm the presence and extent of pathology. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive values and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 19 maxillary right canines, 18 maxillary left canines, one mandibular right canine and two mandibular left canines were examined. Impactions were more prevalent in the maxilla (92.5%) with higher predilection towards female patients (65%). There was higher prevalence of root resorption in the maxillary right quadrant (57.1%), in concordance with other studies. OPGs were found to have a sensitivity of 81.0% and a specificity of 10.5%, with an accuracy value of 47.5%. Positive and negative predictive values were found to be 50.0% and 33.3%, respectively. The extent of root resorption was incorrectly estimated from the OPG in 84% of cases. Correct estimation occurred in 16% of cases, with overestimation and underestimation occurring in equal proportion (42%). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the limitations of plain film radiographs and the merits of using CBCT in the accurate diagnosis of resorption of lateral incisors with an associated impacted canine. It also gives an indication into the location prevalence of resorption in a small cohort of patients. This preliminary study establishes the basis for future, larger-scale studies where outcomes can be generalisable at a population level.

An experimental examination of the perceptual paradox surrounding police canine units.

Objectives: To experimentally examine public perceptions of police canine units. Methods: As part of the between-subjects paradigm, participants were randomly assigned to view and rate an image of a police officer either with a police dog (i.e., as a police canine unit) or alone on eight dimensions: aggression, approachability, fairness, friendliness, intimidation, professionalism, respectfulness, and trustworthiness. Results: The analyses reveal that the officer was perceived more negatively when presented with a police dog than when presented alone. Conclusions: Police dogs play a multifaceted role in policing, including in crime control and public relations. In addition to their many functions, police canine units can also elicit many perceptual effects.