Search Results (19)

Background/Objectives: Immunosuppression is a serious side effect of chemotherapeutic agents such as cyclophosphamide (CTX) and significantly increases the risk of infection in patients. Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) bezoar (PB), a traditional medicine derived from the Hystrix brachyura species of porcupine, is renowned for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its immunomodulatory potential has not been adequately investigated. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the protective effects of PB against CTX-induced immunosuppression and the underlying mechanisms in a rat model. Methods: An immunosuppression model was established in rats through the injection of CTX. The effects of PB on immune function were evaluated through the measurement of serum immunoglobulin (IgA and IgG) and pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) levels, as well as through a histopathological examination of immune organs. The mechanisms were further elucidated by analysing changes in serum metabolites and gut microbiota composition using integrated metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: Treatment with PB significantly alleviated CTX-induced immunosuppression, as demonstrated by elevated serum levels of IgA and IgG and reduced concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α. PB also improved the architecture of spleen and thymus tissues. Metabolomic analysis revealed that PB regulated glycerophospholipid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis, thereby reducing pro-inflammatory metabolites such as prostaglandin F2α. Furthermore, PB modulated the gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bacteroidota and Lachnospiraceae) and decreasing that of harmful bacteria (e.g., Romboutsia and Clostridium sensu stricto). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that PB can effectively counteract CTX-induced immunosuppression in rats. This immunomodulatory effect is linked to changes in the gut microbiota and the regulation of specific metabolic pathways. These findings provide a scientific basis for the potential use of PB as an immunoadjuvant therapy, offering new insights into the mechanisms of traditional medicines. Full article

We report the case of a school-aged patient with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder who presented with a palpable epigastric mass. The initial abdominal ultrasonography indicated the presence of a heterogeneous space-occupying lesion in the upper abdomen. Subsequent computed tomography revealed a large intragastric mass with a mottled air-containing density, an imaging feature characteristic of a bezoar. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy confirmed a massive trichobezoar extending beyond the pylorus into the duodenum, consistent with Rapunzel syndrome. Although the endoscopic removal proved unsuccessful, a subsequent surgical extraction via laparotomy yielded a 22 cm trichobezoar. Further history revealed prior hair-picking behavior approximately one year earlier, with a localized bald patch noted by her parents. This case highlights the characteristic multimodal imaging findings of trichobezoars and serves to emphasize the diagnostic challenge posed by a limited clinical history in children with psychiatric comorbidities presenting with abdominal masses. Full article

The feral goat, Capra hircus, is an important example of the feralisation of a domesticated species. The intentional abandonment of herds, escapes, rural depopulation and abandonment of livestock and traditional agriculture have led original domestic goats to freely occupy different habitats. The aim of this study was to review the current global knowledge of the feral goat, identify its gaps and provide insights into possible future research. The majority of publications focus on islands in the Mediterranean Basin and Oceania. The information is particularly encompassed in terms of population distribution, habitat use, monitoring methods, potential environmental impacts and management strategies. The feral goat is considered one of the 100 worst invasive species, especially on islands; thus, there are abundant studies supporting their eradication fundamentally due to their negative impact on vegetation. However, their role as a food supply for endangered fauna taxa is not sufficiently understood. Oceania is the main advocate for feral goat eradication, along with meat production exploitation. The most widespread management approach is eradication, notably favoured in insular ecosystems. There is still a lack of updated numerical data available on the efficacy of eradication interventions. The insights obtained from deeper research could benefit management and conservation decision-making. Full article

Introduction: Acute abdominal pain is a prevalent complaint in pediatric emergency departments. Primary care physicians can find it challenging to treat such pain and, in particular, to determine whether it requires emergent surgical intervention. Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical cause of abdominal pain, but it is important to understand that other rare conditions can also be life-threatening. Case presentation: We report the case of a 6-year-old girl who presented to our pediatric emergency center with complaints of acute abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. She had no notable medical history, including perinatal, surgical, or psychiatric disorders. After finding a bezoar-like structure through a combined enteritis CT scan, reassessing the child’s dietary concerns revealed that the child had experienced symptoms of trichophagia for approximately 3 to 4 years. Enterotomy and the removal of the bezoar were successfully performed. A pediatric psychiatric consultation was carried out to prevent further trichophagia-induced complications. Conclusions: Despite our patient’s relatively young age and the failure to obtain a history of trichophagia at the onset, we successfully diagnosed a rare condition called Rapunzel syndrome. Although several cases of this condition have been reported by pediatric surgeons, we emphasize the role of physicians in pediatric emergency departments when examining children with this rare syndrome. Full article

