Britta S Leise,1 Antonio PN Catunda,1 Alicia L Bertone21Equine Health and Sports Performance Program and Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences; Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; 2The Ohio State University, Charlotte, NC, USACorrespondence: Britta S Leise, Equine Health and Sports Performance Program and Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences; LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, Email bleise@lsu.eduPurpose: Equicenta®CTM is a cryopreserved micronized equine umbilical-derived tissue allograft (eUTA) that is minimally processed and contains an abundance of fetal proteins in a connective tissue matrix. This study aimed to characterize this eUTA’s microscopic structure, biodegradation, and potential to release biologically relevant proteins from a tissue scaffold reservoir, including cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles (EVs).Methods: Microscopic evaluation of eUTA was performed using stereoscopic culture and pelleted smears. In vitro enzymatic digestion with collagenase or trypsin (positive control) in tissue culture suspensions was used to assess morphological changes. A 24-hour digestion study quantified the total protein, collagen type 1 alpha chain 1 (Col1A1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2). Anabolic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-catabolic biomediators were measured using multiplex ELISA before and after detergent extraction. EVs were evaluated by nanoparticle tracking analysis and tetraspanin detection.Results: Microscopy revealed free-floating microparticle aggregates and fibrillar net-like extracellular matrix scaffolds in a proteinaceous ground substance. Collagenase caused gradual matrix breakdown, whereas trypsin resulted in rapid, complete degradation. The eUTA contained multiple cytokines and growth factors; selected anabolic and anti-catabolic proteins increased after scaffold digestion or extraction, including insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), alpha-2 macroglobulin (A2M), and TIMP-2. (Col1A1) was released continuously over 24 hours during collagenase digestion. EV analysis confirmed abundant particles expressing CD9, CD63, and CD81.Conclusion: Microscopic evaluation of eUTA revealed an intricate filamentous microparticle matrix capable of serving as a scaffold for endogenous tissue repair in orthopedic injuries. This matrix can be degraded by naturally occurring proteolytic collagenases, thereby releasing matrix proteins and bioactive factors over time, which may support healing.Keywords: horse, orthobiologic, umbilical tissue, extracellular vesicles, cytokines, growth factors
Objective:To determine the overdose (OD) of medetomidine (MT) in Wistar rats and to evaluate the potentiating effect of fentanyl (FT) when co-administered. The objective was to identify the dose inducing complete abolition of five standard reflexes and significant changes of: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), tissular oxygen saturation (SpO2), rectal temperature (RT). Methods:Eight groups of Wistar rats (2 males and 2 females each) were used; the group showing the strongest effect was supplemented with 2 additional males and females. In phase one, four groups received intramuscular MT at 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, or 0.1 mg/kg. In phase two, the effective MT dose (0.1 mg/kg) was combined with FT at 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, or 0.1 mg/kg to assess synergistic effects. Reflexes, antinociception (via cold ethanol tail-flick test), and vital signs were recorded at baseline, during OD induction, and up to 60 minutes post-administration. The animals were not euthanised and allowed to recover. Results:The 0.1 mg/kg MT dose produced the shortest time to OD, while for the combination of 0.1 mg/kg MT with 0.1 mg/kg FT, OD time was 48% faster. Fentanyl significantly attenuated the bradycardia induced by MT (p < 0.0001), while RR depression was less pronounced at OD, but became evident at Pt60. The males from MT combined with FT group showed a shorter induction time of OD compared to males from MT alone group. In females, the effect was statistically robust (p = 0.0064), showing a significantly shorter induction time. Conclusion:The MT (0.1 mg/kg) and FT (0.1 mg/kg) combination produced the most consistent and pronounced OD, characterized by rapid reflex loss, marked physiological suppression, and delayed recovery. This interaction carries significant translational relevance for both veterinary anesthesia and human medicine in the context of the opioid crisis.
The 2022 global monkeypox outbreak fuelled a surge in related research. In this study, a bibliometric analysis of 2,076 monkeypox-related articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (from January 2014 to June 2025) was performed, and VOSviewer was used to visualize keyword co-occurrence networks and collaboration patterns among countries and institutions. Unlike existing studies, the latest data for 2024-2025 are incorporated; postoutbreak research trends, collaborative patterns, and PHEIC-driven resource aggregation effects are systematically incorporated; and gaps in dynamic and multifaceted analyses of the field are addressed. The results revealed a three-stage global research output: low accumulation (2014-2021), a sharp surge after 2022, and sustained high levels after a peak in 2023. The core research clusters focused on viral transmission dynamics and clinical interventions. Country contributions showed a pyramidal hierarchy, with the US leading, followed by China, India, and Saudi Arabia; government health agencies and academic institutions codominated collaborations. The findings confirm the role of the PHEIC in concentrating scientific resources, emphasizing the importance of strengthening international collaboration to address future epidemic challenges.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in dogs and cats worldwide, and effective early detection techniques and reliable therapies are still lacking. Given the high demand for early cancer detection and differentiation in veterinary diagnostics, we developed and validated a new diagnostic approach to assess onconeural antibodies, also known as high-risk antibodies, in dog and cat blood serum samples. We determined the presence of systemic onconeural/high-risk (ONHR) antibodies, their suitability for early cancer diagnostics, and the feasibility of differentiating various malignancies. Our results identified several ONHR antibodies in 0.1 mL of specimens by the immunoblot-based technique, which was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The diagnostic performance for detecting identified antibodies has demonstrated >95% sensitivity in dogs, >93% sensitivity in cats, as well as >97% specificity in dogs, and >95% specificity in cats. Thus, our data provide the first proof-of-principle that onconeural antibodies can be detected in dogs and cats, and their identification in serum might serve as a new tool for early cancer diagnosis.
Background and Purpose:The medical sector is facing therapeutic dead ends due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which leads to human death and economic losses for poultry farmers. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of resistance genes in Enterobacteriaceae on poultry farms. Methods:Illumina sequencing was used for the cultivation of 184 poultry fecal samples, identification using the API 10S Biomerieux gallery, antibiotic susceptibility testing by disk diffusion, and DNA extraction using the Biocentric Bruker automated system. Results:Among the 164 isolates, Escherichia coli was the most isolated species (84.78%, n = 156), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (3.26%, n = 06), and Salmonella spp. (0.01%, n = 02). Among 156 Escherichia coli strains, 10% (n = 18) were extended-spectrum bêta-lactamase (ESBL) producers. Among the 13 sequenced ESBL-producing E. coli strains, 53 resistance genes were identified with moderate variability and some were strain-specific. Co-localization of plasmids with virulence genes was also observed. Several blaTEM variants that encode beta-lactam resistance have been frequently detected. The ompK37 and ompK36 mutants coding for carbapenemase production were identified in one strain. One strain carried mcr-1.1 gene. Conclusion:Antibiotics used in poultry farming contribute to the selection of resistant and highly virulent clones. Strengthening regulations on antibiotic use in poultry farming is necessary.
