HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the washout ratio in the hepatic vein (HV) measured by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) can distinguish between inflammatory and noninflammatory hepatic disorders in dogs.
ANIMALS: Forty-one client-owned dogs with hepatic disorders including 14 with hepatitis, 7 with primary hypoplasia of the portal vein (PHPV), 9 with congenital portosystemic shunt (cPSS), and 11 with other hepatopathy were enrolled. Six dogs without hepatic disease also were evaluated as healthy controls.
METHODS: Dogs with hepatic disorders were prospectively included. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the HV was performed for 2 minutes. Washout ratio was defined as the attenuation rate from peak intensity to the intensity at the end of the CEUS study.
RESULTS: Washout ratio in the hepatitis group (median, 18.0%; range, 2.0-37.0%) was significantly lower than that of the PHPV (median, 52.2%; range, 11.5-86.3%), cPSS (median, 60.0%; range, 28.6-77.4%), other hepatopathy (median, 70.5%; range, 26.6-88.4%), and normal (median, 78.0%; range, 60.7-91.7%) groups. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for hepatitis was 0.960, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.853-0.990. Washout ratio ≤37.1% resulted in a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 78.5-100%) and specificity of 85.2% (95% CI, 67.5-94.1%) for the prediction of hepatitis.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Washout ratio can distinguish hepatitis from the other noninflammatory disorders with high accuracy. This result might reflect impaired Kupffer cell phagocytosis in dogs with hepatitis.
DESIGN: Clinical questions relevant to the afore-mentioned major issues were drafted for which expert panels formulated relevant statements and textural explanations.A Delphi method using an anonymous system was employed to develop the consensus, the level of which was predefined as ≥80% of agreement. Two rounds of voting and amendments were completed before the meeting at which clinical questions and consensus were finalised.
RESULTS: Twenty eight clinical questions and statements were finalised after extensive amendments. Critical consensus was achieved: (1) definition for the GOJ, (2) definition of the GOJZ spanning 1 cm proximal and distal to the GOJ as defined by the end of palisade vessels was accepted based on the anatomical distribution of cardiac type gland, (3) chemical and bacterial (Helicobacter pylori) factors as the primary causes of inflammation, metaplasia and neoplasia occurring in the GOJZ, (4) a new definition of Barrett's oesophagus (BO).
CONCLUSIONS: This international consensus on the new definitions of BO, GOJ and the GOJZ will be instrumental in future studies aiming to resolve many issues on this important anatomic area and hopefully will lead to better classification and management of the diseases surrounding the GOJ.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether SOS exerts fungicidal activities against common fungal species.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The efficacy of SOS was tested against 6 fungal species (Candida albicans, Candida auris, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Sporothrix schenckii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes) using an in vitro time-kill assay.
RESULTS: SOS achieved 99.9999% reduction of all tested fungi within 1 minute of exposure.
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that SOS may be an effective tool for the prevention and control of fungal infections.
METHODS: The databases of CENTRAL, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were used to conduct a literature search, supplemented by internet search engines and manual searches. Publications released between January 2009 and October 2023 was identified, reviewed, and data extracted.
RESULTS: The review encompasses six studies involving 712 patients, comprising two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two prospective studies, and two retrospective cohort studies. Three studies prescribed IMN perioperatively; two pre-operatively and one post-operatively. Four out of six studies reported less post-operative infection and complications. Two studies reported shorter hospitalization using the IMN formula. One study reported a longer hospitalization with IMN supplementation. Overall survival showed no significant difference in the two studies. Four studies reported positive modulation of inflammatory markers and lymphocytes as outcomes, with IMN formulas.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Perioperative IMN emerge as a promising intervention, demonstrating notable benefits included shortened hospitalization as well and positive modulation of inflammatory markers.