This study presents a comparative analysis of the computed tomographic (CT), radiographic, and ultrasonographic (US) characteristics of gastrointestinal foreign bodies, including bezoars, in dogs and cats, and evaluates their association with complications and clinical outcomes. A total of 33 cases (26 dogs, 7 cats) with surgically or endoscopically confirmed foreign bodies were reviewed, classified as bezoars (n = 15) or distinct foreign bodies (n = 18). CT features such as attenuation values, transition zones, and proximal-to-distal small intestinal diameter ratios were compared. Bezoars typically appeared as intraluminal masses with mottled gas patterns and indistinct boundaries (33.3% vs. 94.4%, p < 0.001) and were associated with longer clinical signs (median 14 vs. 5.5 days, p = 0.013), more frequent transition zones (92.3% vs. 41.7%, p = 0.011), and a greater diameter ratio (2.9 vs. 1.25, p = 0.012) across the transition zone. Radiographic and US evaluations were available in six bezoar cases; only one radiograph (17%) detected the bezoar, while US showed acoustic shadowing in four cases (67%). Six patients (18%) experienced adverse outcomes, with bowel wall ruptures significantly associated with poor prognosis (p < 0.001). These findings highlight the superior diagnostic performance of CT, particularly for bezoars, and emphasize the importance of identifying transition zones and bowel diameter ratios in assessing gastrointestinal foreign bodies and their associated risks. Early CT evaluation may thus facilitate timely intervention and improve clinical outcomes. Full article

Objectives: To understand the clinical characteristics, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of urinary tract obstruction caused by fungal balls. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Medline following the PRISMA guidelines, including case reports and case series. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) document. The systematic review process was aimed at gathering and synthesising all available research evidence on the topic. Results: We included 54 articles reporting on 57 patients, primarily males (61.4%) with a median age of 56 years. The most common presenting symptoms were flank pain (71.9%) and fevers (59.6%). All diagnoses were made on the presence of yeast in urine or intra-operative tissue cultures and the presence of obstruction on imaging. The most common pathogen isolated were those of the Candida species (61.5%) followed by Aspergillus (33.3%). Multimodal management was the mainstay approach with the use of systemic and local antifungal therapy in combination with surgical drainage of the obstruction. The mortality rate was around 12.3%. Conclusions: Management of renal or ureteral obstruction caused by fungal balls requires a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach, comprising systemic antifungal therapy, drainage procedures, and in some instances, surgical intervention. The growing prevalence of antifungal resistance and the high mortality potential of fungal uropathy necessitates ongoing research into the optimal diagnostic and treatment modalities for this condition. Full article

A 15-year-old girl was admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department due to abdominal discomfort, anorexia, diarrhea, emesis, and weight loss. An inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis was suspected and a complete endoscopic investigation was deemed necessary. Initially, only colonoscopy with ileoscopy was performed, with evidence of widespread ileal ulcers, whereas a subsequent esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a huge trichobezoar that was further surgically removed. Trichobezoars are intraluminal conglomerates composed of ingested hair and are typically associated with underlying psychiatric disorders. Bezoars can be asymptomatic or present with various gastrointestinal symptoms, mimicking, among other conditions, inflammatory bowel disease. They may extend through the pylorus into the jejunum leading to Rapunzel Syndrome, which may cause intestinal obstruction. The treatment of trichobezoar depends on its location and volume. An endoscopic approach is possible for small-sized trichobezoars, but to avoid bezoar tail migration along the intestine, causing obstruction, conventional laparotomy is the only valid treatment for patients with Rapunzel Syndrome. Due to the increasing incidence of psychiatric disorders in pediatric age during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and their relationship with trichobezoars, an increase in cases of trichobezoars was observed. Thus, interdisciplinary collaboration between psychiatrists, pediatricians, and surgeons is crucial not only during the acute phase but also for long-term management and prevention of recurrence. Full article

Diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) delays gastric emptying in diabetes patients, notably impacting those with type 1 and long-standing type 2 diabetes. Symptoms include early satiety, fullness, appetite loss, bloating, abdominal pain, and vomiting, arising from slow stomach-to-intestine food movement. DGP’s unpredictable nature complicates diagnosis and blood glucose management, leading to severe complications like dehydration, malnutrition, and bezoar formation. Understanding DGP’s mechanisms is crucial for effective management. Vagal dysfunction, disturbances in the interstitial cells of Cajal, reduced neural nitric oxide synthase, and increased oxidative stress contribute to the complex pathophysiology. Accurate diagnosis demands a comprehensive approach, utilizing tools like gastric scintigraphy and the Gastric Emptying Breath Test. Considering the complex relationship between DGP and glycemia, managing blood glucose levels becomes paramount. Nutritional interventions, tailored to each patient, address malnutrition risks, emphasizing smaller, more frequent meals and liquid consistency. DGP’s complex nature necessitates collaborative efforts for enhanced diagnostic strategies, improved pathophysiological understanding, and compassionate management approaches. This comprehensive approach offers hope for a future where individuals with DGP can experience improved well-being and quality of life. Full article

Small bowel obstruction is a frequent medical condition with various causes, the most common being postoperative adhesions, volvulus, intussusception, hernias, and tumors. A bezoar-induced blockage of the small intestine is a rare condition that accounts for approximately 4% of all small bowel obstruction cases. Herein, we present the case report of a 71-year-old patient with diffuse abdominal pain caused by a small bowel obstruction due to a calcified bezoar (bezoar egg) resulting from a post-radiation intestinal stricture. The patient underwent a small bowel excision with the extraction of the bezoar, after which a full recovery was made. Full article

Yersinia ruckeri is an important fish pathogen causing enteric redmouth disease. Antibiotics have traditionally been used to control this pathogen, but concerns of antibiotic resistance have created a need for alternative interventions. Presently, chlorate and certain nitrocompounds were tested against Y. ruckeri as well as a related species within the genus, Y. aleksiciae, to assess the effects of these inhibitors. The results reveal that 9 mM chlorate had no inhibitory effect against Y. ruckeri, but inhibited growth rates and maximum optical densities of Y. aleksciciae by 20–25% from those of untreated controls (0.46 h⁻¹ and 0.29 maximum optical density, respectively). The results further reveal that 2-nitropropanol and 2-nitroethanol (9 mM) eliminated the growth of both Y. ruckeri and Y. aleksiciae during anaerobic or aerobic culture. Nitroethane, ethyl nitroacetate and ethyl-2-nitropropionate (9 mM) were less inhibitory when tested similarly. Results from a mixed culture of Y. ruckeri with fish tank microbes and of Y. aleksiciae with porcine fecal microbes reveal that the anti-Yersinia activity of the tested nitrocompounds was bactericidal, with 2-nitropropanol and 2-nitroethanol being more potent than the other tested nitrocompounds. The anti-Yersinia activity observed with these tested compounds warrants further study to elucidate the mechanisms of action and strategies for their practical application. Full article

This research work allowed the development of a scientific approach to a remedy widely used until today in ranches or rural posts as an alternative medicine: the “guanaco stone” or bezoar. Bezoars are compactions of various chemical substances, hairs, vegetable fibers and foreign bodies, which are formed mainly between the divisions of the stomach of guanacos (Lama guanicoe). The ethnomedicine of this Patagonian region uses powdered bezoars ingested with water or in infusions, as a medicine that improves digestive and renal functions, and especially alexipharmaceuticals. The objective of this trial was to find “in vitro” the pharmacological foundations of bezoars. Samples of bezoars, obtained from the local refrigerator, were used in the test. For this, their density, colors, and hardness were determined. One of the bezoars was totally pulverized, the powder obtained was observed under an optical microscope with a magnification of 1000×. Subsequently, the chemical composition was sought by examining the presence of P, K, and N, as well as the pH. The results made it possible to determine the pH was neutral and the presence of P, N, and K was medium. It is concluded in this first approach to the subject that according to these determinations, bezoars can act via two mechanisms: the presence of phosphates acts as chelators of ingested toxins, facilitating their elimination from the body, but also the minerals that together stimulate the secretion of acid gastric and digestive enzymes. Full article

Understanding the genetic composition of indigenous goats is essential to promote the scientific conservation and sustainable utilization of these breeds. The Jianchang Black (JC) goat, a Chinese native breed, is solid black and exhibits crude feed tolerance, but is characterized by a low growth rate and small body size. Based on the whole-genome sequencing data for 30 JC, 41 Jintang Black (JT), and 40 Yunshang Black (YS) goats, and 21 Bezoar ibexes, here, we investigated the genetic composition of JC goats by conducting analyses of the population structure, runs of homozygosity (ROH), genomic inbreeding, and selection signature. Our results revealed that JT and YS showed a close genetic relationship with a non-negligible amount of gene flows but were genetically distant from JC, apart from Bezoars. An average of 2039 ROHs were present in the autosomal genome per individual. The ROH-based inbreeding estimates in JC goats generally showed moderate values ranging from 0.134 to 0.264, mainly due to rapid declines in the effective population size during recent generations. The annotated genes (e.g., IL2, IL7, and KIT) overlapping with ROH islands were significantly enriched in immune-related biological processes. Further, we found 61 genes (e.g., STIM1, MYO9A, and KHDRBS2) under positive selection in JC goats via three complementary approaches, which may underly genetic adaptations to local environmental conditions. Our findings provided references for the conservation and sustainable utilization of JC goats. Full article

The clinical course of Crohn’s disease (CD) is often complicated by intestinal strictures, which can be fibrotic, inflammatory, or mixed, therefore leading to stenosis and eventually symptomatic obstruction. We report two cases of subclinical CD diagnosed after fruit pit ingestion, causing bowel obstruction; additionally, we conducted a narrative review of the scientific literature on cases of intestinal obstruction secondary to impacted bezoars due to fruit pits. Symptoms of gastrointestinal bezoars in CD patients are not diagnostic; and the diagnosis should be based on a combined assessment of history, clinical presentation, imaging examination and endoscopy findings. This report corroborates the concept that CD patients are at a greater risk of bowel obstruction with bezoars generally and shows that accidental ingestion of fruit pits may lead to an unusual presentation of the disease. Therapeutic options in this group of patients differ from the usual approaches implemented in other patients with strictures secondary to CD. Full article

The use of agriculture by-products is highly demanded for livestock nutrition. However, the employment of certain non-degradable materials could potentially induce concretions and lesions in ruminants’ forestomach. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the morphological lesions showed in rumen containing indigestible foreign objects, named foreign bodies, in small ruminants. Twenty-two animals (12 goats and 10 ewes) presenting foreign bodies (2.750 ± 1.577 kg) were included in this study. Rumenotomies were performed to remove the foreign bodies, and rumen samples were taken for further morphological evaluations. Rumen samples from healthy small ruminants (n = 24) were also taken at slaughterhouses as controls. Morphologically, the rumen from affected animals showed a significant reduction of the ruminal papillae length (1.243 vs. 3.097), hyperplasia of the squamous epithelium, mononuclear infiltration in the subepithelial spaces and, less consistently, vacuolization of keratinocytes, presence of intraepithelial leukocytes and vascular changes of the lamina propria. It can be concluded that indigestible foreign bodies would cause ruminal lesions that would be able to trigger inflammatory and/or degenerative lesions. Our study demonstrates morphological lesions because of the presence of intraruminal foreign bodies, but further studies on the functional activity of the rumen in these cases are required. The avoidance of the presence of indigestible materials in agriculture exploitations is highly recommended in order to prevent the accumulation of indigestible foreign objects in small ruminants. Full article

Goat domestication and human selection for valued traits have formed diverse breeds with characteristic phenotypes. This process led to the fixation of causative genetic variants controlling breed-specific traits within regions of reduced genetic diversity—so-called “selection signatures”. We previously reported an analysis of selection signatures based on pooled whole-genome sequencing data of 20 goat breeds and bezoar goats. In the present study, we reanalyzed the data and focused on a subset of eight Pakistani goat breeds (Angora, Barbari, Beetal, Dera Din Panah, Kamori, Nachi, Pahari, Teddy). We identified 749 selection signatures based on reduced heterozygosity in these breeds. A search for signatures that are shared across large-sized goat breeds revealed that five medium-to-large-sized Pakistani goat breeds had a common selection signature on chromosome 6 in a region harboring the LCORL gene, which has been shown to modulate height or body size in several mammalian species. Fine-mapping of the region confirmed that all five goat breeds with the selection signature were nearly fixed for the same haplotype in a ~191 kb region spanning positions 37,747,447–37,938,449. From the pool sequencing data, we identified a frame-shifting single base insertion into an isoform-specific exon of LCORL as a potential candidate causal variant mediating the size-increasing effect. If this preliminary result can be confirmed in independent replication studies, genotyping of this variant might be used to improve breeding programs and the selection for stature in goats. Full article